TNA Impact recap & playlist (May 9, 2024): Talk shows, people’s choice match, and octopus ink

It was a wacky week for TNA with talk shows, a people’s choice match, and octopus ink. Let’s boogie through the latest episode of Impact (May. 9, 2024) from start to finish highlighting all the fights and promos.

The System opened with a championship celebration. Matt Hardy interrupted. He plans to take the TNA World Championship from Moose and delete The System. Fisticuffs ensued, and Ryan Nemeth stormed into the ring for the save to help Hardy against the odds. Solid segment with a surprise from Nemeth, but the best part was Hardy commandeering the cheerleaders to do the Delete gesture at The System.

Tension was teased between Chris Bey and Ace Austin. That prickly attitude has been poking through for weeks. They have a chance to get on the same page to earn a X-Division title shot. ABC wrestled Speedball Mountain in the main event. The winning tag team will face off next week in singles action to earn the match against Mustafa Ali at Against All Odds on June 14.

First Class defeated FBI. AJ Francis powered through Ray Jaz and Zack Clayton. Rich Swann finished the job with a frog splash to pin Jaz.

Jake Something and The Rascalz were in feisty moods looking for answers from Santino Marella, so the Deputy of Authority booked them against each other in a tag match. Deaner stepped up to partner with Jake.

Alan Angels interviewed Steph De Lander and Big Kon on his talk show, Sound Check. When informed that they weren’t dating, Angels tried to smooth talk SDL. That effort flopped immediately, Kon lost his patience, and the big man beat up security because he could.

The Rascalz defeated Jake Something & Deaner. Deaner added an extra wrinkle for the people’s choice. He gave the option of a standard match or an Albany Tornado match. Naturally, the crowd voiced approval for the more exciting option. Trey had a slick trick up his sleeve for victory. Jake blocked a sunset flip on the outside, so Trey reached under the ring to spray Jake in the face with paint. The Rascalz quickly pounced on Deaner with tandem offense to win.

After that tornado match, Steve Maclin pummeled the Rascalz from behind as payback for abandoning him. Backstage, Frankie Kazarian bickered with Maclin over their loss at Under Siege. That brief partnership is over.

Mike Santana had a sitdown interview with Tom Hannifan. He reflected with pride on being thrown into the fire as LAX during his first run with TNA. Santana and Ortiz thrived to become four-time tag team champions. In Santana’s time away from TNA, his world was rocked with the death of his father. Then, the COVID pandemic hit. Santana went through troubling times and realized he needed to change things, in particular getting sober to save his life.

Gabby LaSpisa interviewed Ash by Elegance trying to get the dirt. Ash was quick-tempered with the intrusive line of questioning. The segment led to a booking a rematch between Ash and Xia Brookside. Ash was lured by the promise to return her jeweled brass knuckles with a win.

Santino revealed his huge announcement of the Champions Challenge match next week. The 8 versus 8 bout will be the biggest main event ever on Impact. It will be current champions Moose, Mustafa Ali, Brian Myers, Eddie Edwards, Laredo Kid, Jordynne Grace, Alisha Edwards, and Masha Slamovich versus super all-stars Matt Hardy, Ryan Nemeth, Eric Young, Sami Callihan, Joe Hendry, Steph De Lander, Dani Luna, and Jody Threat. Sonna ma gun!

Jonathan Gresham defeated Will Ferrera. Gresham twisted his opponent into a pretzel. Ferrera rallied for offense, but Gresham was fierce in targeting the knee. Gresham closed with the octopus stretch, then he regurgitated black ink to smother Ferrera for a pin. Gresham’s ability to use ink at Under Siege came as a surprise, even to Gresham himself. In this match, he seemed to embrace his evolution to control the ink that flows in his veins.

Gail Kim drove out to a secluded health retreat to speak with Gisele Shaw.

Speedball Mountain defeated ABC. Ace Austin and Chris Bey were on track toward victory in the main event, then Ace lost focus to exchange verbal barbs with Mustafa Ali, who was seated at commentary. ABC took too long to spring into their finisher, and Trent Seven saved Mike Bailey. Speedball Mountain surged with a Burning Hammer and Ultima Weapon combo to pin Ace. Bey was not pleased with Ace after the match. Bailey versus Seven goes down next week on Impact to determine the #1 contender for the X-Division Championship.

Share your thoughts on this week’s episode of Impact.