An air ratchet removed it but an impact wouldn't? What kind of air ratchet puts out that much torque?

Turning the engine over by hand doesn't guarantee anything. If the valves are bent and the timing is off, it will spin over by hand.

If the valves are bent it will either not start or run like crap if it does start, depending on how many are bent.

 

They were all impact wrenches, not ratchets. If it runs like crap- what do you mean by that? Symptoms? ... Valve noises?... Tapping?