Tag: Mike Santana

TNA Impact live results: Mike Santana vs. JDC Texas Death Match

Posted on by Matt Boone

A Texas Death Match between Mike Santana and The System’s JDC highlights tonight’s TNA Impact as the road to next month’s Bound for Glory begins.

Santana has been feuding with The System for the majority of the last month and issued a challenge to the former Dirty Dango for the bout following last Friday’s Victory Road.

After his win over Josh Alexander last Friday, Joe Hendry will be on hand to share what he wants next.

After winning the titles last Friday with a win over Masha Slamovich & Tasha Steelz, new Knockouts Tag Team Champions Spitfire (Dani Luna & Jody Threat) will defend their titles against opponents to be named.

Matt Cardona will take on Rhino after attacking him last Friday following Stephanie De Lander’s announcement she needs neck surgery.

First Class (AJ Francis & KC Navarro) will look to rebound from their Friday loss to The Hardys as they battle new signees Sinner & Saint (Judas Icarus and Travis Williams).

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The System, The Hardys, Masha Slamovich & Jordynne Grace Kick Off This Week’s Show

An in-depth TNA Victory Road 2024 video package showing highlights from last Friday’s special event in San Antonio, Texas is shown. We then shoot inside the Impact Zone, where Tom Hannifan and Matthew Rehwoldt welcome us to the show.

“Do you wanna know something?” Those are the first words we hear as The System’s Alisha Edwards makes her way out with a microphone in-hand. She asks her question-catchphrase once more and then complains about no longer being a TNA Knockouts Tag-Team Champion due to Masha Slamovich.

Slamovich makes her way out after Edwards continues verbally dressing her down. She gets in Edwards’ face in the ring, and Edwards chastises her to her face for being the weak link in their former MAlisha duo. She says what’s even worse is, she doesn’t even understand a word she’s saying.

We then get the big reveal from Slamovich, who informs Edwards that she has heard every word that has ever come out of her mouth. She says she’s sick of her. As she continues to defiantly respond to her former partner, she is attacked from behind by Tasha Steelz.

Masha starts fighting back, but is taken out by Edwards’ “Kendra” kendo stick. Steelz and Edwards join forces in beating Slamovich down until we hear the familiar sounds of the siren of “The Juggernaut.” Out comes TNA Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace to make the save.

She comes out, but so does The System duo of Eddie Edwards and Brian Myers. Before anything can happen, the iconic sounds of the theme for The Hardys plays and out comes Jeff Hardy and Matt Hardy to a rock star reaction from the Texas crowd.

The System crew bails out of the ring to the floor and the two groups of wrestlers stare each other down. Santino Marella’s theme hits and says if they want to fight, they’re gonna get their wish tonight. He announces a six person tag match with Eddie Edwards, Brian Myers and Tasha Steelz taking on The Hardys and Masha Slamovich.

Santino says as for Jordynne Grace, but before he can say anything, “The NXT and TNA Liaison” Arianna Grace comes out. She announces Wendy Choo & Rosemary vs. Jordynne Grace and one of Arianna’s “very best friends from WWE NXT.” It is never stated who the friend is. Santino says he likes the way she thinks and the segment wraps up on that note.

Eric Young Tells Josh Alexander To Start Acting Like A Leader

Backstage, we see Josh Alexander lost in thought when Eric Young approaches him and asks if he’s got a minute. He tells Alexander he’s been in the same spot he’s in right now. He says they think alike. He says he’s got a lot of guys paying attention to his every word and every move.

He says he’s headed into a place where it’s harder to come back from than he thinks. Young tells Alexander that he’s a leader here, and that it’s time to start taking it serious. He walks off as Alexander seems to be giving that some serious thought.

Hannifan runs down the scheduled lineup for tonight as the official match graphics flash across the screen. The show then heads into the first commercial break of the evening.

First Class (AJ Francis & KC Navarro) defeated Sinner & Saint

When the show returns, Jordynne Grace catches up with Masha Slamovich and tells her she expected her to be one of the people to respond to her many TNA Knockouts Championship Open Challenges in recent weeks/months. She tells her she has a feeling they’ll see each other sooner than later.

The Hardys come out of their dressing room and have a quick chat with Grace and Slamovich. Slamovich says teaming with them is a dream. They tell her to help them continue to show to the world tonight that TNA Wrestling is white hot these days.

Back inside the Impact Zone, the theme for First Class hits and out comes the team of AJ Francis and KC Navarro for our first match of the evening. Their opponents, Sinner and Saint, come out next. Navarro and Travis Williams (Saint) kick things off at the bell.

Navarro starts off strong, but after a handshake goes wrong, Saint takes over and tags in Judas Icarus (Sinner), who picks up where he left off. Francis ends up tagging in and shifting the offensive momentum back in First Class’ favor.

KC Navarro is tossed out to the floor like a rag-doll, and then Sinner hits Francis with a big shot that buys him some much-needed time. He makes it to the corner for the tag and in comes Saint. Navarro also tags back in.

The two mix it up and Navarro is thrown to the floor. Sinner & Saint hit a double-team spot that culminates with a big splash onto Navarro on the floor. Back in the ring, Sinner turns Navarro inside-out for a close two-count.

Moments later, Francis hits the Down Payment choke slam, which Navarro immediately follows-up with a top-rope First Class Splash for the pinfall victory.

Mike Santana Sends A Message To JDC Ahead Of Texas Death Match

Once the match wraps up, we shoot to a shot of someone’s boots backstage. We see a baseball bat wrapped in barbed wire clanging off the concrete ground. The camera pans up and we see Mike Santana.

He says tonight we’re gonna find out if JDC is willing to walk through the fire, because he’s gonna baptize him in his own blood. “Cause you motha f**kers, ya’ll locked in this world with me!” After this wraps up, the show heads into another commercial break.

Gia Miller Interviews “Speedball” Mike Bailey

When the show returns, Gia Miller is standing by backstage with new TNA X-Division Champion “Speedball” Mike Bailey. He talks about recapturing the title and how he’s prepared to defend it against the best of the best.

Miller informs Bailey that speaking of the best of the best, she has learned from Santino Marella that Bailey will be teaming up with Leon Slater and KUSHIDA to take on Zachary Wentz and ABC duo Chris Bey and Ace Austin in six-man tag-team action.

Rhino defeated Matt Cardona via Disqualification

Hannifan and Rehwoldt bring up Steph De Lander’s announcement about needing neck surgery and how she’ll be out of action for six-to-ten months as a result. We are shown a digital exclusive from after her announcement at TNA Victory Road where she and PCO talk backstage immediately afterwards. De Lander tells PCO to trust her and be patient.

Back inside the Impact Zone, the theme for “Alwayz Ready” Matt Cardona hits and out comes “The Indy God” for our next match of the evening. He settles in the ring and the theme for his opponent plays, bringing out former ECW legend Rhino.

As soon as the bell sounds, Cardona hops out of the ring and walks around to the entrance aisle. He looks in at Rhino as the referee begins his count. He walks around to the other side of the ring, hops on the ring apron and steps back inside.

He goes to kick Rhino in the bread-basket, but his kick is caught and Rhino starts drilling him with lefts and rights. He backs Cardona into the corner and hip-tosses him out. He backs into the corner himself and stalks Cardona, measuring him for a Gore.

Cardona notices this coming and slides out to the floor to avoid it. Rhino heads out after him and hits a big suplex to Cardona on the unforgiving entrance ramp. Fans break out in the never-ending “ECW!” chants.

What are the odds anyone in that building was alive to watch an ECW show live as it happened? One Night Stand doesn’t count. Rhino heads out under the ring and pulls out a chair. He brings it in the ring with him, but Cardona gets it and hits him with it. The referee calls for the bell.

Post-match, Cardona continues to beat down Rhino with the chair until the lights in the Impact Zone go out. When they come back on, PCO is standing in the middle of the ring behind Cardona. He slaps his hand on the throat of Cardona and hits a chokeslam.

He climbs up for the PCO-Sault, but Cardona exits the ring to avoid it. PCO taps into his inner Ric Flair and starts beating up an inanimate object in the form of the chair Cardona had. It’s not a New York Times best-selling autobiography encouraging readers’ days to be nice, but close enough.

He hits a back-breaker on the chair, a side-slam and a PCO-Sault onto it. That chair learned its’ lesson, and Cardona was up-close to witness it. After this, the show heads into another commercial break.

Spitfire (Jody Threat & Dani Luna) (c) defeated Kendal Grey & Carlee Bright to retain the TNA Knockouts Tag-Team Championship

When the show returns, Spitfire duo Jody Threat and Dani Luna make their way down to the ring for their first scheduled defense of their newly won TNA Knockouts Tag-Team Championships. The two settle inside the squared circle and await the arrival of their opposition.

Instead, “The Liaison” Arianna Grace comes back out and announces that they will be defending their titles against some fresh blood, two of her best friends from WWE NXT, Kendal Grey and Carlee Bright. The pair of WWE NXT Superstars head to the ring and the bell sounds.

Threat and Grey kick things off for their respective teams. They trade headlocks and then Grey suplexes her way free. Threat goes to whip Grey into the corner, but Grey trips and falls down. Taped show. Wonder what the point of that was? Luna tags in and picks up where Threat left off.

Luna and Threat both end up in the ring and they hit a two-on-one stalled suplex, complete with the free-arm biceps pose for some added arrogance. Bright tags back in and helps shift the offensive momentum into the favor of the WWE NXT team.

The champs take back over and hit the Pressure Drop, the same move that won them the titles at Victory Road 2024 against Masha Slamovich and Tasha Steelz. Afterwards, they go for the cover and score the pinfall to pick up the win and their first title defense. After the match, we head into another commercial time out.

Heather Reckless Approaches Ash By Elegance

When the show returns, we see Ash By Elegance bragging about her looks in a mirror, as George Iceman stands behind her bragging about her some more. In walks Heather Reckless who says she wants to take them up on their offer.

She tells them she has a match next week against Xia Brookside and asks if they’ll watch it. They tell her they’ll think about it. Reckless walks off, Ash and Iceman get back to talking about her looks and the segment mercifully wraps up on that note.

Mike Santana defeated JDC in a Texas Death Match

Inside the Impact Zone, the theme for Johnny Dango Curtis hits and out comes the newest member of The System for our next match of the evening. He settles in the ring and his entrance tune dies down.

The catchy-ass theme for Mike Santana hits next and a spotlight follows him as he walks down the steps in the crowd. He makes the long trip to the ring to a nice reaction from the Texas crowd.

As Santana hops the barricade and enters the ringside area, he is immediately met by JDC and the two trade shots. The bell sounds and our scheduled Texas Death Match is underway. Falls count anywhere and whomever incapacitates their opponent enough to keep them down for a count of ten will be declared the winner.

The two fight into the ring, where Santana settles into the early offensive lead. He beats down JDC until he is slumped in the corner. He backs up and charges at him, blasting him with a knee to the dome. He backs up and stalks him. He charges him again but JDC rolls out to the floor at the last minute.

As JDC walks around the ringside area to clear the cobwebs, he is met by a large body flying through the air, as Santana gets a running start and leaps over the top-rope, splashing onto The System member on the floor. Santana heads back out and grabs a trash can, some steel chairs and brings them into the ring.

Santana unfolds the two chairs and sets them back-to-back in the middle of the ring, ready-to-be-sat on, but something tells me he won’t be using them for that purpose. He hoists JDC up, but JDC escapes out the back door.

Santana climbs on JDC in the corner for the ten-punch spot, but before he gets to ten, JDC scoops him up and walks forward, power-bombing Santana across the unforgiving double-chair set-up. Ouch. Fans are already chanting “This is Awesome!”

JDC takes off his shirt and puts the trash can over Santana. He grabs a kendo stick and begins beating the crap out of the trash can with some vicious batting practice. JDC heads to the ropes again and climbs up. He leaps off with the Down ‘N’ Dirty onto Santana, who is still in the trash can and unaware of the moment of impact.

Santana rolls out to the floor upon impact. He gets the trash can off of his head and in a camera shot similar to the evil Mr. McMahon peaking above the ring apron from WrestleMania-past, Santana’s bloody dome pops into frame and gets a reaction from the crowd and announcers alike.

JDC heads over to draw more blood, but is unaware, as are the viewing audience, that Santana is secretly wielding the barbed wire covered baseball bat he was holding in his pre-match promo earlier in the show. He whacks JDC with it and draws some blood from The System member to even up the crimson mask count.

On that note, the show heads into a mid-match commercial break as this violent spectacle continues. When we return, we see both guys still spilling blood like crazy. In particular, JDC is bleeding an absurd amount.

Things culminate with Santana leaping off a ladder (as a referee and stage-hand held it sturdy for him) and putting JDC through some staging equipment for the ten-count and the win. After the match, as Santana is celebrating, he is attacked from behind by Moose. Moose beats him down with repeated chair shots and leaves him laying.

Josh Alexander Begins His New Role As TNA Locker Room Leader

“The Walking Locker Room Leader” Josh Alexander is shown backstage catching up with Sinner & Saint. He explains to them that the competition level for guys like them is at a whole new standard when you enter a promotion like TNA Wrestling. He tells them to keep their heads up and keep trying. We head to another commercial break.

Lei Ying Lee Is Coming To TNA Impact Next Week

When the show returns, we see the latest vignette hyping the arrival to TNA Wrestling of former WWE Superstar Xia Li, who is now working under the ring name, Lei Ying Lee. It is announced that she will make her TNA Impact next week on the show.

Joe Hendry, Frankie Kazarian & Nic Nemeth Talk TNA World Championship

Back inside the Impact Zone, we hear the familiar sounds of the viral smash hit theme song for the hottest rising star in TNA Wrestling, and among those in all of pro wrestling right now — Joe Hendry. “Say his name and he appears …”

The crowd goes bonkers as he makes his way out and does his full ring entrance routine, complete with the side-to-side hand-waive in the ring, etc. Hendry talks about making a statement with his win over Josh Alexander at TNA Victory Road last Friday night.

Hendry says every time he’s down, the fans lift him back up. He has a feeling they’re going to lift him all the way up to the TNA World Championship. With that said, out comes “The King of TNA.” No, not the TNA World Champion Nic Nemeth. The self-proclaimed “King of TNA” Frankie Kazarian.

Kazarian says it’s funny that he thinks the fans will lift him up to the TNA World Championship, when all of the fans in the crowd tonight, for example, can’t lift up their guts to see their own genitals. He says it’s also funny Hendry thinks he’s next in-line for a title shot after winning one match.

He says he only won the match in the first place because he had a weapon in his crotch. He says it’s probably not the first time he had his crotch loaded. He calls Hendry a cross between Shrek and Groundskeeper Willie from The Simpsons.

He says if anyone deserves a shot at the TNA World Championship it’s Frankie Kazarian, “because I believe in Frankie Kazarian.” Fans react with a loud “You suck! You suck!” chant. Kazarian demands Nic Nemeth come out and grant him his TNA World title shot.

We hear the familiar sounds of the pants unzipping and a woman moaning as TNA World Champion Nic Nemeth makes his way down to the ring in a sport coat with his title in-hand. He joins Kazarian and Hendry in the ring. After he and Kazarian exchange words, TNA Director of Authority Santino Marella comes out yet again.

Marella announces that it will be Joe Hendry vs. Frankie Kazarian next week on Impact. The winner will move on to challenge Nic Nemeth for the TNA World Championship in the main event of the biggest show of the year, TNA Bound For Glory 2024 in Detroit, Michigan.

The Hardys (Matt and Jeff Hardy) & Masha Slamovich defeated The System (Brian Myers and Eddie Edwards) & Tasha Steelz

It’s main event time!

The theme for The System duo of Brian Myers and Eddie Edwards hits and out they come along with their partner for the six-person tag-team main event match of the evening, Tasha Steelz. They settle into the ring and then Masha Slamovich’s theme hits to bring her out.

The Hardys’ iconic entrance tune plays and the crowd goes wild as Jeff Hardy and Matt Hardy emerge. The six competitors scheduled for our final match of the evening are settled inside the squared circle and ready to rock and roll, but first, the show heads into a quick pre-match commercial break.

When the show returns, the bell sounds and Steelz and Slamovich get things started for their respective teams. After some basic back-and-forth action early on, we see things pick up when all six end up getting involved.

The Hardys help Slamovich live a dream spot, as she helps execute Poetry in Motion. Matt and Jeff follow up with another big double-team high spot before the show heads into a mid-match commercial break as the action continues.

When we return, we see The System helping each other out, with Jeff Hardy’s Whisper in the Wind attempt thwarted by a quick step from the intended landing target. Myers goes to work on Jeff Hardy as fans lambast him with “You suck! You suck!” chants.

We see The System enjoy the offensive lead for another minute or two and then The Hardys help shift the momentum back in their team’s favor. Fans pump up Matt Hardy with “DELETE! DELETE!” chants. Before he can go for his finisher, Alisha Edwards gets involved at ringside.

The referee ejects her from ringside and the crowd pops. She makes a big issue out of leaving. Hands on the hips and the whole deal. Out comes ABC duo Chris Bey and Ace Austin, who each hoist her up and carry her to the back.

Steelz attacks Slamovich from behind in the ring. Masha hits a turning splash through the ropes onto Steelz on the floor. Jeff Hardy hits a Twist of Fate on Edwards. Matt Hardy hits one on Myers. Jeff hits a Swanton Bomb off the top-rope.

Matt goes for the cover. 1-2-3. The Hardys and Masha Slamovich pick up the win in a fun main event. The three celebrate their victory as Tom Hannifan mentions the lineup for next week’s show again, noting the Road to TNA Bound For Glory 2024 kicks off next Thursday night. That’s how this week’s show goes off the air. Thanks for joining us, and don’t forget to follow me on Twitter/X.

Next Week On TNA Impact (9/26/2024)
* Rosemary & Wendy Choo vs. Jordynne Grace & NXT Mystery Partner
* Jonathan Gresham vs. Laredo Kid
* Zachary Wentz & ABC vs. KUSHIDA, Leon Slater & Mike Bailey
* Frankie Kazarian vs. Joe Hendry (TNA Title Eliminator)
* Lei Ying Lee (Xia Li) debuts

TNA Impact live results: Knockouts title match headlines Emergence go-home show

Posted on by Matt Boone

The TNA Knockouts title will be on the line on tonight’s edition of TNA Impact ahead of Friday’s Emergence streaming special.

Jordynne Grace will look to extend her title defense streak as she faces Ash by Elegance who is looking for her first taste of TNA gold. It will be held under “Match by Elegance” rules which have yet to be revealed.

Ahead of their clash Friday for the TNA World title, current champion Nic Nemeth will come face-to-face with top challenger and former champion Josh Alexander.

Alexander Hammerstone will face Eric Young as the former prepares for Ultimate X Friday while the latter will take on Steve Maclin.

Mike Santana will battle The System’s Eddie Edwards while Joe Hendry kicks off what he hopes is a big weekend against Edwards’ teammate Brian Myers.

Former TNA Tag Team Champions ABC will take on Cody Deaner & Jake Something to round out the card.

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“Speedball” Mike Bailey (w/ Trent Seven) (c) defeated Rich Swann (w/ AJ Francis) to retain the TNA X-Division Championship

The first of two title matches kicks things off on this week’s show, as First Class duo AJ Francis and Rich Swann make their way out to start off the program. Swann will be challenging for the TNA X-Division Championship.

Francis settles in on special guest commentary as reigning TNA X-Division Champion “Speedball” Mike Bailey makes his way out accompanied by Speedball Mountain partner Trent Seven. The bell sounds and Bailey soaks up the crowd atmosphere inside the Impact Zone before locking up.

The Rascalz duo of Trey Miguel and Zachary Wentz are shown watching on from the treehouse. The Wentz vs. Wes Lee bout for WWE NXT No Mercy 2024 is promoted with a graphic on the screen and a mention by the commentators. Bailey isolates Swann’s arm and controls it early on.

Bailey goes for a dropkick at the same time as Swann. And again. They have the old-school ECW fists-up stare down for a pop afterwards. They shake hands, but Swann uses it to deliver a cheap shot. Swann ends up diving legs-first through the ropes and hitting a hurricanrana to Swann on the floor.

Bailey ends up nearly colliding with Francis, but puts stops short. Francis threatens him, and then Bailey turns around into a super kick from Swann. Swann rolls him back into the ring and continues to control the offense as the fans rally behind Bailey with “Speedball! Speedball!” chants.

As Francis and the commentary team of Matthew Rehwoldt and Tom Hannifan, a trio of grown men, argue about whose college is cooler, we see The Rascalz watching on again while Swann works over the leg of Bailey. Bailey lands a big kick to slow down Swann’s momentum. He hits a running shooting star for a nearfall attempt.

Bailey gets a bit too fancy with his kicks, and Swann capitalizes with one of his own before dumping Bailey on his dome for a close two-count. The two begin trading kicks, but they get their legs crossed up trying at the same time. The each kip up at the same time.

Swann hits a big shot that sends Bailey to the floor. Back in the ring, Swann connects with a top-rope First Class Splash for a super close pin attempt. Bailey hits the standing moonsault into the double knees for a close pin attempt of his own. Bailey hits a wild roundhouse kick, which brings Francis out of his seat to get involved.

Seven tries to stop him, but gets KO’d for his efforts. Swann rolls up Bailey for a close two count. Bailey blocks a move attempted by Swann, but seconds later, Swann hits a handspring cutter for another dangerously close pin attempt. Bailey hits a Spanish Fly after Swann is briefly distracted by Francis and Seven at ringside. Bailey retains in an excellent opener.

Gia Miller Interviews TNA Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace

Gia Miller is standing by with TNA Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace for a backstage interview. “The Juggernaut” talks about being willing to give anyone a title shot as a fighting champion. She says this is multiple shots for Ash By Elegance and this time, under her own special rules.

She doesn’t know what a Match By Elegance is, but she will still walk out the TNA Knockouts Champion. She walks off and the show heads into a commercial break.

Joe Hendry defeated Brian Myers (w/ Eddie & Alisha Edwards)

When the show returns, The System theme hits and out comes three members of the group in their late 1990s Mark Henry U.S.A. jackets and gear. It will be Brian Myers in one-on-one action, with Eddie and Alisha Edwards at ringside..

The catchy-ass tune for Joe Hendry plays and out comes the top star in TNA Wrestling and WWE NXT, to an adoring crowd singing along with the man that they believe in. Highlights are shown in split-screen form of the latest Joe Hendry Concert on Tuesday’s WWE NXT. They promote Hendry vs. Ethan Page with Trick Williams as special guest referee for WWE NXT No Mercy 2024 this weekend.

Fans chant “We believe! We believe!” as Hendry holds a mic before the match gets started. “Say his name, and he appears,” Hendry begins. He addresses Brian Myers, saying this is the part where he’d normally make fun of him. He’s heard rumors of people respecting Myers.

If you do, definitely do not chant “Edge’s b*tch!” Of course, the fans chant exactly that. Hendry says, “Of course, that’s right …nobody respects Brian Myers!” When people want to show respect, they chant “We believe!” He wraps up and the match gets started.

Myers with a headlock and a shoulder tackle off the ropes to start things off. He mugs for the crowd but then gets knocked on his keister by Hendry. He goes for a middle rope splash but Hendry side-steps him and does the hand-on-the-hips super hero pose. He does a stall suplex as fans react in the Impact Zone.

Hendry does the Queen, stomp-stomp clap, “We Will Rock You” beat to lead a “We believe!” chant and then goes to work on Myers on the floor. Alisha gets in his face and goes to slap him, but Hendry catches her hand mid-slap. The referee ejects Mr. & Mrs. Edwards from ringside.

Hendry gloats over this, but gets attacked by Myers from behind, who slams him into the ring steps and the ring apron, as Tom Hannifan talks us into a mid-match commercial break. When the show returns, Myers is in control of the action until Hendry hits a pop-up cutter to slow him down. Seconds later, Hendry hits the Standing Ovation for the win.

Mike Santana defeated Eddie Edwards

After the match, Eddie Edwards hits the ring to join Myers in a post-match attack of Hendry. Mike Santana’s theme hits and the lights go out. Santana makes his way to the ring through the crowd to a lukewarm crowd reaction.

When Santana gets in the ring, the referee clears everyone else out except Edwards, and the scheduled Santana vs. Edwards one-on-one match gets underway, as the bell sounds to start things off. Santana takes the early offensive lead, chopping the hell out of Edwards.

Edwards starts to fight back until Santana hits a back body drop that sends The System member crashing and burning out on the floor at ringside. Alisha Edwards, who hasn’t been banned from ringside for this match yet, comes out and distracts Santana.

Santana heads out to the floor, but Edwards hides behind Alisha. Santana goes to work on Eddie, but Alisha provides a distraction, allowing Eddie to send Santana into the ring apron with a blue thunder bomb. On that note, the show heads into a mid-match commercial break as the action continues.

When we return, we see Alisha getting involved at ringside, grabbing Santana’s hair. Santana fights back and connects with Spin The Block, but fails to put Edwards away. Santana hits a big flying splash over the top-rope to take out Santana on the floor.

In the ring, he hits a top-rope frog splash for a close two-count. Santana calls for Spin The Block again, but Edwards avoids it. Santana goes for the Rolling Buck 50, but Edwards counters with a Blue Thunder Bomb for a close two-count. Edwards tries for a Tiger Driver, but Santana avoids it.

He tries again and hits it for another close two-count. He takes his elbow pad off and blasts Santana and tries for another cover, but can’t keep Santana down. From his knees, Santana spits in Edwards’ face. Edwards kicks him and pulls his knee pad down. He looks for the Boston Knee Party, with Santana waving it on. Santana avoids it and hits Spin The Block for the win. Another good match.

Matt Cardona To Have Mystery Monster Replace Him At Emergence

“Alwayz Ready” Matt Cardona checks in with a medical update. He says unfortunately he’s not cleared after training too hard for us in the gym. He says because of this, he won’t be able to compete at TNA Emergence.

Santino Marella came in and asked what he’s trying to pull. Cardona says he found a mystery monster to face PCO at Emergence. He tells Santino it’s gonna be amazing. He says he’s 80% and he’ll be ready in a few weeks. Santino isn’t happy. The show heads into another commercial break.

Hammerstone defeated Eric Young

When the show returns, we see Steve Maclin joining Rehwoldt and Hannifan on special guest commentary for our next match of the evening. With that said, Hammerstone makes his way down to the ring. Eric Young comes out next as Maclin talks trash about him on commentary.

The bell sounds and fans in the Impact Zone immediately break out into an “E.Y! E.Y” chant. They lock up and Hammerstone out-powers him. Young catches Hammerstone off the ropes with an arm-drag. Hammerstone fights back up, but Young flips away from him and takes him back down, controlling the big man by his arm.

Hammerstone muscles his way back up and pushes Young into the corner. He spears into his mid-section a few times and hits a big elbow. Young fights back but Hammerstone lands a big boot that knocks Young off the ring apron and out to the floor at ringside.

Hammerstone sends Young crashing and burning right in front of Maclin on commentary. He spikes Young face-first into the steel ring steps and sends him back into the ring. After some more back and forth action, Young is distracted by Maclin, leading to Hammerstone hitting the nightmare pendulum for the win. After the match, the show heads into another commercial break.

ABC (Chris Bey & Ace Austin) defeated Cody Deaner & Jake Something

When the show returns, Cody Deaner and Jake Something make their way out. They cut a pre-match promo, with Deaner wanting to play to the crowd, but Jake telling him it’s not about the fans, it’s about proving themselves in this TNA Wrestling tag-team division.

The reigning TNA World Tag-Team Champions, ABC, make their way out. Ace Austin and Chris Bey settle in the ring and the bell sounds. Austin and Something kick things off for their respective teams, with Something manhandling one-half of the tag champs straight out of the gate.

Something hits a buckle bomb in the corner and tags in Deaner, who picks up where he left off, taking it to Austin, before quickly tagging Something back in. Something hits a big slam and tags Deaner right back in. Deaner goes for the cover, but Austin kicks out at two.

Austin finally rolls past Deaner and makes the much-needed tag to Bey. Bey comes into the ring with a ton of energy, and takes it to Deaner. He knocks Something off the apron and hits a big splash on Deaner in the corner.

All four end up in the ring, with things breaking down deep into the contest. Austin and Bey collide into each other attempting to take out Something. Something capitalizes and takes them both out. Deaner hits a cross-body off the top onto both ABC members.

Austin and Bey fight back, sending Something to the floor. Something and Austin end up at ringside while Bey works over Deaner in the ring. Back on the apron, Something gets met by Bey with kicks. Austin drives Something into the apron and then tags back in.

Austin and Bey hit a double kick on Deaner in the corner and then hit their one-two finisher combo for the win. First Class duo AJ Francis and Rich Swann hit the ring after the match, brutally taking out the TNA Tag-Team Champion duo of ABC. Jake Something simply watches on at ringside.

Jordynne Grace (C) defeated Ash By Elegance to retain the TNA Knockouts Championship in a Match By Elegance

It’s main event (match) time!

We shoot backstage and see George Iceman speaking with TNA Knockouts Tag-Team Champions Malisha, the team of Masha Slamovich and Alisha Edwards of The System. Tom Hannifan questions what they are talking about as he promotes the Match by Elegance for the TNA Knockouts Championship coming up next.

On that note, we shift gears and head into a quick pre-match commercial break. When we return, Hannifan and Rehwoldt are shown on-camera. Rehwoldt leaves to go get ready to sit down with Nic Nemeth and Josh Alexander for their final face-off after the upcoming Knockouts title tilt, which is revealed to essentially be a Falls Count Anywhere bout.

Hannifan runs down the lineup for TNA Emergence as the official match graphics flash across the screen. We see a pair of shoes laying on a pink steel chair, a pink kendo stick, champagne bottles and other goodies surrounding the ring as we get ready for a Match By Elegance.

Ash By Elegance’s theme hits and out she comes accompanied by George Iceman for our final match of the TNA Emergence 2024 “go-home” show. A “Tale of the Tape” graphic flashes on the screen for our second championship contest of the evening.

After the challenger settles inside the squared circle, we hear the familiar sounds of Jordynne Grace’s theme music. Out comes “The Juggernaut” for the latest defense of her TNA Knockouts title. Hannifan says this match will have no disqualifications and falls count anywhere.

Before the bell sounds, we head into another quick pre-match commercial break. When the show returns, Iceman cuts off the ring announcer so he can handle the introduction for Ash By Elegance. When Grace is introduced, Ash attacks her from behind with a chair.

Ash dominates the first few minutes of offense until Grace fights back into the lead with her power, slamming Ash on a pink trash can. On the floor, Ash chokes her as George Iceman gets unbearably annoying on guest commentary alongside Hannifan.

We head to a mid-match break with the two fighting on the floor. When we return, Iceman continues to annoy, just as much as Hannifan annoys while complaining about being annoyed himself. Meanwhile, Grace is setting up a table until Iceman helps Ash spray something in her eyes.

They put a tablecloth on the table together. They lay Grace on the table. Ash heads to the top but Grace recovers before she can jump. She climbs up after her and looks for a superplex. Iceman passes the bedazzled brass knuckles to Ash, who decks Grace with them.

Ash leaps off the top-rope to splash onto Grace, but Grace catches her on the way down and hits “The World’s Strongest Slam” followed by a Vader Bomb for a close two-count. Fans chant “Tables! Tables!” Grace grabs a mixed drink bottle of some kind and then dumps diamonds all over the ring. You know, instead of thumbtacks because it’s a Match By Elegance.

Ash drop toe-holds Grace face-first into a steel chair. She breaks a champagne over her head and covers her, but only gets two. She screams like a banshee after coming up short on the pin attempt. Extra annoying, even for her. Ash chokes Grace with a rose thorn as Iceman comes in with heels as a weapon. Before he can use them, Rosemary appears and hits a spear for a big pop.

She heads out to chase off Iceman, who runs away to the back. Grace covers Ash, but Ash kicks out. The Malisha duo of Masha Slamovich and Alisha Edwards hits the ring, but Grace takes them out. Slamovich ends up hitting a package piledriver on Grace. Ash goes for the cover, but Grace kicks out.

All three continue to blatantly set up Grace, while the referee has no choice but to watch and hang around to count the pin if and when the time comes. Spitfire duo Dani Luna and Jody Threat hit the ring to even things up. They take out the TNA Knockouts Tag-Team Champions, leaving Ash alone with Grace.

Grace blasts Ash with a pink chair and then takes her off the top rope into a Muscle Buster position. She hits it to put Ash through the table on the floor after leaping off the apron. Ouch. She covers her on the floor and gets the win to retain. Fun match.

Nic Nemeth, Josh Alexander Final Face-Off With Matthew Rehwoldt

It’s main event (segment) time!

Hannifan sends things to Rehwoldt, who is sitting at a table in a different location outside of the Impact Zone. He is seated with Nic Nemeth and Josh Alexander. He mentions their Iron Man match for the TNA World Championship at TNA Emergence on August 30 and how there is a no physicality clause for this final face-off.

Rehwoldt reminds everyone of their past meeting in the ring on Impact, which went to a 30-minute time-limit draw. Alexander explains his decision not to go another five minutes during that time-limit draw. Alexander vows he’ll be ready to finish the job at Emergence.

Nemeth is asked if he can handle the pressure of being TNA World Champion. Nemeth says he’s always looked forward to being the TNA World Champion one day. He looked forward to that responsibility. He mentions Alexander having that same responsibility in the past.

He says Alexander just needed to come to him, face-to-face, like he would’ve in the old days, and asked for a title shot like a man. He didn’t need to involve his family and take the route he did. He dogs him for taking cheap shots and doing it the snake way.

He says he can tell by the look in his eyes, he’s only going to weasel his way through this. He’s not ready to beat him man to man. Rehwoldt says being in Nemeth’s spot is Alexander’s goal but he hasn’t gotten back there. He asks him bluntly what’s gone wrong.

Alexander loses his cool. He stands up and turns his chair around backwards and sits back down. He raises his voice and says Nemeth says he respects him for being a champion, but claims no one knows his name. He mentions AJ Styles, Sting and others and says he’s above them all as a longer reigning champion.

He says there’s nothing wrong with him or the way he’s been doing things. He says like many before him, Nemeth benefitted from being a shiny new toy that came into the company and got fast-tracked to opportunities others, like him, spent years earning.

He vows he will take back the title that rightfully belongs to him at Emergence. He says TNA will be better for it. Nemeth loses his cool and stands up and turns his chair around and sits back down. He raises his voice and explains why this business is a “what have you done for me lately” business. His past doesn’t mean anything.

He got to the title because of what he did lately in 2024. He says you don’t get to talk about what you used to do, like being the longest reigning TNA World Champion in the past. He says it’s what have you done for me lately. What Alexander has done lately is try to take shortcuts and take cheap shots.

Nemeth says he’ll prove he can go all night long. Alexander says he has already proven it. He says an Iron Man match is something he’s done before. Nemeth says it’s what have you done for me lately. They each stand up and raise their voice again as they argue. Alexander says lately is tomorrow when he takes the title and takes TNA to new levels.

He says he earned it and spilled more blood in that ring than Nemeth ever has. He says he’ll prove it. He says he is the “f**king standard.” Nemeth says he wants to believe him, but he’s staring him in the eyes right now and he doesn’t believe that. He says the TNA title stays with him for “f**king ever.” He says he’ll fight to the death for it.

Not eventually. Not once in a while. Not talking about history books and this being his kind of match. Every night. That’s why he’s the champion and Alexander is not. Alexander just smiles and walks off. The show ends on that note. That was unbelievably good. Like really, really powerfully good stuff. Kudos to Nemeth and Alexander. Thanks for joining us, and don’t forget to follow me on Twitter/X.

TNA Impact live results: Nic Nemeth vs. Josh Alexander World title match

Posted on by Matt Boone

After sending former X-Division Champion Mustafa Ali packing in his first title defense, TNA World Champion Nic Nemeth will look to go two-for-two when he battles former champion Josh Alexander on tonight’s edition of Impact.

The two went toe-to-toe in the Slammiversary six-way that saw Nemeth win his first TNA title. Alexander decided to take a different path during the match when it comes to the fans and is now hell-bent on regaining the gold.

The show will feature two more three-way qualifiers for an Ultimate X match at this month’s Emergence as NXT’s Riley Osborne will battle Chris Bey and John Skyler in one while in the other, Ace Austin faces Rich Swann and Jason Hotch.

In separate promos, former champion Steve Maclin will be on hand as will current Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace.

In what should be a hard-hitting bout, former champion Moose will take on Mike Santana while former Knockouts Champion Tasha Steelz will face Gisele Shaw.

**********
Riley Osborne defeated Chris Bey and John Skyler to qualify for Ultimate X at TNA Emergence

Kicking off this week’s show is the first of two scheduled Ultimate X Qualifying matches. One-half of the TNA World Tag-Team Champions ABC, Chris Bey, makes his way out to the ring first.

John Skyler comes out next with a microphone in-hand telling the local Tampa, FL. crowd, “Shut up…shut up! Even though you two-timing Tampa twerps can tell …” he begins, as he walks-and-talks his way to the ring boasting how he’s going to beat Chris Bey “and this other ham sandwich.” He vows to qualify tonight and bring down the Ultimate X “by these good hands!”

WWE NXT Superstar Riley Osborne of Chase U comes out to a big pop from the fans inside the Florida State Fairgrounds. Fans break out into a “Chase U! Chase U!” chant as he settles inside the squared circle for the opening contest.

Before the bell sounds, “The King of TNA” Frankie Kazarian makes his way out. On commentary, Tom Hannifan questions why he’s out here for this match. He finds out soon after, as Kaz takes a seat alongside he and Matthew Rehwoldt for special guest commentary. The bell sounds and the first match of the evening gets underway.

Bey knocks Skyler out to the floor and splashes on him at ringside to start things off. Kaz says he’s out for commentary because Santino Marella won’t give him a title opportunity and the X-Division is what it is because of him. He says he’ll immediately win the X-Division title and use option C to become world champion, since Santino won’t let him do it the normal way.

Meanwhile, Skyler takes over on offense in the ring, with Osborne down in one corner while he works over Bey in the other. Bey starts to fight back and peppers Skyler with some chops. Skyler hits a belly-to-belly suplex to Bey, who crashes onto Osborne on the way down.

With Bey still out on the floor, Skyler locks Osborne in a Boston crab in the center of the ring. Bey eventually makes it back in to break things up. Bey hits a slingshot DDT on Skyler, but is then tossed over the top and out to the floor by Osborne. The Chase U student follows up with a big flipping dive over the top and onto Bey.

Back in the ring, he hits a falcon arrow on Skyler for a two-count. As this is going on, Kaz talks to Rehwoldt about “oiling up and smelling good” for his special commentary appearance this evening. Hannifan asks what he did to deserve this. Skyler gets caught with a slingshot cutter and then Bey and hits The Art of Finesse on Osborne.

Skyler sends Bey into the post before he can make the cover. He tries stealing the pin, but Osborne reverses it for a two-count of his own. Osborne heads to the top-rope and hits a picture-perfect shooting star press on Skyler to qualify for Ultimate X at TNA Emergence 2024. Good opener.

Nic Nemeth Talks TNA World Title Defense Later Tonight

“Earlier today” footage of TNA World Champion Nic Nemeth arriving to the building. He is approached for an interview in the parking lot and asked about his title defense against Josh Alexander later this evening. Nemeth says Alexander isn’t the same guy who had record-long title reigns for TNA in the past.

He made the mistake of mentioning Nemeth’s family and tonight Nemeth will stand over Alexander and prove to him “how damn good” he is. After this, the show heads into the first commercial break of the evening.

Santino Marella Leverages Matt Cardona Into Contract For PCO Fight

The show returns with Santino Marella in the ring. The TNA Wrestling authority figure talks about what Matt Cardona did last week, crashing PCO and Steph De Lander’s honeymoon last week and brutally assaulting “The French-Canadian Frankenstein.”

Marella then calls out Cardona and “The Indy God” makes his way out to the ring. He talks about all that Cardona did, including hurting his own jaw, which he said was sore for three days. He says despite all that, he has a proposition to make him.

Cardona tells Marella they go back and he’s acting like he doesn’t know about him. He says he’s “The Death Match King” and “The Indy God.” He says he doesn’t work for Santino, TNA or anybody else. Cardona talks about what he did at the wedding and honeymoon of De Lander and PCO. Santino laughs and says Cardona just gave him evidence on-camera.

He can have him prosecuted, or he can listen to Santino’s proposition. He says he’ll “prostitute, I mean prosecute” Cardona and send him to jail if he doesn’t agree to sign a contract right now. Cardona clarifies, “You’re saying if I wrestle PCO in Tampa, I don’t have to go to jail?” Santino says, “Yeah.”

Cardona takes the contract from Santino and says he’ll have his people look it over and if everything is good, he’ll fight PCO in Tampa. “You can trust me, Santino,” he says, before walking off. Santino seems to think that’s as good as signed. Hmmm.

Steve Maclin Sends A Message To Eric Young

Backstage, Frankie Kazarian boasts showing next week how he’s going to get to the TNA World Championship by way of the X-Division Championship. Up walks Eric Young for a verbal back-and-forth with him. Steve Maclin also enters the picture and the three exchange cold stares.

We then shoot to a video package with Maclin, who vows to work his way back to the TNA World Championship. He’ll stack bodies one-by-one, naming many of the top stars in TNA as those he’ll go through if necessary. He mentions Young as someone he has never faced. He says he’s gonna change that.

He says Young wants to be the face and heartbeat of TNA. Maclin says he’s the new blood that is being pumped through the veins and heart of TNA. He tells Young he’ll be the first body he stacks and then it’s “tag’m, bag’m and mayhem for all.”

Gisele Shaw defeated Tasha Steelz

TNA Wrestling’s Cardi B (“Okkurrrr!”) makes her way out to the ring for our second match of the evening on this week’s show. We see highlights of her cheating to defeat Gisele Shaw on a recent episode of TNA Xplosion, which is why tonight’s match features multiple referees.

Shaw’s theme hits next and “The Quintessential Diva” makes her way out and heads to the ring for her fair shake against Steelz. As soon as the bell sounds, Shaw charges across the ring and blasts Steelz in the bread-basket.

She charges across the ring and blasts Steelz as she climbs to the middle rope with a big kick. She slams her for a two-count. Steelz heads out to the floor, so Shaw chases after her. Steelz catches her coming out and slams her into the steel ring steps.

Under the ring, Steelz finds a giant steel wrench. One of the three referees on the floor takes it from her. Essentially a spot to show that there’s multiple officials involved in this one. Back in the ring, Steelz hits a shining wizard type of kick for a two-count.

Shaw hits a big spinebuster off the ropes and stalks Steelz as she gets up. She hits a shock-and-awe for a close two-count. Shaw goes for a big running knee out of the corner, but Steelz sees it coming and counters with a nasty jaw-breaker for a two-count of her own.

We see Steelz literally “tuning up the band” ala Shawn Michaels in the corner, but when she goes for the follow-up super kick, Shaw blocks it. Shaw goes for a cradle shock, but Steelz counters.

She tries leveraging a pin with her feet on the ropes, but another one of the outside-of-the-ring officials pushes her feet off before she can get the three-count. Steelz goes to bicker at him and Shaw takes over, this time connecting with her running knee finisher for the pinfall victory.

Moose defeated Mike Santana

Backstage, The System, still wearing their early WWE-days Mark Henry-style red, white and blue jacket and pants outfits, are shown standing over Mike Santana after beating him down and knocking him out.

A bunch of TNA officials rush to the scene to tend to Santana as The System taunts him, “Woof! Woof!”, as they walk off. The show heads to another commercial break.

When the show returns, The System and JDC are introduced. They make their way out to the ring in their Mark Henry 1996 WWE gear as the commentators bring fans up to speed on their ongoing issues with the aforementioned Santana and Moose’s scheduled match against him tonight.

Alisha Edwards begins. “Do you wanna know something?!” She tells the “stupid fans” of Tampa that they may have expected Moose vs. Santana, Santana is not medically cleared. She says that means it looks like Moose has the night off.

The lights in the building go out and the spotlight begins swirling as the camera shot changes to show Santana arguing with a doctor, pushing past him defiantly to head to the ring and fight regardless. Santana hits the ring and brawls his way through The System.

A referee comes in and calls for the bell and his match with Moose is on. Moose gets the early offensive jump, attacking Santana from behind to get things off-and-running in his favor. He whips Santana into the corner hard and focuses his early attack on Santana’s back.

Moose slides Santana under the bottom rope over the ring apron and blasts him with some standing elbows from the floor. 12-to-6 elbows, by the way, which are legal across the board in all combat sports now-a-days! Santana fights back but Moose chokeslams him onto the apron from the floor.

On that note, the show heads into a mid-match commercial break as Moose continues to dominate the offense, now focusing his attack on the right arm of Santana to take away his Spin The Block-finisher.

When the show returns, Moose is shown distracting the ref in the ring while The System slam Santana shoulder-first into the steel ring post. Moose seems content with a count-out victory, taunting the crowd on one side of the ring as the referee reaches all the way to the count of nine on the other side.

Santana ultimately returns to the ring, where Moose delivers more punishment, stomping away at him in the corner. He ties up the ref again, and now some more members of The System reach under the ropes to choke and further attack Santana.

A defiant Santana, from his knees, waves Moose on in Rock “just bring it” fashion. Moose open-hand slams Santana, which only angers him. Hannifan talks about Santana’s rough life as he explodes back to his feet in an offensive rage.

He takes it to the former TNA World Champion with rights and lefts and then runs into him with his own injured right arm. Santana walks into a big boot from Moose. Moose goes for a chokeslam, but Santana counters and rolls Moose up for a close two-count.

Santana hits the Rolling Buck-50 to shift the offensive momentum in his favor. He follows up with a running cannonball splash to Moose in the corner for a two-count. Santana slaps his own hurt arm, calling for Spin The Block. He hits it but can’t follow-up with a quick cover.

Instead, both guys are down as fans chant “TNA! TNA!” Santana eventually crawls for the cover, but Moose rolls away. Santana rolls Moose back in the ring. Moose yanks Santana’s arm down over the top-rope before Santana re-enters himself. He follows up with an enormous spear for the win. Really good match.

Joe Hendry’s Name Wasn’t Said, But He Appears With An Announcement

After the match, Moose and The System appear to be up to no good, as they close in on Mike Santana, who is still down and out after a very hard fought effort. Although no one said his name, Joe Hendry appeared.

Hendry runs down to the ring to a rock star reception from the Tampa crowd. He has a steel chair in-hand and clears the ring of Moose and the rest of The System. He gets on the mic and tells The System they’ve made enemies out of Santana and himself.

He reminds them that there are strength in numbers. He tells Moose and JDC they will be squaring off against two more enemies of The System next week. The Hardy Boys — Matt Hardy and Jeff Hardy.

Spitfire Sends A Message To Malisha

Backstage in the stairwell, The Spitfire duo of Jody Threat and Dani Luna dare Malisha to try them again. They say for them it’s do-or-die and vow that they will recapture the TNA Knockouts Tag-Team Championships. Nic Nemeth vs. Josh Alexander is hyped for tonight’s main event with footage and the graphic for the bout flashes across the screen before the show heads into another commercial break.

Jordynne Grace Responds To Ash By Elegance’s Attack

We return to footage of Ash By Elegance’s pink kendo stick attack of Jordynne Grace on last week’s show. We then shoot to new footage of “The Juggernaut” reacting to what happened. She tells Ash if she wants to fight, she’s damn sure going to get one.

Jason Hotch defeated Ace Austin and Rich Swann to qualify for Ultimate X at TNA Emergence

ABC’s Ace Austin makes his way out to the ring for our next match of the evening, which is the second of two advertised Ultimate X Qualifiers for the show. He will try to do what Chris Bey failed to do in the opener.

Rich Swann makes his way out accompanied by fellow First Class member AJ Francis. The two will be competing with Jason Hotch, already in the ring. The bell sounds and we hear Francis join Hannifan and Rehwoldt on special guest commentary for this one.

Austin gets Hotch out of the ring almost immediately after the match begins. Swann takes control of the offense by attacking Austin from behind after that. Francis is shown telling Hannifan he should be clapping for what Swann did.

Hotch throws Swann to the floor and hits a leaping neck-breaker to Austin for a two-count. Hotch stomps away at Austin and drops down for some ground and pound, but is blasted with a big kick from behind by Swann, who settles back into the offensive driver’s seat.

“I’m not on an island, but I’m very relevant,” says Francis on commentary while boasting about making titles in TNA relevant again, such as the TNA Digital Media and International Heavyweight Wrestling Championships.

Austin hits a big spot on Hotch for a close two-count. Swann breaks it up and Austin rolls him up for a two-count as well. Austin turns Swann inside-out with a big shot and covers him for a close pin attempt. Austin calls for his finisher, but Hotch grabs his boot from ringside to prevent it.

Swann hits a big dive over the top-rope onto both guys on the floor for a big “TNA! TNA!” chant. Hotch knocks Swann into Francis to shut him up for all of two seconds on commentary. Austin goes to work on Hotch, but is then attacked from behind by Francis, which is perfectly legal in this match.

Chris Bey runs out from nowhere and dives over the top-rope to take out Francis. Austin sets up for his finisher again, but he is distracted by John Skyler, who runs out after coming up short in the other Ultimate X Qualifier earlier tonight.

This leads to Hotch scoring a huge upset pin over Austin to qualify for Ultimate X at TNA Emergence. He and Skyler head to the back together as the show heads into another commercial break.

Matt Cardona Signs Contract With One Condition

When the show returns, Matt Cardona convinces Santino Marella to have a six-person mixed match in Tampa first involving himself and PCO, and then a one-on-one bout between the two at TNA Emergence. Cardona again pretends that this is the plan, which Santino is all smiles and happy about.

Nic Nemeth (c) and Josh Alexander fight to a 30-minute time-limit draw

It’s main event time!

The stage is set for the highly-anticipated TNA World Championship clash between reigning champion, “The Danger Zone” Nic Nemeth and former champion, “The Walking Weapon” Josh Alexander.

Alexander heads to the ring to a ton of boos, fresh off of his heel turn at the TNA Slammiversary 2024 pay-per-view last month. His opponent, the reigning and defending champion, Nemeth, heads out next to a big pop from the Tampa crowd.

Following the final formal pre-match ring introductions for the champion and the challenger, this main event title tilt gets officially off-and-running. Nemeth starts off hot, but it isn’t long before “The Walking Weapon” takes over.

The action spills out to the floor, where Alexander slams Nemeth into the steps and the barricade. He taunts fans inside the Impact Zone in the Florida State Fairgrounds as the show heads into a mid-match commercial break as the match continues.

When the show returns, Alexander is shown raking at the eyes of Nemeth over the ropes. The fans boo and the referee gets on his case, but he milks every drop of the five seconds allotted for dastardly deeds.

Nemeth begins fighting from underneath with shots to the bread-basket of “The Walking Weapon,” but Alexander reverses Nemeth face-first into the top turnbuckle to shift the momentum right back into his favor. Soon after this, the show heads into another mid-match advertising time out.

This time when the show returns, Nemeth slowly begins to take over the control of the action. He hits ten elbow drops to the chest of a grounded Alexander. The Jerry Lawler-special. He hits a Fame-Asser for a close two-count. He sets Alexander up for the Danger Zone, but Alexander avoids it.

Alexander looks for the C4, but Nemeth avoids it. Alexander comes off the top-rope with a big knee to Nemeth for a close two-count of his own. Moments later, the show heads into a third mid-match commercial break as the championship main event of the evening continues.

When the show returns, Alexander is seen beating down Nemeth on the floor at ringside. He sends Nemeth shoulder-first into the steel ring steps with a vicious authority. The fans react with a loud “You suck! You suck!” chant. The referee tries to get the match back in the ring.

Alexander rolls Nemeth into the squared circle and stands over his prone body as the boos and groans from the Tampa crowd grows. He beats on a lifeless Nemeth some more and then turns him upside down and inside-out for an over-the-knee back-breaker for another close two-count.

“The Walking Weapon” sits Nemeth on the top-rope backwards. He heads up after him for a belly-to-back super-plex, but Nemeth rolls on top of him as they come crashing down to the mat with a ton of momentum. Nemeth gets a two-count. He pops up and hits his Danger Zone finisher, but is down next to Alexander upon connecting.

He takes several seconds and looks to roll for the cover, but as he does, Alexander rolls out to the floor. Same exact spot used in one of the other featured matches tonight with Moose doing the same with Mike Santana. Booking 101, guys!

Nemeth heads out to the floor and gets Alexander back inside the squared circle after connecting with a DDT on the floor. He picks Alexander up with designs on another Danger Zone, but Alexander fights back and sends Nemeth into the ring post shoulder-first. And again on the other side of the ring.

Alexander hoists Nemeth up and runs him across the ring, lawn-darting him into the middle turnbuckle for Snake Eyes. Nemeth is down and out as Alexander stalks him. He brings Nemeth to the middle of the ring looking for the C4 Spike, but Nemeth comes to life and connects with Danger Zone.

He goes for the cover, but the timekeeper calls for the bell before the referee makes his count. The ring announcer informs us that the 30-minute time-limit has expired. Therefore, still TNA World Champion is Nic Nemeth. The fans boo. Nemeth isn’t happy.

After the match, the fans chant for five more minutes. Nemeth wants it, too. The ref leaves it up to Alexander, who gets to his feet and looks nervous. He drops down and exits the ring. Nemeth stops him and brings him back in. Alexander low-blows Nemeth. He puts his hands on the female official for gasps from the commentators and fans alike.

He takes Nemeth’s title and heads into the ring. He gets in Nemeth’s face and tells him “This belongs to me!” The show goes off the air on that note. Thanks for joining us, and don’t forget to follow me on Twitter/X.

Next Week:
* Frankie Kazarian vs. KUSHIDA vs. Hammerstone (Ultimate X Qualifier)
* Laredo Kid vs. Bhupinder Gujjar vs. Jai Vidal (Ultimate X Qualifier)
* Alisha Edwards vs. Rosemary
* Charlie Dempsey vs. Jonathan Gresham
* Jeff Hardy & Matt Hardy vs. Moose & JDC

Daily Update: John Cena, Dax Harwood, Mike Santana

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Daily Update

Latest News

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

*A detailed look at the  SummerSlam show, post-SummerSlam direction, thoughts on key matches,  business numbers, a record set that WWE fans and AEW haters seem to have missed, the press conference as well as a major note on the 2025 SummerSlam show.
*A look at TKO business, why the stock price rose, breaking down different categories, how much debt does the company have, the lawsuit settlement, the next negotiations and why WWE ticket prices are about to rise.
*More notes on the  move from USA to CW for NXT, why the second show will likely be loaded up, and how the television situation for both the WWE shows and announcing teams will be changing in the fall, and again in the winter.
*Early notes on the Olympics in wrestling
*Update on All In’s card and business notes
*A drug testing scandal involving the U.S. and USADA
*Full  coverage of the G-1 tournament an the best matches
*Steve McMichael goes into the NFL Hall of Fame and a look at  his life and his career
*Updates on the Janel Grant claim against Vince McMahon, a court ruling as well as Dr. Carlon Colker fires back at Grant.
*The most detailed look at the ratings for the past week.  The segment-by-segment, comparisons with last week and a lot of insight into where the major trouble spot is for AEW right now.
*MJF vs. Templario at Arena Mexico as well as one of the best matches of the year in Mexico on that show
*The biggest stipulation match of the year in Mexico
*What trivia distinction in Mexico does MJF have
*Former TNA champion wins major title in Mexico
*Last build for TripleMania including Dorian Roldan saying that they are going for a five star match with an undercard bout.
*Update on El Hijo del Vikingo.
*Stardom star out for a year
*NOAH’s debut 24 years ago last week
*Star of the N-1 tournament
*Jeff Cobb notes NJPW star turned down a major WWE offer
*Giulia’s final stuff in Japan
*A look back at Beauregarde, a 60s and early 70s star
*The Bruno Sammartino Cup in Italy
*Lots of TNA television notes for the next several weeks
*Tony Khan talks media rights
*Issues with WBD
*Lots more on Pentagon & Fenix leaving AEW
*AEW star gets television acting gig
*Advance ticket sales for upcoming WWE & AEW shows
*International TV ratings including AEW has unusually big numbers in U.K. and Canada
*Dana White and Richard Boulaware and the origination of the term  Black Gordman High School
*UFC announces a loaded show
*Conor McGregor flips out on Donald Trump
*UFC star subject to a drive by
*PFL announces a PPV show
*The latest boxing and pro wrestling PV numbers
*WWE & AEW July ratings and attendance and how things are moving
*Son of former WWE star signs NIIL deal and will continue college
*Update on Brock Lesnar

This Week’s Wresting Observer Newsletter Back Issue

Tuesday Update

WWE

AEW & Other Wrestling

  • Bryan Danielson spoke to Kerrang about the 10 songs that have changed his life.
  • AEW’s X account has now surpassed one million followers.
  • Dax Harwood reflected on this 20-year anniversary in the pro wrestling business: “Today, 20 years ago, I wrestled my very first professional wrestling match. Friday the 13th, 2004. I’m trying to wrap my mind around it. 20 years?! I remember as a kid watching Bret Hart win the 1993 King of the Ring. I told my mom, I wanted to be a wrestler when I grew up. I was obsessed. I remember as a kid, walking to my friend’s house, passing a long stretch of bushes, and high fiving every leaf on the way, as if they were each a fan of mine, hoping one day that amount of people would love me. I remember as a kid, every single night, praying that God would allow me to become “a WWF, WCW, or ECW champion”. I remember as a kid having over 500 posters hanging on my walls and ceiling of all my favorite wrestlers in hopes of one day having a poster of my own. And it’s all lead to this. 20 years.”
  • Thunder Rosa showed appreciation for Dustin Rhodes: “I love you @dustinrhodes. You had been my ride or die since I started in @AEW you are the most kindhearted and real mentor I’ve had ever had. I’m blessed every day to call you a friend.”
  • Jesse Ventura talked to NewsNation on his current thoughts on the upcoming US elections.
  • An Opera Cup match between Alex Kane and Bad Dude Tito has been added to MLW Summer of the Beasts on August 29.
  • Mike Santana paid tribute to Homicide on X after the two faced off two weeks ago: “This one meant a lot to me for many reasons. Homicide has been a true constant in my career going all the way back to my beginnings in wrestling. 2 weeks ago, I got to fight with him for the last time in his hometown of Brooklyn, NY. For what was a true passing of the torch moment that will be with me forever. This vid is a thank you to him for his contributions to this crazy biz and what he’s done for me and so many others. Cheers to an amazing career. Thanks for trusting me with the throne.”
  • Ella Envy has signed an NWA contract.
  • Maple Leaf Wrestling has started to upload footage from their collection, including an early Bret Hart match from 1984.

Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport XI live results: Shayna Baszler, The Creeds, Charlie Dempsey in action

Posted on by Justin Knipper

Several WWE and NXT stars will be in action as part of tonight’s Bloodsport XI show from Brooklyn, New York.

Shayna Baszler will make her second appearance in the Bloodsport ring as she battles Miyu Yamashita. Baszler won her first outing in April by defeating Masha Slamovich.

Both Julius and Brutus Creed will be in action for the first time in Bloodsport as Julius takes on Matt Makowski while Brutus battles former UFC fighters and former MLW Champion “Filthy” Tom Lawlor.

NXT’s Charlie Dempsey will return for his second Bloodsport outing as he takes on Royce Isaacs.

Other action includes Josh Barnett himself taking on Bad Dude Tito; Mike Santana vs. Homicide in a battle of mentor vs. mentee, the aforementioned Slamovich vs. Jody Threat in a clash of TNA talent; “Speedball” Mike Bailey vs. Akira; Timothy Thatcher vs. AEW/ROH’s Josh Woods; and Brian Johnson vs. Heddi Karaoui.

**********

The atmosphere between this show and the Bloodsport Bushido show in Japan is so vastly different. The Brooklyn crowd was small but enthusiastic and happy to be there; we heard chants for a lot of the wrestlers at the beginning of the show during fighter introductions. Masha Slamovich got a big reaction, as did Mike Santana (ex-LAX). Big “SAN-TAN-A” chant. Homicide came out wearing an awesome Yoshihiro Takayama t-shirt. 

Shayna Baszler grabbed the mic at the end of the introductions and said the following:

“Hold onto your pants and get ready to dance. This is pro wrestling like you’ve never seen before. Pro wrestling the way it was meant to be. This is Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport!”

The fans then started chanting for GCW. Shouldn’t they be chanting for Josh Barnett? 

The ring announcer went over the Bloodsport rules: Fights are won by submission, KO, count-out, disqualification, or ref stoppage. If the wrestlers go out of the ring, the wrestlers must re-enter the ring and the ref will give them to the count of ten to come back in. No biting; no eye-gouging; no hair-pulling; no small joint manipulation (fingers, toes, etc.); no foreign objects; no fighting after the bell. Time limits are 15 minutes with a five minute overtime if necessary. Main event is 20-minute time limit with a five minute overtime if necessary, and the bout will result in a draw if no winner is decided in overtime.

Heddi Karaoui defeated Brian Johsnon via submission

Brian Johnson is from Philadelphia so the Brooklyn crowd booed him. A “F*** the Eagles” chant broke out. The announcer called Johnson a “Catch Can” wrestler. Does he catch actual cans? The crowd was behind Karaoui and chanted his name.

Johnson went for an inverted ankle lock but Karanoui countered it with some llave type submissions. He conked Johnson with a knee that out Johnson on the floor; Johnson came back in and spit in his face. The crowd continued their verbal assault on Philly sports and Karaoui would soon tap Johnson out with inverted crucifix + crossface lock.

The crowd made this match because of how into it they were. Again, the vibes from the previous event to this one, it’s night and day.

Julius Creed defeated Matt Makowski via TKO

“Weapon X” Matt Makowski has fought in Bloodsport before. He’s also fought for PFL. Creed is from WWE NXT and is known for his wrestling background. 

Creed took Makowski down with a single leg off the bat. Later he landed a nice waistlock takedown, but Makowski countered with a triangle attempt until both were back on their feet. Makowski was more comfortable striking compared with Creed, who ate a couple short shots. He’d immediately take Makowski down after a few of those shots. 

Creed landed a back suplex from a pro wrestling power bomb position, which the crowd enjoyed. Makowski later victory rolled into an armlock which was cool. Creed was out of the hold quickly. 

Creed started hammering down shots on Makowski before launching him twice with front suplexes. Makowski returned fire with palm strikes and middle kicks and a running knee. He had Creed in an armbar that Creed cradled out of. 

We then saw our first Rampage Jackson triangle-armbar power bomb spot of the night in this match. Makowski no-sold it and went for a superman punch, but Creed caught him mid-air, dumped him back-first to the mat, then drilled Makowski with a seated lariat before assailing him with strikes until the ref called for the bell. Nice outing for both guys. Creed has the “it factor.” This was good.

Masha Slamovich defeated Jody Threat via TKO

Slamovich came to the ring with the TNA Women’s Tag title and the Jersey Championship Wrestling title. She had a nice fan following here in Brooklyn with the GCW-ites.

Slamovich went for a headlock takeover early on but Threat blocked it and sprawled so deeply; she basically did a split with her sprawl. It looked great.

Veda Scott joined the commentary booth for this and immediately the match felt more important, more professional.

Threat took Slamovich down hard and went for an armbar. Dueling chants broke out with 60% for Masha and 30% for Jody I’d say. They went back and forth for dominant position until Slamovich threw her with a single-arm suplex and followed with an amrbar attempt of her own. We got out second Rampage Jackson triangle armbar power bomb spot after this.

Slamovich went for a hook kick but faked threat out and locked Threat in an armbar instead. Tricky. Threat would counter into a rear naked choke, then took Slamovich to her feet and launched her with a back suplex and followed up with a hard boot to the face. “Was this it?” That was the feeling on the crowd’s mind in this moment. Total peak point. Threat went for another back suplex but Slamovich elbowed out of it, then slapped on a choke sleeper of her on. It was in nice & deeply, too, but Threat powered out of it and got to her feet, though Slamovich seemed to have expected this, because she’d grab Threat’s arm and drill her with a wrist-clutch suplex, an immediate running knee and a few hard elbows before the referee stopped the match. Great match with a cool finish.

Royce Isaacs defeated Charlie Dempsey via submission

This is WWE NXT Charlie Dempsey’s second Bloodsport. Isaacs is a Bloodsport OG. The crowd was way more behind Dempsey than Isaacs throughout this. “Fickle!”

Dempsey made ample use of the crossface to control Isaacs on the ground. Isaacs was the powerhouse of the two and was able to power his way out of many of Dempsey’s techniques. The grappling pace between these two was good, fast, organic.

Dempsey used a an inverted Muta Lock with a cravat; Isaacs countered with a modified ankle lock until Dempsey kicked his way out of the hold. The crowd appreciated the effort and started chanting “BLOOD-SPORT!”

Back on the mat, Dempsey had Isaacs locked in a front facelock until Isaacs countered with a top key lock. Dempsey coutered that and tried a stacking pass to get up to Isaacs face. He went for an armbar but missed it, then tried to bridge out of Isaacs’ side control, but no dice for Dempsey; Isaacs is too strong. Dempsey eventually slid out and locked on a headscissors and went for an armbar until Isaacs locked Dempsey into an upside face lock, almost north-south position.

They’d then pummel for leg and ankle control on the mat. Neither could one up the other. The two started slapping the piss out of each other while the crowd lapped it up. Back on their feet, Dempsey would lay in a big European uppercut and a sequence of barroom strikes—right hands, stomps—but Isaacs refused to lie down, grabbed Dempsey by the neck and threw a number of knees before laying him out with a Falcon Arrow before locking in a front facelock guillotine choke. Dempsey looked close to tapping, but he himself would power out and hoisted Isaacs over his head with a Northern Lights type suplex before cinching in a step-over double-wrist lock. Isaacs got to his feet, but Dempsey used a butterfly suplex and rolled into the same hold, not giving up positional control. He quickly slid into a Fujiwara armbar, grabbing Isaacs’ arm from a different angle. He’d do the same again, moving from Fujiwara armbar to leglock before moving back into an STF hold. Isaacs again muscled out and suplexed Dempsey before locking in a rear naked choke with one hook in. Dempsey looked like he was going out, but he’d then grab Isaacs’ three fingers (which does not fall under illegal joint-manipulation; grabbing one or two fingers would result in DQ) and got back to his feet. Was he going to break out? Nope: Isaacs would then land his signature deadlift full-nelson-to-German suplex and followed with an STF of his own. Dempsey blocked the facelock grip, so Isaacs flipped his hips to the opposite side while keeping the step-over toehold cinched in and grabbed Dempsey in almost what you’d call a Bulldog Choke, just not from the usual angle; Isaacs peeled back at Dempsey’s neck and shoulders and it looked brutal. Dempsey tapped; Isaacs wins!

What a match. This was excellent. The crowd unfortunately booed the finish, so I assume they are more WWE fans than Bloodsport fans. If you follow all of the Bloodsport cards, you know Isaacs has been on a majority of them and always delivers the goods. Again, this was GREAT pro wrestling. I think most fans would agree with me when I say we probably need a rematch. Very nice.

Brutus Creed defeated “Filthy” Tom Lawlor via TKO

F4W’s very own sports broadcast journalist Tom Lawlor came out looking like he’d just gotten off the Lex Express, decked out in USA flag fight shorts, a USA eagle shirt buttoned once at the bottom and tied for good measure, a red, white and blue top-hat, all to the tune of “Coming to America” by James Brown. We love ya, “Filthy.”

Brutus Creed is also from WWE NXT and is brother of Julius who we saw earlier. Brutus is the beefier of the two. The brothers previously held the NXT Tag Team Championship in the past. Could Brutus outdo his brother in his Bloodsport debut?

Brutus went for a double-leg takedown early, but Lawlor blocked it. He’d slap on a front facelock and jump Brutus into his guard, but Brutus deadlifted Lawlor off his neck with a suplex. He’d then start throwing either hammer-fists or what could also have been called a Wahoo McDaniel-esque chop to the head. After a few more, they were clearly hammer-fists. He’s a big, scary boy.

Lawlor went for the guillotine again, and again Brutus slammed him to the mat. Lawlor must have anticipated this, though, because he immediately locked Brutus in a triangle choke and threw some elbows at Brutus’ skull as he was caught prone in the position. Brutus wrestled out of it, but Lawlor’s jiu-jitsu arsenal is endless and he kept catching the younger fellow in holds. Brutus’ strategy against this was, well, brute force, slamming Lawlor agan with a Samoan drop. But again, Lawlor was able to catch Brutus in either an armlock or a crucifix, something to throw Brutus’ gameplan off. Brutus answered the attacks with a torture rack slam. The crowd then started chanting for Brutus. WWE crowd in the house, apparently.

Lawlor slapped Brutus in the ears; he wanted to keep the fight on their feet instead of on the mat, where Brutus was just too powerful.

Brutus then tried–well, actually, I have zero clue what he was attempting. He tried running up the ring post as though there were turnbuckle pads on it in an attempt at doing something “cool,” but Lawlor immediately caught him in a rear naked choke.

Again, Brutus overpowered Lawlor and again slammed him hard to the mat. He’d then go for that running basement lariat that his brother Julius used to beat Matt Makowski earlier on tonight, but Lawlor dodged it, then Brutus in a crucifix from the top and started laying elbows in. He’d roll Brutus over and keep the crucifix locked on as Lawlor continued throwing elbows in this Gary Goodrige UFC 8 style spot. Brutus actually rolled out of this, backwards, cradled Lawlor, then deadlifted him into and teased a cradle suplex, but Lawlor broke free and started peppering Brutus with palm strikes. He’d then chop Brutus down with kicks and knees. Brutus was fading; he tried a waist lock on Lawlor, but Lawlor countered out and threw an Inoki enzuigiri kick to the back of Brutus’ head.

Lawlor was able to throw Brutus with a back suplex and followed that with a low running dropkick to the face of Brutus before unleashing a flurry of strikes before cinching in the double-wrist lock again. Brutus then gator rolled out of it, held onto Lawlor’s waist and crushed him with a standing Doctor Bomb before nailing him with that seated running lariat we talked about before, the same as brother Julius used. This earned him a massive upset victory over Lawlor, another Bloodsport OG. The Creed Brothers are now both undefeated in Bloodsport.

This was really good. These brothers are perfect fits for Bloodsport and I hope to see them show up on more shows down the road.

Homicide defeated Mike Santana via submission

Two hometown heroes fought in this one. Santana entered through the audience and got a huge response. Both got loud chants. This had a bit of a main event feel.

Compared with the pace of the last few matches, this was heavy, methodical, mean. The fans were chanting “both-these-guys!” before anything even really happened.

Santana went for an armbar early on, but Homicide rolled towards the edge of the ring and grabbed the ring apron to try and smother Santana with in order to break the hold. Homicide took a moment outside of the ring to collect himself before re-entering.

Homicide played bully throughout this. Santana wrestled with superior mat technique but Homicide wrestled as the seasoned veteran, the one with even more unexpected tricks up the sleeve. He caught Santana with some hard European uppercuts before Santana blasted Homicide with a slap. Woah.

Santana caught Homicide with a short single-leg dropkick to the face before the two got into a slap-off. Santana would roll Homicide into a back armbreaker before Homicide countered, earning top position but not able to lock in a hold. Santana collected himself on the floor as the ref counted.

Back in the ring, Homicide jumped Santana into guard, but Santana immediately threw a few shots. No one really had the upper hand; it was almost always tit-for-tat.

As they fought near the ring post, it looked as though Homicide snuck in a low blow, but the ref may not have seen it. Santana seemed to be fine, though, because he then back-rolled up to his feet and caught Homicide with a jumping cutter–he “didn’t get all of it,” as the saying goes, but it looked fine in the end. Santana followed up with a huge power bomb before putting Homicide in a choke sleeper, two hooks in. The fans did a “this-is-awesome” chant.

Homicide countered with a guilltione of his own. Santana rocked him with a headbutt. Homicide answered with an exploder suplex, then pulled Santana in for a cutter of his own.

Homicide did a flatliner and then put Santana in an STF for the finish. He then put the ref in his guard. A few more refs came out and broke things up. The fans kept chanting “let-them-fight!” Homicide is your winner. The crowd booed. Homicide was waving it off. I don’t know what happened but it came off awkward.

Josh Barnett defeated Bad Dude Tito via KO

Bad Dude Tito is another longtime Bloodsportsman and this may have been his highest profile bout to date. Barnett came to the ring wearing two spiked gauntlets, ready for both a Bathory gig and/or a fight.

They pummeled hard at the bell and Tito was the one able to win the positional battle, tossing Barnett to the mat and attempting head control as Barnett quickly collected himself and fended the muscled Tito off.

Barnett was able to break free and take Tito to the mat himself, but Tito used a front facelock to flip Barnett onto his back with Tito taking full mount position. He’d transition to armbar but couldn’t lock it in, which allowed Barnett to roll out and take side control with a kesa gatame hold before Tito slipped out, going for a kneebar of his own.

They fought towards the edge of the ring, and Barnett would eventually launch Tito off his chest to the floor. Tito stormed back in the ring with a flying punch, then took him down back into side control and tried attempting a key lock from the top before moving back to mount and raining down hammers.

The two wrestled in this mangled 50/50 guard, struggling for leg control and dominant top position. Barnett hammered down on Tito with strikes. Tito would responded with a deadlift wrist-clutch suplex to the very large Barnett.

Tito then moved to a head-and-arm choke before Barnett reversed the hold into full mount and went to ground-and-pound. He threw hard elbows into Tito’s ribs.

Barnett launched Tito with the classic Billy Robinson double-underhook suplex, but both he and Tito were back on their feet immediately and were throwing hard hands before shredding Tito with a Akira Maeda-style rolling roundhouse kick for the KO. Really good stuff, as per usual. Respect Bad Dude Tito.

Afterwards, from out of nowhere, Former WWE & NJPW superstar MVP appeared in the ring. He said he and Barnett had been friends for a long time, and that MVP started fight training with Barnett back in California 11 years ago. He said he’s now a black belt in BJJ, and his contract with his current company is up soon. MVP said his retirement is coming up and he’d like to fight Josh Barnett before it happens. Barnett said he’d accept a fight with MVP regardless of what company he belonged to, be he a lone ronin warrior or not. Barnett said it was he who made the call to bring MVP in, and so of course he will accept the challenge. “Any time, any place, anywhere,” Barnett said. “This is where The Hurt Business cashes the most checks,” Barnett said of Bloodsport. The crowd chanted for MVP. “You don’t this guy,” Barnett said of MVP. “Just wait until you see the real MVP.”

Timothy Thatcher vs. Josh Woods: double count-out

Thatcher is the first fighter to defeat Josh Barnett at Bloodsport. There were two big chants for him before the match. Both he and Woods are tailor-made for Bloodsport. Woods was one of the very few highlights of late Sinclair-era ROH.

Woods seemed to out-wrestle Thatcher early on and slightly dominated position control. Thatcher was able to lock in a standing armlock as he stretched Woods’ jaw the opposite way. Woods was able to shimmy out of Thatcher’s hold, then pass his seated guard by quickly stacking Thatcher before hopping into top control. Very smooth move.

Thatcher countered out with wristlock control and was able to sit up into an armbar attempt. He used his knee to control Woods’ spine and overall body position. Woods did a good job at defending attacks and was able to escape to standing position.

Back on the mat, Thatcher zoned in on Woods’ ankle/shin/leg area, squeezing it, smashing it, yanking on it. Woods tried rubbing his forearm bone across Thatcher’s nose.

Back on their feet, the two traded hard strikes. Thatcher’s European uppercuts are starch-stiff. Woods later used a snap back suplex and held onto the the waistlock. Thatcher used a beautiful double-wristlock takedown to maneuver out of it. Woods ended up feet-first on the floor, and the two got into wild fisticuffs on the apron. Sloppy and violent and in the best kind of way.

The fell to the floor once again just moments later. Fans chanted “BLOOD-SPORT!” Back in the ring, they traded more hard strikes. Woods caught Thatcher with a big hammer chop; Thatcher responded with an Inoki enzuigiri to the head.

Woods locked in a rear naked choke close to the edge of the ring, but again they both fell to the floor. Woods reentered, but Thatcher tried dragging Woods back into the ring. Thatcher shouted “Get back into the ring!” and the two were back in the ring trading live rounds again. The two then rolled out onto the floor for a fourth time, where they fought to a double count-out which elicited massive boos from the audience. The two had a scuffle before Woods stormed backstage. I thought this was great, but the the crowd insisted on chanting “BULL-SH*T!” for the finish.

Shayna Baszler defeated Miyu Yamashita via TKO

Yamashita came out with her hair dyed red. I’m not sure how recently. This was Baszler’s second Bloodsport appearance. She came to the ring in her BJJ gi and black belt. Fans chanted “this-is-awesome!” before the ring announcements. I suppose the idea of this match is awesome, but yeah. Yamashita had a few “MI-YU” chants sounding before things kicked off.

Baszler bullied Yamashita early on. She fought from top position or standing position and caught Yamashita with a few low kicks. Yamashita was able to get back to her feet and throw a sharp spinning roundhouse kick that missed but startled Baszler. Yamashita did the “bring it on” gesture.” Respect Miyu Yamashita.

Baszler again muscled into top and side position and used her “bully-jitsu” as I call it, a mixture of high-level BJJ techniques mixed in with elbow scrapes across Yamashita’s face, wrist locks and knees to the face as Baszler posed for the crowd.

Yamashita fought off Baszler’s straight ankle lock attempt and went for one of her own. Yamashita has such independence with her legs that she was able to kick her way out of Baszler’s clutch and eventually moved herself to a rear chin-lock from behind.

Baszler often reverted to her Snakepit training and would often manipulate Yamashita’s joints to break holds, in a legal way in the Bloodsport context. Yamashita looked better and better on the ground, but Baszler would often have a hard answer for Yamashita’s ground attacks.

Yamashita threw Baszler with a release back suplex; Baszler answered with a Regal Plex and followed with a knee to the head. Yamashita pleaded with the referee not to stop the match.

“Come on!” Yamashita shouted in Baszler’s face, her Japanese konjō (guts, courage) shining bright.

The two traded hard kicks, each one a bit hotter than the next. Baszler was able to catch Yamashita in an ankle lock from one of the kicks, though. A fan tried making a joke about Kurt Angle which was really loud and fell completely flat on the broadcast. Just . . . why?

Yamashita then parkour’d herself off the ringpost with one leg and threw a kick with the other, catching Baszler right in the face. Huge response from the crowd for that. Yamashita threw another kick, but this time Baszler caught it and spun her around, then caught her in a Satoru Sayama-like tombstone for the TKO victory. Another excellent Bloodsport fight. The two shook hands and the crowd chanted for GCW afterwards.

Baszler got on the mic and said the fans either know her or “they don’t know sh**.” She then said she owed everything in her wrestling career to Josh Barnett because of how he helped her train pro wrestling after MMA. He told her that no one would understand why she was doing this, but that 20 wrestlers on the Bloodsport show know exactly why she’s doing this. She ended saying that if you hear Josh Barnett’s coming to town, be ready because they’re ready to tear it down.

Final Thoughts: This was an excellent pro wrestling show.

Dempsey vs. Isaacs was the highlight for me, but any of the matches could have taken best of the night depending on one’s taste. The overall wrestling quality was high, and fans didn’t try taking over the show until much later into the card, when they were tired.

If you’re already a Bloodsport fan, this is a must-watch. If you’re checking out this one because you’re a WWE fan intrigued by Dempsey, Baszler and the Creed Brothers’ appearances, this is a great starting point, especially since it is starting to feel like Shayna Baszler will be an important cog in this fight machine going forward.

Big Vinny V: TNA Impact review with Joe Hendry vs. Jake Something

Posted on by Vincent Verhei

It’s the Big Vinny V Show reviewing a great episode of TNA Impact and this time, the live stream went off without a hitch.

The build for Slammiversary continued with a pair of qualifying matches for Moose’s six-way World title defense at the PPV: Frankie Kazarian vs. Mike Santana and Joe Hendry vs. Jake Something. Can Hendry make it to the main event scene in TNA and NXT at the same time?

And speaking of NXT, Charlie Dempsey made his presence known in the Impact Zone, making an enemy right away with former NXT wrestler Zachary Wentz.

All this and more on the Big Vinny V Show!

Click Here to Listen or watch below on YouTube

TNA Impact live results: Hardy Family teams up, Slammiversary title match qualifiers

Posted on by Matt Boone

The road to this month’s Slammiversary continues on tonight’s TNA Impact with two final World title qualifying matches and the return to in-ring action for Rebecca Hardy.

Rebecca (fka Reby) will team with husband Matt Hardy to take on The System’s Eddie & Alisha Edwards in a tag team match featuring married couples. This is Rebecca’s first match since August 2016 and the first time she has teamed with Matt since 2012.

In one qualifying match, Mike Santana will face Frankie Kazarian while in the other, Joe Hendry will take on Jake Something. The winners will join Josh Alexander, Steve Maclin and Nic Nemeth in challenging TNA World Champion Moose in a six-way at Slammiversary.

In a pivotal Knockouts division clash, Jodi Threat will face Dani Luna in a 10-minute challenge match between former Knockouts Tag Team Champions.

In an X-Division match, The Rascalz’ Trey Miguel will look to derail the momentum of Leon Slater.

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Trey Miguel and Leon Slater went to a no contest

Things started off this week with one-on-one action, as Trey Miguel of The Rascalz heads to the ring accompanied by Zachary Wentz. His opponent, Leon Slater, is out next. After the bell, the two play to the crowd and lock-up. Miguel isolates the arm of Slater, who arm-drags his way free.

The two trade counters and are up-and-down a lot in the early goings. Slater hits an inverted kick and then a handspring back elbow to pop the crowd. Slater hits another big spot that sends Miguel to the floor. He follows up by sling-shotting himself onto a splash on Miguel at ringside.

Back in the ring, Miguel drags Slater face-first into the turnbuckle by his tights to take over control of the offense, where he slows things down a bit. Wentz chokes Slater over the middle rope as Miguel had the referee tied up and distracted.

Miguel yanks Slater down by his dreads and goes for a moonsault off the middle rope, but Slater gets out of the way. Out of the corner, Slater picks up some speed and hits the ropes to deliver a running big-boot to The Rascalz member for a two-count.

Slater hits a wild cutter for a close two-count of his own moments later. Miguel takes over with an assortment of kicks and a double-stomp for a close pin attempt. Miguel yells “Why won’t you stay down?!” as he picks Slater up. Slater rolls him up for two but then Miguel hits a handspring kick to the face. Slater hits a standing Blue Thunder Bomb after catching Miguel in the corner.

Slater heads to the top-rope, but WWE NXT Superstar Charlie Dempsey of No Quarter Catch Crew runs out and shoves him off the ropes. In comes Wentz, and Dempsey attacks him as well. He even hits a gut-wrench suplex on the referee, before locking Slater in a submission and cranking away on it. A ton of officials rush to the ring to break things up and restore order. Dempsey exits as the crowd is shocked.

“Broken” Matt Hardy & Rebecca Hardy sends a message to The System

Gia Miller knocks on a door and out comes “Broken” Matt Hardy and his wife, Rebecca Hardy, who talk about how The System put their hands on her at Against All Odds. They explain that Rebecca Hardy has been out for 208 fortnights. Eight years. They vow to eat and delete them tonight and then we head to our first commercial break of the evening.

Zachary Wentz challenges Charlie Dempsey

When the show returned, we see Trey Miguel and Zachary Wentz super fired up as they leave the building. They talk directly into the camera about how they refuse to let Charlie Dempsey make a name off of their backs. They said they know where he comes from. He says he knows they don’t let that crap happen over there, so he’s not gonna let it happen over here. He challenges Dempsey to a match for next week.

Jody Threat vs. Dani Luna went to a draw in a 10-minute challenge

Back inside the Impact Zone, the Spitfire theme hits and out together comes Jody Threat and Dani Luna. The commentators remind us that this battle of tag team members was put together by their mentor, Lars Frederickson of Rancid, who insisted they tear each other apart. After the bell, the two immediately get after it.

The two break and raise their hands for a test of strength. Threat slaps on a side head lock, which Luna counters. Luna isolates the arm of threat, who counters and controls the same limb of her Spitfire teammate. Off the ropes, Luna hits a big clothesline for a two-count. Threat takes over and then we are shown footage backstage of Nic Nemeth laid out in a stairwell.

Ryan Nemeth rushes to the scene as the commentators question who is responsible. Back in the ring, we see Luna and Threat staring each other down after a brief offensive stalemate. Fans break out into a “Women’s Wrestling!” chant. Luna bashes the hell out of Threat in the corner and hits a big suplex.

Threat takes over with a big clothesline out of the corner for a two count. The fans break out in a “TNA! TNA!” chant as Threat goes to work on the arm of Luna on the mat. The two knock each other out to the floor. Back inside the ring, the two fight until a ten second countdown hits.

The ten minute challenge has ended in a draw. The crowd chants for five more minutes. They go to oblige, but are immediately attacked by the TNA Knockouts Tag-Team Champions Masha Slamovich and Alisha Edwards, who beat them down and leave them laying.

Mustafa Ali convinces Santino Marella to make Mike Bailey earn a title shot

We shoot to Santino Marella, who is busy but gives a moment of his time to TNA X-Division Champion Mustafa Ali, who is with Campaign Singh and the rest of his crew. He tells Santino he jumped the gun last week and says he shouldn’t have given a title shot to “Speedball” Mike Bailey at Slammiversary. Santino is talked into making Bailey earn the shot next week in a number one contender match. After this, the show heads into another commercial break.

Frankie Kazarian defeated Mike Santana in a Road To Slammiversary qualifying match

The elaborate pre-match video package for the first of two Road To Slammiversary Qualifier matches airs when we return. After that, we return inside the Impact Zone where the two get ready to find out who will join the mix in the TNA World Championship match with Moose at TNA Slammiversary in Montreal.

Out of the gate, Santana takes the early offensive lead. Kazarian ends up taking over after catching him coming back through the ropes with a guillotine leg-drop. He sends him into the guard rail on the floor after that and then the show heads into a mid-match commercial break as the high stakes match continues inside the 2300 Arena.

When we return from the break, we see the two trading wild shots in the middle of the ring, Frye/Takayama hockey-fight style, and then Kazarian nearly beheads Santana with a lariat. Santana fights back out of the corner, catching Kazarian in mid-air and bringing him to the mat with a vengeance. Santana hits a canonball splash on Kazarian in the corner for a two-count.

Kazarian goes for another guillotine leg drop after a wild trade in the ropes, but Santana avoids it. Kazarian hits a wild DDT for a close two-count moments later. Kazarian looks for the chicken wing, but Santana backs into the turnbuckles to break free. Kazarian slaps Santana, Razor Ramon-style, and yells at him to stay down.

Kazarian goes for Fade To Black, but Santana counters out of it. Santana goes for Spin The Block, but Kazarian avoids it. Kazarian hits a back-stabber out of a rolling 450 attempt by Santana. He locks up the chicken wing but is rolled into a pin attempt. Santana hits the rolling Buck-50 for a super close two-count.

Santana calls for another S.T.P., but out comes JDC. He grabs Santana’s leg from the floor. Kazarian rolls out to the floor as well, as Santana hits a diving splash off the ropes. JDC sends Santana face-first into the ring post. Kazarian watches as the referee counts Santana, who is busted open, out. With the win, Kazarian earns one of the final two spots in the Slammiversary title match.

ABC Sends A Message To The System

In a heavily post-produced backstage promo segment, ABC talk about their TNA Tag-Team Championship aspirations. They boast creating their own luck and gloat about their wealth before touting their recent high-profile victories. “They say you can trust The System, but you can trust that ABC is gonna kick your ass!”

AJ Francis To Defend Digital Media Title & Clash With PCO

When we return, we see footage of PCO and Steph De Lander’s date being interrupted by First Class. We shoot to new footage of PCO freaking out afterwards and De Lander awaking in a room with him. We quickly cut to the First Class duo of AJ Francis and Rich Swann, who boast about having the International Heavyweight Championship.

They also continue to taunt PCO by gloating about chokeslamming De Lander through a table. Francis vows he is unafraid to defend his titles anywhere, any time. Santino Marella appears and says he heard is a fighting champion. He says that’s great because next week he’s defending his TNA Digital Media Championship. Win or lose, at TNA Slammiversary, it will be AJ Francis vs. PCO.

“Broken” Matt Hardy & Queen Rebecca Hardy defeated Eddie Edwards & Alisha Edwards

Back inside the 2300 Arena, the theme for the TNA World Tag-Team Champion hits and out comes Eddie Edwards and TNA Knockouts Tag-Team Champions Alisha Edwards. They settle in the ring and their music dies down.

The theme for their opposition hits and out comes BROKEN Matt Hardy and for the first time in eight years, Rebecca Hardy, who is wearing similar entrance attire to BROKEN Matt. Kicking things off for their respective teams are Rebecca and Alisha. Fans chant “Queen Rebecca” as Alisha avoids her and tags right out. Edwards and Hardy come in and start to go at it.

Matt gets Eddie in the corner, and Rebecca pulls at his hair to assist her husband in the butt-kicking. Matt chokes Eddie on the ropes as the crowd comes to life in Philly with another “Queen Rebecca!” chant. Matt holds Eddie and lets Rebecca slap him.

Rebecca comes into the ring and joins Matt in stomping a mudhole in Eddie, who is slumped over in the corner against the turnbuckles on the mat. Matt takes Eddie to the opposing corner and blasts him with a punch. Eddie hits back with a chop of his own that elicits gasps from the crowd. Matt fires up with punches as fans chant “DELETE!” with each that lands.

Eddie ends up dodging Matt as he was charging at him with full steam, resulting in Matt slamming shoulder-first into the steel ring post. The show heads into a mid-match commercial break on that note. When the show returns, it’s still all Eddie dominating Matt until he tags Alisha in for a cheap-shot that backfires.

This leads to Rebecca and Alisha in the ring together for the first time in the match for some very sloppy offense. Matt and Rebecca fire up and hit some double team spots, including the trademark Poety in Motion Hardy Boyz spot.

After Alisha and Eddie take back over, we hear Alisha yelling at Rebecca to watch her husband as she chokes her on the ropes in front of Matt, as he is beaten down by Eddie on the floor. Back in the ring, Eddie holds Rebecca as Alisha blasts her with a kick.

Rebecca finally crawls over and gives Matt the hot-tag. BROKEN Matt comes in and hits the DELETE! turnbuckle spot and a big suplex, before climbing to the top-rope for a big elbow drop. He goes for the cover, but Eddie kicks out at two. Hardy hits a Side Effect after that, but again only gets two.

Brian Myers jumps on the apron and grabs Matt, prompting the referee to eject him from ringside. Hardy goes for a Twist of Fate, but Eddie counters into a Blue Thunder Bomb for a two-count of his own. Eddie exposes his knee by lowering his pad.

Rebecca runs in front of Matt to protect him the way he did for her at Against All Odds. She kicks Eddie low as the ref was busy dealing with Alisha. She hits a Twist of Fate and Matt hits one as well for the victory.

Brian Myers, ABC & Others Approach Santino Marella

Afterwards, we catch up with an angry Brian Myers. ABC is also in the mix and all plead their respective cases to Santino Marella. He yells at them that this is a professional sports place. Things will get handled next week. Myers thanks him for nothing and we head to another commercial break.

Jordynne Grace Issues Open Challenge For Next Week

When the show returns, we see Jordynne Grace with her TNA Knockouts Championship over her shoulder talking directly into the camera. She issues another open challenge for next week to anyone from anywhere. If they think they can take her title, they can try.

Joe Hendry defeated Jake Something in a Road To Slammiversary qualifier

The elaborate pre-match video package for our second of two Road To Slammiversary Qualifier matches airs after the commentators run down some dates for upcoming shows on the TNA Summer Tour.

Once the video wraps up, we return inside the Impact Zone where the two get ready to find out who will join the mix in the final spot in the TNA World Championship match with Moose at TNA Slammiversary in Montreal.

Jake Something heads to the ring first, followed by Joe Hendry, who gets a massive reaction from the Philadelphia crowd. Before the match gets started, the show heads into a quick commercial break. When we return, Hendry cuts a quick promo asking Something if he’s really sure he’s ready for the TNA World Championship.

Hendry leads fans in a “We Believe!” chant and then the bell sounds to get the main event of the show officially off-and-running. Hendry slaps a standing side headlock on Something early on. He sends him into the ropes, leap frogs him and then smashes him with a knee lift. He hoists him up for a stalling suplex after that for a two-count.

Something slaps a side head lock on Hendry from one knee, and uses the control to get back to his feet. He hits the ropes with a full head of steam and drives his massive frame shoulder-first into the bread-basket of the fan-favorite. He taunts the Philly crowd a bit and goes back to work on Hendry with some big shots.

The fight spills out to the floor, where Something sends Hendry into the ring apron. He sits him on the ring apron, backs up and runs at him with a cross-body as he’s sitting on the apron with his back against the ropes. Something rolls Hendry back into the ring and continues to work him over as fans chant “You suck!”

Something hits a big suplex for a two-count. After Hendry kicks out, the show heads into a mid-match commercial break. When the show returns, fans are chanting “Something sucks!” at Something as he controls Hendry with a rear chin-lock on the mat.

Hendry gets back to his feet and blasts Something with some big chops in the corner. Something catches Hendry coming off the ropes with a Michinoku Driver for a close two-count. Fans chant “We Believe!” as Hendry tries to fight from underneath, only for Something to continue to maintain control of the offense.

The commentators talk more about Nic Nemeth being laid out by a mystery attacker backstage earlier in the show as they talk about the other competitors who have qualified for the Slammiversary title tilt. The Philly fans break out in an awesome “Something’s missing!” chant at Something, as he controls Hendry with a rear chin-lock on the mat.

Hendry muscles the sizable Something up in an impressive power display, but Something ends up taking him down in vicious fashion with a power bomb for a close two-count. Hendry kips up soon after but he and Something both hit clotheslines at the same time.

They are both down and out being counted by the referee as fans break out in a loud “This is Awesome!” chant. Hendry hits a cutter and then with one arm, Hendry hits a massive Standing Ovation on Something for the victory. With the win, Hendry earns the final spot in the multiple-person world title match at TNA Slammiversary.

Fans sing along with Joe Hendry’s theme, which cuts off as he grabs a microphone for a quick post-match promo. He says he just became one-step closer to becoming a TNA World Champion. Fans respond with a “We Believe!” chant.

He says this happened because of the fans, who pop. He says he’ll see us all in Montreal, when he becomes the face of TNA. “And don’t you tell me it’s not possible, because anything’s possible…when…you…believe!” His music hits again and the fans sing along.

Who Attacked Nic Nemeth?

The camera cuts to The System, who are pleased with themselves. Moose thanks JDC for taking out Mike Santana and Nic Nemeth. JDC says he didn’t take out Nemeth. Moose says if he didn’t, who did? We see Frankie Kazarian smoking a cigar and laughing. “….marks.” He notices a camera. “Hey…what are you filming?!” That’s how this week’s show goes off the air. Thanks for joining us and don’t forget to follow me on Twitter/X.

Next week:

  • AJ Francis vs. Rhino (TNA Digital Media Title)
  • “Speedball” Mike Bailey vs. KUSHIDA vs. Jonathan Gresham
  • Jordynne Grace vs. TBA (TNA Knockouts Title Open Challenge)
  • Charlie Dempsey vs. Zachary Wentz
  • Tasha Steelz vs. Gisele Shaw

TNA Impact live results: The System visit the Hardy Compound

Posted on by Matt Boone

“Broken” Matt Hardy has been a thorn in The System’s side since he returned to TNA and now, the faction led by TNA World Champion Moose will invade the infamous Hardy Compound on tonight’s TNA Impact.

Hardy invited Moose, Eddie Edwards and Bryan Myers after attack The System executed on Nic & Ryan Nemeth and Joe Hendry.

The Nemeth brothers will be in tag team action against former TNA Tag Team Champions ABC.

After The Rascalz attacked both he and Steve Maclin last week during their match, Mike Santana will take on the team’s Zachary Wentz one-on-one.

Following her surprise appearance at last Sunday’s NXT Battleground during Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace’s challenge of Roxanne Perez, Ash by Elegance will be in action against an opponent to be named.

In what could set up a future Knockouts Tag Team title match, current titleholder Masha Slamovich will take on Marti Belle of The Hex.

In another women’s bout, Dani Luna will battle former Knockouts Champion Tasha Steelz.

**********

The go-home show for TNA Against All Odds kicked off with a video recap of the top moments from last week’s show. This included Frankie Kazarian vs. Nic Nemeth in the main event, which Nemeth won, as welll as the post-match attack from The System. Also shown is the message from “Broken” Matt Hardy that ended the 20th anniversary show last Thursday.

Mike Santana def. Zachary Wentz

The commentators speak of it being a wild week in wrestling, one they vow will end in “wonderful” fashion. With that said, the theme for The Rascalz hit to bring out Zachary Wentz. Wentz headed to the ring accompanied by Trey Miguel for the opening contest.

Mike Santana’s theme hit next, and the crowd popped as he made his way to the ring. As soon as he reached the ringside area, he slid into the ring and immediately went to work on Wentz. The bell rung and the match got off to a hot start. Wentz tried to go to the eyes of Santana, but Santana beat him down and sent him to the floor.

Trey Miguel tried to interfere, leading to Santana chasing him around the ringside area. The loss in focus allows Wentz to hit a top-rope moonsault to Santana on the floor. Back in the ring, Wentz connected with a running Shooting Star for a two-count.

After a few minutes, the crowd rallied Santana into an offensive comeback, which Wentz ultimately cut short before taking over control of the action. Miguel gets in some helpful assists, choking Santana on the ropes from the floor. Santana fights back and stops a shot attempted by Wentz. He told him, “Not tonight, sucka!” before delivering a death valley driver of his own.

The two trade shots in vicious fashion back-and-forth. Wentz hits a headlock DDT (BFT). Steve Maclin hit the ring to stop Trey Miguel from getting involved again. Santana hits Spin The Block for the win out of nowhere seconds later. Santana and Maclin have a stare down afterwards.

Mustafa Ali Interview

A sit-down interview with Mustafa Ali is shown. Ali talks about the forefathers of the X-Division and his path to excellence. He claims to be all about fairness and equal opportunity. He talks about the diverse roster that’s propelling the business forward and inspiring the next generation.

Ali is pressed about some rule-breaking tactics he has used in matches, but stammers through the topic and focuses on some technicalities about his win/loss record. He talks over an attempted question about losing in tag-team action last week.

When some tough questions about “Speedball” Mike Bailey and Trent Seven come up, Ali doesn’t want to answer. His people interject and inform the interviewer that he has surpassed his allotted interview time. After this, the show went into a commercial break.

The System Talk The Hardy Compound

We see The System backstage when we return. Moose is warned by Eddie Edwards about bad things happening at The Hardy Compound. Moose is overly confident. Masha Slamovich approaches Alisha Edwards, who doesn’t want to talk right now. The Hex have words with Slamovich to end the segment.

Marti Belle def. Masha Slamovich

Back inside the Impact Zone, Masha Slamovich’s theme hits to bring her out for the next match of the evening. Her opponent, Marti Belle from The Hex, comes out accompanied by Allysin Kay and then the bell sounded to start this one off.

The two yell off-mic back-and-forth to start things off. They push each other and then a side head lock brings things down to the mat, where Slamovich ends up controlling things. Belle brings it back standing and switches behind one-half of the Knockouts Tag-Team Champions, taking her arm and locking it up.

Kay gets involved at ringside again, choking Slamovich over the ring ropes. Moments later, we see her try and get involved in a pin attempt, but the referee catches it. Seconds later, Belle rolls Slamovich up again, and Kay leans on her for help from ringside and the referee doesn’t see it.

Backstage With Steph De Lander, PCO

Backstage, Steph De Lander says she’s gonna give PCO her response at Against All Odds. First Class walk by loudly and leave. As they do, PCO is shown in the background. We head to another commercial break on that note.

PCO Attacks First Class

When we return from the break, Gia Miller is standing on the entrance ramp. She introduces the First Class duo of AJ Francis and Rich Swann. AJ is asked about defeating Laredo Kid last week to become the new TNA Digital Media Champion. She brings up Swann’s involvement and asks if that taints his victory.

Miller brings up a rose Francis is also holding in his hand. He claims it’s from a fellow admirer backstage. The lights go out. When they come back on, PCO is standing behind First Class. He decks Francis. Swann tried to attack from behind, but PCO no-sold it and decked him as well.

Security rushes out to keep things from escalating. PCO picks up the rose Francis dropped, which the commentators point out was obviously for De Lander. They remind us that De Lander will give PCO her answer at Against All Odds.

Dani Luna def. Tasha Steelz

An Against All Odds promo airs and then we return inside the Impact Zone, where Tasha Steelz makes her way out for the next match of the evening. Three weeks ago she beat Jody Threat, which the commentators remind us about.

After Steelz settled inside the squared circle, the Spitfire entrance tune played. Dani Luna comes out with Jody Threat and the Rancid dude. Luna goes one-on-one with Steelz, and the bell sounds to get it underway.

Luna takes the early offensive lead, hitting a falcon arrow for a close two-count. Steelz takes over from there for several minutes. The commentators, meanwhile, spend the majority of the match focusing on why Lars Frederiksen is relevant on any level.

He knows how to work with a group to succeed on the road is the basic gist. We head to a mid-match commercial break with Steelz in control of the action. Back from the break, Steelz is shown still very much dominating the offense.

Luna hits a big clothesline to shift the offensive momentum in her favor. A drop kick that lands right on the money only helps her momentum grow. She hit a big power bomb for a close two-count. She goes for the Luna Landing, but Steelz rakes the eyes to escape.

Steelz blasts Luna with a big kick. She follows up with a high spot out of the corner for a close near falll attempt. Steelz wraps both of Luna’s arms up in a submission attempt. Luna gets her foot on the bottom rope to escape.

Luna connects with a ricochet blue thunder bomb for a close two-count. She goes for the Luna Landing, but again doesn’t get it. Steelz avoids a cutter by Luna, who counters with a third Luna Landing attempt. This time she gets it for the win.

Joe Hendry Enlists Ace Steel, Will Face Kazarian At Against All Odds

Gia Miller is backstage with Joe Hendry. She brings up the momentum he is riding lately and asks if The System ended it last week. Hendry says all last week taught him is that maybe he still has a thing or two to learn. He says he’s acquired the services of Ace Steel.

In he comes touting the skills of Hendry. Frankie Kazarian enters the picture and takes exception to Steel thinking he has what it takes to teach Hendry how to be a top guy. He says kings aren’t taught, they’re born.

Steel says in his hometown of Chicago, Hendry will take on Kazarian. Kaz agrees but says ‘if you’re gonna hit the king, you better kill the king.’ Joe Hendry vs. Frankie Kazarian is now official for TNA Against All Odds.

The System At The Hardy Compound

We move into the inside of a vehicle, where we see members of The System presumably heading to The Hardy Compound. They talk about how they were invited there as we head into a commercial break before anything happens.

When the show returns, The System are shown out of the car at The Hardy Compound. They see some big artwork and claim they know who did it. They start to say Jeff Hardy’s name but after “Je..” they are cut-off and told “Don’t say it.”

“Broken” Matt Hardy appears on a balcony and introduces Queen Rebecca, the Gothic Baby and others from The Hardy Compound. Moose says he doesn’t give a damn about any of those people. He says he’s glad they’re here because he’s gonna kick his ass in front of them.

Hardy warns Moose not to take another step, because he’s gonna set off a trap-a-booby. This happens, which results in fireworks and the most annoyingly loud ringing sound that increases in loudness as The System are shown covering while fireworks erupt around them.

Brian Myers ends up in a weird room that looks like a rave room for a party of tweakers. He finds an action figure and looks around like he’s on an acid trip as the camera quick cuts to different Starcade neon logos, pinball machines and other junk. He finds another action figure and says, “That’s an upgrade.”

Some weird music, PeroxWhy?Gen, perhaps, plays, as Myers continues to survey the room. A little kid does Hardy’s bizarre war cry, which Hardy echos. Myers is seemingly transported to another location. We hear someone saying he’ll always be Edge’s bitch. Other announcements from Josh Matthews and others throughout his career, including his long losing streak, are overheard.

He is laid out by a plastic skeleton. Hardy’s kids jumps off the ladder with a leg drop on him. Back out to the woods we go, where Eddie Edwards is asking if anyone is out there. A kid approaches him and calls himself Wolfgang. He tells him someone is behind him. He ends up turning into a wolf like Teen Wolf and howling at the moon as the kid yells “Yes! Yes!” and howls as well.

Now we catch up with Alisha Edwards, who walks around a staircase looking at pictures, statues and other crap as intense piano music plays. She makes it to Reby Sky, who is playing the piano with her kid next to her. Alisha calls her home a house of horrors. She thanks her. She tells her to move her stupid kid, or she will. She tells her she’s welcome to try. The kid casts a spell on her and things explode. No, honestly.

Moose is now shown being brave in the woods, demanding “Broken” Matt Hardy show his face. A little kid yanks on his pants from behind. Moose asks the kid if he’s stupid enough to put his hands on him. He tells him if he wants to see his dad, follow him. He does. Moose yells, “Senior Benjamin, where are you?!”

We shoot inside a personal home theater where “Broken” Matt Hardy is shown on a screen talking about Senior Benjamin. Moose walks into another broken down house. He says it is Matt Hardy’s childhood home. He sees art work and says Matt Hardy is one weird dude. Hardy appears behind him and says “Yes!” before slamming him into the wall and knocking him out.

Hardy puts Moose in a wheelchair and runs him like a psycho. We catch back up with Reby Sky, who has Alisha in a guillotine. She cuts the cord and a giant blade — chops her head off? We don’t see, but are led to believe this. Moose is wheeled into a lake of reincarnation. Hardy says it’s June so the water is wonderful. Moose emerges in a football outfit as NFL on NBC music plays. Moose asks Hardy what he has done to him. Hardy says he has reincarnated him to his best version ever. No. 69. He wants him at his best at Against All Odds when he beats him for the title.

Moose says he’s delusional and won’t make it to Against All Odds. He goes to tackle him but a Drone appears. Hardy thanks the drone and then we see The System re-appear in their normal gear at The Hardy Compound entrance gate. They ask each other if what just happened was real. Moose shouts that Matt Hardy is dead tomorrow. Mercifully, we head to another commercial break to end this.

Ash By Elegance def. Jada Stone

Jada Stone is shown making her ring entrance, in progress, when we return. The commentators remind us she was recently in action on TNA Xplosion. We hear the personal ring announcer / concierge for Ash By Elegance. He talks briefly to Stone before demanding she and the referee get out of the ring.

He calls it sacred ground that is about to be graced by beauty personified. He welcomes the gorgeous, stunning and absolutely beautiful Ash By Elegance. Out she comes, fresh off of her appearance NXT Battleground 2024. The commentators talk about that as she heads to the ring.

Rosemary is shown leering in the rafters with a spotlight lit under her as the camera focuses on her, just as Ash and Jada lock-up to start their match off. Ash takes the early lead, throwing Jada in the corner. She does some acrobatic movements and taunts her as we cut back to Rosemary in the rafters.

The action briefly makes it out to the floor, before returning inside the squared circle, where Ash By Elegance remains in control of things throughout. Stone hits a big kick in the corner that decks Ash. She goes for a moonsault, but Ash got the double knees up. She turns Stone inside-out with a clothesline before heading to the top-rope herself. She hits Rarified Air for the pin fall victory.

Jonathan Gresham Addresses Sami Callihan

Jonathan Gresham is shown in a vignette that starts off eerily similar to some of The Hardy Compound fun we just watched. He very briefly sends a “thumbs up / thumbs down” message to Sami Callihan ahead of TNA Against All Odds. We head to another commercial break afterwards.

Jordynne Grace Issues Open Challenge For Against All Odds

Jordynne Grace is shown talking into the camera. She says she is disappointed about losing at NXT Battleground. She says she should have anticipated some interference by Ash By Elegance or others. She says she still made history and she’s still the TNA Knockouts Champion.

She issues an open challenge to anyone in WWE, MLW, AAA, STARDOM or the independent scene. Anyone who thinks they can beat her for the TNA Knockouts Championship, come try and take it. She makes it clear regardless of who it is, nothing can stop ‘The Juggernaut.’

The Nemeth Brothers def. ABC

The commentators run down the lineup for the TNA Against All Odds 2024 pay-per-view at Cicero Stadium in Chicago, Ill. on June 14. We then return inside the Impact Zone, where the ABC theme hits. Out comes Chris Bey and Ace Austin for our advertised tag-team main event.

After they settle in the ring, the lights go down and Nic Nemeth’s theme plays. Out he comes accompanied by “The Hollywood Hunk” Ryan Nemeth. The Nemeth Brothers head to the ring for their first-ever tag-team match. We head to a pre-match commercial.

Ryan Nemeth and Chris Bey kick things off for their respective teams, as the bell sounds to start this one off when the show returns from break. Nemeth slaps a side head lock on Bey and takes the early control. Bey escapes and shoulder blocks him down. He hits a deep arm drag and gloats. Bey calls out “The Show Off.”

Ryan plays to the crowd a bit and ultimately makes the tag. Nic Nemeth comes in and the crowd energy picks up. They get ready to lock up, but Nic drops down for a double leg dive. He gets Bey down and covers him for a quick two-count. Bey fights back and gets the better of Nemeth, so he stops and does the hip-swivel to taunt him.

Ace Austin tags in and picks up where Bey left off, taking it to Nic. The ABC duo settle into a comfortable offensive lead for a few minutes, as Austin grounds Nemeth and starts to focus on his isolated arm. The crowd tries to rally behind Nic, who shows signs of life and begins fighting back.

Austin cuts his comeback attempt short and brings Bey back in. Bey adds to their offensive lead and does some more arrogant taunting of Nic, Ryan and the crowd as we shift gears and head into the final commercial break of the show.

After the show returns from break, Nic is shown being kept isolated on ABC’s half of the ring. Bey continues to go to work on him until missing a big splash in the corner. Ryan takes the hot tag from there and hit the ring with a ton of energy.

The crowd comes alive as Ryan helps establish the offensive lead before tagging Nic back in. Nic gets the Fame-Asser but not all of it. He goes for the follow-up pin attempt, but Bey kicks out at two to keep this one alive. Ryan tags back in and along with Nic, hits some impressive double-team spots on Bey.

The commentators talk about them showing good team work their first time out. Bey and Ryan come off the ropes with shots that land at the same time. They’re both laid out and slow to get to their corners. They do, however, and each make the tag.

It is Ace Austin who takes the offensive lead when the smoke clears after the double tag. Austin blasts Nic with a huge kick that knocks him silly. He falls right on top of him for the cover, but somehow Nic kicks out. All four end up in the ring at the same time. Bey takes out Ryan and joins Ace with a double-team spot on Nic.

A kick-brainbuster combo leads to another pin attempt for the ABC duo, which Ryan breaks up just in time. Ryan tags in and hits a big DDT to Austin. Nic, meanwhile, drops Bey with a well-timed super kick. Fans chant “TNA! TNA!” as all four guys are down and recovering. Bey sends Ryan over the ropes and out to the floor. He leaps over for a splash at ringside.

Nic rolls Austin up, but Austin kicks out. Austin blocks a super kick attempt and takes over with a face-stomp for a close two-count of his own. Bey and Austin go for the 1-2-Sweet, but Ryan holds Ace’s foot from ringside. Ryan helps Nic hit Danger Zone for the pin fall victory.

The Nemeth Brothers head into their title shot at Against All Odds off a victory. Ryan and Nic pose on the ropes in the corner as the commentators plug TNA Against All Odds on Friday, June 14. That’s how this week’s show went off the air. Thanks for joining us and follow me on Twitter/X.

Mike Santana vs. Homicide announced for Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport XI

Posted on by Josh Nason

For the first time, TNA’s Mike Santana will step into the unique ring of Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport as he takes on Homicide for the 11th edition of the unique series.

The show is set for Sunday, July 28th in Brooklyn, New York, and the match is the first announced for the show.

While it will be Santana’s Bloodsport debut, it will be the second go-round for Homicide who lost to Tom Lawlor at the third-such show in 2020.

Along with TNA, Santana has been plying his trade in various indies as of late which includes a heavyweight title run in House of Glory and appearances in PROGRESS, Wrestling Open and others.

The two men have been both partners in LAX years ago in TNA and opponents dating back as far as 2015. The two hooked it up as recently as March which was their first time sharing a ring in five years.

Barnett is preparing for this month’s Bloodsport Bushido in Tokyo, Japan, headlined by himself vs. Jon Moxley.

TNA’s Mike Santana on battling addiction & the letter that changed everything

Posted on by Denise Salcedo

This week saw TNA Wrestling drop a new episode of their series “Immersed” which focused on the return of Mike Santana. However, it goes deeper than a talent simply returning to the promotion as Santana opened up about his battle with addiction. In the episode, Santana talked about his battle with addiction and how he’s getting his life back in order.

Following the release of his episode, Santana spoke with me about his journey to recovery which you can see in full at the bottom of this post.

Santana is no stranger to TNA, having made a name for himself as one half of LAX with former partner Ortiz who won the TNA Tag Team titles four times. The rising duo then signed with AEW in 2019, just as the company was getting its start. Santana and Ortiz were part of Chris Jericho’s Inner Circle stable and throughout their time with AEW, they took part in Stadium Stampedes, Blood & Guts matches, and more.

However, toward the latter period of Santana’s tenure, he got injured and was out from late-June 2022 until his return in August of 2023. But after that return, he only took part in three matches with his last coming on AEW Rampage against Ortiz. It’s been rumored that their real-life friendship came to an end and then after five years with AEW, Santana and AEW parted ways in March of this year.

A month later, Santana made his return to TNA at Rebellion, surprising the crowd as Steve Maclin’s mystery opponent. It was later revealed he had signed with TNA once again.

In our conversation, Santana revealed that the death of his father on January 1st, 2020, is what caused his addiction, explaining that he got the call while he was working with AEW in Daily’s Place and that having to shoot weekly TV from Daily’s Place during the pandemic was a constant reminder that led him to drinking. He said that to this day, he still “hates” the venue and the city because of the unfortunate memories.

“A lot of the things that I dealt with in my life, I kept inside, and I never dealt with (them). And when my dad passed away, it was like, finally the soda bottle that I was shaking exploded,” he said.

After his father’s passing, he took two weeks off and went back on the road. Following the beginning of the pandemic and the eventual move to Daily’s Place for the duration, he started to numb himself to get through the bad memories. He said that it began snowballing and he started numbing himself at home too.

“I couldn’t last more than a day or two without self-medicating because my body was already used to it. And that’s when (I went), ‘Alright, I have a problem.’ Dealing with shame and dealing with the guilt, I didn’t speak about it to anybody. I was able to hide it. And then finally, when I got hurt, I’m home now. And by that point, I was already an addict and there was no way of hiding it anymore. And being out for days on end, disappearing, that’s when I was like, ‘Alright, yeah. It’s an issue,'” he said.

Santana shared that the moment he knew he had hit rock bottom was when his daughter wrote a letter to Santa Claus wishing that her father would stop drinking. As noted in the Immersed episode, the letter his daughter wrote saved his life and what caused him to turn things around, ask for help, and go to rehab.

Watch our full conversation below.

TNA Impact live results: Mike Santana vs. Steve Maclin

Posted on by Matt Boone

After making his debut at April’s Rebellion and picking up a win over former TNA World Champion Steve Maclin, Mike Santana will rematch Maclin on tonight’s episode of Impact.

Former Knockouts title challenger Steph De Lander will be in action as she faces Xia Brookside. Kon will be by Lander’s side which means PCO, an admirer of De Lander and a foe of Kon, may not be far behind.

Former TNA World Champion Sami Callihan will battle the new-look Jonathan Gresham as the latter’s ink-stained macabre run looks to continue.

X-Division Champion Mustafa Ali will prepare for his impending title defense against Trent Seven with a one-on-one match against Leon Slater. The returning Champaign Singh, now known as Campaign Singh, will be in Ali’s corner.

In a battle between partners, ABC’s Ace Austin and Chris Bey will go head-to-head in an attempt to ease their recent strife.

Former TNA World Champion and current Tag Team Champion Eddie Edwards will take on former Digital Media Champion Joe Hendry.

**********

This week’s show kicked off with a look back at The System vs. Matt Hardy and Ryan Nemeth match, and the aftermath, with Santino Marella making the matches for The System at Against All Odds. We also reflect on the X-Division title eliminator between Speedball Mountain partners, setting up Trent Seven vs. Mustafa Ali for the title at Against All Odds.

Chris Bey def. Ace Austin

After that, a shot of Cincinnati, OH. is shown before settling inside the Impact Zone. “Inevitable” Ace Austin is introduced and settles in the ring for the opening match of the evening. His ABC partner Chris Bey made his way out next and the match got underway.

Austin got Bey down to the mat early and controlled him before Bey worked his way back up. Fans chant for both guys with “ABC!” chants as they mixed it up in the early goings. Bey caught Austin with a big shot coming off the ropes, forcing Austin to roll out to the floor to re-group.

After he got back in the ring, Austin fought back, hoisting Bey up, before Bey escaped out the back door and ran Austin into the corner. He tried following in behind him at high speed, but ran into a back elbow for his troubles. Bey fought back and connected with a big drop kick, which shifted the momentum in his favor.

He hit a big back-elbow of his own for a two-count. Bey caught Austin with some knees against the ropes, but Austin answered back and brought Bey down to the mat with authority. Bey sold his back, so Austin focused his attack on it with two big suplexes for back-to-back pin attempts.

On the floor, Bey ran into a big kick from Austin on the ring apron that has him loopy. Austin looked for a big follow-up spot, but Bey had it well-scouted and avoided it. Both guys slowly got back to their feet and traded shots before Austin missed a middle rope kick, resulting in Bey connecting with a spine buster for a close two count.

An Art of Finesse comes up short, before Bey and Austin trade shots. Austin hits a click-click boom before stalking his ABC partner. Bey gets vicious in his own right with a little forearm chivalry. Bey rushed into a big kick from Austin off the middle rope in the corner for another close two.

Austin pulled out the playing card and called for the finish, but Bey had that well-scouted as well and countered with a big shot. He went for the Art of Finesse again but we see another counter. Seconds later, Bey rolled Austin up for the pin fall victory.

Bey tried to help Austin up afterwards, but Austin kept his back turned to him. He ended up turning around and the two shook hands and hugged before Austin held the ropes for Bey. Bey responded by doing the same for him and they left to the back together. After the opener, the show went into the first commercial break of the evening.

Xia Brookside def. Steph De Lander

After the break, Xia Brookside’s theme hit and she made her way out for the second match of the evening. The commentators talk about her getting the best of Ash By Elegance a couple of weeks ago, and footage is shown in split-screen format. The theme for her opponent hit and out came Steph De Lander.

The bell sounded and this one got started with Brookside stomping forward in tune with the claps of the fans inside the Impact Zone. The two locked up and Brookside went behind De Lander with a body lock. De Lander worked her way free and blasted Brookside with a single shot that drops her to both knees.

De Lander hit a big fall away slam for the first pin attempt of the match. She then put the boots to Brookside and whipped her into the corner with authority. She does the same in the opposing corner but runs into a big back elbow from Brookside.

After some more back-and-forth action, De Lander went under the ring for a foreign object, but instead pulled out a foreign wrestler, as PCO emerged. De Lander stared stunned as PCO stood up and caught Brookside in his arms like a baby. Back in the ring, De Lander, still distracted, gets pinned by Brookside.

Once the match wrapped up, De Lander tried explaining to PCO that she didn’t want his help, and that he made her lose her match. He grabs her face and then pulls out a gift that he handed to her in a self-made package that had her name and a heart on it. She accepted it and put it in her top. He smiled.

Jordynne Grace On WWE NXT Recap

Footage is shown of TNA Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace appearing on WWE NXT on USA Network earlier this week to be revealed as the challenger for WWE NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez at NXT Battleground. Her match against Stevie Turner on next week’s NXT on USA show is promoted.

First Class Attacks Laredo Kid

Rich Swann and AJ Francis confront Laredo Kid and faux congratulate him on becoming TNA Digital Media Champion before sucker-punching him and attacking him after Francis demanded a shot at the title. After this wrapped up, the show went into its’ second commercial break.

Kon Challenges Jake Something For Next Week

Backstage, we see a confrontation that Deaner gets in the middle of between Kon and Jake Something. Kon challenged Something to a match for next week and told Something not to listen to Deaner because he did and he regretted it.

Jonathan Gresham def. Sami Callihan

Back inside the Impact Zone, the familiar sounds of Sami Callihan’s theme hit and he came out to the ring for the third match of the evening. Jonathan Gresham headed out next and settled in the ring with his mask on. The bell sounds and the two have a big stare down. Callihan gives him a thumbs down and Gresham tries to bite him.

The two finally lock up after that and Callihan rushed Gresham into the corner. Gresham again attempted to bite Callihan’s arm. Callihan bends at the fingers of Gresham, who slowly pulls Callihan’s hand to his face in an attempt to bite him. Callihan loses his cool at that point and pie-faces him before biting Gresham’s dome himself.

On the floor, Callihan blasted Gresham with a big chop that sent him stumbling away. He blasts him with another one as he is leaning against the ring barricade. Callihan gets incredibly close into the camera and tried talking us into a mid-match break, but while doing so, we get a close-up shot of Gresham strangling him from behind.

After the break, we see Gresham still trying to bite and claw at the eyes of Callihan. The commentators point out the referee wearing a face mask and gloves per orders of Santino Marella, as everyone who has come into contact with Gresham since Under Siege has gotten ill. Callihan hits a pile driver on the hard part of the ring apron to Gresham.

Callihan trades shots with Gresham before hitting a Death Valley Driver for a close two-count. Callihan gives a thumbs up for a Cactus Driver ’97, but Gresham countered out of it. Gresham grabs Callihan while he was on his knees and tries summoning something, but Callihan fights back. Callihan noticed ink all over his hand and gets distracted. Gresham snuck in a low blow while the referee was avoiding getting ill and scored the pin.

Gail Kim Sits Down With Gisele Shaw

Gail Kim’s interview with Gisele Shaw is shown. Shaw talks about getting depressed after coming up short in her Knockouts title opportunity and dealing with injuries. Kim explained to her that starting from scratch is okay, and something you shouldn’t shy away from as long as you know what you’re fighting for.

Kim tells Shaw she can only figure out what that is. She tells her to do this as a Knockout, not the Quintessential Diva, starting next week. Shaw says she trusts Kim and will do exactly that. After this wrapped up, the commentators talked us into another commercial break.

Backstage Interviews With The System & Frankie Kazarian

Upon returning from the break, we see The System backstage. They are interviewed about tonight’s match with Joe Hendry. They say they have bigger things to worry about with Against All Odds coming up. They walk off and Frankie Kazarian walks up demanding the interviewer call him “The King of TNA.” She does, he says “You’re damn right,” and walks off.

Steve Maclin and Mike Santana compete to No Contest

Back inside the Impact Zone, we hear the familiar sounds of Steve Maclin’s entrance tune. He settled in the ring for the next bout of the show, and then Mike Santana’s theme hit. Santana made his way to the ring through the crowd. The bell sounded and the two immediately got things started.

After an intense lock-up, Maclin tries to work on Santana’s arm. He kicked him in the bread basket, shot him into the ropes and blasted him with a back elbow for a quick pin attempt. Santana kicked out and started to take over with some offense of his own after winning a shoulder tackle contest with Maclin.

Santana sent Maclin out to the floor at ringside. He built up momentum for a big suicide dive or splash over the ropes, but Maclin ran around the corner to take away the opportunity. Maclin caught Santana with a big clothesline on the floor before hitting an old Cactus Jack style elbow drop off the apron.

Maclin yelled at fans to “Kiss my ass!” before blasting Santana with a big chop and bringing him back into the ring for a pin attempt. Santana connected with a rolling buck-50 and then sends Maclin face-first into the canvas for another close pin attempt. Maclin fought back but ran into a super kick that sent him to the floor, where this time Santana hit a follow-up dive through the ropes.

On the floor, Maclin fights back and re-enters the ring with a dive of his own. The Rascalz’ Trey Miguel and Zachary Wentz hit the ring out of nowhere shortly after that, attacking both guys and forcing the match to be thrown out. The duo leave Maclin and Santana laying to end the segment.

Backstage With Jody Threat & Dani Luna

The Spitfire duo of Jody Threat and Dani Luna are shown backstage. Luna is told she has a match. They agree to do whatever it takes to get back to the titles. After this wrapped up, the show went into another commercial break.

Mustafa Ali def. Leon Slater

Upon returning from the break, a TNA digital exclusive is shown to explain how the next match of the evening, pitting TNA X-Division Champion Mustafa Ali against Leon Slater. Ali is led to the ring by Champagne Singh. He settled in the ring as the commentators hype his title defense coming up at Against All Odds against Trent Seven.

Out next is his opponent, Leon Slater, who looked to be ready for his big opportunity. The bell got it started and an arrogant Ali immediately strutted around and played to the crowd before extending a handshake of friendship to Slater. Slater slapped the hand away and things got started from there.

Ali established the early offensive lead and then hit Slater with a blatant slap to the face in the corner. He walked into a drop kick moments later, which allowed Slater to take over on offense. He hit a nice Van Gogh-bow to Ali for a two-count.

On the floor, Slater sent Ali into the ropes off the entrance ramp, before he crashed onto the floor a few feet below. Slater hit a diving flip into a splash on Ali off the entrance ramp before the show went into a mid-match commercial break as the action continued.

After returning from the break, it was all Slater in the offensive driver’s seat, taking it to the longtime vet. He hit a beautiful cutter off the ropes and then the action spilled out to the floor. Ali sent Slater back-first into the barricade after getting some distraction help from Champagne Singh.

Back in the ring, the two traded roll-up attempts. Slater hit a big neck-breaker on Ali for a close two-count. Ali fought back and bounced Slater’s head off the ring post inside the ring. Ali followed up with the top-rope 450 splash for the win in a hard-fought battle.

Joe Hendry def. Eddie Edwards

Backstage, we see Moose on a rampage as he looks for “Broken” Matt Hardy. A video package airs to promote next week’s 20-year anniversary show with Jordynne Grace vs. Allysin Kay for the Knockouts title and Laredo Kid vs. AJ Francis for the Digital Media title.

Also scheduled is Gisele Shaw’s return and Speedball Mountain vs. Mustafa Ali & Champagne Singh as well as Kon vs. Jake Something. The commentators then ran down the lineup for TNA Against All Odds on June 14 in Chicago, Ill. They hyped their return to 2300 Arena and the Slammiversary 2024 pay-per-view.

The theme for The System hit and out came Eddie Edwards accompanied by Brian Myers. He settled in the ring and posed on the ropes in the corner as the show went into a pre-match commercial break. Upon returning, Joe Hendry’s catchy tune hits and he settled in the ring to loud “We Believe!” chants.

Hendry cut a quick pre-match promo and then the bell sounded to get the final match of the evening officially off-and-running. “We Believe!” chants again filled the Impact Zone in Cincy as Brian Myers gets on the apron before the two even touch.

Nic and Ryan Nemeth’s theme hits and out come the opponents for Edwards and Myers at Against All Odds. The commentators pointed out how The Nemeth’s refused to allow The System to cheat their way to victory tonight. They remained at ringside as the match got underway.

Hendry took the early offensive lead over Edwards, as the commentators questioned how one can stop Hendry-Mania. Hendry muscled Edwards up and held him for a delayed slam into a pin attempt. As Edwards started to fight back and take over control, focusing on the lower-back of Hendry, the main event cut to a mid-match commercial break.

Upon returning from the break, Edwards is shown yelling “Shut up!” at fans in the Impact Zone attempting to rally behind Hendry. Edwards chops Hendry down to size to kill his attempted offensive comeback. Edwards stops fighting in favor of taunting Hendry and adding insult to injury with wimpy slaps and head-shoves as he tried getting up.

The commentators remind the viewing audience at home that Moose is mysterious in his absence at ringside, as he is still rampaging around the building in search of “Broken” Matt Hardy. Meanwhile, Hendry hit a few back-to-back clotheslines and a fall-away slam to take over control of the action.

Edwards tried re-grouping at ringside with his fellow members of The System, but Hendry was having none of it, as he followed out behind him and continued to keep the pressure on him. He rolled Edwards back into the ring and then muscled him into the corner, following up with shoulder-shots to the stomach.

Hendry hits a Cutter coming off the ropes like a Bulldog-attempt for a close two-count. Fans break out into another “We Believe!” chant in support of Hendry as he continued looking for ways to finish off the larger Edwards. Edwards ran over Hendry with a big clothesline that shifted the momentum back in his favor.

Edwards looked to climb to the top-rope, but Hendry popped up and cut him off. Hendry climbed up after him, but Edwards headbutted him way down to the mat below. Hendry quickly scrambled back up and hoisted Edwards up from the middle rope for a Super-Fall Away Slam. He went for the cover, but only got two.

Eddie sat Hendry on the top turnbuckle and slapped the holy hell out of him, eliciting a collective gasp from the fans inside the Impact Zone. Edwards climbed up and connected with a super-plex, which he follows up with a Tiger Driver. He goes for the immediate cover, but somehow Hendry kicked out at two.

Another loud “We Believe!” chant from the fans brings some much-needed life back to Hendry. Hendry avoided a Boston Knee Party and countered with a Standing Ovation for the pin fall victory in an excellent main event to close out action inside the ring on this week’s show.

Moose Knocks Out “Broken” Matt Hardy To Close Out The Show

Backstage, Moose yells, “Matt, don’t be a coward. I’ve searched this whole building, I know you’re here!” ‘Broken’ Matt Hardy then appeared, claiming to be Moose’s destiny. The two broke out into a brawl, with Hardy yelling “Delete!” while landing some shots.

The TNA Champion got hold of a steel chair and went to work on the bread basket of Hardy. He stuck his head through the steel folding chair and ran him face-first into the garage door with authority. He grabs another chair and baseball swings it at the one around Hardy’s head. He leaves Hardy laid out snoring and walks off to end the show.

That’s how this week’s show went off the air. Thanks for joining us and follow me on Twitter/X.

Next Week:

  • Jordynne Grace vs. Allysin Kay (Knockouts title)
  • Laredo Kid vs. AJ Francis (Digital Media title)
  • Speedball Mountain vs. Mustafa Ali & Champagne Singh
  • Kon vs. Jake Something
  • Gisele Shaw’s return

Mike Santana signs contract with TNA Wrestling

Posted on by Ian Carey

Mike Santana has committed to TNA Wrestling. 

TNA revealed on Wednesday that Santana has signed an official contract with the company. Details on the terms and length of the deal have not been disclosed. 

Santana returned to the promotion on Saturday at Rebellion and defeated Steve Maclin in an impromptu match. He also participated in the TV tapings the following day. His match against Myron Reed from Sunday will air on Thursday’s show on AXS TV. 

“One by one, you all fallen to the nastiest ever,” Santana said in a TNA digital exclusive interview after his Rebellion victory. “The best part about it is that I’ve done it all on my terms. I took my career in my hands, like a man. Look at me now. Back home, back in TNA, and I just put down a former world champion and one of the best this company has to offer. One of the best. What bigger statement do I need to make? What bigger statement do I need to make?”

“I’m here for the top spot,” he continued. “So, everybody watching, everybody that’s sitting high in their tree, everybody that’s sitting comfortably, take a look at me. I’m gonna be real, I’m gonna say it to you now so that there’s no he said, she said.

Santana had been with AEW from 2019 up until his contract expired earlier this year. He later told Chris Van Vliet that he’d been speaking with companies about coming in but was adamant that he didn’t want to be “just another guy on the roster.”

Santana said:

I’ve had some discussions. I’ve been very open with everybody. Right now is just going where I’m going to be able to grow the most. I don’t want to just be another guy on the roster. I already did that. I want to be part of something, I want to do something special. Thankfully, I’ve been smart with money and I’m not hurting and I’m taking my time with things and you know, I just want to have fun. 

When asked about a possible return to TNA, Santana said it was “on the table.” 

Everything is on the table, and they’re doing great. They are they are doing amazing at TNA.

Mike Santana makes surprise return at TNA Rebellion

Posted on by Josh Nason

For the first time since August 2019, Mike Santana is back in TNA Wrestling after both a surprise return and a victory at Saturday’s Rebellion pay-per-view.

Santana picked up a win over former TNA World Champion Steve Maclin in an impromptu bout, getting the win after his Spin The Block spinning clothesline to finish the hard-hitting match.

TNA has yet to formally announce Santana’s signing. News broke this past week that the former AEW wrestler was negotiating a per-date deal.

Maclin was in the ring with what he said was a brand-new contract and while the company met his demands, one of them for a match on the pay-per-view.

That brought out Santino Marella who said another superstar was signed with a new contract and was ready for a match as well. That brought out Santana through the Las Vegas crowd which led to the aforementioned match.

Santana was a four-time TNA Tag Team Champion alongside longtime, and now former, partner Ortiz. As part of the Latin American Exchange (LAX), the two spent the better part of three years in the company from 2017-2019 before departing for AEW. Santana and AEW parted ways earlier this year.

TNA had advertised a “lights out” surprise for the PPV, but since the lights didn’t actually go out for Santana’s intro, it’s unclear if another surprise is coming. 

Mike Santana on free agency: ‘I don’t want to be just another guy on the roster’

Posted on by Ian Carey

In a new interview, Mike Santana opened up about his decision to leave AEW, and not wanting to be “just another guy on the roster.” 

Santana told Chris Van Vliet that he was “just burnt out” around the time he suffered a knee injury in the 2022 Blood & Guts match. The injury kept him on the shelf for almost 14 months but Santana says he had decided to leave AEW before he got hurt. 

He said:

My decision to leave AEW came well before my injury. I got hurt in June of 2022 and at that point, I was just dealing with so much in my life personally and professionally at work, and I was just burnt out. My contract was coming up in September, I believe. And I had already made the decision that I’m not going to re-sign, and I just needed to take a break and deal with the things that I needed to deal with. And yeah, so then the injury happened. So, a lot of that was going on during that time. 

When asked if AEW was interested in re-signing him, Santana responded:

I’m not sure. But I wasn’t really actively pursuing it, the time was coming up. Like I said, it was June when I got hurt. Our contract was up August I think it. And I wasn’t really like actively pursuing [and saying] ‘Oh, are you guys going to re-sign us?’ Because already in my head, I was like, Yeah, I need to get away. I need to take a break. But I’m sure something would have worked out and they probably would have re-signed us. But yeah, man. During that time, it was a very dark time for me.

He later clarified what he was going through at the time. 

Unhappiness personally in my life, outside of wrestling. And then professionally, things weren’t really going good. I was miserable to say the least, I was unhappy. My partnership was falling apart. Things at work just like, a lot of things were just very stagnant. And I’m the type that, I’m a go-getter and I’m very goal-oriented. And again, in this business, I treat it as such. I treat it as a business and if you’re not striving to be at the top and be a champ and grow yourself then what are you doing? And that’s with anything I feel. But I was also dealing with my addiction issues during that time. At that point, they were getting pretty bad. And then the injury, when the injury happened, I remember it happened and laying there in the ring, and I was like, damn, I got hurt, but thank God I got hurt, it was a weird time.

Santana also discussed the breaking up of his team with Ortiz. 

Well, we were together for 10 years, I think. And when you’re together with someone that long, it’s like a married couple. Right? There’s good, there’s bad. And I think, honestly, for the most part, it was like, I think we just grew apart over time. And also our visions for the tag team and its future and, its success, we weren’t on the same page when it came to a lot of those things. And it is what it is everybody has their thoughts. Everybody goes about things differently. But yeah, like I told you, I’m a go-getter. I like to create opportunities for myself, I like, I’m more than willing to fight for our spot. But also, I’m not going to be the only one.”

I wanted more for the tag team. And that was the main thing. And again, it just wasn’t, how do I say it? Our visions just were not the same for the most part. And then that’s when I was like, alright, well this is going to drive me crazy. I refuse to be miserable. So I think I want to start doing more single stuff, start challenging myself as a performer start growing. I’m not one that likes to stay stagnant. And it wasn’t met with a lot of support. And it created like a friction. And I was like, man, you’re my brother. And that for me, it was like, alright, we can’t do this anymore.

He also addressed the team’s free agency in 2019 and what led to them signing with AEW.

Oh, yeah. When our contracts were coming up with TNA there was interest with AEW and WWE. We had spoken to WWE extensively and they made it very hard for us to turn them down. But our thing was, so Cody was the one who hired us right and we had already before anything we had spoken a while back and we had giving Cody our word before, and our word is everything. So by that point, they asked, Hey, have you signed anything? And we’re like, no but we gave our word and we would like to stick to that. 

Santana also revealed that he’s had discussions with WWE but stressed he doesn’t “want to be just another guy on the roster.” 

I’ve had some discussions. I’ve been very open with everybody. Right now is just going where I’m going to be able to grow the most. I don’t want to just be another guy on the roster. I already did that. I want to be part of something, I want to do something special. Thankfully, I’ve been smart with money and I’m not hurting and I’m taking my time with things and you know, I just want to have fun.

He also said a return to TNA Wrestling is not off the table

Everything is on the table, and they’re doing great. They are they are doing amazing at TNA.

Santana released a statement earlier this month regarding his AEW departure. He wrote, “You’ll never know your true potential unless you really put it to work. I’m a big believer in ‘When one door closes, a bigger door opens’, and im so excited for what the future holds for me.”

He announced in February that he is now one year sober as well. 

In the below interview, Santana also discusses his team with Ortiz never winning the AEW World Tag Team Championships, his decision to get sober, and more.  

Mike Santana ‘excited’ for future after AEW departure

Posted on by Joseph Currier

After departing AEW, Mike Santana is excited to see what the future holds.

It was confirmed earlier this week that Santana is no longer with AEW. He had been part of the company’s roster since 2019 but hadn’t wrestled for AEW in nearly five months.

Santana posted a statement to social media on Friday addressing his AEW departure. Writing that he feels “truly blessed and grateful,” Santana said he’s thankful to have been given the opportunity to be part of AEW’s history at the ground level.

“But as you know, there comes a time in life where you have to make decisions and take a bet on yourself,” Santana wrote. “We only get one chance at this life thing and life is about taking risks.”

Santana noted that he’s excited for the future and believes the best is yet to come. His full statement can be read below:

Took a few days to reflect and I can’t tell you how truly blessed and grateful I feel.

It’s been 5 years full of ups and downs, but above all it taught me so much about myself and this business. I’m thankful for the opportunity I was given to be a part of history at the ground level. I can say that I’ll forever be a part of that legacy right at day one.

But as you know, there comes a time in life where you have to make decisions and take a bet on yourself. We only get one chance at this life thing and life is about taking risks. You’ll never know your true potential unless you really put it to work. I’m a big believer in ‘When one door closes, a bigger door opens’, and im so excited for what the future holds for me.

With that being said, I want to thank God and my father for continuing to guide me. My family for their endless support. All the fans who have backed me endlessly no matter what. To Ortiz, for the years. And AEW for the knowledge and opportunity.

I TOLD YOU THE BEST IS YET TO COME!

Santana arrived in AEW with his tag team partner Ortiz at All Out 2019. Before signing with AEW, they were tag team champions for Impact Wrestling.

Santana and Ortiz’s tag team in AEW disbanded after a real-life falling out between the two. They later worked together in AEW as in-ring rivals. Santana’s last match in AEW was a victory against Ortiz on Rampage last October.

Dave Meltzer wrote in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter about Santana departing AEW:

Mike Santana, 33, has left the company. This isn’t a surprise as he hasn’t been happy there in a long time. He was wanting a singles push and it wasn’t materializing, so he just wanted out. He beat Ortiz on 10/25 in a great grudge match on television, and then was never used again.

Santana currently holds the Heavyweight Championship for indie promotion House of Glory Wrestling.

Last month, Santana revealed that he’s reached one year of sobriety.