Impact Down Under Tour
{{short description|2023 professional wrestling event by Impact Wrestling}}
{{Use Australian English|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox Wrestling event
|name = Down Under Tour
|image = Impact DUT 2023.jpg
|alt =
|caption =
|tagline =
|theme =
|promotion = Impact Wrestling
Oceania Pro Wrestling
|date = Night One:
{{dts|2023|6|30}}
Night Two:
{{dts|2023|7|1}}
|attendance =
|venue = Equex Centre
|city = Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia
|liveevent=y
}}
Down Under Tour was a series of co-promotional professional wrestling events jointly produced by Impact Wrestling and Oceania Pro Wrestling. It was a four-day tour, which took place between {{dts|2023|6|29}} and {{dts|2023|7|2}}. It featured two marquee events, which took place at the Equex Centre in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia on {{dts|2023|6|30}} and {{dts|2023|7|1}}, which aired live via pay-per-view on FITE TV.{{cite web |title=IMPACT Wrestling Down Under Tour Full Results: Day 1 (June 30, 2023) |url=https://impactwrestling.com/2023/06/30/impact-wrestling-down-under-tour-live-results-day-1-june-30-2023/ |website=Impact Wrestling |access-date=23 August 2023 |date=June 30, 2023}}{{cite web |title=IMPACT Wrestling Down Under Tour Full Results: Day 2 (July 1, 2023) |url=https://impactwrestling.com/2023/07/01/impact-wrestling-down-under-tour-live-results-day-2-july-1-2023/ |website=Impact Wrestling |access-date=23 August 2023 |date=July 1, 2023}}
A total of 16 matches were contested, with eight matches on each show. In the main event on the first day, Alex Shelley defeated Steve Maclin to retain the Impact World Championship. In other prominent matches, Chris Sabin retained the X Division Championship against Frankie Kazarian and Robbie Eagles in a three-way match, and Joe Hendry retained the Digital Media Championship against Eddie Edwards.{{cite web |author1=Markus Gronemann |title=Impact Down Under live results: Alex Shelley vs. Steve Maclin World title rematch |url=https://www.f4wonline.com/news/impact-wrestling/results/impact-down-under-live-results-alex-shelley-vs-steve-maclin-world-title-rematch |website=WON / F4W |access-date=25 August 2023 |date=June 30, 2023}}{{cite web |author1=Chris Vetter |title=Impact Wrestling Down Under night one results: Vetter's review of Alex Shelley vs. Steve Maclin for the Impact World Championship, ABC vs. Moose and Brian Myers for the Impact Tag Titles, Chris Sabin vs. Frankie Kazarian vs. Robbie Eagles for the X Division Title |url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2023/06/30/impact-wrestling-down-under-night-one-results-vetters-review-of-alex-shelley-vs-steve-maclin-for-the-impact-world-championship-abc-vs-moose-and-brian-myers-for-the-impact-tag-titles-chris-sabin/ |website=Pro Wrestling Dot Net |access-date=25 August 2023 |date=June 30, 2023}} The second day was headlined by a Knockouts World Championship match between Deonna Purrazzo and Gisele Shaw, which Purrazzo won to retain the title. In other prominent matches at the event, ABC (Ace Austin and Chris Bey) defeated The Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin) to retain the World Tag Team Championship, Joe Hendry defeated Moose to retain the Digital Media Championship, and Adam Brooks defeated Robbie Eagles to become the inaugural OPW Heavyweight Champion.{{cite web |author1=Markus Gronemann |title=Impact Down Under live results: Motor City Machine Guns vs. Chris Bey & Ace Austin |url=https://www.f4wonline.com/news/impact-wrestling/results/impact-down-under-live-results-motor-city-machine-guns-vs-chris-bey-ace-austin |website=WON / F4W |access-date=25 August 2023 |date=July 1, 2023}}{{cite web |author1=Chris Vetter |title=Impact Wrestling Down Under night two results: Vetter's review of ABC vs. Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin for the Impact Tag Titles, Deonna Purrazzo vs. Gisele Shaw for the Knockouts Title, Joe Hendry vs. Moose for the Digital Media Title |url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2023/07/02/impact-wrestling-down-under-night-two-results-vetters-review-of-abc-vs-alex-shelley-and-chris-sabin-for-the-impact-tag-titles-deonna-purrazzo-vs-gisele-shaw-for-the-knockouts-title-joe-hendry-v/ |website=Pro Wrestling Dot Net |access-date=25 August 2023 |date=July 2, 2023}}
Production
=Background=
In December 2022, New Japan Pro-Wrestling announced that it would host the first-ever Oceania Cup in Australia and it would be a four-day event, taking place in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales.{{cite web |author1=Ethan Renner |title=NJPW announces four-day Oceania Cup event for Australia in 2023 |url=https://www.f4wonline.com/news/new-japan/njpw-announces-four-day-oceania-cup-event-for-australia-in-2023 |website=WON / F4W |access-date=23 August 2023 |date=December 12, 2022}} However, NJPW was forced to postpone the event. On May 8, 2023, it was announced that NJPW's partner promotion Impact Wrestling would replace NJPW on the Australia tour, marking Impact's first-ever events to Australia, taking place between {{dts|2023|6|29}} and {{dts|2023|7|2}}.{{cite web |title=IMPACT Wrestling Announces 2 Shows This Summer In Australia (Winter, Down Under) |url=https://impactwrestling.com/2023/05/08/impact-wrestling-announces-2-shows-this-summer-in-australia-winter-down-under/ |website=Impact Wrestling |access-date=23 August 2023 |date=May 8, 2023}} The event was funded by the New South Wales government's Regional Events Acceleration Fund.{{cite web |title=Date set for international wrestling show to hit the ring in Wagga Wagga |url=https://wagga.nsw.gov.au/the-council/news-and-updates/news-articles/may-2023/date-set-for-international-wrestling-show-in-wagga-wagga |website=Government of Wagga Wagga |access-date=23 August 2023 |date=May 9, 2023}}{{cite web |author1=Matt Malone |title=Impact Wrestling announce a four-day, two-shot Impact Down Under Tour to be held in Wagga |url=https://www.dailyadvertiser.com.au/story/8189074/impact-wrestling-replace-new-japan-for-wagga-event-as-oceania-cup-postponed/ |website=The Daily Advertiser |access-date=23 August 2023 |date=May 11, 2023}}
It was announced that Starrcast creator Conrad Thompson would host a live podcast during the tour titled "Business of Wrestling" with the Impact Wrestling President Scott D'Amore.{{cite web |author1=Jerome Wilen |title=IMPACT Wrestling coming to Australia, Conrad Thompson to host live podcast |url=https://www.wrestleview.com/impact-news/271039-impact-wrestling-coming-to-australia-conrad-thompson-to-host-live-podcast/ |website=WrestleView |access-date=23 August 2023 |date=May 8, 2023}}{{cite web |title=Conrad Thompson Show |url=https://www.oceaniaprowrestling.com/news/conrad-thompson-show-2023 |website=Oceania Pro Wrestling |access-date=23 August 2023 |date=May 19, 2023}} Two major wrestling shows were announced to take place on June 30 and July 1, featuring wrestlers from Impact Wrestling and the upstart promotion Oceania Pro Wrestling.{{cite web |title=Oceania Pro Wrestling on X: "Great to announce the partnership with @IMPACTWRESTLING today" |url=https://twitter.com/pro_opw/status/1655813469403512833 |website=Oceania Pro Wrestling |publisher=Twitter |access-date=23 August 2023 |date=May 9, 2023}}{{cite web |title=Australian Talent Announcement |url=https://www.oceaniaprowrestling.com/news/australian-talent-announcement |website=Oceania Pro Wrestling |access-date=23 August 2023 |date=June 21, 2023}} An eight-match Australian Showcase event was also announced to take place on the fourth day of the tour on July 2, which would feature wrestlers from Australia competing in front of D'Amore.{{cite web |author1=Andy Gray |title=IMPACT Downunder tour – IMPACT match announcements + Australian showcase |url=https://www.pwdownunder.com/2023/06/28/impact-downunder-tour-impact-match-announcements-australian-showcase/ |website=Pro Wrestling Downunder |access-date=23 August 2023 |date=June 28, 2023}}
=Storylines=
The event featured several professional wrestling matches, which involved different wrestlers from pre-existing scripted feuds, plots, and storylines. Wrestlers portrayed heroes, villains, or less distinguishable characters in scripted events that built tension and culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches. Storylines were produced on Impact's weekly television program.{{cite web|url=https://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/pro-wrestling.htm|title=How Pro Wrestling Works |last=Grabianowski|first=Ed|work=HowStuffWorks, Inc.|date=13 January 2006 |publisher=Discovery Communications|access-date=November 19, 2022|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131129050844/https://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/pro-wrestling.htm|archive-date=November 29, 2013}}
==Main event matches==
At Against All Odds, Alex Shelley defeated Steve Maclin to win the Impact World Championship. On June 15, it was announced that Maclin would receive his rematch against Shelley for the title on the first night of the Down Under Tour.{{cite web |title=Shelley vs Maclin II for the IMPACT World Title, Plus Purrazzo vs Shaw for the Knockouts World Title Official for Down Under Tour |url=https://impactwrestling.com/2023/06/15/shelley-vs-maclin-ii-for-the-impact-world-title-plus-purrazzo-vs-shaw-for-the-knockouts-world-title-official-for-down-under-tour/ |website=Impact Wrestling |access-date=23 August 2023 |date=June 15, 2023}}
On June 15, it was announced that Deonna Purrazzo would defend the Knockouts World Championship against Gisele Shaw on July 1, and if Shaw won the title then the scheduled title match between Purrazzo and Trinity at Slammiversary would become a three-way match for the title between Shaw, Purrazzo and Trinity.{{cite web |author1=Josh Nason |title=Alex Shelley vs. Steve Maclin World title rematch set for Impact Down Under |url=https://www.f4wonline.com/news/impact-wrestling/alex-shelley-vs-steve-maclin-world-title-rematch-set-for-impact-down-under |website=WON / F4W |access-date=23 August 2023 |date=June 15, 2023}}
==Undercard matches==
On June 22, it was announced that Joe Hendry would defend the Digital Media Championship against Eddie Edwards on June 30, and the winner of the match would defend the title against Moose on July 1.
On June 22, it was announced that Chris Sabin would defend the X Division Championship against Frankie Kazarian and Robbie Eagles in a three-way match on June 30.
On June 22, it was announced that ABC (Ace Austin and Chris Bey) would defend the World Tag Team Championship against The Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin).{{cite web |author1=Ian Carey |title=New matches announced for Impact Down Under pay-per-views |url=https://www.f4wonline.com/news/impact-wrestling/new-matches-announced-for-impact-down-under-pay-per-views-62823 |website=WON / F4W |access-date=23 August 2023 |date=June 28, 2023}}
On the June 22 episode of Impact!, Bully Ray and Steve Maclin defeated Eddie Edwards and Frankie Kazarian in a tag team match.{{cite web |author1=Darrin Lilly |title=6/22 IMPACT WRESTLING TV REPORT: Edwards & Kazarian vs. Bully & Maclin, Wilde vs. Kelly |url=https://www.pwtorch.com/site/2023/06/22/6-22-impact-wrestling-tv-report-edwards-kazarian-vs-bully-maclin-wilde-vs-kelly/ |website=Pro Wrestling Torch |access-date=23 August 2023 |date=June 22, 2023}} This led to a match being announced between Kazarian and Maclin to take place on July 1 during the Down Under tour.{{cite web |title=IMPACT Wrestling Down Under Tour Preview: Day 2 (July 1, 2023) |url=https://impactwrestling.com/2023/06/30/impact-wrestling-down-under-tour-preview-day-2-july-1-2023/ |website=Impact Wrestling |access-date=23 August 2023 |date=June 30, 2023}}
Results
=Down Under Tour=
{{Professional wrestling results table
|caption = Night 1 (June 30)
|results =
|match1 = Slex defeated Adam Brooks by pinfall
|stip1 = Singles match
|time1 = 6:19
|match2 = Gisele Shaw defeated Erika Reid by submission
|stip2 = Singles match
|time2 = 7:33
|match3 = Joe Hendry (c) defeated Eddie Edwards by pinfall
|stip3 = Singles match for the Impact Digital Media Championship
|time3 = 11:41
|match4 = Killer Kelly defeated Aysha by submission
|stip4 = Singles match
|time4 = 7:09
|match5 = Chris Sabin (c) defeated Frankie Kazarian and Robbie Eagles by pinfall
|stip5 = Three-way match for the Impact X Division Championship
|time5 = 14:49
|match6 = ABC{{Broken anchor|date=2024-07-24|bot=User:Cewbot/log/20201008/configuration|target_link=Bullet Club#Sub-groups|reason= The anchor (Sub-groups) has been deleted.}} (Ace Austin and Chris Bey) defeated The Most Professional Wrestling Gods (Brian Myers and Moose) by pinfall
|stip6 = Tag team match
|time6 = 15:57
|match7 = Deonna Purrazzo defeated Steph De Lander by submission
|stip7 = Singles match
|time7 = 9:07
|match8 = Alex Shelley (c) defeated Steve Maclin by pinfall
|stip8 = Singles match for the Impact World Championship
|time8 = 21:06
}}
{{Professional wrestling results table
|caption = Night 2 (July 1)
|results =
|match1 = Adam Brooks defeated Robbie Eagles by pinfall
|stip1 = Singles match to crown the inaugural OPW Heavyweight Champion
|time1 = 13:02
|match2 = The Natural Classics{{Broken anchor|date=2024-07-24|bot=User:Cewbot/log/20201008/configuration|target_link=Bullet Club#Sub-groups|reason= The anchor (Sub-groups) has been deleted.}} (Stevie Filip and Tome Filip) defeated The VeloCities (Jude London and Paris De Silva) by pinfall
|stip2 = Tag team match
|time2 = 4:46
|match3 = Joe Hendry (c) defeated Moose by pinfall
|stip3 = Singles match for the Impact Digital Media Championship
|time3 = 12:16
|match4 = Eddie Edwards defeated Slex by pinfall
|stip4 = Singles match
|time4 = 11:49
|match5 = Steph De Lander defeated Killer Kelly by pinfall
|stip5 = Singles match
|time5 = 9:51
|match6 = Frankie Kazarian defeated Brian Myers by submission
|stip6 = Singles match
|time6 = 14:47
|match7 = ABC{{Broken anchor|date=2024-07-24|bot=User:Cewbot/log/20201008/configuration|target_link=Bullet Club#Sub-groups|reason= The anchor (Sub-groups) has been deleted.}} (Ace Austin and Chris Bey) (c) defeated The Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin) by pinfall
|stip7 = Tag team match for the Impact World Tag Team Championship
|time7 = 19:03
|match8 = Deonna Purrazzo (c) defeated Gisele Shaw by submission
|stip8 = Singles match for the Impact Knockouts World Championship
|time8 = 17:04
}}
=Australian Showcase=
{{Infobox Wrestling event
|name = Australian Showcase
|image =
|alt =
|caption =
|tagline =
|theme =
|promotion = Impact Wrestling
Oceania Pro Wrestling
|date = {{dts|2023|7|2}}
|attendance =
|venue = Equex Centre
|city = Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia
|liveevent=y
}}
{{Professional wrestling results table
|caption =
|times =
|stip1=Singles match
|match1=Jimmy Townsend defeated Ricky South
|stip2=Singles match to crown the inaugural OPW Women's Champion
|match2=Erika Reid defeated Xena
|stip3=Singles match
|match3=Matt Hayter defeated Luke Watts
|stip4=Singles match
|match4=Kingsley defeated Lena Kross
|stip5=Tag team match to crown the inaugural OPW Tag Team Champions
|match5=The Parea (Eli Theseus and Gabriel Aeros) defeated Top Tier (Mitch Ryder and Tim Hayden)
|stip6=Singles match
|match6=Anth Cava defeated Syd Parker
|stip7=Singles match
|match7=Aysha defeated Frankie B
|stip8=Singles match
|match8=Mick Moretti defeated Jack Bonza
}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.impactwrestling.com Impact Wrestling official website]
- [https://www.oceaniaprowrestling.com/ Oceania Pro Wrestling official website]
{{Professional wrestling in Australia}}
Category:2023 in professional wrestling
Category:Professional wrestling shows in Australia
Category:June 2023 sports events in Australia
Category:July 2023 sports events in Australia
Category:Total Nonstop Action Wrestling shows