13 Ups & 2 Downs From IMPACT Wrestling Knockouts Knockdown 2021

9. Mercedes Runs Through

Tournaments need variety, even more so during these one-night tournaments. For IMPACT, there were eight competitors involved, meaning there was a minimum of seven matches for the event already guaranteed. You can't afford to have any of these contests be directly the same.

This means that IMPACT must be applauded for incorporating a shorter match into a tourney of longer fights. Mercedes Martinez vs. Brandi Lauren lasted a matter of minutes while feeling like that. Matches like this often run the risk of feeling longer than they actually are, making them feel tedious as a result. Instead, Martinez dominated Lauren for the bulk of this match, ultimately downing her with a unique DDT variant off her shoulder.

Mercedes was then allowed to move on in the tournament looking like a legitimate badass. Anyone, really, could have been placed in Brandi's spot here; the former RETRIBUTION member simply needed someone to beat up to set her vibe for the whole tournament. She can take a loss, though, as she's not yet mastered this whole undead schtick yet. It can be blamed on this. Had Mercedes lost, you'd really be testing your audience. IMPACT took the easier - yet correct - route here.