Andrew’s TNA iMPACT! Results & Match Ratings: 6.20.2024

Against All Odds is over, and it was a much better show than the shows leading up to it would’ve lead you to believe. Maclin and Santana was a fantastic pairing, Nemeths worked fairly well together but came up short and the main event was over booked, but enjoyable. So we have a bunch of  questions: Is Dango officially in The System, where does Mustafa Ali go from here with his facade broken, do we even care about the Octopus anymore, where do the Hardys play into things and who really stands a chance at dethroning Jordynne Grace?

Hopefully we see how some of these stories start to evolve heading towards Slammiversary!

Ratings:

• The Hex (Allysin Kay & Marti Belle) vs Spitfire (Dani Luna & Jody Threat): Spitfire win via Firecracker – ** 1/4
• Chicago Street Fight: Ace Steel vs Frankie Kazarian: Kaz wins via Fade to Black – ***
• ASH by Elegance w/Personal Concierge vs Heather Reckless: ASH wins via Rarefied Air – N/A
• JDC vs Ryan Nemeth: JDC wins via Down and Dirty – **
• Slammiversary World Title Match Qualifier: Eric Young vs Josh Alexander: Josh wins via C4 Spike – ***

Results:

The System walk out, with Dango in tow. As soon as Lish starts talking, the chorus of boos drown her out a bit, which is impressive cause girl is loud. Ahh so Dango gets reintroduced as “Johnny ‘Dango’ Curtis”, so I guess he’s going back to the Johnny Curtis gimmick now. After Dango cuts a promo on his connections to everyone, Moose says he’s not a part of the group…’yet’. Santino cuts off Moose giving the big best group ever speech. He useded his brains, and he’s making a Road to Slammiversary tournament to qualify people into a 6 Way Title match. Curtis Stoogerman is a good joke name from Santino about Dango. 

This Road to Slammiversary qualifier could be a clever way to put the belt on Hendry while he’s still hot without needing to pin Moose. So it keeps Moose strong and pushes Hendry to the top without any major wrinkles.

https://x.com/i/status/1803946459131449560

The Hex (Allysin Kay & Marti Belle) vs Spitfire (Dani Luna & Jody Threat)

To be completely shallow for a second, if you like thicc gals with athleticism and strength, this is your match. 

Jody and Marti start, Jody get the upper hand, T-Bone Suplex from the corner causes Marti to retreat and tag in Allysin. But Allysin is accosted quickly, tandem offense with Shoulder Tackles, Sliding Lariats, Suplexes and the whole nine, but only near falls. Marti does manage to distract the ref after Allysin kicks out, so Allysin can take a few short cuts to take the advantage. Hex connect on a Flipping Neckbreaker, Senton, PK combination for a near fall before shoving Jody into their corner and hitting the Double Knees and keeping Jody isolated. Allysin tries to pick the ankle of Luna to ruin the tag attempt, but Luna shakes off Allysin and Jody shakes off Marti to get the tag in anyway. Dani cleans house until she tries to go for a pinfall and gets double teamed.

Hex tries to set up Hex Marks the Spot, but Dani fights through, tags in Jody, guards the corner for Jody to hit a Stage Dive Senton. They hit a kind of sloppy version of their tandem finish…but they still win anyway.

Alan Angel’s awful interview show has Kushida. So we’re getting information about the stupid DDT Doc Brown Ink thing, on a joke garbage segment. This is either going to be so stupid its clever, or it will be unmitigated cringe. Cringe it is…Alan Angels has the charisma of a dead fish buried in the sand. 

Chicago Street Fight: Ace Steel vs Frankie Kazarian

Ace walks out with a trash can, chucks it across the ring from the outside, Kaz is distracted so Ace just goes right after him. Ace has total control, Lariats Kaz out of the ring and pegs him with the trash can. Rolls King Kaz back in, and looks to kill the king with the Brainbuster into the trash can. Early pinfall, obviously no finish. Kaz reverses the whip, Ace eats the corner with his chest, gets whipped again and spills out of the ring. Kaz takes the remnants of the trash can and pegs Ace with it before chasing him out and bouncing Ace off the steps and ring posts. Kaz chokes Ace with the camera cable to chants of “Dad from Spy Kids”. Kaz throws Ace back in, Slingshot Guillotine Leg Drop for 2.

Kaz goes searching for chairs and throws them into the ring and then also finds a kendo stick. A few chairshots into a Scoop Slam on the chair and Kaz poses to be a cocky dick. One more attempted chairshot and Ace ducks and it bounces off the ropes and hits Kaz in the face. Ace tries to take advantage, whips Kaz to the corner, looks for a Discus Clothesline, but Kaz bails through the ropes so Ace eats buckles, then Kaz scoops the Kendo Stick and hits Ace a few times. Kaz starts to focus on the left arm, traps it in a chair and goes for the Leg Drop, but Ace gets out! Numerous chairshots from Ace even the score, as he grabs the kendo stick and starts lighting up Kaz. Kaz gets hung up in the corner astride the middle ropes, eats a Dropkick from Ace and then Swinging Neckbreaker into a chair for 2! Ace looks for a DVD or something, Chicken Wing slip, but Ace gets out of that with the ropes. Kaz quickly uses the ropes to Slingshot back in with the DDT for 2. Kaz tries a Chicken Wing with Kendo Stick, but a Low Blow breaks the hold.

Ace tries to hit Kaz with the chair, but Kaz double legs him and Rocket Lauchers him into the corner with the chair in his hand. Fade to Black on chairs, Kaz wins!

After the match Kaz with the Chicken Wing on Ace. Hendry makes the save, Kaz tries to cut him off but runs right into the Standing Ovation. 

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PCO has a bunch of people clapping for him and his date in the back, but he attacks them. SDL walks out look like Elvira and…I’m not upset about it. SDL poses a little for PCO during his entrance, holds open the ropes and SDL seems very very into things so far. She even pulls out his chair, and then he grabs her chair and looks like he’s gonna hit her with it, but she calms him down a little. PCO is now lighting the candles and Tom says what I was thinking “I thought he would’ve been afraid of fire”. SDL calls PCO a normal guy, and PCO returns the comment with the Frankenstein grunt. SDL is translating what he says. PCO then drinks some kind of liquid from a decanter, but SDL isn’t a fan of it so calls over the wine and PCO pours the wine for SDL and goes a little overboard. Black spaghetti is the main dish apparently. PCO actually speaks and says it’s the “Stephanie special”. SDL tries to teach him what a fork is, they almost have the Lady and the Tramp moment…but First Cla$$ cuts it off. 

They throw wine into PCO’s face and Rich Superkicks him, SDL actually gets in their face to protect PCO. She gets shoved to the side, AJ Attitude Adjustments PCO and zip tie him to the ropes. SDL slaps the hat and glasses off AJ Francis. AJ Chokeslams SDL through the table as PCO watches. First Cla$$ stands triumphant as PCO wails in the corner tied up.

ASH by Elegance w/Personal Concierge vs Heather Reckless

I mean we all know this is an enhancement match. ASH takes most of the momentum until she gets too cocky, Jawbreaker into some quick spots from Heather in a corner. ASH tries to kick her away can go to the top, Heather with a Shotei, goes for the Spanish Fly, but the Concierge holds ASH’s foot so she doesn’t go with the move, Rarefied Air for the win!

Concierge calls ASH a juggernaut, ASH tries to go for the Juggernaut Driver, but Jordynne comes out to destroy ASH. The concierge actually attacks Jordynne to stop her from Juggernaut Driver-ing ASH, so ASH attacks, claws her eyes from behind, smacks Jordynne with the title and poses with the belt over Jordynne. 

JDC vs Ryan Nemeth

Dango tries to go after Ryan immediately, but he dodges and rocks JDC with a Dropkick. Dango is reeling and Ryan starts bouncing him from pillar to post, Irish Whip and then a Shoulder Tackle into the corner. Ryan goes for a Rude Awakening, but JDC claws the eyes and then hits a Backbreaker to finally get in some offense. JDC with locomotion European Uppercuts into the corners, but Ryan dodges the third, hits the Jumping DDT, into the Rude Awakening, but JDC powders. Ryan throws him back in, tries to follow, but JDC kicks the middle rope, Air Raid Crash into Down and Dirty, JDC wins!

Myers and Edwards come out to celebrate, and mug Ryan. Nic Nemeth runs down to make the save and cleans house. 

Slammiversary World Title Match Qualifier: Eric Young vs Josh Alexander

Things start off slow, collar and elbow tie ups, Arm Wringers, Rope Run, Back Elbow…oh EY does the Flair corner flop, Josh chases and EY ducks and connects with the shoulder into the gut, slides in through the five hole and starts rolling a little. After reeling a bit Josh counters and tries to slap on a Sharpshooter, EY counters into his own Sharpshooter, but Josh breaks at the ropes. EY wrestles Josh down and puts him in a Chin Lock, before Josh starts to finally fire back. EY telegraphs the Back Drop off the whip, Josh kicks him, throws him and lands his own Back Drop. Bounces EY off the corner buckles, hits a King Kong Knee Drop for 2. Josh starts up the Angle German Suplexes, but EY stops it before the third. EY tries the Discus Forearm, Josh kicks the arm, tries something but EY counters it into the Death Valley Driver. EY looks for a chance to continue but Josh fights him off, EY gets seated onto the apron, Low Crossbody spot, EY gets throw back in, Josh goes for the Moonsault – BUT MISSES!

EY slowly heads to the top for the Elbow, Josh tries to cut him off, but EY fights him off and hits the Macho Elbow for a near fall! Wheelbarrow Neckbreaker into Piledriver from EY! 1-2-FOOT ON THE ROPES! Josh still on his Scott Hall shit of “Can’t wait to kick out of your finish”. EY goes for an Avalanche Piledriver, but Josh fights him off, rips him off the corner and goes for the Ankle Lock. EY kicks off the submission, tries the Small Package but on 2. Discus Lariat from EY for 2, another Discus attempt but Josh blocks, peppers a few of his own strikes, C4 Spike, Josh wins lol.

Overall Score: 5.5/10

I mean we had a few good matches, but this was a set up show. We got the Slammiversary qualifier set up, Dango gets a story of potentially joining The System, Matt Hardy seems…unbroken but on a rampage, and Jordynne wants ASH immediately. So not a lot of concrete stuff happened today, but that’s to be expected with 5 shows until Slammiversary.

Did it set the table decently? Sure. Did it feel like they shoe horned a Hendry save just because he’s their hottest male wrestler at the moment? Also yes.

There’s potential in the angles, but this episodes was essentially skippable. Did anyone expect Ace or EY to win? Yeah, didn’t think so.