SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
The Oct. 22 episode of TNA Impact opened with the return of Daria Rae, who received significant heat from the fans. After Rae cut a decent promo until she was interrupted by new TNA Knockouts World Champion, Indi Hartwell. Rae announced there would be an impromptu championship match against former champion Xia Brookside.
Feud: Indi Hartwell – Daria Rae
Match: TNA Knockouts Championship, Indi Hartwell (c) vs. Xia Brookside
Brookside controlled the bulk of the match, working over Hartwell’s arm which was a target of Zoey Serrano & Shayna Baszler last week. Hartwell would secure the victory after a decent match and Daria Rae would appear on the entrance ramp as Zoey Serrano and Shayna Baszler attacked Hartwell from behind.
Breakdown: The impromptu title match wasn’t bad but there was not a ton to it. Baszler holding the Knockouts World Championship over Hartwell’s broken body could be a signal that she will challenge Hartwell for the title in the near future.
Grade: B
BACKSTAGE WITH LEON SLATER AND TREY MIGUEL
New TNA World Champion Leon Slater cut a backstage promo and was approached by Trey Miguel, Slater’s first championship challenger.
Breakdown: I am sure the in-ring work will be great once we get to the match, and Miguel does make sense as a first challenger. Miguel could be trending in the heel direction in this storyline, which I can see both pros and cons with. Miguel connects pretty well with crowds and is obviously a great wrestler, but there is just something about his character that seems to be a bit inauthentic to me.
Grade: B
BACKSTAGE WITH XIA BROOKSIDE
Brookside was found backstage literally crying about her loss of the Knockouts Championship to Indi Hartwell, and the subsequent opportunity to regain the title on Impact this week when a flower magically appeared in her hand, seemingly giving Brookside a new purpose.
Breakdown: I assume this is a tease of future entanglements between Xia Brookside and The Righteous. The Righteous have been attempting to recruit Harley Hudson as of late, and this continues the trend of recruitment pitches to seemingly odd fits in the faction.
Grade: C
FATAL 4-WAY #1 CONTENDERS MATCH FOR X-DIVISION TITLE
Match: Fabian Aichner vs. Cedric Alexander vs. KC Navarro vs. Rich Swann
The early portion of the match was high-energy action between the four competitors. With a field of such talented athletes, it’s not surprising that they would go for a number of ambitious spots. The recent X-Division Title matches in TNA have featured these wrestlers and they generally deliver good in-ring work. The System got involved in the match, leading to the Cedric Alexander victory, securing the shot at the X-Division Championship against Amazing Redd. Redd entered the Impact Zone to stare down Alexander.
Breakdown: These four men had a high-energy entertaining match that ended with System interference, unfortunately. In my opinion, TNA Creative continues to squander Fabian Aichner and KC Navarro. I know we are in the midst of an Amazing Redd push and Alexander has taken a lot of losses lately, so what is one more? I was hoping this match would lead to an elevation of Aichner or Navarro, which has been my opinion going into and coming out of all of these recent matches pertaining to the X-Division Championship.
Grade: C+
BACKSTAGE WITH TASHA STEELZ & SPECIAL AGENT ZERO
In this backstage segment, Tasha Steelz seemed to release Special Agent Zero from his Order 4 obligations and appear to be going their separate ways.
Breakdown: I was interested in the pairing of Steelz & Zero, but perhaps a repackaging of Zero is coming. I am also intrigued where Tasha Steelz is going from here.
Grade: B
BACKSTAGE WITH AJ FRANCIS & EXPRESSIONS
Francis consoled Expressions for suffering his first in-ring loss at the hands of the Hardys last week. Francis & Expressions were approached by Mila Moore & John Skyler. Skyler stood up for Mila Moore after she made fun of Francis & Expressions, and Skyler vs. Francis was set up for next week.
Breakdown: Francis has been firmly placed into the obligatory weekly comedy segments. I have repeatedly stated that, though I may not see Francis as a top guy, I certainly think he is capable of so much more than the bad comedy TNA has him doing right now.
Grade: D
FRANKIE KAZARIAN & AVERY STYLES BACKSTAGE
Styles & Kazarian were walking backstage when they were approached by the Hardys & Moose who wished Styles good luck ahead of his first Impact television match. Kazarian shunned the babyfaces away, saying Styles was good, and not in need of their encouragement.
Breakdown: Kazarian has been trending more in the babyface role lately, but this encounter with the Hardys & Moose brought out the more detestable aspects of Frankie’s character.
Grade: B
BACKSTAGE WITH THE SYSTEM
After helping Cedric Alexander win the fatal four way to earn a shot at the X-Division Title, Bear Bronson & Brian Myers celebrated with Alexander backstage. Tensions between Eddie Edwards & Bronson continued growing.
Breakdown: The System seems to be heading toward an implosion. That would not upset me; The System fatigue is real.
Grade: C
Match: Joe Alonzo vs. Avery Styles (w/ Frankie Kazarain)
Avery Styles was booked to wrestle his first singles match in TNA on Impact this week, facing off against Joe Alonzo. Alonzo cut a decent promo as he made his way to the ring ahead of the match. Kazarian advised Styles from the ringside area, leading to Styles hitting a ‘Spinal Tap’ from the top rope, securing his first victory on Impact television.
Breakdown: I am enjoying the dynamic between Kazarian & Styles. Kazarian played his role very well as the ringside manager/coach of Styles. I do hope that they end up cashing in the Call Your Shot gauntlet on the tag titles as Kazarian has signaled.
Grade: B+
BACKSTAGE WITH THE ELEGANCE BRAND
M By Elegance declared herself as the new leader of The Elegance Brand. M By Elegance was interrupted by Elayna Black who questioned Elegance’s toughness. Jada Stone also entered the segment. Stone demanded a shot at the Knockouts TV title, since Elegance was ducking Black.
Breakdown: This segment was cringe. I think we are heading towards a slow dissolution of the Elegance Brand, which is very encouraged. I thought Jada Stone was good in the segment.
Grade: C-
BACKSTAGE WITH SANTINO MARELLA
Santino announced some matches on the upcoming Destination X pay-per-view including two Ultimate X matches; The first Knockouts Ultimate X match will determine the number one contender to the Knockouts World Championship, and the men’s Ultimate X match will determine the number one contender for Amazing Redd’s X-Division Championship. Marella was interrupted by Daria Rae, who said nothing.
Breakdown: This was a basic segment hyping the upcoming show, Destination X. I am not sure what the point of having Daria Rae appear at the end of the segment only to say or do nothing.
Grade: C
FORMER KNOCKOUTS CHAMPIONS ALLIE & KIERRA HOGAN IN RING
The odd pairing of Kierra Hogan & Allie lost the TNA Knockouts Tag Team Championship at Bound For Glory to Shayna Baszler & Zoey Serrano. Allie demanded a rematch for the tag titles in an in-ring promo. Hogan took the mic from Allie, asking if she was finished, and that she was tired of hearing Allie talk. Hogan mocked Allie, signaling an end to their short-lived team. Hogan proclaimed that the team of her and Allie is done. Tasha Steelz attacked Allie from behind, seemingly revealing the reunion of the Fire & Flava tag team between Steelz & Hogan. After laying out Allie, Shotzi Blackheart entered the Impact Zone to make the save.
Breakdown: This segment accomplished a lot and though I have some minor quibbles with the execution of the angles, I think the debut of Shotzi and the reunion of the Fire & Flava team are good things for the Knockouts division in TNA. Fire & Flava reuniting adds some much needed depth to the Knockouts tag division. Shotzi is a big signing for TNA, and I think she can be a player at the top of the TNA women’s division.
Grade: A
BACKSTAGE WITH THE RIGHTEOUS & HARLEY HUDSON
The Righteous demanded that Harley Hudson make a decision on if she is Righteous or not, requiring Hudson’s answer on next week’s episode of Impact.
Breakdown: The continued recruitment pitches of Harley Hudson by The Righteous are among the weirdest attempted pairings imaginable in TNA. I am not sure where this is going, or if it will be worth it in the end, but only time will tell.
Grade: D
RECAP OF A BACKSTAGE BRAWL BETWEEN ELIJAH AND NIC NEMETH
After Nic Nemeth cost Elijah a shot at the TNA World Title, the two brawled backstage. Elijah cut a backstage promo on Nic Nemeth, challenging him to a match. Ryan Nemeth interrupted the Elijah promo, hyping up the movie he is in, and sending a message from his big brother. Elijah declared he would have to beat both of their asses.
Breakdown: Elijah has been cutting some better promos lately, and though I am not the biggest fan, I support TNA trying to highlight as many of their wrestlers as serious players as they can.
Grade: B
Feud: Mustafa Ali – Jason Hotch
TNA International Title Match: Mustafa Ali vs. Jason Hotch {c}
Ali and Hotch have been entangled in feuding over the International Title and the crumbling of Ali’s Order 4 faction. The two very talented wrestlers met one on one in a two out of three falls match. The two wrestled a strong match. Ali scored the first fall. Ali used the title belt on Hotch leading to a disqualification on the second fall. After a strong contest, Hotch would secure the victory over Ali, retaining the International Championship, and ending the feud with Ali once and for all. Leon Slater, TNA World Champion, made his way to the ring to cut a promo in support of Jason Hotch and the two celebrated as the show appeared to go off the air.
Breakdown: In what I assume is the final match between Ali & Hotch, the two had a strong match, and Hotch came out on top as still International Champion. I am hoping that Mustafa Ali can be elevated up the card now, with Order 4 behind him. I like having Leon Slater mixing it up with other babyfaces, putting them over on the mic, but I hope TNA will get more into the Slater-business and really give the shine to him in the coming weeks.
Grade: A
SYX CINEMATIC PROMO TO CLOSE THE SHOW
Syx challenged the Hardys to “step into their world” next week in this cinematic promo.
Breakdown: The segment was a little too cinematic for me, and the Syx feud with the Hardys seems to have been going on for months already, and Syx has only wrestled a couple of matches in TNA, so that’s not a great sign of where things stand between these teams.
Grade: C
