Welcome to another edition of POINTS OF IMPACT—a breakdown of the top moments of this week's edition of TNA’s Impact 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!
TNA IMPACT WRESTLING: FEBRUARY 15, 2024 RESULTS
#5 - That Was Something
Starting off this week's episode of Impact was a singles match, pitting the up and coming Jake Something against the recently heel Frankie Kazarian. If I'm quite honest, I wouldn't have opened the show with this match, but it served the purpose it set out with. Further establishing the change of heart Kaz has had as of late, the adoption of the "anything it takes" attitude, much of the match was him forcing Something to fight from underneath, various veteran tactics and fighting on the outside.
Something would of course mount a comeback, bodying Kaz around the ring, but this battle would go to the Heavy Metal Rebel, who stacked Something high with a pin, and held on to the ropes for good measure. This match wasn't, in my opinion, anything to write home about, but what was intriguing were the quick shots we got of Eric Young watching the match backstage. It was a betrayal of EY that kicked off this heel run for Kaz, and if a feud between the veterans is the intended the direction, this heel turn might prove interesting after all.
#4 - Momentum Killed Ultra
With a match for the Knockouts Tag titles against Decay at No Surrender, you'd think MK Ultra would be firing on all cylinders heading into the event. They certainly have been in recent weeks, winning multiple matches in a micro feud with Jody Threat and Dani Luna, but not tonight. As the saying goes, 2 out of 3 ain't bad.
The enforcer of the face team, Luna, faced Killer Kelly in singles action, in what was standard fare for each woman. Later in the match, Masha Slamovich would attempt to get involved on Kell's behalf, which has paid off for the former tag champs in recent weeks. The faces would have them scouted this time however, and in the ensuing chaos, Luna rolled up Kelly to get the win. Frustrated and disappointed, MK Ultra would attack Threat and Luna after the match, only to be chased off by the reigning champs Decay, who sized up both teams.
#3 - Heel Tactics Steve
Digital Media Champion and cutlery enthusiast Crazzy Steve defended his title against Rhyno this week, tensions having mounted between the two for weeks all across TNA programming, stemming from how Steve won the title from Tommy Dreamer. Rhyno has been on a winning streak over on Xplosion (which I cover on the Lateral Press, feel free to check it out), defeating both members of the Desi Hit Squad, while Steve has been performing hit and run attacks. When it came down to it, brains triumphed over brawn.
Steve didn't fall into traps set by Rhyno throughout, putting a table the War Machine had dragged out back under the ring, refusing to fight Rhyno's style of match. He would escape with the title with a magician's best friend, a little diversion and distraction, pulling out a fork and throwing it into the ring, and then nailing Rhyno with the Digital Media title.
It seems doubtful this war is over, but this battle at least goes to Steve.
#2 - 2 Sweet out of 3 Part 2
It was an uphill battle right from the bell for ABC this week, needing to win this match in order to retain their tag titles and avoid a shutout win by the Grizzled Young Vets. The GYV had won the first match of the series, using a scarf to gain an advantage, and attempted to injure the arm of Ace Austin a week after, shutting it in a travel case repeatedly. The champs were, as GYV insisted, underdogs. Against all odds, the champs got the job done.
It wasn't an easy effort, the arm of Austin constantly targeted throughout. The champs could have won the match on one or two occasions were it not for the injury, such as Ace not being able to springboard Bey backwards to hit the 1 2 Sweet. In the end, it was a matter of staying alive and picking the right moment, and they did just that, Ace managing to get the win with a neck-assisted bridging pin.
#1 - Rib Splitter
Ahead of Moose defending the TNA World title against Alex Shelley at No Surrender, he faced Shelley's friend and tag partner, KUSHIDA, in non-title action in this week's main event. Carrying the stipulation that both champion and challenger's factions be banned from ringside, this was, as much as you can expect from a modern Moose match, a fair and square bout for the belt. KUSHIDA, as always, went for the arm, nailin g nasty kicks to it, having the Hoverboard Lock in at one point, but Moose would manage to power out.
David vs Goliath is a classic format for a reason, and this match is evidence in its favour. Kushida stuck and moved throughout, whilse Moose landed big, bruising moves, catching a KUSHIDA dive to the outside, and dropping him face first on the apron. The champ would be one step ahead of the Timesplitter in the end, as when a Handspring Elbow was attempted, the Wrestling God evaded, and hit a Spear on the rebound to get the pin.
After the bell, the System would try to beat down KUSHIDA, no longer barred from ringside now the match was over. Neither were Alex Shelley and Kevin Knight, however, who made the save, chasing off the heels after a quick brawl, standing tall to end the show.
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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