Our TNA iMPACT results for tonight include new TNA World Champion Trick Williams’ address following his shocking win against Joe Hendry at WWE Battleground, Arianna Grace and Santino Marella versus Tessa Blanchard and Robert Stone, and a TNA International Championship defense featuring champion Steve Maclin against the challenger Matt Cardona.
TNA iMPACT Card
The announced card is as follows:
- Mance Warner in action
- Mustafa Ali vs. Raj Singh
- Léi Yǐng Lee vs. Ash by Elegance
- FIR$T CLA$$ vs. Aztec Warriors vs. The System vs. The Rascalz – TNA World Tag Team Title No. 1 Contenders match
- Steve Maclin (c) vs. Matt Cardona – TNA International Championship match
- Arianna Grace and Santino Marella vs. Tessa Blanchard and Robert Stone
- We’ll hear from new TNA World Champion Trick Williams
The System’s Eddie Edwards and Brian Myers took out Octagon Jr ahead of the show, leaving Laredo without a partner in the tag team title number one contenders match. Laredo would eventually elect to compete on his own.
TNA iMPACT Results
This week’s episode of TNA iMPACT kicks off with a recap of WWE Battleground’s main event.
Matthew Rehwoldt and Tom Hannifan welcome TNA fans to the show with somber expressions. The TNA broadcast team is clearly not over the outcome of the world title match between Joe Hendry and Trick Williams.
FIR$T CLA$$ vs. Aztec Warriors vs. The System vs. The Rascalz – TNA World Tag Team Title No. 1 Contenders match
- The finish of the match saw Trey Miguel pin Laredo following a meteora on AJ Francis. The Rascalz will face The Nemeths for the TNA World Tag Team Championship at Against All Odds one week from this Friday.
Winners: The Rascalz
TNA backstage correspondent Gia Miller is backstage with The Nemeths for their thoughts on the outcome. Nic Nemeth says The Rascalz proved they were the top players tonight but that’s where it ends for them. Ryan Nemeth says the tag team titles are never leaving the brothers.
Grade: B
A solid multi-man outing with The Rascalz doing what they do best. Laredo did one hell of a job despite being alone in the tag team match. I’m looking forward to Rascalz versus Nemeths at Against All Odds.
Backstage, FIR$T CLA$$ argues about their loss until Mike Santana blindsides them with a steel chair throw. Santana and Francis brawl till the cameras pan away.
We get a lengthy video package on Harley Hudson and Myla Grace.
Mustafa Ali vs. Raj Singh
- The finish of the match saw Mustafa hit Singh with a 450 splash for the win after Tasha Steelz created a distraction.
Winner: Mustafa Ali
After the match, Order 4 jumped Singh inside the ring before hitting him with The Favor. Ali got aggressive towards Tasha but stopped in his tracks when he noticed The Great Hands watching his actions.
Grade: B+
A quick match that did its job of showcasing Mustafa Ali’s growing aggression towards his opponents. Singh had his moments of comeback, including an explosive lariat, but ultimately fell to a distraction. Let’s see how iMPACT sets up the much-teased solo run for Ali, who’s been nothing but consistently brilliant since joining TNA.
Backstage, Santino Marella and Arianna Grace have a little prep talk before their match against Robert Stone and Tessa Blanchard. Arianna tells Santino she got former WWE referee Jimmy Korderas to officiate the match. Marella jokingly asks if Korderas can cheat for them, but Jimmy vows to call it down the middle.
Léi Yǐng Lee vs. Ash by Elegance
- The finish of the match saw Léi Yǐng Lee plant Ash by Elegance with a spinning slam for the win.
Winner: Léi Yǐng Lee
After the match, TNA Knockouts Champion Masha Slamovich came down to the ring and told Léi Yǐng Lee she’ll see her at Against All Odds.
Grade: C
Ash by Elegance needs to work on her striking abilities. The hits she delivered looked weak despite Lee telling her to try harder. That said, it’s good to see Lee in the world title picture — something her former employer couldn’t figure out in the slightest.
We get a recap of Trick Williams’ promo exchange with Mike Santana from this past Tuesday’s NXT. Both men will fight for the title at NXT next Tuesday.
Trick Williams doesn’t appear live
Trick Williams apologizes for not coming to TNA iMPACT. He says he asked for a first class ticket and a five-star hotel to stay but was denied both. Trick calls TNA Trick-NA and says he did exactly what he said he would do – turn Joe Hendry into average Joe at WWE Battleground – before hyping up his upcoming title defense against Mike Santana.
Mance Warner vs. Bryce Hansen
The finish of the match saw Warner hit Hansen with a Pay Window for the win.
Winner: Mance Warner
After the match, Steph de Lander cuts an ring promo to call out the winner of the upcoming TNA International Championship match between Steve Maclin and Matt Cardona.
Grade: C
A squash match to build Warner as the next challenger to the TNA International Championship. The only good part about the match was Tom Hannifan burying Trick Williams on commentary for not showing up on TNA iMPACT!.
Arianna Grace and Santino Marella vs. Victoria Crawford and Robert Stone
Robert Stone cuts a pre-match promo wherein he announces Victoria Crawford as the substitute for Tessa Blanchard. Stone sets the match time limit to 10 minutes. The self-proclaimed Sheriff says Santino’s cobra finisher is banned and Marella will lose his job to Stone if he “whips out the reptile” during the match.
- The outcome of the match saw Robert Stone pin Arianna Grace after Victoria Crawford planted The Liaison with her finisher. ‘Special Enforcer’ Alicia Edwards counted the pinfall after Stone shoved Korderas into Marella, knocking the veteran referee out of the match.
Winners: Robert Stone and Victoria Crawford
Grade: B
For someone who’s been a fan of Santino since his WWE days, I was sports entertained with the match. Arianna and Victoria worked the majority of the offense. The controversial outcome implies we haven’t seen the last of the father-daughter tag team on TNA iMPACT.
The debut of M by Elegance
Personal Concierge introduces TNA fans to their brand’s latest member, M by Elegance (aka Maggie Lee). Myla Grace and Harley Hudson interrupt to give the Elegance Brand a toast of their own as the pair throws champagne on the trio to cap off the segment.
Steve Maclin (c) vs. Matt Cardona – TNA International Championship match
- The finish of the match saw Maclin hit Cardona with his tackle-KIA combo for the win.
Winner: Steve Maclin
Grade: B+
Match of the night on a show that had a 50-50 combination of highs and lows. Cardona popped the crowd with The Unprettier but failed to get the win. Maclin proved his toughness by absorbing some of Cardona’s stiffest strikes.
Backstage, Mike Santana sounds off on his TNA World Championship opportunity against Trick Williams next week. Santana says he had a lot to say about Trick but would rather show it by bringing the TNA World Title back home come Tuesday on NXT as the show goes off the air.
TNA iMPACT Review
The show started off strong with a solid multi-man outing to determine the next challenger to The Nemeths. Mustafa Ali’s paranoia was another angle that was well done. Trick Williams’ not appearing on the show live seemed like a missed opportunity at first, but Tom Hannifan’s reaction made this writer change his mind. Trick is a heel champion without contracted ties to TNA. His reign will be interesting to watch. The main event did its job of showcasing Maclin as a fighting champion. Let’s see if we get Maclin versus Warner at Against All Odds.
Grade: B-
How would you rate this week’s TNA iMPACT! on a scale of 1 to 10? Let us know in the comments!
