wrestling / TV Reports
Ciocco’s TNA Impact Review 6.25.26
Image Credit: TNA
Loading...Impact Zone! It’s Thursday Night, which means we are getting a brand-new episode of the weekly delight known as Impact! And tonight marks the final episode of Impact as we head into the company’s seminal event known as Slammiversary this Sunday in Boston! The card looks to have evolved into its final form, but before we get to Boston, we have loose ends to tie up in Denver first!
For more, let’s roll those Headlines!
So, how is everyone on this Thursday Night? After pulling off a rally in the top of the ninth inning on Tuesday, the Phillies did it yet again in Washington last night, even if it wasn’t nearly as steep a hill to climb to take another one from the Nationals. The team continues to be frustrating, but they certainly won’t lay down and die.
But enough about me and enough about you, let’s get ready to brace for Impact!
Tonight we are LIVE (To Tape) from the CoBank Arena in Denver, Colorado, as we are on the home stretch to Slammiversary this Sunday! As always, Tom Hannifan and Matthew Rehwoldt will have the call!
We open with highlights from last week’s episode of Impact.
I’M READY FOR YOU aka the title sequence!
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! Broken Matt and Brother Nero (who looks just like normal Jeff lol) are here to open the show! Matt and Jeff both have a mic as they listen to their adoring fans, who serenade them with HARDY chants. Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeessssssssssssss, says Matt. The vessels known as Broken Matt and Brother Nero have been reborn! After stepping into the Wicked Garden, it changed our lives, our bodies, it smashed our souls, and it poisoned us. Jeff agrees, and Matt says the Wicked Garden was one of a kind, but they needed the Righteous to change them so they can ascend! They needed this Gateway, because they are Broken Matt V.1 and Brother Nero V.1, and now the Righteous will be classified as obsolete. Jeff sings this for us for dramatic effect.
Jeff says it feels like they have their spirts lifted, and they are going to make the Righteous pay. Matt goes to talk, but here comes the Righteous. Vincent says the two of you are unbelievable. Broken Matthew, Brother Nero, before you talk about transforming, he has to admit, you are finally telling the truth. The Righteous walked you through that garden, and there is still more, isn’t there?
Matt: Si!
Vincent says it is great that you are finally telling the truth. Dutch says scars last forever, and the only reason you are still standing here is because of the Righteous. Matt says Dutch is delightful, but they don’t understand what they opened up in the Hardy’s soul.
Not to be left out, here comes the System. Myers says isn’t this adorable. Look, Bear, it’s the freaks at table nine having a little pow-wow without us. Talking about a bunch of mumbo jumbo. Unfortunately, none of that crap matters. You know what matters around here? The TNA Tag Team Titles.
Bronson calls them glory hounds, and the System don’t give a damn about their opponents and especially what the fans want to see. All he sees are two guys blinded by their own ego who want to take food off our table (meaning the Hardy’s). So go ahead and try it, because the System will leave you in the ring and walk out the same way they walked in, draped in gold.
Matt insists that they will regain their tag team titles, Myers asks how he is going to do that, Matt says DELETE, and we have a brawl! The Hardy’s put a ladder in the ring, as Vincent and Myers pull Matt out of the ring. Everyone is fighting except for Jeff, who climbs the ladder in the middle of the ring, but the heels head for the hills.
Rehwoldt runs down the card for tonight. Mara Sade and Ash by Elegance will go one-on-one, next!
BREAK IN PROGRESS!
Daria Rae is in the back, bitching about Santino, when the Order-4 arrive. She says she is working on Ali’s opponent, and she recognizes order when she sees it, so she is rewarding the Great Hands by putting them in the Tag Team Title match at Slammiversary. Rae leaves, and Ali says he always liked her more than Santino anyway.
Well, fuck my prediction column then lol.
Iceman is here, and he wants our attention, please! He is here to introduce Ash by Elegance, who hasn’t had a match in 304 days. He tells us NOT to call her a mark, and Ash makes her way out with the rest of the girls from the Elegance Brand.
>Ash by Elegance M by Elegance vs. Mara Sade
Indi Hartwell is on commentary for this match. The fans scream MARK at Ash, and she absolutely losses her mind. She grabs a mic and says this bullying has to stop because she is NOT a mark! This is not good for her mental health; she needs another mental health break NOW! She wants M to take her place, and she rolls around on the mat like she is on fire. Ash says come on; she is leaving.
Sade and M by Elegance throwdown, but Elayna Black makes her way out onto the ramp. She makes fun of Ash, and Ash yells at her. I guess this match officially started or something. Sade sends M by Elegance from the ring, as Heather tries to help her out. Sade hits the floor and slaps M by Elegance around before rolling her into the ring. M by Elegance rolls out the other side of the ring. Sade chases M by Elegance around the ring, she tries to use Heather as a distraction, but Sade blows by her and hits a dropkick.
Back in the ring, Sade looks to keep the pressure on, but Heather gets on the apron and screams at Mara. This allows M by Elegance to hit a sit-down slam into the pin for a two. M by Elegance continues the attack, but Sade rolls her up for a two. Sade off the ropes with a crossbody, but Heather is on the apron to distract the ref. Hartwell leaves the announce desk and takes down Heather, so Black attacks Hartwell. Sade goes to the top, but Heather shoves her off, and that’s a DQ.
WINNER: Mara Sade by DQ
TIME: 3:10, I think?
THOUGHTS: Absolute cluster, and not in a good way.
RATING: DUD
Post-match, Rosemary and Allie are here to save Sade from Elayna, Heather, and M by Elegance.
Eric Young with a pre-taped promo. Young says people tell him he is bullying Ricky Sosa, but he isn’t doing that. Is Ricky talented? Absolutely. Does he have world class potential? Absolutely. But he isn’t impressed by him, because he’s seen it before. He doesn’t know what it is, it might be the way he comes into the locker room and smiles. He honestly has nothing personal against Ricky, but there are levels to this, and he simply isn’t ready. Maybe if he beats him up, he will learn from it, or maybe he runs away.
Tom’s turn to run down the rest of the card for tonight, and he mentions that the Summit between Nemeth and Santana happened “earlier today” and it got out of control. AJ Francis will be in action when we return!
BREAK IN PROGRESS!
Friendly reminder that on August 23rd, Lockdown comes to Chicago, Ill!
MONEY, MONEY, MONEY!
A.J. Francis vs. Manny Lemons
Francis is chatting with the crowd, and Lemons attacks at the bell. That only pisses Francis off, as he spikes him into the mat like a football. (See what I did there?) Lemons fires back with some punches from the top rope, but he jumps into the arms of Francis, who chucks him with a release DVD. He says his catchphrase before hitting Lemons with the Tennessee Whiskey.
Francis tells the Drifter to WATCH THIS and he re-enters the ring. He smacks Lemons on the back, and he sits on the top rope. He grabs Lemons’ hand, and he walks with Elijah Francis. Francis takes WAY too long showing off and he misses a back splash. Lemons with some corner clotheslines and he tries to hype the crowd up, but he turns around into the TFL! The Down Payment closes this for Francis.
WINNER: A.J. Francis
TIME: 3:10
THOUGHTS: Ain’t nothing but a MONEY thang!
RATING: **1/2
Post-match, Elijah appears on the screen! AJ Francis, for the first time, the words coming out of your mouth are worse than your moves. You Ozempic Suge Knight, No Skill Uncle Phil! Your jealousy will be the death of thee, and Elijah says he spoke to TNA management as he sets fire to the cease-and-desist letter that he was served. He says the darkness does not hide the light, and at Slammiversary, you will learn that we walk this way. Suspense!
Matt’s turn to run down the rest of tonight’s card. He lets us know that Xia and Harley will face off post-break!
BREAK IN PROGRESS!
As we return, Tom lets us know that this is episode 1,125 of Impact, as Xia Brookside makes her way out for the next match.
Xia Brookside vs. Harley Hudson
Brookside attacks Hudson before the bell and she does push-ups. She screams at the ref to ring the bell, so he does. I wouldn’t go against Xia either lol. Hudson turns the table with some arm drags and a scoop slam, but she only gets a one. Hudson looking backslide, but Brookside fights it off. Hudson slams Xia’s face into the mat and then proceeds to do push-ups on her. She drops an elbow and gets a two.
Harley charges Xia in the corner, but she kicks her in the face. Brookside mockingly kicks and paintbrushes Hudson before getting more serious and laying in the kicks in the corner. Brookside slaps Hudson and then mocks her with a LET’S GO HARLEY chant. Brookside with more slaps in the corner, she grabs Harley by the hair and drop toeholds her into the corner. Xia with a smash in the corner which gets her a two.
Brookside stretches out Hudson, she gets to her feet, but Brookside takes her back to the mat and continues the stretch. She picks up Hudson into the surfboard and then stomps her face into the mat for another two. Brookside says this isn’t your time, and Hudson fights back with lariats and a big kick. Hudson with a headbutt, she smacks her ass, and hits Xia with the Hip Attack! Hudson scoops up Brookside and hits a Fallaway Slam for a two.
Hudson picks up Brookside, but Xia reverses her with a sunset flip for a two. BIG slap from Hudson, and she heads to the top, but she misses the leg drop. Brookside with a round kick into the Darkside DDT for the win.
WINNER: Xia Brookside
TIME: 6:00
THOUGHTS: Finally, an actual match! Brookside wasn’t losing because she has the title shot on Sunday, but Hudson continues to impress!
RATING: ***1/4
Post-match, Brookside hits a Russian Leg Sweep into a submission, which prompts Lei Ying Lee to speed walk to the ring. She gets into the ring, and Brookside rolls out of the ring. They trade some words.
The injury report is brought to us by Zone*Ify!
So, not really a medical report, just stating the obvious. Got it!
Matt runs down the card again for us, and he tells us that we will see the World Title Summit, next!
BREAK IN PROGRESS!
Earlier today, we got the World Title Summit. Carlos Silva and Gia Miller are here. Silva says he wants this to be professional so they don’t have to lay out any fines. He turns it over to Nemeth first.
Nic doesn’t know what to say about this. He lauds Santana’s very good year, but he has put together 23 of them. He hopes that he can continue that down the road.
Santana laughs and says good year, huh? You know that’s bullshit. He says he wasn’t there when Santana had to visit his parent’s grave, when he had to sit his daughter down and tell him he was a drug addict, when he looked out prison walls. And you say this was a good year; you have to be kidding me. You’re right, you have done it all. WrestleMania, Royal Rumbles, multiple titles, challenger after challenger, so he gives him props for that. But when this place needed someone, Mike was there. When they had moments to celebrate, he was here. Where were you? You weren’t here. Santana did his research, and he remembered when Nemeth looked into the hard cam, and he ripped off his T-shirt to reveal a TNA shirt. But he carried this brand while Nemeth was off in Australia.
Nemeth says you bring up a lot of good points. But you need to understand that being an international success is better than having a good year. When you have people waving money at you to wrestle for them, then you take it. Nemeth brings up Santana’s daughter, which prompts Santana to take his sunglasses off. Nemeth then says that at least Mike’s father isn’t here to be disappointed by him.
Santana stands up as does Nemeth. Santana asks Silva if he wants cash or check, and Silva looks dumbfounded. Santana punches Nemeth right in the face. He screams at Nemeth, but we see Ryan attack from behind. Santana no-sells this and he chokes out Ryan, which allows Nic time to recover and he lays into Santana. Nemeth calls him a BITCH and tells Ryan to get up.
BREAK IN PROGRESS!
Tom tells us that we will hear from Moose, but he says that Santana has been taken to the local hospital due to the attack from Nic Nemeth. His status for Slammiversary is in question.
Um, yeah, I call bullshit on that one.
Hey, JDC is here with Moose! Apparently, he will be in Moose’s corner this Sunday, while Alisha will be in Eddie’s corner, and the only way someone can win is if they throw in the towel for their opponent.
Moose has the mic. Eddie Edwards! This Sunday, there will be no pin falls, no submissions, it will only end when someone we love decides that we have had enough. And much like your wife, payback will be a bitch.
That brings out Eddie and Alisha. Eddie mocks Moose and says he didn’t destroy anything. You see, Moose, after all that time we spent together, all those road trips, all those late-night dinners, all those phone calls, all those group trips we took together, it finally hit me. And I realized what was wrong, you two were a cancer growing within the System. You prevented us from getting to the next level and being great. So what did he do, huh Dango, he went in and ripped that cancer out, and now he has rebuilt the System to be better than ever. And now, in his hometown of Boston, Massachusetts, he will end this once and for all.
JDC takes the mic from Moose. How long has he known Eddie? 25 years. He has known him longer than anyone in this business, you were his brother. He understands that Eddie did what he did was for business, but wrestling is making Eddie sick in his head. You’re going to lose everyone in your life, your family, your wife, your kid.
Alisha grabs the mic and says you won’t bring their family into this. She tells JDC to bring his wife to Boston so she can slap her in the face. She says the System is better without both of you, especially Moose. She played Moose like the fool he is and the fool he always will be. She will give Moose one chance and one chance only. You want revenge, do you have balls, then spear me! Come on, spear me, Moose!
That totally didn’t sound wrong, like at all.
Moose and JDC leave the ring, and Alisha says she knew he would do that because he is a gutless coward. Moose hits the ring again, but JDC stops him and tries to calm him down. Eddie says, QUINN, that this ends at Slammiversary. Moose guarantees that there will be a funeral at Slammiversary.
Ricky Sosa video package. Sosa thinks that Eric Young hates him because he has a more successful debut than he did. He will prove to him, when he makes his PPV debut at Slammiversary, that he belongs!
Tom runs down some matches for Sunday and lets us know that the 6-man tag main event is coming up next!
BREAK IN PROGRESS!
Well, that didn’t last long, as we are already back, as Iceman is back again, and he wants us pigs to stand up and show some respect for Mr. Elegance! Everyone’s favorite Matt Riddle-lookalike swimmer is here.
Mr. Elegance. Frankie Kazarian, and X-Division Champion Cedric Alexander vs. Fabian Aichner, Leon Slater, and KC Navarro
Slater wants Alexander, but Kazarian gets the tag instead. Leon goes after Cedric, but Frankie attacks Leon. Slater with an enziguri to Frankie, and he tags in Aichner. Mr. Elegance is in, and he wants to swim for Fabian, so Aichner slaps the baby oil off of his chest.
Aichner tags in Navarro, and he comes down with a double axe handle. KC whips Mr. Elegance to the corner and follows with a snap mare and a basement crossbody for a two. Mr. Elegance with a jawbreaker, and he tags in Cedric. Navarro with misdirection, Alexander pops him up, but he gets a dropkick for his trouble. Navarro with the 305 to Kazarian, and he stops Alexander from trying to cheap shot him. Mr. Elegance ends up on the floor, where Slater takes him out with a big crossbody and he mocks his swim moves lol. Navarro takes out Alexander, and he mean mugs with Slater on the apron.
Navarro mounts Alexander in the corner, but Cedric escapes and hit a release German. He stomps on the hand of Navarro and tags in Mr. Elegance. The master swimmer stomps on KC’s hand, swims for us, and then jumps onto his hand. KC fires back but he is tripped up by Iceman in front of the ref. KC stomps on his hand, allowing Mr. Elegance to work over the head of Navarro.
Tag to Kazarian, and he hits a scoop slam, and the slingshot leg drop for a two. Kazarian goes to tag in Mr. Elegance, but he is too busy swimming, so Cedric takes the tag instead. He taunts both Aichner and Slater, but he takes too long, and Navarro tags in Slater. Leon goes full send on Alexander. He does miss the cross over, but Slater does the Spider-Man in the ropes and hits a big lariat for a two.
The “commercial break” interrupts, and when we come back, we see Kazarian working over Slater, while Mr. Elegance swims. Slater tries to fight back, but Alexander stacks him up with another German for a two. The fans try to will Leon into this, but Cedric isn’t having it. Mr. Elegance gets the tag and he tries something with the head of Slater. Leon knocks Cedric and Frankie off their corner and then hits a recoil enziguri to Mr. Elegance.
Slater thinks he has a tag, but Frankie and Cedric drag Fabian and KC off their corner and attack them. Slater finds himself in the wrong part of town, but he does well to avoid all three heels. Slater hits the corner and hits a crossbody to Kazarian. Aichner is back, so Slater tags out, and Aichner unloads on Kazarian. Big back body drop to Frankie, and he hits a DVD into a triple moonsault to Alexander! Frankie tries to attack, but Aichner reveres him with a Brain Buster for a two.
Doomsday Device is teased, but Frankie and Mr. Elegance save Alexander. Alexander with a vertical suplex to Navarro, and he eats a backstabber from Frankie and a Michinoku Driver from Alexander, but KC kicks out at two. Fade to Black by Kazarian, but KC rolls him through and tags in Slater. Everyone does their shit in the ring because refs are invisible. THIS IS AWESOME chants, as Slater hits a 450 Senton to Mr. Elegance, but Frankie is the legal man, and he jackknifes Leon for the win!
WINNERS: Frankie Kazarian, Cedric Alexander, and Mr. Elegance
TIME: 14:25
THOUGHTS: A great main event, but a lot of these guys are dynamic, so that certainly helps. Lots of high-risk moves, lot of babyfaces in peril, and just a great match overall. The Ultimate-X match on Sunday should be amazing, no pun intended.
RATING: ****
We see Nic Nemeth walking in the back. He will provide us with an update on Santana because apparently he is Doctor Doogie Hauser!
BREAK IN PROGRESS!
Tom welcomes us back as we see an aerial view outside the arena, as Tom keeps driving home the fact that it’s been fifteen years since Amazing Red has competed in a TNA ring.
Nic Nemeth is here to talk to us. He knows you sound pretty excited, you must already know. He is out here to share a little bit of breaking news! Due to a disgusting incident backstage, your TNA World Champion, I don’t think he will make it to Slammiversary, he is never coming back to the wrestling business. So, without further ado, the man who was calling his shot at Slammiversary, let’s cut out the middleman, let’s crown Nic Nemeth as the World Champion! We are going to do this right, Carlos, he knows he loves being on TV and putting the title around people’s waists, so Carlos, come on down!
We don’t get Silva, instead we see Ryan Nemeth falling out onto the ramp. After dramatic effect, we see Mike Santana walk out from the back, and he throws Ryan down the ramp. Santana makes a beeline for the ring, but here comes Carlos and Security to try and keep the peace. Daria Rae is also out here, as Santana keeps trying to get at Nemeth, who is content to stay away from Mike. Santana fights his way free and gets into the ring, but Nick is on the ramp. Santino Marella is here as well, as he tries to talk Nemeth down. Santana poses in the corner, and with that, we are done!
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