wrestling / TV Reports
Ciocco’s TNA Impact Review 10.22.26
Image Credit: TNA
Loading...Impact Zone! It’s Thursday Night, which means that we are in for another episode of the delight known as Impact! Coming to us from the taping sessions in Dothan, Alabama at the appropriately named Civic Center, tonight’s show is highlighted by a two out of three falls match when Jason Hotch defends his recently re-gained International Title against Mustafa Ali in a continuation of the Order-4 fallout. There will also be a number one contender’s match for a future X-Division Title shot when Rich Swann, KC Navarro, Cedric Alexander, and Fabian Aichner face-off.
Elsewhere on the show, the Son of the Phenomenal One will make his Impact in-ring debut when he takes on the clown known as Joe Alonzo. We will also hear from the former Knockouts Tag Team Champions Allie and Kiera Hogan, and Daria Rae returns from her suspension tonight. Yay, I’ve really missed her catchphrase, you know, that one. All of this and, of course, so much more in store for us tonight!
So, how are we doing on this Thursday Evening? The Flyers have managed to win three games in a row after losing their first nine (six in regulation), and the Pacers won their season opener in New Orleans. More importantly, however, is the fact that Hali is back and he looks to pick up where we left off in the 2025 Finals. As far as the Eagles go, meh.
But enough about me and enough about you, let’s get ready to brace for Impact!
Impact is LIVE (to Tape!) from the home of Roll Tide, as Tom Hannifan and Matt Rehwoldt will have the call!
I’M READY FOR YOU aka the title sequence!
The Suit has returned from her suspension! SHUTUPSHESTALKING! She is back and in power, so get used to it! And if she had been around, Indi Hartwell would never have the Knockouts World Title around her waist.
Hey, Daria said her name, and Hartwell is here! INDI chants, while Indi says welcome back Daria, we didn’t miss you. She thought her time away would do some good and humble her, but it didn’t. She is still the same jaded, bitter, selfish person. You can blame me, blame Santino, blame anyone in this building, but while you were sitting at home, I was becoming Knockouts Champion! Daria says enjoy it while it lasts. Indi says why, are you going to slap me again? She leans in for another slap, but Daria says she is showing restraint. BUT Xia Brookside is owed a contracted rematch, and Xia is getting that RIGHT NOW! Xia from the Darkside makes her way down the ramp claiming she will win her title back. We’ll find out, NEXT!
BREAK IN PROGRESS!
Knockouts World Title Match: Indi Hartwell (C) vs. Xia Brookside
Xia attacks at the bell. Thesz Press from Brookside, but Indi turns the tables. To the corner we go, as Xia elbows Indi in the face. She grabs Indi’s hair and the fans don’t like that. Hartwell frees herself and hits a forearm that sends Xia to the apron. A kick to the head and a dropkick sends Brookside to the floor. Xia goes to the title table and raises the title. Hartwell is waiting and she kicks Xia in the face and raises her title. Brookside works over the shoulder of Hartwell and throws her into the ring steps. Brookside with a stomp on the steps to Indi’s shoulder.
Back in the ring we go, as Brookside with kicks to the gut of Hartwell. Xia throws Indi down to the mat by her arm and she applies a variation of the crossarm breaker. Indi gets to her feet, but Xia hits a Codebreaker to the bad arm of Indi for a two. The most dreaded chinlock is applied, Hartwell to her feet and she elbows her way free. Xia sends Indi into the corner, but Hartwell with self-defense kicks and elbows slows down the challenger. Clothesline, off the ropes and Indi hits the Spine on the Pine for a two. Indi looking Hurts Donut, but her arm won’t cooperate. Xia applies Fujiwara Arm Bar. Indi to her feet, but Xia with the Code Breaker for a two. She screams and looks for the Dark Side DDT, no, Hurts Donut from Indi and she retains!
WINNER: Indi Hartwell (And still!)
TIME: 6:20
THOUGHTS: As far as impromptu matches go this one was pretty good. Xia dominated most of the match, but Hartwell was able to overcome the former Champion and retain her title.
RATING: ***1/4
Indi celebrates post-match, but Daria appears on the ramp. It’s a diversion so APEX can attack from behind! Shayna with the Cho-Ten-Choke, and she holds the Knockouts World Title as she poses over Indi with Zoey.
Leon Slater is feeling good, MON! And he feels like a broken record because he keeps saying is the youngest World Champion of all-time, MON! He walks into Destination-X for his first title defense against Trey Miguel. He respects Trey, and he knows that he is going to give it his all, and Slater wants that. Because if you think he is not going to enter this match…
Trey is here, and he wants to know what he was going to say. Leon says he will give it his all. JUST PLAYING, WE’RE ALL GOOD! Miguel says he is proud of Slater for winning the title. He asks Leon if he knows how many title shots he has had, Slater says no, and Miguel says one. So, just know that Trey is going to give it everything that he has in order to win the title, and Slater says he wants that. They shake again and leave.
Match run-down time! The 4-way match to determine Amazing Red’s first title defense is coming up, next!
BREAK IN PROGRESS!
Promo for Destination-X, taking place on Sunday, November 15th LIVE from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Promo for Rebel and the QR code to donate to the cause to beat ALS.
Xia Brookside is in the back and she is crying. She had it all, but she doesn’t know what she is supposed to be now. She stands up and she is holding something in her hand. It looks like an origami swan, and she leaves the screen, with her red coat on the floor.
It’s time for a 4-way (not that kind, you perv!)
4-way Dance to determine the number one contender to the X-Division Title: Fabian Aichner vs. Cedric Alexander vs. Rich Swann vs. KC Navarro
Tom mentions that the winner gets the X-Division shot next week and not at Destination-X. That’s interesting. Everyone grabs a dance partner before Navarro and Swann gang up on Aichner. Fabian overpowers them but he is taken out by Alexander. Everyone proceeds to get crazy, which is what we love about the division, as we hit the “break.”
During the “break,” Navarro misses the 305 on Swann but he rebounds with a tornado DDT. Alexander looking Lumbar Check, but Navarro with a standing SSP that is broken up by Aichner. Fabian takes Cedric to the floor, where he chucks Alexander into the ring steps. He says he is the best, but Navarro hits a basement dropkick. Swann and Navarro trade in the middle of the ring, KC with a snap Rana into the pin for a two. To the corner goes Aichner and Navarro, but here comes Swann. Both men kick out the vertical base of Aichner and hit a tandem Powerbomb. They take time to pose, but Cedric is back and he lays out both men.
Alexander slaps Navarro, who sounds like he is in heat. The fans chant one more time, but Cedric does NOT give the people what they want and instead thumbs KC in the eye lol. Alexander has Navarro on his shoulders, here comes Swann who hits KC with a crossbody from the top. Aichner is back, and Swann eats a Tilt-A-World backbreaker. Dropkick to Fabian’s ass from KC, who hits the 305. Cedric catches KC, but Navarro escapes and looks for a DDT, but no. Alexander throws Navarro to the mat and hits a kick to the head. Swann is back, he fires up, but he eats the Michinoku Driver. Aichner returns and hits a moonsault to break it up. He goes for the pin, but KC breaks that up.
KC off the ropes, and Aichner fires him into Alexander, who hits a leg drop on the way down. Hasta La Vista attempt, but Swann kicks Aichner in the back. Swann and Alexander fight to the floor, but here comes Navarro to take them both out! Everyone is on the floor except for Aichner, who jumps to the top rope and hits a crossbody block to all three men! Aichner rolls Alexander back into the ring, but here is Brian Myers with a Roster Cut to Aichner. Sidewalk Slam from Bear Bronson, and Cedric hits the moonsault and he wins the shot!
WINNER: Cedric Alexander
TIME: 9:40
THOUGHTS: I’m always going to be a sucker for these kinds of matches, where the action is always on-going and there is little downtime. I want to say I’m surprised that Alexander won again, but the title always seems to levitate around him. This could have gotten another minute or two and I would have rated it higher, but it was great for what we got.
RATING: ****
Tasha Steelz and Special Agent 0 are in the back. Tasha says it was an honor to work with him, but Order-4 is dead and gone, and so is their partnership. They shake hands, and Tasha tells him to out there and kill them. She leaves, and Zero grins and nods in approval.
The Injury Report is brought to us by LaFrance, just different!
Expressions is having a pity party for himself in the back. AJ Francis is here, and he blames Expressions for the loss last week, but he says he is proud of him. He says they should be running with TNAJFrancis, and here is Mila Moore. She says AJ couldn’t run TNA period let alone for one night, so Francis insults her taste in men. John Skyler shows up and he says that after next week when he beats AJ, Mila will be laughing even more. Expressions says Mila should ditch this dwarf and go out with a tall, handsome, and chiseled man, so Skyler grabs his hand and Expressions whimpers. John says after he beats Francis, he might break Expressions in half, and he calls him a pencil neck geek! Somewhere, Classy Freddie Blassie smiles in approval!
More promo time, as we see Avery Styles and Frankie Kazarian walking! The Hardys and Moose stop them and congratulate Avery on his first match on Impact, but Frankie wants them to keep walking, and he wants Avery to listen to him. His debut on Impact is next!
BREAK IN PROGRESS!
Promo for Destination-X, tickets are on sale now!
The System are excited in the back over Cedric’s win. The hostility continues between Myers/Bronson and Eddie, and he leaves with Alisha. Cedric says he is right about Cedric being the best, though, and he leaves, as Bronson and Myers stare off into the distance.
Joe Alonzo is out, and I couldn’t care less about what he has to say. Well, except for the line about setting up and bringing down the ring, somewhere I am sure Arik Cannon is nodding his head furiously in approval.
Avery Styles w/Frankie Kazarian vs. Joe Alonzo
Slow start to this one, as Styles takes Alonzo to the mat with a headlock takeover. Alonzo to his feet, he grabs his own side headlock, but Avery sends him off into a dropkick. Avery takes too long appreciating his work, and Alonzo hits him with some forearms. Styles to the apron, and he’s looking Phenomenal Forearm, but Alonzo skips out of the ring. He argues with Kazarian, allowing Styles the chance to hit him from behind with the Phenomenal Forearm.
Back in the ring they go, but Alonzo trips up Styles and stomps on him in the corner. Alonzo with strikes, a hammer throw, off the ropes with a springboard double axe for a two. Alonzo with cross-face punches and he locks in a sleeper. Styles fights his way free and he hits the Pele Kick! Forearms from the Phenomenal Son and he sends Alonzo to the corner. Avery with a leapfrog bulldog into a basement forearm shiver for a two. Styles looking springboard Phenomenal Forearm, but Alonzo intercepts him with an anti-air SUPERKICK! The cover, two count, as Alonzo argues with the referee. Styles to the apron, he holds on to the ropes as Alonzo hits the mat. Frankie told him to hold on to the ropes! A Phenomenal Forearm proper is followed by the Spiral Tap for his first Impact win!
WINNER: Avery Styles
TIME: 6:00
THOUGHTS: Alonzo was the perfect foil for Avery to win his first match. It wasn’t totally clean, but you can see, at the age of 19, that the talent is undeniable. Also, reviewing an Avery Styles match after watching his dad’s career in wrestling makes me feel old AF.
RATING: ***
The Elegance Brand are in the back. Maggie says that, with Ash still not around, she is appointing herself as the leader of the Elegance Brand! She is going to get them a feature on the cover of a magazine! Elyana Black is here! She laughs at this and says if Maggie was a real Champ, she would have given her five more minutes last week. Giggity. Maggie says her time is money and she doesn’t have time for Black. Elyana wants Heather to speak up to Maggie, and she tries to, but here comes Jada Stone. She says she wasn’t 100% in their finals match, and she wants a title shot. Maggie is all too eager to talk to Daria about facing Jada, so the Brand leaves. Jada says when she wins the title, she will give Black the first shot. Elyana says Maggie is scared of her.
We will hear from Allie and Kiera Hogan, next!
BREAK IN PROGRESS!
Promo for Impact in Calgary, Alberta, Canada on November 18 and 19! (Lance Storm sideways stare intensifies!)
The Rock-Hard moment of the night is the Phenomenal Forearm and Spiral Tap from Avery Styles, winning his Impact debut!
Santino Marella has exciting news for us in regard to Destination-X! He has to be quick because Daria Rae is back. As you already know, Leon Slater will face Trey Miguel for the World Title, but there will be not one, but TWO Ultimate-X matches for the Women and the Men! Santino channels his inner Billy Mays with a BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE, as the X-Cup will return! Daria Rae walks up and looks at him, but she doesn’t say a word and walks away. Marella gives us a SONOFAGUN smile!
Allie and Kiera Hogan are here! OKAY, OKAY, Allie says Bound for Glory didn’t go how they wanted it to. They lost the Knockouts Tag Team Titles, and nobody is more disappointed than I am. But anyone who knows her knows that she does not feel sorry for herself, and neither does Kiera! Allie says they want their rematch for the tag titles, and they are going to come back stronger and better than ever.
Hogan takes the mic and asks if she is finished talking, because she is tired of hearing her. She mocks Allie and says that is her problem, she walks around all sweet and smiling. They lost the titles because of Allie. Hogan says she was happy to come back to TNA, but she is tired of someone always smiling in her face while she carries the load. Now she knows why Rosemary was sent to a sanitarium. She isn’t here to babysit Allie, she is here to be a Champion. And honestly, me and you, we are DONE!
Hogan goes to leave, but she stops and says if you want it, then you can get still get it. Tasha Steelz jumps Allie from behind! Fire and Flava are reunited! Step-up leg drop from Hogan, and Steelz hits a Frog Splash from the top! The lights go out, and the video wall plays. Shotzi Blackheart is here! She lays out both Hogan and Steelz and they head up the ramp as Shotzi goes to check on Allie. Trash talk is traded, and Allie is happy to have another friend!
In the back, Harley Hudson approaches the Righteous. She wants to know if they have a minute, and Vincent says enough time has passed and he feels like the tires are still spinning. Harley says she is grateful for what they did for her, but Vincent says that isn’t the answer that he is looking for. Dutch says next week, Uncle Dutch needs an answer. They leave, as Hudson ponders this.
The main event is coming up, next!
BREAK IN PROGRESS!
Tom hypes the upcoming events to the end of the 2026 calendar year.
We see the events of last week, when Elijah was climbing the ladder for the World Title shot, and Nic Nemeth pulled him down and prevented his victory. A digital exclusive shows Elijah charging Nemeth in the back and beating the shit out of him. Security tries to break it up, but Elijah throws Nemeth out the doors and to the sidewalk.
To the here and now, and Elijah wants to know what Nic’s problem is and why he would involve himself in his business. This will not go unpunished, and Ryan Nemeth is here. For whatever reason he asks Elijah if he plays guitar like he’s dumb. Ryan says he is in a film and he shreds on guitar. He has a message from Nic, and he says his BIG BROTHER is going to kick Elijah’s ass! Elijah grabs him and just…shoves him away? It looks like he has to kick both of their asses. Out of all the segments tonight, that was one of them.
Like the Wildcard Round in Baseball, it’s time to go two out of three! But before the match, we get our obligatory break before the main.
BREAK IN PROGRESS!
We return so Mackenzie Mitchell can give us the in-ring introductions.
TNA International Title Two-out-of-three-falls match: Jason Hotch (C) vs. Mustafa Ali
Ali talks some shit as the bell rings. Early lock-up, which Hotch gets the better off. Ali turns the tables and they shove one another. Reset, Ali with the side headlock. Ali with a shoulder tackle, but Hotch kips up. The fans don’t seem to like either man, so Ali tells them to SUCK IT. Edgelord, thy name is Ali. More ground wrestling ensues. Ali swings and misses but manages to send Hotch to the apron. Hotch is back in over the back of Ali, Mustafa with a chop, but Hotch dropkicks Ali out and to the floor.
Hotch is on the attack, as he chops Ali around the ring and back into it. Ali sneaks out the side, so Hotch gives chase and introduces Ali’s face to the ring steps. Hotch looking apron German, but Ali doesn’t allow that. Hotch looking moonsault attempt, but Ali stops him and hits an apron German! Ali wants everyone at home to know that Hotch brought this all on himself. ALI SUCKS chants as he sends Hotch back into the ring. Through the ropes with the rolling neck breaker and Ali gets a two.
Ali tells Hotch that he doesn’t believe in him as he chops Hotch across the ring. Hotch fires back with kicks, but Ali tried to kill a fly that was on Hotch’s eye lid and put his thumb on it. Ali with a stack for a two and he turns it into a chinlock. Hotch to his feet, but Ali stops his momentum with a back elbow. Ali back to the apron where he hits another rolling neck breaker. Ali takes a considerable amount of time before going to the pin, allowing Hotch to kick out at two.
Ali with the chinlock again, but it’s all a ruse so he can gouge both of Jason’s eyes. Ali taunts the fans, allowing Hotch to roll him up for a two. Ali gets angry and clotheslines Hotch to the mat. Ali again goes to the apron, but his third rolling neck breaker is countered with a DDT by Top Notch Hotch! Ali and Hotch trade back slides and roll-ups, but it’s Ali who manages to stack up Hotch and he takes the first round!
Ali gets the first fall at 9:27: Ali has a 1-0 lead
Hotch goes on the attack as we start the second round. Bell Clap from Ali, but Hotch kicks him square on the ear. Ali to the floor, where Hotch takes him out with a Tope! Hotch to the top rope, but Ali rolls out of the ring. Hotch to the opposite corner and he nails Ali with a Moonsault! Hotch tries to indent the ring apron with Ali’s face, and Mustafa stumbles away. He grabs the International Title, and he smacks Jason in the face with it, and Referee Paige disqualifies him!
Hotch gets the second fall by DQ when Ali smacks Hotch with the title belt at 11:37: the match is tied 1-1
Ali beats up on Hotch some more on the floor and he sends him back to the ring. Ali pins Hotch once, twice, three times, but he kicks out every time. Ali argues this with Paige, Hotch charges in, but Ali throws Jason into Paige. Ali punches Hotch in the balls, he rips off Jason’s belt, and he proceeds to whip him with it as if he were Devo. Ali takes his time to celebrate his handiwork, but he is blocked by Hotch, who smacks him one. Hotch has the belt now, and he thinks about it before whipping Ali like he, too, were Devo.
Hotch follows Ali to the floor where he continues to whip him, but he gets a little overzealous and throws Hotch into the ring post. Ali throws Hotch onto the apron; he tells the commentary team to clear out and is looking for a Superplex. Hotch shoves Ali to the floor, who flips and lands on his feet. Hotch from the top, but he jumps into an anti-air SUPERKICK! Ali returns Hotch to the ring, but he runs into a Spanish Fly! The cover, but Paige is late into the ring and Ali kicks out at two.
THIS IS AWESOME chants as Ali and Hotch rip off their wrist tape and here come the fists! Hotch and Ali follow each other into the corner, but Ali hits a belly-to-belly Suplex in the corner. Mustafa to the top, 450, no, Hotch sends Ali into his favorite spot where he plays Human Crash Test Dummy into the second turnbuckle! Hotch with the X-Knee and he wins the second fall and retains his title!
WINNER: Jason Hotch (Two falls to one, and still!)
TIME: 18:45
THOUGHTS: The match started off slowly, but as Matt pointed out, this type of match is a marathon and not a sprint. But Boy Howdy, when it hit sprint speed, did it ever take off. Another amazing match between two great wrestlers, and hopefully this isn’t the end of the feud just yet.
RATING: ****1/4
Post-match, Hotch celebrates his win, and here comes Leon Slater! Leon is so happy for Jason, he told Hotch that he didn’t need Mustafa Ali and he has proven that. They were both told that they would have to wait to get their turn, but there day is today, and they are on top of the World! Both men hit the corner and pose, and with that, we are done!
Or are we, as we get a video promo for syX. They will not be content until they have killed the Hardys. Next week, they want another match, and they want them step into their World, they will be waiting!
And with that, we are factually and actually done!
