Andrew’s TNA iMPACT! Results & Match Ratings: 2.29.2024

Coming out of No Surrender we get two tapings before Sacrifice! Curious how many rematches and build offs we’ll see since 2 weeks isn’t exactly a lot of time to propagate a fresh feud. The System is in the main event again, Mustafa Ali has his inauguration event, AJ Francis makes his in-ring debut and there’s some Hammerstone buzz that might pay off tonight.

So as I’ve already said once, we don’t have a ton of time til Sacrifice, so let’s get to it!

The IMPACT Zone BELIEVES in @joehendry! #TNAiMPACT pic.twitter.com/RSsJCCRNBW

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) March 1, 2024

Ratings:

• Steve Maclin w/The Rascalz vs Speedball Mike Bailey w/Trent Seven: Maclin wins via KIA – ***
• Laredo Kid vs Jake Something: Jake wins via Into the Void – **
• AJ Francis & Deaner vs Joe Hendry & Rich Swann: Hendry wins via Standing Ovation – ** 3/4
• Tasha Steelz vs Xia Brookside: DOUBLE COUNT OUT – **
• The System (Eddie Edwards, Moose & Brian Myers) w/Alisha Edwards vs ABC (Ace Austin & Chris Bey) & Eric Young: System with a Trios Tandem Backpack Stunner, Yakuza Kick + Machoman Elbow – ***

Results:

Steve Maclin w/The Rascalz vs Speedball Mike Bailey w/Trent Seven

Bailey comes down favoring the leg that Maclin clipped at No Surrender, so Bailey will most likely eat another loss here with injury excuse.

Maclin shoots for the injured leg but Bailey defends back into the corner and manages to hit his Kick Flurry before the leg flares up. Maclin then powders, Bailey follows and its just a Fighting Spirit spot on the outside that resolves in classic NJPW way where both hear the officials count at the same time, stare at each other and slide in simultaneously. Maclin Lariats Bailey back out after the count is broken, Maclin distracts the ref and The Rascalz go after Bailey and the bad leg.

Bailey is now getting dissected, there’s a small comedy spot where Bailey lifts his Left Leg to dodge the offense and adopts the Karate Kid Crane Kick pose, but Maclin front kicks the plant leg out to cause Speedball to land in a split, then Maclin keeps up offense. Tree of Woe, Caught in the Crosshair, but Bailey sits up! Maclin posts himself, eats some offense, powders out and Bailey with a gorgeous Corkscrew Moonsault. Bailey brings Maclin to the apron to try and bring him back, but they start fighting on the apron, Bailey kicks with the bad leg and sells for a second while Maclin Lariats him back into the ring. Speedball with a Sweep, tries the Backflip Knees but misses and crashes on the apron. Maclin hits his SCUD missile Dive, then throws Bailey back in, Jarhead Butt attempt missed, Mayhem for All gets hit by Maclin but only for 2.

Trent causes a small distraction so Bailey manages a Crane Kick, Superkick combo, aims for the Tornado Kick but gets intercepted. Buckle Bomb connects, Powerbomb two is countered by a Poison Rana, Bailey heads to the top for Ultima Weapon and misses hard. KIA ends the match in a win for Steve.

If the name sticks, I do like Maclin and the Rascalz being known as the HIGHerarchy. 

.@NicTNemeth just challenged @SteveMaclin to a match at #Sacrifice #TNAiMPACT pic.twitter.com/lgHMbQlW1o

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) March 1, 2024

Laredo Kid vs Jake Something

Laredo tries a dumb tie up and gets chucked backwards. Then he tries for a few Low Kicks to compromise Jake’s base, but it takes a Headscissor to cause Jake to roll to the outside. Laredo goes for a Plancha into a Rana, but Jake rolls through it and into a Powerbomb on the outside. Both head back in, early pinfall attempt only gets two, but Laredo is reeling after the Powerbomb.

Vader Hammer style strike into an Into the Void attempt but Laredo counters and then starts a little ducking and weaving. Jake goes for a charge and eats turnbuckle as Laredo is floating between ropes, Jake tries to fire but eats a Code Red DDT for a near fall. BME from Laredo Kid for another near fall. Satellite Takedown into a Cradle for another close call for Laredo…but as he goes for his next move attempt Jake just catches him with Into the Void and wins!

.@Big_Kon1 joins @Alan_V_Angels on "The Sound Check" but they weren't alone! @PCOisNotHuman is ALIVE! #TNAiMPACT pic.twitter.com/4G5hfwRQOR

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) March 1, 2024

Thanks I hate it.

AJ Francis & Deaner vs Joe Hendry & Rich Swann

Do we get a heel turn from Swann, does he go 0-5 in the new TNA rebrand or does he finally end up on the winning end? Yeah, the first two are the most likely.

AJ Francis points at Hendry, says he wants Hendry but Rich doesn’t oblige for AJ takes a cheap shot at Joe and then tags Deaner in so Swann and Deaner can finally start the match. Swann rolls early, knocks Deaner to the outside, goes for a Dive but AJ gets in the way to tell Swann he should be with him and not against him. This gives Deaner and opening, he sends Rich reeling, then when he goes for the rope run Joe is there to cut him off. Deaner mouths off to Joe, Joe pulls the Bugs Bunny and points behind Deaner, and Swann is just biding his time with a little dancey dance into a Superkick.

Joe comes in, throws Deaner around a little and then tags back out to Rich, and Rich loses the advantage. Stiff Strike from Deaner into a the hard Irish Whip to the corner, Deaner goes for a second but Swann pulls the Uno Reverse and connects with the Crossbody into some quick offense and then tags out to Hendry. Hendry then initiates the We Believe Chest Chops into a Stalling Vertical Suplex. Hendry hits the kip up and plays to the crowd before hitting his own cheap shot on AJ. Receipts are fun, but that costs Joe the advantage.

AJ tags in and starts manhandling Hendry. Hits his Tennessee Whiskey Knee Strike as Deaner hits the blind tag and Hendry is stuck in the opponents corner. Quick tags between Deaner and AJ keeps Hendry isolated and getting throttled. Francis goes for a Leg Lariat while Hendry is draped on the middle rope, Hendry dodges, AJ crotches himself and Hendry tries some offense. A Dropkick careens AJ back to Joe, Joe goes for the Trust Fall but AJ is too big. AJ goes for a Chokeslam, but Joe counters it into a DDT. Simultaneous tags, Deaner gets lit up, Rolling Thunder for 2. Francis gets in the ring, tries to send a message to Swann but Swann just smacks him. AJ charges, low bridge into Swann hitting a Senton off the apron to wipe out AJ. Lethal Injection from Swann, tags in Hendry, Standing Ovation for the win!

-Wait- Swann finally won a match in new TNA? Color me surprised. After the match, Hendry hogs the limelight a little in the victory and Swann’s face looks like he’s buying AJ’s pitch a bit more. The heel turn seems very much in the works, now just a matter of time.

CHILLING words from @WeAreRosemary and @FearHavok! #TNAiMPACT pic.twitter.com/BGD0jX1ZdI

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) March 1, 2024

.@MeanGiaMiller caught up with @Walking_Weapon to talk #Sacrifice but was interrupted by @DirtyDangoCurty, @JohnEBravo1st & @OlegPrudius! #TNAiMPACT pic.twitter.com/qpSwfc1vQv

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) March 1, 2024

DDIWAPSEA will be fire. I look forward to the DDIWAPSEA Heavyweight Title.

We get Ali’s inauguration speech next, and its what you would expect. The Good Hands act like typical mooks, Ali’s bland presence is the right level of cringe lameness for a political gimmick and it gets cut off by Chris Sabin of course.  Fight breaks out of course, Intergalatic Pizza Cats or whatever the bad name is make the save and Ali makes a very calm exit flanked by his security (this part is actually great). 

After the inaugural melee, ASH by Elegance cuts off everything before the Xia and Tasha match. The “major announcement” is just that she’s going to have a match next week, but she comes out like a super model and not in an evening gown…so I actually really liked her look tonight. Plus her and Iceman are so delusional and hilarious I can’t help but love this gimmick. 

Tasha Steelz vs Xia Brookside

The rubber match no one wanted gets a stipulation of “winner gets a Knockouts title shot at Sacrifice”. This promises to be miserable and make the Sacrifice card kinda trash. 

Lame strikes, Xia screams like 10 seconds into the match to “fire up” for no reason, completely whiffs a Dropkick so Tasha slams Xia into the corner and brings her out by hitting a Jackhammer for 2. Bad Headscissors into a weak looking Dropkick from Xia and a Running Crossbody for 2. Xia tries to lift Tasha, Tasha goes to the eyes and then a few strikes into a bottom turnbuckle foot choke cause their both like 4 foot 10 instead of 7 feet like Kevin Nash.

Xia tries to fight out of the corner but Tasha stays on top of her with clubbing Axehandles into a kneeling Sleeper. Xia Snapmare to break the Sleeper, Flying Lariat, another Flying Headscissors, too much Screaming out of nowhere, Broken Wings to the corner, Cutter attempt is countered, Brooksie Bomb is countered by Tasha. Gamengiri from Xia knocks Tasha to the ground, Xia with a Baseball Slide into Tasha and then a Running Neckbreaker on the outside.

Both cut the other one off trying to get back into the ring, and the count continues, 10 count happens and Double Count Out is declared. Jordynne will probably just accept both of them as opponents.

Look Jordynne comes out and does what was obvious. The concerning part here is that one on one neither could believably beat Jordynne…but as a Three Way Dance, shenanigans are nearly guaranteed.

The System (Eddie Edwards, Moose & Brian Myers) w/Alisha Edwards vs ABC (Ace Austin & Chris Bey) & Eric Young

As we’ve established, TNA 6 mans are very Japanese, so the opening salvos are kinda inconsequential. A few mind games, but everyone gets a chance to shine and hit low to mid tier moves to keep things moving. The System side keeps up with quick tags, Back Rakes, Arm Wringers, Headbutts and just general strategy to keep Bey eating offense. Bey flips out of the move from Myers, tags in Ace and sends Myers reeling. Myers powders, Alisha is trying to fan him down, but Ace comes around the corner. Nice little wrinkle for when Ace was the XXX Division Champion and was trying to bang Eddie’s wife, but Eddie is the heel now. Those interactions are always a bit fun.

Lish does a good job at distracting the referee though and allowing System to eventually stop Ace’s momentum and take back over. Lish gets involved a bit by choking Ace on the bottom rope while the ref is distracted and Ace has had no offense in a few minutes. Myers works him over, tags in Moose and Moose is dissecting him with Garvin Style Stomps. EY and Bey are getting frustrated, but Ace is paying the price and getting manipulated. Quick tags keep Ace rocked, but finally a foot up stops Moose, he fights out of the corner, connects on a Roundhouse Kick and uses the momentum of his jump to tilt Moose backwards to tag in Bey…but the referee didn’t see it!

A few moves delayed, but EY takes the hot tag and starts finding offense, there’s a tornado moment that gets sloppy and looks a bit bad after Moose crotches himself on the top rope. 1-2-SWEET landed on Moose, but Eddie breaks up the pin.

Overall Score: 7/10

Since we’ve got Sacrifice on March 8th, the logic for stories had to be very quick and dirty. The System potentially in line to get a tag title match after the 6 Man makes sense, Knockouts World title picture is messy but could lend to a weird way in getting the belt off Jordynne, Dango being relevant to the show but not really in any major angle keeps him on people’s radar, Kaz’s threat to Santino can lead to things and Maclin versus Nemeth is happening much earlier than I expected.

Honestly, the only match that is bound to be disappointing is the Knockouts Three Way Dance unless Jordynne really kicks it into overdrive to cover both her opponents weaknesses. Oh yeah, and Alexander Hammerstone officially getting signed it the best news to come out of tonight. So now Hammerman just needs to win at Sacrifice and we’ll start some nice momentum to potentially get him a title shot by Slammiversary or Bound For Glory. Hell if Hammerstone takes the belt off Moose at some point and then Nemeth challenges Hammerstone at something like Bound For Glory; that’s pretty box office when all things are said and done.