wrestling / TV Reports
Ciocco’s TNA Impact Review 7.23.26
Image Credit: TNA
Loading...Impact Zone! It’s Thursday, which can mean only one thing, and that is a new episode of the delight known as Impact Wrestling! If my math is correct (and hardly, is it ever), then this should serve as the fourth and final taping from the Albany, New York sessions, since TNA is taping in Philadelphia on the 30th and 31st of July. Tonight’s show will see the culmination of the first round of Knockouts TV Title Tournament, and both the World Heavyweight Title and the Tag Team Titles will be on the line as well.
For more on this and everything else, let’s roll our Headlines!
So, how is everyone doing on this Thursday evening? I’m glad that the Fever have kept me sane, because the ridiculous number of errors and rampant stupidity from the Phillies makes me wonder if they will even make the playoffs this year. Oh well, we’re inching closer to the start of NFL Training Camp and, with that, the season. Ditto for the NHL, although their camp doesn’t open for another month yet.
But enough about me and enough about you, let’s get ready to brace for Impact!
Tonight, Impact is LIVE (to tape!) from the capital of New York, Albany! The A-Team of broadcasters, Tom Hannifan and Matt Rehwoldt, will call the action for us!
No intro for us tonight, we’re getting right into it!
Elijah is drifting in the middle of the ring for us. He plays the Seven Nation Army riff and doesn’t say a word, as his tag team partner, Moose, comes out next. Wow, Frankie and AJ didn’t get a TV entrance lol.
Elijah & Moose vs. AJ Francis & Frankie Kazarian
Elijah and Frankie start this one off. Very quickly he goes to walk the ropes, and he drives down onto Frankie’s arm. Elijah tags in Moose, but Frankie scurries away and tags in Francis. Both big men collide, but Moose wins out with a big shoulder tackle. Elijah with the tag, and Expressions trips up Elijah, allowing Francis to hit Elijah with a lariat. Tennessee Whisky and a blind tag from Kazarian.
Frankie goes for the Chicken Wing, but Elijah fights him off. Frankie off the ropes, but Elijah starches Frankie on the way down with an elbow. Moose gets the tag, and hits Frankie with a Uranage. Francis is in, but Moose powers him out of the ring. Moose looking SPEAR, but Frankie cuts him off with a lung blower. He screams YOU SON OF A BITCH and hits a lionsault for a two.
Francis with the tag, looking for the Down Payment, but Moose shoves Francis into Frankie. Elijah is in now, and Francis looks for another Down Payment, but Elijah escapes only to jump into a Cash Out and that’s match.
WINNER: Frankie Kazarian & AJ Francis
TIME: 3:30
THOUGHTS: Out of all of the matches there ever was, that was certainly a match.
RATING: **
Post-match, Expressions looks to hit Elijah with a guitar, but Moose grabs it from his hands and Elijah hits Expressions with the Highwayman’s Farewell. Francis is seething on the ramp.
Tom runs down the matches for tonight and lets us know that Wendy Choo and Elyana Black will face-off next!
BREAK IN PROGRESS!
The Order-4 are here post-break. It’s a beautiful day, says Mustafa Ali. They are putting the power back in the hands of the people. They’ve had many votes for who will face him for his International Title. Hell, he even had to hire extra security for the occasion. Let the best man win!
TNA Knockouts TV Title Tourney First Round match: Wendy Choo vs. Elayna Black
Inset promos from both ladies as they make their entrances. Also, just a reminder that these matches have a ten-minute time limit.
Choo and Black circle each other before the opening lock-out. Tom tells us that Wendy and Elayna became best friends because they hate the same people lol. Snapmare by Black, and she talks down to Choo. Wendy with the go-behind, snapmare, and she pats Elayna on the head lol. Black runs into a side headlock from Choo, who keeps her grounded.
Black to her feet, but Choo runs her over. Flash pin attempt by Choo but Black escapes. Choo looking for another pin, but Black escapes the ring. She says she hates this and isn’t ready for this. She hits the apron, Wnedy makes the mistake to approach, and she suffers a case of whiplash. Black talks that mad smack as she beats Wendy around the ring. Elayna licks her hand (giggity) and slaps Wendy’s chest with it (GIGGITY!). Black breaks the count and talks some more smack before sending Wendy back into the ring.
Black charges the ropes and hits a double stomp to the back for a two. Choo stuns Black with a trip into the ropes and she gets a two on the pin. Black fires back with a big lariat and Wendy kicks out at two. Black grounds Choo with the most dreaded chinlock as she continues to talk smack.
Choo finally gets to her feet, but she can’t elbow her way free. Black rips Choo down by her hair and then hits a running back elbow for a two. Black with a corner knee strike, but Wendy still kicks out at two. Black grabs Wendy’s arms and she wrenches back as the fans cheer on Wendy. Choo escapes with a snapmare and she lays in headbutts and clotheslines. Choo wraps up Black and hits her with a big lariat. Choo with a cartwheel into a back elbow and a kick to the head. CHOO CHOO says Wendy, and she hits a running neck breaker for a two.
Wendy looking for the Snooze Button, but Black fights free. Blackout is avoided with a thrust kick by Choo. Wendy traps Elayna in the corner and hits a DDT from the second rope for a two. Black sends off Choo and they kind of collide. She tries it again and hits a knee strike. Belly-to-Belly from Black for a two. Both ladies to their feet and they trade forearms. Black hits a DDT, but Choo rolls out to the floor.
We’re down to the last minute, as Black climbs the top rope. Choo rolls back into the ring and she smacks Elyana. Choo goes up and hits the Superplex! The bell rings, and we have our first time limit draw. McKenzie Mitchell lets us know that because of this, both ladies are eliminated.
WINNER: No Winner/Time limit draw
TIME: 10:00
THOUGHTS: They were having a really good match and didn’t hold much, if anything, back. Interesting choice to have it end in a draw, but given what has been going on lately, they are probably pushing Elyana for Xia’s title instead.
RATING: ***1/2
Post-match, both ladies ask for more time for a decisive winner. Xia Brookside is here, and she pulls Black from the ring, and she throws her into the ring steps. Choo chases Xia off and goes to check on Black, but Brookside throws Wendy into the ring steps as well. She takes her leave, and Wendy and Elayna shake hands.
We cut back to the Order-4. We see Rosemary, Allie, Rich Swann, Ryan Nemeth, and Cedric Alexander casting their votes. Jason Hotch wants to open the ballet box, but Ali smacks his fingers and tell him he will mess it up. He demands someone gets him a coffee and walks off. Mila Moore tells Jason that he is doing a good job and Jason is all like, “Yeah I am!” LOL!
We’ll hear from everyone’s favorite stable the System, next!
BREAK IN PROGRESS!
Promo for Lockdown, coming to us on August 23rd from Chicago, Illinois!
YOU CAN’T BEAT THE SYSTEM! Oh, goody, they’re all coming to the ring so Alisha can sound like a banshee in the arena! Yay! DO YOU WANNA KNOW SOMETHING? Alisha says everyone loves a new toy, new flavor of the month. Most of these people make these moments, and everyone calls them the future of the business, until reality hits.
Bronson says reality is right, Lish. Last week, Bear dismantled Ricky Sosa. And that’s because guys like Ricky are nothing more than a theme song, a meme, a joke. And people like Bear Bronson, he’s a killer.
Myers says pro wrestling is just like life, things change. Look at the roster here, people come and people go. But one thing will remain the same, that is the System’s dominance, because they are the gatekeepers.
Prime Alexander says if you seek success, you have to go through the System. And the list of people is short. Ask Leon Slater, ask Fabian Aichner, the champ is right here!
Eddie says this is not just a faction; this is TNA Wrestling’s quality control. We decide who is real, who is ready, who really belongs in this ring. My ride or die tonight has a match in the TV Title tourney. And it’s not just a match; it’s a chance for the System to get more gold. Jada Stone, when you come out tonight, it will be the last time we see you in a ring. Because you will end up beaten and out of here.
Apparently, Sosa didn’t get the memo, because he is here. He admits he lost to Bear last week, and sometimes you win some and you lose some. He is new, but you have to understand, you can’t keep the young savage. And the only reason he lost was because he had Brian on his side.
Eddie says you turned down The System, meaning you turned down brothers having your back and watching what happens to you. And now look at you, there is no one out here to care about you.
Leon Slater is here! Slater wants to know what their problem is, MON! You are always in everyone’s business. He heard you say no one has Ricky’s back, you’re mad, because Leon has his back. These guys can’t do anything with a plan or a scheme. Slater notices that a couple of you are in wrestling attire, and so are Leon and Ricky! So how about we get our right hands ready and smack the teeth out of your stinking mouth?
Eddie takes the mic and says that match will happen, next week in Philadelphia! Leon says the match can happen anywhere from Albuquerque, to Philadelphia, to Jupiter, to the Moon, but the result is going to be the same, and that is with you going out with a….
Ricky: BANG, BANG!
We’re heading to the Hardy Compound for the Righteous Deletion, next!
BREAK IN PROGRESS!
Tom tells us that for the first time in ten years, Lockdown is coming back to TNA! Every match takes place in a cage. RAGE IN A CAGE!
Daria Rae is with the Order-4. Ali wants a drumroll before Rae announces it. Daria says the winner is Jason Hotch. Ali busts out laughing and says that this is a joke. The locker room is obviously playing a rib on Hotch, and he wants Hotch to go talk to Rae and get this figured out. Hotch goes to object, but he walks away.
We have a TNA+ Exclusive match coming up!
Mr. Elegance vs. BDE
Mr. Elegance puts on the Michael Jackson glove and lays into BDE with body blows. The Girls cheer on Mr. Elegance, and he takes the glove off. BDE takes advantage with a barrage that includes a Clip Cutter, but Mr. Elegance kicks out at two. BDE sends Mr. Elegance to the apron, but he slingshots back in with a DDT for a two. BDE counters with a roll and a double knee strike. BDE to the top and he connects with a big splash. The cover, but M by Elegance puts Mr. Elegance’s foot on the bottom rope. Swann says he saw everything, and BDE grabs the Personal Concierge. This allows Mr. Elegance the chance to sneak up on BDE, and he hits him with Excusez-Moi for the win.
WINNER: Mr. Elegance
TIME: 3:15
THOUGHTS: That was definitely a match.
RATING: **
AMC brings us the Injury Report!
TNA World Tag Team Title Righteous Deletion Match: The Hardy’s (C) vs. The Righteous
We see The Righteous walking up a road. They approach the gates of the Hardy Compound, and Vincent snaps his fingers and it goes from dark to light. He says everything is a little bit better with light and colors. Matt Hardy wakes up from his dream with his dog in his arms. He has a PREMONITION that the Righteous are here. He says prepare Spencer, first name Daniel, and bring him to the room of DELETION!
Dutch and Vincent walk into another room. Dutch says it isn’t their miracle anymore; it’s their revelation. Both men touch the blue light, and we see both teams in the middle of the field. Matt says it is time for their ultimate deletion!
And we have a brawl! We see Matt and Vincent face-off. Matt says that his man must be DELETED onto the Dilapidated boat! He tries to do such, but here comes Dutch, and Jeff attacks him from behind. Vincent has a shovel and he takes both Matt and Jeff out with it.
Vincent and Dutch have the boat and go to hit the Hardy’s, but they disappear into their compound ring. Vincent and Dutch look around confused, but Vincent snaps his fingers, and they appear in front of the same ring. Matt says how did you get here and he tells Spencer to get into the ring.
They never actually rang a bell, but we do have a ref in the ring. Matt hits a Twist of Fate on Dutch while Jeff and Vincent fight on the floor. Another Twist of Fate from Matt, but Dutch kicks out with authority. Matt tries a third TOF, but Dutch counters with Death Walks. Matt rolls out of the ring and Dutch follow him. Both men brawl on the floor, and Matt says he has to take his shoe off. Okay then lol.
And we cut to a break lol. Great.
We return to see Vincent and Jeff fighting outside of the compound. Jeff throws Vincent into the side of the house, and we cut to an interpolation of old Hardy highlights as Dutch and Vincent look around their kitchen.
We cut to Dutch walking around the backyard, and Matt sneaks up and bulldogs Dutch into the pool! We see Reba Hardy playing the piano, and now all four guys are sitting around the fire and they are friends. They crack wise about what has happened, and Matt says that the Wicked Garden match made them more complete.
Wolfgang Hardy is here, and we see Vincent is missing. Matt’s son tells him that he has been classified as obsolete. Dutch wonders what that means, and we see a casket. Dutch opens it, and Vincent is inside of it. He wakes up and shoves Lily of the Valley into the mouth of Dutch! He starts to convulse, as the Hardys say this is delightful!
Back in the ring, and Matt unleashes his entire family onto Dutch. So suddenly Vincent is also back in the ring, and we see the Hardy kids, Reba, and Matt and Jeff attack them both. Matt has a bat, and he threatens to strike one or the other. He swings the bat, and we cut to Dutch standing there, looking around in a daze. Willow is here! He beats up Dutch with his umbrella and breaks tubes over his back.
We go back to Dutch as he was being drowned in the pool, and he pops up out of the water and tries to regain his wits about him. We cut to Vincent and Jeff fighting in the field. Vincent says if he they know anything about the Hardy Compound, it’s that they have beautiful fireworks! He goes to light one, but Matt is here to save his brother. They attack Vincent, but Dutch is here and he smashes both Hardy’s.
Dutch tells Vincent they tried to kill him back there and tells him to get up. He hands Vincent a necklace, and we see the Hardy’s have fireworks. We have a fireworks display, which ends with Matt and Jeff on the grass. Vincent says let’s finish what we started. Dutch picks up Jeff and goes to shove in Lily of the Valley, but Matt grabs him from behind and he ends up being fed it instead.
Matt convulses on the grass as Vincent and Dutch walk around. Vincent says it would be a real shame or something, and the Righteous lead the Hardy’s to water. They return from the water with goat masks on and Goat shirts. Jeff says hell no, he needs a real goat and runs across the pond. He returns as the Anti-Christ Jeff Hardy, and they put Dutch and Vincent onto a table. Jeff gets into a bulldozer, lifts the front, climbs to the top, and he hits a Swanton Bomb to both men through the table. The cover, and the Righteous have been DELETED!
WINNERS: The Hardy’s (And still)
TIME: N/R (the bell never rang before or after)
THOUGHTS: Tepid and tame compared to other Hardy Compound matches, but it served its purpose I suppose. Better than a lot of what we have seen so far tonight.
RATING: ***1/2
Matt sats that they must cleanse the Righteous, and they take them into the pond and leave them there. Matt says it will be interesting teaming up with the Anti-Christ Jeff Hardy.
Back to events in an actual TNA ring, the final first-round KO TV title tourney match is up next!
BREAK IN PROGRESS!
Jason Hotch is walking in the back. He approaches Daria Rae’s door, but Leon Slater is here. He says that he voted for Hotch, and this is Jason’s time. The only person in his way is Jason, and he’s got this, MON! Hotch is about to knock on the door, but he receives a phone call. He says he is so happy that this person called, and he walks off.
Oh hey, I forgot Alisha still wrestles!
TNA Knockouts TV Title Tourney first-round match: Alisha Edwards vs. Jada Stone
Inset promos as per the norm, and since I am listening with earbuds, I was forced to MUTE Alisha’s inset promo lol.
The bell rings, as Tom lets us know that this is Jada’s first match since May, and Alisha’s first match since October. Lock-up, and neither woman gets the upper hand. Alisha grabs Stone by the hair and rips her to the mat, but Stone kips right back up. Edwards knocks Stone down, but Stone kips up with a head scissor. Stone with a kick to the head of Alisha and a standing moonsault for a two.
Alisha slides out to the floor to consult with Eddie. Alisha is on the apron, but Stone with a springboard kick sends Alisha into the arms of Eddie. Jada climbs to the top rope, Alisha moves, and Stone wipes out Eddie instead. Alisha attacks from behind and she rams Stone into the ring apron.
Back in the ring, and Alisha with chops to Stone. She talks that mad BASTHAN trash talk, but she does hit Stone with a Powerslam for a two. Edwards chokes out Stone with her boot, and she tells the ref that she’s got ’till five! Edwards goes back to the choke and throws Stone, but Jada is back with clotheslines. Step-up Enziguri from Stone is followed by the Split-Legged Moonsault for a two.
Stone picks up Edwards, but Alisha escapes and rakes her eyes. Edwards connects with the DELISH, but Stone is out at two. Edwards looking for a piledriver, but Stone with a headbutt instead. The ref is checking on Edwards, as Jada runs the ropes and Eddie trips her up. Alisha again looking for the piledriver, but Stone jackknives her and wins it!
WINNER: Jada Stone
TIME: 5:05
THOUGHTS: It was fine. I’m just glad that they weren’t going to try and make Alisha returning to the ring and possibly winning the TV Title a thing.
RATING: ***
Post-match, Alisha is a poor loser and she attacks Stone. When Jada fights back, Eddie pulls his ride-or-die out of harm’s way.
We see KC Navarro walking! We see Nic and Ryan Neemth walking, but Nic stops Ryan and indicates he wants him to stay in the back. That match is up next!
BREAK IN PROGRESS!
We see the Order-4 walking. Mustafa Ali tells Mila Moore that he likes what she has been doing for the unit. Jason Hotch appears, and Ali wants to know if Hotch did what he was supposed to. Hotch says no, and Ali says he wants a word with Mr. Hotch alone. Jason says he ran into Leon Slater, and Ali says he doesn’t give a damn about Slater. Jason says his wife called and they discussed things. And with all due respect, sir, I am going to take this match. And again, with all due respect sir, I will see you next week. Hotch walks away, and Ali is left stewing.
It’s time for the MAIN EVENT OF THE EVENING! McKenzie Mitchell with the in-ring introductions for this one, but before the bell can ring, we need another, you guessed it, BREAK!
TNA World Heavyweight Title Match: Nic Nemeth (C) vs. KC Navarro
It’s finally go-time, as the bell rings and we get a circle going here. Navarro gets into Nemeth’s face, and Nic says this is his one chance to leave. He slaps KC in the face, and he tells him to get the hell out of his ring! KC WITH A SUPERKICK! Navarro gets a two on the pin. He rolls up Nic twice, but twice Nic kicks out at two. Nemeth with his own SUPERKICK< and he taunts Navarro and chokes him with his boot.
Nic says you had one shot and you blew it, it wasn't enough! Navarro with forearms, but Nemeth kicks the leg of Navarro that he had repaired. Nic keeps talking shit, KC fights back, but Nic overwhelms him. Hammer throw by Nemeth, KC ducks and hits a flying head scissor. Navarro with a corner splash, a snap mare, and a barrel roll block for a two.
Nemeth heads to the floor, but KC gives no quarter as he hits a Tope Suicida! KC returns the Champion to the ring and he heads up top. The Frog Splash connects, but Nemeth is out at two. Navarro looking for the 305, but Nemeth moves and kicks KC in the side of the head. Nic with a neck breaker in the ropes, and he dropkicks KC to the floor.
Nemeth smacks Navarro's face off the apron and he swivels his hips for the fans. KC takes advantage by ramming Nic's face into the apron and he hits chops. Navarro backs up, but he runs into a kick from Nemeth. Nic goes over to consult with Rehwoldt and he stands on the repaired leg of Navarro. Nic returns to the ring, as Navarro beats the count at eight.
Nemeth is waiting for Navarro, and he corners KC and stomps him out. Nemeth with a Snapmare, he takes a long time to pose, and he hits the elbow drop for a two. Nemeth grounds Navarro with a variation of the cross-face. Nic screams at the ref to ask him if he quits, but Navarro won't. He bridges over and traps Nemeth for a two. Nemeth with a running back elbow and another elbow drop for a two. Nemeth locks in the full body sleeper.
We "return from the break" to see Navarro get to his feet and he tries to fight free. Nemeth throws KC to the mat by his hair and be swivels some more. Nic with a corner splash, and he continues his 1992 HBK mannerisms. Nemeth tries another one, but Navarro moves, and Nic lands on his Danger Zone. Navarro fires up with clotheslines and a dropkick. KC with a corner splash, Navarro scores with a tilt-a-world face buster (I think) for a two.
KC lines up Nemeth for the Blessing in Disguise, but Nic avoids it. Nemeth looking a SUPERKICK, but KC rolls him up for a two. KC rams his shoulder into the ring post, and Nemeth looks for the Fameasser, but Navarro catches him and hits a Powerbomb for a two! Blessing in Disguise, but Nemeth catches him mid-flight. Navarro counters with a roll-up for a two. KC hits Nic with the Fameasser! The cover, but Nic is out at two.
Navarro looking BID again, but Nemeth intercepts him with a SUPERKICK! The cover, but KC kicks out at 2.5! TNA chants, as Nemeth gets to his knees. He gets in KC's face, and he goes back to taunting him. He wonders why KC won't die, and KC says screw you! KC with a slap and a dropkick. Navaro connects with the 305! Code Red from KC, but Nemeth is out at two! KC goes for the BID, but Nemeth drops KC on his face. The Danzer Zone connects, and Nemeth retains!
WINNER: Nic Nemeth
TIME: 14:00
THOUGHTS: Fantastic main event. Navarro proved that he deserved to be here and he worked hard in this one. Nic is always on this level, however, and he was able to turn the young up-start away.
RATING: ****
Post-match, Nemeth is awarded his TNA World Title by Carlos Silva. He poses over a down Navarro, and with that, we are done!
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