TNA Impact Review – September 26, 2024

A spot in the main event of Bound for Glory was on the line as Joe Hendry battled Frankie Kazarian on this week’s TNA Impact.

TNA Impact 26/9/24 from the Boeing Centre, San Antonio: TX

The show opened with a recap of last week’s show which saw Mike Santana defeat JDC in a Texas Death match and they laid the foundation for tonight’s main event between Hendry and Kazarian.

Match #1: Wendy Choo & Rosemary vs Jordynne Grace & a Mystery Partner

Grace’s partner was the athletic Sol Ruca from NXT. Choo and Rosemary interrupted a title match between Grace and Ruca a few weeks back on NXT. There was a brawl to start the match with all 4 women in the ring. Rosemary and Choo crashed into each other with clotheslines. Ruca did a moonsault to the outside to take the heels out. She got some serious air there. Grace did a diving crossbody to the outside. Ruca tossed Rosemary into the ring and the match officially began. Rosemary tripped Ruca into the bottom rope. Choo hit a cheap kick whilst the referee was distracted. Choo tagged in and took Ruca into the corner. She hit a cartwheel into an elbow in the corner, then a neck wrench for a 2 count. Choo backed Ruca into the corner and tagged Rosemary in, then they nailed a double suplex for 2. Rosemary bounced Ruca’s head off the middle turnbuckle. Ruca blocked a corner attack and hit a crossbody from the middle rope. Choo tagged in and took Grace off the apron before Ruca could make a tag. She tagged Rosemary again and they double-teamed Ruca in the corner with stomps. Choo tagged in and tried a choke on Ruca, who was able to get to her feet. Choo dragged her back down by the hair. Rosemary came in and they tried another double suplex but Ruca turned it into a double neckbreaker and made the tag. Grace came in on fire and nailed a spinebuster on Choo. She sent Rosemary into Choo and nailed a Death Valley Driver on Rosemary. Grace hit another one on Choo, on top of Rosemary. Ruca did a springboard splash on top of both of the heels. Grace tossed Choo from the ring and nailed a front-facing suplex on Rosemary. Ruca hit her incredible Sol Snatcher on Rosemary then Grace set up for the Juggernaut Driver but Tasha Steelz ran down to the ring and attacked her. The match officially lasted 4 minutes.

Winners by disqualification: Jordynne Grace & Sol Ruca

Analysis: **1/2 They were on their way to a decent tag match and the match time would’ve been longer if you counted the pre-match shenanigans. Ruca has outstanding athleticism and it was on show here. I guess Steelz attacked Grace because she had Masha Slamovich’s back last week.

Steelz hit a cutter on Grace. Choo beat down Grace. Here comes Masha Slamovich to chase off the heel trio. Another good reception for the new face in Masha. Let her cut some promos now.

Kaz was backstage with Gia Miller. They discussed the #1 Contender’s match for later. Kaz asked if Miller believed in Joe Hendry but cut her off before she could answer. Kaz said he would beat Hendry and take Nemeth’s title at Bound for Glory.

Analysis: A cocky promo from Kaz. I’m not that interested in Kaz vs Nemeth but also face vs face title matches were done to death in TNA in 2022/23.

Match #2: Laredo Kid vs Jonathan Gresham

TNA still hasn’t really addressed Gresham ditching his mask. Also, I thought he had left TNA but I’m glad he hasn’t. There’s no story to this match but I’m sure it will be fun. Gresham used some athletic arm drags early on. He tried a roll up for 2, then hit a big shoulder block. Gresham nailed a chop in the corner then they had a face-off. Kid hit his first offence in the match in the form of some kicks to the chest. He missed a splash in the corner so Gresham chopped him hard. Kid launched Gresham over the top and onto the ring apron. Gresham held onto Kid’s mask and went to try to remove it but stopped and looked like he was in two minds. He pulled Kid down by the shoulders to the mat. Kid hit a headscissors from the apron. He did a suicide dive to the outside and Gresham caught him as he was heading towards the ground at a dangerous angle. Kid rolled Gresham into the ring for a 2 count. He nailed a running forearm in the splash then a Falcon Arrow. Kid went to the top and connected with a twisting senton. Gresham blocked a moonsault with his knees. He hit a flurry of offense, including a standing moonsault for 2. Gresham locked in the Boston Crab in the middle of the ring. Kid almost made it to the ropes but Gresham dragged him right back to the centre. Kid made another lunge to the ropes but Gresham stopped him. Gresham turned it into a single-leg crab but Kid finally made it to the ropes to break the hold. Gresham missed a big boot in the corner so Kid connected with a flying crossbody. He nailed the 3 Amigos suplexes; the 3^rd one being a Brainbuster. Kid covered Gresham for a 2 count. Gresham stopped a corner attack and stomped on some of the joints of Kid. He nailed a running springboard moonsault which looked awesome. Gresham smashed Kid’s left knee into the ring over and over, forcing Kid to tap out. The match lasted 7 minutes.

Winner by submission: Jonathan Gresham

Analysis: *** I liked that. It wasn’t the typical technical match from Gresham. He hit a lot more striking offense than usual. He was torn at times between resorting to his evil side and wrestling in a fair manner. The manic look at the end as he repeatedly smashed Kid’s knee into the ring shows that the story is still playing out. I’m glad he’s hanging around.

Mike Santana was backstage and entered The System’s locker room with a steel chain. There was a lot of yelling and smashing of things. That feud won’t end.

Match #3: Mike Bailey, Kushida & Leon Slater vs Zachary Wentz & The ABC

This is a weird combination of wrestlers. 6 face wrestlers against each other. It’s time for Ace Austin and Chris Bey to go back to singles action. There was a face-off between all 6 men early on. Kushida and Bey kicked off the action. Kushida stretched Bey out on the mat. He tagged in Slater who hit a big splash off the ropes for a 2 count. He missed a big boot and Bey nailed a flying forearm, then tagged in Austin. The ABC hit a double suplex and a double dropkick for 2. Austin tossed Slater into the corner and went to work with stomps. He hit a snap suplex for 2. Austin rammed Slater’s head into the top turnbuckle with force. He held him for Bey to tag and then nail a dropkick from the top. Slater tried to fight back with shots to the ribs but Bey clubbed him with a forearm. Wentz tagged in and hit a senton for 2. Slater fought out of a sleeper hold and hit a big kick that sent Wentz back into his corner so he could fortuitously tag in Austin. Austin tagged in Bey and went for a suplex but Slater popped out the back and tagged in Kushida. Kushida took down Austin with a clothesline. He hit a running crossbody on Bey then a dropkick on Austin that sent him to the outside. Kushida nailed a palm strike on Bey in the corner then a hurricanrana from the top for 2. Bey nailed a big kick to stop Kushida’s momentum. Bey tagged in Wentz and Mike Bailey also tagged in for the first time in the match. Wentz caught Bailey in mid-air and dropped him. He nailed a running knee in the corner, then hit a springboard knee for 2. The ABC tossed Kushida and Slater from the ring, then triple-teamed Bailey with Wentz hitting a big Swanton but Kushida broke it up. Slater took down the ABC with a crossbody from the top rope. He dropkicked Wentz in the corner. Kushida used a handspring dropkick to take Bey and Austin off the ring apron. Bailey did a moonsault to the outside to take down the ABC. Slater did a crazy dive over the corner turnbuckle on Wentz. Back in the ring, Wentz avoided Slater’s 450 splash and hit a running knee. He nailed the UFO cutter for the win after 9 minutes.

Winners by pinfall: Zachary Wentz & The ABC

Analysis: ***1/2 That was a lot of fun for a match that didn’t have much behind it. I wish they didn’t cut Wentz’s title run so short. It seems like a really odd booking decision.

Jake Something was lifting weights backstage with Hammerstone. Cody Deaner wanted to talk to him. He said Hammerstone was not the right person to tag with. Hammerstone called Deaner pathetic whilst he and Something were championship material. Hammerstone challenged Deaner to a match.

Analysis: Hopefully that’s a 2-minute squash.

There was another crazy vignette from Mike Santana and this time he was covered in blood.

Match #4: Lei Ying Lee vs Hyan

Lee is the former Xia Li from WWE. She got a very good reception. Lee’s style is physical with lots of strikes. She nailed a shoulder block and a running knee in the corner. Lee kicked Hyan into the corner. She nailed a snap suplex. Lee went to the top rope but Hyan bailed to the outside. Lee met her with a running punt from the ring apron. Back in the ring, Lee tried a move from her shoulders but Hyan raked her eyes and took her down to the canvas. Hyan hit a hard back elbow against the ropes then a back suplex for a 1 count. Lee blocked some strike attempts and laid into Hyan with right hands. She hit a neckbreaker and an airplane spin. The fans chanted from tables for some reason. Lee hit a spinning kick she called Thunder Struck for the win after 4 minutes.

Winner by pinfall: Lei Ying Lee

Analysis: **1/2 That was a basic match to get the crowd used to the offense Lee has. It was mostly strikes in a dominant win.

Leon Slater was backstage and apologised to Mike Bailey for losing the 6-man tag match before. Bailey told him to keep his head up and his chest out (I was waiting for the shoe) and encouraged him to keep going.

The ABC cut a pre-taped vignette about their Tag Team Title loss. Why would they show this after them already being in a pointless 6-man tag? Sometimes the timing on this show is so bad. They wanted their Tag Title rematch for Bound for Glory. Matt and Jeff Hardy said they had beaten The System twice now and they deserve a shot. Matt said nothing would stop The Hardys.

Analysis: A triple threat match at BFG would be good. Or maybe these two tag teams have a #1 Contender’s match soon. Why is Matt not Broken anymore?

Let’s Hear from Josh Alexander

Alexander said he has done some questionable things over the last few months. The fans told him that he tapped out. He said he did that, too. Alexander said he didn’t believe in Joe Hendry before Victory Road. He hoped that Hendry believes in himself now because he beat the best version of Josh Alexander. The fans kept chanting “You tapped out!” Alexander listed his achievements over the last few years as well as some people that have helped him, and asked Eric Young to come down to the ring. Young said TNA personifies wrestling excellence and no one is better than Alexander. He said it was good to see the real Walking Weapon back. It felt 100% like Alexander was about to destroy him. Young said TNA will be better for this version of Alexander. Alexander said he was thankful for Young and they shook hands. He sat down on the ropes for Young to exit the ring then nailed him with a German suplex. I love it! Alexander berated Young on the mic. He said he’s exactly who he needs to be. Alexander kicked Young in the head and went for the C4 Spike but here comes Steve Maclin for the save. Sinner & Saint came down the ring to help Alexander and it was a 3-on-2 beat down. Alexander destroyed Maclin with a C4 Spike as the fans booed.

Analysis: That was such an obvious attack, mostly because Alexander’s acting skills are terrible, but it was exactly the right move. Keep him as a heel and elevate two young guys in the process. I think it’s great. Maybe it’s Young vs Alexander at BFG or a 6-man tag with Young’s team calling on a TNA original to help him battle Alexander and friends. I’m interested which doesn’t happen often with Eric Young.

Santino Marella was backstage with Steph de Lander. He gave her advice about neck surgery. Marella said it was better for her to look after her health and step away from TNA for a while. Matt Cardona walked in. Marella said he was sick of the way Matt talked to SDL. He set up PCO vs Cardona in a Monster’s Ball match.

Analysis: Finally, the match is on.

Match #5: Heather Reckless vs Xia Brookside

Lots of Knockouts’ action tonight which is very positive after a dire year for the division. Reckless wants to join Ash-by-Elegance but has to prove herself. Brookside hit a scoop slam early on and an elbow drop for 2. She blocked a corner attack with an elbow strike. Brookside hit a dropkick from the middle rope. She went for a monkey flip but Reckless sent her into the top turnbuckle pad and got a 2 count. Ash and George walked out to watch. Reckless choked Xia against the middle rope. She hit a DDT for 2. Reckless tossed Brookside into the middle turnbuckle, shoulder-first. She stomped on her in the corner and got another nearfall. Brookside fought back with a jawbreaker and a couple of clotheslines. She hit a Russian Legsweep for 2. Reckless bailed to the outside but Brookside nailed a baseball slide. She ripped out some of Reckless’ hair extensions. Brookside hit a suplex on the floor. She whipped Reckless into the steel ring post. They went back into the ring and Ash started yelling at Brookside which distracted her. Reckless dragged Brookside into the ring ropes. She went up top and hit Ash’s Rarefied Air finisher for the win after 6 minutes.

Winner by pinfall: Heather Reckless

Analysis: **1/2 That was good action even though the ending was obvious a mile away. Any undercard storylines that the Knockouts division has, shows that it’s heading back in the right direction.

The TNA World Champion, Nic Nemeth, entered to watch the main event.

Match #6: TNA World Championship #1 Contenders’ Match: Frankie Kazarian vs Joe Hendry

Kaz wanted Jade Chung to announce him as ‘The King of TNA’ but Hendry took the microphone and took on the role. He asked the fans if he should do it and of course, they obliged. Hendry promised to give Kaz a championship-worthy entrance. He announced Kaz as the 2024 winner of the Antonio Banderas lookalike contest as well as the Dad from Spy Kids. Hendry called Kaz Puss in Boots (even that got a chant) and then Kaz attacked him. Kaz beat Hendry up against the ropes. Hendry hit a shoulder tackle and a hip toss. He nailed a scoop slam and tried to too him over the top but Kaz dropped Hendry on the ropes. Kaz nailed a backstabber and a clothesline. He tried a sunset flip pin off the ropes for 2. Kaz tossed Hendry into the middle turnbuckle and hit a suplex. He mocked Hendry’s stomp and clap routine. Kaz grounded Hendry against the mat with a sleeper hold. Hendry made it to his feet and nailed an uppercut. He bounced off the ropes and Kaz hit a scoop slam, then his springboard legdrop for 2. Kaz stomped away on Hendry and had a microphone, asking the fans if they believed in Hendry as he did each stomp. He missed an elbow drop and Hendry got back into the match with a Fallaway slam. Kaz escaped a Standing Ovation attempt and Hendry side-stepped a cutter attempt ala Samoa Joe. Hendry nailed a pop-up powerbomb for 2. He went for the anklelock but Kaz kicked him off. Kaz tried an inside cradle for 2. He nailed a hard lariat for another nearfall. Hendry tried the anklelock again. He sat down on the move but Kaz was close to the ropes and made it in order to break the hold. Kaz landed his middle rope legdrop for a 2 count. Hendry whipped Kaz hard over the top rope. He hit his stalling suplex on the floor. Hendry rolled back into the ring to break the referee’s count. Kaz took brass knuckles out of a bag at ringside. Hendry pushed the referee out of the to get at Kaz. Kaz smashed Hendry in the face with it and won the match. He tossed the brass knuckles off and Nic Nemeth spotted them. Nemeth gave them to the referee and explained what had happened. Another referee came down and backed up Nemeth’s story. Santino Marella came down to restart the match. Hendry tried a quick roll up on Kaz for 2. Kaz nailed a hard clothesline. He bounced off the ropes for another clothesline but Hendry caught him and hit the Standing Ovation for the win after 13 minutes.

Winner by pinfall: Joe Hendry

Analysis: ***1/4 It was a good match but I expected it to be a very good match. At least Hendry won, so I won’t complain too much. Hendry vs Nemeth will be great even though face vs face matches irritate me.

Final Rating: 6.25/10

That was an enjoyable show that showcased a lot of the different divisions that TNA has. Most weeks, something is forgotten about or only briefly covered by a video package so tonight felt like the ball started rolling for Bound for Glory in every division. There was only one match over the 10-minute mark, which was the main event. So it wasn’t a great night of wrestling, but there were 6 matches so it was TNA trying to show off as many wrestlers as possible on the road to BFG. I’m not usually a fan of that because I enjoy longer matches however we saw the debut of Lee, lots of Knockouts action, some intrigue in the tag team division and finally Joe Hendry gets his World Title shot. That was the first show in a long time that I can recall which The System wasn’t on.

The next TNA PPV is Bound for Glory on October 26th. Here’s the card so far:

* TNA World Championship: Nic Nemeth (c) vs Joe Hendry

* TNA Digital Media Championship: Monster’s Ball Match: PCO (c) vs Matt Cardona

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!