TNA Impact Wrestling – July 16, 2026: Moving On

Impact Wrestling
Date: July 16, 2026
Location: Broadview Center, Albany, New York
Commentators: Tom Hannifan, Matthew Rehwoldt

We’re in a bit of a weird time for TNA as a bunch of the wrestlers are leaving and that means some other wrestlers are having to step up. This includes KC Navarro, who is coming after Nic Nemeth’s World Title. Other than that, the Hardys and the Righteous are still fighting because eight months or so of them isn’t enough. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of last week’s Knockouts Title match main event.

Opening sequence.

Knockouts TV Title Tournament First Round: M By Elegance vs. Rosemary

M has Heather and the Personal Concierge (now blind) with her while Rosemary has Allie. Rosemary knocks her into the corner for a quick knockdown to start and then knocks her down in the middle as well. An Elegance distraction lets M take over though and it’s time to choke away in the corner. M’s snap suplex gets two and she sends Rosemary crashing out to the floor. Back in and we hit the chinlock but she stops to pose, allowing Allie to trip her down. Rosemary fights back with a t-bone suplex before going to the floor to mess with the blind Concierge. The distraction lets M mist Rosemary for the pin at 7:44.

Rating: C+. The ending is a bit of a surprise but it also continues the setup of the Elegance Brand getting a Knockouts Tag Team Title shot by the line. Yeah it’s the same thing way that you see a lot of those matches set up, but at least it has the tournament aspect to make it feel a bit more unique. If nothing else, Rosemary very well may be wanting some revenge in the next round.

The System wants to make it clear that they are NOT falling apart. In fact, they’re ready for their matches tonight, including Cedric Alexander defending against Fabian Aichner.

AJ Francis vs. Moose

Frankie Kazarian is on commentary. Moose jumps him to start fast but has to go after Francis’ goon. That lets Francis get in a powerbomb onto the apron to take over, followed by a big boot. Hold on though and it’s time to go after the fans. Back in and the Down Payment is broken up so Moose tries a spinning crossbody, only to get speared out of the air for two. Moose catches him up top with a superplex for two and there’s the nip back up. Kazarian pulls Moose outside though and sends him into the post for the DQ at 6:03 (shame about Kazarian dropping his popcorn).

Rating: C+. They only had so much time out there but it was interesting as a way to get them ready for what feels like a tag match. Moose is going to need some help (feels like an Elijah spot) and they should be able to set something up for TV down the line. At the same time, and as is becoming more usual, it’s impressive that Francis isn’t feeling out of place in these bigger matches. I wouldn’t have expected that and well done.

Post match Francis chokeslams Moose for a bonus.

Elayna Black is ready to win her tournament match next week and become the greatest Knockout in history. Xia Brookside comes in to warn her to watch her mouth. Black doesn’t seem impressed.

Here is Order 4 to address their future. Mustafa Ali complains about his team (save for Agent Zero) screwing up and brings in his new Secretary Of Strategic Affairs, Mila Moore, who is dressed like Miss Hancock. Tasha Steelz is not impressed as Moore is ready to figure out what is next for the team. Ali knows what should be next: giving the power to the roster. Therefore, next week, anyone in the locker room can vote for who gets an International Title shot. That’s not the direction I was expecting but I’m glad Moore is getting the chance to do something since she lost her partner when Tessa Blanchard left.

The Righteous get an invitation to the Hardy Compound for a Deletion match. Sure.

Bear Bronson vs. Ricky Sosa

Brian Myers is on commentary as they strike it out to start. Sosa jumps over Bronson and chases him to the floor, where a Black Hole Slam drops Sosa as we take a break. We come back with a rapid fire exchange of shots to the face until Sosa gets in a German suplex. Bronson catches him up top though, leaving Sosa to drop back down and catch him with a big boot.

Myers gets up for a distraction so Bronson can grab a chokebomb for two and he can believe the kickout. Sosa’s back gives out on the comeback though and it’s Shock Treatment (haven’t seen that one in a bit) into Bear Down (sitout Tombstone) to give Bronson the pin at 11:07.

Rating: C. I’m not sure about having Sosa lose here as he’s been off to a nice start. At the same time, Bronson has been steadily getting himself into place around here and that’s great to see. I never would have bet on him doing so well on his own but it’s working here and that’s nice to see.

Moose requests and receives help from Elijah against AJ Francis and Frankie Kazarian. Well that did its job.

Knockouts TV Title Tournament First Round: Harley Hudson vs. Thea Hail

They fight over a lockup to start so Hail shoulders her down and dances. Back up and Hudson gets in a knockdown of her own to stomp away. The armbar goes on so Hail rolls her way to freedom, only to get dropped with a clothesline. Hudson hammers away but misses a legdrop to the arm. Hail suplexes her out of the corner for two and they trade rollups for two each. A spinning DDT gives Hail two more and the springboard backsplash finishes Hudson at 6:37.

Rating: C. That’s a fine way to go, as Hail has a bit higher status than Hudson. While that would have been a good place to put Hudson over and give her probably the biggest singles win of her career, I do get the idea of wanting Hail to move forward and give her a chance to put someone else over later. Granted it is likely going to be Indi Hartwell, but the idea is there.

Here is Nic Nemeth for a chat. He knows what it’s like to have the world chasing him and when the title goes on the line, it’s big box office and big money. This brings out KC Navarro to interrupt but Nemeth says serious inquiries only. Nemeth tells him to leave and Navarro starts to head out, but turns around to shout about why he does everything he does. He’s lost his chances before but beating Nemeth can prove that it is all worth it. Nemeth mocks the speech but says this is his one and only shot. Seems to work for Navarro. He has no chance, but that was a heck of a promo and I kind of want to see the match.

X-Division Title: Fabian Aichner vs. Cedric Alexander

Alexander is defending and gets taken into the corner to start. A headlock doesn’t do much for Alexander as Aichner puts him down again for a moonsault. That and a clothesline put Alexander on the floor and we take a break. We come back with Aichner fighting out of an abdominal stretch but getting elbowed in the corner for two. Alexander chops away in the corner but Aichner knocks him to the floor for the big dive.

Back in and a double springboard moonsault gives Aichner two but Alexander’s Michinoku Driver connects for the same. Aichner dropkicks him out of the air for two more and a sitout Last Ride gets two, with Alexander having to get a foot on the rope. Alexander manages to send him outside though and here is Eddie Edwards with a Boston Knee Party. That’s enough to set up the Lumbar Check to retain the title at 14:40.

Rating: B-. Aichner did well in his big spot and he was protected with the team interfering to beat him. That’s all you can ask for in a losing effort and he should be fine going forward. If nothing else, Aichner continues to be someone who has already far exceeded his time as a singles wrestler in WWE, as it’s a case of finding the right fit for him and it’s working much better.

Post match the beatdown is on but Ricky Sosa and Leon Slater run in for the save to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. This show wasn’t the most prominent edition but it did what it needed to do, with some things like the tournament advancing forward, plus the big title match being set for next week. The best thing here is that the show went by quickly and nothing was really close to bad. It was a good example of an efficient show and that is always worth something, which was the case again here.

Results
M By Elegance b. Rosemary – Mist
Moose b. AJ Francis via DQ when Frankie Kazarian interfered
Bear Bronson b. Ricky Sosa – Bear Down
Thea Hail b. Harley Hudson – Springboard backsplash
Cedric Alexander b. Fabian Aichner – Lumbar Check

 

 

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Impact Wrestling – February 26, 2026: Egad What A Mark

Impact Wrestling
Date: February 26, 2026
Location: The Pinnacle, Nashville, Tennessee
Commentators: Tom Hannifan, Matthew Rehwoldt

World Champion Mike Santana seems to have a big target on his back at the moment, with a variety of people wanting the title. This doesn’t even include the recently fired Steve Maclin, who will be here tonight to explain why he has been all angry and aggressive recently. In addition to being fired I’m guessing. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening recap.

TNA Wrestling, Impact Wrestling, Leon Slater, Nic Nemeth, Mike Santana, Ryan Nemeth

IMG Credit: TNA Wrestling

Mike Santana/Leon Slater vs. Nemeths

Frankie Kazarian is on commentary. Slater and Nic start things off with Slater winning a battle over wrist control. The handspring elbow puts Nic down again and the Nemeths go outside, where Slater hits a slingshot dive as we take a break. We come back with Santana fighting out of Ryan’s chinlock and grabbing the Rolling Buck Fifty.

Slater comes back in with a high crossbody for two on Nic but the Nemeths cut off another Rolling Buck Fifty to put Santana down. Slater avoids Nic’s superkick but walks into the Fameasser for a quick two. Nic takes him up top but gets shoved off, only for Eric Young to come out and distract Slater. That’s enough for Nic to block the Swanton 450 and roll Slater up for the pin at 13:58.

Rating: B-. This certainly felt like a bit match and that’s rather nice to see to open the show, especially with it getting some time. The Young stuff does make sense due to his Feast Or Fired case, though hopefully Nic gets a title shot of his own out of this. That would be the kind of win that could really push Slater up another level and it might be where we’re heading, which is a good sign.

The Righteous don’t get why the Hardys don’t trust them because the four of them should be like brothers.

TNA Wrestling, Impact Wrestling, Dani Luna, Lei Ying Lee

IMG Credit: TNA Wrestling

Dani Luna vs. Lei Ying Lee

Luna takes her down and hammers away but Lee flips over her and starts striking away. That’s cut off as Luna catapults her throat first into the top rope and we hit the neck crank. Lee tries to fight up and gets tossed backwards without much trouble. Some rollups give Lee two each but her guillotine is countered with a suplex. Luna grabs her chain and wraps it around the turnbuckle but Lee is back up to strike away.

A superkick puts Luna down and a t-bone suplex gives Lee two. Lee’s charge into the corner misses though and something like a slingshot Blue Thunder Bomb gives Luna a near fall of her own. They both miss running kicks so Luna kicks her into the corner where the chains are supposed to be (wrong buckle, so Lee doesn’t quite hit the chains). That and the Lunar Landing finish Lee at 10:17.

Rating: B-. Not so great finish aside due to missing the chain, it was nice to see Luna pick up a win like this. She’s the monster charging through the division at the moment and it’s hard to imagine that she doesn’t wind up as champion sooner or later. That’s a good thing too, as she has risen up the ranks and become a player, which should be paid off with some singles gold.

Alisha Edwards talks to Tommy Dreamer and Carlos Silva and declines a new contract. Moose comes in to say he’s going to take care of the System and thinks Edwards should be there with him. She’s in and signs.

TNA Wrestling, Impact Wrestling, AJ Francis, Mance Warner, Steph de Lander

IMG Credit: TNA Wrestling

AJ Francis vs. Mance Warner

Steph de Lander is here with Francis. They start fast with Warner sending him outside, where Francis is rammed into the steps. Francis is fine enough to slam him off the steps and a running knee in the corner rocks Warner again. Back up and Warner fights back with some elbows to the head but s spear gives Francis two. Francis goes for a chair but de Lander cuts it off, allowing Warner to grab it instead. A shot to the ribs gives Francis the DQ win at 4:26.

Rating: C. I’ve always preferred Warner as a good guy and that was the case again here. Yes he’s still brawling for the most part but that’s always been his style. Throw in some of those Tennessee style southern promos and he should be fine. Not much of a match here, but I’m intrigued by what this version of Warner could do.

Here is Mickie James for a face to face showdown with Ash By Elegance. James calls Ash out and cuts off the Personal Concierge’s entrance, which does bring out Ash. James talks about helping Ash get a job here but Ash says that she was already the hottest free agent and was getting signed anyway. That doesn’t work for James, who calls Ash out for calling out former Knockouts Champions online, “LIKE A MARK!”.

Ash makes it clear that she is NOT a mark because she only cares about being the champion. That brings James to having to leave the title in the ring due to her injuries. She has thought about that every day and Ash isn’t going to disrespect the title by mocking it.

Ash says it’s none of James’ business what happened to her that made her vacate the title because she’s better than James anyway. The fight is on but we cut to the back where the Concierge is with James’ son. James sprints to the back but gets jumped by the Elegance Brand. Ash gives her a MickDT on the stage and James is left laying.

Post break Santino Marella comes in to check on a laid out Jody Threat, who was attacked by the Elegance Brand (seemingly in the same room where James’ son was). Daria Rae comes in to yell at Marella for letting everything fall apart.

Tasha Steelz vs. Jada Stone

Steelz jumps her to start fast and hammers away in the corner but Stone manages a kick to the head. The Great Hands cut off Stone’s dive but Steelz takes them out by mistake. A kick to the head puts Stone back in trouble and a running kick to the face gives Steelz two back inside. They trade some rapid fire rollups for one each until Steelz grabs a German suplex. Stone handstands her way out of a cutter though and a crucifix gives Stone the pin at 5:45.

Rating: C. Stone is another case where TNA feels like they want her to be something and that has to start somewhere. Pinning a former Knockouts Champion is a good start and I’m curious to see where she goes. Stone has talent and hopefully she can turn that into something else.

Post match Steelz lays Stone out.

Tom Hannifan brings out Steve Maclin for a chance to tell his side of the story. The fans tell Maclin that he doesn’t work here and Hannifan tells us that he and Maclin have been friends for a long time. Maclin says that for once, this is about him rather than Mike Santana. The fans say they don’t care as Maclin says that everything changed when he saw the briefcase that said he was fired.

That night, Santana came up to him and said he was sorry. Hannifan, seemingly realizing that the fans are derailing this, asks if that was enough to validate Maclin attacking Santana twice. Maclin brings up Santana not appearing for their tag match after he lost the World Title. Santana said he was “going through something” and that’s really being selfish.

Maclin could come out here and talk about his drinking problem or his PTSD or his survivor’s guilt. The fans get on Maclin again before he says that he got Hannifan his job. Hannifan says that’s true but they should have talked about this over a beer instead of on television.

The reality is that Maclin has been fined by the company over and over for internal actions because he won’t take responsibility for his actions. That’s enough for Maclin to deck Hannifan until security and Santana run in to chase him off. Maclin even shoves down Matthew Rehwoldt as he leaves. This was a good segment that the fans dragged back down, because it’s an interesting story that should set up a heck of a match.

Post break, Gia Miller has taken Hannifan’s place for the main event.

The System vs. Righteous/Hardys

Edwards hammers on Jeff to start but Jeff grabs a reverse full nelson. Everything breaks down and the System is cleared out as we take an early break. We come back with Bronson and Dutch slugging it out until Dutch grabs an exploder suplex. Vincent comes in and gets chokebombed for two, allowing Bronson to take him into the System corner.

Bronson goes up and does the Hardy dance before dropping a middle rope elbow (Miller: “Egad!”) for two. Vincent fights out of trouble and brings Matt in to clean a lot of the house. Everything breaks down and we get the parade of knockdowns, with a bunch of them fighting outside. Edwards loads up the Boston Knee Party but Vincent shoves Matt out of the way and takes the bullet, and the pin, instead at 11:34.

Rating: B-. This was about the moment at the end and that’s perfectly fine. Not every match needs to be some big epic showdown and it worked well enough here, with the Righteous continuing to make the Hardys believe that everything is ok. I’m curious to see where that goes, while on the other hand you have the System, who will have to deal with Moose. Good enough main event here.

Post match Moose comes in to go after the System but they beat him down until Alisha Edwards comes out to protect him, much to Eddie’s dismay, to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. TNA has found its groove in recent weeks since their not so great debut on AMC and that is great to see. What matters the most is that you can tell what’s going on with just about everyone involved, which is a great way to bring in new viewers. I like what I’m seeing here most of the time and that should be a good sign for their near future. If they can deliver on some of their potential, it will be even better.

Results
Nemeths b. Mike Santana/Leon Slater – Rollup to Slater
Dani Luna b. Lei Ying Lee – Lunar Landing
AJ Francis b. Mance Warner via DQ when Warner used a chair
Jada Stone b. Tasha Steelz – Crucifix
The System b. The Hardys/Righteous – Boston Knee Party to Vincent

 

 

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Impact Wrestling – January 22, 2026: Exodus?

Impact Wrestling
Date: January 22, 2026
Location: Tingley Coliseum, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Commentators: Tom Hannifan, Matthew Rehwoldt

We’re back on AMC with another live show after last week’s less than well received debut and the ensuing Genesis pay per view. That means it is time to start getting ready for…whatever the next show is going to be. This week’s event features the return of Feast Or Fired, plus finding out the newest member of the System. Let’s get to it.

Here is Genesis if you need a recap.

Genesis recap.

Opening sequence.

Company President Carlos Silva is happy with the AMC debut. End of thoughts from Silva.

Cedric Alexander vs. Moose

Alisha Edwards is here with Moose, who has a banged up back. They shake hands to start and Moose chops him into the corner. A dropkick cuts Alexander off and sends him to the apron and they slug it out until Alexander plants him hard. Alexander hits a big suicide dive but gets sent hard into the steps as commentary runs down the show.

Moose loses a fight over a suplex and his back is banged up even more. A frog splash gives Alexander two so he kicks Moose in the bad back for a smart move. The springboard Downward Spiral gets two but Moose gets more fired up and kicks him in the face. For some reason Moose hits a backsplash but he’s fine enough to nip up.

The chokebomb out of the corner gets two on Alexander, who counters the spear into a Michinoku Driver for two of his own. They chop it out until Alexander grabs a Spanish Fly. Moose headbutts him out of the air to block a springboard before loading up a powerbomb. That’s fine with Alexander, who reverses into a hurricanrana for the pin at 9:59.

Rating: B-. I can certainly go for Alexander getting a bigger push, which is to say a push of almost any kind. This is the biggest win of his TNA career and it very well should boost him up before his X-Division Title shot. Moose sold the back well for the most part, though the last few minutes felt like a pretty standard Moose match, which isn’t a great sign.

Here is Mike Santana for a chat. He sits down in a chair and plays a message from his late father, saying Santana earned his way here, he deserves to be here, and he belongs here. The fans tell Santana that he deserves it and Santana talks about coming back here about two years ago. Every time he tries to do something, he remembers his father’s words. Santana talks about fighting back every time, even when he lost the World Title just thirty days after he won it.

Now he’s back where he belongs and he praises Frankie Kazarian after the wars they’ve had. He knows his back is against the wall against these people but that’s the way he likes it, because he’s earned his way here, he deserves to be here and he belongs here. This guy knows how to get fans behind him and he did it again here with a good promo.

Mustafa Ali, with Order 4, talks about the Hardys thinking they’re goats but they’re really sheep. Tonight, he will be Jeff Hardy’s shepherd.

We look at Zaria and Sol Ruca earning a Knockouts Tag Team Title shot earlier this week on NXT.

Indi Hartwell vs. M By Elegance

The rest of the Elegance Brand is here too. Hartwell backs her into the corner to start before grabbing a headlock. They run the ropes a bit until Hartwell uppercuts her into the corner. A running big boot misses though and M stomps on Hartwell’s foot, with the Personal Concierge smashing the foot with a shoe (as payback for Hartwell stepping on M’s foot). We take a break and come back with Hartwell grabbing a spinebuster, starting up the clothesline comeback. The Hurts Donut is broken up but Hartwell rolls her up for the pin at 9:05.

Rating: C. That was a bit of an oddly timed break at the end as there wasn’t much when we come back, though maybe AMC is still learning how to lay these things out. That being said, it was your usual Hartwell match, as she’s just not that great in the ring. The fans love her though and that’s more than enough of a reason to have her in a featured spot.

Post match the Brand jumps Hartwell but Ash By Elegance tries to cool things off. Violence is teased so cue the Angel Warriors…and Ash jumps Lei Ying Lee, suggesting that she might be able to do some physical stuff. That’s good to see after how bad things sounded.

Post break, Ash tells the Brand that she is back. If that means she’s healthy, that’s great.

Feast Or Fired

Mance Warner, Rich Swann, Hometown Man, Ryan Nemeth, AJ Francis, Eric Young, John Skyler, Jason Hotch, Eddie Edwards, Brian Myers, Steve Maclin, Trey Miguel

There are four briefcases (one at each corner), three of which contain title (World, X-Division, International) shots. The fourth contains a pink slip. Whomever gets a case has to get to the ground with it to officially win it, with the reveals next week. Miguel is a surprise, as his “break” from wrestling lasted…a week?

The ring is quickly cleared out so Swann and Miguel can have a hug. Francis cuts Miguel off from his climb and gets double powerbombed down for his efforts. Young is back in to clear the ring until Miguel…really doesn’t do well with a poisonrana attempt. Miguel hits a big dive and Man goes up top to dive off as well rather than going for a case. Man goes back up and tries for the case but Young steals his mask and the case, which he officially wins.

Hotch and Skyler go after a briefcase but Maclin takes it away and escapes so we’re down to two. Warner loads up chairs rather than going after a case, allowing Edwards to Blue Thunder Bomb him onto the chairs. Francis chokeslams Swann onto the apron but Miguel kicks Francis down. That’s enough for Miguel to get a briefcase, leaving Myers to clear the field so Edwards can get the last case. Francis is waiting on him though…so Edwards throws the case at him and hits a dropkick, allowing Edwards to get the case back and wrap it up at 8:21.

Rating: C+. This is a really weird one to rate as you have four winners but the rest don’t really lose. The big drama comes next week as we find out who gets what, but they went with a pretty standard group of winners. If nothing else, it gives me the hope that Young will be gone and that would improve a lot of things.

Mike Santana runs into Nic Nemeth and warns him to watch his step. Nemeth teases Calling His Shot and brings up Santana’s daughter, which is enough to trigger the brawl.

Post break, BDE and some of his friends are in the back playing video games. Nic Nemeth comes in to yell them for just playing games because this is real life. BDE isn’t happy and offers to face him next week. Nemeth says it’s on.

Here is Elayna Black for a chat. She’s the only one you need to talk about and she’s the only one who matters. Her first match is next week and this is the Era Of Elayna. This sounded like someone on Tough Enough making up a character on the spot.

Arianna Grace apologizes to Santino Marella, who doesn’t seem impressed. She says Stacks was wrong and begs his forgiveness. They hug, which I’m sure will go fine for both of them.

Mustafa Ali vs. Jeff Hardy

Order 4 and Matt Hardy are here too. They lock up to start with Jeff shoving him down out of the corner. Jeff takes him down for a quick ride and a right hand puts Ali on the floor. Back in and Ali gets punched to the floor again, meaning it’s time for a breather. Ali gets back in again and knocks Jeff into the corner, followed by a shot out to the floor. Agent Zero takes Matt out and we take a break.

We come back with the fight taking place on the apron until Jeff hits a Twist Of Fate onto the steps (turned on their side next to the apron). They both dive back in to beat the count with Jeff getting the better of things, including the basement dropkick. Another Twist Of Fate is blocked but Ali is sent face first into the buckle.

Tasha Steelz’s interference doesn’t work as Jeff hits a double Twisting Stunner for two so Ali grabs a title belt. Matt cuts that off and gets into it with Agent Zero, leaving Jeff to hit the Twist Of Fate. The Swanton misses though and Ali’s 450 gets two. Cue Elijah for a distraction, meaning it’s the Twist into the Swanton to finish Ali at 15:30.

Rating: B. So the Elijah vs. Ali feud continues, which hardly does Ali any favors. Ali is someone who seems like he could be put into the main event scene but he’s still dealing with Elijah, who doesn’t feel that big. Losing to Jeff is fine, though I have no idea who is supposed to take the titles from the Hardys. They feel almost unbeatable and that’s not the best situation to give the rest of your division.

The Righteous suggest it isn’t over with the Hardys. Is there really no better option?

Here is the System, with JDC, to announce JDC’s replacement in the team. He has handpicked his replacement and it’s…Bear Bronson. Bear Bronson? Ok then. The team seems happy with it…but Eddie Edwards and Bronson jump Moose and JDC. Cedric Alexander runs in for the save…and he hits Moose with a chair.

Eddie says they’re replacing TWO members of the System because Moose is out. Alisha Edwards is distraught as the beating continues to end the show. The turn makes sense, as the System works better as villains and Moose losing isn’t something they should tolerate. If nothing else, it means Alexander gets something to do and I’ll take that.

Overall Rating: B-. FAR better show this week, which was at least partially due to it feeling like a regular show instead of being the big premiere. They had some good action here, plus the big twist(s) at the end, which is a needed change. Next week should be interesting with some important matches and the briefcase reveals. Not a classic show here, but it felt like a return to form, which was needed after last week’s less than successful offering.

Results
Cedric Alexander b. Moose – Hurricanrana
Indi Hartwell b. M By Elegance – Rollup
Eric Young, Steve Maclin, Trey Miguel and Eddie Edwards won Feast Or Fired
Jeff Hardy b. Mustafa Ali – Swanton Bomb

 

 

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Impact Wrestling – September 18, 2025: One Of Those Builds

Impact Wrestling
Date: September 18, 2025
Location: The Armory, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Commentators: Tom Hannifan, Matthew Rehwoldt

We’re coming up on Victory Road, which is going to have its work cut out for it with Bound For Glory coming up just a month later. That show is going to get the big focus so Victory Road is only going to mean so much. The big story this week will be focusing on the Tag Team Titles as the Nemeths are getting a shot at the Hardys. Let’s get to it.

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

We get another promotion for the Minnesota charity shirt. Still nothing wrong with that.

Opening recap.

Opening sequence.

Mustafa Ali vs. Brian Myers

The rest of Order 4 and the System are both here. Myers slugs away to start and quickly knocks him out to the floor. We get the big staredown between the teams on the floor and Ali hits a big suicide dive. Back in and Myers hits his implant DDT but John Skyler offers a distraction, meaning the top rope elbow misses. Ali gets a rollup for the pin at 2:35.

Post match the teams get in a brawl and we get the big Moose vs. Agent Zero showdown. Zero drops him with a headbutt but Moose pops back up and they have to be held out. Santino Marella comes out to make a Hardcore War at Bound For Glory.

The Nemeths are ready to get the Tag Team Titles back because it’s not a ladder match.

The Personal Concierge suggests to Dani Luna that she could get a Bound For Glory title shot if she just takes out Indi Hartwell tonight. Luna thinks about it.

We look at the set up of Oba Femi vs. Trick Williams for the NXT and TNA World Title.

ODB is here.

Judas Icarus vs. Eric Young

Travis Williams is here with Icarus, who jumps Young to start fast. Icarus runs him over but Young hits an elbow to the face (with the lights seeming to dim) and is back with a gutwrench powerbomb. The piledriver is blocked though and Icarus makes the comeback, with a frog splash connecting for two. Something like a Blue Thunder Bomb gets two and they go up, with Young biting the face to knock him down. Young drops a top rope elbow for two and loads up the piledriver but here is Joe Hendry for a distraction. Icarus grabs a rollup for the pin at 5:11.

Rating: C. This was a big win for Icarus but it’s the kind of win that is more credited to Hendry than anything else. This feels like it might be one of the last big feuds for Hendry around here and that’s not exactly the best feeling. At least Young hasn’t been doing the Cleanse or whatever he was threatening us with before as I don’t think I could take another thing like that.

Post match Young knocks out the referee.

Victoria Crawford is back with her talk show, Mentor U, with guest Jody Threat. Crawford brings up Gia Miller, who interrupts and threatens Tessa Blanchard again. That doesn’t work for Crawford, who doesn’t like the profanity.

The Rascalz are happy with Myron Reed for going after the X-Division Title and let off some steam. And smoke. Santino Marella pops in and…has a cookie?

IInspiration/Masha Slamovich vs. Elegance Brand

Slamovich and Heather start things off, though Heather needs a quick spank to get her into the ring. Everything breaks down and the Brand is kicked down and sent out to the floor as we take an early break. We come back with the Brand getting to take turns on McKay in the corner, with Heather getting to stomp away.

The running corner dropkick gets two and Heather grabs the chinlock. McKay kicks her way out and brings in Slamovich to clean house, including an assisted DDT to make Heather DDT M. Lee goes after M but Ash throws…something in Lee’s eyes so M can get a rollup for the pin at 9:31.

Rating: C+. The match was a nice back and forth effort, with Slamovich being protected before she gets a title shot against Ash By Elegance. The other four are just doing their usual things and that’s not the most exciting stuff. It feels like the Brand could be a big deal for a long time to come, as they certainly seem to be in the right place at the moment.

Here is Frankie Kazarian for the King’s Speech and now it’s time to make this city focus on a King rather than a Prince. His guest this week is…himself, as he is ready to become the next International Champion. That’s not all though as he has another guest in the form of Mr. Anderson of all people. Anderson calls this home and he is happy to be back in a TNA ring for the first time in nine years.

Kazarian brings up Anderson’s military career but thinks Anderson seems like a coward. He asks what branch Kazarian served in but Kazarian brings up Anderson’s family being here. Would Anderson’s mother and kids be ok with seeing Kazarian give Anderson a beating? Kazarian keeps talking trash until Anderson goes after him, with Jake Something running in to take Anderson down. Steve Maclin makes the save. This is a good way to use a company legend and it was a nice surprise.

Dani Luna vs. Indi Hartwell

Hartwell jumps her to start fast and sends Luna out to the floor. Back in and Hartwell tries to send her to the floor but gets hit in the face. A suplex sends Hartwell down again and Luna adds another to keep Hartwell in trouble. Hartwell fires back with some elbows but gets dropped with a clothesline. Hartwell is up for the real comeback and knocks Luna outside, where Luna comes up with a chair to the ribs for the DQ at 5:31.

Rating: C. This only got so much time and the ending was more about Luna getting to hurt Hartwell rather than beat her. At the same time, I really don’t get the appeal of Hartwell, who feels like a rather generic star. She’s in for a huge title match at Bound For Glory and that could be the start of a rather uninspiring title reign.

Post match Luna wrecks her with the chair.

Lei Ying Lee and Xia Brookside talk about being great friends and dub themselves the Angel Warriors.

Mike Santana vs. AJZ

AJZ runs his mouth on the way to the ring and Santana Spins The Block for the pin at 31 seconds.

Santana calls out Trick Williams before their match at Bound For Glory but NXT’s Ridge Holland runs in to lay him out.

Tag Team Titles: Nemeths vs. Hardys

The Hardys are defending and Matt Cardona is on commentary. The Nemeths start fast and get sent outside with an early double clothesline. We take an early break and come back with Nic cutting Jeff off as Ryan grabbing Jeff’s leg. Jeff misses the Whisper In The Wind and Ryan comes in to pound on Jeff a bit. Nic’s chinlock doesn’t last long so he fires off the elbows, including the big jumping version.

Jeff finally fights up and hits a Whisper In The Wind to take them both out for a breather. The diving tag brings in Matt to clean house, including the powerbomb out of the corner for two on Nic. The middle rope elbow to the back of the neck drops Nic again but he’s right back with a Fameasser for two. Ryan’s DDT into Nick’s top rope elbow gets two more so Ryan tries to grab the belt. Cardona cuts that off and the Twist Of Fate into the Swanton retains the titles at 11:56.

Rating: B. This was a good match between the teams who work well together, though we’re coming up on the Hardys vs. the Dudleys one more time. That’s going to be a rather different kind of match and the nostalgia is going to have to carry them a long way. I’m not sure what is next for the Nemeths, as they seem to be ready to go after Cardona, who is going to need a partner.

Overall Rating: C+. This wasn’t a great show, though the main event did help it a lot. It doesn’t help that TNA seems to be building towards Bound For Glory more than Victory Road, which really feels like a nothing stop. Thankfully we’ll be done with that next week and ready to move on to the big show, but it isn’t making these shows much easier.

Results
Mustafa Ali b. Brian Myers – Rollup
Judas Icarus b. Eric Young – Rollup
Elegance Brand b. IInspiration/Masha Slamovich – Rollup to Lee
Indi Hartwell b. Dani Luna via DQ when Luna used a chair
Mike Santana b. AJZ – Spin The Block
Hardys b. Nemeths – Swanton to Ryan

 

 

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Impact Wrestling – August 7, 2025: AHH! HIS EYES!

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

 

 

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Slammiversary 2025: The One With The Phenomenal One

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:

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




Impact Wrestling – July 10, 2025: Get Me To The Slammiversary On Time

Impact Wrestling
Date: July 10, 2025
Location: UMPC Events Center, Moon Township, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Tom Hannifan, Matthew Rehwoldt

We are about a week and a half away from Slammiversary and the show has mostly come together. The big match will see Mike Santana and Joe Hendry challenging for the TNA World Title and we’ll be getting the contract signing this weekend at NXT’s Great American Bash. The rest of the card could use some building and we should be getting some of that this week. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening recap.

Opening sequence.

Elegance Brand vs. Harley Hudson/Myla Grace

Non-title and the Personal Concierge is here with the Brand. Hudson and Grace are still out to prove themselves and it’s Grace dropkicking Heather down to start. Ash comes in for a test of strength with Hudson, who takes over on the arm. It’s back to Heather for some elbows in the corner and Ash’s Glam Slam into a basement dropkick gets two. Hudson fights out of trouble with ease and brings Grace back in as everything breaks down. The Concierge gets in a cheap shot on the floor, allowing Ash to hit a clothesline on Grace. Rarefied Air finishes for Ash at 6:20.

Rating: C. It feels like they’re building towards Hudson and Grace getting a big win for the titles down the line and that could make for a great moment. If nothing else, the newcomers are getting put into the mix rather quickly and that is now you could help revitalize the division. It’s going to take time, but at least they are off to a nice start.

The Hardys and the Rascalz are ready for their eight man tag tonight, even if the Rascalz seem a bit confused.

Cedric Alexander/Great Hands vs. Secret Service

Tasha Steelz and Mustafa Ali are here too. Skyler dropkicks one of them down start and hands it off to Hotch, who is taken into the wrong corner. That’s broken up and it’s off to Alexander for some quick house cleaning. The Lumbar Check finishes at 2:40.

Post match Ali goes after Alexander, who fights back but gets low blowed by Steelz. Ali chairs Alexander down and leaves with Steelz.

Lei Ying Lee/Masha Slamovich vs. Fatal Influence

Xia Brookside is here with the TNA team. Jayne starts with Lee and forearms Slamovich off the apron like a good villain. Slamovich comes in to drop Jayne and Lee adds a running forearm of her own. Lee gets two off a suplex but Jayne gets in a knee to the floor as we take an early break.

We come back with Jayne stomping on Lee in the corner, followed by the reverse chinlock. A double snap suplex gives Henley two and she grabs the armbar. That just fires Lee up and she breaks out of a cravate. Henley cuts that off with a World’s Strongest Slam but Lee fights out and brings Slamovich back in. Everything breaks down and a running knee into a neckbreaker gets two on Slamovich. Lee saves Slamovich from a double suplex and Slamovich’s spinning kick to the head into the Snowplow finishes Henley at 14:49.

Rating: C+. Slamovich feels like she’s going to run through Jayne if they face off at Slammiversary, but the idea of another Jordynne Grace vs. Slamovich match is interesting as well. For now though, it’s TNA getting to fend off a big enough NXT name and that’s a good sign. The crossover stuff is starting to feel more structured and that is a good sign, as it was lacking for such a long time.

Video on Moose vs. Leon Slater, looking back at the history of the X-Division.

Slater runs into Moose and the rest of the System. He still wants to take the title from Moose and become the youngest champion in history. Moose isn’t impressed and Slater leaves so here is Matt Cardona. He doesn’t like the team either but they walk away, with Brian Myers thinking about saying something before leaving too.

International Title: Jake Something vs. Mance Warner vs. Steve Maclin

Maclin is defending and Something charges in to jump Warner and start fast. With Warner on the floor, Something gives Maclin some running shoulders. Warner is back in with some chair shots though, with Steph de Lander giving him another one. That’s broken up as Something powerbombs Warner through the chairs, only to be sent outside by Maclin.

Back up and Maclin hits the running spear in the corner to hit Something, followed by the Tower Of Doom to leave everyone down. Back up and Maclin is dropped in the three way slugout so Warner takes Something out. The running knee gives Warner two but Maclin is right back with the KIA to Warner to retain at 7:35.

Rating: C+. Maclin is still looking for his big challenger/feud for the title and neither of these two exactly feel like it. At the same time though, it’s a good move to have Maclin out there building up some victories to start establishing the title. That’s one of the hardest things to do, but they’re making it work well enough here. They kept this one relatively short, but it was energetic while it lasted.

Tasha Steelz yells at the rest of Order 4 over their lack of championships. Steelz blames Ali for his loss to Mike Santana, which started tie team’s downward spiral. They’re going into Slammiversary as a team. Is that clear? Ali says Steelz lied to them but she said she had to. The System comes in to yell at them and a match seems to be made.

We get a video from 4th Rope Champion Real1, who implies that he’ll be going through the “forbidden door” because Slammiversary is in his neck of the woods. Can we please just not with this guy?

Video on Mike Santana, who talks about his father passing away. That made him a tougher man and he’s using the motivation to move forward.

Victoria Crawford vs. Indi Hartwell

Tessa Blanchard is on commentary. Crawford gets backed into the ropes to start and then bails to the apron a few times. Back in and Crawford manages a takedown but Hartwell hits a big boot for the pin at 2:40. It’s as sudden as it sounds.

Post match Blanchard yells about Hartwell being a horrible friend. Everything Hartwell has is because of her and Hartwell just backs off.

The Northern Armory yells at Santino Marella about Cody Deaner being the Home Town Man. Eric Young even admits that he was Super Eric, which has Marella confused.

We get a sitdown interview with Joe Hendry, who doesn’t like Trick Williams holding the TNA World Title hostage. Mike Santana has the fans believing in him as well, but Hendry thinks they believe in himself too. Hendry respects Santana, but it’s Hendry’s time to lead TNA.

First Class/Nemeths vs. Hardys/Rascalz

Trick Williams is on commentary. Nic and Reed start things off with Reed taking him down for an early legdrop. Wentz and Ryan come in, with the latter getting caught with a slingshot neckbreaker. Francis comes in and gets to face Jeff, with a Twisting Stunner staggering Francis into the ropes. Poetry In Motion connects and Wentz’s standing moonsault gets two. Some running splashes in the corner hit Wentz and we take an early break.

We come back with Ryan hammering on Wentz, with Nic dropkicking the knee out to keep him down. The villains keep taking turns on Wentz, including Nic going after the eyes. Wentz fights out of a chinlock and a double knockdown gives him a breather. It’s off to Matt to ram Nic into the corner over and over, followed by the Twist Of Fate to Ryan. Francis gets the turnbuckle treatment as well, but Williams offers a distraction. Francis chokeslams Matt down and steals the pin at 15:08.

Rating: B-. This got some time and wound up being a nice match, with the ending being more about making First Class feel like a bigger threat to win the titles. As usual, pinfalls mean nothing to set up a ladder match, because of course it’s a ladder match. For now though, we should be in for another wild match at Slammiversary, with this as a fine enough way to set it up.

Post match Williams gets in for the brawl but Mike Santana and Joe Hendry run in for the save. Hendry hits Santana by mistake though and they have to be held apart to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. The best thing about this show is that a lot of things happened, with some of the matches being a bit shorter to keep things moving. It felt like a show with more matches than usual and that makes for a faster paced show. Nice stuff here, as the build to Slammiversary is coming together well enough.

Results
Elegance Brand b. Harley Hudson/Myla Grace – Rarefied Air to Grace
Cedric Alexander/Great Hands b. Secret Service – Lumbar Check
Lei Ying Lee/Masha Slamovich b. Fatal Influence – Snowplow to Henley
Steve Maclin b. Jake Something and Mance Warner – KIA to Warner
Indi Hartwell b. Victoria Crawford – Big boot
First Class/Nemeths b. Hardys/Rascalz – Chokeslam to Matt

 

 

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Impact Wrestling – June 19, 2025: All In One Basket

Impact Wrestling
Date: June 19, 2025
Location: Mullett Arena, Tempe, Arizona
Commentators: Tom Hannifan, Matthew Rehwoldt

Slammiversary is coming up in about a month and the card is at least coming together. The big story continues to be the roster wanting to get its World Title back from that evil outsider, NXT’s Trick Williams, and someone is going to need to step up. That process could start this week so let’s get to it.

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

Opening recap.

Opening sequence.

Sami Callihan vs. Eric Young

The rest of the Northern Armory is here with Young. Callihan jumps them all to start fast and grabs a chair, which Young takes away. Young’s chair shot only hits the steps though and hurts his own hands, allowing Callihan to hit a clothesline. They gets inside for the opening bell, with Young getting two off a belly to belly suplex. Callihan headbutts away but gets dropped for two more. Young knocks him to the floor where the Armory gets in their cheap shots, meaning Callihan has to beat the count.

Back in and Callihan crotches him on top, where Young gets in a bite to the head. They both go for the eyes until Callihan grabs a Downward Spiral. Callihan charges into a boot in the corner, allowing Young to drop the top rope elbow for two. Back up and Callihan grabs him low, setting up a Stunner for a rather near fall. Somehow the Armory is able to get in with a chair shot without the referee noticing, allowing Young to grab a piledriver for the pin at 7:18.

Rating: C. This felt like a way to set things up for later, as we could be seeing a rematch, likely with some more violence included, down the line. Callihan doesn’t have much to do and neither does Young, so this should be about as good for both of them as anything else. Just don’t go too hardcore with the thing.

The non-champions are ready for the Champions Challenge tonight.

Here is Order 4 for a summit. Mustafa Ali starts by yelling at Tasha Steelz, accusing her of doing a terrible job. Ali also accuses her of calling “him”, even checking her phone and finding out that she did call “him” today. Steelz is thrown out, meaning it’s time for Jason Hotch. He’s not happy with Ali, who thinks Ali is wrong. Ali brings up that Hotch lives with his wife and family in a house that Ali pays for every month. Therefore, Ali wants an apology, which Hotch gives him.

That brings up John Skyler, who brings up every bad thing Ali has been doing lately. Ali is a great leader, but lately it has been up Order 1. Ali isn’t going to have that and orders Skyler to apologize, even from his hands and knees. That isn’t going to happen, with Ali bailing instead of fighting. The cracks continue to show, though I’m not sure who is going to be the one to take out Ali, because Skyler isn’t it.

Killer Kelly talks about the MK Ultra days with Masha Slamovich. Now it’s time for Kelly to take the title.

By Elegance vs. Lei Ying Lee/Masha Slamovich

The Personal Concierge handles By Elegance’s entrance and M By Elegance is here too. The dancing Ash backs away from Lee but Heather does the same, leaving By Elegance not being sure what to do. Slamovich comes in instead so Ash grabs her phone…which earns her a beating. Everything breaks down and Slamovich hits a running dive to take the villains out.

We take a break and come back with Ying hammering away in the corner, sending Ash right back to the floor. Ash gets in a cheap shot this time and takes over on Ying back inside, where some forearms in the corner keep her in trouble. Ying fights up and hits a running knee to the face but Ash hits a Meteora for the same. Heather’s stomps don’t do much good as it’s back to Slamovich to clean house. A catapult into a Codebreaker cuts Slamovich off for two but Rarefied Air is broken up. Cue Killer Kelly for a distraction, allowing Ash to hit Rarefied Air for the pin at 11:16.

Rating: C+. This was a way to set up the Knockouts Title match and that’s not a bad way to go. Kelly isn’t someone who is going to go after Slamovich hand to hand but rather trying to get inside her head. That’s an interesting change of pace and I could go with seeing how it goes. If nothing else it’s someone fresh and that’s a good thing to see.

The IInspiration wants the Knockouts Tag Team Titles back.

Here is Santino Marella for a chat. Next week, Mike Santana will be back and facing AJ Francis in a street fight. Marella brings out Tommy Dreamer, who got in a fight with Mance Warner last week. He’s willing to let Dreamer face Warner anytime, but here are Warner and Steph de Lander to interrupt. Steph says that the Innovator Of Violence thing was impressive in 1996, but she wasn’t even born yet. Dreamer agrees that it isn’t his time, though there is something they should know. Cue Jake Something to clear the villains out. Cool. Now do something important with him already. And give him a better name.

Tessa Blanchard and Indi Hartwell argue about last week and Blanchard brings up helping Hartwell when her career was starting. Hartwell says that Blanchard is proving everyone right.

We look at some TNA wrestlers at AAA TripleMania.

The System vs. Matt Cardona/???

Cardona needs a partner and brings out….the Home Town Man. Thankfully commentary flat out says “this is Cody Deaner” as Cardona and JDC start things off. JDC wants and receives Home Town, who takes over on JDC without much trouble. Cardona sends JDC outside for a running flip dive but Alisha Edwards offers a distraction so Eddie can take over. A neckbreaker gets Cardona out of trouble and it’s back to Home Town for Sliced Bread on JDC. Eddie goes for the mask but gets rolled up for the pin at 3:57.

Rating: C. They didn’t have much time here and that’s a nice thing to see given Home Town. I do like that they’re leaning into the joke instead of trying to make me care about Cody Deaner again, as that was a horrible failure. It’s nothing I want to see full time, but for a one off “fun” moment, it could have been far worse.

Post match Brian Myers comes in for the beatdown but Matt Cardona makes the save. The System beats him down as well.

We look at the six man tag from NXT, with Yoshiki Inamura pinning Trick Williams to earn a title shot…for Josh Briggs.

Rascalz/Elijah/Joe Hendry/Leon Slater vs. Moose/Steve Maclin/Trick Williams/Nemeths

Frankie Kazarian is on commentary. Nic and Elijah start things off with Nic out wrestling him without much trouble. Back up and Nic hits a dropkick, only for Elijah to grab the wrist for the Old School Meteora. Wentz comes in to flip out of Maclin’s wristlock, giving us a Maclin vs. Rascalz standoff. Ryan gets dragged in and double dropkicked before Williams and Moose get knocked to the floor.

The Rascalz hit stereo moonsaults but Moose is back in with the spear to Miguel. Everything breaks down and we take a break. Back with the champions taking turns choking Miguel on the ropes, though Maclin doesn’t seem to approve. Nic puts on a bow and arrow hold before it’s back to Williams for a cravate. A belly to back suplex is broken up though and it’s off to Slater to pick up the pace.

Maclin won’t tag in so Nic drops Slater to take over again. Slater suplexes Moose and brings Hendry back in…but the referee didn’t see the tag. Moose plants Slater but the spear is countered. The powerbomb is reversed into a DDT and the hot tag brings in Hendry to clean house.

The turning pose is cut off by Williams for the big staredown so Hendry clotheslines the Nemeths instead. Everything breaks down again and the Rascalz drop Moose, only to get knocked outside by the Nemeths. Ryan tries to bring in a title belt but Maclin takes it away. The Standing Ovation into the Highwayman’s Farewell finishes Ryan at 20:04.

Rating: B-. This is the kind of thing that happens every so often and for a rare treat, it works well. The ending lets someone get a potential title match set up in the near future but if nothing else, we have the already established feuds. They’re teasing the heck out of Hendry vs. Williams II and Moose vs. Slater is already set. That’s not a bad way to go and this was a fine way to set up some things which are likely to happen at Slammiversary.

Overall Rating: C+. The main event was the big deal on the show and while it worked, it made the rest of the show a bit tricky. You can only get so much out of the show when so many big names are tied up in the main event. It’s not bad and they did seem to boost up Slammiversary a bit, which is going to need to be the focus for the next few weeks.

Results
Eric Young b. Sami Callihan – Piledriver
By Elegance b. Lei Ying Lee/Masha Slamovich – Rarefied Air to Slamovich
Matt Cardona/Home Town Man b. The System – Rollup to Edwards
Rascalz/Elijah/Joe Hendry/Leon Slater b. Nemeths/Moose/Steve Maclin/Trick Williams – Highwayman’s Farewell to Ryan

 

 

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Impact Wrestling – June 6, 2025: Against A Lot Of Odds

Impact Wrestling
Date: June 5, 2025
Location: CAA Centre, Brampton, Ontario, Canada
Commentators: Tom Hannifan, Matthew Rehwoldt

It’s the night before Against All Odds and that means it is time for the final push towards the show. In this case we have to get ready for the World Title match, with Trick Williams set to defend against Elijah. That should mean a big talking segment, plus some more build towards the pay per view. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening recap.

Opening sequence.

Indi Hartwell vs. Tasha Steelz

The Great Hands are here with Steelz, who hammers Hartwell down into the corner to start. Hartwell knocks her to the apron but gets sent face first into the apron for his efforts. Back in and Steelz chokes on the rope, followed by a Sliced Bread out of the corner for two. A Codebreaker gets two more but Hartwell tosses her out of the corner. Skyler tries to get Hotch to interfere but Hotch won’t do it, leaving Hartwell to hit the Hurts Don’t It (full nelson swung into a faceplant) for the pin at 6:07.

Rating: C. That’s Hartwell in a nutshell: she’s completely fine and that’s about as high as I can go. There isn’t much that makes her stand out and that has been the case since she got to WWE in the first place. Having her be the reason for the latest Order 4 issues works well enough, though I’m not even remotely curious about what is next for Hartwell.

Post match Mustafa Ali comes out and shoves down the referee, plus Hartwell. Hotch gets in Ali’s face but everyone leaves Hotch alone in the ring.

Mance Warner, with Steph de Lander, wants Steve Maclin and is ready to take the International Title at Against All Odds.

John Skyler checks on Tasha Steelz and gets a phone call, asking if she’s ok. Steelz says she is, but asks whomever is on the phone if they can talk to Ali. Cue Ali, with Skyler getting off the phone in a hurry. Jason Hotch comes in, with Ali knowing it’s for an apology (which Hotch doesn’t actually give) before setting up a match between them anyway.

X-Division Title: Eric Young vs. Moose

Young, with the Northern Armory, is challenging and JDC is here with Moose. Young slugs away in the corner to start and does the O Canada standing in the Tree Of Woe. JDC freaks out so much that the referee gets distracted and we reach at least the second verse. Moose is back up with a chokebomb for two and they go outside with Young being whipped hard into the steps.

Back in and Young is fine enough to hit a suicide dive, followed by a high crossbody for two back inside. That doesn’t work for Moose, who runs the corner and hits a spinning high crossbody for two of his own. Moose’s charge into the corner misses though and Young gets two off a piledriver, with JDC putting the foot on the rope. The Armory takes JDC out so Moose gets in a low blow. The spear retains the title at 7:35.

Rating: B-. This is the kind of win that gives Moose something as he beat a former multiple time World Champion and someone who could be seen as a realistic challenger to the title. That being said, it feels like we are on the way to Leon Slater being the one to take the title from Moose and that has been the case for a long time now. Building Moose up on the way there is a smart way to go and this did just that.

Post match Young and the Armory jump and attack a fan in the crowd.

Dani Luna knows what it’s like to lose what you have but just because Spitfire is done doesn’t means she is.

Joe Hendry is disappointed in his loss because things had been going so well but now the title is in the hands of an outside. Elijah is coming for the title now and Hendry is 100% behind him. Frankie Kazarian comes in to mock him for the loss and promises to make it even worse at Against All Odds.

Heather By Elegance/M By Elegance vs. Myla Grace/Harley Hudson

The Personal Concierge is here with BY Elegance. Heather drives Hudson into the corner to start but gets hiptossed down so Hudson can pull on the arm. M comes in and Heather offers a distraction so M can take over. The double arm crank is escaped and Hudson runs her over, allowing Grace to come in. The Facewash hits in the corner with M having to break up the cover. M gets in a cheap shot and it’s a super Spanish Fly into a moonsault to finish Grace at 5:06.

Rating: C+. Well at least it wasn’t Spitfire again. I’m done with trying to find anything interesting in them and By Elegance is more interesting as a modern version of the Beautiful People. Grace and Hudson have some attitude to them, but we’re way too early into their careers for them to be a threat to anyone of note.

Video on Rosemary vs. Xia Brookside. Rosemary has tried to push Brookside to the evil side and now Brookside is a lot more aggressive, which resulted in Rosemary taking a beating. Now it’s Monster’s Ball, complete with the whole “they’re locked away for 24 hours” deal.

Rosemary vs. Xia Brookside

Monster’s Ball, basically meaning hardcore with a bunch of weapons around the ring. Brookside is looking terrified to start and Rosemary uses her cookie sheets to scare Brookside into the corner. Brookside gets in a few shots but takes too long loading up a belt, allowing Rosemary to take it away and give her a whipping. Rosemary loads up a chair in the corner and whips Brookside head first into it for the crash as we take a break.

Back with Rosemary choking on the floor but Brookside finds a hockey stick to take over. Broken Wings to a trashcan against the steps rocks Rosemary and Brookside stomps her head onto said steps. A door is set up in the corner but Rosemary is back with the Upside Down to cut her off. They take turns stapling each other and Brookside plants her on some hockey pucks (because Canada).

A DDT onto the chair gives Brookside two and it’s time to set up four chairs. As usual, that takes too long and Rosemary spears her through the door for two, leaving Rosemary frustrated. Brookside fights up and, after using a trashcan lid to block the mist (that was smart) hits the Brooksie Bomb onto the chairs for the win at 14:14.

Rating: B-. It’s Monsters Ball and that means one simple thing: you know what you’re getting. That has been the case with these matches for a very long time now and it was on full display again here. There isn’t much that makes these things stand out and while I’m very glad Brookside picked up a win, I’m only going to be able to buy her as a big deal when she actually wins some gold, or at least stays in the title picture.

The Rascalz talk about various brother tag teams (like the Mega Powers and T&A) and promise to win the Tag Team Titles.

We look at First Class costing Mike Santana the TNA World Title against Trick Williams this week on NXT.

Elijah sings (and strums) about how Trick Williams has fans singing for him but he’s cracking under the pressure. Williams will find out in TNA why we walk this way.

Lei Ying Li is ready to win the Knockouts Title.

Here is Santino Marella to talk about how he has to beat Robert Stone at Against All Odds to retain his job and get rid of Stone for good. Marella missed a lot of his daughter’s life but then he came here and it reignited his love of wrestling. He’s stepping down as the boss for one day so he can fight for what he believed in. Cue Stone (with Victoria Crawford) to say Marella is a loser instead of a leader and he’s ready to turn this into the Sheriff Stone Show. Marella gets serious and talks about being ready to fight and coming for Stone’s soul. If Marella could drop the goofiness, this story would be so much better.

Masha Slamovich is focused on Lei Ying Li, who is a warrior.

Against All Odds rundown.

Nemeths/Frankie Kazarian vs. Leon Slater/Matt Hardy/Mike Santana

The brawl starts fast with Matt hammering Kazarian into the corner over and over until Slater comes in. Poetry In Motion sets up Santana’s Cannonball to Kazarian but Nic trips Hardy down. The springboard spinning legdrop connects and it’s Hardy in trouble in the corner. The sleeper goes on until Hardy jawbreaks his way to freedom, allowing the tag off to Slater.

Everything breaks down and Slater hits a slingshot dive to take the Nemeths out on the floor. The Danger Zone is countered into a Blue Thunder Bomb for two and Slater drops Nic with a leg lariat. Santana comes in to clean house and a double rolling Buck Fifty gets two on Ryan. The Death Valley Driver connects for the same and we hit the parade of knockdowns. Ryan breaks up the Swanton 450 but walks into Spin The Block to give Santana the pin at 7:10.

Rating: C+. Well, why else was Ryan going to be out there? He exists for the sake of driving people nuts with his MY BIG BROTHER stuff and to take pins. There isn’t much other use for him, and he helped Santana get back on track after his huge loss on NXT. It was a fairly thrown together match, but the fans like all of the good guys so I’ll take it.

Overall Rating: B-. They had a show that didn’t feel important coming in and have turned Against All Odds into something that looks pretty nice. That’s quite the feat for a clear B level show and hopefully they can make the event itself work. The action this week was hit and miss, but they got the big part done and that’s what matters the most.

Results
Indi Hartwell b. Tasha Steelz – Hurts Don’t It
Moose b. Eric Young – Spear
Heath By Elegance/M By Elegance b. Myla Grace/Harley Hudson – Moonsault to Grace
Xia Brookside b. Rosemary – Brooksie Bomb onto chairs
Matt Hardy/Leon Slater/Mike Santana b. Nemeths/Frankie Kazarian – Spin The Block to Ryan

 

 

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Impact Wrestling – May 29, 2025: Hurry, Hurry, Hurry

Impact Wrestling
Date: May 29, 2025
Location: CAA Centre, Brampton, Ontario, Canada
Commentators: Matthew Rehwoldt, Tom Hannifan

We’re done with Under Siege and there wasn’t much to talk about on the show. However, there was also an NXT show over the weekend, where NXT’s Trick Williams won the TNA World Title. That’s going to set the stage for Against All Odds, which is already taking place next weekend. Let’s get to it.

Here is Under Siege if you need a recap.

We open with a recap of Trick Williams winning the NXT Title at Battleground. Commentary welcomes us to the show and you would think someone died.

Opening sequence.

Rascalz vs. First Class vs. Aztec Warriors vs. The System

For the Tag Team Title shot at Against All Odds and Laredo Kid is on his own after the System attacked Octagon Jr. earlier today. The System bails to the floor to start so Miguel and Kid flip around to a standoff. We hit the rapid fire tags until Kid clears the ring. Alisha Edwards offers a distraction but gets ejected for her efforts. The Rascalz take everyone else out with a bunch of dives and we take a break.

Back with Myers grabbing a chinlock on Kid before Francis comes in with a hard clothesline. First Class starts taking turns on Kid, with Francis adding a running knee in the corner. Navarro accidentally tags Kid, meaning he has to face Francis. That doesn’t present a problem, as Navarro drops down and gets covered, with everyone else running in for the save. Why they did that rather than shaking hands and having Navarro suddenly give up isn’t clear.

Wentz comes back in to clean house until Francis has to make a save. Everything breaks down and Miguel hits a running flip dive onto the System. Kid is up to dive onto just about everyone else but Francis plants him with a chokeslam off the top. Miguel Meteoras Francis though, allowing him to steal the pin on Kid at 12:44.

Rating: B-. This was a match that had to happen as they only had so much time to get challengers ready for Against All Odds. The move makes as much sense as anything else as the Rascalz are an established team and won a fast paced match to get the title shot. As usual, it’s a good choice for an opener and it went well.

The Nemeths are ready for the Rascalz.

During the break, First Class had an argument and Mike Santana jumped AJ Francis.

We meet new signees Myla Grace and Harley Hudson, who are ready to prove themselves and have some attitude. They had a match on Xplosion and the fans seemed to like it so it’s time to keep fighting. The Personal Concierge pops in to ask where Santino Marella is, with Xia Brookside (watching the interview) and the newcomers laughing at him. I’ve seen worse ways to introduce someone.

Raj Singh vs. Mustafa Ali

The rest of Order 4 is here with Ali, who jumps him in the corner to start fast. Back up and a running dropkick puts Singh down again, followed by a neckbreaker to make it worse. Singh gets in a clothesline and hammers away but the Great Hands offer a distraction. Ali drops the 450 for the pin at 2:49. Hopefully that’s it for Singh, as he and Ali don’t need to do this long term.

Post match Ali yells at the rest of Order 4 until the Great Hands lay out Singh again.

Arianna Grace is worried about the mixed tag match but Santino Marella says it’ll be great for them to team together. And Jimmy Korderas is going to be the guest referee!

Ash By Elegance vs. Lei Ying Li

Ash wastes no time in bailing to the floor at the threat of a spinning kick. Back in and a running knee and a running dropkick have Ash in more trouble but she gets smart by kicking at the leg. An arm/leg crank doesn’t last long for Ash as Li is up to strike away in the corner. A running knee gives Li two and she yells a lot, setting up a spinning torture rack neckbreaker for the pin on Ash at 5:57.

Rating: C. This was a way to give Li a quick win and that’s all it needed to be. She might be in line for a title shot sooner than later, perhaps as soon as Against All Odds, so giving her a fast win makes sense. Li is mainly there to do her kicks, but she does them rather convincingly most of the time.

Post match Masha Slamovich comes in and says she’ll see Li at Against All Odds.

We look at Trick Williams winning the World Title, plus the fallout.

We look at Mike Santana winning his NXT debut and then challenging Trick Williams for an NXT Title shot next week.

Williams doesn’t like Brampton so he’s not there. Instead, he’ll beat Santana to keep the title.

Mance Warner vs. Bryce Hansen

Steph de Lander is here with Warner, who jumps Hansen in the corner to start. We pause for a crawl over to de Lander for a kiss before a clothesline drops Hansen again. A running knee and an implant DDT give Warner the pin at 2:40. Warner looked good here, and he did it without barbed wire.

Post match de Lander says Warner wants the International Title.

We look at Xia Brookside snapping and attacking Rosemary at Under Siege.

Rosemary is happy that Brookside has finally seen the dark. She wants Brookside to fill her soul with darkness.

Santino Marella/Arianna Grace vs. Robert Stone/Tessa Blanchard

Well hold on as Blanchard is injured so Victoria Crawford is taking her place. We have some special rules too: the match cannot go over ten minutes, Alisha Edwards will be the guest enforcer referee, and the Cobra is BANNED.

Santino Marella/Arianna Grace vs. Robert Stone/Victoria Crawford

Jimmy Korderas is guest referee. Stone runs away from Rivera to start and it’s quickly off to Grace. Blanchard trips her down and gets ejected, meaning Crawford gets the chance to come in instead. Crawford gets in a knockdown and grabs a chinlock. Stone teases coming in so Marella chases him off, meaning it’s time for a front facelock instead.

That’s broken up and it’s off to Marella as everything breaks down. Grace comes back in with a high crossbody but Stone pulls Korderas out. Said Korderas is sent into Marella, who is sent into the barricade. Crawford ax kicks Grace, allowing Stone to get the pin, as counted by Alisha Edwards, at 6:32.

Rating: C. The match was kind of a mess with so much going on, but that is probably a lot better than having them work a straight match. At the same time, this is still one of the worst stories going today as the battling bosses is only so good on its best day. When you have it with these guys, it’s leaving quite a bit to be desired.

We look at members of the local government helping Eric Young pin Moose at Under Siege.

Young, with the Northern Armory, wants the X-Division Title. Moose comes in and will talk to Santino Marella about it.

Heather By Elegance, with the Personal Concierge, introduces M By Elegance (Maggie Lee) after her makeover. Cue Myla Grace and Harley Hudson to interrupt, saying they want to earn some respect. Then they throw champagne on Lee, who panics and leaves with By Elegance.

Against All Odds rundown, with Elijah getting a World Title shot.

International Title: Matt Cardona vs. Steve Maclin

Maclin is defending and gets a pep talk from Tommy Dreamer in the back. Maclin starts fast and hammers away in the corner to knock Cardona outside. An elbow off the apron connects and a backdrop puts Cardona on the ramp as we take a break. Back with Cardona hitting a neckbreaker and then a neckbreaker for two. The neck crank goes on to keep Maclin in trouble, at least until the comeback is triggered.

Maclin fights up and we get a double knockdown, followed by the clothesline comeback. Cardona gets in a knockdown of his own for two and goes up, where he is superplexed back down. Back up and some running boots in the corner rock Maclin, who is right back with a running knee. The Jar Headbutt gets two, as does Cardona’s Unprettier. Radio Silence gets two more but Maclin ties him in the Tree of Woe for the running shoulder. KIA retains the title at 15:51.

Rating: B-. They got going a bit near the end here, which is a good addition to a match which seemed designed to give Maclin a nice win. Cardona is a name with some value and it worked with a one off match. Good stuff for a main event here, though we’ll get to Maclin’s next real challenger soon enough.

Mike Santana is ready to win the World Title.

Overall Rating: B-. This was an interesting show, as they barely touched Under Siege (makes sense), instead focusing on building Against All Odds. That’s what they had to do given the short turnaround time and we already have some title matches set up. If nothing else, the show is already looking better than Under Siege, though that’s only covering so much ground in the first place.

Results
Rascalz b. First Class, Aztec Warriors and The System – Top rope chokeslam to Kid
Mustafa Ali b. Raj Singh – 450
Lei Ying Li b. Ash By Elegance – Torture rack neckbreaker
Mance Warner b. Bryce Hansen – Implant DDT
Robert Stone/Victoria Crawford b. Santino Marella/Arianna Grace – Ax kick to Grace
Steve Maclin b. Matt Cardona – KIA

 

 

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