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Welcome to PWInsider.com's TNA Thursday Night Impact coverage!
We open with a recap of everything that led us to tonight.
Our announcers are Matt Rehwoldt & Tom Hannifan!
TNA Champion Mike Santana and TNA X-Division Champion Leon Slater vs. Nic Nemeth & Ryan Nemeth.
Frankie Kazarian was on commentary,
Nic and Leon battled back and forth. Slater drilled him with a kick to the back of the head and an elbow off the ropes. Ryan tried to interfere but was sent to the floor. Santana drilled him onto the mat. Slater hit a pescado onto both brothers on the floor. Santana tagged in with a double stomp off the ropes onto Nemeth and followed with a back elbow in the corner for a two count. The Nemeths gained control and worked over Santana for some time with double-team maneuevers.
When they returned from control, Santana fought back and made the hot tag to Slater. He nailed a big boot in the corner and then a flying bodypress on Nick for a two count. Slater was sent to the floor. The Nemeths hit a back suplex/neckbreaker combo on Santana, who kicked up at the last second. Slater returned but was caught with a Famouser for a two count. Nic and Slater battled to the top. Nemeth was knocked into the ring. Slater was prepped to come off the top but Eric Young, who has a guaranteed X-Division title shot, ran out and distracted him. Santana got into it with Young. Slater came off the ropes but the distraction allowed Nemeth to nail Slater and pin him.
Your winners, Ryan and Nic Nemeth!
Good match that sets up Nemeth challenging Slater. Santana brings a good intensity.
Backstage, Gia Miller interviewed The Righteous. Vincent said this was all meant to be. They believe in Brotherhood. They had a miscommunication at No Surrender and they apologize that. If the Hardys trust them, everything will be groovy.
Dani Luna vs. Lei Ying Lee with Xia Brookside
They locked up with Lee taking Luna to the mat and nailing her with strikes. Luna used her power to bounce back but was caught with a running knee and a dropkick in the corner. Lee worked her over with punches in the corner but Luna used her strength to muscle Lee and drilled her into the ropes. Luna stalked Lee and worked over her neck. Lee fought back to her feet but was suplexed over for a two count. Luna nailed a knee to the side of the head as the fans chanted for Lee. Lee reversed a suplex and scored several two counts but cinching in a guillotine choke. Luna pulls her into a suplex and went outside for a steel chain. Lee tried to grab her but was nailed. Luna wrapped the chain around the top turnbuckle and tried to send Lee in but was blocked. Lee nailed a series of strikes. She nailed another suplex for a two count.
Lee missed a charge in the corner. They battled. Lee missed another charge and snapped into a Blue Thunder Bomb for a two count. The crowd chanted for Lee. They battled back and forth with big strikes. Luna snatched in a sleeper and scissored the body but Lee escaped. Lee used a rollup but when Luna kicked out, she sent Lee into the corner where the chain was and struck it. Luna hit the Luna Landing for the pin.
Your winner, Dani Luna!
Luna seemed to return with a chip on her shoulder.
Alisha Edwards met with TNA President Carlos Silva and Tommy Dreamer about her new contract. She's unsure she wants to sign due to everything that has transpired of late with The System and Moose. She says she's going to decline. Moose said he overhead this and said she's the first lady of TNA and TNA needs her and so does he. He asks her to sign. She agrees to stay and signs.
AJ Francis vs. Mance Warner with Steph De Lander
They started brawling as the bell. Warner clotheslined him over the top to the floor. They battled with Warner sending him into the ring steps. Francis cut him off and slammed Warner off the steps to the floor. Francis menaced Warner and worked him over. He hit a running boot in the corner and went to grab a chair. Steph got involved and the chair was tossed to Mance, who drilled Francis with it several times.
Your winner by DQ, AJ Francis.
Francis scrambled up the ramp.
This was fine as the first match in the program. Warner as a babyface with an edge wasn't something I saw coming but I'm all for it. There's a good likeability to him as a person when you talk with him, so if they can bring that out, it'll click with the audience I believe.
Mickie James came out for her face to face with Ash by Elegance. She claimed she was the one who called Tommy Dreamer and asked her to give Ash a chance when she was released. Ash said she was the hottest free agent and it wasn't true. James then asked why she was beefing with former Knockouts Champions on Twitter, asking her if she was a Mark by Elegance. Ash said she wasn't a mark. The crowd chanted "Mark" at her. Sure, why not. Ash said they came after her out of jealousy. James said without the fans, you have nothing. The fans were finally behind her and she turned on them. Ash said she only cares about the title she never lost. James asked her where "Her" title was. James had to relinquish the title and she knows how much it hurt James to do so and now Ash makes a mockery of the belt. Ash said she's about hard work, something Mickie never was. She's better than the fans, the other Knockouts and better than James. James offered to fight but on the screen, the rest of the Elegance Brand showed they had Mickie's son with them. Mickie ran towards the back but was attacked by M by Elegance. They worked over James on the stage. Ash nailed a DDT on the stage. The Elegance Brand celebrated and walked off.
This was the best mic work of Ash's career and James was great here. This was a strong angle.
Backstage, Jody Threat was laid out backstage. Harley Hudson told Santino Marella it was The Elegance Brand. Daria Rae showed up and blamed Santino. She told him not to give Arianna Grace a chance and now look what happened. She said his delusions are not going to rub off on her.
Tasha Steelz with The Great Hands vs. Jada Stone
Stone was in control early, taking the fight to Stone and nailing a series of strikes and kicks. Stone came back with a big dropkick that sent Steelz to the floor. Stone went to hit a dive but Tasha moved and The Great Hands caught her. Steelz went to nail Stone but she moved and The Great Hands were taken out. Stone nailed a moonsault to the floor. Steelz regained control and drilled her into the ring apron. Steelz nailed a series of offensive maneuvers. They battled back and forth with a series of near falls. Stone went for a handsping maneuever but was caught and hit with a suplex. Steelz went for a cutter but it was avoided and Stone surprised her with a pinfall combination.
Your winner, Jada Stone!
Steelz is absolutely great and this showed here. Stone has some good potential.
The Great Hands tossed Stone back in the ring, where Steelz laid her out.
Tom Hannifan interviewed Steve Maclin, who in storyline has been fired by TNA. Maclin came to the ring with no music and surrounded by security. The crowd chanted, "You don't work here." Hannifan said they have been best friends for a decade and Hannifan stuck his neck out to get Maclin this TV time. He asked Maclin to explain himself. He said it wasn't about Mike Santana but about what happened when he was fired. Everyone was coming up to him. The crowd chanted, "We don't care." He said what happened to the last few weeks where they were kissing up to him online. He said Santana was the most selfish of everyone, coming up to him and saying he was so selfless for TNA. Maclin said he was born to be selfless and joined the U.S. Marine Corp because he was. Hannifan said he wasn't being accountable. Maclin said the day after Santana lost the title, they had a tag match and Santana almost didn't show up. Santana told him he had to go be part of a meeting first and that was selfish. He said he could talk about his battles with alcohol when he worked for WWE, his PTSD, his survivor's guilt but he doesn't. He laces up his boots and keeps moving forward. The crowd chanted he was a liar. He said Hannifan sounds just like the fans when they are supposed to be friends. He said Hannigan is only here because Maclin got him the job. Hannifan said he did get him the job. He said he'd rather they were doing this over a beer somewhere but here they are in front of the people, so let's do this for real. He has tried everything to help him. There are people in the company including Mike Santana who tried to help him behind the scenes. He said Maclin has been fined over and over again for the same things behind the scenes and he never learns because he's not accountable. Maclin acted contrite, then struck Hannifan. Santana and security hit the ring. Matt Rehwoldt got up from the announcing position but was shoved down.
Tremendous segment! Everyone was dead on perfect here and you could buy into everything everyone was saying. The best heels as the ones who believe they are right and they tapped into that with Maclin.
When they came back, Gia Miller joined Matt Rehwoldt on commentary.
The System vs. TNA Tag Team Champions The Hardys & The Righteous
Eddie Edwards and Jeff Hardt battled back and forth. Everyone battled. Team Hardys controlled the ring. Vincent drilled Myers with a big back elbow. Myers was trapped in The Hardys' corner and worked over. Matt and Jeff worked over Myers. Cedric tagged in but was caught with an armbar. When they returned, Bear Bronson and Dutch tagged in and they squared off, mauling each other. Dutch nailed an exploder suplex. Vincent tagged in and was in control until being caught with a Chokebomb by Bronson for a two count. Myers locked in a side chinlock. Vincent tried to fight for a tag but was trapped and worked over by The System as they tagged in and out. Vincent finally battled his way out and made the tag to Matt Hardy. Hardy cleaned house with clotheslines and nailed a stunner, neckbreaker combo. Myers attacked by Vincent made the save. They went into a big series of moves. Matt nailed an inverted DDT on Edwards. Vincent made a blind tag. Edwards went for the Boston Knee Party on Matt but Vincent saved Hardy and ate the move. Edwards pinned Vincent.
Your winners, The System!
The System worked over everyone. Moose's music hit and he came to the ring. He took everyone out until he got to Bear, which allowed them to swarm him. Alisha Edwards hit the ring and put herself between her husband and Moose, ending the attack.
Solid bout to close things out with the idea that Vincent sacrificed himself to "prove" to the Hardys they can be trusted. The Alisha-Eddie stuff is good pro wrestling soap opera.
Another good episode. After that first episode, the promotion has really stepped forward in a good way on AMC. It's hard to get attention under the WWE and AEW shadows but if you are watching the show, you can see the potential and the improvement.
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