RESULTS:
- Advantage Match: Lexis King over Matt Cardona
- The Elegance Brand over Myla Grace & Harley Hudson
- #1 Contender’s Match: Cedric Alexander over BDC, Dezmond Xavier, Jake Something, Jason Hotch & Ryan Nemeth (Recommended)
- Eddie Edwards & Brian Myers over Judas Icarus & Travis Williams
- Dog Collar Match: Dani Luna over Indi Hartwell
The King’s Speech
Frankie Kazarian is out to begin the show and brags about beating and “retiring” JDC at Final Resolution. He is the new face of AMC and calls the fans, “Angry, salty marks” and will be the champion for a long time.
Mike Santana interrupted and spoke from the stands. He can’t be mad at Kazarian because he saw an opportunity and seized it, but then admitted he was pissed. He must handle this strategically and have Kazarian walking around worried. Then, he promoted Team TNA vs. Team NXT in a steel cage next week.
He said he pulls the trigger on January 17 at Genesis for a title match, but Kazarian says, “That doesn’t work for me, brother”. Santana says the title is coming back and gets a contractual rematch.
Stacks In-Law
Team NXT is in the back, Lexis King says, “TNA will not die,” and calls Matt Cardona “a glorified backyard wrestler”. High Ryze called out The Hardys again, and it ends with Stacks Lorenzo telling Santino Marella he’s a good director of authority but a terrible father. They will continue their takeover of TNA next week.
Lexis King vs. Matt Cardona
The two are wrestling for the advantage in the steel cage match next week. Yes, this completes the trifecta of AEW, WWE, and TNA doing a War Games-type match within a month of each other.
King attacked his left arm, which Cardona held throughout the match. The Unprettier was stopped, and King hit a superkick. King got the cane and distracted the referee as Stacks ran in, took Radio Silence, but King snuck from behind to roll him up with a schoolboy and win.
WINNER: Lexis King
Stacks jumped Cardona, and King struck the injured arm with his cane. Steve Maclin ran down to clear them out of the ring.
This was such a short match with a run-in and a distraction. It was just a backdrop to injure Cardona, and during the “Injury Report,” they announced he was out of the steel cage match.
Lei Ying Lee and Xia Brookside spoke about their match at Final Resolution. They push and elevate each other and are still the Angel Warriors. Robert Stone walked in with Victoria Crawford, Tessa Blanchard, and Mila Moore. Blanchard insulted Lee, and the only reason she hasn’t come for the title is that she hasn’t decided to. They indicated they’ll be having a tag match first.
Harley Hudson & Myla Grace vs. The Elegance Brand
The Concierge insulted the El Paso crowd as “welfare degenerates” while carrying a Christmas present. The Elegance Brand entered dressed as elves with gifts. They tried to attack Hudson & Grace with the packages before the bell rang.
M faked an ankle injury but then popped up and served no purpose.
Grace came off the rope and hit a Code Red. Hudson took the gift and slammed it over the Concierge’s head. Grace ran Heather into the Concierge on the around and into an O’Connor roll, but M reversed it from the floor, and Heather pinned Grace. This was right in front of the referee.
WINNERS: The Elegance Brand
Gia Miller spoke with Rich Swann after he attacked AJ Francis at Final Resolution and helped Leon Slater. He shared a story of meeting AJ Francis on a plane and suggesting he be a pro wrestler, and it turned out he was on a flight to go for a tryout. Swann is done being disrespected as a former champion and won’t be held down. Francis attacked him and said, “You’re being held down now”.
Jake Something vs. Ryan Nemeth vs. Cedric Alexander vs. BDE vs. Dezmond Xavier vs. Jason Hotch
The winner will receive an X Division title shot against Leon Slater.
Alexander hit a dragon screw, followed by a Michinoku Driver on Hotch. BDE went for a reverse crossbody off the middle rope and was caught and dropped by Jake Something. Hotch hit a moonsault to the floor, followed by Xavier with a Space Flying Tiger Drop. Nemeth returned to the match and cut off BDE as he went for his own dive. Nemeth grabbed a chair when Mara Sade came and had a tug-of-war and superkicked Nemeth. Hotch ran into a standing Spanish Fly by Alexander. BDE hit a springboard cutter on Xavier for a near-fall and followed with a Frog Splash to Something, but was grabbed by Alexander and pinned BDE after a Lumbar Check.
Really entertaining X Division scramble and the best match of the show.
WINNER: Cedric Alexander
The System is continuing to scout and has heard of a hot tag team. JDC and Eddie Edwards are still going to have their match at Genesis and promise that both will “bring it” for JDC’s retirement.
Kazarian complained to Santino Marella about the rematch clause by Santana at Genesis. Marella agreed he needs new challengers and ends up stating that Kazarian will defend the belt in three weeks against the winner of a battle royal, again on January 15 for the premiere on AMC, and at Genesis with Santana.
The NXT crew walks in and laughs about Cardona being out of the cage match. Stacks told Marella to make it a 4-on-5 match and stop being a “controlling father”, leading to Arianna Grace slapping Stacks.
Judas Icarus & Travis Williams vs. Eddie Edwards & Brian Myers
Edwards hit the Backpack Stunner on Williams and was saved by Icarus. Myers dropped Icarus on the apron, and they double-teamed Williams with a Roster Cut and Boston Knee Party to win.
WINNERS: Eddie Edwards & Brian Myers
They shook hands, raised the arms of Sinner & Saint.
Die Hardys
The Hardys are out, mention being in El Paso, and can feel Eddy Guerrero’s presence. They discuss the steel cage match and being down a man with Matt Cardona injured. They need to defend and protect TNA because 2026 will be their biggest year ever.
The Righteous interrupt, “For those of you who don’t know who we are”, Vincent introduces himself and Dutch. Vincent says they admire The Hardys and call them “Gods”. The crowd was drowning them out with boos and didn’t seem interested at all. Matt called their fans “The Die-Hardys”. They don’t look at the Hardys as opponents, but are grateful for changing tag team wrestling forever. They will be watching the cage match.
Santino Marella and Arianna Grace walk out to announce that he is replacing Matt Cardona in the steel cage match next week.
NEXT WEEK:
- Steel Cage Match: The Hardys, Mike Santana, Steve Maclin & Santino Marella vs. Stacks Lorenzo, High Ryze, Brooks Jensen & Lexis King
- 20-man battle royal for a TNA World Heavyweight title shot
- Lei Ying Lee & Xia Brookside vs. Tessa Blanchard & Mila Moore
- Elijah in concert
Dani Luna vs. Indi Hartwell in a Dog Collar Match
The dog collar is attached around their necks. Luna yanks the chain, and Hartwell responds by whipping Luna.
Luna tries to leave and is restrained by the chain, and Hartwell is not letting her exit. Luna returns to the ring and wraps the chain around Hartwell’s face. Luna tied Hartwell around the post with the chain and landed a big boot. Luna pulled on the chain, driving Hartwell’s shoulder into the post twice, then Hartwell blocked and pulled Luna into the post and busted her open.
Hartwell pulled Luna off the turnbuckle and into a spine buster for a two-count. Luna grabbed a bag of powder but was stopped by Hartwell. Luna shoved Hartwell into the referee and hit the Luna Landing and won.
WINNER: Dani Luna
Luna’s was covered in blood and made for a spectacular visual to end the show. It was another good match on this show and probably Hartwell’s best since coming to TNA.
They did an effective job promoting the steel cage match and teasing whether Arianna Grace is with NXT or TNA, and showing a confused look when her father inserted himself into the match.
The Righteous have had two rough segments since debuting, and despite the microphone time, I didn’t get the vibe that the crowd was excited to see this feud, but they did react to them.
Everything is geared toward the AMC debut, and I believe Tom Hannifan mentioned it 250 times tonight.
