Andrew’s TNA iMPACT! Results & Match Ratings: 10.17.2024

Well we know El Hijo del Vikingo will be at Bound For Glory, my assumption is challenging for the X Division title, but hopefully we get some kind of direction on what he’s doing. The Northern Armoury again, is a cool name wasted on a jabroni stable of Josh Alexander and mooks. Masha’s whole challenge feels a bit fast forwarded, while I think she’s great and her winning is perfect for her story since she’s 0-4 against Jordynne (if memory serves), it really feels rushed.

Let’s see what else gets fleshed out since we do have the Pick Your Poison matches for the terrible PCO & Cardona angle. So let’s just get those over with and bury memory of anything in and around this awful storyline.

Hopefully the show isn’t just filler mediocrity today!

.@WeAreRosemary and @therealestwendy stalk the TNA Knockouts Tag Team Champions, @DaniLuna_pro and @JodyThreat! #TNAiMPACT

Get 1 month FREE of TNA+ using code TNAFREE on the Special Attraction Monthly plan: https://t.co/EkIqqcvwIi pic.twitter.com/16fDYs0BX0

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) October 18, 2024

Ratings:

• Digital Media and International Heavyweight Championship NODQ Match: PCO (c) vs Rhino: PCO retains via PCO-sault – * 1/2
• Brinley Reece vs ASH by Elegance w/Personal Concierge: ASH wins via Rarefied Air – zero
• X Division Championship: Speedball Mike Bailey (c) vs Leon Slater: Speedball retains via Flamingo Driver – ***
• Matt Cardona w/Eddie Edwards & JDC vs Mike Santana
• Matt Cardona vs Nic Nemeth: Nemeth wins via Danger Zone – ** 3/4

Results:

Digital Media and International Heavyweight Championship NODQ Match: PCO (c) vs Rhino

Slow lock up and Shoulder Tackles lead to going outside of the ring and incorporating chairs very quickly. Rhino whips PCO into the steps, stands the steps up and tries to smash his face into the edge, but PCO counters and throws Rhino through the steps. Cookie Sheet spot, Backdrop onto steps, but this is a very…plodding match. PCO hits Rhino with a chairshot, puts Rhino ontop of a stack of chairs on the apron, aims for the Deanimator, but Rhino rolls away and PCO crashes and burns.

Trash can time, very slow trash can time. Rhino looks to Powerbomb PCO into the can, but PCO counters and posts Rhino. Rolls him into the ring with the can and more slow can shots. Chokeslams Rhino onto the can, Rhino powders, PCO looks for the Dive and Rhino chucks another trash can into his face as PCO continues to just miss big moves and eat ass (not in the good way). Rhino places the trash can in the corner, Rhino looks for the Irish Whip but PCO counters and Rhino makes contact and bounces out. PCO sets up some chair art, looks for a Moonsault, but Rhino gets up and Powerbombs PCO through the chairs for 2! The crowd calls for the Gore, but Rhino grabs a table. That’s new…the wrestler grabbing a table before the crowd asks for it.

Rhino sets up for the Gore through the table, PCO side steps, PCO-sault, and PCO retains.

This match was paced poorly, plodding, and just generally a waste of 10 minutes. The crowd responds well to PCO, but that doesn’t mean the match was worth literally anything. 

Nemeth has a promo about his Pick Your Poison match with Cardona later, typical Fighting Champion, show stealer, blah blah, wannabe Shawn Michaels. 

Brinley Reece vs ASH by Elegance w/Personal Concierge

What in the Barbie’s dreamhouse fever dream is a Brinley Reece? 

ASH fakes the hand shake and cheap shots into the corner, Concierge applies lipstick to ASH while she’s hitting Brinley and then Brinley counters and smears the makeup. So ASH going for a Hot Mess reference, both Chelsea Green and Aespa aren’t amused. They go for some comedic power spot of Push Ups and Shoulder Tackle attempts with Brinley stone walling ASH. Brinley throws ASH into a corner, ASH manages to pop her over onto the apron and kick her off. I’m not really sure what I’m watching, this has been mostly comedy, but since Brinley is effectively a nobody, its just more of ASH being comedically narcissistic and…its kinda lame.

Brinley counters a Bow and Arrow into a Cradle, then tries to hype herself up with some mountain climber thing into a Cartwheel Lariat for two. Brinley’s offense looks…almost as inane as ASH’s comedy. Scorpion Deathdrop from ASH into the Rarefied Air and thankfully its over.

ASH starts a new gimmick of marking up the loser with makeup and biting or kissing her forehead, so Xia Brookside makes a save. At least they remembered there’s a thread with Xia, but this has been a rough 30 minutes to the show.  

X Division Championship: Speedball Mike Bailey (c) vs Leon Slater

I expect a spot fest that is somewhat fun but no real chance for Leon. 

Fast start with rope runs, nothing moves and the simultaneous moron Dropkick spot that I detest. And immediately after the moron Dropkick spot Bailey grabs a Hammerlock and the “speed kills” concept changes with zero psychology. Dives, counters and both of them get a chance to do some unique counter before Bailey gets the best of things after the Triangle Moonsault and posting Slater and going at him with a litany of  kicks, Arm Wringers and Drags. Speedball lights Slater up like the dummy from Three Ninjas and the match hasn’t looked close for about 3 minutes. Speedball keeps working the Hammerlock, Slater tries a Back Handspring spot and the sell on the arm finally comes through. But Speedball eats a Jawbreaker and then a Flying Kick from Slater before Speedball goes for his Round and Axe Kick combo into the Running Shooting Star…miss. Feint Kick from Slater, they trade charging Pump Kicks, Enzuigiri from Speedball and a desperation Sliding Straight Kick from Slater to have them both down selling.

Speedball keeps going for the Hammerlock and Slater finds small Back Elbows and quick strikes to try and push Speedball off. Jumping Snapmare from Slater to finally get Speedball to relent, telegraphed Plancha that Speedball has to get in position for…stupid cooperative spot fest crap. Speedball does silence the momentum with a Sweep, Backflip Knees, attempt Thrust Kick, but Slater Matrix Dodges and pays back the Sweep and Backflip Knees to Speedball. Tiger Feint from Slater, Speedball tries to run back to the ring, sees the Feint coming and jumps onto the top rope for the Asai Moonsault to counter. Throws back in Slater, Ultima Wepaon, misses but Speedball lands on his feet, charges, eats a Blue Thunder Bomb but only two. Slater charges, Speedball turns it into the Spanish Fly for 2, Backstabber Hammerlock, Speedball looks for the Tornado Kick but eats a Shotgun Dropkick. Kicks Bailey to the outside, Tornillo over the corner ring post, Slater sells the arm a little as he tries to climb for the Swanton 450, Speedball picks him off, Avalanche Corkscrew Brainbuster, Slater tries again, but Speedball moves, goes for a Hammerlock Camel Clutch into a few quick kicks, Tornado Kicks, Ultima Weapon, and Flamingo Driver to retain.

.@vikingo_aaa vs. @SpeedballBailey at #TNABoundForGlory!? #TNAiMPACT

Get 1 month FREE of TNA+ using code TNAFREE on the Special Attraction Monthly plan: https://t.co/EkIqqcvwIi pic.twitter.com/MBcxS5bacz

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) October 18, 2024

After the match, the Vikingo highlight reel plays and the match with Speedball is officially announced. 

Nothing but respect between the Hardys and ABC, but when it comes to the TNA Tag Team Championships, it’s all business heading into Full Metal Mayhem at #TNABoundForGlory! #TNAiMPACT pic.twitter.com/9KihGDz3fo

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) October 18, 2024

Maclin comes out after the promo package, calls out the Northern Armoury after the beatdown last week and yeah, I think we all see where this is going. Josh insults Maclin, calling him a scumbag, saying that without Josh people who got fired wouldn’t have a place to come. And its just very cookie cutter validation from a delusional former face who still believes he’s the hero. Maclin stops caring, tries to fight the three of them and of course the numbers catch up with him. They zip tie Maclin, Maclin spits on Josh and the beatings continue. C4 Spike leaves Maclin laying and this really was not surprising or worthy of air time. 

Matt Cardona w/Eddie Edwards & JDC vs Mike Santana

Santana comes through the crowd with his chain, wraps it around his fist and levels everyone before the bell. So the match never really starts, Santana goes full Dump Matsumoto and takes people out with a chain. He grabs a mic, tries to call out Moose, Moose doesn’t take the bait so Santana goes hunting. Santana is looking for Moose, gets blindsided by a baseball bat and Moose says “be careful what you wish for”, and walks off while Santana is writhing.

.@milanmiracle fills @AriannaGraceWWE in on the Call Your Shot gauntlet… but "The King of TNA" @FrankieKazarian interrupts!

Get 1 month FREE of TNA+ using code TNAFREE on the Special Attraction Monthly plan: https://t.co/EkIqqcvwIi pic.twitter.com/YahgILNmIv

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) October 18, 2024

Matt Cardona vs Nic Nemeth

Before the match, Frankie Kazarian comes out to commentary, so I guess we’re still not in the clear for the main event of BFG just yet.

They trade a few quick strikes and spots, Cardona misses a Missile Dropkick but Nic Monkey Flip into the 10 Count Shots to the Heart. Cardona does manage to land a quick punch and start working over Nemeth. Full Mount punches, a little mocking paintbrush smacks, throws him outside and Wrecking Ball Dropkick sends Nic into the guardrail. Nic tries to fight back, but a well positioned thumb to the eye and throwing Nic from the apron into the steps gives Cardona plenty of time to gloat. We get the typical deliberate slow heel offense during a picture in picture commercial break. Lots of corner spots, Forearm being dug into the face, short punches and working Nic up the turnbuckles. Superplex attempt, but Nic fights it off since we come back from commercial, but Cardona crotches Nic with the ole jumping onto the top rope.

Reboot from Cardona gives him a two count. Radio Silence attempt, turned into Snake Eyes and then a Jumping DDT for 2 from Nemeth. Tuning up the band….Superkick caught and Implant DDT from Cardona for two. Cardona tunes up the band but Nemeth stumbles into hitting Superkick first for 2. Danger Zone attempt but Cardona holds the ropes, Lariat, and tries a Powerbomb but Nemeth slips it, Fame ASSer for yet another two. Nemeth tries a German Suplex, Cardona grabs the ropes, referee is out of position so Cardona hits the back kick Low Blow. Looks to set up Radio Silence and PCO’s music hits.

PCO assaults the security that Cardona had, Cardona is super distracted and eats a Danger Zone.

Kaz jumps Nemeth from behind and Joe Hendry makes the save. Kaz announces that he’ll be the special guest referee for the match. An unnecessary angle for involving Kaz…but at least its not a straight up Triple Threat.

Overall Score: 2.5/10

HAWT GAHBEEG. Some people probably liked the X Division match, but I don’t care about spot fests that have no psychology and just rely on car crash spots and move surges to pop a crowd. The main event was mid at best, but the wrinkle in the BFG main event is just dumb. The only positive things from this episode were:

1. Vikingo officially getting the X Division shot at BFG
2. Rosemary calling Spitfire Stop and Go because of Green & Red hair
3. The fact it ended

Even if Bound for Glory is a decent card on paper, this build is worthless. I feel like its doing more harm than good like those Game Freak Pokemon leaks. This was one of the most difficult episodes of iMPACT! to sit through in a while. At least my Dodgers are up 5-2 in the bottom of the fifth. That’s nice to see.