Kevin Nash wasn’t a fan of WWE’s decision to release the Motor City Machine Guns.
During the Q&A portion of his latest Kliq This podcast, Nash reacted to the round of roster cuts that WWE made on April 24. The WWE Hall of Famer said he was surprised to see Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin let go and would not have made the same decision if it were up to him.
“I would not have gotten rid of the Motor City Machine Guns, that’s for damn sure,” Nash said.
Nash worked with Motor City Machine Guns in TNA and had strong on-screen chemistry with Shelley when they were in Paparazzi Productions together. Nash was also a mentor to Shelley behind the scenes during this time, with Nash, Shelley, and Sabin all being from the state of Michigan.
Shelley & Sabin had a nearly two-year run with WWE that included one Tag Team title reign on SmackDown. There is an expectation that they’ll be heading to AEW once free to sign elsewhere.
When asked if he was surprised by the releases in general, Nash said he wasn’t after he saw how high the compensation is for TKO’s executives. Nash joked about Nick Khan’s salary but said he believes Khan has earned it given how much money Khan generates for WWE.
“Not after like two weeks prior when I see what the CEOs [are making]. What Nick’s getting paid. I mean, Nick took f***ing half of the WrestleMania net [laughs],” Nash said. “But I’m busting his balls because we sat here and went over the numbers and the year before was 1.4 billion. The next year, you’re 1.7 billion. So that’s 300 million.”
Khan — WWE’s President — received $24.3 million in compensation for the year 2025. His base salary was $2 million, and Khan received $11 million in stock awards and more than $10 million in bonuses.
Nash appeared for WWE last month when he helped induct NBA legend Dennis Rodman into the Hall of Fame during WrestleMania 42 weekend. Though he understands that business takes precedence, Nash described the whole weekend as feeling “kind of soulless” with how TKO handles things.
The WWE continues to cut multiple names from its roster. News of the departures of Zoey Stark and Alba Fyre, among others, broke earlier today. Now more cuts have been identified this evening, including Aleister Black and the Motor City Machine Guns.
Black had initially joined WWE as a member of NXT in 2016. He was called up to the main roster in 2019, but he was released in June of 2021. He spent several years in AEW in the House of Black with Brody King and Buddy Matthews before returning to WWE last April. (The initial vignette teasing his return aired one year ago this weekend.) After pairing with his real-life wife Zelina Vega, he was involved with Randy Orton’s build to WrestleMania, but was pulled from the program to make room for Pat McAfee.
Vega is also among those reportedly released.
The Motor City Machine Guns—Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin—had been teaming for over 15 years, mostly in TNA, before finally joining WWE in 2024. They won a pair of tournaments to name top contenders for the WWE Tag Team Championships, and finally defeated Tama Tonga & Tonga Loa to win those belts in October of 2024. They lost the belts to #DIY in December of that same year.
Other names on WWE’s cut list, according to Sapp:
Former WWE US and Intercontinental Champion Apollo Crews.
Former NXT Cruiserweight Champion Santos Escobar.
Tyra Mae Steele, who won a gold medal in wrestling in the 2020 Olympic Games under her real name, Tamyra Mensah-Stock.
Three-time former WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Kairi Sane
Developmental prospects Malik Blade, Dante Chen, Luca Crusifino, Tyson Dupont, Chris Island, Tyriek Igwe, Sirena Linton, and Trill London.
JC Mateo & Talla Tonga will be the two members of Solo Sikoa’s Family Tree facing Motor City Machine Guns tonight.
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WWE has confirmed a tag team bout for tonight’s SummerSlam fallout edition of SmackDown.
The SmackDown roster is in Montreal, Quebec, Canada with the Bell Centre hosting tonight’s show. It was announced this afternoon that Motor City Machine Guns will face off against Solo Sikoa’s Family Tree on the show. WWE didn’t specify which two of Tonga Loa, JC Mateo, and Talla Tonga will be competing in the match.
Motor City Machine Guns are coming off a six-pack TLC match at SummerSlam, where The Wyatt Sicks prevailed to retain the WWE Tag Team titles. Sikoa retained his United States Championship belt over Jacob Fatu at the PLE, but the Family Tree didn’t get out unscathed as Jimmy Uso helped Fatu stand tall over Tonga Loa and Mateo.
This is the first match announced for tonight, but appearances by Cody Rhodes and John Cena are also scheduled. Rhodes defeated Cena at SummerSlam to become the new WWE Champion. After the conclusion of the title match, Brock Lesnar reemerged following a two-year absence and beat down Cena.
SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis hyped that Cena has requested time tonight to address Lesnar’s attack. Cena’s appearance will be kicking off the show.
WWE SmackDown (Friday, August 8) —
New WWE Champion Cody Rhodes appears
John Cena kicks off SmackDown, will address Brock Lesnar’s attack
Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin) vs. JC Mateo & Talla Tonga
Chris Sabin has a 1-0 record on WWE Speed after making his show debut in victorious fashion.
Sabin advanced in the WWE Speed Championship number one contender’s tournament with a victory over Grayson Waller on this week’s episode. In the closing stretch of the match, Waller caught Sabin and put him in fireman’s carry position for a spinebuster, but Sabin countered into a victory roll for the pin. He got the win with 25 seconds remaining of the three-minute time limit.
Next Wednesday (January 29) on Speed, Sabin will face off against Chad Gable for the first time ever. The winner earns a title shot against men’s WWE Speed Champion Dragon Lee. That will be the first title defense for Lee since becoming champion in November.
Corey Graves — who also returned to NXT commentary last night — was back calling Speed this week. WWE Main Event commentator Blake Howard had replaced him on last week’s Speed amid the drama Graves created on social media. The Sabin vs. Waller match was taped at SmackDown last Friday with Graves later voicing over his commentary.
Though he voiced displeasure at no longer calling Raw or SmackDown in his tweets last week, Graves said in his return last night that NXT is right where he wants to be.
Sabin made his WWE debut in October 2024 and is part of the SmackDown tag team division with his Motor City Machine Guns partner Alex Shelley.
After defeating Waller, Sabin cut a post-match promo saying he’s custom made to be in this tournament and custom made to be in WWE. He also made reference to his history as a 10-time X-Division Champion in TNA.
The eventual landing spot for longtime TNA Wrestling stars Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin has been a question for most of the summer and in this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter, fans might finally have got their answer.
After first reporting in mid-July that there was belief they were WWE-bound, our Dave Meltzer reported Friday that the Motor City Machine Guns tag team are expected to debut in WWE NXT “imminently.”
No date accompanied the news, but WWE’s developmental brand will kick off their new TV era on The CW on Tuesday, October 1st.
The team hasn’t wrestled since losing an August 18th indie match against Evil Uno & Stu Grayson.
The veteran duo entered into free agency after their TNA contracts expired this past April and reportedly talked with both AEW and WWE. They are highly decorated after holding tag titles in TNA, Ring of Honor, NJPW and other indie promotions.
Individually, they have also had success with the 41-year-old Shelley holding the TNA World title and the 42-year-old Sabin holding the TNA X-Division title ten times.
Sabin has never appeared in WWE while Shelley lost a 2005 enhancement talent bout and returned for three NXT matches in January 2020 alongside KUSHIDA.
Former TNA World Champion Alex Shelley leaned into the rumors that he and longtime Motor City Machine Guns tag team partner Chris Sabin are bound for WWE.
After working a West Coast Pro Wrestling/Deadlock Pro/Prestige combo event in San Francisco, California Saturday in a loss to Alpha Zo, Shelley took to the microphone to share a quick thought about the future.
“Spoiler alert: I might not come back here. And if I don’t, I know the future of pro wrestling is safe and sound inside a West Coast Pro ring. I have talked to long and the last thing I want to say is thank you so much for the last two and a half years,” he said.
Shelley and Sabin hit free agency after their TNA contracts expired in April and their next destination had been speculated to be either WWE or AEW.
In this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter, our Dave Meltzer reported that the belief is the veteran duo is WWE-bound, mentioning on the subsequent Wrestling Observer Radio that he assumed they will go to NXT. Sabin has never appeared in WWE while Shelley lost a squash match back in 2005 and returned for three NXT bouts in January 2020 bouts alongside KUSHIDA.
Shelley and Sabin do have an August 18th indie date still on the books.
Alex Shelley addresses the Motor City Machine Gun’s rumors of them heading to WWE tonight at West Coast Pro!
WWE may be on the verge of adding a top free agent tag team to its ranks.
Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin) entered into free agency when their TNA Wrestling contracts expired this April. The veteran tag team has had talks with both WWE and AEW, but it’s looking like WWE is the more likely destination. Dave Meltzer reports in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that there’s a belief within wrestling that Shelley & Sabin are headed to WWE.
“Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley are expected to be coming here [WWE], or at least that’s the talk within wrestling. Nobody has officially said anything. They worked a 7/12 independent show in a singles match against each other that Sabin won for Prestige Wrestling in Portland, OR, and then did their in-ring goodbyes to indie wrestling. However, they’ve been announced for an 8/18 show in London, ONT for Smash Wrestling against Evil Uno & Stu Grayson at the Music Hall,” Meltzer wrote. “It’s been known for months that they had been talking with AEW and WWE ever since their TNA contracts expired. Of late, the indications were WWE made the better offer but they were expected to be with whichever side made the best offer. Within wrestling the belief is that they are WWE-bound and Tommaso Ciampa made a reference to them in social media. They’ve also been completely silent about it and clearly have made their decision one way or the other.”
Motor City Machine Guns have been tag team champions in TNA, ROH, NJPW, and several indie promotions. Their singles careers have included a TNA World Championship reign for Shelley and ten X-Division title reigns for Sabin.
In 2020, Shelley teamed with KUSHIDA in NXT’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic tournament. Sabin has never wrestled for WWE before.
In what could be their final match in the promotion, The Motor City Machine Guns will challenge The System for the TNA Tag Team titles on tonight’s edition of Impact: the final one before Saturday’s Rebellion pay-per-view.
Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin will be looking for their fourth reign as champions while Brian Myers & Eddie Edwards are trying for their first defense. The Machine Guns became free agents after this set of TV tapings with their future still unknown.
The champions after tonight will defend against Speedball Mountain (Mike Bailey & Trent Seven) on Saturday.
Nic Nemeth will be on hand to give some thoughts ahead of his challenge of TNA World Champion Moose Saturday.
Ahead of his Last Man Standing trilogy match with Josh Alexander Saturday, Hammerstone will face Guido of The FBI.
In a preview of Saturday’s Knockouts Tag Team title match, Spitfire’s Jody Threat will face Decay’s Rosemary.
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The Hammerstone-Alexander brawl leading to Dreamer getting beaten down gets recapped alongside the Jordynne Grace-Steph De Lander contract signing and ensuing beatdown of Grace by SDL. Josh Alexander walked out to do commentary for Guido vs. Hammerstone.
Hammerstone defeated Little Guido
Guido is a perfect opponent for Hammerstone because he’s a naturally lanky guy and he makes Hammerstone look even more gigantic. Hammerstone started off with a shove into the corner before a corner-to-corner shoulder charge and a Biel throw out of the corner. Hammerstone landed a corner lariat, but ate a chop before landing a big backbreaker and a squatting fallaway slam.
Zack Clayton shoves Hammerstone out and the ref rightfully kicks Clayton out. Hammerstone came in, but ate hammerfists and a basement dropkick for 2. Hammerstone put the headgear onto Guide and the torture rack ended it. Ash By Elegance’s concierge told us all that she will at ringside at Rebellion to face the winner of the Knockouts Title match. Xia Brookside hopped into frame to let her know that they’ll have a match next week – presumably for the top contender spot.
SDL’s beating of Grace last week is shown in more detail before we see Jordynne Grace at the airport saying that Cardona won’t be at Rebellion because of his surgery and that should make it a fair fight – but she knows she’ll have something up her sleeve. LSG struts out looking like a star in this match with Joe Hendry where he doesn’t even get announced beforehand – which is smart. He gave off a smug aura, which is a lot better than nothing when you’re in an enhancement match. Hendry got a giant “we believe!” chant before cutting a promo on AJ Francis and Swann flying high with what he buys at the Top Dolla store.
Joe Hendry defeated LSG
LSG wanted an armbar, but Hendry rolled around the ring ala Austin Street to avoid it. Hendry turned a fallaway slam into a gorilla press slam before landing a gigantic Standing Ovation uranage. Both men looked great here. Shockingly, Hendry wasn’t beaten down after this match by the heels he’s feuding with. Time Machine’s issues dating back to the No Surrender match are recapped to set up the MCMG’s match tonight with The System for the tag titles. Ali is out and feels like the biggest act in the company presentation-wise. Deaner wants Rhino to be their partner and Rehwoldt said he didn’t know who this “Rhi-guy” is but he clearly hears no on this chant – okay that was fantastic.
Grizzled Young Veterans (Zack Gibson & James Drake) and Mustafa Ali defeated Jake Something, Cody Deaner & Rhino
Something slammed Gibson before Rhino tagged in to chop away before Deaner worked over the arm of Zack Gibson for a bit. Ali tagged in to mudhole stomp a weakened Deaner before Drake tagged into wear down Deaner before tagging in Ali once again. Rehwoldt demanded the formation of an appellate court so Ali can file a formal complaint about having to face Something at Rebellion. Drake prevented a tag to Rhino before Gibson came in to further take Deaner down a peg. But he got the tag anyway and Rhino ran wild!
Corner gore to Gibson before a gore met a kick to the jaw, but he fell into a tag from Something! Something charged through the GYV’s attempt at a double clothesline and then again with one of his own. Rocket launcher crossbody of Deaner got 2! Ali walked back into Something and almost ate a slam, but the GYV saved and dove into Something on the floor!
Deaner, a valiant babyface, wants a fight with all three men and they just dogpiled him in the corner. Gore to Drake and Deaner landed a knee to Gibson! Ali landed a corner high kick and a sunset bomb out of the corner before the 450 beats Deaner. As per TNA tradition, a post-match beating is teased but actually avoided as Ali just left. Steve Maclin talked about starting off the new era in TNA win its first win and no matter what the marquee says on a show, it’s always time for him to tag ’em and bag ’em.
Eric Young met with his World Class Maniac persona backstage to unleash his dark side. So now even Eric Young has a Demon version of himself and he’ll baptize Frankie Kazarian at Rebellion. Rosemary came down and Hannifan talked about the team of supernatural demons using their contractual rematch clause at Rebellion before Threat ran down.
Rosemary defeated Jody Threat
Rosemary got a reverse bearhug to start before eating a clothesline and a powerslam for 2. Rosemary got a single leg dropkick before biting Threat in the corner and locking on a hanging neck choke for a four count, breaking right before five. Rosemary got two off a German suplex and a Muta lock to Threat was ended by a rope break. Threat got a German and a clothesline for two before Rosemary landed a run-up forearm for two before a spear ended it.
Jonathan Gresham’s therapy session has him feel like he’s unheard and that’s why he wears a mask. Life is a costume party and he’s been vulnerable – but it will end soon enough. So Eric Young has the World Class Maniac persona and Gresham has The Octopus – everyone gets an alter-ego! The Guns came out before The System emerged with their titles and Edwards did bicep curls with his belt.
TNA Tag Team Champions The System (Eddie Edwards & Brian Myers) defeated The Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin) to retain
The Guns got a quick edge before an ad break. Edwards chopped away on Shelley before Sabin hit a dragon screw on the right leg and Shelley landed one on the left one back to back, giving Shelley an opening for a figure four leglock. Sabin locked one in on Myers before Edwards got to the rope. Alisha grabbed Shelley and he grabbed her before getting pie-faced by Eddie and then chopped hard.
Myers slowed things down with a chinlock before Shelley fired back briefly, but ate a back elbow. Edwards worked him over for a bit with a front chancery before Shelley escaped that – but Edwards knocked Sabin down before a tag could be made. Shelley got a hope spot off a corner flatliner before a combat roll into a tag and Sabin flew in with a dropkick!
Sabin hit a suicide dive through Shelley’s legs and tossed Edwards before setting Myers on top of Edwards for a double-team missile dropkick/flatliner for two. Sabin landed a helluva kick to Edwards before Myers blind tagged himself in. Backpack stunner from Edwards and the Myers elbow got 2.5! I like it – moves like that help them feel more like a cohesive team instead of a makeshift unit. Roster Cut is met with a crucifix and a Sabin cutter and vintage MCMG fast-break offense.
They were the first team on a national stage to really use the Dragon Gate style and in that time, they have become legends in TNA, with Shelley actually getting a World title run and Sabin being christened the great X Division champion of all time. Now, their story ended in TNA with a Roster Cut and a Boston Knee Party.
Nic Nemeth/Moose promo
Nic Nemeth came out and did the unwise move of running into the crowd resulting in him being impossible to see, but thankfully going back to the ring and being visible. He cut a nice promo about Vegas being special for him because it’s where he debuted in TNA before Moose interrupted. Moose insulted the fans and Nemeth said that the fans are behind him, management’s behind him and he’s here for TNA because that’s why he wore the TNA shirt in his debut.
Moose cut a boring promo about Nemeth being the problem not with a title win – but after. When he’s given the ball, he only runs a few yards and fumbles. There’s a lot missing from Moose’s presentation – on-paper, he’s got the suit, the belt, and the faction, but the passion doesn’t seem to be there. Moose wanting the title against Tessa and bringing in the fake TNA World Title to defend felt like a bigger deal than him being the actual TNA World Champion now. Nemeth tells Moose that he’s not facing Dolph Ziggler – he’s facing Nic Nemeth and the future of TNA. Nemeth should probably win the title at the PPV, but we’re only three months into Moose’s reign, so I can see them holding it off until Slammiversary.
The Motor City Machine Guns are reportedly expected to sign with AEW.
Cassidy Haynes of BodySlam.net reported on Tuesday that Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin are in the process of finalizing deals with the company. The report notes that a contract is not expected to be completed imminently but “the decision has been made and a deal will be worked out.”
Shelley filed to trademark the terms “Motor City Machine Guns” and “MCMG” for wrestling purposes on March 19, 2024.
Sabin and Shelley finished up with TNA Wrestling at the company’s TV tapings in Philadelphia on March 22 & 23. Their final match was against The System’s Brian Myers & Eddie Edwards and will air on Thursday’s episode of Impact on AXS TV. Sabin was defeated by Steve Maclin in the main event of last week’s show, and Shelley was defeated by Nic Nemeth in the main event of the April 4 episode.
TNA produced an episode of Impact this week and, well, there wasn’t much to it.
“Highlights” include a weird eight-person match that was badly produced and horribly booked and did a terrible job of re-introducing a character and establishing her as a contender to Jordynne Grace’s Knockouts title, assorted tag teams bickering and teasing breakups, Cody Deaner taking on the Grizzled Young Vets by himself with predictable results, a couple of pretty good promos by Rich Swann and Loredo Kid, and a Chris Sabin vs. Steve Maclin main event with nothing on the line and no obvious benefit to anyone.
All this on the Big Vinny Show, because listening to a podcast is faster than watching the actual episode.
TNA has announced two new matches for this week’s show on AXS TV.
Mike Bailey will wrestle Eddie Edwards in singles action on the show. Chris Sabin vs. Steve Maclin has also been added to Thursday’s lineup
Bailey and his Speedball Mountain teammate Trent Seven are set to challenge Edwards and his teammate Brian Myers for the TNA World Tag Team Championships at Rebellion on April 20. Seven will be in Bailey’s corner for the match on Thursday and Myers will be in Edwards’.
Matches for this week’s episode were filmed on Friday, March 22 at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia. Spoilers from the show are available here.
TNA Impact announced lineup for Thursday, March 28, 2024 on AXS TV —
Mike Bailey vs. Eddie Edwards
Chris Sabin vs. Steve Maclin
8-4-1 match where the winner earns a future Knockouts title shot: Steph De Lander, Xia Brookside, Dani Luna & Rosemary vs. Masha Slamovich, Alisha Edwards, Jody Threat & Havok
The contracts for former TNA World Champions and company originals Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin are up in early-April.
PWInsider first reported the news Friday, adding that some within TNA expect the duo known as the Motor City Machine Guns to exit the company while others are hoping they can keep both men.
The two are currently part of the Time Machine faction with KUSHIDA, and have been teasing a potential heel turn for Shelley due to a recent losing skid within the group.
TNA is holding two nights of TV tapings this weekend in Philadelphia with Shelley facing Nic Nemeth, and both Shelley and Sabin challenging TNA Tag Team Champions The System (Brian Myers & Eddie Edwards).
Following this weekend, the next TNA event is April 20th’s Rebellion pay-per-view. The two don’t have matches announced for that show yet which would likely take shape this weekend if they are planned to appear.
Both men are among the most decorated champions in TNA/Impact Wrestling history.
The 40-year-old Shelley held the TNA World title from June 2023 through this past January when he lost it to Moose. He’s a three-time TNA Tag Team Champion with Sabin and has also held the X-Division title once. He made his TNA debut in 2004.
The 42-year-old Sabin debuted for the company in 2003 during the NWA-TNA days and has held the X-Division title ten times, the TNA Tag Team titles three times, and the TNA World title once for a short run in 2013.
Shelley has filed for trademarks on both the Motor City Machine Guns name and MCMG.
Sabin has never appeared in WWE while Shelley had a match on a 2005 episode of Sunday Night Heat and teamed with KUSHIDA on three NXT shows in January 2020. The two have competed once in AEW, teaming with Jay Lethal against FTR & Wardlow at 2022’s All Out.
Both are very active on the indies, both as a team and singles wrestlers.
TNA Sacrifice has come and gone which means it’s time for a reset episode of Impact which I recap on this week’s Big Vinny V Show.
On that note, we had an excellent main event pitting Nic Nemeth & “Speedball” Mike Bailey & Trent Seven against Steve Maclin & The Rascalz — a great TV match that wrapped up two feuds and set up new challengers for TNA World Champion Moose and TNA Tag Team Champions The System.
The opener was also tremendous with Mustafa Ali defending the X-Division title against Chris Sabin who has suddenly found himself and his Time Machine teammates embroiled in drama.
All this and more in a very quick edition of the Big Vinny V Show!
On Impact tonight, Chris Sabin gets his rematch for the TNA X-Division Championship.
Sabin is challenging Mustafa Ali for the X-Division title on tonight’s Impact. Ali made his TNA debut by winning the championship from Sabin in the main event of No Surrender this February.
Ali and Sabin were then on opposite sides of a six-man tag match at Sacrifice last Friday. Ali & The Grizzled Young Veterans defeated Sabin, Alex Shelley & KUSHIDA after a miscommunication between Motor City Machine Gun partners Sabin and Shelley.
The fallout from Sacrifice will be featured on tonight’s show. Nic Nemeth was victorious against Steve Maclin at the TNA+ special. Tonight, they face off again as Nemeth teams with Mike Bailey & Trent Seven against Maclin & The Rascalz.
We’ll hear from Josh Alexander following his loss to Alex Hammerstone at Sacrifice. Alexander and Hammerstone now have a 1-1 record against each other.
New Knockouts Tag Team Champions Dani Luna & Jody Threat will be in action tonight. Plus, Ace Austin vs. Frankie Kazarian and AJ Francis vs. Joe Hendry are set.
The post Sacrifice edition of TNA Impact wasted no time in Chris Sabin making his entrance to face Mustafa Ali for the X-Division Championship.
TNA X-Division Champion Mustafa Ali defeated Chris Sabin to retain
Good match, but the finish was weird. It does work if they are slowly teasing a Sabin heel turn, and given his heelish actions in this match, it would fit. It leaves a question about who the top babyfaces in the company would be though, as Alex Shelley was teasing a heel turn too on last week’s Impact.
Sabin started the match taking out Ali’s security and hitting a suicide dive on Ali. Sabin did the old Petey Williams “Oh Canada!” spot in the corner, dodged a dive from the middle turnbuckle, and locked on an arm submission. Ali made the ropes, and Sabin decided to just yank the hair of Ali. Ali rolled to the outside, cut of Sabin before a dive, hit a suicide dive of his own and then rolled into the ring and hit a neckbreaker after returning Sabin to the ring. That was cool.
Ali got the heat for the next few minutes, working Sabin over until he missed a 450 splash, and Sabin hit a kick to the face to drop Ali. Sabin and Ali exchanged superkicks after a blocked powerbomb and both went down. Sabin missed a corner charge, and Ali grabbed the X-Division title and brought it into the ring. As Ali charged for the belt shot, Sabin exploded from the corner and hit a lariat. Sabin grabbed the title and went to hit Ali with it, which was dumb, as he wouldn’t win the title, and Ali dodged, rolled him up, and got his feet on the top rope to chcceat to win.
–Mike Bailey, Trent Seven, and Nic Nemeth were with Gia Miller and cut an absolutely insane promo about how they were going to take the System to the danger zone. After saying they were the best trio in wrestling, they were after tag team gold, and Nemeth is after the world title. Bailey then did his karate bow, and Seven and Nemeth followed, along with Gia Miller, which was quite funny.
–Josh Alexander came down to the ring to address the fans after his loss to Hammerstone at TNA Sacrifice. Alexander said that last year he had given up the championship in Windsor, and in a response to a fan saying he’d win it back, Alexander agreed. He said every match he has had is a rung on the ladder, but Hammerstone actually beat him, though by cheating and then stealing his headgear. Alexander said that he wouldn’t stop fighting, and he will keep getting up, and for the first time in a long time, he’s focused on something other than titles, and is coming for Hammerstone.
Alpha Bravo and Oleg Prudius came out, and I predict that he is about to die. Bravo claimed that Dirty Dango softened him up. Dango attackced Alexander from behind, but got dumped over the ropes to the floor. To Dango’s credit, he took quite the bump to the floor, launching himself over the ropes. Prudius entered the ring and security ran down to separate the two. Santino’s music hit and he booked the match for right now.
Josh Alexander defeated Oleg Prudius
This did not last long, and the bookers were wise to keep it short, as we know Prudius is not a great worker, and now on the wrong side of 50, so he threw Alexander once, but Alexander took out the knee and locked on an ankle lock for the win.
–Crazzy Steve came out to the ramp and spoke a lot of nonsense to say that everyone who has come up against him realized that he wasn’t like the other wrestlers. He also said he was the only champion where if he stepped in the ring, the title was being defended. He said there wasn’t a wrestler alive that could handle that pressure, and the lights went out.
PCO came out to face off with Steve, which may be a very fun hardcore match in the near future. I’d put the Digital Media title on PCO. It’d be fun to see him with that.
–A video aired of ABC confronting Frankie Kazarian, saying that they were going to teach him respect since he doesn’t respect anyone after his interference in the main event, costing Eric Young the title.
Frankie Kazarian defeated Ace Austin (w/ Chris Bey)
This match was really fun. Ace Austin really had turned into an excellent worker, and seeing him in singles matches have shown that clearly. Kazarian, as always, is tremendous. Great heel work from Kazarian here.
A fan had a rather clever sign that said “Killer of Arrogant Zebras” for Kaz, as he has taken out a referee. We found the pro Kazarian section of the audience. Kazarian requested Jade Chung to announce him as the King of TNA. Austin rolled up Kazarian with a La Magistral cradle for a 2-count while he was distracted.
Kazarian locked up with Austin, put him on the top rope and broke clean before shoving Austin off the top rope to the floor for the heat. That was great. Kazarian draped Austin on the ropes and hit a knee lift that sent Austin to the floor. Kazarian taunted Chris Bey while choking Austin on the floor, but got into a shouting match that distracted him and allowed time to recover and hit a back body drop.
Austin hit an enziguri off the middle rope but missed The Fold. Kazarian went for Fade to Black, but Austin rolled out. Kazarian caught him with the chicken wing, but Austin rolled out. Kazarian hit an Ocean Cyclone Suplex for the 2-count, which is a fantastic move, though he did not do it as well as Manami Toyota (which, to be fair, no one can). Kazarian went for an Unprettier, but Austin fought out and dropkicked the knee. Austin tried to bridge backwards into a pinfall, but Kazarian caught him with the chicken wing as he did and got the submission.
–Kazarian continued beating down ABC after the match, but Eric Young ran down to make the save and Kazarian bailed to the floor.
–The System cut a promo about all the championships they have won in their career, from football, to WWE, to ROH, to NOAH, to TNA. This was good.
–Gia Miller walked up to Chris Sabin, Alex Shelley, and KUSHIDA and asked them what happened with them lately, but the Grizzled Young Vets walked up and said that they were the new top team in TNA. Shelley said that they could fight the top team in TNA, the Time Splitters, which is a noticeable exclusion of Chris Sabin. Shelley slow burn heel turn seems to be continuing.
–A video aired of AJ Francis joining a celebrity basketball game for charity, which was nice.
–Joe Hendry cut a promo about how he knew that Francis put on a tough exterior image, but that he was sensitive on the inside because he kept whining and crying all the time. Francis attacked Hendry from behind and the next match began.
AJ Francis defeated Joe Hendry
This was a good usage of Francis. He is not a great worker, but he only focused on doing simple things, and Hendry selling for him worked well.
Francis missed a corner charge and Hendry hit 10 punches in the corner. Hendry tried to suplex Francis, but Francis lifted Hendry up with ease and suplexed him. Francis hit a knee strike in the corner and rolled over the ropes to the floor. Francis keeping his offence basic and throwing people around works for him, and as he went for a chokeslam, Hendry slipped out and tried to slam him. Francis was too heavy, and he countered into a back suplex on Hendry.
Francis blocked a second slam attempt by falling on Hendry with his weight for a 2-count. Hendry hit a few clotheslines to try and drop Francis, but Francis responded with a shoulder tackle. Francis went for the chokeslam again, got Hendry up, but Hendry countered into a DDT. Hendry managed to bounce Francis off the ropes and hit a slam for a 2-count. The referee got bumped after Francis pulled the referee into the corner and Hendry hit a splash.
Francis grabbed a chair and tried to use it, but Hendry hit a dropkick to knock it out of his hands. Hendry and Francis went for the chair, but Rich Swann came down, stomped on the chair to stop either man from getting it, picked it up and then hit Joe Hendry to turn heel.
–Alan Angels did The Sound Check with Ash by Elegance and George Iceman, with Ash and George being disgusted at the lack of elegance on set, as it was just the production boxes. Ash had a huge announcement – that she would be having her 3rd match in TNA next week.
–Before the next match, Killer Kelley & Masha Slamovich came down to ringside to observer this match. Before the bell could ring, The Decay made their way down as well to view the new champions.
Spitfire (Dani Luna & Jody Threat) defeated Beaa Moss & Vanna Black
Moss and Luna started the match, with Luna overpowering Moss early on. Threat and Luna showed some good double team offence, Moss and Black were thown around the ring, including Luna suplexing both Moss and Black at the same time. Threat put Black in position for a burning hammer, bud flipped Black over the shoulder of Luna who turned it into a powerbomb. That was cool!
–Tasha Steelz came down to ringside and said that Jordynne Grace beat Xia Brookside at Sacrifice, and did not pin Steelz. Steelz challenged Grace to a match for Impact next week for the title.
Speedball Mountian (Mike Bailey & Trent Seven) & Nic Nemeth defeated The Rascalz (Zachery Wentz & Trey Miguel) & Steve Maclin
The Old Bryan and Vinny theory of there never being a bad six-man main event on Raw from 2005 has extended to TNA for quite some time, and this was no exception. An excellent main event that saw everyone being given a chance to shine, but a clear direction for the winners, as they were attacked by the System after the match.
Nemeth and Wentz started the match, and Wentz made the mistake of trying to wrestle with Nemeth, who immediately went into his amateur background and rolled with him. Maclin tagged himself in immediately after Miguel tagged in, looking to take on Nemeth, but it did not go well for him or the Rascaalz as Trent Seven and Mike Bailey hit some hard strikes and chops on everyone.
Maclin helped his team take control after stopping a burning hammer, and started working over the knee of Seven. Seven almost made a hot tag to Bailey, but Maclin pulled Bailey from the top rope. Seven continued to fight though, hitting a superplex on Wentz. Seven made the hot tag to Nemeth, who hit an Olympic slam on Maclin and then dropkicks on The Rascalz. Nemeth hit a series of Stinger splashes in the corner, a series of neck breakers on everyone, and a series of elbows on Maclin but Miguel made the save.
Nemeth hit a spike DDT on Maclin, but Wentz hit a flatliner, Bailey hit a kick to Wentz, Miguel hit a handspring kick on Bailey, and Seven hit a seven star lariat before Maclin hit a knee on Seven. Nemeth missed a Fameaser and then hit a low pe on Miguel by accident. Wentz shoved Maclin, and their partnership seemed to end right there, as The Rascalz left and Maclin ate a double team move from Seven and Bailey and then the Danger Zone from Nemeth for the win.
–The System attacked after the match and laid out all 3 winners, with The System posing with all their titles after the match. The direction is clear now – Speedball Mountain vs. Myers and Edwards, and Nemeth vs. Moose. I suspect they will be the two big matches at TNA Rebellion, and the build to it has begun while tying the bow on Maclin/Nemeth and Speedball Mountian/The Rascalz. Well booked main event segment.
Final Thoughts
This felt like an episode of TNA Impact that actually had a direction for what was coming in the next few weeks, rather than rushing to another PPV. Good episode, and I’m looking forward to see how they can build around these two groups in the main event as we go forward.
TNA Impact – March 21, 2024
GYV vs. Time Splitters
TNA Digital Media Championship: Crazzy Steve (c) vs. PCO
Ash by Elegance in action
TNA Knockouts World Championship: Jordynne Grace (c) vs. Tasha Steelz
TNA Wrestling has announced several matches for Thursday’s episode of Impact on AXS TV.
X-Division Champion Mustafa Ali is set to defend his title against former champion Chris Sabin on the show. Ali defeated Sabin for the belt at No Surrender last month.
Also announced for this week is a grudge match pitting the former Top Dolla, AJ Francis, against Joe Hendry.
Nic Nemeth will be in action as he teams with Mike Bailey and Trent Seven against Steve Maclin, Zachary Wentz, and Trey Miguel.
Ace Austin vs. Frankie Kazarian and a segment with Josh Alexander are also scheduled for the show.
Matches for this week’s episode were filmed on Saturday at St. Clair’s College in Windsor, ON, Canada. Spoilers from the show are available here.
TNA Impact announced lineup for Thursday, March 14, 2024 —
X-Division Champion Mustafa Ali defends against Chris Sabin
Nic Nemeth, Mike Bailey, and Trent Seven vs. Steve Maclin, Zachary Wentz & Trey Miguel
