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INTRO
TNA is building towards its biggest pay-per-view of the year, Bound For Glory, and opened this week’s episode of Impact showing the Matt & Jeff Hardy arriving at the Impact Zone ahead of their encounter with the newly debuted team known as “Syx” who were behind the mystery attacks that had plagued the locker room for several weeks. Tom Hannifan introduced the show as BDE made his way to the ring, accompanied by Rich Swann.
TNA X-DIVISION TITLE MATCH QUALIFIER
Though in the midst of a feud with The Righteous, BDE got a shot to qualify for the Bound For Glory six-way scramble match for the vacant X-Division Championship while his partner, Rich Swann, earned his spot in the match a few weeks ago. The Personal Concierge appeared on the entrance ramp, along with his returning mustache, to introduce Mr. Elegance as BDE’s opponent. As the match got started, Matthew Rehwoldt led a touching message about Ben “PAC” Satterley who tragically passed away this past weekend; Rehwoldt & Hannifan sent condolences to the family of PAC. After a back and forth match, BDE won his first singles match in TNA, securing a spot in the X-Division Title match at Bound For Glory. In the aftermath of the match, as BDE & Swann celebrated as they exited up the ramp, Mr. Elegance pushed The Personal Concierge to the ground and was shown yelling at the obnoxious manager.
Breakdown: I was really happy to hear the TNA broadcast team share words about Ben Satterley early on in the show here. Satterley clearly had close friendships with people across the wrestling industry, so it was very suitable that Rehwoldt, a former coworker, would lead the condolences. I thought the match was fine. I am intrigued to see where Mr. Elegance can go with a rebrand, getting away from the Elegance Brand; I think he has potential, but it has been hard to get behind him with the Elegance gimmick. I found it interesting that, similarly to the Rich Swann qualifier match, The Righteous played no part in this BDE-Elegance match. I was also surprised to realize that this was BDE’s first singles victory on TNA television. Good for him.
Grade: B
BACKSTAGE WITH JASON HOTCH & JOHN SKYLER (w/ MILA MOORE)
Hotch & Skyler, known collectively as The Great Hands, have been part of the disintegration of Order 4. It was announced that Hotch & Skyler would face Mustafa Ali and Special Agent Zero on this week’s edition of Impact. The two wrestlers met in a backstage promo segment where they both shared frustrations with each other’s recent actions.
Breakdown: I thought this was okay. Skyler is not as fluid on the mic as Hotch has been, but Hotch did do a good job in his role. I am intrigued to see them tagging, but also keen on a potential swerve coming soon.
Grade: B
BACKSTAGE WITH HOMETOWN MAN AND DUDE WIPES MASCOT
Home Town Man was backstage with the Dude Wipes mascot when AJ Francis & Expressions interrupted the segment.
Breakdown: This angle was played completely for comedy and advertisement. I did not love it.
Grade: F
ARTICLE CONTINUED BELOW…
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Feud: Indi Hartwell – Zoey Serrano/Daria Rae
Match: Zoey Serrano vs. Indi Hartwell
The feud between Hartwell and Daria Rae has heated up recently. Hartwell conspired with Santino Marella to get Rae suspended. Serrano was tasked with hurting Hartwell by Daria Rae which led to the two Knockouts having a match on Impact this week. TNA Knockouts World Champion Xia Brookside joined the commentary team for the match. Brookside will be defending the Knockouts Championship against Hartwell at Bound For Glory. Hartwell-Serrano brawled outside of the ring for a while before the match officially started, and would spill back to the floor not long after. Serrano then randomly attacked security guards sitting at ringside and then attacked Hartwell with a steel chair. After Serrano was removed by security, Brookside hit Hartwell with the Knockouts Championship.
Breakdown: There was a lot going on in this segment. I am not the biggest fan of the excessive attacks on security guards by Serrano, which has been the most prevalent character trait displayed since arriving in TNA. Hartwell also is not coming across very strong ahead of her challenging for the Knockouts Championship, and with one episode of Impact before Bound For Glory, I am hoping for something more out of this storyline that has focused more on Daria Rae than anyone.
Grade: D
Feud: Mustafa Ali – Jason Hotch – John Skyler – Order 4
Match: Mustafa Ali & Special Agent Zero (w/ Tasha Steelz) vs. John Skyler (w/ Mila Moore) & Jason Hotch
The dissolution of Order 4 has been in the works for months, it would seem. Between the Jason Hotch singles push and John Skyler’s pursuit of Mila Moore as a love interest, both have decided to leave Mustafa Ali’s Order 4 faction. On Impact this week, we got an Order 4 tag match between the Great Hands Hotch & Skyler facing their former Order 4 leader, Ali and his partner Special Agent Zero. The Great Hands controlled the match early but Agent Zero turned the tide for Order 4 through the middle part of the match. Mustafa Ali delivered a standing moonsault on Hotch, an obvious nod to Ben “Pac” Satterley. To secure the victory for Order 4, Ali applied a nasty looking Sharpshooter.
After the match, Ali maintained the sharpshooter on Skyler until Hotch broke up the move. Ali then ordered Special Agent Zero to attack Hotch & Skyler, which he only did when Tasha Steelz made the command, rather than Ali. Steelz then ordered Agent Zero to attack Ali. Steelz rose the International Title above her head, standing next to Agent Zero. Steelz then commanded Agent Zero to attack Mila Moore, which he obliged; it seems we have seen the end of Order 4, once and for all.
Breakdown: The four wrestlers had a strong match. I was happy to see Ali throw in some nods to Pac, as expected. They had some amazing matches in the 205 Live era in WWE. But this match centered around Order 4 finally disintegrating, which it seems it has. I thought Special Agent Zero stood out really well in this match, and it seems TNA is getting behind him, pairing him with Tasha Steelz. I would like to see Steelz pushed stronger in the Knockouts division, so hopefully that comes. I am intrigued to see where Ali can go after all of the Order 4 storylines have been wrapped up. I think it was strange to have Zero attack Mila Moore, seemingly supplanting the Zero/Steelz pair as heels, but again, an effective segment overall.
Grade: A
IMPACT INJURY REPORT
TNA kept the Injury Report short this week, which I think is for the best. The report centered on the ongoing feuds between Indi Hartwell and Daria Rae/Zoey Serrano/Xia Brookside; ahead of her Knockouts Championship match at Bound For Glory against Brookside, she is listed as questionable. The Hardys were cleared for competition at any time as they sought revenge against Syx, Joseph Sawyer & Samuel Shaw.
Grade: B
BACKSTAGE WITH ORDER 4
Special Agent Zero & Tasha Steelz were backstage in the aftermath of their earlier match where Order 4 all but dissolved. John Skyler was tending to Mila Moore and then Ali entered the frame as Hotch did as well. The former Order 4 comrades began brawling when Santino booked a fatal four way match for the International Championship at Bound For Glory.
Breakdown: I was wondering what the International Title match would be when Impact hosted the Ali-Miguel-Hotch match last week and I think this is a suitable option. I am very much hoping that they will finally elevate Ali in the aftermath of the Order 4 dissolution. At this moment, I think TNA wants to see what it has in Special Agent Zero and the pairing with Tasha Steelz, so I think that is a safe choice to be the next International Champion.
Grade: B+
EXPRESSIONS INTRODUCES AJ FRANCIS
Feud: AJ Francs – Moose
Match: AJ Francis vs. Moose
Moose, since wrapping up things with Frankie Kazarian, needed to find something to do, and AJ Francis re-entered his life just in time. The two former pro athletes, the biggest wrestlers on the roster, faced off on Impact this week. The feud centered around the Dude Wipes sponsorship, featuring their mascot at ringside; Francis also had the Dude Wipes logo on his ring gear. After the two exchanged decent action, Francis ordered Expressions to set up a table, topped with Dude Wipes. Expressions would be put through the table by a boot of Moose and, with the assistance of the Dude Wipes mascot, defeated Francis.
Breakdown: When the match was not focusing on the paid sponsorship of Dude Wipes, the action was pretty good. The segment was played purely for comedy with the wipes on the table spot. I would like to see TNA cut out some of the bad comedy. The conclusion of this match did not leave much to be desired out of this feud, so I am not sure where either of them go from here.
Grade: D
BACKSTAGE WITH ALLIE & KIERRA HOGAN
TNA returned to the cinematic style production for this backstage segment between TNA Knockouts Champions Allie & Kierra Hogan encountering Rosemary for the first time since before Lockdown. Allie & Hogan passed Rosemary in the hall, showing a Rosemary without makeup, but then the two approached Rosemary in a straightjacket behind a fence.
Breakdown: I guess this was meant to be something going on in Allie’s head, but I am not positive about that. TNA always has to dabble in the cinematic nonsense, usually highlighting the Undead Realm stuff. I would love for them to get a little more serious. The TNA Knockouts Titles are in a very low place on the card, in my opinion. If this is leading to another team being revealed in the division, then that would be welcomed, as it has no depth currently.
Grade: D
Feud: Leon Slater – Nic Nemeth
Match: Leon Slater vs. Joe Alonzo
With just over a week until Leon Slater’s shot at Nic Nemeth’s TNA World Championship at Bound For Glory, he faced off against Joe Alonzo on Impact. Nic Nemeth joined the commentary team for the match, as well. Alonzo entered after Leon Slater, cutting a promo. After his very long promo, Alonzo finally entered the ring and was swiftly defeated by Slater after the bell. Nic Nemeth fled the Impact Zone but Slater was able to grab Nemeth’s World Title belt.
Breakdown: I think he has potential but Alonzo’s promo was a miss for me. The promo got a little better but it went on and on, and the fans did respond accordingly. The segment really felt more about Joe Alonzo than it did Leon Slater. I did like getting Slater a quick win, though. I am not feeling great about Slater’s chances at winning the title at Bound For Glory as we stand today.
Grade: C
VIGNETTE OF FRANKIE KAZARIAN TRAINING AVERY STYLES
Frankie Kazarian claimed to secure a spot in the Call Your Shot Gauntlet for Avery Styles, as well as himself, at Bound For Glory. TNA aired this training vignette which featured a Kazarian voiceover.
Breakdown: I remain intrigued with this storyline, and I was glad to see TNA do a little more leg work with this training montage.
Grade: A
BACKSTAGE WITH ELAYNA BLACK & M BY ELEGANCE
Elayna Black earned a shot at the Knockouts TV Title last week and this week, encountered the Elegance Brand. M By Elegance declared herself as the centerpiece of Elegance Brand, and that she did not require their help to defend her title. Black-Elegance face off next week for the TV Title.
Breakdown: I am hoping Elayna Black can get a big win here. I think she can do more with the TV Title at this time, though I have liked some aspects of the M By Elegance push. Similarly to Order 4, it seems we could be heading towards an Elegance Brand breakup in the near future, and along with Mr. Elegance’s frustrations earlier in the night, this story could be playing a part in that.
Grade: C+
Feud: Ricky Sosa – The System/Eddie Edwards
Match: Ricky Sosa vs. Cedric Alexander
Ricky Sosa has been lost in the System vortex since before Lockdown. Sosa has been running through the System ahead of his singles match against Eddie Edwards at Bound For Glory. Alexander entered with virtually no fan response. Sosa and Alexander started the match with high-paced action. Well into the match, Alexander’s System stablemates entered the ringside area, interfering with the match. Alexander then hit Sosa with the Lumbarcheck and the pinfall victory over Sosa.
Breakdown: I am really not sure what TNA is doing with Ricky Sosa. Eddie Edwards lost to Elijah a couple weeks ago, and then Sosa lost here ahead of their match against each other at Bound For Glory. Sosa, in my opinion, really did not need any more losses for a while, much less to Cedric Alexander.
Grade: F
SYX ENTERS THE IMPACT ZONE
Feud: Syx (Joseph Sawyer & Samuel Shaw) vs. The Hardys
After revealing themselves as the mystery attackers last week, Joseph Sawyer & Samuel Shaw entered the Impact Zone to explain why they attacked so many people backstage. As Shaw spoke on the mic with a cadence inspiring the crowd’s “what?” chants. Sawyer counteracted those chants during his part of the promo. Sawyer & Shaw mocked fans cheering for the Hardys. The Hardys answered Syx’s challenge to a fight, appearing on the entrance ramp with microphones and a lead pipe. The Hardys proclaimed themself as “unkillable”. The Hardys challenged Syx to a No DQ Falls Count Anywhere match at Bound For Glory. As the Hardy made their way to the ring, the lights went out, and Syx had disappeared when the lights returned.
Breakdown: I thought Syx’s promo was pretty good. With the Hardys getting their contractual rematch for the TNA Tag Titles next week against the Nemeths, it seems likely that this Falls Count Anywhere match between the Hardys-Syx could be for the tag titles.
Grade: B
