The lineup for NJPW Best of the Super Juniors 33 is now almost fully set with 18 of the 20 entrants confirmed.
NJPW has announced that junior heavyweight mainstays KUSHIDA and Ryusuke Taguchi will be participating in this year’s tournament. Along with that, Dragon Gate wrestler Hyo has been added to the list of entrants as he makes his official NJPW debut.
KUSHIDA and Taguchi are both former IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champions and BOSJ winners, with KUSHIDA having won the tournament in 2015 and 2017 and Taguchi winning in 2012.
Though this is Hyo’s NJPW debut, he won the promotion’s bodybuilding contest in 2025. He’s a two-time Open the Brave Gate Champion, which is Dragon Gate’s version of a junior heavyweight title.
BOSJ 2026 begins on May 14 and runs through June 7. The final two entrants, along with the block lineups, are set to be revealed this Saturday at NJPW Sakura Genesis. A title shot will be awaiting the BOSJ winner — if current IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion DOUKI does not win the tournament himself.
KUSHIDA has defeated Templario at MLW Battle Riot VIII to become the new MLW World Middleweight Champion.
In the final moments of the match, KUSHIDA dropped Templario with a leg hook brainbuster to secure the victory and the title.
After the match, Ikuro Kwon confronted KUSHIDA. However, instead of going after the new champion, Kwon attacked the defeated Templario. Following this, Kwon handed KUSHIDA a CONTRA shirt.
While the 42-year-old initially hesitated, he later accepted the shirt, signifying his heel turn and alliance with CONTRA.
The victory marked KUSHIDA’s first Middleweight Title reign. Before this, Templario’s title run lasted for 138 days (ending when the match was taped on January 29th, 2026). Throughout his title reign, he made three successful title defenses.
MLW Battle Riot VIII results
Shotzi Blackheart defeated Priscilla Kelly
Scarlett Bordeaux defeated Aleah James
Austin Aries defeated Trevor Lee
The Good Brothers defeated Mark and Joe Coffey
Diego Hill defeated Adam Brooks
Karissa Rivera promo
Zamaya defeated Carolina Cruz
Alex Hammerstone defeated Bishop Dyer
KUSHIDA defeated Templario for the MLW World Middleweight Championship
Battle Riot – Killer Kross entered at number 1 and won the match, becoming the new MLW World Heavyweight Champion.
AND NEW! Congratulations to KUSHIDA, who captured the MLW World Middleweight Championship at MLW Battle RIOT VIII!
Kushida has the chance to win his first-ever MLW gold later this month at Battle Riot VIII.
The promotion has announced an MLW Middleweight Championship match between Templario and Kushida for the January 29 Battle Riot event. The show is being held in Kissimmee, Florida and will be broadcast live on MLW’s YouTube channel.
A decorated junior heavyweight, Kushida has held titles in NJPW and WWE but has yet to win an MLW championship. The company has become his wrestling home in the United States. He is still under contract with NJPW and is a coach at their dojo in Los Angeles. He will be holding a seminar at the dojo on February 1.
Templario — a star for CMLL — has been MLW Middleweight Champion since September with three successful defenses.
The Battle Riot card will be headlined by a 40-man battle royal where the winner earns a future shot at MLW World Heavyweight Champion Mads Krule Krugger. In addition to their title bout, Kushida and Templario will both be competing in that match. Alex Hammerstone, Karl Anderson, Doc Gallows, Killer Kross, and Bishop Dyer (the former Baron Corbin) are among the other entrants.
MLW Battle Riot VIII (Thursday, January 29) —
40-person Battle Riot match for future MLW World Heavyweight Championship shot
MLW Middleweight Champion Templario defends against Kushida
Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling has announced talent for its upcoming shows in Windsor next month.
MLP Mayhem is scheduled for St. Clair College on March 14 and 15 as Scott D’Amore’s promotion presents its first shows of 2025. Mauro Ranallo will return to commentary for the event, and the following wrestlers are confirmed:
PCO
Kaito Kiyomiya
KUSHIDA
Sheldon Jean
Kylie Rae
Gisele Shaw
Bhupinder Gujjar
Aiden Prince
No matches have been officially scheduled yet.
KUSHIDA makes his return to #MLPWrestling on the Road to Northern Rising when he returns to Windsor, Ontario on March 14-15 for MLP Mayhem!
On May 11, Maple Leaf Pro will present Northern Uprising at the Mattamy Athletic Centre, located at the former site of Maple Leaf Gardens. Announced talent for that show so far includes ‘The Nomad’ Bishop Dyer (formerly Baron Corbin in WWE) and Pro Wrestling NOAH’s Kaito Kiyomiya.
As mentioned in today's press release, @TomPestock aka Nomad" Bishop Dyer (formerly WWE Superstar Baron Corbin) is taking the Road to Northern Rising at #MLPWrestling Mayhem in Windsor on March 14-15, 2025! Live on @FiteTV! pic.twitter.com/QxL4ci1yTo
Scott D’Amore officially revived the Maple Leaf Wrestling brand last year, launching the two-night Forged in Excellence event in October. Featured matches included Konosuke Takeshita vs. Mike Bailey and Takeshita vs. Josh Alexander.
KUSHIDA’s opponent for his MLW return has been announced.
The six-time IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion will face CMLL’s Neon at the TV taping portion of MLW Superfight VI at Center Stage in Atlanta on Saturday, February 8. It will be his second time wrestling for the company and his first since 2023.
JUST ANNOUNCED 📢 KUSHIDA vs. Neon GOES DOWN in ATL! Can the upstart upset the veteran?
KUSHIDA recently departed TNA Wrestling after his contract expired at the end of 2024. His last match was a loss to Ace Austin at the TV tapings on December 14, also held at Center Stage in Atlanta.
Other matches recently announced for MLW’s upcoming show include KUSHIDA’s tag partner, Kevin Knight, against KENTA and CMLL’s Esfinge & Templario vs. Mascara Dorada & Mistico.
MLW Superfight VI and TV taping lineup for Saturday, February 8, 2025:
Triple threat match: MLW World Heavyweight Champion Matt Riddle defends against Satoshi Kojima and Alex Kane
Donovan Dijak vs. Tom Lawlor
Honey Trap match: Paul London vs. BRG
KENTA vs. Kevin Knight
Esfinge & Templario vs. Mascara Dorada & Mistico
The House of Duran (Cesar Duran, Salina de la Renta, Jesus Rodriguez, and D’Oro) to appear
Dave Meltzer is reporting that KUSHIDA and Trent Seven are among the latest names set to leave the company. This follows PWInsiderreporting that both are leaving the company. Both most recently wrestled for the company at their TV tapings this weekend and also wrestled at Final Resolution. KUSHIDA lost to Moose while Seven lost to Ace Austin.
In Monday’s Daily Update, Meltzer suggested that the relationship between TNA and NJPW has ‘cooled’, though may still work together as both air television on the same station, AXS TV.
“It appears formal relations with TNA and New Japan may also be done. Relations were said to have cooled when [Scott] D’Amore was gone,” he wrote. “But since both are on the same channel, one owned by TNA’s parent company, there are political reasons for a relationship for both sides.”
Among the other names leaving the company include Rhino, who had just been inducted into the TNA Hall of Fame, and ring announcer Jade Chung, the wife of TNA star Josh Alexander who is also expected to leave in February when his contract expires.
Somebody at TNA Wrestling scheduled two app specials in two weeks, leaving the crew scrambling to throw a card together for last Thursday’s Impact with no time to waste.
That means I have no time to waste on this week’s Big Vinny V Show with a recap of the beginning of the final descent into this Friday’s Final Resolution.
We got a five-way match as KUSHIDA, Trent Seven, Ace Austin, Leon Slater, and JDC battled to see who will challenge Moose for the X-Division title; a tag match set up for no reason other than four mean dudes all felt like fighting; a World championship challenge issued by AJ Francis to Nic Nemeth and accepted in a hasty hallway promo battle; a Tag Team championship match between The Hardys and The System with no finish so they could do a rematch eight days later; Tasha Steelz vs. Jordynne Grace in a de facto top contender’s match for Masha Slamovich’s Knockouts title; and a wacky eight-man main event that was supposed to build up a four-way top contender’s match but didn’t do a very good job of it.
We’ll break it all down on the latest Big Vinny V Show!
Matt & Jeff Hardy will be involved in a six-man tag match at TNA Turning Point 2024.
At the November 29 special, The Hardys will team up with Ace Austin against The Rascalz & KUSHIDA. The show is taking place from Benton Convention Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and will stream live on TNA+.
The Hardys won the TNA Tag Team titles in a Full Metal Mayhem match at Bound for Glory this October. The Rascalz (Trey Miguel & Zachary Wentz) could put themselves in line for a title shot with a victory in this six-man tag.
Austin’s regular tag team partner is Chris Bey, who is recovering from neck surgery after suffering a serious injury at a TNA taping last month. Bey & Austin were facing The Hardys when the injury happened.
Turning Point is being held in Winston-Salem during the annual Thanksgiving weekend WrestleCade convention, which features autograph signings with legends and current stars along with several other events.
Here’s the updated Turning Point card:
TNA Turning Point 2024 (Friday, November 29) —
TNA World Champion Nic Nemeth defends against Eddie Edwards
TNA Knockouts Champion Masha Slamovich defends against Jordynne Grace
Turkey Bowl match: Joe Hendry vs. Eric Young vs. Hammerstone vs. PCO vs. Brian Myers vs. John Skyler
The Hardys (Matt & Jeff Hardy) & Ace Austin vs. The Rascalz (Trey Miguel & Zachary Wentz) & KUSHIDA
The IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team titles will be on the line at Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling’s debut weekend.
Earlier this week, KUSHIDA & Kevin Knight became the new IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions by dethroning Clark Connors & Drilla Moloney at NJPW King of Pro Wrestling. It’s now been announced that KUSHIDA & Knight’s first title defense will take place outside of NJPW. They’re putting the belts on the line in a four-way match at night one of Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling Forged in Excellence this Saturday.
The title match is KUSHIDA & Knight vs. Sheldon Jean & Rohit Raju vs. El Reverso & Aiden Prince vs. Brent Banks & Johnny Swinger.
This past Monday, the team of the Intergalactic Jet Setters (KUSHIDA & Kevin Knight) won the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team titles at NJPW King of Pro Wrestling and now the Champions are bringing their titles to Windsor, Ontario for #MLPForgedInExcellence! Is that a challenge… pic.twitter.com/MZk3WPXL4G
Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling is a new project from former TNA Wrestling President Scott D’Amore. The promotion’s debut events are being held at St. Clair College in Windsor, Ontario, Canada this weekend. Both shows are airing live as pay-per-views on Triller TV with Mauro Ranallo & Don Callis as the commentary team.
Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling Forged in Excellence —
Night one (Saturday, October 19):
Konosuke Takeshita vs. Mike Bailey (if Bailey wins, he gets a future shot at Takeshita’s AEW International Championship)
Tables match: Bully Ray vs. Raj Dhesi (former WWE wrestler Jinder Mahal)
Gisele Shaw vs. Miyu Yamashita (If Yamashita wins, she’ll be added to the ROH Women’s title match on night two)
Rohan Raja vs. Jake Something for the inaugural PWA Champion’s Grail Championship
Four-way tag team match: IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions KUSHIDA & Kevin Knight defend against Sheldon Jean & Rohit Raju, El Reverso & Aiden Prince, and Brent Banks & Johnny Swinger
Laynie Luck vs. Taylor Rising vs. Kylie Rae vs. Aurora Teves
Bhupinder Gujjar vs. QT Marshall (w/ Harley Cameron)
Josh Alexander, Stu Grayson & El Phantasmo vs. Trevor Lee, Rocky Romero & Alex Zayne
Night two (Sunday, October 20):
AEW International Champion Konosuke Takeshita defends against Josh Alexander
ROH Women’s World Champion Athena defends against Gisele Shaw
QPW Qatar Champion Classy Ali defends against El Reverso
Mike Bailey vs. El Phantasmo
Six-way scramble match: Jake Something vs. Trevor Lee vs. Stu Grayson vs. Sheldon Jean vs. Mike Rollins vs. Alex Zayne
NJPW has revealed YOH’s injury replacement for the Best of the Super Juniors 31 tournament.
In a social media post early Friday, two-time BOSJ winner KUSHIDA was revealed as the substitute for the injured YOH.
KUSHIDA notes in his video promo that he originally did not make the cut for this year’s BOSJ, but now he is stepping up and will go right for the trophy, and has cleared his schedule for May to take part in the tournament:
KUSHIDA won the BOSJ tournament in 2015 and 2017, and was the runner-up in 2014.
YOH is out of action after suffering a dislocated shoulder at Sakura Genesis earlier this month. NJPW announced Thursday that YOH also suffered damage to the labrum in the left shoulder as a result of the injury and would need to be replaced.
Block assignments have yet to be revealed for this year’s tournament which begins on May 11. The finals will take place at Dominion in Osaka-Jo Hall on June 9.
It’s the long-awaited review of Sacrifice, the latest PPV/PLE/app special from Total Nonstop Action.
The show had some good stuff—Nic Nemeth vs. Steve Maclin, Brian Myers & Eddie Edwards challenging the ABC for the tag titles, Mustafa Ali & the Grizzled Young Veterans vs. Time Machine, and Jordynne Grace defending the Knockouts title against Xia Brookside and Tasha Steelz.
But it also had some stuff that felt like it belonged on another show in another era—Kon vs. PCO, Josh Alexander vs. Hammerstone, and Moose defending the TNA title against Eric Young in the main event. And finally, it had the Knockouts tag division, which pretty much always sucks.
For more details, listen right away to the latest edition of The Big Vinny V Show!
One day before No Surrender, a six-man tag match headlines tonight’s episode of TNA Impact.
The System (Moose, Eddie Edwards & Brian Myers) are taking on Alex Shelley, KUSHIDA & Kevin Knight. It comes in advance of Moose defending his TNA World Championship against Shelley at Friday’s No Surrender special. In that match, Edwards and Myers will be in Moose’s corner and KUSHIDA and Knight will be in Shelley’s corner. The match can only end when one of the cornermen throws in the towel.
On the pre-show for No Surrender, KUSHIDA & Knight are facing Edwards & Myers.
Ash By Elegance (the former Dana Brooke) officially arrives as she makes her TNA in-ring debut tonight.
Chris Sabin vs. Jason Hotch is part of tonight’s lineup as well. At No Surrender, Sabin is putting his X-Division Championship on the line against Mustafa Ali.
Also tonight, Steve Maclin faces Trent Seven. Simon Gotch will be in action as well ahead of his match against Josh Alexander at No Surrender.
Chris Sabin defeated Jason Hotch (w/ John Skylar)
Chris Sabin, again, is so good. This one was a little more back and forth than the match with Skylar, but did have some of the same problem of no one believing Hotch could win. It helped this was faster paced, though.
This match was really good from a fundamental perspective like the one Sabin had against Skylar a few weeks ago, but had the same problem as the Skylar one – mainly that no one believed Hotch had a chance of winning, and the heat Hotch go on Sabin in this was not believable. The fans popped for Sabin’s big moves, with particular note for a tornado DDT in the middle of the match, but were silent when Hotch hit a Chaos Theory for a near fall.
It is perfectly fine to give a guy a chance to get over, but this is not the kind of match to do it in. Unlike a Kenny Omega vs. Alan Angels, this never worked to the level of that. That said, crowd did get into the cheating from Hotch and Skylar, booing, and cheering quite loudly when Sabin side stepped a suicide dive and Hotch accidentally took out his own partner.
Sabin hit a missile dropkick off the top rope to Hotch, and then followed up with the Cradle Shock for the win. Good match, all things considered. Very good, even.
–Mustafa Ali had a hype video for his campaign to become X-Division champion, and said that at No Surrender, they better declare “In Ali We Trust.” This was good.
–The System cut a promo about their 6-man tag team main event match tonight, and how the match between Moose & Alex Shelley is a No DQ match. Santino walked up and told The System that the match would be No DQ, yes, but if anyone interfered on behalf of someone else, they would lose. So, it is a No DQ match, with the exception of interference.
–Chris Sabin was backstage and talked about how Mustafa Ali confused him, acting like a politician, and that Ali was going to find out at No Surrender why he was a 10-time X-Division champion. This was great.
Simon Gotch defeated Jack Price
Gotch is a perfectly fine worker, but he is no Jon Moxley, and it is rather amusing using a finishing sequence that Moxley uses frequently.
Josh Alexander came out to join the commentary booth, and explained how Gotch has been holding a grudge for 5 years now, saying that he was the one that helped Alexander earlier in his career. Gotch laid out Price with a dropkick and beat him around ringside with some hard European uppercuts. Alexander explained that he defeated Gotch 5 years ago, and it was that night that he was given his TNA/Impact contract, and Gotch took credit for it, thinking he brought something special out of him. Gotch was beating Price around the ring before hitting the Gotch Style piledriver on Price and locking on a bulldog choke to get the submission over Price.
–The GYV was backstage, and they talked about how they needed the TNA World Tag Team Championships. They promised that the Grizzled Young Veterans were going to take what was there, and they were going to rip the limbs from Ace Austin, or the head of Chris Bey. I liked this promo. It was simple, but sold the match.
–We got another Kon hype video, highlighting his ongoing feud with PCO.
Steve Maclin (w/ The Rascalz) defeated Trent Seven (w/ Mike Bailey)
Steve Maclin came across as a killer in this match, and it is so abundantly clear that he is the guy that TNA should be building around. Too bad that I don’t think they think the same.
Maclin opened the match quickly, hitting a big back elbow to Seven. Seven hit a crossbody and a leg drop after bouncing off the ropes. Maclin hit a knee to the face of Seven and followed up with a clothesline. Maclin followed up with a hard chop that dropped Seven to his knees and hit a suplex. Maclin choked Seven on the ropes, and stomped Seven when he rolled away from the ropes.
Seven kicked out after an axe handle, and chopped Maclin, who completely no sold it and resumed offence. Seven responded with another hard chop, and Maclin no sold it again. Maclin looks like an absolute monster in this match, and he dominated Seven until the ad break, where the Rascalz started stomping on Seven. Seven hit a few strikes on the floor, but Maclin sent Seven into the steel post and had the advantage again. Maclin hit a back suplex on the apron, and Seven kicked out.
This continued for a few more minutes as Maclin took 90% of the match, just crushing Seven throughout. Seven fired up with some chops again, but Maclin hit the ropes and took his head off with a lariat, but Seven kicked out. Maclin hit a uranage into a backbreaker, but Seven cut off Maclin on the top rope.
The Rascalz got involved but before they could attack Seven, Bailey hit a triangle moonsault onto them on the floor. Seven then hit a corkscrew flip off the top rope onto everyone. Seven hit the Seven Star Lariat (a Rainmaker. I see what you did there, Trent). Maclin hit a flying knee to the face after Seven got distracted by some of the things going down with the Rascalz and Bailey, and he followed up with a spear in the corner and a KIA for the win.
–Gisele Shaw was backstage, saying that the Shawntorage was no more. Gail Kim walked up and said that Shaw could do with a little humility, but doing it alone was a marked improvement. Shaw rejected Gail’s advice, and said that the Knockouts Championship would be changing hands at No Surrender.
–Trent Seven and Mike Bailey were backstage, and Bailey said that there was a fundamental difference between them and The Rascalz, as they saw wrestling as an opportunity to push and better themselves, while the Rascalz did not respect the sport. Seven then invited them to meet at the peak of Speedball Mountain (still a terrible tag team name) and see who the better team was.
–Frankie Kazarian came out to the ramp for his match against Eric Young, saying that he wasn’t in the mood to fight, so he was letting one of the ghosts of Eric Young’s past face him instead.
Eric Young defeated Big Damo
Eric Young is a pro, protecting Damo like he did when Young knew he couldn’t hit the piledriver the way he wanted.
The crowd did not react to Big Damo at all, and I’m not sure they realized they were both in Sanity in NXT. It doesn’t help that Damo is bald now. Damo dominated Young in the early parts of this match, hitting a crossbody and a big corner charge. Damo yelled about Young going soft, but Young ducked under a clothesline and hit a flying forearm.
Young hit a Death Valley Driver for a 2-count, but Damo kicked out. Young cut Damo off at the top rope and hit a superplex. Young botched a piledriver soon thereafter for the win, but like a pro, instead of dropping Damo on his head, Young realized he couldn’t keep him up, so he squeezed his knees together and fell forward in a Queen’s Gambit type move for the win instead. Good on Young for protecting Damo there.
–Eric Young said that he didn’t quite understand what was happening with Kazarian, but he said that since he couldn’t fight tonight, that Kazarian could take his pretty boy self to No Surrender.
–Tasha Steelz talked about Xia Brookside getting the win in their first match, and how Steelz evened it up. Steelz thought that was going to be it, but Brookside wanted the rubber match, so Steelz and Brookside would meet again at No Surrender, and Brookside would learn that Steelz was in charge of the Knockouts division.
–Jody Threat and Dani Luna were backstage, talking about how they thought they were on the top of the Knockouts tag division, noting that Luna has a win over one of the tag team champions, and said that Threat would have won if it wasn’t for Killer Kelly, so in their mind that makes them the top. I don’t think that is how that works.
–George Iceman introduced Ash by Elegance, the former Dana Brooke, for her first match in TNA.
Ash by Elegance (w/ George Iceman) defeated Savanah Thorne
When Thorne tried to fight Ash, Matthew Rehwoldt said, “How dare she?!” and I laughed. Ash obviously dominated this, as it was a match designed to introduce this new character to TNA, and Ash hit a senton bomb called Rarified Air for the pinfall. All credit to the former Dana Brooke – this is absolutely not the character Ash had in WWE. Time will tell how well it works, but it is drastically different, which is a good thing.
-A hype video aired for TNA No Surrender, running down all the major matches.
The System (Brian Myers, Eddie Edwards, & Moose) (w/ Alisha Edwards) defeated Time Splitters (Alex Shelley & KUSHIDA) & Kevin Knight
This match was great, especially with its closing sequence. The last few minutes were very exciting, and I wasn’t sure if Knight or Myers was taking the loss here, but Moose getting the win over Knight did surprise me a little, ass having Shelley in a losing match before facing Moose is a bit backwards, but he was saved with the post match angle.
Shelley and Moose started the match, and Shelley immediately went for the Border City Stretch, but Moose quickly retreated to the ropes. Moose missed a corner charge, and Shelley drove Moose into the middle turnbuckle, attacking the shoulder like he did in the TNA Hard to Kill match. Moose tagged out to Myers, and Shelley simply resumed attacking the arm, but on his new opponent.
Knight tagged into continue the assault, but Myers broke away and tagged in Edwards. Edwards, unfortunately, got hit with an arm drag from Knight, and then the work on the arm continued as Shelley and KUSHIDA exchanged tags and worked over Edwards’ arm. Edwards gouged the eyes of KUSHIDA, and Knight blind tagged in. Knight and KUSHIDA then double teamed Edwards, including KUSHIDA helping Knight springboard off the ropes, causing him to launch even higher into the air for a springboard crossbody, which was cool.
Edwards was able to isolate KUSHIDA and the System got the advantage when Moose hit a pump kick while KUSHIDA was on the apron. The System got the heat on KUSHIDA for the next several minutes, prompting the crowd to chant that The System sucked. KUSHIDA dodged a corner charge and Edwards crashed into the corner post, and then he dumped Myers to the floor. KUSHIDA countered a powerbomb and went for the tag, but Myers and Edwards pulled Shelley and Knight from the apron.
KUSHIDA hit a big right hand on Moose and tagged out to Shelley, who ran wild, taking everyone out and then locking the Border City Stretch on Myers. Alisha Edwards distracted the referee, but Shelley did not stop, locking the move on Edwards who was stacked on top of Myers. Moose finally broke it u, but Shelley dumped him to the floor, and Shelley snapped the arms of both Myers and Edwards before tagging out to KUSHIDA.
KUSHIDA hit a handspring back elbow on Edwards and hit a big right hand and a seated senton to Myers on the floor. The Tim Splitters then hit a moonsault/neckbreaker combo for a 2-count, but Moose came in and threw Knight onto KUSHIDA to break the pinfall attempt. Edwards tagged out to Moose while KUSHIDA tagged out to Knight, and Moose blocked a corner charge, but got hit with a hurricanrana, but Moose icked out at 1.
Knight hit a few clotheslines and countered a uranage. Knight did a top con giro, but Moose caught him in a powerbomb position, but Knight countered into a hurricanrana. Knight then hit a huge dive to the floor onto everyone, assisted by KUSHIDA again, and it was awesome. Knight almost got the win with code red, but Edwards broke it up. Shelley and KUSHIDA came in and took everyone out, and Knight was left alone with Moose, but Alisha Edwards got on the apron to distract him, and Moose hit a spear on Knight for the win. Great match.
–The fighting continued after the match, as Alex Shelley put Moose into the Border City Stretch, and Moose required the help of Edwards and Myers to escape, which his not something he will have on Sunday, which establishes that Shelley can very well beat Moose in storyline. I suspect Moose will win, but this was the right way to do it.
Final Thoughts
This was a solid, but mostly missable episode of TNA Impact, with the exception of the excellent main event. I suspect No Surrender will be an excellent show from an in ring perspective as well, but the build has been a bit lackluster.
TNA No Surrender – February 23, 2024
TNA World Championship: Moose (c) vs. Alex Shelley in a No Surrender Rules match
TNA X-Division Championship: Chris Sabin (c) vs. Mustafa Ali
TNA Knockouts World Championship: Jordynne Grace (c) vs. Gisele Shaw
TNA World Tag Team Championship: ABC (c) vs. The Grizzled Young Vets
TNA Knockouts World Tag Team Championship: The Decay (c) vs. MK Ultra
KUSHIDA & Kevin Knight will team up against Eddie Edwards & Brian Myers on Countdown to No Surrender next Friday (February 23). The pre-show starts at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time and will air for free on TNA+ and YouTube.
Edwards and Myers are part of The System in TNA, a new faction that also includes Moose and Alisha Edwards.
Moose is defending his TNA World Championship against Alex Shelley at No Surrender. The match has a “No Surrender” stipulation, which means that it can only end when either Moose or Shelley’s cornermen throw in the towel. Edwards and Myers will be in Moose’s corner. KUSHIDA and Knight will be in Shelley’s corner.
Moose defeated KUSHIDA in the main event of this week’s Impact episode. The show ended with Shelley and Knight saving KUSHIDA from an attack by The System.
No Surrender is a TNA+ special. The show is taking place live from the Alario Center in Louisiana.
TNA No Surrender 2024 (Friday, February 23) —
No Surrender rules: TNA World Champion Moose defends against Alex Shelley
TNA Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace defends against Gisele Shaw
TNA X-Division Champion Chris Sabin defends against Mustafa Ali
Best-of-three series finals for the TNA Tag Team titles: ABC (Ace Austin & Chris Bey) defend against The Grizzled Young Veterans (Zack Gibson & James Drake)
TNA Knockouts Tag Team Champions Decay (Havok & Rosemary) defend against MK Ultra (Masha Slamovich & Killer Kelly)
Josh Alexander vs. Simon Gotch
PCO vs. Kon
Countdown to No Surrender: KUSHIDA & Kevin Knight vs. Eddie Edwards & Brian Myers
TNA World Champion Moose will take on KUSHIDA in non-title action with everyone banned from ringside on tonight’s TNA Impact on AXS.
The reason for the stipulation is due to last week’s brawl that involved Moose, Eddie Edwards, KUSHIDA, Alex Shelley and Kevin Knight.
In the second bout in their best-of-three series for the TNA Tag Team titles, ABC will face the Grizzled Young Veterans who picked up a win last week. With a victory tonight, James Drake and Zack Gibson would become new champions.
TNA Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace will face Savannah Evans in non-title action. Evans was given one last chance by Gisele Shaw to prove herself following her and Jai Vidal’s firing last week.
Ash by Elegance (the former Dana Brooke in WWE) will make her TNA Impact TV debut in a live promo.
Other action includes Digital Media Champion Crazzy Steve defending against Rhino, Frankie Kazarian vs. Jake Something, and Joe Hendry vs. Deaner.
**********
Watching TNA in the post-Scott D’Amore era certainly has a different feel to it, doesn’t it? This was taped in Kissimmee, Florida, prior to all of the craziness from the last week, but we’ll see what the vibe is at next Friday’s No Surrender.
Frankie Kazarian defeated Jake Something
Two D’Amore guys opened things up as the newly-turned heel Kazarian continued to be just that. He is still ahead of Father Time at 46 years old and looking more like 26.
The two traded nearfalls at the closing stages, eliciting a “TNA” chant from an otherwise dead crowd. Kazarian got the pin after pulling Something from a seated position off the top rope, smashing his head on the top turnbuckle. He then stacked Something up for a pin and grabbed the bottom rope for leverage and his second straight win. Something’s three-match win streak was snapped.
Eric Young was shown watching Kazarian from behind the curtain and later cut a promo challenging him to a face-to-face confrontation in the ring next week.
TNA Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace defeated Savannah Evans (w/ Gisele Shaw) in a non-title match
The backstory here: Evans was “fired” by Shaw last week along with Jai Vidal as she was tired of their efforts to help her out. Evans asked for another chance and Shaw suggested she take on Grace who she challenges at No Surrender for the title.
This was over quickly as after some back and forth, Grace hit a muscle buster out of the corner to pick up the win. Afterward, Shaw nailed Grace and Evans with her Ultimate X trophy (?) won at Hard to Kill. This felt like Evans’ swan song with TNA while I’m wondering how Shaw feels about the promotion given what happened to D’Amore.
– Gia Miller was backstage when she was interrupted by Ash by Elegance’s concierge and then Ash herself. She made an announcement that next week would be her TNA in-ring debut. I thought she was going to do this promo in the ring, but they are really taking their time getting her going. She debuted at Hard to Kill last month and still hasn’t been in front of the fans yet. Alrighty then. I will say her concierge is a great talker.
– Alan Angels did a backstage Sound Check interview segment with Simon Gotch. Gotch put over how tough Josh Alexander was in coming back from a broken neck five years ago, but that the details in his fairy tale comeback to being signed by TNA and winning the title was missing details: that it was Gotch who pushed him to the limits in Alexander’s comeback match. He is upset Alexander got the win and future opportunities that night while he got overlooked. Alexander then busted in and went face-to-face with Gotch until they got into a pull apart. This was unexpectedly good.
ABC (Chris Bey & Ace Austin) defeated Grizzled Young Veterans (James Drake & Zack Gibson) to tie up their best-of-three series
The Veterans won last week and with a win this week, they take home ABC’s TNA Tag Team titles. I kinda feel like the finale would make sense for No Surrender, don’t you?
The Veterans worked on the left arm of Austin that they injured last week for a long, long time. Bey eventually got the hot tag and after a few minutes, he got in trouble as well, barely kicking out of a Doomsday Device that got the crowd chanting, you guessed it, “TNA.”
After his own hot tag, Bey grabbed Gibson’s leg as the Veterans lined up for Grit Your Teeth, giving Austin an opening to ensnare Drake and get an impressive bridging pin for the win.
Because of the predictability of the winning team and the inevitable third match, this didn’t feel as dire for the champions. The Veterans also didn’t come off as desperate to win to end this thing and take home the titles.
– Dirty Dango, Oleg Prudius and John E. Bravo were at a racetrack. Dango said they were holding an open casting call for tag team challengers with under a year of experience. Dango namedropped Scott Norton and suggested a main event of Norton vs. Prudius. He also wondered where the Panda Energy car was. Dango certainly knows how to talk.
– Mustafa Ali was back with another politician-esque promo, putting over the X-Division and how he wants to be the leader of it. That led The Good Hands (Jason Hotch & John Skyler) asking for promo time saying how much they love Ali. X-Division Champion Chris Sabin, whom Ali will face at No Surrender, happened to be there and took issue with the Hands and some of their entourage, knocking one of them out and shoving Hotch.
Digital Media Champion Crazzy Steve defeated Rhino to retain
This was made after a confrontation both guys had on a recent edition of Xplosion. Steve defeated Dreamer for the title last month and Rhino is a former ECW guy as is Dreamer which I assume you know.
Rhino wanted things to be hardcore and brought out a table which Steve didn’t care for, putting it back after regaining the advantage. Rhino nearly had this won after hitting a TKO, but the champion rallied, distracting the referee by throwing a fork and nailing the challenger with the title belt for the pin to end a meh match.
The intent of the Digital Media title was initially supposed to be matches on, well, social media. Now it’s just a disinteresting title on the main show.
Joe Hendry vs. Deaner never got started
Before the, a retaliation video from AJ Francis aired on the big screen which distracted Hendry. Francis then came out and said from here on out, the show is now called TNAJ Francis. Hendry said he now understood how he felt when he did insult videos and that he was unprepared…except he wasn’t.
He then aired his own video to AJ Styles’ TNA music called Banned From Diving that focused on Francis’ infamous WWE dive that wasn’t and a plain looking guy named Steve that was in a Francis video.
Francis then got in the ring and laid out Hendry much to Deaner’s delight. Eventually, Rich Swann came out to even the odds and Francis walked away. This feud much continue.
– They aired Nic Nemeth’s recent appearance for the WWC where he was attacked by Steve Maclin after the match. Maclin and The Rascalz then talked to Gia Miller, but Trent Seven and Mike Bailey weren’t having it. Seven then challenged Maclin for a match next week.
Dani Luna (w/ Jody Threat) defeated Killer Kelly (w/ Masha Slamovich)
While the crowd was pretty quiet, I liked this because it felt different aesthetically and style-wise. In a short match, Luna picked up the win off a roll-up after Kelly got tangled up with Slamovich and Threat on the ropes. Afterward, Kelly and Slamovich laid out Luna and Threat which led to Knockouts Tag Team Champions Decay (Rosemary & Jessicka) coming out to make the save. Those teams square off at No Surrender for the titles.
Next week:
X-Division Champion Chris Sabin vs. Jason Hotch in a non-title match
Steve Maclin vs. Trent Seven
Eric Young/Frankie Kazarian face-to-face confrontation
The System (Moose, Eddie Edwards & Brian Myers) vs. Alex Shelley, KUSHIDA & Kevin Knight
Ash by Elegance in-ring debut
New for No Surrender (next Friday):
Josh Alexander vs. Simon Gotch
TNA Champion Moose defeated KUSHIDA in a non-title match
No one was allowed at ringside during the match after the events of last week where Moose, Edwards and Myers got into a brawl with Shelley, KUSHIDA and Knight. I have a feeling things might break down afterward because it’s wrestling.
Moose was dominant in the early minutes, using his physical force to toss KUSHIDA around. Every time KUSHIDA would rally, it was shut down quickly even after the NJPW star fired up after being slapped on the outside of the ring.
He eventually did get his shine, focusing on Moose’s right arm he injured during the match. He locked on the Hoverboard Lock, but Moose powered out of it. After a flurry of activity, KUSHIDA hit a surprise Code Red to nearly win the match.
In the end, Moose hit a spear to pick up the win in what was a fairly one-sided match until the last few minutes.
Afterward, Eddie & Alisha Edwards and Myers came out to celebrate and, wait for it, attack KUSHIDA. Who could have seen this coming? Shelley and Knight took their sweet time to come out to help and KUSHIDA roared back to life to even things out for another big three-on-three brawl. The babyfaces stood tall to close things out.
Overall, this was an ok edition of TNA Impact with nothing that stood out as must-see.
TNA Champion Moose will be in non-title action on next Thursday’s TNA Impact — a show that will also feature the first live promo by new signee Ash by Elegance, the former Dana Brooke in WWE.
Moose will take on KUSHIDA as the former prepares to defend his title for the first time against former titleholder Alex Shelley in a rematch at this month’s No Surrender.
Ash first appeared in her new home at January’s Hard to Kill, watching the Knockouts title match that night. She will be live in front of the fans and expected to explain what her motivations are.
The second bout in the best-of-three series is on tap between TNA Tag Team Champions ABC (Chris Bey & Ace Austin) and the Grizzled Young Veterans (James Drake & Zack Gibson). Drake and Gibson took the first match last week.
After an angle shot on TNA Xplosion, the Digital Media title will be on the line as Crazzy Steve defends against Rhino while Frankie Kazarian will face Jake Something.
Here’s the current card for next Thursday:
ABC (Chris Bey & Ace Austin) vs. Grizzled Young Veterans (James Drake & Zack Gibson) in match two of their best-of-three series
TNA Digital Media Champion Crazzy Steve defends against Rhino
Frankie Kazarian vs. Jake Something
TNA World Champion Moose vs. KUSHIDA in a non-title match
