Tag: Impact Wrestling

TNA reveals new Knockouts World Championship belt

Posted on by Ian Carey

TNA has unveiled the new Knockouts World Championship title belt. 

With the company reverting to TNA branding beginning with Saturday’s Hard to Kill, new belts are being designed to reflect the change. 

On Thursday, Scott D’Amore presented champion Trinity with the new TNA Knockouts title. 

D’Amore said: 

Trinity, it’s been so great having you join us here in Impact Wrestling but things are about to change a little bit as we return to TNA Wrestling. You’ve been an amazing face for the Knockouts division and I think it’s time we give that championship a bit of a facelift and I present you with the new TNA Knockouts World Championship. 

Chris Sabin received his new X-Division Champion title belt on Sunday. The new TNA Tag Team titles were presented to Chris Bey and Ace Austin on Monday and Digital Media Champion Tommy Dreamer received his on Tuesday. Alex Shelley was given the new TNA World title yesterday. 

Trinity might not hold that new Knockouts World title for long, however. It has been reported that she is expected to return to WWE shortly and she has a title defense scheduled for Saturday against Jordynne Grace. 

TNA Hard to Kill 2024 lineup:

  • TNA World Champion Alex Shelley defends against Moose
  • Knockouts Champion Trinity defends against Jordynne Grace
  • Three-way match: X-Division Champion Chris Sabin defends against KUSHIDA and El Hijo del Vikingo
  • Four-way match: TNA Tag Team Champions Ace Austin & Chris Bey defend against The Rascalz, The Grizzled Young Veterans, and “Speedball” Mike Bailey & Trent Seven
  • Knockouts Ultimate X match: Gisele Shaw vs. Xia Brookside vs. Jody Threat vs. Tasha Steelz vs. Alisha Edwards vs. Dani Luna
  • Josh Alexander vs. Alex Hammerstone
  • PCO vs. Dirty Dango
  • Pre-show match: Rich Swann vs. Steve Maclin
  • Pre-show match: Eric Young & Frankie Kazarian vs. Brian Myers & Eddie Edwards
  • Pre-show match: Digital Media Champion Tommy Dreamer defends against Crazzy Steve

Dirty Dango signs new deal with TNA Wrestling

Posted on by Ian Carey

Dirty Dango has re-signed with TNA Wrestling. 

The 40-year-old returned to Impact/TNA for the first time since 2004 at Bound for Glory 2022 and signed a one-year deal with the company that January. 

During an appearance on the Paltrocast With Darren Paltrowitz, Dango revealed he’s recently signed a new deal to remain in TNA. 

“I signed a year deal in January of 2023, I think it was. So, about a year ago I signed a year deal and then I just signed another,” Dango said on the show. 

The audio cuts out as Dango is revealing the length of the contract, but it sounds as though he’s agreed to another one-year deal. 

“I kind of told myself I’d wrestle until 40 and then I was going to probably ease up a bit but like I tell everybody, it’s what I’ve done my whole life. I don’t know how to not be a wrestler,” he said. 

“Just being around TNA has made me really fall back in love with wrestling,” he continued. 

Dango is scheduled to wrestle PCO on Saturday’s TNA Hard to Kill pay-per-view. 

TNA reveals new Tag Team Championship belts

Posted on by Ian Carey

Impact Wrestling has revealed the new TNA Tag Team Championship belts. 

With the promotion reverting to TNA branding beginning at Hard to Kill, all new title belts are being given to champions leading up to Saturday’s pay-per-view.

Today, Scott D’Amore presented the Bullet Club team of Chris Bey and Ace Austin with the new TNA Tag Team title belts. 

D’Amore said:

ABC, Chris Bey, Ace Austin, we’ve literally watched the two of you grow up in Impact Wrestling from young hungry rookies to being the best tag team in the entire world, which is represented by those tag team championship belts. (You’re) the very best but those belts don’t do you justice. 

Austin and Bey might not have those belts long, however. They are set to defend them at Hard to Kill in a four-way match against Grizzled Young Veterans, The Rascalz, and Mike Bailey & Trent Seven. 

Chris Sabin was presented with a new TNA X-Division Champion belt yesterday. 

TNA Hard to Kill 2024 lineup:

  • TNA World Champion Alex Shelley defends against Moose
  • Knockouts Champion Trinity defends against Jordynne Grace
  • Three-way match: X-Division Champion Chris Sabin defends against KUSHIDA and El Hijo del Vikingo
  • Four-way match: TNA Tag Team Champions Ace Austin & Chris Bey defend against The Rascalz, The Grizzled Young Veterans, and “Speedball” Mike Bailey & Trent Seven
  • Knockouts Ultimate X match: Gisele Shaw vs. Xia Brookside vs. Jody Threat vs. Tasha Steelz vs. Alisha Edwards vs. Dani Luna
  • Josh Alexander vs. Alex Hammerstone
  • PCO vs. Dirty Dango
  • Pre-show match: Rich Swann vs. Steve Maclin
  • Pre-show match: Eric Young & Frankie Kazarian vs. Brian Myers & Eddie Edwards
  • Pre-show match: Digital Media Champion Tommy Dreamer defends against Crazzy Steve

TNA reveals new X-Division Championship belt

Posted on by Ian Carey

TNA Wrestling has revealed the new X-Division title. 

With the brand reverting back to TNA Wrestling from Impact beginning with Hard to Kill next weekend, every title in the company is getting a re-design. A new title belt will be unveiled every day at 1 p.m. Eastern leading up to the pay-per-view. 

TNA president Scott D’Amore presented champion Chris Sabin with the new title belt today:

D’Amore said:

Chris Sabin, as we exit the Impact Wrestling era and we move on to a new TNA Wrestling era, I can’t think of anybody more fitting to be the person to carry that championship over than somebody who was there in year one and has held that championship 10 times. So, right now I’d like to present to you the new TNA X-Division Championship belt

Sabin said:

It’s the honor of my life to represent this company as X-Division Champion. You were there when I won my first X-Division Championship at 21 years old, now that I’m 41 in my 10th X-Division reign, I’m absolutely blown away by seeing this new title and it’s my honor to represent this company as TNA going forward as the X-Division Champion. 

TNA Hard to Kill 2024 takes place Saturday, January 13 at the Palms casino in Las Vegas. 

TNA Hard to Kill 2024 lineup:

  • TNA World Champion Alex Shelley defends against Moose
  • Knockouts Champion Trinity defends against Jordynne Grace
  • Three-way match: X-Division Champion Chris Sabin defends against KUSHIDA and El Hijo del Vikingo
  • Four-way match: TNA Tag Team Champions Ace Austin & Chris Bey defend against The Rascalz, The Grizzled Young Veterans, and “Speedball” Mike Bailey & Trent Seven
  • Knockouts Ultimate X match: Gisele Shaw vs. Xia Brookside vs. Jody Threat vs. Tasha Steelz vs. Alisha Edwards vs. Dani Luna
  • Josh Alexander vs. Alex Hammerstone
  • PCO vs. Dirty Dango
  • Pre-show match: Rich Swann vs. Steve Maclin
  • Pre-show match: Eric Young & Frankie Kazarian vs. Brian Myers & Eddie Edwards
  • Pre-show match: Digital Media Champion Tommy Dreamer defends against Crazzy Steve

Full lineup revealed for Knockouts Ultimate X match at TNA Hard to Kill

Posted on by Joseph Currier

All six competitors for the Knockouts Ultimate X match at TNA Hard to Kill have now been revealed.

Dani Luna is the sixth participant announced for the match, joining Gisele Shaw, Xia Brookside, Jody Threat, Tasha Steelz, and Alisha Edwards. The winner of the match will become the number one contender to the Knockouts Championship.

Trinity, the current Knockouts Champion, is defending her title against Jordynne Grace at Hard to Kill.

It was confirmed last month that Luna has signed a TNA Wrestling contract. She made her Impact debut in May of last year.

Luna was part of the NXT UK roster before being released by WWE when the NXT UK brand ended in 2022.

Luna is a member of Subculture with Mark Andrews and Flash Morgan Webster.

This will be the second-ever Knockouts Ultimate X match in TNA/Impact Wrestling history. Steelz won the first Knockouts Ultimate X at Hard to Kill 2022.

Hard to Kill 2024 is taking place from the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas next Saturday (January 13). That night, Impact Wrestling’s name change back to TNA officially goes into effect.

Here’s everything that’s been announced for the pay-per-view:

  • TNA World Champion Alex Shelley defends against Moose
  • Knockouts Champion Trinity defends against Jordynne Grace
  • Three-way match: X-Division Champion Chris Sabin defends against KUSHIDA and El Hijo del Vikingo
  • Four-way match: TNA Tag Team Champions Ace Austin & Chris Bey defend against The Rascalz, The Grizzled Young Veterans, and “Speedball” Mike Bailey & Trent Seven
  • Knockouts Ultimate X match: Gisele Shaw vs. Xia Brookside vs. Jody Threat vs. Tasha Steelz vs. Alisha Edwards vs. Dani Luna
  • Josh Alexander vs. Alex Hammerstone
  • PCO vs. Dirty Dango
  • Pre-show match: Rich Swann vs. Steve Maclin
  • Pre-show match: Eric Young & Frankie Kazarian vs. Brian Myers & Eddie Edwards
  • Pre-show match: Digital Media Champion Tommy Dreamer defends against Crazzy Steve

TNA Wrestling announces Sacrifice event for March

Posted on by Ethan Renner

TNA Wrestling is bringing a live TNA Plus special and an Impact taping to Windsor, Ontario, Canada in March. 

TNA announced Thursday night that this year’s Sacrifice special event will air live on the TNA Plus app from Windsor on Friday, March 8. A TV taping for Impact will be held the next night in the same building on the campus of St. Clair College.

Brian Myers, KUSHIDA, Alex Shelley, Chris Sabin, Moose, Tommy Dreamer, and Jordynne Grace are mentioned in the official announcement as appearing at the events. 

Tickets for the shows will go on sale on Saturday, January 13. 

Here is TNA’s schedule for the first three months of 2024:

  • Saturday, January 13: Hard to Kill pay-per-view at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas
  • Sunday, January 14: TV taping at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas
  • Friday, January 19: TV taping at Osceola Heritage Park in Orlando, Florida
  • Saturday, January 20: TV taping at Osceola Heritage Park in Orlando, Florida
  • Friday, February 23: No Surrender (Impact Plus special) at the Alario Center in New Orleans
  • Saturday, February 24: TV taping at the Alario Center in New Orleans
  • Friday, March 8: Sacrifice (TNA Plus special) at St. Clair College in Windsor, Ontario
  • Saturday, March 9: TV taping at St. Clair College in Windsor, Ontario

Tasha Steelz announced for Knockouts Ultimate X at TNA Hard to Kill

Posted on by Ian Carey

A new entrant has been announced for Knockouts Ultimate X at TNA Hard to Kill 2024. 

Tasha Steelz has been confirmed for the match. She was the winner of the inaugural Knockouts Ultimate X at Hard to Kill 2022. 

Steelz joins Gisele Shaw, Xia Brookside, and Jody Threat as those confirmed for the match. 

The winner of Ultimate X at Hard to Kill will earn a future shot at the Knockouts Championship. The pay-per-view takes place on Saturday, January 13 at the Palms in Las Vegas. 

TNA Hard to Kill announced lineup:

  • Impact World Champion Alex Shelley defends against Moose
  • Knockouts Champion Trinity defends against Jordynne Grace
  • X-Division Champion Chris Sabin defends against KUSHIDA and El Hijo del Vikingo in a three-way match
  • Knockouts Ultimate X match (Announced participants: Gisele Shaw, Xia Brookside, Jody Threat, Tasha Steelz)
  • Josh Alexander vs. Alex Hammerstone
  • PCO vs. Dirty Dango
  • TNA Tag Team Champions ABC (Ace Austin & Chris Bey) defend against The Rascalz (Zachary Wentz & Trey Miguel), Speedball Mountain (Mike Bailey & Trent Seven), and The Grizzled Young Vets (Zack Gibson & James Drake)
  • Pre-show match: Rich Swann vs. Steve Maclin
  • Pre-show match: Eric Young & Frankie Kazarian vs. Brian Myers & Eddie Edwards
  • Pre-show match: Digital Media Champion Tommy Dreamer defends against Crazzy Steve

Josh Alexander vs. Alex Hammerstone announced for TNA Hard to Kill

Posted on by Ian Carey

A new match has been added to the lineup for TNA Hard to Kill. 

Josh Alexander vs. Alex Hammerstone is now confirmed for the show. The match announcement follows a social media exchange between the two in recent days. 

Hammerstone issued an open challenge in a video he posted on New Year’s Day announcing he’s officially a free agent. 

Alexander responded to the former MLW Heavyweight Champion’s video on Wednesday and accepted his open challenge. 

TNA then made the match official for Hard to Kill on Saturday, January 13 at the Palms in Las Vegas. It will be Hammerstone’s second-ever match in the promotion. He also wrestled on an episode of Impact Xplosion in 2018.

TNA Hard to Kill announced lineup:

  • Impact World Champion Alex Shelley defends against Moose
  • Knockouts Champion Trinity defends against Jordynne Grace
  • X-Division Champion Chris Sabin defends against KUSHIDA and El Hijo del Vikingo in a three-way match
  • Knockouts Ultimate X match (Announced participants: Gisele Shaw, Xia Brookside, Jody Threat)
  • Josh Alexander vs. Alex Hammerstone
  • PCO vs. Dirty Dango
  • TNA Tag Team Champions ABC (Ace Austin & Chris Bey) defend against The Rascalz (Zachary Wentz & Trey Miguel), Speedball Mountain (Mike Bailey & Trent Seven), and The Grizzled Young Vets (Zack Gibson & James Drake)
  • Pre-show match: Rich Swann vs. Steve Maclin
  • Pre-show match: Eric Young & Frankie Kazarian vs. Brian Myers & Eddie Edwards
  • Pre-show match: Digital Media Champion Tommy Dreamer defends against Crazzy Steve

AEW ‘hopeful’ to land Deonna Purrazzo in free agency

Posted on by Josh Nason

Former Impact Knockouts Champion and current free agent Deonna Purrazzo has reportedly talked with AEW about a contract, according to Fightful.

The outlet also reported AEW is “hopeful” they can sign the 29-year-old and that AEW is her preferred destination.

On the WWE side, Fightful reported Purrazzo has had contact with the industry leader but that “most if not all” of WWE’s free agent talks were put on hold until 2024 kicked off. Purrazzo spent parts of 2015 through 2020 in WWE NXT with a handful of main roster appearances.

Purrazzo has appeared in an AEW ring once before, losing the Ring of Honor Women’s title to Mercedes Martinez on an early-May Dynamite in 2022 that was originally hoped for that year’s ROH Supercard of Honor.

That was during the time when Purrazzo was under Impact contract and had also wrapped up a run as AAA Reina de Reinas titleholder. Additionally, AEW head Tony Khan was just a few months into his ownership of ROH and didn’t have Purrazzo under contract.

Purrazzo wrapped up with Impact at year’s end and was on the losing end of a tag team match at December’s Final Resolution.

Jody Threat announced for Knockouts Ultimate X at TNA Hard to Kill

Posted on by Ian Carey

Impact Wrestling has announced another entrant into the Knockouts Ultimate X match at Hard to Kill. 

Jody Threat joins Gisele Shaw and the debuting Xia Brookside as those confirmed for the match. 

Impact revealed the news today on X. 

The winner of Ultimate X will earn a future shot at the Knockouts Championship, currently held by Trinity. The promotion plans to announce a new entrant every day at 1 p.m. Eastern time leading up to the pay-per-view.

TNA Hard to Kill 2024 is scheduled for Saturday, January 13, 2024, at the Palms Casino Resort in Paradise, Las Vegas. 

TNA Hard to Kill announced lineup:

  • Impact World Champion Alex Shelley defends against Moose
  • Knockouts Champion Trinity defends against Jordynne Grace
  • X-Division Champion Chris Sabin defends against KUSHIDA and El Hijo del Vikingo in a three-way match
  • Knockouts Ultimate X match (Announced participants: Gisele Shaw, Xia Brookside, Jody Threat)
  • PCO vs. Dirty Dango
  • TNA Tag Team Champions ABC (Ace Austin & Chris Bey) defend against The Rascalz (Zachary Wentz & Trey Miguel), Speedball Mountain (Mike Bailey & Trent Seven), and The Grizzled Young Vets (Zack Gibson & James Drake)
  • Pre-show match: Rich Swann vs. Steve Maclin
  • Pre-show match: Eric Young & Frankie Kazarian vs. Brian Myers & Eddie Edwards
  • Pre-show match: Digital Media Champion Tommy Dreamer defends against Crazzy Steve

Report: Naomi expected to return to WWE

Posted on by Ian Carey

Naomi could be headed back to WWE.  

Fightful is reporting that sources within both WWE and Impact Wrestling expect her to return to the company, with some saying it could happen “sooner rather than later.” 

One source noted there would have to be a major development for her not to be back in WWE soon. 

As Trinity, she is the current Knockouts Champion in Impact Wrestling and is scheduled to defend her title against Jordynne Grace at TNA Hard to Kill on Saturday, January 13. Trinity debuted with the promotion in April and won the Knockouts title from Deonna Purrazzo at Slammiversary in July.  

Naomi has been gone from WWE since walking out of the May 16, 2022 episode of Raw along with her then-tag team partner, Mercedes Mone/Sasha Banks. Mone was also in talks with WWE for a return but the two sides were too far apart on money. She is now expected to debut somewhere other than WWE “imminently.” 

Gisele Shaw announced for Knockouts Ultimate X at TNA Hard to Kill

Posted on by Ian Carey

TNA has announced the first participant for Knockouts Ultimate X at Hard to Kill. 

Gisele Shaw has been confirmed for the match. The promotion will be revealing a new participant each day leading up to the January 13 pay-per-view. 

The winner of the match will earn a future shot at the Knockouts Championship, currently held by Trinity. 

TNA Hard to Kill 2024 takes place at the Palms Casino Resort in Paradise, Las Vegas on Saturday, January 13. 800 tickets have been distributed to the show as of Friday, according to WrestleTix.    

TNA Hard to Kill announced lineup:

  • Impact World Champion Alex Shelley defends against Moose
  • Knockouts Champion Trinity defends against Jordynne Grace
  • X-Division Champion Chris Sabin defends against KUSHIDA and El Hijo del Vikingo in a three-way match
  • Knockouts Ultimate X match (Announced participants: Gisele Shaw)
  • PCO vs. Dirty Dango
  • TNA Tag Team Champions ABC (Ace Austin & Chris Bey) defend against The Rascalz (Zachary Wentz & Trey Miguel), Speedball Mountain (Mike Bailey & Trent Seven), and The Grizzled Young Vets (Zack Gibson & James Drake)
  • Pre-show match: Rich Swann vs. Steve Maclin
  • Pre-show match: Eric Young & Frankie Kazarian vs. Brian Myers & Eddie Edwards
  • Pre-show match: Digital Media Champion Tommy Dreamer defends against Crazzy Steve

TNA Tag Team title match set for Hard to Kill

Posted on by Ian Carey

The Grizzled Young Vets will have a chance to win the TNA World Tag Team Championships in their first match with the promotion. 

On Sunday, Santino Marella announced the titles will be defended in a four-way tag match at Hard to Kill. Champions Ace Austin & Chris Bey will defend against The Rascalz, Mike Bailey & Trent Seven, and the debuting Zack Gibson & James Drake on the show.

TNA Hard to Kill 2024 takes place on Saturday, January 13 at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.  

Earlier this week, Gibson and Drake announced they would be making their TNA debut on the pay-per-view.  

TNA Hard to Kill announced lineup:

  • Impact World Champion Alex Shelley defends against Moose
  • Knockouts Champion Trinity defends against Jordynne Grace
  • X-Division Champion Chris Sabin defends against KUSHIDA and El Hijo del Vikingo in a three-way match
  • Knockouts Ultimate X match (participants to be announced)
  • PCO vs. Dirty Dango
  • TNA Tag Team Champions ABC (Ace Austin & Chris Bey) defend against The Rascalz (Zachary Wentz & Trey Miguel), Speedball Mountain (Mike Bailey & Trent Seven), and The Grizzled Young Vets (Zack Gibson & James Drake)
  • Pre-show match: Rich Swann vs. Steve Maclin
  • Pre-show match: Eric Young & Frankie Kazarian vs. Brian Myers & Eddie Edwards
  • Pre-show match: Digital Media Champion Tommy Dreamer defends against Crazzy Steve

The Grizzled Young Veterans making TNA debut at Hard to Kill

Posted on by Joseph Currier

The Grizzled Young Veterans are coming to TNA Wrestling.

TNA shared a promo on Tuesday with The Grizzled Young Veterans (Zack Gibson & James Drake) revealing that they will debut for the promotion at Hard to Kill 2024. Gibson & Drake declared that they’re coming for the Impact Tag Team titles.

“TNA has a long history of working with the top veteran teams in this industry, some for better and some for worse,” Gibson said. “We might not be the veterans that TNA are used to working with, but let me promise you this: we are the Veterans that TNA needs to work with to steer this ship in the right direction. Because God only knows teams like The Rascalz or The ABC are simply not the right men for the job.

“January 13, Hard to Kill, The GYV are coming to TNA. And we are coming for the TNA Tag Team titles.”

ABC (Ace Austin & Chris Bey) are the current Impact Tag Team Champions. The Rascalz (Trey Miguel & Zachary Wentz) are the other team that The Grizzled Young Veterans mentioned in their promo.

Gibson & Drake became free agents this October when they departed WWE. They had requested their release from the company in April, but the request was denied and they remained with WWE/NXT until their contracts expired.

The Grizzled Young Veterans are former NXT UK Tag Team Champions.

Hard to Kill is being held at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas on Saturday, January 13. Impact Wrestling’s name change back to TNA Wrestling officially goes into effect that night.

Here’s everything that’s been announced for the pay-per-view so far:

  • Impact World Champion Alex Shelley defends against Moose
  • Knockouts Champion Trinity defends against Jordynne Grace
  • X-Division Champion Chris Sabin defends against KUSHIDA and El Hijo del Vikingo in a three-way match
  • Knockouts Ultimate X match (participants to be announced)
  • PCO vs. Dirty Dango
  • The Grizzled Young Veterans make their TNA debut
  • Pre-show match: Rich Swann vs. Steve Maclin
  • Pre-show match: Eric Young & Frankie Kazarian vs. Brian Myers & Eddie Edwards
  • Pre-show match: Digital Media Champion Tommy Dreamer defends against Crazzy Steve

PCO vs. Dirty Dango added to TNA Hard to Kill

Posted on by Joseph Currier

A new match announcement has been made for TNA Wrestling Hard to Kill 2024.

PCO and Dirty Dango will face off in singles action at the Saturday, January 13 pay-per-view in Las Vegas. Dango will be accompanied by Oleg Prudius (the former Vladimir Kozlov) and Alpha Bravo for the match.

TNA Wrestling wrote:

At TNA Hard To Kill, PCO will rise once again. Stepping up to the ‘French-Canadian Frankenstein’ will be the brash and arrogant Dirty Dango, who will surely inform the world of his feelings towards the sport of pro wrestling. PCO scored a dominant victory on the final IMPACT-branded event, Final Resolution and one can only imagine just how horrific his actions will be when the new era begins on January 13th.

It was revealed in October that PCO has signed a new TNA Wrestling contract. He defeated Moose, Rhino, and Steve Maclin in a Monster’s Ball match at Bound for Glory.

Dango has an anti-pro wrestling gimmick in Impact Wrestling.

Impact Wrestling officially rebrands back to TNA Wrestling starting with Hard to Kill. The PPV is being held at the Palms Casino Resort.

Here’s the updated card:

  • Impact World Champion Alex Shelley defends against Moose
  • Knockouts Champion Trinity defends against Jordynne Grace
  • X-Division Champion Chris Sabin defends against KUSHIDA and El Hijo del Vikingo in a three-way match
  • Knockouts Ultimate X match (participants to be announced)
  • PCO vs. Dirty Dango
  • Pre-show match: Rich Swann vs. Steve Maclin
  • Pre-show match: Eric Young & Frankie Kazarian vs. Brian Myers & Eddie Edwards
  • Pre-show match: Digital Media Champion Tommy Dreamer defends against Crazzy Steve