Fandango (JDC) made an appearance on NXT television, Joe Hendry was in the Royal Rumble, and TNA got plenty of name drops between all of the WWE programming. So it’s nice to see this partnership is coming off very healthy early on.

Tessa Blanchard WILL NOT be in the Knockouts Battle Royal!

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— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) February 7, 2025

Ratings:

• Tyson Dupont w/Wes Lee & Tyriek Igwe vs Ace Austin: Ace wins via The Fold – ** 3/4
• 10 Knockouts Battle Royale: Rosemary vs Jody Threat vs Dani Luna vs Ash by Elegance vs Heather by Elegance vs Tasha Steelz vs Alisha Edwards vs Jazz vs Savannah Evans vs Xia Brookside: Savannah Evans wins the title shot – ** 1/2
• The Hardy Boyz & Leon Slater vs The System: Jeff wins via Swanton Bomb – ***
• Matt Cardona vs Mike Santana: Santana wins via Spin the Block – ** 1/2
• NXT Tag Team Championships: Kaiba Boys (Nic & Ryan Nemeth) vs Fraxiom (c) : Fraxiom retains via Ryan is an Idiot – *** 1/2

Results:

Joe Hendry comes out to kick off the show with his concert, and he opens with a “We Are The Champions” parody of “Hendry Is The Champion”. Next song is “Joe Hendry Won the Belt” which is pretty solid and a little arrogant, but so is his entire shtick, then he calls the trope and starts up a song with “This Is The Part Where Somebody Cuts Me Off” and that Somebody…is SOMETHING, Jake SOMETHING. Jake says he talked to Santino for a title shot next week…okay. 

There’s a backstage interview with Masha, and yeah…she sounds very lame when speaking English. The aura is gone, she’s still a great wrestler but hot damn are her promos like Chinese Water Torture.

Tyson Dupont w/Wes Lee & Tyriek Igwe vs Ace Austin

Collar and Elbow ties ups start things off slow until Tyson takes a cheap shot during a break and then runs Ace over off the ropes. Ace tries the Hip Toss but fails, Tyson counters with one of his own, Ace lands on his feet, rolls backwards, chops at the legs with some Sweep Kicks and then gets a quick 2 with a La Magistral. Ace keeps the strikes and Cradles flowing until Tyson sandbags him during an ill advised Suplex attempt, Ace tries something off the ropes to regain momentum but eats a Pop-Up Powerslam for two! Tyson with back to back Stinger Splashes, Whips Ace chest first into the corner, Ace bounces out and turns around to eats a Corkscrew European Uppercut for another near fall.

Tyson tries to take the fight out of Ace with the Full Nelson, but Ace is energized by the crowd. Ace uses the corner and his knees to break the Full Nelson, almost eats another Pop-Up but Full Extension Dropkick gives Ace new life. Rockstar Kick Combo, Russian Leg Sweep, Click Click Boom for two and Ace keeps chopping at the bigger man with Round Kicks to the lower body. Tyson goes for the Warrior Splash and MISSES! Ace turns that into a Fold off the ropes and wins!

Post match beating and The Rascalz show up for the save.

.@ManceWarner and @stephdelander have a target on @TheSamiCallihan!

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— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) February 7, 2025

10 Knockouts Battle Royale: Rosemary vs Jody Threat vs Dani Luna vs Ash by Elegance vs Heather by Elegance vs Tasha Steelz vs Alisha Edwards vs Jazz vs Savannah Evans vs Xia Brookside

Lish decides to mouth off to Jazz immediately and eats The Clamp right off the bat and then hell breaks loose. Cora Jade is on commentary and she’s solid. Lish eliminates Tasha thinking she’s clever and then gets double teamed by Spitfire, so she gets dumped out after her betrayal. Elegance Clique was under the ring but Ash kept her nails visible so Dani pulls her out from under, and Heather was holding on, while Jody gets pulled from the other side. So Dani gets a goofy power spot, Heather gets eliminated, then Dani gets eliminated, Rosemary Spears Jody and eliminates her.

ASH tries to get her, Rosemary and Savannah to attack Jazz and Xia, but Ash doesn’t really attack and Xia and Jazz take control. Ash and Rosemary eliminate Jazz. Xia gets excited and eliminates Rosemary and Ash, Savannah tries to take advantage of the situation but the crowd is all for Xia. Xia manages to get Savannah over the rope to the apron, but Cora gets up off of commentary to distract Xia, Savannah tries a Chokebomb on the apron, Xia fights it off with biting the hand and then eats a headbutt from Savannah to eliminate Xia. So Savannah gets a title shot while Cora Jade mocks Xia for losing.

Eric comes out with the two jabronis and they look even lamer coming out in white hoodies. They look like AEW fans, not professional wrestlers. I love EY leading a group, be it World Elite, SAnitY, Violence by Design or whatever this will be known as…but these dudes are garbage. Steve Maclin interrupts the EY rant, so it should be interesting where Steve lands on this. Maclin asks a great question, why didn’t EY just tell him this was the plan when he knows he earned his trust. Maclin says “As long as they’re with you…I’m not”. So Maclin doesn’t declare himself an enemy, but he just says they’re not cool anymore. Oh and Josh’s music hits. I guess he hasn’t left yet.

Josh is a make-a-wish kid apparently, bald Canadian off, this is like Reptile vs Sub Zero, next week we get EY vs Josh as Josh’s Swan Song. Could be a solid match, so I’m not mad about it…I just hate the jabroni duo. 

.@TheSamiCallihan is NOT in the mood for @FrankieKazarian! @milanmiracle

Watch #TNAiMPACT on TNA+: https://t.co/EkIqqcvwIi pic.twitter.com/d0iq45PMZL

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) February 7, 2025

The Hardy Boyz & Leon Slater vs The System

Leon and JDC start, things get a little weird but JDC tags out to Eddie, Leon has Arm Drags for all and tags in Matt for a little tandem Extreme Elbow into the hyperextended arm action, Matt tags in Jeff for more tandem Arm attacks on Eddie. More Hardy party, Eddie is eating boots like he’s Tony Atlas. Poetry in Motion the classic way, JDC finally gets sick of watching Eddie get dogwalked, but System is getting stacked up and English Poetry in Motion on JDC and Eddie, Moose got knocked off the apron and a commercial break.

Oh look, Moose had Leon in the corner but Leon was fighting out of it. The other System members try to do something but Leon is fighting them all off, looks to fly, but Lish jumps on the apron to block the dive. Leon jumps over Lish and Moose just catches him with an Apron Bomb. Leon beats the 10 count and Moose just jumps on him and tags in Eddie. Kobashi Chops from Eddie, blind tag from JDC, Rocket Launcher into the Forearm for the Slingshot Elbow and JDC tags in Moose to maintain the pressure.

Eddie tags in and wipes out the Hardys, Blue Thunder Bomb, Senton and Down and Dirty from The System, but the Hardys barely make the save to stop the pinfall. Leon counters JDC’s Brainbuster with a Small Package, Leg Lariat from Leon, simultaneous tag and it’s Jeff and Moose. Jawbreaker for Moose, Mule Kick for Eddie, Manhattan Drop on Moose, Jeff is rolling with the classics. He calls for the Twist, JDC and Eddie break it up so it turns into a schmoz as Leon just Slingshots himself into the System. Feint Kick rocks Moose, Hardys take out the others, Leon wanted to go for his Corner Jump but Moose cuts him off with a Pump Kick. Leon dodges the Lights Out as Moose Posts himself, Leon takes out the other members. Plot Twist from the Hardyz, Jeff lets Leon hit the Swanton 450 first, then Swanton Bomb gives Jeff another pinfall victory over Moose.

This better be leading towards a Jeff X Division Championship shot, because that’s two visible pinfalls now.

.@MustafaAli_X had words of wisdom for @TheJasonHotch, @TheJohnSkyler and @RealTSteelz!

Watch #TNAiMPACT on TNA+: https://t.co/EkIqqcvwIi pic.twitter.com/SP8hgpOgS1

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) February 7, 2025

Matt Cardona vs Mike Santana

After the typical chicken shit powder into rope retreat, Santana hits a few Chops and starts movin, Cardona tries to powder again but Santana hits the dive to lay out Cardona. He throws Cardona back in the ring, Cardona powders again and trips up Santana on the apron to finally take advantage of things. There is a “We Want Chelsea” chant going as Cardona takes the advantage. Cardona is making more faces at the camera and crowd then connecting with moves that really matter. A few Irish Whips, a Rude Awakening, just very slow and boring since there’s no real tension in this match. Santana counters for a Cradle, Mule Kick after Cardona is back up, a little rope run into the Rolling Buck Fifty, but only for two.

Santana wants to Spin the Block and misses, Enzuigiri from Santana, Cardona tries to catch Santana off the ropes with Radio Silence but Santana turns it into a Spicolli Driver for two! A slow climb up the corner allows Cardona to crotch Santana into the seated position, ReBoot time, Tiger Driver for two. Radio Silence attempt, Santana catches him, Buckle Bomb, Guerrero Frog Splash, SPIN – THE – BLOCK!  Santana wins.

NXT Tag Team Championships: Kaiba Boys (Nic & Ryan Nemeth) vs Fraxiom (c)

Little grounded Greco-Roman wrestling between Nic and Axiom, Frazer blind tag does take Nic by surprise as Frazer runs circles around Nic for a while before a Dropkick connects from Nic and tags in Ryan. Stereo Shot to Heart spot from the Nemeths. Ryan’s offense is purposely kinda corny, and it’s funny when Frazer finally bests him you just very audibly hear the “Oh Shit” and Fraxiom do a little tandem action rush, Locomotion Dives from Fraxiom, Nic counters Frazer, catches Axiom’s foot and then makes Axiom kick Frazer. Arianna is on commentary and its hilariously ditzy. She says something like “That’s really awkward, he kicked his friend…”, it’s so…adorable in a vapid way.

Back from commercial, Ryan is trying to fight back against Axiom, but a blind tag from Frazer, a Poison Rana into Double Superkicks and a Running Shooting Star is a very close two. Ryan slips a Suplex from Frazer for a Cradle, only two but it gives Ryan space to tag out and Frazer tags out so Nic is riding the hot tag, Stinger Splash into his 10 Shots to the Heart Elbow drops, but Axiom kicks out. Axiom goes for a desperation something and Nic connects with a FAMEasser for two! Enzuigiri from Ryan actually connects, Nic tries a quick pinfall but nope only 2. Ryan tags in and cuts off Axiom while pushing him back into the Kaiba corner.

Nic is trying to keep Axiom grounded, and tags back in Ryan, and its just classic isolation offense. Nothing flashy, oh, Ryan posts himself Nic blind tags but Axiom tags out. Rope Run Lariats, Slingblade, Frog Splash from Frazer but only two! Phoenix Splash attempt misses, Implant DDT from Nic for…two and a half. Nic tries to lift up Frazer, but the twisting Enzuigiri drops Nic and Frazer tags in Axiom. Axiom comes in deliberately, a few strikes, but Nic counters, Superkick on Axiom, Frazer slips and Nic Superkicks Frazer, Danger Zone and Hollywood Ending in stereo! 1-2-KICK OUT!  Ryan tries to whip Nic at Axiom, but Axiom moves, Axiom dodges Ryan but then gets grabbed into an Implant DDT from Nic, Ryan tries something but Axiom and Frazer are rolling, Superplex, Golden Ratio, and Nic makes the save! Ryan is looking for something under the ring, Nic admonishes Mokuba for trying to use a chair, Axiom Dropkicks Ryan into Nic, Nic falls out, Ryan eats the finish and Fraxiom retain!

Overall Score: 6.5/10

Well…I can’t be too angry at all of this. Yes the Battle Royale was dumb and really just put a spotlight on how pathetic the Knockouts Division is right now, but Tessa’s promo was solid, Mance and Steph was a good promo, Hardyz was a good match, main event was a good match…and nothing was really offensive. Yes I hate the Jabroni Squad with EY now, but they didn’t talk, much like usual, they barely exist. Ace and Tyson had a decent opening match and I am a little interested in what Mustafa is building.

Also we get another Jeff Hardy pins Moose moment, so if this doesn’t turn into Jeff getting the X Division title shot then I’m gonna be Brooklyn confused. I have also finally figured out what Arianna Grace’s whole gimmick is, its just Ariana Grande’s character from Victorious and Sam & Cat. Since I didn’t really watch it closely (not really my generation, but AJ did have random Nickelodeon crap on growing up) it didn’t click until we’ve been hearing her talk more during the TNA commentary, and she does the same air headed, vapid yet adorable way of speaking and comes across with a measure of innocence.

But yeah, an okay show if you ignore the Knockouts. At least the NXT partnership will bolster the weakest part of TNA since NXT does truly have the most stacked women’s division at the moment.

Coming off the first Live iMPACT! in 8 years, it has been pretty universally agreed upon that it was not a bad show. Good favor, a larger audience then they’ve had in years and TNA actually did fairly well establishing themselves as not a third rate duelist.

Let’s see if the good tidings continue or if things start to well…TNA.

The official liaison between @WWENXT and TNA, @AriannaGraceWWE, was rudely interrupted by Tessa Blanchard while speaking with @MeanGiaMiller!

Watch #TNAiMPACT on TNA+: https://t.co/9IIhMDrtkn pic.twitter.com/8ImgauBAiO

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) January 31, 2025

Ratings:

• Cora Jade vs Hyan: Cora wins via Jaded – ** 1/2
• Brian Myers w/The System vs Leon Slater: Myers wins via Roster Cut – ** 3/4
• Laredo Kid vs Mustafa Ali: Ali wins via 450 – ** 3/4
• Eric Young & Josh Alexander vs Sinner & Saint: No Contest? EY Turned Heel – N/A
• Ace Austin vs Wes Lee w/Tyson & Tyriek: Wes wins via Cardiac Kick – ***
• Kaiba Boys (Nic & Ryan Nemeth) vs Fir$t Cla$$: Kaibas win via Danger Zone – ***

Results:

Nic Nemeth comes out to talk, doesn’t complain and says he’s just gonna dust himself off and start again. Ryan comes out to complain on behalf of “hiissss brrooother” and run down Hendry. Nic is playing babyface still and Ryan is instigating is typical little brother fashion. Nic tries to appease Ryan saying this could be a big year for both of them, so Fir$t Cla$$ music hits and KC Navarro cuts them off and hands off to AJ Francis. Ryan get mad at them interrupting, Nic tries to calm the situation but Ryan decides to agree to a tag match that Nic doesn’t seem like he wanted to go there. But Santino comes out and makes it official.

EXCLUSIVE: @XiaBrookside welcomed @WWENXT's @CoraJadeWWE to #TNAiMPACT, but things got HEATED fast!

Don't miss #TNAiMPACT TONIGHT at 8/7c on @AXSTV in the US, @Sportsnet 360 in Canada, and streaming worldwide on TNA+!

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— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) January 30, 2025

Cora Jade vs Hyan

Hyan tries a Pump Kick, Cora catches it, lays her out and kicks her feet up in the corner getting cocky. Snapmare with the Hair, into a Springboard Single Stomp from Cora, Hyan is getting throttled along the ropes and putting up much of a fight to start. Hyan is usually just enhancement talent in TNA, even though she does have a solid pedigree in the indies and internationally. Hyan finally moves so Cora smashes herself into the corner, Wasteland from Hyan for a 1 count, Cora counters Hyan’s attempted offense and then hits Jaded for the win!

The match did what it needed to, Cora tried to lay in the boots further, Xia runs out to make a save but Cora baits her into a false sense of security and goes after Xia. So Masha comes out for the save on the person who made the save. Cora comes off looking pretty good and Masha scaring her off helps Masha’s aura.

.@MeanGiaMiller tries to get answers out of @WesLee_WWE, @TyriekIgwe_WWE and @_Tysonwwe_ for his attack on The Rascalz ahead of Lee's match with @The_Ace_Austin TONIGHT on iMPACT!

Watch #TNAiMPACT now on TNA+: https://t.co/9IIhMDrtkn

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— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) January 31, 2025

Brian Myers w/The System vs Leon Slater

Myers grabs the quick Headlock into the Shoulder Tackle and welcome back to 1997 wrestling starts. Myers got cocky, shot Leon into the ropes and eats a Shoulder Tackle from Leon, so a little showboating from Leon gets under Myers skin and causes him to make a few missteps. Leon hits the Feint Mule Kick into the Handspring Back Elbow for 2, but when he tries to continue, Myers pulls him down into the buckles. Myers looks for a Spear, Leon Leap Frogs and Myers eats turnbuckle. He powders, the System shields him from a dive, and we’re starting to see the numbers game come into play.

A Thrust Kick from Myers rocks Leon as he’s coming back in, Strong Irish Whip into a Gator Roll and then Sleeper Hold. Again, offense brought to you by Bill Clinton. Leon gets away from the Sleeper, tries to hit the ropes and Myers does his Baseball Slide Trip. Slow heel moves from Myers, Sleeper, Facelocks, Back Elbows…just slow classic heel offense. Leon tries to fire, eats a Knee Lift. Irish Whip but Leon counters by hoping the ropes to the apron, quick pop shot and then Springboard Crossbody into a series of Lariats and a Shotgun Kick! Leon has the momentum, Blue Thunder Bomb for two! Leon goes to the top, Myers is up, Leon rolls to the other side to avoid Myers, Myers eats a Leg Lariat from Leon and Myers pushes off, Bicycle Kick, Thrust Kick into Implant DDT for only two! Myers looks to Spear, gets rolled up in a Small Package, Kick out, dumped outside, Leon flies over the corner onto Myers!

System surrounds Leon, tries to get a few shots, but Leon has some quick offense for everyone. In the chaos, Lish puts a Ring on Myers’ hand so a Loaded Punch into Roster Cut and Myers wins!

Laredo Kid vs Mustafa Ali

Slow start with Ali being arrogant into a Lucha stalemate section where there’s Satellite counters, Headscissors and a powder to break the nonsense. Corner counters, Overhand Chops from both, they tussle on the top rope, Ali backflips off the ropes, Laredo tries a Crossbody but Mustafa hits a Dropkick. Grounded Abdominal Stretch from Ali, Laredo tries to fight up and out, but Ali slams him back down, talks smack, slaps him and then eats a Michinoku Driver out of nowhere! But only a two count! Ali manages to pull Laredo into the corner pads, tries a dirty pin with feet on the ropes but the referee sees it, Laredo tries a Roll-Up in the disarray, Ali kicks out, they run back and forth, Ali just slides out thinking he’s outsmarted Laredo but Laredo hits the Suicida for a solid pop. Ali pokes the eye and grabs at the mask, Laredo is off kilter, Ali baits Laredo through the corner, hits the Draping DDT off the apron, slides Laredo back in and 450 for the win.

Eric Young & Josh Alexander vs Sinner & Saint

Jabroni duo comes out, and they look stupid, their music is generic Hot Topic trash and the one with hair walks like he’s pretending to be a Delirious fused with a Dinosaur. They look so insanely pathetic. 

Dino-nerd tries a stand switch and suplex but Josh no sells and looks like the older sibling judging the little sibling’s stupidity. Bald jabroni tags in, does nothing, blind tag just for Josh to single handedly lay both out. Of course they’re trying to establish the loser squad, so the eventually have a good defensive moment that catches Josh and isolates him in their corner. He still mostly takes care of both of them. This is honestly pathetic.

Locomotion counter switches in the corner before a Shotgun Kick wipes out Josh, Dino-nerd tries a Lio Rush style splash but misses, Josh tags out, EY looks to tee off but he turns and lays out Josh. EY turns heel…that was not on my Bingo Card, but I’m not mad about it. EY has the maniacal look in his eyes again, so Sanity or Violence by Design could be back? Can he call the group SAnitY since they’re working with WWE now?

Ace Austin vs Wes Lee w/Tyson & Tyriek

Things start slow then a few quick strike spots from Ace. A grounded Heel Kick and Enzuigiri rocks Wes, Wes slingshots back in, Sunset, Ace dodges tries to stay crouched to get cute but Up Kick from Wes kicks Ace in the face. Wes crotches Ace on the top rope, Enzuigiri, Suicida leaves Ace laying on the ramp. Wes hits the Street Fighter combo in with Ace shoved in the corner, the crowd chants “Boring” so Wes revels in the negativity and mockingly does the Rascalz taunt. A few quick shots and Ace kicks out at one and holds the ropes as Wes just lights him up with kicks. Ace asks for more, and goes full Strong Style. A few round kicks to the chest before Wes decides to do the hell thing and a Spinning Thrust Kick to the side of the face. Wes puts Ace in a Key Lock and Ace struggles to his feet before barely slipping the lock.

They trade strikes, Triangle Kick misses for Ace but he manages to connect after with a strike, a few more, Click Click Boom, Seated Miz Lariats in the corner, Wes falls out of the corner, Triangle Kick for the near fall, but the offense isn’t over and Ace hits the Gutwrench Sitout Powerbomb! Ace looks for The Fold, Tyson and Tyriek make their presence felt, Ace does the apron dance and kicks them both in the face. Wes gets dumped out of the ring, Ace with a Fosbury Flop (not the best one he’s done), Tyriek picks the ankle long enough to slow down Ace as Ace walks into the Cardiac Kick!

Wes and crew attacks Ace after the match, so The Rascalz make the save. We’re obviously going to get a 6 man soon, and this is perfectly fine.

Kaiba Boys (Nic & Ryan Nemeth) vs Fir$t Cla$$

AJ starts with Ryan and just shoves him away and demands Nic, Nic gets the best of AJ but AJ tags in KC and KC gets in a few quick shots, some cute counters and showboating before eating a Dropkick from Nic. AJ comes in to try and take out Nic, the Kaibas take out AJ and then dump KC into AJ’s arms and hold the ring going to commercial.

During the commercial a little blind tag and Spiderman in the ropes taunt from KC caught Ryan off guard so First Class is in control. AJ is beating the hell out of Ryan in the ropes, then hits Tennessee Whiskey for the “Money Money Money” taunt. KC tags himself in and starts slapping Ryan around, Dropkick into 305 as KC cuts off Ryan from Nic, throws Ryan in the corner, Rolling Uppercuts, Snapmare, Roll through, Chest Stomp into a near fall. KC tags in AJ and a little tandem offense gives them another near fall but Mokuba refuses to lose…so far. AJ steps on Ryan’s chest and then lays in a few Overhand Chops. AJ slowing things down, looks for a power move but Ryan slips it into a Sleeper Attempt but AJ counters and slams Ryan down for another two count. Two Sidewalk Slams after getting bounced out of the corner, but Ryan keeps kicking out.

AJ takes Nic off the apron, looks for another Sidewalk Slam but Ryan turns it into a Satellite DDT. Simultaneous tag time, KC eats the fire from Nic, two Lariats, Stinger Splash, Rude Awakening, 10 Count Shots to the Heart for…AJ breaks it up! AJ looks for a Down Payment but Nic slips, Superkick, Ryan tries to rock AJ to no avail so they both Lariat AJ out and Avalanche Polish Hammer from Ryan lays out AJ. KC tries the Flash Pinfall but Nic rolls out, a few quick shouts, Spinning Heel Kick from KC for a 2 count. Nic hits a FAMEasser into Danger Zone after Ryan’s blind tag so Ryan gets the cover as Nic just laughs and takes it in.

Overall Score: 6.25/10

Nothing to really be offended by. Some of the stuff was a little low stakes or obvious filler, but stories moved forward with Cora, Wes and the Kaibas. Plus you know, Eric Young turning on Josh is a little unexpected. EY has been the fill in Dreamer/Scott with the “Ra-Ra” speeches and feel good crap for significant shows, so having him go back to Maniac is a nice twist.

Tessa also steering into this “Locker Room bully” persona is smart. It’s not a stretch from what people already think, so steering into the skid is very smart. I may not have been blown away by anything in this episode, but it was definitely decent and did a solid enough job showcasing the partnership and not making the TNA talent feel like an after thought.

All in all, very nice.