Coverage

Mitchell’s WWE NXT UK Results & Report! (1/20/22)

The Heritage Cup is on the line!

Published

3 years ago

January 20, 2022

Steven Mitchell

Will A-Kid make history again?

The Spanish Sensation made history by being the first-ever NXT UK Heritage Cup Champion. Can he make history again by being the first TWO-TIME Heritage Cup Champion?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

Pretty Deadly VS Sam Gradwell & ???; Pretty Deadly wins.
Isla Dawn VS Emilia McKenzie; Dawn wins.
NXT UK Heritage Cup Championship: Noam Dar w/ Sha Samuels VS A-Kid; Time Limit Draw, Dar retains the NXT UK Heritage Cup.

PLAY BY PLAY

Pretty Deadly VS Sam Gradwell & ???

Sam Stoker & Lewis Howley didn’t appreciate being snubbed from the NXT UK Tag Team Contender’s series, but they also didn’t appreciate the Thunderstorm calling them names. They’re looking to get back at him, and whoever Gradwell managed to find for a tag partner. Did Gradwell get someone to team with him? Or will he end up in a Pretty Deadly handicap match?

Before the match, NXT UK shares Gradwell’s journey to finding a tag partner. He surprised Nathan Frazer during a workout, asks the pizza guy, the drive-thru attendant, A-Kid while he’s in the restroom, and even tweeted at Stone Cold Steve Austin! And Elon Musk! And Paul McCartney! Gradwell says Pretty Deadly think he has no friends, and Frazer says they might be on to something. As for A-Kid, he reminded Gradwell that he has a match for Thursday, the Heritage Cup match. Frazer reminded Gradwell that he claimed there were more cows than people on the Jersey Islands, Frazer’s hometown. Frazer at least wished Gradwell luck on the search.

A-Kid brought up how Gradwell insulted Spain and Gradwell says that could’ve been anyone. Gradwell tried asking a coach and got an arm-drag for his troubles. But then it struck him: Finlay! Finlay loves to fight, right? But then Kenny Williams laughed at Gradwell, saying, “That is preposterous!” Gradwell replied with, “You wot, mate?” and Kenny got up to repeat it, “That was preposterous.” The lights are preposterous, the camera crew is preposterous, and Gradwell himself is a buffoon! Gradwell grabs Kenny by the ear and tells him not to forget where a little cockroach sits on the food chain! But then, just who is Gradwell’s partner?

Gradwell is waiting at gorilla and wonders where his partner is. Oh here he comes! Right on time! Saxon Huxley is Gradwell’s partner?! “You can count on Saxon!” Will the raving mad Divine Beast of the Astral Plane help the Thunderstorm crush the former tag team champions?

The teams sort out and Gradwell starts with Howley. They stare down, tie up, and then break. Gradwell smirks as he and Howley circle again. They tie up and break again, and Gradwell still smirks. They go again, Howley turns Gradwell around to CLUB him in the back. Gradwell comes back to headlock, Howley powers out but Gradwell runs him over! Howley scrambles back to his corner, Stoker tags in, Howley gets Gradwell’s leg and Stoker runs him over! “No one likes you, Sam!” Stoker brings Gradwell up for EuroUppers, whips him corner to corner hard, then throws forearms. Stoker whips corner to corner, Gradwell reverses and Stoker tumbles up, back and into a forearm!

Gradwell has Stoker by the ear! Gradwell CLUBS the ear, scoops and SLAMS Stoker, then tags Huxley! Fans fire up as Huxley corners Stoker, keeps him from getting away, but then Stoker gets around to CHOP and CHOP and forearm. Stoker avoids the boot, headlocks and punches, but Huxley powers out. Things speed up and Huxley runs Stoker over! Huxley stomps around, knees Stoker t ropes, then whips him for another knee. Huxley whips to scoop for a BACKBREAKER! Huxley runs, steps on Stoker, keeps running, and keeps running, to drop a big elbow! Huxley keeps moving and he CROSSBODIES Stoker against ropes! Cover, Howley breaks it!

Howley tags in, he RAMS into Huxley and fires off hands! Howley whips, Huxley reverses and SPLASHES in the corner! Then a whip the other way, but Howley elbows back! Only to run into a THESZ PRESS! Huxley runs, but Stoker saves Howley from the crossbody! Howley drags Huxley up to POST him! Howley stomps away on Huxley, drags him up and RAMS him into the corner. Tag to Stoker, and Howley holds Huxley in for Stoker’s flying uppercut! Stoker stomps away, fans chant, “We Want Yogurt!” Stoker blocks a boot to CLOBBER Huxley at the ropes. Tag to Howley, Pretty Deadly double suplex to hang Huxley out on the ropes! Cover, TWO!

Howley drags Huxley up but Huxley throws body shots. Howley clinches to KNEE Huxley low over and over! Howley stomps Huxley at the ropes, fans rally up, but Howley stomps Huxley down. Huxley hits back from below with more body shots, but Howley knees him down! Howley drags Huxley up into a cobra twist, Huxley endures, even as Howley jams elbows into his ribs. Stoker reaches out and links up with Howley for more leverage! But Huxley fights up! Howley CLUBS him in the side to stop that but fans sing and rally for Huxley. Huxley endures as Howley digs his elbows in. Huxley shakes and fights to pick Howley up! And THROW him off!

Huxley and Howley crawl, Howley anchors Huxley to tag Stoker! Stoker gets the leg, but Huxley fights his way up, hot tag to Gradwell! The Thunderstorm rallies on Stoker! Gradwell hits a big forearm in the corner, whips corner to corner then back drops Stoker away! Howley gets in but Gradwell clotheslines him right back out! Stoker kicks low, CLUBS Gradwell to a corner, but Gradwell reverses the whip to knee low! BUTTERFLY SUPLEX! Gradwell goes up, Howley rushes over but Gradwell CLOBBERS him! Gradwell leaps, into an UPPERCUT from Stoker! Fans chant for “GRAD~WELL!” but then Kenny Williams walks out along the barrier.

Huxley is distracted y the Scum of the Earth, and Howley CLOBBERS him off the apron! Williams CLOBBERS Huxley into barriers! Fans chant, “You Suck!” at Kenny, but Gradwell CLOBBERS Stoker! Huxley is down, though, with Williams waving and laughing. Stoker tags Howley in! SPILT MILK for Gradwell!! Cover, Pretty Deadly win!

Winners: Pretty Deadly, by pinfall

Stoker & Howley may have won, but Kenny Cockroach gets the last laugh here as he gets back at both Huxley and Gradwell. Will Kenny be laughing when Gradwell and Huxley come looking to exterminate him?

Jinny speaks.

“Hope. Amale, you choose to call yourself The French Hope. But I see straight through your pity story. The daughter of immigrants. Has a degree, had a very successful career outside of the WWE. Seems very, very familiar.” But the difference between Amale and Jinny is that Jinny doesn’t exploit her past for sympathy. Jinny doesn’t exploit the past for pity from the fans, because that’s what fans do. Fans pity Amale every time she’s in the ring, because she’s just like them: nothing. Jinny gets in the ring and gets booed because she is everything the fans wish they could be and never will be.

Next time Amale gets in the ring with the Queen of NXT UK, all that hope Amale has is going to be destroyed. Will the Spoiled Princess be the spoiler of hopes and dreams for Amale?

NXT UK looks at the fallout of last week’s tag team tournament match.

Rohan Raja & Teoman are furious over how Gallus cost them the match against Jack Starz & Dave Mastiff! But Gallus tells Die Familie that there’s no more running, hiding or sneak attacks. It’ll be a square go of 3v3! Die Familie can have their candlelight dinners, but GBOT! Gallus is the top firm, this is THEIR kingdom. But Raja says Die Familie has made Gallus look vulnerable. Gallus knows that Die Familie is the most dominant faction! Dempsey says no matter what, Gallus won’t like next week’s results.

And Teoman says it is family VS family, but only Die Familie is about respect, honor and loyalty! Everything that is NOT in Gallus! The Nezar sees all, and it sees that Die Familie will be on top against Gallus. #OneForAll. What happens when NXT UK has an international incident on its hands?

NXT UK hears from Blair Davenport.

“I’m a product of my environment. I am simply what my lineage made me to be. I am a Davenport, from a long line of Davenports. I was taught that everyone who isn’t us is an enemy. Davenports only care about Davenports. And is it really so wrong to only care about yourself? Hate me, ostracize me and reject me all you want, as long as you fear me. Scared, Meiko? You should be. Because I’m fury, and I am fire. And you have put me in a position where I have to show you how cold-hearted I can get. The simple fact is that Blair Davenport is the rightful heir to the NXT UK Women’s Championship. And enemies of the heir beware.”

Isla Dawn VS Emilia McKenzie!

The Wicked Witch of NXT UK has been building power, even through defeat, and now she could be heading for the NXT UK Women’s Championship! Will #SuplexMillie do her mentor proud and stop Dawn before she rises? Or will something wicked this way come?

The bell rings and fans sing for Millie as she circles with Dawn. They tie up, Millie waistlocks, but Dawn reaches back to grab at hair. Millie throws Dawn down and floats to shoot the half, ONE! Millie keeps the facelock to then get a hammerlock. Millie keeps Dawn grounded but Dawn keeps reaching for Millie’s face. Millie grinds the arm, hooks her for a lateral press, TWO! Millie is right back on Dawn to wrench the arm and have a wristlock. Fans sing more but Dawn throws body shots. Dawn headlocks to grind Millie, but Millie rolls to a cover, TWO! Dawn holds the headlock but Millie fights up.

Millie throws body shots, powers out, but Dawn blocks the arm-drag! Millie wrenches through but Dawn wrenches back to whip, and Millie SHOTGUN dropkicks! Then a TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! Cover, TWO! Millie keeps cool but Dawn knees low. Dawn throws Millie out, but Millie shoulders back in! Millie slingshots to sunset flip, but Dawn stays up to DOUBLE STOMP! Dawn BOOTS Millie against the ropes, then chokes her! The ref counts, Dawn lets off with a kick. Dawn drags Millie up by the hair, reels her in, SAIDO! Fans rally as Millie flops to a corner, but Dawn stomps her down. Fans chant, “Burn the Witch!” as Millie throws forearms back!

Millie goes up the corner, Dawn ROCKS her with a right! Dawn climbs, Millie fights back, and Millie shoves Dawn down! Dawn scrambles up but Millie kicks her back. Millie sunset flips through, TWO! Dawn blocks a kick but Millie ENZIGURIS! Millie rallies with lariats, then gets around to hit a BIG back suplex! Dan flounders up, Millie storms in to fire off forearms! Millie whips, Dawn reverses but Millie SPEARS! Cover, TWO!! Dawn survives and she’s furious as she shakes her head. Dawn and Millie stand, Dawn ROUNDHOUSES! Then back suplex, but Millie lands on her feet! Millie gets around, Dawn drops to victory roll, ONE!

Dawn get sup, but into another SHOTGUN! Dawn bails out, Millie DIVES! Direct hit into barriers and fans are fired up! Millie puts Dawn back in, climbs up the corner, and leaps, but FLOPS as Dawn moves! Dawn snarls as she stalks up behind Millie, and drags Millie up for a fireman’s carry. SWINGING SIDEWALK SLAM! Cover, Dawn wins!

Winner: Isla Dawn, by pinfall

The Unholy Enchantress gets another win! She talks to her box of treasures, and she promises she will win the title. She takes out Millie’s wristwatch she took months ago, and returns it to Millie. Is Dawn giving up the treasures to prepare for the greatest treasure of all in the NXT UK Women’s Championship?

NXT UK hears from Amale.

“Jinny has completely misunderstood the message I was trying to send. It’s not about her, it’s not about me, it’s about representation. Unlike her, I haven’t forgotten where I came from. For someone who says she’s a graduate like me, she doesn’t sound very smart. You said I call myself the French Hope. My name is Amale, I AM hope! And hope never dies.” Will Amale refuse to let Jinny crush her spirit?

NXTN UK prepares for another UK Championship match.

The champion, Ilja Dragunov, whose life was always hard and whose path was always difficult. The challenger, Jordan Devlin, the Irish Ace who sees the NXT UK title as the cherry on top of the cake that is his life. Dragunov has his family behind him, but Devlin hopes his family doesn’t weigh him down. One fights for feeling and family, the other fights in spite of the distractions and animosity from the crowd. Dragunov says he is enough, but Devlin says there will be no even playing field. There’d have to be an empty arena match or something. And then it clicks. No one in Dragunov’s corner. Not a bad idea.

If Dragunov is the Czar, the champion, the man he says he is, then face Devlin when it is truly 1v1! No one cheering him on! See if you can step to the Irish Ace when the playing field is truly even! Challenge accepted! UNBESIEGBAR VS Irish Ace, just the emotions in their souls! Devlin breathes in air to breathe out words, but Dragunov breathes in air to breath out FIRE! Next week, only two men walk in, and only one walks out THE NXT UK Champion!

NXT UK Heritage Cup Championship: Noam Dar w/ Sha Samuels VS A-Kid!

The Scottish Supernova became the third-ever holder of this trophy through some nefarious and controversial circumstances, and has held onto it ever since. However, the Spanish Sensation wants to prove he can win the cup again and return to the former glory of being the first-ever Heritage Cup Champion. Will Dar fulfill the East End Bookie’s prediction of a win in the fourth? Or things not go as Dar and Sha plan?

The introductions are made, the cup is raised, and we see if history is made in a rematch from the inaugural tournament!

Dar and AK circle as the first round begins. They feel things out, knuckle lock, and go shoulder to shoulder. Dar cranks the wrists and taunts AK, but AK fights up. AK bends Dar back, Dar bridges but AK trips the legs. Cover, ONE, the two grapple but Dar gets away to ropes. Sha tells Dar to control the pace and the two circle again. Fans sing the Noam-perial march for Dar as the two tie up. AK rolls, trips Dar, drops down for a headlock and even traps an arm. Dar rolls to a cover, ONE! AK grinds the hold, Dar rolls around but AK keeps him down! Dar fights, headscissors, and holds tight as AK tries to kip free.

Dar goes for the rib tape but AK moves around to turn Dar over and pop out. AK has the legs, then a waistlock but the two roll. We’re under a minute as the two fight for control and the two break and reset. They tie up collar ‘n’ elbow, are in a deadlock, but Dar gets an arm. Dar wrenches, has a wristlock and then an armlock at 30 seconds. Cover, TWO, but Dar hits a hip toss. Cover, TWO! Dar is annoyed but AK waistlocks to SLAM Dar down! Fans rally, the last ten seconds count down, AK has the facelock but Dar looks to swing. The bell ends the round, Sha has Dar back off even as Dar eggs AK on.

Dar: 0; A-Kid: 0

Sha talks with Dar about keeping things on his pace. The break is over, on to round two! Dar and AK feel things out again, Dar shoots in to waistlock and drag AK down. Dar floats, AK slips out and facelocks and he keeps on Dar as Dar keeps trying to get away. Dar turns things around but AK bridges up to snapmare Dar down. AK has a cravat, Dar endures and fights up, then snapmarse, only for AK to hold on! AK grinds Dar, Dar uses a fish hook to get free! Dar wrenches to an ELBOW BREAKER! AK goes to a corner, Dar stomps him down. AK hits back but Dar hits a headlock takeover. Dar traps an arm and grinds AK down.

AK fights up, powers out, but Dar runs AK over! Cover, TWO! AK gets to a corner, Dar drags him up to kick the taped ribs! Dar wrenches the arm, has a top wristlock and throws more knees into the tape. Dar wrenches, knees low again, then taunts AK before hooking his nose and grinding his forearms in. We’re under a minute again, But AK pops Dar around to a EUROCLUTCH! TWO, and Dar bails out to the apron! Sha reminds Dar of the time, and Dar resets at 30 seconds. Dar kicks, whips, but AK springboards to arm-drag and dropkick! Cover, TWO! AK has the facelock again, Dar fights up and we’re under ten!

Dar puts AK on the ropes, runs side to side, and he boots, only for AK to dodge him! Dar takes a tumble out to the floor and AK taunts him with his one pinkies out. Sha talks trash and helps Dar up. Sha reminds Dar they’ve got until the fourth, so this is fine.

Dar: 0; A-Kid: 0

Dar steadies himself, Sha reminds him to use strikes. The third round begins and the two feel out another grapple. AK avoids the kicks, blocks a kick, then avoids more shots. AK blocks a kick but Dar ROCKS him with a forearm! AK BOOTS Dar, but Dark puts him on the apron. AK avoids the leg sweep but Dar ROCKS AK with an uppercut! Dar drags AK through the ropes, and he nods, but then drops AK to KICK him in the face! The Supernova doesn’t need to be the Viper, and he covers, TWO! Dar is frustrated but he drags AK up. AK swings but Dar blocks to knee away and KICK AK down! Sha cheers Dar on and Dar aims from a corner.

AK gets up, Dar runs in, but AK kicks! Dar blocks that, shoves AK away then sweeps the legs out! Dar resets, runs in again, NOVA ROLLA! Cover, Dar gets the fall!

Dar: 1; A-Kid: 0

The third ends with a minute and 25 on the clock! But now is the crucial money round! Sha says Dar can win big money on top of the cup with this one! Dar tells AK no one makes Dar bleed his own blood! The fourth begins, Dar shoots in to get a leg! AK boots Dar away, then gets a FLYING ARMBAR TAKEDOWN! Dar clasps hands, scrambles around, but into an omoplata! Dar resists, rolls AK back and has the tights! TWO!! AK gets up, runs in but into a BOOT! Dar high stacks, but with the ropes! The ref sees that and stops the count! Dar and Sha argue with him, but AK rolls Dar up! TWO!!

AK staggers up, ducks the back elbow and PELES Dar out of the ring! Sha shouts for Dar to get up fast, but fans rally up and AK runs in. AK DIVES, but Sha gets Dar out of the way! AK crashes and burns! Sha tells Dar to get up and in so this can be by ring out! The count is climbing, Dar is in, and Sha has his head on a swivel. AK is up at 8 of 10! And in at 9.5!! Dar ELBOWS AK down, high stacks, TWO!!! Dar is shocked and fans are fired up as we’re under a minute! Dar hurries to get after AK, but AK KICKS Dar in the arm! And then the head! Dar staggers into a HAYMAKER! AK knuckle locks, goes up and up and avoids Sha for a FLYING DDT!! Cover, AK ties it up!!

Dar: 1; A-Kid: 1

And there goes the big money!! Sha is freaking out! He’s lost it all! “What’ve you done to me?!” But now, it’s round five! Can Dar even win flat out? Dar flounder sup, but he avoids AK’s attack! Dar dodges again, to sweep the leg! Dar hurries up top, but AK GAMANGIRIS! AK climbs up to get Dar, for a SUPER HALF HATCH! Cover, TWO!! Dar survives and AK is shocked! AK gets Dar with a waistlock for a rear bearhug. Dar fights up, pries free, drops down and kicks away on AK! Dar grapevines a leg, but AK fights up out of the kneebar to an ARMBAR! Dar scrambles, hooks legs with legs to turn AK back over, then get a FUJIWARA!

AK endures, turns over, drags Dar down, omoplata! Dar resists, moves around, rolls, but into a TRIANGLE HOLD! Dar fights to a high stack, TWO, and AK still has the hold! Sha shouts to Dar, Dar kips up to roll back, but AK slips under to GERMAN SUPLEX! AK holds on as we are under a minute! AK gets Dar up, Dar breaks free again to kick and kick and he drags Dar into an omoplata! Dar wants to use AK’s move but AK makes it a cradle! TWO, PENALTY- NO! Dar ducks to get the leg! AK fights up to avoid the kneebar, but Dar trips AK into a REAR NAKED CHOKE! But AK kicks and scrambles to roll back! TWO!!

Under ten seconds and now AK gets Dar for a SLEEPER! AK squeezes tight as the clock ticks away, Dar is still fighting, so AK lets go to run and PENALTY KICK! Cover, saved by the bell!!

Dar: 1; A-Kid: 1

Sha shouts for AK to get back. This is the last round, Dar has to win so they can at least have something! Dar manages to stand, but here’s round six! AK and Dar throw forearms, AK EuroUppers but Dar EuroUppers back! Dar then hooks the uppercut to a backslide, TWO! AK La Magistrols but Dar blocks! TWO, AK has it, ONE! Dar has it, TWO, AK again, TWO!! AK waitslocks, but Sha hooks Dar’s feet to save him! The ref reprimands, AK dodges Dar and DIVES onto Sha! AK takes out Dar’s insurance policy, then body scissors Dar for a HEEL HOOK!! Dar endures, SLAPS, but AK SLAPS back! AK keeps on the hold, Dar throws more SLAPS, but AK cranks harder!

Dar reaches out, ROPEBREAK! AK lets go to KICK the arm! AK drags Dar up, stomps him, but the ref wants him to let off. AK brings Dar up, throws hands, but Dar throat chops! Dar turns things around to KICK, but that’s double-edged given his bad leg! Dar hobbles up, blocks AK’s kick to then BACK ELBOW! Cover, TWO!! AK survives and fans are thunderous! We’re at a minute left in this whole match! If it’s a draw, Dar will retain! Dar has pinkies out, he wants to end this! But he runs into a DYNAMIC DROPKICK! Cover, TWO!?? AK is stunned, but he drags Dar up and fires off strikes! Just 30 seconds and Dar kicks AK in the leg!

AK ducks the roundhouse but not the URAKEN! Roll-up, TWO!! And to an omoplata! AK gets the other arm, CLUBS away on the shoulder, RINGS OF SATURN!! But we’re under 10 seconds!! THE BELL RINGS!!

Time Limit Draw (Dar retains the NXT UK Heritage Cup Championship)

AK can’t believe it! This ends in 1-1, so Dar is STILL Heritage Cup Champion! Will A-Kid ever be back to try a third time? Or must he move on from the title he cherished so much? As for the Scottish Supernova, will he rebuild Sha’s fortune as he continues to reign over the Heritage Cup Division?

My Thoughts:

A great episode, with great stuff set up for the next few weeks. Jinny and Amale both had good promos, I appreciate the spin Jinny was trying to put on Amale’s promo and then Amale getting it through to Jinny that it’s her life and her name, not just a catchphrase. Their match is going to be killer. Same for the promos from Gallus and Die Familie, that Six Man is going to be a lot of fun. For all anyone knows, this could be Gallus’ last hurrah before the move to NXT 2.0. I really hope not but what else is there for them to do if Joe Coffey isn’t seen as singles champ material? It seems Blair Davenport as a persona for Bea Priestly is all in, even giving us a backstory of her lineage. As a Murican, it felt very Harry Potter Malfoy family.

And whoa, an Empty Arena Match for Dragunov VS Devlin? Was this to work-shoot COVID stuff? I do like that Devlin felt Dragunov’s real source of power was the interaction with fans, and on one level, he’s got a point. Dragunov lost to Walter- Er, Gunther, when it was Empty Arena Era of BT Sports Studio. But then Dragunov won when it was TakeOver 36 and fans were in the CWC. But Dragunov won plenty of times when BT Sports Studio was empty, so I have a feeling Dragunov wins in an epic showdown. Devlin also feels like a guy who could move on to NXT 2.0 but again, I hope not.

Dawn VS Millie was great stuff, and Dawn is clearly continuing her story of returning the trinkets she took as her power grows. Davenport may want after Meiko Satomura again, but it feels like Dawn is going to be a force of nature by the time she’s a contender. I loved Gradwell’s montage of failing to get partners, and I loved that Gradwell and Huxley ended up the team. Williams getting involved was an interesting move, maybe Williams gets a buddy to fight Gradwell and Huxley, but who knows. Personally, still hoping Williams, Dar, Sha and Devlin become a faction, but it feels less and less likely as time goes by.

Dar VS A-Kid was great stuff. They gave us the story going in of Dar wanting to end this in the fourth, and that added some drama when it didn’t work out that way. Dar winning because of the time limit draw was actually a great move, and that’s the fun of the British Rounds stipulation they’re using. There’s some realistic sports feeling here where AK could’ve won if he had more time, and Dar survives rather than wins. Maybe AK is on his way to the top title now, and things are open for Dar to face just about anyone next.

My Score: 8.7/10

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Tanahashi’s Final Road to New Beginning!

Evil couldn’t end President Ace, but will The House of Torture still take the NEVER Openweight Six Man Championships from him?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

Kickoff – Masatora Yasuda VS Daiki Nagai; Time Limit Draw.
YOSHI-HASHI & Katsuya Murashima VS Ryohei Oiwa & Hartley Jackson; Oiwa & Jackson win.
8 Man Tag: El Phantasmo, Jado, Shota Umino & Togi Makabe VS The United Empire; ELP, Jado, Shota & Makabe win.
Taichi & Taka Michinoku VS SANADA & Taiji Ishimori; Sanada & Taiji win.
Tomohiro Ishii & Tomoaki Honma VS Tetsuya Naito & Hiromu Takahashi; Naito & Hiromu win.
Six Man Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS Bullet Club War Dogs; War Dogs win.
NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Championships: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Toru Yano & Boltin Oleg VS The House of Torture; The House of Torture wins and become the new NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Champions.
Six Man Tag: Hirooki Goto, El Desperado & YOH VS TMDK; TMDK wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Championships: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Toru Yano & Boltin Oleg VS The House of Torture!

Evil tried to make WrestleKingdom 19 the last time we saw President Ace in this ring but he failed! However, his minions will not stop in trying to ruin the rest of Tanahashi’s last year. Will Ren Narita, Yujiro Takahashi & Sho take these titles back to the House? Or will The Ace, Joker & Rook stand tall?

The House walks out here showing off the belts they literally stole back at New Year Dash, but now the tables have turned! Tanahashi and team attack The House from behind! The fans cheer as The House finally tastes their own medicine! Tanahashi snatches back the belts so that he, Yano & Oleg can stand with them in the ring. The House protests but they’re one to talk. The introductions are skipped, the bell rings, and the brawl is back on as Tanahashi’s team goes back out after The House! Yano whips Sho, but Sho reverses to send Yano into railing! Sho stomps away on Yano, then helps Ren mug Oleg!

Yujiro turns things around on Tanahashi, and then he brings Tanahashi out to No Man’s Land! Sho bends Oleg’s fingers, puts his hand through the railing and pulls! The fans rally for Tanahashi’s team while the ref reprimands The House. Yujiro puts Tanahashi in, then he, Sho & Ren all stomp away! The fans boo, the ref reprimands, but The House all put one out on Tanahashi. Yujiro stands Tanahashi up, then he and Sho double whip Tanahashi corner to corner. Yujiro runs in but Tanahashi dodges! Tanahashi then dropkicks Sho’s leg, then he dropkicks Narita’s leg! The fans fire up and Tanahashi runs at Yujiro.

Yujiro dodges, but Tanahashi ELBOWS him away! Tanahashi goes up to CROSSBODY! The fans fire up again as Tanahashi air guitars. Tag to Yano and he TOSSES Yujiro out! Yano then brings Yujiro out into No Man’s Land, then to the back of the crowd to THROW into some open chairs! The fans cheer as Yano brings out that Great Bash Heel side, but the ref reprimands Yano. Yano tells the ref to leave him alone, and he has a chair! The ref stops Yano from hitting Yujiro! Yano argues with the ref, but now Sho & Ren mug Yano! The ref reprimands them but the mugging continues. Ren leads the ref away so Sho & Yujiro can CHOKE Yano with a chair!

The fans boo while The House also beats up Oleg & Tanahashi. Yujiro drags Yano up and then brings him back to ringside to POST him! Ren brings Oleg around with a headlock and sends him into railing! Then more railing! Then into the crowd! Yujiro uses Yano’s red chair to CHOKE him! The ring count finally starts, but Ren JAMS Oleg up with a chair! The count reaches 10 of 20 and The House returns to the ring. Yano is still down at 15! The fans rally, Yano rises up at 17, and he lurches in at 19! The fans cheer but Yujiro is annoyed. Yujiro drops a leg, then an elbow, then a HEADBUTT! Cover, TWO!

The fans cheer as Yano stays in this, but Ren sends Tanahashi into railing! Yujiro tags Sho, Sho CHOKES Yano with a boot to the neck! The ref counts, Sho stops, then Sho TOSSES Yano out! Sho keeps the ref distracted while Ren JAMS Yano up with a chair! Ren pushes Yano in, Sho covers, TWO! Yano survives and Sho is frustrated. Tag to Ren, he drags Yano up, and Ren whips Yano to ELBOW him down! Cover, TWO! Ren BLASTS Tanahashi off the apron! Ren grins as the ref now keeps Oleg back. Ren CHOKES Yano on the ropes, Sho joins in to CLAW Yano’s eyes, but then the ref counts. Ren lets off and Yano flops down.

Ren drags Yano up, but Yano pulls hair! Ren breaks free, knees low, then runs up. Yano dodges, clinches, and BELLY2BELLY SUPLEXES! The fans fire up, Yano hot tags Oleg! Oleg jumps in and CLOBBERS Ren! Oleg then deadlifts Ren, but Sho attacks! The fans boo, Sho runs, SPEAR bounces off of Oleg! Oleg then deadlifts Sho! Shake, Shake, Shake! But Yujiro CLUBS Oleg! Yujiro & Ren double whip, but Oleg DOUBLE SHOULDER TACKLES! The fans fire up and Oleg runs at the corner to SPLASH Ren! Then he scoops and TOSSES Ren! The fans fire up as Oleg then runs to SPLASH! Cover, TWO!

Ren survives but Oleg deadlifts Ren right to the fireman’s carry! Ren fights free, CHOKES Oleg, but Oleg breaks free! Oleg winds up but Ren ducks the chop! Ren CHOKES Oleg, the ref counts, but Oleg CHOKES Ren! The fans cheer, and then Oleg TOSSES Ren to the corner! Tag to Tanahashi and the fans fire up! Oleg and Tanahashi haul Ren up, double whip him corner to corner, then Tanahashi sends Oleg in! Oleg ELBOWS Ren, then Tanahashi SPLASHES! Tanahashi scoops and SLAMS Ren into the drop zone! Oleg goes up, up and VADER BOMBS! Tanahashi goes up to SUNSET SENTON! Cover, Yujiro breaks it!

Oleg CLOBBERS Yujiro for that, then goes out after him. The fans fire up as Tanahashi powers up. Tanahashi runs, but Sho gets a cheap shot in! Ren BOOTS Tanahashi, tags Sho, and Sho BLASTS Yano! Yujiro turns things around on Oleg and now The House double whips President Ace! Sho runs in to forearm SMASH! Yuijro BOOTS! Ren ELBOWS Tanahashi! Ren & Sho snapmare Tanahashi, then hold the legs open! Yujiro shoves the ref aside, then FALLING HEADBUTTS Tanahashi down low! The fans boo but now Sho covers, TWO!! Tanahashi survives and Sho argues with the ref! The fans rally for Tanahashi, but Ren has his repaired pushup bar!

Ren takes aim, Tanahashi dodges, SHOTEI! Sho kicks, Tanahashi blocks to DRAGON SCREW! Yujiro runs up, but gets caught into a TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! The fans fire up as Tanahashi crawls for his corner! Hot tag to Yano! Yano unties a buckle pad! The fans cheer, Yano whips, but Sho reverses! Yano stops from hitting the buckles, then he dodges Sho to send him into bare buckles! Yano rolls Sho up, TWO!! Sho escapes but Yano hurries to get Sho’s legs! Oleg hops in, CATAPULT into Oleg’s BELLY2BELLY! The fans fire up as Yano then stands Sho up, ONIGO- NO, Sho fights free! Sho dodges, but the ref stops him from hitting a low blow!

The ref and Sho argue, but Yujiro & Ren mug Yano! They double whip Yano, but Yano grabs ropes. Yano then sends Ren into Yujiro to DOUBLE LOW BLOW them! Atomic drop for Sho! Tanahashi runs up, SLINGBLADE! Oleg deadlifts Sho right into a fireman’s carry and DEATH VALLEY DRIVER! But YOSHINOBU KANEMARU is here! The Heel Master gets on the apron, but Young Lions already apprehend him! Yano hauls Sho up, for ONIGOROSHI!! Cover, KANEMARU TOSSES THE YOUNG LION ONTO THE REF! The fans boo but Kanemaru attacks Yano! But then Yano hits him with an atomic drop!

Kanemaru WHISKEY MISTS!? Sho LOW BLOWS Yano!! Sho rolls Yano up, HOUSE OF TORTURE WINS!!

Winners: The House of Torture, by pinfall (NEW NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Champions)

What a travesty! A miscarriage of justice! Evil isn’t even here, but his army of darkness just won the gold! Yano is upset, Tanahashi is disappointed, but Oleg is mad! Oleg storms back in, only for Yujiro to BELT SHOT him down! Yujiro then kicks Oleg out, and shows he’s pretty sore from the low blow. Will these belts help the House feel much, much better?

Six Man Tag: Hirooki Goto, El Desperado & YOH VS TMDK!

The Fierce Warrior won the New Japan Ranbo to earn his shot at the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, so that means he and Zack Sabre Jr. will do battle for the New Beginning! Will the Rogue Luchador & Direct Drive help Goto gain the upper hand? Or will Kosei Fujita & Robbie Eagles help The Mighty Front Man prepare for war?

The teams sort out while all of TMDK’s title belts are put aside. The Japanese Young Punk steps to Despy, so Despy accepts. The fans cheer and the bell rings. Despy and Fujita stare down while the fans rally. Despy has the majority, and the two circle. They feel things out, Despy facelocks but Fujita slips around to waistlock. Despy slips out, moves around, but Fujita stays on him. They go around, break, and the fans cheer. They tie up, Despy wrenches to hammerlock, but Fujita elbows free to hammerlock back. Despy switches, Fujita switches, repeat! They go hammerlock for hammerlock, but then Despy top wristlocks to wrangle FUjita!

The fans cheer, Fujita fights up, but Despy shifts to a cording hold. Fujtia whips but Despy reverses and arm-drags! Fujita comes back, he avoids the arm-drag, and then he CHOPS! Despy is stinging, but Fujita CHOPS him again! And CHOPS him again! The fans cheer, Fujita CHOPS again, but now Despy CHOPS! Fujita CHOPS, Despy ends up in the Mighty corner, and Eagles tags in. Eagles CHOPS, but then Despy CHOPS! Eagles shoves Despy and says he’s bored. He wants Yoh! The fans rally for Yoh, so Despy tags him in. The fans cheer as Yoh and Eagles circle. Wait, Yoh starts up the “ROBBIE ROBBIE ROBBIE!” “OI OI OI!”

Eagles is rather amused, and says not bad. Eagles starts it up for himself, but Yoh sneaks up! Eagles stops the schoolboy and sits on the cover, TWO and Yoh has the sunset flip! TWO, both men stand and point at the other! The fans applaud, then Yoh kicks low. Yoh whips, Eagles reverses to go up and around to arm-drag! Eagles runs in, Yoh sidesteps but Eagles hurdles. Eagles RANAS then WHEEL KICKS! Eagles kips up and the fans cheer. Eagles puts Yoh in a corner, and he says “ROBBIE ROBBIE ROBBIE!” CHOP CHOP CHOP! “ROBBIE ROBBIE ROBBIE!” CHOP CHOP CHOP! “ROBBIE!” CHOP! “ROBBIE!” CHOP! “ROBBIE ROBBIE ROBBIE!” CHOP CHOP CHOP!

The fans cheer while Yoh flounders around. Eagles whips, Goto sneaks a tag, then Goto & Yoh DOUBLE SHOULDER TACKLE Eagles! They BLAST ZSJ and Fujita, then call to Despy! Despy says no thanks, they can go ahead. “Se~ no!” DRUM BEAT on Eagles’ back! Goto asks if Despy is sure he doesn’t want in, and Despy says it’s fine. Goto CLUBS Eagles, but Eagles fires body shots! Eagles fires a forearm, but Goto knees low! Goto fireman’s carries, but Eagles fights free. Eagles waistlocks, Goto elbows free and runs, only for ZSJ to trip him up! Eagles BLASTS Yoh & Despy off the apron while Fujita basement dropkicks Goto!

ZSJ spins Goto around to be on the apron, then gives him a NECK TWIST! The fans cheer and ZSJ brings Goto out to UPPERCUT him down! ZSJ brings Goto up to UPPERCUT again, then UPPERCUTS him again! Goto stumbles and falls, Eagles CHOPS Yoh, and Fujita CHOPS Despy! ZSJ brings Goto up and wrenches his arm, then wrenches it again. But Goto fires forearms in return! ZSJ UPPERCUTS Goto again, the CHOPS continue by the ramp side, and ZSJ puts Goto in. Eagles tags ZSJ in whiel Fujita and Despy CHOP each other back and forth. ZSJ clamps on a headscissors and he squeezes tight!

Goto endures, reaches out, ROPEBREAK! ZSJ lets go cleanly and brings Goto to the corner. Tag to Fujita and he stomps Goto. Fujita drags Goto up while fans rally, and Fujita wrenches to an ELBOW BREAKER! Fujtia wrenches again, ELBOW BREAKER! And again, ELBOW BREAKER! Fujita wrenches, top wristlocks, and he wrangles Goto to the mat. Fujita STOMPS that arm, then he tags Eagles. The Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions get Goto’s arms while ZSJ steps in to have a leg! Goto endures as TMDK cycles through the armlocks and leglocks! Red Shoes counts but TMDK keeps rotating before he reaches 4!

Then TMDK returns where they started, and Goto endures the DOUBLE STRAIGHT ARMBARS and INDIAN DEATHLOCK! Red Shoes counts, all three men let go at 4! ZSJ stands, he still has the deathlock, and he bridges back! Goto endures, keeps his shoulders up, but ZSJ stands to tag in Eagles. Eagles drags Goto around, then hits a KNEE JAMMER! Tag to Fujita, they drag Goto up, and they double whip him to ropes. They DOUBLE ELBOW Goto down, ZSJ hops in for a NECK TWIST! Goto sits up into a DOUBLE PENALTY KICK! Cover, Despy breaks it! The fans cheer but Red Shoes reprimands.

Despy stands down, but Fujita BLASTS him off the apron! Fujita drags Goto up, wrenches, and whips him to a corner. Fujita runs up to CHOP, then he snapmares to PENALTY KICK! Cover, TWO! The fans cheer but Fujita coordinates with TMDK. Fujita drags Goto up, and he wants to do the Chaos drum thing? ZSJ isn’t so sure but Eagles is for it. Eagles steps in, but Yoh runs up! Eagles kicks Yoh, and “Se~ no!” Eagles & Fujita DRUM on Yoh! The fans cheer and ZSJ acts like he doesn’t know what’s going on. The fans cheer for ZSJ to join in, but he puts up the X, that’s not for him. Eagles & Fujita DRUM away on Goto!

Goto stands up and grabs Fujita by the face! Eagles CLUBS Goto, he and Fujita double whip, but Goto DOUBLE LARIATS first! The fans fire up while they’re all down! ZSJ storms in and grabs Goto’s leg! ANKLE LOCK! Goto endures, fights around, and rolls through to throw ZSJ! ZSJ comes back to RAM Goto, then he runs, only for Goto to RUN him over! The fans fire up while both men are down! Goto crawls, hot tag to Despy! Despy runs at the corner to ELBOW Fujita! Despy reels Fujita in for a suplex, high and hard! Cover, TWO! Despy fires up and the fans are with him! Fujita underhooks, PINCHE- NO, Fujita fights free!

Fujita swings but Despy blocks the chop! Despy knees low, whips, but Fujita reverses to GAMANGIRI! The fans cheer while both men are down! Fujita roars while he rises up, and he storms back to Despy. Fujita waistlocks, deadlifts Despy, but Despy fights the suplex with elbows! Despy is free, but Fujita runs up to slip around and backslide! Despy rolls through, Fujita KICKS him down! Cover, TWO! The fans rally up and Fujita fires up again. Fujita drags Despy back up, reels him in, and suplexes, but Despy fights that. Despy wrenches, but Fujita ROCKS him! Despy ROCKS Fujita in return!

Fujita and Despy keep the wristlock while they fire forearm after forearm back and forth! The fans rally up as the shots go faster and faster, but then both men wobble! Fujita fires a forearm, then another! Despy ROCKS Fujita in return! Despy runs, Eagles slips in, SOBAT! Fujita UPPERCUTS! Eagles scoops Despy but Yoh makes the save! Eagles kicks Yoh, he and Fujita double whip, but Yoh reverses to crisscross them into each other! FALCON- NO, Eagles slips out, but Yoh switches! Yoh feeds Eagles to Despy’s ELBOW! Yoh reels Eagles back in, FALCON ARROW! The fans fire up but Fujita runs up!

Despy & Yoh double kick, double whip, but Fujita DOUBLE SHOTGUNS! Fujita kips up, the fans fire up, and Fujita whips Despy, but Despy reverses to SPINEBUSTER! Both men are down and the fans fire up again! Fujita and Despy crawl for their corners, hot tags to Goto and ZSJ! The fans fire up as both men run in, Goto LARIATS ZSJ! Goto roars and the fans are with him! Goto fires a flurry of forearms, then whips corner to corner. Goto runs in, MURAMASA! Then SAIDO! Cover, TWO! ZSJ survives and Goto fires up again! Goto fireman’s carries but ZSJ pulls on an arm! Goto powers out and ROCKS ZSJ!

Goto runs, ZSJ wrangles him to a FUJIWARA ARMBAR! Eagles & Fujita BLAST Yoh & Despy off the arm! They have Yoh & Despy stuck on the outside with armlocks while ZSJ has the DISARMER! Yoh breaks free of Eagles and DROPKICKS ZSJ! Eagles returns to SUPERKICK Yoh! Despy is in, Eagles slips around and feeds him to Fujita’s MISSILE DROPKICK! The fans fire up and TMDK drags Goto up. But Goto fires forearms on Eagles & Fujita! They DOUBLE CHOP, then double wrench! MAX- NO, Goto fights free and kicks Fujita! Goto deflects Eagles’ kick to LARIAT! Fujita kicks Goto, runs, but Goto follows! LARIAT!

ZSJ RAMS Goto, whips, but Goto reverses! Fireman’s carry, USHIGOROSHI! The fans fire up while ZSJ clutches his head. Goto hauls ZSJ up, dragon sleepers, but ZSJ drops down! Goto drops onto ZSJ for a cover, TWO!! ZSJ is up, Goto sends him into a corner! RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP, into a GOTO SAN SHIKI!! Cover, TWO!! ZSJ escapes, BOOTS Goto, then runs! DOUBLE LARIATS collide! Neither man falls, so DOUBLE LARIATS collide again! Goto roars, runs, but ZSJ KCIKS the lariat, PELES the other arm, then SWEEPS the legs! Goto falls, but then sits up, into a PENALTY KICK! The fans fire up and ZSJ hurries to drag Goto back up.

ZSJ scoops, ZACK- NO, Goto slips free and has the SLEEPER! Goto sits ZSJ and rolls him, GOTO NI SHIKI!! TWO!! ZSJ has the legs, JAPANESE LEG ROLL CLUTCH, with bridge!! TMDK WINS!!

Winners: TMDK, by pinfall

It was a fast and furious finish of technical holds, but who else but the best technical wrestler in the world would pull it out? Goto is frustrated for getting caught like that, but will he avenge himself in just 12 days?

As for TMDK, Eagles starts off by saying, “G’day, Sendai!” Eagles then pretends to check his watch, and asks, “Rocky doki desu ka? <Where is Rocky?> Zabishii. <How lonely.>” The fans chuckle at Eagles’ fake crying, and Eagles then tells Yoh & Rocky that next month in Osaka, see you then! The fans applaud, and then Eagles offers the mic to Fujita. The fans cheer Fujita on, and Fujita accepts. “That lariat turned me inside out, so I’ll keep this short! I’m beating El Desperado!” The fans cheer that, ready to see Fujita challenge Desperado for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship on Tuesday, February 4th!

And lastly, that brings things to The Front Man. ZSJ takes the mic to say, “People of Sendai, thank you very much!” The fans cheer, but then ZSJ tells “Ko-kun” and “Robbie-chan” to “cut that drumming bit. It was lame.” The fans chuckle again, and ZSJ says 2025 isn’t the Year of the Snake. No, it’s all orange! ZSJ promises that TMDK won’t just paint NJPW orange, but the entire world! “Osaka will be here soon enough. Goto, this is your last chance. Let’s make the most of it.” The fans like the sound of that! ZSJ says they’ll end with this: This year revolves around TMDK! Arigato gozaimashita! The fans are ready, will the New Beginning in Osaka be Mighty?

My Thoughts:

A very good event for NJPW, though “Road to” always indicates more tune-up filler than thriller. Gabe Kidd going after Yota Tsuji and the Global Heavyweight Championship is an interesting development, but that is going to be a great match. The NEVER Openweight Six Man Championship match was really good stuff, and I was only a little surprised that The House of Torture won. Firstly, Tanahashi has to lose those titles at some time, so might as well pull off the Band-Aid now before The New Beginning events. Then this works with the story from Oleg and Josh Barnett where Barnett wants to help Oleg reach that singles title level.

And very good Six Man Tag main event to not only build Goto VS ZSJ but also Desperado VS Fujita. Great win for TMDK, but we have a lot of other Road to New Beginning events to build Goto VS ZSJ. A lot of filler 10 Man Tags are on the schedule, but I probably won’t be bothering with those. Despy VS Fujita will be great, but Fujita and Eagles are already the tag champions, so I don’t see Fujita winning. As for Goto VS ZSJ, ZSJ said it himself that this is very likely Goto’s last chance at ever being the top champion in NJPW, but I don’t see Goto winning. It’ll be an epic battle, but I feel like ZSJ is going to stay on top.

My Score: 8.7/10

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Coverage

Andrew’s TNA iMPACT! Results & Match Ratings: 1.30.25

Are we gonna get consecutive weeks of momentum or we gonna get the “LOL TNA” moment already?

Published

6 hours ago

January 30, 2025

Andrew Balaz

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+!

Get 1 month FREE of TNA+ with code: NXTNA pic.twitter.com/LP8ghA78Pv

— 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

Get one month FREE with code: NXTNA pic.twitter.com/UIU5GgiylE

— 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.