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

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NXT
Date: September 24, 2024
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

It’s the last show on the USA Network and next wee’s debut on the CW is absolutely packed. We could be in for a huge show next week, but this week could go in a few directions. Unfortunately one of those directions could be rather flat with next week’s show being the important one. Let’s get to it.

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

Women’s North American Title: Kelani Jordan vs. Wren Sinclair

Sinclair, with the No Quarter Catch Crew, is challenging. They fight over arm control to start with Sinclair getting the better of things. Jordan fights up and grabs an armdrag through the ropes before sending Sinclair outside. A dive takes her down again and we take a break. Back with Sinclair getting an abdominal stretch, which is broken in less than two seconds. Jordan hits a slingshot dropkick but misses a frog splash, allowing Sinclair to grab a gutwrench suplex. With Jordan on the floor, Sinclair tries a slingshot dive but takes out the Crew by mistake. Back in and One Of A Kind retains the title at 9:46.

Rating: C+. Another win for Jordan as the title reign continues to be built, which is what Jordan has been needing. What matters the most is that Jordan is starting to feel like a bigger star. She needs a big time opponent though and that hasn’t quite happened yet, and no one is really on the horizon so far.

We look at some of the hype for the NXT’s move to the CW next week.

We have the NXT press conference, with unnamed reporters asking Ethan Page what it means to be NXT Champion. He’s impressed by Trick Williams and not worried about CM Punk.

CM Punk is talking to Je’Von Evans when Trick Williams comes in. With Evans gone, Punk praises Williams for getting this far and says he’ll call the title match right down the line. Works for Williams.

Here is A-Town Down Under for a special Grayson Waller Effect. They talk about being the big guns for this show and mock the fans before bringing out Nathan Frazier and Axiom as the guests. The champs insist that they are just fine, unlike A-Town Down Under. Frazier laughs off references to him being a flippy guy and Axiom lists off the teams who have beaten him. Theory talks about how there are levels to this game and Waller promises to take the titles in two weeks. Frazier asks why Theory’s name isn’t in the show title and an argument breaks out but the villains jump Axiom and Frazier to leave them laying.

Lexis King and Oro Mensah talk about not having a father and agree that the best man wins tonight.

Hank Walker and Tank Ledger are ready to beat up the OC.

Ashante Thee Adonis hits on Brinley Reece, Karmen Petrovic and Tatum Paxley to no avail.

OC vs. Hank Walker/Tank Ledger

The brawl is on to start with the OC stomping away in the corner but Walker avoids a charge. Gallows gets double planted down for two but comes back with a boot to the face to drop Ledger. The villains take over and Gallows grabs a chinlock to slow things down a bit. That’s broken up and Ledger gets over for the tag to Walker so house can be cleaned. Anderson catches Walker on top and hits a superplex for two but the Magic Killer is broken up. The powerslam/running neckbreaker combination finishes Gallows at 4:50.

Rating: C. For the life of me I do not get the appeal of this feud. It feels like it has been going for months now, including times where it is mostly forgotten. Maybe Walker and Ledger move up the ladder towards a title match, but that doesn’t exactly feel right. On the other hand you have the OC and…my goodness they could not seem more checked out.

Je’Von Evans is ready to fight Randy Orton in two weeks with Cedric Alexander having his back. A-Town Down Under come in and threats seem to be made. Evans suggests Kevin Owens is behind them and panic ensues.

Lexis King vs. Oro Mensah

The rest of Meta Four is here with Mensah. They starts fast and Mensah gets in an armdrag, only to be sent outside for a big crash. A kick to the face sets up a backbreaker to keep Mensah in trouble but he’s back up with some rams into the buckle. King’s rollup with feet on the ropes…is broken up by King himself, who doesn’t want to win that way. Mensah is fine with winning that way and rolls him up with feet on the ropes for the pin at 4:42.

Rating: C. Now that’s interesting as King is showing a big twist after being a villain the whole time he has been around. Having King turn to the good side, or at least thinking about it, could be a big step for him and I’m curious to see how it goes. Mensah did well enough, but I’m not sure where this is going for him.

Tony D’Angelo trains old school with the Family as the Rocky style story continues. Just in case it wasn’t obvious enough, D’Angelo gets in a boxing ring to spar.

Ridge Holland vs. Riley Osborne

Thea Hail is with Osborne, who dives onto Holland to start fast. They go inside with Osborne knocking him down again and hitting a standing moonsault. Holland is able to send him over the top and to the floor, where Osborne drives him through the barricade. Back in and Holland shrugs it off, setting up the lifting DDT for the pin at 3:06.

Rating: C. This is clearly setting up the big return of Andre Chase and there is nothing wrong with going in the obvious direction. I’m not sure I can imagine Chase being the one to take Holland down but he is definitely the right one to be the big opponent. For now, running through Chase U in his absence is a goo move and we could be in for a hard hitting fight when Chase gets back.

Post match Holland wrecks Osborne, who manages to fight back until security breaks it up.

Miz wants to host the Oba Femi/Tony D’Angelo contract signing next week on MizTV.

Back to the press conference, where Oba Femi isn’t worried about Tony D’Angelo.

We were going to get a sitdown face to face interview with Wes Lee and Zachary Wentz, with a low of censored swearing Lee references Wentz’s fiance and the fight was on.

We get a special look back at NXT on USA. This is always cool to see, especially with some rather cool moments.

Ava makes Fatal Influence vs. Lola Vice/Jaida Parker for next week, despite Vice and Parker arguing a lot.

Rosemary/Wendy Choo vs. Karmen Petrovic/Brinley Reece

Choo drives Petrovic into the corner to start but she fights out as Kelani Jordan is speaking at the press conference. Reece comes in and gets taken down with a running shoulder, followed by some choking from Rosemary. Cue Ashante Thee Adonis to hit on a woman in the crowd though, which distracts Petrovic. Rosemary hits As Above So Below (double underhook drop) for the pin at 4:04.

Rating: C-. I’ll take any kind of a Rosemary win I can get, even if it was in a tag match with interference. Adonis catching Petrovic’s eye is a way to go and gives Adonis something to do after weeks of just kind of being around backstage. Throw in Reece not likely being happy over this and we could be in for something interesting.

CM Punk is in the back with Sol Ruca when Ethan Page comes in. Page doesn’t like Punk as the guest referee and suggests that Punk is just bringing drama. Punk laughs that off and says if Page is the man he says he is, prove it in Chicago.

Back to the press conference where Fatal Influence is ready for their tag match next week. They want titles but have to glare at an invading Lola Vice and Jaida Parker.

Cedric Alexander/Je’Von Evans vs. A-Town Down Under

It’s a brawl to start with Alexander being knocked to the floor, leaving Evans to get taken into the corner. The chinlock goes on but Evans fights up and hands it to Alexander for a kick to the chest. Everything breaks down and Evans hits a big flip dive over the top, with Alexander hitting one of his own as we take a break. Back with Alexander in a chinlock and getting kicked back down. The showboating middle rope elbow gives Waller two but Alexander rolls under a shot to the face and hands it back to Evans.

A pair of dives has the villains down and a springboard clothesline gets two on Theory. Back in and Waller forearms the heck out of Evans for two, with Alexander making the save. Alexander plants Waller on the apron and here are Axiom and Nathan Frazier to cut Waller off. Evans fights back up and goes to the top but Frazier and Axiom have some miscommunication, with Waller hitting his flipping Unprettier. A-Town Down finishes Evans at 11:38.

Rating: C+. It was a nice enough way to boost up A-Town Down Under before their upcoming Tag Team Title shot, though Evans losing is a bit of a surprise. I’m not sure why you would have him lose two week before the biggest match of his life but at least it wasn’t clean and it came to a main roster team. Other than that, it was a slightly longer match than most of the rest tonight and it worked out pretty well, even with a lot of moving parts.

Trick Williams talks about how important it is to become a two time NXT Champion because the greats have done that. CM Punk won’t be a factor because he’s coming for the title.

We get the final part of the press conference with Giulia (with Funaki) in the ring with Roxanne Perez. The first question is about whether Giulia is intimidated by the idea of living up to Perez’s title reign. After Perez objects to the suggestion that Giulia is going to win, Giulia gives a lengthy answer in Japanese. Apparently she is impressed by Perez it is time to pass the torch to a new generation.

Perez says she isn’t intimidated by Giulia because she has been a big fan for a long time. The reality is that Giulia came hunting for her and the NXT Women’s Title is the only women’s title that really matters. Giulia is asked about moving to America and says, in English, that everything is new but what isn’t new is that she is the most feared wrestler in the world. Perez isn’t impressed….but Stephanie Vaquer pops up on the Titantron to say she’s waiting on the winner. Giulia and Perez aren’t sure what to think to end the show. Now there’s a tease to wrap things up.

Overall Rating: C+. This show was in a rough spot as they had to set up a show on another network which is going to be far bigger than this one. At the same time they had to give something of a big finale on USA and while it didn’t feel epic, it was good enough to get by until next time. Next week is looking huge enough and I want to see what happens, so points for making things feel big while walking away from a network at the same time.

Results
Kelani Jordan b. Wren Sinclair – One Of A Kind
Hank Walker/Tank Ledger b. OC – Powerslam/running neckbreaker combination to gallows
Oro Mensah b. Lexis King – Rollup with feet on the ropes
Ridge Holland b. Riley Osborne – Lifting DDT
Rosemary/Wendy Choo b. Karmen Petrovic/Brinley Reece – As Above So Blow to Reece
A-Town Down Under b. Je’Von Evans/Cedric Alexander – A Town Down to

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NXT
Date: September 17, 2024
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

We have two shows left before the big move to the CW and that means WWE is trying a bit harder than usual around here. In this case it means an appearance from CM Punk, who could get involved with a good number of people. Other than that, we should be in for a build towards Ethan Page defending the NXT Title against Trick Williams. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening recap.

Ava is in the ring for a contract signing to get things going. First up though we have some announcements. In three weeks in St. Louis, Sexxy Red will be making her return and Randy Orton will be having his first ever match in NXT. As for two weeks in Chicago, we have a bunch of matches, including Wes Lee vs. Zachary Wentz in a street fight, Roxanne Perez defending the NXT Women’s Title against Giulia and Ethan Page defending the NXT Title against Trick Williams.

This brings out Williams and Page to sign the contract for their title match. Before Page comes out, Trick talks about how after last week, it is clear that Pete Dunne is still a Butch. Cue Page to brag about being NXT Champion and say he’s no Pete Dunne. He’s Trick’s Kryptonite and he has the receipts to prove it, starting with the NXT Title. Trick says Page stole the title but Page says the thing he remembers the most is the shock that came with him winning the title. Page promises to keep the title on October 1 and puts Trick through the table. Neither of them signed, which commentary points out.

We look back at Hammerstone failing to beat Oba Femi last week.

After last week’s loss, Tony D’Angelo got on Hammerstone for losing to Femi after Hammerstone got paid off. D’Angelo wants Hammerstone to do it again but Hammerstone isn’t going to do that. A match between the two of them seems imminent instead.

Ava talks to Mr. Stone and Stevie Turner about a surprise she has for tonight. Je’Von Evans comes up to ask about being on the show in Chicago and Ava will get back to him.

Tatum Paxley/Lyra Valkyria vs. Wendy Choo/Rosemary

Rosemary takes Paxley down to start but Paxley backflipped over her and hands it off to Valkyria. A Paisan elbow sets up a top rope ax handle to Rosemary’s arm but she rolls Paxley into the corner. Choo comes in but gets caught in a bodyscissors, with Paxley rolling her around for two.

The villains are sent outside and we take an early break. Back with a Russian legsweep/running shove combination getting two on Paxley but she enziguris her way to a breather. Valkyria comes back in as everything breaks down but it’s right back to Paxley. A belly to belly superplex gets two with Paxley putting her foot on the ropes. Valkyria kicks Choo down and Valkyria hits a top rope ax kick to finish Rosemary at 9:52.

Rating: C+. It’s nice to see the oddball team back together and having some success, but dang the results are frustrating for Rosemary. While I completely get that the TNA star taking the fall makes sense for NXT, it’s annoying to have someone as talented as Rosemary lose again and again. Couple that with the fact that it’s the terrible….whatever thing Choo is supposed to be not taking the fall and it’s all the more annoying.

Ava insists the contract is being signed tonight.

Charlie Dempsey is glad to have Tavion Heights back with the No Quarter Catch Crew. Heights and Miles Borne are tasked with getting the Tag Team Titles, while Wren Sinclair is told to make a name for herself. She gets it.

Tony D’Angelo vs. Hammerstone

The rest of the Family is here with D’Angelo. Hammerstone shrugs off some right hands in the corner and hits a running clothesline. D’Angelo’s headlock slows things down a bit and some belly to belly suplexes put Hammerstone down. Hammerstone fights up and hits some shoulders in the corner, followed by a belly to belly of his own. That’s enough for D’Angelo, who walks out for the countout at 2:53, with the Family looking confused. Hammerstone looked a lot better this week.

Zachary Wentz pops up in front of commentary and shows us a clip of Wes Lee attacking Wentz’s partner Trey Miguel in Dayton, Ohio. Back in the arena, Wentz says he doesn’t know how long Miguel is going to be out of action but the pain in Chicago is going to be even worse for Lee.

NBA All-Star Tyrese Haliburton tells Ava he can get the Trick Williams/Ethan Page contract signed. Sure why not.

Fatal Influence is ready for Lola Vice.

Vice is warming up in the back but isn’t a fan of Jaida Parker. Cue Parker, who says she’s fighting Fatal Influence tonight. Vice says Parker can have them after she’s finished.

Eddy Thorpe vs. Ashante Thee Adonis

Adonis jumps him before the bell and chokes him on the rope after the bell. The beating continues but Thorpe fights up and manages a kick to the face for a breather. Thorpe fights up and avoids a high crossbody (as Adonis took too long blowing a kiss to a fan), allowing Thorpe to hit his implant DDT for the pin at 3:26.

Rating: C. I’m not sure if this is better than fighting with Lexis King over music but at least Thorpe is starting to string together some wins. There is something to him but it might take a bit for the whole thing to come together. If nothing else, at least Adonis is losing like someone of his style should be. The ladies man deal is a classic but having him fall on his face over and over is a logical way to go.

Thea Hail and Riley Osborne are crushed after Ridge Holland turned on the school. Osborne is so upset that he was wright about Holland and promises to take out Holland once and for all.

Here is CM Punk for a chat. Punk says he’s in a better mood than he was last night and wants to have some fun this week. While he watches NXT, he has never been in this ring surrounded by these fans. During the time he was injured, he would try to watch the show from the shadows but got caught. Punk knows he is going to have to face some of these people, like Lexis King, Carmelo Hayes, Ethan Page and Bron Breakker. He even has shirts older than Je’Von Evans.

Anyway, Shawn Michaels called him up about being in Chicago for the first CW show (Punk: “Ok I begged.”) and told him to do whatever he wanted. Cue Roxanne Perez (Punk: “You gotta be kidding me.”), saying Punk was probably going to talk about Giulia because everyone does. 13 year old Perez would be freaking out right now because Punk was her favorite wrestler and she he was her voice. Perez: “But I always did prefer your wife.”

After the AJ chant, Perez realizes she should have been a Drew McIntyre fan. Perez gets why Punk wants to be in Chicago but this is all about her. Punk: “Can I retort?” Perez: “No, I wasn’t done yet.” Punk isn’t worried about what Perez is saying because he can appreciate an overconfident champion and he used to have a her sized chip on his shoulder.

That Women’s Title might make her the best in the world, because last night he was watching Bianca Belair and Iyo Sky and thought Perez might be better than them. The thing is it doesn’t matter if Giulia takes the title in Chicago. Cue Giulia (Punk looks interested) to say the countdown is on. Giulia goes to leave so Perez swings, with Punk grabbing her arm. Glaring ensues. You could tell Perez was having some trouble keeping it together in front of Punk but some of those lines were great.

Kelani Jordan isn’t worried about Fatal Influence. She’s thinking about issuing her own open challenge so here is Wren Sinclair to slap her in the face…and run away.

Tony D’Angelo admits to the Family that he’s scared of Oba Femi.

No Quarter Catch Crew vs. Je’Von Evans/Cedric Alexander

The rest of the No Quarter Catch Crew is here too. Evans starts fast against Borne and Alexander comes in for a basement dropkick. Heights comes in to work on Cedric’s arm but it’s back to Evans to dropkick Heights out to the floor. Alexander loads up a dive but stops from diving onto Wren Sinclair. Evans dives onto all of the Crew though and we take a break.

Back with Evans fighting out of a chinlock but getting sent into the wrong corner. Evans kicks his way to freedom and brings Alexander back in to take over. Another basement dropkick hits Heights and a Michinoku Driver gets two. Back up and Borne hits a clothesline for two, followed by a DDT for the same, with Evans coming off the top for the save. Cue Kelani Jordan to brawl with Sinclair, leaving Evans to hit his top rope spinning splash (headbutt in this case) for the pin at 10:27.

Rating: C+. I’m more than happy with Alexander getting to do something, even if it is just a low level tag team. The planned team with Ashante Thee Adonis didn’t work out but maybe a mentor to Evans will be better. If nothing else, it’s a fresh tam and that is always at least worth a look.

The winners celebrate and we’re told that Evans will be in action on October 8 in St. Louis. Against Randy Orton.

Ridge Holland says that’s two down and one to go in Chase U.

Brooks Jensen and Shawn Spears say they’re doing this next.

Brooks Jensen vs. Dion Lennox

Shawn Spears is here with Jensen, who throws him around to start. Lennox is back up with some tosses of his own, setting up a dropkick out to the floor. Jensen hits a spinebuster and hammers away but stops to steal Lennox’s glasses. That’s enough for Lennox to fire back and grab a rollup for two. Then Jensen DDTs him for the pin at 2:35.

Spears and Jensen shake hands post match.

Wes Lee is happy with what he did to Trey Miguel and is ready o end this with Zachary Wentz.

A-Town Down Under want and receive a Tag Team Title match next week.

Jacy Jayne vs. Lola Vice

The rest of Fatal Influence is here too. Vice shrugs off Jayne’s kick to the face to start and strikes her out to the floor. Jayne gets in a shot of her own on the floor and hits a Cannonball for two back inside. Vice shrugs it off and kicks her down, setting up the spinning backfist for the pin at 2:10.

Post match Fatal Influence comes in for the beatdown and Jaida Parker comes in for the save. Vice and Parker have to be held apart.

Tony D’Angelo is alone when Riz comes in to talk to him about being afraid. Riz says that no matter what happens, the Family will always be there for him. They all believe in him but D’Angelo has to believe in himself. Special training is recommended and they hug.

Here is Tyrese Haliburton to get the contract signed for the NXT Title match. Trick Williams comes out and praises Haliburton before telling Page to come out here. Page does come out, with Williams signing as he comes to the ring. Page isn’t happy with what is going on and signs, but Haliburton says there is one more thing. Cue CM Punk, who says we need something special for that match. That’s why he’ll be the guest referee (Which is so special we just did it what, two and a half weeks ago?). The fight is on to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. NXT is in a rough spot at the moment as they have the big CW move and the massive show coming up in two weeks, making this kind of a lame duck period. Instead they’re trying a bunch of stuff like guest stars and having Punk around, which does help, but there was very little worth seeing in the ring this week. It wasn’t a bad show, but you can definitely tell that they are stretching to get to October 1 and don’t have much before then.

Results
Lyra Valkyria/Tatum Paxley b. Wendy Choo/Rosemary – Top rope ax kick to Rosemary
Hammerstone b. Tony D’Angelo via countout
Eddy Thorpe b. Ashante Thee Adonis – Implant DDT
Je’Von Evans/Cedric Alexander b. No Quarter Catch Crew – Top rope spinning splash to Borne
Brooks Jensen b. Dion Lennox – DDT
Lola Vice b. Jacy Jayne – Spinning backfist

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

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

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Impact Wrestling
Date: September 5, 2024
Location: Old Forester’s Paristown Hall, Louisville, Kentucky
Commentators: Matthew Rehwoldt, Tom Hannifan

We’re done with Emergence and on the way to Victory Road, which is less than two weeks away. Emergence saw Nic Nemeth retain the TNA World Title over Josh Alexander before being approached by JBL of all people. That could open up a variety of doors and we might get to find out where some of those doors lead this week. Let’s get to it.

Emergence recap, including a post show challenge from Nic Nemeth to Moose for a World Title match at Victory Road.

Here is the System, with JDC and Masha Slamovich, to get things going. Alisha Edwards (who was injured at Emergence and is sporting a neck brace) says the team has something to say, with the rest of the team saying they want their gold back. This includes a Tag Team Title match at Victory Road, and Moose accepting the World Title shot against Nic Nemeth.

As for tonight, it’s JDC’s night, as he’s in a tag match. If the team wins, JDC is officially in the System, but if they lose, he’s out. Alisha says she’s in concussion protocol and doesn’t have to defend the Knockouts Tag Team Titles. Cue Spitfire to say they have a rematch at Victory Road, but if they don’t win the Knockouts Tag Team Titles, they are splitting up. That’s a lot of the Victory Road card set up in about ten minutes.

Eric Young is ready for Jake Something tonight.

We look at JBL showing up at Emergence and whispering something to Nic Nemeth.

Kushida vs. Laredo Kid

Kid flips out of a wristlock to start and it’s an early standoff. Kushida takes him down by the arm but gets sent outside….and here is Josh Alexander to jump Kid for the DQ at 2:18.

Post match Alexander wrecks both of them but Kushida wants to fight him right now.

Kushida vs. Josh Alexander

Kushida hammers away in the corner and we take a break fifteen seconds in. Back with Kushida suplexing him into a cross armbreaker, with Alexander bailing out to the floor to escape. Alexander takes over on the floor and hits a backbreaker back inside, setting up the chinlock. Kushida fights up and gets the Hoverboard Lock, only to be reversed into a brainbuster. A nasty German suplex drops Kushida on his head and Alexander gets the ankle lock. With that broken up, the C4 Spike finishes Kushida at 9:24.

Rating: C+. They didn’t have much time here with the break but Kushida is protected well enough by having Alexander jump him before the match. It’s still a nice enough win to give Alexander a boost back after the loss at Emergence and that’s what needed to happen. Alexander did not look great in that match and needs a nice rebuilding as a result.

Kushida is helped to the back and Joe Hendry comes in to ask Alexander if this is what we’re doing now. Sounds Victory Road matchish.

Here is Jordynne Grace for an open challenge and….NXT’s Arianna Grace (Santino Marella’s daughter, though that has never been acknowledged on either show) interrupts. She’s not wrestling, but rather to announce that she is the new liaison between NXT and TNA. In addition, she’s introducing the challenger.

Knockouts Title: Jordynne Grace vs. Karmen Petrovic

Petrovic is a martial artist from NXT and is challenging. We get a handshake to start and Grace snaps off an early spinebuster as we take an early break. Back with Petrovic kicking away as Rosemary is watching from the balcony. Petrovic fires off kicks in the corner and hits a rolling kick to the face for two. A Juggernaut Driver attempt is blocked and Petrovic keeps on kicking, setting up a middle rope crossbody for two more. Grace shrugs it off and grabs the Juggernaut Driver for the fast pin at 7:35.

Rating: C+. Petrovic has come a long way in a short amount of time and feels like she could be a star in the near future. On the other hand you have Grace, who already is a star and is running over everyone in front of her. That is likely going to be the case for a good while to come and hopefully she gets a top level challenger in the near future.

Post match the lights go out and come back up to reveal Grace out cold and a pillow next to her, with Rosemary approving. That would likely be Wendy Choo, who is obsessed with sleep (no it doesn’t work in NXT either).

First Class interrupts ABC and gets another Tag Team Title shot next week.

A new woman, who carries a fan, is coming.

Here is new X-Division Champion Zachary Wentz for a chat. Before he can say much though, Mike Bailey interrupts to say he’ll be using his rematch at Victory Road. Cue the Good Hands to jump Bailey and Wentz so let’s do that tag thing.

Good Hands vs. Mike Bailey/Zachary Wentz

Bailey kicks Hotch into the corner to start but Skyler comes in off a blind tag for a cheap shot. That doesn’t bother Bailey, who hits a middle rope missile dropkick, allowing Wentz to come in and pick up the pace. Bailey dives onto Hotch on the floor and a quick UFO gives Wentz the pin on Skyler at 3:59.

Rating: B-. It was fun while it lasted but they barely had enough time to do anything. That makes it better when they started flying around at the beginning and never really stopped until the finish. Wentz beating Bailey could be a good way to make him feel like a bigger star, but there is every chance that Bailey gets the title back.

Steph de Lander has to calm PCO own.

We look at Rosemary and Wendy Choo attacking Tatum Paxley on NXT until Lyra Valkyria made the save.

Rosemary is hearing them speak to her again and is rather pleased.

Here is Steph de Lander, who wants to talk to Matt Cardona. She wants to know why he has been screwing all these things up, with Cardona apologizing for not doing it earlier. Cardona whips out the contract they both signed which more or less says he owns her. Cardona yells a lot until PCO comes out to chase him off.

The Hardys are going to take out the System next week.

Eric Young vs. Jake Something

Something starts fast and powers him into the corner before running Young over for two. A sitout powerbomb gives Something two and he elbows his way out of a Death Valley Driver attempt. Young is right back with the Death Valley Driver though, followed by a piledriver for the pin at 3:49.

Rating: C. Well that was quick, as Young gets to pin someone else who feels like they could become a star if given the chance. I’m not sure why Young keeps getting wins like this, but it’s something you just kind of get used with him. They didn’t have time to do much here, but at least the piledriver looked good.

Post match respect is shown but then Something lays him out. Steve Maclin runs in for the save.

We look at Joe Hendry losing in the main event of NXT No Mercy, albeit thanks to a low blow.

Hendry is ready to keep going.

Heather Reckless has signed with the Knockouts division but Ash By Elegance interrupts. Ranting ensues but Gisele Shaw, facing Reckless next week, comes in and slaps Ash.

Joe Hendry/Mike Santana vs. Moose/JDC

Santana comes in from behind to clear the ring to start and Josh Alexander joins commentary. We take a break and come back with the match joined in progress Henry avoiding a charging Moose and fall away slamming JDC. A rather delayed suplex puts Moose down but Alisha Edwards comes down for a distraction, allowing Moose to send Hendry into the apron. Alexander: “Come on Joe! Believe in yourself!”

Hendry suplexes his way out of JDC’s front facelock and it’s Santana coming in to clean house. Everything breaks down and a rolling cutter plants Moose. Alexander hits Moose low but gets taken down by a dive from Santana. The distraction lets Moose hit a spear for the pin on Santana at 7:49.

Rating: C+. The System needed a nice win and thankfully it wasn’t Hendry taking another fall. At the same time, they didn’t make much out of this being JDC’s way to officially make it onto the team but I’ll take it over stretching things out for something that only changes so much. Other than that, Santana vs. Moose continues to feel likely for Bound For Glory, though I’m not sure what that leaves Hendry to do.

Nic Nemeth says Moose only had to say he wanted a shot but he’s going to win at Victory Road because it kills him that he hasn’t beaten Moose.

Overall Rating: C+. This show was in a tough place as it had to get things ready for Victory Road while also dealing with the fallout from Emergence. They managed to set up four title matches, plus a likely grudge match, in the span of two hours though, making this a rather efficiently used show. It might not have been a must see show, but it covered a lot of ground in a hurry.

Results
Laredo Kid b. Kushida via DQ when Josh Alexander interfered
Josh Alexander b. Kushida – C4 Spike
Jordynne Grace b. Karmen Petrovic – Juggernaut Driver
Mike Bailey/Zachary Wentz b. Good Hands – UFO to Skyler
Eric Young b. Jake Something – Piledriver
Moose/JDC b. Joe Hendry/Mike Santana – Spear to Santana

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

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

AND

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

NXT
Date: September 10, 2024
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Booker T., Vic Joseph

We are on the way to the CW and the show is already looking up. Last week saw Giulia challenging Roxanne Perez for a Women’s Title shot on October 1, with Perez accepting. Giulia is making her in-ring debut tonight against Chelsea Green, plus TNA Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace is here for an open challenge. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening recap.

Tag Team Titles: Axiom/Nathan Frazier vs. Street Profits

The Profits are challenging after the Rascalz were taken out under “conspicuous circumstances”. The fans want the smoke as Ford and Axiom start things off with Ford hitting a running shoulder. Ford flips over a clothesline and grabs a headlock on the mat before it’s off to Dawkins and Frazier. The pace picks up and Frazier hits a running shot to send Dawkins outside.

Back in and stereo basement superkicks drop Dawkins for two but he breaks out of Axiom’s chinlock. Ford fires off some clotheslines and Rock Bottoms Frazier into a People’s moonsault for two. Dawkins tosses Axiom into a German suplex from Ford for two more but Frazier is back in with a 450 for two on Ford. Everyone is knocked down until Dawkins goes up, only to get caught in the super Spanish Fly. Ford breaks up the 450 though and it’s a Doomsday Blockbuster to plant Frazier….and Tama Tonga pulls Ford out for the DQ at 7:50.

Rating: B-. This was getting going at the end but the interference is what matters the most here. The Bloodline being here is weird enough but it makes things feel that much more important. Either way, good start to a match here, and it wouldn’t shock me to see the Bloodline be the “circumstances” that took out the Rascalz.

Post match the Bloodline (Tongas and Jacob Fatu) come in and wreck both teams.

Tony D’Angelo has paid someone we can’t see to take out Oba Femi.

Video on Giulia’s debut and challenge to Roxanne Perez.

Giulia vs. Chelsea Green

Giulia knocks her down to start, followed by a middle rope dropkick to send Green flying again. Green comes back with a facebuster and a pump kick but Giulia grabs a Spider Web (something like an Octopus Hold). That’s broken up so Green chokes in the corner, setting up a German suplex.

A lifting Downward Spiral gives Green two and we hit a full nelson with the legs. Giulia flights out and sends her to the apron for a neckbreaker to the floor as Green can’t get away. Green manages to send her over the announcers’ table but a missile dropkick misses back inside. Giulia’s running knee sets up a northern lights bomb for the pin at 6:51.

Rating: C+. This wasn’t a squash but it was a fairly dominant victory for Giulia, which is what it should have been. Green isn’t the most accomplished star in WWE but she’s been around long enough that beating her means something. Giulia felt like a star here and once she turned it up in the end, Green was overwhelmed. It was a good, effective debut and did what it needed to do.

Trick Williams is ready for Pete Dunne tonight and then he’s coming for his NXT Title again.

Jordynne Grace talks about how important the TNA Knockouts Title really is, which is why she wants the best from NXT to come after it.

Lexis King is at a barber shop and shows us a highlight reel of his greatest hits. Then Oro Mensah jumps him.

Lola Vice and Jacy Jayne argue over who is going to step up to Jordynne Grace.

Heritage Cup: Je’Von Evans vs. Charlie Dempsey

Dempsey is defending. Round one begins with Dempsey taking him down into an armbar but gets caught in a wristlock. Dempsey tries to slip out but can’t shake Evans away. Instead he takes Evans into the corner and stomps away. They trade monkey flips and Evans grabs a hurricanrana as the round ends. Round two begins with Evans missing a charge into the corner but coming out with a middle rope sunset flip for two. They fight over a backslide until Dempsey gets a dragon suplex for the pin at 1:01 of the round and 4:39 overall.

We take a break and come back with Evans small packaging Dempsey for two, followed by the top rope spinning splash for the pin at 2:51 of the round and 8:51 overall to tie it up. Round four begins with Evans hitting a running forearm in the corner and knocking Dempsey outside. A neck snap over the rope cuts Evans off for two and some neckbreakers keep Evans in trouble. Evans is back out with a suplex but a butterfly suplex has him in trouble as the round ends.

Round five begins with Evans’ sunset flip getting two and a rollup gets the same. A springboard clothesline gets a delayed two, with Miles Borne putting the foot on the rope. Cedric Alexander brawls with Borne to the back so Evans knocks him to the floor for a huge dive over the top. Cue Tavion Heights to jump Evans though and Dempsey gets the pin to retain at 2:09 of the round and 15:10.

Rating: B-. Heights being back was a good way to keep Evans looking strong in defeat. Dempsey needed to win here after just getting the Cup back, making this a good enough way to go. The round system still works well as a way to set this stuff apart and it feels like its own division, even if there are only a few people involved with it at a time.

Rosemary and Wendy Choo want to destroy Lyra Valkyria and Tatum Paxley. They have made their bed but have forgotten to look underneath it.

Ethan Page is happy to see Pete Dunne and Trick Williams beat each other up because he can pick up the scraps on October 1.

Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill will be in Chicago on October 1.

Oba Femi vs. ???

Non-title and it’s…..HAMMERSTONE (a powerhouse from TNA) answering, apparently the person Tony D’Angelo paid off earlier. Hammerstone gets backed up against the ropes to start but pushes Femi away. Femi is knocked outside, where he hits a jumping clothesline to knock Hammerstone off the apron.

Back in and another clothesline sets up a chinlock, with Hammerstone getting up fast. A fireman’s carry toss gives Femi two but Hammerstone blocks a stomp on the mat. Hammerstone fights back and hits a running clothesline into some suplexes and a chokeslam for two. Femi is up again with a belly to back toss and a pop up powerbomb for the pin at 5:26.

Rating: C+. This one is going to depend on what you know about Hammerstone. He was a force in MLW and has shown flashes of success in TNA but this was quite the disappointment. Hammerstone was beaten up for the most part and then lost clean in the end. Of course you don’t have an outside beat your unstoppable monster, but I was expecting a hoss fight and got a five minute match with Femi mostly dominating.

The D’Angelo Family is not pleased.

Hank Walker and Tank Ledger are ready but Chase U walks in, with Duke Hudson promising to hurt Ridge Holland.

Wren Sinclair isn’t sure which title she should go after and asks if Kelani Jordan has ever considered an open challenge. They both leave so Lola Vice and Jaida Parker can talk about how they want to beat up Fatal Influence. Vice sounded rather serious here.

CM Punk was impressed by Giulia’s debut and is going to call Ava with an idea.

Ridge Holland vs. Duke Hudson

Hudson starts fast and takes it outside, with Holland being sent into the steps. Back in and a suplex has Holland in more trouble but he drives Hudson back first into the barricade. A running clothesline drops Hudson for two and a crossbody against the ropes cuts off his comeback. Something like a Jackhammer puts Hudson down and the lifting DDT finishes for Holland at 4:11.

Rating: C. Hudson was fighting for his school here but it’s too early for Holland to get what is coming to him. That is going to come when Andre Chase is back, which mans Holland is going to have to run through Riley Osborne first. For now, it was short and to the point, with Hudson getting in what he could before Holland took him apart.

Post match Holland beats him up even more, including another lifting DDT onto a piece of the barricade.

Jordynne Grace runs into Giulia for a cool visual.

Pete Dunne is ready to fight Trick Williams and move on to become NXT Champion.

MizTV will be in Chicago on October 1.

We look back at the Bloodline wrecking the Street Profits and Axiom/Nathan Frazier.

Wes Lee comes in to commentary and says he took out Trey Miguel so the Rascalz couldn’t get the title shot. He wants Zachary Wentz in a street fight in Chicago.

TNA Knockouts Title: Jordynne Grace vs. ???

Grace is defending against….Sol Ruca. Grace gets taken down to start but avoids a low superkick. A gutwrench suplex drops Ruca but it’s too early for the Juggernaut Driver. Instead Ruca pulls her outside, followed by the awesome springboard splash for two back inside. We take a break and come back with Ruca slipping out of a MuscleBuster but getting pulled down onto the turnbuckle.

Ruca is right back up with a high crossbody but Grace rolls through and tries a swinging Rock Bottom, which is reversed into a DDT to give Ruca two. Grace is back up with a World’s Strongest Slam into a Vader Bomb for two, followed by the MuscleBuster. And never mind as the lights go out and Rosemary/Wendy Choo are here to jump Grace for the DQ at 8:56.

Rating: B-. Ruca got in a few shots but this was more of Grace dominating until the DQ ending. That was a wise way to get out of having Grace beat a talented start like Ruca so this had to be done. As usual, Grace feels like she could be a major star here at the drop of a hat and odds are she will the second she is allowed to sign. Nice match here, with the ending that had to take place.

Post match Grace gets choked out.

Tatum Paxley shows Lyra Valkyria her dolls of various villains, with Valkyria telling her to be calm. A tag match against Choo and Rosemary seems set for next week.

Giulia, with Funaki, is in Ava’s office when Roxanne Perez comes in to say Giulia isn’t taking anything over. Giulia teases violence but Ava says save it for Chicago.

Dion Lennox warns Brooks Jensen about Shawn Spears (who is there too). With Lennox gone, Jensen and Spears seem to be ok.

Ashante Thee Adonis and Eddy Thorpe argue over Thorpe’s friendship with various women.

Trick Williams vs. Pete Dunne

Last Man Standing for the NXT Title shot on October 1. They slug it out to start with Williams getting the better of things. The fight heads outside with Williams being whipped into the steps and suplexed onto the apron as we take a break. Back with Williams hitting some leg lariats but Dunne rolls to the floor. The chair is brought in and a neckbreaker onto it gives Williams a six.

Dunne is back up with a German suplex and wedges the chair in the corner. They head outside again with Williams being put on the steps for a running boot to the head. The floor mats are peeled back (you don’t see that much anymore) and Dunne plants him with a DDT for nine (yes off a DDT on exposed concrete).

Back in and Williams hits a pop up right hand but the Bitter End gives Dunne another eight. Dunne gets the chair but Williams kicks it into his face for eight of his own. Williams pulls the cover off of the announcers’ table, only to get powerbombed through it. They fight out into the fans and onto the platform, with Dunne hitting a Russian legsweep down through some tables. Cue Ethan Page to mock them both until Williams bats the count to win at 14:17, backdropping Page through the table in the process.

Rating: B. The ending to this was a bit of a weak spot as Williams just popped up to win, but the rest of the match took a different path than most of these matches. Until the last few minutes, they mostly kept this basic, with just the chair being used. I like the change of pace over what you would expect from this kind of a match, with all kinds of weapons and such. Williams very well may get the title back in Chicago and this was a fine way to set it up.

Ava gets off the phone with CM Punk, who will be here next week.

Overall Rating: B. Despite a lot of the wrestling just being ok, this show was PACKED with either guest stars or important matches. I was impressed by how many things they managed to fit into the show and it was a lot of fun, even with the main event being the only match worth seeing. Sure it’s to help drum up interest before the big move in a few weeks, but it worked very well for a show that didn’t have a ton of hype.

Results
Street Profits b. Axiom/Nathan Frazier via DQ when Tama Tonga interfered
Giulia b. Chelsea Green – Northern lights bomb
Charlie Dempsey b. Je’Von Evans 2-1
Oba Femi b. Hammerstone – Toss powerbomb
Ridge Holland b. Duke Hudson – Lifting DDT
Jordynne Grace b. Sol Ruca via DQ when Rosemary and Wendy Choo interfered
Trick Williams b. Pete Dunne when Dunne could not answer the ten count

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NXT
Date: September 3, 2024
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

We’re done with No Mercy and that means we are about a month and a half away from Halloween Havoc. That should be a big enough show, but we also have the first show on the CW in about a month, which is going to have its own stacked card. The NXT Title will be on the line on that show, with Ethan Page defending after retaining on Sunday. Let’s get to it.

Here is No Mercy if you need a recap.

Long No Mercy recap.

Here is Trick Williams to get things going. He is out here to finish things with Pete Dunne (fans: “WHOOP THAT BUTCH!”) but here is Ethan Page to interrupt. Page says he might not be Dunne, but he is the NXT Champion, with Williams raising his hand at No Mercy. Williams says he was a man of his word and called the title match down the line but for now, he has to get rid of Dunne. Page teases violence and here is Dunne to jump Williams, with referees breaking it up.

Hank Walker and Tank Ledger nearly get in a fight with Gallus.

Fatal Influence are rather mean to Jaida Parker.

Rascalz vs. Gallus vs. Hank Walker/Tank Ledger

For a future Tag Team Title shot. It’s a big brawl to start with Miguel being sent into the corner but coming back with a rollup for two. Miguel hurricanranas Walker down but gets stomped by Mark Coffey as the fast start continues. Mark runs Miguel over with a clothesline, only for Wentz to come in with a Motor City Machine Guns style Dream Sequence to put Mark down. Hank and Tank come in and wreck everyone as we take an early break.

Back with Walker clotheslining Mark and Wentz, allowing the tag off to Ledger to clean house. Miguel kicks Walker in the face and makes him DDT Coffey for two but cue Je’Von Evans to jump Joe Coffey and the Good Brothers to go after Walker. Miguel’s top rope Meteora into Wentz’s Swanton finishes Ledger at 11:02.

Rating: C+. They didn’t waste time here and were flying through everything with this one, including the interference from the OC. Why Walker/Ledger vs. the OC needs to continue is beyond me but at least it isn’t near the title picture at the moment. The Rascalz should make for a good set of challengers and when the champions aren’t on the best footing at the moment, there will be just enough of a reason to believe the titles could change hands.

Axiom and Nathan Frazier are ready for the Rascalz, who come in to say they’re ready to take the titles back to TNA next week.

Trick Williams and Pete Dunne get in another fight in the locker room.

Oro Mensah vs. Lexis King

The rest of Meta Four is here with Mensah. The fight is on to start with Mensah knocking him into the corner and hitting a forearm to the back for two. King is sent out to the floor and slammed off the barricade for a crash. Back in and Mensah’s springboard is broken up with a shove off the top and King hammers away. A running shot to the back of the head gets two so King yells about Mensah’s father, which sends Mensah into a rage. The beating is on but King rolls him up with feet on the ropes for the pin at 4:49.

Rating: C. King is settling into the role of guy who knows how to push buttons and get under his opponents’ skin. He still isn’t exactly lighting the world on fire but it’s an improvement over where he was before. Mensah was showing some fire here but he still feels like he’s kind of going through the motions until Noam Dar gets back to bring Meta Four to full strength.

Post match Mensah chases King to the back.

The D’Angelo Family threatens Oba Femi, who doesn’t think much of Riz. Tony D’Angelo assigns Stacks to deal with this.

Gallus rants about Je’Von Evans when Wren Sinclair comes in to ask them to be quiet because Miles Borne has sensitive ears. Gallus says they’re coming for the Heritage Cup, with Charlie Dempsey asking Sinclair to calm down.

Tatum Paxley vs. Rosemary

Wendy Choo is here with Rosemary, who takes her into the ropes for an early Upside Down. The neck crank is broken up and Paxley hits a clothesline but Rosemary snaps off some suplexes for two. A quick facebuster rocks Rosemary though and the Psycho Trap gives Paxley the pin at 3:45.

Rating: C. Erg I was hoping this would be Rosemary’s chance to make up for a less than great outing last time but here she is looking like even more of a jobber. I understand that you don’t want TNA stars going over NXT names over and over but there was no one better to lose like this than one of the most successful Knockouts in recent years?

Post match the beatdown is on but Lyra Valkyria runs in for the save.

Pete Dunne and Trick Williams fight again. Ava is done with this and sends them to the ring right now.

TNA Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace will be defending in an open challenge next week.

Trick Williams vs. Pete Dunne

It’s a brawl on the floor before the bell with Williams taking over before they get inside for the official start. Dunne hammers away until he is sent into the corner so Williams’ jumping neckbreaker can connect for two. Williams knees him down and hits a running neckbreaker but Dunne gets in a crotching onto the ring skirt. A stomp onto the steps rocks Williams and we take a break.

Back with Williams getting two off a Rock Bottom but Dunne German suplexes him right back down. They go back outside with Williams missing a big boot and the fight going onto the barricade. A crash sends them through the announcers’ table and it’s a double countout at 11:20.

Rating: B-. This felt like a fight as these two wanted to get to each other that badly. There is a good chance that this is designed to set up a rematch for the CW debut (perhaps in a cage) and that makes things more interesting going forward. If these two are still fighting each other, who goes after the NXT Title? Joe Hendry more than likely, but I’ll take these two in another big fight first.

Post match the brawl is on again, with security not being able to do much about it.

Ridge Holland isn’t sad about what he did to Andre Chase and talks about how Duke Hudson criticized everything he did. Holland got the gold back in Chase U but mediocrity took it away. He starts destroying Chase U next week, but this week he starts this week with Hudson’s trophy.

An injured Shawn Spears thanks Brooks Jensen for saving him. Spears thanks him for being there and leaves when Dion Lennox comes in, saying Spears is psychologically manipulating Jensen.

Joe Coffey vs. Je’Von Evans

The rest of Gallus is here with Coffey. Evans shrugs off some right hands to start and hits a running hurricanrana. Coffey catches a running forearm with a Regal Roll into a Vader Bomb for two. Evans is sent outside but here is Cedric Alexander to cut off the interfering Gallus. Back in and Evans’ springboard spinning splash finishes Coffey at 2:30.

Lyra Valkyria didn’t want to come back to NXT but had to help Tatum Paxley against the weird girls.

Ava makes Pete Dunne vs. Trick Williams in a Last Man Standing match next week, with the winner getting the NXT Title shot on the first CW show. As long as it doesn’t end in a draw, sure.

Oba Femi vs. Stacks

Non-title and the rest of the D’Angelo Family is here too. Stacks slugs away to start but gets driven into and thrown out of the corner. Some elbows, with a glare at Tony D’Angelo, have Stacks in trouble and his comeback attempt is easily cut off. Femi hits him in the back of the head a few times for two but Stacks strikes away, including a dropkick to put Femi down. Not that it matters as Femi is back up with the toss powerbomb for the pin at 4:31.

Rating: C+. Femi is such a force these days that it is hard to imagine him losing anytime soon (or anytime at all for that matter). He has found his groove as the unstoppable monster and the more people he runs over, the better of a monster he’s going to be. Stacks was a good designated victim here and that’s all he needed to be.

Ashante Thee Adonis hits on more of the women but Eddy Thorpe breaks it up.

Je’Von Evans thinks he should get a Heritage Cup shot and Wren Sinclair grans his request. Charlie Dempsey comes in and isn’t pleased so he blames Miles Borne, who didn’t hear a thing.

Jazmyn Nyx vs. Jaida Parker

The rest of Fatal Influence is here too. Parker shoulders her down to start but stops to favor the bad ribs. Nyx is back up with a running kick to those ribs and we hit a bodyscissors. Parker powers out and puts her on the corner for the seated senton. The running hip attack finishes Nyx at 4:40.

Rating: C. This was Parker getting her win back after a big loss on Sunday, which isn’t a bad way to go. Parker vs. the team is something that could go on or a few weeks and build her back up, though she’ll need some friends on the way there. For now though, Parker continues to feel like she is rising up the ranks and that could be quite the ride going forward.

Post match Fatal Influence beats Parker down.

Here is Roxanne Perez to brag about her success and even the women on the main roster can’t stop talking about her. People fantasize about beating her but then fantasy meets reality. It doesn’t matter if you are the hot prospect or a big star from Japan…and here is Chelsea Green to interrupt.

Green doesn’t like how the fans smell but they cheer for her anyway. She is here to interrupt the fun sized champion because she is the new #1 contender. Cue Giulia to interrupt and the fans seem impressed. Giulia wastes no time in dropping Green and then issues the challenge for the CW show. Perez seems to accept to wrap it up. You had to know that was coming and that’s not a bad choice to make.

Overall Rating: B-. The wrestling wasn’t the strongest here but that wasn’t the point. This show was about setting up the big CW debut in about a month and that show is already feeling like the biggest thing NXT has done since Stand & Deliver. This is already feeling like a bigger deal than No Mercy, which is a great way to off to a hot start on the way to the next major change over. Nice job this week, even if it was just a preview for the important show.

Results
Rascalz b. Gallus and Hank Walker/Tank Ledger – Swanton to Ledger
Lexis King b. Oro Mensah – Rollup with feet on the ropes
Tatum Paxley b. Rosemary – Psycho Trap
Pete Dunne vs. Trick Williams went to a double countout
Je’Von Evans b. Joe Coffey – Springboard spinning splash
Oba Femi b. Stacks – Toss powerbomb
Jaida Parker b. Jazmyn Nyx – Running hip attack

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: August 22, 2024
Location: Florida State Fairgrounds, Tampa, Florida
Commentators: Tom Hannifan, Matt Rehwoldt

We’re a little over a week away from Emergence and with most of the card set, there is only so much more that needs to be one. One of the biggest parts would be the final members of the Ultimate X match, meaning we have more qualifying matches. Other than that, we’re likely to be in for more of a build towards the show. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening recap.

Hammerstone vs. Frankie Kazarian vs. Kushida

Ultimate X Qualifying Match. Hammerstone powers Kushida into the corner for the shoulders to start but gets sent outside, leaving the other two to trade rollups for two each. They trade standing switches until Hammerstone dropkicks them both down. A suplex sends Kushida flying and Kazarian makes the mistake of jumping Hammerstone.

Kushida gets in a double knockdown but gets dropped by Kazarian for two. Hammerstone is back in but Kushida catches him in a cross armbreaker. That’s broken up by Kazarian, who can’t quite hit Fade To Black on Hammerstone. Instead Kushida knocks Kazarian outside, only to get caught in the torture rack. Hammerstone’s Nightmare Pendulum is enough to end Kushida at 6:08.

Rating: B-. The action here was good (as good as it could be in such a short match) but what helped here was you could see any of them winning. Kushida is a former champion and Kushida is a legend, while Hammerstone is the kind of hoss who could do some interesting things in Ultimate X. This was a good choice for an opener and I had a good time while I was wondering who would win.

Post match Hammerstone leaves so Kazarian hammers on Kushida, including Fade To Black.

Eric Young is ready for Hammerstone. Steve Maclin comes in to say he’ll be watching.

Santana knows he has to be an animal around here and wants to cut the head off the snake that is the System.

Alisha Edwards vs. Rosemary

Masha Slamovich is here with Edwards, who makes the mistake of poking Rosemary in the chest to start. Rosemary knocks her into the ropes and grabs the Upside Down, only to get kicked down for two. The Figure Four necklock mat slams has Rosemary in more trouble and a splash gives Edwards two more. Rosemary is back up with the spear for two of her own but Slamovich offers a distraction. That’s enough for Edwards to hit a Downward Spiral but Spitfire comes out to cut Slamovich off, meaning the referee is distracted. Rosemary is right back up with As Above, So Below for the pin at 4:46.

Rating: C. Rosemary continues to be in a weird place as she’s a big star in the division but can only go so far because of how complicated and intricate of a backstory she has. You could easily put her into the Knockouts Title picture and that still might be where they are going with this win. I’d rather she do that than have another weird partner, as that has kind of been covered.

Post match Rosemary gives the out cold Alisha a black rose.

Ash By Elegance agrees to face Jordynne Grace in a match…by Elegance.

Xia Brookside/Rhino/PCO vs. Steph de Lander/Kon/Madman Fulton

Matt Cardona was supposed to be on the de Lander team but isn’t medically cleared to compete. PCO and Kon start things off, with PCO chasing Cardona at the bell as we take an early break. Back with Rhino brawling with Fulton out to the floor with Fulton getting the better of things and choking on the rope.

Kon does the same and Cardona gets in a cheap shot, with de Lander not being pleased. Fulton’s splash gets two and we hit the chinlock for a breather. Rhino fights up and hits a quick Gore, allowing the tag off to PCO to pick up the pace. Everything breaks down and Brookside manages a Brookside Bomb on Fulton. The Gore sets up the PCOsault to finish Fulton at 8:28.

Rating: C+. This was a fun match, even if de Lander didn’t do much. While it’s hard to imagine that de Lander and Cardona don’t reunite later, there is something different with the de Lander/PCO stuff for the time being. Kon and Fulton are fine muscle/monsters, and that’s all it seems they’re being presented as here.

Video on Nic Nemeth vs. Josh Alexander in an Iron Man match at Emergence.

Jordynne Grace is down for Ash By Elegance’s challenge.

Laredo Kid vs. Bhupinder Gujjar vs. Jai Vidal

Ultimate X Qualifying Match and Vidal is quickly sent outside. The other two slug it out until Vidal sends Kid outside, only to get caught in a hurricanrana from Gujjar. Kid is back in and chops away on Vidal in the corner but gets low bridged to the floor. Gujjar hits a big dive to take both of them out on the floor but Kid does just the same. Back in and a pair of moonsaults gives Kid two on Vidal with Gujjar making the save. Vidal stomps Gujjar in the corner but gets planted by Kid, who hits a 450 for the pin at 6:41.

Rating: B-. More action packed and perfectly good stuff which didn’t have the chance to do much due to the time situation. Kid hasn’t been around much lately but he is more than good enough to warrant a spot in a match like this. It isn’t like Gujjar and Vidal have been doing anything anyway so the loss isn’t hurting them.

First Class yells about how Rich Swann should have been in Ultimate X. Mike Bailey comes in to offer him a title shot to make up for it. That’s quite the reward.

Charlie Dempsey vs. Jonathan Gresham

They fight over wrist control to start as commentary just says Gresham “forgot” about the whole black ink thing. The technical off goes to the mat with Gresham getting the better of things and working on the arm to limited avail. Dempsey reveres into a leglock and bridges back into a neck crank at the same time (think a reverse STF) for a nasty visual.

Back up and Gresham hits a running shoulder before they fight over a test of strength. They keep their hands lock as they go to the mat, with some near falls each as both have to bridge up. Gresham ties the legs up and tries to pin the arms down…..which actually gets the pin at 9:07!

Rating: B-. This was a very different kind of match as it was all technical and grappling. The ending was downright stunning too as that has been a nothing spot in a match for years. Instead though, it makes sense that someone would get a fluke pin on it at some point, even if I never actually expected to see it happen. I was genuinely surprised by the finish and I often like that feeling so well done.

Post match Dempsey swings at Gresham, who punches him to the floor without much effort.

We look at Joe Hendry becoming #1 contender to the NXT Title and Zachary Wentz jumping Wes Lee on NXT.

Moose/JDC vs. Hardys

Jeff chases JDC around with a chair before the bell and is quickly knocked down by Moose, all before the opening bell. They get in for said bell and Jeff sends Moose into the corner for the tag off to Matt. Moose cuts that off and hands it off to JDC for a clothesline, meaning it’s time to choke in the corner. Matt Russian legsweeps his way out of trouble and hits the Twist of Fate but Jeff’s Swanton is broken up.

We take a break and come back with Matt hitting a middle rope elbow for two. Everything breaks down and JDC stomps on Matt on the floor, allowing Moose to hammer away back inside. JDC grabs a rather aggressive chinlock before handing it back to Moose for some choking. Matt manages a quick suplex and it’s back to Jeff to clean house. It’s quickly back to Matt for the Side Effect on Moose and they slug it out. Moose goes up top but dives into a cutter, with JDC having to hit Down And Dirty for the save. JDC goes up again but gets crotched down, meaning it’s the Twist Of Fate into the Swanton for the pin at 14:36.

Rating: C+. The Hardys aren’t anything close to what they were before but it was nice to see them getting to turn back the clock a bit here. They are still capable of having a good enough tag match, especially against a team with someone like JDC, who is there to take the fall. If nothing else, the match felt big because the Hardys made it feel more important. Just don’t do it too often.

Post match the beatdown is on so Mike Santana runs in, only to get taken out as well. Joe Hendry comes in for the real save and the good guys stand tall to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. I was digging this show and it is making me want to watch Emergence, which is quite the good sign. The Ultimate X qualifying matches were both entertaining and the more times I hear the explanation of “yeah the black ink thing was stupid and we just dropped it”, the happier I’ll be. Emergence could be a heck of a show if the good building continues, and this was another nice step on the way there.

Results
Hammerstone b. Kushida and Frankie Kazarian – Nightmare Pendulum to Kushida
Rosemary b. Alisha Edwards – As Above So Below
PCO/Xia Brookside/Rhino b. Steph de Lander/Kon/Madman Fulton – PCOsault to Fulton
Laredo Kid b. Bhupinder Gujjar and Jai Vidal – 450 to Vidal
Jonathan Gresham b. Charlie Dempsey – Arm pin
Hardys b. Moose/JDC – Swanton Bomb to JDC

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: August 8, 2024
Location: Florida State Fairgrounds, Tampa, Florida
Commentators: Matthew Rehwoldt, Tom Hannifan

We’re back stateside and Nic Nemeth is still the World Champion after dispatching Mustafa Ali last week. The bigger story coming out of last week’s show though was the return of Matt Cardona, who actually didn’t get to leave with Steph de Lander. That could open up a few interesting doors, with PCO knocking on several of them. Let’s get to it.

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

Steph de Lander says she’s married, even though it didn’t go the way she was planning. Tonight, we’re welcome to join us on her honeymoon. Now, does PCO want her in black or red?

Here is the System for a chat. Alisha Edwards is sick of the stupid fans running down the System but she also isn’t happy with those fans booing her. Eddie Edwards says the team losing their titles was nothing more than a fluke and they will do anything to get those titles back. Brian Myers says nothing has changed and they are still the greatest faction in wrestling today. Moose promises that Nic Nemeth is never going to be the face of the franchise and he’ll get the World Title back. For now though, Moose wants to challenge Mike Santana for next week.

Jonathan Gresham, looking rather normal, says he is here and ready to go. Kushida comes in but won’t shake his hand.

Santino Marella is with Mike Bailey, who is ready to defend the X-Division Title in Ultimate X at Emergence. He’s so ready that he wants to win a qualifying match.

Trent Seven vs. Jake Something vs. Mike Bailey

Non-title Ultimate X Qualifying Match, though if Bailey loses he isn’t in the title match at Emergence anyway. They all lock up to start with Something powering the other two away. Bailey backslides Seven for two but Something sends Seven outside. Bailey’s moonsault hits Seven by mistake but Something counters a diving hurricanrana to swing Bailey around.

Bailey dives back in to take both of them down and fires away the kicks at Something. A running shooting star press gives Bailey two on Something but Seven grabs a DDT for two. Back up and Something clotheslines both of them down, only to get caught with Bailey’s poisonrana. Seven grabs the swinging slam for two on Bailey, who is back up with a choke on Something. That’s broken up and Into The Void plants Seven, with Bailey making a save. The Ultimate Weapon gives Bailey the pin on Something at 7:04.

Rating: B-. It was fast pace while it lasted and thankfully they didn’t bother doing anything zany with the title. Just let Bailey move on to the title match and go where it needs to from there. With the second reign starting fairly well, Bailey is turning into more of a special champion and that is a good sign for the future of the title.

We look at Tasha Steelz cheating to beat Gisele Shaw on Xplosion.

Steelz wants the title back but Shaw comes in and wants a rematch. Santino Marella makes a rematch for next week with extra referees.

Hammerstone wants in on the X-Division Title match so Santino gives him a qualifying match. Eric Young comes in to say he and Hammerstone have unfinished business.

Kushida vs. Jonathan Gresham

Kushida is still not interested in a handshake to start (fair enough) so he grabs a headlock to start instead. That’s broken up and neither of them can get very far on the mat. Another headlock lets Kushida grind away again but Gresham fights up and hits an elbow to the face as we take a break. Back with Gresham hitting a dropkick before they trade chops.

Gresham muscles him over with a suplex for two but Kushida dives to the ropes to escape an armbar. A dragon screw legwhip takes Gresham down and Kushida dropkicks him in the arm. Kushida hits a Pele kick and another kick to the arm but Gresham blocks the Hoverboard Lock. The second attempt works a lot better though and Gresham taps at 10:27.

Rating: B-. I’m not usually a fan of just dropping a story out of nowhere, but I wouldn’t be complaining if the whole poison/evil stuff was dropped cold. It was one of the dumbest things in wrestling over the last few months and wasn’t doing anyone any good. Thankfully Gresham wrestled this match totally normal, which gives me hopes that things are turning around for him.

The ABC are proud to be Tag Team Champions when Mike Bailey comes in to ask if they will be in Ultimate X qualifying matches. They’ll think about it.

Steph de Lander is in the hot tub but can’t get hold of PCO.

Knockouts Title: Jordynne Grace vs. ???

Grace is defending in an open challenge and will be facing….Rosemary. Well that’s a big one. Rosemary starts fast and knocks her into the ropes for a basement clothesline, setting up some choking. Back up and Grace grabs a gutwrench suplex into a World’s Strongest Slam into a Vader Bomb for two.

Back up and Rosemary misses a spear before hitting one, only for Grace to come back with a Death Valley Driver for two more. Grace muscles her up for a delayed superplex but Rosemary fights up for a German suplex to leave them both down. Cue Ash By Elegance with her personal concierge with the latter distracting the referee so Ash can unload on both with a kendo stick. The referee sees the aftermath and throws the match out at 6:10.

Rating: C+. In a way I’m glad they went with that ending as this is a big enough showdown to warrant a bigger spot. There is a good chance that we’ll see them do this again, which is not the worst idea in the world. For now, I can go with a nice tease of a match before Ash gets involved. Ash almost has to win the title at some point, and this could be helping to set that up.

Bound For Glory is in Detroit on October 26.

Here is Josh Alexander with another chance to explain his actions at Slammiversary. The reality is that the people are the ones who changed, because now they believe in Joe Hendry. The reality is that Hendry is a meme who can’t lace Alexander’s boots. Alexander talks about the things he has done around here and now he wants the World Title back. Nic Nemeth said he’s a fighting champion so get out here right now so he can make Nemeth what he was in WWE: a transitional champion. Cue Nemeth to drop Alexander with a poke to the eye and a superkick. The title match is on for next week.

Post break Frankie Kazarian says he wants a World Title shot and says he’ll do whatever it takes to make it happen.

Zachary Wentz vs. KC Navarro vs. Dante Chen

Ultimate X Qualifying Match and Trey Miguel is here with Wentz. The three of them (including NXT’s Chen) trade armdrags to start until Navarro sends Wentz outside for the dive. Back in and a DDT gets two on Chen but he’s back up to sent both of them together for two on Navarro. A Blockbuster to Navarro makes Navarro DDT Chen but Wentz is back up with the UFO Cutter to pin Navarro at 4:50.

Rating: C+. This was fun while it lasted but there is almost nothing that can be done in a three way match that has less than five minutes. Navarro or Chen going over wouldn’t have been the biggest shock as a match like that often has a surprise entrant, though Wentz going in as the Rascalz representative works well. Nice match, but dang they didn’t have much time.

Steph de Lander opens the door for PCO but finds Matt Cardona, who she throws out. We cut to PCO being held down so Cardona can tell him to stay away from his property. Cardona stomps his head.

We look at Joe Hendry beating Joe Coffey on NXT.

Wolfgang vs. Joe Hendry

Wolfgang is from NXT where he teams with Joe Coffey (and Mark Coffey) as Gallus, but the Coffey’s aren’t here. Hendry does his usual entry and then stomps away at Wolfgang in the corner to start. We take an early break and come back with Hendry fighting up to strike away. Wolfgang gets in a shot to the back though and they go outside, where Hendry is dropped back first onto the apron.

Hendry’s back is fine enough to muscle him up for a suplex into the fall away slam and a nip up. The Standing Ovation is countered though and Wolfgang hits a Widowmaker into a Vader Bomb to the back for two. The Howling (Swanton) misses for Wolfgang and Hendry hits the Standing Ovation for the pin at 9:09.

Rating: C+. This worked perfectly well as a match designed to give Hendry a win on TNA TV. It shows him beating an NXT star, even if Wolfgang isn’t that high level up on the totem pole. Hendry still feels like the hottest thing in TNA but he doesn’t have anything going on at the moment. That needs to change before Emergence and thankfully they have time to get there before the show in a few weeks.

Mike Santana and the System are fighting in the back to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. This was another show where it was more about setting things up for later. You had the Ultimate X qualifying matches, Grace/Ash/Rosemary being set up and Mike Santana becoming the System’s next target. It’s not really a show you needed to see, but the wrestling was ok enough and it wasn’t boring, which isn’t bad for a show that is there to set things up rather than do (almost) anything major.

Results
Mike Bailey b. Jake Something and Trent Seven – Ultimate Weapon to Something
Kushida b. Jonathan Gresham – Hoverboard Lock
Jordynne Grace vs. Rosemary went to a no contest when Ash Elegance interfered
Zachary Wentz b. KC Navarro and Dante Chen – UFO Cutter to Navarro
Joe Hendry b. Wolfgang – 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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AND

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Impact Wrestling
Date: August 1, 2024
Location: Verdun Auditorium, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Commentators: Tom Hannifan, Matthew Rehwoldt

We’re still in Montreal and in this case we have a pretty stacked show. First up, the World Title is on the line as Nic Nemeth is defending against Mustafa Ali in a match that feels like it could use more than a week of build. We also have a wedding, as PCO and Steph de Lander are having a rapid fire wedding, which feels ripe for interruption. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening recap.

Rascalz vs. Mike Bailey/Kushida/Trent Seven

Kushida wristlocks Miguel to start and takes him down with a wristdrag. That doesn’t work for the Rascalz, who start the fast paced comeback, only for Bailey to come in for the bouncing kicks. It’s off to Seven for the step up flipping backsplash and a near fall as the fast start continues. Lee sends Seven into the corner and it’s Wentz coming in with a rather extended Bronco Buster.

Seven chops Miguel out of the air though and hits a DDT for a double breather. Kushida comes back in for the basement dropkick into the Hoverboard Lock, with Wentz having to make the save. Lee is back up with the Cardiac Kick but Seven pulls him down from the top with the swinging slam for two. The Seven Star Lariat looks to set up the Ultimate Weapon to Miguel but Wentz makes the save. Miguel takes out Bailey and Kushida, leaving Hot Fire Flame to finish Seven at 8:13.

Rating: B-. This was billed as a tribute to the first match in TNA history and…I guess? It was a fast paced six man tag and that’s about it, which is didn’t exactly feel like some kind of an homage. Not a bad match at all, but it wasn’t exactly some great showcase or anything we haven’t seen done multiple times.

Jordynne Grace doesn’t think much of Ash By Elegance and issues an open challenge for next week.

Campaign Singh is on the phone with Mustafa Ali, who questions his loyalty. Singh will figure out a way to prove it.

Rosemary vs. Kristara

Rosemary has a butcher knife before powering Kristara into the corner to start. The Upside down has Kristara in more trouble but she’s back up with a fisherman’s suplex for two. Not that it matters as Rosemary grabs As Above So Below for the pin at 2:10.

Post match Rosemary puts a black rose on her chest.

The System says they’ll be back after a terrible night.

Mike Santana doesn’t want the System to forget their unfinished business. Campaign Singh is ready to prove his loyalty by facing Santana tonight. Santana will go make it happen.

Josh Alexander is introduced but we go to him in the back, where he says he doesn’t owe anyone an expectation. He is the greatest Canadian wrestler today and he opened doors so Joe Hendry could walk through them and so you could believe in Nic Nemeth. He’s done caring about the people.

Ryan Nemeth vs. Frankie Kazarian

The bell rings and Kazarian goes to the ring announcer to insists that he is introduced as the King Of TNA. Somehow Nemeth is knocked down anyway but starts working on the arm to take over. A dropkick puts Kazarian down but he’s back up with suplex into the corner as we take a break. Back with Nemeth firing off right hands and hitting some clotheslines, setting up a neckbreaker for two. Kazarian is right back with a shot of his own but Fade To Black doesn’t work. The slingshot cutter does though and Nemeth is done at 8:20.

Rating: C+. This was the right way to go as there was no reason for Nemeth to be a major threat to an established veteran like Kazarian. Sometimes you just need to give a star a nice win and that’s what Kazarian got here. There is a good chance that Kazarian will get the shot at Emergence and I’ve heard worse ideas.

Post match here is Josh Alexander to give Nemeth a C4 Spike.

Ultimate X is back at Emergence.

Masha Slamovich vs. Jody Threat

Alisha Edwards and Dani Luna are here too and this is a rematch from Bloodsport, where Slamovich won. Luna runs her over to start and hits a quick shoulder for two. Edwards grabs the leg though and Slamovich pulls Luna down by the hair to take over. The chinlock is broken up and Luna sends her into the ropes for some running knees to the back. Slamovich is right back with a sitout powerbomb for two so Alisha puts a title around the turnbuckle, ala at Slammiversary. As expected, Slamovich goes into it instead and Shove It finishes for Luna at 4:50.

Rating: C. I’m guessing this is the way to set up another Knockouts Tag Team Title match because that’s how almost all of the title matches are set around here. They set this up at Slammiversary and it makes Luna look good to catch Slamovich with the same thing that cost her at the pay per view. Not much of a match, but they made it work in the limited time they had.

Video on Joe Hendry’s rise.

Mike Santana vs. Campaign Singh

Singh jumps him to start but gets knocked into the corner for a dropkick to the back of the head. Santana puts him down again and hits Spin The Block for the pin at 1:52. That’s about the only way this should have gone.

Post match Santana promises to win the World Title, but he’ll start with Moose.

TNA World Title: Nic Nemeth vs. Mustafa Ali

Nemeth is defending and grabs a headlock to start. They trade shoulders until Nemeth dropkicks him out to the floor without much trouble. Back in and they run the ropes until Nemeth hits a hard clothesline before hammering away in the corner. Ali sends him chest first into the corner to take over, only to have Nemeth send him face first into the buckle. They go outside where Ali hits a quick electric chair drop and we take a break.

Back with Ali fighting out of a chinlock and getting two off a backslide. A neckbreaker puts Ali down again and the ten elbows keep him in trouble. Nemeth’s top rope DDT connects but Ali kicks him down to block the superkick. Nemeth backdrops him out to the floor and there’s a slingshot into the post. Cue the Secret Service for a distraction, allowing Ali to grab a Sharpshooter. That’s broken up and Nemeth hits a superkick into the Danger Zone to retain at 14:28.

Rating: B-. What we got was good, but I was expecting more from these two. Ali was presented as a major deal in the X-Division for a long time and feels like one of the bigger names in the company. Then their title match was set up on a week’s notice and doesn’t even get fifteen minutes. This felt like it could have headlined a monthly special but instead it’s just here. Certainly not bad at all, but it could have been a lot more.

Post match Josh Alexander comes out for a staredown.

It’s time for the wedding of PCO and Steph de Lander with Santino Marella officiating. Rhino (wearing a tie over his gear in a funny visual) is the best man and Xia Brookside is the maid of honor (in black of course). Naturally de Lander has the Bride of Frankenstein hairdo and they have a rather odd set of vows, including never complaining when the electricity bill is too high. Marella calls the groom Pico, with PCO screaming instead of saying any vows. They exchange rings (one of them still has a finger) but cue First Class to interrupt.

Or never mind as they say get your freak on. They kiss….and Matt Cardona is back, complete with a gift. That would be…part of a brick, which he uses to knock out PCO. Cardona says the Digital Media Title is his and tells de Lander to come with him…but she screams at Cardona instead. PCO gets up and Cardona leaves on his own, shouting about how it’s not supposed to be this way. De Lander cries to end the show. Points for a good double surprise there, but I can’t imagine this ends with anything but Cardona and de Lander together.

Overall Rating: B. This was a good mixture of action and a big moment at the end, with Cardona’s return being timed rather well. Throw in a World Title match that felt big and they had a solid show here. It could have been better with a bit more, but what matters most is that I’m curious to see where some of these stories go. That’s a good sign going into Emergence and beyond, with Bound For Glory looming way off in the distance.

Results
Rascalz b. Trent Seven/Kushida/Mike Bailey – Hot Fire Flame to Seven
Rosemary b. Kristara – As Above So Below
Frankie Kazarian b. Ryan Nemeth – Slingshot cutter
Dani Luna b. Masha Slamovich – Shove It
Mike Santana b. Campaign Singh – Spin The Block
Nic Nemeth b. Mustafa Ali – Danger Zone

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

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

AND

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