Impact Wrestling – September 26, 2024: Time To Believe

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

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

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

Opening recap.

Opening sequence.

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

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

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

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

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

Frankie Kazarian is ready for Joe Hendry tonight.

Laredo Kid vs. Jonathan Gresham

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mike Santana wants Moose.

Lei Ying Lee vs. Hyan

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Heather Reckless vs. Xia Brookside

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

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

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

Joe Hendry vs. Frankie Kazarian

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

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

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

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

Nemeth applauds Hendry to end the show.

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

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

 

 

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Impact Wrestling – September 19, 2024: They’re Bound For Bound For Glory

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

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

Here is Victory Road if you need a recap.

Victory Road recap.

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

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

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

First Class vs. Sinner & Saint

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

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

Mike Santana is ready to hurt JDC.

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

Steph de Lander has to calm PCO down.

Rhino vs. Matt Cardona

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mike Santana vs. JDC

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

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

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

Post match Moose runs in and chairs Santana down.

Josh Alexander sees something in Sinner & Saint.

Lei Ying Lee (Xia Li) is coming.

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

System/Tasha Steelz vs. Masha Slamovich/Hardys

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

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

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

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

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

 

 

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Victory Road 2024: A Fine Friday Night

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

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

Kickoff Show: Kushida vs. Leon Slater

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hardys vs. First Class

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

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

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

We run down the card.

X-Division Title: Mike Bailey vs. Zachary Wentz

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

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

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

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

The System is ready to reboot tonight.

Rhino/PCO vs. Matt Cardona/Steph de Lander

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Joe Hendry vs. Josh Alexander

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

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

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

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

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

Tag Team Titles: System vs. ABC

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

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

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

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

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

Knockouts Title: Jordynne Grace vs. Wendy Choo

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

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

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

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

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

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

TNA World Title: Moose vs. Nic Nemeth

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

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

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

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

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

Nemeth celebrates to end the show.

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

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

 

 

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Impact Wrestling – September 12, 2024: They Did Just That

Impact Wrestling
Date: September 12, 2024
Location: Old Forester’s Paristown Hall, Louisville, Kentucky
Commentators: Matthew Rehwoldt, Tom Hannifan

It’s the night before Victory Road and the hastily build card is mostly set. With this out of the way, there will not be much more before we get to Bound For Glory, which is taking place in about a month and a half. That should make for a bunch of big shows coming up soon, hopefully starting with this one. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening recap.

Opening sequence.

Steve Maclin vs. Hammerstone

They fight over a lockup to start and run the ropes until Maclin hits a running elbow. Back up and Hammerstone powers him into some corners for shots to the ribs, setting up a belly to back suplex for two. The abdominal stretch stays on the ribs but Maclin cuts off a torture rack attempt. Maclin ties him in the Tree of Woe for a running shoulder to the ribs. Hammerstone is sent outside for the Scud but is fine enough to hit a dropkick back inside. The Nightmare Pendulum is loaded up but Maclin slips out and grabs a rollup for the pin at 7:03.

Rating: C. That ending felt a bit flat and while it’s a bit better for it to be Maclin, seeing Hammerstone lose again is kind of hard to take. I’m not sure why he has such a bad record around here but this was another clean loss. Other than that, not much to see in the opener, though Maclin’s return to prominent continues.

Post match Hammerstone beats him down again until Eric Young makes the save. Jake Something comes out to stand next to Hammerstone.

The System is ready for their reboot and it starts tonight with beating up the Hardys.

Eric Young and Steve Maclin want Hammerstone and Jake Something at Victory Road.

Gisele Shaw vs. Heather Reckless

This is Reckless’ first official match as part of the roster. Shaw grabs a headlock to start but gets rolled up for some near falls. Back up and Reckless spins around to grab a headscissors, only to get press slammed down for her efforts. Shaw’s running uppercuts set up a chinlock but Reckless fights up with a tornado DDT.

Cue Ash By Elegance with her personal concierge as Reckless hits a running crossbody. Shaw catches her in the corner but gets caught with a slingshot Canadian Destroyer for a rather near fall. Shaw’s spinebuster into a backbreaker gets two more so she goes up, only for Ash to slap her in the face. A super Spanish Fly (Wrecked) finishes for Reckless at 7:04.

Rating: B-. That was a big upset but commentary didn’t exactly seem to treat it like one. Shaw had been on something of a hot streak in recent weeks but that went cold here, albeit by putting someone new over. They had a nice back and forth match though and Reckless could be something around here.

Xia Zhou, formerly known as Xia Li, is coming.

Here is Matt Cardona, with the less than enthusiastic Steph de Lander, for a chat. Cardona says Santino Marella has it out of him and that includes his return to the ring at Victory Road. He gets to pick his partner in a tag match and his pick is…Steph de Lander! Cue PCO, one of Cardona’s opponents, to wreck Cardona in short order.

Spitfire is worried about putting their team on the line, but the titles are worth it.

First Class vs. ABC

Non-title tornado tag. First Class is sent outside to start and Austin dropkicks them down as we take an early break. Back with ABC in trouble and Francis hitting a running knee in the corner. Bey gets posted, kicked in the head, and then posted again as the villains are in control. Another running knee puts Bey on the floor again but he dives back in to take Navarro down. A brainbuster gives Bey two on Navarro and a double suplex gets the same on Francis. Back up and Francis’ chokeslam is countered into a cutter and the Fold finishes him off at 9:40.

Rating: C+. I’m not sure why this needed to be tornado rules but at least it was something different compared to their match at Emergence. ABC gets another nice win and beating up a big guy like Francis is a bit of a change from what they usually do. The System is waiting for ABC at Victory Road and that’s the big one for the champs, who had a nice warmup here.

Video on Jonathan Gresham, who is still battling the evil inside of him. Please tell me we aren’t going to see this nonsense again. Cutting it of once was more than enough.

Here is Joe Hendry for a chat. He lives by the phrases “say his name and he appears” and he wants Josh Alexander to appear right now. Cue Alexander, and yes Hendry has a song about him, which is about how Alexander never smiles and is the Wish version of Kurt Angle.

Back in the arena, Alexander rants about how he should have Hendry’s spot because Hendry only got this spot by going viral. Alexander will smile after he wrecks Hendry at Victory Road but Hendry points out a WALKING WIENER sign. They compare their world travels, with Hendry getting serious to promise he’ll win tomorrow. You don’t get that side of Hendry very often and it worked.

We look at Wendy Choo attacking Jordynne Grace on NXT.

Grace tells Arianna Grace that she’s wrecking Choo.

Mike Santana wants the World Title and hopes Moose wins it so he can take it from him.

Xia Brookside vs. Ash By Elegance

Brookside knocks her down to start and gets in some shoves to the face. A crossbody puts Ash down again but the Concierge trips Brookside down to give Ash a needed breather. Ash’s snap suplex gets two and we hit the quickly broken chinlock. Brookside’s Russian legsweep gets two and she hits some running knees in the corner. The Concierge offers a distraction though and Brookside misses the knees in the corner. Cue Heather Reckless to post Brookside, allowing Ash to get the pin at 5:19.

Rating: C. Not much to here as the big deal was the interference at the end. Reckless has already made quite the debut this week with a pair of moments. Ash getting what might be a partner or a lackey could be interesting, but it isn’t going to matter if she doesn’t win the Knockouts Title at some point.

Nic Nemeth is ready for Moose at Victory Road.

Ash By Elegance is interested in Heather Reckless helping her.

Victory Road rundown.

Hardys vs. The System

Matt takes Myers into the corner to start and then works over the arm. Jeff comes in to stay on said arm and the invading Edwards is knocked down. It’s off to Edwards legally but this time he gets elbowed in the face. Poetry In Motion connects on both villains and they get knocked outside for a dive from Jeff. Back in and Myers gets in a cheap shot to hammer on Jeff as we take a break.

We come back with Jeff getting hammered down in the corner but jawbreaking his way to freedom. Matt comes back in to start the comeback but Eddie hides behind Alisha Edwards and Myers gets in a baseball slide to take over. The front facelock keeps Matt in trouble again but he fights out of Myers’ comeback and hits the Ricochet. The big tag brings Jeff back in to clean house, including the Whisper In The Wind to Myers. Matt breaks up the System Overload and it’s the Twist Of Fate into the Swanton to finish Eddie at 17:08.

Rating: B-. I was wondering how they would go around the idea of the System having a title shot tomorrow and losing to the Hardys here and the solution was to just have the #1 contenders lose. That’s certainly a way to go and if the System gets the titles back tomorrow, there is a good chance that it will lead to the Hardys getting a big title shot, possibly at Bound For Glory. That does not exactly bode well, and it might be off to a scary start here.

Overall Rating: B-. This show was all about the hard sell to Victory Road and it went well enough, save for that kind of strange ending. Other than that, I am slightly more interested in seeing Victory Road than I was coming in. The wrestling was just ok here and there were some odd choices, but the show accomplished its goal.

Results
Steve Maclin b. Hammerstone – Rollup
Heather Reckless b. Gisele Shaw – Wrecked
ABC b. First Class – Fold to Francis
Ash By Elegance b. Xia Brookside – Ram into the post
Hardys b. The System – Swanton to Edwards

 

 

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Impact Wrestling – September 5, 2024: Trust Them

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

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

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

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

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

Eric Young is ready for Jake Something tonight.

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

Kushida vs. Laredo Kid

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

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

Kushida vs. Josh Alexander

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

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

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

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

Knockouts Title: Jordynne Grace vs. Karmen Petrovic

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

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

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

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

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

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

Good Hands vs. Mike Bailey/Zachary Wentz

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

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

Steph de Lander has to calm PCO own.

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

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

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

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

Eric Young vs. Jake Something

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

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

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

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

Hendry is ready to keep going.

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

Joe Hendry/Mike Santana vs. Moose/JDC

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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Impact Wrestling – August 22, 2024: Keep Saying It

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

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

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

Opening recap.

Hammerstone vs. Frankie Kazarian vs. Kushida

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

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

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

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

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

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

Alisha Edwards vs. Rosemary

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Laredo Kid vs. Bhupinder Gujjar vs. Jai Vidal

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

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

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

Charlie Dempsey vs. Jonathan Gresham

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

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

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

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

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

Moose/JDC vs. Hardys

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

 

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

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Impact Wrestling – August 15, 2024: This Show Is Fun

Impact Wrestling
Date: August 15, 2024
Location: Florida State Fairgrounds, Tampa, Florida
Commentators: Matthew Rehwoldt, Tom Hannifan

We’re getting closer and closer to Emergence but we have a pretty major title match this week. In the main event this time around, Nic Nemeth defends the World Title against Josh Alexander in another title match that feels like it should have been built up as a bigger deal. Other than that, PCO is going to want revenge on Matt Cardona for ruining his honeymoon last week. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening recap.

Chris Bey vs. Riley Osborne vs. John Skyler

Ultimate X Qualifying Match and Osborne is a British high flier from NXT. Hold on though as Frankie Kazarian comes out to join commentary. Skyler drops to the floor to start so Bey is right there to drop him with a dive. Back in and Osborne grabs a running hurricanrana on Bey but gets jumped by the returning Skyler.

A Boston crab has Osborne in trouble so Bey makes the save this time around. Bey is sent outside, leaving Osborne to Falcon Arrow Skyler for two. Back in and the Art of Finesse takes Osborne down but Skyler sends Bey into the post, only to get crucifixed to give Osborne two more. Osborne is right back up with a shooting star press to finish Skyler at 5:59.

Rating: B-. This was pretty much the definition of “it was fun while it lasted” but how much can you get out of a match that only runs about six minutes? It’s nice to see someone from NXT getting into a match like Ultimate X as you can throw him in there without needing him to take a loss to avoid making him champion. Nice match and as usual, the X-Division makes for a good opener.

Nic Nemeth arrived earlier today and promised to leave as World Champion.

Here is Santino Marella, who calls out Matt Cardona for a chat. Marella calls Cardona a wedding crasher but Cardona says Marella has no authority because Cardona doesn’t work here. Marella offers him a contract and threatens to prosecute him for attacking PCO last week. Cardona takes the contract and says he’ll look into it, which Marella calls a win.

Eric Young interrupts Frankie Kazarian and tells him he’ll never forget what Kazarian did. Steve Maclin comes in and yells at both of them, with Kazarian leaving.

Post break, Maclin (elsewhere from where he was before the break), says Young is his first step back to the World Title.

Tasha Steelz vs. Gisele Shaw

Shaw charges into an uppercut in the corner to start and gets sent outside for another shot to the face. Steelz grabs what looked like a wrench, which is taken away, leaving her to run Shaw over for two instead. Shaw is back with a spinebuster and Shock and Awe connects for two. The running knee is countered with a superkick and Steelz’s Codebreaker gets two more. A rollup with feet on the ropes gets caught though, allowing Shaw to hit the running knee for the pin at 4:45.

Rating: C. They were rushing through things here due to the lack of time but Shaw getting a win to even the score helps her a lot. It still seems like Shaw vs. Gail Kim is a possibility for Bound For Glory, but at some point it needs to be Shaw winning a title. She has been around long enough that she needs to win something and that has gotten so close so many times now it has to happen.

Mike Santana has been attacked, with the System and the System standing over him.

We look at Joe Hendry getting put into a #1 contenders match for the NXT Title.

Here are the System and JDC for a chat. Alisha Edwards says Mike Santana is out of his match with Moose tonight….but here is a banged up Santana in the crowd. Santana decks some of the team and gets inside, saying ring the bell.

Mike Santana vs. Moose

The rest of the System and JDC are here too. Moose jumps him to start but Santana forearms his way out of trouble. A hard whip into the corner drops Santana again and Moose fires off some elbows. The release Rock Bottom onto the apron puts Santana down again and we take a break. Back with Santana down on the floor following a posting but he manages to beat the count. Moose whips him into the corner again and stops for some posing, only for Santana to tell say bring it.

Santana fights up and hits a middle rope dropkick but Moose kicks him in the face to cut off the comeback. A rolling cutter drops Moose and a Cannonball in the corner gives Santana two. Spin The Block connects but Santana can’t cover due to his banged up shoulder (from the posting earlier), allowing Moose to roll outside. Moose goes after the arm again and hits the spear for the pin at 11:26.

Rating: B-. There is a good chance that Santana is going to need some help to fight back against the System, as he feels like a bit enough name to go after the team but there is only so much he can do on his own. I’m not sure I would have had Santana lose again but at least he had the arm injury and the numbers game to hold him off. For now though, Santana looked good in defeat, though that shouldn’t be happening too often.

Post match the System goes after Santana but Joe Hendry runs in with a chair for the save. Hendry announces that next week, it’s Moose/JDC vs. the Hardys.

Spitfire wants another shot at the Knockouts Tag Team Titles.

We look back at Ash By Elegance ruining Jordynne Grace vs. Rosemary last week.

Grace expected Ash to take her loss and move on, which was a mistake. If Ash wants another fight, she can get one.

Ace Austin vs. Rich Swann vs. Jason Hotch

Ultimate X Qualifying Match and Top Dolla is on commentary. They trade headscissors to start until Hotch is sent outside. That leaves Swann to stomp on Austin until Hotch is back in for the save. Back up and Swann kicks Hotch in the back for two, leaving Austin to make the save for a change. Austin’s sunset flip makes Hotch German suplex Swann, who flips out to stick the landing but gets rolled up for two more.

Austin superkicks Hotch into a German suplex before planting Swann for another near fall. They go outside where Swann is sent into Doll, who drops Austin onto the apron. Cue Chris Bey to take out Dolla, leaving Austin to kick Hotch down. Cue John Skyler for a distraction though, allowing Hotch to grab a rollup for the pin on Austin at 6:05.

Rating: B-. Like the opener, they didn’t have much time to make this work, especially with so much going on other than the action itself. There were two people getting involved in a three person match, which is quite a bit in a match that was only about six minutes. I do like the surprise ending, as it would have seemed Hotch was there to take the fall, but they went the other way instead. Nice stuff, especially given the situation.

Matt Cardona agrees to sign the contract but wants a six person tag with two mystery partners vs. PCO/Rhino/Xia Brookside. Works for Marella, as long as Cardona faces PCO one on one at Emergence. Cardona signs.

TNA World Champion: Nic Nemeth vs. Josh Alexander

Nemeth is defending. Alexander wrestles him down to start and tells Nemeth to bring it. That’s fine with Nemeth, who takes him to the mat and works on the arm. Alexander bails out to the floor and we take an early break. Back with Nemeth getting two off a rollup but getting riven back into the corner. Some forearms to the back have Nemeth down again and Alexander offers some applause.

Nemeth gets forearmed in the face as the fans chant USA, only to have the American dropped with a clothesline. Alexander takes too long to set up a moonsault, allowing Nemeth to pull him down. Nemeth’s running DDT is blocked though and Alexander sends him outside as we take another break.

Back again with Nemeth fighting out of the chinlock and grabbing a German suplex for two. The superkick is countered into an ankle lock though, with Nemeth quickly escaping and hitting a Fameasser. Alexander is back with a Regal Roll into a middle rope knee to the back for two of his own. The ankle lock goes on again but Nemeth quickly reverses into a sleeper as we take another break.

Back again with Alexander hitting a powerbomb backbreaker for two and putting Nemeth on top. The belly to back superplex is countered into a crossbody to give Nemeth two, setting up the Danger Zone for no cover. Instead the running DDT plants Alexander for two more but he sends Nemeth shoulder first into the post. The C4 Spike is reversed into the Danger Zone…but we’re out of time at 30:00.

Rating: B. They were getting going near the end there and it was a good, back and forth match, even if the ending feels like a way to set up a rematch at Emergence. You’re only going to get so much out of seeing them fight for thirty minutes and then wanting to see them do it again on a major show, but Nemeth needs such an opponent. Solid main event here, especially if you accept that Alexander can be a bit dry.

Post match Nemeth wants five more minutes but gets kicked low instead. Alexander holds up the title before walking off to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. This was definitely the wrestling focused show, with two Ultimate X qualifiers, a big match in the middle, and the World Title main event. That is more than you get on the average week and it made for a good show here. The Cardona stuff is interesting as well as he really does feel like a big star. It was a good week around here and Emergence has the potential to be a pretty big show as well. Nice work.

Results
Riley Osborne b. John Skyler and Chris Bey – Shooting star press to Skyler
Gisele Shaw b. Tasha Steelz – Running knee
Moose b. Mike Santana – Spear
Jason Hotch b. Ace Austin and Rich Swann – Rollup to Austin
Nic Nemeth vs. Josh Alexander went to a time limit draw

 

 

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Impact Wrestling – August 8, 2024: Please Drop It

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Trent Seven vs. Jake Something vs. Mike Bailey

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

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

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

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

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

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

Kushida vs. Jonathan Gresham

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

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

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

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

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

Knockouts Title: Jordynne Grace vs. ???

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

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

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

Bound For Glory is in Detroit on October 26.

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

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

Zachary Wentz vs. KC Navarro vs. Dante Chen

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

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

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

We look at Joe Hendry beating Joe Coffey on NXT.

Wolfgang vs. Joe Hendry

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

 

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Impact Wrestling – August 1, 2024: Time For A Wedding!

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

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

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

Opening recap.

Rascalz vs. Mike Bailey/Kushida/Trent Seven

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

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

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

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

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

Rosemary vs. Kristara

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

Post match Rosemary puts a black rose on her chest.

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

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

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

Ryan Nemeth vs. Frankie Kazarian

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

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

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

Ultimate X is back at Emergence.

Masha Slamovich vs. Jody Threat

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

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

Video on Joe Hendry’s rise.

Mike Santana vs. Campaign Singh

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

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

TNA World Title: Nic Nemeth vs. Mustafa Ali

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

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

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

Post match Josh Alexander comes out for a staredown.

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

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

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

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

 

 

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Slammiversary 2024: Just Like The Old Days

Slammiversary 2024
Date: July 20, 2024
Location: Verdun Auditorium, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Commentators: Tom Hannifan, Matthew Rehwoldt

This is one of the biggest shows that TNA presents every year and we should be in for a good one as the show is fairly stacked. The main event will see Moose defending the World Title against five challengers at once, along with hometown boy Mike Bailey challenging Mustafa Ali for the X-Division Title. Let’s get to it.

Pre-Show: Faby Apache vs. Gisele Shaw vs. Tasha Steelz vs. Xia Brookside

We get a loud TNA chant as Shaw and Brookside kick the other two down. A celebration is cut off as Steelz shoves them into each other though and the villains take over. Apache drops Steelz though and grabs an early surfboard. Shaw is back in with Shock And Awe for two as commentary talks about everything else on the card. Steelz Codebreakers Apache to the floor and hits a suicide dive, followed by Shaw diving onto both of them.

Brookside dives onto all three of them (show off) and throws Steelz back in for two. The Brookside Bomb is broken up so Shaw Samoan drivers both Steelz and Brookside at the same time (geez). Apache goes up but dives into a powerbomb, leaving Shaw to spear Brookside. Shaw’s running knee hits Brookside but Steelz grabs the pin at 6:37.

Rating: C+. This was a fine choice to get the show going and warm the crowd up a bit but I really do not get that ending. This felt like it was Shaw’s to win and instead it’s Steelz, who hasn’t really been doing much lately. It’s weird to go with something that will deflate the crowd a bit, but at least the action was good.

Pre-Show: Kushida vs. Rich Swann

Kushida is in Hakushi cosplay because….I have no idea really. Swann is replacing an ill Jonathan Gresham. Kushida is slow to start before grabbing a wristlock but it’s too early for the Hoverboard Lock. They take turns flipping away from each other and Swann is knocked into the ropes. Swann chokes on the ropes and kicks him in the back but Kushida….stops to mediate, earning himself another kick.

A dragon screw legwhip into a Tajiri handspring elbow staggers Swann but he’s right back with the poisonrana. Swann’s Lethal Injection gets two but the middle rope 450 misses. Kushida punches him down, only to miss the moonsault, allowing Swann to kick him in the face for two more. Swann takes too long going up though and gets pulled down into the Hoverboard Lock for the tap at 6:43.

Rating: C+. I’m guessing this was Kushida’s response to Jonathan Gresham being all evil and corrupted. All that did is make me remember how horrible the Gresham stuff has been and that’s not the best way to get things going. Other than that, it was the kind of quality you would expect here, albeit with Kushida’s stuff not really fitting his usual style.

Pre-Show: Knockouts Tag Team Titles: Alisha Edwards/Masha Slamovich vs. Spitfire

Spitfire is challenging. Threat and Slamovich start things off with Threat cranking on the arm. Luna comes in to shove Edwards down without much trouble so Threat adds a basement clothesline for two. Slamovich slips in for a double suplex to Threat and a trip to Luna makes it worse. A hard kick to the chest gets two on Luna and a snap suplex is good for the same.

Luna manages to kick her way out of the corner and it’s back to Threat to pick up the pace. A double running crotch attack against the ropes connects on the champs and Edwards is Michinoku Drivered onto Slamovich for two. The Hart Attack gets two but Luna is sent outside, leaving the Snowplow to hit Threat for a rather near fall. With nothing else working, Slamovich distracts the referee so a belt shot can knock Threat silly. A Steiner Bulldog retains the titles at 8:48.

Rating: B-. This was one of the better Knockouts tag matches I’ve seen in a bit as they were given some time and didn’t have a commercial in the middle. That makes for a nice improvement and the action was there to back it up. The division still lacks depth, but at least this felt like part of a story rather than just a one off match.

Here is Santino Marella to say he used to live here and thanks the fans for their biggest show in over ten years (nice job). He even has a bonus match for us.

Pre-Show: Eric Young vs. Hammerstone

Nice to see Hammerstone back. Hammerstone wastes no time in knocking him outside where a hard posting ensues. Back in and a missile dropkick gives Hammerstone two as the fans chant something in French. Young is back up with his slide between the legs and a lariat but the top rope elbow takes too long. The breaking up is broken up as well though and Young drops the elbow for two. The piledriver is cut off with straight power but Young slips out of the torture rack….and grabs a rollup for the pin at 5:26.

Rating: C. I’m sorry what now? You have the return of a beast like Hammerstone and he loses to Eric Young? That’s one of those things that feels like it is straight out of the TNA playbook: when your company is feeling a bit stale, it’s time to go with the guy who has been around for the better part of twenty years. I’m fine with Young getting a win because he’s someone the fans will get behind, but you can’t put some low level villain out there instead of Hammerstone?

Post match Young thanks the fans for supporting the company and says this is TNA.

And now, the show proper.

Annie St-Onge sings O Canada.

The opening video looks at recent events and talks about how big of a show this is. We also get the normal looks at the bigger matches.

Matt Hardy vs. JDC

Matt is Broken and out for revenge after JDC took out Rebecca Hardy on Impact. The beating is on outside before the bell and JDC (in his American flag pants) has to get in a quick flag shot to take over. Now the bell rings and JDC sends him chest first into the corner, meaning it’s time for some dancing.

Hardy is draped over the top rope for a running boot to the head and two, followed by an elbow to the face. The bodyscissors works on Hardy’s ribs for a bit but Down And Dirty on the apron misses for JDC. Hardy sends him into the corner over and over, setting up a middle rope elbow. The Side Effect gets two but Dango is back with a Falcon Arrow. Another Down And Dirty is broken up and a middle rope Twist Of Fate gives Hardy the pin at 4:36.

Rating: C. This would have been short on Impact but it gave the fans a nice moment while Hardy gets some revenge. The stuff before the match felt like someone wanting to get back at JDC but the rest was just a normal match. I’ll take this over Hardy being all weird though so this could have been worse.

Post match Hardy hits two more Twists Of Fate to blow off some steam.

The System, in their matching American flag track suits, is ready to dominate tonight.

We run down the card.

Tag Team Titles: ABC vs. The System

The System, with Alisha Edwards, is defending. Austin strikes away at Eddie to start and it’s Bey coming in for a double Japanese armdrag. A Hart Attack (with ABC in pink and black) gets two on Myers but a running knee to the face hits Bey for the same. Alisha gets in some choking from the floor but Bey ducks a double clothesline and brings Austin back in (the fans are REALLY pleased).

Bey is back up with a big running flip dive, only to have Alisha distract Austin so Eddie can send him into the apron. Back in and Eddie’s snap suplex gets two, which causes some frustration to set in. Myers’ reverse chinlock doesn’t last long so Eddie catapults Austin throat first into the middle rope for a nasty impact. Austin fights up and makes the tag….but Myers has the referee for the classic misdirection, meaning no tag. The chinlock goes on for a bit, though Austin is ready for the Roster Cut.

That’s enough for the hot tag off to Bey so house can be quickly cleaned. Eddie is sent outside but Alisha is right there to cut off a dive. They all wind up on the apron, with Bey hitting cutter to set up Austin’s big Fosbury flop. Back in and Bey’s frog splash gets two on Eddie but the 1-2-Sweet is broken up. Myers’ spear gets two on Bey so Austin comes back in for a Magic Killer to Myers for two more. Alisha comes in and accidentally gets caught in the Art Of Finesse, leaving Myers to get caught in the 1-2-Sweet for the pin and the titles at 16:44.

Rating: B. ABC is a heck of a team and they are becoming one of the most decorated teams the company has ever seen. This was treated as a big deal, even if it ends a mostly mediocre run from the System. They were milking those near falls near the end too and I was into it for most of the time. Solid opener here.

Mike Bailey is so serious about winning the X-Division Title that he speaks French.

Jake Something vs. Mike Santana

The fans are way behind Santana here. We start with a fight over a lockup until Santana cranks on a headlock. Something tells him to bring it with the running shoulders before knocking a Thesz press out of the air. Back in and Santana hits a heck of a springboard flip dive to drop Something and a German suplex gets two back inside. Santana’s chinlock doesn’t last long as Something fights up and grabs a slam.

Something stomps away in the corner until Santana scores with a kick to the head. The rolling Buck Fifty connects for Santana and a middle rope dropkick sets up a Cannonball for two. Another Cannonball is pulled out of the air for a sitout powerbomb but Santana runs the corner for a release German superplex (dang that looked nasty). They slug it out with Santana knocking him down, only for Something to tell him to bring it. Spin The Block gives Santana the pin at 11:32.

Rating: B-. Sometimes you just need two strong guys beating each other up until one of them gets the pin. That’s exactly what we got here and it was a nice addition to the card. Santana continues to be someone that TNA is interested in promoting and that is not a bad idea when he is putting in a string of solid work. Something continues to feel like a prospect but after all of these losses, it’s hard to imagine he goes anywhere.

We look at Eric Young pinning Hammerstone on the pre-show.

Young talks about how big of a win that is and says he’ll be watching the World Title match.

We recap the No Quarter Catch Crew invading TNA and the Rascalz getting NXT’s Wes Lee to help them fight back, setting up a six man tag.

Rascalz vs. No Quarter Catch Crew

The Rascalz have Buzz Lightyear style gear and….yeah it’s really not working. Lee’s in particular looks like he is trying to wear the sexy Halloween version of the costume and it’s kind of a disaster. Borne and Miguel start things off with Miguel working on the arm. Dempsey comes in and gets anklescissored by Lee and Wentz adds a Bronco Buster for two. It’s off to Heights for a release German suplex and a gutwrench suplex for two on Wentz.

Back up and Wentz brings in Miguel to send Borne into the corner, meaning Dempsey needs to grab a suplex of his own. One heck of a clothesline gives Heights two and it’s a suplex into the chinlock. Miguel fights up and ducks a clothesline, setting up a needed enziguri. The tag brings in Lee to clean house but the Crew takes his partners own and triple teams Lee.

Dempsey’s dragon suplex connects but Lee breaks it up with a frog splash. Lee hits the big dive and Wentz has to break up a double submission. Back up and Heights gets caught in the Soup Kitchen (Dominator/top rope double stomp combination) and Hot Fire Flame finishes for Wentz at 14:07.

Rating: B-. This was the way the match needed to go as it gives us the feel good moment of the Rascalz not only coming back together but also getting the win. You had to have the villains come in from outside and lose, as there is no reason to have them win. Perfectly nice match here, which was more about the feeling than the wrestling.

We recap PCO challenging AJ Francis for the Digital Media (and unofficial Canadian National Heavyweight Champion) Title. Francis won the title and messed up PCO’s date with Steph de Lander, so it’s time for revenge.

Digital Media Title: PCO vs. AJ Francis

Francis, with Rich Swann and some rappers) is defending and this is a street fight. Before the match, Francis mentions that PCO has been attacked, so here is a casket, which is struck by lighting to let PCO out. The brawl is on to start with Francis getting in some chair shots. PCO shrugs that off and hits a moonsault to the floor, meaning it’s time for a table. That takes too much time so Francis is back with some shots of his own.

A bunch of chairs are thrown in, with Francis putting a trashcan over PCO’s head and then unloading on him with a chair. A legdrop onto the trashcan gives Francis two but PCO fights back with a clothesline. PCO goes up top but gets pulled back down with an electric chair onto the chairs. That’s shrugged off as well, as PCO sends him through the tables at ringside.

Josh Bishop (of Francis’ entourage) is up with some chair shots and a toss Razor’s Edge onto some open chairs (GEEZ). Sami Callihan comes in for a failed save attempt but Rhino comes in for the save and the Gore to Swann. PCO is back up to drop Francis and the PCOsault gets two. Francis hits a Tombstone with the Undertaker cover for two but PCO chokeslams him onto the chairs. Another PCOsault gives PCO the pin and the title at 13:50.

Rating: C+. You can pretty much chalk this one up to an obvious result, as there was no reason to believe that a local legend was going to lose in his kind of match against a loudmouth heel. This was tailor made for PCO to win in a feel good moment and that is exactly what we were given.

Post match here is Steph de Lander….who proposes to PCO, who accepts. Well that escalated quickly.

We recap Jordynne Grace defending the Knockouts Title against Ash By Elegance. Ash says she deserves the title and cost Grace the NXT Women’s Title. Grace wants revenge.

Knockouts Title: Jordynne Grace vs. Ash By Elegance

Ash, with her Personal Concierge, is challenging and flips out of some early suplex attempts. Grace chops her down and hits a spinebuster for an early two as we see a lurking Rosemary. The interfering Concierge is ejected so Rosemary whips out a knife to chase him off. Ash uses the distraction to get in a cheap shot and take over with some shots to the back. A sleeper is broken up with a drop down, setting up some not so snappy powerslams.

Grace’s MuscleBuster gets two but Ash is back with a running tornado DDT for the same. They go up top, where Grace grabs a superplex and rolls into a Jackhammer for two. With nothing else working, Grace just tackles her and hammers away. Ash comes back with a Canadian Destroyer of all things but Rarefied Air hits raised knees. Back up and a quick Sliced Bread gives Ash two so she hammers on the back again. Grace pulls her into a quickly broken sleeper and then reverses a kick to the face into the Juggernaut Driver to retain at 12:09.

Rating: B-. I thought they might change the title here as Ash had been pushed fairly strong coming into this. That being said, Grace has been presented as the biggest star in the division in a long time so this is only so surprising. The division has some depth to give Grace some trouble and that might make for some interesting results. For now though, good match, with Ash holding her own.

We recap Mustafa Ali defending the X-Division Title against Mike Bailey, another hometown boy. Bailey was granted a title shot but Ali took it back before attacking Bailey’s partner Trent Seven. Now it’s about revenge and the title.

X-Division Title: Mustafa Ali vs. Mike Bailey

Ali, with Campaign Singh, is defending and they fight over a headlock to start. Ali snaps off a running hurricanrana for two but Bailey kicks him down. The threat of the Tornado Kick sends Ali out to the apron and a quick shot has Bailey in early trouble. Bailey is right back to knock him to the floor for the middle rope moonsault, with the fans greatly approving. The Secret Service offers a distraction though, allowing Ali to come back with a middle rope tornado DDT.

Back in and Ali’s rolling neckbreaker gets two, setting up the chinlock to slow things down. A spinning Downward Spiral gives Ali two and he is already looking frustrated. Back up and Bailey hits a Falcon Arrow into a shooting star press for two of his own. The moonsault knees only hit apron so Ali hits a hard superkick. They both go up, where Bailey manages a super Spanish Fly onto the Secret Service/Singh for the big knockdown.

Back in and they trade rollups for two each (Ali’s cheating doesn’t help) so Bailey knocks him down. The Ultimate Weapon is knocked out of the air though and a Cheeky Nandos dropkick rocks Bailey again. Bailey scores with another kick into the Ultimate Weapon for the pin…but Ali’s foot was on the rope. The referee accidentally gets kicked down so the Secret Service and Singh come in to lay Bailey out.

Cue Trent Seven to break up the cover and take out Ali’s crew. Ali gets in a cheap shot though….and Earl Hebner comes in to referee. Ali grabs a Sharpshooter and Hebner teases calling for the bell but can’t do it. The frustrated Ali gets a chair, only to have Bailey kick it away. The Sharpshooter gives Bailey the title back at 20:24.

Rating: B. This was more or less the amped up version of PCO’s win with the more important title. Ali had held the title for a long time and Bailey had to put in the work to get there. That being said, naturally we just had to do the Montreal Screwjob stuff because nothing else has ever happened in the history of wrestling in this city.

the Personal Concierge yells at Santino Marella about what happened. Hammerstone comes in to yell as well and the Concierge seems interested.

We recap Moose defending the World Title in a six way and qualifying matches ensued. There isn’t much more to it than that, but Joe Hendry is the hottest thing in the world and has his shot here.

TNA World Title: Moose vs. Nic Nemeth vs. Steve Maclin vs. Joe Hendry vs. Frankie Kazarian vs. Josh Alexander

Moose is defending and this is elimination rules. Moose tries to get the early alliance with Kazarian, who bails to the floor…and then comes back in to stomp on Moose in the corner. Kazarian is sent outside as well and the other four pair off to start fast. Hendry throws Nemeth onto Moose and follows him to the floor, leaving us with Alexander, Kazarian and Maclin inside for a weird three way.

Kazarian gets beaten into the corner before Alexander and Maclin can fight again, as is their custom. Alexander starts snapping off the German suplexes to just about everyone, including the rolling editions to Maclin for two. A double German suplex sends Maclin and Kazarian flying but Moose is back in to take over. Nemeth cuts that off and drops the ten elbows but Moose rolls outside, meaning it’s a jumping elbow to hit him as well.

Back in and Kazarian gets to hit some slingshot cutters for two on Moose, leaving everyone down. Hendry comes back in but Maclin is right there to send people outside, setting up the series of Scuds. Back in and Maclin loads up the KIA on Kazarian, only to get speared by Moose for the pin and the elimination at 10:43.

The fans sing Maclin off so he flips them off on his way out. Moose release Rock Bottoms Kazarian, powerbombs Hendry and Buckle Bombs Nemeth. Another powerbomb gets two on Alexander and another powerbomb onto the apron hits Kazarian. Hendry jumps Moose though and Alexander hits the crossbody on the apron to put everyone on the floor. They all fight up to the stage, where Moose has to backdrop his way out of a C4 Spike attempt.

Nemeth escapes the Fade To Black as well and superkicks Kazarian off the stage and through a table. Most of them go back to ringside, where Moose chokeslams Nemeth onto Alexander. Hendry comes up behind him though and cutters Moose for two. The fall away slams hit everyone else around and Hendry is rolling. Moose spears Alexander and Nemeth but Hendry reverses into a backslide. Back up and Moose kicks Hendry in the face but gets dropped with a hard clothesline. The Standing Ovation finishes Moose for the elimination at 21:37 and the fans believe that much more.

Then Alexander kicks Hendry low and hits him with the C4 Spike for the elimination at 22:51 and the fans are GONE. Alexander sits on Hendry and slaps him a bunch before going after the referee. Nemeth breaks that up but gets caught with a powerbomb backbreaker for his efforts. Alexander hammers him own and poses a lot before going after Nemeth’s bad shoulder. That’s broken up though and Nemeth grabs a running DDT for a needed breather. Another C4 Spike is escaped and Nemeth hits a superkick to get rid of Alexander at 28:44.

We’re down to Nemeth vs. Kazarian, the latter of whom hasn’t been seen since going through the table. Kazarian comes back in with a Fade To Black for two, followed by the chickenwing. That’s broken up and Nemeth hits a superkick for two more. A Backstabber rocks Nemeth but he’s right back with a superkick into the Danger Zone for the pin and the title at 30:51.

Rating: B. It was an action packed match and I got into it, but the ending didn’t have much in the way of drama. The bigger problem here though is the fact that it isn’t Hendry winning. Nemeth winning isn’t a bad way to go, but ultimately this is likely to be seen as the latest instance of the hot homegrown star being passed over in exchange for the older former WWE star. It’s still a good match and Hendry could win the title (I’ll give him until the end of Bound For Glory) but there are going to be some annoyed fans and they might have a good point.

Ryan Nemeth and a bunch of champions come out to celebrate to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. The show was good with nothing overly bad and some nice moments, but it didn’t have that one big match or moment to carry it to the next level. It felt like the end of the System’s dominance and that’s a big step, but the next round of feuds should be interested. I was expecting a pretty awesome show and only got a good one. That’s not a terrible way to go, but they need to follow up on this rather well.

Results
Tasha Steelz b. Faby Apache, Gisele Shaw and Xia Brookside – Running knee to Brookside
Kushida b. Rich Swann – Hoverboard Lock
Alisha Edwards/Masha Slamovich b. Spitfire – Steiner Bulldog to Threat
Eric Young b. Hammerstone – Rollup
Matt Hardy b. JDC – Middle rope Twist Of Fate
ABC b. The System – 1-2-Sweet to Myers
Mike Santana b. Jake Something – Spin The Block
Rascalz b. No Quarter Catch Crew – Hot Fire Flame to Heights
PCO b. AJ Francis – PCOsault
Jordynne Grace b. Ash By Elegance – Juggernaut Driver
Mike Bailey b. Mustafa Ali – Sharpshooter
Nic Nemeth b. Moose, Frankie Kazarian, Josh Alexander, Steve Maclin and Joe Hendry – Danger Zone to Kazarian

 

 

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