Reviews

TNA Impact Review – January 2, 2025

By Kristian Thompson • Published 3rd January 2025
TNA Impact January 2

The first TNA show of the year continued the build to the Genesis PPV with words from Joe Hendry and an 8-woman tag team match in the main event.

The last televised show TNA had was the Final Resolution PPV, which was a very good show that saw the return of Tessa Blanchard and Joe Hendry punching his ticket to a TNA World Title match at Genesis. The opening video package focused on that, along with Nic Nemeth’s successful title defense over AJ Francis in the main event.

TNA Impact 2.1.25 from Centre Stage: Atlanta, Georgia

Kicking off the New Year with Joe Hendry

Hendry strolled to the ring for the first TNA segment of 2025. He won a terrific Fatal-4-Way #1 Contender match at Final Resolution. Hendry vs Nemeth II is set for Genesis, two weeks from Sunday. Hendry received the usual great ovation from the Impact Zone. Hendry said becoming #1 contender feels pretty good and is part of the way to fulfilling his promise to the fans to become TNA Champion. He said Genesis will be the beginning of the Joe Hendry era and everyone worldwide will chant “We believe!” Hendry said the people believe in a new TNA Champion but here comes Ryan Nemeth for the interruption. He faces Rhino later on tonight. Ryan said every week Hendry comes out whining and complaining. He said he is tarnishing the reputation of his brother’s championship reign. The fans gave him the ‘What?’ treatment. Ryan said Hendry wasn’t a hero, he was a mid-carder. Ouch. Ryan said the Nemeths don’t trust Hendry and neither should these people. The fans were chanting to drown out his annoying voice. Hendry asked Ryan if he would like to hear a story. Ryan stupidly agreed. Hendry said he’s on the road for over 200 nights in 2024. He’s had trouble sleeping and asked a doctor to prescribe him something. The doctor asked if Hendry had heard of the Ryan Nemeth Promo Special. Hendry said he was out like a light after 10 seconds. Ryan said he was going to take out Rhino and take all the glory. He invited Hendry to sit front row for the match. Hendry was happy to do it because the match is right now!

Match #1: Rhino vs Ryan Nemeth

The fans were chanting for the Gore from the get-go. He used his strength to send Ryan into the corner. Ryan offered him a hand shake but Rhino was wary. He chopped him hard in the corner then sent Ryan to the outside. Rhino unloaded with right hands and chops. He sent Ryan into the barricade. Ryan snuck up behind Rhino and sent him into the steel ring post. Ryan tossed Rhino back into the ring and mounted him with right hands. He used knee strikes to the back and then clubbing forearms to wear the Man Beast down. Ryan pulled Rhino down to the mat by his hair. He missed a diving elbow then ran into a TKO from Rhino. Rhino scored the first nearfall of the year. He took down Rhino with some clotheslines and sent him into the corner with a spear. Ryan rolled to the outside but used an eye rake to stop Rhino. Ryan brought a steel chair into the ring. Rhino stood on it to stop him and took him down with another clothesline. Rhino used the steel chair to the back of Ryan to cause the disqualification after 5 minutes.

Winner by disqualification: Ryan Nemeth

Analysis: ** That was slow and the finish was stupid. Rhino knows the referee is right there and doesn’t need the chair to beat Ryan. I think that’s the end of Rhino’s time in TNA which makes it even more odd that they wouldn’t send him out with a win. The finish alludes to another match between the two in the future.

The fans wanted one more chair shot but Ryan rolled out of the ring and escaped.

Gia Miller was joined by Jordynne Grace. Grace was attacked by the returning Tessa Blanchard at Final Resolution, in one of the biggest moments in TNA in 2024. Grace said Tessa wasn’t going to just come back and take over the locker room. She said Tessa took her ball and went home, and now has to deal with that. Grace said she is the main event now and Tessa is still the same old Tessa. She said she will wait for Tessa all night.

Analysis: I’m looking forward to Tessa vs Jordynne at Genesis. It should be a top match on the card.

The Rascalz were backstage having some fandom moments about The Hardys. They know the fans want The Rascalz vs The Hardys. Jeff and Matt walked in. They put The Rascalz over. Matt said the fans deserved a big first-time match for Genesis and wanted the match. Matt said the Hardy train isn’t slowing down any time soon and Miguel and Wentz would have to beat the greatest team of all time at Genesis.

Analysis: I wish I could just ask for anything I wanted and it was granted. I guess TNA couldn’t be bothered writing a story for this match. Wrestling, hey!

Match #2: Kushida vs Ace Austin

I hate it how they just give Kushida PPV matches away for free because they can’t lock him into a long-term contract. This is a first-time match up, too. Kushida grounded Austin to the mat early on. Austin tripped him up and tried a single leg-lock. Kushida got out and used a snapmare then a leg scissors to ground Ace. Ace rolled out and tried a side headlock on the mat, but Kushida reversed it into another leg scissors. They got up and Kushida used a shoulder block as the first real offensive move of the match. He ran into a dropkick that sent Kushida to the outside. Austin used a springboard crossbody to take down Kushida on the floor. Kushida blocked another attack and used the cross arm breaker on Austin on the ring apron!

(Commercial break)

Kushida sent Austin to the outside as we returned to the action. He used a baseball slide through the ropes to take Austin down. Kushida tossed him back into the ring. He nailed a dropkick. Kushida continued the assault on the left arm of Austin. Austin fought back with a right hand but his corner attack was blocked. They both ran into a clothesline from each other. Austin blocked a Tanaka Punch and hit a knee strike. He nailed a running leg drop but couldn’t lift Kushida for a suplex due to the left arm. Austin used all his strength to hit a one-armed Gut wrench powerbomb for 2. He ran at Kushida who caught him with a hip toss and a dropkick. Kushida hit a palm strike in the corner then rolled him through into an ankle lock. Austin reached for the bottom rope but Kushida kicked the rope. Kushida nailed a running palm strike for 2. Austin avoided a corner attack and hit a springboard kick. He nailed a running clothesline and continued to clothesline him many times in the corner. Austin lifted Kushida to the top and nailed an enziguiri. He tried for a head scissors but Kushida caught his left leg. Kushida slipped down and hit a handspring kick in the corner. He used the Hoverboard Lock from the top rope down to the mat. Austin stayed in the submission but lifted Kushida up into the air to escape it. Kushida nailed a dropkick to the back of Austin. Austin blocked a Fisherman’s suplex. He nailed a spinning kick to the face. Austin nailed The Fold for the win after 11 ½ minutes.

Winner by pinfall: Ace Austin

Analysis: ***3/4 That was a terrific match between two of TNA’s best. Unfortunately, it has taken for Chris Bey to get injured for Austin to get a singles run. He’s very talented and I’m all for a singles push for him in 2025.

Austin said a quick thank you to the fans for supporting he and Bey during a tough time. I hope and pray Bey recovers, even if he doesn’t wrestle again. Austin recalled a conversation between him and Bey at the hospital. Bey wanted him to go on and win the big one. Austin said he’s coming for Nic Nemeth and the TNA Championship. Here comes Moose with the interruption. Moose said he was offended because Austin said he was coming for the top title, but he was ignoring Moose. He said it was time to do something about it. Moose said the X-Division title was the flagship title in TNA. He said without the face of the franchise (himself), TNA wouldn’t be as hot as it is right now. Moose told Austin that he was scared of him and that if he wanted the easy way out, then he should go after Nic Nemeth. He started to talk about Bey but Austin cut him off and fired up. Austin called Moose disrespectful. He reminded Moose that he was a 3x X-Division Champion. Austin said even though Moose was in a suit, he would become 4x champion…right now! Santino Marella came out and said he liked the fire of both guys. He put them both over as top guys. Marella made the singles match for Genesis.

Analysis: That was a good segment and I like how they’re putting the X-Division title over as a big deal, by having it on a main eventer like Moose. I don’t think he will drop the title to Ace yet, but it should be a great match.

Jonathan Gresham, Eric Young and Steve Maclin were annoyed backstage. It’s been so long since the last TNA show that I can’t recall why they’re angry. Something to do with Josh Alexander? The System walked in and started talking over the top of them so a big brawl broke out.

Analysis: That was weird but there’s a feud to carry a few weeks of storyline action.

Jordynne Grace was shown backstage waiting for Tessa Blanchard.

They brought back the ‘Moment of the Week’ segment and it was a TNA World Tag Team Championship match from 2017: The Hardys vs DCC vs Decay. That was back in the 6-sided ring days. The Hardys won.

Ryan Nemeth was backstage getting checked out by a doctor. His brother, Nic, walked in and asked what happened. Nic works two hours of TV a week and he couldn’t be bothered to show up on time? Shame! Rhino got in Ryan’s face. Marella set up a tag match for next week: The Nemeths vs Rhino and Joe Hendry.

Analysis: Ok, so maybe Rhino isn’t leaving just yet. Perhaps it was his last set of tapings.

Let’s Hear from Mike Santana

I think you should do a shot at home for every time Santana mentions New York City. Santana came up short in the #1 Contender’s match at Final Resolution. He got into the ring with Josh Alexander’s headgear. Santana said he was disappointed to lose the match but he’s overcome obstacles all of his life. That included beating life on the streets (drink!) and other personal demons. Santana said it was time for him to become the standard of TNA. Alexander’s stable walked to the ring. They’re American Made-lite. Alexander took a microphone. He told Santana that so many people have said his exact words throughout Alexander’s time in TNA but very few have risen to the occasion. Alexander reminded him of the history between the two men. He said he respected Santana and then abused the crowd who were chanting at him. There’s been a few bleeps in tonight’s broadcast so far. Alexander said he might not be the wrestler today without the LAX vs North fights. He reminded Santana that he and Ethan Page beat LAX for the TNA World Tag Team Championships. Alexander berated Santana for not winning any championships since leaving TNA. He said Santana can will himself to be the man all he wants, but that doesn’t mean it’s going to happen. Alexander said it did with him, because it was destiny. He listed some wrestlers that he beat in his TNA World Championship reign in 2022/23. Alexander told Santana that as long as he’s still in TNA, Santana will never be the guy. He went to leave but Santana told him to stop. Santana told him that he was right- he did nothing since leaving TNA. He asked if his success was due to his hard work or kissing up to management. That was a good line. Santana said he could beat all three of the Northern Armory and challenged them to a Gauntlet match next week. Santana said he would run through them all next Thursday.

Analysis: That was pretty good. It was probably Alexander’s best microphone work for the last few months. A Gauntlet match challenge shows that Santana is a tough babyface character. I predict he gets through Williams and Icarus, then Alexander beats him in a shady way which leads to a match at Genesis.

Jordynne Grace was still waiting for Tessa Blanchard. Masha Slamovich and Spitfire told her that they needed to get ready for their match coming up. Santino Marella told security to watch for Tessa.

Analysis: 100% Tessa is getting in the building.

Frankie Kazarian was backstage with his trophy. He said he didn’t care about the main event at Genesis, but he would be plotting when to cash in for the TNA title. He called Leon Slater over. Kaz tried to recruit him as his protégé. Slater said he was up for that. Kaz told him he could be Kaz’s trophy bearer. Slater said he wasn’t in TNA to run errands. He wanted to create his own legacy. Kaz was annoyed and took some jabs at Slater. JDC walked in. They said Slater was missing something and tried out some nick names. That was weird.

Analysis: I’m down for Slater getting more air time. He’s very talented. Kaz vs Slater would be a good program.

Let’s Hear from the Champ Nic Nemeth

Nic Nemeth entered to a great reception as usual. He cut a promo from the stage. Nemeth put over Hendry as his opponent for Genesis. The fans chanted for Hendry. Nemeth said he believes in Hendry, too. He reminded the fans that Hendry came up short at Bound for Glory. Nemeth said it was a great honour representing TNA as its champion and he was proud of the locker room. He said Genesis was going to be special and that Hendry will bring everything that he has to the fight. Nemeth said he would do whatever it takes to remain champion. He hyped the tag match for next week. Ryan got boos. He came out to the stage to join Nic. Ryan wasn’t impressed that Nic kept putting Hendry over. He called Hendry a snake. Ryan told the fans to stop booing Nic (ha!). Nic wasn’t impressed that Ryan was distracting him from Genesis with this tag match. He walked off. Ryan was left on the stage by himself. I was hoping he would get the Gore. He told the fans that they had upset Nic. Then he walked off.

Analysis: That was a very odd way to end the segment. Ryan is either not very good on the microphone or intentionally annoying due to his heel gimmick. It was a bit of a mess.

Next week:

* The Nemeths vs Rhino & Joe Hendry
* The System vs Jonathan Gresham, Steve Maclin & Eric Young
* Gauntlet Match: Mike Santana vs The Northern Armory
* The Good Hands vs The Rascalz
* Savannah Evans in action

Analysis: That’s a tag heavy show. I expect some shenanigans between Hendry and Nic Nemeth, heading into Genesis.

It’s main event time and I can’t remember a TNA weekly show having only 3 matches.

Match #3: Ash & Heather-by-Elegance, Rosemary & Tasha Steelz vs Spitfire, Jordynne Grace & Masha Slamovich

Slamovich and Steelz, opponents from Final Resolution, started the match off. Slamovich used a shoulder tackle and a series of snap mares in the early going. She missed a kick to the back and Steelz tried a roll up unsuccessfully. Slamovich hit a spinning kick for 2. Steelz tagged in Rosemary but Slamovich took her down with a duo of clotheslines. Rosemary blocked a German suplex attempt. She ran into a knee strike from Masha, who tagged in Grace. They hit a double-team sidewalk slam but Slamovich over-rotated too much and Rosemary landed hard on her neck. That was really ugly. Grace slammed Slamovich on top of Rosemary for a 2 count. She nailed a spinebuster but Ash interrupted the count. I think when a dodgy spot like that happens and you’re unsure if Rosemary is injured or not, the best thing to do is let her tag out. There was a brawl in the middle of the ring and the face team all suplexed the heels. Spitfire did duelling dives to the outside to take out all 4 of their opponents. Rosemary still didn’t look too well. Grace covered her for a 2 count. Dani Luna tagged in.

(Commercial break)

Dani and Heather were in the ring. Luna hit a Fallaway slam. Heather popped off her shoulders but Jody Threat blind-tagged in. Threat used a diving crossbody to score a 2 count. She tried for her finisher but Heather slipped out the back and tagged in Steelz. Steelz ran into a clothesline and Luna tagged back in. Luna hit a scoop slam on Steelz then slammed Threat on top for a 2 count. Steelz recovered with a jaw breaker and tagged Ash in. Luna reversed a suplex and tagged Threat back in. They hit a double stalling suplex on Ash. Threat covered for a 2 count. George Iceman caused a distraction and Ash rolled up Threat for a 1 count. Ash choked Threat out in the corner. She stomped away at her and scored a 2 count. Ash dragged Threat back to her corner and tagged in Heather. Heather tried a sleeper hold on Threat. Threat got to her knees with elbow strikes. She ran the ropes but Heather pulled her down by the hair and got a 1 count. Heather bounced Threat’s head off the top turnbuckle, then Rosemary choked her out in the corner. The referee was busy preventing Grace running in. Heather hit a snapmare and a hard kick to the back for 2.

(Commercial break)

The main event continued with Rosemary dominating Threat in the corner. She tagged in Ash who scored a 2 count. Ash hit her handspring back elbow in the corner and got a 2 count. She pulled Threat down by the hair again for another 2 count. Ash whipped Threat back into the corner and tagged in Rosemary. She tried grounding Threat to the mat with a sleeper. Threat didn’t last long in the hold and fought back with strikes. Rosemary pulled her to the corner by her hair. Threat fought off the heels on the apron but Rosemary rammed her back into the corner. Threat responded with a suplex out of the corner. She finally made it to her corner to tag in Grace. Rosemary made it to Ash for the tag. Grace hit a Tornado DDT for 2. Ash blocked the Juggernaut Driver but ran into the World’s Strongest Slam and a Vader Bomb. She went for the cover but Steelz hit a senton to break the pin. Steelz tagged herself in but ran into a clothesline. Grace tagged in Slamovich. She hit a running knee and a spinning heel kick for 2. Luna hit an incoming Rosemary with a powerbomb then ran into a DDT from Heather. Grace nailed her with an overhead sidewalk slam. Ash ran in with a clothesline. Threat nailed her with a Falcon Arrow but ran into a big kick from Steelz. Steelz hit the Black Out on Slamovich but Luna broke up the pin. Spitfire and the Elegance brand fought around the ring. Steelz fought off Grace with a cutter. She turned around to a thrust kick from Slamovich and Requiem for the win after 15 minutes of TV time.

Winners by pinfall: Spitfire, Jordynne Grace & Masha Slamovich

Analysis: ***1/2 There was a lot going on in the match and most of the offense was pretty smooth. Threat was probably isolated for too long so that part of the match dragged on a bit. Good to see they’re building Spitfire vs The Elegances up well.

The face team celebrated the win but Tessa Blanchard ran in and attacked Grace from behind. The Elegances attacked Spitfire and Rosemary sprayed Slamovich in the face with the mist. Grace and Blanchard fought backstage. Tessa tossed Grace into a door and they went back to the ramp where they fought at Final Resolution. Tessa put a bag around Grace’s throat and dragged her down the ramp way. Marella’s security weren’t very good, obviously. Blanchard talked some trash and left Grace in the parking lot. Heather and Ash posed with the TNA Knockouts Tag Team Championships as Impact went off the air.

Analysis: It’s good when they not only combine some Knockouts feuds but also put them in the main event. It looks like they’re building to Masha vs Rosemary which doesn’t do much for me but it’s another name for Masha to tick off.

Final Rating: 7/10

It’s strange to think of any wrestling show nowadays only having 3 matches but that’s what we got tonight. I didn’t mind though because it was a show that was heavy on the story lines and making the Genesis matches feel big. This makes The Hardys vs The Rascalz being set up in a 60-second backstage segment all the more lazy.

The match of the night was Austin vs Kushida, which led to the Moose vs Austin match at Genesis which should be great. Ryan Nemeth featured a lot as an annoying heel. I’m still torn on whether he’s a very bad actor or intentionally obnoxious.

The next TNA PPV is Genesis on January 19th. Here’s the card so far:

* TNA World Championship: Nic Nemeth (c) vs Joe Hendry
* TNA X-Division Championship: Moose (c) vs Ace Austin
* TNA Tag Team Championships: The Hardys (c) vs The Rascalz

Any feedback or comments are welcome. My email address is kristian.l.thompson@gmail.com in case anybody wants to get in touch with me and my Twitter/X handle is @thomok6 as well. Thanks for reading!