Himanshu’s TNA Impact Review 1.8.26

Hey there, TNA fans! It’s Thursday, and that means it’s time for another episode of TNA iMPACT! I’m Himanshu (you can follow me on Twitter @Himanshu_Doi) and you know how this works. Tonight on iMPACT, TNA World Champion Frankie Kazarian and Mike Santana meet for their world title contract signing, the Hardy brothers, Matt and Jeff, open the show after enduring weeks of psychological warfare from The Righteous, Dani Luna vs. Harley Hudson, Channing Lorenzo vs. Steve Maclin for the TNA International Title, Cedric Alexander, Leon Slater & The Hardys (Jeff Hardy & Matt Hardy) vs. The System (Brian Myers, Eddie Edwards, JDC & Moose) in an Eight Man Tag Team Match and more.

As a reminder, the GoFundMe for Larry’s daughters is still active, and if you can make a donation, that would be awesome. Thank you so much to everyone who’s done so thus far.

TNA iMPACT!

Date: January 8th, 2025
Location: El Paso County Coliseum in El Paso, Texas
Commentators: Tom Hannifan, Matt Rehwoldt

The Hardys open the show. Matt Hardy says they’re something on their mind. He says The Righteous drugged them and locked them in a room and put pictures of their wives and children and calls it blasphemy. Jeff Hardy says they need to step up and face them like real men.

The Righteous come out. Vincent says they’re sorry The Hardys are upset. Matt Hardy says the only thing they want is to delete them from TNA. Vincent says they would love to share the ring with them. Dutch says they’re not threats, they’re die-Hardys. Vincent says this wasn’t their intentions, but if they were to do this, he wants it to be friendly competition, and all they’re looking for is a little peace. Matt says they trespassed into their private lives. Vincent says the Hardys can trust them, but in this industry they’re all here because they’re not all there. Matt Hardy challenges them to a match right there and then. Vincent says they can’t do that. He says there is Genesis, and says it would be fitting, the rebirth of The Righteous.

Gia Miller is backstage with Steve Maclin. Maclin says his head is at getting his title back. He says every single person in the locker room has come up to him and said they’re glad he’s on their side. Eri Young walks up to him and says Maclin knows what to do tonight, and if he doesn’t, they will. He says The Cleanse is coming.

Match 1: Dani Luna vs. Harley Hudson

Dani Luna throws a Northern Lights Suplex. Hudson goes for a sleeper, but Luna hits a backbreaker. Luna clubs her in the head. Hudson goes a bulldog but Luna catches her. Luna hits a leg drop followed by a bulldog for two. Luna hits a big boot followed by the Luna Landing for the win.

Result: Dani Luna def. Harley Hudson by pinfall
Rating: **

Myla Grace goes to check on Hudson, but Luna catches her and hits the Luna Landing on her too. Luna grabs them both but then Lei Ying Lee’s music hits and she runs out, and Luna retreats. Luna returns to the ring and gets a sleeper on Lee. Xia Brookside runs out and attacks Luna, but Luna hits the Luna Landing on her too. Luna grabs the Knockouts World Title and poses while everyone else is laid out around her.

Mara Sade is backstage, and Ryan Nemeth walks up to her and said they need to talk about the last few weeks. He talks about the superkicks and says he thinks she is interested. Mara tells him to slow down. She walks away and Ryan says she likes him, and she superkicks him.

The Elegance Brand is backstage, and The Personal Concierge says they need to pick a Mr. Elegance. Ash says they’re never on the same page. Ash looks at an old guy, and he says he’s been there for 8 years, and that he shoots their promos. He says he’s not a wrestler. The Personal Concierge says he can make him a star. Ash starts a “take it off” shirt and he takes it off and they all cheer. They take him away and The Personal Concierge says they’re heading to Dallas with a star. Dustin Ngyuen appears from under the table and says he much protect the Elegance Brand.

Order 4 come out. John Skyler says they’re coming with changes. Hotch says they’ll say it slow so that even the moron at El Paso will understand. Tasha introduces Mustafa Ali. Ali says Tasha told him they’ve been calling him Mr. Culero, and he doesn’t know what that means, but he says “Gracias, amigos”. He says he spoke to TNA management and he asked they remove the distraction in Elijah. He says TNA management told him this is a democracy and there will be votes. Ali says there will be no concerts and no hats. He asks all those in favour to stand up and say “I” and they boo him. He says there is a language barrier and asks all those in favour to stand up and say “Si”. He calls them morons. Elijah comes out on a horse. Elijah goes to the ring with a guitar and Order 4 run away through the crowd. Elijah gets on his horse and chases them with a lasso in hand.

Order 4 are seen running out of the arena and Elijah is right behind them on a horse and says, “Hello boys”. Order 4 scream and run away in a slow motion as Elijah chases them on his horse.

Match 2: Stacks vs. Steve Maclin for the TNA International Championship

Maclin tackes Stacks down to start. Brooks Jensen grabs Maclin’s leg and Stacks attacks Maclin. Stacks hits punches and an uppercut. Stacks gets a kravat, but Maclin fights out of it and hits a German Suplex. Stacks picks up Maclin in a back body drop position before dropping him face first. Stacks hits a double stomp on a Maclin hanging from the ropes. Stacks with a sleeper as we go to commercial.

Back from commercial and Stacks still has the sleeper, but Stacks fights out of it and hits an Olympic Slam. Maclin takes out everyone at ringside and stares at Arianna. Maclin sets up Stacks in the corner for the crosshairs, but Arianna gets in the ring and rakes Maclin in the eyes, and the referee call for the bell.

Result: Steve Maclin def. Stacks by disqualification, Stacks retains the TNA International Championship
Rating: **¼

Time for the TNA Injury Report presented by Bioflex, and all members of the System, the Hardys, Leon Slater and Cedric Alexander are cleared, Santino Marella is not suffering from any injury, Mike Santana has been cleared before next week’s title match, Maclin is in evaluation.

We see highlights from Leon Slater vs. Oba Femi from NXT.

We see Digital Exclusive footage, where Rich Swann attacked A.J. Francis with a baseball bat and hit a crossbody off the top rope onto Francis onto a table.

Tom Hannifan run down the card for Genesis and next week’s iMPACT!

Match 3: Cedric Alexander, Leon Slater & The Hardys (Jeff Hardy & Matt Hardy) vs. The System (Brian Myers, Eddie Edwards, JDC & Moose)

Cedric Alexander and Brian Myers start off, and they have a standoff. Alexander tags to Matt Hardy and Myers tags to Moose. They have a “Moose” vs. “Delete” chant off. Moose hits a discus punch. Matt smashes Moose into the turnbuckle pad. Moose takes Matt to his corner and tags to Eddie Edwards. Matt hits a back elbow to Edwards and tags to Jeff Hardy who hits a led drop on Edwards on the edge of the apron for two. Jeff with an armwringer and tags to Leon Slater. Leon hits Poetry in Motion on Edwards assisted by Jeff. Edwards hits a Frankensteiner on Leon and tags to Moose who hits a dropkick. Moose hits a side slam and a senton followed by a kip-up. Leon hits a crossbody over the top rope onto Moose. Alexander with a suicide dive followed by Edwards, Matt and Jeff Hardy and Alisha Edwards. Leon with a flip over JDC and tries to pull him down for a pin but JDC hangs on and hits a leg drop but Leon moves out of the way. Edwards gets the tag and hits a chop for two. Moose takes the tag and chops Slater down. JDC flips Slater over while hanging onto his arm. Myers gets the tag and hits a back drop on Slater for two as we go to commercial.

Slater hits a back handspring elbow and tags to Jeff who hits a leg drop on Myers midsection for two. Jeff goes the Twist of Fate, but Myers hits the Implant DDT. JDC gets the tag and covers Jeff for two. JDC whips Jeff in the corner for two and gets a chinlock. Jeff fights out of it. Edwards pulls Jeff in for a clothesline for two. Myers with a headlock on Slater and Slater tries to get up but Myers pulls him back down as we go to commercial.

Alexander hits a Dragon Screw on Edwards and an Enzuigiri followed by a Flatliner on Moose for two. Moose hits the Go To Hell on Alexander for two. Moose hits a running back elbow followed by a Blue Thunder Bomb, Down and Dirty and an Elbow Drop by The System for two. Leon pulls Edwards out of the ring. Jeff hits the Twist of Fate on Moose. Jeff and Slater hit Plot Twists and Slater hits a crossbody. Moose hits a Spear to Slater and a Pop-up Powerbomb to Alexander. He goes for a Spear but Alexander rolls him up for the win.

Result: Cedric Alexander, Leon Slater & The Hardys (Jeff Hardy & Matt Hardy) vs. The System (Brian Myers, Eddie Edwards, JDC & Moose) by pinfall
Rating: ***

We see a vignette for Lei Ying Lee.

Santino Marella is in the ring and apologizes for not being in his usual attire. He says he has a job to do and this an important contract signing and calls out Mike Santana who makes his entrance. Marella introduces Frankie Kazarian who makes his entrance. Marella says this match was slated for Genesis, but the AMC premiere is going to be the biggest match in TNA history, and they needed the champion and No. 1 contender on the show. Marella says if Santana loses, he would have to find a new No. 1 contender, ad might have to call Ava and bring Trick Williams. Kazarian says he is an addict and he is addicted to being TNA World Champion, King of TNA and the top guy. He says he doesn’t want to battle his demons, he wants to dance with them, so he will do anything and risk anything and walk out of Dallas still TNA World Champion. Kazarian says at one point of time they were at the same place, he says he carried his city and culture on his back, but on January 15th, he’s walking into that building, but he’s doing this for him and because of that, he guarantees to everyone, he will walk out a 2-time TNA World Champion, and if he can’t do that, maybe he’s not the man he says he is.

Nic Nemeth comes out. He says they forgot about someone. He says there’s a reason everyone’s been talking about TNA, and they debut on AMC and they’re looking at him. He says he doesn’t like Kazarian or Santana. He says he knows those two will beat the living hell out of each other because that’s what this title is worth. He says he will be waiting in the wings ready to call his shot and walk out as the TNA Champion. He says at the end of the night, he’s going to raise the TNA Championship up high. They both sign the contract.