wrestling / TV Reports
Ciocco’s TNA Impact Review 5.14.26
Image Credit: TNA
Loading...Impact Zone! It’s Thursday Night, which means that TNA Impact is here to provide us with 120 minutes of some total non-stop action!
(Sorry, not sorry, Kaval)
Tonight’s show will be LIVE from the Sacramento Memorial Auditorium in, if you can believe it, Sacramento, California! And without much further ado, let’s get into the headlines for Impact!
So, how is everyone doing on this Thursday Night? The 2026 NFL regular season schedule will release tonight at 8:00PM Eastern, but I’ll just lament the same frustration that I did last night with the piece by piece reveal to this point. I feel like the schedule should just be released all at once or, at the very least, reveal the opening game of the season, since we know that the defending Champions take part in it. Also, the Pacers got screwed out of keeping their first round pick this year in a loaded draft class, but hey, we got Zubac out of it, and Hali will be back next year, so it’s all good.
But enough about me and enough about you, let’s get ready to brace for Impact!
Tonight, Impact is LIVE from Sacramento, California! As always, Tom Hannifan and Matt Rehwoldt are on the call!
Leon Slater video package opens us up. We go back to last year’s version of Slammiversary, where he defeated Moose for the X-Division Title. You may recall we also got an AJ Styles cameo out of it! That night, he made TNA history, when he won the X-Title. Now, he can make history for the longest reigning X-Champion!
I’M READY FOR YOU! (The Title sequence, that is)
Oh shit, we’re wasting no time tonight!
TNA World Heavyweight Title Battle Royale
I see Eric Young, Vincent, Dutch, and the Hometown Man in the ring already. Elijah gets an entrance, as do the System. Holy crap, Mustafa Saed is here! He’s one-half of the former Gangsters with New Jack, in case anyone didn’t know. Apparently, he is from Sacramento.
The bell rings, as Saed clobbers people with weapons that he brought to the ring. Special Agent Zero and Saed throw hands now. Well, it was nice seeing Saed, because Zero eliminates him. Dutch gets in Zero’s face now, and more hands are traded. Zero runs into Death Walks, and the System sneak in and eliminate both Zero and Dutch!
BDE is eliminated by Mr. Elegance, and the HTM eliminates him, sporting his Chris Webber jersey lol. The System gang up on HTM, but he hangs on to the ropes. Brian Myers is eliminated, so Eddie and Bronson attack HTM. Jason Hotch uses eliminated wrestlers to get back into the ring, but Elijah hits him with a running knee, and he is eliminated. Apparently, Vincent was eliminated, and Frankie Kazarian eliminated the HTM. The hometown fans are PISSED!
Speaking of Kazarian, Elijah eliminates him, and we have our final four of Elijah, Eric Young, Bronson, and Eddie. But wait, Kazarian grabs Elijah by the hair, but he still eliminates Bronson and Edwards! Young throws Elijah over the top rope, but he hangs on. Elijah tries to drag EY to the floor, but he won’t go. Chops are traded, Young grabs Elijah’s hair, but Elijah with strikes. Young kicks him in the dick, and Elijah crumbles to the floor!
WINNER: Eric Young
TIME: 5:00
THOUGHTS: Well, they didn’t mess around there. Young did beat EC3 last week, so maybe they are going to get behind him now. Not too much to go on here, overall.
RATING: ***
Gia Miller is in the back, and the X-Division Champion Leon Slater is here! Miller tells us that, if he defeats Cedric Alexander tonight, then he becomes the longest reigning champion of all-time. Slater says it is about legacy, and he knows that tonight is a 2 out of 3 falls match, and he knows that he cannot get “lucky” again. But after 300 days after champion, if he doesn’t know what he is rizzing doing, then he doesn’t know why he is here. Tonight, he goes from the youngest, to the greatest, YA HEAR ME?
Matt and Jeff Hardy did, apparently, as they stop by to wax poetic about their success in TLC matches and wish Slater good luck tonight.
Lei Ying Lee is walking, and she will speak to us next!
COMMERCIALS! This week, I’m getting no archived footage, just a shot of the ring in silence lol.
Gia now had Order-4 in the back. Gia states the obvious that they didn’t win the Battle Royale, but Ali had some words. Ali yells that everyone here has let him down. Apparently, he found a genie, and he granted Mustafa three wishes. Ali says he wants to be the best ever, and the genie says he still has three wishes. He will defend his International Title next week, and he stalks off. Gia tells Hotch he did well tonight, and Jason says thanks.
Eric Young cuts into view. Joe Hendry, GONE! Ricky Sosa, GONE! Mike Santana, you drew the short straw, and I will take your World Heavyweight Title!
Lei Ying Lee is here, and the new champion looks amazing, as always! Lee grabs a mic and we get YOU DESERVE IT chants. Last week was the best night of my life! I’m fighting my whole life for this moment! I beat Ariana Grace, and now, I am the second time Knockouts World Champion! I’m so proud of myself that I can bring this title back home to TNA! TNA chants. She apologizes because her English is not good, but she always wants to speak from the bottom of her heart. But the words in Chinese don’t mean the same, so she wants to say THANK YOU! THANK YOU! She couldn’t have done this without you guys!
Well, she was banned from ring side last week, but Xia Brookside is here now. You can celebrate all you want, but I have my eyes on that title, and sooner or later, it is coming to me! Lee says that she is sick of Xia, and she breaks out the Mandarin. Xia says she is not translating anymore, and she will have to learn to speak to her dumbass fans. Lee says that she will fight her right here and right now, BITCH!
Xia approaches the ring, but she backs off. You are so stupid, Xia would never wrestle in a cesspool like Sacramento! She has already mentally destroyed Lee, she will destroy her spiritually, and she will destroy her physically. She calls her the proper Mandarin term for BITCH. See, Xia did translate after all!
AJ Francis and KC Navarro are walking in the back. The Sac-Town street fight is up next!
COMMERCIALS! Arena shot again, except this time, we see Mackenzie Mitchell introduce the announcer of the A’s. Gia Miller also walks out to the ring side area. This is more fascinating than the achieve footage, NGL.
DO YOU WANT TO KNOW SOMETHING screams Alisha Edwards as we return. Eddie says he was robbed of a World Title shot tonight, but they’ll get back there with Moose out of the way. Myers says he doesn’t want to hear Moose’s stupid name again because they broke him, and you can’t beat the System. Bronson screams it so much that Alisha has to calm him down. Alexander says that Moose is a non-factor, and tonight, you think that Slater will make history. WRONG! Cedric is putting an end to his fairytale run!
Promo for the film Over Your Dead Body, on May 26th!
Oh, now I know why Gia was at ring side, as she interviews “The Dean of Mean” Keith Jardine about his role in Over Your Dead Body. Iceman is trying to interrupt, but Jardine keeps talking anyway lol. Iceman wants Jardine to stare at Mr. Elegance, because he is a real man. Ash, Maggie, and Heather say that Jardine is jealous of Mr. Elegance, but Keith says that he makes him want to puke. Jardine tells Iceman to gather up his hoes and get out of here. We get security on the scene to keep them apart. Interestingly enough, Iceman was closer to fighting Jardine than Mr. Elegance lol.
Lockdown returns August 23rd in Chicago!
Sac-Town Street Fight: AJ Francis vs. KC Navarro
And now I know why the A’s announcer was introduced, because Chris Caray, the grandson of Harry Carry, will be on commentary for this match. Apparently, he brought a baseball bat and a batting helmet.
Navarro slowly makes his way to the ring. Francis goes on the attack, but Navarro ducks and goes on the attack instead. Navarro takes way too long to bring out a table from under the ring, allowing Francis to attack him from behind. Francis shoves the table back under the ring. Pure heel lol. Back in the ring, and Francis looks for the Down Payment, but Navarro fights out of it. Francis looking Styles Clash, but KC with a snap Rana. Navarro with the 305 in between the ropes!
Francis hits the floor, and here comes Navarro, but AJ catches him. It doesn’t matter, though, because Navarro still plants Francis with a DDT! KC brings out the table and sets it up, much to the delight of the fans. Francis ends up scooping up Navarro, but KC ends up getting run into the ring steps. Francis looking Down Payment through the table, but KC escapes and clobbers Francis with a chair. KC shoves Francis into the ring steps and he poses on the steps.
Tom says we’re going to the break, but we’re still live on TNA+, as we see Navarro setting up another table right next to the one already set-up. Navarro chases Francis back into the ring, but AJ cuts him off and throws him into the corner. Francis grabs the chair that KC had and he chokes him with it. Francis sets up the chair in KC’s face, and he hits a Tennessee Whiskey. Francis wraps KC’s arms around the ring post, and he talks smack to the camera.
Francis picks up Navarro and slams him spine first onto the ring apron. Francis heads over to the announce desk and grabs a garbage can. Navarro fights back for a second, but Francis plants KC with a Spinebuster on the apron. Francis taunts the fans before picking Navarro back up. He goes over to one barricade, but he ends up carrying KC to another barricade before vaulting him into the ring post.
Caray no longer has his baseball bat, as Francis stelas it from him and looks to line up Navarro. KC ducks the first swing, jumps over the second swing, and shoves Francis into the ring steps. Navarro takes Caray’s helmet, puts it on, and hits Francis in the ribs with the bat. Back in the ring, and Navarro comes off the top with a shot to the dome. KC puts the garbage can in front of Francis, he “hits a homerun”, he runs the “bases” and then kicks the garbage can into Francis. Fameasser from Navarro, but Francis kicks out at two.
Navarro puts the garbage can on AJ’s head, and he strikes the can with the bat! KC switches out the garbage can and throws in seven chairs instead. KC smacks him with the seventh chair and hits a thrust kick. KC to the top, but Francis gets off the chairs and throws the bat in his face. Francis to the top, AVALANCHE DOWN PAYMENT, BUT KC COUNTERS WITH A CUTTER FROM THE TOP! The cover, but Francis kicks out at 2.5!
THIS IS AWESOME chants, as Navarro beats Francis with a chair. He folds up the other six chairs and lays all on Francis. AJ throws the chairs off, he catches KC from the top, but Navarro escapes the goozle. Big boot from Francis, and he goozles Navarro. FRANCIS THROWS NAVARRO OUT OF THE RING AND THROUGH THE TWO TABLES AT RINGSIDE! Francis returns Navarro and gets the pin and the win.
WINNER: AJ Francis
TIME: 15:00
THOUGHTS: Equal parts comedy, equal parts athleticism, and equal parts brutal. Francis could have very well returned Navarro to the IL with that Down Payment through the tables.
RATING: ***3/4
We go back in the Delorian to last year’s Slammiversary, when Leon Slater defeated Moose to become X-Division Champion.
To the here and the now, as Mike Santana enters through the fans. We will hear from the World Heavyweight Champion, next!
COMMERCIALS! This time, we see Santana make his entrance and take his time for the commercial break. Hannifan and Rehwoldt mumble about Chris Caray doing a good job on commentary. I mean, he IS a Caray.
And we’re back, as Santana is in the ring with a mic. Hey yo, I can do this all night, baby! But before I get started, Aye Yo Sacramento, what’s good? You damn right, I knew y’all were coming, you were the first ones to the party and the last to leave. Hey, really quick, where I come from, I learned to take my action with my fists. He was brought up to always fight.
Speaking of fight, it looks like he has a new challenger on his hands in Eric Young. He considers him a foundational piece, and even though he is crazy now, he gets respect from his peers. But news flash, Santana doesn’t care, because he has beaten them all. You may have helped to build this place, but here on AMC, week after week, he holds down the brand.
The Suit Daria Rae is here. She wants to congratulate him on his success, but she wants Mike to know that Eric Young isn’t his next title contender. Remember that the ref stopped the match when you faced Steve Maclin, so you didn’t beat him. Santana says you’re right; he didn’t beat him; he dropped his ass. Daria says shut up; she’s talking! And speaking of talking, she spoke to the doctors, and Maclin has been cleared to return, and next week, Santana will defend the World Title against him. And she didn’t have to run that by Santino because he isn’t here.
Well, she knows NOTHING, because Santino that SONOFAGUN is here! He wants to know how Sacramento is doing tonight. He had his flight canceled, and he wonders who did that. He likes Daria’s match that she made for next week, but he has announcements of his own. First all, Indi Hartwell, who helped him to get his suspension overturned, has been re-signed! And there are two champions that he can be proud of in Lee and Santana holding it down. Daria says he is a bad father for being happy his daughter lost, but Santino says he does not like that scum bucket Stacks. He wishes he could get his hands on that SONOFAGUN.
Santana says he has heard enough and is tired of this argument. It doesn’t matter who he faces, because he will put that boot in their ass, they will be outlined in chalk, and they will spin the block.
The Injury report is now brought to us by Over Your Dead Body!
The Knockouts tag match is coming up next!
COMMERCIALS! Back to the arena view!
We see Cedric Alexander wrapping his wrists in the back. We see Leon Slater doing jumping jacks (or something like that) in the back.
Diamonds are Forever!
Mila Moore and Victoria Crawford W/Tessa Blanchard vs. Rosemary and Allie W/Mara Sade
Moore and Rosemary to start this off. Moore uses her height advantage to taunt Rosemary, so Rosemary goozles her, takes her to the corner, and she bites her! Paige the ref admonishes her, so Allie bites Moore lol. Sidewalk slam/neck breaker combination by Allie and Rosemary, but Moore kicks out at two. Allie with kicks to Moore and a running knee to the head. Corner clothesline to Moore, she slumps down, and Allie hits a running forearm.
Allie grabs Moore by the hair and goes to the top. Blanchard distracts Allie, allowing Moore to escape and she kicks Allie in the face. Moore clobbers Allie and chokes her out on the second rope. Crawford tags in, and she throws Allie to the corner. Hair whip Beal from Crawford, and the pin, but Allie kicks out at two. Victoria with a headlock, Allie to her feet, but Crawford rips her down to the mat. Another pin, another two.
Moore tags in, and she works over Allie in their corner. Crawford with the tag, and she hits a running boot to Allie from the apron. The pin, but Allie again is out at two. Another tag to Moore, but Allie fights her off and hits a swinging neck breaker. Rosemary finally gets the tag, and she meets Crawford with clotheslines and a sling blade! Corner clothesline and an Exploder from Rosemary! Crawford reverses her, but Rosemary hits a reverse DDT. The pin, but Moore makes the save.
They work over Rosemary, but Allie grabs Crawford by the hair and they do a double tarantula! Blanchard tries to get involved, but Sade rips her from the apron and hits a thrust kick! Allie with a DVD to Moore on the floor, as Rosemary hits As Above, So Below to Crawford for the win!
WINNERS: Rosemary and Allie
TIME: 6:25
THOUGHTS: Rosemary and Allie are a great team, but I can’t help but feel like these six ladies have been involved for a bit too long now.
RATING: ***
AMC Promo for the show up next. Isn’t the show live NOW?
We get one final look at Cedric and Leon in the back, as the main event is heading our way next!
COMMERCIALS! Arena shot is what we got!
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH YES! Matt Hardy is here post-break. He calls the Righteous children, because they wanted to release the Broken from their universe. What you have done is unlock something from Matt Hardy, which is Damacus, and now, you have unlocked something in Jeffery Hardy. Matt invites Vincent and Dutch to the battlefield next week, where the battle is non-stopping. They might be charismatic and talented, but the Hardy’s are gods, and they will realize that next week. Jeff sings that the Righteous have classified themselves as obsolete.
It’s time for the MAIN EVENT!
Two-out-of-three falls for the X-Division Title: Leon Slater (C) vs. Cedric Alexander
Mackenzie Mitchell with the in-ring intros for this one. They waste no time going at it at the bell, as both men trade shots in the corner. Reversals, Slater looking Styles Clash, Alexander looking Lumbar Check, but Leon rolls up Cedric for the shocking first pin!
Leon Slater earns the first fall at 30 seconds: Slater is up 1-0!
We head to the break, as we see Alexander stalking around on the floor. We see kids flipping him off lol. FUCK THE SYSTEM chants, as Alexander finally returns to the ring. Slater reverses his hammer throw and hits a springboard back elbow! Alexander to the floor, and Slater hits a no hands needed crossbody! Slater mugs it up with the fans before returning Cedric to the ring. Slater goes to the same kids that flipped Alexander off and he flips him off with the kids lol.
Back in the ring, and Slater mounts the corner punches, but Cedric fights him off. Slater lands on the apron, where Alexander smacks him one. Slater won’t let him do whatever he was looking to do on the apron, and Slater scores with a PK from the apron. Slater hypes up the fans, but his dive misses, and Alexander plants him with a snap German on the floor! Cedric rolls in to break the count and grabs Slater. He plants Leon with a release overhead suplex. Alexander grabs a fan’s sign and pretends to wipe his ass with it lol.
Cedric with an Exploder, and Slater gets hung up in the Tree of WHOA! Alexander lands shots and then applies a submission in the ropes. He has to break the hold, but he keeps Slater in his grasp and hits a Pump handle Slam for a two. Slater to his feet, a chop battle ensues, but Alexander floors Slater with a big chop for a two. Alexander grounds Slater, but Leon gets to his feet and hits a jawbreaker. Slater with a dropkick, and we see he is busted open. Clotheslines from the Champion, and he smashes Cedric in the corner with a big boot. Slater to the top, but Alexander moves, and Slater comes up lame.
Alexander looking Lumbar Check, but Slater escapes and he hits rebound corkscrew kick. Slater to the top, he hits the Crossbody block, but Cedric is out at two. Hannifan lets us know that Ultimate X returns at Slammiversary. Hell yeah! Both men trade quick pins, and Cedric hits a Michinoku Driver for a two. Alexander goes behind Slater and hits him in the back. Slater fires back with another running kick. Alexander catches Slater, he misses the enziguri, and Alexander hits the Lumbar Check, and he’s on the board!
Cedric Alexander earns the second fall at 10:40: the match is now tied at 1-1!
Commercial break ensues, as we see Alexander mocking Slater. Alexander does a D-X crotch chop to the fans, allowing Slater a change to kick him. Alexander is unphased, and he goes back on the attack. Slater stumbles around the ring, as Cedric taunts him. Slater scores with a crescent kick, but Alexander kicks out at two. Slater heads to the top rope, Swanton 450 misses, standing switches from both men. Slater with a crescent kick and a twisting neck breaker!
Slater charges the corner, but Alexander moves. Cedric sets up Leon for a running powerbomb, but Slater kicks out at two. Both men trade strikes from the mat and that continues as they get to their feet. After stereo clotheslines, both men hit the deck on stereo big boots. Slater catches Alexander and sends him out of the ring and to the floor. SLATER CLEARS THE CORNER AND WIPES OUT ALEXANDER! HOLY SHIT chants are warranted!
Back in the ring, and Alexander with an enziguri to Slater, who sits on the top rope. Cedric to the top now, snap Rana attempt, but Slater holds on. SUPER STYLES CLASH FROM SLATER, BUT ALEXANDER KICKS OUT AT 2.8! Slater again heads to the top, but Alexander grabs onto his foot. Slater fights him off, but Alexander dropkicks his knee, causing Leon to hit the floor. Alexander picks up Slater and pole vaults him into the ring steps. He taunts Slater while looking away from him, and the ref admonishes him. Alexander grabs the X-Title from Carlos Silva and then grabs a headset from the announce table and he claims he is going to hold this title.
Slater is now busted open from the head, and he stumbles around the ring. Alexander stalks Slater, but Leon rolls him up for a two. Alexander with the Brainbuster, but Slater kicks out at two! Cedric is in shock, as he grabs Slater and chops him. Alexander wipes Leon’s blood on his chest, Slater tries to strike back, but Alexander hits the Lumbar Check! The cover, but Leon kicks out at two! Cedric is beside himself, and Slater fires up! He hits Utopia and he heads to the top, but he crashes to the mat! Another Lumbar Check from Alexander, but he isn’t done yet! Another Lumbar Check, and we have a new champion!
Cedric Alexander earns the second fall at 22:00: Alexander has won the match 2-1!
WINNER: Cedric Alexander (And NEW!)
TIME: 22:00
THOUGHTS: That was really all that I had expected it to be and then some. When you put two talented guys in the ring and let them go, this is what you get. The flash pin at the beginning and the home stretch really made this match.
RATING: ****1/2
Post-match, Silva awards the X-Division Title to Alexander. The lights go out, and the broadcast goes out, but it returns, and Fabian Aichner is here! The man formerly known as Giovanni Vinci signals, he is coming for the X-Title, and Cedric doesn’t look impressed lol. And with that, we are done!
