One week after NXT headman Shawn Michaels said Joe Hendry’s name, bringing the popular TNA wrestler (and the man he’s been feuding with in his home promotion, Frankie Kazarian) to WWE’s Tuesday night show, the cross-promotional adventure continued at June 28’s Impact tapings.
SPOILERS for future episodes of Impact follow, obviously.
Three members of the NXT roster showed up at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia for the first of TNA’s two nights there.
Before Friday night’s show, Knockouts champion Jordynne Grace — the first person to step through what she dubbed the Prohibited Portal for her Battleground program with NXT Women’s champion Roxanne Perez — issued an open challenge. That was answered by Izzi Dame, who quote-tweeted this fan video of her entrance with “I love a challenge”:
NXT’s Izzi Dame is answering Jordan Grace’s open challenge for the TNA Women’s Championship pic.twitter.com/kHGkWnNq1s
— Mario Candelaria (@TheOtherMarioC) June 29, 2024
Grace was victorious, her second successful defense against an NXT wrestler answering one of her open challenges (she defeated Tatum Paxley at Against All Odds after Paxley factored into Grace’s loss at Battleground along with the woman Jordynne will defend the Knockouts belt against at TNA’s July 20 Slammiversary PPV, Ash By Elegance).
While Izzi didn’t leave with a belt, she did pick up some valuable experience. This was the first time the former college volleyball player ever wrestled in a non-WWE ring.
Elsewhere on the show, it looks like No Quarter Catch Crew are going to be feuding with The Rascalz. Charlie Dempsey showed up during a match between Trey Miguel and Leon Slater. Before the segment was over, William Regal’s son (who’s twice been sent to other promotions by WWE recently, late last year to All-Japan and to Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport during WrestleMania week in Philly) had taken out Miguel, Slater, Zachary Wentz & the referee.
Charlie Dempsey just came out @WWENXT #nxt #charliedempsey @ThisIsTNA pic.twitter.com/uEQFWMuHH4
— Jose Mendez (@Jmendez_2919) June 28, 2024
That led to a match between, Dempsey & Wentz. Charlie’s NQCC teammate Myles Borne interfered in that one, helping Dempsey pick-up a win.
No Quarter Catch Crew are crossing the line!!
— (@WrestlingCovers) June 29, 2024
Myles Borne joined Charlie Dempsey at the TNA tapings‼️
— @realjoelivehd83 pic.twitter.com/NeSh2PjY27
The angle with Rascalz Miguel & Wentz is particularly interesting, as current NXT star Wes Lee was their teammate when he was with Impact (where he wrestled as Dezmond Xavier). He joined WWE with Wentz, who worked in NXT as Nash Carter before being released amidst controversy in 2022.
What’s next for the TNA/NXT partnership? Stay tuned...
UPDATE: Saturday’s taping saw Tavion Heights show up along with Dempsey & Borne. The NQCC trio def. Miguel, Wentz & KUSHIDA.
No Quarter Catch Crew (Myles Borne, Charlie Dempsey, and Tavion Heights) are at tonight’s TNA iMPACT tapings‼️‼️ pic.twitter.com/WAJ7H4giit
— (@WrestlingCovers) June 29, 2024
No sign of Wes Lee yet, but it’s hard to think this isn’t headed that way.
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