The September 24 edition of TNA iMPACT! delivered one of the company’s most important nights heading into Bound for Glory, combining championship action, major storyline developments and the long-awaited reveal of the mysterious attackers who had been targeting TNA stars backstage.
Live from the Boeing Center at Tech Port in San Antonio, Texas, the show featured Mustafa Ali defending the TNA International Championship, Leon Slater confronting Nic Nemeth and a shocking debut that changed the landscape of the tag-team division.
Leon Slater and Nic Nemeth Turn Up the Heat
The show opened with Leon Slater, who made it clear that he wasn’t interested in waiting for Bound for Glory to settle his issues with TNA World Champion Nic Nemeth.
Nemeth eventually came to the ring, and the confrontation quickly became heated.
Rather than allowing the two men to immediately come to blows, Santino Marella established a major stipulation: neither man can physically attack the other before Bound for Glory.
If Nemeth attacks Slater, he risks losing the TNA World Championship. If Slater attacks Nemeth, he loses his championship opportunity.
The result is a fascinating wrinkle heading into their title showdown. Both men have plenty of reasons to want to fight, but now they have to find a way to keep their emotions under control.
Ryan Nemeth Earns His Way Into the X-Division Title Match
Ryan Nemeth defeated KJ Orso in an X-Division Championship qualifier.
Nemeth secured the victory with the Hollywood Ending, earning his place in the X-Division Championship match at Bound for Glory.
The victory also adds another layer to the ongoing tension surrounding the Nemeth brothers and Slater.
The Righteous Continue Their Assault
The Righteous — Dutch and Vincent — defeated BDE and Rich Swann in a Tornado Tag Team Match.
The match quickly became chaotic, and The Righteous continued their attack after the bell.
Their aggressive approach made it clear that they’re not interested in simply winning matches. They’re trying to make an impact and establish themselves as a serious threat heading into TNA’s biggest event of the year.
Elijah Defeats Eddie Edwards
Elijah picked up another important victory when he defeated Eddie Edwards.
Ricky Sosa played an important role in helping Elijah neutralize The System, allowing Elijah to hit the Drifter’s Destroyer and score the victory.
The match continued the ongoing friction between Elijah and The System while giving Elijah another significant win on his road through the TNA roster.
Elayna Black Becomes the No. 1 Contender
The Knockouts division also saw major movement.
Elayna Black defeated Gabby Forza, Jada Stone and Harley Hudson in a four-way No. 1 contender’s match for the Knockouts Television Championship.
Black won the match with Blackout on Jada Stone, earning herself a future opportunity at the Knockouts TV Championship.
That victory gives the Knockouts TV title picture another challenger as TNA continues building toward Bound for Glory.
Mustafa Ali Returns and Retains the International Championship
After being sidelined with an injury, Mustafa Ali returned to in-ring competition in a major way.
Ali defended the TNA International Championship against Trey Miguel and Jason Hotch in a Triple Threat Match.
The match featured plenty of fast-paced action, with all three competitors getting opportunities to win.
Ali ultimately retained the championship after using the title belt against Miguel before scoring the deciding pinfall.
Ali’s return immediately gives the International Championship picture some much-needed momentum.
The Mystery Attackers Finally Reveal Themselves
But the biggest story of the night came outside the ring.
For weeks, mysterious masked individuals had been attacking TNA wrestlers backstage.
The Hardys were among those targeted, and Matt and Jeff Hardy finally decided to confront whoever was responsible.
The lights went out.
The attackers appeared.
And then came the reveal:
Joseph Sawyer and Samuel Shaw.
The two men revealed themselves as the team now known as Syx, and TNA subsequently announced that both had officially signed with the company.
The Hardys were immediately targeted again, setting up a confrontation between the two teams.
By the end of the night, The Hardys had challenged Sawyer and Shaw to a match for the following week’s iMPACT!.
It’s a major introduction for Syx and immediately gives the new team a high-profile rivalry.
Order 4 Continues to Fall Apart
The problems surrounding Mustafa Ali’s Order 4 also escalated.
Mila Moore quit the group, while John Skyler left with her, further weakening Ali’s faction.
With Ali now back in action and Order 4 losing members, the group looks increasingly unstable.
That could become an important storyline as Ali attempts to maintain control while simultaneously defending his championship.
Rosemary Returns
The episode also featured the return of Rosemary, although TNA presented the comeback in typically bizarre fashion.
A vignette introduced Courtney Rush, with Rush asking Rosemary to consider starting over from the beginning.
The segment raises questions about where Rosemary has been and what exactly is happening with her identity.
It’s another storyline that appears to be heading toward a larger reveal.
Final Thoughts
The September 24 episode of TNA iMPACT! was all about moving pieces into place.
Leon Slater and Nic Nemeth now have strict rules preventing them from getting physical before their Bound for Glory championship match.
Mustafa Ali returned and successfully defended his International Championship.
Elayna Black earned a shot at the Knockouts Television Championship.
The Righteous continued their rise.
And, most importantly, the mystery surrounding the backstage attacks finally came to an end.
The arrival of Syx — Joseph Sawyer and Samuel Shaw — gives TNA a fresh tag-team storyline while immediately putting the Hardys in their sights.
With Bound for Glory approaching, TNA is clearly entering the final stretch of its biggest storylines.
Bottom line: The September 24 episode successfully advanced several major feuds while delivering its biggest surprise at the end. The Syx reveal was the night’s defining moment, but the growing tension between Slater and Nemeth may ultimately be the storyline that carries the company into Bound for Glory.
WDEP Radio Recap Rating: 8.5/10
