TNA Impact is live on AXS tonight.
The second show as part of the company’s new media rights deal will take place at the Tingley Coliseum in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Jeff Hardy vs. Mustafa Ali is scheduled for the show. The two were on opposing sides of a six-man tag last week, when The Hardys and Elijah defeated Order 4.
TNA World Champion Mike Santana will appear on Thursday’s show. Santana defeated Frankie Kazarian to win the title on last week’s episode and then successfully defended it on Saturday at Genesis.
Feast or Fired returns to TNA on tonight’s show. One competitor will win a briefcase containing a future title shot, while another will receive a pink slip.
Elayna Black will also speak on the show. In addition, The System will announce a new member, and Indi Hartwell will go one-on-one with M By Elegance of The Elegance Brand.
Our live coverage kicks off at 8 p.m. Eastern.
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LIVE! From the Tingley Coliseum in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Tom Hannifan & Matthew Rehwoldt were on commentary.
A recap of last Saturday’s Genesis pay-per-view opened the show.
Carlos Silva came out with Hannifan and Rehwoldt to open the show. Hanifan asked Silva if he was proud of last week’s debut show on AMC. That’s just mean spirited. Oh wait, he was being serious? Anyway Rehwoldt kicked it to the opening match.
Cedric Alexander v. Moose (w/ Alisha Edwards)
Moose is still owed a X Division title show from losing the title back in June.The story of this one was Moose’s bad back fromS Saturday carrying into tonight’s contest. The fight goes to the apron early and Moose takes a back bump on the apron. Moose tried to powerbomb Alexander on the apron but he escaped and caught Moose with a dive through the ropes. Moose sent Alexander into the ring steps. Moose tried to suplex Alexander on the floor, but his back couldn’t hold up and Alexander reversed the move.
Back in the ring, Moose hit a frog splash for a near fall. Alexander hit a couple of punt kicks on Moose’s back for a near fall. Moose battled back with chops, but ran into a boot and a flatliner. Moose came back with a scissor kick, an uranage and a senton, then kipped up. Moose dropped Alexander with a hanging tree sit-out powerbomb (Go to Hell!) for two. Alexander ducked a spear and caught Moose with a Michinoku Driver for two. This match is already worlds better than anything on last week’s show.
Moose and Alexander exchanged chops, with Moose still selling his back. Moose went for a rolling forearm but Alexander cut him off with his own forearm. Moose came back with a boot, but Alexander hit a Spanish Fly for two. Alexander sprung off the ropes but ran right into a headbutt from Moose.
Moose charged in for a spear, but Alexander countered. Moose went for another uranage, but Alexander countered that too. Moose then tried for a powerbomb, but Alexander rolled through that and rolled up Moose to get the pin. Great match!
Match Result: Alexander pinned Moose (9:55).
They also managed to run the whole match with a commerical break (at least on TNA+).
Mike Santana Addressed the TNA Faithful
Santana entered through the crowd and grabbed a chair from under the ring to sit for a chat. He played a voicemail his father left him about how he deserved to be and belong in TNA. Crowd chanted “You deserve it!” for the new champ. Santana detailed all the sacrifices and challenges he faced on his way on the top spot to TNA. His back may be against the wall with Nic Nemeth waiting to call his shot, and someone in the “Feast of Fired” match winning a title shot, but he’s most comfortable with his back against the wall, and he deserves to be here.
— Gia Miller interviewed Order 4. The sound was really bad for this, with the crowd noise louder than Ali. The Hardys call themselves the goats, but Ali thinks they’re just sheep. Ali v. Jeff is the main event of tonight’s show.
M by Elegance (w/ the Elegance Brand) v. Indi Hartwell
The Personal Concierge insulted New Mexico before the match.
A lot of M’s offense seem to revolve around stomping on Indi’s foot, but she couldn’t remember whether it was the right foot or the left foot and kept going back and forth between them. And Indi didn’t really sell either one anyway. M got a pump kick for a near fall. Hartwell reversed a suplex attempt with a small package.
Hartwell caught M coming off the ropes with a spinebuster and both women were down. Now Hartwell randomly started selling her foot in between clotheslines and a bulldog. M countered the Hurts Donut with a cradle, but flubbed it. So they went back to the sequence a second time, and this time Hartwell reversed the cradle to get the pin.
Match Result: Hartwell pinned Heather with a cradle on the second try (9:10)
After the match, Heather and M tried to beat up Indi Hartwell, but Ash stopped them. Ash stood off with M and Heather. Xia Brookside and Lei Ying Lee ran in to back up Ash… and Ash immediately turned on them. The Elegance Brand cleaned house on the babyfaces, and I guess Ash isn’t injured anymore.
The TNA Injury Report
- Elijah will not miss any ring action after reaggravating his injuries.
- Frankie Kazarian is out after the Texas Death Match + a broken hand he suffered against Bear Bronson.
- The Hardys are beat up, but cleared.
— The Elegance Brand are off to plan the comeback party for Ash.
Feast for Fired: Mance Warner (w. Steph DeLander) v. Home Town Man v. Eric Young v. Eddie Edwards v. Brian Myers v. Steve Maclin v. Trey Miguel v. Rich Swann v. AJ Francis v. Ryan Nemeth v. Jason Hotch v. Jon Skylar
The Rules, which are not at all convoluted:
- Three briefcases contain contracts for title matches (Word, X-Division, and International Titles)
- A Wrestler must get his briefcase and leave the ring, with both feet touching the floor.
- The contents of the briefcases will be revealed next week on Impact.
Wait, didn’t Trey Miguel already get fired? Oh, wrong company.
Every dropped to the floor early except for Miguel and Swann so they could do some spots. Francis prevented Miguel from climbing up and tried to climb himself. Miguel hit a dive on a bunch of guys on the floor. Home Town Man could have grabbed a briefcase, but instead he hit his own dive on a pile of guys.
HTM then grabbed a briefcase and went to the mat. But before he could get to the floor, Eric Young pulled his mask off. This caused HTM to drop his briefcase, which Young picked up while he was standing on the floor. So he “won” that briefcase.
Maclin took out the Great Hands and got a briefcase, then got to the floor.
Marce Warner set up some chairs in the ring to powerbomb Eddie Edwards into, but Edwards reversed it and sent Warner into the chairs with a Blue Thunder Bomb. Then on the floor, AJ Francis chokeslammed Rich Swann onto the ring apron, so Hannifan got to shout about how it’s the “hardest part of the ring!”
Nemeth cut Miguel off from getting a briefcase, but Miguel suplexed Nemeth to the mat, grabbed a briefcase and dropped immediately to the floor.
Eddie Edwards got the last case. AJ Francis tried to cut off Edwards from getting out of the ring, but Edwards tossed Francis the case, then dropkicked him. Francis dropped the case, Edwards grabbed it and hit the floor.
Match Result: Eric Young, Steve Maclin, Trey Miguel & Eddie Edwards all got briefcases (8:20).
This match should have stay retired. If I had to guess: Young gets fired, Maclin gets the World title shot, Miguel gets a X Division title shot (and wins it), and Edwards gets the International Title shot.
— Nic Nemeth and Mike Santana came to blows in the back after Nemeth asked Santana how he’ll face his daughter once Nemeth calls his shot and takes the world title.
— Nemeth yelled at the marks in the locker room who are playing video games in the back. BDE stands up for the marks in the locker room, I think, because again the sound from the crowd is louder than the sound in the locker room. And this time the crowd isn’t even making notable noise. Using context clues, I think BDE v. Nic Nemeth is happening next week.
Elayna Black Addressed the Crowd
Black said shes the only woman in the Knockouts Division that matters, because she got 1 million views in 24 hours on “TNA socials.” She has a match next week and it will prove she’s next in line for the TNA Title.
— In the back, Arianna Grace tried to apologize for her father. Santino doesn’t look like he’s buying it at first, but then they hug and seemingly make up?
Mustafa Ali (w/ Order 4) v. Jeff Hardy (w/ Matt Hardy)
Ali is easily the most complete performer on the TNA roster. Ali sold a right hand from Jeff by flying out of the ring to the floor. Back in the ring, Ali grabbed a side headlock, then sent Jeff down with a shoulder block. Jeff went for another right hand, and Ali flew out of the ring to avoid it. Ali got back on the apron, and Jeff sent him face-first into the apron with a dropkick. Ali’s selling is something to behold.
After a conference with Order 4, Ali got back in the ring and back Jeff into a corner and punched him down. Ali taunted Matt, but Jeff stormed out of a corner with a clothesline. Jeff went for a jawbreaker, but Ali countered with a knee and dumped Jeff to the floor.
Matt went to check on his brother. The Great Hands tried to attack Matt, but he fought them off. Tasha Steelz got Matt’s attention, and Agent Zero leveled him with a boot.
Back in the ring, Ali choked Jeff against the ropes. Ali distracted the ref so Steelz could choke Jeff against the ropes. Ali dumped Jeff on the floor and beat on Jeff while the Great Hands beat on Matt. The members of Order 4 rearranged the stairs around ringside. I don’t get how Agent Zero somehow looks smaller in a suit.
Ali and Jeff brawled on the apron near the ring steps. Jeff gave Ali a Twist of Fate onto the steps that had been turned on their side. Ali and Jeff were almost counted out, but make it back into the ring at 9.
Jeff mounts a comeback and hit Ali with forearms and a clothesline, then a double-legdrop to the midsection. Jeff hit an elbow for a near fall. Ali pushed out of a Twist of Fate, then caught Jeff with a dropkick. Ali charged at Jeff, who leapt over him and Ali went face-first into the turnbuckle.
Tasha Steelz tried to get involved but wound up on Ali’s back and Hardy hit them both with a Twist of Fate for a near fall.
Ali dropped to the floor and tried to grab one of the TNA tag title belts. Matt stopped him and got the belt. Matt took out the Great Hands and sent Agent Zero into the ring post.
Back in the ring, Jeff hit Ali with a Twist of Fate, but missed the Swanton. Ali hit the 450, but Jeff kicked out. The crowd was solidly behind Hardy. Ali contemplated another move, but Elijah came out to distract Ali. Hardy hit another Twist of Fate and then a Swanton to get the pinfall.
Match Result: Jeff Hardy pinned Ali (15:29)
After the match, The Righteous talked and THEY STILL HAVEN’T MIC’D ANYONE IN THE BACK PROPERLY. I guess the Hardys/Righteous feud must continue.
Next Week on Impact:
- Elijah v. Jason Hodge
- Nic Nemeth v. BDE
- Elayna Black v. ????
- The Feast or Fired Cases are REVEALED!
- AJ Francis v. Rich Swann, NO HOLDS BARRED.
The System’s Newest Member Revealed
I’m not feeling good about this being in the main event slot if this isn’t something of a major name. JDC thanked the fans for the send-off last week, and said he’s hand-picked his successor in the System. And it’s… Bear Bronson.
Bear Bronson came out. Everyone hugged, and then Eddie Edwards dropped and gave JDC a low blow. Bear Bronson and Brian Myers jumped Moose. Cedric Alexander ran in with a chair and “swerved” nobody by also turning on Moose and hitting him with the chair (almost the exact same swerve Ash did an hour ago). Myers jumped back in and beat on JDC some more, and Eddie Edwards told Moose he was out of the System. Alisha Edwards objected to the heel turn and tried to get the System off of Moose and JDC, but it was four-on-two and she couldn’t do much to stop them.
The New System: Bear Bronson, Cedric Alexander, Eddie Edwards & Brian Myers. Maybe with Aisha Edwards.
After the Show:
On TNA+ the video stopped, but the audio feed continued and several things are spoiled for anyone still listening to the feed. So far they’ve given away the finish of next week’s main event, who has the World title contract from the “Feast or Fired” match, and the main event for No Surrender. Someone finally realized it 15 minutes after the show ended and cut the audio.
