Impact Wrestling – January 8, 2026: One Last Ride
Impact Wrestling
Date: January 8, 2026
Location: El Paso County Coliseum, El Paso, Texas
Commentators: Tom Hannifan, Matthew Rehwoldt
Dang this taping must have gone on for about nine years. We are a week away from the debut on AMC and that should make for a big night. Last week saw Frankie Kazarian retain the World Title over Bear Bronson in what was a surprisingly good match. Hopefully they can keep that going next week when things really matter so let’s get to it.
Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.
Opening recap.
Opening sequence.
IMG Credit: TNA Wrestling
Here are the Hardys for a chat. Matt says they already have a big match tonight but they need to talk about the Righteous. Last week, the Righteous turned their locker room into a shrine, with pictures of the Hardys’ wives and children. Get out here right now and deal with things. Cue the Righteous, with the Hardys saying they want to fight instead of talk. If they have to do this, the Righteous wants this to be a friendly competition, but that’s not what the Hardys want. The challenge is on for right now but the Righteous passes, because it needs preparation time. They’ll do it at Genesis instead. Simple and effective here.
Steve Maclin wants the International Title back and Eric Young comes in to threaten him with the Cleanse.
IMG Credit: TNA Wrestling
Dani Luna vs. Harley Hudson
Luna jumps her to start and gets in a hard slam. Hudson strikes away but can’t get a sunset flip. Instead it’s a bulldog out of the corner to give Hudson two but Luna kicks her back down. The Lunar Landing gives Luna the win at 3:02.
Rating: C. This was just a step above a squash, with Hudson giving Luna just enough trouble. Luna winning the Knockouts Title wouldn’t be a surprise whatsoever, which doesn’t sound like the worst thing. She’s come a long way in the last few months and is exactly the kind of fresh star the division could use.
Post match the beatdown stays on, with Myla Grace getting taken out as well. Lei Ying Lee runs in for the save and gets dropped, as does Xia Brookside. Well that worked.
Ryan Nemeth suggests that Mara Sade likes him and gets superkicked again.
Order 4 goes to the ring and Elijah follows.
The Elegance Brand can’t pick a Mr. Elegance….but then they pick a cameraman. He takes his shirt off and apparently it works. They go off together and independent wrestler Dustin Nguyen pops out from underneath the table, saying he must protect the Elegance Brand. That’s not a twist I was expecting.
Here is Order 4 for a chat. They talk about changes that are being made around here, which they’ll announce slowly so the people around here will understand. Mustafa Ali isn’t happy with Elijah and polls the audience about getting rid of all of Elijah’s stuff. This includes cowboy boots and guitars, but the fans aren’t impressed. Ali rants about the fans being stupid because he was dragged away by a horse…and here is Elijah on a horse to chase them off.
Post break Order 4 gets outside, where the chase continues. Rehwoldt things this is horse sh….bad.
IMG Credit: TNA Wrestling
International Title: Steve Maclin vs. Stacks
Stacks, with Arianna Grace, is defending and has the NXT stars (now the NXT Outlaws) with him. Maclin jumps him to start and grabs an early backbreaker for one. That’s enough for Stacks to bail out to the floor and we take a break. We come back with Maclin fighting out of a chinlock but getting sent into the ropes for some choking. The Outlaws get involved and are quickly ejected as a result. Maclin fights back but Grace gets inside, leaving Maclin to dive onto some of the Outlaws. Back in and Maclin loads up the spear in the Tree Of Woe but Grace comes in to rake Maclin’s eyes for the DQ at 7:33.
Rating: C. This was more of an angle than a match, with Maclin fighting back against Stacks but being outnumbered. Maybe he brings in some help against NXT, but it isn’t like the story is set to end anytime soon. If nothing else it gives Maclin something to do, though hopefully he winds up in the World Title picture again sooner than later.
Post match the Outlaws and Grace beat Maclin down.
We look at Leon Slater not winning the NXT Title this week.
In a Digital Exclusive edition of the First Class Penthouse, AJ Francis went on a rant against Rich Swann, who wasn’t grateful to Francis for saving TNA. Swann come in and beat Francis down, even breaking his new album.
Genesis rundown.
IMG Credit: TNA Wrestling
The System vs. Leon Slater/Hardys/Cedric Alexander
This is the System’s Last Dance as JDC is retiring soon. Myers and Alexander start things off and a lockup goes nowhere. It does however allow commentary to thank AXS TV for being their home for the last six years, which is a nice touch. Matt comes in to send Moose’s head into the buckles over and over before catapulting Eddie throat first into the rope. It’s off to Jeff for a chinlock and Slater comes in for Poetry In Motion.
Edwards gets in a shot of his own though and it’s back to Moose to clean house. Moose misses a charge out to the floor though and it’s time for the parade of dives, with even Alisha getting in on things. We take a break and come back with Slater fighting out of a chinlock and hitting a handspring elbow.
Jeff comes in to pick up the pace but walks into an implant DDT. JDC gets in a chinlock of his own and the System gets to take over in the corner. That’s broken up and it’s Alexander coming back in to start the comeback. Everything breaks down and it’s a double Plot Twist to drop the System. Moose is up with a spear to Slater but Alexander rolls him up for the pin at 15:41.
Rating: B. This was about what you would have expected, though I was surprised to see Alexander pin Moose for the win. Moose has been having a bit of a losing streak lately and that’s not something you often see. At least they got in some good action and JDC can get his big moment at Genesis.
Video on Lei Ying Lee.
Santino Marella is in the ring and still depressed, but he brings out Mike Santana and Frankie Kazarian for their contract signing. Marella explains that the title is on the line and explains what it means for Genesis, with a new challenger needing to be chosen if Santana loses. Kazarian praises Santana before saying he’s an addict as well, but it’s to being the World Champion. That’s why he’ll do anything it takes to retain the title.
Santana has heard all of this before and this time he’s going to do it again. He goes to sign the contract…and here is Nic Nemeth, who also has a Call Your Shot match. Nemeth is going to watch them beat each other up and then cash in his trophy to become World Champion again. Santana signs anyway and Kazarian does the same so the big staredown can end the show. Normally I would say there was no way they would do a cash-in, but I would have said that after Bound For Glory as well.
Overall Rating: B-. This wasn’t the most wrestling heavy show but at least they did some things to start building up Genesis. At the same time though, they have next week’s major show to get ready and this show did a nice job of making that happen. Santana should get his (second) big moment next week and hopefully they can blow off that stupid trophy at Genesis. Either way, while it didn’t have a ton of action, this show set up some bigger events and that’s a job that needs to be done.
Results
Dani Luna b. Harley Hudson – Lunar Landing
Steve Maclin b. Stacks via DQ when Arianna Grace interfered
Cedric Alexander/Leon Slater/Hardys b. The System – Rollup to Moose
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