Ciocco’s TNA Impact Review 9.10.26

Impact Zone! It’s Thursday Night, which means that we are in for another edition of the delight known as Impact! Coming to us from the taped sessions in Brampton, Ontario, Canada at the CAA Centre, tonight’s show will feature both the Men’s World Title and the Knockout’s World Title being defended, we’ll have another X-Division Championship Match Qualifier and so much more on the docket for us tonight!

Ordinarily, I would roll out the Headlines here, but I wanted to take the time to build upon what I wrote in the intro for last night. Tomorrow marks the second-year anniversary of me doing live coverage and recaps, and while I did enter writing for another company that isn’t exactly hidden in my portfolio, my writing adventure has taken me over to the Impact Zone. In doing so, I’ve taken on pretty much everything to do with TNA on this very site (CHEAP POP!), including the Impact recap and review, covering TNA Special Events, and previews of TNA events starting with Slammiversary this year. And all of this wouldn’t be possible without the community behind me and the clicks, the comments, and the ratings that you fine folks provide me, it makes it all worthwhile to me!

Oh, and on a less gushy and sappy note, we are officially THREE days away from the Eagles season opener, TWENTY days from the Flyers season opener, and in between, a night of entertainment courtesy of Rock & Roll Hall of Famers Cheap Trick!

But enough about me and enough about you, let’s get ready to brace for Impact!

Tonight, we are LIVE (to Tape!) from just outside of Toronto in Brampton! As always, Tom Hannifan and Matt Rehwoldt will be on the call!

Highlights from last week, starting with the Knockouts tag team title match, Matt Hardy calling out the Nemeths after Jeff was “attacked”, and Ryan getting left beaten in the stairwell.

I’M READY FOR YOU aka the opening sequence!

We’re jumping right into it tonight! Elayna Black makes her entrance, and here comes Iceman. He would call Canada ladies and gentlemen, but they are not worthy of that. There is only one REAL lady in the back, and it’s Heather by Elegance!

Elayna Black vs. Heather by Elegance

The bell rings, and Black takes Heather to the mat. Basement dropkick, short clotheslines, and a shot to the back of the head send Heather out to the floor. The Swimmer distracts Elayna long enough for Heather to sneak under the apron and she trips up Black. Heather to the top with a crossbody block. Heather adds some punches before sending Black back into the ring. Judo throw from Heather into a snapmare and a kick to the back. Heather manipulates the fingers of Black before pulling back on her arm.

Heather takes time to argue with people in the crowd before going back to work. Black tries to fight off Heather, but Heather knees her in the face and locks in a standing octopus hold. Black uses her size advantage to lift up Heather and hit a Samoan Drop. Black sets off with clotheslines and a running corner knee. A second one across the ring and a Gutwrench Suplex from Black gets her a two. Heather hits a version of Eat Defeat to the arm of Black and she heads to the top. Black avoids this and kicks Heather in the gut and sets her up for the Blackout and the win!
WINNER: Elayna Black
TIME: 5:25
THOUGHTS: Obvious winner was obvious, as the play now looks to be Elayna going for the TV Title held by Maggie, perhaps at Bound for Glory next month. The match was good and fairly equal throughout.
RATING: ***

Gia Miller is in the back with the now perfectly fine Ryan Nemeth. Last week, he was the victim of a heinous assault. But luckily for him, not only is his BIG BROTHER the best two-title wrestler of all-time, but Nic also found out that Matt Hardy is the one behind the attacks. Gia asks him if he has any evidence to support this, but Ryan says that they know they are right and they don’t have to prove it to anyone.

Tom runs down the matches for tonight.

BREAK IN PROGRESS!

Tom lets us know that Impact is brought to us by Sandman Hotels!

Jason Hotch is walking! Here comes Daria Rae. She wants to know why Hotch isn’t getting ready for his match, and Jason says what match. Apparently, Mustafa Ali had a suggestion that he should face Special Agent Zero and a referee of his choice. Mila Moore walks in and uh, yeah, wow.

Frankie Kazarian and Avery Styles are on their way down to the ring for the King’s Speech. Ordinarily, the King’s Speech is a back-and-forth session where they talk, but tonight, they are having a Coronation. Two men went into the cage at Lockdown and only one walked out as the winner, and only one person could be the King of TNA. So, as a result, Kazarian has appointed himself as the King of TNA and he unveils a crown on the stool hidden under a sheet.

Moose is out! He says Kazarian is crazy, and now he has a cheap crown for himself? Where did you get that at, Dollar Llama? That leads to an appropriate chant from the fans. AMC decided to take a shit, so I had to load up TNA+ in a hurry. When it comes up, Moose challenges Kazarian, and Frankie says he will face Moose under one condition, and that is if Moose losses, then his career in TNA is done! Moose accepts this stipulation, and he says he will take that stupid crown from him. Frankie says it’s your funeral next week, hit my music!

Tom lets us know the card again for tonight. Fabian Aichner will face Rohit Raju in a X-Division Title Match qualifier, next!

BREAK IN PROGRESS!

Gabby Forza is psyching herself up in the back, and Gia wants to get a word with her. Forza says that she thought she had to bulldoze all the Knockouts on the roster to get this chance, but luck was on her side when Daria Rae chose her to get a title shot at Xia Brookside. She is going to do it for the gnomes, and gnomes love gold!

Rohit Raju is here. His mother calls him SUN because he shines like one! KC Navarro is on commentary for this one.

TNA X-Division Title match Qualifier: Fabian Aichner vs. Rohit Raju

Both men are confrontational before the bell, and Aichner throws Raju down to the mat. Side headlock, Raju takes Aichner to the corner and smacks him one. Tom and Matt wax poetic about the “Beat Rohit” challenge, as Raju takes Aichner to the floor and he slams him into the ring steps.

Back in the ring, and Aichner fights back against Raju. Rohit gets Aichner back down to the mat, but he is too cocky, and Aichner SMACKS him one. Running forearm smash from Fabian, Raju kicks Aichner, but Aichner catches him from the top. Running Senton and the moonsault gets Aichner a two. Raju counters a powerbomb, off the ropes goes Aichner, but Rohit knees him in the face. Test Drive from Raju, but Aichner kicks out at two.

Tom wants to know if Matt needs to be puffed up as Aichner is countered by Raju with a satellite DDT for a two. Raju to the top, Aichner avoids, BIG lariat incoming. Hasta La Vista Powerbomb from Aichner, and he is moving on to BFG!
WINNER: Fabian Aichner
TIME: 5:40
THOUGHTS: Definitive win for Aichner against a two-time X-Division Champion, which is no small feat. It was clear that Aichner was going to win anyway, but Raju played his part well.
RATING: ***1/4

Zoey Serrano video package. She grew up loving pro wrestling, and she made a career out of it. But one unfortunate injury, and 14 years of hard work went up in smoke. She had to re-evaluate who she was and where she was going. She doesn’t have to shake her ass to get respect and prove that she is the best. No one is worthy of lacing up her boots, and its time everyone learns their place. Pierced mentality!

It’s time for the most lopsided match of all-time!

Jason “Top Notch” Hotch vs. Special Agent Zero w/Order-4

As a reminder, Mila Moore will be the referee for this match. While it spells disaster for Jason, it spells eye candy galore for us! John Skyler is on commnentary for the match.

Zero attacks Hotch from behind as he makes his entrance, and Moore rings the bell. Tom asks if Mila has ever referred before, and Skyler says that you were probably bad the first time you did commentary, too. Really a whole lot of nothing here to open the match. Hotch gets some chops in, but this is all Zero all the time. Big headbutt from Zero, who kind of reminds me a little bit of Big Bill/Big Cass. Scoop slam and a jumping leg drop that gets him a two.

Hotch escapes a suplex and lands some strikes. He avoids a chokeslam and hits an enziguri. The cover, but Moore barely taps the mat once. Zero with a powerslam, Irish Whip, and a lariat for a two. Zero with cross faces and he chokes Hotch in the ropes while Mila takes time to clean her glasses. Hotch fires back with kicks in the corner, but Mila pulls him away and points at her referee shirt. HUGE headbutt from Zero. Military Press attempt, but Hotch lands on his feet and he lays in the strikes. Tornado DDT, Hotch to the top and he connects with the Splash! The cover, but Moore has an issue with a nail now.

Tasha Steelz enters the ring and she double legs Mila! She lays in the punches and rips off her ref shirt, and as The King used to say, PUPPIES! Mila storms up the ramp, Tasha puts on the ref’s shirt, Hotch counters a Choke Bomb with a roll-up, and Steelz fast counts Jason to victory!
WINNER: Jason Hotch
TIME: 6:35
THOUGHTS: Nothing but a storyline thing, but even with that, this match was just there. Hotch made this exciting where he could, but the match seemed like it was stuck in slow motion.
RATING: **1/2

The TNA Injury report is brought to us by Sandman Hotels!

Jeff Hardy is “still out indefinitely”. Right.

Ryan Nemeth was evaluated for head trauma, but they discovered he isn’t hurt because he doesn’t have a brain.

No one has seen or heard from BDE since he was abducted by the Righteous last week.

Gabby Forza and Xia Brookside are walking! Their match is up, next!

BREAK IN PROGRESS!

Matt Hardy is doing jumping jacks in the back, and here comes Leon Slater! He says that he has Matt’s back tonight when Ryan Nemeth tries to get involved, and at Bound for Glory, they will face each other for the World Title. Matt likes that, the Youngest in Charge versus the GOAT. They shake hands and Slater walks away and run into Jason Hotch! They embrace, and Hotch says that he never got to thank him for all of his help. Slater says you don’t need to thank him, and Hotch says if you ever need anything, feel free to ask. Hotch leaves, and Slater looks like he is thinking about it.

GNOMES, GNOMES EVERYWHERE! Your Homie the Gnomie is here to challenge for the Knockuts Title!

TNA Knockouts World Title Match: Xia Brookside vs. Gabby Forza

McKenzie Mitchell with the in-ring intros for this one. Her top suggests she is calling a SNME from the 80’s lol.

Xia with some smack talk at the bell, but Forza isn’t fazed. She lands punches and a big shoulder tackle. Military Press from Forza, but Brookside goes to the eyes of Gabby to escape. She stalks her challenger to the corner and kicks away at Forza until Paige the Ref backs her off. Xia chokes out Gabby with her boot and then hits a running basement forearm.

More boot choking and more kicks. Xia taking a page from the book of Mone with the Meteora, but Xia can’t bring her out of the corner. Forza rams Brookside into the corner and hits her with a clothesline. Military Press, Forza spins her around and around and drops Xia to the mat! Brookside tries to crawl away, but Forza drags her back to the middle of the ring. Irish Whips and corner clotheslines on repeat. Xia tries to stop her, but Forza picks her up and hits the OkalaGnoma Slam! The Vader Bomb follows, but Xia gets her foot on the bottom rope.

Xia to the floor, and she says enough of this, and she grabs her title and walks up the ramp. Indi Hartwell is here to cut her off! Here comes the Suit! SHUTUPSHESTALKING! She confronts Indi and Paige is distracted by this, meanwhile Brookside uses her title belt to clock Gabby in the face! The cover, and the retention!
WINNER: Xia Brookside (And still!)
TIME: 5:45
THOUGHTS: Forza looked good out there when she was in charge and looked like a viable threat to win the title until the shenanigans started. I may have to put this near the top of what I have seen so far tonight.
RATING: ***1/4

Elijah will make his presence known in the Impact Zone, next!

BREAK IN PROGRESS!

Allie and Kiera Hogan are here when we return! Kiera says guess what, Allie? Allie says what! Hogan says that since she pinned M by Elegance in their cage match, Santino agrees with her that she will be the first challenger for Maggie’s TV Title! Allie says you’ll be double champion for sure!

Elijah is drifting in the middle of the ring. He has one question for us, WHO WANTS TO WALK WITH ELIJAH? He has a song tonight that goes out to the System! Ordinarily, I don’t want to hear Alisha Edwards, but her cutting off Elijah actually is welcome lol. The System are out, and Alisha says none of these pathetic losers want to listen to your stupid song! Eddie says you stuck your nose in our business, and we did what we did to send you a warning. If you keep getting into our business, then we will put you down for good.

Elijah says no way, he will keep on walking. Eddie says as the Gatekeepers of TNA, they have a list, a hit list if you will. At the top of that list is Ricky Sosa, and if you don’t stay out of our business, then your name will be up there, too. Elijah says sign him up, and here comes Sosa! Ricky says you’ve been messing with him for weeks, and now you want to mess with his boy Elijah? How about next week, two of you go up against Elijah and Ricky? Eddie says you are on big guy, and Ricky says next week they are going to whoop there asses.

Matt Hardy is walking and takes a seat with a cup of coffee as we see Jeff Hardy being taken out, Matt going after Nic and Ryan, and Santino telling them to settle it in the ring. Willow is here! He wants to make sure that Matt is ready for his title match tonight and that he avenges Jeff. Matt says he has never been more ready, and this is his moment, and Willow says life is all one big gamble and cackles. Turns out it was all a mirage, as a stagehand overheard Matt talking to no one lol.

Rich Swann will face Vincent, next!

BREAK IN PROGRESS!

We return to see Leon Slater is laid out on top of a forklift! Tom wonders if Ryan Nemeth was behind this because Leon said he would be there to back up Matt Hardy. Newsflash, Tom, Ryan isn’t capable of that lol.

It’s time for the RIGHT-E-OUS!

Vincent w/Dutch vs. Rich Swann
Swann is NO mood to dance or even hear his name announced as he goes after Vincent in the ring. He takes his jacket off, allowing Vincent the chance to smack him one. Cartwheel from Swann and a dropkick to follow. Matt makes it out that the Righteous gave BDE the Pennywise treatment lol. Vincent with a hard Irish Whip, he talks to the people, and he hits a backbreaker and stretched out Rich. Swann knees his way free and lands some body blows. Swann off the ropes, but Vincent sends Swann spiraling face-first with a back body drop.

Vincent generously keeps running into Swann’s boot, Rich rolls through and hits the flying lariat. Dutch is on the apron, and Swann hits him with an Enziguri. To the top goes Swann, and he hits a Twisting Senton to Dutch! He looked like he landed on his head lol. Dutch hits the ring steps as Swann returns to the ring. He looks to hit a corkscrew kick to Vincent, but he moves and Rich kicks the ref!

Vincent spikes Swann with a reverse DDT and he motions for someone to come down the ramp. Here comes BDE dressed in white! He enters the ring and stares at Rich before picking him up by his head. IT’S A RUSE, THOUGH, AS BDE HITS VINCENT WITH A CUTTER! Swann to the top and he hits the Imploding 450 for the win!
WINNER: Rich Swann
TIME: 5:20
THOUGHTS: Like the Special Agent Zero and Jason Hotch match, this was more storylines driven than match driven. Although to be fair, I’m not sure who was buying BDE joining the Righteous this soon into their feud.
RATING: ***

Matt Hardy is walking with his goat mask on! Nic Nemeth is walking with both of his titles! The main event is up, next!

BREAK IN PROGRESS!

Video package for the matches on the docket for next week, highlighted by Maggie defending her TV Title against Kiera Hogan, and Moose putting his career on the line against Frankie Kazarian.

Matt Hardy is here for the main event. Matter of Fact this week states that Matt’s first TV win was in the Province of Ontario! Nic Nemeth is here with both of his titles.

TNA World Heavyweight Title No-DQ match: Nic Nemeth (C) vs. Matt Hardy

Mckenzie with the in-ring intros for this one. Wild that she managed to change into a different outfit for the occasion!

The bell rings, and as JBL would say, WE’RE GOING A-CLOBBERING, MAGGLE! Both men fight to the floor, and Matt brings out a table, much to the delight of the fans. Nemeth attacks Matt and puts the table back under the ring, much to the chagrin of the fans. Hardy fights off Nemeth and he brings the table back out and props it up against the ring apron and he suplexes Nemeth through the table! That will take us to what should be the show’s final break.

(Yes, I’m back on AMC now lol)

Superplex from the top by Nemeth as we return. The cover gets the Champion a two as we see chairs and another table in the ring. Nic wedges a chair into the corner, Matt looking Twist of Fate, but Nic sends Matt head-first into the chair. Fameasser from Nemeth, but Hardy is out at two. Nic sets up a table in the corner, and Matt tries to hit the Side Effect through the table. Nemeth fights him off, so Matt bites him lol. Nemeth decides to ram the corner for some reason, which allows Matt the chance to hit a clothesline.

Matt moves to DELETE Nic out of existence in the corner. Twist of Fate attempt, but Nemeth with the SUPERKICK! Matt is up against the table, here comes Nemeth, Hardy moves, and Nic bounces off the table. I AM THE TABLE, DUN-DUN! Matt tries a second time and the table breaks! Matt wraps a chair around the neck of Nemeth and hits the Twist of Fate! The cover, but here comes Ryan Nemeth to pull the ref out of the ring! Matt heads out to the floor where he kicks Ryan in the gut and gives him a Twist of Fate.

Back in the ring, and Matt hits another Twist of Fate to Nic! The cover, but Nic gets his foot on the bottom rope. The ref allows it in a No-DQ match lol. Instead of trying to win the match, Matt heads out the floor and he puts Ryan on the table, and he drives him through it with the Cactus Jack Elbow Drop! Matt heads back into the ring, where Nic punches him in the balls, but Matt kicks out at two. Nic rolls outside and grabs a wrench from under the ring. Nic back in, but Matt punches him in the balls! Small package gets Matt a two. Matt looks for his 500th Twist of Fate, but Nic still has the wrench in hand and he smashes Matt in the head with it to retain the title!
WINNER: Nic Nemeth (and still!)
TIME: 13:20
THOUGHTS: Nothing fancy, but it didn’t have to be. It was just two veteran wrestlers going out there and beating the shit out of one another. A solid main event, and hopefully things can move on now from the Nemeths and the Hardys, although I sincerely doubt it.
RATING: ***1/2

Post-match, Carlos Silva presents Nic with his World Title, and he celebrates with it, and with that, we are done!

7.0

The final score: review Good

The 411

The show was fine, in a word, and honestly, if you missed it, you didn't miss anything that will stand out at the end of the year. Stories advanced some more, which is important as we close in on a month away from Bound for Glory. Hopefully there is more life in next week's show than this one.