9 Ups & 4 Downs From Impact Wrestling (5 Jan)

1. Boiling Point Exceeded

Sami Callihan vs. Eddie Edwards in last night's main event was penned as the final one-on-one collision between them in Impact Wrestling. While your writer has expressed his doubts about relying on the rivalry to keep the pair relevant, it's turned out to be hugely beneficial to the promotion, and everyone involved.

Brawling to the ring before either man even had the chance to make his official entrance, Callihan and Edwards decimated each other at ringside before the bell rang. Chairs, pipes, and all sorts were used seeing as they were still legal, while Eddie took to the skies with a gorgeous tope suicida at one stage. Aside from a nasty cut above Sami's eye, things seemed to be reasonably normal given the pair that was involved. They were inseparable.

That was, until referee Brandon Tolle threw the match out after taking far too much abuse from both combatants.

From this point, Eddie took full control after retrieving 'The Draw's' baseball bat - the same bat that resulted in this entire rivalry a few years ago. Cutting to the screen, though, Alisha Edwards was shown to be trapped in what appeared to be the boiler room, with Eddie finding himself ambushed by Callihan and a returning Ken Shamrock when trying to rescue her. It was evident the two weren't done with each other quite yet, however, the graphic Impact posted to their Twitter feed was quite the shock.

Barbed Wire Massacre IV.

It's a stipulation that's only used when absolutely necessary. Sami Callihan vs. Eddie Edwards is the rivalry that requires such a violent stipulation attached to it. For once, the continuation of a long, drawn-out rivalry when it could have already ended has resulted in some positivity. It'll be bloody, it'll be gory, it'll be a tad too violent in certain places - but bring it all on next Saturday.