Results
- Cedric Alexander def. Moose (9:59)
- Indi Hartwell def. M By Elegance (9:06)
- Eric Young, Steve Maclin, Trey Miguel, and Eddie Edwards def. Mance Warner, AJ Francis, Ryan Nemeth, Rich Swann, The Home Town Man, John Skyler & Jason Hotch (Feast or Fired) (8:18)
- Jeff Hardy def. Mustafa Ali (15:30)
Cedric Alexander opens Impact with sneaky win over Moose
In a rare second consecutive live episode of Impact, TNA visited the Tingley Coliseum in Albuquerque, New Mexico this week. This was the follow-up to their AMC premiere last week, an incredibly high-stakes show which unfortunately ended up being critically panned. A recap of last week’s episode, which most notably saw Mike Santana capture the TNA World Championship, got the program started on Thursday night. We didn’t see any sort of recap of TNA’s pay-per-view from last weekend, which is a little odd… I mean, it wasn’t a particularly notable event, but still, maybe could’ve been given a mention.
The first matchup of the night saw Cedric Alexander and Moose face off in singles action. These two made up part of a three-way bout as part of Genesis last weekend also featuring Joe Hendry. Moose, who has been selling a back injury ever since he took a nasty steel stairs bump on Saturday, took a Uranage on the ring apron from Alexander. Moose regained some momentum with an Irish Whip into the steel steps and a series of kicks, but Alexander got back into the fight with a suplex onto the mat.
Back in the ring, Alexander got a near fall with a top-rope frogsplash. The former 205 Live talent got another two-count a minute later with a flatliner. Alexander threw a series of forearms at Moose, but the past X-Division champ built back up to his feet while taking the blows.
Moose knocked Alexander back with a front kick, landed a Uranage, then a senton. Alexander was peeled off the middle rope for a Go To Hell chokeslam, but kicked out at two.
Moose came running off the ropes but had his line interrupted by a Michinoku Driver from Alexander for a two-count of his own. Moose won a striking exchange, but his momentum from that back-and-forth was broken up by a Spanish Fly from Alexander.
Alexander leaped off the ropes for a move but instead ate a mid-air headbutt from Moose. A slick series of reversals between these two ended with Alexander rolling up Moose for the pinfall win in just under 10 minutes.
Solid performance from two of the better in-ring performers on the TNA roster currently. While this match lacked any real story, making it just a plain bout between two babyfaces, it was nice to see TNA waste little time and get straight to wrestling this week, considering the previous two-hour episode featured 30-or-so minutes of wrestling.
Mike Santana is ready for whoever is next
TNA World Champion Mike Santana hit the ring for the next segment, addressing fans for the first time since he reclaimed the belt last week.
Santana played a voicemail from his late father, who once told him that he deserves to get to the top in wrestling. This caused a “You deserve it!” chant to break out.
Santana reflected on his return to TNA two years ago at Rebellion in 2024, when he said that he was coming for the “top spot” in the promotion. He said that ever since that day, he has given every single thing he could do get to that spot.
The champ gave respect to Kazarian after their two battles last week. He acknowledged that he has a huge target on his back, with Nic Nemeth still having a future title opportunity via the Call Your Shot gauntlet and another future challenger being crowned tonight with Feast or Fired. Santana says he likes having his back up against the wall.
“They said I’d never be the guy,” Santana said. “But I stand before all of you as the guy! And why is that? Because I earned my way here, I deserve to be here, but most of all, I belong to be here.”
Santana’s babyface promos have been heaters as of late, and this was no exception. He’s incredible on the mic and talks like the top star in TNA that he is. Great segment.
Indi Hartwell earns pin victory, but The Elegance Brand get last laugh
Knockouts action was next, with Indi Hartwell taking on M By Elegance.
M was quick to cheat in this match, using her Personal Concierge to help attack Hartwell’s feet on the ring apron. The referee was distracted by TNA newcomer Mr. Elegance as this spot happened. M had control of the match as they went to a break.
Hartwell countered a springboard move from M into a spinebuster as the show returned. She connected with a pair of lariats then a bulldog for a two-count. A Hurts Donut from Hartwell was escaped by M twice, who countered the second one into a roll-up attempt. Hartwell reversed into her own roll-up (like we saw in the previous match) for the win in nine minutes. A large portion of this match took place during commercials.
The Elegance Brand attacked Hartwell after the match. But, in a surprising turn, Ash By Elegance got between Hartwell and the rest of the faction, urging them to stop beating down on her. This wasn’t received well by M, who shoved the Elegance Brand leader.
The Elegance Brand started to circle Ash, seemingly about to possibly turn on her with an attack. This standoff was interrupted by Lei Ying Lee and Xia Brookside, who hit the ring to even the odds. But then, Ash attacked the babyface squad alongside the rest of the Elegance Brand. Quite the smart ruse by this group.
Backstage, the Elegnace Brand welcomed Ash “back,” so it seems like maybe she’ll be actually wrestling again? We’ll see soon.
Trey Miguel returns as part of first Feast or Fired match in three years
In its first appearance since 2023, the infamous Feast or Fired match was next. For those who forgot how it works: Four briefcases sit above the ring. One has a world title shot, one has an X-Division title shot, and one has an International title opportunity. The fourth, however, has a Pink Slip, which will fire the wrestler who retrieves it. The contents of the briefcases will be revealed next week.
Mance Warner, AJ Francis, Ryan Nemeth, Rich Swann, The Home Town Man, Eric Young, John Skyler, Jason Hotch, Eddie Edwards, Steve Maclin, and, surprisingly, Trey Miguel were competing in this one. Miguel was expected to join AEW along with the rest of The Rascalz, but then he was shockingly released last week. The broadcast announced that TNA has re-signed Miguel.
Miguel wiped out most of the field with a huge dive over the top rope and to the outside. The Home Town Man, performing in front of his fans in Albuquerque, did a splash off the top rope and to the rest of the group. With everyone down and out, he was able to retrieve a briefcase. However, the rule is that you haven’t earned the briefcase until you hit the ground at ringside.
The Home Town Man was unmasked on the ring apron by Young, causing him to drop the briefcase. Young stole it while at ringside, making him officially the first person to earn a briefcase in this bout. Maclin retrieved a briefcase of his own next (unforunately I have a creeping feeling that he’s getting the axe next week, but we’ll see).
Edwards slammed Warner onto a pair of set-up steel chairs in the ring, one of the nastier bumps in this match. However, the spot was outdone moments later by a Down Payment chokeslam at ringside from Francis onto Swann, which also looked quite painful.
Miguel tossed Nemeth out of a corner of the ring with a release German Suplex then escaped to the floor with the third briefcase.
Myers did a huge dive out of a corner of the ring and onto numerous wrestlers at ringside, trying to clear the way for Edwards to take the final briefcase. Francis stood in the ring, hoping to snatch the briefcase from Edwards after he grabbed hold of it.
Edwards tossed the briefcase into Francis’ hands then scored a top-rope dropkick to the towering ex-NFL player. This spot allowed Edwards to escape with the briefcase, ending the match.
To recap: Briefcases were earned by Eric Young, Steve Maclin, Trey Miguel, and Eddie Edwards.
Mike Santana and Ryan Nemeth got into a fight backstage after Nemeth mentioned the champ’s daughter during trash talk. Nemeth, seemingly looking for a fight, got into BDE’s face just minutes later. BDE challenged Nemeth to a match for next week.
Elayna Black to make TNA debut next week, Arianna Grace apologizes to Santino Marella
Elayna Black (F.K.A. Cora Jade), TNA’s latest Knockouts division signing, appeared on-stage for a promo in the next segment.
Black said that after her performance on next week’s episode, it’ll be clear that she’s next in line for the Knockouts title (isn’t Dani Luna next in line? Anyway). Very quick promo from Black here to remind us that she’s around.
Backstage, Arianna Grace approached Santino Marella with an apology for how poorly she has treated her over the past few months. She hugged a deflated-looking Marella as she begged for forgiveness, eventually causing the TNA GM to give in. Grace is back on Marella’s good side… For now. Will be interesting to see how this dynamic works with Stacks going forward, especially since a big part of their act was being egregiously disrespectful to her father.
Jeff Hardy takes down Order Four’s leader in main event
The main event of the night saw Jeff Hardy go one-on-one with Mustafa Ali. The cliques from both sides got into it early on, as Order Four’s Tasha Steelz attacked Matt Hardy at ringside.
Hardy was struggling as the show went to a break. After the program returned, Hardy scored a Twist of Fate off the ring apron and onto a steel staircase set up nearby. Both wrestlers narrowly beat a count-out after that spot.
Hardy continued to gain some momentum in the ring, putting together a combination of moves ending with an elbow drop for a two-count. Ali escaped another Twist of Fate then came running full-force at Hardy in a corner of the ring. Hardy jumped over Ali, causing the Order Four leader to hit the turnbuckles hard. Steelz got on Ali’s back, and Hardy took them both out with a Twist of Fate (didn’t we see this exact same spot last week?).
Ali grabbed a TNA tag title but had it taken away by Matt Hardy. Matt battled with The Great Hands and Special Agent 0 at ringside before getting dropped by Ali.
A rolling neckbreaker attempt from Ali was reversed by Hardy into a Twist of Fate. The TNA legend came off the top with a Swanton Bomb, but Ali dodged the move then came off the top with a 450 Splash. Surprisingly, Hardy kicked out!
Ali was about to follow up with another move but then got distracted by Elijah, who strummed his guitar on stage. Hardy landed a third Twist of Fate then connected with the Swanton Bomb to win in 15 minutes.
While The Hardys are a shell of their former selves (as would anyone after a stunning more than three-decades in the industry), they are still over as hell. The New Mexico crowd came unglued for Jeff’s win here. The match was enjoyable, even if it was maybe a little overbooked towards the end.
Here’s what TNA announced for next week’s Impact:
- Nic Nemeth vs. BDE
- Elijah vs. Jason Hotch
- Elayna Black in action
- Feast or Fired cases revealed
- AJ Francis vs. Rich Swann (No Holds Barred)
The System betrays Moose & JDC, reveals their replacements
Tonight’s episode came to a close with The System announcing its newest member. After JDC retired from wrestling at Genesis last weekend, the faction had an open spot that was going to get filled tonight.
JDC got on the mic and said he has “personally hand-picked” the group’s newest member. He’s not only going to be the future of The System, but the wrestling business as a whole, he claimed. Who was it going to be? Bear Bronson.
But the biggest reveal had yet to come… After Bronson hit the ring, Eddie Edwards suddenly hit JDC with a low blow! Bronson and Myers attacked Moose. Cedric Alexander came charging down to the ring for the save with a steel chair in hand. But then, he hit Moose in the back with the chair!
Edwards got on the mic and announced that The System was not only replacing one member, but two. JDC and Moose are out, Bronson and Alexander are in. TNA’s production truck maybe doesn’t have a censor button, as a very clear “Fuck The System” chant was heard for a moment. The System is heel once again and has a new lineup.
Bronson has a huge ceiling and could be a breakout star for TNA in 2026, but he needed something that would keep him on TV every week. Alexander is, as we all know, a stellar worker, but has been kind of floating around the product and not properly utilized over the past year. So, I think putting them in this faction is good. Not sure if I would’ve headlined the night with this, but nonetheless, I like it.
Final thoughts
Tonight’s TNA was a significant improvement from the dumpster fire that was last week. We saw some decent matches and a few interesting storylines moved along. Some segments lacked a “Why” factor (e.x. Why are we seeing Cedric Alexander vs. Moose? Why is Indi Hartwell facing M By Elegance?). But, after how bad last weekend went for the company, an inoffensive two-hour program which wasn’t must-see TV almost feels like a win.
