Andrew’s TNA iMPACT! Results & Match Ratings: 8.15.2024

So we get a few more Ultimate X qualifying matches tonight, the classic multiple refs match and a World Championship match! Nic Nemeth will be defending against Josh Alexander all thanks to his “fighting champion” gimmick. This should at least prove to be a solid match, depending on the gimmick they add to it.

Time to find out who gets added to the Ultimate X match and what else gets shaken up heading to Emergence.

Ratings:

• Ultimate X Qualifier Match: Chris Bey vs John Skyler vs Riley Osborne: Osborne wins via Shooting Star Press – ** 3/4
• Tasha Steelz vs Gisele Shaw: Gisele wins via Denouement – ** 1/2
• Moose vs Mike Santana: Moose wins via Lights Out – *** 1/4
• Ultimate X Qualifier Match: Ace Austin vs Jason Hotch vs Rich Swann w/AJ Francis: Hotch wins via Cloverleaf Cradle – ***
• TNA World Championship: Josh Alexander vs Nic Nemeth (c): Time Limit Draw – *** 1/4

Results:

Ultimate X Qualifier Match: Chris Bey vs John Skyler vs Riley Osborne

John Skyler is just a body to fill these matches, and I’m not really ecstatic to see him back. NXT involvement is a nice wrinkle though. As can be expected, the early action is everyone getting a little something in. Skyler Suplexes Bey into Riley, starts taking over and locking in a Boston Crab, but Bey recovers and breaks the submission. Riley gets in some offense, Tope con Hilo into rolling Skyler back in, hitting a Falcon Arrow for 2. Bey with a quick Roll-Up but only a near fall. Skyler with a Slingshot Spear on Riley, goes for another on Bey but eats a Cutter. Bey connects with an Art of Finesse on Riley and Skyler posts Bey to try and steal the match. Riley kicks out, Shotgun Dropkick drops Skyler, Shooting Star Press from Riley for the win!

Match was short and a lot of early entertainment came from Kazarian being on commentary. But hey, good for the Riley kid on getting a little extra shine.  

Santino Marella comes out to confront Matt Qdoba about the wedding crashing. He basically gets Cardona to admit that he did assault PCO and isn’t an employee, so Santino threatens legal action or wrestle PCO. Cardona agrees to look over the contract and if it works for him he’ll do it. So obvious shenanigans are on the way. 

Tasha Steelz vs Gisele Shaw

Gisele starts impressively, Enzuigiri into a British Bulldog style Press into Power Slam. Tasha powders, Gisele follows and Tasha manages to catch her, then Tasha goes for a wrench but the multiple refs already pays off. So Tasha rolls Gisele back in, PK, near fall and Tasha is still in command, but thankfully she takes too damn long for a stupid looking wind up punch and Gisele fires and lights her up. Gisele dumps Tasha on her face, then hits a Spinebuster into Shock & Awe for 2.

Denouement attempt, but Tasha dodges, hits a Superkick into Codebreaker for a close 2. Tasha starts “tuning up the band”, Gisele gets up, blocks the Superkick, dodges the Feint Kick, but Tasha Double Legs Tasha tries to use the ropes for leverage but the outside ref pushes her feet off. Tasha is distracted by the multiple refs actually…working…and Denouement wins!

The System is looming over a downed Santana, before coming out to the ring to boast. Alisha kicks off with her “Do You Wanna Know Something”, and gets a nice negative reaction. Alisha says the match isn’t happening, but Santana’s music hits anyway and Santana says he’s got to go while selling his ribs. 

Moose vs Mike Santana

The System members jump Santana before the bell but Santana wipes them all out. Alisha distracts him by yelling at him, the bell rings and Moose blindsides Santana. Knee Lifts and Heavy Irish Whips into corners are causing Santana to sell the damage and Moose is gloating. This reminds me a bit of WCW era DDP. And while Santana isn’t “THAT” over, he is getting decent crowd reaction. Santana tries to slow down Moose with a Pump Kick, but Moose connects with an Uranage on the apron for his impertinence. More of the same continues with deliberate pacing, Santana tries to fight back but Moose lays into him. The System distracts the ref, Moose posts Santana and this has just been a dog walk.

Moose distracts the ref and The System takes cheap shots. Another Irish Whip, more of Moose posing and toying with his food. Santana stays defiant and spits at the showboating Moose. Santana fires, counters the Irish Whip by perching on the middle rope and connecting with the Forward Dropkick. Moose kicks the injured arm, Santana sells but then shoots the Double for a Jacknife Cradle but Moose kicks out, goes for an Uranage, and another  Cradle attempt from Santana for a near fall. Moose tries to post Santana but Santana counters hits the Rolling Buck Fifty and a Cannonball for 2! Spin the Block attempt from Santana, blocked by Moose, headbutt, then he hits the ropes and Santana with the desperation Spin the Block, but doesn’t fall into a pin and sells the damage. When he tries to pin Moose, Moose powders, Santana collects Moose, tries to go from post to post, gets caught on the top rope, LIGHTS OUT from Moose!

Hendry’s music hits to stop a further beatdown after Moose’s victory. Hendry gets on the stick, and announces that Moose and JDC will face the Hardys next week.

Spitfire has a weird vignette I may not be drunk enough to understand or care about. I’m a big Dani Luna fan, but I don’t get Jody Threat. So I’m hoping their Do or Die thing, is just when they loose we never have to see Jody again or at least relegated to singles only and push Dani to the moon.

https://x.com/i/status/1824251313569325149

Ultimate X Qualifier Match: Ace Austin vs Jason Hotch vs Rich Swann w/AJ Francis

Feed into counters, into transitions, just a whole lot of nothing, just an excuse to have one guy fall out of the ring and then cause the train of someone comes in to break and do something. Hotch is significantly more impressive than John Skyler. Swann got dumped out of the ring, Hotch hits an Enzuigiri into a Rolling Neckbreaker for a nice offense spot. Then Swan comes back in and rocks Hotch with a Superkick. Sole Butt sends Ace reeling, poorly timed tandem spots from Triple Sunsets, attempted counters, but the timing is slow. Hotch stops The Fold and Swann connects with the Trouble in Paradise to send Ace to the floor, Tope con Hilo takes out both men on the floor.

They’re fighting on the outside, Rich and AJ gloat, so Ace shoves Rich into AJ. This causes AJ to Back Body Drop Ace on the apron. Chris Bey shows up out of nowhere, flies from the sky to even the score. Hotch and Ace are paired off, Ace rocks Hotch, looks for The Fold, but Skyler shows up to stop Ace and Hotch wins via Cloverleaf Cradle.

TNA World Championship: Josh Alexander vs Nic Nemeth (c)

Commentary did mention this is a 30 minute time limit match because of TV time remaining. So I’m curious how much they play with that seed they planted in people’s minds already.

Greco Roman wrestling start, Headlocks, standing switches, grapevines, stretches, classic amateur opening before the Hip Toss. Josh is a little frustrated early, but when we get back from the commercial, it still feels like things have been back and forth classic wrestling. Nic is trying to stay on top of Josh and wear him down, but Josh backs into the corner, throttles Nic into the ropes and grinds his wrist tape along his face. Rebound Small of the Back Forearms are giving Josh control until Nic tries to fight back, but traded attempted counters leads to a very close and brutal looking Irish Whip chest first into the corner. Nic takes the big bump and Josh continues with a gradual pacing. Nemeth finally stalls Josh and does face smashes into the corner. Nic tries to fire up, comes off the ropes and eats a Back Elbow.

Forearm Splash from Josh into a Running Boot as he talks smack before dumping Nic with a Scoop Slam. Josh calls for a Moonsault, takes his time and Nic crotches him. Forearm Shots across the chest, Josh fights him off and goes for the Moonsault after Nic falls, but Nic rolls out of the way! Stinger Splash from Nic, Rude Awakening, into his Elbows, but Josh rolled away, Nic tries to collect him, a little awkward back and forth, Nic goes for the jumping DDT but Josh blocks and chucks Nic to the outside over the rope. We get another commercial cut, Josh is in control but Nic fires and the crowd gets behind him a little until getting caught and going on the German Suplex ride.

Nic manages to block the third German, Josh slaps the ribs to get Nic to release the rope, but rope does the standing switch and hits his own German Suplex. Shot to the Heart 10 Count Elbows, into a near fall. Both men are jockeying for position, Nic lands a Fame Ass-er! Looks for Danger Zone but its blocked, Rolling Senton from Josh into the King Kong Knee to the back of the head! Josh takes a beat, but looks for the Ankle Lock, Nic kicks him off, Josh rolls forward, attempted Small Package but the exchange does look weird. Nic jumps on his back for the Rear Naked Choke, but Josh stands him up, falls back and transitions into the Ankle Lock again. Nic manages to throw him off again, just barely, and look for the Rear Naked. Josh breaks the choke by just running into the buckles, dropping to his knees to land on the middle while Nic eats the top turnbuckle. Nic reels back. Josh turns and eats a Superkick that sends Josh’s headgear flying. Josh powders, Nic follows and Josh throws Nic into the steps. Powerbreaker in the middle of the ring, but Nic manages to kick out. Josh trying to find an answer, crotches Nic on the top buckle facing out. Josh follows and goes for an Avalanche Back Body Drop, but Nic counters and lands on Josh. Josh rolls back through so there’s no cover, Nic slips the move, hits Danger Zone! Takes a beat to cover him, Josh powders to avoid the cover, Jumping DDT on the floor connects, Nic throws Josh back in, tries another Danger Zone but misses! Josh drives Nic into 2 different buckles, Lawn Darts him into a different one. Josh goes for a C4 Spike, but Nic gets out of it, Danger Zone again! But right as the count starts, the bell rings and time limit draw is called.

Crowd and Nic call for 5 more minutes, but Josh doesn’t agree and just walks away. Nic goes to collect him, Josh kicks Nic in the balls and then agrees to 5 more minutes. The referee doesn’t allow that stuff and leaves.

Overall Score: 6.5/10

So the winners of the qualifying match were a little surprising, which is good. My guess is they’re just gonna have ABC and First Class feud for the tag titles instead of furthering that singles dissension right now. Multiple refs actually paying off and doing their jobs was a shock, so I’ll give credit there. However, the main event would’ve been much better served if there weren’t two inane commercial cuts. Commentary planted the seed that it was gonna be a time limit draw, the least they could’ve done is actually wrestle a 30 minute draw we could’ve seen 100% of. Also Santino being a little too stupid regard Cardona is annoying to watch. Santino is a comedy character sure, but being that dumb and naive just feels like an unnecessary stretch.

Oh I almost forgot that The System situation I’m not totally sure about. That made Santana look great, like I said, it reminded me of WCW DDP versus the NWO. But it really makes The System look a little pathetic so quickly off of everyone having gold. If this ends up in a Lethal Lockdown match with The System vs Hardyz, Hendry and Santana…then I don’t care who wins, I just want Lockdown back! So…I’m gonna try to just speak it into existence and then it would make this weird cluster at the top seem a little more sensible.

While there were a few things I generally didn’t care for, it did set a lot of things in motion. I can dislike how it was done, but at least this episode added to the Emergence build instead of just existing.