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Bryan Alvarez has submitted his TNA Genesis recap from this past Saturday including his match ratings.
He and Vinny also discussed the show in full on the latest Bryan & Vinny Show, available on all of our various platforms for subscribers (YouTube, audio, etc).
Click here to read (sub needed)
The Bryan & Vinny Show is back with tons to talk about including a full recap of the TNA Genesis PPV, a show MILES AND MILES better than that catastrophic AMC debut, plus Vinny’s thoughts on Thursday’s TV and tons more! A fun show as always so check it out~!
Mustafa Ali suffered a brutal injury at Saturday’s TNA Genesis and followed it up by showing it on social media.
Ali, with Tasha Steelz, John Skyler, Jason Hotch and Special Agent 0, defeated Elijah in a match lasting a little over nine minutes. The final moments o saw Ali land a hard guitar shot on Elijah’s back to secure the win. However, despite picking up the victory, Ali failed to escape the match scratch-free.
Shortly after winning, Ali shared the image of the brutal injury he suffered during his match, showing his toenail almost uprooted with dried blood all around the nail. Fans can check out the picture here if they choose.
Whether the former X-Division Champion will be out of action and for how long remains to be seen. TNA returns to action this Thursday for another live edition of Thursday Night Impact followed by another TV taping the night afterward.
TNA presents Genesis tonight at the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland, Texas.
On the heels of the promotion’s AMC debut, the TNA World Championship will be on the line for the second time in three nights. After regaining the title on Thursday night, new champion Mike Santana defends against former champion Frankie Kazarian in a Texas Death match, with Nic Nemeth serving as the special referee.
Knockouts Champion Lei Ying Lee defends against Zaria, who will have Sol Ruca in her corner.
TNA World Tag Team Champions Matt and Jeff Hardy will defend against The Righteous, Vincent & Dutch.
JDC’s retirement match is also set for the show. He’ll wrestle Eddie Edwards in the final match of his career.
Elijah will wrestle Mustafa Ali in singles competition. Cedric Alexander vs. Joe Hendry vs. Moose is also scheduled. AJ Francis and Rich Swann will clash in a battle of former stablemates as well.
Our live coverage begins with The Countdown to Genesis at 7 p.m. Eastern.
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Gia Miller welcomes the expert pre-show panel: Tommy Dreamer, Dave LaGreca and Ash by Elegance.
It’s the biggest weekend in TNA history!
Let’s start with clips of what happened after Impact went off the air last Thursday. Nic Nemeth tried to cash-in his trophy, but Mike Santana cut him off. Santino Marella made Mike Santana v. Frankie Kazarian in a Texas Death Match. Daria Rae then adds an extra stipulation: that Nic Nemeth will be special referee. This all would have been really great to see on the actual TV show Thursday, but whatever.
It will be real Texas Death Match rules: get a pinfall, then the opponent has a ten count to get back to their feet.
After some pre-show banter and predictions, as well as video packages to hype the Tag Team Championship and Knockouts Championship matches, it’s time for a pre-show match!
JD Orso is the former Fuego Del Sol. But I guess I’ll never find out who Fuego Dos was. BDE is a YouTuber. This match is allegedly punishment by Marella to put Stacks “in check.” But it’s basically Stacks v. three job guys.
Young and BDE brawl on the floor, while Orso and Stacks work in the ring. Orso was pretty fantastic flying around the ring until Stacks gave him a Snake Eyes in the corner. BDE dropped Young with a shot and then vlogged about it. Starks then leveled BDE on the floor, and Grace grabbed BDE’s phone to shoot some content, as the kids say. Orso and BDE get on the same page and got the phone back from Grace.
Back in the ring, Orso and BDE pair up against Young and Stacks. Young and Stacks cut them off with clotheslines. Stacks dumped Orso. BDE held his own against Young and Stacks, taking Young out with a Code Red and Stacks with a dropkick. BDE caught a cutter from Orso. Orso caught Young with a Sliced Bread and Stacks with a double-stomp to the back of the head.
Orso caught BDE with the “Orso Driver,” some kind of inverted Tiger Driver, for a near fall. BDE caught Stacks with a springboard cutter, but Young took BDE out with a neckbreaker. Young gave Orso a piledriver, and then it was every finish to a multi-man match ever: Stacks dumped Young and then pinned the guy Young took out. At least Orso looked really good before doing the job.
Match Result: Starks pinned Orso to retain after a piledriver from Young (6:23)
— Daria Rae talked down to Santino in the back.
— The panel talked about JDC’s retirement match, and it’s kind of making me feel back for Ash, who was forced to retire a few months ago.
— Earlier tonight, Tessa Blanchard’s crew were treating people badly in the back, and Indi Hartwell stood up to them after they mocked Vicious Viki Venuto, an “extra” looking for “opportunity” in the back. Which will lead to a tag match in the pre-show.
— The Concierge brought out the Elegance Brand, dressed like sheriffs, to watch the next match from seats at ringside. Literally right next to the ring.
There’s enough people around the ring for this to be a lumberjack match.
Hartwell held her own against Blanchard, but when Venuto tagged in, she was overwhelmed. Moore worked over Venuto’s leg. Blanchard tagged in and kept on Venuto’s leg. Moore and Blanchard kept working on the leg. It’s great psychology but pretty boring to watch. Venuto covered up in the corner when Blanchard went for a charge, so Blanchard stopped, then slapped her.
The crowd started chanting for something… I dont think they knew Venuto’s name. Then they changed for Indi, who finally got the hot tag. Hartwell caught Blanchard with a boot, then hit a spinebuster for a near fall. Venuto went to the top, so Stone distracted the referee and Crawford yanked Venuto down. Hartwell went after Crawford, but got into with the Elegance Brand at ringside. Back in the ring, Blanchard hit Venuto with a hammerlock DDT and got the pinfall.
Match Result: Blanchard and Moore won when Blanchard pinned Venuto (7:55)
Tom Hannifan & Matthew Rehwoldt were on commentary.
Prime Time is another YouTuber or content creator or streamer. TNA seems to have an endless supply of them. Swann is dressed in Dallas Cowboys inspired gear to suck up to the crowd (since their near Dallas).
Francis attacked Swann from behind to start, but Swann quickly rebounded with an enziguri and a step up rana. Francis dropped to the floor, and Swann caught him with a twisting Asai moonsault.
Back in the ring, Swann went at Francis with kicks. He tried a handspring elbow, but Francis batted him down to take control. Francis choked Swann against the ropes and mauled him in the corner. The fight went to the floor. Swann avoided a count-out loss by making it back into the ring at nine. You know for that spot to be believable, someone actually needs to not make it back into the ring sometimes.
Back in the ring, Swann caught Francis with a desperation jaw breaker, and Francis booted Swann down for a near fall. Francis missed a senton, and Swann hit a couple of kicks. Swann hit a handspring cutter and a 450 splash for a near fall. Swann went to the top, but Francis grabbed him by the throat and sent him to the mat.
Swann cut off a moonsault attempt from Francis. Francis set Swann up for a superplex. Swann managed to get out of that by biting Francis and sending him to the mat with a headbutt. Swann came off the top with a crossbody, but Francis speared him out of his boots for two.
Francis struggled to hit Swann with a powerbomb, but Swann riggled out of it.. but right into a Styles Clash from Francis. Francis went for a second Styles Clash, but Swann countered that with a destroyer and got a near fall. Swann hit a frog splash and went for the pin, but Francis got his foot on the bottom rope.
Francis then grabbed Swann by the back of the neck and spiked him down headfirst on the mat. Then Francis hit Swann with a monster chokeslam and got the pinfall.
Match Result: Francis pinned Swann after a choke slam (12:22)
— After a quick recap of the angle that happened after the show ended Thursday to set up the pay-per-view tonight, Gia Miller interviewed Mike Santana. Santana’s wearing war paint and ready for tonight’s Texas Death Match. Santana’s daughter is also happy he got the world title back.
he Great Hands tried to attack Elijah before the match, but that backfired and Elijah backdropped Jason Hotch onto Jon Skylar.
The match got going in the ring in earnest, and Elijah caught Ali with a pop up powerbomb for a near fall. The fight went to the floor, and Elijah chopped and kicked Ali around ringside. Skylar and Hotch tried to jump Elijah again, and again he easily disposed of them. But Ali hit Elijah with a dive to take control.
Back in the ring, Ali went to work on Elijah’s injured arm. (My computer is trying to autocorrect Elijah to “Elias” which is a funny coincidence.) Ali locked in a overhand wrist lock. Elijah escaped and ran the ropes, but Ali caught him with the rolling neckbreaker.
Ali went for a standing moonsault, but Elijah got his feet up and kicked Ali back, who landed so awkwardly on his neck William Regal should tweet about it.
Ali hit a superkick, but Elijah turned him inside out with a clothesline. Elijah hit a knee for a near fall. Ali caught Elijah, hoisted him up on his shoulders and dropped him with a Death Valley Driver for a near fall. Elijah avoided a 450 splash and caught Ali with a tombstone piledriver, but Ali bridged up out of the pin attempt, then dropped to his feet.
Elijah pummeled Ali in the corner with chops. They fought to the top, and Elijah set up a super tombstone. Tasha Steelz distracted the referee, and Hotch and Skylar saved Ali from taking the move. Elijah caught Ali with a sit out powerbomb, but Agent Zero pulled the ref out of the ring. On the floor, the referee tried to eject Agent Zero and the Great Hands. Meanwhile in the ring, Steelz grabbed the guitar and tried to use it on Elijah. Elijah saw that coming and caught her, setting her up for a tombstone piledriver. But Ali got the guitar and smashed it against Elijah’s back, saving Steelz. Ali covered and the ref turned around, got back in the ring and counted the pinfall.
Match Result: Ali pinned Elijah after breaking a guitar over his back (9:34)
JDC rolled up Edwards as soon as his back was turned for a near fall. JDC is wearing “Terry Funk Inspired gear” according to Hannifan. So if this retirement doesn’t stick, that’s the reason.
This was very technical to start. JDC caught Edwards with a dropkick for a near fall. JDC with a deep arm drag then went into an armbar. Edwards escaped that a caught JDC with a clothesline. Edwards backed JDC in the corner with chops. JDC caught Edwards with a powerslam for two. JDC backed Edwards in the corner with chops.
JDC went to the top, but Edwards caught him with an enziguri, then took him down with a hurricanrana. JDC dropped to the floor, and Edwards followed him out with a plancha. The crowd chanted for “Dango” (aka JDC), which Edwards encouraged. Edwards and JDC fought on the floor.
JDC gave Edwards the back suplex on the apron, which is a decidedly unfriendly move in what had so far been mostly a babyface match. Edwards responded by sending JDC into the post. Edwards went for a chop while JDC was against the post, but JDC ducked and Edwards found nothing but post. JDC tried to go after Edwards arm.
Back in the ring, JDC hit Edwards with a leg lariat. More chops from JDC. Edwards caught JDC with a back elbow, but JDC came back with an uppercut and a boot that sent Edwards to the floor. JDC followed Edwards out with a over the top rope plancha.
Back in the ring, JDC charged into Edwards with uppercuts. Edwards wound up hanging in the middle ropes, and JDC sprang in with a guillotine legdrop for two. JDC hit a tornado DDT, then transitioned into a Falcon Arrow for another near fall.
Edwards caught JDC with a blue thunder bomb for a near fall. Edwards went for a sleeper and shouted for JDC to tap out. JDC smiled and fought his way out of the sleeper. He ran into a back elbow, but caught Edwards coming off the ropes going for a dropkick, and turned that into a Lion Tamer. Edwards escaped that with a small package, but JDC kicked out and caught Edwards with a Code Breaker for another near fall.
JDC went for a superplex, but Edwards fought out of it, but then JDC pulled him into an Air Raid Crash from the top rope. JDC went for the top rope legdrop, but missed. Edwards hit the running knee, but that only got two. So Edwards hit it a second time, and JDC kicked out again. Edwards hit a superkick and an inverted brainbuster, then hit another running knee, and finally that was enough.
Match Result: Edwards retired JDC by pinfall after a a running knee (17:17).
After the match, the other members of the system came out to help JDC to his feet, and members of the locker room applauded JDC. JDC was left alone in the ring to thank the crowd and soak in their cheers.
The TNA Injury Report:
Sadé jumped on Nemeth’s back for a sleeper, but Nemeth dumped her to the mat. Nemeth locked in a side headlock, but Sadé escaped. Nemeth went for a hip toss, but Sadé landed on her feet. Nemeth dropped to the floor, and Sadé followed him out with a crossbody off the apron. Nemeth kicked Sadé’s feet out from under her when she tried to get back into the ring, and then dropped her back-first against the ring apron. Nemeth than shouted at Sadé “you love me!” That’s kind of a gross look.
Back in the ring, Sadé slapped Nemeth, so Nemeth yanked her down by the hair. Nemeth shouted “you made me do this!” while holding his fist up, which is gross. Sadé made her comeback and hit Nemeth with a forearm. Sadé hit a tornado DDT out of the corner for a near fall. Nemeth went to the eyes and tried to use the ropes to get a pinfall, but the ref caught him. Sadé caught Nemeth with a slingblade. She went to the top, but Nemeth dropkicked her in the gut. Sadé crumbled to the mat, Nemeth wrapped her up and held onto the ropes which there is no way the ref could have not seen, but the ref counted the pinfall anyway.
Match Result: Nemeth pinned Sadê (5:19).
— Starks and Grace talk some trash about Santino.
The much bigger Zaria sent Lee into the ropes with a bodyblock. Lee came off the ropes with a crossbody, but Zaria caught her and dumped her to the mat for a near fall. Zaria dumped Lee into the turnbuckles. Zaria stood on the middle ropes and pulled Lee up by the neck, choking Lee with her own body weight.
Zaria hit a lariat for a near fall. Zaria then locked Lee in a Texas Cloverleaf. Lee fought her way up, but Zaria turned that into an inverted powerbomb, then went back to the Texas Cloverleaf. Lee escaped and went for an STF, but Zaria overpowered her. Zaria is basically squashing Lee here.
Lee finally started to fight back with strikes and kicks, and eventually took Zaria down with a superkick. Lee punched Zaria in the corner while the crowd counted along. Lee went for a suplex, but Zaria elbowed her way out of that. Lee ducked a pump kick and hit an exploder suplex for a near fall.
Lee jumped on Zaria’s back for a sleeper. Zaria dropped to her knees, but soon powered back up. Zaria turned that into a cannonball into the corner with Lee on her back and I dont know how Lee could have protected her head there. But she seemed like she was okay to continue.
Lee ducked a charge in the corner and went for a money flip. Zaria blocked it, and they both tumbled over the ropes to the apron. They exchanged pump kicks, and Zaria backdrop suplexed Lee onto the apron (the third time of the night for that spot).
Heather and M from the Elegance Brand made their way out to watch from the entrance stage.
Zaria threw Lee back into the ring. Zaria hit Lee with a spear. She hit Lee with an F5, but Lee’s legs hit the ref so she couldn’t make the count. Brookside and Ruca went to check on the ref. Heather and M tried to run in, so Ruca and Brookside took them out of the match. They all brawled to the back.
Back in the ring, Zaria yanked the ref back up. She charged at Lee, but hit the post. Lee rolled her up for two. Zaria hit Lee with a headbutt. Zaria tried to choke Lee again, but Lee escaped and took Zaria down with a top rope rana.
Zaria and Lee exchanged forearms in the center of the ring. Zaria went for another F5, but Lee countered with a DDT and hit a spinning heel kick. Lee drove Zaria down to the mat with the Warrior’s Way and got the pinfall.
Match Result: Lei Ying Lee pinned Zaria to retain the Knockouts World Title (14:21)
After the match, Carlos Silva presented Lee with the championship belt, and Zaria shook Lee’s hand in a show of sportsmanship. Elyana Black came out to the entrance stage to declare herself Lee’s next challenger.
The Hardys yanked Vincent out of the ring and soon both teams were brawling around ringside before the match could officially start. Matt sent Dutch into the ringpost and Jeff came off the apron with a crossbody. Vincent and Jeff got in the ring so the match could officially start.
The crowd was about ten times louder for the Hardys than anything else on the show so far. Vincent seemed to taunt Jeff about what he did to his ear on Thursday, and an enraged Jeff took him down with a double leg and mauled him with fists. Matt tagged in and went after Vincent’s ear, then bit his hand. Matt snapped Vincent’s neck agains the rope, and Jeff followed up with a legdrop.
Vincent continued to take a righteous beating from the Hardys. The Hardys hit Poetry in Motion on Vincent, then Matt smacked him around on the mat. Matt stopped to taunt Dutch, giving Vincent a brief respite. Matt still hit a Side Effect for a near fall. Finally, Dutch leveled Matt with a clothesline from the apron, which allowed Vincent to take control.
Vincent backed Matt up into the Righteous corner. Dutch got the tag and kept doing weird things with his tongue in between laying in shots on Matt. Dutch dumped Matt, and Vincent hit a flatliner for two. Dutch hit Matt with a short-arm clothesline and choked him against the ropes. Vincent taught Matt while Dutch choked him. Dutch went for a fireman’s carry, but in a twist of fate, Matt countered that into the… Twist of Fate.
Tags were made on both sides and the crowd popped huge for Jeff. Jeff drove Vincent down with a face-first suplex for two. Jeff bent Vincent awkwardly… okay I couldn’t tell if Jeff was bending Vincent or Vincent was choking/clawing at Jeff’s gauge again. Jeff and Matt hit Vincent with the Plot Twist for two. Matt went for a Twist of Fate, but Vincent blocked it.
Dutch tripped up Matt when he went to run the ropes. Matt went at him with forearms but ran into a Boss Man Slam/Black Hole Slam. Dutch told Vincent to got o the top. Dutch hit a Twist of Fate on Matt, and then Vincent came off the top with a Swanton. But Jeff pulled Vincent off as he went for the pinfall. Vincent sent Jeff into the ringpost.
Back in the ring, Vincent and Matt clotheslined each other. Dutch saw Jeff on the floor and came off the apron for a senton, but Jeff moved and Dutch landed with a sick thud.
Back in the ring, Matt got the advantage in a brawl with Vincent. Vincent pushed away from a Twist of Fate, and while Vincent begged off in the ring, Dutch grabbed the house mic to say that this is exactly what the Righteous wanted: to hurt. So Matt obliged with a Twist of Fate on Vincent, and Jeff came off the top with a Swanton bomb.
Match Result: Jeff pinned Vincent with a Swanton Bomb, and the Hardys retained the TNA Tag Team Titles (12:38)
After the match, Dutch stopped Carlos Silva from taking the belt to present to the Hardys. Dutch instead grabbed the belts and slid them into the ring. Dutch held his back and Vincent held his ribs as they slowly walked away.
— X Division Champion Leon Slater can’t be at the ppv tonight because of visa issues, but he sent in a video to thank Joe Hendry for subbing in for him.
— I’ve also neglected to mention that the AMC money has allowed TNA to afford one of those cool LED board entrance ramps where the LED is on the actual ramp.
Hendry hit Moose with a dropkick, then dumped Alexander to the mat with a fallaway slam. On the floor, Moose hit Hendry with a powerbomb, then powerbombed Alexander onto —what else— the ring apron. Hendry than powerbombed Moose onto — you guessed it— the ring apron! Then they found a stupider thing to land on— Hendry backdropped Moose onto the ring steps. The trainer and Carlos Silva came out to check on Moose. The match ground to a halt, but the cameras were stuck on Moose for it to be anything but an angle.
Hendry and Alexander went at it in the ring. Alexander dropped Hendry with a German suplex and a dropkick to the back of the neck. Hendry came back with an Olympic Slam for two. Henrdy ran into a boot from Alexander. Hendry caught Alexander and tried for a fallaway slam, but Alexander countered that into a small package. Alexander caught Hendry with a Michinoku Driver for two. Hendry and Alexander kept looking back at Moose, who was still on the floor selling (at this point it was clearly an angle). Both guys in the ring were down after a double clothesline and the crowd chanted for Moose, who made his way up to his feet and back into the ring.
Hendry and Alexander went after Moose. Moose hit Hendry with a senton and kipped up. Alexander went to the middle rope, but Moose caught him with a dropkick, bending him back. Hendry went for a suplex, but Moose blocked it and chopped at Hendry. Moose set Hendry up and delivered a superplex off the top. Moose rolled through, but Hendy suplexed Moose! And then Alexander flew in with a splash on Hendry for a near fall!
Alexander ducked a charge from Moose in the corner. Alexander hit an enziguri, but Moose grabbed Alexander and drove him down with a sit-out choke bomb for two. Moose and Hendry exchanged chops. Moose charged at Hendry and right into a pop up powerbomb. Now it was Hendry’s turn to kip up, and he turned right into a death valley driver from Alexander. Alexander went to a crossface on Hendry. Moose kept Hendry from tapping out, then broke the hold by punching Alexander.
Moose dumped Hendry and exchanged blows with Alexander. Alexander countered a uranage with a cradle. Alexander went for a sunset flip which turned into a Styles Clash, and Alexander got another near fall. Alexander charged into a boot from Moose, but turned him inside out with a clothesline. Moose caught Alexander in midair with a spear and got another near fall.
Moose tried to go for a second spear, but his back gave out. Alexander gave Moose the lumbar check, taking him out of the match. Then we got the OTHER finish they do in every multi-person match: Hendry grabbed the guy who just hit his finisher (Alexander), then hit him with HIS finisher (the Standing Ovation), and got the pinfall.
Match Result: Hendry pinned Alexander after Alexander took out Moose (15:21).
What’s the point of giving Moose insurmountable odds to overcome if he doesn’t overcome them?
— Santino Marella brings out the “expert” panel from the reshow to give their predictions for the main event tonight. They’re all picking Mike Santana, but Daria Rae shows up before Tommy Dreamer can make his prediction. Daria demanded they speed this up and cut to the video package for the main event. But you could argue of she’d stayed in the back and let Dreamer make his prediction, we’d have gotten to the video package a lot faster.
The rules for the match:
Compliments to TNA for using the proper Texas Death match stipulations. I don’t think I’ve seen one of these since 1993.
Santana went all over the arena during his entrance to fire up the crowd, but still didn’t get nearly the response the Hardys did.
Kazarian immediately dropped to the floor when the bell rang. When he slid back into the ring, he ate a kick from Santana, but came back with a forearm. Santana caught him with a superkick. Santana got hung up in the ropes going for a boot. Santana and Kazarian fought on the apron, and eventually Kazarian tripped up Santana and he hit his head on the apron.
Kazarian pulled a chair out from under the ring, so the crowd chanted for tables. Kazarian avoided getting sent into the ring steps by Santana. Santana hit a flying lariat off the ring stairs, then pulled a table out from underneath the ring. Santana leveled Kazarian with a boot, then pulled a chair out from under the ring. Santana used a chair as a springboard to hit Kazarian with a cannonball that sent them both through the ring barricade and into the crowd.
Santana beat up Kazarian through the crowd. Kazarian battled back and sent Santana headfirst into a trash can. More chops and brawling around the arena floor. Santana climb up into the first row of seats off the floor, but Kazarian fought up there with him and threatened to superplex him onto the floor. Santana fought out of that and hit Kazarian with a crossbody.
They fought out of the arena and near a garage door. Kazarian whipped Santana into the door, then found the only aluminum trash can in the place and hit Santana in the back with it. The crowd chanted for more tables while Santana and Kazarian fought back to the ring. Kazarian suplexed Santana on the floor. Kazarian set up a chair, then grabbed another one to use as a weapon. Santana grabbed the first chair, but Kazarian still managed to beat Santana down. Kazarian set up both chairs and tried give Santana a Fade to Black through the chairs. Santana fought out of it, then piledrove Kazarian through the chairs to get the first pinfall at 9:35.
Of course, Kazarian got back up to his feet at nine, so the match must continue. Kazarian came up bleeding from the forehead. Santana pulled out a second table (but he didn’t even use the first yet!) and set it up on the floor. Santana drug Kazarian up to the apron. Kazarian fought off a piledriver attempt, but ran into the boot. Santana then dove right into a cutter from Kazarian through the table, and Kazarian got his first pinfall at 12:06. Seriously, Santana was just diving right into the cutter, there wasn’t even an attempt at an offensive move from Santana.
Santana made it up to his feet, and Kazarian hit a running knee that sent Santana into the stairs. Kazarian stumbled back into the ring and set up the table Santana slid in the ring earlier. Kazarian dropped to the floor and found a massive ladder. Santana set up the ladder in the ring. While Kazarian was taunting the crowd, Santana emerged from behind him with a baseball bat wrapped in barbed wire. Santana charged at Kazarian with the bat, but Kazarian ducked and went for the chicken wing. Santana escaped, grabbed the belt and raked it across Kazarian’s face.
Santana hit a sit-out Death Valley Driver. Santana then set up Kazarian on the table and climbed the ladder. Santana came off the top of the ladder with a frog splash… but Kazarian kicked out at two, despite Nemeth’s hand striking the mat three times. The crowd chanted “ref you suck!” and Santana argued with Nemeth, but there was no count and the match continued.
Santana and Kazarian clotheslined each other twice, but neither went down. Kazarain then spat in Santana’s face. That was a mistake. Santana wrapped up his arm in barbed wire, then nailed Kazarian with a rolling lariat to win the third fall at 18:32.
Kazarian pulled himself up by the ropes and was almost to his feet at nine, but slipped back down and failed to get back up. Hey! Now we can believe someone might get counted out for a while when they’re struggling at nine again!
Match Result: Santana won the Texas Death Match when Kazarian couldn’t make it up before the 10 count (19:14).
Carlos Silva handed Santana the belt, and Nemeth held his hand up in victory… then hit him with the Danger Zone andcalled his shot. He grabbed his trophy and put it on the commentary table. The ref started to come down, but back in the ring Santana hit Nemeth with the rolling lariat before the ref got there. So Nemeth didn’t “officially” call his shot, so that stupid cash-in thing will still loom over Santana’s title reign for now.
Final Thoughts:
Overall this was a very good show, but I hated the intergender match. If TNA is going to do “intergender” then they should avoid spots like men yanking women down to the floor by their hair or screaming “you’re making me do this” while standing over them with a balled up fist. That was uncomfortable to watch.
The rest of the show was fine to very good and Santana standing tall at the end two nights in a row is a welcome sight. All of the other matches were solid. I think Elijah might have had his best match ever tonight with Ali. Santana should be continued to be solidifed as the top babyface. Getting rid of Nemeth’s cash-in without Santana losing the title would be smart move (I would have just done it right here, have Nemeth cash-in and get immediately pinned… switch up the usual cash-in idea). Nemeth won’t lose anything with a failed cash-in and doesn’t need to be champion.
The authority figures who don’t get along thing with Daria and Santino is already getting old. And I like Daria a lot as a performer.
But this was overall a good show.
Image: TNA
It’s the Saturday Wrestling Observer Live with Jim Valley.
The TNA on AMC debut sputtered at times like an AMC Pacer. It’s been almost 25 years. It doesn’t matter who’s in charge, TNA management always seems to let talent down on the production and organization side. Thursday was no different.
Plus, something TNA on AMC didn’t tell you: what the main event is for tonight’s Genesis PPV. That came later.
WWE SmackDown built towards both the Royal Rumble and Saturday Night’s Main Event with some new faces getting opportunities.
Also, if you check out this show on our YouTube channel, you can see some of the Japanese wrestling merch I got while I was in Tokyo for Wrestle Kingdom 20. Or don’t go to YouTube and just listen to me describe it poorly. Your choice. You have options.
Right Click Save As (sub needed)
The show continued after TNA Impact went off the air on Thursday night.
As Santana was celebrating his TNA World Championship win over Frankie Kazarian, Nic Nemeth’s music hit and he walked to the ring, appearing intent on cashing in his Call Your Shot Gauntlet trophy for a world title shot. However, security pulled Nemeth and Santana apart before Santino cut a promo.
Santino confirmed that Kazarian will get a rematch for the world title against Santana at Genesis, adding that the match will be a Texas Death match. Then newly signed TNA authority figure Daria Rae came out and announced that Nemeth will serve as the special referee.
TNA Genesis takes place Saturday, January 17, 2026. The updated lineup is below.
A change has been made to the Knockouts World Championship match at TNA Genesis.
During tonight’s debut episode of Impact on AMC, Santino Marella announced that “due to an international visa crisis,” Dani Luna will not be able to make her scheduled match against Knockouts Champion Lei Ying Lee. This led to Sol Ruca and Zaria coming out to the ring, with Ruca suggesting that Zaria challenge for the title instead. Zaria then signed the contract and the match was made official.
Earlier on Thursday, Fightful reported that a number of TNA wrestlers scheduled to be at today’s show were unable to make it due to their visas not being completed on time, with Luna being one such wrestler.
The rumors of TNA X-Division Champion Leon Slater being part of WWE’s overseas tour appear to be true as his title defense at Saturday’s Genesis has officially been pulled from the card.
Announced during Thursday’s AMC premiere, Santino Marella revealed the news to Cedric Alexander in a backstage segment as he and Moose were set to challenge for the title in a three-way. Marella said due to visa issues, Slater would be unable to appear but that former TNA World Champion and current WWE roster member Joe Hendry would be taking his place in the three-way instead.
It’s been heavily speculated that Slater, a UK native, will challenge WWE United States Champion Carmelo Hayes in an open challenge on Friday’s SmackDown from London, England. He was originally slated to defend against Myron Reed on the Thursday AMC premiere, but that match was quietly pulled this week. Reed, despite signing with AEW, was reportedly ready to fulfill his commitment.
Slater made his WWE main roster debut at December’s Saturday Night’s Main Event, teaming with Je’Von Evans in a losing effort to AJ Styles and Dragon Lee in a WWE World Tag Team title match.
Just as she was at the top of the TNA Knockouts division, Ash by Elegance had to relinquish the Knockouts title last fall and said she was going to retire.
Things have changed, however, and she is working toward getting medically cleared to return to the ring.
Talking to Busted Open Radio Thursday to hype up the TNA Impact on AMC premiere, the 36-year-old said she doesn’t have to prove anything but admitted she might have to in the ring.
“I definitely want to come back. I’m definitely working better than ever to become medically cleared again. Right now, I have taken a little bit of off-time to recover and deal with some medical issues, but I feel as though, the doctors… I never say never and I don’t let the doctors tell me no either. I’m always trying to prove them wrong and get back on my horse and keep riding to the top,” she said.
The retirement and title relinquishment happened at last September’s Victory Road, but the medical issues she referred to have yet to be revealed. At the time, she said she was “no longer able to compete” but has remained on TV and aligned with The Elegance Brand.
She also revealed she will be the co-host for this Saturday’s Genesis pre-show along with Busted Open’s Dave LaGreca.
Image: TNA
Former TNA World Champion and current WWE roster member Joe Hendry will make his return to TNA at this month’s Genesis pay-per-view.
Revealed Tuesday morning in a social media post by The Hardys, Hendry will be in attendance at the Saturday, January 17 PPV in Garland, Texas, but what the plans are for him have yet to be revealed.
Hendry hasn’t wrestled in TNA since late-September as he was quietly phased out of the company following him signing a full-time contract with WWE. He rose to prominence in TNA over the last few years and became a regular in WWE NXT as the partnership between the two brands blossomed.
While not official in storyline, Hendry is expected to be part of the main roster on SmackDown moving forward.
The first matches for TNA Wrestling’s first pay-per-view of 2026 are official, including a World title rematch.
TNA made two matches for the Saturday, January 17 Genesis event official during this week’s Impact episode, including Frankie Kazarian defending the TNA World Championship against Mike Santana. The World title bout is a rematch from the November 13 Impact episode where Kazarian defeated Santana for the gold in what was ostensibly his first title defense, a bout with Ryan Nemeth that went to a no contest moments before notwithstanding.
In another bout for Genesis, JDC will take to the ring for what is billed as his retirement match against his The System stablemate Eddie Edwards.
Genesis takes place from Garland, Texas on Saturday, January 17 on TNA Plus and pay-per-view.
A Team NXT vs. Team TNA steel cage match has been announced.
On Saturday, TNA posted video of Santino Marella following Friday’s Final Resolution event, which concluded with an invasion by several NXT wrestlers. In the video, Santino said the two sides will meet in a steel cage match in two weeks.
Santino says in the video:
“Two weeks from today we’re going to settle this like real men. No more running around, no more hiding in the shadows, no more being b—hes. We’re going to settle this, Team TNA vs. Team NXT in a steel cage!”
Santino continued to say he’s going to call Ava and the teams will be announced this week. Mike Santana then walked into the scene. He nodded and said to Santino, “You know what to do.”
TNA is advertising a steel cage match for Saturday’s TV taping at the El Paso County Coliseum. Another taping is scheduled for Sunday, following Final Resolution at the same venue on Friday night. These tapings are the promotion’s final shows before TNA goes live with its first episode on AMC on January 15 from the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland, Texas.
Santino’s video is available below:
News and notes from TNA Wrestling coming out of Friday’s Final Resolution event.
TNA confirmed that Genesis will be the promotion’s next PLE, and confirmed the date and location for the first time.
Genesis will take place on Saturday, January 17, 2026 from the Curtis Caldwell Center in Garland, Texas, a Dallas suburb. A pre-sale for tickets will be held on Tuesday, December 9, with tickets going on sale to the general public on Thursday, December 11. The event will be available on pay-per-view in addition to streaming on TNA Plus.
A dog collar match is set for this Thursday’s Impact episode.
Stemming from a post-match angle following the Knockouts World title bout between Lei Ying Lee and Xia Brookside at Final Resolution, the dog collar match will feature Indi Hartwell taking on Dani Luna.
Final Resolution closed with a brawl between WWE NXT wrestlers and members of the TNA roster, including authority figure Santino Marella.
Marella was laid out by his daughter’s fiance Stacks, who also won the TNA International title from Steve Maclin earlier in the program.
Full results and our play-by-play coverage of TNA Final Resolution are available here.
TNA Wrestling will kick off a new year once again with a Genesis pay-per-view.
During Sunday’s Bound for Glory, the promotion announced the 2026 edition of Genesis will emanate from “Dallas” this January, but didn’t reveal the actual date, location or ticket information.
Based on last year’s Genesis, the event could once again emanate from the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland.
The first Genesis took place in November 2005 and was held in the same month for two more years before transitioning to January in 2009. Next year’s edition will be their 11th after they revived the name this year after a four-year absence. The Hard to Kill name that had been associated with their January PPVs appears to be staying in IP mothballs for some time to come.
Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer is back with tons to talk about including thoughts on the TNA Genesis PPV on Sunday, PCO and what happened at this weekend’s GCW event, Britt Baker, ratings, RAW report, upcoming show line-ups and tons more. A fun show as always so check it out~!
Timestamps:
Start: TNA Genesis fallout
12:16: Allie Katch injury, Dave’s thoughts on Chris Bey/TNA/GoFundMe
22:07: PCO’s issues with TNA
26:52: Britt Baker’s status with AEW, other AEW talent issues
44:57: Ratings
46:49: WWE Raw recap, lineups for the week
