TNA Impact: AJ Francis flies ‘First Class’, Nic Nemeth crashes hard

Bob Kapur

TNA Impact: AJ Francis flies ‘First Class’, Nic Nemeth crashes hard

This Friday, AJ Francis is looking to prove that he’s a “top dolla” player by beating Nic Nemeth for the TNA World Championship at Final Resolution. On Thursday night’s go-home episode of TNA Impact, Francis showed he had a sense of how to make that happen. Because it was Francis who was standing tall over the champion after their six-person tag team main event match. And though Francis’ team didn’t actually win the match, it was his post-match attack that really made the statement. It was a good ending to a match-heavy show that was all about whetting the appetite for Friday’s big event.

X-Division Champion Moose kicked off the show, heading to the ring and grabbing a mic. He said he is making the X-Division Championship the most important title in the company, and tried to get people to chant his name. He then insulted the crowd, saying that he doesn’t need them to chant his name.

Cody Deaner came out to defend the people. He said that some months ago, he lost his love for professional wrestling. He decided to listen to the fans and follow their wishes, and as a result, he loves professional wrestling again. Moose pointed out that ever since he let the fans tell him what to do, Deaner hasn’t won a match. Deaner said that he felt with the North Carolina fans behind him, he could not only win a match, but beat Moose for the X-Division Championship.

Moose retorted with a Sucker Boot to the Head.

A referee ran to the ring, and we got…

Match 1: Moose (c) vs. Cody Deaner – for the X-Division Championship

Moose stomped Cody a few more times, while still holding the mic and he trash-talked the fans and Cody. He went for a Spear to end things, but Cody dodged it, and mounted a comeback, including nearly pinning Moose a few times with roll-ups and cradles.

Deaner nearly got the pin after a Sliced Bread, but Moose kicked out at the very last second. He then went for the Deaner-D-T, but Moose blocked it and hit a Uranage. He followed that up with a Spear and that was all she wrote.

This was a fun opening segment. Deaner seems to be spinning his wheels, but that’s not new. Moose should get a lengthy run as X-Division Champion – and actually do make it meaningful when someone finally beats him. It won’t likely be Deaner, though.

Winner, and still X-Division Champion: Moose

In the back, Gia Miller interviewed Tasha Steelz and First Class. They said they would beat the team of Joe Hendry, Nic Nemeth, and Masha Slamovich later. They said they would win, and this would be a preview of tomorrow night’s Final Resolution show, where Steelz challenges Masha for the Knockouts Championship and AJ Francies faces Nemeth for the World Championship. Francis said that tomorrow he is going to Chokeslam Nemeth repeatedly and then win the title. Strangely, Gia seemed to be really happy about his heelish threats. And that was before he and KC Navarro complimented her looks on the way out.

In the back, Mike Santana was cutting a promo when Josh Alexander and the Northern Armoury barged in. Santana and Josh exchanged some bad words and the tension was high. Alexander said that at Final Resolution, he was going to target Santana in the Four-Way match to become the Number One Contender to the World Championship.

Match 2: Rosemary vs. Xia Brookside

They started off with some technical wrestling, with Brookside coming out on top. But then Rosemary caught Xia in a charge and planted her with a Sidewalk Slam. Rosemary put on a head-clamp and grounded Brookside for a while. But Brookside fought back and hit a High Cross Body and a Flying Mare.

They exchanged forearms and fists, and after getting Rosemary in the corner, Brookside hit Running Double Knees, which she calls Broken Wings. Brookside went for a Brooksie Bomb, but Rosemary blocked it and took Xia to the Upside Down.

Xia tried to roll up Rosemary, but Rosemary reversed it into a Kokina Klutch. Brookside got up, but then fell into Rosemary’s clutches once more, and was dropped with As Above So Below and pinned.

Rosemary continued to beat down Brookside after the bell, but Jordynne Grace ran in for the save.

This was a fine TV match. Rosemary’s character seems to be in a grey area right now, because the fans really love her, despite her being a heel right now. That they haven’t capitalized on her popularity and given her the title again (her last reign was in 2016-2017) is a bit of a head-scratcher. Maybe in 2025?

Winner: Rosemary

In the back, Gia Miller went up to Trent Seven to let him know that he would be facing Ace Austin at Final Resolution. Seven was not happy about the news. Austin came in and was angry about Seven having turned on his then-partner “Speedball” Mike Bailey. Austin said that he would be grateful if his tag team partner, Chris Bey, were by his side, so didn’t appreciate Seven’s actions.

Match 3: Leon Slater and Laredo Kid vs.The Rascalz (Trey Miguel and Zachary Wentz)

They did some moves and gymnasticals to start the match, and this led to an ECW-style spot where they all went for simultaneous Dropkicks and ended up in a stalemate, which took us to a commercial break.

When we returned, the pace had quickened up with the Rascalz in control, having trapped Slater in their corner. He finally escaped and Laredo Kid lucha’d the momentum back onto his team’s side, hitting Wentz with some Moonsaults for a near-fall.

Things got more frantic after that, with the Rascalz hitting stereo Flying Dives to the floor. But they celebrated too long on the floor, and Laredo returned that with a Flying Dive by Kid and a huge Somersault Corner Dive by Slater.

After a double-team move by the Rascalz, the foursome slugged it out in the middle of the ring, and then they exchanged big Kicks, and the Rascalz were left laying. Slater went up top for a Swanton 450, but ate a Superkick. The Rascalz dispatched of him and then hit Laredo Kid with a Soup Kitchen (Torture Rack Double Stomp Reverse DVD) for the pin.

This was a bit disjointed at times in terms of pacing, and the dynamics sometimes felt off since both teams are babyfaces – or at least wrestle like it. The high spots were impressive – particularly Slater’s. That kid really makes things happen out there (big ups to Phil Rizzuto #IYKYK).

Winners: The Rascalz

A pre-taped promo from The System aired. They vowed to win their matches at Final Resolution tomorrow. Moose defends against KUSHIDA, Myers and Edwards challenge the Hardys for the Tag Team Titles in a Tables match, and JDC takes on Leon Slater.

Match 4: Hammerstone and Jake Something vs. PCO and Sami Callihan

Sami and PCO were having their way with their opponents until a distraction by Hammerstone on the apron allowed Something to surprise PCO with a Running Body Block. They double-teamed PCO for a while, battering him all over the ring.

PCO struck back with a huge Clothesline on Something and tagged in Callihan, who hit a Double DDT to regain control. PCO then replicated the move. Hammerstone and Something rolled to the floor, where Hammerstone got hit with a Flying Dive by PCO, only to get thrown back in the ring to eat a Stunner by Sami. PCO scaled the turnbuckles and they were going to hit an assisted double-team move on Something, but Hammerstone climbed up on the apron and smashed PCO with a chair. This was blatantly in front of the referee who had no choice but to call for the disqualification.

Hammerstone and Something saw that the chair-shot didn’t faze PCO and they headed for the hills.

This was a good hard-hitting match while it lasted. Look for this one to continue – possibly building to a tag team Monster’s Ball Match?

Winners, by disqualification: PCO and Sami Callihan

After the match, another cryptic “23” video aired. In this one, the numbers were accompanied by a voice saying “It’s just a number.”

Match 5: Dani Luna (w/ Jody Threat) vs. Heather by Elegance (w/ Ash by Elegance and Iceman the Stooge)

Luna used her strength to dominate Heather early on. The Stooge tried to interfere from the outside, but the referee caught him red-handed and ejected him from ringside.

As Luna mocked him, Heather hit her with a cheap shot and took over, working over Luna’s knee – with Ash helping her out behind the referee’s back whenever she could.

Luna caught Heather in a dive attempt and hit a few power moves to punish Heather. But then Heather went back to the leg and mounted a comeback. The momentum went back-and-forth for a bit, with Luna eventually getting the advantage. Ash tried to interfere yet again, but this time she got stopped by Threat who hit her with a huge Flying Dive.

At even odds, Heather was at the mercy of Luna, who dropped her hard with a huge Spinebuster Powerbomb, and the pinfall was merely academic.

This was a good match, and these two teams have a good chemistry together. The inevitable match for Spitfire’s Knockouts Tag Team Championship seems to be on the horizon, and hopefully it can continue this trend.

Winner: Dani Luna

Match 6: Tasha Steelz and First Class (AJ Francis and KC Navarro) vs. Joe Hendry, Nic Nemeth, and Masha Slamovich

Hendry and Nemeth had their turns beating up Navarro to the delight of the crowd, who loved seeing Hendry hit a lengthy Delayed Vertical Suplex and Nemeth hitting some picture-perfect Dropkicks.

Masha got tagged in and was looking to do some damage of her own, but Steelz tagged in. But she might have regretted that because Masha was quickly on an aggressive attack. Which ended when Navarro hit Masha with a cheap knee from the apron, and that let Tasha gain control as the show went into the final commercial break.

When we returned, Navarro was looking to put the hurt on Masha, but she outmuscled him and got the tag to Nemeth, who pummeled Navarro with an assortment of moves, including a Neckbreaker and his trademark Series of Elbow Smashes.

A referee distraction by Steelz allowed Francis to hit Nemeth with a cheap shot from the apron, which dropped Nemeth and left him prone for more beatings when Francis tagged in. Francis used his size and power advantage to batter Nemeth, and then Navarro came in with designs to finish things off, hitting Nemeth with a great Dropkick in exchange for the ones he ate earlier.

Francis continued to maul Nemeth while the crowd chanted “You can’t wrestle.” Francis tried to prove them wrong with a big Drop Slam, but Nemeth reversed it into a DDT and tagged in Hendry, who certainly can wrestle. And he did it impressively, as he even hit Francis with an impressive Fallaway Slam.

Bodies went flying after that as all four men – and both women – got into the action. Nemeth hit a Famouser on Navarro, but Steelz broke it up. Only to get hit with a Flying Twisting Bomb by Masha. With the ring pretty much cleared, Nemeth put Navarro down for good with the Danger Zone.

This was a good main event, and a good appetizer for tomorrow’s big title matches. IF there was a downside to this one, it’s that Hendry’s popularity can overshadow Nemeth’s – and it’s never great to have your babyface champion not be the person that fans like the most. And I don’t see that changing at Final Resolution, because there’s no way Francis wins.

Winners: Nic Nemeth, Masha Slamovich, and Joe Hendry

After the match, Francis and his cohorts attacked and exacted some revenge. Francis slammed Hendry into the ring steps, and then wasted Nemeth with a massive TFL Spear. Francis then went to Chokeslam Masha, but she escaped – only to eat a surprise Stunner by Steelz.

Francis then turned his attention to Nemeth, planting him with a series of Chokeslams. Francis then placed his foot on Nemeth’s chest, and held up Nemeth’s World Championship in a symbolic victory stance, bringing the show to a close.

More Reports