‘TNA Wrestling’ Review (Jul 11th 2024)
Welcome to this week’s review of TNA Wrestling, Let’s get straight into the review and see what went down on the show…
Match #1: Jordynne Grace Def. Izzy Dame
The following is courtesy of tnawrestling.com:
Izzi Dame from NXT answers Jordynne Grace’s Open Challenge. The match begins with a lock-up, and Dame taunts Grace, asking for a test of strength before cheap-shotting her. Grace takes control with a suplex, slamming Dame to the mat and tossing her to the floor. Grace continues her assault outside the ring as Ash watches. Dame recovers as Ash’s concierge distracts Grace, but Rosemary chases him off. Dame uses the distraction to drop Grace throat-first on the top rope and hits a Stalling Falcon Arrow. Both women fight back and forth until Grace lands the Juggernaut Driver and defeats Izzi Dame.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #2: Charlie Dempsey def. Zachary Wentz
The following is courtesy of tnawrestling.com:
Wentz rushes at Dempsey, who grabs a headlock. They exchange a series of holds until Wentz gets to his feet and breaks free. The pace picks up, and Wentz catches Dempsey with a dropkick. Dempsey slows him down with a chop and bends Wentz’s arm back with a knuckle lock, stomping on his elbow. Dempsey targets Wentz’s elbow, dropping him with a gutwrench and continuing the assault on his arm. The crowd rallies behind Wentz, giving him the energy to fight back. However, Dempsey catches Wentz with a dragon screw, continuing his attack on Wentz’s arm. Wentz finds an opening with a well-placed handspring knee drop, following up with an array of blows that send Dempsey reeling. Wentz hits a running shooting star, gaining control. Just as Wentz has the upper hand, Myles Bourne and Dempsey’s No Quarter Catch Crew partner interfere taking out Trey on the floor, causing a distraction. This gives Dempsey the advantage, and he pins Wentz with a full nelson suplex. The No Quarter Catch Crew then beats down Wentz.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #3: Speedball Mike Bailey def. KUSHIDA and Jonathan Gresham
The following is courtesy of tnawrestling.com:
The match begins with excitement as all three men exchange pin attempts. Bailey gains control with multiple kicks and a huge Moonsault dive to the floor taking out only KUSHIDA. Gresham seizes the opportunity, grabbing Bailey from behind and tossing him into the ring, but Bailey quickly regains the advantage. Gresham turns the tide with an Enziguri to Bailey while KUSHIDA holds Bailey’s leg, followed by a dragon screw that sends Bailey to the floor. Gresham locks in a single-leg crab on KUSHIDA, but Bailey re-enters the ring, firing off multiple kicks to Gresham’s chest. Gresham takes out Bailey and dives onto KUSHIDA. Back in the ring, Gresham meets a kick to the face from Bailey but quickly takes control again, locking in a figure-four leg lock. Gresham absorbs a double Enziguri from KUSHIDA and Bailey. KUSHIDA fires up, taking out Bailey and focusing on Gresham, hitting the Tanaka Punch, and going for the Hoverboard Lock. Bailey breaks it up, and the two exchange kicks. Bailey superkicks KUSHIDA and goes for the Tornado Kick, which KUSHIDA evades, turning and diving on Gresham on the floor. Bailey sweeps out KUSHIDA’s feet and Moonsault stomps on him. Gresham grabs KUSHIDA and starts spitting out ink, but KUSHIDA counters with Green Mist and locks in the Hoverboard Lock. Bailey hits Ultima Weapon on both men and earns his X Division title shot against Ali at Slammiversary.
My Score: 4 out of 5
Match #4: AJ Francis def. Rhino
The following is courtesy of tnawrestling.com:
Before the match begins, Aj Francis insults Rhino and Philadelphia, prompting Rhino to attack Francis. Rhino sets up for the Gore, but Rich Swann jumps into the ring and hits Rhino, causing a disqualification. First Class attacks Rhino and starts beating him down. Santino’s music hits, and he restarts the match as a Philadelphia Street Fight. Rhino begins getting some payback and tries to grab a table, but Francis shuts him down with a steel chair. Rhino follows up with a chair shot of his own. Rhino pulls out a table and sets it up. Aj Francis catches Rhino with a low blow, rolling him up and winning the match with a roll-up!
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #5: Gisele Shaw def. Tasha Steelz
The following is courtesy of tnawrestling.com:
Tasha wastes no time and attacks Gisele during her entrance, gaining the advantage before the match begins. She tosses Gisele into the ring, and the bell rings. Tasha continues the beatdown, locking in a headlock as Gisele tries to fight back. The two exchange pin attempts, but Tasha stops Gisele in her tracks with a superkick. The two Knockouts exchange forearms, and Gisele gets a near fall with Shock and Awe, but Tasha kicks out. Tasha goes for a bulldog, but Gisele turns it into a powerslam. Gisele attempts De Nu Mont, but Tasha escapes the first attempt only to be nailed with the second one, securing Gisele’s victory
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #6: JDC def. Chris Bey
The following is courtesy of tnawrestling.com:
Right off the bell, Chris Bey lights up JDC with rapid strikes. JDC tries to escape, but Bey catches him with a front flip dive, followed by a kick to the face. Bey sends JDC back into the ring and hits ten punches, continuing to pummel him. Bey goes for a springboard off the middle rope, but JDC sees the opening and shoves him to the floor. JDC stalks Bey and drops him with a Suplex, then starts putting the boots to him. Meanwhile, The System’s Eddie Edwards, Brian Myers, and Alisha Edwards start walking down the ramp, keeping a close eye on Ace Austin and Bey. Bey hits a jawbreaker and starts to take over the match, hitting a combo on JDC that ends in a rolling Neckbreaker. Bey goes to the top rope, but Myers and Eddie cause a distraction by attacking Ace Austin. Bey gets down to come to the rescue, giving JDC the opportunity to hit Bey with “Down and Dirty,” stealing the victory.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #7: Moose & Steve Maclin def. Josh Alexander and Joe Hendry
The following is courtesy of tnawrestling.com:
The match starts with Josh Alexander and Steve Maclin squaring off. Maclin goes for the KIA, and Josh goes for the C4 Spike, but they reset and lock up. Josh catches Maclin with an Arm Drag, prompting Maclin to tag in Moose. Moose takes control of Alexander, but Josh evades and points to Hendry, who gets the tag and enters the ring, immediately starting to punch Moose. Hendry goes for a Suplex, but Maclin pulls him down. Josh comes in to make the save, Suplexing Maclin and motivating Hendry, who then suplexes Moose. Josh takes back over, sending Maclin to the apron and going for a crossbody, but Moose yanks him out of the ring. Moose tags back in and starts beating on Josh, with Moose and Maclin exchanging tags to do more damage to Alexander. Josh starts fighting back and goes to tag Hendry, but Moose yanks Hendry off the apron. Maclin sets Josh up and hits him with Into the Crosshairs. Josh finds an opening with a Hurricanrana from the second rope and tags in Hendry, who comes in on fire, running through Moose and Maclin. Maclin tries to jump Hendry but gets met with a cutter. Hendry pop-up powerbombs Moose, getting the crowd behind him. He goes for the Standing Ovation, but Maclin escapes. Alexander grabs a blind tag and starts giving Maclin German suplexes. After 10 German Suplexes, Josh is fired up with the momentum in his favor. Moose cuts off the momentum, and all four men start teeing off on each other. Maclin and Hendry go down as Moose and Alexander continue throwing blows. Alexander clotheslines Moose inside out and points to Hendry! Josh goes for a C4 Spike while Hendry goes for a Standing Ovation, but Kazarian hops up on the apron, causing a distraction that leads to Moose hitting a spear and Maclin hitting a KIA, taking the victory.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Final Verdict: 3/5
The NXT/TNA crossovers continue, with various NXT stars appearing on this week’s show – which still feels like a novelty despite it going on for a while now! This week’s best match has to go to the three-man match mid-show, which blew away pretty much everything else on the show TBH. As for the main event, you’ve got to love Joe Hendry given another high-profile spot AND have him tag-team with Josh Alexander, who is the face of the brand – which means eyeballs on him from (hopefully) the tuning-in WWE crowd who’ve fallen in love with Hendry in recent weeks!
