Andrew’s TNA iMPACT! Results & Match Ratings: 7.11.2024

It’s been a little odd leading into their second biggest PLE of Slammiversary. The matches that are set should be fine, but they aren’t building momentum well at all. Most episodes have been plodding or irrelevant and I really have no clue what to expect tonight.

With all of the NXT crossover, with Hendry, Jordynne Grace, Kazarian and The Rascalz on NXT, Charlie Dempsey and Tatum Paxley, I almost feel like TNA is leaning on the crossover to build momentum instead of their own story writing. Which is…stupid. Give us a reason to tune in each week beyond “ZOMG who might show up from other brandz”. Lazy lazy storytelling.

Ratings:

• Open Challenge TNA Knockouts Championship: Jordynne Grace (c) vs Izzi Dame: Jordynne retains via Juggernaut Driver – ***
• Zachary Wentz w/Trey Miguel vs Charlie Dempsey: Dempsey wins via Dragon Suplex Hold – ** 1/4
• Mike Bailey vs Jonathan Gresham vs Kushida: Bailey wins via Ultima Weapon – ** 1/2
• Digital Media Championship: Rhino vs AJ Francis (c) w/ Rich Swann: Rhino wins via DQ – N/A
• Philadelphia Street Fight: Rhino vs AJ Francis: AJ wins via Roll-Up after Low Blow – N/A
• Tasha Steelz vs Gisele Shaw: Gisele wins via Denouement – ** 1/4
• JDC vs Chris Bey w/Ace Austin: JDC wins via Down and Dirty – **
• Joe Hendry & Josh Alexander vs Moose & Steve Maclin: Maclin wins via KIA – ***

Results:

So they open up with a continuation of the back alley segment when Kaz confronted a “person filming something”. It turned out to be Ryan Nemeth, who said that Nic told him Frankie attack Nic. Kaz thinks Ryan is gonna do something, but Nic shows up and starts beating on Kaz outside of the building. Kaz manages to get away after random security and people break up the scuffle.

Open Challenge TNA Knockouts Championship: Jordynne Grace (c) vs Izzi Dame

The bell rings and the Personal Concierge interrupts before the match starts. He runs down the crowd, says that ASH will watch via satellite to keep up tradition of her sitting in for the Knockouts Title match.

Izzi tries to use her height to her advantage but Jordynne backs her down into a corner, so Izzie puts the arm up for the Test of Strength to mock Jordynne’s height, they lock up, Izzi allows Jordynne to fire off the ropes just to eat a Boot, but Jordynne snaps off a Suplex and turns Izzi inside out with Tilt-a-Whirl Side Slam. Jordynne with a Wrecking Ball Drop Kick feint into a Skin the Cat and then a legit Dive. Izzi is getting rocked, Jordynne goes to attack the Concierge, but Rosemary is in the crowd and grabs him and scares him off. With all the shenanigans, Izzi manages to Stun Gun Jordynne, Inverted Running Powerslam into the corner, Izzi puts Jordynne on the top, rocks her and pulls her down for a stalling Falcon Arrow, and a 2 count. She tries to continue her momentum with a Powerbomb, but Jordynne sandbags and Back Drop counters, Izzi retreats to a corner, eats a Lariat, Jordynne goes for the Hip Attack but misses, they trade shots in the corner and then Jordynne just jumps on her back, rides her down and punches her in the back of the head a few times.

Juggernaut Driver blocked, Waterwheel Kick counter as they both are slow to their feet. Fighting Spirit spot because…of course. Punctuated with a Spinning Backfist from Jordynne, Big Boot from Dame, Izzi goes for a rope run, eats a Pop Up Death Valley Driver and then Juggernaut Driver to retain!

https://x.com/i/status/1811556785200787852

Santino’s genius idea is…Battlebowl Lethal Lottery? Okay at least the teams make sense. Hendry & Alexander vs Maclin & Moose.

Zachary Wentz w/Trey Miguel vs Charlie Dempsey

World of Sport with Japanese Junior style fusion opening. Wentz goes for some quick offense but gets caught on the top rope and dragged down with a Knuckle Lock Arm Drag. Dempsey then connects with two close quarters Uppercuts to the same arm as the Knuckle Drag. Dempsey now throws in a Double Wristlock on that arm, and Wentz is fighting back but struggling and Dempsey keep dissecting the same arm. Stomps, Hammerlocks, Wentz gets some space with a Manhattan Drop into a Sweep, but then Dempsey catches the follow up kick into a variant of a Dragon Screw. STF attempt, into an Arm Bar, then a Knee Bar, but keeps looking for a spot and goes for the German Suplex Hold. Charlie throws Wentz off, Back Handspring Knee Lift finally gives Wentz a shot. Snatch and Grab Flapjack from Wentz, Rising Knee in the corner, PK into Running Shooting Star for 2!

Wentz finally has some life! BUT TREY IS WAYLAID on the outside by Myles Borne and Dempsey pulls out a Dragon Suplex Hold during the chaos to win the match.

https://x.com/i/status/1811560354100707793

Mike Bailey vs Jonathan Gresham vs Kushida

All three start with locomotion Cradle attempts for quick finishes, but to no avail. Bailey rocks Gresham with his Flurry of Kicks, Yakuza kick wipes out Gresham, ole’s Kushida to the outside, Triangle Moonsault from Bailey, but Gresham moves and Kushida is the only one to get hit. Gresham attacks Bailey, throws him back into the ring, but a Missible Dropkick into Standing Shooting Star for 2. Gresham sees Kushida coming after they’re both up, moves and Kushida almost hits Bailey, turns into Kushida trying to kick Gresham, Gresham giving the leg to Bailey and then kicking Kushida into a Dragon Screw as Gresham does the Muta pose. Gresham sinks in the Single Leg Crap on Kushida on the Dragon Screwed leg for about 30 seconds, then Speedball returns and lights up the chest with Round Kicks. Asai Moonsault from Gresham to wipe out Bailey, Dives on Kushida on the outside, and Gresham has the advantage. Back in, Bailey sets the Crane Kick, “Sweep the Leg” chant starts, but Gresham tries a feint instead and eats the Crane Kick. Bailey goes to grab Gresham but Gresham bites the hand, wrestles Speedball down and slaps on the Figure Four.

Stupid cooperative spot of passing legs around which ends with Gresham having alternate legs of Kushi and Bailey so they do Stereo Enzuigiris. Kushi hits his PK, Cartwheel Dropkick spot on Bailey, Tanaka Punch to Gresham, goes for the Hoverboard Lock but Gresham breaks it up. Punches versus Kicks for the two, Kicks win, Kushida retreats to the corner, Tornado Kick attempt, but Kushida blocks, hops up and Dives onto Gresham as Bailey is left without a target for the time being. Bailey and Kushida fight on the apron, Bailey lands the Double Backflip Knees, goes to the top, Gresham breaks up the Bailey attempt, Gresham and Kushida are fighting, Ink attempt is countered by Mist from Kushida, Kushida goes for the Hoverboard Lock, they’re doubled over near the corner, Bailey sees the spot and Ultima Weapon on the two tied up wrestlers. Bailey wins and ears his title shot!

Secret Service and Campaign Singh attack Bailey and Trent afterwards. Ali tries to hit Bailey with a chair but Trent attempts to block it and eats the chair shot instead. 

Steph De Lander has some bootleg notebook vignette they is both adorable, cringe, stupid and genius all at the same time. She really loves the nearly 60 Frankenstein. I’m…I…I want to hate it. But much like Xia Brookside lately, I just can’t. Am I broken now that Matt Hardy is partially fixed?

Digital Media Championship: Rhino vs AJ Francis (c) w/ Rich Swann

Ryouji Sai of the rap game, cuts a promo on the way to the ring. 

AJ runs down the Phillies and Rhino explodes with Shoulder Tackles, goes for a Gore, but Swann slides into the ring and Trouble in Paradise connects. The referee throws out the match and the crowd hates it.

Santino says its bullshit and restarts the match as a Street Fight.

Philadelphia Street Fight: Rhino vs AJ Francis

Chairs and posts early, chant for tables, Rhino grabs the table, puts it in the corner and AJ hits the Low Blow and Roll-Up for the win!

This was a waste of time twice. PCO appears out of the darkness, Sky High on Rich, goes for a Dive on AJ but AJ moves and PCO crashes to the floor. AJ taunts him with the International Heavyweight Title and Chokeslams him into the ramp.

Tasha Steelz vs Gisele Shaw

Gisele poses on the apron during her entrance and Tasha attacks with a Pump Kick then rams her back into the apron a few times. Gisele of course wants the match to continue, but Tasha attacks immediately on the bell, Shoulder Thrusts, Hip Attack, Gamengiri, Running Knee, into a near fall. Tasha goes for a Sunset Flip, but Gisele counters it with a Front Flip into her own seated Cradle, popping Crucifix Cradle next, just a series of Cradle attempts before Tasha slows things down with a kick and repeated elbows. Forearms into a Spinning Backfist from Gisele, short arm lariats into Shock and Awe for 2! Tasha tries the Mickie inspired Bulldog but Gisele pushes her off, Snap Powerslam for 2. Denouement attempt but no, Okurrr no, short S-Trigger into the Denouement for the win!

Match did what it had to, but it was kinda short and just there. 

Xia has a backstage interview with Gia to validate her match with Alisha next week and a little cringey mention of True Love conquers all, with SDL and PCO, but still Xia is…adorable.

JDC vs Chris Bey w/Ace Austin

Bey starts off fast, JDC tries to powder and catch his breath, but a Tope con Hilo kills JDC. Apron rotation 619 to keep on JDC, then back into the ring they go, and Bey is rocking JDC. JDC finally stops the fast pace by just shoving him off the top rope to the floor. Every time JDC tries to slow things down, Bey hits something, from a Jawbreaker, to Flying Uppercut, Outside In Rolling Neckbreaker, but The System come out to the ramp to observe. Myers attacks Ace so Bey attacks Eddie and takes the eye off of JDC. Eddie grabs Bey on the way back in, so JDC hits Down and Dirty for the win!

This is a WCW style overbooked schmoz, but it kinda works. 

Joe Hendry & Josh Alexander vs Moose & Steve Maclin

Since Kaz isn’t in the match, he just walks out to watch. Even doing a little bit a Jackie Fargo strut.

Maclin and Alexander start close, counter everything including one anothers attempts at an early finisher. Josh gets fired into the ropes, catches Steve with an Arm Drag, but a kick doubles over Josh and Maclin tags out. Moose slams Josh, throws him to the ropes and Josh holds on. Points at Hendry, and Moose allows the tag to Hendry. How…very unheelish. Hendry and Moose change places in the corner, 10 Count Punches, Moose tries the Manhattan Drop, but Hendry doesn’t bump for it. Gets his last punch in, Josh suplexes Maclin, Hendry is struggling with Moose and the crowd is chanting “We Believe”. So Hendy finally gets Moose up and over but only for 2.

Knee Lift to Josh, Moose tags out and Maclin immediately gets caught by Josh. Josh starts building momentum and Moose Low Bridges Josh during a rope run and Josh is on the receiving end again. Isolating Josh is a good call, he’s got the scariest resume and you want Hendry to look good during the match. Moose leans on Josh’s neck and tags in Steve, they try to double up on Josh, but Josh fights out. Low Bridge sends Moose flying, Suplex for Maclin, Josh crawls for a tag but Moose picks the ankle. Caught in the Crosshairs from Maclin seem to shift the momentum back. Josh tries to fight out of the corner, GO TO HELL from Moose, but Josh turns it into a Frankensteiner and makes the hot tag to Hendry. Hendry catches Maclin, Sack of Shit, Moose misses the Lariat, catch, Sack of Shit for Moose! Rebound Cutter from Hendry on Maclin, Pop-Up Powerbomb onto Moose, Standing Ovation attempt, but countered into the Busaiku Knee from Maclin. Locomotion German Suplexes from Alexander, Forward Roll Senton, King Kong Knee but Moose breaks up the pinfall.

Everyone is brawling, Forearms, Headbutt from Moose, goes for a rope run, Josh turns Moose inside out with a Lariat. Kaz interferes during the finish, Maclin shoves out Hendry, Moose Lights Out Alexander and then KIA to Alexander for the win!

Overall Score: 5.5/10

Well this didn’t really do much. Okay so now we have the looming angle of maybe Nic Nemeth won’t be cleared for Slammiversary, sure…but he’s already lost two title matches, its not like he had a big groundswell of momentum anyway. SDL having to go back to Australia for some time, but proclaiming her love for PCO was…odd…but also makes me wonder where that whole thing is going. Since AJ Francis is defending both titles against PCO, I’d really prefer PCO to lose and maybe need SDL to return to get back in touch with his “humanity”. The Rascalz being involved in NXT feuds with Gallus and now on TNA with No Quarter Catch Crew, is good for them, but not really a storyline.

This is just more of the same, some alright matches, some head scratchers, but nothing that you NEED to watch to have a better concept of what’s happening for Slammiversary. And that, is poor writing.