2017 Ongoing MOTY List: Ki v. Impact

13. Low-Ki v. Johnny Impact GFW Impact 8/19 (Aired 9/14/17)

ER: This is kind of a weird dream match for me, because Morrison matches usually miss with me more often than they hit. But I can't think of two guys in wrestling that have freakier body control than these two guys. These two can bump and move in ways that don't seem possible, like two fake fighting Marcel Marceau's. And this is our final glimpse of Ki in TNA/Impact/GFW/Wrestling Purgatory, in what was a predictably short and predictably awesome run. Low-Ki is the coolest counter wrestler maybe in history, coming up with all sorts of opponent specific reversals and learned behavior reactions. The two of them work some trippy exchanges in the ropes, with Impact being a step ahead and slipping in and out through the ropes, then Ki chop blocking a kick from the apron in a way nobody ever has, then locking on a dragon sleeper. Ki is maybe the only guy in wrestling quick enough to make this ropes offense work. Later Impact does a crazy baseball slide to the floor while simultaneously german suplexing Ki that I have never seen before, totally physics breaking stuff. Both guys have a contest to see who can take bumps that spring them farther across the ring, and it's a contest we all win: Ki springs back violently off a kick, Morrison bounces like a superball off a big ropes assisted mule kick. Both guys are so great at coming up with cool ways to miss moves and dodge other moves, Ki especially is great at making misses mean just as much as hits. He may hit a big springboard kick, but the match ends with Impact tied in the ropes, Ki going for the Warriors Way and missing, leading to him violently stomping the ropes in a way no sane human would do on purpose. Ki goes springing off the ropes and lands right in the way of Starship Pain, Impact's forever overshot finisher that in this instance works much better as a flash pin capitalizing on Ki's crazy bump. GFW just got a whole lot less interesting.

PAS: Hell of an Impact swan song for Low-Ki, who had a low key great run there. This match up really worked with both guys strengths, as they are both masters at athletic, innovative, but actually explosive stuff. The counters in this match have the feeling of violence, this isn't the Young Bucks doing cartwheels and missed dropkicks like a junior high school dance team, this feels like Jet Li fight, with the missed and countered moves almost decapitating the guy who avoided them. Loved the stuff in the ropes, and Ki locking in the dragon sleeper with both guys on the top rope. Loved Impact using his breakdancing karate to counter Ki, it seems like it would be silly, but he actually made a windmill look like an offensive move. Finish was completely awesome, that bump Ki took on the Warrior's Way attempt was insane, I have no idea how he controlled his landing enough not to tear a groin muscle. he landed perfectly for the Starship Pain which actually landed well.


2017 MOTY MASTER LIST