TNA Impact: A wee stop before NXT(NA) Roadblock

Bob Kapur

TNA Impact: A wee stop before NXT(NA) Roadblock

Thursday night’s episode of Impact Wrestling was the final stop before NXT’s Roadblock event, where a number of TNA stars will be competing – including for all of NXT’s major championships. And while the road may not be made of yellow bricks, there was definitely a whizzer on the show.

Match 1: Elijah vs. Brian Myers (w/ Alisha Edwards)

Elijah started off aggressively with a huge Running Clothesline at the bell. They fought both in and out of the ring. At one point, Elijah hit a variation of a Drive-By, but instead of ending with a Dropkick, it was a Hip Attack to the side of Myers’ face. Some distraction by Alisha allowed Myers to take control temporarily, but in the end, Elijah walked out of trouble. He nearly got a pin after a Stinger Splash and Drift Away.

Eddie Edwards ran down and jumped up on the apron, hoping to use the distraction to help his System faction member Myers, but Elijah whipped Myers into Eddie and Eddie crashed off the apron to the floor. Elijah then scooped up Myers and hit the Highwayman’s Farewell (a Tombstone Piledriver) for the pin.

This was a fine opening match. Myers was less boring than usual, which was a refreshing change.

Winner: Elijah

After the match, Edwards attacked Elijah from behind and then JDC ran in as well, and they double-teamed Elijah. But then Joe Hendry’s music hit and the World Champion ran in for the save. He and Elijah paid each other some mutual respect as the System headed to the back.

In the back, Gia Miller interviewed Ace Austin and the Rascalz. They take on NXT’s Wes Lee, Tyson Dupont, and Tyriek Igwe at Sacrifice. But before that, they take on Eric Young and the Northern Armory tonight. Austin said that the three of them will put aside any past differences and co-exist.

First Class Penthouse

AJ Francis and KC Navarro came out to the entrance stage with a couple of random women. They poorly teased Kevin Owens as their guest, and it failed to fool anyone. Steve Maclin’s music hit and he crashed the segment. He and Francis exchanged words and this set up a match between Maclin and Francis for later tonight.

Match 2: Savannah Evans vs. Xia Brookside

This was a pretty routine David vs. Goliath affair, with Xia trying to use her speed to hit and run and avoid the clutches of the powerful Evans. Brookside used a modified Octopus to smash Evans’ face into the bottom turnbuckle, but couldn’t capitalize on it well enough to get a pin, but the move looked good. Evans faked a knee injury and when Xia sympathetically turned to the ref to ask her to check on her, Evans popped up and clubbered Brookside in the back of the head from behind, and got the pin.

Another fine by-the-numbers match. Evans didn’t botch anything for the second week in a row, which might be a record.

Winner: Savannah Evans

They showed clips from last week after the show, where Ash and Heather by Elegance still had to be the personal concierges for Spitfire. First, Spitfire broke into the Elegance’s hotel room and scared them awake. Then, they gave the Elegances goth makeovers, and made them jog on a hill. They then forced the Elegances to eat diced chicken out of a bag. The Elegances’ stooge George Iceman spied on all of this from afar and grimaced cartoonishly.

Match 3: John Skyler (w/ Jason Hotch) vs. Mike Santana

As he made his way to the ring, Hotch said that Mustafa Ali had authorized him to take out Santana on Ali’s behalf.

This was a hard-hitting fight with both men hitting big strikes. Santana hit the Three Amigos, a Somersault Dive in the corner, and then a Running Powerbomb for the quick and easy pin.

The shorter the Skyler match the better, unless you need a longer bathroom break. Or a nap.

Winner: Mike Santana

After the match, Hotch tried to attack Santana with the ringbell hammer, but ate a Spin the Block for his troubles. Santana was going to use the hammer on the Good Hands, but Mustafa Ali appeared on the TNA Tron. Ali said that, in order to ensure that TNA remains a safe working environment, Santana has been randomly selected to take a urine test. A flunky came to the ring and handed Santana a specimen bottle. Santana was pissed. Get it? OK, that joke was bad, but it fit in perfectly with the rest of that post-match stuff.

Match 4: AJ Francis (w/ KC Navarro) vs. Steve Maclin

Maclin started off with some momentum, but when he went up top, Navarro distracted him, and the momentary pause let Francis pluck him from the top and heave him hard halfway across the ring.

Francis followed that up with a Running Knee to the face.

But Maclin recovered and he soon had Francis in trouble, hitting a Crosshairs. Maclin went for a KIA, but Francis blocked it, and he went back on the offense. Francis was going to hit a big Down Payment Chokeslam, but Judas Icarus and Travis Wiliams (the Northern Armory) ran to the ring. They hopped up on the apron, and that distraction let Maclin break free, throw Francis to the floor, and follow up with a Flying Dive. Then, Maclin confronted the Northern Armory who were joined by their leader Eric Young by this time.

Young tried to explain that they were out there to help him, but Maclin yelled at him, saying he didn’t need their help and told them to leave. Maclin went back in the ring, and after another distraction by Navarro, he turned around and walked into a Down Payment by Francis and that was all she wrote.

This was a bit over-stuffed, but no surprise as this was all about furthering the divide between Young and Maclin and continuing Maclin’s move to full-fledged face. Francis and Navarro continue to be loathesome heels. Whether or not it translates to business remains to be seen, but people really don’t like their characters.

Winner: AJ Francis

They showed a clip from earlier in the week. Elijah, Joe Hendry, Matt Hardy, and Leon Slater were in a room talking strategy for their 10-Man Tag Team match against the System and the Colons at Sacrifice. Ryan Nemeth barged in and said that his brother Nic told him that he could join the team. The others weren’t having it, and Matt Hardy told him so. Matt said to clear things up he would Facetime Nic to clarify things.

Matt Facetimed Nic, who was under the impression that Ryan was having success in the company while Nic was on suspension. He was also under the impression that both he and Ryan would be in the match. Matt disabused him of this incorrect notion, and told Nic that he was part of the team, but Ryan was not. Ryan asked why, and Matt told Nic that nobody liked Ryan. Nic tried to defend Ryan, but Matt said that nobody trusted Ryan. Nic, who couldn’t see Ryan on the screen, asked to be the one to let Ryan know. Matt had to inform Nic that Ryan had overheard the whole conversation. Cut to Ryan, who was crying, and then stormed out in angry tears, yelling that he hated them all.

In the back, Steve Maclin angrily confronted Eric Young and the Northern Armory. Young said that what they did, they did for Maclin. But sometimes things don’t go as planned, and that’s what led to Maclin losing. Maclin said that he trusted Young, but not the Northern Armory. Young said that Maclin needs to open his eyes and let the truth guide him. He said that he knows better what Maclin needs.

Maclin left and ran into Frankie Kazarian, who taunted Maclin for everything that was happening. Frankie said that he was enjoying watching things fall apart for Maclin. Maclin warned him to not do this right now, and left.

They showed clips from NXT where the NXT Tag Team Champions Fraxiom challenged the TNA Tag Team Champions the Hardys to a TNA title match at Roadblock this weekend.

They then showed clips of Moose talking at a press conference about his Raodblock match against Obi Fema for Fema’s NXT Championship. Moose said he will be the face of both franchises.

Oba Femi and Moose go face-to-face

NXT Champion Oba Femi came to the ring first, and then Moose made his entrance, flanked by the rest of the System. On his way to the ring, Moose sent a signal and a full security guard detail ran into the ring and formed a wall, dividing the ring in two. Moose and the System went into the ring behind the human wall, which Femi seemed a bit peeved, but also a bit amused by.

Femi talked about having heard about Moose for many years, but asked why Moose has only sought him out now. Moose explained that he is a prize-fighter and now that Femi is the champion, it made sense to go after him. Femi said that he is impressed by what Moose has done in the past, but he won’t be able to beat Femi. Moose said that he’s been the face of TNA for ten years, but after Roadblock, he’ll be the face of NXT, and there’s nothing Femi can do about it.

JDC then told the entire security team that the first one of them to attack Femi would become part of the System, and all of them – about 10 – simultaneously attacked Femi. He pushed them all away with a huge shove, and then took them out one at a time, including Powerbombing one of them onto the others. Femi took out JDC, Myers, and Edwards – but in the end, the numbers game caught up to him. After dispatching the other System members, Femi was blindsided by a Spear by Moose. As Femi tried to pick himself back up off the mat, a cocky Moose left the ring.

In the back, Fraxiom said that they would be the Hardys at Roadblock, and in doing so, would become the best tag team in the world. They said they would be watching the Hardys in action tonight when they take on the Colons.

Match 5: The Northern Armory (Eric Young, Judas Icarus, and Travis Williams) vs. Ace Austin and The Rascalz (Zach Wentz and Trey Miguel)

After a feeling-out process, Austin and the Rascalz got the first big move, hitting triple stereo Flying Dives to the floor, wiping out all of the Armory.

But some dirty tactics let Young and his cohorts get a dirty advantage, and soon they had Wentz isolated in the wrong corner.

After an extended beatdown, Wentz was finally able to escape and tag in Austin, who was fresh and on fire. He punished both Williams and Icarus, taking them to kick-a-palooza. Young tried to sway the pendulum his way, but he got outsmarted and soon he was the one in trouble, eating a huge Missile Dropckick by Miguel, leading into some nice tag team showmanship by the Rascalz who paid homage to both Austin’s friend and ABC partner Chris Bey as well as the influential Motor City Machine Guns.

The action sped up and soon all six men were duking it out, and a mini-parade of finishers ensued. But then the Rascalz saw Wes Lee, Tyson Dupont, and Tyriek Igwe come to the ring and they turned their attentiont their way. That lapse led to Miguel falling into the clutches of Young, who hit him with a big Piledriver to end things once and for all.

This was good, and again was stuffed in order to get in the final hype for Roadblock. Williams and Icarus are decent in the ring, but each of them need a look. Right now, they look like two generic create-a-players with nothing standing out in terms of presentation, character, physique, or personality.

Winners: Eric Young and the Northern Armory

In the back, Mike Santana approached Director of Authority Santino Marella, complaining about the idea of having to produce a urine sample. He resented the insinuations, reminding Santino of how hard he has fought to get clean and sober and get a fresh start. Santino sympathized but said that Ali went to Anthem’s head office and that painted Marella into a corner.

In the background, Tasha Steelz was berating a lackey for not making Ali’s coffee correctly and told him to get a fresh cup before she stormed off. Santana stopped the guy and told him to never let anyone talk to him that way again. He then took the coffee cup from the guy and told him he’d handle the task for him. Santana gave a knowing look to the camera before heading to the bathroom holding the coffee cup.

They aired another segment of Spitfire torturing the Elegances. This time, it was at a gym, where Spitfire put the Elegances through a brutal workout. After they were done and leaving the gym, Spitfire were laid out by a janitor who revealed himself to be Iceman. With Spitfire laid out, Iceman and the Elegances headed for the hills.

Masha Slamovich calls out Cora Jade

Knockouts Champion Masha Slamovich entered the ring and grabbed a mic. She said that she is a fighter who is built for war. So at Sacrifice, when she defends the title against NXT’s Cora Jade, it won’t be a match, it will be a fight. A fight that Cora Jade won’t be able to walk away from.

Cue Jade’s music, and the challenger makes her way down the entrance ramp. She said that Masha is talking like someone who knows their reign is ending soon. And that at Sacrifice, she will expose Masha’s weaknesses and make history by being the first WWE star to win the Knockouts title. Masha said that Jade will be exposed as someone who isn’t a real fighter.

As Masha finished talking, she was viciously attacked from behind by Tessa Blanchard, who ran into the ring and waylaying Masha with ground-and-pound punches. Jade entered the ring and lay in some shots on Masha as well.
Lei Ying Lee’s music hit and she ran into the ring for the save. Lee will be facing Blanchard at Sacrifice. As Ying helped Masha get back up, Jade and Blanchard headed up the ramp and into the back.

In the back, Tasha Steelz gave Ali his “coffee”. She told Ali that Santino Marella told her that Santana’s urinalysis had been completed and he tested negative for any drugs. Ali wasn’t happy. He took a sip of the coffee and immediatley realized it was Santana’s pee in the cup. He was too proud to show any weakness or embarrassment in front of Steelz so he grit his teeth and smiled and sent her away. After she’d left, he gagged and ran off, presumably to throw up somewhere.

Before the main event, Ryan Nemeth came out to the entrance ramp. He informed everyone that his big brother Nic will return to TNA from suspension in eight days at Sacrifice.

Match 6: The Hardys (Matt and Jeff Hardy) vs.The Colons (Eddie and Orlando Colon)

The Hardys took control early, but after a commercial break, the Colons used some shady tactics to steal the advantage, and they beat up Matt for a while. Right around the time Matt evaded an attack, they cut to a shot of Fraxiom watching the show on a TV in the back. Matt tagged in Jeff and soon the Hardys hit some of their greatest hits.

The Hardys were dominating and this led to the System running down and jumping into the ring to attack them, prompting the referee to call for the disqualification. The System and the Colons go for a five-on-two attack, but Joe Hendry, Elijah, and Leon Slater run in for the save.

This barely got started before it ended. But this was pretty much just a quick appetizer with the end goal only being to make the big announcement that came next.

Winners, by Disqualification: the Hardys

Santino Marella’s music hits and he makes his way to the entrance ramp. He says that things are getting crazy and that order must be restored. To ensure no shenanigans / run-ins during the match at Sacrifice, he announces that the 10-Man Tag Team match will take place in a steel cage.

As the System absorbed this information, the now=recovered Hardys posed triumphantly with their friends in the ring to end the show.

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