This TNA PPV was live from the UBS Arena in Long Island, New York.
Mustafa Ali def. Cedric Alexander
Early on, Alexander hit a pair of German suplexes out at ringside. Ali’s Secret Service tried to get involved, allowing Ali to hit a suicide dive to Alexander at ringside. Alexander hit a Michinoku Driver from the top-rope sending Ali into his Secret Service and The Great Hands (Jason Hotch and John Skyler). Later, Alexander connected with a back body drop onto the steel steps. Skyler hit Alexander with a DDT at ringside. This allowed Ali to hit a top-rope 450 but he couldn’t get the win. Tasha Steelz got into the ring and the referee’s face, leading to her being ejected. Skyler and Hotch tried to get involved once again but Alexander stopped them. Alexander hit Ali with a Lumbar Check but Ali just managed to power out. Steelz came back but got a Lumbar Check for her troubles. However, another 450 by Ali bagged him the victory.
Squish’s thoughts and writing: Some sloppy moments in the early stages but they came back to put on a hard-hitting fight. I really liked the finish with Steelz coming back to take a Lumbar Check but that took Alexander’s eyes off Ali and he got hit with a 450 as a result. I’m glad that Ali won and I predicted he would. I’m not sure if Alexander is in TNA for the long run but if he is then he should get some more wins under his belt before facing Ali in a rematch. 7/10
Gia Miller interviewed Joe Hendry ahead of his TNA World Championship rematch tonight.
Squish’s thoughts: Please anyone but Trick Williams retaining. I’ll take Mike Santana or Hendry, I’m not picky. Just get it back on a TNA star (who’s not Frankie Kazarian).
The System (Brian Myers, Eddie Edwards and JDC) and Matt Cardona def. NXT’s DarkState (Cutler James, Dion Lennox, Osiris Griffin and Saquon Shugars)
These 8 men started brawling before the bell even rang. JDC paid tribute to Sabu early on with his dive over the top-rope off a chair. James took control as he beat down Myers and later sent Edwards and JDC flying off the apron. Myers created an opening off a spear and tagged in Cardona. However, DarkState would fight back and hit Cardona with a triple powerbomb. The System then helped Cardona fight back to hit their own triple powerbomb on Shugars but it wasn’t enough. The combo of Radio Silence by Cardona and the Boston Knee Party by Edwards scored them the win.
Squish’s thoughts and rating: This was essentially a 7-minute brawl and I’m fine with that. It was action-packed and that made it enjoyable. Had it gone longer, it might not have been as effective. I hope The System don’t stay as faces in TNA past this feud as I’m not sure it would work. 6/10
Indi Hartwell def. Tessa Blanchard
Blanchard took control early on and targeted Hartwell’s left knee. However, Hartwell did manage to fight back after hitting a superplex. She continued to fight back with a series of clotheslines. She went onto hit Hurts Donut but it wasn’t enough to get her the win. Blanchard hit back with Magnum but even that wasn’t enough for the victory. Hartwell finally hit Hurts Donut again but into the ropes this time before hitting a modified Full Nelson Slam for the win.
Squish’s thoughts and rating: A decent match but I’m sure they expected it to be better because I did. There were some sadly sloppy moments but I guess you could say that makes the match feel more hard-hitting. 6/10
After the match, Blanchard attacked Hartwell during a post-match interview with Gia Miller. Blanchard slapped Gia across the face and drove her face into the steel steps.
Squish’s thoughts: Miller has wrestled 22 matches on the indie scene between March 2020 and April 2024 (according to Cagematch) so could this be a way of getting her in the ring for TNA? It’s either that or it’s a way of keeping some heat on Blanchard after a big loss.
Director of Authority Santino Marella had security remove Tessa Blanchard from the building.
Squish’s thoughts: Okay, looks like it was a way to get more heat on Blanchard. That makes sense as I did think she’d lose this one.
Winner Takes All match: Jacy Jayne (NXT c) def. Masha Slamovich (TNA c) to retain the NXT Women’s Championship and win the TNA Knockouts World Championship
Early on, the numbers advantage of NXT’s Fallon Henley and Jazmyn Nyx of Fatal Influence proved too much for Slamovich. This advantage allowed Jayne to send Slamovich into the ring post. At this point, Henley stuck her nose in once again at ringside. Slamovich went on the comeback with Air Raid Crash into the bottom turnbuckle. Jayne returned with her running knee strike for a near fall. Henley handed Jayne her NXT Women’s Title belt but the referee stopped her from using it. However, Nyx had the Knockouts Title belt, which Jayne used to strike Slamovich but she couldn’t get the win. Lei Ying Lee and Xia Brookside arrived to take care of Henley and Nyx. Jayne went for a superkick but accidentally took out the referee. Slamovich connected with the Snow Plow. However, the wait for another referee to arrive gave Jayne the time she needed to kick out. It ended up being the Rolling Encore for Jayne that gave her the Knockouts World Title.
Squish’s thoughts and rating: The early stages of the match were bang average but it was the ending that ruined it for me. I’m not hating on Jayne but she is not at the level of being both the NXT Women’s Champion and the TNA Knockouts World Champion. An NXT wrestler winning a TNA Title on an NXT show is one thing but how am I meant to be optimistic for TNA with this? 6/10
Leon Slater def. Moose (c) to win the TNA X-Division Championship
Moose started out by hitting Go to Hell early. Slater dodged a powerbomb and sent Moose crashing into the steel steps at ringside. Moose wanted to hit Go to Hell to ringside but Slater countered it into a Hurricanrana off the apron. Slater went for a senton but Moose caught him only for Slater to reverse it and send him crashing into the ramp. Slater took out Moose with Big Play Slater over the ring post. The action returned to the ring as Moose hit a buckle bomb, only for Slater to bounce back with a clothesline. Moose hit a devastating Spear but only scored a near fall. Slater lifted Moose up and hit Utopia. He followed up with his own Spear and a Swanton 450 but could only get another near fall. Down at ringside, Slater hit Code Red, sent Moose back into the ring and flew across the ring with a Swanton Bomb. Another Swanton 450 sealed the deal and handed Slater the X-Division Title!
Squish’s thoughts and rating: I’ve really enjoyed this rivalry so I’m glad they delivered in the match and made history as Slater is the youngest X-Division Champion in history. I was there the night this man got signed by TNA in Coventry in October 2023. He finally proved to everyone in a 15-minute classic against a TNA veteran that he’s one of the best in the world. I’m beaming from ear-to-ear at the moment. 7/10
In a tremendous sign of respect, Moose put the X-Division Title around the waist of Leon Slater.
Squish’s thoughts: It was at this moment I expected AJ Styles to appear and force Moose to give Slater the title but the sign of respect was much nicer!
After the match, “The Phenomenal” AJ Styles made his long-awaited return to TNA! Styles recognised TNA as the place where he built his name and congratulated Slater on becoming the youngest X-Division Champion of all time. Styles endorsed Slater as the future of the X-Division.
Squish’s thoughts: It was nice to see Styles back in a TNA ring. I’ve heard some people were disappointed he didn’t compete but I don’t know why anyone expected he would. I assumed he’d either ensure Slater would have a fair fight against Moose or he’d come out at the end to tease a match for the TNA World Championship at Bound for Glory. He did sort of tease having one more match in TNA and I really hope he does.
Ladder match: The Hardys (Jeff Hardy and Matt Hardy) def. The Nemeths (Nic Nemeth and Ryan Nemeth) (c), The Rascalz (Myron Reed and Zachary Wentz), and First Class (AJ Francis and KC Navarro) to win the TNA World Tag Team Championship
Reed is standing in for Trey Miguel, who is out due to injury. Early on, Reed hit Ryan with a Flame On cutter over the top-rope out to ringside. Wentz went crashing out to ringside onto Navarro through a ladder. Francis tried to climb a ladder but Matt stopped him with a steel chair shot to the back. Jeff followed up with a Swanton Bomb to Francis. Ryan went and got in the face of Johnny Damon (former MLB player) at ringside. Francis delivered a massive Moonsault from the top of a ladder. First Class were then pushed off ladders into more ladders positioned at ringside. The Rascalz were then laid out on ladders and Jeff took them both out with a Swanton Bomb. All the large ladders were broken so a rope ladder was deployed. Matt kept it steady while Jeff made the climb to win the Tag Titles!
Squish’s thoughts and rating: It’s hard at this point to keep doing original spots in Ladder matches but it’s one match stipulation that I always look forward to. Someone correct me if I’m wrong but has a rope ladder like that ever been used in a Ladder match in any company? I didn’t expect The Hardys to win but I’m all for it if it means they stay in TNA for longer! 7/10
After the match, Bully Ray made his shocking return to TNA, congratulating The Hardys on becoming four-time TNA World Tag Team Champions. Bully laid out the challenge for this October at Bound For Glory, one more match between two of the greatest tag teams of all time, The Hardys and Team 3D!
Squish’s thoughts: Bully has been hinting at wanting to do this for a while so the fact they’re doing it really doesn’t surprise me. It won’t be anything like the matches they had in the past but it should be a nice little nostalgia hit and I’m never against things like that.
NXT’s Trick Williams (c) def. Joe Hendry and Mike Santana to retain the TNA World Championship
Frankie Kazarian joined the commentary team for this match. Santana went for Spin the Block early but Hendry ducked it and Williams took them both out with a double clothesline. A little later, Hendry and Santana took out Williams with a powerbomb-blockbuster combo. Santana went for Spin the Block again but Williams countered into a Trick Kick. Hendry hit Williams with Standing Ovation but Kazarian pulled the referee out of the ring at the last second to keep the match alive. As a result, the referee ejected Kazarian from ringside. Santana later hit Hendry with the Rolling Buck 50 and a cannonball into the corner. Hendry hit back with the Standing Ovation but it wasn’t enough to get the win. Williams appeared to be getting treated at ringside for an injury. Santana hit Hendry with Spin the Block twice only for Williams to get back into the ring, throw Santana out of the ring and steal the win to retain the title.
Squish’s thoughts and rating: The ending most certainly shocked me. This was TNA’s biggest ever show in the USA, they had two face challengers (one of whom was a hometown hero) face a heel NXT guy, who’s holding the title hostage, just for them to have the NXT guy win?! I always try and like on the bright side but what the actual-? They’re just rolling over and letting NXT talent hold all the major titles. The only way I can see this working is if we get a full TNA vs. NXT war at Bound for Glory. This was TNA’s chance to use this massive show to begin a new era and instead we got this? This should’ve been Santana’s crowning moment. It’s his hometown for crying out loud. The match wasn’t bad but you can’t do much with only 13 minutes. This match sums up the whole PPV, not bad but disappointing. 6/10
Squish’s Overall Thoughts:
This was a good show with good match quality throughout the night but as someone who has been waiting for TNA to enter a boom period for two and a half years now and got fooled into thinking this would be the beginning of that, I’m massively underwhelmed. The longest match clocked in at 16:45 while the shortest match clocked in at 6:43. Not every match needs to be 25-30 minutes long but it feels like TNA matches are never long enough to reach “Match of the Year contender” conversation level. I can understand keeping to shorter matches on TV but on a PPV or PLE, there’s no excuse. Not a single match got an 8/10 by me. The X-Division Title match gets match of the night because they built a new star in Leon Slater, Moose sold like a champ and we got an endorsement by AJ Styles. Connor asked me if I was worried about the impact of the WWE partnership on TNA and after tonight I’m more worried than ever. The only big moment building towards future storylines was Bully Ray’s challenge to The Hardys for a tag match at Bound for Glory but even that’s nothing special. I’m cheering the fact that TNA broke their all-time USA attendance record tonight. However, if this success comes at the cost of prioritising NXT talent over TNA talent, I’m not sure I want it. I might calm down about this soon but as I write this, I’m very annoyed. I want them to continue having great success but I’m not sure how they go about it. I honestly think keeping the partnership going with Fourth Rope is one way they can benefit.
Overall rating: 7/10
Upcoming PPVs and PLEs:
- August 15th – TNA Emergence at Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena in Baltimore, Maryland
- September 26th – TNA Victory Road at Edmonton Expo Centre in Edmonton, Canada
- October 12th – TNA Bound for Glory at Tsongas Center in Lowell, Massachusetts
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