PCO destroys TNA Digital Media title at The People vs. GCW

PCO destroyed a TNA title at a GCW event.

After winning the kickoff rumble at GCW’s Hammerstein Ballroom return on Sunday, PCO grabbed his TNA Digital Media championship and placed it on a chair. He then picked up a sledgehammer and proceeded to smash the championship multiple times as Emil Jay, GCW’s ring announcer, attempted to calm PCO down.

PCO proceeded to use Jay’s microphone to cut a promo talking about how he sold the most t-shirts out of anyone in TNA another person entered the ring to calm things down. As PCO continued his promo, the live feed cut to a video package, ending the segment. This all took place right as TNA began the main card of their Genesis pay-per-view event in Texas.

PCO last wrestled for TNA at their Center Stage tapings in Atlanta back in December, teaming with Sami Callihan. He has been Digital Media Champion since July 20, when he defeated AJ Francis for the title at Slammiversary. He has been with TNA since 2022 following the inital shutdown of ROH prior to Tony Khan purchasing the company.

AJ Francis wins Digital Media title on TNA Impact

The former Top Dolla has captured his first championship in TNA Wrestling, winning the Digital Media title on Thursday’s Impact.

AJ Francis defeated Laredo Kid on the Thursday, June 6 edition of TNA Impact to win the Digital Media Championship.

Laredo Kid was distracted by Francis’s First Class teammate Rich Swann at ringside, hitting a dive to Swann right before the finish. Francis benefitted from the distraction and hit something resembling a powerbomb to score the pinfall victory:

Laredo Kid had held the Digital Media title since defeating Crazzy Steve for the belt on the Countdown to Rebellion pre-show on April 20, and managed one successful defense of the title before dropping it to Francis.

The title change was taped on May 19.

Francis had two separate stints with WWE as Top Dolla in the Hit Row stable from 2020 to 2021 and again from 2022 to 2023, with both runs ending with him being released from his contract.

Our full report from Thursday’s TNA Impact episode is here. The show was the 20th anniversary edition of Impact.

TNA Rebellion notes: Sami Callihan returns, Shawne Merriman, new champion crowned

Sami Callihan has returned to TNA after several months as a free agent.

The former TNA World Champion made a surprise return during the Knockouts title match between Jordynne Grace and Steph De Lander, helping take out Kon and The Good Hands.

After dispatching them, he turned to De Lander and threw her back into the ring for the awaiting Grace who then finished her off for the successful title defense.

The 36-year-old finished off his last Impact contract in September 2023, ending a six-year run that began in 2017. During his break, Callihan wrestled on the indies 21 times, taking on the likes of actor Paul Walter Hauser at this year’s WrestleCon SuperShow in addition to some MLW dates among them.

TNA did not announce any formal signing as of yet.

His return was one of three on the night, including former TNA World Champion Matt Hardy and former AEW star Mike Santana.

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Among the five championship matches at Rebellion, only one title changed hands and that was on the pre-show.

In a bout for the Digital Media Championship, Laredo Kid upended Crazzy Steve to take the gold: his first in the company.

Kid picked up the win after hitting a top rope Spanish fly, getting the pin afterward.

The victory ends the 98-day run for Steve who had six successful defenses dating back to this past January.

In the other four defenses, TNA World Champion Moose successfully defended his title against Nic Nemeth, Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace defended against Steph De Lander, X-Division Champion Mustafa Ali defended against Jake Something, and Knockouts Tag Team Champions Spitfire (Masha Slamovich & Jody Threat) defended against Decay (Rosemary & Havok).

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Former NFL defensive star and wrestling fan Shawne Merriman got physically involved during Saturday’s show, nailing Joe Hendry.

Merriman was sitting at ringside for the Hendry vs. Rich Swann match when Swann’s teammate AJ Francis was about to hit Hendry with a chain. Merriman got involved as if he was coming to Hendry’s aid but got into the ring and clotheslined him instead, leading to Swann eventually picking up the win.

Merriman made sporadic WWE appearances through the years but told Renee Paquette in a 2021 podcast interview that a deal didn’t happen between the two sides due to issues around his “Lights Out” branding.

Digital Media title match added to TNA Rebellion pre-show

A Digital Media Championship match has been added to Saturday’s TNA Rebellion pre-show. 

TNA revealed Thursday that Crazzy Steve will defend his Digital Media title against Laredo Kid at Countdown to Rebellion set for Saturday, April 20. 

Crazzy Steve defeated Tommy Dreamer to win the Digital Media title at January’s Countdown to Hard to Kill. 

Between the Countdown show and the main card, a total of ten matches and six title bouts are official for Saturday’s Rebellion event. 

Countdown to Rebellion streams for free on YouTube and TNA Plus at 7 p.m. Eastern time on Saturday, while the main card will kick off at 8 p.m. Eastern time on pay-per-view and TNA Plus. 

Here is the Rebellion lineup: 

  • TNA World Champion Moose defends against Nic Nemeth
  • TNA Knockouts World Champion Jordynne Grace defends against Steph De Lander
  • TNA Tag Team Champions The System (Eddie Edwards & Brian Myers) defend against Speedball Mountain (Trent Seven & Mike Bailey)
  • TNA X-Division Champion Mustafa Ali defends against Jake Something
  • Last Man Standing match: Josh Alexander vs. Hammerstone
  • Full Metal Mayhem match: Eric Young vs. Frankie Kazarian
  • Joe Hendry vs. Rich Swann
  • “Lights Out” surprise
  • Countdown to Rebellion: TNA Knockouts Tag Team Champions Spitfire (Jody Threat & Dani Luna) defend against Decay (Havok & Rosemary)
  • Countdown to Rebellion: TNA Digital Media Champion Crazzy Steve defends against Laredo Kid
  • Countdown to Rebellion: Ace Austin, Chris Bey & Leon Slater vs. The Rascalz (Trey Miguel, Zachary Wentz & Myron Reed)

TNA reveals new Digital Media Championship belt

Impact Wrestling has unveiled its new TNA Digital Media Championship belt. 

With the company returning to TNA branding beginning at Saturday’s Hard to Kill, Impact is re-designing all its title belts to reflect the change. 

On Tuesday, Scott D’Amore presented champion Tommy Dreamer with the new TNA Digital Media title.

D’Amore said:

Well, Tommy, the Impact Wrestling era is coming to an end and it’s time for TNA Wrestling to return. We’re back, baby! And along with it, we’ve got brand new championship belts. New championship belt for an old wrestler!

Dreamer is set to defend the title at the Hard to Kill pre-show against Crazzy Steve. 

Tag Team Champions Ace Austin and Chris Bey were given their new TNA Tag Team title belts on Monday. X-Division Champion Chris Sabin received his on Sunday. 

TNA Hard to Kill 2024 lineup:

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