Within the aftermath of TNA No Give up, the promotion presented fans with one other episode of “TNA Impact.” Have things improved from last week’s dire installment? Yes, even when just marginally. There was a fun and inventive essential event, a promising performance from former WWE NXT star Indi Hartwell, and further development on several storylines the corporate has been cooking up for the past few weeks.
Not every part was great, though, with the TNA Knockouts division entering a brand new era at No Give up with Arianna Grace’s title win over Lei Ying Lee. Plus, Tessa Blanchard’s push continues, arguably on the expense of the division as a complete.
If you happen to’re looking to search out out precisely what happened on “Impact,” our results page has what you wish. Here’s where our dutiful staff writes about all of the things they hated and loved on tonight’s show, so proceed on and tell us should you agree or disagree.
Loved: A Great Opening Match
Indi Hartwell and Heather By Elegance are each a few of my favorite talents within the TNA Knockouts Division, and two those that I’ve grown keen on across “NXT” and TNA. For that reason, it should not be much of a surprise that I quite enjoyed a singles match between them.
Now admittedly, this match wasn’t really any different than the opposite occasions that Hartwell and Heather have met within the ring in tag team competition. With that said, I still found myself having time during this match and having fun with the motion that was playing out in front of me on my screen. Apart from that, I also liked the various attempts that The Elegance Brand made to cheat on this match before getting ejected from ringside because it perfectly fit with their character and current gimmick.
Whether it was The Personal Concierge tripping Hartwell as she ran the ropes or Ash hopping up on the apron as a final ditch effort of trying to help Heather in winning, it added an interesting element to something that appears like it has been done before. It was a terrific opening match, and a terrific selection to set the tone for the remaining of this edition of “Thursday Night iMPACT”.
Written by Olivia Quinlan
Hated: Arianna Grace’s Knockouts Title Win Feels Like An Afterthought
With a title win so shocking and a persona so animated, one would expect Arianna Grace’s first full television appearance as TNA Knockouts World Champion to be grandiose, potentially with streamers or a red carpet. As a substitute, Grace’s post-title win outing consisted of a temporary promo, then her interfering in her fiance’s failed attempt at regaining the TNA International Championship.
Do not get me incorrect, I can understand why many fans consider Grace’s Knockouts Championship victory. to be controversial, especially on condition that she used The Cobra (a literal sock puppet) to do it. But coming off such an argument, would not you must make those self same fans seethe much more?
Tonight, Grace’s win felt like an afterthought. Initially, it seemed promising after she mentioned the concept of her and Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo being TNA’s top power couple. As soon as she said it, though, the chance evaporated into thin air attributable to Lorenzo’s second straight loss to Trey Miguel, the brand new TNA International Champion. And relatively than celebrating her victory – the primary major one in every of her profession, might I add – and capitalizing on the real disbelief of No Give up, Grace was relegated to a task behind Lorenzo’s loss.
Frankly, I might have liked to have seen more from Grace’s booking tonight. In spite of everything, the Knockouts Championship is the largest prize for TNA’s women. Based on tonight’s events, nevertheless, it appeared more like a background prop.
Written by Ella Jay
Loved: Say His Name – Mike ‘Dr. Death’ Santana
Several weeks ago, lots of us were disheartened for Steve Maclin, when he received what we thought was the axe from his tenure at TNA. Nonetheless, we were swerved. But what did Maclin’s true blue friend Mike Santana get for offering his sympathy for Maclin’s unexpected “termination?” A blind ambush! That is what. And it didn’t just occur once, but several times.
Santana is a person of few words, but when he has something to say, boy, you higher listen. During his in-ring promo tonight, “The Realest” finally talked right all the way down to Maclin in a language he hopes that the previous world champion can easily understand: “If you keep a knockin’ on death’s door, someday, he’ll answer.” Chills, right?
Why is that this a love? Well, for starters, it goes to indicate that TNA made the correct call to reposition Santana as its world champion. Despite having Eddie Edwards respiratory down his back, the champ can handle any and all of his enemies. Whether or not they all come gunning for him one by one or abruptly, he can dress to his challengers needs. Yet, in relation to ruined friendships, he becomes a complete recent beast. An immortal “Dr. Death,” should you will. Don’t knock on his door should you don’t need your fate as his challenger to finish so abruptly.
I’m looking forward to seeing how far Maclin’s green eye of envy will carry him against Santana’s indestructible attitude in the approaching weeks.
Written by Brie Coder
Hated: Daria hits all of the familiar notes
Before I begin, let me first say I used to be a fan of Sonya Deville in WWE, whether she was wrestling or acting in a more managerial onscreen role. I feel she could bring so much to TNA as an authority figure, but up to now, she hasn’t really done anything of note. As a substitute, it’s more like she’s fulfilling a necessity for the show as a villainous authority figure in essentially the most straightforward way possible.
It’s something we have all seen one million times before. Just when it looks like a match, the massive bad boss steps out to place a hold on things. On this case, it is not exactly clear why Daria was so adamant that Mike Santana and Leon Slater vs. the Nemeth brothers had to attend until next week. I suppose perhaps she was just attempting to keep the show running on time, and who can blame her for that?
Anyhow, I’d wish to see just just a little bit more from Daria going forward. My criticism is much less along with her than it’s with how she’s being utilized. A great start can be to offer her some motivation. Is there someone she’s attempting to impress? Or does someone on the roster start standing up against her oppression?
Even when she’s not a wrestler, the show would profit from Daria being an actual character relatively than a walking talking plot device. Generally, I feel TNA could stand to place more of an emphasis on character work, and Daria’s a chief example.
Written by Nick Miller
Loved: A silly fun essential event
Wrestling may be just a little bizarre from time to time, and sometimes those matches are where fun is guaranteed available. Such was the case during this week’s essential event between Elijah (to not be confused along with his siblings Elias and Ezekiel – wrestling has multiple royal family) and Mustafa Ali.
Which just so happened to be the first-ever Guitar Case Casket Match, and as its name suggests saw them face off with the goal of putting each other right into a guitar-shaped casket and shutting it for the *ding-ding-ding*. See, wrestling may be weird. However it was also really fun.
Naturally, the guit-asket was just the centerpiece to all of the wacky weaponized chaos, with doors and tables and smaller guitars brought right into a bout that also saw Mustafa Ali doing Mustafa Ali things. He’s pretty rattling good, and thus the match was pretty rattling good. That is basic arithmetic.
That does after all make it a shame that he didn’t win the match. But then at the identical time one doesn’t see the sense in making a guita-sket match and have the babyface guitarist lose. And it is not as if winning this could have put Ali atop any mountain.
When all was said and done, the essential event did nothing to essentially capture any sense of strong emotion or advance the creative in any meaningful direction. However it was fun. Considering recent weeks have felt just like the very meh yet very inevitable TNA shows, this was a highlight. As gimmick matches are inclined to be, even in the event that they are just a little odd of their nature.
Written by Max Everett
Hated: C’mon TNA, Give Us A Real Fight Between Blanchard and Threat
I will be honest: after the anger that beamed across Tessa Blanchard’s face after being eliminated from the Knockouts Battle Royal by the general winner, Jody Threat, at No Give up, I used to be excited to see “The Undeniable Diamond” and “The Wild Child” throw hands. But what got here out of their exchange tonight? An interference by Blanchard’s Diamond Collective and a DQ victory for Threat. To say I used to be upset on how this match ended is an enormous understatement!
Between Blanchard and Threat, they’re two veterans of the craft and good, if not the perfect, throughout the Knockouts division currently. Blanchard is a former Impact World Champion, and while perceive that reign and her return back to the corporate with a mixed bag of emotions, I understand. Nonetheless, she and Threat have so much to showcase that may also help construct the division to what it was.
I hope that tonight’s bad booking decision will lead for these two to once more step into the ring within the near future. I’d wish to see how a diamond can still remain pretty and glossy when a wild child tosses it throughout and across the ring.
Written by Brie Coder