7 Ups & 3 Downs From IMPACT Wrestling (18 Nov)

Downs...

3. Ball Stuff

Subjectively, Doc Gallows vs. Hikuleo was a fundamentally sound match that did well in the slot of two big beefy boys brawling ahead of their World Tag Team Titles encounter on Saturday. It was mostly fine, both men looking like genuine beasts, and ending the right way in Gallows' favour via Chokebomb.

The key there, though, is it being mostly fine.

Early on, Hikuleo low-blowed Doc for literally no reason other than the referee being distracted. It would have worked superbly as a match-ender, given Doc and Karl Anderson seem to be playing the role of babyface in this current saga vs. Bullet Club, but for it to come mere minutes into the match, with a further chunk of the contest still to follow, it didn't work at all.

It wasn't needed anywhere, really. As mentioned, Doc and Hikuleo are intended to portray the role of the big monster in their respective groups. All they have to do is throw fists, building to their big finish. Hikuleo sinking to utilising a low blow felt cheap, unnecessary, and barely even registered with the live audience.