At Bound for Glory, Bully Ray returned to Impact Wrestling in the Call Your Shot Gauntlet, last eliminating Steve Maclin to win a championship match at the time and place of his choosing. Later that night, after Josh Alexander retained the Impact World Championship against Eddie Edwards, Edwards' Honor No More stable attacked Alexander. Ray suddenly emerged and looked to invoke his opportunity at that moment, only to then help Alexander run off Honor No More.[2][7] The situation would be addressed on the subsequent episode of Impact!, where Alexander called out Ray. The latter would then explain that he wants to rewrite his legacy in Impact due to his past as someone who will do whatever it takes to achieve his goals, no matter who he betrays. As such, he promised Alexander that he will let him know when he will challenge him face-to-face.[8][9] However, many in Impact did not believe Ray's change in attitude – save for Ray's friend Tommy Dreamer – still believing that he will take the first opportunity he can get to ambush Alexander. At Over Drive, Ray defeated Moose, someone who tried to paint Ray in his previous light, in a tables match. In the main event, Alexander retained his title against Frankie Kazarian. After that match, Ray would confront Alexander and invoked his opportunity at Hard To Kill, which Alexander accepted. Once Alexander left the ring, Ray attacked him and threatened to piledrive his wife Jen, who was sitting at ringside.[10][11] The match would be announced for the main event of Hard To Kill.[12] On the December 22 episode of Impact!, Alexander would be attacked by Ray, Jason Hotch, and John Skyler. Tommy Dreamer, Ray's former friend, tried to intervene, but Ray dispatched of him using a steel chair and ladder. Alexander would go to Impact Executive Vice President Scott D'Amore, demanding his match with Ray at Hard To Kill be upgraded to a Full Metal Mayhem match, which D'Amore made official.[13]
After suffering a defeat from Chelsea Green on the July 14, 2022 episode of Impact!, Mickie James would leave the arena to return home, emotional and unsure about her future in professional wrestling.[14][15] Several weeks later, on the September 1 episode of Impact!, James returned and announced her "Last Rodeo", a final retirement campaign towards an Impact Knockouts World Championship match where if she loses her next bout, she promised to retire from in-ring competition.[16] James would go on to defeat the likes of Gisele Shaw,[17]Mia Yim,[7][2]Taylor Wilde,[10][11] and Chelsea Green; the victory over Green causing the latter to leave in the same vein as James had done five months ago.[18][19] On the December 1 episode of Impact!, James defeated longtime rival Deonna Purrazzo before being confronted by Knockouts World Champion Jordynne Grace, who would challenge James to a match at Hard To Kill.[20][21] Impact would announce the match, making it a Title vs. Career match.[22]
On the December 15 episode of Impact!, where Eddie Edwards defeated Delirious, Edwards attacked Delirious until the returning Jonathan Gresham made the save.[23][24] Later on the episode, it was confirmed that Gresham would face Edwards at Hard To Kill.[25]
At Over Drive, Trey Miguel defeated Black Taurus in the finals of a tournament to crown a new Impact X Division Champion, as the title was vacated by Frankie Kazarian via invoking Option C. However, Miguel won after spraying Taurus's eyes with a can of spray paint, turning heel in the process.[26][27] Miguel would go onto defacing the title belt by tagging it with his logo, something he would do to his opponents thereafter. On the December 15 episode of Impact!, when Decay (Taurus and Crazzy Steve) were making their entrance for a tag team match, Miguel struck Steve with the spray paint can before tagging him, with the lingering effects causing Decay to lose to The Major Players.[23][24] On the subsequent episode of Impact!, it was announced that Miguel and Taurus will have a rematch for the X Division Championship at Hard To Kill.[13]
On the December 1, 2022 Impact!, Moose cut a promo after defeating Bhupinder Gujjar, saying he knew what Bully Ray's true intentions with the Call Your Shot Trophy were. He went on to say that he never wanted to hear Ray's name again, which inadvertently drew the attention of Impact Digital Media ChampionJoe Hendry; believing that Moose wanted a title match.[20][21] For the next several weeks, Moose would target Hendry, and Gujjar in association, telling both men to "believe in Moose." On December 29, Hendry would challenge Moose to a match for the Digital Media Championship at Hard To Kill, which Moose accepted and would be made official on January 3, 2023.[32]
On the December 22, 2022 episode of Impact!, top world title contenders Rich Swann and Steve Maclin faced off in a match that ended in a double countout. Despite this, as well as several referees and security guards attempting to separate the two men, both continued their respective assaults on one another.[34][35] On the January 5, 2023 episode of Impact!, Swann challenged Maclin to a rematch, this time a Falls Count Anywhere match at Hard To Kill, which was made official later in the night.[36][37][38]
There were three matches on the Countdown to Hard to Kill pre-show, with one taped as a digital exclusive.
The penultimate match saw Kushida, Alan Angels, Mike Jackson, Yuya Uemura and Mike Bailey square off in a six-way bout. In the end, as Bailey was going to the top rope, Kenny King came from the back and pushed Bailey from the top rope. Kushida then cleared the apron with a handspring kick and locked in the Hoverboard Lock on Angels for the submission win.[39]
The main event of the pre-show saw Trey Miguel defend the Impact X Division Championship against Black Taurus (with Crazzy Steve). In the end, Miguel hit the Lightning Spiral, but his feet were on the rope. Unbeknownst to the referee, Miguel then blinded Taurus with a spray paint, allowing him to hit another Lightning Spiral for the win.[39]
Preliminary matches
The event started with a ten-bell salute to former Impact commentator Don West.[39]
The opening constest was a Full Metal Mayhem match for the Impact World Championship between Josh Alexander and Bully Ray. In the closing stages, Alexander's wife, Jen, delivered a low blow to Ray , allowing Alexander to deliver a Sliced Bread, but Ray kicked out. Alexander then went to the top rope and connected with a splash through a table, for a two-count. Alexander immediately locked in the Ankle Lock for the submission victory.[39]
Next, Joe Hendry defended the Impact Digital Media Championship against Moose. Moose initially won after a low blow and a spear, but Santino Marella made his debut as the Director of Authority, and announced that the match will be restarted. Hendry then won after hitting the Standing Ovation.[39]
Next, Masha Slamovich, Killer Kelly, Deonna Purrazzo and Taylor Wilde squared off to determine the #1 contender to the Impact Knockouts World Championship. In the closing stages, as Slamovich was trapped in the crossface submission by Wilde, Slamovich escaped and hit The Snowplow to become the #1 contender.[39]
In the penultimate match, Eddie Edwards took on Jonathan Gresham. In the closing stages, Edwards connected with a Tiger Driver, but Gresham kicked out. Edwards then connected with the Boston Knee Party, for the win. After the match, PCO made his long awaited return and delivered a chokeslam to Edwards.[39]
Main event
In the main event, Jordynne Grace defended the Impact Knockouts World Championship in a Title vs. Career match against Mickie James. Mickie hit a hurricana and the Mick Kick on Grace, for a two-count. As Grace was looking for the Grace Driver, Mickie countered in into an inside cradle for another two-count. Grace performed a sleeper hold submission on James, but James countered it into a knee lift. James sent Grace into the ring post, then performed a tornado DDT for the win, her career and the Impact Knockouts title. After the match, Mickie celebrated with her family and Tara as the show went off the air.[39]
^ abIMPACT Wrestling Staff (November 18, 2022). "Over Drive 2022 Full Results". Impact Wrestling. Archived from the original on November 19, 2022. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
^IMPACT Wrestling Staff (September 23, 2022). "Victory Road 2022 Full Results". Impact Wrestling. Archived from the original on September 24, 2022. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
^ abIMPACT Wrestling Staff (November 19, 2022). "Over Drive 2022 Full Results". Impact Wrestling. Archived from the original on November 19, 2022. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
^IMPACT Wrestling Staff (January 13, 2023). "Hard To Kill 2023 Full Results". Impact Wrestling. Archived from the original on January 14, 2023. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
