Reviews

TNA Impact Review – November 7, 2024

By Kristian Thompson • Published 8th November 2024
TNA Wrestling November 7

The X-Division Championship was on the line on TNA Impact in a huge matchup between Mike Bailey and Moose while Joe Hendry had a new song for a rival.

This week’s show opened with a recap from last week’s show which saw Steve Maclin continue his pursuit of Josh Alexander, and Joe Hendry accidentally struck Nic Nemeth in the main event which caused him to be pinned by Eddie Edwards!

TNA Impact 7/11/24 from the Wayne State Fieldhouse: Detroit, Michigan

Match #1: Tasha Steelz & Alisha Edwards vs Masha Slamovich & Jordynne Grace

Grace starred in a big 10-women tag team match on NXT on Wednesday and I was going to say she’s fresh off that match, but this tag team match was taped before it so that would be silly. Steelz and Grace started off. Grace took Steelz down with a headlock takeover and a shoulder tackle. Steelz was frustrated and tagged Alisha in. She was ridiculously wrestling in her neck brace, even though she showed last week that she was faking her injury. Alisha tagged straight out, feigning the neck injury. Slamovich tagged in too. Steelz hit a few chops on the champ but Slamovich returned serve. Steelz avoided a clothesline but ran into a shoulder block. Grace tagged in again and they did a double team sidewalk slam for a 2 count on Steelz. Grace hit a World’s Strongest Slam and went for the Vader Bomb in the corner but Alisha grabbed her leg. This allowed Steelz to hit a backstabber off the middle rope. Alisha tagged in and hit a cheap shot on Grace, then tagged out for Steelz to get a 1 count. Steelz nailed some chops in the corner and a running punt. She knocked Slamovich off the apron and hit a big boot on Grace for 2. Steelz tried a Crucifix Bomb off the ropes but Grace turned it into a modified Samoan Drop and made the tag to Slamovich. She kicked Steelz into the corner and nailed a running knee. Masha followed up with a heel kick but Alisha broke up the pin. Steelz hit a lung blower which sent Slamovich into her own corner. She tagged in Grace who tried a Juggernaut Driver. Steelz blocked it with clubbing forearms and hit the Blackout (Crucifix Bomb) for 2, as Slamovich broke it up. Steelz whipped Grace into the corner and tagged in Alisha. Alisha jumped on Grace’s back with a sleeper hold. Grace still clotheslined Steelz with Alisha on her back. She backed into her corner and Slamovich tagged herself in. Alisha was stuck between both her opponents and Slamovich locked in a choke to which Alisha submitted to immediately. The match lasted 7:45.

Winners by submission: Masha Slamovich & Jordynne Grace

Analysis: **3/4 It was fine for a tag match where the face opponents worked well together to get the easy win. Alisha loses most tag matches she is in, because she’s always the weakest member of the 4 or 6 women involved so it was pretty predictable. They haven’t set a new challenger for Slamovich yet but I’m guessing it will be Steelz or a rematch with Grace. Either is fine with me.

There were highlights of Lei Ying Lee’s win last week and attack by Savannah Evans after the match. Both are not the cleanest workers, that’s for sure. Evans was interviewed by Gia Miller. She said she was sick of being overlooked in favour of people like Lee. Evans said she was taking her opportunities from now on.

Analysis: Evans has potential but she’s always just played a sidekick in TNA. We’ll see how she goes breaking out on her own.

Match #2: No-Disqualification match: Wendy Choo vs Rosemary

This is a match between tag team partners which have since split up after their loss at Bound for Glory. I was enjoying their little run on here and NXT. Choo’s heel character is so much better than the goofy one they had her play originally in NXT. Choo went for an early cover but Rosemary kicked out. She hit a handspring kick in the corner and followed up with a big boot. Rosemary blocked the next attack and locked her in the Upside Down. Choo slipped out and stomped on Rosemary who was tied up in the ropes. She dropkicked her to the floor. Choo had the loaded pillow ready but Rosemary used it to swing her into the steel ring post. Rosemary bounced Choo’s head off the ring apron. They moved over to the commentary area. Rosemary started choking Choo out with some of the cabling. They shot it from the camera facing the commentators which was a nice touch. Rosemary hit a sliding clothesline with Choo leaning against the bottom rope. She kicked out at 2. Rosemary got her cane and bridged over to put her in a reverse crossface. That was innovative. Choo slipped out, as the cane was very thin, and they both tried a clothesline on each other. She took Rosemary down with a Thesz Press. Rosemary tried to protect herself with the pillow but Choo still hit a thrust kick. Choo flew through the air and landed on Rosemary with the pillow in hand. That feels so stupid to type. Rosemary slipped out of a sleeper attempt and nailed a spear. Choo kicked out just before 3. That was a good nearfall. Rosemary tried choking Choo with the cane again. Choo turned it into a Full Nelson then tried the Mandible Claw but Rosemary bit her on the arm. Rosemary nailed Choo with a few shots with the cane then As Above So Below for the win after 6 minutes.

Winner by pinfall: Rosemary

Analysis: **1/2 There wasn’t much use of the No-DQ stipulation here but you felt that it was a personal fight because of the story over the last few weeks. It feels like the end of Choo in TNA, which is why they had Rosemary win I would assume.

They aired a match between Mustafa Ali and Mike Santana ‘From the Vault’. Campaign Singh interfered so Santino made it Santana and Joe Hendry vs Ali and Singh. I’m not reviewing old matches. I guess they had to fill time due to not wanting to show The Hardys vs ABC match where Chris Bey suffered his neck injury. after one of the injuries suffered during the tapings.

Steve Maclin cut a quick backstage promo on Josh Alexander. He said Alexander didn’t beat him at Bound for Glory (he passed out) and that no one can beat him. Maclin said it isn’t over.

Analysis: I think we can lock in another singles match, perhaps with a stipulation.

The Rascalz were chatting backstage. They were bummed after losing to First Class last week. They started climbing up a ladder into their treehouse and then made some weed jokes. There were lots of played-in laughter.

Analysis: That was a waste of time.

They showed a Digital Exclusive after last week’s tag team match. Santino Marella got between Joe Hendry and Nic Nemeth backstage. Nemeth was furious after getting pinned by Eddie Edwards. Marella told Hendry he was sorry but he has to now make his way up from the bottom of the pack. Ryan Nemeth was there and Hendry said he couldn’t think of anyone lower than him so he wanted to fight Ryan. Tommy Dreamer stepped in to break up the scuffle.

Analysis: These types of angles aren’t done often but they make it feel like a big-deal.

Let’s Hear from Joe Hendry

Hendry said now’s not the time to talk about him. He wanted to talk about Ryan Nemeth. Hendry said since Ryan had become so interested in Hendry’s career, then he thought he would create a video package listing all of Ryan’s achievements. Hendry sarcastically remarked that if they had to go over the time limit of the show, then he had permission from AXS TV to do that. Hendry presented the Ryan Nemeth Story. There was a photo of Ryan and Nic, followed by The End. I chuckled. The fans chanted for “One More Time”. Hendry wanted to add another chapter next week with a singles match.

Analysis: Hendry is good at setting up matches with his promos. It’s a good way to get Ryan into the story. I’m not sure I’d be happy with other wrestlers saying my career had been worthless, but you take that for the storyline I suppose.

Mike Santana was confronted by First Class. He told AJ Francis to choose his words wisely. AJ said he respected the lone wolf character, but it pays to have friends. Francis invited Santana to join them. Santana said he came back to TNA on a mission. He said he ran through The System by himself and said he didn’t need First Class. AJ told KC to take care of Santana. KC wasn’t happy about that.

Analysis: It’s something for Santana to do until he gets a title shot which you assume would be in the near future. He gets consistently good crowd support.

There was a promo video for January’s Genesis PPV. That’s the first time that name has been used for many years.

Match #3: Heather-by-Elegance w/ Ash and George Iceman vs Jody Threat w/ Dani Luna

George Iceman ran down the crowd before Heather’s entrance. They’re really going all in with this tag team which is at least something that gets Heather TV time. Heather attacked Threat before the bell. Threat told the referee she was good to go. She hit a back elbow then tossed Heather into the corner. Threat connected with her corner clotheslines and an Exploder Suplex for 2. Ash tripped Threat up from the ring apron and Heather hit a nice Tornado DDT for 2. Heather choked Threat against the bottom rope then stomped on her continuously. She tossed Threat into the corner and continued the assault. Ash was pulling on the hair of Threat whilst Heather had the referee distracted. Heather hit a dropkick in the corner and got a 2 count. Threat fought back with forearms but Heather hit a DDT for 2. Heather tried a sleeper hold but changed her mind and used elbow strikes with Threat seated on the mat. Threat got to her feet and blocked a suplex, then turned it into one of her own. Threat hit a few clotheslines and a pump kick. Heather was sent into the middle rope so Threat did her running knees into a sloppy German suplex. Ash and George got up on the apron so Luna took Ash down. Heather tossed Threat into the bottom turnbuckle. She hit a kick with the camera zooming right in on the leg slap so that looked bad. Heather went for the crossbody off the top rope but Threat caught her and hit her F5 finisher, Pop Shove It, for the win after 6 minutes.

Winner by pinfall: Jody Threat

Analysis: **1/2 That was okay but just like last week the over-the-top interference takes away from the match quality. I understand heel wrestlers; but we can go 60 seconds of wrestling without Ash or George interfering…surely? Anyway, they are now tied at 1 singles win per team so that’s an easy way to set up a tag team title match going forward. Yay for having teams in the division!

Next week on Impact:

* Joe Hendry vs Ryan Nemeth
* Mike Santana vs KC Navarro
* The Northern Armory vs Steve Maclin, Jonathan Gresham and Eric Young
* Nic Nemeth vs Brian Myers

Analysis: Not a bad lineup. I guess that’s how they set up Edwards vs Nemeth for the World Title.

Match #4: TNA X-Division Championship: Mike Bailey (c) vs Moose

There was over 20 minutes left on the show once the entrances were done so they will get decent time here. This title has had some odd booking of late. They gave it to Wentz which was great, but he only had it so they could say that Wes Lee beat a TNA champion on their show, then he lost it after a few weeks. Bailey has only faced Vikingo since winning it back. He needs a main event push with a heel as the champion. And a manager. Desperately! They set this match up after a backstage segment last week. Bailey hasn’t lost a TNA match since May. They were straight into the action early. Moose tossed Bailey around after blocking some kicks. He tried for Go to Hell from the top but Bailey used a hurricanrana to escape. Bailey tried two pump kicks to knock Moose off the ring apron but he wouldn’t go down. He swept Moose’s legs and then hit a moonsault from the top to Moose on the floor. Moose chopped Bailey around the ringside area. He missed a chop and nailed the steel post, making a thunderous sound. I don’t know how that didn’t hurt. Stupidly, he tried again and missed again! Bailey went back into the ring to break the referee’s count. He tried to drop toe hold Moose into the steel ring steps but Moose didn’t quite fall into them. Bailey tried a running knee but Moose missed and Bailey went crashing into the steps. Moose hit a suplex on the ring apron.

(Commercial break)

Moose was in control still. Bailey escaped a powerbomb attempt. He ran into Moose who absolutely launched him across the ring with a devastating Buckle Bomb. Ouch. Moose stomped away on Bailey in the corner. He whipped Bailey hard into the opposite corner. Moose went for Go to Hell again but Bailey was able to hurricanrana him into the bottom turnbuckle. It wasn’t super clean but they made it work. Moose avoided a running SSP. He slammed Bailey’s left knee into the canvas. Moose tried it again but Bailey turned it into an inside cradle for 2. Moose smashed Bailey with a Uranage for a nearfall. He went for an Abdominal Stretch. Bailey was able to bend Moose’s right hand back, the one that chopped the ring post, to break the hold. He hit a double knee stomp to the chest. The crowd was right into this. Bailey was holding his knee so was slow to cover and Moose kicked out at 2.

(Commercial break)

Bailey kicked Moose in the chest. Moose blocked a second kick and missed a splash in the corner. Bailey kicked Moose out of the ring and did a crazy twisting senton from the top rope to the floor. He wrenched at Moose’s injured right hand as he tossed him into the ring. Bailey hit a perfect Shooting Star Press for 2. Moose targeted Bailey’s left knee. He went back to the chops. Bailey fought back with a kick to the chest. They continued to exchange strikes but Bailey hit consecutive kicks to Moose’s hamstrings. Moose caught the Tornado Kick attempt in the corner but Bailey rolled him up for a close 2 count. Bailey countered a Samoan Drop attempt with another pinfall attempt and scored another nearfall. He then countered a Uranage but Moose kicked out at 2. Moose nailed a huge discus clothesline. He went for a powerbomb but Bailey countered it in a Code Red! Moose kicked out at the very last second. Terrific nearfall there. Moose lured Bailey into the corner and drove him face-first into the middle turnbuckle. He set up for the spear but Bailey kneed him right in the face. Bailey nailed another double knees and measured him for a thrust kick which he connected with. He nailed the Tornado Kick in the corner. Bailey set up for Ultima Weapon but Moose recovered and dropkicked him off the top rope! Bailey struggled to pull himself up onto the ring apron. Moose climbed to the top rope and pulled Bailey up with him. Bailey wrenched at Moose’s right hand and sent him down to the mat. Moose battled back but Bailey destroyed him with a poisonrana all the way to the mat! That was a sickening crash for Moose. Bailey nailed the Ultima Weapon with Moose kneeling on the mat. He crawled to the cover but somehow Moose kicked out! Bailey went for the Tornado Kick again but Moose crushed him with a spear! That sent Bailey out of the ring. He pulled himself up using the guard rail. Moose came around the corner and nailed him with a spear on the floor! I much prefer him using the regular spear, rather than his stupid flipping one. Moose abused the fans who were chanting for him. He got back into the ring and went for a third spear but Bailey almost beat him with an inside cradle. Bailey hit a superkick on Moose. He tried for a springboard kick but Moose caught him with a spear in mid-air! Moose nailed a fourth spear and won the championship for the first time! The match lasted 18 minutes.

Winner AND NEW TNA X-Division Champion: Moose

Analysis: ****1/4 That was awesome. It wasn’t all 100% perfect but that’s what you get a first-time match up or haven’t faced each other for a long time. Some of the other spots more than made up for a few little mess ups. The counter wrestling, especially Bailey using nearfalls to try to sneak the win, was very good. Even though there wasn’t much of a story here, they did promote it well during the week and made it a big focus on the show tonight. I thought it was probably better than anything on the PPV.

After the match, Moose left so Trent Seven came down to console Bailey. They hugged it out. Seven held Bailey’s arm in the air then turned on him with a huge low blow. Awesome! Seven hit the 7-Star Lariat and the fans booed. Seven choked Bailey out with his towel. He screamed manically as the continued the choke. Seven tossed Bailey out of the ring and Impact went off the air.

Analysis: Speedball Mountain is dead. That’s good because they should be singles wrestlers. I liked the turn because Seven came back and was immediately frustrated at losing in the Gauntlet. He can say that Bailey belittled him by trying to coach him out of it, even though he is a veteran. There’s an easy story there and you can easily make Seven into a decent heel as the crowd loves Bailey.

Final Rating: 6.75/10

It was a pretty average show until the last half hour. The matches were kept relatively brief to give the main event almost 20 minutes of TV time, in between 2 commercials which I always love (!). Bailey and Moose put on a terrific main event and then the post-match heel turn by Seven was well done and added to the end of the show. There are still 3 weeks until Turning Point but the wheels are in motion for some new feuds and continuing ones. Joe Hendry is still around the main event scene, which now has Eddie Edwards and Kaz lurking in the background. I like how they are trying with the KO Tag division, even if Heather and Ash are nauseating at times with their characters. The KO singles division is slowly climbing back, but I’m not sure where it goes if Grace is leaving in January. She has been the centrepiece of the division for over 12 months and it will be impossible to replace her.

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!