A new era in TNA Wrestling begins tonight on AMC.
TNA’s debut on the network takes place live tonight from the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland, Texas. Two title matches, one grudge match, and the return of one of the company’s biggest stars are scheduled for the show.
For the TNA Wrestling World Championship, Frankie Kazarian defends against former champion Mike Santana.
The Knockouts World Tag Team titles will also be on the line as The IInspiration’s Jessie McKay and Cassie Lee defend against Heather By Elegance and M By Elegance of The Elegance Brand, who will have their Personal Concierge at ringside.
Matt and Jeff Hardy will team with Elijah in a six-man tag team match against Mustafa Ali, Jason Hotch, and John Skyler of Order 4.
Plus, one of TNA Wrestling’s greatest-ever legends, AJ Styles is advertised to appear on the show.
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern.
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Live from Dallas, Texas!
Tom Hannifan & Matthew Rehwoldt were on commentary.
“The TNA on AMC era has begun!”
AJ Styles Opens the Show
After clips of TNA’s most recent history, and a nice shot of a pretty full crowd, AJ Styles came out first to welcome of the show. “Welcome to the house that AJ Styles built!” The crowd chanted for “TNA!” and “AMC!” Styles told the crowd they were the “TNA Nation!” and lead the crowd in another “TNA!” Chant.
Elijah and The Hardys vs. Order 4
Elijah came out on stage and asked if people wanted to walk with Elijah. This led to Matt and Jeff Hardy coming out alongside. Justin Lyons, Machine Gun Kelly’s guitarist, played the Hardys theme as they came to the ring.
The match started with all six men brawling in the ring. The babyfaces cleared the ring leading to the commercial break.
Commentary pointed out some actors from the AMC show Dark Winds were in attendance. As was an actor from the upcoming horror film with CM Punk, Night Patrol.
Tasha Steelz attempted to get involved in the match. She entered the ring to distract Jeff Hardy but Matt Hardy ended up giving her and Mustafa Ali a double Twist of Fate for a near fall on Ali. Shortly after, Hotch tagged in for Order 4 but quickly took a big knee from Elijah, a Twist of Fate from Matt Hardy, and a Swanton Bomb from Jeff Hardy for the win.
Match Result: The Hardys & Elijah defeated Order 4’s Mustafa Ali, John Skyler and Jason Hotch
Special Agent 0 attacked The Hardys after the match. Then Vincent and Dutch came out and helped Matt and Jeff to their feet before Dutch gave Death Walks to Matt and Vincent then attached a chain to one of Jeff’s ear piercings. Vincent then cut a promo saying The Righteous will win the tag titles at Genesis.
(Thanks to Ian Carrey for jumping in while the TNA+ Stream was out for about 20 minutes… I mean of course on the biggest night in TNA history the stream is going to crap out.)
— Gia Miller interviewed Frankie Kazarian, but before he could say anything AJ Styles showed up to get in his face. Kazarian thought AJ should “thank him for the house,” which he did. AJ v. Anybody would be a bigger main event than what we’ve got.
— A promo from the X-Division features a lot of guys who are currently not TNA wrestlers, like Jerry Lynn, AJ Styles, Samona Joe and Christopher Daniels. “It’s not about weight limits, it’s about no limits!”
— Vergil Ortiz, Jr. and “content creators from around the world” were shown in the crowd. Along with swaths of empty seats. Eric Young and AJ Francis were also in the crowd. The commentators kept telling us “the stars are out for TNA” and they’re all standing behind empty sections of seats. Various stars of AMC shows were also shown in the crowd, along with Mara Sade and Candice Michelle. Ryan Nemeth ran out to confront the stars and tried to jump the ring barricade. Instead he wound up crotching himself, then getting chopped to the floor by Zahn McClarnon from AMC’s Dark Winds who looked about 80 years old.
Santino Addressed the Crowd
Santino has gotten over his depression. The TNA board has decided that Santino needs some help, which Santino wasn’t so sure about at first until he found out who it was. Santino brought out Daria Rae, the former Sonya Deville, who is in TNA to help with the day-to-day operations. Rae called Santino one of the pillars of the company, which got the crowd to chant his name. Rae said the crowd was one of the best she’s ever been in front of… and of course Rae turned heel on Santino. Rae trashed Santino, doing a bad Stephanie McMahon impression. Daria Rae is the “SUIT” and you “Shut Up when I’m Talking.” (“I” is “Daria.” I would never be so rude) Rae’s first act was to sign a new knockout to TNA, Elayna Black. Black made her return to TNA after a year. Honestly I’m shocked it wasn’t Mandy Rose. But even with AMC money they can’t afford her.
— AJ Styles told Mike Santana he (AJ) held the company together as long as he could (he left over 10 years ago), and he told Santana to beat Frankie for the title.
The IInspiration v. Heather and M by Elegance (w/ Ash, The Concierge, Perez Hilton and ?) for the TNA Knockouts Tag Team Title
Before the match, The Concierge and the Elegance Brand were in the ring with Perez Hilton. Hilton and the Concierge insulted the crowd. Someone was in the ring, hiding under white feathers. He was revealed as the new Mr. Elegance. It’s clearly not the stage hand they recruited last week, but I don’t recognize him. The Elegance Brand women have “A” “M” “C” on the backs of their trunks. The IInspiration thankfully interrupt this.
The IInspriation rush the ring, knock the Elegance Brand out of the ring and the show immediately goes to break. If you are new AMC viewer, and you’re confused by a show that’s called Total “NONSTOP” “ACTION” having so little action… well you’re not the only one.
The Elegance Brand worked over Cassie. M went for a moonsault, but Cassie got her knees up. Jessie McCay got the hot tag. She went for the cover on Heather, but The Concierge yanked McCay out of the ring. McCay stalked the Concierge around ringside for a bit. McCay and Lee hit a double-suplex on M, and MR. Elegance distracted the ref. The IInspriation went for their finish, but the ref was distracted again, and Mr. Elegance clipped Lee in the knee, and M rolled up Lee for the pinfall. This was a mess.
Match Result: The Elegance Brand get the Knockouts Tag Team Titles back when M pinned Lee (8:31).
—Stacks and Arianna Grace trashed Santino and Stacks is ready to defend his TNA International Title at Genesis.
The TNA Injury Report:
- Lei Ying Lee and Xia Brookside are cleared to compete after the attack from Dani Luna, but Harley Hudson and Nyla Grace are not cleared.
- Steve Maclin is out after getting his eyes scratched out by Arianna Grace until next week.
- Mike Santana’s arm still hurts, but he’s cleared.
—In the back, Indi Hartwell feels like she has been in limbo since her “Dog Collar Match,” and the Elegance Brand came along to threaten to send Hartwell on a plane back to Australia.
— A video feature on the TNA Knockouts, which does a better job of featuring the current Knockouts than the X-Division vignette earlier in the show did for the X-Division.
Santino Made a Match for Genesis
Santino had a contract and brought out Lei Ying Lee and Xia Brookside. Santino announced that “due to an international visa crisis” Dani Luna will not be at Genesis. Lee has signed an open contract, Zaria and Sol Ruca from NXT came out, and Ruca suggested that Zaria take the spot. So Zaria signed the contract on Santino’s back, and we have a Knockouts title match for Genesis.
— A feature on the TNA World Championship, which included NWA Champions Ron Killings and Ken Shamrock, and Impact World Champions Eli Drake and Pentagon Jr.
— Santino Marella told Cedric Alexander that Leon Slater is also having “visa problems” and the match at Genesis is now Cedric Alexander v. Moose v. Joe Hendry, but not for the X Division Title. Apparently Slater’s “visa problem” is a match on Smackdown tomorrow night.
Genesis Rundown:
- Rick Swann v. AJ Francis
- Elijah v. Mustafa Ali
- Ryan Nemeth v. Mara Sade
- Lei Ying Lee v. Zaria for the Knockouts Title
- Cedric Alexander v. Moose v. Joe Henrdy
- The Hardys v. The Righteous for the TNA World Tag Team Titles
- JDC v. Eddie Edwards in a retirement
- … AND MORE.
The System
The crowd gave Eddie Edwards the “WHAT!” treatment while he was talking about this match with JDC. JDC grabbed the mic and got the crowd cut it out by talking about happy he is to wrap up his career in TNA and how much he respected Edwards and his wife. JDC announced that next week in the ring, he will reveal the newest member of The System. JDC respects Edwards, but he isn’t going out like a punk.
— Carlos Silva brought out former TNA President Dixie Carter. The crowd mostly booed while she talked. Then Bully Ray came out, and they hugged. Bully Ray made his way down to the ring to join the commentary team for the main event.
Mike Santana v. Frankie Kazarian for the TNA World Championship
Santana entered through the side of the arena with people in it. After the ring introductions, Karazrian insulted the crowd for being Cowboys fans, and said he was the only star that mattered in Texas. Kazarian then worked the crowd for a few minutes.
Once the match got underway, Kazarian went for the chicken wing early, but Santana escaped. Santana tried for Spin the Block early, but Kazarian ducked. Santana hit Kazarian with a step up rana. Kazarian dropped to the floor to regroup, and Santana caught him with a crossbody to the floor. Kazarian ducked a move for Santana hit dropped him with an overhead belly to belly.
The fight continued on the floor, and Santino hit Kazarian with a springboard crossbody off the apron. Santana went to suplex Kazarian from the ring to the floor, but Kazarian snapped his arm against the ropes. Santana got hung up in the ropes (in a way that didn’t look as ridiculous as that spot usually does), and Kazarian hit him with a springboard legdrop.
Kazarian worked a chinlock, and Santana fought out of it. Kazarian yanked Santana down by the hair. Kazarian went back to the chinlock.
Santana fought out of the chinlock. He went for the rolling stunner, but Kazarian countered that with a back stabber. Kazarian slapped Santana around a bit, but that just served to fire Santana up. Santana fired back with fists and chops, even after absorbing a boot from Kazarian. Santana hit an enziguri, absorbed another elbow and hit a superkick. Santana hit a rolling stunner for a near fall.
Santana set up Kazarian for a superplex. Kazarian shoved Santana down, but he popped up and yanked Kazarian down with a Spanish Fly! Santana then countered a piledriver attempt with a Code Red for a near fall.
Santana went for a cannonball in the corner, but Kazarian got his knees up and hit an Angel’s Wings for a near fall. “Someplace CD is smiling.” Yeah, that’s AEW. Kazarian went for the chicken wing, but Santana did the Bret Hart pin from WrestleMania 8 and got a near fall. Kazarian hit a slingshot cutter and a springboard legdrop for a near fall.
Kazarian dropped to the floor and grabbed his championship belt. The ref stopped Kazarian from using the belt. Santana went for his rolling lariat, but Kazarian trued that into a Fade to Black attempt. Santana got into something with the ref, and Kazarian went for a dropkick that hit the ref. Santana hit his rolling lariat, but the ref was down. The ref counted to 8 but there was no ref.
Santana went to check on the ref. Kazarian grabbed the belt and nailed Santana with it. Kazarian the hit Fade to Black on the ring apron. Kazarian rolled Santana back in the ring, but it only got two. Kazarian hit a Canadian Destroyer, but Santana popped up and hit a rolling lariat for two (the ref’s hand hit 3 but Kazarian did get the shoulder up). Santana went for it again, Kazarian kind of dropped down or something, and somehow Santana got a near fall. It was a really messy spot. Kazarian went for a rolling lariat of his own, but Santana ducked and hit a second rolling lariat to get the pinfall and regain the title.
Match Result: Mike Santna pinned Frankie Kazarian to become a two time TNA World Champion (16:50).
TNA shows now end with the same “Produced By…” credits that WWE TV shows do. Well at least there was no cash-in.
Next week on Impact from Albuquerque, NM:
- The System Introduce a New Member
- Elayna Black will speak
- Jeff Hardy v. Mustafa Ali
- Indi Hartwell v. M by Elegance
- Feast or Fired is back.
The main event was good, but not good enough to redeem the rest of the show. Instead of showing a video package on the Knockouts, maybe have a good match with the women. Instead of a video package about how good the X Division wrestler are, maybe have a good match with the X Division wrestlers.
But on the biggest night in TNA history: their live stream went down for 20 minutes. They showed “celebrities” in the crowd that were standing behind sections of empty seats. They did video features that featured more performers who’ve left the company than are with the company. They had only 3 matches in two hours.
Also, the ppv that’s on this Saturday has no main event.
