We settle inside the sold out San Antonio venue with Tom Hannifan and Matthew Rehwoldt welcoming us to the show.
KUSHIDA defeated Leon Slater
Leon Slater’s theme hits and he comes to the ring for the first match of the Countdown pre-show. KUSHIDA is out next, and the bell sounds to get this one started.
Both guys start strong, trading shots, but it is KUSHIDA who gets Slater down and controls him for the first definitive offensive lead. He gets him on his knees as he rolls to his back for a submission attempt, but Slater escapes. The two have a stare off and the fans cheer.Following another exchange, Slater drops KUSHIDA with an enzugiri, and then hits a hand-spring back-elbow to KUSHIDA in mid-air. He goes for a springboard splash to the floor, but KUSHIDA rolls back into the ring, so he pumps the brakes. KUSHIDA hits a big kick in the corner that sends Slater out to the floor to regroup. KUSHIDA plays to the crowd, who chants his name as climbs to the top and flips off with a senton onto Slater on the floor. Back in the ring, KUSHIDA slaps a leg submission on Slater, who eventually gets to the ropes to force it to be broken.KUSHIDA also focuses on the arm of Slater, and the commentators talk about him softening him up for the Hoover Board Lock later on. On the mat, KUSHIDA continues to crank on the arm in the directions it wasn’t intended to bend. Slater fights back and hits a huge dropkick in the corner for a two-count.Slater takes over for a minute or so, and hits a beautiful high spot from the ring to the floor that saw him land on his feet upon connection. Back in the ring, KUSHIDA hits a Spanish Fly into an armbar upon landing. Demetrious Johnson mouse-trap, style. He gets the tap for the win.
Josh Alexander gives a brief backstage interview after the pre-show opener. He talks about Joe Hendry being in his world when the bell sounds tonight. He says after he beats him, he can go back to his keyboard and write and make funny videos.
A video package promoting Nic Nemeth vs. Moose for the TNA Championship in the main event later in the evening airs, and then we return inside the Impact Zone where Jake Something and Hammerstone make their way to the ring for the second pre-show match.
Hammerstone & Jake Something defeated Eric Young & Steve Maclin
All four collide and brawl before the bell. Young and Maclin unload on them in opposing corners, but when they go to whip them into each other in the middle of the ring, they bounce into each other and look up and down before turning and beating down Young and Maclin.
As Young and Something powder out to the floor, the bell sounds and Hammerstone and Maclin kick things off as the legal men in the ring. Hammerstone works over Maclin and in comes Something to give an assist, as Young looks upset. On the floor, Something takes out Maclin and rolls back in as the legal man.
Fans chant “Eric Young! Eric Young!” hoping for the tag. Something punches Maclin a few more times and stops to pose and taunt the crowd, who then fire up a “We want Eric!” chant. Young is pacing on the apron like Hulk Hogan in his 80s prime, playing to the crowd and stealing the scene in the background.
Young eventually gets the hot tag a few moments later and plays to the crowd while firing up and taking it to both Hammerstone and Maclin in the ring. He hits a pile driver for a close two-count, but this one continues. A blind tag from the heel duo leads to Young on the defense.
Hammerstone climbs to the top with Young, but Young knocks him down into the tree of woe and tags in Maclin. Maclin hits a running spear to the upside-down Hammerstone. Young tags in and hits a top-rope elbow drop. He goes for the cover, but Something breaks it up. Nice false-finish there.
Something hits a big spinebuster and then heads back to the apron so Hammerstone can tag him in. Hammerstone gets Maclin in the torture rack, but Young drops Something and hits Hammerstone to free Maclin. He runs into an Into the Void from Something. Something gets the three count and the win.
The Hardys (Matt Hardy & Jeff Hardy) defeated First Class (AJ Francis & KC Navarro)
The pre-show wraps up, the cold open for the main show airs and then we shoot inside the Impact Zone again. The iconic theme for The Hardys hits and out comes Matt Hardy and Jeff Hardy for scheduled tag-team action. The crowd is explosively loud for these two legends. “DELETE!” and “Hardy!” chants can easily be heard over their theme. Hannifan talks about how electric it is in the sold out building.
We hear the hip-hop sounds of the First Class entrance tune, and out comes AJ Francis and KC Navarro to a ton of boos from the San Antonio crowd. Navarro has v1 on his wrist tape to mock the old Matt Hardy v1. Navarro is apparently “The Blessed One” tonight. Guess he’s never heard of Max Holloway? The best is blessed, baby. It is what it is.
After the bell, Jeff and Navarro kick things off for their respective teams. Hardy does his limp-wrist hand-flick (good description, right?) gesture to play to the crowd chants. A loud “F**k First Class!” chant spreads like wildfire as Navarro disrespects Hardy by doing his limp-wrist hand-flick with his back turned to him. Hardy drops him and does it back. See, that description already paid off!
Hannifan touts the highest ticket sales for any TNA event in the U.S. in 2024 tonight. Hardy makes the tag and hits Poetry in Motion before Matt picks up where he left off, taking it to one-half of First Class. Loud “DELETE!” chants break out as Hardy works over Navarro’s arm. Hardy yells “HUH?!” off the middle rope and hits a Greg Valentine-style elbow on the back of Navarro’s head.
Matt sends Navarro out to the floor, but Francis catches him like a parent cradling a baby. Hardy dives through the ropes with a kick to knock them both down. Back in the ring, Navarro hits a cool kick with Hardy in the ropes. This helps First Class take over on offense. He tags in Francis, and the crowd boos grows as the big man takes over.
Francis hits a big spot from the ring to the floor and yells “Woo-Hah!” in the camera. You know, because he’s got Hardy “all in checks,” Busta Rhymes-style. Back in the ring, he leaps off the ropes and lands directly on his ass after Hardy rolls away. Ouch. Both guys tag out.
Jeff comes in and hits a falcon arrow to Navarro for a two-count. He hits an atomic drop and then the leg-drop through the legs to the no-no-zone. He goes for another cover, but again only gets two. Francis comes back in and hits a World’s Strongest Slam.
He goes for Matt’s middle rope leg drop, but Matt cuts him off. He and Jeff both go up after him and hit a double suplex off the ropes. Ouch again. Francis recovers and fights back with a double Down Payment attempt, but The Hardys low blow their way out. They hit a Twist of Fate. Matt hits another and then Jeff takes the shirt off for a top-rope swanton for the win.
“Speedball” Mike Bailey defeated Zachary Wentz to capture the TNA X-Division Champion
Thumbs In The Middle Pointing Up
After the commentators run down the lineup for tonight, we hear the familiar sounds of “Speedball” Mike Bailey’s theme and out comes the modern day Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat for our first title bout of the evening. Zachary Wentz of the Rascalz, the reigning TNA X-Division Champion, comes out next.
The commentators promote Wentz vs. Wes Lee in a Chicago Street Fight on the WWE NXT on CW premiere on October 1. The bell sounds and Bailey gets behind Wentz, snaps him down and goes for the cover. Wentz kicks out and pops up annoyed.
They reengage and Bailey continues to sweep him down to the mat with ease, and continues to add to his early frustration. Wentz loses his cool and puts his hands behind his back and encourages Bailey to hit him. Bailey gets frozen up by this and Wentz gets him down and unloads on him.
Wentz super-kicks Bailey out to the floor and hits a dive through the ropes, splashing on him at ringside and ground-and-pounding him upon landing. He rolls him back in the ring and begins focusing his offensive attack on the arm of Bailey.
Bailey fights back and hits an excellent moonsault. He continues to work Wentz over as fans break out in a loud “This is Awesome!” chant. Bailey grapevines the leg of Wentz and drops back into a leg lock, wrenching away on the lower limb of the champ. He eventually escapes.
Wentz fires up again and puts his hands behind his back again. Bailey measures up to hit him with a free shot this time, open-handed, power-slap-style. He ends up deciding against it and puts his hands behind his own back and dares Wentz to do the same. They both snap and start Fyre-Takayama’ing each other, only with slaps instead of turning themselves into the Sloth monster from the Goonies with punches.
On the floor, Wentz hits a BFT to Bailey on the entrance ramp. Bailey just barely makes it back into the ring, and when he does slide in at 9, Wentz immediately hits a double stomp. He hits a cutter off the ropes for a super close two-count. Wentz hits a step-up knee to the grill in the corner. Bailey fights back and hits a running power bomb out of the corner.
He climbs to the top and hits an insanely impressive shooting star press for a beautiful near-fall attempt. The crowd bought into it big, too. Bailey hits a big kick and then a roundhouse tornado kick in the corner. Wentz fights back and rolls up Bailey for a two-count. Wentz hits an insane flipping DDT. Wentz hits some more BFTs for another crazy-close two-count.
Wentz loses his cool and snaps again. He super kicks Bailey and goes for the UFO Cutter, but Bailey counters. Bailey hits a Flamingo Driver on Wentz out of the corner for the win. We have a new TNA X-Division Champion. This is Mike Bailey’s third reign.
Steph De Lander Needs Neck Surgery
A backstage promo from The System is shown to explain Tasha Steelz as the replacement for Alisha Edwards. It also gives Moose an excuse to call Nic Nemeth a “blond b*tch,” and for another dozen System Reboot references.
Back inside the Impact Zone, Rhino makes his way to the ring. After him, “The French-Canadian Frankenstein” PCO emerges and heads to the ring. Matt Cardona comes out with Steph De Lander wearing a “Property of Matt Cardona” t-shirt. He bosses her around as they settle in the ring.
De Lander gets on the mic and tells PCO to trust her. She talks about how he and Cardona need to sort their issues. She eventually mentions how she needs neck surgery. The fans start giving her the “What?” treatment as she tries cutting a serious promo. She says she’s in pain every day…”What?” Ouch.
She turns her attention to Cardona and says while she’s surely not his property, she can’t forget all the moments they did have and all that he did do for her. She turns to PCO and says she didn’t think she would find true love in TNA, but she is so glad she has.
She says she needs them all to be men, stand up and figure this out without her. She says this isn’t a retirement speech. She has more to give to this business and this company. “This is not goodbye, this is I’ll see you later.” I think that one was taken, Steph. She thanks the fans and says she’ll see us later.
She hugs PCO and kisses him. She heads to exit the ring as Rhino holds the ropes for her. PCO walks her to the back. Cardona is shown clapping in the ring, until Rhino goes to exit. When he tries to, Cardona kicks the ropes and low-blows Rhino. He hits his Radio Silence finisher on him and leaves him laying.
Spitfire defeated Masha Slamovich & Tasha Steelz to capture the TNA Knockouts Tag-Team Championships
Thumbs In The Middle Pointing Up
The Spitfire duo of Jody Threat and Dani Luna come to the ring after a quick backstage interview with Nic Nemeth about tonight’s main event. They settle in the ring for this match, where if they lose, they must break up their team.
Out next is the late replacement for Alisha Edwards, Tasha Steelz, who fills in for The System member alongside Masha Slamovich for the defense of the TNA Knockouts Tag-Team Championships. The bell sounds and off we go.
Luna and Steelz kick things off for their respective teams. Luna out-powers Steelz, shoving her down to her butt off a lock-up. Masha tags in and hits a brainbuster on Threat, who tags in for her team. Alisha Edwards is overheard yelling in the Slamovich-Steelz corner on the floor.
Threat ends up isolated in the ring for several minutes, with Steelz and Slamovich utilizing frequent tags to keep a fresh person on her at all times. Eventually, Luna gets the much-needed tag from Threat. She takes the hot tag and gets the crowd on their feet with a high-impact offensive comeback.
Spitfire hit the ring together and start hitting big double-team spots. They hit their double-team finishing move and score the pinfall victory for the win. With the win, not only do they not have to break up, but they are now the new TNA Knockouts Tag-Team Champions.
A team that did break up, however, is The Malisha. After the match, Alisha Edwards gets in Masha Slamovich’s face and scolds her for losing their titles. She calls her a loser and slaps her. Masha gets ready to fight back, but is attacked from behind by Steelz, who lays her out and poses with Edwards.
Joe Hendry defeated Josh Alexander
Thumbs In The Middle Pointing Up
It’s time to get into the thick-of-things for tonight, as we move on to our next match of the evening. “The Walking Weapon” Josh Alexander heads to the ring, looking as Kurt Angle from Wish as ever. He settles in the ring to a bunch of boos.
The sold out San Antonio crowd gets rocking from there, as the super catchy-ass entrance tune for Joe Hendry hits to bring out one of the more charismatic stars in the business today, and certainly the hottest star in TNA right now.
Hendry settles in the ring and cuts his usual pre-match promo full of catchphrases. The bell sounds and Alexander smiles and points to the mat, telling Hendry like he said earlier tonight, once the bell rings you’re in my world.
The two get after it and Alexander starts off well, but then the crowd rallies behind Hendry and he hits one of his key five moves of doom, the stalling suplex. Fans chant “Walking Weiner” in San Antonio, proving they’re real TNA fans who watch Impact every week, and not just there because it’s something in town to do on a Friday night.
Alexander takes over and hits a big spot to Hendry on the floor, which shifts the offensive momentum in his favor. He sends Hendry back-first into the ring apron and then verbally taunts Hendry before rolling him back into the ring.
Fans try and rally behind their guy again, singing “I Believe in Joe Hendry,” but to no avail this time, as Alexander gets Hendry in the ankle lock. Hendry escapes but Kurt Angle from Wish goes to his next move in his arsenal, hitting a German suplex.
Hendry fights back with another of his five moves of doom, a fall-away slam. Alexander takes over again and locks Hendry in an ankle lock. He drops down to the mat for added leverage. Hendry struggles but eventually gets to the ropes. The referee is bumped. Hendry gets the ankle lock on Alexander. Alexander eventually taps, but the referee didn’t see it.
The fans chant “You tapped out!” but of course in wrestling, the referee is temporarily deaf when someone runs into him and knocks him down. Alexander kicks Hendry low and taunts the crowd as Hendry pops back up and digs in his tights.
Way too deep for a tight camera shot, by the way. He struggles but pulls out a cup and smiles. The referee gets back up. Hendry slaps the ankle lock back on and Alexander taps again. This time the referee sees it. Hendry wins. He poses with the cup, which has his face on it. Fun match as always with Hendry.
The System (Eddie Edwards & Brian Myers) defeated ABC (Ace Austin & Chris Bey) to recapture the TNA Tag-Team Championships
Thumbs In The Middle Pointing Down
The video package for our next title tilt of the evening airs and then we return inside the Impact Zone in San Antonio, where The System team of Brian Myers and Eddie Edwards, with Alisha Edwards, make their way to the ring.
Reigning tag champs ABC come out next. Chris Bey’s ribs are taped up after the match from this week’s Impact against First Class. The bell sounds and off we go with our next match of the evening. Myers and Bey kick things off for their respective teams.
The commentators talk about Bey starting off for ABC despite his ribs being weakened heading into the match. Myers hits a shoulder tackle off the ropes to send Bey to the mat. Bey fights back with a dropkick. Myers takes over again and Bey finds himself in a bad way until Austin comes in and the two send The System out to the floor.
Fans chant “F**k The System” as Myers and Edwards take over and take turns tagging in and out to keep a fresh man on Bey at all times. Alisha Edwards even gets involved at ringside, choking Bey over the ropes as Myers distracts the referee.
Just as Bey gets close to making a tag, Edwards takes out Austin from the floor so he’s not on the apron when Bey gets there. They bring Bey back to their corner of the ring and distract the ref to continue double-teaming him.
Fans get Rated-R with their chants aimed at Alisha Edwards at ringside, ignoring the action in the ring, which has been all The System taking turns beating down a defenseless Bey. “Take it off!” chants continue as Myers and Edwards continue tagging in and out, taunting Austin all-the-while.
Bey finally knocks Edwards down, which buys himself enough time to get to his corner. Once again, Austin is yanked off the apron before Bey can make the much-needed tag. Moments later, however, he does make the tag and Austin comes in with a ton of energy.
He makes the big fired up offensive comeback for ABC. Bey joins him moments later for a double Art of Finesse on Edwards for a close two-count. Bey tags back in and he and Austin call for it again, but Edwards hits Bey with a Blue Thunder Bomb to counter.
Bey fights back again, only for Alisha to grab his ankle from ringside yet again. This leads to a Boston Knee Party for the finish. The System duo of Brian Myers and Eddie Edwards begin The System Reboot tonight by recapturing the TNA Tag-Team Championships.
Jordynne Grace (c) defeated Wendy Choo to retain the TNA Knockouts Championship
The video package sets the stage for our fourth title tilt of the evening, as the TNA Knockouts Championship will be on-the-line next. Wendy Choo comes out looking as creepy and sinister as ever. The commentators point out she could become the first active NXT star to win and hold a TNA title with a win tonight.
Jordynne Grace’s theme hits next and out comes “The Juggernaut” as Hannifan and Rehwoldt talk about her being in a bit of a home turf situation hailing from Austin, complete with family and relatives in the crowd in San Antonio supporting her this evening.
The commentators point out Grace looking emotional being introduced in front of the home field crowd, who give her a big pop. The bell sounds and we’re officially off-and-running with our co-main event of the evening. The two charge at each other and Grace beats down Wendy and roars.
Hannifan reminds fans of the promise “The NXT Liaison” Arianna Grace made “The Juggernaut” ahead of tonight’s match. On the floor, the action continues with Wendy swinging a black pillow case at Grace. Grace ducks and DDTs her on the floor.
Moments later, however, Choo takes over and then gets in Grace’s family’s faces in the crowd. She goes for a cheap shot with the black pillow case as Grace is down on the floor, but Grace’s grandma grabs it as she pulls it back to swing at her.
Grace takes over and poses with Gram-Gram before going back to work on Choo in the ring. In the ring, Choo starts to shift the offensive momentum back in her favor. Grace’s mouth looks to be bleeding a bit. Choo gets Grace in a sleeper, but Grace launches them off the ropes to escape.
Choo hits a big belly to belly suplex off the middle rope for a close two-count. As the action continues, Grace fights back and hits a package suplex that drops Choo on her head in a scary-looking spot. A Juggernaut Driver later and Jordynne Grace is still your TNA Knockouts Champion.
After the match, Jordynne Grace is celebrating her big win in front of her family in attendance, when Rosemary finally appears and spears Grace. Choo slaps the sleeper-hold on Grace once again. She puts her to sleep and they pose over her again. They crawl out of the ring and head to the back as fans boo.
Nic Nemeth (c) defeated Moose to retain the TNA World Championship
But first, we see Santino Marella backstage when in walks “The NXT/TNA Liaison” Arianna Grace. Santino is super excited to see her and really likes her. He’s excited to work with her but says he won’t tolerate any shenanigans or monkey business.
Frankie Kazarian’s theme hits inside the Impact Zone and out he comes to join Rehwoldt and Hannifan on special guest commentary for the final match of the show. He gives Rehwoldt a scarf, which makes him happy. He throws some of Hannifan’s crap off the desk and takes a seat.
Moose makes his always awesome ring entrance. The original Oba Femi entrance, for all intents and purposes. The zipper sound affect hits, the woman enjoys herself, and the 80s sounding rock plays as Nic Nemeth makes his way out to continue his run as a fighting TNA World Champion.
The ring announcer handles the final formal ring introductions for the champion and the challenger and then this one gets underway. Moose takes the early offensive lead, brutalizing Nemeth in the corner straight out of the gate.
Nemeth fires up and flurries on Moose, who simply picks him up and walks him out of the corner with a big power bomb. Moose settles into a slow-paced, Roman Reigns style dominating offensive lead for a few moments. He hits a Sky High out of the corner for a two-count.
Moose continues his prolonged offensive beatdown as Kazarian and Rehwoldt have fun bantering on commentary, largely ignoring the action and focusing on roasting Hannifan. Entertaining, but counter-productive. When the action hits the floor, they get focused again. Moose hits a pump kick to Nemeth.
Moose hoists Nemeth up for a power bomb on the floor, but Nemeth counters. He runs and leaps on Moose to follow-up moments later, but Moose catches him and power bombs him on the apron. Ouch. Back in the ring, Nemeth hits a headbutt and knocks Moose out to the floor.
So, of course, while that is going on the commentary is focused on the cologne that Frankie Kazarian is wearing. On the floor, Nemeth muscles Moose up for a belly-to-back suplex. Ouch. Kaz actually puts over the talent now, taking the focus off of himself for a change.
Nemeth looks for a Fame-Asser on the floor, but Moose counters and power bombs Nemeth through the timekeepers table, which quickly explodes into 1,000 toothpicks. Fans react with a loud “Holy sh*t!” chant. Kazarian tells the doctor to sit down because Nemeth is a fighting champion. That was actually a good one.
Back in the ring, Nemeth proves to be exactly that, as he fights back and connects with a FameAsser this time for a close two-count. As Nemeth heads to the top-rope, JDC and Alisha Edwards run down. The temporary distraction allows Moose to recover and get to his feet.
Nemeth hops on his back with a sleeper, but Moose slams him down. Nemeth goes for Danger Zone, but Moose avoids it and turns Nemeth inside-out with a spear for a close two-count. Alisha throws the TNA title into the ring as JDC distracts the ref. Moose grabs it and waits to knock out Nemeth.
Before Nemeth gets up, however, Mike Santana appears out of nowhere and takes the title out of Moose’s hands. JDC goes over to deal with him and the two trade shots and powder out to the back. The camera focuses back in the ring, where Nemeth springs to life out of nowhere and hits a Danger Zone on Moose.
He covers him but Moose somehow kicks out at two. Hannifan says no one has ever kicked out of Nemeth’s Danger Zone in TNA. Moose hits a perfect super-plex off the top. He holds on upon landing and scoops Nemeth up for a power bomb.
Nemeth counters in mid-air and hits his Danger Zone finisher. He goes for the cover, but Eddie Edwards and Brian Myers appear and yank the referee out of the ring before he can count to three. The ref goes to throw out the match, but “Fighting Champion” Nic Nemeth won’t let him.
He does, however, allow him to eject Myers and Edwards from ringside. JBL appears out of nowhere and hits some clotheslines from hell to take out Myers and Edwards. Brutal ones, too. Fans chant “JBL!” as he looks down at his impressive, albeit kind of pointless, actions.
They were already ejected and not doing anything that warranted that. Nemeth is distracted by this and hit with a lariat and spear by Moose. He immediately goes for the cover, but Nemeth kicks out. Moments later, Nemeth hits a lariat and super kick and then hits his Danger Zone for the win to retain. Nemeth celebrates as TNA Victory Road 2024 goes off the air.
Overall: Thumbs In The Middle Pointing Up
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