Hard To Kill (2022)
Hard To Kill (2022) was a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by Impact Wrestling. It took place on January 8, 2022, at The Bomb Factory in Dallas, Texas. It was the third event under the Hard To Kill chronology. Nine matches were contested at the event, with two matches contested on the pre-show. In the main event, Mickie James defeated Deonna Purrazzo in a Texas Deathmatch to retain the Impact Knockouts Championship. In other prominent matches, Moose defeated Matt Cardona and W. Morrissey in a three-way match to retain the Impact  World Championship, Trey Miguel defeated Steve Maclin to retain the Impact X Division Championship, Jonathan Gresham defeated Chris Sabin to retain the ROH World Championship, and Josh Alexander defeated Jonah. The event featured appearances by several notable Ring of Honor (ROH) talents and personnel including Matt Taven, Rok-C, and Vincent, and the returns of Jonathan Gresham, Maria Kanellis, Mike Bennett, and PCO. Hard To Kill was also notable for the debut of Tom Hannifan (formerly known as Tom Phillips in WWE) as Impact's play-by-play commentator. Production. Background. At Bound for Glory, Impact Wrestling announced Hard To  Kill would take place on January 8, 2022, in Dallas, Texas. On November 3, it was announced that event will take place from The Bomb Factory. Storylines. The event featured professional wrestling matches that involved different wrestlers from pre-existing scripted feuds and storylines. Wrestlers portrayed villains, heroes, 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. At Bound for Glory, Mickie James defeated Deonna Purrazzo to win the Impact Knockouts Championship. Purrazzo would go silent for the better part  of a month, returning on the November 18 episode of "Impact", where she would have a sit-down interview with Gia Miller, giving short answers to all of her questions until being asked about her next move, and she would simply say that the audience will have to wait and see for what would be next. At Turning Point, after James successfully defended the Knockouts Championship against Mercedes Martinez, Purrazzo attacked James and announced that she would invoke her rematch clause at Hard To Kill. On the December 16 episode of "Impact!", after a physical altercation during a meet and  greet, it was announced that they will face off in a Texas Deathmatch. At Turning Point, Impact Executive Vice President Scott D'Amore announced the first ever Knockouts Ultimate X match, where the winner would become the next contender to the Impact Knockouts Championship. On the December 9 episode of "Impact!", newly-minted Knockouts executive Gail Kim announced the participants to be the following: Chelsea Green, Jordynne Grace, Lady Frost, Rachael Ellering, Rosemary, and Tasha Steelz. On January 6, 2022, Impact announced that Alisha Edwards will take the place of Ellering, with no reason has yet to be given. At Turning  Point, W. Morrissey defeated Matt Cardona thanks to interference from Impact World Champion Moose, while later in the night, Moose successfully defended the title against Eddie Edwards in a Full Metal Mayhem match. During that match, Cardona and Morrissey interfered on behalf of Edwards and Moose, respectively, before the two would brawl again. On the December 2 episode of "Impact!", Cardona opened the show to call out Moose, to which the champion would say that Cardona would never become a top star, questioned if he truly wanted to wrestle him, and regarded him as a "mid-carder". Moose and Morrissey  would go on to attack Cardona before Edwards ran in to save the latter. Later that night, Edwards and Cardona defeated Moose and Morrissey in a tag team match after Cardona pinned Moose with a roll-up. After the match, Morrissey laid Moose out with a boot, making it clear that he wanted the Impact World Championship match Moose had promised him for weeks. Later, it was announced that Moose will defend the Impact World Championship against Cardona and Morrissey in a three-way match at Hard To Kill. At Turning Point, Jonah made his debut, attacking Josh Alexander and  leaving him bloodied. On the December 9 episode of "Impact!", Scott D'Amore announced Josh Alexander would face Jonah at Hard To Kill. On December 23, Impact announced that ROH World Champion Jonathan Gresham would defend his title at Hard To Kill against Chris Sabin. At Bound for Glory, Trey Miguel defeated Steve Maclin and El Phantasmo, the latter being who he pinned, in a three-way match to win the vacant Impact X Division Championship. Maclin took exception to this, as while he technically lost his undefeated streak, he was yet to be pinned or submitted in singles competition. As  such, he earned another opportunity at the title, facing Miguel and Laredo Kid, who he beat to enter the match, at Turning Point. There, Miguel attempted a double pin on Kid and Maclin. Maclin was able to kick out while Kid did not, meaning Miguel retained the title. Maclin would later walk up to Scott D'Amore, demanding one more match, but was denied. So in retaliation, on the December 16 episode of "Impact!", Maclin jumped Miguel from behind before binding and gagging him backstage. This led Miguel to instead demand a match with Maclin, which was granted and would take  place at Hard To Kill. On the January 6 episode of "Impact!", an added stipulation stated that if Maclin lost, he would not get another title opportunity as long as Miguel was champion. On December 21, Impact announced the return of Hardcore War at Hard To Kill, pitting Eddie Edwards, Rich Swann, Willie Mack, Heath and Rhino against Impact World Tag Team Champions The Good Brothers (Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson) and Violent By Design (Eric Young, Deaner, and Joe Doering). On the January 6 episode of "Impact!", Anderson defeated Heath in a match to determine which team had the  numbers advantage in Hardcore War. Canceled match. On the December 2 episode of "Impact!", Tenille Dashwood returned from hiatus and reunited with The Influence (Madison Rayne and Kaleb with a K), before getting back together with the Impact Knockouts Tag Team Champions The IInspiration (Cassie Lee and Jessie McKay) and uniting the two teams. The following week on "Impact!", they lost an intergender tag team match against Decay (Rosemary, Havok, Black Taurus, and Crazzy Steve). On December 22, Impact announced that The IInspiration will defend the Knockouts Tag Team Championship against The Influence at Hard To Kill. On the day  before the event, however, Impact announced that the match was canceled due to The IInspiration having come into contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19.