Welcome to a special Hard to Kill edition of POINTS OF IMPACT—a breakdown of the top moments of the first show in the new era of TNA Wrestling.
This segment will fill you in on the most important parts of the show worth checking out or keeping up to date with, in case you missed this episode of Impact Wrestling.
Without further ado, let's inspect the biggest takeaways of the week!
IMPACT WRESTLING: TNA HARD TO KILL 2024 RESULTS
#5 - They're Backkkk!
Back from the Undead Realm, Rosemary and Havok, not Jessicka and Courtney Rush, returned to face MK Ultra in an impromptu match for the fresh-looking TNA Knockouts Tag Team Championships. Kicking off their 2024 by re-establishing themselves as a force in the Knockouts division, Decay dominated much of the match, looking strong in moments such as Havok kicking out of Masha Slamovich's Snow Plow at 1.
MK Ultra were by no means squashed however, offering the kind of smart, seamless tag action you might expect from them, including a particularly brutal looking double stomp. After an assisted spinebuster, Decay won back the tag titles, in what will hopefully be the first clash in many between these two mesmerising teams.
#4 - Quintessential X
A common piece of advice in life is to put your best foot forward. TNA did just that on the mainshow of Hard to Kill, having the Knockouts division open the show with what is, unless my memory is failing me, the second-ever Knockouts Ultimate X. Featuring Jody Threat, Alisha Edwards, Dani Luna, Giselle Shaw, Tasha Steelz, and the newesr signee to the Knockouts division, Xia Brookside. This started the show with a bang, full of high-risk dives, such as Jody's senton from the top to the outside, and Tasha's cutter to the outside
The new signee in Brookside looked great, being the first to climb the ropes, and though it looked like she might win at one point, the win would go to Giselle, guaranteeing her another Knockouts World title shot.
#3 - Walking Weapon Vs Hammer
Anyone familiar with MLW will know that Alexander Hammerstone is a great talent. Having been their world champion for nearly 2 years, Hammerstone recently exited the company, and after his performance against JA at Hard to Kill, one can only hope he’ll make TNA his new home.
Meeting the Walking Weapon at every turn with strength, agility and endurance, though Hammer didn’t walk away with the victory, he more than left an impression. JA, for his part, was as good as ever, making Hammer look like a million bucks whilst working over the big man’s ankle, before finishing him with the C4 Spike.
#2 - Poet of Perpetual Motion
Right after a partnership between TNA and AAA was announced, El Hiii Del Vikingo, as well as Kushida, challenged Chris Sabin for the X Division Championship in a triple threat match. As thrillingly-paced and intricately plotted as you’d expect from Kushida and Sabin, it has to be said Vikingo fits the X Division like a glove.
The focus of the match for most of the run time, Vikingo got some amazing spots in, such as his springboard 450 to the outside, imploding Hurricanrana in the corner, and so on. Sabin was the annoyed but savy veteran, keeping the pace high against his challengers, and Kushida, by virtue of having to cut off Vikingo, worked as the heel of the match.
Everyone got their spots in. Vikingo got his aforementioned moments, Kushida got a nice Crucifix counter to the CradleShock, and Sabin springed off the bottom rope to hit a Destroyer on Vikingo on the ramp. Sabin would eventually get the win and retain his title, successfully hitting the CradleShock.
1 - Shock (On Behalf Of) the System
One might be conflicted about the result of this main event. There’s no doubt both men deserved to win, Moose a long-serving company man of 7 years, always giving his best, always improving. Shelley, the accurately self-proclaimed face of a generation, the face of TNA, reaching the top after 20 years. What no one who watches this match will be conflicted about is the quality of this match. It was an absolute banger.
This match was, in one word, physical. Refusing to run from the strikes of his bigger challenger, refusing to back down in the face of disrespect, Shelley went out on his shield in an excellent performance here, the 3rd longest TNA world champion absorbing everything Moose had to offer. Working on Moose’s arm, Shelley worked smart as well as hard, but ultimately, a well-placed Spear to counter a ShellShock attempt won the day, and the World title, for Moose.
Meeting him after the bell, one can only hope, was his first challenger, the former Dolph Ziggler, Nic Nemeth.
What did you think of this week's episode of Impact Wrestling?
Do you think any other moments stood out on this show?
Drop your thoughts in the comments below!
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