Final Resolution 2024
Date: December 13, 2024
Location: Center Stage, Atlanta, Georgia
Commentators: Tom Hannifan, Matthew Rehwoldt

It’s the last major show of the year and in this case we have the main event of Nic Nemeth defending the World Title against…AJ Francis. That’s kind of a weird choice to make but they only had two weeks to set the show up so there was only so much to do. The real main event is a four way for the World Title shot at Genesis so let’s get to it.

Countdown Show: Leon Slater vs. JDC

JDC grabs a headlock to start and dances, only to get armdragged down so Slater can dance. The big dive to the floor its teased before Slater hits a smaller dive to drop JDC again. Back in and JDC hits some running shots in the corner for two and we hit the chinlock. A Falcon Arrow gives JDC two and it’s off to a front facelock.

Slater fights up for a leg lariat and a running dropkick gives him a needed breather. Back up and JDC sweeps the leg in the corner but it’s too early for Down And Dirty. Instead Slater kicks him in the face on the top, setting up the big flip dive out to the floor. The Swanton 450 misses though and JDC rolls him up for the pin at 7:05.

Rating: C+. I have no idea why you would have JDC, the designated goon of the System, beat Slater, who has been getting a minor push. It’s just a weird for the match and I’m not sure I get it. Slater’s high spots were the usual entertaining parts of his matches, but he has just enough more to get by and that helps enough. A win would have helped more though.

Countdown Show: Frankie Kazarian vs. Jonathan Gresham

As usual, Kazarian has to get in his usual special intro and the distraction lets him jump Gresham. That doesn’t last long on Gresham, who grabs a quick Octopus hold in the ropes. The slingshot Fameasser in the ropes cuts Gresham off and a suplex drops him again. Another suplex gets another two and Kazarian works on a double arm crank.

Gresham fights up but gets pulled down into the chickenwing. That’s reversed into the Octopus but Kazarian makes it over to the ropes. Back up and Kazarian sends him to thee apron for the slingshot cutter (that was a nice one), setting up a thumb to the eye and the chickenwing for the win at 9:14.

Rating: C+. Well what in the world was that? This was Gresham’s hometown and he loses by submission in the middle of the ring? Yeah there was cheating but I’m not sure how wise it is to have both good guys lose on the Countdown Show. Kazarian needs to be in the building to threaten the cash in, but did Gresham have to lose like that?

And now, the show proper.

The opening video looks at the major matches and doesn’t have much of a theme.

X-Division Title: Moose vs. Kushida

Moose is defending and starts fast with a hard whip into the corner. Kushida fights back but gets sent outside for a toss into the steps. That’s almost good for a ten count but Moose breaks it up, only to miss a charge (close enough) around the ring and into the steps for a crash. Back in and Kushida starts runs Moose’s fingers over the ropes as Moose’s arm is already banged up.

A flipping kick to the head staggers Moose, who drops Kushida with another hard slam. Moose slaps him in the face though and Kushida fights up for Back To The Future and another near fall. Kushida strikes away at the arm so Moose goes up, only to dive into a Kimura. The rope is grabbed so Moose hits a dropkick to set up the spear for the pin to retain at 10:52.

Rating: B-. There is something to seeing Kushida strike away and crank on the arm like that, only for Moose to win through raw power. It’s a fine story and it worked well here. Moose has been powering through the division so far and that could make for a long term story until someone can find a way to stop him. If nothing else, it’s something new for him to do and that is overdue.

We run down the card.

AJ Francis is ready to win the World Title.

The Rascalz vs. PCO/Sami Callihan vs. Jake Something

Something’s partner Hammerstone is injured and a replacement wasn’t found so this is something of a handicap match. Callihan runs Wentz over to start but Something tags himself in and drops Wentz with some running shoulders. PCO comes in and gets struck down by the Rascalz, only to fight back and hand it off to Callihan. PCO’s backbreaker drops Miguel and everything breaks down with Wentz managing a German suplex on Something.

A superkick into a crucifix bomb gets two on Something but Callihan throws Wentz onto a pile at ringside. PCO dives onto said pile but Something is back in with a powerbomb to send Wentz onto Miguel. Sitout powerbombs hit Callihan and PCO (the latter was impressive), only for PCO to pop back up. The Rascalz are back up though and it’s a superkick into a backbreaker into a middle rope Meteora combination to finish Something at 10:57.

Rating: B-. Another fast paced match here with Something being the logical person to take the fall here as he was coming in with a handicap. PCO and Callihan could turn into a nice resident monster team while the Rascalz are already established as a regular team. I could see them getting into the title picture again and this might be a start on the way there.

Post match the 23 appears again, prompting a WHAT WAS THAT chant.

Eric Young gives Steve Maclin a pep talk before the #1 contenders match.

Trent Seven vs. Ace Austin

Austin slugs away to start and takes him down for a basement dropkick to the floor. Back in and Seven gets in a cheap shot to take over so the pace can slow down. A spinning slam gives Seven two and we’re hitting the early frustration. Seven’s chops just annoy Austin so a DDT takes Austin back down. A powerbomb out of the corner lets Seven wipe himself with what looked like a Chris Bey shirt, which is enough to wake Austin up.

Austin drives him into the corner for some chops and a running double stomp gets two. Seven catches him on top though and it’s a Birminghammer onto the apron for two, with Austin having to put his foot on the rope. Some chops to the neck set up the Seven Star Lariat but Austin slips away, only to get caught with a piledriver for…one. Another Birminghammer is countered into a DDT, meaning it’s the Art Of Finesse into the Fold for the pin on Seven at 12:39.

Rating: C+. The ending with Austin doing his own version of the 1-2-Sweet is a nice thing to see and hopefully we get to see the team version again. Austin is more than talented enough to do something on his own but Bey is going to be on everyone’s minds for a long time. Having Austin beat Seven is a nice way to go, but it’s not like this is some epic feud.

Frankie Kazarian is ready for a big year and teases a cash-in.

Rosemary vs. Jordynne Grace

Grace powers her around to start but it’s too early for a Juggernaut Driver. Some knees to the ribs stagger Rosemary but she’s right back with the Upside Down. With that broken up, Rosemary hammers away on the neck and kicks her in the ropes for an early one. Rosemary plants her on the apron and hits a shot off the steps, followed by a choke back inside.

A hard palm strike knocks Rosemary back but she rises up, only to get dropped for two more. Grace cuts off a spear and knees her down for another near fall. They go outside so Rosemary can choke her on the ropes, earning her a hard drop onto the ramp. Back in and another spear gives Rosemary her own near fall but As Above So Below is blocked. Grace hits the Musclebuster…but someone in a mask pulls the referee out. We’ll call that a no contest at 10:00.

Rating: B-. These two were starting to pick up the pace a bit here and it’s nice to not have Grace pick up another win when she seems to be on her way out of the company in just a few weeks (in theory at least). The other interesting here is that the two of them have fought twice in the last few months and both of them have ended in a no contest. That’s a nice little way to protect Rosemary, which is nice to see as she’s quite the star in the division.

Post match the masked woman lays out Jordynne Grace and it’s….Tessa Blanchard, who is returning after years away.

In the back, Blanchard says she’s back to take what is hers and shoves Gia Miller down.

Joe Hendry vs. Steve Maclin vs. Josh Alexander vs. Mike Santana

For the World Title match at Genesis and Eric Young is on commentary. It’s a brawl to start with Santana and Alexander brawling in the ring. Maclin takes Santana’s place but Hendry takes Maclin’s place. The fall away slam is blocked and Santana is back in to enziguri Maclin in the corner. Hendry’s delayed suplex puts Maclin down but Alexander makes the save. Back in and Alexander rolls some German suplexes on Maclin, who manages to escape and fires off some clotheslines in the corner.

Hendry is back in and avoids a middle rope dropkick from Alexander in a Samoa Joe style sidestep. Santana breaks that up and has the big staredown with Alexander. A middle rope knee gives Alexander two and he drops Santana with a belly to back. Back up and Santana’s rolling cutter gets two on Alexander, who gets lifted up for a Doomsday Blockbuster to really leave him down.

Hendry is back up with a fall away slam but Maclin runs him over with a running knee. Alexander goes up but gets caught with a super fall away slam. Maclin hits the Jar Headbutt, only to get hit with a frog splash to give Santana two. With everyone else on the floor, Hendry hits a dive before he and Maclin hit stereo clotheslines. Alexander whips out the zip ties to tie Santana to the barricade before kicking Maclin low. That’s enough to set up the C4 Spike but Hendry is back up with the Standing Ovation to pin Alexander and go to Genesis at 18:23.

Rating: B+. Yeah this was the big match coming in and it more than delivered. There was only so much doubt about who was going to win as Hendry had been presented as a main eventer over the last few weeks, but now all that matters is that he actually wins the title. I’d hope that is the case, but sweet goodness I’m almost scared to imagine what happens if it doesn’t. Heck of a match here, and that is always nice to see.

Video on Chris Bey.

Nic Nemeth is ready for Joe Henry because he’s going to beat AJ Francis tonight.

We recap Masha Slamovich defending the Knockouts Title against Tasha Steelz. Slamovich finally vanquished Jordynne Grace but now has to beat Steelz, who wants the title back.

Knockouts Title: Tasha Steelz vs. Masha Slamovich

Slamovich is defending and…here is Santino Marella to ban Alisha Edwards from the building and make this Falls Count Anywhere.. Slamovich kicks her down to start and gets two off an early cradle. A dive drops Steelz (and security) for two but Steelz is back up with a suplex onto the steps (geez) for two. Back in and Steelz hammers away at the chest and grabs the chinlock, which doesn’t last long. Slamovich knocks her outside again, where Steelz grabs a hanging DDT for two.

Back in again and a superplex drops Steelz so they can slug it out. Steelz has to slip out of a powerbomb attempt and rakes the eyes, meaning it’s time to head to the apron. Neither can hit a piledriver so they head to the ramp, where Steelz gets two off a cutter. Steelz’s bulldog on the stage gets two more but Slamovich gets annoyed at being rammed into the stage. A few shots to the face set up a piledriver to retain the title at 12:35.

Rating: C+. You can only do so much with Steelz as a challenger to a monster like Slamovich as it’s kind of hard to imagine Steelz being a threat. The stipulation helped a bit, but I couldn’t imagine anything Steelz could throw out there being a threat to Slamovich. They didn’t go too nuts here and the result was the right call.

We recap the Hardys defending the Tag Team Titles against the System in a tables match. The System lost the titles at Bound For Glory and then put the Hardys through a table, meaning it’s time for revenge.

Tag Team Titles: Hardys vs. The System

The Hardys are defending in a tables match (elimination rules) and it’s a brawl to start with the champs hammering away. Back to back Plot Twists have the System on the floor and it’s time for a table. There’s a Twist of Fate to Myers but Edwards is back up for the save. A superplex saves Myers from being eliminated and Matt is sent through a table for the elimination at 5:12. That leaves Jeff on the ramp but Matt fights up and cutters Myers off the apron to even it up at 8:13.

Edwards and Jeff fight around ringside but Edwards gets slapped by a fan (and slaps him right back, in what was apparently not planned). Jeff uses the distraction to fight up and hit a basement dropkick inside. Myers sends Matt into the post and breaks up Jeff’s Twist of Fate. Jeff gets dragged into the crowd, where the System sets up another table. Matt makes the save with a chair and Edwards is put on the table for a Swanton out of the balcony to retain the titles at 16:51.

Rating: C. The match was mostly wild but it felt like it was there to hide what the Hardys can’t do anymore. There is only so much you can ask from two guys who are past the age where most stars hang it up and are very banged up after so many years. Throw in the fact that the feud as already run out of steam and there wasn’t much to see here. The Hardys being featured players around here isn’t helping TNA’s reputation and the match was nothing that we haven’t seen done better multiple times.

We recap Nic Nemeth defending the World Title against AJ Francis. Nemeth is a fighting champion and Francis talked his way into a title shot. Here we go.

TNA World Title: Nic Nemeth vs. AJ Francis

Nemeth is defending and Francis has KC Navarro with him. Francis yells a lot and gets superkicked for an early two. A sleeper is broken up but Nemeth can’t slam him. Francis knocks him down and here is Frankie Kazarian to join commentary. They head outside where Francis drops him onto the apron but it’s too early for the chokeslam back inside.

For some reason Francis goes up, earning himself a superkick into a powerbomb for two. Nemeth drops a bunch of elbows for two but gets kicked in the face for another near fall. Some clotheslines and the running DDT put Francis down but he’s right back up with a spear. A Vader Bomb gets two with Nemeth’s foot on the rope.

Navarro shoves it off, which is enough for an ejection to make it one on one. Nemeth manages a quick Danger Zone for two but Francis drops him again. Francis’ moonsault (oh dear) misses and Nemeth hits a Fameasser for another near fall. A Roode Bomb of all things gets two on Nemeth and the chokeslam connects, with Nemeth rolling out to the apron. Francis launches him back into the ring, where Nemeth hits a Fameasser into the Danger Zone to retain at 15:15.

Rating: C. This was about as good as you could get as Francis was little more than a filler challenger. That’s not the worst thing in the world and they did try, but there is a reason Francis has that reputation. The match just wasn’t anything worth seeing and Nemeth was doing everything he could to hold it together.

Post match Navarro comes in for the beatdown but Joe Hendry makes the save. Nemeth and Hendry stare each other down to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. This show was pretty much thrown together in a few weeks and it certainly felt like it. There was only so much that you could get out of this card and only the four way felt important. The rest of the show came off like it was there because they needed a show this month. You can have good action throughout, but it isn’t going to matter if the show feels like pure filler, which is how most of this came off.

Results
JDC b. Leon Slater – Rollup with feet on the ropes
Frankie Kazarian b. Jonathan Gresham – Chickenwing
Moose b. Kushida – Spear
The Rascalz b. Jake Something and PCO/Sami Callihan – Middle rope Meteora to Something
Ace Austin b. Trent Seven – Fold
Jordynne Grace vs. Rosemary went to a no contest when Tessa Blanchard interfered
Joe Hendry b. Mike Santana, Steve Maclin and Josh Alexander – Standing Ovation to Alexander
Masha Slamovich b. Tasha Steelz – Piledriver on the ramp
Hardys b. The System – Swanton to Edwards through a table
Nic Nemeth b. AJ Francis – Danger Zone

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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Impact Wrestling
Date: December 5, 2024
Location: Crown Arena, Fayetteville, North Carolina
Commentators: Tom Hannifan, Matthew Rehwoldt

We are done with Turning Point and Nic Nemeth retained the World Title, again with the help of John Layfield. In addition, we are about two weeks away from Final Resolution, which is going to need a card set up in rather short order. That makes for some interesting options so let’s get to it.

Here is Turning Point if you need a recap.

We open with a long Turning Point recap.

Opening sequence.

Trent Seven vs. Kushida vs. Ace Austin vs. JDC vs. Leon Slater

For the X-Division Title shot at Final Resolution. Slater and Seven are left in the ring to start but Austin comes back in to dropkick Slater out to the floor. Austin’s big dive to the floor takes some people out but Seven kicks him out of the air back inside. Seven and JDC get together to take over on Slater until JDC rolls Seven up for two (it was a matter of time).

Austin hits a quick Art Of Finesse for two on Kushida but he pulls Austin into a cross armbreaker. Slater breaks that up with a top rope splash and then takes both of the out with a big dive tot he floor. Back in and Austin climbs onto JDC’s back to superplex Slater (that was cool) but Slater backdrops Austin to the floor. Kushida is back up with Back To The Future to pin Slater at 8:26.

Rating: B-. As has been the case for years, there is some easy value in having a bunch of people in a match going all over the place until one of them wins. Kushida is someone with enough of a track record to be an interesting challenge to Moose, even if I can’t imagine him winning the title. They had a nice way to get there though, with Austin looking good as well.

Tasha Steelz is ready to get rid of the thorn in her side that is Jordynne Grace.

PCO/Sami Callihan vs. Good Hands

On their way to the ring, the Good Hands mock the South Carolina fans and say Callihan is dirty, while PCO needs to understand that Halloween is over. Callihan chops Hotch into the corner and it’s off to PCO to knock him outside in a heap. Back in and a slingshot takes Callihan down and Skyler grabs a chinlock. That’s broken up rather quickly and PCO comes in to run both of them over. A double DDT drops the Hands and Callihan backdrops PCO onto both of them outside. Back in and assisted top rope Swanton (the old Quebecers’ Cannonball) finishes Hotch at 5:47.

Rating: C. Yeah what were you expecting here? This was designed to be PCO and Callihan as a monster team and they did what they were supposed to do. I’m not sure I can imagine them as a regular team but it’s not like either of them have anything better to do. That’s not a good sign when PCO has two titles but it’s not like the Digital Media Title means much.

Post match the lights go out and “23” appears on the screen.

Nic Nemeth is cut off by First Class, with Top Dolla saying he wants the World Title. Santino Marella comes in and the match is on for Final Resolution. And yes you are supposed to want to see this.

Tag Team Titles: The Hardys vs. The System

The Hardys are defending and Alisha Edwards is here with the System. Eddie headlocks Jeff to start and the Hardys are even more popular than usual in their home state. Matt comes in and takes over on Myers in the corner with the double stomping ensuing. Myers is back up with a chop block to Matt though and we take a break.

Back with Myers hammering away and working on Matt’s knee like a good villain should. The Roster Cut is countered into a Side Effect though and Matt gets a needed breather. That’s enough for Jeff to come back in and clean house, with an elbow drop getting two on Eddie. The Whisper In The Wind gets two more but the Twist Of Fate is broken up. The System Overload is broken up though and the Plot Twist gives the Hardys two. It’s time for a table, which is enough for Alisha to use the kendo stick for the DQ at 9:48.

Rating: B-. This felt like a way to set up a rematch with some kind of stipulation at Final Resolution, which isn’t the best sign when the Hardys and the System (plus ABC) just had a big stipulation match at Bound For Glory. Then again, the Hardys being put in a match in North Carolina makes sense. Throw in the heat the System will get from these fans and this was a good setup.

Post match the System beats up the Hardys, with Jeff being put through Matt through the table.

Spitfire is a bit annoyed at each other but they’re ready for Ash/Heather By Elegance.

Here is Santino Marella (to quite the reception) to announce the Hardys vs. the System at Final Resolution in a tables match.

PCO and Sami Callihan want to know what 23 is and accuse Hammerstone and Jake Something of being behind it. That’s not true, but a match seems likely.

Tasha Steelz vs. Jordynne Grace

They grapple to start with Grace taking her over off a headlock takeover. We see Rosemary watching from the rafters as Grace grabs a rather delayed suplex for two. Steelz slips out of a superplex attempt though and hits a Cheeky Nandos kick as we take a break. Back with Steelz throwing her into the corner but the Blackout is blocked.

Grace sends her flying and hits the Vertebreaker for a quick two. Steelz catches her in the corner and gets two off Sliced Bread. A cutter is blocked and Grace grabs a Regal Roll for two more. Cue Alisha Edwards for a distraction though, allowing Steelz to grab a rollup with feet on the ropes for the pin at 11:11.

Rating: C+. This was a way to set Steelz up for her future title shot as Grace’s downward slide continues. Odds are that is on her way out of the promotion as WWE seems like a likely destination for her, but it isn’t like she has anything else to do around here. She has completely dominated the division for so long that she almost has to move on, just for some fresh challengers. Steelz has been at the top of the division before, but Slamovich is going to be a bit different for her.

Post match the beatdown is on but Masha Slamovich makes the save.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

Final Resolution rundown, including a four way between Joe Hendry, Josh Alexander, Mike Santana and Steve Maclin for the World Title shot at Genesis.

Northern Armory/Frankie Kazarian vs. Steve Maclin/Eric Young/Jonathan Gresham/Mike Santana

Joe Hendry is on commentary. It’s a brawl to start with everyone heading to the floor, with more referees having to settle things down. We officially start with Gresham grabbing an Octopus on Alexander before it’s off to Maclin for an Irish Curse on Williams. Alexander offers a quick distraction though, allowing Kazarian to get in his springboard legdrop to cut Maclin off.

We take a break and come back with Young coming in to clean house but Icarus gets in a shot so Alexander can take over. Young is sent outside for a big group beatdown and Kazarian gets two off a suplex. A double clothesline gives Young a breather and it’s Santana coming in to clean house.

Alexander saves Icarus from Spin The Block as everything breaks down. Gresham snaps off a bunch of armdrags but a triple kick in the corner drops him, with Maclin having to make the save. We hit the parade of strikes to the face until Alexander piledrives Gresham for two. Kazarian sneaks in a trophy shot to Gresham and Alexander steals the pin at 15:16.

Rating: B-. Nice, longer match here with Alexander getting a bit of momentum before next week’s #1 contenders match. That’s a simple way to go and Kazarian is still around with the guaranteed title shot, so there are some options for how things can go through Genesis. It still needs to be the guy who wasn’t even in the match, but there is a chance that ship has already sailed.

Overall Rating: B-. This was standard Impact, with good action and some nice build towards the upcoming big show. At the same time, since it’s TNA, they only have so much time to get ready for that show. It doesn’t make Turning Point feel that important, which can get a bit annoying when the show just kind of came and went. For now though, Final Resolution is going to need a heck of a go home show, because it feels like that four way is the only really interesting thing taking place.

Results
Kushida b. Trent Seven, Ace Austin, JDC and Leon Slater – Back To The Future to Slater
PCO/Sami Callihan b. Good Hands – Assisted top rope Swanton to Hotch
The Hardys b. The System via DQ when Alisha Edwards interfered
Tasha Steelz b. Jordynne Grace – Rollup with feet on the ropes
Northern Armory/Josh Alexander b. Eric Young/Steve Maclin/Jonathan Gresham/Mike Santana – Trophy shot to Young

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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Turning Point 2024
Date: November 29, 2024
Location: Benton Convention Center, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Commentators: Tom Hannifan, Matthew Rehwoldt

It’s the Thanksgiving week special, though the card is only so good. They’re coming off the biggest show of the year with Bound for Glory so this is going to be something of a downgrade. The main event will see Nic Nemeth defending the World Title against Eddie Edwards, plus we have the annual turkey suit match because tradition. Let’s get to it.

This show is taking place as part of WrestleCade, a wrestling fan convention, though the venue is rather dim and doesn’t look very big.

Countdown Show: Rosemary vs. Savannah Evans vs. Xia Brookside

They circle each other to start until Rosemary hits Evans in the face. Rosemary’s quick rollup on Brookside annoys Evans but they get together to clothesline Brookside. The alliance is as short lived as you would imagine and Rosemary is sent outside, leaving Brookside to drop Evans. Brookside’s dive is pulled out of the air and Evans drops a leg, with Rosemary making the save.

Evans clotheslines Rosemary and grabs a fisherman’s suplex for two, with Brookside making the save. Back up and Rosemary slugs away at Evans but Brookside is back in to hit some running shots in the corners. Evans kicks Rosemary in the face and gets Codebreakered by Brookside. The Brooksey Bomb takes Evans down but Rosemary spears Brookside for the pin at 9:14.

Rating: C+. They were doing a nice job of keeping things moving here and Rosemary stealing the win is a good way to go. Rosemary needs to win a few matches to rebuild herself up and this was a fine start. Evans felt like a monster and Brookside was keeping things moving, making this a nice choice for an opener. If nothing else, they were in and out in less than ten minutes, which is as long as a pre-show match needs to go. Get in, let the fans have some fun, get out.

The opening video is a quick montage of what is coming on the show.

Mike Santana vs. Frankie Kazarian

Kazarian armdrags him down to start so Santana comes back with a wristlock. An exchange of armdrags sets up a springboard moonsault to drop Kazarian and they go to the floor for a breather. Santana scores with a superkick but Kazarian gets in the Fameasser over the middle rope.

Back in and Kazarian grabs a short armscissors but Santana grabs a belly to back suplex. They go to the apron, where Kazarian hits a slingshot DDT to knock him silly. Back in again and the springboard spinning legdrop gives Kazarian two but it’s too early for the chickenwing. Santana catches him on top though and grabs a belly to belly superplex to leave both of them down.

A rolling cutter gives Santana two and something like a Death Valley Driver gets the same. Santana grabs a hanging twisting neckbreaker for two more but Kazarian is back with a slingshot cutter for two more. Kazarian goes for the leg, only to walk into Spin The Block for the pin at 12:29.

Rating: B-. Nice opening match here with Santana continuing his rise up the company. At this rate it wouldn’t surprise me to see him in the World Title scene sooner than later, as there are only so many things left for him to do. That being said, Kazarian seems destined to try to steal the title sooner or later, and that could delay Santana that much more.

We run down the card.

The System promises a big night.

Joe Hendry vs. Eric Young vs. Hammerstone vs. Rhino vs. Brian Myers vs. John Skyler

This is the Turkey Bowl match, meaning whoever takes the fall has to wear a turkey suit, and yes this is the best they have for Hendry at the moment. The brawl starts fast until Skyler and Hendry are left alone in the ring. Hendry takes over without much effort and gets two off the delayed suplex.

Rhino and Myers take their place but it’s quickly off to Young to work on Hammerstone’s leg. Skyler and Myers take over on Young and Hammerstone joins in, only for Rhino to hit a Tower Of Doom to leave everyone down. Henry cleans house with clotheslines, followed by a fall away slam to Hammerstone. The parade of finishers is capped off by Myers charging into the Standing Ovation to give Hendry the pin at 8:20.

Rating: C+. I’m still trying to get my mind around the idea that there was nothing else for Hendry to do on this show. This was little more than a goofy match designed for the post match comedy spot and I was expecting a bit more for the most popular star in the company. But why push the popular star when you can, you know, not? Other than that, this was what you would expect from six people fighting for eight minutes with no tags, as no one really got to stand out.

Post match Myers doesn’t want to put on the suit so the good guys beat him up and half put it on him.

Rosemary is happy with her win but wants more. Like the Knockouts Title.

X-Division Title: Laredo Kid vs. Moose

Moose is defending and has Alisha Edwards with him. Kid strikes away to start but his springboard is shoved to the floor for a big crash. Moose sends him into the barricade and goes traditionally evil by going after the mask back inside. Kid gets tied in the Tree of Woe for some choking but it’s too early for the spear.

A hurricanrana just annoys Moose, who plants him with a release Rock Bottom. Moose charges into a boot in the corner though and a missile dropkick sends him outside. There’s the big dive, setting up the super Spanish Fly for two back inside. The 450 hits knees though and a pair of spears retains Moose’s title at 8:23.

Rating: C+. There were a few nice spots here but for the most part, this was Moose shrugging off anything Kid threw at him and winning with raw power. There is a good chance that we’ll be seeing that in Moose’s title defenses for a long time to come and it’s not a bad idea. Moose mauling the division until someone is built up to take the title isn’t a bad idea, though it might take some time to really get going.

We recap Josh Alexander vs. Steve Maclin. Alexander has driven Maclin crazy for over a year now and has since turned evil, even zip tying Maclin during their match at Bound For Glory. Tonight it’s No DQ, with Maclin going a bit nuts in his quest for revenge.

Steve Maclin vs. Josh Alexander

They slug it out to start with Maclin clotheslining him to the floor, setting up the Scud to drop him again. Alexander gets sent into various things on the floor and it’s already time for a table. They fight on the apron but neither can go through the table so Alexander rolls the German suplexes back inside. Maclin grabs one of his own, only to be sent hard into the post.

The fight heads back to the floor, where Maclin grabs a quick Death Valley Driver through a table leaned against the apron. More weapons are thrown in, with some trashcan lid shots staggering Alexander. Back in and Alexander grabs the ankle lock but Maclin breaks it up with more trashcan lid shots.

Alexander hits him with the rest of the trashcan but takes too long loading up a door. Maclin dropkicks the door into his face and hits a Cactus Elbow off the apron to crush the door onto Alexander. Alexander is right back up and goes after the leg before grabbing some chairs. The piledriver through the chairs is blocked and Maclin hits an Alabama Slam through the chairs instead. The KIA is blocked so Maclin settles for a running knee into a chair into Alexander’s head.

Back up and Alexander torture rack bombs him over the top and through the table at ringside for a huge crash. Maclin rolls out of the ankle lock and puts Alexander in the Tree of Woe for three straight spears. The KIA connects…but Maclin pulls him up at two. Instead Maclin throws in a bag of shell cases, earning himself a low blow to cut him off. A super C4 Spike is broken up and Maclin hits a super KIA onto the casings for the win at 23:44.

Rating: B+. These guys beat each other up pretty badly and if Alexander had sold some of the big shots a bit more, this would have been even better. What mattered here was the match feeling like a battle between two people who couldn’t stand each other. Maclin was obsessed with winning and pushed his way forward until Alexander couldn’t survive any longer. Best match on the show by a good while so far.

Video on Chris Bey.

Ace Austin/Hardys vs. Zachary Wentz/Kushida/???

Wentz and Kushida were supposed to team with Trey Miguel, who isn’t here due to travel issues. Therefore the replacement is….Matt Riddle, making his TNA debut. For the sake of simplicity, I’ll refer to Matt Hardy as “Matt” and Matt Riddle as “Riddle”. Wentz and Austin start things off and go to the mat to limited success, meaning it’s an exchange of armdrags.

Jeff comes in but Matt follows him off a blind tag to take over on Wentz. That’s broken up as Wentz goes after the arm, allowing Kushida to come in for a surfboard. Matt gets out and hands it off to Austin to work on Kushida’s arm for a change. Riddle comes in to roll some gutwrench suplexes before it’s quickly back to Wentz, who gets dropkicked in the back.

Everything breaks down and Riddle gets to clean house, with a knee to the face getting two on Austin. Back up and Austin hands it off to Jeff to pick up the pace, including the Whisper In The Wind. Everything breaks down again and we get the Jeff vs. Riddle slugout. A Canadian Destroyer drops Riddle and it’s the Plot Twist into the Swanton to finish Kushida at 16:00.

Rating: B-. The match was fast paced and entertaining, though this was mainly about getting Riddle in a TNA ring. I’m guessing he was there as part of WrestleCade and was brought in as a result, though if TNA can get him around more often, the star power would help. For now though, it was a nice one off match, with the action keeping the interest going.

Knockouts Title: Jordynne Grace vs. Masha Slamovich

Slamovich is defending in a 2/3 falls match after they’ve traded wins. Feeling out process to start with some armdrags not getting either of them anywhere. Grace’s spinebuster gets two but Slamovich drops her throat first onto the ropes. Some hair mares send Grace outside and they go to the apron to slug it out. Grace is right back with a package piledriver on the apron and Slamovich needs a breather on the floor.

They fight over a piledriver on the floor, with Grace getting dropped on her head…but Slamovich breaks up the count. Back in and Slamovich gets two (yeah still way too soon after being dropped on padless concrete) so Grace slugs away but can’t get the MuscleBuster. Instead they trade rollups, with Grace getting the first fall at 11:14.

Slamovich is right back up to strike away before cranking on both arms to put Grace in trouble. That’s reversed into a full nelson and they fight over a Vertebreaker. Slamovich gets a rear naked choke, which is reversed into the Vertebreaker for two. A springboard DDT into a guillotine choke has Grace in trouble but she World’s Strongest Slams her way to freedom.

The Vader Bomb connects but Slamovich grabs a small package to tie it up at 17:40 total. The brawl is on as Rosemary comes out to watch. Slamovich gets the better of the strike off and hits a running knee into a piledriver into a package piledriver to finally retain the title at 19:41.

Rating: B. Much like the No DQ match, this was rather good but could have been better without some of the fairly ridiculous selling issues. Again, if someone is piledriven on the exposed concrete, they shouldn’t be up and winning a fall just a few minutes later. That kind of stuff drives me nuts but thankfully it didn’t ruin the match, which felt like a major struggle between two of the biggest stars in the division. Rosemary is waiting on Slamovich and that takes things into a different direction, but it’s going to be difficult to top this.

We recap Nic Nemeth defending the World Title against Eddie Edwards, who pinned him in a tag match to set this up.

TNA World Title: Nic Nemeth vs. Eddie Edwards

Edwards, with Alisha Edwards, is challenging. They lock up against the ropes to start and that’s an early standoff. Nemeth’s rollup sends Edwards out to the floor as things reset a bit. Back in and Nemeth grabs a headlock but gets sent face first into the buckle. Alisha gets in some choking from the floor, with Edwards adding a chop that has Nemeth slapping the mat.

Nemeth kicks him down and drops the rapid fire elbows but Alisha offers a distraction, allowing Edwards to send things outside. That’s broken up as well and Nemeth drops a top rope elbow for two back inside. A backbreaker cuts Nemeth down and Edwards starts in on the back, with the near fall offering some frustration.

They run the ropes and a double clothesline leaves both of them down for a breather. Nemeth slugs away so Alisha grabs the boot, only to get caught and ejected. Back up and Nemeth gets in a Thesz press and hammers away but Edwards’ Blue Thunder Bomb gets two. The Backpack Stunner connects for two more but Nemeth is back with a Fameasser. Alisha is back (total disrespect for the referee) and Edwards gets in a belt shot for two.

The Boston Knee Party gets two more but the Diehard Driver is countered into the Danger Zone for another near fall. Back up and a Cactus Clothesline sends both of them outside, so here is Brian Myers, in turkey suit, and loads up a ring on his finger (with the referee watching all of this). Cue John Layfield for the Clothesline From JBL to Myers, leaving Nemeth to hit a superkick into the Danger Zone to retain at 22:03.

Rating: B. I’m not sure this was designed to feel like a major threat to Nemeth as Edwards isn’t someone who is going to give him much of a run for his money. The interference helped a bit but the JBL stuff is weird. It doesn’t feel so much like any kind of a turn as he was evening the odds, but at the same time, you don’t bring in JBL as some kind of a guardian angel. Anyway, good enough main event, though Nemeth is going to need a top challenger sooner than later.

Overall Rating: B. The show was entertaining and had a nice string of matches, which makes up for it feeling like a pretty low level show. The Hendry stuff continues to be annoying, as he almost has to be getting back into the World Title picture around Genesis at the latest. Other than that, Maclin vs. Alexander was good and the Knockouts Title match was very hard hitting, which was enough to make this worth a look. It might not be an instant classic, but it’s a nice addition to a holiday weekend.

Results
Rosemary b. Xia Brookside and Savannah Evans – Spear to Brookside
Mike Santana b. Frankie Kazarian – Spin The Block
Joe Hendry b. Eric Young, Hammerstone, Rhino, Brian Myers and John Skyler – Standing Ovation to Myers
Moose b. Brian Myers – Spear
Steve Maclin b. Josh Alexander – Super KIA
Hardys/Ace Austin b. Matt Riddle/Zachary Wentz/Kushida – Swanton to Kushida
Masha Slamovich b. Jordynne Grace 2-1
Nic Nemeth b. Eddie Edwards – Danger Zone

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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Impact Wrestling
Date: November 14, 2024
Location: Crown Arena, Fayetteville, North Carolina
Commentators: Tom Hannifan, Matthew Rehwoldt

We’re about two weeks away from Turning Point and thankfully we’re off to some fresh tapings, meaning the wrestlers have been able to move on a bit from the Chris Bey/Hijo del Vikingo injuries. That had to shake things up a lot and maybe now we can get a bit more back to normal. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Opening recap.

Opening sequence.

Mike Santana vs. KC Navarro

AJ Francis is here with Navarro, who runs the ropes to start but can’t hit much of anything. Instead, Santana sends him outside and for a hard knockdown before easily blocking a rollup back inside. Francis offers a distraction though and Navarro scores with a dive to take over. A double stomp gets two on Santana and a high crossbody gets the same. Santana counters a hurricanrana into a powerbomb for two, followed by Spin The Block for the pin at 6:25.

Rating: C. Sometimes you need to let an up and coming star have an easy win and that’s what we got here. Santana is fresh off beating Moose at Bound For Glory and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him get into the World Title picture soon into the new year. Give him a nice win over Navarro in a relatively short time and everything works out fine.

Ryan Nemeth is ready for Joe Hendry tonight and Nic Nemeth is ready for Eddie Edwards at Turning Point.

We look at Trent Seven turning on Mike Bailey last week.

Seven interrupts the Hardys and Ace Austin, who aren’t impressed with him. Jake Something and Hammerstone run in to beat down the good guys.

Jake Crist/Alan Angels vs. Rascalz

Wentz works on Angels’ wrist to start and gets in a basement dropkick, setting up a quick tribute to Chris Bey. Crist is back up with a rolling fisherman’s suplex for two before Angels comes in with a double elbow. Miguel suplexes Angels for a breather though and it’s off to Wentz to pick up the pace. A running shooting star press gets two on Crist but Angels crotches Wentz on top. Angels’ top rope splash gets two but Miguel is back with a superkick. The backbreaker/double stomp combination finishes Angels at 6:17.

Rating: C. Not much to this one but it was similar to the opener, with Crist and Angels getting in some offense before getting caught by the better team. The Rascalz need something to do so giving them a short win is better than nothing until they get some kind of a feud going. It wasn’t a bad match, but it did feel like it was there to fill in time.

Spitfire is ready for Ash/Heather By Elegance.

Northern Armory vs. Eric Young/Jonathan Gresham/Steve Maclin

Maclin drops the lackeys to start and wants Alexander but settles for handing it off to Gresham instead. A German suplex drops Williams but Alexander gets in a cheap shot from the apron to take over on Maclin. Alexander grabs a northern lights suplex for two and we take a break.

Back with Williams striking away on Maclin, who kicks him in the face for a breather. Young comes in with his wheelbarrow neckbreaker for two on Alexander as everything breaks down. Gresham kicks away at Icarus, who grabs a swinging butterfly suplex for two. Alexander can’t hit the C4 Spike as Gresham kicks the leg out and goes up.

That’s broken up as well though and the Armory hits a C4 Spike/dropkick combination with Maclin making the save. Young hits the Death Valley Driver on Alexander but Maclin hammers away, meaning the top rope elbow can’t be dropped. Gresham breaks up their argument and hits a dive but Alexander hits the C4 Spike to pin Maclin at 12:49.

Rating: B. This took its time to get going but I was digging it by the end. They had a fast paced match here and there were a few near falls which served as some nice false finishes. The argument between Maclin and Young makes sense as Alexander continues to drive everyone nuts, making this a good bit better match than I was expecting.

Frankie Kazarian doesn’t like a clip of Rhino Goring him airing last week. Rhino comes in to threaten violence but Kazarian gets on him for swearing. I knew I liked him for a reason.

Steve Maclin wants Santino Marella to do something about Josh Alexander. Then he yells at Eric Young, with Jonathan Gresham coming in to say he’s letting them argue.

Ryan Nemeth vs. Joe Hendry

The fans are still way behind Hendry. Before the match, Hendry has a director’s cut of Nemeth’s career highlight package. It’s the same as last week and we even see it again. Nemeth jumps him from behind to start and drops the big elbow for an early two. The chinlock goes on for a bit, followed by the chinlock to mix things up a bit. Nemeth goes up but Hendry slams him down, setting up the fall away slam. The Standing Ovation finishes for Nemeth at 4:35.

Rating: C. That’s all it needed to be, as Hendry is a big star and Nemeth is….well he’s Nic’s brother, the end. There’s nothing else to him and there isn’t much that can be done to hide that. Hendry needs to move on to something more important, like getting back into the title picture (assuming he isn’t still there) and a short win over the less famous Nemeth is a fine enough way to start (or maybe continue) that process.

Rosemary vs. Jada Stone

They chop it out to start until Rosemary easily takes her down. Stone jawbreaks her way to freedom and gets in a kick to the face, only to walk into As Above So Below to give Rosemary the pin at 3:49.

Rating: C. This was just a step above a squash with Rosemary getting the win to continue…whatever it is that she’s doing. If nothing else, it’s better than having Wendy Choo drag her down again. Rosemary is one of the better stars in the division but she needs something to do and it needs to be better than whatever she’s been doing.

Earlier today, the System had a celebration for themselves and showed off their matching rings.

Here is Alisha Edwards to brag about the System and promise a win in the main event. She also claims that she carried Masha Slamovich, who interrupts and offers Edwards a title match next week. Tasha Steelz comes out to glare but Jordynne Grace says she’s waiting on the winner at Turning Point.

Preview for next week’s show.

Ryan Nemeth has been attacked and Nic Nemeth is concerned, but Frankie Kazarian teases cashing in to distract him further.

Brian Myers vs. Nic Nemeth

Non-title and the Edwards’s are here with Myers. And here’s Joe Hendry to join commentary. The threat of a superkick sens Myers bailing to the floor but he comes back in with a quick shot to take over. Nemeth slips out of a slam though and hits a dropkick but the neckbreaker is countered into a backslide for two. Eddie gets caught interfering though and that’s enough for an ejection, only for Myers’ charge to miss and he crashes out to the floor. Myers is fine enough to send Nemeth shoulder first into the steps and we take a break.

Back with Myers choking on the ropes and grabbing the chinlock. Nemeth fights up with a clothesline into the Shot To The Heart for two. Myers is back with an implant DDT for two but the Roster Cut is countered into a jumping DDT. Nemeth hits a Fameasser for two of his own so Alisha gets in a kendo stick shot. Myers’ spear connects for two more so Hendry carries Alisha to the back. The superkick and Danger Zone finish for Nemeth at 14:20.

Rating: B-. Myers is a valuable thing to have on the roster as he can work well with anyone and make them look good without ever really losing any status. That’s a good hand to have and Myers was doing his thing again here. Other than that, it continues Hendry’s association with Nemeth, which should set something up or Genesis or so at the latest.

Post match Eddie Edwards runs in for the beatdown but Hendry makes the save with a kendo stick. Nemeth isn’t sure who Hendry is swinging for though and an uneasy stare ends the show.

Well maybe not as we see Steve Maclin getting into his car and driving somewhere. To Be Continued.

Overall Rating: C+. This was the show that started the build towards Turning Point and that means we should be in for the better episodes coming up. Nemeth has a few people coming after him and there are enough midcard feuds going on to make the rest of the show work. The six man s a nice surprise and the rest of the matches were good enough to keep the show going. Turning Point still needs a lot of work, but they were focusing on the main event stuff here, as they should have.

Results
Mike Santana b. KC Navarro – Spin The Block
Rascalz b. Jake Crist/Alan Angels – Backbreaker/double stomp combination to Angels
Northern Armory b. Steve Maclin/Jonathan Gresham/Eric Young – C4 Spike to Gresham
Joe Hendry b. Ryan Nemeth – Standing Ovation
Rosemary b. Jada Stone – As Above So Below
Nic Nemeth b. Brian Myers – Danger Zone

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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Impact Wrestling
Date: October 31, 2024
Location: Wayne State Fieldhouse, Detroit, Michigan
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

We’re done with Bound For Glory and the big story is that Nic Nemeth retained the World Title against Joe Hendry with help from JBL. Other than that, the Hardys are the Tag Team Champions against after a not so thrilling main event. We’re on the way to Turning Point next week, which could go in a few different ways. Let’s get to it.

Here is Bound For Glory if you need a recap.

The show opens with a graphic showing a statement from Chris Bey, thanking fans and the medical staff helping him with his recovery. He knows it will be a long and challenging recovery process. The voiceover talks about the GoFundMe and asks for donations to help him. That does not sound good in the slightest but at least he’s here to make such a statement.

Bound For Glory recap.

PCO wishes us a Happy Halloween.

Opening sequence.

Here is Frankie Kazarian, in a heck of a Joe Hendry cosplay, for an even better Hendry impression, to mock everything about Hendry. This includes the clapping, but here in the real thing to chase him off. Hendry calls this the first entertaining thing Kazarian has done in 47 years, but the reality is that Kazarian took something away from Hendry and the people.

What matters is that there was a conspiracy against him, with Kazarian, John Layfield and Nic Nemeth all being in on it. Cue Nemeth to say he didn’t know what Layfield did and Hendry deserves a rematch. Nemeth wanted to give Hendry a rematch tonight but Santino Marella said no. Cue the System, with Nemeth insulting them and a tag match seemingly being set up for tonight.

Post break Alisha Edwards and Tasha Steelz are still in the ring to say Masha Slamovich’s Knockouts Title reign is on borrowed time. Cue Slamovich to mock Alisha’s catchphrase and say she’s looking for a fight tonight. The double teaming is on so here is Jordynne Grace for the save. Cue Santino Marella to make a tag match between the women for next week, as well as Nemeth/Hendry vs. JDC/Eddie Edwards.

First Class vs. Rascalz

Miguel and Navarro start things off and a wristdrag has Navarro down, meaning Wentz can come in for a rolling snapmare out of the corner. AJ Francis low bridges Wentz outside though and adds a running knee in the corner back inside. Navarro’s double stomp gets two, followed by a big boot to give Francis the same. A backsplash misses though and it’s back to Miguel to pick up the pace. That means a series of quick strikes into a Swanton for two before Wentz and Navarro crash out to the floor. Navarro is fine enough to get in a cheap shot though and the Down Payment finishes Miguel at 7:03.

Rating: C. First Class getting a win to put them back on track is nice to see, as Francis’ bragging is still good enough. Other than that, not much to this one as they only had so much time, though the Rascalz are dropping quite a bit after their big feud with Wes Lee over in NXT. I’m not sure what they can do, but it might be a bit before it gets better.

Josh Alexander/Good Hands vs. Eric Young/Jonathan Gresham/Steve Maclin

The Good Hands are here because the Northern Armory had visa issues. We’re joined in progress with Gresham getting triple stomped in the corner and Skyler dropping a leg for two. Gresham fights up and gets in a shot to the arm, followed by a dropkick for the tag off to Young. Alexander goes after the knee though and it’s Maclin coming in to chase Alexander outside. That’s enough for Alexander to leave and the spear in the Tree of Woe into KIA finishes Skyler at 7:12.

Rating: C+. Well yeah, of course the villains lost here. You had Alexander and two guys literally described as being there as helpers against two former World Champions and a former Ring Of Honor World Champion. This would have been the same thing if the Armory had been involved so at least it wasn’t shaken up very badly by something out of their control.

We look at the last few minutes of Mike Bailey vs. El Hijo del Vikingo at Bound for Glory. I’m assuming this was going to be the Vikingo match where he got hurt.

Mike Bailey gives Trent Seven a pep talk after losing the Call Your Shot gauntlet but Seven isn’t happy. The System interrupts, with Moose saying he might just take the X-Division Title. Works for Bailey.

Dani Luna vs. Ash By Elegance

Jody Threat, Heather By Elegance and the Personal Concierge are here too. An exchange of shoulders goes to Luna but a Heather distraction lets Ash send her into the steps to take over. Back in and Ash grabs a chinlock, with Luna fighting up without much effort. A Blue Thunder Bomb gives Luna two but the Concierge offers a distraction, allowing Heather to get in a broom (witch’s costume) shot. Rarefied Air finishes Luna at 6:02.

Rating: C. Giving Ash an entourage of people to help her steal some wins is a fine idea, as it would stun me if she isn’t at least a serious challenger for the Knockouts Title sooner than later. She’s too good to leave in the middle of the pack for that much longer and has been treated as a big deal. For now though, it looks like By Elegance is coming for the Knockouts Tag Team Titles, as this was the required “beat a champion in a singles match”.

Lei Ying Lee vs. Maggie Moore

Moore works on a wristlock to start but Lee headscissors her down and gets in a stomp. A pump kick staggers Lee but she hits a crossbody out of the corner. Thunderstruck finishes Moore at 2:51. That was certainly a Lee match.

Post match Savannah Evans returns and lays Lee out.

Mike Santana is proud of his win over Moose and says the World Title is a matter of when.

Nic Nemeth/Joe Hendry vs. The System

Frankie Kazarian is on commentary. Hendry takes Edwards down in a hurry to start and we take an early break. Back with Nemeth being knocked outside thanks to an Alisha Edwards distraction and JDC hitting a slingshot elbow for two. The chinlock goes on for a bit before JDC heads up, only to miss a flipping legdrop. Hendry comes back in to clean house and a double clothesline puts the System down. Everything breaks down, leaving Hendry to accidentally hit Nemeth. The Boston Knee Party finishes Nemeth at 10:02.

Rating: C+. This didn’t have time to go very far and was mainly about the arguing among the good guys. The System gets another boost and there is a chance that we’ll be seeing Eddie get a shot at Nemeth in there somewhere. Throw in Kazarian lurking around and Hendry needing a rematch and Nemeth has his plate full for the time being.

Overall Rating: C+. This show was tasked with getting things going in the new direction after the biggest show of the year, but the Chris Bey stuff was hard to get around. Between the opening announcement and constantly mentioning him all night (and of course there is nothing wrong with that), it was hard to get focused on the show, as it’s hard to not think about how bad things might be for him. All that aside, the main event felt like it was setting up more stuff in the World Title picture, but a lot of the rest felt like it was just continuing from Bound For Glory. There was no big new moment, but that’s not something required.

Results
First Class b. Rascalz – Down Payment to Miguel
Eric Young/Jonathan Gresham/Steve Maclin b. Josh Alexander/Good Hands – KIA to Skyler
Ash By Elegance b. Dani Luna – Rarefied Air
Lei Ying Lee b. Maggie Moore – Thunderstruck
The System b. Nic Nemeth/Joe Hendry – Boston Knee Party to Nemeth

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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Bound For Glory 2024
Date: October 26, 2024
Location: Wayne State Fieldhouse, Detroit, Michigan
Commentators: Tom Hannifan, Matthew Rehwoldt

It’s the biggest night of the year in TNA and the show is looking pretty solid. The main event is Joe Hendry challenging Nic Nemeth for the World Title, but the show is billed as a triple main event. The other two main events will see Jordynne Grace defending the Knockouts Title against Masha Slamovich, plus a three way Full Metal Mayhem match for the Tag Team Titles. Let’s get to it.

Pre-Show: Ash By Elegance/Heather Reckless vs. Brinley Reece/Xia Brookside

Reckless messes with Reece’s hair to start so Reece works on her arm. Brookside comes in for a wheelbarrow splash, followed by a double suplex. It’s off to Ash to kick away at Reece but Reckless gets taken down. The fans want Brookside as Ash faceplants Reece into a basement dropkick (which isn’t exactly smooth, with commentary saying is due to their inexperience as a team, which seems to be intentional).

Reece fights out of Reckless’ chinlock and gets in a double knockdown, allowing Brookside to come back in with some clotheslines. Broken wings connects with Ash and Reece’s Codebreaker gets two. It’s back to Reckless, whose high crossbody is rolled through so Reece can hit a TKO for two, with the Personal Concierge putting the foot on the rope. Brookside and the Concierge are ready to fight on the floor, but that leaves Reckless to hit a springboard Spanish Fly. Rarefied Air finishes for Ash at 8:38.

Rating: C. Perfectly fine match here to get things going as the fans are always going to want to see the Concierge get beaten up. If nothing else, I’m glad they didn’t start the biggest night of the year with an NXT star getting the win, as it wouldn’t have felt right. Not a great match here, but the fans were into it and that’s always a smart way to get things going.

We get the Bob Ryder Hall Of Fame video. Ryder was a longtime backstage worker in TNA and had a lot to do with building up wrestling on the internet. He also worked in ECW and WCW and helped develop a lot of the things that got the company on the map. A bunch of wrestlers say thank you and we get quite the THANK YOU BOB chant.

Eric Young is here to induct Ryder into the Hall Of Fame. Young talks about Ryder being part of the original group that made the company come together. Ryder worked in WCW and ECW, becoming a pioneer in online wrestling discussion. Ryder was in talent relations and did all kinds of things to make it work for everyone. Young and Ryder were friends and spent Christmas and Thanksgiving together and all of the Brazilian steakhouses throughout the southeast miss him.

Despite everything he loved, he loved wrestling the most and despite what one idiot backstage says, there is one King Of TNA, and that’s Bob Ryder. Young holds up the plaque for Ryder and another THANK YOU BOB chant wraps it up. You could hear how much this meant to Young and there couldn’t have been a better inductor.

We see the Rhino Hall Of Fame video. It looks at Rhino’s career before TNA, along with various people talking about how big of a deal it was for him to sign with the company. Rhino signed up here because he believed in it.

Here is Tommy Dreamer to induct Rhino into the Hall Of Fame. When he inducted Team 3D, he got 3D’d the next night. When he inducted Raven, he got DDT’d. Whoever invented the phrase “always a bridesmaid, never a bride”, he hates you. Dreamer is excited to induct Rhino into the Hall Of Fame and goes over Rhino’s career path, including coming to TNA. Rhino has found the fountain of youth because he looks the same, works the same and is the same as he has been for twenty five years. He always says it’s the year of the Lions (we pause for the chant) but this is the year of the RHINO.

This brings out Rhino for the YOU DESERVE IT chant, but he says that’s not true. WE deserve it because the fans have been here forever. Rhino talks about how much he loves Detroit and hopes to die here. After mocking Dreamer a bit, Rhino thanks his girlfriend for being here but he won’t be proposing because he doesn’t have the hardware. The fans boo, but Rhino says it’s his night.

Rhino talks about how much he loves his daughter and how much he wishes he had been there more often. He thanks a bunch of people from Jim Cornette to Paul Heyman to WWE and more, including Heath Slater. This brings up a story about his brother being diagnosed with cancer and being given a death sentence. Slater would talk to him during the long car rides and it was like the cancer went away. He thanks Slater for being a friend and a brother.

Rhino talks about his faith in God and how he prays for the family to get home save every time. His goal is to leave the planet a bit better than he found it and that’s what he hopes to do. One more thank you and he’s out. This was an excellent speech and you could feel the emotion from Rhino. Easily one of the best induction speeches I’ve ever heard for an induction and Rhino does deserve it.

Steve Maclin thanks Eric Young for his help but he’s got Josh Alexander by himself. Young is fine with that, but he’s got Maclin’s back if Alexander brings help, which seems fine with Maclin.

Call Your Shot Gauntlet

This is basically a 20 entrant Royal Rumble with 2 minute intervals at first and then 1 minute intervals for everyone else, with an anytime title shot to the winner. We have standard over the top eliminations until there are two left, when it becomes a one on one match. Frankie Kazarian is in at #1 and Zachary Wentz is in at #2. Wentz takes him down in the corner to start and then pulls Kazarian out of the air, only to get caught with a Fameasser over the middle rope. Wentz fights back again and knocks him into the corner as Jake Something is in at #3 to run Wentz over.

Trey Miguel is in at #4 and picks up the pace as Wentz gets a needed breather. Hammerstone is in at #5 and teams up with Something to wreck various people. It’s not enough for an elimination or anything, but it is quite the collection of clotheslines. Rohit Raju is in at #6 and gets in an assortment of stomps. Laredo Kid is in at #7 and is quickly knocked out for the first elimination. Something tosses Miguel and it’s Sami Callihan in at #8. That goes nowhere either and it’s John Skyler in at #9 as Hammerstone seems to have been eliminated.

That means the pace can pick up a bit but no one is eliminated so it’s Bhupinder Gujjar in at #10. Again the pace picks up, including Gujjar having to skin the cat to survive an early elimination attempt. Trent Seven is in at #11 as the ring is starting to fill up. KC Navarro makes it even busier at #12 and is promptly powerbombed by Callihan. Rhino is in at #13 and gets rid of Raju, Skyler and Gujjar in short order. Callihan is gone as well and it’s Tasha Steelz in at #14. Steelz drops Navarro with a cutter but another one to Rhino doesn’t go so well.

Lei Ying Lee is in at #15 and Steelz is quickly out. Jason Hotch is in at #16 and dropkicks Seven in a hurry. Leon Slater is in at #17 as Ying goes after Kazarian, who drops her with a clothesline. Lee is out as Jonathan Gresham is in at #18. Everyone is down so it’s JDC in at #19 to…stay on the floor instead of getting inside. Slater hits his Swanton 450 but JDC is right there to toss him out.

AJ Francis is in at #20, giving us a final grouping of Kazarian, Wentz, Something, Seven, Rhino, Hotch, Gresham, JDC and Francis. Gresham goes after Francis but gets knocked out in a hurry. The Down Payment gets rid of Seven and Hotch is out shortly thereafter. Something and Wentz fight to the apron and both gets eliminated.

We’re down to Kazarian, JDC, Rhino and Francis, with Rhino tossing JDC. Francis gives Rhino a Gore of his own but Rhino hits a clothesline to get rid of him. That leaves us with Rhino and Kazarian in a singles match for the title shot so Rhino hammers away. The referee has to duck a shot though and Kazarian hits a low blow for the fast pin at 26:33.

Rating: C. These things are mainly about getting a bunch of people on the card and there is nothing wrong with that. They were blazing through the introductions, which is kind of what has to be done in a match like this. Rhino was a great choice for the push to the end, but Kazarian was almost destined to win this as he already has a tie to tonight’s World Title match.

And now, the show proper.

Ilona sings the National Anthem.

The opening video hypes up Detroit and talks about how important it is to wrestling history, with a look at the people in the bigger matches, as well as TNA’s history in the city.

X-Division Title: Mike Bailey vs. El Hijo del Vikingo

Bailey is defending and this is something of a dream match. We get the big handshake of respect to start and the fans are very pleased to start. They trade some snazzy rollups to start until Vikingo manages to send him outside. That sets up the big head first dive to drop Bailey as the fans continue to approve. Back in and Bailey starts firing off the kicks, including some shots to the ribs for two.

Vikingo hits a kick of his own and, after avoiding a charge in the corner, kicks Bailey out to the floor. That’s fine with Vikingo, who bounces of the barricade and hurricanrans him down again. Bailey is back up with a corkscrew dive to put Vikingo down as well, meaning it’s time for a double breather. A shooting star press misses for Bailey back inside so he grabs the Green Tea Plunged for two instead.

Bailey hits a fisherman’s Falcon Arrow into a shooting star press for two and we pause for a quick breather. Vikingo ducks a superkick and hits a hard kick to the face of his own and they’re both down again. Bailey wins a battle of the kicks and even hits a crane kick to drop him again. The moonsault knees set up a tornado kick and the Ultimate Weapon gets two. The Flamingo Driver is countered into a Canadian Destroyer though and Vikingo hits some running knees in the corner.

Bailey bails out to the floor but there’s a rope walk into a corkscrew moonsault to drop Bailey again. Back in and Bailey breaks up another 630, only for the moonsault knees to hit apron. Vikingo’s Canadian Destroyer from the post to the apron knocks Bailey silly again and they both go up top. That’s fine with Bailey, who grabs something like a fisherman’s superplex (Meteor Rain) for the pin to retain at 14:49.

Rating: B. The pretty much non-existent build to this match didn’t make me think the title was in jeopardy, but that’s not the worst thing. This was more about giving Bailey a hard fought win over a top international name, which I’ll take over trying to tie everything together with a last second challenger. Rather good opener here, with two very exciting stars.

We run down the pay per view card.

Knockouts Tag Team Titles: Spitfire vs. Rosemary/Wendy Choo

Spitfire is defending. Threat sends Choo into a slam from Luna, who drops Threat onto her for a bonus. Rosemary comes in and gets suplexed for two so it’s already back to Threat. Choo busts out her special pillow (it’s dumb in NXT too) so the pillow gets suplexed, allowing Choo to take over. Choo’s running boot in the corner staggers Luna and a double dropkick in the Tree of Woe makes it worse. A running clothesline out of said corner gets Luna out of trouble and it’s back to Luna to clean house.

The middle rope dropkick hits Rosemary and a powerbomb connects for the same. Luna’s big dive takes Rosemary out again but she has to save Threat from Choo. That just means a DDT to put Luna down on the floor, setting up the big dive from Threat. Back in and Rosemary spears Luna for two but Luna reverses a double superplex into a double powerbomb. Threat comes back in and strikes away but Rosemary hits Choo by mistake. Threat sends both of them flying and the Pressure Drop to Choo retains the titles at 10:28.

Rating: C+. As usual, the titles feel like they belong on a regular TV match more than anything else, but it’s nice to see something like an actual feud over the belts. Rosemary still deserves better than Choo and hopefully that is coming soon, as the pillow stuff is just nonsense. I’m not sure who is next for the titles, but at least Spitfire is being built up.

Post match Rosemary spears Choo down to end the team.

We look at Frankie Kazarian cheating to win the Call Your Shot gauntlet match.

Kazarian is reading Earl Hebner’s book and promises to raise the hand of the World Champion at the end of the night.

Steve Maclin vs. Josh Alexander

The brawl is on in the aisle to start and Alexander is sent hard into the steps. Maclin scores with the Scud and drops him onto the apron as the bell has yet to ring. Alexander manages a quick posting and the leg is wrapped around the post as well. They both get inside and the bell rings with Maclin fighting back. A backbreaker gives Maclin two but the Jarheadbutt misses.

Alexander knees him in the ribs and snaps off a bunch of rolling German suplexes. Maclin reverses into his own rolling German suplexes and they’re finally both down. The slug out goes to Maclin, who ties him in the Tree of Woe, only to miss the running shoulder. Alexander’s crossbody to the back knocks him to the floor for two but Maclin is right back with an Angle Slam.

A top rope superplex rolled into a Death Valley Driver for two leaves Alexander staggered but the referee gets bumped. Alexander scores with a low blow and zip ties Maclin’s hands behind his back. Maclin is able to avoid a charge though and now the running shoulder hits the ribs. The Scud, still with the hands tied (which is FINE with the referee), connects and a running knee gets two on Alexander. Back up and Alexander manages a Tombstone for two, setting up the ankle lock as Maclin passes out at 14:45.

Rating: B-. The hard hitting aspect was good and I wanted to see where it was going, but the zip tie thing completely lost me. How is that either not a DQ or maybe something that earns a quick stoppage? Other than that, Alexander winning was the right call as he’s been losing a good bit lately, so this was the best result, especially with Maclin being protecte.

We recap Matt Cardona vs. PCO in a Monster’s Ball match. Steph de Lander has fallen for PCO and they got married, but Cardona doesn’t approve. Now de Lander is off getting neck surgery, so Cardona has to fight him on his own.

International Title/TNA Digital Media Title: Matt Cardona vs. PCO

Monster’s Ball, meaning anything goes and PCO is defending both titles. An early clothesline drops Cardona but he sends PCO outside, where Cardona realizes there are no countouts. That means Cardona joins him on the floor for some rams into various steel objects, including dropping him back first onto the steps. Cardona whips out a door but a nasty backdrop sends him through it instead.

With Cardona on the floor, PCO loads up a dive, which is cut off with a trashcan shot to the head. Another door, plus some chairs (Cardona doesn’t know why his face isn’t on it) are thrown in, with Cardona building up a structure with more chairs underneath the bridged door. PCO fights back but gets powerbombed through everything for two.

The bag of thumbtacks are pulled out, with some of the tacks going into PCO’s mouth for the Reboot. PCO fights up so it’s Radio Silence for two, with Cardona being stunned. A third door is brought in but PCO breaks it over Cardona’s back. PCO pulls out a bag of his own containing…well more tacks actually. Cardona gets in a low blow and finds a barbed wire baseball bat. PCO fights up, chokeslams him into the tacks and drops the PCOsault to retain at 13:16.

Rating: B-. It was violent and PCO gets his revenge, but these things have become paint by numbers over the years. You can almost guarantee the spots you’ll see, with doors instead of tables this time around. PCO smashing through the annoying Cardona is fine, but there was no big moment here that made this one stand out in any significant way.

We recap Moose vs. Mike Santana. Moose is part of the System and Santana has gone after the team. Santana wants to get into the main event scene so he’s coming after the biggest name the System has.

Mike Santana vs. Moose

Moose has JDC with him. The fight starts fast on the floor with Santana sending him into the barricade. The referee goes to check on Moose, allowing JDC to send Santana into the steps. They get inside so Moose can get two but Santana escapes a powerbomb and hits an enziguri. Santana’s running Cannonball in the corner is countered into a powerbomb to give Moose two more. A release Rock Bottom plants Santana and Moose slaps away, only to miss a spinning high crossbody.

The rolling Buck Fifty gives Santana two so Moose rolls outside, where Santana hits a huge dive. Back in and a leg lariat gives Santana two but Spin The Block misses. Santana settles for a Death Valley Driver into the corner and a 450 gives Santana two. Back up and they go to the corner, where Moose tries the super Sky High but they both crash down instead.

A nasty powerbomb onto the apron has Santana in more trouble but he beats the count at nine. JDC comes in with a chain around his hand (works for the referee) but almost hits Moose, earning himself a Spin The Block. Moose’s spar gets two and the fans are into it again. Another spear is countered though and Spin The Block finishes for Santana at 13:44.

Rating: B. There was no reason for Moose to win here, as Santana has hit the ground running as a singles star and very well could be moving into the World Title scene sooner rather than later. What mattered here was getting Santana the biggest singles win of his career and he fought back to overcome the odds to get there. Perfectly acceptable match, with the result being what matters.

We recap Jordynne Grace defending the Knockouts Title against Masha Slamovich. Grace helped her out against the System and now Slamovich wants another shot at the Knockouts Title. Grace beat her before at Bound For Glory and now it’s time for the showdown against a much improved Slamovich.

Knockouts Title: Jordynne Grace vs. Masha Slamovich

Grace is defending. Feeling out process to start with Grace winning the battle over a lockup. Slamovich gets in some shots of her own but Grace ties her in the ropes for a kick to the leg. They head outside where Grace hits a rolling Death Valley Driver for a near fall back inside. Grace starts kicking away at the leg but it’s too early for the Juggernaut Driver. Slamovich fires off some kicks but the leg is too banged up for the full impact. A guillotine keeps Grace in trouble but she powers up into a Jackhammer for two.

They go up top where Slamovich plants her back down, setting up the Snowplow for a fast near fall. Slamovich knees her down and hits a running spinwheel kick, only for Grace to knock her down again. They fight back up and Grace runs her over, setting up the Juggernaut Driver for two. A leglock immediately goes on but Slamovich bails to the ropes. They go up again, and this time it’s a super Snow Plow to bring Grace down. A package piledriver gives Slamovich the pin and the title at 12:42.

Rating: B. Take two powerhouses, let the beat on each other until one of them can’t get up anymore. That’s all you had here and it worked rather well, with Slamovich FINALLY getting the big title win that she’s been needing. It was a good powerhouse match too, and now we’ll have to see who is coming after the title next. I’m not sure how much longer Grace has on her deal around here, but odds are she’ll be in WWE sooner than later, so this isn’t much of a setback.

We recap Joe Hendry challenging Nic Nemeth for the World Title. Hendry has been the hottest thing in the company and now he needs to win the big one. Nemeth isn’t so sure of that, but Frankie Kazarian, now with his guaranteed title shot, is lurking around as guest referee.

TNA World Title: Joe Hendry vs. Nic Nemeth

Nemeth is defending and Frankie Kazarian is guest referee. They go rather slowly to start with Hendry’s wristlock not getting him very far so Nemeth hits a nice dropkick to really stagger Hendry. The fans do NOT like Nemeth’s home state of Ohio so Hendry running Nemeth over makes them feel better. A rather delayed vertical suplex puts Nemeth down and Hendry drops him again with some right hands.

There’s the fall away slam to send Nemeth flying but it’s too early for the Standing Ovation. Instead Alexander grabs a pop up powerbomb for two and the ankle lock goes on (as I remember Kazarian is the referee, as he hasn’t been a factor thus far). Nemeth makes the rope so Hendry puts him on top and grabs a super fall away slam. Kazarian teases the cash in but Hendry tells him to do his job instead.

That’s enough for Nemeth to hit a Fameasser for two, even with Kazarian counting rather quickly. Hendry rolls through a high crossbody and hits an AA for another near fall. They fight out to the apron, with Nemeth planting him down with Hendry falling out to the floor. Kazarian tries to cash in again but John Bradshaw Layfield is here to give him the Clothesline From JBL.

Another Clothesline takes Hendry down and there’s a third to take out Nic’s brother Ryan Nemeth. Back in and Nic, who might not have seen what happened, hits Danger Zone and another referee comes in to count two. The superkick is countered but Nemeth counters the counter into Danger Zone to retain at 15:10.

Rating: B-. Yes really, JBL just helped cost Joe Hendry the World Title in the main event of Bound For Glory. I don’t care if Hendry is leaving next week (which he isn’t), you need to give him the title here. Hendry has been the next big thing for way too long around here, but instead of going with the title change, we’re sticking with the TNA tradition of NOT going with what the fans are begging to see. The match was good but not great, with a rather slow pace until the big messy finish. Which was about JBL.

We look at the Hall Of Fame inductions.

Genesis is back on January 19, a Sunday.

Here’s what’s coming on Impact.

We recap the Tag Team Titles in Full Metal Mayhem. The Hardys and ABC both want the belts back do we’ll do it in TNA’s version of TLC.

Tag Team Titles: Hardys vs. ABC vs. The System

The System is defending and it’s basically Tables, Ladders And Chairs. The ring is all painted up in something Jeff Hardy had to design, complete with something like a ramp on the floor in front of the hard camera. We starts slowly as the champs get double teamed to the floor with Poetry In Motion.

Bey takes them out with a dive and a bunch of chairs are brought in, but instead we get Austin splashing Myers through a table out in the crowd. Matt legdrops Eddie off a ladder through another table so we’re down to challengers vs. challengers at the moment. The Hardys take over inside, with the Plot Twist taking Bey down. Jeff gets knocked into the corner for Poetry In Motion but comes back with some ladder shots.

ABC grabs a specialty ladder and tries to climb but it takes too long to hold up, allowing the Hardys to make the save. The big ladder is bridged in a regular ladder, basically cutting the ring in half. They grab chairs and walk across the bridge until Austin and Jeff get knocked onto the bridged part, leaving everyone down. The System returns from the dead to pour a bunch of ladders out before setting up a bunch of tables (which are all painted as well).

The Hardys are put through the tables but Bey breaks up the Conchairtos. The 1-2-Sweet takes Myers down and Bey goes up but gets Blue Thunder Bombed off the ladder for another crash. Matt tries to climb, only to get pulled down with the Art Of Finesse. Myers and Bey go up the ladder to slug it out but Bey is left hanging. Myers hits a spear off the ladder ala Edge in 2001 and everyone is down.

It’s Matt coming back in with a chair, which he wraps around Edwards’ neck for the Twist Of Fate. Jeff brings in the really big ladder and Swantons Myers through a table at ringside. Austin goes up so here is Alisha Edwards to break it up. Matt takes out Alisha but Eddie goes up, only for the Hardys to throw chairs at him and powerbomb him off the ladder through tables at ringside. That’s enough for the Hardys to win the titles at 27:17.

Rating: D+. As soon as the Hardys were announced for the match, you could tell what was coming. As soon as it was announced as Full Metal Mayhem, you knew it wasn’t going to be very good. But then they went nearly half an hour in slow motion, with the whole thing being a Hardys tribute, because the Hardys have to win everything.

The painted ring, ladders and tables were little more than an eyesore and didn’t help anything. Also, why would TNA allow the challengers to set up the mood of the match or whatever it was? Shouldn’t that be the System’s deal? Either way, rather weak main event, as the Hardys just cannot do this anymore. Naturally, they’re the Tag Team Champions and get the big, ahem, feel good moment to end the show.

The Hardys celebrate with the fans to wrap it up.

Oh and one more thing:

I was watching on TNA+, the official TNA streaming service.

Show ends, Thanks For Watching graphic comes up. Fine.

Below that.

“Don’t Miss Bound For Glory On October 26!”

Overall Rating: B-. And that’s TNA in a nutshell: they have some good stuff (most of the matches were completely acceptable or better) and a nice moment with Slamovich FINALLY winning the title, only to entirely overthink the ending of the two biggest matches. Hendry winning the title, even if he loses it back on Thursday, was what the fans wanted to see. Instead, they got JBL and Ryan Nemeth getting involved before Hendry lost pretty much clean (he fought back up and even tried his finisher, so he at least had a chance).

Then there’s the main event, which was roughly the 14th time this promotion has paid tribute to the Hardys. They’re a great team and legends and everything, but that doesn’t mean they need to win the titles in the main event of your version of Wrestlemania. Right now, TNA needs something to fire the fans up.

That could have been Hendry, but instead they have a bunch of rather aged champions (save for Mike Bailey, 36, the youngest men’s champion is 44 year old Nic Nemeth). You can be older and still more than hang in the ring, but you might want to go with some people whose heyday wasn’t 15+ years ago.

Overall, this show was good, but it had the same problem that has plagued TNA for almost its entire history: they won’t just give the fans what is right there in front of them. I liked most of the show and most of it worked, only for the last two matches to leave a really bad taste in my mouth. That shouldn’t be happening very often, and it is almost a tradition around here.

Results
Ash By Elegance/Heather Reckless b. Brinley Reece/Xia Brookside – Rarefied Air to Reece
Frankie Kazarian won the Call Your Shot Gauntlet last eliminating Rhino
Mike Bailey b. El Hijo del Vikingo – Meteor Rain
Spitfire b. Rosemary/Wendy Choo – Pressure Drop to Choo
Josh Alexander b. Steve Maclin – Ankle lock
PCO b. Matt Cardona – PCOsault
Mike Santana b. Moose – Spin The Block
Masha Slamovich b. Jordynne Grace – Package piledriver
Nic Nemeth b. Joe Hendry – Danger Zone
Hardys b. The System and ABC – Hardys pulled down the titles

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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Impact Wrestling
Date: October 10, 2024
Location: Skyway Studios, Nashville, Tennessee
Commentators: Tom Hannifan, Matthew Rehwoldt

We are just over two weeks to go before we get to Bound For Glory and, after a week off due to Hurricane Helene, it is time to start the final push towards the show. Joe Hendry is the #1 contender to Nic Nemeth and the World Title so odds are the talking will be on this week. Other than that, the Hardys are facing the ABC so let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Opening recap.

Wendy Choo/Rosemary/Tasha Steelz vs. Masha Slamovich/Sol Ruca/Jordynne Grace

Grace slugs Choo down to start and hits an early Vader Bomb for two. Ruca comes in to clean house and gets two off an X Factor to Rosemary. Alisha Edwards offers a distraction though and Ruca gets knocked outside for a cheap shot from Steelz. The Upside Down has Ruca in more trouble as the villains start the alternating beating. Ruca fights out of Steelz’s camel clutch and, after a double neckbreaker, hits the Sol Snatcher (springboard inverted flipping cutter), hands it off to Slamovich. Everything breaks down and the Juggernaut Driver finishes Steelz at 6:57.

Rating: C+. This was what it needed to be, as Grace continues to clear out the rest of the division and is likely heading towards a title showdown with Masha Slamovich. That’s about all that is left for Slamovich, as the NXT stars haven’t meant much in recent weeks and Steelz was quickly dispatched. It’s another match about Grace and that’s all it should have been.

Josh Alexander welcomes Sinner & Saint into the fold and is ready to wreck Eric Young on the way to Steve Maclin.

Here is Nic Nemeth for a chat. He’s ready for Joe Hendry at Bound for Glory so here is Hendry to interrupt. Hendry has worked hard to get here and he is ready to take the final step by becoming the World Champion. Nemeth talks about how everyone believes in Hendry, even Shawn Michaels. Hendry asks about John Layfield believing in Nemeth, but here is First Class to interrupt.

They’re going to be in the main event of Bound For Glory and AJ Francis takes credit for making Hendry a thing. Hendry can’t remember which song he sang about Francis but samples a few of them, which doesn’t sit well with Francis. Nemeth gets to the point and issues the tag match challenge, with Santino Marella coming out to make the match. Note that Santino was on screen for about thirty seconds here, which is all he needs for such an announcement. On the other hand, I could go for not seeing “future opponents teaming together” for a long, long time.

Ash By Elegance and the Personal Concierge are working hard on Heather Reckless’ makeover.

Josh Alexander vs. Eric Young

They fight over a lockup to start and strike it out until Young knocks him out to the floor. Back in and Young’s sunset flip slide through the legs is blocked, allowing Alexander to hit his running crossbody to knock Young outside again. We take a break and come back with Alexander working on the arm. Young grabs a northern lights suplex for two but Alexander puts him down again and slaps on a chinlock.

That’s broken up as well and Young hits a powerslam, only for Alexander to roll some German suplexes. Young hits a Death Valley Driver for two, setting up the top rope elbow drop for the same. Cue Sinner & Saint for a distraction, including a dropkick to Young so Alexander can grab a jackknife rollup for the pin at 10:04.

Rating: B-. Good action here as Alexander is on his way to a much bigger match down the line. Young isn’t likely to be a top star around here anytime soon but he’s a fine gatekeeper around this level. The fans still react to him and he’s certainly not bad in the ring, but you kind of know what you’re getting with him. That was the situation here and it was what you would have expected.

Post match Young goes after the goons but gets triple teamed. Young’s ankle gets Pillmanized.

Jordynne Grace is looking for Masha Slamovich and finds a shrine to herself, with her picture crossed out. Oh dear.

Here is Mike Santana for a chat. He wants Moose out here right now because it’s time to settle this face to face. Cue Moose, with security, to say he isn’t scared of Santana. That doesn’t work for Santana, who talks about how they’ve both come up the hard way. Moose talks about how he’s become a three time World Champion…and the System comes in to jump Santana from behind. The ABC and the Hardys (scheduled for a match) run in for the save. Santino Marella comes out to make Moose vs. Santana for Bound For Glory. That’s been set up for months now and it’s nice to see it made official.

ABC vs. Hardys

Bey headlocks Matt down to no avail to start so it’s quickly off to Austin vs. Jeff. La majistral gets two on Jeff and they trade some arm cranking. Jeff takes him into the corner for Poetry In Motion and a neckbreaker gets two. Austin slides between the legs and kicks Jeff away though, allowing Austin to come back in.

It’s back to Matt as well, but he is quickly taken into the corner for stereo kicks to the head. That doesn’t last long either as it’s right back to Jeff for the house cleaning. Everything breaks down and Jeff hits the Twisting Stunner into a neckbreaker from Matt…and the System runs in for the double DQ at 8:19.

Rating: C+. Just make the triple threat match for the titles at Bound For Glory already, likely with a ladder involved. That’s the only way it could wind up going as the Hardys being involved make it all but guaranteed. At least the Hardys didn’t get a pin over ABC here, as that wouldn’t have helped much of anyone.

Post match Santino Marella comes out to make the triple threat match and….yeah it’s Full Metal Mayhem. Like it could have been anything else.

Laredo Kid vs. Leon Slater vs. Jason Hotch

For a shot at Mike Bailey, on commentary, and the X-Division Title. They start fast and trade near falls until Kid sends the other two outside. That means the big flip dive can connect before Slater and Hotch both hit kicks to the head back inside. With Kid on the floor, Slater hits the Swanton 450 for the pin at 3:42.

Rating: C+. What can you get out of three people going that fast for less than four minutes? Slater getting the title shot is certainly a surprise, though I can’t imagine there isn’t a much bigger name waiting for bailey at Bound For Glory. He isn’t overly interesting but he’s a big star and has dominated the division for a long time, so it’s time for him to face someone big.

Here is Jordynne Grace to calls out Masha Slamovich. Cue Slamovich, with Grace asking what was up with the shrine. Slamovich says Grace knew she spoke English but kept it to herself so she wouldn’t lose the spotlight. At Bound For Glory, Slamovich is coming for the title. Again: it’s the only way to go.

Nic Nemeth/Joe Hendry vs. First Class

First Class jumps Hendry before Nemeth comes in so cue Nemeth for the save as we take a break before the bell. Back with Nemeth fighting out of Francis’ chickenwing but getting whipped hard into the corner. Another whip into the corner is countered into a DDT and it’s back to Hendry to clean house. Everything breaks down and Henry gives Francis an AA for two. Nemeth tags himself back in and superkicks Francis into the corner, allowing Navarro to tag himself in for a missile dropkick. Not that it matters as a Fameasser finishes Navarro at 7:18.

Rating: C+. Short and to the point here as Nemeth was looking to one up Hendry a bit at the end. There’s no tension between the two going into their title shot and now they need to build at least a little something on the way to Bound For Glory. Not much to the match, but First Class taking a loss always has some value.

Nemeth and Hendry seem to get along to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. The phrase that I would use for TNA is “user friendly”. You could see a lot of the matches being set up for the last few weeks/months and now they’re set up. It’s a show where you can jump in at almost any time and get the idea, which is so nice compared to other promotions. Good stuff here and Bound For Glory is starting to look rather good at the right time.

Results
Jordynne Grace/Masha Slamovich/Sol Ruca b. Rosemary/Wendy Choo/Tasha Steelz – Juggernaut Driver to Steelz
Josh Alexander b. Eric Young – Jackknife rollup
Hardys vs. ABC went to a double DQ when the System interfered
Leon Slater b. Laredo Kid and Jason Hotch – Swanton 450 to Hotch
Nic Nemeth/Joe Hendry b. First Class – Fameasser to Navarro

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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AND

Remember to check out Wrestlingrumors.net for all of your wrestling headline needs.

Impact Wrestling
Date: September 26, 2024
Location: Boeing Center At Tech Point, San Antonio, Texas
Commentators: Matthew Rehwoldt, Tom Hannifan

We are about a month away from Bound For Glory and this week will see the announcement of the show’s main event. Frankie Kazarian and Joe Hendry will face off in a #1 contenders match for the pay per view title shot against Nic Nemeth. Other than that, we’ll need to find out what else is happening at the show and the build should start here. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Opening recap.

Opening sequence.

Jordynne Grace/??? vs. Wendy Choo/Rosemary

The mystery partner is….NXT’s Sol Ruca, a surfer with an insane finisher. It’s a brawl before the bell to start and the villains are sent into each other, setting up a pair of dives to the floor. Back in and Rosemary takes Ruca down to choke away on the ropes before stomping away in the corner.

Ruca reverses a double suplex into a double neckbreaker though and it’s Grace coming in to clean house. Everything breaks down and the Sol Snatcher (Ruca runs the corner and does an inverted flip into a cutter. You kind of have to see it to see how impressive it is.) sets up the Juggernaut Driver but Tasha Steelz runs in to jump Grace for the DQ at 4:20.

Rating: C. The match was pretty much nothing but a way to get Ruca in the ring and show the fans her awesome finisher. Other than that, it would seem that Steelz is the next challenger to Grace, which is better than nothing as Grace is so far ahead of almost everyone else in the division. There wasn’t much time for action here but it did check two boxes in that short of a match.

Post match the beatdown stays on but Masha Slamovich runs in for the save.

Frankie Kazarian is ready for Joe Hendry tonight.

Laredo Kid vs. Jonathan Gresham

Gresham powers him into the corner to start and armdrags him back out of the corner. Another armdrag into a rollup gets two before they flip up into a standoff. Gresham actually goes for the mask but gets knocked outside for an anklescissors. Kid takes him down again and hits a running forearm in the corner back inside.

The middle rope moonsault hits raised knees though and Gresham grabs a Boston crab. For some reason Gresham switches that to a half crab but Kid makes the rope for a break. Kid’s back is good enough for Two Amigos into a brainbuster but Gresham is back up with a springboard moonsault. Gresham stomps on the leg and drives it into the mat until Kid taps at 6:58.

Rating: C+. In recent weeks, Gresham has been getting some wins in surprise ways and that’s a good way to go. It sets up the idea that Gresham can win with something other than a signature move and that makes things all the more interesting. As usual, Kid looked good in defeat, which is about all you can expect from him at this point.

Mike Santana storms the System’s locker room and noise is heard.

ABC/Zachary Wentz vs. Kushida/Leon Slater/Mike Bailey

Bailey and Wentz start things off but everything breaks down and we get the big six way staredown. We take a break and come back with Slater fighting out of a chinlock, allowing the tag to Kushida. The double tag brings in Bailey and Wentz for the face to face staredown. Wentz hits a dropkick and everything breaks down again with all six brawling. Slater hits a high crossbody to take out the ABC, setting up the big lip dive over the corner. Back in and the Swanton 450 misses, allowing Wentz to hit the UFO to pin Slater at 8:29.

Rating: B-. The more I see from Bailey, the less I understand why he is the champion again. Wentz was at least something fresh in the title picture but he just lost it back to Bailey a few weeks later. Odds are we get some kind of a showdown for the title at Bound For Glory, but it’s kind of hard to take Wentz seriously as a challenger when he lost clean in his first major title defense.

Cody Deaner interrupts Jake Something’s workout and tells him to not listen to Hammerstone, who is here too. Hammerstone offers to shut Deaner up.

Mike Santana wants Moose.

Lei Ying Lee vs. Hyan

Lee is better known as Xia Li. Hyan gets knocked down to start but rolls outside before Lee can dive off the top. Back in and Hyan fires off some kicks but Lee isn’t pleased. A spinning torture rack faceplant sets up a running spinning kick (Thunderstruck) to finish Hyan at 4:04.

Rating: C. This was your get to know you match for Lee, who looked fine enough in her debut. The striking and the kicking will always be worth at least a look as she knows how to do them, with the big spinning kick working fine as a finisher. Another short match, but it did what it needed to do.

Leon Slater apologizes to Mike Bailey for the loss but Bailey gives him a pep talk.

ABC wants the Tag Team Titles back. The Hardys come in and say they want the titles as well. Finger gestures and noises ensue.

Here is Josh Alexander for a chat. Alexander admits he deserves to be booed but now he believes in Joe Hendry. Alexander gave him the toughest fight he could and then went out on his shield. When Alexander was saying some stupid things, Eric Young tried to talk some sense into him so he would like Young to come out here right now.

Cue Young to say this is the real Walking Weapon, which Young seems to appreciate. Young is glad to have the real one back and he is glad that Alexander can admit that Hendry was the better man. Everything seems ok…and then Alexander suplexes him. Steve Maclin runs in for the save but Sinner & Saint helps beat the good guys down.

Santino Marella talks to Steph de Lander when Matt Cardona interrupts. Santino doesn’t care for this and puts Cardona in a Monster’s Ball match against PCO at Bound For Glory.

Heather Reckless vs. Xia Brookside

Brookside has a cowgirl theme this week. Reckless starts fast and chokes on the ropes as here is Ash By Elegance, also in cowgirl attire, to watch. Brookside fights out of a double arm crank and makes the clothesline comeback for two. The running knees connect in the corner so Reckless bails out to the floor. A snap suplex on the floor has Reckless in more trouble and they head back inside, where Reckless gets in a neck snap over the ropes. Rarefied Air finishes Brookside at 6:02.

Rating: C+. Reckless is someone who is becoming a bigger deal in a hurry and that is a good thing for the division. She is still relatively brand new and is already feeling like someone who could wind up becoming something. At the same time, Brookside losing again isn’t a great sign, as she hasn’t felt important in a good while.

Post break Reckless comes in to see Ash, whose concierge wants to give Reckless elegance.

Joe Hendry vs. Frankie Kazarian

For the Bound For Glory shot against Nic Nemeth, who is on commentary. Before the match, Hendry says Kazarian looks like the dad from Spy Kids and the brawl is on. Hendry fights out of the early beating and we take an early break. Back with Hendry slamming him down, setting up a springboard spinning legdrop for two.

Kazarian grabs a mic and shouts about how he DOES NOT believe in Joe Hendry while stomping away. Hendry is right back up with the fall away slam but the Standing Ovation is blocked. Kazarian’s chickenwing is broken up so Hendry grabs the ankle lock. That’s broken up as well, with Kazarian’s Fade To Black not working either. Hendry goes to the ankle lock, with Kazarian making the rope.

Back up and Kazarian hits the slingshot DDT, only to be sent outside in a heap. A suplex on the floor hits Kazarian but he gets in a cheap shot with…something for the quick pin at 9:50. Hold on though as Nemeth protests and Santino Marella comes out to say restart it. Kazarian knocks him down again but walks into a quick Standing Ovation to give Hendry the pin and the title shot at 12:43.

Rating: B-. Despite the fact that Kazarian has been pushed, it was hard to believe that Hendry was in any real danger of losing here, even when he did. Hendry has been the hottest thing in TNA for a long time now and it makes all the sense in the world for him to get the World Title shot. That’s the money match and this wasn’t so much about would he get here, but rather how he got there.

Nemeth applauds Hendry to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. This show was all about setting up the main event of Bound For Glory and it worked out well enough. The rest of the show was perfectly acceptable but there was almost nothing that you needed to see. It was a rather run of the mill show, but what matters is setting things up for next month and this show took care of the biggest piece of that puzzle.

Results
Jordynne Grace/Sol Ruca b. Rosemary/Wendy Choo via DQ when Tasha Steelz interfered
Jonathan Gresham b. Laredo Kid – Gresham rammed Kid’s knee into the mat
ABC/Zachary Wentz b. Kushida/Leon Slater/Mike Bailey – UFO to Slater
Lei Ying Lee b. Hyan – Thunderstruck
Heather Reckless b. Xia Brookside – Rarefied Air
Joe Hendry b. Frankie Kazarian – Standing Ovation

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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Impact Wrestling
Date: September 19, 2024
Location: Boeing Center At Tech Port, San Antonio, Texas
Commentators: Matthew Rehwoldt, Tom Hannifan

We’re done with Victory Road and the big story is Nic Nemeth is still the World Champion as we are on the road to Bound For Glory. He is going to need a new challenger and it almost has to be Joe Hendry. Other than that, multiple titles changed hands so it’s time to move in a new direction. Let’s get to it.

Here is Victory Road if you need a recap.

Victory Road recap.

Here is Alisha Edwards to blame Masha Slamovich for her no longer being a champion. Cue Slamovich to threaten Alisha in English (which apparently she can speak), with Alisha bringing up that Slamovich can’t do anything because Alisha is still under concussion protocol. Cue Tasha Steelz to jump Slamovich but Jordynne Grace runs in for the save. The System runs in but the Hardys even things out. Cue Santino Marella to make a six person tag. Cue Arianna Grace to say Grace will team up with one of Grace’s best friends to face Wendy Choo and Rosemary next week. Santino likes how she thinks.

Eric Young talks to Josh Alexander about respect and wants him to be serious.

Jordynne Grace and Masha Slamovich respect each other but think they’ll meet down the line. They go to talk to the Hardys and Slamovich has a photo of herself meeting them as a kid. Matt Hardy is ready for the main event.

First Class vs. Sinner & Saint

Navarro flips over Sinner (who is apparently named Travis Williams) to start so it’s off to Saint (Judas Icarus) for a dropkick. Francis comes in to throw people around and Navarro adds some running knees. Icarus DDTs his way to freedom and it’s back to Williams to clean house. A double underhook powerbomb gives Icarus two but Francis is in with the Down Payment. Navarro’s frog splash pins Icarus at 4:26.

Rating: C. This was a nice way to reheat First Class after their recent losses. They need a bit of a boost, but they are also going to need a feud of some kind, perhaps one they can even do well in. Sinner & Saint, despite their odd names, have been around here before and are a decent enough tag team.

Mike Santana is ready to hurt JDC.

Mike Bailey is glad to be X Division Champion again and is ready to have a six man tag tonight.

Steph de Lander has to calm PCO down.

Rhino vs. Matt Cardona

Cardona bails to the floor to start before Rhino hammers away. The threat of a Gore sens Cardona outside, where Rhino suplexes him onto the ramp. Back in and Cardona hammers away but Rhino grabs a chair. Cardona takes it away and hits him in the ribs for the DQ at 2:54.

Post match Cardona beats him down but PCO runs in for the save…and beats up the chair, treating it as PCO.

Knockouts Tag Team Titles: Spitfire vs. Carlee Bright/Kendal Grey

Bright and Grey, from NXT, are challenging. Threat wrestles Grey to the mat without much trouble to start before sending her into the corner. Luna sends Grey flying with a fall away slam before the champs get two off a double suplex. Grey kicks her way out of the corner though and it’s off to Bright for a middle rope hurricanrana. A standing moonsault gets two but Threat comes back in for the toss powerbomb (Pressure Drop) to retain at 4:24.

Rating: C. We’re kind of at the point where the NXT crossovers aren’t meaning as much. There is only so much you can get out of some lower card women challenging for the Knockouts Tag Team Titles and it didn’t feel important. If you want this to work, someone is going to have to win another promotion’s title and that isn’t feeling likely.

Ash By Elegance and Heather Reckless get to know each other. Reckless is even interested in a makeover.

Mike Santana vs. JDC

Texas Deathmatch, meaning Last Man Standing but you have to get a pin or submission before the count starts.. Santana comes through the crowd and hammers away, with JDC being knocked out to the floor. Back in and some chairs are set up but JDC sends Santana into them. A trashcan is put over Santana’s head for Down And Dirty and Santana is busted open. Santana comes back with a barbed wire 2×4 to take over and we take an early break.

Back with Santana hitting a piledriver on the stage for two but JDC (who is GUSHING blood) is back with a tornado DDT. Santana sends a charging JDC into the barricade and then crushes him with an anvil case. JDC is put on a table and a frog splash off a ladder knocks him through for the pin, and then the ten count, to give Santana the pin at 12:15.

Rating: C+. Nice enough brawl, with JDC’s cut being downright gruesome, but this could have easily been a street fight or something to the same result. The Texas Deathmatch stipulation wasn’t exactly needed but what matters the most here is Santana continues his rise. Odds are he gets a big match with Moose at Bound For Glory, and this was a good win on the way there.

Post match Moose runs in and chairs Santana down.

Josh Alexander sees something in Sinner & Saint.

Lei Ying Lee (Xia Li) is coming.

Here is Joe Hendry for a chat. Hendry talks about what he did at Victory Road and how much of a statement it was for him to beat Josh Alexander. The people lifted him up and now he is ready for them to lift him to the World Title. Cue Frankie Kazarian to laugh off the idea of Hendry going to the World Title, because Nic Nemeth should give Kazarian the title shot instead. Cue Nemeth to say that Kazarian calls himself the King Of TNA but this is the real crown. Santino Marella comes out to make Kazarian vs. Hendry next week for the #1 contendership. That was simple and to the point.

System/Tasha Steelz vs. Masha Slamovich/Hardys

Alisha Edwards is here with the villains. Slamovich sends Steelz into the ropes to start and hits a running shot to the face. Matt and Eddie come in with Matt choking on the rope and hitting a running crotch attack to the back of the neck. Jeff comes in for Poetry In Motion and Slamovich sends Steelz into the corner for her own Poetry In Motion. Slamovich hits a big dive to the floor and we take a break.

Back with Slamovich in trouble and Myers coming in to calmly kick her in the corner. It’s a bit too calm as Slamovich slips away and hands it back to Jeff to clean house. Myers cuts that off with a Russian legsweep for two and some elbows up against the ropes. Jeff suplexes Eddie down and the Whisper In The Wind drops the System again. Matt comes in off the tag to start the real comeback but Alisha breaks up the Twist of Fate. That’s enough for an ejection, with the ABC coming in to get rid of her. That leaves Myers to take the Twist Of Fate into the Swanton to give Jeff the pin at 16:12.

Rating: B-. Nice enough main event here, but dang I do not care to see the Hardys going into Bound For Glory and getting the Tag Team Titles in some special moment. Throw in ABC and they have all the makings of a ladder match for the belts, which just…no. Other than that, Slamovich looked like a star here and it wouldn’t surprise me to see her getting the Knockouts Title shot at Bound For Glory.

Overall Rating: C+. Not exactly a can’t miss show here and there was nothing worth going out of your way to see, but what matters the most here is that you can see a lot of Bound For Glory from here. It’s a good sign when the card is starting to come into focus over a month out and now we could be in for a solid build there. This wasn’t a red hot start, but at least they put some more pieces together.

Results
First Class b. Sinner & Saint – Frog splash to Icarus
Rhino b. Matt Cardona via DQ when Cardona used a chair
Spitfire b. Carlee Bright/Kendal Grey – Pressure Drop to Bright
Mike Santana b. JDC – Splash from a ladder through a table
Hardys/Masha Slamovich b. System/Tasha Steelz – Swanton Bomb to Myers

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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Victory Road 2024
Date: September 13, 2024
Location: Boeing Center At Tech Point, San Antonio, Texas
Commentators: Matthew Rehwoldt, Tom Hannifan

It’s the last big stop before Bound For Glory and the big main event is a rematch from earlier this year as Nic Nemeth faces Moose, this time with Nemeth defending. Other than that, Jordynne Grace defends the Knockouts Title against NXT’s Wendy Choo as the crossover continues. Let’s get to it.

Kickoff Show: Kushida vs. Leon Slater

The fans are behind Kushida as he goes behind Slater to start. With that going nowhere, Kushida takes him down and goes after the leg before both of them miss a kick and we go to a standoff. Slater’s headlock doesn’t get him anywhere so he kicks Kushida in the head to take over. Another shot sends Kushida outside but it’s too early for the dive, allowing Kushida to hit a running handspring kick in the corner. The big flip dive to the floor drops Slater and it’s time to go after the leg back inside.

With that not working, Kushida switches over to the leg, which tends to be his custom. Kushida dropkicks him into the corner but misses a clothesline, allowing Slater to hit a dropkick of his own. A slugout goes to Slater but Kushida pulls him into the Hoverboard Lock, which is broken up just as fast. Slater knocks him outside for a big running flip dive, with Slater sticking the landing. Back in and Kushida grabs the Hoverboard Lock for the really sudden tap at 7:54.

Rating: B-. Kushida is a great choice to open the show, as he can go out there and pop the crowd by being so smooth at everything he does. That is more than most wrestlers around here, or anywhere for that matter, can do and it is going to keep him around for a long time. Nice opener here, with Slater looking good in defeat.

Kickoff Show: Hammerstone/Jake Something vs. Eric Young/Steve Maclin

It’s a brawl before the bell with the villains hitting stereo clotheslines to take over. We get the official start with Hammerstone dropping Maclin, who sends the villains into each other to fight back. Maclin sends them into the same corner and fires off some clotheslines before tying Hammerstone in the Tree Of Woe. The running shoulder misses though and Something runs Maclin over on the floor as the fans want Eric.

Back in and Maclin gets in a shot for a breather, allowing the tag to Young to pick up the pace. A sitout powerbomb gets two on Something and it’s back to Hammerstone to take Young into the wrong corner. Young gets away rather easily though and Maclin’s running shoulder in the corner sets up Young’s top rope elbow for two. Everything breaks down and Something hits Into The Void to pin Young at 7:45.

Rating: C. Well, at least the villains finally won. Something and Hammerstone both feel like they should be much bigger deals but for some reason they’re lucky to win a match like this. Hopefully this is the start of something good for them, though it is hard to believe that given their track record. For now though, I’ll take a single win.

The show proper opens with a look at the main matches, including a bunch of titles on the line.

Hardys vs. First Class

Jeff and Navarro start things off with Navarro mocking Matt and quickly being knocked down. That means Jeff gets to dance, as is his custom, before it’s off to Matt to work on the arm. Francis gets knocked to the floor but he grabs Matt’s leg for a distraction, allowing Navarro to get in a cheap shot to take over.

Francis comes in for a big boot and a running knee in the corner, followed by a side slam for two. For some reason Francis tries a Swanton, which goes as well as expected. The tag brings Jeff back in to clean house, including a rollup for two. Francis comes back in and gets double DDT’ed, leaving Navarro to take the twist of Fate into the Swanton for the pin at 9:39.

Rating: C+. The Hardys are one of those things that will always work in wrestling, even when they’re in their late 40s and nowhere near what they were before. There is a good chance that this leads them back into the Tag Team Title picture though and it wouldn’t shock me to see them getting the Bound For Glory shot. That isn’t exactly appealing, but you know what you’re getting with the Hardys.

We run down the card.

X-Division Title: Mike Bailey vs. Zachary Wentz

Wentz is defending after winning the title in Ultimate X last month. They trade takedowns to start and neither gets anywhere so it’s an early standoff. Wentz lets Bailey slap him in the face and then takes it outside as commentary talks about the history of the title. Back in and Bailey knocks him to the floor this time, setting up an early dive as the fans find this awesome.

Wentz sweeps the leg but Bailey is back up with the rapid fire kicks to cut him off. A quick snapmare sets up a running kick to Bailey’s chest but they both miss running shooting star presses and kick the other in the head for a double knockdown. They get back up again, with Bailey letting Wentz hit him this time. The slugout sees both of them knocked to the floor, where Bailey does his head fake into the Asai moonsault. A springboard flip dive lets Wentz drop Bailey for a change but of course he’s right back with the moonsault knees on the apron.

Wentz hits a DDT but Bailey gets his knees up to block the Swanton. The Flamingo Driver is broken up and Wentz grabs a middle rope cutter for two. Bailey powerbombs him out of the corner and hits a great looking shooting star press for two of his own. Wentz grabs a running flipping DDT for two, only for Bailey to hit a poisonrana. The UFO is blocked and Bailey hits the Flamingo Driver to get the title back at 17:41.

Rating: B. Well, that Wentz reign was a big waste of time. He won the title in something close to a ladder match and then loses it back in a clean match two weeks later. Bailey getting the title back is as uninspiring of a decision as you can get as it feels like he’s had the thing for the better part of ever. Good match, but dang can we let someone look good over Bailey for a bit?

The System is ready to reboot tonight.

Rhino/PCO vs. Matt Cardona/Steph de Lander

Steph is in a Property Of Matt Cardona shirt. Hang on though as she talks about the roller coaster her career has had…and now she needs neck surgery. Matt is still her best friend and she thanks him for everything, and she is so happy with her husband. Now though, she needs them to figure this out without her. This is not a retirement and she’ll see you later and she loves us. PCO and Steph leave together and Cardona hits Rhino with Radio Silence. No match.

Nic Nemeth is ready to get his win back against Moose.

Knockouts Tag Team Titles: Masha Slamovich/Tasha Steelz vs. Spitfire

Spitfire is challenging and will split up if they lose, while Steelz is replacing an injured Alisha Edwards (here with the champs). Luna shoves Steelz down to start so Steelz takes her down for some glaring. Slamovich comes in to work on Threat’s arm but a slam puts Slamovich down. Luna slams Threat onto her, only to have Slamovich come back with a suplex.

It’s back to Steelz who fires off some chops in the corner before cranking on the arm some more. Slamovich gets two off Three Amigos and Steelz puts on the camel clutch. With that broken up, Threat tornado DDTs her way to freedom and Luna is back in with a powerbomb for two on Slamovich. Everything breaks down and Luna breaks up Steelz’s Sliced Bread attempt. Slamovich gets tossed into a sitout powerbomb to give Spitfire the titles back at 11:12.

Rating: C+. These titles still do not feel important and having Spitfire put their career as a team on the line against a makeshift team (not TNA’s fault) didn’t help things. Neither team, including the Alisha version felt like a special pairing, but that is going to happen when they have barely been together. This was about as good as it could have been, which isn’t saying much.

Post match Alisha yells at Slamovich and Steelz has to make a save.

Jake Something and Hammerstone say their win on the Kickoff Show was just a start.

We look at Josh Alexander turning evil at Slammiversary, which doesn’t work for Joe Hendry. Alexander is jealous of Hendry’s success and Hendry is ready to prove himself.

Joe Hendry vs. Josh Alexander

Alexander powers him into the corner to start and Hendry isn’t sure what to do with that. A headlock takeover works a bit better for Hendry but he’s right back out for a staredown. Hendry’s running shoulder puts Alexander on the floor so he comes back in, where Hendry is waiting with a rather delayed running suplex for two. This time Alexander wants to go outside, where he gets in a shot on Hendry to set up the running crossbody on the apron.

Back in and Alexander goes after the Ankle lock before snapping off a German suplex. The chinlock goes on before Alexander switches to a front facelock. That’s reversed as well as Hendry muscles him up with a suplex and there’s the fall away slam. Alexander bails to the floor again so Hendry gives him a trust fall on the floor. Back in and Alexander hits a quick backbreaker for two but Hendry crotches him on top.

The super fall away slam gives Hendry two and they slug it out. Alexander picks the ankle for the ankle lock though, with Hendry being believed over to the ropes. Hendry hiptosses him into the arm and stomps away but the referee gets bumped. The C4 Spike is countered and Hendry gets his own ankle lock, with Alexander tapping. Alexander uses the delay to go low…and Hendry is wearing a cup, having learned at Slammiversary. The Standing Ovation into an ankle lock makes Alexander tap at 16:54.

Rating: B. That might be Hendry’s best match in TNA so far and he beat a former multiple time World Champion clean. At the end of the day, Hendry needs some big wins like this one on what should be his path to the World Title. Hendry getting smart with the cup was a nice feature as well and it came after a good match, with Hendry getting some credibility to go with his natural star power.

We recap the System using their rematch to get another shot at the Tag Team Titles they lost earlier this year.

Tag Team Titles: System vs. ABC

ABC is defending and Alisha Edwards is here with the System. Bey and Myers lock it up to start with Myers kicking him in the ribs, only to get dropped with a dropkick. Austin comes in to work on the arm, with la majistral getting two. The champs hit a double basement dropkick for two but Eddie low bridges Austin to the floor. Alisha offers a distraction and Myers spears Austin out to the floor.

Back in and Bey gets sent hard into the corner, where his ribs are banged up early on. Myers is smart enough to grab a waistlock to stay on the ribs, followed by a nasty backbreaker from Eddie. Bey tries to fight out of the corner but gets chopped back down, with a dropkick to the ribs into a Backstabber getting two. Bey gets in a quick hurricanrana though and it’s back to Austin to clean house.

The springboard kick to the head and a running double stomp gets two on Eddie as everything breaks down. A double Art Of Finesse gets two on Myers but the 1-2-Sweet is countered into a Blue Thunder Bomb to give Eddie two of his own. Myers is back up with the Roster Cut to Austin and the Boston Knee Party gives the System the titles back at 15:41.

Rating: B. The System getting the titles back is a bit of a surprise as they already held the for so long, but we’ve kind of done the whole ABC as champions thing. The division needs some fresh blood and hopefully that doesn’t mean the Hardys. For now though, I can go with a good match and something of a surprise title change.

We recap Jordynne Grace defending the Knockouts Title against NXT’s Wendy Choo. Grace’s title defense was interrupted by Choo, meaning it’s time for her own title shot.

Knockouts Title: Jordynne Grace vs. Wendy Choo

Grace is challenging and gets a big home state reaction. They start fast with Grace running her over and taking things outside where Choo gets in a cheap shot to take over. The loaded pillow (because Choo uses a loaded pillow) is broken up by Grace’s mom (in the front row) so they head inside, where Choo chokes in the corner. Grace gets tied in the Tree Of Woe for a running dropkick but Choo has to block a superplex attempt. The Million Dollar Dream goes on in the corner but Grace powers out with a big crash back down.

Grace slams her a few times and hits a DDT for two more. It’s too early for the Juggernaut Driver so Grace grabs a Vertebreaker for two instead. Grace blocks a sunset bomb but gets superplexed instead, setting up a brainbuster to give Choo two. Another Million Dollar Dream is broken up so Choo full nelson slams her for two more. Grace has had it with this and hits a powerbomb, setting up the Juggernaut Driver to retain at 11:10.

Rating: C+. This is where the problem with the whole crossover things comes from. While the matches are good enough and it’s fun to see who shows up where, at some point it stops mattering if nothing really happens in the whole thing. It’s more along the lines of “hey this is kind of interesting” rather than “wow that happened”, which is going to have a limited shelf life. Grace continues to smash people but she is going to need a bigger challenger sooner than later.

Post match Rosemary runs in to jump Grace and the villains leave her laying.

Arianna Grace runs into Santino Marella and they agree to keep everything professional. Wink wink.

We recap Nic Nemeth defending the World Title against Moose. Nemeth failed to beat Moose earlier this year so now he’s out to prove that he really is the best.

TNA World Title: Moose vs. Nic Nemeth

Nemeth is defending and Frankie Kazarian is on commentary. Moose wastes no time in powering him into the corner but Nemeth is back with a dropkick. Some right hands in the corner are broken up with a hard shove though and Moose stomps away. A Sky High out of the corner gives Moose two and Nemeth’s missed charge sends him shoulder first into the post.

Moose mixes it up with an abdominal stretch but Nemeth bites the hand to escape. They go outside, with Moose getting backdropped onto the ramp for a breather. The chinlock wakes Nemeth up, as chinlocks tend to do, so Moose takes him outside, where Nemeth gets powerbombed onto the apron. Back in and Nemeth manages a Cactus Clothesline to the floor and a posting has Moose in more trouble. The Fameasser is loaded up but Moose powerbombs him through a table for the big crash.

Nemeth is fine enough to hit a Fameasser for two back inside so here is the System for a distraction. That’s fine with Nemeth, who grabs a sleeper. Moose breaks that up and hits the spear for two so Alisha Edwards throws in the title. Cue Mike Santana to take it away from Moose so JDC and Santana fight to the back. Danger Zone gives Nemeth two so he goes up, only to get superplexed back down.

Moose floats over into a powerbomb, which is countered into a Fameasser in a pretty slick sequence. Cue the System AGAIN to pull the referee out, but Nemeth begs for the match to continue. Cue JBL to take out the System, leaving Moose to hit another spear for another two. They strike it out until Nemeth hits some superkicks and the Danger Zone to retain at 19:43.

Rating: B-. Nemeth is John Cena at this point, as the amount of stuff that he survives, and occasionally just shrugs off, can be downright ridiculous. That was the case here as he took two spears and got up, only for JBL of all people to even the odds. I’m still not sure what is going on there, but at least they’re being consistent with the confusion. For now, a good enough main event, but I have no idea how you beat Nemeth when he’s basically a superhero.

Nemeth celebrates to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. This show benefits from having very low expectations, as it’s pretty much just the bonus show you get before Bound For Glory next month. That being said, there isn’t anything truly bad on here and three title changes is nothing to sneer at. It might not have been some classic, but for a show you get as part of TNA+ for the month, there are far worse ways to spend a Friday night.

Results
Kushida b. Leon Slater – Hoverboard Lock
Jake Something/Hammerstone b. Eric Young/Steve Maclin – Into The Void to Young
Hardys b. First Class – Swanton to Navarro
Mike Bailey b. Zachary Wentz – Flamingo Driver
Spitfire b. Masha Slamovich/Tasha Steelz – Toss sitout powerbomb to Slamovich
Joe Hendry b. Josh Alexander – Ankle lock
Jordynne Grace b. Wendy Choo – Juggernaut Driver
The System b. ABC – Boston Knee Party to Austin
Jordynne Grace b. Wendy Choo – Juggernaut Driver
Nic Nemeth b. Moose – Danger Zone

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