SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
As Impact opened last week, a video package aired, highlighting the recent string of random attacks over the last several weeks. Also, after not focusing much time on the International Title feud between Mustafa Ali, Jason Hotch, and Trey Miguel last week, TNA recapped the recent happenings. Impact aired from San Antonio, Texas this week, ramping up the build to Bound for Glory. Leon Slater entered the Impact Zone with a strong crowd reaction, kicking off the show with a promo segment.
Feud: Leon Slater – Nic Nemeth, TNA World Champion
Slater opened up Impact gloating about defeating Ryan Nemeth on last week’s show. Nic Nemeth joined the segment after Slater’s fiery promo. Nemeth claimed that he and his brother, Ryan, would “possibly run TNA forever”. Ryan Nemeth entered the ring behind Leon Slater for a surprise attack but Slater was privy to their plan and thwarted the attack. Security and officials attempted to pull Nemeth and Slater apart, as Santino Marella entered the segment. Marella forbade Nemeth and Slater from touching each other until Bound for Glory.
Breakdown: TNA ramped up the build to this match last week, and moved a step forward with the build this week. Slater was really good on the mic, as usual. I like booking Slater’s character to be smartened up to Nemeth’s double team attack plan. Overall, this segment was pretty good. At this time, I feel Leon Slater has the edge to win the TNA World Title from Nic Nemeth.
Grade: A
BACKSTAGE WITH MATT HARDY
Matt Hardy took aim at the mystery attackers who had attacked both Jeff Hardy and himself in weeks prior. The Hardys demanded that the mystery attackers meet them face to face in the ring on this episode of Impact.
Breakdown: I thought this was a good short promo for the Hardys where they delivered a straightforward challenge to the mystery attackers. I am also happy that a reveal of the mystery attackers seems to be coming soon.
Grade: B+
BACKSTAGE WITH DARIA RAE & INDI HARTWELL
Feud: Indi Hartwell – Daria Rae
Indi approached Daria Rae backstage to tell her that no one is afraid of her, calling Rae a bully. Hartwell also questioned where Rae’s authority comes from, anyway. Rae slapped Indi after Hartwell called her a joke. Marella appeared from off screen with a camera, making it clear that Indi and Santino were setting up Daria Rae.
Breakdown: Though the feud has been going on for months, I thought this segment came out of nowhere. Hartwell was very aggressive towards Rae in the segment to the point of appearing to be a bit of a character shift. If this is going to lead to the scaling down of the authority figure storyline, then I am ultimately for it.
Grade: C+
X-DIVISION TITLE QUALIFIER
KJ ORSON vs. RYAN NEMETH
As he made his way to the ring, TNA aired a picture in picture promo, which also aired on the main picture; a slight production flub there. Ryan Nemeth entered next to face Orson for a spot in the Bound for Glory X-Division Championship six-man scramble match. Nemeth displayed a lot of detestable behavior in the pre-match and as the match went on. Ryan Nemeth secured the victory and a shot at the X-Division Title.
Breakdown: I thought Orson looked pretty good in the latter parts of this match and though I am not always impressed with Ryan Nemeth, to say the least, I thought he was pretty good in this match; both his ring work and character work, though unnerving at times, got the right kind of heat from me. Ryan Nemeth being added to the X-Division Title match makes sense, as the weekly shows have been focused on the Nemeth brothers for months.
Grade: B
ARTICLE CONTINUED BELOW…
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BACKSTAGE WITH MUSTAFA ALI, JOHN SKYLER, & MILA MOORE
In his return to TNA television this week, reigning International Champion Mustafa Ali berated Mila Moore & John Skyler for him being placed in a triple threat match for his International Title on Impact this week. Skyler stood up for Mila Moore as Ali’s insults got more intense towards her. Moore attempted to thank Skyler for standing up for her, but he gave her the cold shoulder as he walked away.
Breakdown: I had been wondering how the Skyler/Moore interactions as of late would play into the wider Order 4/Ali storyline. I thought all three talents were effective in their roles during this segment.
Breakdown: B
HERNANDEZ AT RINGSIDE
I liked that TNA showed Hernandez at Ringside, as he is a wrestler I will always associate with the late 2000’s TNA product.
Feud: The Righteous – BDE/Rich Swann
Match: THE RIGHTEOUS vs. BDE/RICHSWANN
The Righteous has been focused on adding members to their cult. They have made unsuccessful attempts at persuading or brainwashing BDE to join them. The two teams faced off this week in a “.Combat match” (sp?), a NO-DQ Falls Count Anywhere style match. BDE appeared to be legit injured on the outside of the ring during a spot with the steel steps. BDE recovered, as he and Swann took control of the match briefly, introducing a table. Swann was put through the table by Dutch as BDE moved out of the way. The Righteous secured the victory shortly thereafter, hitting their double team finisher. In the post match, the Righteous attacked BDE with chairs.
Breakdown: I have been in favor of building up tag teams that are not currently vying for the tag team titles, but this storyline between The Righteous-BDE/Rich Swann has been wacky, to say the least. The match was pretty good, and pretty violent. The Righteous going over strong here is interesting. I am still curious if more comes out of this feud from here. I am thinking it is possible that Rich Swann could be turning on BDE and joining the Righteous. Or perhaps the Righteous is being heated up to be part of a bigger tag team title match at Bound For Glory.
Grade: B
BACKSTAGE WITH AVERY STYLES & FRANKIE KAZARIAN
Frankie Kazarian, in his continued attempts to gain the loyalty of Avery Styles, told Styles that he secured him a spot in the Call Your Shot Gauntlet Match at Bound For Glory. As the segment was about to end, Kazarian told Styles that he, Kazarian, is also in the Call Your Shot match.
Breakdown: I have been intrigued where this storyline is going. Styles has not shown much personality in his limited TV time, but I remain excited to see what he can do in the ring at Bound For Glory and I am enjoying building up this feud between Kazarian-Styles.
Grade: B
BACKSTAGE WITH INDI HARTWELL, HARLEY HUDSON, SANTINO MARELLA
Feud: Indi Hartwell – Daria Rae/Xia Brookside
Santino reported back to Indi Hartwell that Daria Rae has been suspended by the Board of TNA for her slapping Hartwell. Santino then announced that Indi Hartwell would be facing Xia Brookside for the TNA Knockouts World Championship, which cued the instant appearance of Brookside.
Breakdown: The Xia Brookside title reign has not been very exciting, for me. I think she was hurt by the weird miscast feud with Elayna Black, and has not recovered since. I am happy that Hartwell is getting a shot at the title now, but I foresee more developments coming. I predict Zoey Serrano will likely be a part of this match by the time we make it to Bound For Glory. At this time, I think I would prefer Serrano get the super push, delaying an inevitable title win for Hartwell.
Grade: C+
THE HARDYS ENTER THE IMPACT ZONE
The Hardys were victims of the mystery attackers over the last few weeks and entered the Impact Zone this week to call out the mystery assailants to reveal themselves. The lights began to flicker and then completely cut out as two wrestlers attacked the Hardys in the ring. The lights came back on, and the mystery attackers revealed themselves to be the former Joe Gacy & Dexter Lumis; Joseph Sawyer & Samuel Shaw appear to now be known as “Syx”.
Breakdown: After months of the mystery attacker angle, we finally have a reveal. On our weekly TNA podcast, Destination Impact, JB and I have talked about TNA adding these talents for months. The TNA roster has been in dire need of depth in basically all of its divisions and though Sawyer/Shaw will be focused on the tag division, eventually they can both play a part as singles stars for TNA, also. I also enjoyed Tom Hannifan’s call of the reveal, making reference to the Wyatt Sicks lore behind their past characters. Overall, this was a pretty exciting segment and sets up some things to look forward to over the next several months.
Grade: A
Feud: The System – Ricky Sosa/Eljiah
Match: EDDIE EDWARDS vs. ELIJAH
Ricky Sosa has been feuding with The System for a while now. Elijah became an ally to Sosa in the midst of the numbers advantage and this week Elijah faced off against Eddie Edwards. As Elijah began to separate, Bear Bronson & Brian Myers of The System came to ringside to assist Edwards, but were thwarted by Ricky Sosa, leading to Elijah scoring the victory over Edwards.
Breakdown: I have not been very high on Elijah lately but this match was pretty good. I am hoping that this feud is leading to Ricky Sosa closing the door on the feud with The System with a victory over Eddie Edwards at Bound For Glory. Edwards losing this match has led to me somewhat skeptical if TNA is going to get behind Sosa at Bound For Glory.
Grade: C
BACKSTAGE WITH MOOSE
Last week, Moose defeated Frankie Kazarian, but this week, his backstage promo was interrupted by AJ Francis, returning to Impact TV for the first time in several weeks. Moose expressed to Francis that he was ready for a match anytime.
Breakdown: I was more intrigued with the outlook of this feud than I was the Kazarian-Moose feud, so I am not opposed to running it back for Bound For Glory.
Grade: B
FATAL 4-WAY FOR #1 CONTENDERSHIP TO KNOCKOUTS TV TITLE
GABBY FORZA vs. JADA STONE vs. HARLEY HUDSON vs. ELAYNA BLACK
An exciting mix of future stars of TNA’s Knockouts division faced off for a shot at M By Elegance’s Television Championship. After a short match with some decent action, Elayna Black earned a shot at M By Elegance.
Breakdown: One wrestler in this match was unlike the others, and she won the match. Elayna Black stood out from the field here because of her experience as a wrestler and her push since arriving in TNA. She fell short against Xia Brookside in an attempt at winning the Knockouts World Championship, but with the victory in this fatal four way, Black earned a TV Title match.
Grade: B
BACKSTAGE WITH MILA MOORE AND JOHN SKYLER
Mila Moore approached John Skyler to thank him for coming to her defense against Mustafa Ali in an earlier segment. Just as the two appeared to be about to kiss, Ali interrupted them. Mila Moore claimed she quit Order 4, and she grabbed the hand of John Skyler, with Moore declaring that Skyler quit also.
Breakdown: Though these segments were cheesy, with Ali back on TV, the story has advanced well lately. I did not realize that this storyline was going to lead to them quitting Order 4 suddenly this week, but if the demise of Order 4 can lead to bigger and better things for Mustafa Ali, I am in favor of this.
Grade: B
BACKSTAGE WITH ZOEY SERRANO ON THE PHONE WITH DARIA RAE
Feud: Zoey Serrano/Daria Rae – Indi Hartwell
Serrano, apparently on a call with Daria Rae, promised Rae that she will take Indi Hartwell out before she can make it to the Knockouts Title match at Bound For Glory.
Breakdown: As I stated earlier, I am high on Zoey Serrano and hoping that she can get the proverbial rocket strapped to her in TNA. I am hoping that she is TNA Knockouts World Champion sooner rather than later.
Grade: B
Feud: Jason Hotch – Mustafa Ali – Trey Miguel
INTERNATIONAL TITLE MATCH: MUSTAFA ALI [c] vs. JASON HOTCH vs. TREY MIGUEL
In a match that could be a potential preview of things to come at Bound For Glory, three of the most athletic wrestlers on the TNA roster faced off for Ali’s International Title this week. In the latter part of the match, Tasha Steelz refused to assist Ali but was hit by a stomp from the top rope by Hotch when Ali moved out of the way. Ali used the title belt on Miguel to score the victory, retaining the International Championship. Ali carried Tasha Steelz briefly, but then dropped her to celebrate his victory.
Breakdown: What was an entertaining match ended with Order 4 shenanigans, but the action between the three wrestlers was really strong, especially towards the end of the match. I was thinking this would likely be the International Title match at Bound For Glory, and it still could be, but this seems to point in other directions. Hotch was very over with the crowd, which makes me feel strongly that TNA should not have taken the International Title off of him so soon after winning it from Ali.
Grade: B
BACKSTAGE PROMO WITH THE HARDYS
The Hardys challenged the newly debuted Joseph Sawyer & Samuel Shaw, known as “Syx”, to what the Hardys said would be a “war”.
Breakdown: TNA closed their show this week with a decent short promo by the Hardys where they challenged Syx to a fight of some sort for next week’s episode of Impact. With the Nemeths still in possession of the TNA Tag Titles, I’m not sure if the feud between the Hardys-Syx will decide the next challengers for the tag titles, or if the tag title match will be a multi-team affair featuring both of these teams, but I am intrigued with where this is going.
Grade: A
