Heatwave 2025
Date: August 24, 2025
Location: Lowell Memorial Auditorium, Lowell, Massachusetts
Commentators: Booker T., Vic Joseph

It’s another special event and in this case we have quite the David vs. Goliath main event, as Je’Von Evans challenges Oba Femi for the NXT Title. Other than that, TNA is around again and has some fairly prominent matches, including the Knockouts Title on the line. This show has been fairly big over the years so hopefully the live up to the reputation here. Let’s get to it.

The opening video focuses on the idea of a spark turning into a big fire and how anything can make it start. This gives us a look at the card.

Jaida Parker vs. Kelani Jordan vs. Lola Vice

For a future Women’s Title shot and Jordan’s parents are in the crowd. Parker gets double superkicked to the floor to start and a flipping forearm knocks her off the apron. That doesn’t last long as Parker comes back in to knock them both down to quite the reaction, as Parker seems to be the crowd favorite. The double stack tear drop connects for Parker in the corner but Jordan knocks her to the floor again.

That leaves Vice to get caught in the ropes for a spinning legdrop, with Parker having to make a save. Back in and Vice pulls Parker into a triangle choke, only for Jordan to dive off the top for a save. Jordan superkicks Parker to the floor and hits a slingshot dive but Vice is back in with her bouncing kicks back inside. The running hip attacks connect in the corner but Parker is back up to run them over for two each.

Vice is sent outside but comes back in to catch Parker on top for a Tower Of Doom. Jordan gets up and kicks Parker down but One Of A Kind hits raised knees. Hipnotique is cut off by Vice but Jordan gives Vice a spinning Angle Slam. Jordan’s 450 is left short and Vice guillotine chokes her, only to avoid Parker’s Hipnotique. With Jordan knocked silly, Vice gets a rollup to pin Parker at 11:52.

Rating: B-. This had some issues but they gave three up and coming women a chance to show what they could do and the match wound up being pretty good. I’m not sure it got to the point of being some big career making match for the three of them as Vice has been close to the title before, but this was a good opener and showed what we might be seeing in the future of the women’s division. Nice work from everyone involved, though Parker needs to win something soon.

The Culling is ok with recent losses and focus on going after the No Quarter Catch Crew.

Tag Team Titles: Darkstate vs. Hank & Tank

Darkstate (Osiris Griffin and Dion Lennox in this case, with the other members at ringside) is challenging. Hank slugs away at Lennox to start and shrugs off a clothesline, which has Lennox a bit surprised. Griffin comes in to slam Tank but everything breaks down and the champs hit some running dives to the floor to drop all of Darkstate. Back in and Hank gets crotched on top, allowing Lennox to hammer away outside.

Lennox whips him into the corner back inside as Booker doesn’t think it would be too bad if Darkstate wins. Booker: “Other teams will have to step up.” Kind of yeah, but wrestlers have weird logic. Hank manages to avoid a charge and brings Tank back in, with Darkstate quickly double powerbombing him for two.

Tank breaks up a superplex attempt and throws Lennox off the top onto Griffin, setting up a Swanton onto both of them. Hank takes out the rest of the team and gets up for the tag, followed by a dive off the top to drop them again. The double standing splash looks to set up the powerbomb/neckbreaker combination but a distraction lets Tank get crotched on the post. A Doomsday Device gives us new champions at 10:06.

Rating: C+. There was almost no reason to believe that Hank & Tank were going to retain here as Darkstate needed to win something and Hank & Tank felt like underdog champions for their entire reign. Darkstate feels like it could be something with the titles and that’s a good idea. Now just find some good teams to come after the belts.

Ava isn’t happy with Lexis King for attacking Myles Borne. The solution: a blindfold match next week.

TNA Knockouts Title: Ash By Elegance vs. Jacy Jayne vs. Masha Slamovich

Jayne (with the rest of Fatal Influence) is defending and Ash has the rest of the Elegance Brand with her. Ash and Slamovich punch Jayne down to start but Jayne is back up for a quick rollup. Jayne sends Ash to the apron and hits a flip dive off the apron. Slamovich is right there with a dive of her own, followed by a running kick for two on Ash.

Jayne gets back in and is sent down just as fast, leaving Slamovich to clothesline Ash for two. The Personal Concierge offers a distraction so Slamovich can be knocked outside, leaving Ash to get two off a flipping neckbreaker. A sitout powerbomb gives Jayne two and it’s Slamovich coming back in to clean house. Jayne cuts Slamovich off with a running knee to the face and a swinging neckbreaker gets two.

Slamovich sends Jayne into the corner but Ash is right back with a top rope Meteora for two of his own. The other groups get in a big argument on the floor, with Jazmyn Nyx getting in a cheap shot, and that’s an over the top ejection for Fatal Influence. Slamovich and Jayne crash out to the floor and Ash dives onto both of them for probably the biggest spot of her career. Back in and the Rolling Encore connects on Slamovich but the Elegance brand pulls Jayne out, leaving Ash to hit Rarefied Air to pin Slamovich at 12:22.

Rating: B-. What we got here wasn’t a great match, but what mattered the most was getting the title back to TNA. At some point they had to win something or things were going to get even worse. The match featured a bunch of high spots, but it was the second match of a similar style of the night, which isn’t the easiest thing to overcome. Either way, the result is what matters most.

Je’Von Evans is getting warned up when Ricky Saints comes in to give him a pep talk. Evans has sore ribs but he’s ready to go.

Blake Monroe vs. Jordynne Grace

No recap here but they were friends for about five minutes before splitting up and Monroe mocked Grace for not being a star, while Grace needs to win the big one to prove herself. Monroe slaps her in the face to start and runs away from a charging Grace, who chases her behind commentary. Back in and Grace hits a kind of spinning Big Ending, followed by a suplex out to the floor.

A fall away slam sends Monroe crashing on the outside but she gets in a shot of her own to take over. Monroe pulls her shoulder first into the post and it’s off to a seated full nelson. That’s broken up so Monroe goes with a Sling Blade for two. Monroe’s seated armbar doesn’t work as Grace fights up and slingshots her into the ropes for the break. Some clothesline drop Monroe again and a spinebuster into a Jackhammer gets two.

Grace loads up a reverse Alabama Slam and throws Monroe down, with a turnbuckle pad being ripped off in the process. Back up and a not so great Skull Crushing Finale has Grace in trouble and Monroe flips over for an armbar. That’s broken up and Grace gets fired up but a headbutt cuts her off. Monroe’s suplex gets two and Grace’s arm seems to be banged up from the armbar. Grace is able to reverse a superplex attempt into a super sitout powerbomb for two and they’re both down. Back up and Monroe manages to stomp her Grace head first into the exposed buckle, setting up a double arm DDT for the pin at 12:45.

Rating: B. Rather good, hard hitting fight here, with Monroe looking like she survived for a big win here. That’s something that should serve as a nice upgrade for her, which she needs so soon after her debut. That being said, is Grace just not allowed to win anything important? She was the biggest deal ever when she came into NXT and has proceeded to do just about nothing. They might want to work on that.

Jaida Parker is mad about her loss when Lash Legend comes in to mock her. They’re quickly held apart.

Jacy Jayne isn’t happy with her loss and blames her teammates when Lola Vice comes in. Jayne says there’s no problem here, but Vice thinks there will be a problem at No Mercy when she gets her title shot. Zaria and Sol Ruca come in to mock Fatal Influence (Jayne wants to know how they always manage to show up) and the villains leave.

Tavion Heights/Tyra Mae Steele vs. Chelsea Green/Ethan Page

USA vs. Canada, the Secret Hervice is with Green/Page and the fans are VERY pro-Green and don’t approve as Steele takes her to the mat for a roll around. Heights comes in for a fireman’s carry on Page and the Canadians are sent crashing out to the floor. Page grabs the mic and shouts that Canada will NOT give your citizenship before taking Heights down for some elbows.

The chinlock goes on for a bit before Green comes in to dropkick Steele off the apron. A running Downward Spiral gets two on Heights, who is back up to block Green’s chop. Steele comes back in with a spear and swings Green into Page, which might have been a bit low. The women trade crossbodies for a double down, allowing the tag off to Heights to clean house. Green offers a distraction though and stereo big boots leave Heights and Page down.

Steele comes in to suplex Page and tries to do it again, only for Alba Fyre to try to make the save. That’s fine with Steele, who suplexes both of them but the referee won’t stand for her ankle locking Page. The distraction lets Fyre come in for the superkick and Green grabs the Unpretty Her for the pin at 9:31.

Rating: C. Heights and Steele are still fairly new, or at least rather untested, and it was clear that they needed some help to get them through the match. At the same time, it’s nice to see them getting the chance to go out there as you have to bring in the fresh blood at some point. The match wasn’t the best, but it’s nice to see someone new being presented in a bigger spot.

Josh Briggs comes in to see Oba Femi, who is clearly being worn down by being champion. Femi wants him out of here but Briggs says he’s next in line to come for the title.

Ava announces that the Speed Titles will be defended on NXT, with Sol Ruca defending at No Mercy. A tournament is coming to crown a new opponent. You know, it is ok to just drop some concepts occasionally. The Speed Titles would be a good choice for that status.

NXT Title: Je’Von Evans vs. Oba Femi

Femi is defending after Evans won a #1 contenders match. Evans goes after him to start and is sent flying into the corner, further banging up his bad ribs. Instead Evans tries to pick up the pace and goes for the springboard cutter, which is pulled out of the air as well. With that not working either, Evans lands a quick superkick and Femi is stunned by the knockdown.

A basement superkick looks to set up the frog splash but Evans bails out at the last second. Femi gets back up so Evans dropkicks him to the floor, only for the dive to be cut off as Femi grabs him by the throat. Back in and a gutbuster has Evans in more trouble and a big spinebuster makes it worse. Evans somehow fights up again but walks into a backbreaker. A chokeslam gets two and Femi isn’t sure what to do now.

Evans manages to get in a few shots of his own and some spinning kicks to the head get two. The top rope splash connects, though Evans lands a bit too early and the referee has to check on him. The second attempt lands a lot better for two but a strike off goes to Femi (that forearm was LOUD). Somehow Evans manages a German suplex but Femi pops up with a hard clothesline. The springboard cutter gets Evans out of trouble so he tries it again, only to get uppercutted out of the air for a rather near fall.

Femi goes up (up oh) but Evans is shoved down and into the referee, only to come back with a super hurricanrana. A pop up cutter hits Femi and the top rope cutter connects as another referee comes in to count three….but the first referee points out that Femi’s foot was underneath the rope. Back up and Femi picks Evans up and THROWS HIM OVER THE TOP AND ONTO THE ANNOUNCERS’ TABLE for one of the nastiest landings I’ve seen in a long time. Back in and what used to be Evans is planted with the Fall From Grace for the pin to retain at 17:42.

Rating: B. This started out slowly but I was getting it it by the end, with Evans doing everything he could to make you believe that the impossible could happen. The visual pinfall at the end was a nice touch, but that crash at the end was the really big spot of the match and OUCH. Hopefully Evans gets that he doesn’t have to do that very often, or he’s going to have a very short career.

Post match Femi celebrates but Ricky Saints comes out for the staredown to end the show. There are worse choices for a next challenger.

Overall Rating: B-. I’m not sure how much this needed to be its own stand alone special, as it felt more like getting things ready for the future rather than doing much here. The biggest things were setting up Saints as the next challenger and the two title changes, one of which doesn’t even involve an NXT title. That being said, the focus here seemed to be on bringing up some fresh names, which is a good idea. It might not be the stuff that matters at the moment, but it’s planting some seeds for the future.

Results
Lola Vice b. Jaida Parker and Kelani Jordan – Rollup to Parker
Darkstate b. Hank & Tank – Doomsday Device to Hank
Ash By Elegance b. Jacy Jayne and Masha Slamovich – Rarefied Air to Slamovich
Blake Monroe b. Jordynne Grace – Double arm DDT
Chelsea Green/Ethan Page b. Tyra Mae Steele/Tavion Heights – Unpretty Her to Steele
Oba Femi b. Je’Von Evans – Fall From Grace

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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Impact Wrestling
Date: August 21, 2025
Location: Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena, Baltimore, Maryland
Commentators: Tom Hannifan, Matthew Rehwoldt

We’re done with Emergence and the big story coming out of the show is Trick Williams defeating Moose to retain the World Title. That means NXT is still in control of two major TNA titles as we get closer to Bound For Glory. That show is going to start getting set up sooner than later so let’s get to it.

Here is Emergence if you need a recap.

We open with a long Emergence recap.

Opening sequence.

Here is Trick Williams for a chat. Williams brags about his success and says he is carrying two brands at the same time…and Mike Santana interrupts. Santana asks how many people are tired of hearing Williams run his mouth. He gives Williams credit for his success, but promises to spin the block and win the World Title.

Williams turns down the challenge (assuming there was one) but here is Santino Marella to make the match…but Williams apparently has a contract saying he doesn’t have to defend the title for fifty days. Williams insults Santana’s family so Santana chases him off. Simple way to stretch things out to Bound For Glory.

Mustafa Ali, with Order 4, is tired of being pushed around by the System so it’s time to fight back.

Post break, Trick Williams is in the back with AJ Francis. Santino Marella comes in and says that Williams might not have to defend the title, but he can be in a tag match against Mike Santana and a surprise partner.

We look at Je’Von Evans beating Trick Williams on NXT, plus Fatal Influence beating the Elegance Brand.

Knockouts Gauntlet Match

For a future Knockouts Title shot. Xia Brookside is in at #1 and Killer Kelly is in at #2. They crawl around at each other to play the mind games and Brookside grabs a headlock. That’s broken up so Kelly gets a headscissors, which earns her a kick out of the corner. An elbow to the back gets two on Kelly but she’s back with knees to the neck. A running forearm to the neck sets up a chinlock but Brookside Stunners her way to freedom. Brookside can’t get a super sunset flip so she settles for the Brooksie Bomb for the pin 5:52.

Dani Luna is in at #3 and, after a break, Brookside starts working on the arm. That’s broken up and Luna gets two off a northern lights suplex. The sliding clothesline takes Brookside down again but she sends Luna into the corner. The Broken Wings misses though and Luna kicks her down, setting up the Lunar Landing for the pin at 11:38.

Rosemary is in at #4 and, again after a break, she knocks Luna outside. Back in and Rosemary bites the fingers, followed by a sliding forearm for two. Luna knocks her down again though and hits a quick Lunar Landing for the pin at 15:02. Indi Hartwell is in at #5 and after the customary break, she strikes away and grabs an armbar.

Hartwell cranks on the arms and they trade rollups until Hartwell gets the pin at 19:03. Luna wrecks Hartwell after the fall though and leaves her laying, so here is Jody Threat in at #6 to break it up. Threat calms Luna down…and gets decked for the DQ to give Threat the title shot at 22:55.

Rating: C+. The Knockouts division is in a weird place at the moment as it doesn’t really feel like there is any fire to the whole thing. Indi Hartwell is ok enough, but the former Spitfire members fighting each other isn’t much of a top story. I’m guessing someone gets to step up at Bound For Glory and take the title back from Jacy Jayne’s evil NXT clutches, but who is the big hero? Slamovich?

Post match Luna destroys Hartwell with a chair until security breaks it up.

The IInspiration want the Knockouts Tag Team Titles. Fatal Influence come in to mock them and declare themselves the better team, leading to bickering.

Jody Threat says she doesn’t want the title shot this way but Dani Luna comes in and they argue as well.

Here is Ryan Nemeth to say his BIG BROTHER will be back in two weeks.

Frankie Kazarian vs. Jake Something

Something starts fast and backdrops him down, followed by a knock out to the floor. Kazarian gets dropped onto the apron and a powerslam gives Something two back inside. A clothesline gets Kazarian out of trouble and the springboard spinning legdrop gets two. Back up and Something plants him down for two and a sitout powerbomb connects for the same. Kazarian seems to have managed to get the turnbuckle pad off and Something misses a charge into the exposed buckle, setting up the Fade To Black for the pin at 5:45.

Rating: C+. It’s pretty clear that Kazarian is coming for (and likely winning) the International Title so putting him over the previous #1 contender is a fine way of getting him closer. Kazarian really needs to win something as he has mainly been living off of that one battle royal win last year and that title shot has already gone. Giving him something else, like the International Title, would fix the problem.

Mara Sade is painting when the Hardys come in. She says they inspired her to paint at Slammiversary and of course Jeff Hardy is interested so they’re off to see some art.

Cedric Alexander sits down next to Leon Slater and admits Slater was the better man at Emergence. For now though, he’s gotten the two of them a tag match next week against the Hardys.

Steve Maclin will be Mike Santana’s partner. Works for Santino Marella.

Here is Jacy Jayne for a chat. She brags about her success and doesn’t think anyone can come close to her level. This is her company and she’s walking out of NXT Heatwave with both belts. Cue Ash By Elegance to interrupt and she is LIVID, ranting about how Sunday should be about the two of them, not Masha “Slamab****.”. Cue Slamovich, who calls them Brittney Spears and Evil Katy Perry, so she’s winning the title on Sunday. And that’s that.

Order 4 mocks Mara Sade’s painting when the Hardys and Sade come in. The villains say it’s hideous but Sade says she’s going to get a match with Tasha Steelz. Matt Hardy calls Steelz something censored and Order 4 leaves, with Jeff revealing that it’s a paining of the Hardys logo. The Knockouts division needs some fresh blood so why not give Sade something to do?

Eric Young comes up to Myron Reed and tells him to pick a side, because he’ll be gone when Trey Miguel is back. Zachary Wentz comes in and apparently will face Young soon. Young says a cleanse is coming. Sweet goodness can we cleanse this place from Young and his big ideas?

Matt Cardona/The System vs. Order 4

Myers and Skyler lock up to start with Myers stomping away in the corner. Cardona comes in with a Russian legsweep before it’s right back to Myers, who is driven into the corner. Everything breaks down and Moose powerbombs Hotch onto the other villains on the floor as we take a break.

We come back with Cardona fighting out of trouble to hand it back to Moose for the house cleaning. Everything breaks down and the middle rope chokebomb gets two on Ali. Cardona adds a top rope elbow but the Great Hands make the save. Ali is back up with the dives but gets dropped by Moose. A triple superkick cuts Moose off and he gets sent into the steps. Cue Tasha Steelz to go after Alisha Edwards, which draws out Eddie Edwards, but Agent Zero cuts him off. Back in and a low blow cuts Myers off, setting up the Favor for the pin at 10:10.

Rating: B-. I like the idea of Order 4 getting the big push as the top heel stable, as the System’s face turn is going well enough. They need competition though and Order 4 is about as good as it gets. The villains playing the numbers advantage makes good sense and we could be in for a heck of a hoss fight when Moose faces Agent Zero.

Post match the big beatdown is on with Ali loading up a chair but JDC runs in with a chair of his own for the save. Agent Zero lays JDC out though and Moose is held back to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. The problem here is we have a long way to go before Bound For Glory but the build to the show is already on. You can see where a lot of this is going (and that’s fine) but it’s going to be a long road to the show. This show was something like looking at the picture on a puzzle box, as you know what the end goal is going to be, but the building process is just getting started.

Results
Jody Threat won a Knockouts Gauntlet match last eliminating Indi Hartwell
Frankie Kazarian b. Jake Something – Fade To Black
Order 4 b. Matt Cardona/The System – Favor to Myers

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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Impact Wrestling
Date: August 14, 2025
Location: Thomas M. Ryan Center, Kingston, Rhode Island
Commentators: Tom Hannifan, Matthew Rehwoldt

It’s the night before Emergence so this week is likely going to be about setting things up for the pay per view. The big story coming out of this week’s NXT saw Trick Williams turn his back on his partners, including #1 contender Moose, allowing Darkstate to win an eight man tag. That is likely going to require some revenge so let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Opening recap.

Opening sequence.

Moose has been attacked in the back and the System hits the ring. They call out Trick Williams and First Class so it’s six man tag time.

First Class/Trick Williams vs. The System

The brawl is on in the aisle with the System getting the better of things. We settle down to Edwards crushing Swann in the corner and handing it off to JDC. Swann gets taken down but he kicks JDC out to the floor to take over for the first time. Francis’ chinlock doesn’t last long so it’s Williams coming in for a flapjack. Another chinlock goes on, followed by a bearhug from Francis. JDC suplexes his way out of trouble though and it’s off to Myers for an implant DDT to Swann. Everything breaks down and Swann gets a rollup with feet on the ropes to pin Myers at 6:12.

Rating: C+. That’s what this needed to be, with the System still finding their footing as good guys and Swann getting to steal a win to reestablish himself. Swann is a former World Champion but he’s been gone for so long that some people might have forgotten that he can hang at this level. Myers and JDC exist to lose for the System so this was hardly some big upset either.

We run down the rest of the card.

Myla Grace/Harley Hudson vs. Dani Luna/Indi Hartwell

Hudson can’t take Luna over with a headlock to start but Luna can easily power her down. A choke doesn’t work for Hudson either so she sends Luna into the corner for some running knees to the face. Luna powers them away again though and it’s off to Hartwell to clean house. The Hurts Donut finishes Grace at 3:40.

Rating: C-. Not much to this one, though Grace and Hudson are at least getting a chance to establish themselves as something. They still have a long way to go, but they have a bit of an identity as the rookies. Eventually they’ll need to win something, but we’re a long way off before they’re anything close to a failure.

Respect is shown post match but Rosemary pops out of the crowd to mist Hartwell.

We look at Order 4 costing Joe Hendry a match against Mustafa Ali last week.

John Skyler vs. Matt Cardona

Order 4 is here with Skyler. Cardona takes him into the corner to start but a distraction from the floor lets Skyler drop Cardona outside. Back in and the chinlock doesn’t last long but Tasha Steelz blocks the Reboot. Instead Cardona hits Radio Silence for the win at 2:19.

Post match Order 4 jumps Cardona and Mustafa Ali comes out to send Agent Zero out for the big beatdown.

Jody Threat and Dani Luna check on Indi Hartwell but get in an argument.

Matt Cardona is looking for Mustafa Ali and seems ready to face him at Emergence.

We look at a three way being set up for the Knockouts Title, with Jacy Jayne defending against Masha Slamovich and Ash By Elegance.

Here is Santino Marella for a Knockouts tag team summit. This brings out the Elegance Brand, Lei Ying Lee/Xia Brookside, IInspiration and Fatal Influence, with the Brand bragging about their abilities. Brookside promises a beating for everyone and Fatal Influence promises to show NXT’s superiority. Tension is teased and the brawl breaks out in a hurry, with dives taking out security. Pretty basic stuff here.

Rosemary isn’t happy with Indi Hartwell strolling in here so she made Hartwell as blind as Hartwell seems to be.

Steph de Lander and Mance Warner are annoyed at being suspended for having some personal time in Santino Marella’s locker room last week. Nothing is keeping him out of TNA.

Eric Young vs. Mike Santana

The Northern Armory is here with Young. Santana gets jumped from behind to start and gets sent outside. The Armory gets in some cheap shots so Young can hammer away in the corner, followed by a hard whip for two. The chinlock doesn’t last long as Santana fights back and hits an enziguri, followed by the rolling Buck Fifty for two of his own. Young shoves him off the top though and hits a top rope elbow for two. Young misses a clothesline off the top though and Spin The Block finishes for Santana at 5:31.

Rating: B-. Short and to the point match here, which is the best way to go as Santana can get a win over a name. They didn’t need to let this go long as Santana got everything he needed out of it by overcoming the odds to win. Now just get Santana where he belongs on the pay back to the World Title.

Post match the Armory jumps Santana but Sami Callihan makes the save.

We look at the TNA action on NXT, including Joe Hendry getting a win and Trick Williams costing his partners the eight man tag against Darkstate.

Here is Frankie Kazarian for the King’s Speech. Kazarian brings out Jake Something and Steve Maclin (facing each other at Emergence) as his guests and this isn’t likely to go well. They go face to face but Kazarian keeps telling them to keep from fighting, which has Maclin telling him to shut up. Maclin goes after Kazarian but walks into Into The Void. I’m not sure if he will, but I could go for Something winning the title.

Emergence rundown.

Sami Callihan says he’s done if he doesn’t win at Emergence. Eddie Edwards comes in to say he wants the real Callihan to come out one more time.

Rascalz/Cedric Alexander vs. Leon Slater/Hardys

Alexander wrestles Slater down to start before Reed comes in for a Fameasser in the ropes. Slater kicks him in the head though and brings Matt in to take over on Reed’s arm. Jeff gets in a few shots of his own, allowing Slater to hit a clothesline for two. The ten rams into the corner have Reed in more trouble but he gets over to Wentz. Slater gets taken down again, with Wentz firing off some elbows to the chest for two. Jeff comes in for a quick Poetry In Motion and grabs a chinlock on Wentz as we take a break.

We come back with Matt getting taken into the corner so Wentz can grab a front facelock. That’s switched into a regular chinlock but Matt fights out without much trouble. A superplex drops Wentz and Jeff comes back in to take over on Alexander. Whisper In The Wind (though not a clean one) gets two and it’s Slater coming back in to plant Reed. We hit the parade of knockdowns and the good guys grab a string of Twist of Fates (or Twisting Stunner from Jeff because he’s weird).

It’s too early for the Swanton so instead Alexander gets splashed by Jeff. Slater’s crossover splash gets two with the Rascalz making the save. The Rascalz hit dives on the floor and Salter nails a big dive over the corner. Back in and Alexander avoids the Swanton 450 and grabs the Lumbar Check for the pin at 17:28.

Rating: B. I can always go for the “take two matches and put them into a six man” style and they did well with it here. Alexander is a good first challenger for Slater as he’s going to be completely fine in the ring and help make Slater look good. At the same time, the Hardys are getting ready for their big match against Team 3D, meaning the titles might actually be in jeopardy as they have bigger things going on.

The double staredown ends the show.

Overall Rating: B-. While Emergence only feels so important between Slammiversary and Bound For Glory, this show did a good job of building it up. Oddly save for the World Title match, which was mainly touched on earlier in the week on NXT, the card got a solid boost here. Emergence could be a good show, and this week had a lot to do with making that work.

Results
First Class/Trick Williams b. The System – Rollup with feet on the ropes to Myers
Dani Luna/Indi Hartwell b. Myla Grace/Harley Hudson – Hurts Donut to Grace
Matt Cardona b. John Skyler – Radio Silence
Mike Santana b. Eric Young – Spin The Block
Cedric Alexander/Rascalz b. Hardys/Leon Slater – Lumbar Check to Slater

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

Impact Wrestling
Date: August 7, 2025
Location: Thomas M. Ryan Center, Kingston, Rhode Island
Commentators: Tom Hannifan, Matthew Rehwoldt

Emergence is coming up sooner than later and we have a big time main event as Trick Williams will be defending the World Title against Moose. That should make for a big showdown but we’re going to need something else on the card. We should be covering some of that this week so let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Opening recap.

Opening sequence.

Here is Trick Williams to get things going. He’s officially set to defend the title against Moose next week at Emergence and all of bubble headed Moose’s bubble headed family is going to be there. Williams wants to talk about it but cue Moose to interrupt. They go face to face and the threat of Moose’s spear sends Williams bailing.

Gia Miller is back and thankful for the help she received while she was gone. As for Tessa Blanchard, if she puts her hands on Gia one more time, Gia will “f****** kill you.” Joe Hendry comes in to say Mustafa Ali will believe in him tonight.

Steve Maclin was at a local soccer stadium.

Mike Santana meets with Sami Callihan but Eric Young and the Northern Armory interrupts. Young says he was running this place when Santana was in high school and now it needs a cleanse. Santana glares them away.

International Title: Jake Something vs. Steve Maclin

Maclin is defending and Frankie Kazarian is on commentary. Maclin hammers away to start and gets two off an early Angle Slam. They hit stereo clotheslines for the double down and then slug it out from their knees. Something is sent outside for the Scud and they fight to the apron…for a double countout at 3:47.

Rating: C+. This was a hard hitting match while it lasted but the ending feels like it is designed to set up the rematch, likely with some adjusted rules, for Emergence. I’m curious to see how that goes, as Maclin feels secure as champion but Something could pull off the upset. This likely sets that up and the path they took to get there worked well.

Post match they have to be held apart but Maclin gives him a running flip dive onto the security.

Mance Warner and Steph de Lander can’t find Santino Marella.

Cedric Alexander says he is in his prime and is ready to win the X-Division Title.

Xia Brookside/Lei Ying Lee vs. Elegance Brand

The Brand is kicked down to start and Brookside’s step up backsplash gets two on M. Lee sends M outside and we take an early break. We come back with Heather’s clothesline getting two on Lee and the Brand hit running boots in the corner. M comes in but Lee rolls over for the tag off to Brookside to clean house. A Codebreaker cuts that off but Lee is back with Thunderstruck. Lee picks M up for a VERY spinning TKO and the pin at 8:10.

Rating: C. Nice enough tag match here, with Brookside and Lee beating the non-champions edition of the Elegance Brand. That should put them close to the top of the list of contenders for a title shot, as it isn’t like there is a ton of competition to clear. I’ll take a thrown together team who works well as a unit though, as it’s better than floating around aimlessly.

Santino Marella and Arianna Grace go to Marella’s office…but something is apparently happening in there (likely Mance Warner/Steph de Lander related).

Ash By Elegance yells at the rest of the Brand for screwing up on her big night and throws all of them out.

It’s time for an emergency edition of the First Class Penthouse. There is a big problem, as KC Navarro is out of action with a torn ACL. AJ Francis doesn’t seem too worried as he brings out Navarro’s replacement: Rich Swann! Navarro is officially out, which makes sense as he was Swann’s replacement in the first place. That doesn’t work for Navarro, who goes on a RANT about how he has done everything for Francis. However, Francis says he’s been carrying Navarro for nine months and kicks the crutch away so Navarro has to limp off. Well that’s a good evil move.

Mara Sade vs. Vicious Vicki

Sade isn’t having any of Vicki’s wristlocking and knocks her straight down. A flipping splash gets two, with Sade pulling her up. Finish Her (a butterfly gutbuster) finishes Vicki at 1:52.

We look at Joe Hendry appearing on NXT and getting a match set up with Charlie Dempsey. Wren Sinclair appears to be a Hendry fan too.

In addition on NXT, Moose, Trick Williams, Je’Von Evans and Oba Femi got in a fight with Darkstate, setting up an eight man tag next week.

Knockouts Title: Ash By Elegance vs. Jacy Jayne

Ash, with the Personal Concierge (the only other person out here for either of them) is challenging. They fight over a lockup to start and go to the mat and then the corner with neither getting much control. An exchange of rollups gets two two each until Ash powers her down…and here is Masha Slamovich to jump Ash for the DQ at 1:56.

Post match Jayne jumps Slamovich and Fatal Influence runs in for the beatdown, with the Elegance Brand making the save. Xia Brookside and Lei Ying Lee, plus the IInspiration run in to get in on things as well, with Slamovich, Brookside, Lee and the IInspiration clearing the ring.

The Hardys talk about defending not just their titles, but also their legacies.

Here is Santino Marella to announce some matches for Emergence. First up, Steve Maclin is defending the International Title against Jake Something, no DQ and no countout. Next, Mike Santana vs. Sami Callihan. For the Knockouts Tag Team Titles, the Elegance Brand is defending against the IInspiration, Xia Brookside/Lei Ying Lee and Fatal Influence in a four way.

Before he gets any further though, Marella wants the Nemeths out here right now. Nic says they get a rematch for their titles, but after last week’s attack on the Hometown Man, Nic is suspended for Emergence. On the other hand though, Ryan is facing the Hometown Man one on one.

Mustafa Ali vs. Joe Hendry

Order 4 is with Ali. The fans are behind Hendry to start, even as Ali backs him into the corner. Hendry is back out with a wristlock and takes him down a few times to amp up the frustration. The delayed suplex gives Hendry two as commentary rapid fires through the Emergence card.

Ali is knocked outside and we take an early break. We come back with Hendry firing off some uppercuts but getting dropped with a pair of neckbreakers for two. The standing corkscrew moonsault misses for Ali though and Hendry snaps off a DDT. The fall away slam drops Ali again but it’s time to go outside, where Hendry has to take out the Great Hands. Back in and the Hands are pulled inside, only to be clotheslined right back out.

Ali’s rolling neckbreaker is countered with a cutter and the Standing Ovation connects but Tasha Steelz pulls the referee. The Great Hands hit their Samoan drop/Blockbuster combination but Ali misses a charge in the corner. A pop up powerbomb and AA give Hendry two, only for Steelz to break up another Standing Ovation. Agent Zero gets in a big boot and Ali’s 450 is good for the pin at 14:50.

Rating: B. This was about Hendry not being able to overcome the odds on his own as his bad luck continues. That’s not the brightest sign for his future, but when you’re on NXT most of the time these days, things seem to be going fairly well. The match did feel big, and Ali getting into the World Title picture is a rather promising concept.

Overall Rating: B-. I can always go for a show where things keep moving and that was the situation this week. We had good action, matches were set up for Emergence and stories were moved forward. That’s the kind of show that they needed with only a week to go before the pay per view, so this was a nice night. Emergence isn’t the biggest show, but it needed some attention, which was taken care of here.

Results
Steve Maclin vs. Jake Something went to a double countout
Xia Brookside/Lei Ying Lee b. Elegance Brand – TKO to M
Mara Sade b. Vicious Vicki – Finish Her
Ash By Elegance b. Jacy Jayne via DQ when Masha Slamovich interfered
Mustafa Ali b. Joe Hendry – 450

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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Impact Wrestling
Date: July 31, 2025
Location: Thomas M. Ryan Center, Kingston, Rhode Island
Commentators: Tom Hannifan, Matthew Rehwoldt

We’re continuing to see the rise of Mike Santana, who beat Joe Hendry last week in probably the biggest win of his career. Other than that, we’re getting ready for Emergence, which is one of the last stops on the way to Bound For Glory. The shows are going to need some work and we might find out some of those developments this week. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Opening recap.

Opening sequence.

X-Division Title: Cedric Alexander vs. Jason Hotch vs. Leon Slater

Slater is defending and Hotch has Order 4 with him. Alexander wrestles them both down at the same time (that’s impressive) but Slater kicks him in the head. Back up and Alexander drops both of them, including a running kick to Hotch’s head. A Falcon Arrow gets two on Slater but Hotch German suplexes both of them. Hotch drops both of them with a middle rope moonsault to the floor, only for Slater to come back with a hanging Twist Of Fate. The Swanton 450 finishes Hotch at 4:05.

Rating: C+. Good, fast paced opener here with Slater getting to show what he can do in a more traditional X-Division match. Slater got his big moment and Slammiversary and it’s probably going to be a big before he had a next major challenger. This was a nice filler on the way to whatever that happens to be.

Post match Alexander and Slater have a staredown.

Masha Slamovich is ready to get the Knockouts Title back.

Cedric Alexander comes up to Leon Slater and a singles match is teased.

Indi Hartwell/Dani Luna vs. Arianna Grace/Jody Threat

Grace and Luna start things off with Grace spinning around and posing. That means a headlock takeover from Luna as Victoria Crawford, who apparently put the match together, comes out to watch. Grace fights up and brings Luna into the corner for the tag to Threat. A running crossbody puts Luna down and she misses a charge out to the floor. Back in and Grace stomps Luna down but the tag brings in Hartwell to stomp away. It’s quickly back to Threat, who walks into the Lunar Landing to give Luna the pin at 6:24.

Rating: C. While I hope that Hartwell and Luna aren’t slotted into a team, I’m not sure what any of these four have going on at the moment. Hartwell is coming off a big win at Slammiversary, but I can’t quite picture her as anything more than a challenger of the month for the Knockouts Title. The other three are just kind of there, which isn’t the brightest sign for their futures.

Jake Something wants the International Title. Steve Maclin comes in for the staredown.

Rascalz vs. Nemeths

The Nemeths try to jump them from behind but get cut off and sent to the floor. We settle down to the Nemeths taking over on Reed with Ryan elbowing him down for two. Nic’s chinlock doesn’t last long so he grabs a neckbreaker instead. Reed manages a Stundog Millionaire to escape and it’s off to Wentz to pick up the pace. Nic sneaks in a superkick from the floor to give Ryan two but Reed’s running diving cutter takes him down. Wentz Spiral Taps Ryan for the pin at 6:15.

Rating: C+. They didn’t have time to do much here but the Rascalz getting into the title picture isn’t a bad idea. The Hardys need someone to come after the belts before they face Team 3D at Bound For Glory (because that’s a thing) and the Rascalz could work well. It’s not like the Nemeths felt like they were a long term option as a top team anyway.

Post match the Nemeths say they didn’t get pinned to lose the titles so they want their rematch. Ryan mocks Rhode Island and that brings out the Home Town Man, who says these people are beautiful. The Nemeths try to say he’s really….and Home Town Man turns it into his theme song. The brawl is on and the mask is ripped off, but security covers his face with a towel. Eventually the Rascalz make the save.

Frankie Kazarian is tired of the lack of respect around here and wants to talk to company president Carlos Silva.

Here is Mike Santana for a chat. Standing in the crowd, Santana says that with everyone watching, he lost at Slammiversary. He has lost before and it makes him fight even harder. Santana walks to the ring and talks about seeing his daughter crying after his loss. As upset as he was, he had to be a dad and tell her it would be ok. Mark his words: he will be World Champion. Dang this is working and he needs to win the title.

Knockouts Title: Jacy Jayne vs. Masha Slamovich

Jayne, with Fatal Influence, is defending. They trade some fast rollups for two each to start and it goes so well that they keep going until Slamovich hits a running clothesline. Fatal Influence gets in a cheap shot though and Jayne adds a running knee from the apron. A running neckbreaker gives Jayne two and she grabs a chinlock. Slamovich fights up….and here is Ash By Elegance to jump her from behind for the DQ at 3:30.

Rating: C-. This didn’t have time to do anything but the point was to get rid of the contractually obligated rematch and set up something new for the future. As usual, Jayne doesn’t really have much of a chance in a one on one fight, but that’s the point of her run. It’s going to make her eventual loss feel that much more important and it could happen anytime she is in the ring, which is a nice twist.

The rest of the Elegance Brand gets in to argue with Fatal Influence. Lei Ying Lee and Xia Brookside run in to clear the ring.

KC Navarro is still injured and AJ Francis is NOT happy with him.

Ash By Elegance and Masha Slamovich have to be held apart. Santino Marella gives Ash a Knockouts Title shot next week, with the winner defending against Slamovich. Marella says these women drive him crazy.

Video on Mara Sade, who has an athletic background and wants to mix it up with looking fabulous. This is more individual attention than she got in her time in NXT.

Here is Order 4 for their victory rally. Mustafa Ali complains about the outsiders coming here to take their titles and now it is time to change. He introduces the new monster security guard as Agent Zero but the fans do not want to see Ali as the World Champion. Ali makes the mistake of insulting Joe Hendry, who is immediately there to interrupt.

Hendry mentions Ali having a secret service, but there are no secrets around here. This includes some footage of John Skyler, whose face is shown on a Wrestling Buddy. “Skyler” ate pizza, bought a Joe Hendry shirt, and used a Mustafa Ali shirt to clean himself off. Ali vs. Hendry is set for next week. I can absolutely go with Ali getting a bigger, more prominent role.

Earlier this week, Sami Callihan was asked about his future. Moose was right when he said Callihan wasn’t the same man he once was. Callihan needs to prove himself, so he wants a match with Mike Santana. If he can’t win there, he might be done for good.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

The System vs. Trick Williams/AJ Francis

Alisha Edwards and the still injured KC Navarro are here too. Francis kicks at Edwards to start but Moose comes in to send Williams and Francis to the floor. We take a break and come back with Francis hitting Moose with a running knee. Moose suplexes his way out of trouble though and it’s off to Edwards for a hard suicide dive.

Williams takes over on the floor though and Edwards gets taken into the wrong corner. The chinlock doesn’t last long and Edwards fights out of the corner, setting up a Blue Thunder Bomb to Francis. Moose comes back in to clean house as everything breaks down. Navarro crutches Williams by mistake and Moose spears Williams for the pin at 9:30.

Rating: C+. That’s a nice way to set up the title match at Emergence, despite it being strange to see the System as good guys for a change. I’m not sure if they’re full on heroes yet, but Moose going after the title for the sake of TNA isn’t a bad way to go. I can’t imagine it’s the title change, but it works as a stepping stone from Emergence until Bound For Glory.

Overall Rating: C+. This show started getting things ready for Emergence and now we have a few weeks left to fill in the rest of the gaps. The action was good enough for some nice matches, though that wasn’t exactly the point this week. While we have a long way to go before Bound For Glory, this was a good step on the way there.

Results
Leon Slater b. Jason Hotch and Cedric Alexander – Swanton 450 to Hotch
Indi Hartwell/Dani Luna b. Arianna Grace/Jody Threat – Lunar Landing to Threat
Rascalz b. Nemeths – Spiral Tap to Ryan
Masha Slamovich b. Jacy Jayne via DQ when Ash By Elegance interfered
The System b. AJ Francis/Trick Williams – Spear to Williams

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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Slammiversary 2025
Date: July 20, 2025
Location: UBS Arena, Elmont, New York
Commentators: Tom Hannifan, Matthew Rehwoldt

It’s one of the biggest shows of the year for TNA and they’re in a major arena. In this case we have a main event about TNA getting the World Title back from behind NXT lines as Joe Hendry and Mike Santana go after Trick Williams. Other than that, we have a four way tag team ladder match for the titles, because we must ladder. Let’s get to it.

Kickoff Show: Knockouts Tag Team Titles: IInspiration vs. Elegance Brand

The Elegance Brand, with the Personal Concierge and M By Elegance, is defending. McKay shoves Heather into the corner for the stomping to start and the IInspiration gets to do their double pose. Heather gets in a cheap shot though and Ash comes in to hammer away. The handspring elbow in the corner connects and a running dropkick gets two.

McKay fights out of the corner though and it’s Lee coming in off the tag. A fisherman’s suplex gives Lee two and a top rope hurricanrana sends Ash flying. The superplex gets two more, with M putting the foot on the rope. Lee hits a big dive off the top but Heather breaks up the Idolizer. A cheap shot from M sets up Rarefied Air to retain the titles at 8:43.

Rating: C+. They weren’t out there very long but it was an energetic match with the champions retaining. As much as the titles would seem to have been made for the IInspiration, it’s too early for the Elegance Brand to lose the titles. Good enough match too, with a simple story that didn’t overstay its welcome.

Here is the Northern Armory, with Eric Young insulting the New York crowd (with no subtlety whatsoever). He is sick of the Home Town Man and issues an open challenge so here we go.

Kickoff Show: Eric Young vs. Home Town Man

Man backdrops him to start and hammers away in the corner but Young gets in a hot shot onto the turnbuckle. Young rips off Man’s Islanders jersey and we hit the chinlock. That doesn’t last long as Man fights up and makes the clothesline comeback. Young knocks him off the top though and the top rope elbow gets two. We pause for Young to yell at some fans, allowing Man to backdrop his way out of a piledriver and cradle Young for the pin at 4:05.

Rating: C. See, this is the kind of gimmick that can work well. It might not work for a long time, but I’ll absolutely take this over TNA trying to make me care about Cody Deaner’s career prospects. This is a goofy, fun thing where the fans are in on the joke and there is nothing wrong with that.

Kickoff Show: Real1/Zilla Fatu/Josh Bishop vs. Steve Maclin/Jake Something/Mance Warner

This is a mini-invasion deal, as Real1 and company are from Fourth Rope Wrestling. Real1 does the same catchphrases he’s used for ten years now and introduces his partners. Warner and Fatu strike it out to start with Fatu knocking him down, only to miss the top rope splash.

Maclin comes in to strike away and Fatu’s splash hits Bishop by mistake. Real1 gets caught with the running shoulder in the Tree Of Woe but Bishop gives Maclin a chokeslam. We hit the parade of dives until Warner hits something by mistake. Real1 hits Eat Defeat to pin Something at 2:54. Sweet goodness I could go with never seeing Real1 again.

And now, the show proper.

Brianna Laughlin (I believe Tommy Dreamer’s daughter) sings the National Anthem.

The opening video starts with a brief history of the promotion before looking at what we’re getting tonight.

Mustafa Ali vs. Cedric Alexander

Order 4 is here with Ali. They take their time to start with Ali getting in an armdrag, followed by a flipping exchange of arm cranking. A big exchange of chops sees Alexander kicking him into the ropes, followed by a German suplex on the floor. The Secret Service offers a distraction though, allowing Ali to hit a big dive.

Back in and Ali misses the 450, plus a charge into the corner. Ali is fine enough to go up top, where Alexander super Falcon Arrows him onto the pile at ringside. Back in and Ali DDTs him, only to miss a standing moonsault. Alexander misses a shot of his own, allowing Ali to grab a Sharpshooter. That’s broken up so they head back outside, where Ali gets backdropped HARD onto the steps.

The chase is on, with Jason Hotch getting in a DDT to cut Alexander off. Back in and the 450 gives Ali two, complete with the big shocked kickout face. Tasha Steelz gets in the ring to yell at the referee and is promptly ejected. Ali rolls into a cutter from Alexander, who suplexes him into the corner for a nasty landing. The Lumbar Check gives Alexander two but cue Steelz with a chair (How is this not a DQ?), earning herself a Lumbar Check. Ali hits a quick 450 for the pin at 14:30.

Rating: B. These two work very well together and they had a hot opener here, lack of a DQ at the end aside. I’m not sure what is next for Alexander, but it’s nice to see Ali get a nice win. Order 4 needs something to do, but at least Ali got some momentum after having issues with the team.

We run down the card.

Joe Hendry is ready to get the World Title back.

The System/Matt Cardona vs. Darkstate

Darkstate runs in for the brawl before the bell and everyone gets in a fight. JDC uses a chair and, after the Sabu point, hits a big flip dive. They get back inside to officially start, with Myers planting Shugars but missing a charge into the corner. Griffin rakes Myers’ eyes across the top rope and hands it off to Lennox to keep up the beating. It’s off to James for a chinlock but Myers fights out and hits a spear.

Cardona comes in to clean house, with the Reboot hitting Shugars for two. The middle rope triplebomb plants Cardona for two but Shugars gets powerbombed out of the corner. A top rope elbow into Down And Dirty gets two and they all brawl. Radio Silence hits Shugars, followed by the Boston Knee Party to give Edwards the pin at 6:44.

Rating: C+. And that’s how Darkstate loses their first match. I’m really not sure what the thinking is behind that but they did at least lose to some of the bigger names in TNA. Still though, kind of a weird way to go, with something of a makeshift team beating the invaders in a pretty short match.

We recap Tessa Blanchard vs. Indi Hartwell. They were friends years ago but Hartwell says Blanchard has change. Fighting is ensuing.

Tessa Blanchard vs. Indi Hartwell

Victoria Crawford is here with Blanchard. They start with a chase and Blanchard gets in a baseball slide, only for a stomp on the apron to be blocked. Back in and Blanchard starts in on the leg before kicking Hartwell in the face for two. Blanchard goes up top but takes too long, allowing Hartwell to come back with a superplex.

The knee is too banged up for her to capitalize though and Blanchard is back up. The slugout goes to Hartwell, who fires off some clotheslines and a boot to the head. Blanchard gets planted for two but the Hurts Donut is broken up. A superkick sends Hartwell to the floor for a running flip dive but she breaks up the buzzsaw DDT.

Blanchard is right back with a tiger driver for two, only to miss Magnum. Now the Hurts Donut can connect for two but Blanchard catches her on top with a super cutter. Magnum gets two so Blanchard yells a lot, only to get caught with the Hurts Donut for the pin at 15:34.

Rating: C+. Not a bad match, but Hartwell going over Blanchard feels wrong on a variety of levels. Hartwell is trying but she’s not on Blanchard’s level and it’s rather obvious when they’re in the ring together. Maybe this is more of Blanchard’s punishment after her absence, though I’m not sure what’s enough to make up for such a loss.

Post match Blanchard jumps Hartwell and takes out Gigi Miller for a bonus. In the back, Santino Marella ejects Blanchard from the building.

The Elegance Brand is happy with their win but the IInspiration comes in to yell a lot.

We recap Jacy Jayne vs. Masha Slamovich, title for title. The idea is Jayne is a huge underdog but that was the case when she won the NXT Women’s Title in the first place.

TNA Knockouts Title/NXT Women’s Title: Masha Slamovich vs. Jacy Jayne

Winner take all and the rest of Fatal Influence is here with Jayne. Slamovich sends her throat first into the ropes to start before taking out Jazmyn Nyx on the floor. Fallon Henley offers a bit of an assist though, with Slamovich going into the post. Back in and some knees to the back set up a chinlock from Jayne but Slamovich drops down onto her for the break.

Some running shots in the corner stagger Jayne for two and Slamovich drives her into another corner for the same. They go up top and Slamovich blocks a sunset bomb attempt. Jayne’s running knee gets two so the rest of the team gets on the apron. Jayne hits a belt shot for two but she misses a Cannonball in the corner. Slamovich’s running boot to the face connects but Fatal Influence gets up.

Here are Xia Brookside and Lei Ying Lee to even the score (this would have been a cooler moment if their names hadn’t been listed on Slamovich’s chyron at the beginning of the match) but the referee goes down. Slamovich hits the Snow Plow but there is no referee for the count, meaning the replacement referee gets a very delayed two. They trade rollups for two each before the Rolling Encore (discus forearm) makes Jayne a double champion at 12:38.

Rating: B-. It makes perfect sense, as there is something about having the unstoppable champion get stopped by someone in over their head. That’s something that has worked for years and it worked again here, with Jayne getting to look like a star again. Slamovich is going to be fine, though I’m not thrilled at the idea of Indi Hartwell as the possible Knockouts savior.

Naturally this is the darkest hour ever for TNA as Jayne is presented with the title.

Eric Young yells at the Northern Armory.

The company has set a new record for highest North American attendance. Nice job.

We recap the X-Division Title match. Leon Slater wants to become the youngest champion ever while Moose wants to become the longest reigning champion of all time. This has been set up for a few months now and it should be a good a good one.

X-Division Title: Leon Slater vs. Moose

Moose, with his old school theme, is defending. Slater slugs away to start but gets choke bombed out of the corner for two. They go outside with Slater’s hurricanrana being blocked but he’s able to send Moose into the steps. Back in and Slater can’t hit a torture rack bomb, instead being sent hard into the buckle.

The release Rock Bottom drops Slater again and they go to the apron. Another chokebomb is countered into a hurricanrana and a powerbomb is countered into another hurricanrana. Slater takes him out with a bit flip dive but the pop up powerbomb drops Slater inside. Slater’s clothesline doesn’t so much so Moose blasts him with a discus lariat. Back up and Slater gets in a hard clothesline of his own but Moose crotches him on top.

The spear gives Moose two but he misses another into the corner. Slater manages the torture rack slam into a spear of his own, followed by the Swanton 450 for two. A springboard is speared out of the air to send Slater outside, where he hits a Code Red. Back in and a Swanton into another Swanton 450 gives Slater the pin and the title at 15:27.

Rating: B. Good action with a good story and that’s all you can ask for most of the time. The idea here was Slater getting to win the big one and that has been set up for the last few months. Slater gets the big win on the major stage and that is the best possible outcome. Moose had held onto the title, but Slater sound up being different, which is the way it should have gone.

Post match Slater celebrates with his family before Moose puts the title on him in a rare show of respect. With Moose gone, AJ Styles comes out to an absolute hero’s welcome (with Slater running around in circles). Styles asks if TNA missed him and talks about his history here. He says Slater earned it and says people like Slater make Styles love this business. Styles lists off some great X-Division wrestlers and says the division is in good hands before announcing Slater as the new champion. That’s as awesome of a rub as you’ll get.

The Home Town Man is in the crowd.

We recap the four way ladder match for the Tag Team Titles. The idea here is that the Hardys aren’t sure if they have it anymore and need to prove themselves one more time. The other teams are basically window dressing.

Tag Team Titles: Hardys vs. Rascalz vs. First Class vs. Nemeths

The Nemeths are defending in a ladder match so they throw ladders in to start fast. The Hardys take one of them away and start to clean house, with every non-Hardy team being dropped. For some reason the Hardys go up at the same time, with Francis shoving it over for a crash onto the top rope.

Francis World’s Strongest Slams Reed onto the ladder but Navarro gets on Francis’ shoulders, allowing Wentz to hit something of a Doomsday dropkick. Francis gets crushed with a ladder and Reed hits his diving cutter to the floor. Wentz dives through a bridged ladder at ringside and Francis is pulled off the ladder so the Hardys can double team him down.

The Nemeths break it up and climb at the same time, with the Rascalz making the save this time. The big ladder is sat up and Francis climbs up for a moonsault down into a big crash. First Class goes up and are promptly shoved over for a crash onto the bridged ladders outside.

Jeff hits a Swanton onto the Rascalz on more bridged ladders but these don’t break (though the Rascalz might), so Jeff goes up and does it again. With nothing else working, Jeff grabs a remote control and a rope ladder drops down (because of course). The Nemeths go up and crash down, with the Hardys giving them stereo Twists of Fate with chairs around their necks. Jeff climbs up to get the titles at 16:46.

Rating: B-. They had some unique spots here, but there was a grand total of no reason for this to be a ladder match. It felt like they were doing one for the sake of giving the Hardys another moment, which has been done to death. We’re not that far removed from the Hardys’ most recent title win either, so it isn’t like this is some big impactful win.

Post match, here is Bully Ray of all people and I instantly do not like where this is going. Ray praises the Hardys and puts over their history together. He wants to do it one more time at Bound For Glory and the match seems to be made. For the life of me this makes my head hurt.

Santino Marella announces that Tessa Blanchard has been suspended indefinitely. With that out of the way, the Busted Open Radio hosts make their main event predictions, but Frankie Kazarian interrupts. Kazarian thinks he should be in the main event but instead he’ll sit at ringside for commentary.

We recap the main event. Joe Hendry lost the World Title to NXT’s Trick Williams. This sent a bunch of people into a quest to get the title back in TNA, with Hendry and Mike Santana getting their shot tonight.

TNA World Title: Joe Hendry vs. Mike Santana vs. Trick Williams

Williams is defending and Santana gets rapped to the ring. That’s not good enough for Williams, who has a Harlem gospel choir singing him to the ring. Williams runs his mouth to start so the other two beat him up for a trip out to the floor. Santana flips out of Hendry’s wristlock but Hendry wins an exchange of shoulders.

Spin The Block doesn’t work for Santana and Williams is back in to hammer away in the corner. Santana is sent outside and Williams gives Hendry a release Rock Bottom for two. Williams guillotines Hendry, who powers out with a suplex for the breather. Back in and Santana strikes away but Williams cuts off the Cannonball. The chinlock doesn’t last long and Hendry is back in for a powerbomb/Blockbuster combination.

Santana is sent outside and Hendry gives Williams the Standing Ovation, only for Kazarian to pull the referee out. Santana dives onto Williams but Hendry drives onto both of them. We pause for Williams to be helped up, leaving Santana to Cannonball Hendry. Back up and Hendry hits an AA into the Standing Ovation for two but Santana is back with a pair of Spin The Blocks. That’s enough for Williams to pop slide back in, dumb Santana, and steal the pin to retain at 13:16.

Rating: B-. It might not make sense, but I’m really not surprised. TNA has a tendency to have what feels like a layup for a big moment and then not deliver on it, which was the case again here. The match itself was fairly good, but I could go without seeing the “and then someone steals the win” finish to a triple threat for a long time. Odds are Williams loses the title in the main event of Bound For Glory, but dang that feels like a long way off.

Overall Rating: B-. The action was mostly good, but outside of Slater’s title win, this was a rough night to be a TNA fan. NXT is dominating the title picture right now and other than Slater, we’re heading for the Hardys vs. the Dudleys. It’s not a bad show, but dang they better have something to make the fans happy on the way to Bound For Glory, because that’s a long way off. Just give us something to be happy about, as otherwise it’s killing the mood.

Results
Elegance Brand b. IInspiration – Rarefied Air to Lee
Home Town Man b. Eric Young – Rollup
Real1/Zilla Fatu/Josh Bishop b. Steve Maclin/Jake Something/Mance Warner – Eat Defeat to Something
Mustafa Ali b. Cedric Alexander – 450
The System/Matt Cardona b. Darkstate – Boston Knee Party to Shugars
Indi Hartwell b. Tessa Blanchard – Hurts Donut
Jacy Jayne b. Masha Slamovich – Rolling Encore
Leon Slater b. Moose – Swanton 450
Hardys b. Nemeths, Rascalz and First Class – Jeff pulled down the titles
Trick Williams b. Joe Hendry and Mike Santana – Spin The Block to Hendry

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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Evolution 2025
Date: July 13, 2025
Location: State Farm Arena, Atlanta, Georgia
Commentators: Wade Barrett, Michael Cole

We’re back to the all women’s show again and there are some interesting options on the card. There are multiple title matches included on the show, with the likely main event of Rhea Ripley challenging Iyo Sky for the Raw Women’s Title. The other big match on the show will see a battle royal for a title shot at Clash In Paris. Let’s get to it.

The opening video, set to Katy Perry’s Rise, looks at how far women’s wrestling has come, with a nice mixture of legends and modern stars. The theme is that the legends paved the way for today’s stars and today’s stars will pave the way for the future. Makes sense. I’m not sure why they say Evolution is a mystery.

Joe Tessitore brings out Stephanie McMahon as his co-host, because of the huge impact she has had on women’s wrestling. Stephanie talks about how far women have come and how proud she is of all of them. Women are regularly main eventing and now they get to do it all over again.

Women’s Intercontinental Title: Bayley vs. Lyra Valkyria vs. Becky Lynch

Lynch is defending. The fans go rather nuts at the three way staredown and Valkyria gets knocked down. Lynch strikes away at Bayley, who grabs a suplex to take her down rather quickly. Back in and Valkyria grabs a rollup for two on Lynch, followed by a springboard crossbody for the same. Bayley is sent outside, leaving Valkyria to put Lynch in the rocking horse. That’s broken up by a returning Bayley but Valkyria clears the ring. Valkyria heads outside, where she is quickly dropped, leaving the other two to slug it out.

Valkyria is back up with a crossbody to Bayley but Lynch drives Valkyria into the apron. Back in and Lynch hammers Bayley down while adding some quality sneering. The Rose Plant and Disarm-Her are both broken up and Valkyria is back in to strike away. Valkyria reverses the Manhandle Slam for two and a fisherman’s buster gets two, with Bayley coming off the top with an elbow for the save. Bayley ties Valkyria in the Tree Of Woe and stomps away before sunset bombing Lynch into her.

That’s good for a nice sequence and two, so it isn’t a total loss. Lynch kicks Valkyria down and superplexes Bayley, setting up the cross armbreaker. Bayley gets out and tries the Rose Plant again but this time Valkyria comes off the top with a Fameasser to break it up. Back up and Lynch DDTs both of them for two on Valkyria, leaving Lynch unsure what to do next.

The Manhandle Slam gives Lynch two more as Bayley makes another save and everyone is down again. Bayley takes Lynch down and slaps Valkyria, who gives her an enziguri. Nightwing hits Lynch, with Bayley DIVING in for the save. The Rose Plant and Nightwing are both countered but Valkyria misses an enziguri. Now the Rose Plant can connect but Lynch rolls Bayley up to retain at 16:25.

Rating: B. Good action here, with all three working hard for various reasons. You have Bayley who is mad at Lynch for attacking her, Valkyria who wants to prove herself, and Lynch who just loves to win. Lynch is already making the title feel more important and having her win a match like this makes it all the bigger.

Ava, Mark Henry and Vickie Guerrero are here.

NXT Women’s Title: Jordynne Grace vs. Jacy Jayne

Jayne, with the rest of Fatal Influence, is defending against Grace, who has Blake Monroe to even her out a bit. The idea here is that Jayne is in WAY over her head as Grace is a monster and Jayne won the title on what felt like a fluke. Jayne misses a discus forearm to start and gets German suplexed for her efforts. Grace plants her on the floor and takes it right back inside for two more.

Back up and Jayne manages a throat first catapult into the bottom rope so a neckbreaker can get another near fall. The chinlock goes on but Grace fights up with a spinebuster for the break. Back up and Grace drops her face first onto the turnbuckle, followed by a sitout powerbomb for two. Grace hits a World’s Strongest Slam but can’t hit the Vader Bomb. A hanging swinging neckbreaker gives Jayne two but she misses a big boot, which is reversed into a kind of Angle Slam for two more.

Grace goes up top, where Jayne kicks her in the head and hits a running knee for another near fall. Henley throws in the title but the referee cuts it off, allowing Grace to grab another rollup for two more. Jazmyn Nyx goes to get the belt but Monroe takes it away…and hits Grace in the back. The Rolling Encore retains the title at 10:29.

Rating: C+. The idea here was that Jayne was in over her head but she hung in there well enough to survive. At the end of the day though, this loss is on Grace for trusting the most natural villain in wrestling today to be her friend. Monroe turning on Grace is overdue despite them only being friends for a few weeks. This is the logical way to go and thankfully they didn’t do anything else here.

Jazz, Ivory, Jacqueline and Maryse are here.

Tessitore and McMahon recap the show.

Women’s Tag Team Titles: Kabuki Warriors vs. Alexa Bliss/Charlotte vs. Sol Ruca/Zaria vs. Judgment Day

Judgment Day is defending and there is a team from each brand challenging. Sane dropkicks Perez to start fast and a headscissors takes Perez down again. Asuka comes in and the Warriors knock Zaria and Ruca off the apron. It’s off to Rodriguez for a big slam to Asuka and another puts Sane onto Asuka for a bonus. Ruca and Zaria get knocked off the apron again (we might have a theme here) and Asuka fights out of trouble.

The running hip attack misses though and Bliss tags herself back in to take over on Perez. Zaria tags herself in to stalk Bliss, who slips out of a gorilla press. Ruca can’t quite get a spinning belly to back suplex as Bliss escapes again before avoiding a big boot. That’s enough for the tag off to Charlotte to clean house, including a flipping lariat to Rodriguez. A clothesline sends Rodriguez to the floor and a spear cuts Perez in half for two.

Asuka is back in for some German suplexes and the Warriors take turns kicking Zaria down. That doesn’t last long as Zaria drops both of them, setting up an assisted top rope splash from Ruca. The Sol Snatcher hits Charlotte but Ruca has to escape the Sister Abigail DDT. Zaria spears Ruca by mistake and Perez gives Charlotte Pop Rox. Bliss gets powerbombed over the top onto the pile, leaving Rodriguez to Tejana Bomb Ruca and retain at 10:52.

Rating: B. This was the kind of match that had everyone going out there and trying to get their stuff in, which made for a good showcase. What mattered the most here was to have the Tag Team Titles get some stability, which is only going to come with a team staying around. That has to be done again after Liv Morgan’s injury, so hopefully things can stay normal for a bit. The fans were reacting very well to Charlotte here though, so maybe go with that for a bit as well, as it’s a nice breather from her usual stuff.

Torrie Wilson, Melina and Molly Holly are here.

Tessitore and McMahon preview the rest of the show.

We recap Trish Stratus challenging Tiffany Stratton for the Smackdown Women’s Title. Stratton challenged her for a title match because she wants to face a legend. Not much more than that and it should be fine.

Smackdown Women’s Title: Trish Stratus vs. Tiffany Stratton

Stratton is defending and backs her into the corner to start. Stratus is back with a headlock takeover and a wristdrag. It’s way too early for Stratusfaction so they go with the brawling instead. Stratton sends her into the ropes for a running hip attack and a near fall. They go to the apron where Stratus snaps off a Stratusphere to send her crashing outside. Back in and Stratus hits a nice tornado DDT for two but a superkick sends her into the corner.

Stratton busts out Roderick Strong’s End Of Heartache for two, followed by the Swanton. Stratus breaks up the Prettiest Moonsault Ever though and another Stratusphere brings Stratton down. Stratusfaction is broken up but the Prettiest Moonsault Ever hits raised knees. Now Stratusfaction can connect for two so Stratus tries her own moonsault, which also hits knees. The Prettiest Moonsault Ever retains the title at 8:36.

Rating: B-. It was starting to get good but needed another five minutes or so to hit that next level. It’s like part of the middle was missing as they just wrapped it up and went home. Stratus didn’t feel like a serious threat to win the title here but she was more than passable out there and still has the ability to wrestle these one off matches when she is given the chance.

Post match the referee hurries Stratton out so Stratus can get her big ovation.

Alundra Blayze and Lelani Kai are here.

Naomi vs. Jade Cargill

No holds barred and Bianca Belair is guest referee. They start brawling on the floor for the opening bell, with Naomi being sent into the barricade but Cargill being sent into the steps. The big kendo stick shot only hits post though and Cargill knocks her down. Cargill sets up a table but as usual, that takes too long, allowing Naomi to get in a stick shot. Some more weapons are thrown inside and Naomi hits a springboard bulldog onto the chair for two.

Naomi opens a toolbox and finds a chain but Cargill shrugs off the choking. Cargill punches her with the chain and then hits her with a camera as the violence gets cranked up. Naomi gets a trashcan put over her head for a pump kick to send her outside. With the normal stuff not being enough, Cargill picks up the toolbox and drops it in the direction of Naomi’s head, which manages to move to avoid a bad case of death.

A dropkick sends Cargill into a monster and we’ve got some sparks as they both get a breather. Back in and Naomi kicks her in the head, followed by the hanging Pedigree onto the apron. Cargill is knocked off the apron through a table for one of the safest crashes I’ve ever seen. Back in and Naomi puts her on a table with a chair on top, which takes too long, allowing Cargill to chair her down. A middle rope Jaded through the table gives Cargill the pin at 11:16.

Rating: B. Well, it was violent and Cargill felt like she got a definitive win, but that’s the kind of thing that has happened every time they have fought. Cargill gets another win and has some credibility if Naomi gets the title anytime soon, though I could have gone with this wrapping up a month or so ago. Also, Belair was barely a factor here at all.

Battle Royal

Nikki Bella, Chelsea Green, Piper Niven, Alba Fyre, Natalya, Stephanie Vaquer, Ivy Nile, Nia Jax, Kelani Jordan, Jaida Parker, Lola Vice, Lash Legend, Izzi Dame, Tatum Paxley, Zelina Vega, Giulia, Candice LeRae, B-Fab, Michin

Jax gets rid of Paxley and Dame to start, with Jordan following, though she gets caught in the air. Jordan climbs onto the table and will be playing Kofi Kingston tonight. Vaquer beats up Nile in the corner and Nile is tossed out a few seconds later. Jordan manages to do a handstand to climb back into the ring, which is rather impressive. Things settle down a bit until Vaquer’s Devil’s Kiss is broken up by Green (the fans are NOT happy).

Dupri does the reverse Worm and has Natalya do a far worse version. Parker throws Natalya out, with Dupri following. LeRae is knocked out and pulls Jordan out with her. Giulia and Vega slug it out on the apron and Giulia is sent into the post for an elimination. Niven dumps B-Fab and Michin is out, with Fyre diving through the ropes to save Green. The much bigger Legend tries to powerbomb Vega out but gets caught in a hurricanrana. That’s blocked as well so Legend throws Vega out in quite the power display.

Green stops to pose with the Secret Hervice, allowing Bella to dump Fyre. Green mocks Bella’s dance and Vice kicks away at Niven. Bella spears Green down and does her dance with Vice but Niven breaks it up to get rid of Vice. Bella and Vaquer dump Niven and we’re down to Bella, Vaquer, Jax, Legend and Green. The Devil’s Kiss hits Green and she’s tossed out, but Jax is back up to run Bella over.

Jax does her own version of the Bella dance and Legend gets rid of Bella (that’s a big deal for her) to get us down to three. Legend lifts Jax and puts her on the apron so the two of them can get rid of Jax. A pump kick rocks Vaquer but Legend kicks her in the face. Vaquer hits a 619 but Legend catches a high crossbody. They go out to the apron with Vaquer holding a triangle choke. The Devil’s Kiss on the apron eliminates Legend and Vaquer wins at 15:32.

Rating: B-. This took some time to get going as there were a lot of people to eliminate, but the final few entries were all worth seeing. Vaquer winning is a good way to send her into the title picture where she belongs and her winning the title in Paris is definitely an option. That being said this was the Lash Legend Show, as she was treated like a star in the mold of Jade Cargill last year at the Royal Rumble. She was the show stealing star here and it’s absolutely a great sign for her future.

Post match Stephanie McMahon comes in to ask Vaquer what this means to her. Vaquer answers in English (which she apologizes for not speaking so well), saying that wrestling is her first language. She is going to keep working hard so everyone will remember her name.

We recap Iyo Sky vs. Rhea Ripley for the Raw Women’s Title. Ripley has never beaten Sky and is at the point where she has to do it. Sky is fine with that and it’s a big showdown.

Raw Women’s Title: Rhea Ripley vs. Iyo Sky

Sky is defending. Feeling out process to start with Ripley trying to power her down but Sky keeps slipping away. Ripley blocks what looked like Sliced Bread and puts her in the corner. Ripley pauses, saying they respect each other (Sky agrees), so let’s fight. The slugout is on and Ripley is knocked to the floor, where she manages to block a moonsault. Back in and Ripley is knocked to the apron for a shot to the face, but she’s back up with a hard whip into the barricade. Sky is sent into the steps and Ripley grabs a waistlock.

Ripley runs her over for two more, which has the frustration setting in. Back up and Sky grabs a spinning DDT for a needed breather. Sky gets the better of a slugout and sends Ripley outside for a suicide dive. Back in and Sky hits a missile dropkick to send Ripley sprawling into the corner. Sky misses a charge in the corner though and Ripley strikes away, setting up a facebuster. Another tornado DDT is countered but so is Ripley’s suplex. A poisonrana gives Sky two but Ripley breaks up the Over The Moonsault.

Ripley Razor’s Edges and sitout powerbombs her for two but Sky is back up top. Ripley gets knocked away and Sky tries a missile dropkick…which hits the referee. Riptide connects but there’s no referee, meaning frustration is in again. They fight to the floor and out into the crowd, where Sky gets sent into various things. Sky manages to knock her off some anvil cases, which she climbs onto for a really high crossbody.

They go back to ringside (the referee is STILL down) and Sky hits a sunset bomb from the apron to the floor. Over The Moonsault connects and the referee is back in (TIMING!) for two. They go up top again and this time Ripley sends her face first into the post. Ripley stands up…and it’s a super Spanish Fly to bring her back down…and it’s Naomi with another ref (WHERE THE HECK WAS SHE WHEN JESSIKA CARR WAS DEAD???). The cash in is officially on and it’s a triple threat.

Raw Women’s Title: Naomi vs. Iyo Sky vs. Rhea Ripley

Sky is still defending and Naomi hits her with the briefcase. Ripley is sent outside and the split legged moonsault gives Naomi the pin and the title at 26:50 total.

Rating: A-. Oh man this was going towards being a classic before the screwy ending. These two were beating the fire out of each other and I wanted to see who was going to win. I’m absolutely not a fan of Money In The Bank or a cash in here, but it does make logical sense. Raw needs a top heel in the division and Naomi gets away from Jade Cargill for a bit, but more importantly it means we have one less briefcase. Things are reset a bit and that’s good, but dang I was wanting to see how this was going.

Naomi poses to end the show.

Overall Rating: B+. I really liked this show, as they made the women feel so important throughout the night. The build for the show was pretty weak for the most part, but everything they did here worked, with nothing close to bad and an excellent main event. It was an eventful enough show, with the big angle at the end working, even at the expense of an awesome match. Rather good show here though, and something that felt like it was done in tribute to the women, which is nice to see.

Results
Becky Lynch b. Lyra Valkyria and Bayley – Rollup to Bayley
Jacy Jayne b. Jordynne Grace – Rolling Encore
Judgment Day b. Zaria/Sol Ruca, Kabuki Warriors and Charlotte/Alexa Bliss – Tejana Bomb to Ruca
Tiffany Stratton b. Trish Stratus – Prettiest Moonsault Ever
Stephanie Vaquer won a battle royal last eliminating Lash Legend
Naomi b. Iyo Sky and Rhea Ripley – Split legged moonsault to Sky

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

After a long weekend of wrestling, we get to wrap it up here with what feels like something of an afterthought. WWE is bringing back the all women’s show and while it’s a nice idea, things have changed so much since the original version that it doesn’t feel as necessary. That’s how the show has been treated as well and hopefully they can overcome some of the issues. Let’s get to it.

Smackdown Women’s Title: Tiffany Stratton(c) vs. Trish Stratus

This is basically a battle of the generations and feels mainly like a way to get Stratus in a featured match. I like the idea of Stratus doing a passing the torch moment, but that has already been done a few times so there is only so much impact. The good thing is that Stratus has shown that she can hang in the ring with the modern stars so the match itself should be good.

I can’t fathom a world where Stratus wins here so we’ll say Stratton retains the title. Stratus will probably get some near falls but can’t hang with Stratton’s athleticism. There is a good chance that this works rather well as tends to be the case with Stratus, though the match doesn’t feel overly important. They’re going to have to over deliver and thankfully that is something that feels possible.

Naomi vs. Jade Cargill

This is anything goes, which feels like a way for Cargill to destroy Naomi again. That’s something we’ve seen a few times now and I’m really not sure why this needs to be taking place. The curve this time is that Bianca Belair is going to be the guest referee, which could make things a bit more interesting. This almost has to be the big blowoff to the whole thing, as it has been going for far too long already.

As logical as it would seem to have Cargill smash through Naomi here, I’m thinking they might have Belair accidentally cost Cargill the match, with Naomi getting to steal a win. Naomi has the briefcase and very well may use it at the show, with Cargill already having the Summerslam title shot in her back pocket. There are a few ways this could go, which is nice to see, but at the same time, it’s only so interesting after seeing Cargill smash through Naomi more than once.

NXT Women’s Title: Jacy Jayne(c) vs. Jordynne Grace

The more I’m thinking about this one, the less sure I am about how it goes. The winner here moves on to face Masha Slamovich at next weekend’s Slammiversary event. That could very well mean a big rematch with Grace, but at the same time, that might be a bit too easy. I’m not sure where it’s going and that’s a good feeling to have in a match like this one.

I’ll go with…geez I guess Jayne, who is built around the idea of being the most beatable champion in the company. Having her escape and retain again is not a bad idea, though I’m not sure what that is going to mean for Grace’s future. She needs to win a big match in NXT sooner rather than later, though I’m not sure that is going to be the case here. Jayne winning is an interesting way to go, though I could go for either option here.

Battle Royal

So this is where things get confusing, as battle royals could go just about anywhere. This one is for a title shot at Clash In Paris, meaning this is actually going to matter in some way. There are some talented stars in this one, including the returning Nikki Bella, who is pretty much the focal point of the whole thing. I’m not sure what that is going to mean, though she is always an option to win something like this.

I’ll go with Stephanie Vaquer here, as she feels ready to move up to the next level and a title shot on a big show could do just that. It’s little better than a blind guess here, as there is always the chance of a total wild card getting the shot. Vaquer feels like the best option, though it would not surprise me in the slightest to see Bella pull it off. Hopefully they go with something other than some special moment, though this is the big wild card match on the whole show. Have I made it clear enough that I have no idea who is winning here?

Women’s Tag Team Titles: Judgment Day(c) vs. Alexa Bliss/Charlotte vs. Sol Ruca/Zaria vs. Kabuki Warriors

Here we have the match with the idea being getting a team from each brand on the show. The process for doing that has been kind of all over the place, though in this case that might be a good thing as it meant less qualifying matches. Believe it or not, the titles are in a weird place again as Roxanne Perez has replaced the injured Liv Morgan. That makes things a bit trickier and there is a good chance it changes something here.

With quite the hope that I’ll be wrong, I’ll take Bliss and Charlotte to win here. They’ve received quite a bit of focus and it would make sense to give them the titles. It’s not a story that I care to see, but it feels like the most likely result. I can’t imagine the NXT women getting the titles and while the Warriors feel like an option, this feels like a “well who would have seen that coming” moment with Bliss and Charlotte taking the belts.

Women’s Intercontinental Title: Becky Lynch(c) vs. Bayley vs. Lyra Valkyria

This might be the most interesting match on the show as it is the one with the best buildup so far. Valkyria is mad about getting cheated out of the title and about Bayley not talking to her. Bayley is mad at Valkyria for costing her a title shot last month and Lynch is just being herself throughout the whole thing. It’s a match where you could see it going any way and that is a nice feeling to have.

As tends to be the case in something like this though, I’ll go with the champion to split the difference of the arguing challengers and retain. Lynch hasn’t been champion long and giving her a long run with the title could go a long way to building up the title. Giving her a win in a personal felt like this could make things interesting and Bayley and Valkyria can have a showdown of their own down the line. For now though, Lynch wins.

Raw Women’s Title: Iyo Sky(c) vs. Rhea Ripley

I’m assuming this is going to be the main event, as it certainly feels like the biggest match. The idea here is that Ripley can’t beat Sky, with looks back at her various losses over the years. That makes for a nice way to go and the question is if Ripley can finally get the monkey off her back, as well as regain the title. That’s a nice story to tell and the match should be able to back it up.

I want to say that Ripley wins here as she could use a big moment, but the more I think about it, the more I think Sky retains. Sky has come a very long way to become a much bigger star and feels like she belongs among the elites, though a big loss could hurt her a good deal. Ripley doesn’t need to be losing again here, but I keep thinking that Sky retains here in a heck of a match.

Overall Thoughts

After looking at what is set up for the show, there is only so much that draws my interest. The show hasn’t been treated as a big deal, with Saturday Night’s Main Event and even Summerslam being treated as more important. There is a very good chance that the women tear the house down because the talent is absolutely there, but I could go with a lot better build on the way there.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

NXT
Date: June 10, 2025
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Booker T., Corey Graves, Vic Joseph

It’s time for a hoss fight as Oba Femi is defending the NXT Title against Jasper Troy. That alone should be a heck of a fight as both of them are capable of hitting the other very hard. Other than that, we have the beginning of the build towards Great American Bash, which is about a month away. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Opening recap.

Jasper Troy attacked Oba Femi in the parking lot and chokeslammed him through a windshield.

North American Title: Sean Legacy vs. Ethan Page

Legacy is challenging. Page takes him down with a headlock to start and then does it again without much trouble. Back up and Legacy dropkicks the leg out, with Page bailing out to the floor. We take a break and come back with Page knocking him down again. Legacy gets to the apron for a springboard missile dropkick and a German suplex drops Page again. Shambles is blocked though, leaving Legacy to hit a reverse sitout gordbuster. They go outside where Legacy escapes an Ego’s Edge and posts Page. Back in and the springboard 450 misses though and the Twisted Grin retains the title at 10:22.

Rating: C+. Legacy isn’t breaking out as a star yet but having him rub elbows with people like Page, a former NXT Champion, is a good sign for his future. It wouldn’t surprise me to see Legacy on the full NXT roster rather soon, as he hasn’t felt like he belonged in Evolve from the start. Page continues to win, which is at least a good sign for him after his mostly fluke NXT Title reign.

Post match Ricky Saints runs in to beat Page up and send him running off.

Jacy Jayne asks Ava about the next challenger but Lainey Reid comes in to slap her in the face. Reid does it again and that’s enough for Jayne to give her a title shot tonight.

Earlier today, Lash Legend got in an argument with various women and seems set for a match later.

Shawn Spears says he trusts Izzi Dame but asks why she hit Brooks Jensen with a chair. Dame says it was due to Jensen hinting at wanting a different family. He had to go, with the rest of the team understanding. She has her eyes on someone new.

The Culling vs. Josh Briggs/Yoshiki Inamura

Vance and Inamura lock up to start with Inamura hitting a flying shoulder. Spears comes in for some chops, which just wake Inamura up that much more. It’s off to Briggs, who flips Spears over into a backbreaker. Briggs runs Spears over again but Dame’s distraction lets Vance get in a cheap shot. That doesn’t last long as Briggs hits Vance in the face and brings Inamura back in to clean house. Everything breaks down and Briggs’ moonsault is countered into a Dominator to give Vance the pin at 5:14.

Rating: C. I’m not sure what else they could have gone here, as Briggs and Inamura don’t win much and the Culling needed a victory after seemingly throwing Brooks Jensen off the team. The Culling doesn’t have much going on at the moment, but maybe they could bring in someone else. Like Briggs, to get him away from this Inamura team.

Ava yells at Ricky Saints, whose neck is still so messed up that he can’t talk.

Oba Femi is banged up and the NXT Title match might be in jeopardy.

Andre Chase yells at Chase U for getting beaten up again and not following his instructions. They’re all the way in, so Chase says it’s time to go back to class.

We recap the former Mariah May’s debut last week and join her in a bath. She’s beauty, she’s grace and she’ll probably punch you in the face. She’s the Glamour and she is Blake Monroe. Eh, I’ve heard worse names. Apparently this is VERY inspired by singer Sabrina Carpenter. Ok then.

Lash Legend vs. Wren Sinclair

Kelani Jordan, who was involved in the argument that set this up, is on commentary. Legend powers her down to start and blocks a sunset flip attempt. Sinclair is fine enough to sweep the leg though and grabs Cattle Mutilation of all things. With that broken up, Legend kicks her in the head and drops a splash for two. The bearhug goes on but Sinclair fights out and avoids a charge in the corner. Sinclair tries to go up but gets pulled out of the air and slammed down with the behind the back faceplant for the pin at 4:05.

Rating: C+. These are two people who feel like they could turn into something bigger down the line, even if Sinclair is settling nicely into her role of putting everyone else over. Legend on the other hand feels like a heck of a prospect and will likely be moving up the ladder a lot sooner than later. She has that it factor and that is absolutely worth protecting.

We get a profile on Lainey Reid, who is a southerner and a former track athlete. Tonight, she’s going to show the world that Jacy Jayne is the most beatable champion in WWE.

Jasper Troy didn’t waste his title shot because he knows Oba Femi will be out there no matter what.

Women’s Title: Jacy Jayne vs. Lainey Reid

Jayne, with the rest of Fatal Influence, is defending. Reid gets an early rollup for two to start but Jayne kicks her down and drops a backsplash. Jayne sends her throat first across the ropes to keep Reid down and we take a break. Back with Jayne driving her into the corner but Reid gets in a kick to the chest. Reid’s middle rope…we’ll call it a clothesline….puts Jayne down again and they slap it out. Reid gets the better of things and a swinging suplex gets two. A knee to the face gets two more but Henley offers a distraction, allowing Jayne to hit the Rolling Encore (I think?) to retain at 10:26.

Rating: C. I like the idea of playing up Jayne as such a beatable champion, as she can pick up some wins to slowly start shaking off that moniker. At the same time, she beat a newcomer in Reid, who loses nothing by getting beaten by a much bigger name. Reid still hasn’t shown me much in the ring dating back to her LVL Up days, but NXT needs some replacements after so many people were moved off the show.

Post match Ava pops up on the platform and announces a mini tournament for the #1 contendership, with the title shot taking place at Evolution. Jayne looks nervous.

Josh Briggs is disappointed in the tag team loss but here is TNA’s First Class to mock them. Yoshiki Inamura says AJ Francis is annoying but here is Elijah to blame First Class for the TNA World Title not being in TNA.

Tony D’Angelo and Luca Crusifino don’t seem to trust each other before their tag match.

Charlie Dempsey wishes Myles Borne luck in the future and Borne thanks him for everything the No Quarter Catch Crew did for him. Je’Von Evans comes in to say that was a tough loss for Dempsey, who wants to face Evans as a result.

Video on Worlds Collide.

Mr. Iguana and El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr.

Tony D’Angelo/Luca Crusifino vs. High Ryze

Wes Lee is here with High Ryze. Crusifino chops Igwe to start so it’s off to DuPont as commentary starts asking why anyone in the D’Angelo Family would care about D’Angelo. As that random attack begins, D’Angelo comes in and gets stomped down in the corner. That doesn’t last long and D’Angelo gets up and makes the tag off to Crusifino. House is quickly cleaned on the floor and we take a break.

Back with Crusifino fighting out of a chinlock so Igwe pulls him into a front facelock instead. Crusifino manages a running Codebreaker and the diving tag brings in D’Angelo for the spinebuster. Cue Stacks for a distraction but D’Angelo cuts him off. Crusifino picks up a crowbar (which Stacks may have brought in) but D’Angelo sees him before Crusifino can do anything with it (Crusifino hadn’t even raised it yet). Igwe decks D’Angelo though and the Heartstopper is good for the pin at 9:46.

Rating: C+. WWE absolutely loves that WHAT WAS HE GOING TO DO style of booking and that’s because it often works. The good thing about what they set up here was you could see it going either way, which opens up some options. I’m curious to see what does happen and that’s more than I can say about a lot of what the D’Angelo Family was doing. That being said, commentary suddenly turning on D’Angelo is quite the red flag.

Trick Williams does not like the implication that he needed First Class’ help the beat Elijah and agrees to team with them against Elijah/Josh Briggs/Yoshiki Inamura.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

NXT Title: Oba Femi vs. Jasper Troy

Femi, who is banged up from earlier, is defending. Troy goes after the bad ribs to start and hits a backsplash but Femi manages a slam. Femi fights back until a suplex brings him right back down. They go outside where a clothesline drops Femi, who is whipped so hard into the corner that the middle rope breaks.

We take a break and come back (with the rope fixed) with Femi being dropped hard onto the apron. A splash gives Troy two but Femi makes the clothesline comeback. Femi hits a spinebuster for two but walks into a chokeslam. Jasper shrugs off being tossed and hits a Black Hole Slam for two more. They go outside where Femi sends him through the barricade, followed by the Fall From Grace for….two. Another Fall From Grace retains at 11:21.

Rating: B. Now this was more like it as you had two big guys just beating the daylights out of each other. Troy got a bit of an advantage thanks to the attack earlier in the day and that’s a smart move given how much of a favorite Femi would be here. There is something about watching Femi go into that higher mode where he just wrecks everyone in sight. That’s what we got here, though Troy was more than holding his own for at least awhile.

Overall Rating: B-. That main event bailed out an otherwise not so interesting show, which is more than a little surprising. NXT has been doing well enough lately but they were missing here a bit. Hopefully things turn around, though the TNA stuff isn’t interesting me very much at the moment. Stick with the interesting stories in the women’s division, plus Femi doing whatever he has going on, which tends to be quite good.

Results
Ethan Page b. Sean Legacy – Twisted Grin
The Culling b. Josh Briggs/Yoshiki Inamura – Dominator to Briggs
Lash Legend b. Wren Sinclair – Behind the back faceplant
Jacy Jayne b. Lainey Reid – Rolling Encore
High Ryze b. Tony D’Angelo/Luca Crusifino – Heartstopper to D’Angelo
Oba Femi b. Jasper Troy – Fall From Grace

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

NXT
Date: May 27, 2025
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Corey Graves, Booker T.

We’re done with Battleground and that means it is time to start the rather long road to the Great American Bash. Assuming they don’t have a June special, that’s a long way off to get ready for something but it could be a nice positive. The big story coming out of Battleground is Trick Williams winning the TNA World Title. As for tonight, Ethan Page is challenging for the North American Title so let’s get to it.

Here is Battleground if you need a recap.

We open with a long Battleground recap.

North American Title: Ricky Saints vs. Ethan Page

Page is challenging and the brawl is on before the bell, with security having to hold them back. We’re not waiting though as the match officially gets going, with Saints grabbing a headlock on the mat. Page reverses into one of his own but it’s too early for the Ego’s Edge. Instead Saints slips out to the apron and plants Saints down as the fight heads to the floor. Security comes in to break it up again so here is Ava to say….something as we take a break.

Back with Page and Saints beating up the security, with the fans approving. Security tries to get them broken up again but Page uses the distraction to hit a Twisted Grin onto an open chair. Saints is down on the floor and the Ego’s Edge connects for two back inside. They slug it out and Saints counters a powerslam into a tornado DDT. Saints fires off some clotheslines but Page hits an even bigger one to cut him off. A neck snap across the top rope sets up the Twisted Grin to give Page the pin and the title at 12:52.

Rating: B-. This was a wild brawl to start but then it turned into a regular match, which went well too. Saints is likely moving on to something bigger, with the title being a good way to start his NXT run. Page getting the title is a nice way to boost him up again, and adding a former NXT Champion to the title lineage is a smart idea.

Fatal Influence continues to snipe at each other, even though Jacy Jayne is facing Stephanie Vaquer tonight.

Video on TNA’s Mike Santana, who is making his NXT in-ring debut tonight.

Josh Briggs and Yoshiki Inamura are glad to be back together and want the Tag Team Titles.

Mike Santana vs. Tavion Heights

The No Quarter Catch Crew is here with Heights. Santana grabs a headlock to start before a dropkick sends him into the corner. A springboard spinning crossbody drops heights, who is back up with something like a hiptoss. That’s fine with Santana, who sends him outside for the big running flip dive.

We take a break and come back with Heights hitting some running clotheslines up against the ropes. A gutwrench suplex gives Heights two and we hit the chinlock. Santana is back up with a clothesline and enziguri into a rolling cutter for two. The fans certainly approve but are a bit more silenced with Heights hitting a Death Valley Driver. Santana is back up with a fireman’s carry faceplant into Spin The Block (discus lariat) for the pin at 10:22.

Rating: B-. Santana is one of those stars who has one of the most important things you can have in wrestling: that fire in his eyes. There is something you get when you look at him and it makes Santana feel like that much of a bigger deal. It would not surprise me at all to see him be the TNA World Champion at some point this year and coming over to WWE one day down the line. This was a heck of a debut for him and it’s a good sign for his future.

The High Ryze is ready to take over.

Andre Chase tells his students to take risks so they ask Ava for a match. She gives them a match with Darkstate next week, which isn’t what Chase means.

Tony D’Angelo yells at Luca Crusifino about what he did/didn’t do at Battleground. Crusifino says Stacks let him go and he was scared of what would happen if he reached out. D’Angelo says he doesn’t know if he can trust Crusifino, who insists D’Angelo can.

Here is Trick Williams for a chat. He brags about being the first NXT star to be the TNA World Champion but doesn’t want to hear those cheers. These people here are the same people who were cheering for the Average Joe. He’s on his way to TNA to defend the title, which has been held by names such as Kurt Angle, AJ Styles, Drew McIntyre and more. Now he’s turning his back on the fans because they turned their backs on him.

Cue Mike Santana to interrupt, which Williams calls a mistake. Santana isn’t having that because TNA is on a roll and Williams isn’t ruining that. Santana calls Williams a pretend rapper and champion who has never dealt with someone like him. A fight is teased but cue TNA boss Santino Marella to make the title match for next week. Williams isn’t interested in shaking hands so Santana clears the ring and holds up the belt.

Ava tells Stephanie Vaquer that she’ll be in a tag match at Worlds Collide and needs a partner. Lola Vice comes in to say she’ll do it.

Jaida Parker vs. Tatum Paxley

Paxley drives her into the corner to start and manages a butterfly suplex for a knockdown. Parker’s Backstabber out of the corner gives her a breather and the Tear Drop connects. A double arm crank goes on but Paxley is right back up with a rollup. An enziguri has Parker in more trouble and a running flipping Fameasser drops her again. Parker is knocked to the floor, where she grabs one of Paxley’s dolls and throws it inside. The distraction allows Parker to hit the Hypnotique for the pin at 3:49.

Rating: C. This felt like another step in Paxley’s decline, though I’m not sure how far that is going to go. At the same time, it is nice to see Parker getting another win as she continues to look strong. What matters the most is that she is turning into a bigger star and could wind up being a player in the title picture sooner than later.

Post match Thea Hail runs in to chase Parker off.

Video on Jasper Troy.

Jasper Troy vs. Dante Chen

Troy powers him into the corner to start and tries a slam. Chen slips out but gets sent flying with a backdrop. A drop onto the top rope has Chen in more trouble and Troy hits a backbreaker. That seems to wake Chen up a bit though and he grabs a tornado DDT. Troy runs him over again though and hits a Boss Man Slam for the win at 3:39.

Rating: C+. And that is why Chen has a job. He’s out there to make someone like Troy look good and it worked well enough. Troy is already getting into things with Oba Femi so he needed a win like this to get him a nice in-ring start. Odds are he’ll be in for a bigger match next time, but at least he did well to start.

Post match Oba Femi pops up on the platform, saying that Troy’s five minutes of fame are over because he has the Ruler’s attention.

Charlie Dempsey mocks Myles Borne and Tavion Heights for their losses, saying it’s time for the team to regroup. Borne doesn’t want to take a step back and agrees to face Dempsey for his freedom from the team. We’ll make it a rounds match.

Here is Ethan Page to celebrate his title win but Je’Von Evans interrupts. Evans talks about their history together and now he is getting a title shot at Worlds Collide. Cue AAA’s Laredo Kid, who wants the title as well. That’s not all though, because here is Rey Fenix to be the other challenger in a four way match at Worlds Collide.

In her office, Ava announces that Sean Legacy gets a title shot against the winner.

Tatum Paxley freaks out over her loss but runs into Sol Ruca and Zaria. They’re here if Paxley needs someone to talk to but the Culling is shown watching behind them.

Women’s Title: Stephanie Vaquer vs. Jacy Jayne

Jayne, with Fatal Influence, is challenging. Vaquer charges in and the brawl starts fast, with Jayne getting rolled up for an early two. The Devil’s Kiss is broken up and Jayne gets two off a suplex. Back up and Vaquer sends her into various buckles but here are Chik Tormenta and Dalys for a distraction. Lola Vice runs in to cut them off and Vaquer hits a 619 into a springboard missile dropkick.

We take a break and come back with Jayne hitting a running kick to the face for two. Frustration is setting in so Jayne hits a Sling Blade backbreaker. Vaquer fights up and it’s a double swinging faceplant for a double down. Back up and Jayne knocks her into the corner for a knee to the face. Jayne knees her in the face as well for two of her own but Vaquer grabs a dragon screw legwhip.

They head to the floor where Jayne is sent into the steps but Henley offers a distraction back inside. That’s fine with Vaquer, who rams them together and then dives onto both of them. Back in and the Devil’s Kiss connects but Henley gets in a cheap shot from around the post. Jayne’s discus forearm connects for the pin and the title at 13:02.

Rating: C+. Well. That happened. This feels like a way to move Vaquer up to the main roster really, really fast and that’s not a bad move. She had a quick run on the main roster and looked more than comfortable. Jayne winning something is quite the move for her and opens up the doors for a lot of potential challengers. This was quite the shock, but what matters here is Vaquer seems likely on the way to the main roster, where she belongs.

The ring announcer is so stunned that he has to be told to make the announcement.

Overall Rating: B-. That is quite the change of path forward after Battleground, as we have another TNA star getting a World Title shot, the LFG winner going after the NXT Champion, a shocking upset main event and a title change in the opener. You do not get that kind of change around here very often and dang I’m curious to see where it goes next.

Results
Ethan Page b. Ricky Saints – Twisted Grin
Mike Santana b. Tavion Heights – Spin The Block
Jaida Parker b. Tatum Paxley – Hypnotique
Jasper Troy b. Dante Chen – Boss Man Slam
Jacy Jayne b. Stephanie Vaquer – Discus forearm

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6