Photo Credit: impactwrestling.com
Impact Wrestling’s “Emergence” Event comes to us Live this Friday, August 12th, 2022, from Cicero Stadium in Chicago at 8 pm on Impact Plus. Here are who the Experts on the Eastern Observer’s “Essential Wrestling Podcast,” sponsored by ProWrestlingPickem.com, are Picking for this event.
Photo Credit: impactwrestling.com
**Impact Championship**
**Champion JOSH ALEXANDER vs. ALEX SHELLEY**
“This is going to be so good! If things were a little down for Impact right now, and if Josh wasn’t such a star, if they didn’t build him so well over the years, I would say this is a spot where you could give Shelley that pat on the back and that World Title on his resume. But I think things are just too good right now with Josh as the hood ornament of this company. So I’m going to say he retains.” – John D’Aconti, EWP Senior Impact Correspondent.
Pick: JOSH ALEXANDER
“He’s gotta walk down the aisle at Bound For Glory. This match is going to be incredible! I can’t wait for it! But it has to be Josh Alexander.” – Al Karl, EWP Host.
Pick: JOSH ALEXANDER
“It’s a feel-good story for Alex Shelley and his fans, finally getting his world title opportunity. That said, I see no scenario where he comes out of this as champion.” – John Smith, EWP Correspondent.
Pick: JOSH ALEXANDER
Photo Credit: impactwrestling.com
**Impact Knockout’s Championship**
**Champion JORDYNNE GRACE vs MIA YIM**
“I’m distraught that Mia is being set up to take the title away. I’m going to say Jordynne retains right now, but something could change my mind on Thursday. But right now, I’m going to say, Jordynne still kinda early in her 2nd Reign here, so give me Jordynne retaining.” – John D’Aconti, EWP Senior Impact Correspondent.
Pick: JORDYNNE GRACE
“I got Jordynne retaining. She had a great match with Deonna and Rachel Ellering at the Ric Flair Last Match. She’s dropping weight and getting stronger. She looks Great! She looks incredible right now as an athlete and a performer. Just let her go with it. Let her go through Bound For Glory with it. She can do whatever at Bound For Glory and win it.” – Al Karl, EWP Host.
Pick: JORDYNNE GRACE
Photo Credit: impactwrestling.com
**10-Man Tag Team Match**
**BULLET CLUB vs. HONOR NO MORE**
“If you’re going to break them all up cause they’re going back to Ring of Honor, that makes perfect sense. But if they stick around, they’re better as a unit. And OGK getting that Tag Team Title match against the Good Brothers makes good sense. And Eddie getting that eventual World Title match while still waving the flag for Honor No More makes the most sense. So for those reasons, I’ll say, maybe Bey or Austin eats the pin here, Honor No More gets the win here, and they get to stay together.” – John D’Aconti, EWP Senior Impact Correspondent.
Pick: HONOR NO MORE
“Honor No More’s existence is on the line, and the cards seem to be stacked against them. But I think they have a trick to get the job done. It’s hard for me to pick against the Bullet Club, but I’m going to have to this time.” – John Smith, EWP Correspondent.
Pick: HONOR NO MORE
“What are the Good Brothers doing? You’re hearing stuff about the Good Brothers, that they’re not under contract anymore. Do you keep them around till Bound For Glory drops them to OGK? I got Honor No More winning this. I think they have too much of a good thing going with this right now. I’m going to go with Honor No More.”
Pick: HONOR NO MORE
Photo Credit: impactwrestling.com
**Impact X-Division Championship**
**Champion MIKE BAILEY vs. JACK EVANS**
“This match should steal the show, so we’re the real winners. Speedball is in the ring as “Must See TV.” I’ve got Bailey retaining after a hard-fought battle.” – John Smith, EWP Correspondent” – John Smith, EWP Correspondent
Pick: MIKE BAILEY
“I think it’s too early to take the title off Bailey. It was a missed opportunity when Evans couldn’t show up for Ultimate X (at Slammiversary). I’m glad they will put him right into a Title Match here. But I think Mike Bailey will still retain.” – John D’Aconti, EWP Senior Impact Correspondent.
Pick: MIKE BAILEY
Photo Credit: impactwrestling.com
**SAMI CALLIHAN vs STEVE MACLIN**
“What confuses me here is that Moose will get involved at some point. If we’re not going to get a three-way here, we’ll wind up with a three-way down the line. So does he continue, at this point, to help Maclin and Maclin gets the first victory here? Or does he screw him over already, and that’s what leads to the three-way. I’ll say he helps him the first time around and say that Maclin takes this one.” – John D’Aconti, EWP Senior Impact Correspondent
Pick: STEVE MACLIN
“This is a straight-up wrestling match, so I like Maclin to pull off what some consider a minor upset. I’d like to see Maclin challenge for the world title once he’s done with Sami.” – John Smith, EWP Correspondent.
Pick: STEVE MACLIN
“Give it, Maclin, and that’ll keep everything going. I think Maclin can outwrestle Sami anyway. I think Maclin is the better wrestler. If this is straight-up wrestling, I think Maclin will have the advantage. He’s a pretty tough guy, though. He might even have the advantage in a No DQ match.” – Al Karl, EWP Host.
Pick: STEVE MACLIN
**CHRIS SABIN & KUSHIDA vs. VIOLENT BY DESIGN**
“I’m struggling within myself to say that EY is going to cost Sabin and Kushida the match. But Kushida just got there. He’s got one victory so far. So I’ll go with Sabin and Kushida cause you could always have Deaner take a pin.” – John D’Aconti, EWP Senior Impact Correspondent.
Pick: CHRIS SABIN & KUSHIDA
“I was torn on this one until Eric Young’s backstage promo Thursday night. He says he’s going to make his presence felt, so I’m going with Violent By Design.” – John Smith, EWP Correspondent.
Pick: VIOLENT BY DESIGN
“It seems like Eric Young is trying to teach them, and he’s trying to get them to learn it on their own. I don’t think he’s going to interfere at all. If he does anything, it’ll be post-match. Eric Young is trying to let these two build themselves up, and they keep failing and failing. And they’re going to fail again, and I think this will be it for Violent By Design. I think Eric Young is going to have had enough. I think you can do Eric Young vs. Deaner on the next show. Then at Bound For Glory, you can do Eric Young vs. Joe Doering. So I think this will end them.” – Al Karl, EWP Host.
Pick: CHRIS SABIN & KUSHIDA
Photo Credit: impactwrestling.com
**BANDIDO vs. REY HORUS**
“I’m going to go with Bandido on this one. Great gimmick! The Zorro-ish. He was in the four-way on the Ric Flair Last Match special. That match was incredible! I don’t wanna say this is a lock, but Bandido has the accolades and the resume.” – Al Karl, EWP Host.
Pick: BANDIDO
Photo Credit: The Eastern Observer
Be sure to catch the “Essential Wrestling Podcast” on Tuesday Evenings at 5 pm on all of the Eastern Observer Platforms, and join the EWP Public Pool on ProWrestlingPickem.com to Play Against our Team of Experts!
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