Join 411’s Live TNA Impact Coverage

Keep Refreshing For The Latest Results

Hello everyone, Winfree here tagging in on short notice but I’ve got you covered for this episode of TNA Impact. Tonight we’ve got a Guitar Case Casket Match to allegedly settle the feud between Elijah and Mustafa Ali. How Jeff Jarrett never competed in this match type I’ll never know since it definitely feels like a Russo concoction. That said Elijah and Ali work well together in general. Tessa Blanchard will take on Jody Threat, and Trey Miguel will defend the TNA International title against Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo. Should be an OK episode on paper, so let’s hope the action delivers.

We open with a recap of No Surrender before going into the intro.

First out comes Indi Hartwell as we’re starting a wrestling show with a wrestling match. What a novel concept. The bedazzled douche bag is out to introduce the Elegance Brand. Ashe jumps on commentary to make everything worse.

Match #1: Indi Hartwell vs. Heather By Elegance w/ Elegance Brand goons

Heather avoids a few tie ups before Indi grabs her, Heather tries to avoid her but Indi tosses her to the apron then gets tripped by the Concierge who she stomps on. Some offense from Heather but Indi counters a headscissors into a side slam. Indi gets knocked off the top rope by a goon then Heather baseball slides her to the apron. Some corner work from Heather back in the ring then she trips up Indi and resumes working stomps. Some more generic control work and cheap shots to Indi. They screw up a corner spot then Heather hits a second rope moonsault for a 2 count. Chin lock from Heather, eventually Indi fights free with a very awkward snapmare. Indi starts firing up with boots then a spinebuster for a 2 count. Indi jumps up but everyone gets involved and the ref finally just boots the Concierge, M, and the male model from ringside. Ashe screams, then remembers to remove her headset to not destroy the ears of the home viewers. Ashe is still here though. Indi blocks a top rope move from Heather and hits a diving elbow drop for a 2 count. Ashe avoids a boot from Inid then Heather tries a few roll ups but gets caught in a Hurts Donut and Indi wins.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Indi Hartwell won in 7:17

Rating: 1.5 stars
Thoughts: A few very rough spots in this match and Heather’s control work was pretty lifeless. Indi also kind of lacked fire and presence for a wronged babyface.

Earlier today Steve Maclin was denied entry into the building. He gets talked out of rash action that might have gotten him arrested, but Maclin has a lot to get off his chest in the near future.

Mike Santana is in the building and heads to the ring through the crowd, he’ll talk to us after this break.

Santana is in the ring with a mic as we come back, decent reaction for him. He plays with the crowd a bit then brings up Maclin attacking him at No Surrender, Maclin doesn’t even work here anymore and wasn’t man enough to do anything face to face. He warns Maclin that he knows him better than anyone, and Maclin knows him too and knows that the more you knock on death’s door eventually he’ll answer and drop you. With that out of the way he moves on to Leon Slater and calls him down, he’s got something to say to him. That does bring out the X-Division champion. Slater gets a mic of his own and Santana brings up Slater being straight up with him about having his back at No Surrender despite “Option C” being on the table. Well Slater was honest, but Santana wound up leaving him when Maclin attacked him and he’s here to apologize for that. Slater shakes his hand. Santana then brings up Slater pinning Nic Nemeth. Slater appreciates that, but he doesn’t blame Santana for what happened, this is TNA and that kind of thing happens all the time. But at the end of the night he pinned Nic in the ring. That brings out Nic Nemeth and his mini me. Ryan Nemeth tries to intro things but Santana saves us all the experience and Nic takes over. Nic says Slater got lucky at No Surrender, and now Nic’s going to be targeting him. Santana says it wasn’t luck, Slater is one of the best in the world and pinned Nic and puts Slater over. Nic puts himself over, Slater then says no one wants to hear from those two, the fans would rather see the predictable tag match. No one is dressed to wrestle right now and Daria Rae interrupts things. Daria introduces herself and says she makes the matches here, so the tag match isn’t happening tonight (playa) but maybe next week. There is a scheduled match next though and everyone needs to vacate the ring. Well that was not a very good revolving door promo segment.

In the back the System still suck. Bryan Miller says Moose just made a mistake, everyone agrees and they warn him to stay away and move on. How is Eddie Edwards still the worst promo in this group after all this time? They want all the gold in TNA. How is this tired act still going?

After this break we’ll get that International title match.

Post break Daria is in the back and talks with Frankie Kazarian. Frankie wants to be on commentary for the tag match next week. She says that’s fine and walks off. OK then.

Back to the ring for our next match. Stacks and Grace come out first, Grace gets a mic and says No Surrender was amazing. Everyone was talking about her by the end of the night after she won the Knockouts title. Almost no heat for her, which seems like a shame. She admits that Santino got her the match, but she won it herself. The references to Santino, her dad, get a bit of heat finally. She says wrestling is about leverage, power, and using everything you have to get what you want. And she used everything. So tonight Stacks wins back the International title and they’ll be the most powerful couple in wrestling. Passable promo but a less than stellar start to it. Trey Miguel comes out next.

Match #2 – TNA International Title Match: (c) Trey Miguel vs. Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo w/ Arianna Grace

27 minutes between matches, that’s not good. Some quick pin attempts from Stacks early but he can’t find a 3 count. Miguel with a flipping arm drag, then they have to coordinate a spot before Miguel lands some more kicks to send Stacks out of the ring. Some powdering from Stacks that goes on for a while, then he hides behind Grace then lands a superkick after Miguel tries to follow him. Stacks then gets into it with the TNA president who’s ringside. That allows Miguel to get back into form and attack Stacks. Back in the ring Stacks begs off then misdirects Miguel into the second turnbuckle to take over. Scoop slam from Stacks, Miguel objects to a back slap and slaps the piss out of Stacks but winds up running into an elbow. Stacks with a suplex. Neckbreaker from Stacks into a reverse chin lock and that will send us to break.

We come back to that same position. Miguel fights free and hits a springboard moonsault. Clotheslines from Miguel as he’s firing up, Manhattan Drop then a Northern Lights Suplex into a Kimura. Stacks is able to slip free but Miguel lands a kick to the back of the head for a 2 count. Stacks avoids Shell Shocked then lands a back elbow and a diving uppercut. Lifting DDT from Stacks but only a near fall. Stacks goes up top but misses a flying nothing then Miguel lands a flurry of kicks and a double stomp to the back for a 2 count of his own. Miguel goes up top, Stacks hits him with a cross chop though and climbs up with him. They fight for position on the top rope, but Miguel slips free and hits a couple of kicks then follows with a Meteora for a near fall. Grace shoves her title belt into the ring, the ref deals with that but Stacks rakes the eyes and hits an enzui Shining Wizard for a 2 count. Miguel counters a Samoan Driver with a Vicoty Roll then hits Shell Shocked, holds on and follows with a Lightning Spiral to win.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Trey Miguel retained the title in 12:52

Rating: 3 stars
Thoughts: Good little match, nothing super special but very competent and both men looked pretty good. All things considered it was a pretty clean match too, which helped both men shine instead of be obscured by shenanigans.

Post match Miguel celebrates.

We get the TNA Injury Report which sends us to break.

We come back to Eric Young with a message to the masses. They’ve seen the sickness in TNA for too long, now they’re going to save it. Cleanse it of the false prophets, liars, bandits, they’re all going. He focuses on Leon Slater for a bit, and insults him for looking for validation from another company. This is operation Save the X-Division, the second phase of the Cleanse.

Back to the ring here’s Tessa Blanchard with Victoria Crawford and Mila Moore. Jody Threat follows for our next match.

Match #3: Tessa Blanchard w/ Victoria Crawford and Mila Moore vs. Jody Threat

They tie up, Jody then hits a mat return and they both counter on the mat for a bit. Tessa grabs a side headlock then ties up a modified Rings of Saturn. Jody rolls through into a pin for 2 then hits a double leg but Tessa kicks away a Boston Crab. Corner clotheslines from Jody then one in space for a 2 count. Tessa lands a knee to the body then a running dropkick to the ribs. Apron boot from Tessa then a plancha back into the ring. Some more body blows from Tessa, she’s zeroing in on the ribs of Jody. Double stomp to the gut from Tessa then she locks in an Abdominal Stretch. Jody is able to fight free with a hip toss. Boot from Jody and she looks to rally with chops and elbows. Pump kick from Jody then a German suplex. Jody tries Pop Shove It but Moore and Crawford jump in for the DQ.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Jody Threat won via disqualification in 4:43

Rating: 2 stars
Thoughts: Angle disguised as a match really, Tessa will serve as an adequate obstacle for Jody before she gets her title match with Grace.

Tessa mocks Jody as Moore and Crawford hold her then lands a body kick. More rib attacks from Tessa until Harley Hudson and Mila Grace run down to even the odds and Tessa just saunters away.

That sends us to break.

We come back to Rich Swann and BDE heading to the ring for our next match. They’re followed by Sinner and Saint.

Match #4 – Tag Team Match: Rich Swann and BDE vs. Sinner and Saint (Judas Icarus and Travis Williams)

Swann and Williams start, Williams grabs a side headlock then hits the ropes, both men with some acrobatics then Swann hits a head scissors. BDE tags in and Williams takes some combination offense. Williams cuts off BDE with a chop then a knee and Icarus tags in. Some misdirection in the corner but ultimately BDE takes a couple of corner kicks. Williams tags back in and BDE takes corner chops. BDE looks to fight out of the corner, Icarus tags back in but BDE flips out of a back suplex only to wind up cornered and kicked again. Williams back in, BDE flips out of a double back suplex and tags in Swann. Swann gets to run wild with kicks to both men then hits a hurricanrana that drops Williams onto Icarus. BDE tags back in and Williams takes a superkick into a Codebreaker but BDE can’t find a pin yet. Williams blocks a springboard and tosses BDE out of the ring. Swann takes a back suplex. Williams and Icarus team up to hit some rapid fire offense including a Brainbuster from Williams but Swann breaks up the pin. Swann with superkicks then BDE with a Clip Cutter to Icarus and Swann follows with a Lethal Injection but now Williams saves the match. Uraken from Swann to send Williams out of the ring. Swann goes up top, waits around forever as Williams then runs BDE into him. Williams shoves BDE into an Icarus kick then BDE takes Total Elimination and that’ll do it.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Sinner and Saint won in 5:34

Rating: 2 stars
Thoughts: I didn’t like a spot near the end where Swann had to just stand around and wait like a goof, but Swann and BDE work well enough together. I’m not sure I love the BDE struggling to get a win thing but that’s just a personal thing.

Post match the teams show respect to each other.

In the back Mance Warner warns AJ Francis that he’s gonna be a problem. Steph DeLander is here and they storm into AJ’s room, Steph then ejects a couple of women. Mance with his psycho breathing stalk in and starts brawling with AJ. They fight for a bit before security pull them apart. That sends us to break.

Post break the Hardys talk. They warn that they’re aware of the System. The System then show up and everyone trades barbs but The Righteous show up to back up the Hardy boys so the numbers are even. The System leave and everything gets better while the Hardy boys and Righteous talk. The Righteous apologize for No Surrender and offer to prove their loyalty in any way the Hardy’s want. The Hardy’s are a little off put but seem to take it under advisement.

Back to the ring here’s Elayna Black for some promo time. She talks about being close to getting a title shot at No Surrender. But everyone’s got it out for her. At the end of the day she deserves a title shot, not anyone else. She’s sickened by Mara Sade taking her out of that match and says if Mara has an explanation she’d love to hear it. The “what” chants are out, never a good sign. Sade does come down with a mic and has to talk to Black. She brings up their shared history before TNA, but they’re not “there” anymore. 0 reaction for that. They’re in the same place again though, TNA which actually wakes up the crowd. Black says she sacrificed on the indy’s to be here while Sade is here after sucking up to management and got handed the chance to be a wrestler. Black will be the next Knockout’s champion. Sade is just an industry plant that doesn’t deserve a second here. Sade says Black hates her because she’s motivated, and she’s not bitter. She loves the history and legends of wrestling, she loves the fans too, and if Black wants to prove she’s a fraud then prove it. Black says she will overcome Sade with about her fourth use of “at the end of the day” as a verbal crutch. Both women walk away. That was rough with a capital “R”.

Both the participants in our main event walk in the back and we head to break.

Post break we get next weeks card talked about, the aforementioned tag match, Dani Luna vs. Lei Ying Lee, AJ vs. Mance, and we’ll get a face to face between Mickie James and Ashe. Plus an 8 man tag team match with the System, Hardy’s and Righteous, plus Steve Maclin will get some air time. Looks pretty solid on paper.

Main event time, and PA’s bring out the guitar case casket as Mustafa Ali makes his way to the ring with his suited goons. The goons are not allowed ringside once the match starts though so they head to the back before Elijah makes his entrance.

Match #5 – Guitar Case Casket Match: Elijah vs. Mustafa Ali

20 minutes between matches, that’s over my benchmark for a 2 hour show. Elijah with a clothesline then they start brawling around the ringside area. Ali gets a chair and starts whacking Elijah with it. One chair is set up, then another one seat to seat. It takes a second but Ali sets up six chairs near the entrance ramp. Elijah with a leaping knee strike then misses a ukele shot. They head back into the ring then fight to the entrance ramp. Ali looks for a suplex off the ramp onto those chairs, they fight over that spot for a bit then Ali runs into a back body drop off the ramp onto the set up chairs. Gnarly bump from Ali. Elijah then opens the casket, it’s empty so if you expected a surprise in there you’re disappointed. Elijah drags Ali to the casket and tries to close it, but Ali fights back then slams the lid onto the left arm of Elijah, that’s the one he had surgery on. Elijah fights back and whacks Ali with a mandolin then goes under the ring for a table. As Elijah sets that up Ali hits him with a suicide dive. Ali finishes setting up the table on the floor then goes under the ring for a guitar case. In the ring Ali hits Elijah with the case then wedges it in a corner, Elijah then hits a running Ali with a pop up powerbomb. They start trading blows as they fight up, Elijah with strikes but Ali rakes the eyes. Ali charges at Elijah but Elijah avoids him and Ali wipes himself out into the guitar case. Elijah goes under the ring again and finds another table as we head to break.

We come back to Elijah setting up a table by the casket. Both men now fight on the apron in front of the casket, Ali boxes the ears of Elijah then shoves him into the ring post. Ali puts Elijah on a table then climbs up to the top rope, and hits a 450 Splash to Elijah through the table. Good grief Ali, he landed pretty much on the knees of Elijah which cannot have felt good. The suited Order 4 goons show up, because authority and rules mean nothing. Agent Zero looks to shut the casket on Elijah but Elijah with powder to Zero then running strikes to the lesser goons before ramming Zero into a drum. Tasha tries a guitar shot, she takes an accidental guitar shot from Ali after some misdirection though. Elijah with the Highwayman’s Farewell, he puts Ali in the casket but the goons block the door closing. Ali with a low blow to fight back and avoid the loss. The goons get a guitar for Ali, and he kicks Elijah a few times while the goons put a door over the opened casket, someone’s taking a potentially awkward bump it looks like. Superkick from Ali then he puts the guitar on top of Elijah, Ali tries another 450 Splash but misses and Elijah then wipes him out with a guitar shot before knocking the goons through a table. Elijah and Ali move to the apron, Elijah then chokeslams Ali through the door, into the casket, and closes the lid to win.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Elijah won in 15:00

Rating: 3.5 stars
Thoughts: Enough better than 3 to deserve 3.5 I think. These two have been going at it for a bit and this serves as a fitting enough finale. The interference from the goons in violation of the ruling could serve as a decent bit of justification for the whole group getting disbanded. Ali pulled out a couple of nasty looking spots, bless him for that, and Elijah finally gets the win. Nice stuff from both men.

Elijah celebrates to end the episode.