TNA Impact Review – 08.14.25

Okay, we are still in Kingston, RI and the gang of four (Tom Hanifan, Matthew Rewholdt, McKenzie Mitchell and Gia Miler) are here for one more day because we are a day from Emergence so let’s engage in some Impactful Discourse, shall we? We shall.

Speaking of talking, let’s talk about it; specifically, what happened previously on Impact as we get the official announcement of Trick Wiliams vs. Moose and we get a confrontation between Mike Santana and Eric Young. We also get Mustafa Ali’s interference-laden victory over Joe Hendry.

BUT HOLD EVERTYTHING…someone attacked Moose backstage as the System check on him. Moose, in a rarity, tells the System it was Williams and First Class who waylaid him and said System are none too pleased. JDC sees Santino Marella standing idling by around the corner (nice authority figure) and says the match is happening now as we get the WWE-themed shot of walking backstage to gorilla position to the ring.

Whence they get there, Eddie Edwards gets the mic and wants First Class to get their collective glutes here. And First Class obliges (Williams, AJ Francis and Rich Swann.)

The System (Eddie Edwards, Brian Myers and JDC vs. First Class (Williams, Francis and Swann)

The System meet them on the rampway and we have a brawl occurring. Francis threw Edwards to the ring only for Edwards to dive out to the floor and hit Francis with a clothesline. Myers then heads into the ring and hits Williams with a dive over the ropes to the floor. Not to be outdone, JDC hits twisting senton from the ropes to bowl over everyone on the floor.

We ger the official starts of the match with Edwards and Williams to start just as Edwards charges to the corner only to be hit with a side kick from Williams. Wiliams get the facelock and heads to his corner to tag Swann. Swann boots away at Edwards only to have a whip to the turnbuckles reversed and Edwards hits a clothesline.

Edwards then slingshots Swann to JDC for a forearm smash and an elbow drop over the ropes from JDC onto the knees of Edwards. Edwars and Myers knock off the rest of First Class as Swann ducks a Myers charge (Myers managed to flip over the ropes.) JDC, though hit a running forearm, threw Swann to Edwars for a blue thunder bomb and Myers came off the top turnbuckle for a two count.

JDC is back and chopped away at Swann and reversed a backdrop into a takedown via the head. However, Swann booted managed to leg press JDC through the ropes (with a convenient opening made by Francis) to the floor. There, Swann started a beat down on JDC. Swann threw JDC back into the ring and started to kick JDC.

Francis is tagged and the two hit a shoulder block to the corner for two. Francis then hooks the arm (and chin.) JDC fought out but of it but a corner splash and a Tennessee Whiskey running elbow stemmed the tide. Willliams is back in the ring and hits a flapjack on JDC and jawed at Myes.

Wiliams hit the chinlock but JDC fought out only to met with a side kick for two. Williams tagged and hit another dual shoulderblock and a nice standing drop kick from Williams. Francis got two and then he jawed at the System. Francis again got the armlock and then turned another hope spot into a huge bearhug.

JDC managed by the tried and true (albeit unsanitary) biting of the forehead. JDC tried to pick up Francis to no avail for a body slam, but a clothesline is reversed and NOW JDC hits the back suplex. Both Swann and Myers are tagged as Myers ducks a clothesline and lands a running boot to Francis and then hit a Pele kick on Swann.

Myers hit a jumping DDT and a Falcon’s Arrow on Swann for two. Francis got back in the ring and broke up the count and grabbed both Myers and JDC but Edwards landed a superkick and then Edwards and JDC clotheslined Francis out of the ring as Myers launched Williams out of the ring to the floor. However, that gave Swann time to sneak behind Myers and hit a cradle – using his feet as leverage – to steal the victory.

Post Match: The heels celebrate up the ring as Wiliams gets some Hoganesque title air guitar and dancing as the Class danced up the rampway. As we dance away to tonight’s card and then dance away to commercials.

When we return we get the next match

Indi Hartwell and Dani Luna vs. Myla Grace and Harley Hudson

Grace and Hudson enter first in matching aquamarine and pink gear. The two get a decent pop as they talk to fans. Luna and Hartwell come out individually as a measure of star power. Luna gets a decent pop but Hartwell gets the biggest pop of the four. They also took the time to coordinate and wore dark blue and silver gear.

Hudson and Luna start. Luna stops a headlock takedown and picks up Hudson, only for Hudson to make it to the ropes and uses a slingshot headlock takedown to get the advantage and a one count. Both are back up as Hudson hits the headlock and then reverses a full swinging body slam into a crucifix cradle for two.

The two are back up and Luna hits a shoulder block and a sliding clothesline for two. Luna gets the arm lock but a body slam attempt is backed into a sleeper hold and a tag to Grace. Hudson hits a jawjacker and then Grace adroitly ducks a punch into a series of kicks, leg trip and a seated dropkick.

Grace hit a running back elbow into the corner and tagged Hudson. The tandem hit a running hip attack and meteora into the corner. Hudson gets the arm lock and a knee to the gut. She hit and arm lock take down and a reverse cradle gets two. \Hudson gets a snapmare takedown and legdrops the arm.

Hudson shoulderblocks the arm but Luna picked up Hudson, only for Hudson to get the blind tag to Grace. Luna ducked a clothesline but Grace somewhat clumsily reversed out of it. Hudson though missed a sunset flip attempt to the crouching Luna and Luna powered a near deadlift back suplex to Grace.

This allowed for the hot tag to Hartwell who came in with a large pop. Hartwell is flat on fire and hit a series of clotheslines on Grace and Hudson. Hartwell also hit a series of spinebusters on the duo, slamming Grace onto Hudson. Grace arose but Hartwell was able to hit the Hurts Donut for the win.

Post Match: Luna and Hartwell as Hudson reacted dejectedly on the floor and then climbed into the ring to console Grace. Hartwell walked over to the vanquished as a sign of sportsmanship as does Luna. Hudson and Grace seemed hesitant but sportsmanship prevails as we get handshakes.
We also get Luna and Hartwell heading up the ramp arms raised in victory only for a fan to grab Hartwell’s arm. BUT WAIT, that’s no fan -that’s Rosemary. Rosemary hits the green mist square on Hartwell. Rosemary escaped as Luna tried to give chase and check on Hartwell as we check out some commercials.

Back from ads, we get an arial shot of Baltimore and then we get Order Four’s music

John Skyler vs. Matt Cardona

Order Four enters first but only Tasha Steelz and Jason Hotch are in tow with Skyler. The shout of “Always Ready” marks the entrance of Cardona. Cardona is focused and a hand slap with a fan is landed hard (as the fan nonverbally shows.)

Cardona started with a clothesline from a blocked kick and then pushes Skyler into the corner for the 10-punch spot. However, he only got one, after posing to the crowd, and gave Skyler a chance to escape and kick the leg from under Cardona who went to the mat. Cardona went to the apron as Skyler hit the clothesline on Cardona. Cardona flew to the floor and into a just happened-to-be-there seat (very contrived spot by Cardona.)

Hotch got a kick on Cardona as Skyler threw Cardona into the ring and slugged away at Cardona. Skyler, then hit the chinlock. Cardona powered out and reversed a backdrop attempt into a face buster and a back elbow. A forearm sent Skyler to the corner. And a reversed whip to the turnbuckles is met with two knees by Cardona. Cardona further seizes the momentum with a missile dropkick from the middle turnbuckle. Adona then lines up for the reboot but Steelz slides in to protect Skyler. Meanwhile, Hotch come from behind but is met with a forearm smash by Cardona. Skyler recovered and tried for a rollup into the ropes but Cardona hooks the ropes and threw off Skyler. This also gave Cardona a chance to hit the Radio Silence for the victory.

Post Match: Hotch sneaked from behind and started to beat down Cardona with an aid from Skyler as Steelz gradually entered the ring. The two choked Cardona and looked rampway as Ali gradually emerged from backstage. He slowly started to head down and get ready to help only to stop. Meanwhile, the Great Hands continued to pound away. The reason Ali stopped was to beckon Agent Zero to ringside. Zero got into the ring as the Great Hands threw Cardona to Zero who hit the choke slam. Order Four STRIKES THE POSE as Ali applauds from the rampway as we are to applaud commercials.

We come back backstage to Steelz and the other four Servicemen who just happened to be standing there as Cardona emerges into frame. Cardona demands a shot at Ali. Steelz said Ali is busy but at Emergence, we get the match as Cardona marches off frame.

We get an NXT recap from Tuesday as we get highlights of the Vice/Jordan victory over Fatal Influence. We see Ash….by Elegance and Slamovich reacting in the stands. We also get the vignette from Ava’s office with Fatal Influence and the Personal Concierge. We also get the announcement of the six-person tag match between Influence and the Elegance Brand. And, the Heatwave match triple threat match between Jacy Jayne, Slamovich and Ash.

We then head to ringside with Marella addressing the crowd and the Fatal Fourway Knockout Tag match for Emergence. First we get the “Elephants” brand (Rewholdt corrects him, calling him a bumbling idiot.) Hannifan said the brand invoked the “Freebird” rule as M and Heather will defend the titles; the second team is Xia Brookside and Lei Ying Lee enter next to a decent pop as the next team out is the Exposition (Iinspiration) as they saunter to ringside and made Marella slightly unconfortable with their gyrating and tickling. Fatal “Attraction” (Influence) is last. (Weird notice – those are eyes in the reddish, smoky background on the chryon,) the two head down to ringside with Henley’s least cowboy themed gear and Nyx has “main character” in red glitter on her top.

Marella lets the Brand go first as Heather said they should since they are champs. Heather gives the mic to M and invoked the spirit of the PC by calling all the other competitors “degenerates” and broke it down into simple terms they all could understand – they are the champs, ergo they are the most dominant in this ring and that won’t change after Emergence.

Brookside and Lee are next as Lee does her promo in Cantonese and gives Brookside the mic. Brookside said she has been underestimated all her life but agreed with Lee that at Emergence, they are going to kick every single one of their glutes.

Nyx yanked the mic from Brookside. Nyx said it has been a trend to have TNA belts keeping but on superstars from NXT’s waist. Henley agrees (Nyx does have a point, Afterall.) NXT is the superior brand ergo the Influence will be headed out with the tag titles at Emergence.

Marella started to talk but we forgot some people. The Iinspiration get the mic and McKay (possibly) invoked the PC by calling Henley “toots.” She said the Influence had been hit in the head too many times (making sure to hit Lee’s head in the process.) Lee grabbed the mic and said they came back to become the two-time (McCay echoed the two-time) and then traded syllables on the “TNA Knockout Champions” wording.

We get the customary group argument as Marella desperately tried to gain control, which he said by stating the women have five-seconds to get it out of their system. They do and then security comes in to break up this schmozapalooza. Women be fightin’, amIrite fellas? Anyone? (Keeps his hand up for a high-five, doesn’t get one, puts hand down.)

The scmhozz ends with half of security holding Influence on the floor and the other half seemingly holding the Brand on the floor. This gives McKay and Brookside time to head to opposite corners for McKay to hit a dive (Brutus Ball to be precise) to Heather and for Brookside to hit a diving splash on M. Everyone sprawls to the floor as Lee then headed to the top and hit her body press to the floor on Henley and Lee to hit a body press from the top to the Nyx on the floor. A loud “TNA” chant breaks out as the faces celebrate on the floor and Marella in the ring looking flummoxed why he couldn’t get better security.

We head backstage with Miller who came across Rosemary sitting. She asked why Rosemary did what she did and said Rosemary said she is going to cut out Indi’s heart. She waltzed into the division thinking she owned this and her path to the championship is clear. Rosemary said Hartwell is blind to the dark forces around here and she wanted to make Hartwell as blind as her awareness. Rosemary is the dark matter of TNA and the unholy matriarch of the division and address her as the gatekeeper (shoot comments that weren’t meant to be?) And now, her path to the Knockouts title goes through “us.”

We recover with Bioflex report. Moose is okay, despite the previous attack but throws in question his already damaged hip. Indi is recovering from, well, what we just discussed and is day-to-day (aren’t we all?) The Hometown Man is cleared for tomorrow and is coming in with home field advantage (oh, Tom…)

We comeback back ringside to the next match

Eric Young and Mike Santana

Young came out with the Northern Armory in tow and their masks and ponchos. Santana came out from backstage and through the crowd to a huge pop. Young does not wait for the bell and hit a discus clothesline on Santana, who had yet to remove his jacket. Young stomped away at Santana as Hannifan went over Santana’s promo last week (which, again, was awesome.)

Santana got to his feet and slugged away at Young. Young stemmed the tide with a back elbow off the ropes. Young threw Santana to the outside and the Armory double teamed and threw Santana to the ring for a two count by Young. Young beat on Santana in the corner and stepped on Santana’s neck as Hanifan and Rewholdt talk about the Emergence match between Santana and Sami Callihan.

Meanwhile, Young whipped Santana into the turnbuckles hard and got a two count. Young hit a standing neckbreaker for two, as well. Young also got a neck snap and a painful chinlock as the crowd rallied for Santana. Santana got to his feet, fought out and hit a flying clothesline for two. Santana got a chop and blocked a boot for an enziguri. He also hit a dive over the ropes to take out the Armory.

Another discus clothesline is ducked by Santana. Young ran Santana into the corner but Santana hit the Rolling Block 50 for two-and-a-fraction. Santana put Young on the top turnbuckle but Young pushed off Santana from the top twice and hit the flying elbow drop for two-and -a-fraction. However, Young went for a piledriver to be reversed to a cradle and then the Outline in Chalk was hit for another two-and-a-fraction. A loud “Santana” chant emerged as Santana threw Young into the turnbuckle, only for Young to hit the (Flin-Flon) Flair Flip and Fly into a headbutt. Young went to the top turnbuckle and leapt. He rolled threw a Santana clothesline charge but Santana came back with the Spin the Block for the victory.

Post=Match: Icarus and Williams start the beatdown but Sami Callihan emerged from backstage to start the beat down on Armory and then had a staredown with Young before Young bailed. Calihan checked on Santana as The Armory and Young headed up the ramp and we head to commercials.

We come back to another NXT recap as Joe Hendry defeated Charlie Dempsey (with Wren Sinclair’s googly eyes at Hendry) and we get the main event recap as Dark State defeated Moose, Wiliams, Evans and Femi. They focused on Wiliams’ unwillingness to help Evans when Dark State hit the High Hopes powerbomb for the win.

We head back ringside to the King’s Speech interview segmentwith Frankie Kazarian with guests Jake Something and Steve Maclin. Kazarian has Steven Tyler inspired bandana-laden mic stand. He called the fans “peasants,” “pretenders” and “marks” and welcomes us to the segment – the only one hosted by an actual king (unsure if King Letsie III of Lesotho has anything to do with wrestling so I will take him at his word.)

He brings out Something first (thanking for dressing up for the occasion as Something has on his muscle-T and jeans.) He then brings out Maclin who walks out with his International Title. Maclin headed right to Something and face off. Kazarian stepped in and asked for decorum and not act like the savages they are. He started with Something about the match tomorrow at Emergence. Something said nothing and Kazarian complemented him on his Longfellow like soliloquy.

Kazarian then gave the mic to the Maclin for his thoughts. Maclin also said nothing as he and Something are laser focused. Kazarian called them both cunning linguists and instructed them how to do an interview. Maclin grabbed the mic and did have something to say. It’s the one thing everyone can agree.

“Frankie, could you please shut the hell up!”

Huge pop ensued. Maclin understood it Is his show but he and Something are beyond talk and will find out if Jake actually is Something. Kazarian grabbed the mic and quickly ran down Maclin but laid it into Something; saying that he thought Something had the dumbest name in wrestling but he might be the dumbest person in wrestling.

That raised enough of Something’s ire to choke Kazarian. Kazarian used a thumb to the eye to break the hold but stumbled into Maclin who tried to lock in a facelock but Kazarian managed to escape out of the ring and up the ramp. That left Maclin and Something alone in the ring. Maclin ran to Something but Something hit Into the Void and left Maclin on the floor. Something grabbed the belt and threw at Maclin and then headed up the ramp and to commercials.

We come back to an Emergence hype package. We comeback to Hannifan and Rewholdt to announce the Hartwell and Rosemary match and Hometown Man will face Ryan Nemeth on the pregame show and then we get the full card hype.

Main Event: Rascalz and Cedric Alexander vs. Leon Slater and the Hardys

Rascalz (Zachary Wentz and Myron Reed) head out first followed by Alexander. Slater heads are next for the opposition to a good pop followed by the Hardys who got the biggest pop. They head down to ringside as we head to commercials.

We come back to the match about to get underway with Alexander and Slater starting for an Emergence preview. Alexander got the go behind and got two takedowns on Slater. Slater reversed a third into a headlock takedown and a series of reverses as the two eventually went eye-to-eye with each other (Slater tilted his head since he is taller.) Alexander chopped away at Slater and tagged Reed. Slater tried to throw Reed to the outside but Reed stopped and kicked Slater as he charged to the ropes. Reed climbed to the top and jumped away from a charge. A series of kicks were reversed as got the upper foot with a twisting reverse kick. Slater grabbed the arm and tagged Matt. Hardy went to the middle turnbuckle and hit an elbow drop on the arm. Hardy worked the arm some more and tagged Jeff fist drop/leg drop double team.

Jeff grabbed an arm lock and tagged Slater. The two hit an atomic drop and running big boot for two. Slater threw Reed to the corner and tagged Matt. Matt slugged away at Reed and hit the 10-turnbuckle slam spot down the turnbuckles. Slater was tagged and threw Reed into the ropes.

However, Wentz got a blind tag from Reed. Reed came off the ropes with an enziguri and Wentz leapt between the ropes for a code breaker. Reed charged at Slater as Slater tried to back drop him to the apron; however, Reed got to his feet and leapt back into the ring with a monkey flip, which got a two count from Wentz.

Wentz continued to work on Slater with a series of elbows to the shoulder. However, as is usually the case, the hand spring twisting knee off the ropes was reversed. Wentz quickly regained the upper hand with a series of strikes and enziguri kick. Wentz threw Slater to the ropes but Jeff got the blind tag and a Wentz’ backdrop attempt was met with a Slater kick. Slater threw Wentz to the turnbuckle to have Jeff hit an elevated corner splash from Slater’s back.

Hardy hit a snapmare and a seated dropkick to the back of Wentz’ head for two. Jeff locked in the chinlock as Wentz fought to his feet only to be beat down by jeff. Slater is tagged and hits a flying forearm to the corner. Matt is tagged and Matt laid the boots to Wentz. Matt draped Wentz to the ropes and did a slingshot neck snap on the ropes on Wentz for two. Matt ran Wentz to the corner and tagged Jeff who laid the boots to him.

(one funny moment as Rewholdt and Hannifan noticed Wentz’ cheesy moustache was gone. Rewholdt put the credit to the Hardys, Hannifan gave credit to Priscilla.) Meanwhile, Jeff threw Wentz to the turnbuckles and hit a series of shoulderblocks to Wentz. Hannifan and Rewholdt also mused about this being the best version of the Rascalz. A huge throw to the turnbuckles got two as Matt is tagged once again and hit the chinlock.

Wentz again tried to fight out and a whip to the turnbuckles gave Wentz the means of escape by decking Jeff and Slater and kicking Jeff away to get the hot tag on Reed. Reed booted Matt and hit a huge dropkick from a previously blocked boot. Reed got Matt on his shoulders but Matt escaped an attempted to throw Reed through the ropes.

Reed, however, landed on the apron and shoulderblocked a charging Matt. Reed hit a sunset flip over the ropes and hit another nice dropkick for two. The crowd tried to rally the Hardys as Alexnder was tagged. Alexander hit a suplex for two and slugged away at Hardy for another two count as we head to our last round of commercials.

Coning back Alexander has a headlock. He tagged Wentz who hit an over the top rope splash off a snapmare. Wentz reversed a whip to the ropes for a leg dropkick and a standing moonsault for two. Wentz hit the chinlock but Hardy powered out. Wentz went to the top rope but Hardy met him there and slugged away. The two traded shots and headbutts until Hardy hit the superplex.

Hardy and Wentz crawl to their corners and tag Jeff and Alexander, respectively. Hardy booted down Alexander and then hit the standard inverted atomic drop; leg drop to the groin and seated drop kick. An elbowdrop got two. Jeff soaks in the crow and sets up the Twist of Fate but Alexander reversed that with a push to the turnbuckles. That gave time for Hardy to ascend to the top for the Whisper in the Wind for two-and-a-fraction.

A jawbreaker is reversed with a knee by Alexander. They both stagger to each other’s corner as Slater and Reed are tagged. Slater hit a series of clotheslines and a twisting suplex. A flying leg lariat is ducked by Reed as Wentz entered the ring and hit a boot to Slater. However, a throw to the ropes by the Rascalz is reversed to a handspring back elbow by Slater. Slater got two on Reed.

Slater tried for the Twist of Slate which was stopped by Reed and pushed into the ropes and NOW Wentz hits the handspring knee off the ropes. Matt comes in and hits the Side Effect on Wentz. The pin is broken by a running boot by Alexander who got caught in a gourdbuster by Jeff. An attempted Suplex on Reed is met with the Stun Dog Millionaire as Slater came back into the ring. The Utopia (Blue Thumber Bomb by Slater) is reversed into a headlock takedown and Reed hit a slingshot rolling neckbreaker on Slater in a creative spot for two-and-a-fraction.

Alexander is tagged but a piledriver attempt is stopped and reversed by Slater but the Twist of Slate is stopped by Reed. Reed, however, is grabbed by Matt as Slater and Matt. Wentz came into the ring but is met by Jeff. One can see how this will end as we get a triple Twist of Fate/Slate on the opposition. Jeff then heads to the top but a Swanton Bomb is taken away by the Rascalz. However, Matt goes to al four and Slater leaps off Jeff over the top rope to take out the opposition. Jeff than hit the Poetry in Motion off Matt onto Alexander. Matt added a Side Effect. Jeff climbed to the second rope to hit a splash and Slater climbed to the top rope to hit the Crossover for two before the Rascalz could break up the pin.

The Rascalz hit stereo superkicks on the Hardys and then took turns hitting running back elbows to the Hardys in the corner. Wentz, with Reed’s help, hit a flying back elbow to Matt in the corner and an aided drop kick to Jeff. A dive through the ropes (and between Reed’s legs) to the Hardys on the floor was stopped by the Hardys until Reed leaped over the top rope to drop the dogpile. However, Slater leapt over the turnbuckles to nail a flying splash on Reed. From there, Slater climbed to the top turnbuckle but the Swanton Bomb was aborted when Alexander moved. Slater rolled through it, hit the ropes and attempted a handspring back elbow smash; only, Alexander caught him and hit the Lumbar Check for three and the win.

Post Match: Alexander and the Rascalz celebrate as Slater and the Hardys (which sound two bands that should be playing at your local music hall) meet them and we get ensuing title raising and pointing by the champions and challengers as we go off the air.

Impactful Discourse:

Due to illness, I will be brief on this one.

One, they love the superman comebacks/hot tags with Hartwell. It seems that we set up for her every match. The crowd loves it and she does passable with it. Not sure if Rosemary is the way to go with her next feud but at this point, Rosemary seems like a one or two match mini-feud before we get on to bigger things and gives Hartwell something to do whilst waiting for her match with Tessa Blanchard.

Two, Marella was funny in his Knockout summit meeting/interview.

Three, the matches seemed like placeholders until Emergence. We’ll see what happens after tomorrow. :

Four, the WWE-ifcation of TNA Impact continues as got the “Goodfellas” long shot from backstage to ringside with the System.

Keep fighting the good fight.