Impact Wrestling
Date: October 29, 2026
Location: Dothan Civic Center, Dothan, Alabama
Commentators: Tom Hannifan, Matthew Rehwoldt

We’re in a full on youth movement as the X-Division is getting a bit of a renewed focus thanks to the upcoming Destination X. That should make for a good show here as we might be getting to see something a bit different than usual. At the same time, the current X-Division Champion is the 44 year old Amazing Red, who is defending against Cedric Alexander this week. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening recap.

Opening sequence.

Knockouts TV Title: Jada Stone vs. M By Elegance

Elegance is defending. Stone starts fast and knocks her outside, setting up the early suicide dive. Back in and Elegance drops her right back over the top for a big crash. The dragon sleeper just seems to wake Stone up as she strikes away but gets knocked right back down. Elegance’s moonsault misses and a hurricanrana gives Stone two.

They trade some running shots against the ropes until the Spark Stunner has Elegance in trouble. A moonsault to the floor takes out the entire Elegance Brand and there’s a Spanish Fly off the steps. The Brand offers a distraction, though Mr. Elegance doesn’t seem happy with this and says he quits. Not that it matters as the kneeling tombstone retains the title at 6:40.

Rating: C+. This was about what you would have expected, with the Brand costing Stone the wind. At the same time though, the bigger deal here was the Mr. Elegance issue, though I’m not sure how much of a difference he’s going to make elsewhere. Good enough match though, as Elegance has done far better on her own than I would have expected.

The System is ready for Cedric Alexander to get the X-Division Title back tonight, but the team still doesn’t seem happy with Eddie Edwards.

An unknown man interrupts Daria Rae (and her stupid catchphrase) and says he’s an official observer sent by the Board Of Directors. Oh dear.

Zero vs. BDE

BDE’s early springboard is pulled out of the air but he slips away. A big right hand has BDE in trouble and a release suplex sends him crashing into the corner. Zero’s legdrop gets two but BDE gets in a springboard cutter. That just earns him a chokebomb for the pin at 3:01.

Rating: C. This was just a squash to show that Zero is still a monster after his time with Order 4 came to an end. That worked well here, as it was a total smashing of BDE to make the result happen. There isn’t much of another reason to have BDE around other than stuff like this and it worked out perfectly well enough.

Post match Rich Swann runs in for the save and gets chokebombed as well. Security comes in and is quickly taken out too.

Ricky Sosa and Fabian Aichner both enter the World X Cup and they’re ready to go, albeit respectfully.

Shotzi Blackheart talks about how she’s looking forward to hurting everyone.

X-Division Title: Amazing Red vs. Cedric Alexander

Red is defending. They run the ropes to start and a running shoulder sends Alexander outside. That means the big dive connects for Red and we take a break. We come back with Red caught in a waistlock. A Death Valley Driver gives Alexander two more and we’re right back on the waistlock.

Red fights up and hits a spinning DDT but Alexander plants him with a Michinoku Driver. They slug it out until Red gets some near falls off some rollups. A middle rope spinning faceplant has Alexander in even more trouble and sets up the Code Red to retain the title at 11:15.

Rating: B. Yeah this was the good stuff you would have expected, with Red still being this good in the ring being rather impressive. You wouldn’t think he would still have it this late into his career but he pulled it off again here. His title reign isn’t likely to last very long but he’s making the most of it and that’s cool to see.

Elayna Black comes up to see Heather By Elegance and suggests they both want the Knockouts TV Title.

Indi Hartwell journals about how hard it was to get here and how hard she’s working to keep the title.

The Apex runs in to say they’re here to end Hartwell’s dream and turn it into a nightmare. Shayna Baszler appears to be her next challenger.

Harley Hudson is in with the Righteous.

Fire N Flava are ready to make Shotzi Blackheart’s life miserable for attacking them.

John Skyler vs. AJ Francis

Mila Moore and Expressions are here too. Francis misses a charge into the corner to start and gets knocked outside. Expressions’ distraction lets Francis take over though and a running knee connects in the corner. Back in and Skyler hits a slingshot spear for two but Expressions and Moore get in an argument on the apron. Skyler is sent into Moore for the crash to the outside and Skyler is distracted, but still manages a springboard tornado DDT for two anyway. Francis is right back up with the Down Payment for the pin at 4:14.

Rating: C+. I can’t believe it but I’m becoming a fan of Francis. He gets what it means to be a big monster heel and that’s what he should be doing. It’s working well and I could go for seeing what happens with him in a bigger role. What he does in the ring is what it is, but he’s a heck of a heel character and that’s what he needs to be.

Bear Bronson blames Cedric Alexander’s loss on Eddie Edwards and challenges him to a match for leadership of the System.

Daria Rae tells the representative that he’ll see how she does things her way. The representative, apparently named Brian Johnson, says he’ll do whatever to work around here.

Here is Leon Slater for a chat. He talks about growing up without a dad and now he’s made it all the way to the top of the mountain. His X-Division Title reigns are a blueprint for how he wants this to go, which includes facing all challengers. That brings him to Trey Miguel and the two of them got off to a bad start. He wants to make things right to his face so here is Miguel to join him.

Slater praises Miguel, saying he’ll be a World Champion but Slater isn’t done with it yet. Miguel says he’s fought his entire life as well but Slater was 14 when Miguel started around here. He hasn’t had a World Title shot in six years and he has no idea when another might come. Miguel respects him but wants to be on top as well. They have a staredown but it doesn’t seem that they dislike each other.

Ryan Nemeth vs. Elijah

This match is presented by the movie Stranglehold, which features Nemeth. Speaking of Nemeth, he grabs a headlock to start but gets knocked to the apron. Walk With Elijah connects but Nemeth is right back with some choking on the ropes. That earns Nemeth some choking in the middle of the ring (Elijah is a proper cheater.) and the Highwayman’s Farewell finishes Nemeth at 3:59.

Rating: C-. There wasn’t much to see here but that was kind of the point. This was more about plugging the movie (fine, as a sponsor is a sponsor) and having Elijah get a win before what is likely going to be a big match with Nic Nemeth. It’s not like there is any reason to have Ryan around and he’s fine enough in this low level pest role.

Post match Nic Nemeth runs in for the beatdown but Elijah guitars Ryan out.

Mustafa Ali tells Frankie Kazarian to worry about Avery Styles but Kazarian has this and tells Ali to worry about his own former stable.

The Hardys, carrying shovels, head into the boiler room (or close enough) to face the Syx in the Slaughterhouse match and the brawl is quickly on. Shaw beats on Jeff and crushes his head in a ladder but Jeff is right back up. Matt and Sawyer brawl off but Shaw is there to help take Matt down.

Matt is locked in a room and a board is put in front of the door so Jeff is back up to go after both of them. The Syx put a trashcan over Jeff’s head and then beat on it with axes as Amazing Grace plays. There was no match (or commentary) here but of all the violent ways to write Jeff off TV before a Canadian show, this was the most recent.

Overall Rating: C+. This was a big slower than what we had last week but it did a nice enough job to get us ready for Destination X. The renewed focus on the X-Division, even if it isn’t going to last long, is still a fun thing to see and we started getting some of the build towards the World X Cup. We also found another way to murder Jeff Hardy, which is often a fun way to go. The Red vs. Alexander match was good but the rest was just ok, with nothing else really standing out. Good enough show here, but not really something you need to see.

Results
M By Elegance b. Jada Stone – Kneeling Tombstone
Zero b. BDE – Chokebomb
Amazing Red b. Cedric Alexander – Code Red
AJ Francis b. John Skyler – Down Payment
Elijah b. Ryan Nemeth – Highwayman’s Farewell

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

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Impact Wrestling
Date: October 22, 2026
Location: Dothan Civic Center, Dothan, Alabama
Commentators: Tom Hannifan, Matthew Rehwoldt

We’re coming up on Destination X and now we have a #1 contender to the World Title, as Trey Miguel won a ladder match last week. That sets him up to challenge Leon Slater, which should be a heck of a match. Other than that, the card needs to be set up and that should be done this week. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

We open with the return of Daria Rae, who tells these disgusting human beings to “shut up, I’m talking”. She brags about her success and says that if she had been around, Indi Hartwell wouldn’t have become Knockouts Champion. This brings out Hartwell, who mocks her with the belt and says that Rae’s time away didn’t make her any better. Hartwell offers to let Rae slap her but Rae says Hartwell has to defend the title against Xia Brookside right now, even if Hartwell is in street clothes.

Knockouts Title: Indi Hartwell vs. Xia Brookside

Brookside is challenging and jumps her to start as the beatdown is on fast. Back up and Hartwell kicks her to the floor, where Brookside grabs the title. That’s broken up so Brookside rams her arm first into the apron. The arm is smashed into the steps and then wrapped around the rope back inside, followed by the armbar. Back up and Brookside misses a charge into the corner but the Hurts Donut is countered into a Fujiwara armbar. Hartwell breaks out of that and counters Darkside into the Hurts Donut to retain at 6:23.

Rating: C+. This was another step forward in Hartwell vs. Rae, which is another attempt to recreate the Austin vs. McMahon dynamic. The problem is Rae doesn’t wrestle (yet) and she’s still such a generic villain that there’s no spark to the story. Hartwell is only so interesting either and it’s a shame to see Brookside stuck in this kind of a spot.

Post match Apex comes in to beat up Hartwell, with Rae approving.

Leon Slater is fired up to be the youngest World Champion of all time. Trey Miguel comes in to say he’s going to do anything to take the title, which is cool with Slater. They depart in peace.

Xia Brookside has a meltdown about her loss but holds up something in her hand, which calms her down.

Fabian Aichner vs. Cedric Alexander vs. KC Navarro vs. Rich Swann

For an X-Division Title shot next week. Aichner and Alexander take over to start, with Alexander knocking him into the corner. Navarro is back in to fire off the superkicks and a tornado DDT but Swann gives him a standing moonsault for two. We take a break and come back with Swann and Aichner trading big shots.

Alexander blocks Navarro’s tornado DDT and Aichner gives Alexander a double springboard moonsault. Swann’s Canadian Destroyer on the apron is broken up and Aichner hits a big corkscrew dive to take out all three of them on the floor. That’s enough to bring out the System to jump Aichner though, allowing Alexander to hit a moonsault for the pin at 9:41.

Rating: B+. It’s a formula that has worked forever and it worked rather well here, with everyone flying around and getting in their offense where they could. The System interfering is about as good of a way to get out of the match as possible, as it’s not like anyone was really standing out over the others. Heck of a fun match here, which is what makes the concept work time after time.

Post match Amazing Red comes out for the staredown.

Tasha Steelz tells Special Agent Zero that there is one thing left to do and they shake hands.

AJ Francis isn’t happy with what the Hardys did to Expressions. Mila Moore and John Skyler come in, with Skyler setting up a match with Francis for next week.

The Hardys and Moose give Avery Styles a pep talk before his Impact debut.

The System isn’t happy with Eddie Edwards, who walks off with Alisha Edwards. That implosion feels like it’s a long time coming.

Avery Styles vs. Joe Alonzo

Alonzo says he’s going to make Styles finally put away those chairs. They go technical to start and neither of them gets anywhere, so Styles hits a dropkick instead. Alonzo bails to the floor and gets taken out again as Frankie Kazarian approves. Back in and Styles knocks him down and grabs the chinlock but Styles is up with a Pele. A running Fameasser and a sliding forearm give Styles two and Alonzo is staggered. The Phenomenal Forearm is superkicked out of the air for two but a second attempt connects with Alonzo. The Spiral Tap gives Styles the pin at 5:59.

Rating: C+. So the point here wasn’t so much showcasing everything Styles can do, but rather giving us a preview of him. He’s brand new to wrestling and this is by far his highest profile singles match to date. He wasn’t out there for very long and what he did went well enough. Obviously he’s a long term project but he has to get his feet wet, and that’s what we saw here.

The Elegance Brand brags about their success but Elayna Black comes in to say she had M beaten and only needed five more minutes. Jada Stone comes in to back Black up but the Brand walks off.

Santino Marella announces a men’s and women’s Ultimate X for Destination X, plus the return of the World X Cup. Daria Rae comes in to glare at him without saying anything.

Here are Allie and Kiera Hogan for a chat. Allie sounds rather nervous as she says they want a rematch for the Knockouts Tag Team Titles. Hogan: “Are you finished?” Hogan is tired of how this has been going because Allie is the reason they lost the titles. Allie was always the weak link in this team and they’re done. Cue Tasha Steelz to jump Allie and Fire N Flava is back together.

The lights go out though and Shotzi Blackheart runs in to take the villains out. There was a lot going on here, and while I like the Fire N Flava reunion, please do not turn the split with Allie into a big thing. Allie and Hogan had four matches together as a team. That doesn’t need some huge feud.

Harley Hudson comes up to the Righteous, who want an answer about her future soon.

We get an exclusive clip from last week with Elijah jumping Nic Nemeth for costing him the ladder match.

Elijah promises that Nemeth will reap what he sewed. Ryan Nemeth comes in to deliver a threat from Nic, with Elijah not being impressed.

International Title: Mustafa Ali vs. Jason Hotch

Ali is challenging in a 2/3 falls match. They shove each other to start and Ali grabs a headlock, which doesn’t get him very far. Hotch knocks him down and Ali isn’t looking pleased. A dropkick puts Ali on the floor but he gets up to the apron and catches Hotch with a nasty German suplex for the big crash. We take a break and come back with Ali’s rolling neckbreaker being countered with a DDT. They trade some rollups and Ali actually gets a clean pin at 9:29.

Ali – 1
Hotch – 0

Hotch slips out of a powerbomb attempt and kicks him in the face. That’s enough to send Ali outside, with Hotch hitting a suicide dive. A triangle moonsault hits Ali as well but he grabs the title to knock Hotch silly for the DQ at 11:39.

Ali – 1
Hotch – 1

Ali throws him back in for some near falls and Hotch’s kickouts just make Ali all the more frustrated. The referee gets bumped in the corner by mistake, allowing Ali to get in a rather harsh low blow. Ali grabs a belt to whip away, at least until Hotch takes the belt for some whips of his own. They go outside again and Ali sends him into the post to knock him silly.

Ali loads up a superplex to the floor but gets shoved down, only to superkick a diving Hotch out of the air. Back in and Hotch charges into a Spanish Fly for two and they slug it out. Hotch gets suplexed into the corner but is still able to avoid the 450. Ali misses a charge into the corner of his own and gets put in a torture rack for a flipping knee to the face to retain the title at 18:45.

Hotch – 2
Ali – 1

Rating: B. The good thing here is that Hotch felt like he belonged. That’s more than you can say about a lot of people who are trying to get into the deeper waters and TNA might have something with him. It was a good, solid TV main event and Hotch beat Ali again, which hopefully wraps up their feud for the time being, though Ali pinning him clean to start might mean one more match.

Post match Leon Slater comes out to congratulate Hotch on his win, saying the new generation isn’t waiting anymore because they’re right now.

Syx challenges the Hardys to step into their world to end the show.

Overall Rating: B+. The build to Destination X has been kind of thrown together, but it’s a show that sort of has its own setup built in. The focus is on the X-Division and therefore we’re getting two Ultimate X matches and a competition, plus two mostly X-Division wrestlers fighting for the World Title. That part went well, and you had two very good TV matches. Not bad for a night’s work.

Results
Indi Hartwell b. Xia Brookside – Hurts Donut
Cedric Alexander b. Fabian Aichner, KC Navarro and Rich Swann – Moonsault to Aichner
Avery Styles b. Joe Alonzo – Spiral Tap
Jason Hotch b. Mustafa Ali 2-1

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

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Impact Wrestling
Date: October 15, 2026
Location: Dothan Civic Center, Dothan, Alabama
Commentators: Tom Hannifan, Matthew Rehwoldt

We’re done with Bound For Glory and there were a bunch of title changes. The biggest of them all was the World Title, with Leon Slater becoming the youngest World Champion in company history. We also have a new X-Division Champion in newly inducted Hall Of Famer Amazing Red, who joined the match for the vacant title at the last minute. As for tonight though, the Hardys are in charge in honor of their 35 years in wrestling. Oh dear. Let’s get to it.

Here is Bound For Glory if you need a recap.

Long Bound For Glory recap.

Opening sequence.

Here are the Hardys to get things going. They brag about Bound For Glory and promise that tonight will be especially extreme. That includes a brother vs. brother match, though not between the two of them. Instead it’s Nic Nemeth vs. Ryan Nemeth and if either of them lose on purpose, they’re stripped of the Tag Team Titles. Matt previews the rest of the show and then brings out Amazing Red, the new X-Division Champion.

The Hardys praise Red for his win but Red says he’s here because of them. That’s not all though as Matt brings out new World Champion Leon Slater, who talks about how much this means for the X-Division. Slater says his mother has always been his rock and will face anyone who wants a shot. Jeff Hardy would like one but instead we’ll have a five way ladder match for the #1 contendership tonight. Sure why not.

The Nemeths aren’t happy with their match tonight but Nic would rather complain about not getting his World Title rematch. He’s not even in the ladder match!

The System comes in to see the vacationing Santino Marella, who leaves rather than dealing with them. Hold on though as the System argues a bit over their less than successful Bound For Glory.

Nic Nemeth vs. Ryan Nemeth

They take their time to start and don’t exactly go after each other. A rather gentle kick to the leg puts Nic down as the referee doesn’t look impressed. Ryan goes for a cover but cue the Hardys to say not so fast. They sit down on the stage and say fight or be stripped of the titles. They trade rollups with tights/trunks for two each and the Hardys again try to make them fight. Nic hits a superkick and yells at the Hardys, who want him to do it one more time. A Fameasser finishes Ryan at 5:00.

Rating: C-. This was barely a match and more about the Hardys getting to torment the Nemeths. That’s a good way to go as the show is all about the Hardys, but my goodness can we just get the Hardys away from the titles? Or at least until after they win a match after their loss at Bound For Glory?

Post match Nic again complains about not being in the #1 contenders match.

The Hardys run into AJ Francis and Expressions, the latter of whom wants Francis to get a World Title shot tonight. Instead the Hardys say they’ll face the two of them tonight, which has Expressions responding as expected.

Harley Hudson runs into the Righteous and offers them luck tonight against the Syx. She seems to want to be out there with them.

Righteous vs. Syx

Tables match and both members have to go through to lose. They slug it out with the Righteous getting the better of things. Everyone goes outside and grab the tables as we take an early break. We come back with Sawyer dropping Vincent with the handspring clothesline.

Vincent is knocked off the apron and onto a table, which doesn’t break, so Sawyer goes outside to powerbomb him through it (nice, quick save for a misfire on the table). Dutch knocks Sawyer through another table at ringside and we’re tied up. Another table is loaded up but Sawyer’s distraction lets Shaw slam him through said table for the win at 9:35.

Rating: C+. This was just about the Hardys getting to screw with two teams they don’t like. As a result, it’s a tables match despite not needing to be in any way. The Syx continue to move up the ranks and have been protected thus far. Now just keep it that way and don’t let the Hardys drag them down for eight months and it should work out.

The Hardys run into Frankie Kazarian and Avery Styles, who are ready to get their Tag Team Title shot. Matt approves, but says they can have a title shot without the trophy being cashed in when the Hardys get the titles back.

We get closeups of Allie and then Rosemary, the latter of whom is smiling.

AJ Francis/Expressions vs. Hardys

Jeff avoids a charging Francis to start and works on the arm, with Matt doing the same. A double suplex puts Francis down again so Expressions offers a distraction. Francis gets in a big boot and Expressions comes in to stomp away. A bearhug goes on but Expressions misses an elbow, allowing Matt to come back in. Francis is tied in the Tree Of Woe while Expressions gets Twist Of Fated a few times. The Swanton finishes him off at 5:34.

Rating: C. This was similar to the opener as it wasn’t really about the match itself but rather just something to get the Hardys in the ring. That being said, it worked out just fine because there was no reason for this to be anything more than a squash. While I’m sick of the Hardys, having them beat up an annoying manager is a perfectly fine use of them.

Xia Brookside/Apex vs. Gabby Forza/Harley Hudson/Indi Hartwell

Brookside immediately hands it off to Baszler, who gets to start with Hartwell. Baszler takes her down to try the arm stomp, with Hartwell breaking it up rather quickly. Hartwell tries running the ropes but gets dropped by Serrano, who came in off a blind tag. It’s back to Baszler to stay on the arm, with Brookside getting to grab an armbar. That’s broken up and Forza comes in for a double suplex. Everything breaks down and Hudson is left alone with the Apex, which she knows is a bad thing. She’s willing to fight but is launched into a knee to the face, setting up the Kirifuda Clutch to make Hudson tap at 4:28.

Rating: C. Kind of a weird match here, with Apex smashing through Hudson and not having much trouble with Hartwell either. That’s a good way to make Apex look good, but it didn’t do much for Hartwell, the new Knockouts Champion. I do like Baszler being here, but maybe don’t have another former WWE star come in and be the most awesome thing ever?

Trey Miguel vs. Ricky Sosa vs. Jason Hotch vs. Moose vs. Elijah

Non-title ladder match for the World Title shot at Destination X and Leon Slater is on commentary. Moose and Sosa are left alone in the ring to start and the slugout is on, with Moose dropkicking him off the top and out to the floor. Elijah is cut off so Moose clotheslines Sosa for a loop. Miguel is back in to go after Sosa, who is taken down by Hotch’s rolling neckbreaker (as stolen from Mustafa Ali).

Hotch takes down Moose and Elijah with a double DDT but Miguel is back in with a poisonrana. Moose dives onto Elijah and grabs the ladder, which is cut off by Sosa as we take a break. We come back with a ladder actually set up in the ring, with Elijah and Hotch slugging it out near the top. Sosa is back in but gets shoved off the ladder and into the turnbuckle. Moose sets up the bridged ladder on the floor, with Miguel giving him a tornado DDT.

Miguel goes up and gets pulled down into Hotch’s torture rack neckbreaker. Cue Mustafa Ali to distract Hotch as the two brawl up the ramp and into the back. Sosa pulls Miguel off the ladder and into Elijah’s jumping knee. Moose is back in to powerbomb Sosa…in the general vicinity of the bridged ladder for a scary looking crash. Back up and Elijah gives Moose a springboard guitar shot but here is Nic Nemeth to cut Elijah off. Nemeth tries to go up but gets cut off by Miguel, who goes up and gets the contract at 17:53.

Rating: B-. It’s a ladder match. We saw two of them at Money In The Bank over the weekend and another at All Out a few weeks ago. Seeing TNA run a ladder match of their own so soon after just makes it feel like TNA trying to keep up. Miguel winning is a good choice as Slater can have a nice first defense to get his reign off to the right kind of start. This just didn’t need to be a ladder match, and it was quite the use of Hotch fresh off of his International Title win. Not bad, but not the best timing for something like this.

Post match the Hardys come out to thank the fans and TNA as Slater and Miguel have a respectful staredown to end the show.

Overall Rating: C. I wasn’t feeling this one as it was mainly about the Hardys getting to do their thing all night long. That’s all well and good, but it’s not the right time to do something like that, as this put Bound For Glory WAY onto the backburner. The Hardys have gotten more tributes over the years than anyone could ever use and this was just another on the pile. Too much stuff was pushed off to the side here and it doesn’t help that I’m sick of seeing the Hardys/being told how great they are. At least it wasn’t another Broken Universe show, but that’s only so much of a bar to clear.

Results
Nic Nemeth b. Ryan Nemeth – Fameasser
Syx b. Righteous – Slam through a table
Hardys b. AJ Francis/Expressions – Swanton to Expressions
Xia Brookside/Apex b. Gabby Forza/Harley Hudson/Indi Hartwell – Kirifuda Clutch to Hudson
Trey Miguel b. Ricky Sosa, Jason Hotch, Moose and Elijah – Miguel pulled down the contract

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

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

Impact Wrestling
Date: October 1, 2026
Location: Boeing Center At Tech Port, San Antonio, Texas
Commentators: Tom Hannifan, Matthew Rehwoldt

We’re only a few weeks away from Bound For Glory and last week saw the reveal of the Syk as the recent mystery attackers. That should open up a big showdown with the Hardys at Bound For Glory, but we have some other things to cover. That includes more on Nic Nemeth vs. Leon Slater so let’s get to it.

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

In Memory Of Pac.

X-Division Title Qualifying Match: BDE vs. Mr. Elegance

BDE starts fast with a springboard crossbody and an armdrag sends Elegance outside. Back in and BDE misses a springboard to let Elegance take over, including a cravate. Some rolling suplexes give Elegance two but the wind up DDT is blocked. BDE can’t get his Kliq Cutter but he can get a sunset flip to pin Elegance at 4:30.

Rating: C. The match was what you would expect but BDE getting a win does actually feel like a nice moment. He’s never going to be a big star but they’ve put something into the idea that he’s worked so hard to get here and he finally beat someone. It’s not like Elegance is going to lose anything by being beaten here anyway as he’s just a goofy villain so nice job here.

John Skyler and Jason Hotch have to team together tonight and Hotch is a bit condescending about Mila Moore. Skyler talks about how he had nothing and finally found someone but Hotch can’t be happy for him. Tonight, he hopes Skyler will be in his corner.

The Hometown Man meets the Dude Wipes mascot but AJ Francis comes in to steal the wipes that the mascot gave to the Man.

Zoey Serrano vs. Indi Hartwell

Xia Brookside is on commentary. The brawl starts on the floor with both of them being rammed into the apron. They get inside with Hartwell in control and the bell rings. Serrano is up with a superkick and half nelson suplex to put Hartwell down. Some big crossface shots have Hartwell in more trouble but she spinebusters Serrano out of the air. They head outside again, with Hartwell being sent into the steps. That’s not enough for Serrano, who kicks a security guard in the face and then hits Hartwell with a chair for the DQ at 3:04.

Rating: C. This was more of an angle than a match but I do like the ending, as you don’t want either of them taking a pin right now. Serrano is doing something different by being the unhinged woman who attacks random people while Hartwell is on her way to the title match at Bound For Glory. It was kept rather short, which granted might not be a bad idea.

Post match Serrano unloads on Hartwell with the chair and Brookside belts Hartwell in the head to stand as tall as she can.

Order 4 vs. Great Hands

Tasha Steelz and Mila Moore are here too. Ali dropkicks Skyler off the apron to start and flips over Hotch in the corner. A missed charge puts Ali on the floor though and Hotch takes him out with a moonsault. That just earns him a gorilla press drop onto the apron from Zero though and Ali DDTs him onto the floor.

Skyler is up with a pair of spears to Ali and the Hands are back up, only to get clotheslined outside by Zero. The big no hands dive takes them out again and a spinebuster gets two on Hotch back inside. The swinging Downward Spiral plants Hotch for two more and Zero knocks Skyler off the apron.

Ali’s chinlock doesn’t last long and it’s a sitout powerbomb to put him down. That’s enough for the tag back to Skyler and the Hands get together to take Zero down. The double superplex is broken up though and it’s a double powerbomb to drop the Hands again. Back up and Hotch knocks Zero to the floor, leaving Ali to miss a 450. The slingshot spear gives Skyler two but Ali is right back with a Sharpshooter for the tap at 11:41.

Rating: B. It’s nice to see the Great Hands back together, as they’re rather talented when they get to work together. At the same time, it should be interesting to see where this goes. I was surprised to see the Hands lose here, though it wouldn’t make the most sense to have Ali lose in a tag match and Zero losing getting pinned again wouldn’t be a great idea either.

Post match Ali won’t let go so Skyler makes the save. Ali makes Zero take Hotch out again and then yells at Zero….so Steelz tells Zero to take Ali out. That’s exactly what Zero does, followed by a chokebomb to Moore.

Post break the four of them get in a big brawl but Santino Marella comes in to make a four way International Title match for Bound For Glory.

AJ Francis vs. Moose

Francis, with Expressions, splashes him to start fast and avoids a charge in the corner to put Moose down. They’re quickly on the floor with Francis sending him into the steps but it’s too early for the Down Payment back inside. Moose kicks him in the face but Francis is right back with a suplex into the chinlock. That’s broken up as well so Moose goes up, where he is quickly crotched.

Moose manages to shove him off the top and hit a high crossbody, setting up a top rope superplex to send Francis crashing back down for two. The spear is broken up by an Expressions distraction and Francis’ spear gets two. The villains load up the table, which is then covered with Dude Wipes, so the Dude Wipes mascot gets inside (oh boy). Expressions gets kicked through the table so Moose goes after the mascot, meaning Moose can get in the spear for the pin at 7:50.

Rating: C. The focus of this match was an inflated box of wipes in underwear. I’m well aware that the company got a nice check for this but that doesn’t make for good television. As for the match itself, it was a fine power fight between two big guys, but it was kind of hard to get the focus on that with everything else going on.

Rosemary and Kiera Hogan go to meet Rosemary, who isn’t sure if this is real and says she can’t go back. Rosemary rams herself into a chain link fence and warns them of SNAKES IN THE GRASS before wandering off.

Joe Alonzo vs. Leon Slater

Before the match, Alonzo says his own name a lot and says Slater isn’t going to win the title. He references Nic Nemeth (on commentary) from 2006 and says that Slater isn’t going to take away his spot while promising to take away Slater’s Bound For Glory spot. The bell rings and Slater better beat him in about 30 seconds. A leg lariat and the Swanton 450 finish Alonzo at 21 seconds. There we go!

Post match Nemeth steals Slater’s jacket…so Slater steals Nemeth’s titles. Keeping Slater looking smart is an important idea and they’re doing well.

We look at Frankie Kazarian training Avery Styles.

Elayna Black comes in to see the Elegance Brand and promises to take the Knockouts TV Title. Black mocks the Elegance Brand, with M saying she doesn’t need them. That’s enough for Black to get her to agree to not have the Brand next week. The Personal Concierge points out that might be a bad idea.

Ricky Sosa vs. Cedric Alexander

Sosa backs him up against the ropes for a clean break to start and then grabs a quick northern lights suplex. Alexander is knocked to the floor for a big no hands dive as we take a break. We come back with Alexander hitting a basement dropkick and sending Sosa outside. The chinlock goes on back inside, which is broken up just as fast.

Sosa flips over him out of the corner and…I think DDTs him out of the air for two. Alexander is right back with a suplex but springboards into a Blue Thunder Bomb. Cue the System for a distraction, which is cut off just as fast. Alisha Edwards offers a distraction though and here is Eddie Edwards to kick Sosa low. The Lumbar Check finishes Sosa at 9:57.

Rating: B-. They’re doing a nice job of setting Sosa up for his big win over Eddie at Bound For Glory and that should make for a good moment. Sosa hasn’t quite broken through as a star around here yet but the fans like him. Let him have the moment on the big stage and see where he can go. Eddie is as smart of a choice to make him look good in the ring so the pieces are in the right place from here.

Here is the Syx for their first big speech. Shaw says “we’re here” and says now you know who the attackers have been, but why? This is a rotten place and sometimes a place is so rotten that it has to be cut apart. Sawyer says it doesn’t matter who you are around here because you’re on the chopping block. The Hardys have survived everything over the years and that just means the Syx get to try it again. Now we get to see how hard it is to kill them.

Cue the Hardys, who say they’re still standing because they’re unkillable and will not die. If the Syx want to find out how hard they are to kill, let’s do it at Bound For Glory, anything goes and falls count anywhere. The Hardys are ready to go right now but Syx bail to end the show. You knew the match was coming so just announcing it quickly is the way to go. At the same time, are we really having the former Wyatts pick up the Eric Young sickness deal?

Overall Rating: B-. This was the kind of show that the company needed for Bound For Glory, as we’re getting closer to the show and they were running out of time to build everything up. That’s what they did here, with most of the matches getting at least some time. They still have one more week to finalize everything and it should be interesting to see how they put everything together. This is the most important time of the year and I’m curious to see how they make it work. This week’s show did some good stuff and that’s a positive step forward.

Results
BDE b. Mr. Elegance – Sunset flip
Indi Hartwell b. Zoey Serrano when Serrano used a chair
Order 4 b. Great Hands – Sharpshooter to Skyler
Moose b. AJ Francis – Spear
Leon Slater b. Joe Alonzo – Swanton 450
Cedric Alexander b. Ricky Sosa – Lumbar Check

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

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Impact Wrestling
Date: September 17, 2026
Location: CAA Center, Brampton, Ontario, Canada
Commentators: Tom Hannifan, Matthew Rehwoldt

We’re less than a month away from Bound For Glory and that means it is time to start firming up a lot of the card. That’s for later though, as Moose is putting his career on the line against Frankie Kazarian in what should be a pretty big showdown. Other than that, we have another qualifying match for the X-Division Title so let’s get to it.

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

Opening recap.

Opening sequence.

Knockouts TV Title: Kiera Hogan vs. M By Elegance

M, with the Elegance Brand, is defending while Allie is here with Hogan. They fight over wrist control to start and Hogan sends her into the ropes for a running hip attack. M is right back up with a Blockbuster and a basement dropkick with the kickout leaving her stunned. The double arm crank goes on and Hogan is pulled down by the hair to keep her in trouble. Hogan is back up with a running hip attack but Face The Music is blocked. M misses her moonsault though and Hogan grabs a rollup for two. Back up and Hogan tries a rollup out of the corner, with M reversing into a kneeling Tombstone to retain at 5:37.

Rating: C. M needs wins like this to boost herself up a bit and this went well. At the same time, it could probably boost the Brand up for a Knockouts Tag Team Title somewhere down the line. It’s annoying to have champions lose but the tag division is hardly overflowing with teams in the first place.

Leon Slater doesn’t like what Nic Nemeth has become so tonight he’s going to beat up Ryan Nemeth.

John Skyler again seems to try hitting on Mila Moore to no avail as she takes a phone call instead.

X-Division Title Qualifying Match: LJ Cleary vs. Rich Swann

Cleary, from Ireland, is making his debut. We get a handshake and we’re ready to go, with both of them flipping away and avoiding the early contact. Swann connects with a dropkick and they flip up to a standoff and another handshake. Swann takes him down for the step up kick to the back and Cleary is sent outside for a kick in the chair.

With Cleary still in the chair, Swann gets a running start around the ring to kick him in the face but gets cut off by a dive for trying it again. They trade dives to the floor before Cleary gets two off a Death Valley Driver. After we hear some audio that I don’t think was intentional, Swann wins a strike off but Cleary is back with a springboard Canadian Destroyer for two. Swann rolls around a lot and hits a handspring cutter, setting up the Phoenix splash for the pin at 8:05.

Rating: B. These two had some sweet chemistry out there and it was nice to see Swann getting to have this kind of a match. He has the resume around here to be a bigger star but he needs some wins to get him back up the ladder a bit. I’ve seen Cleary a few times before and he has talent, so it was nice to see him getting a chance here.

Frankie Kazarian says Moose has brought this on himself and he’s ready to take Moose out.

The System vs. Elijah/Ricky Sosa

Elijah works on Eddie’s arm to start and it’s off to Sosa for two off a slam. A snap powerslam gives Sosa one and Elijah gets to hit Alexander in the face a few times. Walk With Elijah is loaded up to Alexander while Sosa dives onto Edwards at the same time as we take a break.

We come back with Alexander pulling at Elijah’s beard and Edwards mocking his inability to get a tag. Elijah manages a jumping knee to knock Edwards out of the air and it’s back to Sosa as everything breaks down. Walk With Elijah cuts off the rest of the invading System and Sosa’s running uppercut is good for the pin on Alexander at 12:07.

Rating: B-. This got better near the end and it’s good to see Sosa get a win. He’s still trying to find himself in TNA but he’s around here often enough and getting wins. Having him in various tag teams is fine for now, as being the guy you bring in when you need a partner isn’t a bad idea.

Post match the System lays the winners out, with Eddie grabbing a mic and having a seat. He wants Sosa at Bound For Glory to see if Sosa belongs here. Yeah that’s an upgrade.

The Righteous isn’t happy with BDE for turning them down and he has one more chance.

Ryan Nemeth vs. Leon Slater

Nic Nemeth is on commentary. Slater starts fast with the right hands in the corner and nails a handspring elbow. Ryan is sent outside for a dive from Slater, who stops to glare at Nic, allowing Ryan to neckbreaker him on the way back inside. Some forearms set up a chinlock and a Nic style jumping DDT gives Ryan two. Slater fights up and kicks him in the head, setting up a very spinning torture rack bomb. The Swanton 450 finishes Ryan at 4:47.

Rating: C+. That’s all this needed to be as it’s Ryan Nemeth against the #1 contender to the World Title. Slater is on the way to the biggest match of his career and he got to beat up the champion’s brother in the process. Thankfully they didn’t drag this out in any way and Slater got to finish with his big move.

Post match Nic runs in to beat Slater down, including a belt shot to the head.

John Skyler has roses for Mila Moore but hears her on the phone, mocking the idea that she would ever date someone who looked like him.

Moose is ready to do his best as his back is to the wall.

Zoey Serrano vs. Harley Hudson

Serrano wastes no time in shoving her down and mocking Hudson’s pushups. Some choking in the corner has Hudson in more trouble and we’re already in the chinlock. Back up and Hudson knocks her into the corner for a string of running hip attacks. A rollup gives Hudson two but Serrano German suplexes her into a brainbuster onto the knee for two. Hudson trips her down and drops a leg for two, only for Serrano to come back with her flipping knee (with Hudson being flipped backwards onto the knee) and the pin at 5:50.

Rating: C. Hudson continues to impress me as she’s getting a bit more established around here. I could go for her having more success, but Serrano feels like she’s the bigger prospect at the moment. If nothing else, Serrano looking fairly dominant in her singles debut makes sense and that knee looked great.

Post match Daria Rae comes out to tell Serrano to finish Hudson, which brings out Indi Hartwell for the save. Hartwell says Rae isn’t getting rid of her but Rae says Hartwell is on borrowed time.

Moose vs. Frankie Kazarian

Moose’s TNA career is on the line and Avery Styles is here with Kazarian. Moose knocks him down but misses an early backsplash, allowing Kazarian to crucifix him for two. Kazarian’s Backstabber and Back To The Future gets two, only for Moose to come back with the chokebomb out of the corner.

Kazarian bails out to the floor and tries the slingshot cutter, with Moose head faking him for a slingshot splash instead. A high crossbody gives Kazarian two more and we take a break. We come back with both of them getting to their feet for the slow slugout. Some rollups give Kazarian two more and he clotheslines Moose for one. A headbutt and the spear connect for Moose but Kazarian rolls out to the floor.

Moose makes the mistake of trying another spear outside and gets backdropped through a table, which is good for a nine count. Fade To Black gives Kazarian two and the chickenwing goes on but Moose keeps his arm up. Moose rolls out and gets two off the spear before spearing a springboarding Kazarian out of the air. One more spear gives Moose the pin at 16:52.

Rating: B. The best thing here is the match was starting to feel big. That was the idea is it was Moose putting up everything he had for one more shot at Kazarian, which paid off. The match could have used some more time to be set up, but at least the match wound up being rather good and worthy of the main event slot.

Post match Moose crushes Kazarian’s crown with a chair.

Matt Hardy has been attacked….and two people look down at him before walking away. Well there’s your next big detail.

Overall Rating: B+. There was enough good action to carry this one with the main event and Swann vs. Cleary being the highlights. This show felt more packed than usual and it made for one of the better Impacts in awhile. That’s a great sign as we’re this close to Bound For Glory, but they have to keep it up or this doesn’t mean very much.

Results
M By Elegance b. Kiera Hogan – Kneeling Tombstone
Rich Swann b. LJ Cleary – Phoenix splash
Elijah/Ricky Sosa b. The System – Running uppercut to Alexander
Leon Slater b. Ryan Nemeth – Swanton 450
Zoey Serrano b. Harley Hudson – Flipping knee to the face

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

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

Impact Wrestling
Date: September 10, 2026
Location: CAA Center, Brampton, Ontario, Canada
Commentators: Tom Hannifan, Matthew Rehwoldt

We have just over a month to go before Bound For Glory but the bigger story around here seems to be a mystery attacker. Someone has been taking out wrestlers left and right and some accusations have set up Nic Nemeth vs. Matt Hardy in a No DQ match. That should serve as a main event, though I’m not sure how good the service will be. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening recap.

Opening sequence.

Elayna Black vs. Heather By Elegance

The Elegance Brand is here with Heather. Black starts fast with some knees to put Heather on the floor but she switches places to hit Black with a crossbody from the apron. Back in and Heather cranks on the arm before posing a bit. A Samoan drop gives Heather two but Black is back up with a running knee in the corner. The Blackout finishes Heather at 5:23.

Rating: C. Well, at least Black got a clean win over a name. That’s something she’s been lacking for a long time now and this could be a nice step forward for her. It’s not like the division doesn’t need some fresh blood so maybe this can help. If nothing else, Heather losing and getting frustrated is always worth a look.

Ryan Nemeth says he was attacked last week by the mystery attacker but Nic Nemeth was there to help him out.

Jason Hotch runs into Daria Rae, who puts him in a match with Special Agent Zero. Oh and Mila Moore can be guest referee.

Here is Frankie Kazarian, with Avery Styles, for the King’s Speech. Tonight is a coronation as Kazarian is officially the new face of the franchise after beating Moose. He is the only King Of TNA and has a crown, but here is Moose to interrupt. Moose says Kazarian got lucky to win at Lockdown because it was Moose’s spear that let Kazarian escape. That’s why Moose wants to face him again, one fall, pinfall or submission. Kazarian says no, so Moose says Kazarian has to win to prove himself to the locker room. The match is on, but Moose has to put his career on the line. Deal. Well that escalated quickly.

Gabby Forza is rather fired up for her Knockouts Title shot.

X-Division Title Qualifying Match: Rohit Raju vs. Fabian Aichner

KC Navarro is on commentary. Aichner powers him down to start and we hit the early headlock. Raju goes to the eye and knocks him outside for a ram into the steps, followed by a double stomp for two back inside. Aichner wastes no time in fighting back and getting two off a middle rope moonsault. Back up and Raju knocks him right back down, followed by a tornado DDT out of the corner for two. That’s shrugged off and Hasta La Vista (the sitout Last Ride) finishes for Aichner at 5:40.

Rating: C+. I like the finisher, as there is always something to that big of a powerbomb, though this was as much of a formality as you can get. Raju has never been much to see around here and he was little more than a flashback on this show. Aichner has been presented as a newcomer worth watching for a bit now and he needed this kind of a win to get into a big match at Bound For Glory.

Zoey Serrano talks about growing up a wrestling fan and how getting into the business changed her life forever. She’s going to stay true to herself, which is being the best wrestler in the world. I’ve heard a lot worse.

Special Agent Zero vs. Jason Hotch

Mila Moore is guest referee and Order 4 is at ringside. Zero jumps him to start fast and sends him flying off a hiptoss. Another whip sends Hotch hard into the corner and a big legdrop gives Zero two. A jumping enziguri gives Hotch…well nothing as Moore is taking her time on the counting. Zero’s clothesline gets a rather speedy two so Hotch yells at Moore, earning himself a headbutt to put him down again.

Hotch manages to reverse a suplex into a swinging DDT and a frog splash gets nothing again, as Moore checks her nails. This time Tasha Steelz gets in the ring for the brawl with Moore, whose shirt is ripped off. Steelz designates herself referee and counts the fastest pin in history off a rollup to give Hotch the pin at 6:34.

Rating: C+. It’s a story that has been done for years in wrestling and they didn’t exactly reinvent the wheel here. I do like that Hotch got another win and isn’t having his singles run dropped. He’s an intriguing talent and if they can build something out of him, why not see what they can put together.

Leon Slater comes up to Matt Hardy and wishes him luck on the main event. Slater runs into Jason Hotch and pleasantries are exchanged.

Knockouts Title: Gabby Forza vs. Xia Brookside

Brookside is defending but doesn’t have a gnome cap or Legion Of Doom shoulder pads, meaning advantage: Forza. The fans get behind Forza, who gets caught with a rather aggressive headlock. Some forearms knock Forza into the corner and the running hip attack keeps her down. The Broken Wings connect but Forza pulls her into the corner for a crash.

Some clotheslines, both standing and running, connect for Forza in the corner and an Oklahoma Stampede gets two. A Vader Bomb connects as well, with Brookside getting her foot on the rope. That’s enough for Brookside to leave but Indi Hartwell cuts her off. Cue Daria Rae to yell at Hartwell, allowing Brookside to get in a belt shot to retain at 5:40.

Rating: C. The matches aren’t exactly getting time tonight and that was hardly the most thrilling ending. Forza has charisma for days, but she might want to tone down a bit of the comedy stuff. The idea is funny, but if that becomes the focus of what she’s doing, it won’t wind up working very long.

Kiera Hogan, with Allie, is ready to win the Knockouts TV Title next week.

Here is Elijah for some music. His song this week is about the System, who comes out to interrupt and warn him to stay out of their way. The System has a list of people they don’t like, starting with Ricky Sosa. Elijah would be glad to be on that list so here is Sosa to chase the System off. The tag match is set for next week.

Matt Hardy is visited by Willow, who apparently is just in Matt’s mind.

Leon Slater has been attacked.

Vincent vs. Rich Swann

Dutch is here with Vincent and Swann charges right in to start swinging away fast. Vincent fights back and takes over, with a backbreaker leaving Swann in trouble. Swann’s comeback is cut off as he gets knocked into the corner but comes out swinging. A dive to the floor hits Dutch and Swann goes back inside, where the referee gets bumped. Swann is knocked down as well and here is BDE, all in white like the Righteous. BDE picks Swann up and then cutters Vincent, allowing Swann to hit the Phoenix splash for the win at 5:18.

Rating: C+. Well at least they didn’t waste time on this “will he/won’t he” thing with BDE, who is still only so valuable in the first place. The Righteous continues to have issues with finding any kind of success and I’m rather fine with that. After seeing them against the Hardys for so long, I could go for a bit of a break from them, though thankfully this is at least a fresh story.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

TNA World Title: Matt Hardy vs. Nic Nemeth

Nemeth is defending and there are no disqualifications. They waste no time in fighting out to the floor and Nemeth has to put a table back underneath the ring. That doesn’t work for Matt, who leans it against the ring and suplexes Nemeth through it as we take a break. We come back with Nemeth getting two off a superplex and sending Hardy into a chair in the corner.

Hardy avoids being sent through a table in the corner and gets in a clothesline to put both of them down. The multiple rams into the buckles have Nemeth in more trouble and Hardy whips him through the table (with the first attempt not breaking anything). The Twist Of Fate connects but Ryan Nemeth pulls the referee at two. Hardy elbows Nemeth through the table at ringside but walks into a low blow for two back inside. Hardy’s low blow and small package get two so Nemeth hits him with a wrench to retain at 13:17.

Rating: B-. This was a weird one as it was a fine enough hardcore match/street fight and the idea of Hardy being outnumbered and ultimately losing as a result. The problem is Hardy was moving in slow motion at times and the match doesn’t exactly feel like must see TV. They had the match you would have expected, but dang it felt like quite the TNA main event.

Overall Rating: C+. Outside of the main event, this was a bunch of pretty quick matches, though they did a good job of moving stories forward. The mystery attacker feels like it could be a big reveal, though I’m almost worried about how it might be. Otherwise, I do like some of the new names that they’re bringing along and it could make for a nice future. The pieces are there but they have to get the execution to work, which is always the hard part.

Results
Elayna Black b. Heather By Elegance – Blackout
Fabian Aichner b. Rohit Raju – Hasta La Vista
Jason Hotch b. Special Agent Zero – Rollup with a fast count
Xia Brookside b. Gabby Forza – Belt shot
Rich Swann b. Vincent – Phoenix splash
Nic Nemeth b. Matt Hardy – Wrench to the head

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

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

Impact Wrestling
Date: August 27, 2026
Location: CAA Center, Brampton, Ontario, Canada
Commentators: Tom Hannifan, Matthew Rehwoldt

We’re done with Lockdown and it’s going to be nice to see a match not inside of a cage. There were some title changes at the show, but the biggest story came at the end as new X-Division Champion Leon Slater announced that he was invoking Option C to challenge Nic Nemeth for the World Title at Bound For Glory. There’s your big story for the coming weeks so let’s get to it.

Here is Lockdown if you need a recap.

Lockdown recap.

Opening sequence.

Leon Slater has officially vacated the X-Division Title and will be challenging Nic Nemeth for the World Title at Bound For Glory.

Here are the new Tag Team Champions, the Nemeths, for a chat. They are very happy to be so successful and the most successful family in TNA history. The only person to be a World and Tag Team Champion at the same time is Kurt Angle and he’s BALD. Nic move on to Slater and he wants the fans to know they should always bet on yourself…unless it’s against him.

Cue Slater, who says he made his announcement at Lockdown so Nic could look him in the face. Nic has two titles and he was nice enough to get his brother one too, but those titles are looking rather nice to Slater. In the last few weeks, Slater has found a partner in Ricky Sosa and they’re undefeated together. The Nemeths say Daria Rae will never allow this but here is Santino Marella to allow this. It’s on for tonight.

Order 4, minus the hospitalized Mustafa Ali, is ready for a tag match against Jason Hotch/Trey Miguel tonight and John Skyler is the de facto leader of the team.

Bear Bronson vs. Elijah

The System is here with Bronson. Elijah starts fast with Walk With Elijah but takes too long running around the apron and gets distracted by Brian Myers. The distraction lets Bronson get in a cheap shot to take over, setting up the swinging Boss Man Slam for two. Elijah’s superkicks are countered into a chokebomb for two but Elijah is back up with an Alabama Slam. The Highwayman’s Farewell finishes Bronson off at 4:45.

Rating: C. This was quick and to the point with Elijah getting some momentum back after his loss at Lockdown. I’m not sure what Elijah is supposed to do next but at least he won a match here. Bronson is still a middle of the pack heel but he has a certain ferocity to him that makes him stand out a bit.

Post match the System runs in for the beatdown.

Video on Nic Nemeth vs. Leon Slater.

Elayna Black is sad about her loss at Lockdown but she was proud of the performance she put on in front of her friends and family. Maybe it was karma for her though because she wasn’t the best person to everyone. She’s here for those kids and she’s 25 years old with a long future in front of her.

Order 4 vs. Trey Miguel/Jason Hotch

Miguel flips over Skyler in the corner and grabs his arm, allowing the banged up Hotch to come in. Zero comes in as well and is sent outside for a quick dive as we take a break. We come back with Hotch not being able to get away from Zero, who grabs a bearhug on the bad ribs. Skyler comes back in and gives up the tag to Miguel so house can be cleaned. Hotch tries his rolling neckbreaker but stops before he takes Skyler out by mistake. That means Zero boots Skyler by mistake and gets sent outside. A top rope Meteora finishes Skyler at 9:05.

Rating: C+. I’m glad to see Miguel and Hotch getting another chance to win here as that wasn’t so obvious after Lockdown. If nothing else, Miguel feels like he could be moved up into an important singles spot if need be (like say against Mustafa Ali). Hotch is already playing with the house’s money as a singles star and having him getting to continue is a good sign.

Post match Mustafa Ali appears on the video screen from his hospital bed. He has fractured ribs and a punctured lung, but that’s not as painful as someone insulting his wife and daughter. Ali offers a truce to have Hotch rejoin Order 4 and end all of this. Hotch seems to be considering it.

The Righteous interrupt BDE and Rich Swann, saying they know that Brandon (BDE) wants his first win. He can face Dutch one on one.

Avery Styles can’t believe that he’s signed here and can’t wait to start his story. Moose comes in to say be careful who you associate with, including Frankie Kazarian. This brings in Kazarian, who tells Moose to stay out of this thing.

Video on M By Elegance vs. Jada Stone for the first ever Knockouts TV Title.

Knockouts TV Title: Jada Stone vs. M By Elegance

For the inaugural title and the Elegance Brand is here too. M backs her into the corner to start and gets rolled up a few times for her efforts. Stone’s missile dropkick and standing moonsault connect for two but M cuts off a dive. That means Stone is dropped back onto the apron and a Samoan driver gives M two more. The chinlock doesn’t last long so M fires off a fall away slam. A dropkick cuts off Stone’s comeback attempt but she avoids a moonsault.

Stone strikes away and gets in a 619 before rolling into a double stomp for two more. M catches her on top though and a spinning toss has Stone down again. Back up and Stone hits a running elbow, only to moonsault onto raised knees. M lists her up for a hard powerbomb but Stone gets up top for a super Spanish Fly. The moonsault connects this time, with M rolling over to get her foot on the rope. The Spark Stunner is loaded up but M reverses into a kneeling Tombstone for the pin and the title at 11:03.

Rating: B-. That’s a bit of a surprising result but it was nice to see two fresh names getting a chance to she what they can do. M was showing off the power game here and it made for a big breakthrough singles win. I liked this well enough, and it was nice for it to have a clean result instead of the Elegance Brand interfering. Nice job here.

Jeff Hardy has been attacked and is leaving in an ambulance, with Matt Hardy joining him. Why am I getting flashbacks to Killer Kross a few years ago?

Here is a ticked off Indi Hartwell for a chat. Daria Rae has said she’s not worthy of a title shot and that isn’t sitting well with her. This is her whole life and no one is standing in her way anymore, but here is Rae to interrupt. Rae said that almost got to her but then she remembered how mediocre Hartwell really is. They tease a fight, with Rae saying she would kick Hartwell all the way back to Kangaroo Land. Hartwell isn’t impressed but here is Zoey Serrano (Stark) to jump Hartwell from behind.

Post break Harley Hudson checks on Indi Hartwell, who says she’s not leaving. Hudson offers to have Hartwell’s back, which Hartwell appreciates, but here is Xia Brookside to interrupt. She mocks Hartwell for never getting a title match, as per Daria Rae’s rule. Santino Marella comes in to suggest he could make the match but Rae is here to say no chance. Rae mentions how unpopular Hartwell is with the board and the title match is never happening. Instead, we do get a tag match with Zoey Serrano teaming with Brookside.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

Tag Team Titles: Ricky Sosa/Leon Slater vs. Nemeths

The Nemeths are defending. Nic and Slater start things off and Nic actually circles the ring a bit before tagging in Ryan sans contact. Slater is fine to pound on Ryan in the corner and a backsplash gives Sosa two. Sosa slams Miz down but gets taken into the wrong corner. That doesn’t last long as Sosa gets away to bring Slater back in for the spinning torture rack bomb to Ryan.

Nic is sent outside as well and we take a break. We come back with Ryan neckbreakering Slater for two. Slater is right back up to make the comeback and it’s already off to Sosa. Everything breaks down and Sosa’s Lionsault gets two on Nic. A spinning suplex gets the same but Nic plants him with a DDT.

The superkick is cut off though and Slater is back in with the Swanton 450, with Ryan making the save. Sosa gets in a springboard cutter and Slater hits the big dive onto Ryan. A superkick gives Nic two and Sosa counters the Fameasser into a powerbomb for the same. Sosa loads up his running shot but runs into the Danger Zone to retain the titles at 15:40.

Rating: B+. This got awesome by the end and that was cool to see, as it was a pretty thrown together title match. The good thing is that Slater and Nic got in some nice interactions and we could be in for a heck of a title match at Bound For Glory. Ryan being little more than a nuisance is a perfect choice for him and he should be around as long as Nic is doing anything. Heck of a main event here.

Overall Rating: B. They were in a bit of a weird spot here as you had to reset a bunch of things and start getting ready for Bound For Glory, which is still a long way off. Slater vs. Nemeth is more than a fine main event, but I’m not sure what else we’ll be getting at the show. I liked the title match too, as they made it feel like a big deal, which isn’t the easiest thing to do given the situation they were in. It’s a good show with the main event stealing the night, and next week they can really start getting us ready for the pay per view.

Results
Elijah b. Bear Bronson – Highwayman’s Farewell
Trey Miguel/Jason Hotch b. Order 4 – Top rope Meteora to Skyler
M By Elegance b. Jada Stone – Kneeling Tombstone
Nemeths b. Ricky Sosa/Leon Slater – Danger Zone to Sosa

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

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

Lockdown 2026
Date: August 23, 2026
Location: Credit Union 1 Arena, Chicago, Illinois
Commentators: Tom Hannifan, Matthew Rehwoldt

So this is back and…yeah I still don’t get it. The idea here is that every match is going to be inside a cage, albeit with various rules. The main event is some choice between the Hardys vs. the Nemeths for the Tag Team Titles and Lethal Lockdown, neither of which exactly screams top level match. Let’s get to it.

Pre-Show: Righteous vs. BDE/Rich Swann

Not in a cage and Vincent stares at BDE (on the apron) before jumping Swann to start. Some double teaming has Vincent in trouble and BDE stays in to kick away at the chest. Dutch comes in to drop BDE on his face, allowing Vincent’s sliding Downward Spiral to get two. We’re already off to the chinlock, with BDE fighting up and earning himself a clothesline.

Dutch drops Swann in a smart move and Vincent cuts off another tag attempt, only to kick BDE over to Swann in quite the slip. Swann kicks away and gets two off the frog splash but Vincent is back with a Downward Spiral. BDE breaks it up and Swann’s middle rope cutter gets two, but Dutch sends him outside. Back in and Orange Sunshine finishes BDE at 7:54.

Rating: C+. For a match featuring what was supposed to be a new start for the Righteous, it was pretty much exactly what it’s always been from them. In other words, not very much to see here, with the Righteous only breaking something of a sweat against a team who didn’t pose a real threat. Then again, that’s kind of BDE’s whole thing.

Pre-Show: Trey Miguel vs. Special Agent Zero

Again not in a cage and Miguel is in Spider-Man inspired gear, though he’s no Arachnaman. Miguel rolls away to start and a hurricanrana out of the corner sends Zero outside. Back in and Zero cuts him off with a clothesline and a big right hand puts him down again. A swinging Downward Spiral gives Zero two but Miguel knocks him to the floor. That means the step up flip dive can connect and some kicks do the same to Zero back inside. Zero drops him throat first across the top and loads up a fireman’s carry, only to get cradled to give Miguel the pin at 5:11.

Rating: C+. They didn’t have much time here but they told a quick story with the power vs. speed. I’m rather surprised that Zero lost so soon as you don’t want that to happen to a monster, though it helps that it was mainly a fluke rollup. At the same time, Miguel’s return push continuing is good to see, as he has the status to turn into a bigger deal around here.

National Anthem, minus any singing.

The opening video, set to a song by Chris Bey, looks at the bigger matches on the card.

Remember: every match is inside a cage.

AJ Francis vs. Elijah

These two have been feuding for a bit and this is the rubber match. Francis runs him over to start fast but it’s too early for the Down Payment. Elijah is right back with Old School (not as impressive when he can grab the cage) and a Stunner but Francis avoids a charge into the cage. Francis whips him into the cage again so Elijah has to climb the corner to escape another Down Payment attempt.

That leaves them both on top, with Elijah getting in a powerbomb. The top rope elbow gives Elijah two so he goes all the way to the top of the cage, which seems rather dimwitted. Francis is there to cut off a Walk With Elijah on top of the cage, where they both sit down and slug it out. Elijah gets the better of things and superplexes him down for two and a huge crash.

Cue Francis’ goon Expressions in a wheelchair and the distraction lets Francis hit the Cash Out for two more. For some reason Francis goes for the door (even though you can’t win by escape), allowing Elijah to give him an F5. Now it’s Elijah going for the door, with Expressions slamming it on his head. The TFL gives Francis two as Expressions is back on his feet. A Canadian Destroyer cuts Francis off but Expressions dives in for the save. Elijah gives him a Highwayman’s Farewell, allowing Francis to hit a (nice) moonsault. The Down Payment finishes Elijah at 13:24.

Rating: C. The action was ok and the superplex looked good, but Elijah came off like an utter moron here. I get the idea of getting caught up in the moment but this was so many different levels of dumb. Elijah had to do so many idiotic things so Expressions could get involved for the distraction and it didn’t feel natural in the slightest. Just have Expressions interfere and let Elijah look a bit brighter and it’s far better.

Post match the Home Town Man comes in with a guitar for Elijah, who goes to the middle rope (somehow without Francis noticing) for El Kabong, because this feud might be continuing.

Allie can’t find Rosemary but she has a replacement partner. To be announced.

Knockouts Tag Team Titles: Elegance Brand vs. Allie/???

The Brand (dressed as police officers for some reason) is challenging, with the rest of the Brand with them. Allie does have a partner and it’s…..the returning Kiera Hogan. Allie fires off right hands to M to start and gives her a running knee lift. Hogan and Heather come in (with Hogan being the taller of the two at 4’11) with Hogan grabbing a neckbreaker for a quick near fall. Allie comes back in but gets distracted by Mr. Elegance, allowing the Brand to take over.

M’s dropkick to the back and suplex get two each and we’re off to the chinlock. Heather gets in a chinlock of her own, which doesn’t last long as Allie gets up and brings in Hogan to clean house. Everything breaks down (which feels weird in a cage match) and the Personal Concierge whips out some handcuffs. As she’s the size of a pipe cleaner, Heather slips through the cage bars and cuffs Allie to the cage…and Hogan easily fisherman’s neckbreakers M to retain at 7:32.

Rating: C+. The ending made me think of the scene in Raiders Of The Lost Ark where one of the villains does a big display with a sword and Jones just casually shoots him. Hogan looking to be in trouble and then just mowing M down like she was nothing was rather hilarious, even if I doubt that was the idea. If Rosemary is going to be gone for a bit, Hogan is a fine enough choice for the replacement and adds another name to the roster at the same time. That’s as efficient as you’re going to get.

Hogan seems to be the official replacement champion.

Commentary shouts out Rebel, which is great to see. Well in a way.

We recap Moose vs. Frankie Kazarian. They’ve both been in TNA for years but have never had a match, so that’s being remedied.

Moose vs. Frankie Kazarian

Escape only and Moose sits on a throne while a string (I believe) quartet plays him to the ring. Naturally Kazarian yells at the musicians and lays on the throne like a true villain should. Naturally Kazarian goes for the climb to start and is cut off just as fast. Moose’s powerbomb is escaped so he sends Kazarian into the cage and then has the referee lock the door.

Some right hands in the corner have Kazarian in more trouble and the spear makes it worse. Moose hits it again but Kazarian flips him off and sends a charging Moose into the cage. Kazarian mocks the Moose pose (it’s so easy to do) and grabs Angel’s Wings to plant Moose again. The trash talk takes too long though and Moose starts bobbing his head and pumping his fist (as moose are known to do).

Moose plants him down and hits the backsplash, only for Kazarian to Backstab him off of the ropes. Back up and Moose can’t hit a powerbomb so they trade right hands and clotheslines. Moose’s toss powerbomb sends Kazarian into the cage for quite the crash and they’re both down.

Kazarian’s climb is cut off again and they both go up, with Moose busting out a super Spanish Fly of all things. The door is opened but Kazarian cuts off the escape (er, Xscape) attempt and they’re down again. With the door open behind him, Kazarian gets caught in the cage, where Moose makes an incredibly dumb decision to go for a spear, which sends Kazarian through the door for the win at 14:14.

Rating: B. Stupid ending aside, that was a huge spot with the Spanish Fly and it was certainly a fresh match. At the same time, I do kind of like the idea of mixing up the stipulations here, as it helps keep things fresh. Odds are this isn’t finished after Kazarian won that way, though it does bring up the issue of starting with the cage match.

We recap Xia Brookside defending the Knockouts Title against Elayna Black. Brookside is the newly evil champion and Black is the hometown star getting a title shot despite not exactly doing much of note.

Knockouts Title: Elayna Black vs. Xia Brookside

Brookside is challenging. They yell at each other a lot and Brookside mocks the Chicago crowd, earning a quick takedown. Black gives her a basement dropkick and running hurricanrana but misses a knee against the cage. Brookside finds a belt from somewhere and whips away as Black is already busted open.

The point of the belt is stabbed into the cut and a few of the fans aren’t impressed. Some fingernail stabbing feels a lot more painful and Brookside starts in on the arm. That’s broken up and Black misses a running elbow in the cage. The Broken Wings hit Black as well but she strikes away and catches her on top.

That means a belly to back superplex and the comeback is on, with Black getting in a Stomp. The Blackout is countered into Brookside’s Darkside for two so Black grabs the Blackout for the same. Back up and Brookside throws some powder into Black’s eyes and gets a rollup to retain at 12:55.

Rating: C+. Well on one hand, the heel run continues tonight and so do the less than thrilling finishes. On the other hand, thank goodness they didn’t do something ridiculous like give Black the title here. Brookside is doing well as champion and Black just has not clicked, so changing things over wouldn’t have been a good idea, hometown crowd or not.

We recap the International Title match. Jason Hotch broke away from Order 4 and stunned Mustafa Ali to win the title, sending Ali over the edge. Now it’s time for Ali to try and get the title back, naturally inside of a cage.

International Title: Mustafa Ali vs. Jason Hotch

Ali, with Order 4, is challenging and he’s the hometown heel. Hotch’s family is in the front row as he starts fast with a could of superkicks. Ali gets in a superkick of his own but gets caught on top with a belly to back superplex. A discus clothesline takes Ali down again and Hotch takes him up top for a piledriver onto the turnbuckle (sweet goodness). Ali is back up with a DDT for two and Special Agent Zero opens the door.

Tasha Steelz shuts it right back though, earning some yelling from Mila Moore. Steelz knocks her down but the cage door is kicked into Steelz’ head to drop her as well. Hotch goes out to check on Steelz and John Skyler takes her to the back, with Ali getting in a dive onto Hotch from behind. They brawl around ringside and Hotch goes up the cage for a high crossbody to knock Ali through a table (that thing exploded).

Hotch starts spitting up blood so the medics take him out, leaving Ali to steal a stuffed animal from Hotch’s daughter. Ali teases LIGHTING IT ON FIRE but Hotch charges in to give him a spear. Hotch is too banged up though and Ali ties him in the cage for a whipping with a belt. Ali takes him to the corner but Hotch kicks Ali back and hits a double stomp off of the cage to a standing Ali, who somehow doesn’t pop open. Instead Ali knocks him down and hits a 450 to Hotch (still holding the stuffed animal) to get the title back at 14:17.

Rating: B. As fun as it has been to see Hotch playing way above his league in recent weeks, they had to put the title back on Ali. He very well might be the best heel in the company at the moment and it would be a big hit to him if he lost to Hotch again here. Hotch has already gotten all kinds of a career boost out of the title win so this is hardly some devastating setback.

Post match Skyler comes back in to check on Hotch while Ali and company leave. And yes, the daughter gets her stuffed animal back.

Here is Avery Styles (AJ’s son) for a chat. He’s officially signed with TNA but here is Frankie Kazarian to interrupt. Kazarian talks about the history he has with AJ Styles and warns Avery about the snakes in the locker room. Avery can always trust him. I would make a chair joke but I wouldn’t want to contribute to continuing the most overblown story of the year.

We recap Leon Slater challenging Cedric Alexander for the X-Division Title. Slater lost the title to Alexander and wants it back, but Alexander wants Slater’s history as champion on the line. Because that’s a thing you can do now.

X-Division Title: Cedric Alexander vs. Leon Slater

Slater is challenging in a Last Man Standing match in a cage, because THAT’S a thing now too. Before they come to the ring, we get a look at what it means if Slater loses and my goodness this is dumb. They immediately slug it out to start until Slater gives him a Helluva Kick in the corner. A super hurricanrana brings Alexander back out and he gets caught with a running spinwheel kick.

Slater goes up the cage for a diving back elbow to put Alexander down for nowhere near ten. Alexander catches him on the ropes though and it’s a lawn dart to send Slater into the cage. That’s enough to draw some more blood so Alexander kicks him in the face, at least until Slater is back with a toss Blue Thunder Bomb. Slater chops away in the corner but gets caught with a super Michinoku Driver.

That’s not enough to keep Slater down and somehow wakes him up for a Destroyer and some rams into the cage. Alexander is busted open as well and Slater hammers away before going up. That’s cut off and it’s a swinging superplex to leave both of them laying (as they both took it about the same). Back up and Slater hits three straight Lumbar Checks to make it personal, followed by a Swanton 450 to get the title back at 13:15.

Rating: B. Given that the other option was trying to mess with the laws of time and space, this was the way to go. I’m still not sure how the erasing the title reign would have made sense and it’s nice to see TNA reaching the point where I don’t have to see them explain it. Slater getting the title back is a bit of a problem though, as he was such a dominant champion that he needs to move into the main event scene.

Daria Rae yells at someone on the phone but finds Santino Marella checking on Elijah, who has been attacked as well.

The System vs. Ricky Sosa/Fabian Aichner/KC Navarro/Jada Stone

Lethal Lockdown, meaning WarGames, with two minute intervals. Bear Bronson and Aichner start things off with Aichner hammering away but having to block a ram into the cage. They trade suplexes and clotheslines until a double clothesline gives us a double down. Aichner is back up with a moonsault and the time expires, so Brian Myers comes in (as the System won control on Impact) to give the System the advantage. The double teaming quickly has Aichner in trouble and a double suplex makes it worse.

Aichner is sent hard into the corner and it’s Navarro in to even things up. Navarro cleans house and Aichner is up to help send the two of them into the cage. Eddie Edwards is in to give the System control again but Navarro gets smart by diving through the door to take him out on the floor. Navarro gets back inside as it’s still even for a bit but the System takes over.

The bleeding Bronson knocks Aichner down and hammers away and Edwards is back in as Sosa is here to even it up again. House is quickly cleaned again, with Sosa hammering away in the corner. Alisha Edwards is in to complete the System and a lot of stomping takes place. Stone is in as well so Alisha goes out to meet her, with Stone climbing the cage to moonsault onto everyone else.

Now the weapons are lowered and they all get up for the staredown, continuing the tradition of basically resetting the match and rendering everything they’ve done to this point useless. The good guys grab weapons and start working them over until Navarro splashes Eddie for two. Stone gets to beat on everyone with a kendo stick and of course it’s time for the back of thumbtacks.

A superplex drops Alisha onto the tacks and Stone is banged up as well. Aichner gives Eddie a Coast To Coast but Bronson is up to take out Aichner and Navarro. Naturally Bronson is sent into a barbed wire board and Sosa gives Myers a Blue Thunder Bomb into the tacks. A running elbow with barbed wire hits Myers for two as Alisha makes the save. Eddie is back up with a package piledriver onto an open chair to pin Sosa at 17:42.

Rating: C+. These things only worked so well before and that was the case again here. The match is basically cut in two with a bunch of quick segments to get everyone in and then all of the weapons. It doesn’t help that we’ve seen the weapons so many times over the years, with the tacks in particular making me roll my eyes. This is the definition of a match that sounds fun on paper but really doesn’t work in execution.

Tag Team Titles: Nemeths vs. Hardys

The Hardys are defending and this is a Texas Tornado match, which sounds rather dumb in a cage. We get a table thrown in fast and Nic is sent into the cage, followed by a slightly modified Poetry In Motion. They all climb on the ropes but get rammed into the cage to bring them back down. Danger Zone gives Nic two on Jeff but Nic splashes Ryan by mistake.

The Twisting Stunner hits Nic, who bounces back with a superkick and everyone is down. Back up and a Side Effect into a middle rope splash gets two on Nic, as does a Plot Twist to Ryan. Nic is laid on the table but Ryan gets in a jumping DDT for two on Jeff. Matt Side Effects Nic and it’s a Twist Of Fate to Ryan, but Jeff takes too long going to the top of the cage. Nic and Jeff both get crotched so it’s another Twist Of Fate to Ryan, who lays down on the table. Matt’s legdrop off the cage connects…and it’s a quick Danger Zone to give Nic the pin and the titles at 11:58.

Rating: B-. They were feeling pretty rushed for time here, which makes sense as the show was getting close to the three hour mark. I do like the Nemeths getting the titles back, as it means a break from the Hardys. The division really needs that at this point, though hopefully it sticks for a bit this time. They did what they could here in the time they had, but it was only so good.

Post match the Nemeths celebrate but here is Leon Slater, who is exercising Option C at Bound For Glory. Yeah that makes sense, as it’s the best thing he can really do now.

Overall Rating: C+. The problem here is the same as it always is at Lockdown: the cage gets a bit annoying after a bit as we’ve seen it done so many times. It doesn’t help that some of the matches simply don’t belong in a cage (Knockouts Tag Team Titles, the main event and Brookside vs. Black fit that description) and it came off as more something they had to do rather than needing to do.

The show is fine, but it really would have been better served as a regular PPV rather than the all cages thing. I do like Slater’s announcement at the end, as if nothing else it gave the fans something else to cheer for on a show that was rather dominated by the villains winning. That’s quite the choice and not exactly exciting, but I guess that’s what Bound For Glory is for.

Results
Righteous b. BDE/Rich Swann – Orange Sunshine to BDE
Trey Miguel b. Special Agent Zero – Victory roll
AJ Francis b. Elijah – Down Payment
Allie/Kiera Hogan b. Elegance Brand – Fisherman’s neckbreaker to M
Frankie Kazarian b. Moose – Kazarian escaped the cage
Xia Brookside b. Elayna Black – Rollup
Mustafa Ali b. Jason Hotch – 450
Leon Slater b. Cedric Alexander – Swanton 450
The System b. Jada Stone/Fabian Aichner/KC Navarro/Ricky Sosa – Package piledriver onto a chair to Sosa
Nemeths b. Hardys – Danger Zone to Matt

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

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

Impact Wrestling
Date: August 6, 2026
Location: Liacouras Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Tom Hannifan, Matthew Rehwoldt

We’re still on the way to Lockdown and the big story is that we’re coming up on Nic Nemeth defending the World Title against Jeff Hardy. Granted the match isn’t taking place at Lockdown, but at least it’s taking place. If nothing else, it’s better than seeing the Hardys vs. the Righteous again. In other news, the Righteous are back tonight. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Matt Hardy vs. Ryan Nemeth

Jeff Hardy is here with Matt, who is a better actor than Ryan, who is here with his brother Nic. Ryan shoulders him in the corner to start so Matt is back with the rapid fire rams into the buckle. The Twist Of Fate is countered with a clothesline but Matt no sells a suplex to hammer away. Matt hits a clothesline of his own and the Side Effect gets two. Nic trips Matt down so Jeff gets on the apron, allowing Ryan to grab a DDT. Matt doesn’t seem to mind as it’s the Twist Of Fate to pin Ryan at 5:49.

Rating: C. Were you expecting anything else? This was all about Matt getting to beat Ryan up like it was a legend against a goof and…well yeah that’s exactly what it was. The match wasn’t meant to be anything bigger than this and that’s kind of nice to see for a change, as there were no shenanigans and the logical result took place.

Xia Brookside isn’t letting Wendy Choo take the Knockouts Title back to NXT. As for Elayna Black, who pops up, Brookside hopes she’s watching so she’ll know what she’s getting into by coming for the title.

We look at Jason Hotch winning the International Title in a huge upset.

Hotch, with his family, says he’s not just a sidekick and he’s not taking being champion for granted. Rich Swann and BDE come in to offer congratulations.

Knockouts TV Title Tournament Quarterfinals: Mara Sade vs. Heather By Elegance

The Brand is here with Heather. Sade works on the arm to start so Heather stomps on her foot. That’s broken up and Sade sends her into the rope for a running shot to the back. A dropkick gets two on Heather back inside but she sends Sade outside, where Sade comes up holding her arm.

Back in and Heather works on the arm but Sade is able to power her up for a powerbomb into the corner. Some right hands have Heather in more trouble and Sade powerbombs the heck out of here for two. Sade goes up top but gets her arm pulled down onto the rope, setting up a top rope double stomp to give Heather the pin at 8:54.

Rating: C+. This was better than I was expecting, with Heather working on an injury and taking her apart until she won. That’s rare to see but it wound up working rather well, even with a somewhat surprising result. At the same time, Sade has since departed the company so the loss makes a bit more sense in hindsight.

Moose is ready to fight Frankie Kazarian and wants to face him for the first time so Kazarian can see what Moose is all about.

Jason Hotch has to go do something and leaves his family in the back, with Mustafa Ali coming in a few moments later. With the wife looking anxious, Ali talks about saving Hotch’s job and now he has to do what he has to do. Worry not though, as he’ll take care of the two of them after getting the title back. Ali was a good villain here as he felt evil.

KC Navarro vs. Brian Myers

Feeling out process to start until Bear Bronson offers a distraction. That earns him an ejection so here is Ricky Sosa to jump Bronson with a chair. Navarro takes over again but here is Eddie Edwards to spear Navarro for the DQ at 2:08.

Post match the beatdown is on so Fabian Aichner makes the save. Santino Marella, tag match.

The System vs. KC Navarro/Fabian Aichner

Aichner slams Myers down to start and the good guys hit stereo dives as we take an early break. We come back with Aichner getting chopped on the floor but he suplexes his way to freedom back inside. Aichner’s moonsault takes out a standing Myers and it’s back to Navarro vs. Edwards.

Everything breaks down and Edwards small packages Aichner for two but it’s a butterfly superplex to send Edwards into Navarro’s frog splash. Myers makes a diving save so Aichner gives him a sitout Last Ride. That earns Aichner a Boston Knee Party though and everyone is down. Alisha Edwards sends in a kendo stick so Eddie can knock Navarro silly, followed by a package piledriver for the pin at 11:13.

Rating: B-. This was getting going near the end, though I’m not wild on seeing Navarro take another fall after he lost his big World Title shot last month. The good thing though is that he feels like he belongs here and that is more than I would have bet on when this run started. It definitely doesn’t feel like it’s over yet though so we should have more coming up.

Post match Ricky Sosa runs in to chase the System off.

The Righteous run into the Hardys and respect is shown.

Jason Hotch freaks out on Mustafa Ali and the rematch is made for Lockdown. Hotch talks to John Skyler, who reluctantly says he needs this job, which has Hotch storming off. Makes sense.

Here is the Righteous for a chat. The Lake Of Reincarnation changed their direction, meaning they are going away from the Hardys (WOO HOO!). They’re not looking for opponents, but rather someone hanging to life who wants to bloom into something better.

Santino Marella talks to Harley Hudson, whose job is hanging by a thread. Alisha Edwards comes in to run her mouth and gets in an argument with Jada Stone. Hudson isn’t happy with this and gets a match with Edwards. That’s one way to help keep her job.

Allie looks for Rosemary but finds some miniature tarot cards.

AJ Francis vs. Home Town Man

The spear looks to set up the Down Payment but Elijah’s guitar offers a distraction. Man gets a rollup pin at 48 seconds.

We get a sitdown interview with Cedric Alexander, who talks about working so hard to get here and earn what he has become. Leon Slater comes in to face off with Alexander, where he asks for one more title shot. Alexander says no because Slater has had everything handed to him. They go nose to nose and Alexander turns him down again. He wants to erase Slater’s history with the title, which sounds ominous.

Daria Rae interrupts Frankie Kazarian (who is on a pay phone) and says that Kazarian is going to have to face Moose. That’s fine with Kazarian, who wants it in a cage at Lockdown. With Rae gone, Kazarian promises to show Moose why he’s the king.

Knockouts Title: Wendy Choo vs. Xia Brookside

Choo is challenging and hammers away to send Brookside outside. Brookside gets kicked down and we take an early break. We come back with Choo firing off some clotheslines and runs her over for two. A Codebreaker gives Brookside two of her own so Choo is back with the Snooze Button for the same. The Dirt Nap goes on so Brookside sends her into the ropes for the break. The Darkside retains the title at 9:21.

Rating: C+. This could have been worse, but it was mainly just a quick match without getting very far off the ground. Choo never felt like she was a major threat to win the title but that’s going to be the case every so often. It helps to have Brookside getting another win though, as she’s starting to feel like a strong champion.

Post match here is Elayna Black for the staredown with Brookside.

Jeff Hardy is drawing in the back (possibly more so than he does in the arena these days) but Nic Nemeth comes in to mock Jeff for not doing anything important. Nemeth says he’s the best in the world and gets annoyed when Hardy won’t pay attention to him. They both sign the contract for their title match (in Sharpie) and Hardy still won’t talk, with Nemeth storming off in frustration. This feels like it should be at Lockdown but instead it’s just for an upcoming Impact. That doesn’t give them much time to set something up for Lockdown and that has me worried/curious.

Overall Rating: C+. They set things up for Lockdown and that’s good to see, though there is only so much to be said for the wrestling this week. It was perfectly fine but not exactly something that you need to see. Either way, Lockdown is the big goal but we have the weird side trip of Jeff Hardy vs. Nic Nemeth in their big match in the next week or so. Good enough show here, but mainly there to set things up for Lockdown rather than anything here.

Results
Matt Hardy b. Ryan Nemeth – Twist Of Fate
Heather By Elegance b. Mara Sade – Top rope double stomp
KC Navarro b. Brian Myers via DQ when Eddie Edwards interfered
The System b. KC Navarro/Fabian Aichner – Package piledriver to Navarro
Home Town Man b. AJ Francis – Rollup
Xia Brookside b. Wendy Choo – Darkside

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

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

Impact Wrestling
Date: July 30, 2026
Location: Liacourus Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Tom Hannifan, Matthew Rehwoldt

The countdown to Lockdown continues after the big title match last week. Nic Nemeth retained the World Title over KC Navarro and that means he’ll be needing a new challenger. As for this week, we have Jason Hotch challenging his Order 4 boss Mustafa Ali for the International Title. We’re live tonight too so let’s get to it.

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

The opening recap looks at last week’s World Title match and sets up the International Title match.

Opening sequence.

Ricky Sosa/Leon Slater vs. The System

The rest of the System is here with the System. Sosa and Edwards slug it out to start with Sosa grabbing a quick full nelson slam. Everything breaks down and Slater comes in for a splash to Alexander and a monkey flip to Edwards. A pair of dives take out the System and we take a break.

We come back with Sosa in trouble and Alisha Edwards even getting in some choking from the floor. Alexander’s reverse chinlock doesn’t work very well and a diving tag brings in Slater to start the comeback. Slater tosses Alexander into a powerslam for two and a running shot to the face drops Myers. The Swanton 450 finishes Alexander at 12:13.

Rating: B-. Good opener here and odds are that result lets Slater get set up for a rematch for the title. At the same time Sosa gets a nice win by association and the System will bounce back as always. In other words, it’s a win that helps the winners and a loss that doesn’t really hurt the losers. Not bad at all.

Post match Slater issues the challenge for the title match at Lockdown.

Mustafa Ali wants the rest of Order 4 here for a meeting right now. John Skyler tries to go find the other members but gets distracted by Mila Moore. Ali yells a lot.

The Elegance Brand is ready to win, though Heather isn’t sure what happens if she has to face M in the Knockouts TV Title tournament. The Personal Concierge isn’t worried.

We pause to wish Rebel well as she is fighting ALS.

Knockouts TV Title Tournament Quarterfinals: Thea Hail vs. Indi Hartwell

Hail’s headlock doesn’t get her very far to start and Hartwell shoulders her out to the floor. A boot to the head gives Hartwell two back inside and she grabs the armbar. The Hurts Donut is blocked though and Hail is up to work on the arm as well. Hartwell actually can’t power out and gets taken back down.

Hail tries to switch to the Kimura but gets kicked out to the floor. Back in and Hartwell avoids the springboard backsplash but can’t get her up for the powerbomb (I’m not sure if that was legit or not but Hartwell grabbed her arm for a nice explanation). Instead it’s a Hurts Donut to give Hartwell the pin at 7:42.

Rating: C+. Hartwell moving on is hardly a surprise and it wouldn’t be shocking to see her winning the whole thing. It’s clear that TNA sees her as one of the bigger stars around so maybe she winds up getting some gold this way. The match was ok enough with the arm work, but Hail wasn’t going over one of the more popular stars in the division.

AJ Francis takes up a collection for his injured valet. Rich Swann and BDE aren’t impressed.

Here is KC Navarro for a chat. Last week he had the biggest chance of his life as he challenged for the TNA World Title but he came up short. He has tried for his entire career and wants to be an inspiration to people. After hearing that he’ll never be anything for years, he knows that he belongs and his career is just beginning.

Cue the System to interrupt, with Cedric Alexander turning down Leon Slater’s challenge for Lockdown. Ricky Sosa and Leon Slater don’t get another match either but Navarro interrupts, saying this is his time. The obvious beatdown ensues, with Sosa and Slater running in for the save.

Allie panics over not being able to find Rosemary but Daria Rae doesn’t want to hear it.

Xia Brookside attacked Wendy Choo and Elayna Black last week because she could. Choo comes in to call Brookside a coward so Santino Marella comes in to make a title match for next week. Black comes in to tell Choo to shut Brookside up next week.

Knockouts Tag Team Titles: Elegance Brand vs. Rosemary/Allie

Rosemary/Allie are defending, but there is no Rosemary to start. Allie slugs away at both of them to start but the numbers game catches up with her rather quickly. M tries to drop Heather onto Allie but hits raised knees. The Personal Concierge grabs a belt but gets pulled inside, with Allie raking his injured eyes (that’s mean). Mr. Elegance comes in so Allie hits him with the belt, followed by another shot to Heather for the DQ at 2:39.

Post match Allie takes out M as well.

Here are the Hardys, now in their GOAT masks, with Matt even confirming that he loves cheese steaks. They brag about their win over the Righteous last week and, after a shout out to Walking Dead spinoff star Aimee Garcia in the audience, say it’s time to start wrecking some people.

They invented the TLC match but here are Nic and Ryan Nemeth to interrupt. The Nemeths want a title shot at Lockdown and here is Santino Marella to make the match….and Nic is going to defend the World Title against Jeff. Well that’s kind of huge. Ryan gets to face Matt next week and goes to hit on Garcia, who throws a drink in his face. Garcia celebrates with the Hardys.

AJ Francis continues to try to collect money but runs into the Hometown Man. He’s not paying anything due to a case of hatred, so here is Elijah, who gets a cage match with Francis at Lockdown. That feud seemed pretty done but I guess they need to flesh out the card.

Daria Rae tells Santino Marella that it’s Rosemary/Allie vs. the Elegance Brand at Lockdown. They both think they need to find Rosemary, but they also need to trim some fat off the roster. Rae wants Harley Hudson gone but that gets shot down.

Knockouts TV Title Tournament Quarterfinals: Jada Stone vs. Jody Threat

They fight over arm control to start and Threat takes her into the corner for some clotheslines. A World’s Strongest Slam onto the apron drops Stone hard but she’s right back up with a 619. Stone’s split legged moonsault gets two but Threat kicks her in the back. A German suplex looks to set up Pop Shove It, with Stone elbowing her way out. The Spark Stunner is blocked so Stone grabs a rollup for the pin out of nowhere at 5:28.

Rating: C. I’m not sure how much upside I see in either of these two but at some point the division is going to need some fresh blood. Stone might as well get a chance as she’s still new enough around here to not have anything tainted. She won’t win the tournament but she might get something out of a decent run to the semifinals.

International Title: Jason Hotch vs. Mustafa Ali

Ali, with the rest of Order 4, is defending and Hotch’s family is here too (interesting). Hotch’s early headlock just earns him a chop and Ali sends him outside for a suicide dive. Hotch is right back with a DDT on the floor and a high crossbody gets two back inside. Ali fights back but makes the mistake of mocking Hotch’s family though and gets taken down with a moonsault to the floor.

We take a break and come back with both of them on top and Hotch superplexing him to the floor and through a table in a crazy crash. They both have to dive back inside to beat the count and Hotch is fired up enough to grab a backbreaker for two. Hotch misses a frog splash and the referee gets bumped, allowing Ali to go low. Ali grabs a belt and starts whipping Hotch, with John Skyler coming in to take it away.

Hotch runs into Skyler by mistake (you schnook) so Ali grabs a rollup with feet on the ropes…which Tasha Steelz breaks up. Steelz and Mila Moore brawl to the back, leaving Ali to grab a piledriver. The 450 connects but Hotch rolls him up for a near fall of his own. Ali’s charge hits the buckle and it’s a top rope double stomp to a standing Ali, followed by a frog splash to make Hotch champion at 14:49. The shot of Hotch’s young daughter in the crowd being happy her dad won is great.

Rating: B+. I wasn’t expecting this to be much of anything but dang did they make this work. There is a very good chance that Hotch is a short term champion but this is the kind of win that he can point to for the rest of his career. There is also something great about the team rising up to get rid of Ali and the result worked far better than I was expecting. Heck of a main event here.

Hotch celebrates and his family gets in the ring to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. TNA has a bad reputation for some of its live Impacts but they made it work here. The main event was a cool moment, which is more than I would have expected from that match. They also set up some matches for Lockdown (some of the buildups were better than others) and it should be a good build over the next few weeks. Solid show here, with that main event being a great surprise.

Results
Ricky Sosa/Leon Slater b. The System – Swanton 450 to Alexander
Indi Hartwell b. Thea Hail – Hurts Donut
Elegance Brand b. Allie via DQ when Allie hit Heather with the title
Jada Stone b. Jody Threat – Rollup
Jason Hotch b. Mustafa Ali – Frog splash

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