Show Air Date: January 2, 2025
TNA iMPACT! was back on AXS-TV and TNA+, broadcasting not live from the historic sold-out Center Stage in Atlanta for their first show of 2025, the follow-up from their Final Resolution (held back on December 13). Watching others try to record shows in advance around live shows and do so poorly makes me appreciate how much forethought and effort TNA puts into doing it so seamlessly.
Nice memorial for Jax Dane. Rest In Peace.
Tom Hannifan and “Drama King” Matthew Rehwoldt on commentary.
Joe Hendry, who won a 4 Way match at Final Resolution to become the challenger for the World title at the Genesis premium live event on January 19 in suburban Dallas, opens with some good face talking, promising to finally win the world title. He’s interrupted by the younger brother of the champion, “Hollywood Hunk” Ryan Nemeth, who has shined in his role since arriving in TNA as the Eddie Boulder to Nic’s Terry Boulder (look it up), except he’s become a heel while Nic is still a babyface. He was even playing into the “What?” chants. Again, Hendry bodies him in a squash. This never gets old. Then Hendry decides he’s done talking and calls for Nemeth’s scheduled match against TNA Hall of Famer Rhino.
Ryan Nemeth defeats Rhino by DQ
Nice TV match. Nothing special but nothing bad. Big show of respect from commentary, putting over Rhino strong with it understood by this match, his time in TNA was coming to an end at this set of tapings. Nemeth actually wins by disqualification when Rhino strikes him with a chair Nemeth tries to bring into the match. Didn’t see that coming.
Trey Miguel and Zachary Wentz–the Rascalz–want a shot at the World tag titles. World tag champions Matt and Jeff Hardy challenge them to a title match at Genesis. The Rascalz accept. Big match set.
Ace Austin defeats KUSHIDA
“The Inevitable” Ace Austin got a big win over former IWGP Jr Heavyweight champion “The Time Splitter” KUSHIDA in a very good match. They got a lot of time and used it well. I loved Austin doing everything from the right side to sell the attack on his left arm by KUSHIDA. The Time Splitter went 0-2 in the Center Stage in his final TNA matches, but they were a great 0-2. Austin, a 3 time former X Division and 3 time World tag champion, gives an impassioned promo after the match, saying he wants to target the top title. But it’s the X Division champion who answers, offended that Austin wanted to skip him. Heated words are exchanged. Director of Authority Santino Marella makes the match official: Moose vs Austin at Genesis for the X Division title. Good segment. I like heel champs that look for challenges.
Steve Maclin, Eric Young, and Jonathan Gresham are frustrated with their luck lately. Eddie Edwards, Brian Myers, and Johnny Dango Curtis (JDC) of the System are in the wrong place at the wrong time, and a melee breaks out.
Some time killing with a match from 2017 featuring then-tag champs the Hardys vs the original Decay and DCC. Remember Eddie Kingston being in TNA? Remember how they dropped the ball with him? WTF did DCC even stand for?
Ryan Nemeth is getting checked in the back when Nic finally shows up to the building (they need those Bill Watts fines). Ryan lies about what happened. Rhino storms in. Marella books a tag match for Rhino vs the Nemeths next week. Joe Hendry volunteers, so we got a match for next week, the go home show for Genesis.
Mike Santana gives a good Origin story promo, carrying the headgear of “Walking Weapon” Josh Alexander. Santana wants to be the standard of TNA, which means going through a certain guy. That guy, Alexander, brings out the rest of his The Northern Armory crew (Sinner and Saint–Judas Icarus, Travis Williams). Alexander then gives some good return fire Origin story, pointing out where Santana has come up short against him in TNA before and at his previous employer. Didn’t love the “man with the pencil” line, but otherwise, this was great. Santana isn’t going to take months to fight TNA like he did The System, he challenges them all for next week, one at a time. Hm.
“The Juggernaut” Jordynne Grace was waiting for Tessa Blanchard to show up when her teammates for the 8 Knockout main event came to get her. Marella has security stand guard to keep Blanchard out (what’s good, Keith Mack?!).
Leon Slater turns down the offer from “The King of TNA” Frankie Kazarian to be his understudy. JDC comes in and muses with Kaz after. The line about “The Future” was some good inside baseball. Good short segment.
World champion “The Wanted Man” Nic Nemeth kills a little more time, promoting his match with Hendry at Genesis, but the tag match is next week. Ryan comes out and changes the energy. Nic checks him and walks off. Ryan has got to turn on Nic. Not before Genesis, but right after. Got to.
Officer Mack is holding his head on the floor, so this might be the last time he’s on sentry duty.
Main Event: Jordynne Grace, Masha Slamovich & Spitfire (Dani Luna & Jody Threat) defeat Ash By Elegance, Heather By Elegance, Rosemary & Tasha Steelz (w/The Personal Concierge)
Other than Grace, this is the first appearance for the KOs, but it’s the main event, and they got more time than any other match by far as Grace teamed with Knockouts World champion Masha Slamovich and Knockouts World tag champions Spitfire (Dani Luna and Jodi Threat) beat Rosemary, Tasha Steelz and Ash and Heather By Elegance. Good TV match with Threat taking a beating and getting the heat for a hot tag to Grace. Broke down like these tend to do (with the ref looking like a moron and forgetting to count anything). There was a lot of good action showcasing the division, which is still pretty good despite some big departures last year. Slamovich pins Steelz with the Requiem short piledriver.
As Team Slamovich celebrates, Blanchard shows up to ambush Grace. The others took a beat too long being confused (I blame that on the heels not being in place fast enough), but then the Elegances grab Spitfire, and Rosemary blows green mist in Slamovich’s face. Blanchard chokes Grace with the handle on a bag, dragging her out of the venue, effectively throwing her out of the building. Damn. KOs looked good and this didn’t even include Savannah Evans and Li Ying Lee.
Hot finish to a good show that had more talking than normal, but they had a lot to do in a little bit of time to do it.
The Real Uncle Dave grade: B (91 out of 100)
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