Results
- Heather & M By Elegance def. Lei Ying Lee & Xia Brookside
- Mustafa Ali def. The Home Town Man
- Mila Moore, Tessa Blanchard & Victoria Crawford def. Indi Hartwell, Jada Stone & Jody Threat
- Myron Reed def. Zachary Wentz & Trey Miguel (TNA X-Division Championship #1 Contenders) (Three-Way)
- Frankie Kazarian def. Bear Bronson (TNA World Championship)
Dani Luna attacks Knockouts World Champion Lei Ying Lee, costing her the win
Tonight’s episode of TNA iMPACT!, taped last month at the El Paso County Coliseum in El Paso, Texas, started with action in the Knockouts tag division, as The Angel Warriors duo of Lei Ying Lee and Xia Brookside faced Heather and M By Elegance.
Current Knockouts Tag Team Champions The IInspiration were shown watching this match backstage, although it became clear a little later that this bout was more to build a program for the Knockouts singles title more than anything. Brookside and Lee were successful early on, but had their momentum slowed by attacks from the non-legal Elegance Brand wrestler at ringside.
Lee got a hot tag against M, dropping her with a pair of kicks, then a running knee to the head for a two-count. She brought Brookside back in for a double-team elbow drop to the back of M, but it still wasn’t enough to end the match.
M caught Brookside with a head kick, giving The Elegance brand some momentum back. As this happened, Dani Luna charged down to ringside and attacked the current Knockouts World Champion Lee, sweeping her off the ring apron. With nobody around to break a pinfall attempt, The Elegance Brand hit a Bow and Arrow top-rope dropkick to Brookside for the victory.
Backstage, a gutted Santino Marella was asked how he felt about losing a cage match two weeks back against his step-son, NXT’s Stacks. He said he was unable to talk currently due to how upset he was about the match. However, he acknowledged that he still has to do his job as General Manager for TNA. He took a paper out of his tracksuit and handed it to Gia Miller: “Give this to Tom & Jerry.”
After the break, it was announced that Marella had three matches booked on that piece of paper: Next week’s TNA will see Steve Maclin get a rematch against Stacks for the TNA International Championship. At Genesis, X-Division Champion Leon Slater will defend against Cedric Alexander and Moose in a three-way match. Also, Elijah will meet Mustafa Ali at Genesis.
Elijah defends the Home Town Man, chases Mustafa Ali away
Speaking of Mustafa Ali, he was in action against El Paso’s own Home Town Man in the next match.
Home Town Man had the crowd eating out of his hand in this match, chanting along with the rhythm of his kicks at one point. Channelling the energy of his local supporters, the Home Town Man was on a roll early on: He scored an elbow drop then a running bulldog and was setting up for a move in a corner of the ring.
However, Ali having his entire Order Four faction at ringside proved to be useful. The Great Hands hopped onto the ring apron and distracted the Home Town Man, giving Ali the room to score a huge head kick. Ali then came off the top with a 450 Splash for the pinfall victory.
Ali and The Great Hands continued to beat up The Home Town Man afterward and teased doing a deadly steel chair shot to the head. However, this spot was avoided by the sound of Elijah’s guitar playing. An Elijah-like figure with his face obscured slowly walked across the stage, causing The Great Hands to run up the ramp and backstage.
With Ali still staring at the stage, the actual Elijah emerged from the crowd and attempted to strike him in the head with a guitar. Ali was quick to roll out of the ring and avoid the attack. On the mic, Elijah said he hates when someone messes with a friend. He started to play The Home Town Man’s theme on guitar, making Ali irate.
The Rascalz walked into Santino Marella’s incredibly depressing office to ask if the rest of them could get an X-Division title shot. They felt that, since Dezmond Xavier lost his #1 contender match a few weeks back, the rest of them were also screwed out of a chance at the belt. Marella had an idea: “If you guys can fight eachother, the winner will face Leon Slater at the AMC premiere.”
Approaching a deflated, defeated Marella could’ve been a terrible idea that would backfire on The Rascalz. Instead, it got them exactly what they wanted.
Stacks and Grace gloat following steel cage win
TNA International Champion Stacks and Arianna Grace, accompanied by some of the NXT Outlaws, appeared on stage next to address the match against Santino Marella from two weeks back. Grace said that she “put her own father down” in the steel cage match, and explained that she did it to no longer live in his shadow.
“I needed to carve this path for myself,” Grace said. “I’m not sorry for who I am. I’m done seeking approval. From here on out, I stand by Stacks, and there is nothing you can do about it.”
Stacks got on the mic: “Hey Santino, she might’ve been your little girl, but she’s my girl now. And sometimes she even calls me daddy.” Classy.
Tessa Blanchard & Co. pick up six-woman tag win
Six-woman tag action was next, with Tessa Blanchard, Victoria Crawford and Mila Moore facing off against Indi Hartwell, Jada Stone and Jody Threat. Krystall Poppin, the artist who sings Blanchard’s entrance theme, performed it live for her walkout.
The babyface trio was on a roll early on, with Stone coming off the top and to the outside with a splash onto all three opponents just a few minutes in. Stone and Moore, the two new signings in the match, had a fun exchange at one point.
Stone was isolated for a significant portion of the match, but eventually found her way out of the ring. Hartwell got a hot tag against Moore, knocking her down with a pair of clotheslines then a spinebuster for a two-count. She tagged in Threat, who scored an awesome Michinoku Driver. A pin attempt was stopped by Blanchard, nailing Threat with a dropkick.
The match broke down, with each wrestler getting into the ring for a moment. It eventually came down to just Blanchard and Stone. Blanchard came off the top rope with her Magnum finisher. Moore quietly tagged into the match as Blanchard was in the corner, giving her the chance to sneak into the ring and get the pin. This a somewhat fun match, albeit one where its purpose wasn’t totally clear.
The Hardys want nothing to do with The Righteous
We were shown a clip from two weeks ago, when The Righteous grabbed Matt Hardy during the Team TNA vs. Team NXT steel cage match. Backstage, they attempted to recruit Matt to their faction.
“We truly believe that you and Jeff can ascend even higher and become immortal,” said Vincent. “You just need to trust me.” A shaken Matt stormed out of the room.
The Righteous came to the ring for the next segment. A promo about their obsession with wanting to “help” The Hardys was cut off by the TNA World Tag Team Champions themselves.
“The two of you drug me into a Hardy Shrine,” Matt said. “And when I started to come to, the two of you were in my face rambling like lunatics … Not gonna lie, it came off a little cultish, and we’re not interested.”
“You know what we are interested in, though? Fighting,” Matt said, offering a title shot to The Righteous. Surprisingly, Vincent turned down this offer. Dutch said their only goal is to let The Hardys “reach the potential you never knew existed.”
Matt still wasn’t sold: “We have all the brotherhood we need, we do not need any from you.”
They went back and forth a little more before The Hardys eventually walked away, saying they’re only focused on elevating TNA as they head into the AMC era. I’m curious to see where this storyline goes, but wow, this was an incredibly cyclical segment that didn’t really move anything forward.
Later, The Hardys walked into their locker room and saw a massive Hardy-themed vigil set up inside, candles and all. The mind games continue.
Myron Reed earns another shot at Leon Slater
In a matchup booked by Santino Marella earlier in the night, Zachary Wentz, Trey Miguel and Myron Reed faced off in a three-way match, with the winner getting a shot against Leon Slater on the first episode of TNA on AMC later this month. I had some high expectations for this one, since these three had a great four-way match a few months back, along with Jake Something (which was also a #1 contenders match).
Wentz came off middle rope with a Corkscrew crossbody onto Reed to earn a near fall early on. There were some fun double-team moments in the match, with different combinations of The Rascalz forming alliances for just a few moments. Miguel came off the top with a Blockbuster to Wentz, who DDT’d Reed while on the way down, causing a “This is awesome” chant.
Miguel tried to dive out of the ring onto Wentz, but was hit with a cutter as he came through the ropes. Reed took out Wentz with a tope suicida, then Miguel landed on both with a big Swanton over the top rope.
Back in the ring, Miguel scored a huge Meteora off the top onto Reed. Wentz scored a knee strike to the head of Miguel then a UFO Cutter. Reed came off the top with a springboard 450 Splash – Wentz adjusted himself while Reed was mid-air with the move, and this unfortunately caused him to get drilled in the head pretty badly by the move. Anyway, Reed got the pinfall win to earn the #1 contender spot.
Apart from the awkward finish, this was a fun sprint match between these three. While it would’ve been fun to see Slater face someone else from The Rascalz, the previous title match between Reed and Slater was amazing, so it’s hard to argue against seeing it again.
JDC books ‘One Last Dance’ with The System
The System came to the ring for the next segment. Eddie Edwards talked about how much he looks forward to JDC’s retirement match at Genesis: “That match is going to be something the fans will not want to miss.” JDC kissed Edwards on the cheek.
JDC said that before he retires at Genesis, he wants one more fight alongside The System – one last dance. JDC apparently already spoke Santino Marella about this idea, and has a match booked for next week on TV: The System will go head-to-head with quite the strong lineup of opponents: Cedric Alexander, Leon Slater, The Hardys.
Here’s what was announced for next week’s episode:
- Stacks vs. Steve Maclin (TNA International Championship)
- Dani Luna vs. Harley Hudson
- JDC, Eddie Edwards, Moose & Brian Myers vs. Leon Slater, Cedric Alexander, Jeff Hardy & Matt Hardy
Bear Bronson falls to Frankie Kazarian, Mike Santana reveals significant change to upcoming title matchup
The main event of the night saw TNA World Champion Frankie Kazarian defend his belt against promotional newcomer Bear Bronson. This match was made two weeks back when Bronson won a 20-man battle royal, making a splash in just his second bout with the company.
Bronson had a hot start to the match, causing Kazarian to try and head for the ramp early on. Bronson threw him into the ring apron then tossed him through the ropes and back into the ring.
Kazarian got back into the match a minute later by snapping Bronson’s neck into the ropes, then scoring a guillotine legdrop. Bronson regained some momentum after the break, reversing an attempted Sunset Flip Powerbomb from Kazarian into a legdrop. This woke the crowd up.
Bronson started to rally back into the fight with a pair of clotheslines then a side slam. He connected with a splash in the corner, then a powerslam for a two-count. Kazarian countered a Chokebomb into a DDT, giving him a near fall of his own.
Kazarian tried to lock in a Chickenwing, but Bronson escaped the hold by biting one of his hands. Kazarian was knocked out of the ring after taking a clothesline on the ring apron. The huge Bronson went flying, coming through the ropes with a tope suicida onto Kazarian. With the crowd fully behind him, Bronson Irish Whipped Kazarian into steel stairs.
Bronson attempted a powerslam onto the steel steps, but Kazarian escaped the move by gouging his eyes. It was instead Bronson who took a hard bodyslam onto the stairs.
Bronson narrowly avoided a count-out, getting back into the ring at the nine-count. Kazarian tried to keep the pressure on him with a springboard legdrop, but Bronson avoided the move and instead tried for a roll-up pin immediately after.
Bronson searched for a powerbomb but failed to lift him up, selling the damage he had taken on his back due to the powerbomb on the stairs just moments prior. Kazarian capitalized on this moment, scoring his Fade To Black finisher for the pinfall victory. I really enjoyed this match and thought this was a solid way to showcase Bronson. One would hope they keep the momentum on him after this one, either by circling back to this feud after Kazarian wraps up his Mike Santana program or putting him in another high-profile feud.
Kazarian’s expected Genesis opponent, Santana, appeared during the post-match celebration. While in the crowd, Santana got on the microphone to announce something that General Manager Santino Marella told him earlier: Santana won’t be facing Kazarian at Genesis, but instead will face off in a title rematch on the first-ever episode of TNA on AMC on January 15.
Wow, that’s a significant change. Between that matchup and the X-Division bout between Leon Slater and Myron Reed, the lineup for TNA’s first-ever episode on AMC is starting to come together.
