Andrew’s TNA iMPACT! Results & Match Ratings: 9.26.2024

So we get a surprise tag partner for Jordynne Grace, a number one contender match and Lei Ying Lee (fka Xia Li) debuts tonight!

Last week was an alright “get the ball rolling” kind of episode. But now we should be seeing where the angles are headed, who will be involved in title pictures and exactly how much longer we’re going to have to deal with Matt Cardona’s new toxic masculinity idiot gimmick. I’m curious how exactly they’ll present Lei Ying Lee, because we’ve seen WWE repackage her and make it ridiculous a few times; TNA has to do better…right?

.@The_Ace_Austin and @DashingChrisBey may be mourning the loss of the TNA World Tag Team Championships, but @MATTHARDYBRAND and @JEFFHARDYBRAND have their sights set on the titles too!… CHOO CHOO!!!

Watch #TNAiMPACT on TNA+ NOW: https://t.co/mZuIFjzSz8 pic.twitter.com/6qoTlzpOgk

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) September 27, 2024

Ratings:

• Wendy Choo & Rosemary vs Sol Ruca & Jordynne Grace: Grace & Ruca win via DQ – * 3/4
• Laredo Kid vs Jonathan Gresham: Gresham wins via Knee Smashes – ** 1/4
• Zachary Wentz, Ace Austin & Chris Bey vs Speedball Mike Bailey, Leon Slater & Kushida: Wentz wins via UFO Cutter – ***
• Lei Ying Lee vs Hyan: Lei wins via Thunder Struck – ** 1/4
• Heather Reckless vs Xia Brookside: Reckless wins via Rarefied Air – ** 3/4
• Frankie Kazarian vs Joe Hendry: Hendry wins via Standing Ovation – *** 1/4

Results:

Wendy Choo & Rosemary vs Sol Ruca & Jordynne Grace

Attempted quick start but double reverse feints into slamming into each other, the faces get the best of the stalls. Jordynne Lariats both over the ropes and Ruca with a nice Triangle Moonsault to the outside, followed by a Juggernaut Dive. In typical wrestling silliness, the faces have all the momentum, get a good crowd reaction, throw a heel in for the official bell and immediately lose control. Rosemary with a Drop Toe Hold into her low version of the Upside Down, Wendy cheap shot, tags in and Cartwheel Forearm, and then some tandem work from the demons. Rosemary is the legal member now and Ruca is getting worked over.

Rosemary charges the corner, Ruca counters, Crossbody levels Rosemary. Rosemary tags out first so Wendy cuts off Ruca and brings her back to the demon corner and they isolate Ruca with quick tags and the Unicorn Stampede-esque spot. Demons go for the tandem Suplex again, but Ruca slips it into a Double Neckbreaker, tags out and Grace starts killing everyone. Death Valley Drivers, Back Fists for everyone, stacks the demons, Ruca Springboard Splash on the stacked heels. Facebuster from Grace, SOL SNATCHER on Rosemary! Jordynne sets up for the Juggernaut Driver, but Tasha slides in and attacks Jordynne! No contest, the heels start a beatdown, Masha runs in for the save, and this makes the Knockouts title picture…murky and kinda dumb. Let’s see where it goes.

The match was alright, but short and interrupted in a very stupid “filling time” kind of way. If this turns into a Queen of the Mountain match at BFG, I could be okay with that. But I don’t want to see a ton of multi-person lazy booking matches for BFG. So let’s see where it goes.

Laredo Kid vs Jonathan Gresham

Between Laredo being a useless job guy 90% of the time, and Gresham’s story getting started and stopped and just stupid…I have no clue how to feel about this match. Will it probably be an okay match? Sure. But this isn’t AEW, ‘good matches’ are for idiots, I want logical stories that add to matches.

Early going is a lot of Lucha style counter wrestling until Gresham connects with a Lariat off of a counter, but the up and overs and counters continue until they have a stand off moment. Laredo connects with an open handed slap, Gresham retreats to the corner, baits in Laredo but the bait only goes so far, Gresham floats over, hits the apron and grabs the mask…but pauses and acts like a war victim having flashbacks. They are continuing to play with this “octopus” thing in a Fiend style where its being repressed or something, but the storytelling isn’t even 10% as good as The Fiend. After a Suicida, Laredo throws Gresham back in, drops him, goes for his Uno Mas Moonsault Elbows; only hits one, gets the second countered and Gresham locks in a Boston Crab. Gresham pulls Laredo to the middle twice, transitions to a Half Crab, but Laredo gets to the ropes. They fight in the corner, Laredo gets the best of things, slap, Enzuigiri, Flying Crossbody, Three Amigos variations with the third as a Brainbuster for only 2.

Nerve Hold from Gresham, stomps to the knees, and repeatedly dissecting the lower body, Knee strike, after Knee Strike, Springboard Moonsault into more Knee attacks until he has Laredo face down and just smashes the knee into the mat repeatedly. Laredo submits and Gresham is fired up afterwards.

They’re obviously building towards something, I’m just not sure if its gonna be good or make sense.

Zachary Wentz, Ace Austin & Chris Bey vs Speedball Mike Bailey, Leon Slater & Kushida

Things start off with a lot of all six arguing and pushing before the referee has to bet inbetween everyone and then we go to picture in picture which is stupid. ABC takes control over Leon Slater with the Tandem Japanese Arm Drag, a few quick tags and Ace is stomping a mudhole into Slater. Ace tags in Bey, a Missible Dropkick/Russian Leg Sweep tandem move gets them a two count. Bey peppers in a few Forearms, tags in Wentz and he hits the Flip Senton back in across Slater’s chest. Tries to keep him grounded with the headlock, but we come back from commercial so of course the hope spots start.

Slater tries to get away from Wentz with a Mule Kick, but Wentz tags out to Austin, ABC tries a tandem attack but Leon slips it and tags out to Kushida. Kushida levels everyone, hits the Shotei in the corner, looks for the Avalanche Hurricanrana, but Bey rolls through, turns into a strike trade and simultaneous tag spot for Wentz and Speedball. Speedball lights up Wentz,goes for a Leap Frog but Wentz ducks it, grabs the foot with the Flapjack counter! A few more quick spots, Speedball goes for a Back Handspring, but Wentz dodges and hits his own Back Handspring Knee Lift. Everyone comes in for shenanigans, ABC hit the Spike Brainbuster on Speedball, Wentz hits the Swanton and Kushida makes the save and more signature spam silly action.

Speedball hits the Triangle Moonsault, Slater with a big dive, throws Wentz back in, looks for his finish but Wentz manages to move and UFO CUTTER! Its a wrap! ABCz win the match!

Fun match, bad time for the picture in picture but generally entertaining.

.@CodyDeaner attempts to reason with @JakeSomething_, but instead walks away with a match against @alexhammerstone!

Watch #TNAiMPACT on TNA+ NOW: https://t.co/mZuIFjzSz8 pic.twitter.com/q49xL6jHBp

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) September 27, 2024

Cody needs to get written off of TNA after Hammer kills him. Cody doesn’t speak for the people, the people want the Hammer Daddies to dominate. Some people, want them to dominate in more than just the ring, but lets start with matches first. Don’t screw this up TNA!

.@Santana_Proud is absolutely UNHINGED!

Watch #TNAiMPACT on TNA+ NOW: https://t.co/mZuIFjzkJA pic.twitter.com/JU92qKjNPf

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) September 27, 2024

Okay that was a cool vignette.

Lei Ying Lee vs Hyan

Oh damn, Hyan has been on Impact/TNA episodes before and she was trained by friend of the site, Gino Medina. So this should be an interesting debut match for Lei since Hyan should make this look decent for what will probably be like a 3 minute enhancement match.

They start with a power lock up, but Lei gets the best of it, Shoulder Tackle, a few Dropkicks, throws her into the corner, runs up and punches her in the face. Lei is stalking Hyan at points and picking her spots, Hyan powders and Lei hits the Apron PK. Goes for a Spicoli Driver, but Hyan claws the eyes to counter the move. Back Elbow, Double Smash combo into a Back Body Drop for a one count.

Lei no sells a bit, blocks a couple strikes, catches the chops and lays in Lariats into a Rude Awakening! Springboard Stomp from Lei, Step Up Chop, F5, into an  360 Jumping Roundhouse Kick she calls Thunder Struck. The crowd was into her, a few people screamed “Finish Her!” since the outfit is very Mortal Kombat, but all in all not bad.

Our little Shadowed Thunder Flashing Mirrors Kitana/Raiden hybrid looked like a million bucks. While I obviously think pushing her to a main event situation in 4 weeks is too fast, I want to see Lei Ying Lee win the Knockouts Title. AND NOT THE TAGS! Burn those! Throw them away! Act like they were never a thing, someone find the Men in Black memory erasing thing. 

Josh comes out and starts a “I didn’t believe in Hendry because I didn’t believe he believed in himself”, so its this obviously fake babyface set up. He calls Eric Young out after their small conversation last week, and I’m guessing this will of course turn sour from a “you’re right I’ve been misguided” to a “haha screw you old bitch” kind of moment. I’m just gonna sit here and wait for the swerve, maybe Sinner and Saint attack too. There we go, Eric says it takes a real man to admit he was going the wrong way, Josh then lulls in EY, German Suplex! Looks for the C4 Spike but Steve Maclin makes a save! Oh and look – Sinner and Saint show up too. It’s almost like it was obvious *stares into the camera*. 

.@TheMattCardona and @PCOisNotHuman in MONSTERS BALL!? @milanmiracle @stephdelander

Watch #TNAiMPACT on TNA+ NOW: https://t.co/mZuIFjzSz8 pic.twitter.com/TIgBhJpKv4

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) September 27, 2024

Heather Reckless vs Xia Brookside

Xia comes out in pure Babyface mode with a little cowgirl inspired gear and a cowboy hat since they’re in Texas. 

.@XiaBrookside is ready for action in San Antonio, and it shows!

Watch #TNAiMPACT on TNA+ NOW: https://t.co/mZuIFjzSz8 pic.twitter.com/CXZHNneJ2T

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) September 27, 2024

Odd moment when Xia is like 5 inches taller than Heather, Reckless tries to dodge roll and be cheeky but Xia uses her height advantage to big sister her a bit, block the slaps, Snapmare her down, do her little shimmy before the Elbow Drop and take some control. Reckless feeds her into the corner but eats a Back Elbow, Over and Under, Heather counters Xia. ASH and the Concierge walks out, ASH is in a tight little outfit, cowboy hat and designer cowgirl boot pumps.

Reckless throttles Xia with the ropes, then keeps her in the corner with the Stomping a Mudhole before she goes for the Otani Bootwash! Reckless puts Xia in a Bow and Arrow, but she starts to fight back up. Lariat, Larait, Russian Leg Sweep, float over into a straddle cover for 2. Drop Toe Hold, Broken Wings once, goes for a second but Reckless powders and eats a Baseball Slide instead. Xia kicked the extensions off Reckless’ head and shows it to the camera while jawing with ASH a little. Xia taunts ASH in a sexy cheeky ways, posts Reckless and slides Reckless back in. Xia gets distracted because Concierge and ASH talk shit loudly, Reckless uses the ropes to Stun Gun Xia, then Rarefied Air wins the match for Reckless.

Frankie Kazarian vs Joe Hendry

Nic Nemeth comes out to the announce desk for this match, so now we get to see if shenanigans happens or if he’s just out for a ‘moment’ with the winner.

Kaz tries to bully Jade into the ‘correct’ intro, but Hendry says he’ll do it, goes into a litany of Antonio Banderas jokes, so, Kaz attacks him and Hendry slows down the initial onslaught with a Shoulder Tackle and Suplex, but as we go to awful picture in picture, Kaz slowly starts taking control. Opportunistic kicks, Snap Suplex, just basic offense, but Kaz is clearly in control as the commercials detract from the action. Now Kaz goes for the Headlock Rest Hold so we can watch the commercials clearly. But Hendry starts to fire up and the worst camera angle ever happens, it zooms out like Okada just posed and we’re back to a headlock for reasons unknown. Now we go back to Hendry trying to power up, the NASA camera shots continue, but at least we’re leaving picture in picture so the come back has to start for real.

Uppercut gets stifled by Kaz with the Scoop Slam into the Springboard Guillotine Leg Drop for two. Kaz grabs a mic, does he think he’s Booker T? Stomping on Hendry while cutting a promo? This ain’t Black Snow, there’s not Chet Lemon, Kaz goes for another Guillotine Leg Drop and misses. Hendry throws some fists, Lariats, Sack of Shit into Kip Up, looks for the Standing Ovation but Kaz slips it, looks for the Chicken Wing, but Hendry throws him off. Kaz goes for the Springboard Crossbody and Hendry nopes the high risk. Pop-Up Powerbomb for 2! Hendry goes for an Ankle Lock, Kaz kicks off, wraps a Small Package for two, Sole Butt into Lariat for another near fall for Kaz.

Fade to Black attempt but Hendry rolls through and Ankle Lock, goes for a slight modification…but Kaz gets to the ropes. Kaz to the apron, Hendry misses, Leg Drop into the Slightshot DDT for two! Reverse Whip sends Kaz crashing over the corner buckles and to the outside. Stalling Suplex on the floor, and the crowd makes some good noise. Kaz goes for Brass Knuckles from his ring jacket, sneaks Hendry as Hendry grabs to collect Kaz, Kaz wins the match!

Nemeth rats him out. Another referee comes out to say the same thing so dictator San Antonio Cinderella comes out and says no dice, keepa goin! Hendry with the Roll-Up for two, Kaz hits a nice Lariat and Hendry is wobbly, Kaz hits another Lariat and is being very deliberate. Kaz goes for a third as he’s getting cocky and gets caught in the Standing Ovation! Hendry wins!

Overall Score: 6.25/10

Another decent episode all things considered. The right person went over in the main event, even though they also left enough wiggle room for a triple threat if they really wanted to. Santana had a cool promo after beating the hell out of The System. Lei Ying looked solid, her moveset isn’t a ton different than it was in NXT, but it looks fresh compared to what we’ve seen from the Knockouts lately and Hyan did well enough as the local enhancement wrestler. Jeff with his Choo Choo thing is that special kind of stupid that is just dumb enough to be clever. Hammer Daddies potentially killing Cody would be cool. SDL still being involved on screen without a neck brace or selling the neck issues is pissing me off a little. Not from a kayfabe perspective, but from a ‘that segment at Victory Road was awful’ and its invalidating the entire point of it.

Knockouts stuff is still generally a mess though. The whole tag thing turning into a shmoz with Tasha helping the demons and Masha making a save seemed really stupid. I get that its drawing the face and heel lines, but you’re really stretching the logic thin on why Tasha would want to help demons when no one in the match really had direct heat with Tasha. And Xia Brookside is still…adorable, dammit. Her wrestling has been much better, even her mannerisms are still charming and she’s playing the role perfectly of frustrated babyface who’s just getting screwed over constantly by heels. I did like the element of Reckless’ extensions were falling out, which further necessitates why she needs a makeover from ASH and Concierge.

So while some of the story telling is weird comedic tones, just out there or a little odd in general…its all building nicely. Oh yeah and Josh screwing over EY was obvious…come on now. Josh went from the literal Best Bout Machine for like 2021-2023, to now he’s got his own little faction of generic indie dweebs with stupid names that draw less dimes than a first grader struggling with counting past 5.

So yeah, decent show but Josh is hard to watch…sheesh.