TNA Impact Thanksgiving Special – 11.27.25

As consistent as awkward family banter and delicious stuffing, we get a special Thanksgiving Episode of TNA: Impact. We have unaired matches and some moments from the past. We have Tom Hannifan and Gia Miller (Matthew Rehwoldt joins us later in the show.) We get McKenzie Mitchell as your ring announcer. So, forget about arguing with your uncle about (topic X,) heat up some leftovers and let’s, instead, engage in some Impactful Discourse. Shall we? We shall.

We don’t get any previous action but we do get a special Thanksgiving episode and go to the announce table with Hannifan and Miller (Miller is adorned with a turkey hat.) And we go to our first match – and a TNA Impact Tradition.

Turkey Bowl Match: Eric Young vs. Trey Miguel (with Zachary Wentz and Myron Reed in tow) vs. Mance Warner (with Step DeLander in tow) vs. Hometown Man vs. Ryan Nemeth vs. Brian Myers

Young comes out first to celebrate the bowl (or as they know it Canada – Thursday) Hannifan and Miller mention Young won it in back-to-back years. Miguel comes out with the Rascalz but they stay on the rampway as Miguel gets the crowd riled, Warner comes out next with DeLander but she stays on the rampway (after PDA) Hometown Man is next adorned with a Shaquille O’Neal jersey, Nemeth is next and lastly we are to “Trust the System” as Myers is last as Hannifan mentioned that Myers also won the Bowl at one point.

And we’re off; the initial pairings in separate corners are Myes and Nemeth, HTM and Young and Warner and Miguel. Nemeth hits Myers with a series of shoulders in the corner but Myers reversed it and threw Nemeth to the floor. Nemeth tripped Myers and he went to the floor and ran him into the ringsteps. Nemeth sneakily hides under the ring (although the camera sees him all the way through.) We, however, see what the camera is doing, which is a series of commercials.

We get a clip of Samoa Joe vs. Kazarian on a special on TNA Plus. We also get the “Black Friday” merchandise sale from TNAMerch.com. When we come back, Young slugged away at the HTM in the corner but HTM reversed it and went for the 10-punch spot in the corner until Young rake his eyes. Young joined Warner and attacked Miguel but Miguel briefly reversed it but a moonsault off the ropes hit nothing but mat. Young and Warner celebrated only to be interrupted by Myers spearing Young and then hit an enziguri and a DDT on Warner. Myers got Young in the DDT position but waited for Warner to charge him. Myers caught Warner’s charge and hit a DDT/Downward Spiral on Young and Warner simultaneously.

Myers then went to the top rope but Young met him there and slugged him, crotching him on the turnbuckles. Warner joined Young and the two hit a superplex. Young and Warner celebrated again but this gave HTM and Miguel time to sneak up and the two hit a series of shots but was broken up and thwarted by the two. Young hoked HTM on the ropes and Warner did the same with Miguel.

The two whipped the faces to the ropes but HTM and Miguel ducked stereo clotheslines and hit Young and Warner with a series of punches with some Dusty Rhodes choreography. The heels got clever and ducked before the final shot but HTM and Miguel stomped on their feet, which lifted their heads and HTM and Miguel hit stereo dropkicks. Miguel and HTM got the crowd riled as HTM dove between the ropes to drop Young and Miguel leapt over the ropes to mail Warner with a dive.

Meanwhile, Myers got in the ring to recover but Nemeth emerged under the ring and tried a rollup but only got a two count. Myers got to his feet and hit the Roster Cut (lariat clothesline) on a charging Nemeth to get the victory.

Post Match: The referee on the floor Gave the turkey suit to the referee in the ring as Myers taunted Nemeth. Nemeth tried to strike a deal and plead his case while the crowd chanted “Turkey.” HTM and Miguel got in the ring; which was fortuitous as Nemeth tried to make a break for it up the rampway. Myers and Miguel caught him and threw him back into the ring. HTM hit the Hometown Slice (Sliced Bread) on Nemeth.

Miguel, Myers and HTM put the gear on an unconscious Nemeth as the crowd audibly chanted “Turkey.” Nemeth regained conscious to realize what happened as the faces teased the heels. Nemeth started to protest. Nemeth kept screaming he is not a turkey as he had to the turkey wing gesture.

Hannifan joined us in TNA studio to go over what will happen next on the show, including matches we have never seen. He also went over the Final Resolution card next week in El Paso.

One of those matches is next as we get Trick Wiliams and Mustafa Ali vs. Leon Slater and Mike Santana.

We also get a snippet of Christian Cage vs. Jeff Jarrett from a special on TNAPlus on Christian Cage. TNAMerch plug and a hype piece on Full Sail University. It’s a front row seat to live entertainment and teach students the skills that power the entertainment industry.

And we get a re-airing on the introduction of the Mr. Elegance search. with our host, Personal Concierge; email now [email protected]. Hannifan said he has no idea where to begin with the search but is handed a note (conveniently from the fourth wall camera) it is from the Personal Concierge saying the search is ongoing and is going strong. Hannifan hates PC, for the record and compared him to a lapdog. Now, we get the match:

Trick Williams and Mustafa Ali (with order four in tow) vs. Leon Slater and Mike Santana

This match took place in September in Minneapolis. We get the extra Servicemen but not quite the debut of Agent Zero. We get the Order Four Salute as the crowd is a mix of cheers and boos. Williams is next and the “Whoop That, Trick” chant emerged as Williams air guitars his way around the fans. Rehwoldt does a credible Booker T impression. Hannifan hates Rewholdt, too.

For the faces, Slater is out first under the LCD UFO. Slater came out to a sizeable pop and moved through the extra Servicemen, who were still on the ramp. Slater jawed at both Ali and Williams. Santana is next and emerged through the crowd. Santana soaked in the adulation of the crowd and greeted them. While the faces were getting ready, the camera panned to Ali and Williams who decided to jump the faces before the bell = Ali paired off with Slater and, naturally, Santana and Williams fought in the opposite corner. Both faces dropped but quickly arose. The two botted and slugged away on the other and then Santana threw Williams to the floor (where they continued to brawl.) Meanwhile, Slater and Ali fought inside the ring.

Slater threw Ali in the corner but Ali flipped over a Slater charge. However, Slater came out of the corner with a kick and then a rebound kick when Ali ducked the second kick. Slater got the crowd riled and hit a fluy8ing forearm in the corner. Slater got the 10-pounch corner spot. Slater threw Ali to the mat and hit a flying crossbody block from the top turnbuckle for a two count as we go to break.
We get another snippet of the Samoa Joe TNA special – this time fighting Bobby Lashley. We also get a TNAPlus hype piece (you already have my money, thank you.)

When we return, Ali evaded a Slater charge by going to the apron and then eyeraking the X-Division champion. Ali then hit the rolling neckbreaker between the ropes for a two count. Wiliams tagged and slugged Slater in the corner. Slater tried to rally but Williams violently whipped Slater to the turnbuckles and he crumpled to the mat. Williams continued the onslaught with a front facelock and then threw Slater to the mat head first.
Ali was tagged and choked Slater on the ropes with his foot. When the referee tried to regain order, Tasha Steelz snuck over and slapped Slater. Ali tried to continue the attack but Slater avoided to clothesline off the ropes and hit a handspring flying back elbow off the ropes.

Slater managed to tag Santana (as Ali tagged Williams.) Slater repeatedly clotheslined Wiliams down (including a flying clothesline off the ropes. Williams reversed a Santana throw into the corner but Santana blocked a kick and hit an enziguri in the corner. Santana signaled for Spin the Block but Ali managed to move Williams out of the way. Ali ducked the clothesline and sent Santana to the corner. Santana backdropped a charging Ali but Ali landed on the apron and hit a kick. However, Santana went to the other corner and back rolled into a Rolling Block 50 on a charging Ali. Santana signaled for the Spin the Block but the Great Hands jumped in for the disqualification.

Post Match: Slater tried to help but was dropped by Williams and was stomped in the corner. Williams went to the floor and grabbed his TNA title. Williams headed up the rampway as the Extra Servicemen made their way to the ringside area and grabbed table from underneath the mat. The Great Hands continued to pound Santana. Ali signaled for a powerbomb but Slater had time to recover and leapt over the ropes to drop Order Four. Ali tried to skulk away but Slater caught him and dragged him back to the ringside area. HE threw Ali to Santana and Santana tried for a powerbomb but Order Four and the Servicemen grabbed Ali and scurried up the ramp. However, one Serviceman was not so lucky. Santana and Slater grabbed him and NOW Santana powerbombed the Serviceman through the table.

Hannifan joined us again and talked about the year Santana and Slater had and the year will end in El Paso with Final Resolution and the last salvo of TNA tapings for the year. We also get word that Ryan Nemeth wants to have a “Battle of the Holidays” and the details are next….after the break.

We get another snippet of the Christian Cage special on TNAPlus, this time against Kurt Angle before we return, well we also get another TNAMerch hype. We also get another hype for TNA: Fade to Black special (which was reviewed by your humble scribe a few weeks ago.)

We come back for another bit of hype for the El Paso tapings (tickets still available) and some hype for the next big Premium Live Event – Genesis – coming in January from Dallas. He hoped we are all having a great Thanksgiving but unfortunately, we are being subjected to a lot of Ryan Nemeth. Nemeth reached his boiling point after losing the Turkey Bowl and issued an “astronomical” challenge revolving around the big debate this time of year: which is the bigger holiday, Thanksgiving or Christmas.

Ryan Nemeth vs. Krampus

We to ringside and see the chryon for “Krampus,” who weighs 105 kilograms and hails from Austria. We can’t make out who Krampus is because the lights are dark, we do hear and see Nemeth make his appearance (with turkey gobbles when the girl speaks in the video.) Nemeth does the Turkey flap into a flex. Nemeth has a mic and said he hates Christmas; the reindeer, Santa Claus and hates Krampus (well, wait a minute, if you hate Santa, wouldn’t that make you a fan of Krampus?)

Nemeth said Thanksgiving is the better holiday and asked Krampus if he is on the good or naughty list and asks the crowd to stop calling him turkey. Krampus really doesn’t look like the mythical creature. But we get the match. Krampus gets the early advantage after a series of boots after shoving Nemeth to the mat. Krampus is run into the turnbuckles and then a snap mare turned into a series of forearms to Nemeth. Krampus teased spanking Nemeth but a double thrust and a standing backbreaker gets two for Nemeth.

Nemeth pounded away on Krampus and hit a shoulder block to Krampus in the corner. Nemeth dropped a series of elbows on Krampus’ head and hits the chinlock. Krampus rallied but Nemeth pounded away and hit a dropkick for two. Nemeth started to pound on Krampus but Krampus ummm.Kramped up and rallied, running Nemeth into the turnbuckles after as series of punches. Krampus measured Nemeth and hit a running crossbody/spear hybrid for two.

Krampus grabbed Nemeth and attempted a chokeslam but Nemeth escaped and hit a jumping DDT for two-and-a-fraction. Nemeth attempted a flying bodypress but Krampus caught him and hit a East River Crossing for two and then a leaping legdrop for two. A “let’s go Krampus” chant emerged as Krampus tried to finish Nemeth. However, Nemeth grabbed the referee and snuck a thumb to the eye that staggered Krampus and gave Nemeth the chance to roll up Krampus for the win.

Post Match: Nemeth celebrated up the ring in a turkey strut and wings flapping.

Hannifan brought us back to the studio and announced of two legendary artists are next as Joe Hendry and Jeff Hardy team…after the break.

We go to another special on TNA with a look at Jeff Hardy’s 2012 and his match against Kurt Angle. Was that the best year in Jeff Hardy’s career? Well……

One thing that can’t be debated is TNA coming next week and Final Resolution next week from El Paso. We also get NXT highlights as Lei Ying Lee won the Knockouts World Title from Kelani Jordan in a three-way match with Jordynne Grace at NXT Gold Rush. We get a teary eyed Lee with the belt. She thanked everyone for believing in her the whole time.

Hannifan brought us back and said at Final Resolution we get Lee vs. Luna or Xia Brookside (the two face off on TNA Impact for the shot.) Hannifan said the events would not be what they are without the fans because you never know what is going to happen be it on or off air.

Now we get the collaboration between Joe Hendry and Jeff Hardy from this past July in Kingston, RI. Hendry is out next to a good pop. And, this is going to be a concert. Two chairs are there and Hendry’s guitar is there. Hendry asked if we are enjoying the show and thanks the fans for the support and that adds extra value to the Joe Hendry concert.

Hendry starts with an acoustic version of Hendry’s theme. A loud “we believe” chant starts after the song. Hendry said the concert isn’t just about Hendry. We are going to get the collaborative next. He sings his song but substitutes Jeff Hardy’s name instead of his. Hardy’s music starts and Jeff gets a huge pop. Hendry laments not being able to play the Hardy’s riff on his acoustic guitar. He said he would learn it for the next time (ummm…about that.)

Hendry said the fans and everyone in the back appreciate him and wanted to give them special thanks. The Hardys are living legends and give 100 percent every time and talks about the lengths of how they greet and treat the fans. Hendry also talked about how they helped the younger wrestlers like Leon Slater and himself. They are going to play a song that Jeff wrote called “Modest.” It’s….it’s…a song (maybe the acoustic guitar doesn’t do it justice. But it’s,, it’s a song.)

Jeff said if we had a band name it would be Great Initials. Now, we get another song. It is the wrestling song that celebrates pro wrestling. It’s “My Sacrifice” from Creed and we all go back to the WWE vids to 2003. The crowd has the lights on the cell phones out and it’s…a good version. Even Jeff harmonizes really well. The crowd comes in on the last chorus and its acapella. That was a nice moment

Until…..we get more Nemeths; this time it is Nick and Ryan. Nemeth and Hardy clear the ring of chairs and the guitar. Ryan said they come in peace. But, the concert isn’t over until Ryan sings a song about his “Big Bahhruutttherrr,” and it’s a version of “Escape (the Pina Colada song.)” We get one line until Hendry grabbed Ryan for a Standing Ovation and Jeff Hardy hit Nick with a Twist of Fate. We get handshakes from Hendry and Hardy and get Hendry’s theme as the Nemeths make it up the ramp.

Hannifan is thankful for Hardy and Hendry. When we return, we get one of the biggest Thanksgiving moments in TNA history.

We also get another snippet from the Samoa Joe collection on TNAPlus against Kurt Angle. We also get another hype piece for Final Resolution next week. We also get another ad for the “Immersed” YouTube Special on Ash..by Elegance.

Hannifan talked up Ash and then we go to the special Thanksgiving moment from 2007 and the Thanksgiving feast featuring TNA talent with the Angles. Abyss brought a rat to the festivities as he climbs onto the table and the food. James Storm is intoxicated and then we get the entrance of “Black Machismo” Jay Lethal. Sonjay Dutt starts to act up as Awesome Kong just wants to eat. We also get The Dudleys enter Angle’s room. People start throwing food and then leave the premises as it is just the Dudleys and the Angles left. The Dudleys sit at the kid’s table and torment their kid, who responds the Dudleys suck.

We cut back to a full table and dessert as Hall and Nash make their way and they slam two pies into Karen. It does not take a high Wonderlic score to know where this is going. Lethal calls a food fight and we are off and throwing, except Kong who is eating.

We get our main event next and more burying of Ryan Nemeth as Santio Marella makes it official with an eight mam math as the System (with Slater) face Nemeth, Jake Something and First Class.

We get one more taste of the Chistian Cage collection on TNAplus against Kazarian in a ladder match. And, we get a hype piece for TNAPlus and the Fade to Black special. We also get sone hype for next week’s card. We also get the main event.

First Class, Jake Something and Ryan Nemeth vs. The System (Myers, Eddie Edwards and Moose with Alisha Edwards and JDC in tow) and Leon Slater.

First Class is out first to a good pop, Jake Something is next and is followed by Nemeth still in turkey gear. The System is next to a good pop and Slater is the last to a big crowd. We get Rehwoldt back on announcing and crows about Nemeth as a method actor and gives him kudos since he was still adorned as a turkey.

Francis and Moose is next. There is a noticeable “Moose” chant as he grabbed a headlock on Francis. The two collide in the ring and Moose went backward to the corner. The two measured each other and Francis grabbed a headlock but and now Moose connects with a shoulderblock that sent Francis back to the corner. Ryan got on the corner and started to hype Francis but Francis said to get down from there. The two measured each other up for an Oklahoma Drill (details later.) they got in their lineman stances and collided with the other sending both of them sprawling back to their corners.

Francis measured Moose but quickly tagged Swann. Moose tagged Edwards. Swann feigned a test of strength only for it to be a ruse and Swan attempted to kick Edwards. But, Edwards caught the boot. Swann still got the advantage via an eye rake. Swann slugged Edwards in the corner but missed a flying forearm.

Edwards chopped away at Swann as we went to break and another ad for the TNAPlus’ Jeff Hardy’s 2012 collection. This featured a match with Robert Roode. We also got hype for TNA: Genesis, the YouTube “Immersed” edition on Frankie Kazarian and another ad for Full Sail University.

We come back and the chopping of Swann continues. Edwards tagged Myers and hit a leaping knee strike on Swann but Swann reciprocated with a tornado kick to the head of a charging Myers. Swann tagged Francis. Francis threw Swann into the corner for a leaping forearm; Swann then threw Myers into a big boot by Francis and Francis launched Swann into a flying bodysplash on Myers.

Francis grabbed Myers and threw him into the corner. Francis did the “money” taunt and then hit the running Tennessee Whiskey knee. He also tagged Nemeth who started to pound on Myers. He tagged Something who dropped elbows on Myers and grabbed the chinlock. Myers tried to rally and slug Something but Something pounded him down again and knocked down the other members of the System.

This, however, gave Myers time to recover and hit a spear on Something off the ropes. Myers did the hope crawl and tagged Slater. Something tagged Nemeth. Slater dropped Nemeth with a series of flying forearms. He also charged the heels and knocked them to the floor. Slater caught him with a rebound kick after Nemeth ducked the first charge. Slater continued to be a flat on fire as he hit a handspring flying back elbow on Nemeth.

Slater kipped up and went to the top turnbuckle and hit the Crossover (flying crossbody) for two before the heels interrupted the pin. This brought in the System and it was time for a schmozapalooza. The System cleared the ring and started to brawl again on the floor Moose vs. Francis, Something vs. Edwards and Myers vs. Swann.)

Meanwhile, Nemeth snuck behind Slater and rolled him up (with a handful of trunks) for a two count. Slater recovered and hit a leg lariat. He dragged Nemeth to the middle of the ring. He climbed to the top and hit the Swanton 450 for the victory.

Post Match: Slater and the System celebrated in the ring. Hannifan gets one last throw and talked about Nemeth’s night. Hannifan said we are grateful and thankful for Nemeth in his own way. We get one last bit of hype for the El Paso tapings and we end the show.

Impactful Ruminations

One: Okay, okay, it’s Thanksgiving and we talked earlier today about live cards in holidays. If we are going to do a clip show this would be a day to do it. However, we had three similar shows last month.

Two: Along the same lines, this is another case of TNA being its own worst enemy as they have – maybe not a shoestring budget – but a budget that pales to the WWE. This means we get taping cycles and weird brakes like the one after Bound for Glory. You hope that some semblance of a new deal is in place to give more continuity to tapings. I know week to week live events is a lot, I get that; but even if it is just two tapings in one setting, that sets the matches and we can have more dynamic interactions instead of….

Three: Let’s talk about Lei Ying Lee….in passing. She should have gotten more than just a mention in a highlight reel. Do something more with her. This is what you are going to counter the juggernaut WWE women’s division. I do like they showed the interview and I did enjoy the pathos and gratitude shown by Lee. That was a great moment and shows TNA going outside the box on a champ.

Four: Circuitously, let me continue that point. Ryan Nemeth as the schlub on this week’s show made some sense. He’s a sniveling heel who hides behind Nick. He does the role well and leans into it. He was the perfect one to make the patsy this week and kudos to him for doing it. He knows comedy timing and knows the role. That being said, I would have liked to have some semblance of a woman’s match on this show to keep things fresh and something to ride into next week’s important matches.

Five: Also, if we are going to invest in the MWO in some shape and substance, they should have some feature on this episode. It doesn’t have to be in ring action, but just another segment like last week. It would raise the stakes of Final Resolution and give it real hype versus saying it every commercial break.

Six: the concert was disjointed but Hendry does have great pipes. If you can make Hardy sound on key – give this man a title push and an Emmy (or resurrect the Slammys? Maybe?) I somewhat lapsed as a fan in the early aughts but I do remember the videos they did and “My Sacrifice” was a great way to hit that nostalgia vibe about the E in the aughts (before all the really bad stuff happened.)

Seven: Could they not get the rights to Santa, but thought no one would notice Krampus? Krampus is what the naughty folks would encounter. That was just a weird trip into mythology. At least, make him look more like the actual creature instead of an ugly Klingon.

Eight: The in-ring action was solid and nothing really changed. Santana is still great, Slater is a great number two and Ali and Francis should be seen as the top heels when a title change happens (Genesis? Maybe?)

Nine: The Oklahoma Drill is done in (American Football) as two people square off with each other in a circle and try to knock the other one down.

Lastly: Happy Thanksgiving to everyone here. Keep Fighting the Good Fight