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!
IMPACT WRESTLING: MARCH 14, 2024 RESULTS
#5 - Come Out, Come Out
Fresh off of winning the Knockouts Tag titles in convincing fashion at Sacrifice, Spitfire had an audience for their first match as champions this week. Facing off against local talent (Beaa Moss and Vanna Black0, Dani Luna and Jody Threat had to contend with the former champions MK Ultra, who seem to be experiencing tension, and Decay, who are also owed a rematch for the tag titles, standing on the sidelines and observing. When the match did get underway, the champs made short work of their opponents, putting them away with a sick-looking assisted powerbomb.
#4 - Aces Low
Having butted heads with his opponent backstage at Sacrifice after ABC lost the tag titles to the System, Ace Austin would attempt to beat respect into Frankie Kazarian this week, in what turned out to be a delightful clash of old guard vs new. Following a simple formula, the seasoned, sneaky veteran finding ways to cut off the momentum of the young star, this match managed to make you root for the face without the heel ever being boring. Kaz continues to be great with age, thinking of counters yours truly certainly wouldn't have, like intercepting Austin on the ropes as he went for his signature springboard roundhouse kick, and turned it into a Japanese Ocean Cyclone Suplex (which I have been reliably informed he calls Back to the Future.)
Kaz would win, countering another flying move attempt into a Crossface Chickenwing. After the bell, he would beat down Austin, and his partner Chris Bey, until Eric Young came out to make the save, chasing Kaz off and confirming their feud isn't over.
#3 - If Ever In Doubt
Speedball Mountain just works as a team. Before a recent Xplosion match, I wasn't sure, but now, I get it. Combine them with Nic Nemeth, and you have quite the babyface team to close an episode. Facing recent mutual enemies Steve Maclin and the Rascalz, this was a fun but formulaic match until things took a turn at the end. A standard, entertaining six man tag, towards the end of the match, Maclin's six man dive missed the intended target and instead sent him right into Trey Miguel. This provoked a confrontation between Maclin and Zachary Wentz, which turned into the Rascalz abandoning their tag partner. On his own against three men, Maclin wouldn't last long, eating dives, big moves and finishers, being pinned after Nemeth hit the Danger Zone.
The faces would stand tall after the match, but not for long, as the System ran down to the ring, laying waste to their fatigued enemies, and ending the episode standing tall themselves, titles held high.
#2 -We Belie-oh.
After months of feuding at this point, Joe Hendry and AJ Francis finally had a singles march. Starting off in favour of Francis, who interrupted Hendry's standard prematch promo, this would be an interesting clash of big men, Hendry playing the underdog throughout. I won't lie and say it was a great match. It felt like this was a formula wasted on Francis who, despite showing clear improvment, isn't quite there yet. The reason it ranks so high in this recap is how it ended, as, when the ref predictably took a bump, both Hendry and Francis would go for Chekov's Steel Chair in the ring. Intercepting this was Rich Swann, recent ally of Hendry, recent enemy of Francis.
Seemingly deciding Francis was correct, and that a change of heart and methods were what he needed to get out of his slump, Swann would betray Hendry, nailing him with the Steel Chair, allowing Francis to hit a Chokeslam for the win. After God knows how many years, Swann has turned heel in TNA.
#1 - In Anger Management We Trust
It has not been a good few weeks for Chris Sabin. Experiencing biting remarks from tag parnter Alex Shelley, and having lost the X Division title to Mustafa Ali at No Surrender, Sabin would attempt to get things back on track this week, opening the show with his title rematch against Ali. As good as their first encounter, this was a tale of Sabin's anger first working for, and then costing him.
Taking the advantage at first, wiping out Ali's personal security and starting the match with aggressive offense, Sabin toonk the champ off guard, and tried to keep the ball in his court. Though Ali would fight back, it did feel like Sabin was on the front foot for much of this bout. Later in the match, Ali would try to introduce the X Division belt to Sabin's face, but it turns out, he had no need. Sabin would do it for him.
Dodging the blow and neutralising Ali, Sabin would pick up the X title and, overcome with rage, attempt to charge Ali in the corner with the belt. Ali would dodge, causing Sabin to hit himself with the belt due to recoil, and, with a rope-assisted roll-up, Ali would get the pin and the win, now 2-0 up on the ten time champion.
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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