Impact Wrestling
Date: February 6, 2025
Location: Boeing Center At Tech Port, San Antonio, Texas
Commentators: Matthew Rehwoldt, Tom Hannifan

The road to Sacrifice continues and we really don’t have much for the card yet. Then again, TNA has a history of waiting for the last minute to set up some of their shows and that might be the case again here. The big draw this week is the Nemeth Brothers getting a shot at Fraxiom and the NXT Tag Team Titles. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening recap.

Opening sequence.

We look at Joe Hendry in the Royal Rumble. It wasn’t much of a surprise but it’s still hard to fathom.

Here is Joe Hendry to get things going and it is time for a concert. Hendry sings about how terrible the world is but it doesn’t matter because he won the belt. Cue Jake Something to interrupt, saying he’s taking Hendry up on his title match anytime offer next week. Hendry, naturally in song, accepts.

Masha Slamovich is ready for Cora Jade.

Tyson DuPont vs. Ace Austin

DuPont has Wes Lee and Tyriek Igwe with him. The rather large DuPont powers him into the corner to start but Austin starts rolling around. Austin kicks away at the legs for a breather as commentary talks about what is coming tonight. A pop up powerslam gives DuPont two and we hit the full nelson. Austin fights out and hits a dropkick for a needed breather. DuPont misses a splash and gets caught with the Fol for the fast pin at 5:30.

Rating: C. This was more about having Austin fight against a rather large monster and show off what he can do. That is always going to work and it is nice to see a TNA star get a win here. Not a great match, but it was a simple story that helped Austin look like a winner after his recent loss to Moose. Nice work, though not much of a match.

Post match the brawl is teased but the Rascalz make the save.

Tessa Blanchard isn’t going to be in the battle royal tonight because she knows everyone is coming for her.

Steph de Lander and Mance Warner are happy together with the Digital Media Title.

Battle Royal

Rosemary, Ash By Elegance, Heather By Elegance, Savannah Evans, Jazz, Dani Luna, Jody Threat, Alisha Edwards, Tasha Steelz, Xia Brookside

The winner gets a Knockouts Title shot next week and NXT’s Cora Jade is on commentary. Jazz is here as a surprise and wastes no time Jazz Stingering Edwards. The big brawl is on with people pairing off and Edwards tosses Steelz. Spitfire gets together to eliminate Edwards and both By Elegances attempt to hide underneath the ring, only to be pulled out.

Speaking of out, Heather and Luna both are, followed by Threat to get us down to five. Jazz isn’t interested in the potential alliances and gets eliminated by Rosemary shortly thereafter. Rosemary and Ash are out too, leaving us with Brookside vs. Evans. Brookside sends her to the apron but Jade offers a distraction. That means a headbutt can eliminate Brookside to give Evans the win at 8:45.

Rating: C-. This was short and to the point, which is what you need in a match like this. The ending helps set up Jade vs. Brookside if that is where things are going, as Jade feels like someone who is going to be a top challenger sooner than later. For now though, Evans is getting the title shot, despite not being the biggest star in the division.

Here are Eric Young and the Northern Armory for a chat. Young says they run this company, which has been dominated by Canadians for years. He has wrestled here more than anyone else and that puts him ahead of everyone. His first act was to take out Josh Alexander but here is Steve Maclin to interrupt. Maclin does not accept this as he Young is the only person he has ever trusted around here. If the two of them are with Young, Maclin isn’t with him. As Maclin leaves, Josh Alexander interrupts and he gets one final wish: his last match in TNA, next week against Young.

Sami Callihan is looking for Mance Warner and blows off Frankie Kazarian. Santino Marella comes in and doesn’t like Kazarian either.

Hardys/Leon Slater vs. The System

JDC headlocks Slater to start but it’s quickly off to Edwards, who gets stomped down in the corner. Everything breaks down and the Hardys hit Poetry In Motion as we take a break. Back with Alisha Edwards cutting off Slater’s big dive, allowing Moose to hit a powerbomb on the apron.

The camel clutch goes on and the Hardys are taken down, allowing a parade of finishers to get two with the Hardys making the save. Slater gets over to Jeff for the tag as everything breaks down again. Slater’s big dive connects and the Plot Twist to Moose sets up Slater’s Swanton 450. Jeff adds the regular Swanton for the pin at 10:45.

Rating: B-. It seems like they are setting up Slater as the next challenger for the title and I’ve heard worse ideas. Slater is not someone who is reinventing anything, but he does well with what he is doing. Let him go out there and fly around and give Moose a challenge. At the same time, I’m not sure I need to see the Hardys vs. the System again, but odds are we’re going back in that direction.

Mustafa Ali breaks up an argument between the Good Hands. With them gone, Ali gives Tasha Steelz a pep talk.

Matt Cardona vs. Mike Santana

Cardona gets knocked outside to start, allowing commentary to talk about upcoming events. Cardona manages some rams into various things as commentary previews the rest of the show. A neckbreaker gives Cardona two but Santana fights up without much trouble. Spin The Block is blocked but a Death Valley Driver leaves Cardona down for a second. Back up and the Reboot into a tiger bomb gets two but Radio Silence is broken up. A Death Valley Driver sets up Spin The Block to give Santana the pin at 8:20.

Rating: C+. For someone who is quite the big star, Cardona tends to lose a lot. It helps when he is going to be in and out of a bunch of promotions so he is going to be able to put a bunch of people over. That is a good thing to see with Santana, who is on his way to something big in TNA.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

NXT Tag Team Titles: Fraxiom vs. Nic Nemeth/Ryan Nemeth

Fraxiom (Nathan Frazer/Axiom) are defending and Arianna Grace are on commentary. Axiom and Nic wrestle each other down to start with Axiom getting a headlock. Frazer comes in to work on the armbar but Ryan comes in as well for a double elbow. Everything breaks down and Frazer’s dive is cut off, with Nic sending Axiom’s kick into Frazer’s face.

We take a break and come back with Ryan being sent into the corner for some kicks to the face. It’s back to Nic for the elbow to Axiom and Ryan grabs a front facelock. The chinlock goes on and Axiom gets kicked down again, only for him to fight up. Frazer comes back in to clean house but Nic plants him with the jumping DDT.

Everything breaks down and stereo Danger Zones give Ryan two on Frazer. The Golden Radio/brainbuster combination gets two with Ryan making the last second save. Ryan tries to bring in a chair due to reasons of being stupid, allowing Axiom to get in a shot on Nic. A missile dropkick/Russian legsweep combination to Ryan retains the titles at 13:38.

Rating: B. That’s a perfect way to go as they had a good title match going and then the ending was Ryan doing something like a moron. It made sense for everyone and gave them a way out, as the titles weren’t changing hands here and Nic wasn’t getting pinned. Best match on the show, which shouldn’t be surprising given that Fraxiom can have a good match with anyone.

Overall Rating: B. This took some time to get going and it made for a good night, even though Sacrifice wasn’t really mentioned. You can see some matches coming up in the next few weeks but nothing seems to be ready for the next big show. Hendry vs. Something should be fine for a quick title defense and Santana and Slater are on the way up, so the future is rather interesting. I liked the show, even though the battle royal wasn’t much to see.

Results
Ace Austin b. Tyson DuPont – The Fold
Savannah Evans won a battle royal last eliminating Xia Brookside
Hardys/Leon Slater b. The System – Swanton to Moose
Mike Santana b. Matt Cardona – Spin The Block
Fraxiom b. Nic Nemeth/Ryan Nemeth – Missile dropkick/Russian legsweep combination to Ryan

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: January 30, 2025
Location: Boeing Center At Tech Port, San Antonio, Texas
Commentators: Mathews Rehwoldt, Tom Hannifan

We’re back to taped this week after a pretty strong showing on last week’s live show. Hopefully they can continue the momentum on the way to whatever the next big show happens to be. Joe Hendry is still World Champion so now we get to hear from former champion Nic Nemeth. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening recap.

Opening sequence.

Here is Nic Nemeth to get things going. Nemeth talks about how important Genesis was for the company and now he has to start things over. Before he can get very far though, here is Ryan Nemeth to say that HIS BROTHER is not happy with what happened. Joe Hendry is a flash in the pan but Nic isn’t having that. It’s going to be the Nemeth Brothers’ year so here is First Class to interrupt. They’re here for the titles because it means money, and they are sick of the old people taking up all of the top spots. Arguing ensues so here is Santino Marella to make the tag match for tonight.

Arianna Grace is happy to see what is going on around here and runs into Tessa Blanchard. Tessa isn’t interested and doesn’t like Grace. She chases Gia Miller off too, which is a threat to everyone.

NXT’s Cora Jade ran into Xia Brookside in the back and they argued like wrestlers running into each other in the back.

Cora Jade vs. Hyan

Hyan flips out of a wristlock to start but is quickly clotheslined down. Back up and Jade chokes on the rope, setting up a running dropkick in those ropes. Hyan is sent hard into the corner and Jaded (double arm DDT) finishes for Jade at 2:57.

Post match Jade keeps up the beating but Xia Brookside runs in…and gets beaten down as well. Masha Slamovich makes the real save.

NXT’s Wes Lee/Tyriek Igwe/Tyson DuPont are ready for Ace Austin and Fraxiom. Lee wants gold of any kind.

The Personal Concierge yells at Santino Marella about how By Elegance should be the Knockouts Tag Team Titles. Next week there is a battle royal for a title shot, but it sounds like the singles version. Spitfire comes in to glare.

Brian Myers vs. Leon Slater

Myers, with the System, shoulders him down to start but Slater does it as well, meaning it’s time to dance. A bouncing kick to the face and elbow to the face give Slater two but he gets sent face first into the middle buckle. Myers sends him hard into the corner and then does it again, chest first this time, for two.

We hit the reverse chinlock but Slater is back up with a springboard crossbody. Slater kicks him in the head but walks into an implant DDT for two. The Roster Cut is countered into a small package for two and Slater sends him outside for a big dive. Alisha Edwards gives Myers a ring though and a shot to Slater’s face sets up the Roster Cut for the pin at 9:51.

Rating: C+. Slater losing to someone like Myers might not be the best idea but what mattered the most is that Slater got to have another nice match. He continues to look good almost every time he’s out there and it is nice to see him building up a bit of status. Now just get a few wins going and he might actually go somewhere.

Sami Callihan goes after Mance Warner and Steph de Lander.

Leon Slater still isn’t interested in working with Frankie Kazarian but the System interrupts. Maybe he could be the team’s secretary! The Hardys show up and a six man is set for next week.

Sami Callihan and Mance Warner brawl into the arena but Steph de Lander runs in for the distraction. Warner takes Callihan down and hits a running knee to leave him laying.

Steve Maclin isn’t having anything to do with Eric Young working with Josh Alexander.

Laredo Kid vs. Mustafa Ali

Kid starts fast by running the corner for an armdrag but Ali is right back with some uppercuts in the corner. Back up and Kid gets dropkicked out of the air for two and we hit the seated abdominal stretch. That’s broken up and they trade rollups for two each and they go outside, where Ali hits a hanging DDT. The 450 gives Ali the pin at 5:41.

Rating: C+. Ali is still as smooth in the ring as you can see and that is great to see. It is interesting to see what Ali can do when he is given the chance and not doing as much of the over the top campaigning stuff. That can work well, but he has the in-ring work to back it up and that works very well.

Post break Ali is rather happy with his win but Mike Santana comes in to challenge him. Ali would love to do that….uh, some day.

Eric Young/Josh Alexander vs. Northern Armory

Alexander throws Icarus into the corner to start and headlocks Williams to keep up the control. A missed charge sends Alexander to the floor though and a kick to the chest drops him again. The Armory hit some running kicks in the corner but Alexander suplexes his way out of trouble. The tag brings in Young and….he turns on Alexander. That means the Armory goes after Alexander as well and the match is thrown out at around 4:30.

Rating: C. So yeah this was little more than an angle and there is nothing wrong with that. I’m curious to see if this is pretty much it for Alexander, as he will probably have a match with Young and then ride off into the sunset. Other than that, it’s Young as a heel again and, uh, I guess that’s something we get to see for reasons of TNA not liking us.

Post match the big beatdown is on and Alexander is left laying.

Wes Lee vs. Ace Austin

Austin takes him down by the arm to start but Lee flips up and grabs an anklescissors. Back up and Lee flips over Austin before kicking him into the ropes. Lee hits a nice suicide dive, followed by a basement dropkick to the back for two. Another, and harder, kick gets two on Austin and it’s time to crank on the arm.

Austin fights up and hits a quick Russian legsweep, followed by some running clotheslines in the corner. A gutwrench powerbomb connects but here are Tyriek Igwe and Tyson DuPont for a distraction. Austin dives…kind of in their general vicinity to take them down, only to get Cardiac Kicked (kick to the head) for the pin at 9:38.

Rating: B-. Take two good high fliers and let them do their thing for a bit, though that dive wasn’t exactly the best looking. Other than that though, it was nice to see Austin out there again as he can work well with anyone. Lee continues to need something a bit better to do, though maybe a change over to TNA is a smart move.

Post match the beatdown is on but the Rascalz make the save.

Joe Hendry is ready to entertain, so next week it’s a concert.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

Nic Nemeth/Ryan Nemeth vs. First Class

Francis shoves Ryan into the corner and demands/receives Nic. Navarro comes in and gets hiptossed into a dropkick, setting up double dropkick to Francis. We take a break and come back with Ryan in trouble (I for one am shocked). Something close to a 619 sets up a leg lariat for two on Ryan and it’s back to Francis for the chinlock. Ryan manages to get in a knockdown and the tag brings in Nic to clean house. Everything breaks down and Ryan dives onto Francis on the floor. The Fameasser and Danger Zone hit Navarro but Ryan tags himself in to steal the pin at 12:50.

Rating: C+. Ryan is starting to turn himself into something interesting with this goofiness and having him steal the win is a nice touch for him. That being said, I don’t want to see the two of them face each other, but for now, we are at least having something with Ryan as the annoying brother. Francis and company losing is always a plus as well so this could have been a lot worse.

Overall Rating: C+. The NXT stars being around is a nice way to go and I’m curious to see where all of that goes. At the same time, you had some good matches and enough things being moved forward, though I’m more than a bit hesitant about a renewed Eric Young heel run. The show wasn’t great, but it does give you a good idea of where some things are going in the next few weeks.

Results
Cora Jade b. Hyan – Jaded
Brian Myers b. Leon Slater – Roster Cut
Mustafa Ali b. Laredo Kid – 450
Eric Young/Josh Alexander vs. Northern Armory went to a no contest
Wes Lee b. Ace Austin – Cardiac Kick
Ryan Nemeth/Nic Nemeth b. First Class – Danger Zone to Navarro

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

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Impact Wrestling
Date: January 16, 2025
Location: Center Stage, Atlanta, Georgia
Commentators: Tom Hannifan, Matthew Rehwoldt

We’re a few days away from Genesis and that means it should be time to hammer home the card. Most of the matches have already been announced, but there is still time to push everything just a bit harder. I’m sure we’ll get a big Joe Hendry and Nic Nemeth showdown so let’s get to it.

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

Opening recap.

Opening sequence.

Leon Slater vs. Trent Seven

Frankie Kazarian, who is facing Slater on the Genesis Kickoff Show, is on commentary. Seven takes him down to start but Slater kicks him in the head, followed by a knockdown out to the floor. A dragon suplex sends Slater down some steps but he dives back in for the save, setting up another running boot to the face to drop Seven for two.

Slater takes him up top but gets caught with a super slam for another near fall. Back up and Seven hits him in the face, setting up the Birminghammer for two more. Slater is back with a boot to the face and a DDT on the apron, setting up a big dive. Back in and the Swanton 450 finishes Seven at 8:47.

Rating: C+. I kept wondering what it was going to take to beat Slater and it just never happened so points for doing the logical thing before Slater’s match with Kazarian. Slater isn’t reinventing the wheel out there but he can do some nice high flying stuff and the fans seem into him. Nice opener here, with Slater continuing to look pretty good.

Post match Kazarian teases jumping him but stops just in time.

Video on Joe Hendry, who is ready to get to the top of the mountain after coming short at Bound For Glory.

Here is the Personal Concierge for the pre-championship celebration for Ash/Heather By Elegance. We get the reveal of some cardboard cutouts with the two of them as champions and Ash is happy to win the titles. Well this weekend that is. We get some tearful thank you’s before the fans are not happy with Heather. She’s ready to win as well but here is Spitfire to interrupt. Bickering ensues and By Elegance is sent outside, leaving the cardboard to be destroyed.

Sami Callihan and PCO are ready to beat the Hardys and get into the Tag Team Title match at Genesis.

First Class vs. Eric Young/Steve Maclin

Navarro slaps Young to start and is quickly beaten into the corner to cut that off. Maclin comes in to hammer away in the corner but gets sent outside by Francis as the villains get to take over. Francis gets in a shoving match with….someone famous at ringside, which is enough of a distraction for Maclin to get in an Angle Slam. Everything breaks down and Young’s top rope elbow finishes Navarro at 6:35.

Rating: C. Not much to this one but Navarro is pretty much just there to take the fall while Francis gets to be the star. That being said, there isn’t much shame in losing to a pair of former World Champions who have had some success as a team. First Class is likely going to be something at some point this year so this feels like something of a roadblock on the way towards inevitability.

Post match the System comes out for the staredown.

We look at Cora Jade and Masha Slamovich on NXT.

Rosemary is ready for violence with Slamovich.

We look at the Northern Armory destroying Mike Santana at a recent independent show.

Here is the Northern Armory to brag about taking out Santana…and Santana pops up to say he won’t quit. That’s why at Genesis, their match should be an I Quit match. Works for Alexander, who threatens a lot of violence and pain. Alexander promises to show that Santana is a middle of the road star, with Santana promising to become the new standard of TNA. Santana was fired up here and it showed.

Jake Something vs. Laredo Kid

Kid tries to start fast but is quickly sent outside without much trouble. Back in and Something hits a corner clothesline before knocking a diving Kid out of the air. Kid knocks him down though and avoids a charge into the corner, setting up some enziguris. A flipping DDT gives Kid two but Something catches him on top, meaning it’s a super sitout powerbomb (that looked good) for the pin at 5:17.

Rating: C+. Power vs. speed works pretty much every time in wrestling, but, as usual, none of this means a thing if Something doesn’t win a match that matters. We’ve seen him get built up so many times and it goes nowhere, which makes me hesitant to buy into it here. For now though, I’ll take a pretty awesome looking finisher like that powerbomb as Kid was done.

Video on Ace Austin, who wants the X-Division Title back and is only thinking about doing this for Chris Bey. He talks about what the X-Division means and how far he has gone in it over the years, which is why he’s going back to his roots. This was good stuff and it would be a heck of an awesome moment if he won the title.

PCO/Sami Callihan vs. Hardys

Non-title. Callihan knocks Jeff into the corner to start and it’s a four way slugout early on as we take a break. Back with Poetry In Motion hitting Callihan for two but Callihan takes over on Matt. PCO comes in for some clotheslines but a double DDT gets Matt out of trouble. Everything breaks down and Jeff comes in for the Whisper In The Wind. The Twist of Fate into the Swanton finishes Callihan at 10:03.

Rating: C. Well that was uneventful. I’m not sure what was supposed to be interesting here as they were teasing making the title match a triple threat and then the Hardys just beat them clean. Callihan and PCO never felt like a big time team but this should be it for them for good without much doubt.

Genesis rundown.

Jordynne Grace pops up on commentary to say that Tessa Blanchard hasn’t signed for their match. Grace has signed and leaves the contract behind.

Here is Joe Hendry for his showdown with Nic Nemeth. Hendry says he has to win the title because it is time for him to start a new era by holding up that championship. Nemeth says he understands what Hendry has to do but Hendry doesn’t know what it’s like to be champion.

We see a clip of John Layfield interfering at Bound For Glory and Nemeth says he didn’t see it live. All Nemeth saw was Layfield attacking his brother, who comes out to interrupt. Ryan comes in and goes after Hendry, allowing Nic to make the save with a superkick. The Nemeths leave and Hendry is shaken up. Hendry has to win. I just don’t know that he will.

Tessa Blanchard runs in to sign the contract, with Jordynne Grace appearing for the brawl. The Juggernaut Driver leaves Blanchard laying to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. This was very much a TNA go home show, as the card for the pay per view was pretty much set and all they had to do was sharpen the edges a bit. Genesis is going to depend on how Hendry does in his next World Title shot, because that’s by far the biggest thing on the show. The rest of the card is good enough, but it’s all about the main event because Hendry is long past the point of needing to win the title. This show worked well enough, but it’s pretty much just a big preview for Genesis.

Results
Leon Slater b. Trent Seven – Swanton 450
Eric Young/Steve Maclin b. First class – Top rope elbow to Navarro
Jake Something b. Laredo Kid – Super sitout powerbomb
Hardys b. PCO/Sami Callihan – Swanton to Callihan

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: January 9, 2025
Location: Center Stage, Atlanta, Georgia
Commentator: Tom Hannifan, Matthew Rehwoldt

We’re still on the way to Genesis and that means we should be getting some more of the card set up. In this case that could make for an interesting show, as there are several spots to be filled in on the card. Joe Hendry is still on his way to another World Title shot and we should be getting some hype towards it this week. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening recap.

Opening sequence.

The System vs. Eric Young/Steve Maclin/Jonathan Gresham

Edwards charges into Gresham’s bot in the corner to start and it’s off to Young to hammer on Myers. A quick necksnap across the top rope takes over on Young though and the villains take him into the corner. JDC sends him back into the corner to cut off a comeback attempt and we hit the chinlock. It’s too early for the Roster Cut though as Young cuts off Myers with the Death Valley Driver. Maclin comes in to clean house with a backbreaker getting two on JDC. Everything breaks down and the KIA finishes JDC at 6:30.

Rating: C+. They weren’t wasting time here as the System takes a loss in less than seven minutes. The team isn’t doing so well right now and the idea of Moose losing their lone title at Genesis isn’t out of the question. For now though, the trio of unlikely good guys are fine for what they are, especially in a fast spot like this.

Post match the System lays the winners out and wrap a chair around Gresham’s neck, which is sent into the post for a crash.

Video on Joe Hendry, looking at his childhood and rise up the ranks to the #1 contendership. We look at his education in judo and music to make him quite the mixture of talents. This is a really good package and a great “get to know you” idea to make you want to see Hendry the person win rather than Hendry the character.

Savannah Evans vs. Lei Ying Lee

Lee is being brought in by Xia Brookside for revenge on Evans, who injured both of them. Lee starts fast and takes Evans out with a dive on the floor, followed by another for two back inside. Evans powerbombs her down for two and we hit the chinlock. Back up and a clothesline drops Evans but Lee is right back with Thunderstruck for the pin at 4:20.

Rating: C. It’s nice to see Lee back in the ring and getting a win but I’m still not seeing much out of her that makes me think she’s going to be a star. At least she has something of a story here though and that is more than she has been able to say thus far. Brookside being involved should help a bit, though I’m curious to see who Evans is going to get to even things up.

Jordynne Grace grabs the mic and calls out Tessa Blanchard for a fight.

Here’s a Classic Moment Of The Week as Kurt Angle defeats Jeff Jarrett at Genesis 2009. We see about eight minutes of a twenty one minute match, which is quite a bit of TV time to use on something like this.

Rosemary wants Masha Slamovich.

Mike Santana vs. Northern Armory

Gauntlet Match and Judas Icarus starts for the team. Icarus jumps him from behind but the clotheslines don’t seem to matter. Santana hits a dropkick but gets knocked off the top for a crash. Not that it matters as Spin The Block gives Santana the pin at 1:56. Travis Williams is in next and slips out of a Death Valley Driver attempt to kick Santana down.

We take a break and come back with Williams getting a cross armbreaker but Santana powers out. The buckle bomb into a sitout powerbomb finishes Williams at 8:23 total, meaning it’s time for Josh Alexander. Cue Alexander…and the rest of the Armory jumps Santana for the DQ at 9:16.

Rating: C+. This was more of a plot device than anything else and that is not a bad idea. Santana wants to get his hands on Alexander and having to get through the lackeys first makes sense. Alexander sent the goons to do his dirty work and it makes for a perfectly simple wrestling angle as a result.

Post match the beatdown is on and Alexander gets his headgear back.

The Personal Concierge is ready to have a pre-title win title celebration next week.

Rosemary sees cracks in Masha Slamovich’s armor. Raven of all people comes in to ask how long it’s been since she held the belt. Rosemary whips out a knife and holds it to his throat so Raven offers to coach her. Well that came out of nowhere.

Good Hands vs. Rascalz

Wentz dropkicks Hotch down to start but Skyler breaks up the handspring to take over. A double middle rope crotch standing has Wentz in more trouble and Skyler grabs an abdominal stretch. That’s broken up and everything breaks down with Rolling Thunder getting two on Wentz. A quick Feed Them To The Lions finishes Skyler at 4:48.

Rating: C+. Not much to see here but the Good Hands are in fact good hands, in that they can make anyone around them look better. That’s what the Rascalz can use on the way to their title shot next week at Genesis and it worked well enough here. Not a great match, but it did exactly what it needed to do.

Frankie Kazarian annoys Rhino.

Steve Maclin and Eric Young want revenge on the System but First Class interrupts to get on their nerves. A match is likely for next week.

Here is Alisha Edwards to introduce Moose for a chat. Moose promises to introduce a new X-Division Title at Genesis but cue former TNA star Andrew Everett to say that title means a lot around here. Moose isn’t sure who Everett is and promises violence. A boot to the face and a referee running in are enough to set up a title match.

X-Division Title: Moose vs. Andrew Everett

Moose is defending and runs him over in the corner to start fast. Everett gets in a tornado DDT though and Moose is sent outside. That means the big dive but Moos is back with an apron powerbomb. Back in and a Last Ride finishes for Moose at 2:54.

Sami Callihan demands a title shot against the Hardys. Santino Marella makes it a non-title match next week and if Callihan and PCO win, Genesis is a three way. Works for Callihan.

Here is Jordynne Grace to call out Tessa Blanchard, who answers for the pull apart brawl.

Grace vs. Blanchard is set for Genesis.

Rhino/Joe Hendry vs. Ryan Nemeth/Nic Nemeth

Frankie Kazarian is on commentary as Ryan bails from Rhino to start. Nic works on Rhino’s arm instead but can’t get very far. Instead a double clothesline puts Rhino down for two but he easily takes Ryan into the corner to take over. It’s off to Hendry for a running shoulder and a rather delayed suplex gets two.

Rhino comes back in and gets double teamed down, with Nic grabbing a chinlock. That’s broken up and Hendry comes back in to clean house in a hurry. Kazarian gets up for a failed distraction, leaving Rhino to Gore Ryan but get dropped by Nic’s superkick. Hendry drops Nemeth and hits the Standing Ovation to pin Ryan at 9:19.

Rating: C+. Similar to a few things tonight, this wasn’t a match that was designed to blow the roof off but rather move us a few steps closer to a match that has already been set up. It worked well and gave Rhino a nice win on his way out of the promotion. That’s minor compared to helping boost up Nic vs. Hendry, but I can go for two birds with one match.

Nic and Joe have one more staredown to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. This might as well have been TNA in a nutshell recently: it’s nothing that is blowing the doors off of the place and certainly nothing overly novel, but it did a good job of setting up the show that has already been made. I want to see Genesis and while they still have one week to go, they have done well enough so far and this week was a big part of making that work.

Results
Eric Young/Steve Maclin/Jonathan Gresham b. The System – KIA to JDC
Lei Ying Lee b. Savannah Evans – Thunderstruck
Mike Santana b. The Northern Armory via DQ
Rascalz b. Good Hands – Feed Them To The Lions to Skyler
Moose b. Andrew Everett – Last Ride
Rhino/Joe Hendry b. Nic Nemeth/Ryan Nemeth – Standing Ovation to Rhino

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Impact Wrestling
Date: December 12, 2024
Location: Crown Arena, Fayetteville, North Carolina
Commentators: Tom Hannifan, Matthew Rehwoldt

It’s the last show before Final Resolution, which isn’t exactly feeling like a hot card. The show hasn’t had time to get built up and there is only so much that can be done in the span of one more night. Odds are we’ll get some more matches added to the card this week and that could make things interesting. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening recap.

Here is Moose to get things going. Ever since he won the X-Division Title, the question has been what he is going to do with the title. He is going to make it the most important title around here, which is what has happened since he became champion. People aren’t talking about Nic Nemeth or Joe Hendry and they certainly aren’t talking about the Hardys because they are too busy chanting his name.

The reality is he doesn’t need the people because he is going to be the greatest X-Division Champion in TNA history. Cue Cody Deaner to interrupt, saying he lost his love for wrestling but the people led him back in the right direction. Deaner says he can beat Moose if he has the people behind him so the title challenge is on. Moose knocks him down, orders a ref, and says the match is on right now.

X-Division Title: Moose vs. Cody Deaner

Moose, in a tracksuit, is defending and grabs the mic to ask the fans to chant for Deaner. Back up and the spear misses, allowing Deaner to send him outside for a dive. They get back inside and Moose is sent into the corner so Deaner can roll him up for two. A big boot cuts Deaner off but he escapes a powerbomb and gets two more. The DDT is countered into a release Rock Bottom though and Moose hits the spear for the pin at 3:04.

Rating: C. This was more of an angle than a match with Moose being a dominant monster but getting a bit too cocky for his own good. That being said, the match with Kushida is already set and the title wasn’t likely to change hands so close to Final Resolution. It wasn’t the most serious match but it wasn’t supposed to be and that’s fine once in awhile.

First Class and Tasha Steelz say tonight’s main event will be a preview of their dominance at Final Resolution. AJ Francis promises a bunch of chokeslams.

The Northern Armory interrupts Mike Santana and they bicker, with both promising to win the #1 contenders match at Final Resolution. That could be promising if they ever break into a singles match.

Rosemary vs. Xia Brookside

Brookside flips away to start and works on the arm before scoring with a running dropkick. Back up and Rosemary blocks a running headscissors, setting up a chinlock. That’s broken up and Brookside hits a middle rope crossbody to leave both of them down for a bit. Brookside hits some clotheslines into a running headscissors, setting up Broken Wings in the corner. The Brooksie Bomb is countered into the Upside Down and Rosemary grabs a choke. That’s reversed into a cradle for two but Rosemary pulls her into As Above So Below for the pin at 6:30.

Rating: C+. This was a snappy little match as they didn’t have much time but they were moving throughout the time that they had. It was entertaining while it lasted and I can go for Rosemary getting a bit of an upgrade. She’s one of the most established names in all of the division and having her win something like this should help her, at least a little bit.

Post match Rosemary hammers on Brookside some more until Jordynne Grace makes the save.

Trent Seven is not happy with being put into a match against Ace Austin at Final Resolution. Austin comes in to promise revenge for Seven turning on Mike Bailey.

Leon Slater/Laredo Kid vs. The Rascalz

Wentz and Slater go technical to start before fighting over wrist control. Miguel comes in for a rope walk wristdrag to Kid and all four nip up into a standoff as we take a break. Back with Wentz cranking on Slater’s arm until Slater makes the rope for the escape. Miguel snaps the arm but Slater is up with a running cutter, allowing the tag off to Kid. A pair of moonsaults gets two on Wentz but it’s quickly back to Miguel for a double hurricanrana.

The Rascalz hit a double dive but Slater is right back up for a heck of a flip dive to the floor. An assisted sitout powerbomb gets two on Miguel, with Slater’s bad arm meaning he can’t get a proper cover. A Swanton to a hanging Kid gets two and everything breaks down, with Slater’s Swanton 450 getting superkicked out of the air. Kid gets put in a torture rack and it’s a top rope double stomp into a reverse AA combination to give Miguel the pin at 11:44.

Rating: B-. This was the fast paced tag match of the week and as usual, it went just fine. It’s still a formula that works very well and it went just fine again here. The Rascalz get a quick win and Slater gets to look good in the process. That’s all it needed to be and it was a nice way to get them back on the winning path and give us a fun match at the same time.

The System is ready to win at Final Resolution.

PCO/Sami Callihan vs. Jake Something/Hammerstone

Something jumps PCO from behind to start and it goes as well as you might have expected. Callihan comes in to work on Something’s arm and bends the fingers back to make it worse. Hammerstone offers a distraction though and Something runs PCO over. A whip into the corner has PCO in some trouble but a running clothesline breaks that up and allows the tag off to Callihan. Everything breaks down and PCO hits a double DDT, followed by the big double dive tot he floor. Back in and Callihan Stunners Something but Hammerstone hits PCO with a chair for the DQ at 5:14.

Rating: C. So this was little more than a way to set up a rematch, likely with No DQ, at Final Resolution. I could go for this a bit more if it wasn’t something that they had already done with the Tag Team Title match. For now though, Callihan and PCO will do well enough as the good monsters, though Hammerstone and Something actually winning a match would be nice for a change.

Post match the weird 23 thing pops up again.

Dani Luna vs. Heather By Elegance

Jody Threat and Ash By Elegance/the Personal Concierge are here too. Luna offers a test of strength to start but Heather has to go to the middle rope to reach her hand. Heather’s running elbow doesn’t get her anywhere as Luna grabs a fall away slam. The Concierge breaks up a dive though and that’s the big wind up ejection.

Heather uses the distraction to go after the leg and hits a running hurricanrana driver for two. Luna kicks her way out of the corner and makes the clothesline comeback, setting up a slingshot Blue Thunder Bomb for two more. Back up and Heather snaps the throat across the top rope, only to get caught with a German suplex. Ash tries a distraction so Threat dives on her, leading Luna to hit a fireman’s carry powerbomb for the pin at 6:40.

Rating: C. This was more about the interference than anything else but my goodness can they think of something better than singles matches between tag wrestlers? It feels like that is all they do with these teams over and over and it has long since become tiresome. Just find some different teams for By Elegance to beat to set up their title shot.

Final Resolution rundown.

Tasha Steelz/First Class vs. Joe Hendry/Nic Nemeth/Masha Slamovich

Navarro mocks Hendry to start and gets run over with a shoulder to start. A rather delayed suplex gives Hendry two and it’s already off to Nemeth. Navarro gets dropped with a dropkick and Nemeth gets to pose before doing it again. Slamovich comes in and gets to face Steelz, who hits her in the face.

Steelz’s kick to the head drops Slamovich again as we take a break. Back with Navarro grabbing a front facelock on Steelz, who fights up with ease and brings in Nemeth to clean house. The rapid fire elbows get two on Navarro but a cheap shot lets Francis come in for the stomping. Navarro whips him into the corner and Francis hits a big boot for two.

We hit the chinlock but Nemeth jawbreaks his way to freedom in a hurry. A DDT plants Francis again and it’s Hendry coming in to fight off everyone. The fall away slam sends Francis flying (well close enough) but the Standing Ovation is broken up. Nemeth dives onto Francis and hits a Fameasser for two on Navarro. Slamovich dives onto Steelz and the Danger Zone finishes Navarro at 15:54.

Rating: B-. It was a long match and gave some time to a pair of matches at Final Resolution, which is always a nice way to use some television time. At the same time, Hendry almost has to be the next #1 contender but it wouldn’t surprise me to see him not wind up as champion at Genesis one way or another. Slamovich feels like she’s going to smash Steelz as well, but hopefully they can have a good match on the way there.

Post match the women fight and Francis spears Nemeth. Back to back to back Down Payments leave Nemeth laying to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. They’re trying with Final Resolution, but there is only so much you can do when the main event is AJ Francis getting a World Title shot. The main match at the pay per view is the four way for the #1 contendership and Hendry feels like the big favorite. Final Resolution needs more and for now, this show didn’t make me want to see what they are going to do tomorrow night.

Results
Moose b. Cody Deaner – Spear
Rosemary b. Xia Brookside – As Above So Below
The Rascalz b. Leon Slater/Laredo Kid – Top rope double stomp/reverse fireman’s carry slam combination to Kid
Dani Luna b. Heather By Elegance – Fireman’s carry powerbomb
Joe Hendry/Nic Nemeth/Masha Slamovich b. Tasha Steelz/First Class – Danger Zone to Navarro

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

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

Countdown Show: Leon Slater vs. JDC

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

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

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

Countdown Show: Frankie Kazarian vs. Jonathan Gresham

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

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

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

And now, the show proper.

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

X-Division Title: Moose vs. Kushida

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

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

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

We run down the card.

AJ Francis is ready to win the World Title.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Trent Seven vs. Ace Austin

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

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

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

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

Rosemary vs. Jordynne Grace

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Video on Chris Bey.

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

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

Knockouts Title: Tasha Steelz vs. Masha Slamovich

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

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

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

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

Tag Team Titles: Hardys vs. The System

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

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

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

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

TNA World Title: Nic Nemeth vs. AJ Francis

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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AND

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

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

Here is Turning Point if you need a recap.

We open with a long Turning Point recap.

Opening sequence.

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

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

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

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

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

PCO/Sami Callihan vs. Good Hands

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

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

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

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

Tag Team Titles: The Hardys vs. The System

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tasha Steelz vs. Jordynne Grace

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

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

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

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

Here’s what’s coming next week.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Impact Wrestling
Date: November 28, 2024
Commentators: Tom Hannifan, Matthew Rehwoldt
Hosts: Tom Hannifan, Matthew Rehwoldt

It’s Thanksgiving night and thankfully TNA is smart enough to go with something other than a regular show. Rather than a traditional Best Of show, we’re getting some previously unreleased matches from earlier in the year. Some of those have been rather fun before so hopefully the trend can continue. Let’s get to it.

Opening sequence.

The hosts give us a quick welcome.

From October 2024, Nashville, Tennessee.

The System vs. PCO/Sami Callihan/Joe Hendry

Alisha Edwards and Brian Myers are here with the System. Before the match, Hendry says that even though PCO is dead, the crowd is going to make the team come alive. Callihan shoulders Eddie into the corner to start and it’s PCO coming in, with an actual Honor No More reference.

Everything breaks down in a hurry and everybody heads outside, with Alisha’s distraction letting Moose boot Callihan in the face. Callihan suplexes his way out of trouble and it’s Hendry coming in to clean house. Moose breaks up the Standing Ovation but PCO plants him with a DDT. Callihan gives Eddie the Cactus driver 97 and the Standing Ovation is enough for Hendry to get the pin at 5:38.

Rating: C+. I’ve got a feeling we’re going to be in for a lot of things like this for most of the show and that isn’t a bad thing. This was a fun match and felt like something you would see on a house show, which is what a show like this should be. Hendry is of course as over as free beer in a frat house and that has been the situation for a long time now. PCO gets his own cheers and Sami…well he had good partners here.

From June 2024, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Jordynne Grace vs. Dani Luna

Grace’s Knockouts Title isn’t on the line and Jody Threat is on commentary. At least I think this is non-title but it doesn’t make the biggest difference. They fight over a lockup to start with Luna actually powering her back into the corner. Back up and Grace powers her into the corner as well, only for both of them to miss some chops.

An exchange of shoulders goes to Luna but Grace is back with a running shoulder. They go nose to nose and then forearm it out with Grace knocking her outside. Grace’s suicide dive doesn’t even knock Luna down so she plants Luna with a Jackhammer instead. Back in and a slingshot Blue Thunder Bomb gives Luna two but Grace is back with a Regal Plex. The Juggernaut Driver finishes Luna at 5:42.

Rating: B-. This didn’t have the time to get to that next level but it was starting to be a lot of fun with the two of them trading power moves. You don’t see Grace’s power advantage negated very often but it made for an interesting match. Luna is a good powerhouse in her own right and she did well enough here. Nice match and better than I was expecting.

Sami Callihan is running a poker game and PCO wins (beating aces and 8’s in the process). The Good Hands aren’t happy but Santino Marella comes in to make a tag match. Xia Brookside is called “just a girl” and food winds up in John Skyler’s face.

From June 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Leon Slater vs. Trent Seven vs. Mustafa Ali

Slater starts fast with a big flip flip dive onto Ali and the Secret Service, leaving Seven to hit the Seven Star Lariat for two on Ali. Slater breaks up the Birminghammer with a high crossbody before chopping it out with Seven. Ali knocks both of them off the top for a crash to the floor, followed by the rolling neckbreaker for two on Seven. Ali and Seven go up top with Seven’s super slam getting two as Slater dives in for a save.

They all chop it out from their knees and Ali is backdropped out to the floor. Seven slams Slater for two before heading outside, where he chops the post instead of Ali. Slater busts out an insane running flip dive over the post to take both of them down (that was great). Back in and the Swanton 450 hits Seven, only for Ali to steal the pin at 5:38.

Rating: B-. They didn’t have much time so they packed in as much as they could in about five and a half minutes. Slater got in his array of crazy athletic stuff and Seven was good as the biggest guy in the match. That left Ali to steal the win and it made for a nice formula, but Slater’s stuff was rather impressive.

From October 2024, Nashville, Tennessee.

Mike Bailey vs. Jake Something

Hammerstone is here with Something. Bailey kicks (shocking I know) away in the corner but Something runs him over to cut that off. A big toss to the floor has Bailey down and his kicks to the face don’t have much effect. Instead Bailey sweeps the leg to send Something outside for a change but Hammerstone gets in a cheap shot. Back in and Bailey strikes away but has to roll his way out of a chokeslam attempt for two. A kick to the face staggers Something but he hits the ropes and blasts Bailey in the back of the head.

Something gets smart by stepping on Bailey’s foot to cut off the kicks and drops him with a big right hand. Bailey is back up and heads to the top, where Something catches him with a super sitout powerbomb (OUCH) and a near fall. Something tackles him out to the floor but Hammerstone’s interference doesn’t work. Instead Bailey hits a Canadian Destroyer into a superkick, only to have the Tornado Kick broken up with a running forearm…for the pin at 8:14.

Rating: B-. They must have known that Bailey was on the way out here as it’s hard to imagine one of the bigger stars in the company losing to someone like Something otherwise. That being said, it’s nice to see Something pick up a win, which doesn’t happen very often. I’m not sure why as he has potential, but we’ll call that the second benefit to Bailey leaving.

From November 2024, Fayetteville, North Carolina.

Rhino/Joe Hendry vs. First Class

Before the match, Hendry accuses AJ Francis of complaining to HR about Hendry being too man on the microphone. Therefore, please don’t chant AJ SUCKS, because you can believe in the Gore and Joe Hendry. Navarro starts for the team and gets shoved down, meaning it’s time to dance. Hendry shows off the power game with a delayed suplex and it’s off to Rhino, who gets to trade shoulders with Francis.

A Navarro distraction lets Francis take over and a running shot in the corner gets two on Rhino. Francis cuts off the tag attempt and Navarro adds a backsplash. The second tag attempt works though and it’s Hendry coming in to clean house. The fall away slam sends Navarro flying and Rhino Gores Francis. That leaves Hendry to hit the Standing Ovation to finish Navarro at 6:44.

Rating: C. Perfectly nice match here with Hendry getting to pop the fans and beat up an annoying heel team. Rhino is always going to get some nice reactions, with his recent Hall Of Fame induction making it even better. The fans responded as they should have and, like everything else, they didn’t overstay their welcome.

From July 2024, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

PCO vs. Moose

Casket match and the System is here with Moose. The bell rings and PCO drops Moose, only to get jumped by the System. Everyone hits a finisher on PCO and the casket is loaded up (with DO NOT ENTER painted on the bottom of the lid), only for Joe Hendry to run in for the save. PCO is back up and Moose accidentally spears Alisha Edwards. Moose is knocked down for the PCOsault and PCO wins at 3:46.

Rating: C+. This was barely a match as the big heel beatdown and then the interference started almost immediately. That being said, it continued the trend of the night being all about the fun, as PCO got a nice win in his hometown without Moose having to get pinned. Hendry gets another appearance, as this has more or less been his show so far, which isn’t a bad idea.

From September, San Antonio, Texas.

Nic Nemeth vs. Sami Callihan

Nemeth is the only person on the show to get to wear his belt. Callihan starts fast and hits a sitout powerbomb for an early two. The Cactus Driver 97 is blocked though and Nemeth hits a superkick as we take a break. Back with Callihan staggering around the ring but raking the eyes to take over. Callihan chops the post by mistake but he’s fine enough to bend the finger and hit Nemeth in the back of the head for two.

The chinlock doesn’t last long so Callihan elbows him in the face. A nerve hold is broken up and it’s a double clothesline to leave them both down. Callihan wants Nemeth to slug away but Nemeth goes with a Fameasser instead. The ten elbows into the Shot To The Heart gets two but Callihan is back with a cutter for the same. Callihan tunes up the band, which of course takes too long and allows Nemeth to hit his own superkick. The Danger Zone finishes for Nemeth at 9:07.

Rating: C. Not a match you really need to see, but it’s a fresh matchup and the World Champion gets to beat someone who has a bit of status. It’s not something I would want to see on a regular show, but it was a fine way to go to wrap up a show like this. Nemeth wasn’t on the show much, though it makes sense for the World Champion to be the only title featured.

A quick Turning Point rundown and a farewell from the hosts wrap us up.

Overall Rating: B-. This was fun! They didn’t do anything long (with the longest match being about eight minutes), the matches were mainly about the good guys winning to make the fans happy, and it didn’t do anything serious on a show a lot of people aren’t going to see. It’s not an important show in the slightest as it’s basically just a collection of dark matches, but it breezed by and I had a good time. Nice job here and exactly what a holiday special should be.

Results
Joe Hendry/Sami Callihan/PCO b. The System – Standing Ovation to Edwards
Jordynne Grace b. Dani Luna – Juggernaut Driver
Mustafa Ali b. Leon Slater and Trent Seven – Swanton 450 to Seven
Jake Something b. Mike Bailey – Running forearm
Joe Hendry/Rhino b. First Class – Standing Ovation to Navarro
PCO b. Moose – PCO shut Moose in the casket
Nic Nemeth b. Sami Callihan – Danger Zone

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

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Impact Wrestling
Date: October 24, 2024
Location: Skyway Studios, Nashville, Tennessee
Commentators: Matthew Rehwoldt, Tom Hannifan

We’re two days away from Bound For Glory and the show is pretty much set. There are still some matches that could use a final push towards the show though and that is what we will be seeing here. Other than that, there is still the chance that we could be seeing something added to the show at the last minute so let’s get to it.

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

Opening recap.

Jake Something vs. Frankie Kazarian vs. AJ Francis vs. Sami Callihan vs. Laredo Kid vs. Jason Hotch

One fall to a finish, the winner is #20 in the Call Your Shot gauntlet match and the person who loses the fall is #1. Kazarian wants his special introduction but gets dropkicked outside for his efforts. Kid and Hotch are left in the ring with Kid flipping him around. Something comes back in but Francis knocks him down to take over.

Francis teases the dive but stops instead, only for Callihan to take him out. Kid breaks up Callihan’s dive so Callihan throws him onto the pile and a triplebomb puts Francis down for two back inside. Hotch hits a tornado DDT on Something but Kazarian is back in with the slingshot cutter for two. Callihan Stunners Something and hits the Cactus Driver 97 on Kazarian…but Francis steals the pin on Kazarian at 6:57.

Rating: C+. What do you want from something like this? It’s supposed to be a random scramble match with one person stealing the pin. That’s exactly what we got here with the people getting in their stuff until Francis stole the pin. Francis makes sense, though Kazarian being there at the beginning and already having a spot at the end of the pay per view in the World Title match is scary.

Jonathan Gresham is ready to prove he’s the best in the world and he’ll start against Josh Alexander.

Mike Santana is walking through his childhood neighborhood and talks about how tough they made him. He’s ready for Moose.

It’s time for a launch party, with Ash By Elegance and the Personal Concierge coming out around a champagne and punch table. We meet the new Heather Reckless, who looks quite a bit like Ash. Fans: “BASIC WHITE GIRL!” The women toast the champagne but here is Xia Brookside to say the excitement is almost as fake as the two of them. She doesn’t like what they did to Brinley Reece so here is Reece to help send the women into the beverages.

Josh Alexander vs. Jonathan Gresham

The Northern Armory is here with Alexander. They take their time to start before grappling to a standoff. Alexander works on the arm and Gresham can’t quite flip his way to freedom. An armdrag to the floor works a bit better and Gresham posts him for a bonus as we take an early break.

Back with Alexander getting in some cocky kicks to the head but Gresham scores with an enziguri. A springboard armdrag sends Alexander outside, setting up four straight dives, followed by a middle rope moonsault. Back in and Gresham slips on a springboard, setting up an exchange of rollups for two each. The C4 Spike is blocked so Alexander settles for an ankle lock. That’s broken up as well so Alexander grabs something from his headgear and knocks Gresham silly. The C4 Spike finishes Gresham off at 12:48.

Rating: B-. This was the kind of match that boosts Alexander up on his way to a big showdown at Bound For Glory. Gresham has enough status left over from his time in Ring Of Honor and he’s not going to be hurt by losing to a multiple time World Champion. The action was good enough too and that’s all it should have been.

Post match the beatdown is on so Steve Maclin runs in with a chair for the save, only to get beaten down. The villains zip tie him to the ropes but some wrestlers run in to cut off a big chair shot to the head.

Mike Santana is still in New York and still from the streets. He was on the way to jail or the morgue but he got in the ring instead. These vignettes have been great.

Wendy Choo vs. Jody Threat

Rosemary is here with Choo. They go with some grappling to start before heading out to the floor. Choo gets in a posting to take over and Threat is slammed off the top back inside to make it worse. The chinlock doesn’t last long as Threat comes up for the double clothesline. Threat’s German suplex and clothesline get two but Rosemary gets on the apron for a distraction. The half nelson slam finishes for Choo at 7:04.

Rating: C. Rather to the point here as we have a match that helps set up a less than interesting showdown on Saturday. Choo and Rosemary as the creepy team is better than nothing as challengers for the Knockouts Tag Team Titles but it’s still only so good. Thankfully they didn’t waste time here and got to the point, even with Dani Luna not here for some reason.

The System is ready to win their matches at Bound For Glory.

Bound For Glory rundown.

The System vs. Hardys/ABC

ABC clears Moose out to start and the rest of the System is sent outside as we take a break. Back with Jeff slugging away at JDC and suplexing Edwards. Myers comes in for a cheap shot though and we hit the chinlock. That’s broken up and it’s Matt coming in to clean quite a bit of house.

It’s of to Bey, who gets distracted by Alisha Edwards, meaning a four way stomping can ensue on the floor as we take another break. Back again with Myers suplexing Bey for two but the Roster Cut is blocked. Austin comes back in to pick up the pace and we hit the parade of finishers. The 1-2-Sweet finishes JDC at 12:09.

Rating: C+. This was a way to get everyone in the ring before the three way tag match on Saturday, with JDC being the designated jobber. I’m still expecting the Hardys to take the titles in the “feel good” moment at Bound For Glory, but ABC getting the titles back is certainly not out of the question. For now though, a nice preview and that’s all it needed to be.

Post match the villains take out the winners, with Mike Santana’s save attempt not exactly working.

Santino Marella is here to moderate the contract signings for the Knockouts and World Title matches. After all four come to the ring, Slamovich says she’s said everything there is to say and promises to win the title. Slamovich signs and Grace says we know how this will go. Nothing will change from their first match and she signs.

That leaves Hendry, who talks about playing a lawyer the first night he saw Nemeth. That night, no one knew his name but everything has changed, because now they are chanting his name. On Saturday, they will be chanting WE BELIEVE and he signs. Nemeth wants Hendry focused on Bound For Glory, because he doesn’t plan on losing. He signs as well, leaving Marella stunned that this worked, but cue Frankie Kazarian to interrupt.

Kazarian went to the Earl Hebner Referee Academy and went over Marella’s head to get the referee spot. Marella means nothing at Bound for Glory because he is the law. Nemeth drops Kazarian and it’s a Cobra to put him down again. Everyone but Santino puts him through the table, setting up the four way staredown to end the show. Kazarian is going to be a factor, but him being in the Call Your Shot and still being there in the end needs to be a red herring, as another cash in title change to end the show would be terrible.

Overall Rating: C+. This was one of those shows that is always hard to pull off, as the show was all but set and they only had to put on the finishing touches. The good thing is they did a nice job of reinforcing what was already set up and didn’t make me lose any interest in the pay per view. Saturday is what matters the most though and now we should be ready for the big show.

Results
AJ Francis b. Jake Something, Frankie Kazarian, Sami Callihan, Laredo Kid and Jason Hotch – Cactus 97 Driver to Kazarian
Josh Alexander b. Jonathan Gresham – C4 Spike
Wendy Choo b. Jody Threat – Half nelson slam
ABC/Hardys b. The System – 1-2-Sweet 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: July 25, 2024
Location: Verdun Auditorium, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Commentators: Tom Hannifan, Matthew Rehwoldt

We’re done with Slammiversary and the big story is Nic Nemeth won the TNA World Title. Yes Nic Nemeth rather than Joe Hendry, who has his own issues with a freshly evil Josh Alexander. Odds are we’ll deal with the fallout from that this week, plus a really bad night for the System. Let’s get to it.

Here is Slammiversary if you need a recap.

Long Slammiversary recap.

Opening sequence.

Here is Nic Nemeth for his big celebration as the World Champion. He fought hard to get here but what matters the most is that Moose is no longer the champion. Moose was protected but Nemeth will fight anyone, anywhere, anytime. Cue Campaign Singh to introduce Mustafa Ali, for a certainly sincere handshake. Nemeth winning the World Title was important, but not as important as what happened to him.

Slammiversary saw the biggest screwjob in the history of wrestling and THESE PEOPLE CHEERED! Nemeth believes him, which calms Ali down a bit. Nemeth shakes his hand for boosting up the X-Division….but then Mike Bailey kicked his a**. Ali: “BAILEY SCREWED ME!” Nemeth doesn’t think that’s any of his business but the fans think Ali deserved it.

Ali doesn’t like this but now it’s time to make the TNA World Title great again. That doesn’t work for Nemeth, who says all Ali has to do is ask for a shot. We can do it right now, but Ali says we’ll make it next week. Ali tries a cheap shot but Nemeth ducks and superkicks Singh instead. That’s a pretty big match to burn off with a week’s build.

We run down tonight’s card.

Matt Hardy and the ABC are ready for the System in tonight’s main event. A Joe Hendry tease is included.

Frankie Kazarian comes up to Nic Nemeth in the back and says he wants the title. Nemeth says he pinned Kazarian so it’s to the back of the line. Ryan Nemeth is here though and wants to fight, so Santino Marella gives Kazarian Ryan next week.

Steve Maclin vs. Cody Deaner

Before the match, Maclin talks about how he has been trying to turn over a new leaf but he got carried away at Slammiversary….AND THESE PEOPLE CHEERED. They even sang the Goodbye Song! Maclin can’t stand these Canadians so he sings the same song to them, with an expletive thrown in. Deaner was talking to his fellow Canadian Santino Marella backstage, and he has been given the chance to come face Maclin right now. The people make the decision for Deaner and we’re ready to go.

Deaner starts fast and hammers away before knocking Maclin out to the floor. Maclin is back in with a running knee into an Irish Curse to take over. Choking on the ropes sets up another backbreaker but Deaner fights up with a bulldog. Deaner’s DDT is cut off though and the spear in the corner sets up KIA to give Maclin the pin at 4:22.

Rating: C+. I can go for more of Maclin as he is getting to the point where he knows what he’s doing out there and making it look pretty good. This wasn’t exactly a competitive match but Deaner was trying well enough. Maclin gets a nice little boost though and that could be the start of something a bit better for him.

It’s time for Death Machine TV, with Sami Callihan giving us BREAKING NEWS: he’s going to beat up AJ Francis.

Joe Hendry will be in concert on NXT. That’s still so bizarre to see.

AJ Francis vs. Sami Callihan

Josh Bishop and Rich Swann are here with Francis. Callihan sends him to the apron to start and hits a forearm to the chest (he’s no Sheamus) but a Bishop distraction lets Francis get in a shoulder. Francis knocks him down again and it’s time to choke on the ropes as we take a break.

Back with Francis missing a charge in the corner and crashing out to the floor. Back in and Francis sends him into the corner where a running knee connects this time around. The Down Payment (chokeslam) is blocked but Francis falls on him in a slam attempt. Callihan is back up with a shoulder and now the slam works. Francis boots him in the face but misses the leg (because Hogan), only to have Swann offer a distraction. The Down Payment finishes Callihan at 10:11.

Rating: C+. The matches aren’t great but they are going hard with Francis no matter how he does. This was a bit more entertaining than I was expecting, but that might be because they are letting Francis be his obnoxious self. Callihan didn’t get to do his hardcore stuff here and it’s amazing how much easier it is to watch when he is toned that far down.

Rosemary talks about how evil she is but doesn’t know what she is supposed to do. She spoke for the Hive but now there is no Hive.

Jordynne Grace/Eric Young vs. Hammerstone/Ash By Elegance

The women start things off with Ash wanting respect on her name but getting a chop instead. A spinebuster puts Ash down but it’s too early for the Juggernaut Driver. It’s off to Young vs. Hammerstone with the former grabbing a swinging neckbreaker for two. Hammerstone misses a charge into the corner but Ash cuts off a tag attempt and hammers on Young for a weird visual.

It’s Hammerstone coming right back in to keep up the beatdown, including throwing Ash onto Young for two. Young manages a quick knockdown though and it’s back to Grace to pick up the pace. A quick Vader Bomb gets two on Ash but again the Juggernaut Driver is blocked so Ash can escape.

Everything breaks down and we get a Grace vs. Hammerstone staredown. Grace manages a fireman’s carry but Hammerstone slips out, allowing Ash to hit a Meteora to cut Grace of. Young is back up to Death Valley Driver Hammerstone, only to have the Personal Concierge break it up. Hammerstone’s torture rack finishes Young at 7:39.

Rating: B-. The ending tried to write the insanity of having Young beat Hammerstone on Saturday but I’m not sure how much good it did. At the same time, Ash has already gotten beaten so I’m not sure how much I need to see either match happen again. I’m glad Hammerstone won, but he shouldn’t be playing catch up in the first place.

Alisha Edwards, the only member of the System to still be a champion, is fired up. The rest of the team, not so much.

Here is Josh Alexander for his big explanation. Alexander says the fans are making this easy and he can’t wait to go back to a real city like Toronto. You want an explanation? Nah. And he leaves.

We look at the Rascalz winning a six man tag on NXT.

Mike Bailey is excited to have won the X-Division Title. The Rascalz come in to challenge him to a six man tag, saying get Trent Seven and Trent Eight if he needs partners. Bailey seems interested.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

System vs. ABC/Matt Hardy

Hardy starts with JDC, who runs away and hands it off to Myers instead. That means Hardy gets to start in on the arm, setting up the running bulldog out of the corner. Everything breaks down in a hurry and we take a break. Back with Myers still in trouble as Austin comes in to hammer away. Bey comes in for some strikes of his own but here is Moose for a distraction.

Said distraction lets Myers get in a shot on Bey, only to have JDC miss an elbow. Hardy comes back in but the System cuts him off….and Joe Hendry is here to even things up. We pause for his full entrance and take a break, coming back with Austin in trouble and Myers grabbing a chinlock. Austin fights up without much trouble and hands it off to Bey, who gets knocked right into the corner as well.

JDC stomps away in the corner and cranks away on the arms to keep Bey down. The slow beating continues with Kazarian coming in, only to get enziguried down. It’s back to Hardy for a powerbomb for two on JDC, setting up a stunner/DDT combination. Everything breaks down and the good guys get a triple near fall. Moose tries to interfere but Hendry cuts him off, meaning it’s the Twist of Fate into Bey’s top rope splash for the pin on JDC at 18:24.

Rating: B. This got some time and the energy was there, which granted might have been more to do with Hendry showing up than anything else. It was a match that felt big, which is more than you can ask for most of the time. If nothing else, it’s more of the System’s downfall, which had to happen sooner or later. Good match here, with Hendry’s star continuing to rise. Just not entirely in TNA.

Overall Rating: B-. This is the kind of show that you had to expect after a major event like Slammiversary. It was a show that dealt with some fallout and set up a few things for the future, but at the same time, there was a lot that felt like it was just kind of skipped. The lack of an Alexander explanation and a not exactly eventful main event didn’t help. Overall though, entertaining enough stuff and that’s all it needed to be after the major weekend show.

Results
Steve Maclin b. Cody Deaner – KIA
AJ Francis b. Sami Callihan – Down Payment
Hammerstone/Ash By Elegance b. Jordynne Grace/Eric Young – Torture rack to Young
Matt Hardy/ABC b. The System – Frog splash to JDC

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