SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
TNA Impact opened with Syx issuing their warning to the Hardys before the show’s theme song and opening graphic aired.
Feud: M By Elegance – Elayna Black
M By Elegance (w/Elegance Brand) vs. Jada Stone for the TNA Knockouts TV Championship
The Elegance-Jada Stone match is a rematch between the finalists in the TV Title tournament which Elegance won to become the inaugural Knockouts TV Champion. Mr. Elegance appeared to attempt interference early in the match, but received a big boot from M by Elegance, continuing the issues within the Elegance Brand. After a number of impressive Jada Stone athletic spots, Mr. Elegance refused to aid M By Elegance in cheating, claiming to quit the Elegance Brand. M By Elegance secured the win, mostly cleanly, shortly thereafter.
Breakdown: The Knockouts TV Title continues to serve as a backdrop for storylines circling around the Elegance Brand, something I was afraid of back in the early rounds of the TV Title tournament. Jada Stone and M By Elegance had a decent match; the two wrestlers have decent chemistry with each other and Jada Stone is a good babyface for the heel Elegance to work off of. With the potential departure of Mr. Elegance from the Elegance Brand, perhaps there are better things for all talents involved on the horizon.
Grade: C
BACKSTAGE WITH THE SYSTEM
The System cut a promo in support of Cedric Alexander’s upcoming match against Amazing Red for the X-Division Championship. Like most of the System’s segments as of late, this one ended again with tensions boiling over between Eddie Edwards and Bear Bronson.
Breakdown: TNA has been teasing the demise of The System for several weeks now, so I would expect something more solid to develop in coming weeks.
Grade: C
ARTICLE CONTINUED BELOW…
Check out the latest episode of “Destination Impact” with Zac Clarke and Jerud Buhagiar, part of the PWTorch Dailycast line-up: CLICK HERE to stream (or search “pwtorch” on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or any other iOS or Android app to subscribe free)
BACKSTAGE WITH DARIA RAE
Daria Rae was backstage, being filmed on a phone call, when she was approached by someone named “Brian” who proclaimed himself to be appointed by The Board to “observe” Daria Rae in her daily functions as an authority figure.
Breakdown: The shows still seem to be focused heavily on Daria Rae as of late, but at least it seems there are some developments and progression in the storyline concerning Rae and The Board.
Grade: B
Zero vs. BDE
In his first match since the dissolution of Order 4, Zero, dropping the “Special Agent” from the name, defeated BDE in a glorified squash. After showing a number of impressive feats of strength, Zero scored the win over BDE. Following the match, Zero continued the attack on BDE until Rich Swann attempted to make the save, unsuccessfully. Zero would go on to destroy several security guards before standing tall in the ring.
Breakdown: I thought there may be some babyface potential with Zero, but with his impressive size and power, keeping him slotted in the heel role makes sense. Overall, it was a nice showing for Zero.
Grade: B
BACKSTAGE WITH RICKY SOSA
Ricky Sosa cut a backstage promo proclaiming his desire to prove himself as one of the best in the world, and that he would participate in the World X Cup. Fabian Aichner entered the segment and declared that he also would be in the X Cup, and that Aichner respects Sosa, but that he would do whatever it takes to win. Sosa, likewise, expressed his intent to win.
Breakdown: I definitely want to see Ricky Sosa get elevated, and seeing that he is taking part in the X Cup would lead me to believe he is a favorite to win. Fabian Aichner may be trending towards becoming a heel with his recent promos and interruption of Sosa in this segment. I have wanted more for Aichner since he arrived in TNA, and perhaps a heel turn can freshen him up. That all said, I like seeing the fresher talent mixing it up on screen.
Grade: B
TNA X Division Championship Match: Amazing Red vs. Cedric Alexander
Cedric Alexander sought to take on Amazing Red for the X Division Title without his System stablemates. Red won the X-Division Title at Bound For Glory, on the same night he was inducted into the TNA Hall of Fame. The two wrestlers faced off this week in what was a pretty good, high paced match. In Amazing Red’s first match on TNA Impact in 15 years, he gained the victory over Cedric Alexander, retaining the X Division Championship.The Alexander loss plays into the continued tension within The System as Bear Bronson drew issue with Eddie Edwards motivating Alexander to fight Amazing Red on his own.
Breakdown: The X Division Title has been one of the featured aspects of TNA television since Bound For Glory, as the invigorated push of TNA Hall of Famer and X Division legacy star, Amazing Red, continues. I am not exactly sure where the storyline is heading, who will end up being the next X Division champion. There also seems to be more trouble brewing among the System in the near future.
Grade: B
BACKSTAGE WITH HEATHER BY ELEGANCE
Heather By Elegance was approached by Elayna Black in the locker room. Black encouraged Heather to break away from M By Elegance, and that perhaps Heather should go after the TNA Knockouts TV Championship held by her tag partner, M By Elegance.
Breakdown: I am enjoying the continued disintegration of the Elegance Brand, and placing Heather By Elegance as the potential next TV Champion makes sense, if she is to defeat M By Elegance, leading to the end of the Elegance Brand once and for all.
Grade: B
INDI HARTWELL VIGNETTE
TNA aired a nice video package about Indi Hartwell’s thrill of victory after winning the Knockouts World Championship from Xia Brookside at Bound for Glory. The vignette was narrated by Indi and showed her writing in a journal, while the video showed clips of her journey.
Breakdown: I really enjoyed this vignette. TNA did a lackluster job showcasing their newly crowned champions like Indi Hartwell and Leon Slater, so some good video packages or promos coming now is better late than never.
Grade: A
APEX INTERRUPT BROADCAST
TNA Knockouts Tag Team Champions Shayna Baszler & Zoey Serrano interrupted the broadcast while Tom Hannifan & Matt Rehwoldt were commenting on the Indi Hartwell journey. Baszler declared she was given a shot at Hartwell’s Knockout World Championship at Destination X.
Breakdown: I am enjoying the Apex team. Shayna Baszler is a credible talent to have on the roster, and I would not mind if she cut the Indi Hartwell title reign short, though I do not expect that at this time. Baszler cut a good promo though.
Grade: A
VIGNETTE WITH THE RIGHTEOUS & HARLEY HUDSON
The Righteous have been asking Harley Hudson to make her final commitment to their faction. TNA aired a spooky vignette where Harley appears to accept their temptations.
Breakdown: The Righteous have been on their path of recruiting people who don’t seem to fit among their ranks and the trend continued when they randomly set their sights on Harley Hudson. I am not sure where this storyline is going, or why anyone would want to join The Righteous, at this point, but more will become evident in time.
Grade: C
BACKSTAGE PROMO WITH FIRE & FLAVA
Last week, the team of Kierra Hogan & Tasha Steelz, collectively known as “Fire & Flava,” reunited with Hogan turning on her now former partner, Allie. Hogan & Steelz challenged the newly signed Shotzi Blackheart & Allie to a tag match.
Breakdown: I liked this promo and I am enjoying the chemistry of Fire & Flava being back on TNA television. The absence of chemistry between Kierra Hogan & Allie makes the energy between Fire & Flava really stand out. The TNA Knockouts Tag Team division is heating up a bit.
Grade: A
Match: AJ Francis (w/Expressions) vs. John Skyler (w/Mila Moore)
In a match that was mostly for comedy centered around Expressions and Mila Moore, the finish would come when Skyler accidentally knocked Moore off of the ring apron, leading to Francis gaining the victory over Skyler.
Breakdown: AJ Francis got the win but I was not convinced that would be the case going into the match. TNA already going to some sort of tension angle between Skyler & Moore is weird since they’ve only been together on screen for a month.
Grade: D
BACKSTAGE WITH THE SYSTEM
Bear Bronson provoked Eddie Edwards for his decision making, blaming Edwards for Cedric Alexander’s loss to Amazing Red. Bronson challenged Edwards to a match where the winner would be the leader of The System. Edwards accepted the challenge.
Breakdown: These types of storylines typically do not end with everyone involved hugging it out, so I am not expecting that here. I am sure the two can have a good match but I am not sure where this is heading. I don’t see Bear Bronson as a faction leader type, so even if he were to defeat Eddie, The System being led by Bronson seems unlikely to last. I liked the promo segment and the chemistry between Bronson & Edwards, though.
Grade: B
BACKSTAGE WITH DARIA RAE & BRIAN
Daria Rae approached the Board’s appointed overseer of Daria Rae, Brian, backstage. She said their time together will be interesting.
Breakdown: There was not a ton to this, aside from the Brian character expressing his willingness to do anything to keep a job, proclaiming himself as a “company man.” I am hoping this is not the beginning of a storyline we look back at in the summer of 2027 wondering where it is going.
Grade: D
TNA WORLD CHAMPION LEON SLATER
Leon Slater became the youngest TNA World Champion when he defeated Nic Nemeth at Bound For Glory. Trey Miguel became the number one contender and the first challenger to Slater’s TNA World Title at Destination X. Slater cut a good promo about his journey. Trey Miguel entered the ring to make his case as next TNA World Champion in a face to face promo with Slater.
Breakdown: Both wrestlers came off pretty well, but I remain unable to connect with the Miguel character very well. Miguel makes sense as a first challenger for Slater, and I am still wondering if Miguel will trend more heel by the time we get to Destination X.
Grade: B
Feud: Elijah – Nemeths
Match: Elijah vs. Ryan Nemeth
Elijah, the man of one hundred nicknames, entered the Impact Zone to face Ryan Nemeth as he continued to feud with the Nemeth brothers. Ryan Nemeth cut a bad promo before the match to little fan heat. After securing the victory over Ryan, Elijah was attacked from behind by Nic Nemeth. Nic Nemeth would jump out of the way of a shot with the guitar from Elijah that made contact with Ryan Nemeth’s head.
Breakdown: Ryan Nemeth in singles competition is a tough watch for me. Pairing Nemeth against Elijah makes sense from a booking standpoint, to get Elijah a win, but Ryan Nemeth is not captivating in the ring, by any means.
Grade: D
BACKSTAGE WITH FRANKIE KAZARIAN AND MUSTAFA ALI
Ali interrupted Kazarian’s backstage promo to tell Kazarian that Avery Styles will stab Frankie in the back. Kazarian was not very receptive to the advice from Kazarian.
Breakdown: It was odd to see Kazarian and Mustafa Ali randomly entangled backstage. I continue to be intrigued by the Kazarian/Styles storyline, and right now, I am hoping that they cash in to become tag team champions at some point.
Grade: B
Feud: Hardys – Syx
Match: Slaughterhouse Syx Match
The Hardys and Syx faced off in a cinematic style match called the “Slaughterhouse Syx” match. The brawl started in what appeared to be a boiler room basement area. It remains jarring to see Samuel Shaw trash talking during a walking brawl style match considering his past characters never talked. The “match” ended with Syx using axes to apparently kill Jeff Hardy who had a trash can placed upon his body.
Breakdown: Closing the show with this was a choice; likely not a great choice. The cinematic style match, which the Hardys have relied upon heavily this year, took place in a neon-lit boiler room and was basically controlled wholly by Syx for its entirety. This conclusion did not feel like a definitive end to the feud, and I expect to see more between these teams at some point.
Grade: D
