Andrew’s TNA iMPACT! Results & Match Ratings: 1.2.2025

I did write 2025 in the title for this right? Worst thing about a New Year is remembering to write the correct date for like three months. But one of the best things is, a new year means…no more useless Awards shows with clips or “never before seen matches” that no one cares about!

We’ve got some Tessa Blanchard time upcoming and much like last year…Joe Hendry will say words probably to open the show. If we can get a semblance of a coherent storyline this year and Hendry wins the damn title at Genesis, maybe Tommy Dreamer is a redeemable booker. But currently, “Booking by Tommy” makes “Booking by Tunney” look like a genius Einstein equation.

Can we please start things off with some hope? Maybe? Please.

Rascalz vs. The Hardy at #TNAGenesis!? @MATTHARDYBRAND @JEFFHARDYBRAND @ZacharyWentz @TheTreyMiguel

Watch #TNAiMPACT on TNA+: https://t.co/SjpCtpSxQB pic.twitter.com/33UE1CdYjE

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) January 3, 2025

Ratings:

• Ryan Nemeth vs Rhino: Ryan Nemeth wins via DQ – *
• Kushida vs Ace Austin: Ace wins via The Fold – ****
• Elegance Clique (Heather & ASH) w/Personal Concierge, Tasha Steelz & Rosemary vs Jordynne Grace, Masha Slamovich & Spitfire (Dani Luna & Jody Threat): Masha wins via Requiem – **

Results:

And the show opens with a Joe Hendry segment, where’s the surprised Pikachu meme when I need it. He doesn’t say a ton of new stuff except for the fact that he’s number one contender now. Ryan Nemeth comes out to call Hendry a mid-carder and is referring to Nic as “his big brother” so often, he’s obviously trying to get it over, and it’s not the worst. It’s so lame its almost great. Hendry turns it around of course, but Ryan deflects in a delusional dweeb kind of way and talks about he’s gonna make big moves after he beats Rhino later in the night. 

Hendry decides to use the most inconsistent wrestling trope of them all and calls out Rhino to start the match now. Cause you know wrestlers don’t make matches, unless they do, and then commentary just says the authority figure texted approval or something.

Ryan Nemeth vs Rhino

They start with Arm Wringers, just very basic bare bones 90s wrestling start. Nemeth gets shot off into the ropes, grabs them to stop Rhino from getting momentum. Ryan tries to go for a hand shake, the crowd chants Gore and Rhino doesn’t fall for the hand shake. Ryan takes a few short cuts landing opportunistic kicks, spots on the outside, he gets a bit arrogant digging into old Dolph Ziggler mannerisms so that’s the cue for Rhino to start the comeback. Ryan eats fists, back to back Lariats, short Spear in the corner, and then Ryan powders. Rhino tries to grab him, Ryan rakes the eyes, grabs a chair…the referee just lets him bring in the chair. Rhino steps on the chair, levels Ryan, grabs the chair and starts lighting up Ryan.

So Ryan wins via DQ.

Awful match that only ends up giving Ryan a “win” on paper, so I guess we’re gonna get B Team level of Delusion. Which could be great…like the B Team, or it will be cringe like Axelmania.

Kushida vs Ace Austin

Starts off a little slow with both jockeying for position, very reminiscent of classic Kushida Junior matches in New Japan where he tries to shoot a little early to find something quick, but Ace is slippery. Snapmares, Headscissors and variations of those keep Ace grounded for a little until he utilizes the Wrestler’s Bridge to get out, float over but then get caught by Kushida right away before slipping out and then a rope run spot, Kushida sets up his Cartwheel Dropkick as normal but Ace Kips Up during the Cartwheel and Dropkicks Kushida himself! Kushida powders so Ace goes for the Marufuji Plancha. They toy with each other on the apron, Ace goes for his signature apron dodge but Kushida returns the favor of watching the tape and grabs Ace’s wrist he planted on and rips him off the apron. Kushida puts more focus on that arm with an Armbar, and…commercial break.

We come back, big Chop drops Ace through the ropes, Kushida hits the Baseball Slide and hypes the crowd on the apron. He collects Ace with a Wrist Lock on the bad arm, but Ace is being indignant, he’s goading Kushi to hit him, slaps Kushida a few times so Kushida hits an Enzuigiri or a snap Shining Wizard to shut up Ace. Kushida keeps up some damage on the arm, looks for the Kawada kicks but pivots to a corner spot where they drop each other with simultaneous moves. Fighting Spirit spot when they get up, Kushida kicks at the injured arm, Tanaka Punch gets countered by Ace, Russian Leg Sweep into Click Click Boom! Ace looking for a Gutwrench Sitout Powerbomb but Kushida fights it off twice before Ace grits it out and snaps off the Gutwrench Sitout Powerbomb for two. Ace looks for the Art Finesse, but Kushi grabs him, hits him quick and pulls off the Cartwheel Dropkick into the Shotei and looks for the Avalanche Hoverboard Lock but Ace counters, then Kushida counters, a little rolling, Ankle Lock from Kushi! Ace grabs for the rope with the injured arm, Kushida lets go of the Ankle to kick the arm, Shotei off the ropes and only a two count!

Ace baits Kushida into missing the corner spot, Triangle Kick from Ace into his Miz style Rope Hung Seated Lariats. He perches Kushida, tries for the Step Over Headscissors but takes to long, Kushida catches him, rocks him, Handspring Back Kick into the Avalanche Cross Armbreaker, Ace counters it twice, they slip and counter each other, Ace tries an Art of Finesse, Dropkick from Kushi says no, Back to the Future is sandbagged from Ace! Kushi can’t get him over, Ace Roundhouse Kick rocks Kushida, hits the Fold after pulling out the old playing card, and Ace wins!

Ace cuts a heartfelt promo afterwards talking about Bey and how Bey told him to go on a crazy singles run and aim for the World title. Moose walks out to play spoiler on the promo. Moose feels disrespected, Moose tries to say something about Bey and Ace immediately gets hot and they seem to have really good promo chemistry. Moose’s comments get under Ace’s skin enough to get him to focus on Moose, wants to fight him and Santino’s music hits. So the ‘splainin’ will prolly be “You haz da match in Genisys! Terminator 5 get hype”. Yup…more or less, X Division title match Moose vs Ace. 

It's a wild scene backstage between The System, @TheEddieEdwards, @TheEricYoung and @TheJonGresham!

Watch #TNAiMPACT on TNA+: https://t.co/SjpCtpSxQB pic.twitter.com/ztlSI0vkNJ

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) January 3, 2025

TNA+ Moment of the Week: DCC vs The Broken Hardyz vs Decay, Genesis 2017

Them going back to the Throwback match segment is kinda neat. As long as its not every week and maybe only to highlight old PPVs of the same name, this could be fun to bring back in moderation.

The Nemeth Brothers will deal with @Rhyno313 and @joehendry NEXT WEEK on #TNAiMPACT! @NicTNemeth @ryrynemnem

Watch #TNAiMPACT on TNA+: https://t.co/SjpCtpS013 pic.twitter.com/vroc11UnrC

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) January 3, 2025

Santana comes out to cut a promo still with Josh’s head gear in his hand, so Josh’s music hits for him to walk out with his nerdy nobody jabroni squad. Hell the stable uses Josh’s theme, the other two literally don’t matter. The crowd in Atlanta is very vocal and it’s making all the wrestlers react to them. All in good ways, but it’s just nice to see. Josh pulls out facts about how Santana won nothing after he left TNA, Josh tries to mic drop and walk off so Santana just clowns him. He asks if he won the matches because he was good or be cause he was kissing up to the man with the pencil, and that gets under Josh’s skin. Santana challenges the entire Armoury next week. Not sure if it will be a gauntlet match or a 3 on 1. 

Nic Nemeth comes out, cuts a decent promo putting Hendry over but as soon as he starts talking about Ryan there are audible boos, so Ryan walks out to more boos. The Atlanta crowd hates Ryan, his voice is super whiny, this is frustrating fantastic work. 

Elegance Clique (Heather & ASH) w/Personal Concierge, Tasha Steelz & Rosemary vs Jordynne Grace, Masha Slamovich & Spitfire (Dani Luna & Jody Threat)

Masha and Rosemary start, Rosemary tries to start quick but Masha stifles her, tags in Jordynne, Jordynne and Masha do a tandem Electric Chair Splash but only a near fall. So then things break down to all 8 throwing hands, the babyface team gets the best of it, Quadruple Suplexes cause all of the heels to powder and then Masha and Jordynne open the ropes for Spitfire to Dive through ala Motor City Machine Guns for a big car crash bowling spot. Rosemary gets tossed back in, another near fall and then we’re off to commercial town again.

We’re back and for reasons unknown beyond “tags happened” Heather is getting tossed around by Dani. Jody with the blind tag, so rolling low Dropkicks and Crossbodies make Heather desperate. Heather slips Jody’s lift and tags in Tasha, in which Tasha is immediately snatched up, slammed and Dani is tagged back into keep the punishment going. Jawbreaker from Tasha gives her the time to tag out to ASH, but ASH is immediately countered, Jody is tagged in and Tandem Stalling Suplex. The heels just look stupid in this match so far. Concierge finally makes himself useful and allows ASH to grab Jody’s hair and swing the momentum. Referee is getting spun around with all the people so Rosemary takes a short cut choking Jody in the heel corner while ASH tags in Heather and Jody is reeling. ANOTHER COMMERCIAL

The match started with a commercial and there’s been two during…sheesh. Jody is still getting worked over but this time by ASH, but I’m definitely no longer invested in this match. I’m just waiting for Tessa to show up. Rosemary tags in after ASH hits her Back Handspring Elbow, Rosemary tries to choke out Jody, Jody starts fighting back. She fights out of the heel corner, Rosemary tries to throttle her, perches her but Jody is still fighting off 4 people even though she’s been eating moves for like 6 minutes. Jordynne tags in, starts running over everyone, rocks her, Spicolli Driver with the pop, Sliding D for two. Juggernaut Driver is countered, World’s Strongest Slam into Vader Bomb but Tasha jumps off the top with a splash to break up the pinfall. Jordynne lays out Tasha with a Lariat, Masha tags in, Sambo strikes into a Capo Kick that has to be broken up by Rosemary. Signature spam moment, so we’re either gonna get a finish or Tessa to just show up and no contest the world. Tasha Okurrr on Jordynne to force her to powder but Masha is lying in wait, Roundhouse Kick into Requiem, Masha gets the pinfall.

Tessa attacks Jordynne only from behind and then the heels go after the other three with Rosemary green misting Masha. Tessa ties Jordynne’s gym bag around her neck, drags her to the door and throws her out ala Buff Bagwell and Booker T. Tessa says she’s gonna take HER locker room back. 

Overall Score: 7.25/10

Even though there wasn’t a lot of wrestling, the segments were actually pretty fantastic. Ryan’s new gimmick could get old quick, but it’s so pathetically addictive to hate and mock; I love the hell out of it. Ace and Moose have some great chemistry so that should be a great match, Kaz with Leon Slater and the Dango cameo was good stuff and I’m a big Tessa fan. So as I said for Final Resolution, if she’s really trying to become a better person and made amends, she deserves a second chance and I’ve missed her in American wrestling shows. Rascalz against The Hardyz also makes obvious sense, I can’t imagine a world where Rascalz win, but it should be a fun match and maybe build a good angle. Santana going through the Northern Armoury could be fantastic also, so it gives something to look forward to next week.

Honestly I didn’t even realize there were only three matches until we got to the main event because the show was such a fun and easy watch.

So all things considered, I’d call this a damn good start to 2025. Plus Ace vs Kushida is easily in the MOTY conversation right now (yes it’s mostly humour since its only the second).