Jeremy’s TNA Impact Review 9.5.24

Hello, everyone and welcome to our live TNA Impact coverage on 411! I’m Jeremy Thomas, and I apologize for the delay here. Himanshu is having some technical issues and thus I’m here to cover the show. There’s a lot to cover and you all know what’s going on tonight, so let’s get to it.

As a reminder, the GoFundMe for Larry’s daughters is still active and if you can make a donation, that would be awesome. Thank you so much to everyone who’s done so thus far.

* We kick off with a recap of the events of TNA Emergence.

* The System have arrived to kick off the show! They come out to the ring, Alisha in a bedazzled neck brace, and prepare to speak. Alisha asks if we want to know something and says The System was dominant at Emergence and they have something to say. Eddie gets the mic and says the fans won’t ruin their night and that everyone’s been wishing, hoping and praying for a System failure. But the fact is, The System does not fail. All it needed was a nice little reboot, and now that that’s been accomplished and done, it’s time for them to get back their championship gold.

Myers says guess what? As former Tag Team Champions, Eddie and he get contractually-obligated rematches and are using it at Victory Road. JDC tells the fans to shut up and Moose says he has something important to say. He calls out Nic Nemeth and says in two weeks, he gets to face the guy he’s never beaten, and beat him for the title. And like a British lad once said, at Victory Road, he’s got bad news for him. Because he’s looking at the four-time TNA World Champion.

But before Victory Road, he has something more important to talk about: JDC. Everyone wants to know his relationship with The System, and tonight he has a big night. Because if they win the tag match against Joe Hendry and Mike Santana, he’s officially a member of The System. But if they lose, he’s out and everyone in the building knows what The System does to outsiders.

Alisha says everyone is asking for their rematches, and she’s wicked smart and knows her rights as a champion. She doesn’t need to defend her title more than once in 30 days and is under concussion protocol, so she can find a suitable replacement if her neurologist doesn’t clear here.

HERE COMES SPITFIRE! Luna and Threat come to the ramp and Luna says it was unfortunate what happened, but Alisha’s team lost. Alisha says she and Masha beat them twice, so they can go back to the dive bar they crawled out of. Luna says they’ve cheated to win, and Threat says they talked to Santino and have another shot at Victory Road in a Do or Die match. If they get beat, they break up as a team. Alisha says they’re on.

* Gia welcomes Eric Young and asks how he’s feeling after his loss to Maclin at Emergence. EY says Maclin got one over on him, but this is what he knows: they came to the line, threw down and he won, but Maclin has his respect and he has Maclin’s back. She asks about his match with Jake Something tonight and EY acknowledges they have history and he’s going to do what he’s always done: rep the company and be him.

* We get a recap of John Layfield’s appearance at the end of Emergence.

Kushida vs. Laredo Kid

Lockup to start, Kushida with wristlock, they counterwrestle a bit and end up back up. Armdrag to Laredo and another, Laredo with one to Kushida and Kushida fires back. Laredo flips to his feet and gets put back down, they repeat and Laredo finally escapes with a kick. Into the ropes, armdrag by Laredo, Laredo off the ropes with a rana and Kushida to the floor.

Laredo off the ropes, Kushida back in the ring, sunset flip into a dropkick and Laredo to the outside. Kushida goes for a dive but Laredo back in for a dropkick that sends Kushida to the outside. And Josh Alexander attacks Laredo for the DQ.

Winner: Laredo Kid by DQ (2:18)
Rating: N/A
Thoughts: There for the angle, nothing more.

Alexander with the C4 on Laredo. Kushida back in and gets taken down, he locks an anklelock into Kushida and officials down to break it up. Kushida gets a mic and says he wants a one-on-one match with Alexander now, Alexander goes to leave and Kushida with a dropkick to the back. He drags Alexander back to the ring and rolls him in, match is on!

KUSHIDA vs. Josh Alexander

Kushida with shots to Alexander and beats him around the ring. Kick to the gut and we go to break.

Back from break and Kushida with a waistlock takedown on Alexander and puts him in an anklelock. Alexander gets to the ropes and is German suplexed. Double stomp to Josh’s hands, big kick and cover for two.

Kushida goes for the armbar and doesn’t quite have it locked in, Josh to the outside and nails Kushida to break it up. They’re outside the ring now, Kushida goes for the Hoverboard Lock and is pushed into the apron back-first. Alexander rolls Kushida in and follows, he chokes Kushida with his entrance shirt for a moment and then hits a knife-edge chop and another. Third in the corner, they go forehead-to-forehead and Alexander kicks Kushida in the head. Alexander with a backbreaker, cover gets two.

Chinlock by Alexander, Kushida to his feet and elbows out. Alexander with a knee to the gut, he comes off the ropes and gets nailed with a punch. Kushida goes for the Pele Kick but Alexander catches it and locks in the anklelock. Kushida rolls through, sends Alexander into the corner, cover gets two.

Kushida leaps up and hits the Hoverboard Lock, but Alexander counters into a brainbuster. Alexander kicks at Kushida’s head lightly, pulls him up — C4 Spike countered into a roll-up for two. Alexander with a release German suplex, Kushida in the corner, Josh charges in and targets the ankle with a stomp against the ropes. Anklelock, Kushida tries to escape and nearly taps. Alexander drops it, C4 Spike hits, that’s it.

Winner: Josh Alexander (stopwatch issues)
Rating: ** 3/4
Thoughts: Perfectly fine match, it was a little choppy but not enough to complain too hard. Alexander getting the win after his loss at Emergence was obvious.

Post-match, Kushida is hurt and Joe Hendry is checking on him when. He asks Alexander if that’s what they’re doing, hurting people? He says he won’t ever forget what Josh did at Slammiversary, Josh says good and walks off as Hendry calls for medical.

* Jordynne Grace is here for her Knockouts Championship open challenge! Her challenger is…ARIANNA GRACE! This should be interesting. Grace says good evening everyone and introduces herself as Miss NXT. She knows they all wanted it to be her answering the open challenge. But she’s here because she has exciting news: she’s the new liaison between NXT and TNA. It’s her job to make sure everyone runs smoothly, and she’s here to introduce the challenger:

KARMEN PETROVIC!

TNA Knockouts Championship Match
Jordynne Grace vs. Karmen Petrovic

Grace offers the handshake which is taken. Petrovic kicks off with some kicks to the thigh and goes for a sleeper, she gets backed into the corner but hits a kick to the face. Rosemary is watching from the stands as Karmen with a waistlock, Grace shoots her into the ropes and hits a spinebuster for two.

Grace puts Karmen in the corner as Grace spins Karmen around and drops her for two. Karmen in the corner, Grace with a chop to the chest and then shoulders to the gut. Whip across the ring, Karmen goes up to the second rope and goes for a kick but ends up on Grace’s shoulder. She rolls Grace over into a two-count and then locks in a headscissors. Grace gets up to her feet with Karmen on her shoulders and hits the Electric Chair Drop.

Grace with a shot to Karmen and a scoop slam, Karmen fires back with a kick but gets powerslammed. Another scoop slam but Karmen slides down the back, kick to the back of the head and cover for two. Grace sends Karmen across the ring, World’ Strongest Slam but Karmen rolls out of the way from the Vader Bomb. Petrifier from Karmen for two!

Karmen with kicks to Grace’s chest and back, Rosemary watches as Grace ducks a kick and grabs Karmen for a powerbomb that gets a nearfall. Grace is looking frustrated, she grabs Karmen and hits an elbow in the corner. Clotheslines to Karmen, who finally ducks one and hits hard knees and kicks before hitting a spinning heel kick for a nearfall.

Karmen is the frustrated one now, she kicks Grace in the side and hits a couple axe kicks to the back. Jordynne grabs a kick and goes for the Juggernaut Driver, but Petrovic blocks it and hits several kicks. Petrovic charges into a spinning backfist, she picks Karmen up, Karmen slides down and kicks but is hit with a hammerfist. Grace puts Karmen on the top and climbs up — Karmen is fighting back and sends Grace to the mat. Karmen leaps for a crossbody and goes for a discus lariat, Grace ducks and hits the Juggernaut Driver for three.

Winner: Jordynne Grace (7:37)
Rating: ***
Thoughts: Obvious result aside, this was a very good and hard-hitting match. They worked well together and this was a great opportunity for Karmen.

The lights go out right after the match and when it comes back, Grace is down and Wendy Choo’s pillow is in the ring. Rosemary laughs from the stands.

* ABC talk about how The System lost at Slammiversary and lost the Tag Team Titles. Now they want the rematch and — here are First Class. AJ says they’re like these corrupt TNA officials and are worried about The System at Victory Road when they should focus on First Class.

Ace says they would be but they beat them last week. AJ says he put Ace into the mat and beat him, but ABC say he wasn’t the legal man and they don’t know the tag team rules. They’re still tag champions and Chris says if they’re confused, they can run it back next week. KC says next week? AJ says say that one more time, and Ace says they can beat them next week, no problem. First Class go to talk to Santino.

* We get a vignette of someone walking toward the camera behind fire and says the initial spark is a symbol of her awakening. At this point there’s no turning back. COMING SOON.

* Zachary Wentz is here! He makes his way to the ring and gets the mic, saying that we don’t know how much this means to him. The crowd chants “YOU DESERVE IT” and he says thank you. Two years ago he was at one of the lowest points in his life and doubted he would ever come back, but thanks to the fans’ support he worked his ass off and came back to TNA, and now he’s at the highest of heights as the new TNA X-Division Champion!

MIKE BAILEY IS HERE! Bailey congratulates Zach on winning the title and says the title meant he was the best of the best — and now it’s Zach and he’s going to have to continue to prove that. He’s enacting his rematch clause and will see him at Victory Road.

The Good Hands are out here and trash Kentucky. Skyler says the real star of Ultimate X was Jason Hotch and they were robbed of their X-Division Championship. He says they should look at this and Hotch attacks them from behind. They toss Wentz and Bailey from the ring and we now have a match. Bailey and Wentz take out the Good Hands and dive on them.

Zach Wentz and Mike Bailey vs. Good Hands

Bailey kicks at Hotch, whip into the ropes, Skyler with the blind tag and takes down Bailey. He chokes Bailey against the ropes and then tags in Hotch, who beats Bailey down. Bodyslam and a cover gets two.

Hotch sends Bailey across the ring and charges into a kick, Bailey with a missile dropkick and goes for the tag to Wentz. But Hotch tags in Skyler first and Skyler knocks Wentz off the apron, then drop-toe holds Bailey into the middle rope. Hotch with a roll-up neckbreaker attempt, Bailey blocks it, Skyler goes in and gets put on top of Hotch, Bailey with a SSP to both of them!

Wenzt with the hot tag, he kicks the shit out of Skyler including one to the head. Charging knee to the head, snapmare and splash for two, Hotch breakes it up. Bailey puts Hotch on the apron, pump kicks him to the floor and springboard dives on him to the floor. Wentz with an inside cradle to Skyler, he grabs the ropes and Bailey knocks him back. UFO gets the pin.

Winner: Mike Bailey & Zack Wentz (3:42)
Rating: ** 3/4
Thoughts: A showcase to get Bailey and Wentz some time together and there’s nothing wrong with that. They work well as partners and should be great as opponents.

* Steph De Lander is backstage and tells PCO to wait there. PCO says no but Steph pushes him back in the locker room and shuts the door, walking to the ring.

* We get a recap of Rosemary’s appearance on NXT setting up the eventual Rosemary and Wendy vs. Tatum and Lyra match. We then get a vignette of Rosemary talking about how much fun the assassin can have when the leash is taken off. She says she’s getting out of it and says she can hear them again and babbles a bit, asking what “she” wants with us. She says no one can be trusted and she wants to help, but then says to relax. A bit overproduced, the dialogue wasn’t particularly legible, but good stuff.

* Steph De Lander is here and she has a mic. She says they all know Matt Cardona is causing him issues lately. He ruined her wedding and honeymoon, and says they need to talk so he needs to come out.

And here comes Cardona! He gets in the ring and Steph asks what’s going on. They’re best friends, tag partners, they’ve done so much together. Why is he acting like this? Matt says he hears Steph and has been MIA, he hasn’t been responding to her text and calls, because he wants to do this face to face and owes her an apology. He’s sorry from the bottom of his heart — that he didn’t crash the wedding earlier and let her marry that freak, PCO. He’s sorry she embarrassed herself and him.

Steph says he doesn’t disrespect her and doesn’t own her. Matt says he’s wrong and pulls out a contract they signed. March 13th, 2023 when he found her in Australia and plucked her from obscurity. He changed her life and career, bringing her to the US and getting her booked on the hottest indie shows around the world. He paid her flights, got her her first wrestling figure, and got her into TNA. He’s held up his end and it’s her turn. She’s his property and he owns her.

Steph grabs the contract and says he did help her and she thanks him. But she helped herself too, worked hard, had great matches, got herself noticed and got herself into TNA. She’s a superstar with or without her and the contract means nothing to her. Matt says that everyone has a copy of the contract and she’ll do whatever he says: jump, bark like a dog, leave PCO. He berates her until she’s in the corner —

AND HERE COMES PCO! PCO is not happy and gets in the ring, but Cardona uses Steph as a shield and escapes the ring, saying he owns her as he walks off.

* The Hardys are backstage and Jeff says the future awaits their fate. They have to win next week. Matt says they do and they’re former champions everywhere, and when they face Myers and Edwards next week, they’re making a statement by deleting! them and if they win, they should get a shot at the titles. Matt is sick of the past tense and people saying they were his childhood. It’s not they were great, it’s that they are great. He says they’re the GOATS.

Eric Young vs. Jake Something

Jake tackles EY in the corner and drives the shoulder i. He picks EY up and takes him to another corner for more of the same. Eric ducks a punch and lays in his own strikes, he’s whipped into the ropes and Jake with a backdrop. Jake with a charging leaping shoulder in the corner, cover gets two. Jake pulls Young to his feet into a big shot and covers for two again.

Jake grabs Eric and hits a sitout powerbomb for two, Jake is frustrated already. He decks Eric and pulls him up for another shot, cover gets two again. He lies in wait as Eric gets to his feet and clotheslines him in the corner, whips him across the ring and he ends up on the apron. Eric ducks a shot and slides into the ring, taking it to Jake including a discus lariat.

Jake catches Eric and batters him, hammerfist to the back. Young ducks a swing and Jake leaps — caught by Eric into a DVD! Cover gets a nearfall! EY up top but Jake dodges the elbow, Young hits a piledriver for three.

Winner: Eric Young (3:47)
Rating: ** 1/2
Thoughts: Fine for the time it got. Young needed the win so fair enough

Young pulls Jake up and offers a handshake which Jake takes. EY then turns his back and predictably gets attacked. Into the Void obliterates him. He picks EY up and Maclin runs out for the save.

* We get a recap of Joe Hendry’s match at No Mercy and Gia asks Joe what happened at Emergence and No Mercy. Joe says it’s a habit that’s forming of him almost getting the title before it’s taken from him. He says you can’t deny the momentum and the place to see his face is TNA Wrestling. He now has a championship to chase.

* TNA announces Heather Reckless’ signing and she’s facing Gisele Shaw next week. Gia Miller introduces Heather and she’s excited to be here in TNA. She’s excited to prove why she’s called Heather Reckless, and Ash By Elegance butts in to say that has she seen the trash in the Knockouts Division? Gia is shuffled off and Ash and her valet talk about how Heather needs to be like Ash. Gisele walks in calling them Dumber and Dumbest and says they should have some respect because that’s what the division was based on. Ash hasn’t made progress in her narcissism, and Gisele warns Ash that if she’s disrespectful again she’ll lose a tooth. Ash says she’d like to see Gisele try and gets slapped.

* Next week on Impact:
– Tornado Match: ABC vs. First Class
– Maclin vs. Hammerstone
– Hardys vs. Brian Myers & Eddie Edwards

Joe cuts a promo before the match and says that he knows what’s about to happen: this is where we wave our hands, turn around and they attack. So tonight, they’re turning around. They turn around — right into Santana with a double clothesline! It’s a brawl and Joe and Mike send The System to the outside. Josh Alexander is here to watch at commentary as we go to PIP.

Moose & JDC vs. Joe Hendry & Mike Santana

JDC and Hendry start off and Hendry with a headlock, shot into the ropes and he knocks JDC down. Moose in and Santana in, Santana and Joe get The System in opposite corners for mounted punches. They get pushed back and so they trade opponents for the 10-count of punches. Moose knocked out of the ring and Hendry grabs JDC for a measured punch. Chop in the corner, then he tags in Santana.

Santana with a chop and another in the corner, then sends JDC across the ring hard into the turnbuckle. Hendry tags back in, JDC into the ropes and knocked down, cover gets one. JDC with a cheap shot and tags in Moose, who batters Joe and chops him in the neutral corner.

Back from PIP and Moose sends Joe across the ring. He charges in but Joe moves and hits a fallaway slam on Moose. JDC in and gets caught for his own fallaway slam. But Moose with a pump kick and he sets up for a suplex but Joe reverses, slamming Moose down. Moose to the floor, Joe goes to dive and Alisha steps in the way! JDC with a cheap shot from behind, Joe to the outside and Moose drives him into the apron.

Hendry rolled back in, Moose nails Santana and the ref has to stop Santana from coming in. JDC tags in and lays into Hendry with chops. He puts Hendry on the mat with a front facelock but Hendry to his feet, he tries to get the tag but JDC has the facelock locked in. He turns it into a guillotine sleeper and Hendry tries to fight it — he picks JDC up for a suplex to break it!

Both men down, Hendry crawls for the tag — he gets the hot tag. Moose in but Santana lays into him. Lots of chops, an uppercut in the corner, he sends Moose across the ring with a smash into the turnbuckle. Santana with a kick kick to Moose’s face and then catches JDC with a kick and a DDT through the ropes. Moose with the Rolling Buck Fifty to Moose, who rolls out of the ring. JDC charges at Santana and is thrown over the top into Moose!

Alexander hits Hendry with a low blow and sends him into the post! Santana then dives on Alexander. Santana rolls Moose in, climbs up but JDC grabs Santana’s leg and Moose with a pump kick. Moose lies in wait — SPEAR! That gets three.

Winner: The System (8:29)
Rating: ***
Thoughts: Decent enough match for the main event to get The System some more momentum and advance the Hendry vs. Alexander feud.

Nic Nemeth is watching from his phone and says “Not too bad, Moose, not too bad.” He says all he had to do is say he wanted to fight Nic because he’s wanted to fight the best and he’s never beaten Moose. Now that he’s TNA Champion, he’s a fighting champion. All Moose had to do is look him in the eye but he took the coward’s way out on social media. At Victory Road, they go toe-to-toe one more time and he’s going to beat him because it’s killing him that he didn’t get to pin him.

*

And with that, we’re done for the night!

7.0

The final score: review Good

The 411

TNA was in a tricky spot for this week as they had to deal with fallout from Emergence and build to their next show which a week from tomorrow. For the most part they did a good job with it. The matches for Victory Road were set up effectively and we had a couple very good bouts in there. All in all, a very watchable episode of Impact.