TNA Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace will put her title on the line in an open challenge on tonight’s Impact — the fallout edition from last Friday’s Emergence.
Grace has held the title for over 230 days with 15 successful defenses to her credit. If Grace survives, she will put the title on the line in another open challenge Tuesday on WWE NXT.
Nic
After their win in an eight-man match at Emergence, The System will be on hand to kick off the show. Moose & JDC will then team up to take on Mike Santana & Joe Hendry.
New TNA X-Division Champion Zachary Wentz will also be in the house after he survived an Ultimate X match at Emergence to win the title. He is also coming off a victory over former partner Wes Lee at Sunday’s NXT No Mercy as the crossover between both companies continues.
KUSHIDA will face Laredo Kid while former World Champion Eric Young will battle Jake Something.
The System Kick Off This Week’s Show
The lights in the Impact Zone go out as Tom Hannifan welcomes us to this week’s show in Louisville, Kentucky. As advertised, The System theme hits. Out comes Moose, Brian Myers, Eddie Edwards, JDC, Alisha Edwards and Masha Slamovich.
They all head to the ring in their Mark Henry early WWE days U.S.A. jackets. Alisha is wearing a neck brace after suffering an injury at Emergence this past Friday. “Do you wanna know something,” Alisha begins as always with her raspy voice.
She says The System has something to say. Fans drown them out, Dominik Mysterio and Don Callis style, with loud boos as they try to talk. Eddie Edwards says The System does not fail. All they needed was a nice little reboot. He says it’s time to get back their championship gold.
Brian Myers says as your former tag-team champions, he and Eddie are contractually obligated for a rematch. Much like Moose, they will be cashing in that clause at TNA Victory Road 2024. They announce they will be challenging ABC for the tag-team titles at the upcoming special event.
JDC gets his turn on the microphone and immediately says, “Shut up, town!” He hands the microphone over to Moose, who tells everyone to shut up because the face of the franchise has something very important to say. He addresses Nic Nemeth. He says in two weeks, he has to face a guy he’s never beaten.
“Like a British lad once said, at Victory Road, I’ve got bad news for ya….” he says because you’re looking at the four-time TNA World Champion. Before we get to Victory Road, he’s got something more important to talk about. And that’s JDC.
He says everyone wants to know JDC’s relationship with The System. He says tonight JDC has a big night. Because if they win their match against Joe Hendry and Mike Santana, JDC will officially become a member of The System. If they lose, JDC is out and everybody in this building knows what The System does to outsiders.
Alisha gets another turn on the mic. She says everybody is asking for their rematches. She’s wicked smart and she knows her right as a champion. She does not have to defend her title more than once every 30 days. She is also under the concussion protocol. Therefore, she can find a suitable replacement if her doctor does not clear her to wrestle.
The theme for Spitfire plays and out comes Dani Luna and Jody Threat. They have a microphone and tell Alisha it was unfortunate what happened to her at Emergence. Alisha tells them MAlisha already beat them once, so they can take their stupid faces and go back to whatever dive bar they crawled out of.
They reveal they spoke with Santino and got another Knockouts tag title shot at Victory Road. It’s do-or-die though, because if Spitfire loses, they must break up as a team. Alisha says they’re actually doing her a favor because she’ll never have to see their stupid faces again. They’re on.
Gia Miller Interviews Eric Young
Backstage, Gia Miller introduces her guest at this time, Eric Young. She asks him how he’s feeling after his battle with Steve Maclin at TNA Emergence. He says he got one over on him, but he’s a guy he respects. He says he has his back no matter what. He is asked about his match tonight with Jake Something. Young says they have history and he’s a bad dude. He’s gonna represent this company and win tonight.
Tom Hannifan Gives Update On JBL At TNA Emergence
We head to a commercial break after the Young interview. When the show returns, footage is shown of JBL’s surprise appearance at the end of TNA Emergence, where he whispered something into Nic Nemeth’s ear after Nemeth retained the TNA World Championship in the Iron Man main event against Josh Alexander. Hannifan says JBL left the building as soon as the show ended and Nemeth has yet to reveal what JBL said to him.
KUSHIDA and Laredo Kid ends in No Contest
The theme for KUSHIDA plays and out he comes in his Marty McFly gear to kick off things on this week’s show inside the squared circle. His opponent in what should be a high-flying wrestling fans dream match, Laredo Kid, heads out next.
After the bell sounds, KUSHIDA immediately isolates the arm of Kid, softening him up for the Hoover Board Lock. The action spills out to the floor and upon returning inside the ring, things are broken up before they can get fully going, as Josh Alexander randomly comes out and attacks.
Josh Alexander defeated KUSHIDA
As Alexander goes to leave, KUSHIDA gets on the microphone at ringside and demands a fight right now between he and “The Walking Weapon.” He charges at Alexander and the brawl continues, as Hannifan informs us on commentary that Santino Marella has made this impromptu bout official.
The two fight their way back into the ring and the bell sounds to get it started. As they get going, the show heads into a mid-match commercial time out. When the show returns, we see KUSHIDA mat wrestling with Alexander.
KUSHIDA gets Alexander in his own ankle lock submission. He hits a German suplex and then stomps on the fingers of Alexander. He lands a big follow-up kick for a two-count. KUSHIDA looks to slap on a straight arm-bar, but Alexander defends.
On the floor, KUSHIDA looks to secure his Hoover Board Lock, but Alexander avoids it and takes over on offense. Back in the ring, Alexander uses his entrance shirt as a weapon. The referee gets rid of it as “The Walking Weapon” proceeds to chop the hell out of KUSHIDA. Moments later, Alexander hits the C4 Spike for the win.
Joe Hendry Has A Message For Josh Alexander
The cameras follow KUSHIDA backstage as he is helped by a referee. He seems to have a neck or throat injury and Joe Hendry checks on him. Josh Alexander walks through the curtain and Hendry gets in his face about this, and for costing him the TNA World Championship at TNA Slammiversary. He assures him he’ll never forget that and he will make him pay.
Jordynne Grace (c) defeated Karmen Petrovic in an open challenge to retain the TNA Knockouts Championship
Back inside the Impact Zone, the theme for Jordynne Grace hits and out comes the TNA Knockouts Champion. “The Juggernaut” settles in the ring as Hannifan promotes her title defense coming up in WWE NXT.
We await the result of who will answer her open challenge tonight first, however. It’s time to see who is assumed to be the loser, with TNA already promoting Grace’s upcoming title defense in NXT like it’s a foregone conclusion.
“Miss NXT” Arianna Grace comes out and says she knows everyone wishes it were her, but it’s not. She says she’s the liaison between TNA and NXT. She gets pretend emotional introducing her good friend, Karmen Petrovic.
The fellow NXT Superstar comes out with her katana sword in-hand to answer Grace’s challenge. The bell sounds and the two shake hands. Karmen throws out some kicks as Hannifan and Rehwoldt sing her praises for her martial arts background.
Rosemary is shown in the rafters watching on, as the commentators promote her involvement in NXT as of late as well. Grace hits a big spinebuster for a close two-count. After Petrovic kicks out, the show heads into a mid-match commercial break as the action continues.
When the show returns, we see footage of Petrovic getting a close two-count during the break. She blasts Grace with a wide variety of kicks as Rosemary is once again shown watching on from high above. Grace begins no-selling the kicks and Hulk’ing up.
All that’s missing was the standing seizure and dramatic “YOU!” finger-point. She takes over and hits her finisher for the win to retain. When the match ends, the lights go out. When they come back on, Grace is laid out with a pillow next to her. Rosemary is shown laughing in the rafters. Wendy Choo?
ABC, First Class To Run It Back Next Week
ABC are cutting a colorful pre-taped vignette when it is interrupted live by First Class duo AJ Francis and KC Navarro. They tell them they shouldn’t be worried about The System at Victory Road as much as they should be worried about First Class right now. Ace Austin and Chris Bey try to explain tag-team rules to them while the four reminisce about their recent match. They set up a bout for next week’s show.
Xia Zhao Is Coming Soon To TNA
After the ABC and First Class segment, the show heads into another commercial break. When the show returns, a “Coming soon” vignette for Xia Zhao, formerly known as Xia Li in WWE airs.
Zachary Wentz & “Speedball” Mike Bailey defeated The Good Hands
Inside the Impact Zone, new TNA X-Division Champion Zachary Wentz comes to the ring. He talks about thinking his career was over not too long ago. He says he worked his ass off and became TNA X-Division Champion.
“Speedball” Mike Bailey comes out and congratulates Wentz on winning the title but says he’s invoking his rematch clause for the X-Division Championship at Victory Road. The Good Hands come out and say Jason Hotch was robbed at Emergence. John Skyler and Jason Hotch attack Bailey and Wentz.
We learn via the ring announcer per Santino Marella that this impromptu tag-team match is now official. Bailey and Wentz fight back and lay out Skyler and Hotch. In the ring, Bailey and Hotch start things off as the legal two men in the ring. Skyler tags in and takes over on offense.
Wentz tags in and hits his finisher to pick up the win for his team. Bailey hands him the X-Division Championship after their win as Hannifan and Rehwoldt promote their upcoming showdown with the title on-the-line at Victory Road.
Steph De Lander Confronts Matt Cardona
Backstage, Steph De Lander is shown calming PCO down. She wants to confront Matt Cardona by herself. The show heads to another commercial. When the show returns, footage airs to show the connection between Rosemary and NXT’s Wendy Choo. It is alluded that was the pillow earlier in the Jordynne Grace beatdown.
A video package airs with Rosemary acting like, well, Rosemary, while referencing Choo and questioning if she can trust her. Back inside the Impact Zone, De Lander makes her way to the ring. She brings up Cardona ruining her wedding and being involved in her business lately.
De Lander demands Cardona come out to the ring. Cardona’s theme hits and out he comes. He reminds De Lander of a contract they each signed. The date was March 13, 2023, the day Cardona found her in Australia and plucked her from obscurity.
He promised to change her life and give her a career. He says that’s exactly what he did. He brought her to the U.S. and got her booked on the hottest indy shows in the business. He got her an action figure, magazine covers and a job in TNA. He paid for her tickets and hotels.
He held up his end up the contract, now it’s her turn to do the same. She’s his property and he owns her. De Lander says it’s true but she worked hard and had good matches. She would’ve been a star with or without him and this contract means nothing to her. He gets in her face until she cries and PCO comes out to run him off. The show heads into another commercial break.
The Hardys Set To Battle The System Next Week
When the show returns, a fired up Matt Hardy talks while Jeff Hardy stands next to him with cool face paint on. Matt talks about how everyone says The Hardys were great. They were fans’ childhoods. He says it’s not were. It’s they are. They are great. They will prove it next week against The System duo of Brian Myers and Eddie Edwards. By beating them, they claim they’ll be back in the mix to win the TNA World Tag-Team Championships and prove they still are great. The greatest of all-time.
Eric Young defeated Jake Something
Inside the Impact Zone, Eric Young makes his cool entrance to the ring for our next match of the evening. After he settles inside the squared circle, his theme dies down. Jake Something makes his way out as his opponent, the bell sounds and this one gets off-and-running.
Something immediately goes to work on Young in the corner of the ring, driving his shoulder into the mid-section of the TNA veteran repeatedly. Something hits a big power bomb for a close two-count. He gets frustrated at his inability to finish off Young.
Young fights back with a discus lariat. He looks for a death valley driver and connects with it on the big man for a close two-count of his own. He calls for the elbow drop and heads to the top, but Something stops him. Young hits a piledriver for the win.
After the match, Young tries to show respect but Something turns on him and Donkey Kong’s him into the mat. He continues to beat him down until Steve Maclin runs out to chase him off and make the save for the man he just battled this past Friday at Emergence.
Moose & JDC defeated Joe Hendry & Mike Santana
It’s main event time!
But first, we head backstage where Gia Miller catches up with Joe Hendry as he is preparing to head to the ring for our final match of the evening. He says you can’t deny the momentum he is riding and asks her to excuse him because he’s got a TNA World Championship to continue to chasing.
The show heads into a quick pre-match commercial break, as the main event with Joe Hendry & Mike Santana battling The System duo Moose and JDC is up next. If The System lose, JDC will be an outsider and face outsider consequences. If they win, JDC is officially part of The System.
When the show returns, the signing of Heather Reckless is announced. Her debut is set for next week against Gisele Shaw. After that, Gia Miller is joined backstage by Reckless for her debut interview. She says she’s excited to be here and says she’s here to show the world and the Knockouts division why her name is Heather Reckless.
Ash By Elegance comes in with George Iceman to interrupt her. Gisele Shaw comes in and ends up slapping her. Steve Maclin vs. Hammerstone is also announced for next week’s show. Inside the Impact Zone, the lights go out and The System make their way out for the tag-team headliner.
Out next is Joe Hendry. He settles in the ring to a rock star reception and fans singing along with his catchy-ass “I Believe In Joe Hendry” theme. He gets on the mic and says he knows how this goes. He riles the crowd up, gets them to wave their hands, and then he turns around and gets attacked.
He tells The System duo of Moose and JDC that they should turn around instead. They do and are met with a double clothesline by Mike Santana, who was in the ring behind them. As the four brawl, we see Josh Alexander walking down the ramp without any music.
“The Walking Weapon” settles in on special guest commentary alongside Hannifan and Rehwoldt as Hendry and Santana kick things off for their respective teams. The show heads into a quick mid-match commercial break as the main event of the evening continues.
When the show returns, Hendry is in the middle of hitting a big fall-away slam on Moose. He follows up with one on Santana but then walks into a pump kick from Moose. Hendry fights back and hoists Moose up for his stalled suplex as Alexander bickers with Hannifan while Rehwoldt kisses his butt on commentary.
Alisha Edwards provides a distraction from ringside, which allows Moose and JDC to take over and beat down Hendry. Moose works Hendry over on the floor a bit and then rolls him back inside the ring, where he continues to take it to him. Hendry fights back with a suplex and tags in Santana.
Santana hits the Rolling Buck 50 on Moose and then launches Santana out to him on the floor. Alexander tells Hendry at ringside to focus on the match and not him. As soon as he turns to do exactly that, Alexander pops up from the commentary desk and low-blows Hendry.
Santana splashes onto him from the ring for a big pop. Back in the ring, Moose hits a big spear and makes the cover on Santana to give The System duo the win. With the win, JDC is now officially a member of The System.
Nic Nemeth Sends A Message To Moose
Nic Nemeth is shown watching on his smart phone. “Not too bad Moose. Not too bad.” He congratulates them on “The System Reboot” catchphrase and tells Moose all he had to do was challenge him. He wanted to fight the very best since day one, that’s why he kicked Moose’s teeth down his throat on day one. He says now that he’s the champion, all he had to do was look him in the eye.
He says instead he took the child’s way out. He says it’s been killing him for months that he didn’t get to pin the man he thinks is the best to win the title. He vows to look him in the eyes and do exactly that at Victory Road. That’s how this week’s show wraps up and goes off the air.
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