TNA Impact Review – 10.02.25

We are mere days away from an Invading Showdown this Tuesday on NXT but we have other business to resolve; like tonight’s taping of Impact, which, again, emanates from Edmonton…Alberta, Canada. Edmonton is known as the “Festival City” so let’s have us a grappling festival and help ourselves to some Impactful Discourse, shall we? We shall.

(oh, and let’s pretend that what Kelani Jordan said on Tuesday was never said; okay, thanks. Sincerely, saherrin.)

Previously on Impact: We get a review of Victory Road, including Ash by Elegance’s speech about retiring and subsequent battle royal with Kelani Jordan and Lei Ying Lee as your final two. The two battle later and Kelani Jordan is your Knockout Champion. We also get footage from Frankie Kazarian winning the International Title from Steve Maclin with a distraction from El Mesias from AAA helping Kazarian.

Earlier today: Santana headed to the arena and was met with Santino Marella. Marella said that Santana and Williams are verboten from touching each other outside of the ring. Santana could defend himself but not be the instigator.

Tom Hannifan and Matthew Rehwoldt welcome us and talked briefly about the confrontation with NXT stars. However, we hear Kazarian’s music and Kazarian strolls to ringside with International Title in tow as we get ready for another entry of the King’s Speech. He wants the fan to drop the “sugary sweet” treats and pay attention to the King’s Speech. Now, that he is International Champion, he no longer is wearing suits and scarves, he is now dressed for a fight.

He put over his victory against Maclin and gave the audience three to five seconds to show their gratitude. A “Frankie sucks” chant emerged from the crowd. The International Title is now the most important title in TNA. However, there is one other guy who carries himself as a champ – Trick Williams. Williams is a star, but not a “King.” He switched to the Hardys; one paint his face and the other don’t know what he is doing and is always talking about deleting things. In Kazarian’s eyes, they are a couple of punch-drunk marks.

He then pivots to Leon Slater. Slater is great but can he lead the company to the future like Kazarian did when he was the X-Division Champion. That brings us to his guest, new Knockout champ Kelani Jordan. Jordan shakes hands and gets a mild pop. Hannifan said she is caught in the middle of the NXT vs. TNA turmoil.

Kazarian said she came into TNA in a very chaotic environment but left as a champ. Kazarian said most of the TNA Knockouts don’t like each other and talk behind each other’s back. A “NXT” brief chant emerged. Kazarian said Jordan’s victory was a fluke, according to the scuttlebutt in the back – Kazarian doesn’t think that, though.

Jordan said the victory was never a fluke. She wasn’t a fluke when she was a record-breaking gymnast at Michigan State (Sparty Up!) She wasn’t a fluke when she became the first NXT North American Women’s champion and when she became TNA Knockout Champion. She wanted us to name a fluke that could do all that.

Kazarian turned to the Showdown event. Another “NXT chant” emerged and Kazarian said we all know the initials, idiots. The only reason Trick Williams is the TNA champion is because he beat that buffoon, Joe Hendry (who doesn’t appear, for the record.) If Kazarian was the world champ, Williams isn’t beating Kazarian.

Now, Hendry didn’t show but say his name and he does appear –Trick Wiliams appeared on the rampway. He likes Kazarian but when he says Williams’ name, put some respect on it. He is the man carrying two brands. He is the man beating the best that TNA has. If Kazarian is the “King,” then he is “Tricky, the Emperor.”

Kazarian said once Williams put in as many years as Kazarian has and built as many kingdoms, then we can start talking about hierarchies. If Kazarian wants to talk about hierarchies, Williams will oblige. It’s funny Kazarian wanted to talk about hierarchies when is a second-rate champion and second-rate business. He is also second-rate talent. Speaking of second rate, Williams switched to talking about Santana. According to his lawyer, if Santana puts his hands on Williams unprovoked; the title match for Bound for Glory is cancelled. TNA needs Wiliams for he is breaking records and is the reason TNA is on fire. It sure isn’t because of Santana, Leon Slater (The hater) and certainly not the Hardys.

Now, say their name and they appear, well Matt Hardy does, at least. Hardy gets a huge pop and chant. Hardy said we have some self-esteem issues. He is not a psychologist but it seems like Kazarian and Wiliams are trying to trash-talk TNA and bury the superstars to make themselves feel better. TNA is on fire due to Santana, Slater and the Hardys (each one got a pop when their name was pronounced.)

Hardy said they are not good at reading the room as we are in the beautiful city of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada (brief homage to Lance Storm; and yes, pops are served cheap.) He said Edmonton is definitely TNA. No matter how much Kazarian and Williams denigrate TNA, much like the Hardys, it WILL NOT DIE!!!

Kazarian asked a question – where’s Jeff (crowd oohed for that.) He is not allowed in Canada. Kazarian is actually jealous of Jeff because “The King” wishes he was not allowed in this dump of a country. “Please go home” chant emerged but we get Leon Slater’s music and his appearance. We get a recap of Slater’s busy week.

Slater said that if they think he is going to sit back and “chat bollocks” about TNA and “your boy” they’re mad. If they think they are going to take the urine out of the Hardys, they are crazy. Jeff isn’t here but Leon is and will stand by Matt every single day of the week, we get him.

Kazarian understood about six words of that, he said. Wiliams said Slater should sit his mouth while the grown folks are talking. This brought Jordan back into the foreground (she had been nonverbally acting as if she was not okay with what was happening.)

She was the guest so she brought it back to her match with Indi Hartwell and will show Hartwell that no one can do it like ‘Lani.

And yeah, say her name and she appears, here comes Indi Hartwell emerged from backstage. Hartwell will keep it short and sweet. She respects Jordan but she never faced someone like Hartwell. No one may do it like ‘Lani, but she is Indi wrestling. She has the support of the locker room and the fans. She will take the Knockout title at Bound For Glory and accomplish her dream. Do we get her?

Kazarian fecklessly tried to regain control and expel everyone else (Indi kept saying that they said her name) Williams said he doesn’t have time for this and Kazarian should look at him when he’s talking to him.

No one said his name but he appeared; it’s Marella. A very loud “Santino” chant emerged from the crowd. He wanted everyone to take it easy as they all sound like the kids in high school. They are giving him a migraine. Bound for Glory will be epic. He still needs a match for tonight. He sees “Threes” of them (points at ring) and “threes” of them (points at Hartwell, Slater and Hardy.) It’s a six-person team match and it will happen next – with Mike Santana at the announce table. He emerged from the concourse and walked through the crowd and we walk to a break.

Six person tag: Trick Williams, Frankie Kazarian and Kelani Jordan vs. Matt Hardy, Leon Slater and Indi Hartwell

We return the bell rings and Jordan and Hartwell start. Jordan and Hartwell traded takedowns and pin attempts through cradles and rollups. Kazarian tagged himself and shoved Hartwell to the corner. Hartwell took umbrage and slapped Kazarian and hit the arm bar. Hardy tagged and went to the second turnbuckle to drop an elbow on the arm.

He worked on Kazarian’s arm with his shoulder. Slater tagged and the two hit a double back elbow off the ropes and the elbow drop/body splash spot for two. Slater sent Kazarian to the turnbuckles and hit the 10-punch spot, and followed it with a monkey flip. Hartwell and Jordan tagged and Hartwell got the upper hand with a series of clotheslines. She blocked a Jordan kick to a leg takedown and dropped Jordan with a series of elbow drops and punches.

Hartwell hit the ropes but Kazarian grabbed her leg for a distraction. Slater went after him; but, this gave Jordan time to recover and hit a Codebreaker. Jordan hit Hartwell with a body splash in the turnbuckles and it a seated bodypress off a snapmare.

Jordan drove her knee into Hartwell’s back and got he in a seated body scissors for a two-count. Hartwell managed to reverse it and kick herself out and tag Slater. Jordan tagged Wiliams. Slater came off the ropes hard with a running big boot that sent Williams reeling (possibly to the wrong turnbuckle as he had to re-reel himself into position.) Once there, Slater hit a running dropkick in the corner. Williams dodged a side kick and came back with kick to the abdomen. However, Slater came off the ropes with a handspring flying back elbow to drop the champ for a two-count.

Slater charged at Wiliams, but Williams grabbed him by the trunks and flung him into the ropes neck first. Kazarian was there with a legdrop on the apron. Williams started to pound on Slater and hit a flapjack off the ropes.

Wiliams grabbed Slater in a swinging neckbreaker (!) and called Jordan into the ring. She entered but did not want to hit Slater. Meanwhile, Slater escaped and pounded away on Williams and Jordan went back out of the ring. Williams hit a double thrust on Slater and then started to argue with Jordan. Williams threw Slater into the turnbuckles front first. Williams chopped away on Slater in the corner (the crowd actually egged him on by chanting “one more time.”)

Williams continued to beat on Slater and tagged Kazarian who hit a vertical suplex on “The Youngest in Charge” for a two count. Kazarian hit a double chop off the ropes that dropped Slater again. Kazarian got a boot rake on Slater and tagged Williams; who, again chopped away on Slater in the corner. Slater tried to rally with a series of chops but Williams hit a double thrust again. Williams soaked in the bows as he hit a spin kick off the ropes and a neckbreaker for two.

Santana said he is not leaving Bound for Glory again and disappoint his daughter, despite giving Williams credit for his talent. Williams hit the chinlock and we hit the commercial break. When we return, Williams had Slater again in a full nelson and asked Jordan to double team Slater. She refused but Kazarian decided to do so. Bad decision; Slater moved and Kazarian coldcocked Williams. Kazarian charged Slater, but Slater threw him out of the ring.

Williams tried to drag Slater back to his corner but Slater got a rebound roundhouse kick to send Williams to the ropes. Slater made the hope crawl and tagged Hady. Hardy pounded on Williams and hit the descending turnbuckle slam spot. Hardy took off his shirt hit the splash in the corner. A bulldog was momentarily reversed, but Hardy responded with a Side Effect for two.

Hardy kicked Williams and tried for the Twist of Fate; however, Kazarian came into the ring. He was met with a kick to the abdomen and Hardy hit a DDT on both of them. Hardy got a two count from the move. Another Twist of Fate was attempted but Williams threw Hardy to the ropes and dropped him with a side kick.

Kazarian tagged and tried to cinch in the chicken wing. However, Hardy escaped and tagged Slater, who hit a kick on the apron. But, Kazarian recovered and hit a slingshot cutter. Kazarian knocked Hardy off the apron and went after Hartwell; however, Hartwell hit a shoulder block to the abdomen and then climbed to the top turnbuckle for a flying elbow drop on Kazarian. This brought Jordan into the match one more time, as she hit a superkick. A schmozapalooza started to happen with Hartwell and Jordan on the floor; Williams sent Hardy to the floor with a kick but Slater made it to this feet but missed a corner splash.

Williams set Slater for the Trick Kick but Hardy grabbed Williams’ legs and dragged him to the floor. Hardy ducked a running clothesline by Williams and that put the champ right in front of Santana, who stood up. Williams goaded Santana into hitting him as Hannifan warned him of the consequences. Williams turned his back on Santana and, wouldn’t you know it, Hardy pushed Kazarian into Williams who backed into Santana.

This gave Santana gave the impetus to beat on Williams as Rehwoldt took Williams’s side, saying it was an accident. Santana continuously rammed Williams’ head to the announce table as Kazarian and Hardy squared off on the floor and Kazarian ran Hardy into the ringpost and then into the barricade.

Meanwhile, Slater got in the ring and leapt over the turnbuckles to hit a senton on Kazarian on the floor. Slater threw Kazarian in the ring and hit the Swanton 450 for the victory.

Post-Match: Hardy, Hartwell and Slater deliberate din the ring. Santana, meanwhile, grabbed the title on the floor held it high and dropped it on Williams

NOW, we get the rundown of the NXT “Showdown” card. Whist Hannifan did that, Tommy Dreamer and a good number of the TNA roster came to rampway (Hardy, Santana, Hartwell and Slater joined him.) Dreamer talked about the Showdown card and the matches. He looked at the camera and said he knows they are NXT but we are family (I got all my sisters and….never mind.) The crowd roared for that. On October 7, they will take NXT to the extreme and they will kick their keisters.

Speaking of hurt keisters, it is time for the Bioflex Injury Report. We missed something on social media because Tessa Blanchard attacked Gia Miller and Miller suffered some bruising but she is cleared, albeit shaken. Ash by Elegance is out but we already knew that – no time table for recovery. And the Iinspiration and the By Elegance Brand are fine. That’s good.

We come back to a vignette on Mara Sade. There can’t be light without dark. She got into wrestling watching Total Divas. She had a tryout and got knocked out, but still got a contract. She had been at it for four years with concussions and injuries. Then she got released from her dream job, it was one of the darkest days of her life. But, it was the light at the end of the tunnel and….that’s it.

We get another recap of NXT focusing on Slater and Evans winning their match but overshadowed by the TNA invading on a Tank Cybertruck. TNA will win Showdown and Santana will win the TNA title at Bound For Glory. An amazing schmozapalooza occurred as we go off the air.

We go to our next match, though:
The Angel Warriors vs. Kat Von Heez and Ava Lawless

We also get an insert promo from the Warriors, Brookside said they come from two separate parts of the world but they are together with one mission to bring honor to the women’s tag team title. What are they going to do, Lei? Dominate. We are supposed to watch them, too.

Hannifan propped Lee for her match with Jordan on Victory Road. Lee and Lawless started. Lawless backed Lee into the ropes but Lee evaded a clothesline and grabbed a headlock. Brookside tagged and whipped Lawless into the turnbuckle. Lee tagged and Von Heez entered the ring. Brookside whipped Von Heez into the turnbuckle and Warriors did the 10-punch turnbuckle spot. Brookside hit a monkeyflip on Von Heez and Lee hit an exploder suplex on Lawless for a two-count.

Brookside tagged back into the match and the duo hit a double straight jacket clothesline on Lawless. Brookside landed a running kick and Lee hit a backsplash for a two-count. Brookside got Lawless on her shoulders but Lawless escaped. Lawless threw Brookside to Von Heez who landed a punch that dropped Brookside. Von Heez booted away on Brookside and hit a legdrop for two. Von Heez hit a corner splash on Brookside and tagged Lawless. Lawless hit a backdrop.

Lawless hit the chinlock but Brookside escaped and tried to tag Lee but Lawless caught her and carried her. However, Brookside escaped via a monkey flip. Lee encouraged the crowd and Brookside who made the hope crawl and hot tag. Von Heez also tagged but Lee met her with a series of chops and strikes. A side kick, superkick and drop kick dropped Von Heez. Lee also hit a Natural Selection and a seated dropkick for two until Lawless broke up the pin. This brought Brookside back into the fray with a codebreaker on Lawless. Lee hit the Thunderstruck and went to the second turnbuckle. Brookside grabbed Lee and hit the Brooksy Bomb on Lawless (now known as Heaven Sent) for the victory.

Post Match: The two celebrated with hugs in the ring.

We go to a taped interview with Joe Hendry. They said his name and he appeared. He finally overcame Eric Young. He had to do it taken a page from Young. He did the Standing Ovation on the chair – he didn’t want to but he had to.

However, Marella entered the shot with news. He spoke with Management and he knew Hendry won at Victory Road but there is a rematch next week. And, this is above Marella, but the match will be no disqualification. This flummoxed and frustrated Hendry as we fade the scene and get the rest of the card for tonight and more commercials.

It’s another vignette with Santana narrated by either Keith David or a very reasonable facsimile. We see him walking the streets. We get messages from his daughter and dad. We get some of the lines from last week. The sins that bound him are no longer his masters. The kingdom of his ruin has fallen; from the rubble he must build the frustration. We get a history of Santana in TNA. Amazing Red was walking around him and referenced Low Ki, the Spanish Announce Team, Homicide and Divine Storm.

Those group of people took the world by storm. They took no prisoners. Despite what everyone said, they shut them down and shut them up. He did it to open up the doors. The door is wide open but Santana let someone come in and disrespect him. Red and Homicide was there and watched the match. He and Homicide looked what happened. He saw disappointment.

He had that fire but nothing clicked. Red said Santana wasted his and Homicide’s time. This is not a motivational talk but the truth. This is someone coming into his house and take something that belongs to him. Forget Homicide, and the SAT, they had their time. He has Bound for Glory coming. Williams doesn’t wipe his feet and entered his house. On the way out, he slapped his daughter and defecated on his front doorstep. Santana knows what to do. Red reiterated that is not a culture thing. This isn’t about us or family and friends. He can’t do this for his pops if he can’t do this for himself. He needs to give Williams all that pain. Go get the title and bring it back home to us.

Nick Nemeth (with Ryan Nemeth in tow) vs. The Home Town Man

Nemeth entered first. His brother wore the mask he took from HTM at Victory Road. Luckily, he had a spare because he here is, adorned with another mask and a Connor McDavid jersey. Ryan distracted HTM and Nick attacked him but HTM ducked a clothesline and HTM hit the Dusty punches. Nemeth went to the corner and HTM hit the rhythmic boots – to his chant – on Nick. He also got a hip attack On Nemeth in the corner. He hit an airplane spin not once, but twice for a two count.

A Sliced Bread attempt is blocked but HTM hit Nemeth with a back elbow on a corner charge. However, Ryan grabbed HTM’s boot. During the distraction, this gave Nemeth time to recover and hit a flying splash in the corner and a reverse neckbreaker. Nemeth hit a flying elbow (Hannifan said he called it the “Shot to the Heart”) for a two count.

Nemeth continued his offense with a boot rake and a punch dropped HTM on the ropes. Ryan got involved as Nick distracted the referee by choking HTM on the ropes. Nemeth got an eyerake and a sleeperhold. HTM rolled out of it and slugged way on Nemeth. However, Nemeth quelled the tied with another boot rake.

However, HTM rallied with a series of clotheslines off the ropes and a FULL BODYSLAM. He also got the umm. Hometown People’s Elbow for a two-count. HTM riled up the crowd and tried another Home Town Slice but Nemeth blocked it. HTM backflipped out of danger and blocked a Nemeth boot. NOW, he got the Home Town Slice for two until Ryan put his big Bahh-rother’s foot on the ropes. HTM hit the ropes and hit Ryan with a dive between the ropes and took the mask off him.Meanwhile, this gave Nick time to recover. When HTM got back in the ring, he was met with a superkick and then the Danger Zone and Nemeth got the victory and ended the HTM’s winning streak.

Post Match: The Brothers Nemeth celebrated and regained the HTM masks. They taunted the crowd and then put the boots to HTM. They tried to take the second mask off HTM but Matt Cardona came to ringside but was met with the same double team attack of the brothers Nemeth.

We go to another pre-taped segment with Gia Miller. She said she wanted to be surprised that Blanchard wasted no time in attacking her after Victory Road but she is not surprised. Miller said she was glad Blanchard attacked because when Miller had her suspension lifted, it came with a stipulation. If Blanchard slipped up, Miller could be a woman of her word and Santino agreed. She is going to do it at Bound for Glory. Blanchard thinks she knows Miller via shared history, but she does not know everything. Miller knows she is a former world champion. Miller is not a former world champ, but she is a..woman…pushed…too far. It’s not about winning or losing; Miller doesn’t care about that. She cares about beating Blanchard to an inch of her life because then she will know who Gia Miller truly is.

After that, we need a A-Game Hydration drink and advertisements – and even more advertisements.

We come back from break with our next match:
Tasha Steelz (with Order Four in tow) vs. Alisha Edwards (with the System in tow)

Steelz and the Four head to the ringside and Steelz poses on the turnbuckles. Edwards enters ringside adorned in purple (in start contrast to the rest of the System who are wearing black T-shirts under their all-white track suits.) Edwards and Steelz jawed at teach other as the bell rang. Stelz shoved Edwars but Edwards knocked her down and beat on her on the mat. The two took turns pushing each other until Edwards tackled Steelz to beat on her some more. Edwards dragged Steelz to three turnbuckles and landed huge chops. However, when Edwards hit the ropes, John Skyler grabbed her foot and blew her a kiss when she turned around. That gave Steelz time to recover and hit a running back elbow.

Steelz put the boots to Edwards in the corner and STRUCK THE POSE. She threw Edwards to the corner and hit a back elbow and a side kick. She also hit a running Yakuza kick off a snapmare out of the corner on Edwards for a two-count. Ali jawed with the crowd as Steelz whipped Edwards into the turnbuckle. However, Edwards rebounded with a series of clotheslines. She then threw Steelz into the turnbuckle and hit a running back elbow an a seated bodypress in the corner for two.

Edwards grabbed Steelz but Steelz hit a jaw jacker and then a Falcon’s Arrow for two-and-a-fraction. Steelz attempted the Okurrr Cutter but Edwards reversed it by sending Steelz to the ropes where she met her with a boot to the abdomen. However, Steelz got out of Edwards’ grasp and hit a Superkick for two.

Steelz gave the sign and Jason Hotch jumped on the apron to distract the referee. Eddie Edwards – and the rest of the System – ran around the ring to pull Hotch to the floor. Order Four joined the fray as all eight started to jaw with each other. This brought the referee to ringside.
The distraction worked – sort of. Steelz grabbed a kendo stick and attempted to strike Edwards. However, Edwards ducked and the kendo stick struck the ropes. It flew out of Steelz hands right to Edwards. NOW, Edwards used the kendo stick and doubled up Steelz with it. Edwards hit the Pedigree and got the victory.

Post Match: Steelz recovered and attacked Edwards. The two took turns beating on the other before Eddie Edwars pulled Edwards of Steelz and Order Four pulled Steelz from the ring to the floor.

We go backstage once again to Blanchard and Victoria Crawford who wants to tell us about Miller. They trained together at the High Spots Wrestling School under the tutelage of George South (an all-time enhancement talent in WCW, Georgia and all points south, no pun intended.) Once she excelled and startred winning titles and tournaments all over the world, Blanchard came to TNA Wrestling and met Miller, who wanted to train at High Spots because she idolized Blanchard.

When she came to the school, Blanchard helped her. She did everything she could to help that “little Southern Sweetheart.” However, when Miller realized she was not cut out for this business, she complained and cried and packed up her things and went to the Mike Jackson Wrestling School (another all-time enhancement talent around all points south.) Blanchard called Jackson a joke and Miller is pathetic. Blanchard is terrified what she is going to do to Miller. Miller is still the scared little girl that could not hack it in wrestling so she became a third or fourth rate announcer.

Why doesn’t Miller do what she always done – pack up her things and hit the road and Blanchard will forget this ever happened. We then go to break.

We get a preview of next week’s show as we go back to the ringside. Hannifan hyped the Bound for Glory show and the Hall of Fame show featuring Mickie James and the Beautiful People. We also get another hype package for NXT Showdown next Tuesday. This leads to our main event.

(DON’T RUIN IT, KELANI)

TNA Impact Knockouts Tag Title Match: The Iinspiration vs. the By Elegance Brand

Iinspirers are out first to a good pop. THEY STRUCK THE ROPES POSE and we get a little bit of Aunt dancing. We then get the Personal Concierge who does the introductions around here because he is the Personal Concierge. Ladies and Gentlemen, for the millions watching at home and the thousands of degenerate losers here in Edmonton. We should show some respect and shut our mouths and welcome Heather and M……by Elegance.

The By Elegance Brand has a racing theme gear with mini checkered flags in tow and we get the yellow flag because of commercials.
We get the green flag to get the match started with Heather and Jessie McKay. Heather and M mocked the Iinspirations faux kiss welcome. Rehwoldt said the world could blow up and the By Elegance Brand would still be able to express their elegance to what’s left of the world. McKay dropped Heather with a shoulderblock of the ropes and tagged Lee. The hit a double hiptoss for a two count.

Heather slugged McKay and tagged M. The Brand whipped Lee into the corner and Heather hit a back elbow and M hit a running big boot to drop Lee for a two-count. M threw Lee into the ropes but Cassie reversed a backdrop into an Irish whip into the ropes and dropped M with a shoulderblock for a one count.

McKay tagged into the match but the double kick spot was reversed as M kicked Lee and kneed McKay. M whipped McKay into the ropes and hit the Rear View (that’s what they call it; right, Cole?) for a two-count. M whipped McKay into the corner but McKay hit a boot on the charging M and followed it with a hurincanrana. M quickly tagged Heather back into the match.

But McKay grabbed Heather before she could get in the ring and ran her into the turnbuckle. Then, she dragged her into the ring and attempted a body slam. However, Heather reversed it and pushed McKay into the turnbuckles and then put the boots to her in the corner. She choked McKay in the corner with her boot.

McKay, though, blocked a Heather charge and threw her into the turnbuckles. Now, it was McKay to reciprocate the boots in the corner. Lee came into the ring and flipped M over the ropes into the ring. The Iinspirers threw the Elegance Brand into separate turnbuckles and hit a series of flying forearms on Heather and M and then they STRUCK THE POSE!!!

Hannifan said the crowd respected the Australians whilst Rehwoldt reminded Hannifan that Australia was originally a prison colony. Meanwhile the Elegance Brand huddled on the floor with the PC but the Iinspirations chased them and, eventually caught them. McKay threw Heather into the ring to Lee but Heather stomped on Lee’s foot to stop any offense. She whipped Lee into the corner. Lee tried to fight out of it but M held Lee’s arms and Heather attacked from behind.

M tagged and but the boots to Lee in the corner. She also hit a vertical suplex on Lee as he hit our last commercial break. When we return, the By Elegance Brand whipped McKay into the ropes. Heather tripped McKay as M came off the ropes with a step-up backsplash for two. Heather threw McKay into the turnbuckles but missed a corner charge. M tried to rush McKay but McKay threw her through the ropes and onto the floor. McKay did the hope crawl, kicked away Heather and went of the tag. However, M pulled Lee from the apron to the floor.

Heather tagged M, who hit the big boot off the ropes for two. M dug her knee into McKay ‘s back whilst locking an armlock. McKay got Iismpired and fought out of it for a moment. But M reapplied the hold. McKay fought out of it but M landed a knee. McKay fought of M once more but could not make the tag as M held on to McKay.

McKay evaded a clothesline and hit a knee smash to M (camera angle was not great.) NOW, McKay started to hope crawl – as did M – and Lee got the tag, as did Heather. However, Lee dropped both Branders with clotheslines and sent M out of the ring with a spin kick. She dropped a series of elbows to Heather and hit a codebreaker which dropped her for a two-count.

Lee grabbed Heather for a suplex but M pulled Heather to the ground. The referee got M out of the ring. Heather charged Lee for a clothesline but Lee turned that into a Blue Thunder Bomb for two-and-a-fraction. The Personal Concierge got on the apron to distract the referee (a loud “Kick Him Out” chant emerged.) Lee tried to get the ref to do just that. This gave time Heather to recover and stopped Lee’s offense with an eye rake. She threw Lee to the ropes where M caught her with a superkick from the floor (nice agility.)

Heather hit a DDT on Lee for two before McKay disrupted the pin attempt. M got in the ring and tossed McKay out of the ring. Meanwhile, The Personal Concierge gave Heather a cup of champagne (I think.) the PC distracted the ref as M held Lee for the splash. Naturally, this led to a heel miscommunication as Heather threw the liquid into M’s face. M rolled out of the ring. Meanwhile, Heather charged Lee, who ducked and Heather was hit with a McKay forearm. McKay got Heather up, the duo hit the Iidolizer and we have new tag champs.

(Thanks, Kelani.)

Post Match: The Iinspirations were as elated as Rehwoldt was distressed as we go off the air.

Impactful Ruminations:

One: Maybe someone in TNA reads this blog. Perhaps, they realized the capacious distance between TNA and WWE when it came to women’s wrestling quality (and quantity, for that matter.) This was the most women I have seen on one TV card since reviewing this. It gives some hope but there is still a lot of work to do.

Two: (sigh) Oh, Kelani. The mic work is not there. Ruining the main event tonight is one thing. She is young and never encountered taping cycles. But, this was a time to shine on the mic for her and she just couldn’t get there. The opening interview was great when it was Williams and Kazarian squaring off with Slater and Hardy. Even Hartwell made a representation. I said it earlier on the Victory Road review but will reiterate here, acrobatics is her whole personality. She did…okay with the non-verbals and she tried to make sense of what was transpiring and the hesitancy to interfere when Williams asked her. I will give her that but just no discernible passion or fire. The booking hasn’t helped, either, as she straddles this odd fence as face or heel and no idea what role to commit. Hartwell should win at BfG and set up a big feud with….

Three: Hey, Tessa Blanchard gets an interview segment. We gripe when we get minimal back story so we -as fans – can have a vested interest in a match or feud. It is late but it does fill in some of the blanks in the dreaded match between the two at BfG. Again, it is a horrible idea but Gia Miller did really good mic work. If it was anyone else, this might be an instance of being talked into the building. Maybe, I will be surprised. But, both of them did really well in their segments. Also, shout out to George South and Mike Jackson, two guys who I spent many a Saturday watching; albeit getting squashed in matches left and right. The only drawback on this angle is that the attack was done earlier on social media.

Four: I have never seen Alisha Edwards wrestle prior to this episode. She did not do that badly. She was crisp in her moves, non-hesitant and did a credible job. Steelz continues to impress me with her moves and her persona. The match was nicely done by both.

Five: Congrats on the Iinspirations getting the title. I am a huge fan of the By Elegance Brand and wonder comes of them. M is very athletic and crisp in her moveset and if they break the team for good, she might be good for a single run down the road. She has mannerisms and non-verbals of a great heel. The same could be said for Heather but wonder if size will be an issue for her. I hope they stay together and get another tag run. They and the Concierge were joys to watch every time they were on the screen. The real shame is if Jazmyn Nyx was not completely done with wrestling, she could actually be a good fit for the team. I know the pay might not be grand in TNA and that is a deal killer but she would be great on that team. Oh, well. ‘

Six: The Nemeths are churning out good match after good match and know their roles to a tee. Ryan is so wonderful as the insufferable type behind the talented Nick. Nick seems rejuvenated and I have started to like his work inside the ring again.

Seven: I like the Angel Warriors, I think. Lee is exponentially better in the ring and do the heavy lifting whilst Brookside is passable and seems like she is getting better. Brookside does a great, young, fired up babyface and can do the lifting on the mic. Lee does a decent job with the emphasis and bringing the seriousness on the mic. The dilemma is that we have a face team as champs. So, if this is the future team, who defeats the Iinspirations.

Eight: I really liked the promo with Santana but liked last week’s better. I did like Amazing Red’s tie in to the past with Santana and some of the other talent that he worked during TNA’s inaugural years. Last week, though, was a personal touch and became a great worked shoot angle this was just Red emphasizing the storyline aspects. He did a great job, don’t get me wrong, but I listened to this one, I felt the one last week.

Lastly: The Mara Jade promo felt weirdly out of place. It felt like one that should have been done when she debuted. Unless, this was to indicate a bit of character change, but why? I am somewhat curious why emphasized the light.

Keep Fighting the Good Fight.