Hard To Kill 2023 was a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by Impact Wrestling. It took place on January 13, 2023 at Center Stage in Atlanta, Georgia. It was the fourth event under the Hard To Kill chronology.
Production[]
Background[]
At Bound for Glory on October 7, 2022, Impact announced that the fourth Hard to Kill event would take place on January 13, 2023, at Center Stage in Atlanta, Georgia.
Storylines[]
On January 6, 2023, it was announced that on the pre-show, The Death Dollz (Rosemary, Taya Valkyrie and JesSICKa) would face Savannah Evans, Tasha Steelz and Gisele Shaw. Also announced for the pre-show was an X Division Six Way Match.
On the December 1 episode of iMPACT!, Moose bragged about predicting that Bully Ray would betray Josh Alexander. Moose went on to say that he didn't want to hear Bully Ray's name, which brought out Digital Media Champion Joe Hendry, who believed Moose was seeking a title match. A brawl would then break out between the two. On the December 29 episode of iMPACT!, Hendry challenged Moose to a match at Hard to Kill. Moose would accept, making the match official.
At Over Drive on November 18, 2022, Trey Miguel won the vacant X Division Championship after using spray paint to beat Black Taurus. On the December 15 episode of iMPACT!, while Decay (Black Taurus and Crazzy Steve) made their entrance, Miguel attacked Steve before tagging him with spray paint. This would result in Decay losing their match to The Major Players (Brian Myers and Matt Cardona). The following week, it was announced that Miguel would defend the X Division Championship against Taurus at Hard to Kill.
On December 29, 2022, it was announced that a Three Way Match between Masha Slamovich, Deonna Purrazzo, and Taylor Wilde would take place at Hard to Kill, with the winner becoming the number one contender for the Knockouts Championship. On January 5, Impact announced that Killer Kelly would also take part in the bout, making it a Four Way Match.
On the Over Drive pre-show, The Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin) defeated Ace Austin and Chris Bey of BULLET CLUB to earn an Impact World Tag Team Championship Match. Later that night, The Major Players (Brian Myers and Matt Cardona) were defeated by Impact World Tag Team Champions Heath and Rhino. On the December 8, 2022 episode of iMPACT!, The Motor City Machine Guns challenged Heath and Rhino. However, the match ended in a no contest after The Major Players attacked both teams. As a result, on the December 15 episode of iMPACT!, The Motor City Machine Guns faced Heath and Rhino again, this time in a match where The Major Players were barred from ringside. The Motor City Machine Guns would emerge victorious, capturing the Impact World Tag Team Championship for a third time. The following week, The Motor City Machine Guns revealed they would defend the Impact World Tag Team Championship against The Major Players, Heath and Rhino, and Austin and Bey in a Four Way Tag Team Match at Hard to Kill.
On the December 22, 2022 episode of iMPACT!, Steve Maclin, who had been on a rampage in the weeks prior, believing he deserved an Impact World Championship Match, faced off with Rich Swann. However, the match would end in a double count out as the two men continued to brawl after the bout. On the January 5, 2023 episode of iMPACT!, Swann challenged Maclin to a Falls Count Anywhere Match at Hard to Kill, which was accepted and made official.
On the December 15, 2022 episode of iMPACT!, Eddie Edwards scored a victory over Delirious. After the match, Edwards would attack Delirious, only for a returning Jonathan Gresham to make the save. It was later confirmed that Edwards and Gresham would face off at Hard to Kill.
Following a loss to Chelsea Green on the July 14, 2022 episode of iMPACT!, Mickie James would return on the September 1 episode of iMPACT!, announcing her "Last Rodeo", a stipulation where that if she lost a match, she would retire. As part of her Last Rodeo, James would defeat women such as Gisele Shaw, Mia Yim, Chelsea Green, and Taylor Wilde. James would defeat Deonna Purrazzo on the December 1 episode of iMPACT!, before she was confronted by Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace. As a result, it was confirmed that Grace would defend the Knockouts Championship against James in a Title vs. Career Match at Hard to Kill.
At Bound for Glory on October 7, 2022, Bully Ray made his return to Impact Wrestling, winning the Call Your Shot Gauntlet Match to earn a bout with Impact World Champion Josh Alexander. Later that night, Alexander defeated Eddie Edwards, before he was ambushed by Honor No More after the match. However, Ray would make the save, rather than attacking Alexander. On the October 13 episode of iMPACT!, Ray explained he want to rewrite his reputation and challenge Alexander honourably. At Over Drive on November 18, Ray defeated Moose, one of the many who distrusted Ray, in a Tables Match. Later that night, after Alexander defeated Frankie Kazarian, Ray kept his promise, invoking his Call Your Shot Gauntlet Match victory to challenge Alexander to a bout at Hard to Kill. However, Ray's honour was short lived, as he would blind side Alexander before threatening to attack Alexander's wife. On the December 22 episode of iMPACT!, Ray, John Skyler, and Jason Hotch attacked Alexander. Tommy Dreamer, one of the few who believed Ray could rewrite his legacy, attempted to help Alexander, but was ambushed before being trapped under a ladder and attacked with a chair. As a result, the bout between Alexander and Ray at Hard to Kill was changed to a Full Metal Mayhem Match.
Results[]
- Numbers in parentheses indicate the length of the match.
- (c) refers to the champion(s) heading into the match.
- Pre-Show: KUSHIDA defeated Angels and Yuya Uemura and Mike Jackson and Delirious and Mike Bailey in a Six Way Match (7:29)
- Pre-Show: Trey Miguel (c) defeated Black Taurus (w/ Crazzy Steve) to retain the Impact X Division Championship (10:15)
- Josh Alexander (c) defeated Bully Ray in a Full Metal Mayhem Match to retain the Impact World Championship (17:01)
- The Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin) (c) defeated Heath & Rhino and The Major Playerz (Matt Cardona & Brian Myers) and Bullet Club (Ace Austin & Chris Bey) in a Four Way Tag Team Elimination Match to retain the Impact World Tag Team Championship (13:13)
- Joe Hendry (c) defeated Moose to retain the Impact Digital Media Championship (11:52)
- Masha Slamovich defeated Deonna Purrazzo and Taylor Wilde and Killer Kelly in a Four Way Match to become the #1 Contender for the Impact Knockouts Championship (8:36)
- Steve Maclin defeated Rich Swann in a Falls Count Anywhere match (11:41)
- Eddie Edwards defeated Jonathan Gresham (18:52)
- Mickie James defeated Jordynne Grace (c) in a Title vs. Career Match to win the Impact Knockouts Championship (19:23)
Other on-screen talent[]
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External links[]
| Hard To Kill |
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| 2020 • 2021 • 2022 • 2023 • 2024 |
| 2023 Impact Wrestling pay-per-views/Impact Plus Monthly Specials |
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Hard to Kill • No Surrender • Sacrifice • Impact Wrestling-NJPW Multiverse United: Only The Strong Survive • Rebellion • Under Siege • Against All Odds • Slammiversary • Impact Wrestling-NJPW Multiverse United 2: For Whom The Bell Tolls • Emergence • Victory Road • Bound for Glory • Turning Point • Final Resolution |