TNA Impact Wresting Review – April 2, 2026

Welcome, all, we are fresh from Sacrifice but staying in the New Orleans as we set forth on a new set of tapings. Fun fact, Louisiana is one of two states in the US that do not have counties (Alaska being the other) – so Parish the thought. HA! I kill me. Anyway, Les Bon Temp Rouler with Tom Hannifan and Matthew Rehwoldt on announce duty and McKenzie Mitchell doing the ring introductions (Gia Miller is not here, actually.) But, despite that, you are here, so let’s get comfy in our (Big) Easy Chair and engage in some Impactful Discourse. Shall we? We shall.

(Before we start: Please support the fine folks who write here. They put their passion into this and they are all good reads. They deserve perpetual props for doing this.) We go right to the action as Hannifan greets us as we get ready for Mike Santana to address the crowd but first – Highlights, high spots, posing, “I’m ready for you!” It’s IMPACT…

Hannifan greets us from the announce table with Santana in the ring and we talk about the main event of TNA Rebellion as Santana faces Eddie Edwards. But first, let’s hear from “The Realist.” I hope he keeps it a buck with us. We also get a huge “Santana” chant.

He does keep it a buck, for the record. At Rebellion, he went to battle with Steve Maclin. Santana called him the toughest SOB he met – and he dropped him. Santana said his dad said be a man of his word. He stepped into the ring at Rebellion as world champ and stepped out as World Champion.

He turned his attention to Edwards. He tried to take advantage of a perilous position but Santana lives his life with his back against the wall. At Rebellion, Edwards gets to put his little briefcase to work and faces Santana for the TNA World Championship.

It’s interview interruption time as Edwards comes out with Cedric Alexander. Edwards said he sounds confident for a man who was pinned by him on Impact last week. The thing that is what is going to happen at Rebellion, which will be known as “The Night of the System.” When Edwards wins his third title, TNA will be run by the System. A loud “Eddie sucks” chant emerged.

Santana said Edwards doesn’t believe his own words because if he did, he should come in the ring and fight him right now. Alexander took the mic and wanted him to calm down and take a breath and solace that he won’t be the only losing a title at Rebellion. He loudly called out Leon Slater. Alexander said Slater had been ducking him and come Rebellion, Alexander will become X-Division title holder.

This brought out Slater, who got in the ring next to Santana. He doesn’t like the way he is chatting with him – like he is just going to walk into the ring and take the title from him. That’s not what is going to happen. Slater already beat him nine months ago and has no trouble beating him again.

Alexander did the “blah, blah, blah” taunt and said that was then, this is now. He doesn’t care about making the people happy. He cares about the System. At Rebellon, the System will have all the gold.

Hey, let’s have one more interruption as Mustafa Ali comes out with Order Four in tow. There is so much talk and promises. Ali said he is going to talk about the facts. It will be the Night of the System but it will also be the night of Order Four. He said Santana and Alexander are looking at the next International Champion. It would be a great if everyone stood and said “In Ali We trust.”

Oh, well, one more interruption – why not? Trey Miguel’s music and he walked to the ring and stood with Slater and Santana. There is a rule of thumb, if someone says your name, you have to step up, Miguel said. He told Ali to look at him when he is talking to him. He is a coward, Miguel said, everyone knows it. What he did Sacrifice was cowardly because he hides behind the numbers of Order Four because he can’t do it my himself. At Rebellion, he challenged him to be a real man.

No matter how he does it – man or coward – he is not walking out with Miguel’s International Title and called him a boy. Ali said he is not walking away – like Jada Stone, right? Santana becomes the voice of reason and said enough of this talk. He wanted them to get in the ring and throw these hands. The crowd wanted it. Ali said Santana was one of the stupidest people he ever met because they have numbers and they just have three.

And, yeah, another interruption as Moose (with Alisha Edwards in tow) stormed down to the ring and immediately laid waste to the Great Hands (Jason Hotch and John Skyler) and he joined the faces in the ring.

We reached full WWE-ifcation as Santino Marella said there is enough testosterone and had an idea. He channeled his inner Teddy Long and it will be and eight man match with Alexander, Edwards, Ali and Agent Zero vs. Moose, Slater, Miguel and Santana. It will be next, so someone get a referee out of here during the commercials.

After said commercials, we do get the referee and we have a match.

Eight Man tag match: Santana, Slater, Miguel and Moose vs. Edwards, Ali, Alexander and Zero

We got us a referee and a match. Moose and Ali start and Moose immediately overpowered him. Ali tagged Alexander, who reluctantly got in the ring. Moose wen to work on Alexander with an urinagi and senton spot. Santana tagged and he went to work on Alexander, Edwards helped his partner with a knee in the back but when he tagged, Santana when on the offense.

Santana hit a dropkick off the ropes and then tagged Slater and the two traded flying elbows and Slater hit a rebound spin kick. Santana added a senton on Edwards using Slater as elevation. We also get the news that for the first time in the AMC era, the TNA Knockouts will main event (admittedly it has only been three months, but still…) In the ring, Edwards tried to rally but Slater regained the momentum with a handspring flying back elbow off the ropes and a running big boot in the corner. Slater continued the offense with a hurincanrana but fell victim to an Alexander urinagi on the apron. Edwards tagged Alexander and Alexander mauled Slater in the corner.

Alexnader continued o the offense with a snapmare and a seated dropkick to the back of the head for a two count. Alexander hit the chinlock but Slater got to his feet and rallied with a spinning kick off the ropes. Slater got the hope crawl and the hot tag on Miguel. Ali also got the tag but Miguel was a umm. Eh, let’s say house of fire (he isn’t doing the stoner gimmick anymore.) Ali slid under a Miguel charge but Miguel dropkicked the heels in the corner.

AL:I and Miguel traded reverses and dodges off the ropes until Ali missed a handspring leap off the ropes and Miguel sent Ali through the ropes but Ali landed on his feet. When he turned to the ring, he was met with a sliding DDT between the ropes to the floor. Miguel climbed to the top and hit the Meteora. Ali regained the advantage with a bell clap and Zero tagged in the match and immediately hit a chokeslam to the mat . A release vertical suplex sent Miguel to the corner.

Zero press slammed Miguel and slammed him to the mat. Ali tagged back into the match and choked Miguel on the ropes, getting help from the rest of Order Four and the System. Ali continued to work Miguel in the corner. A loud “Moose” chant emerged as Edwards tagged. Edwards taunted Moose who got in the ring but the referee restrained him – giving the heels time to choke Miguel in their corner.

Alexnader tagged and Miguel tried to rally but Alexnader hit a running knee and mauled Miguel on the mat. Edwards came back into the ring and continued the mauling. Edwards made the error of charging Miguel in the corner who dodged the charge and Edwards went shoulder first to the ringpost. However, Ali tagged and Miguel continued to be face in peril, being thrown through the ropes and the Great Hands beat down Miguel as Ali distracted the referee until the faces came to the rescue. The crowd started a mild “this is awesome” chant as we do the un awesome thing and go to break.

During break, we get another celebration of Women’s history month with the same footage of Rox-C (Roxanne Perez) versus Deonna Perrazzo in the title vs. title match (ROH vs. AAA)

We come back to Miguel hitting a huge clothesline on Ali and both competitors are on the mat in a hope crawl race. Ali won and Zero tagged. Zero hit a German Suplex and glared at Moose but then quickly tagged Alexander. He and Edwards hit double charges in the corner and Alexander got a Michinoku Driver for a two count. Miguel got the comeback with an Asai moonsualt off the ropes to drop Alexnader. Edwards tagged but Miguel fended him. Ali interfered and dropkicked Moose to the floor but Miguel backdropped him on a charge and got the hot tag on Santana.

Santana cleared the heels from their corner and dropped Edwards with the Outline in Chalk slam and a seated dropkick. A dive between the ropes dropped Alexander and a Frog Splash got two. Ali tried to interfere but Miguel hit a flipping DDT (Canadian DDT?) and attacked Alion the floor. We have a series of dives over the top rope, including Alexande2r, Slater and Agent Zero. Ali tried to dive between the ropes on Moose but he was rewarded with a powerbomb on the apron.

Now, we get Zero and Moose in the ring. Who do the punch trade but a discus lariat was met with a big boot. Zero hit a big boot to a charging Moose in the corner but Moose countered with a dropkick when Zero climbed the turnbuckles. Moose followed it with a Superplex. However, Ali hit a 450 splash on Moose off the top turnbuckle. That was met with a Swanton 450 by Slater.

The finishers keep coming as Alexander hit the Lumbar Check (on the mat,) Miguel hit the Rolling Trey backbreaker and then Zero flipped Miguel onto the apron but Miguel fended him until he tried a springboard leap and was walloped by Zero and Miguel crashed to the floor. However, Santana recovered and hit the Spin the Block that sent Zero flipping over the ropes and to the floor. The Great Hands attempted to interfere but they were dispatched.
Alexander tried to get the upper hand but Santana fended him and hit the Rolling Block 50 out of the corner. However, as Santana rolled through it, Edwards nailed the Boston Knee Party (Shining Wizard) for the victory.

Post Match: “check your pulse after that match, and if you’re Santana, check the rear view mirror because Edwards had you clocked.” Hannifan reminded the crowd that Edwards pinned Santana on consecutive weeks. The faces and heels glared at each other throughout out the floor and the ring as we head to backstage.

And there, we see Daria Rae asking Marella what that was. Marella asked what was what and Rae said making another impromptu match behind her back. Rae said it is always chaos with him She asked if he knew who attacked Nick Nemeth? Marella didn’t and said there is a lot of things that are happening and that Rae was late.

She said she was at a board meeting and the main topic of the meeting was Marella who is skating on thin ice. The other talk was the main event tonight between Arianna Grace and Xia Brookside and the winner faces Lei Ying Lee at Rebellion. Rae said to get out of her office. Marella got up and left, returning to say that this is his office. Rae didn’t care. We get a rundown of the rest of the card including tag team champs..after the break.

During the break, it’s another Women’s History Month celebration with another showing of Mickie James vs. Jordynne Grace.

We come back to highlights of Sacrifice and the signing of Ricky Sosa as a TNA talent. We also go behind the scenes to see the wrestlers celebrating the signing with Slater, Moose and – oh no, Young verbally accosts him. He asked Sosa to look in his eyes and understand that he is the gatekeeper (well, there is something for self-realization.) Young said Sosa better watch it and walked off screen.

We hear the music and we get the Hardys(Matt and Jeff) slowly making their way to the ring. Jeff took time to thank the fans but they both quickly got to business in the ring – after a loud “Hardy” chant, that is. They thanked them and then went to Sacrifice, which was a revelation and a realization. The Righteous did exactly what he thought they were going to do. It was a shame because in another situation, they could have been great friends and a great team. They could have made money. Now, it is a crystal clear they did the attack on the stairwell and attacked from behind and bashed his head into the wall. As he was talking, he started to convert to his “broken” persona.

Jeff said what the Righteous did was a mistake. Jeff even painted Vincent’s face for the match at Sacrifice. There is no respect and brotherhood anymore. Now, Matt said, the only thing to talk about is apocalyptic consequences. However, this brought out the slide guitar and snapping and the Righteous appeared.

Vincent talked to “brother Matthew” and “brother Nero.” They still are a great team. They talked about betrayal at Sacrifice. What they did wasn’t to them but for them. They removed what was in the way. Love requires sacrifice. Dutch continued and said they don’t cling to the lie that love is gentile. Dutch said Matthew is tougher than death. The Hardys are not the victims but the offering.

Matt said they are offering to whip their glutes right here and right now. Vincent said he figured he would say that and that is disappointing. That feeling they have right now in the chest is not pain or anger but the old them fighting to survive something greater. They are running away from themselves. They have something they want – not the titles or the money, but deeper than that. It is buried and forgotten but we all know it is still breathing.

Matt said let’s see if they are still breathing if they have the testicles and the guts to get in the ring in New Orleans (cheap pop ensues.) Vincent said that sounds like a wonderful idea – but not tonight. The calendar has a lot of ways of aligning. Next week, Matt said next week it will be the Hardys vs. Righteous for the titles. Dutch said this will be done Hardy style – in the way of extreme. Jeff said the match will not just be a title match but a tag team Tables Match. The Righteous walked back up the ramp as the Hardys music played and the champs stood in the mat.

We get hype for the next match as Jody Threat is waking backstage and in another hallway Tessa Blanchard and Victoria Crawwww…wait, we get the bunny signal and glitch and now it is just Blanchard walking through the hallway to the match (in a Magnum TA shirt, no less.) They must have a ways to go because we go to commercials.

It’s another Women’s History Month celebration with another showing of Jordynne Grace and Sol Ruca vs. Rosemary and Wendy Choo.

We go backstage to Santana who is sitting on a crate taking off his boot when Grace and “Stacks” Lorenzo walk into frame. Grace taunted Santana and said it’s not very inspiring. Lorenzo added its not a good look. Santana said what is not a good look is when he drops his backside and reiterated they better leave. Grace said they’ll leave when they want to leave. She said World Champions should win, like she has. She will defend her title tonight in the main event and Santana should sit by a monitor and take notes. What she does is handle business – Santana, eh..she doesn’t know. They walk off with Lorenzo saying take notes, bro. Santana looked annoyed and said they don’t even work here.

Bunkhouse Match: Tessa Blanchard vs. Jody Threat

This is the first Bunkhouse Match in TNA Knockouts history. Blanchard is out first and has a bullrope with her. Blanchard glared at the crowd but then headed up the rampway when Threat’s music played. The two brawled on the rampway with Threat getting the upper hand. She ran backstage and grabbed a trashcan and attacked Blanchard.

Threat attacked Blanchard down the ramp and got her in the ring where she put the boots to her, screaming to ring the bell. Threat ran around the ring and looked for weapons under the match. She grabbed a cable and attempted to, eventually dragging a large Pelican case to Blanchard’s location. Rehwoldt said the bunkhouse became famous in Canada (hey….) Meanwhile, Threat threw more weapons in the ring, almost nailing Blanchard with a flying kendo stick.

Naturally, tables were teased but Blanchard recovered and attacked Threat on the floor. She teased the table but ran Threat’s head into the ringsteps and choked Threat on the ring post. Blanchard tried to lift the Pelican case with moderate success but had to put it down. Besides, why use that when there is a trash can you can throw at Threat?

Threat recovered and hit a running kick on Blanchard and attacked Blanchard’s leg with the trashcan. Threat finally lifted the case onto the apron but Blanchard got the upper hand again. Blanchard and threat brawled on the Apron and Threat powetbombed her onto the apron as we go to break once again.

And It’s another Women’s History Month celebration and another showing of Jade (Michin) fought Rosemary in a cage match with Gail Kim watching.

We return as Threat continued to maul Blanchard on the ring. Threat set up a chair and continued to maul Blanchard on the mat. Eventually, Threat put Blanchard on the chair (against the ropes but Blanchard evaded a Meteora and Threat crashed to the chair. Blanchard wedged a chair between the turnbuckles. That gave Threat time to charge Blanchard with the bullrope and cowbell. Threat hit a back elbow.

Blanchard regained the momentum and Hannifan and Rehwoldt took a moment to reset the “more cowbell” Saturday Night Live reference. Blanchard hit a corner dropkick and Threat’s head collided with the cowbell and chair. Threat rallied and got some cowbell shots of her own. Threat grabbed the cable and choked Blanchard who laid prone on the turnbuckles for a two count.

Threat mauled Blanchard with the cowbell in the ring. Threat got the Pelican case into position opened it and tried to choke Blanchard in the opening. Blanchard fended her off, took off the belt and beat Threat like the government mule. She grabbed the referee’s belt and choked her with both belts. Threat got to her feet with Blanchard on her shoulders Blanchard tried to fight out of it but Threat hit the Pop, Shove It. However, Blanchard held onto the belt and fell to the floor. She laid on the floor, choking Threat into unconsciousness as she laid on the mat and the victory went to Blanchard via referee decision.

We go backstage and see Ryan Nemeth looking under stuff. He said he is looking for the person who attacked Nemeth and when he finds them, he will take him out. BDE walked into frame and Ryan interrogated him. Frankie Kazarian walked into the room and Ryan asked if he knew who did the deed. Kazarian said he didn’t know but it was probably BDE (calling him “a mark.”) BDE didn’t like being accused by them for the attack.

Kazarian called him “STD” and said no one disrespects him and no one points at him. BDE pointed at Kazarian and Ryan said he did it again and Kazarian should teach him a lesson like he did at Sacrifice. BDE said he isn’t backing down from a match. Kazarian said he isn’t offering a match but will take him apart right now. That brought Elijah into the shot with guitar strum (although the guitar was over his shoulder.) Kazarian said “careful, drifter those road get dangerous out there” and he and Ryan left off scene.

Elijah said he has unfinished business with him but wouldn’t everyone wouldn’t mind if BDE shut him up – just leave some for him and we leave for commercials.

We come back from commercials with Blanchard backstage and seeing the rabbit glitching. She follows her up the red lit stairwell and we get “to be continued…”

AJ Francis vs. Home Town Man

“Francis comes out first and gets a modest “money, money, money” chant. While he made his way to the ring, we get the news as Kazarian and Elijah will meet at TNA Rebellion. Francis STRUCK THE POSE on the turnbuckles. HTM is out next, still rocking the Drew Brees and handing beads to everyone and giving masks to some of the front row fans. Hannifan referred to HTM as Cody Deaner (but legal precedent and…eh, just review the match, Scott.)

We get the stare down and Francis taunted HTM and threw him to the mat. HTM rallied and evaded a Down Payment (chokeslam) into a series of punches with Dusty Rhodes choreography. Francis sent over the ropes with a clothesline and a dive between the ropes sent Francis to the floor.

Back into the ring, Francis got a two count on a failed body slam attempt. He choke HTM on the ropes. The mauling continued in the ropes and the corner as Francis hit the Tennessee Whiskey (running knee into the corner.) And, to add to the indignities, he grabbed HTM’s Brees jersey and spat on it. He threw at Hannifan. Hannifan said at least his Philadelphia Eagles have some Super Bowls to their name (cue Botchamania’s “Can you remember” to 2009 and the Saints beating the Colts for their Lombardi Trophy.)

HTM hometowned up and rallied (even with Hogan point.) He hit a series of punches and NOW we get a bodyslam of Francis for a two count. HTM got the crowd riled but Francis met a charging HTM with the TFL (spear) and NOW we get the Down Payment for the victory.

Post Match: Francis has the mic. Unless you live in a rock or live in one of these backwood bayous like the loser fans. There has been a lot of online discourse (hey…) about what happened with Nick Nemeth. So, roll the footage. We go to Ryan trying to get help for his brother. Francis wanted to prevent another episode of “Murder, She Wrote” (or Wiggum, PI,) the culprit…was him.

Francis said the reason was that two years ago, he made his debut here and defeated Joe Hendry. Nemeth said he called himself the show stealer but the only thing he steals is the opportunity after opportunity for him. Francis said it doesn’t matter who it is – and ran down the people he faced and defeated (even “that limping bum, KC Navarro.) The real show stealer in TNA is him. He gets cheap heat on New Orleans Saints.

But hold everything, Ryan Nemeth charged to ringside to defend the Nemeth name. Francis scared Ryan off the apron and said he will do to him what he is going to do to Nick in Cleveland, OH; leave him without a pulse. He is the big man in the business and the business is money, money, money. Francis glowered at the hard camera and Nemeth frustratingly looked at Francis.

We go backstage and see Xia Brookside getting ready for her title match until Lee ran into shot and showed a video message from her dad, British wresting icon (and WWE PC trainer) Robbie Brookside. He gave her some inspiring words and said it is “her birthright” to win this title. Xia agreed that this is her birthright (hmmmm…..) they get ready off shot and we get ready for commercials.

When we come back, Hannifan and Rehwoldt go over the Rebellion card. It is Santana vs. Edwards, Slater vs. Alexander, The Hardys (or the Righteous) will defend the tag titles versus The System’s Bear Bronson and Brian Myers, Miguel vs. Ali for the International Title, The By Elegance Brand (with Ash) vs. James, ODB and Taryn Terrell, Moose vs. Agent Zero, Kazarian vs. Elijah and The Knockouts World Title match between Grace (or Brookside) vs. Lee.

Hey, we get celebrities as One Man Gang is here for this taping.

Main Event – TNA Knockouts World Title Match: Arianna Grace (with “Stacks” Lorenzo in tow) vs. Xia Brookside (with Lei Ying Lee in tow)

Brookside is out first with her wings (1.3 on the Lyra Valkyria scale.) Lee joined her with a black feathery shirt. Grace is out next with some PDA and we get some talk about the match at Sacrifice with Grace, Lee and Dani Luna (sniff…) Hannifan said the champ has been the disgrace of the lineage of the Knockouts champion (well….)

Grace got a quick roll up attempt and then the two traded armlocks and pin attempts to start the match. Grace reversed an arm lock and started to work the leg. Brookside escaped and hit a series of arm drags and dropkicks. Grace hit the floor and taunted Brookside from the floor as we go to our final commercial break.

When we return, Brookside hit a tilt-a-whirl headscsissors and a Meteora in the corner. Brookside averted a pump kick and hit a neckbreaker for a two count. Grace finally got a sustained offense with a knee lift and flying back elbow off the ropes for a two count. Grace went to Lorenzo and he handed her the “cobra.” Meanwhile, Brookside recovered and hit a Tornado DDT for a pin attempt until Lorenzo pulled her to the floor. That brought Lee – and subsequently Grace – into a schmozapalooza on the floor.

Grace ran Brookside into the apron and attacked Lee for good measure. Hannifan wanted someone to get that “putz” Lorenzo out of here. Grace ran lee into the ringsteps. Brookside hit a Thesz press on the floor and ran Grace into the ringsteps.

She hit a charge and hit Lorenzo with a Tornado DDT on the floor. Back in the ring, Brookside prevented Grace from putting on the cobra. Brookside grabbed the cobra and then a tug-of-war ensued (Rehwoldt said to be careful because it’s a family heirloom.) Lorenzo tried to help Grace but Brookside backed Grace into him and got a rollup for two.

Grace got the momentum back with a pump kick and grabbed the title. The referee admonished her. Grace dropped the belt and Grace hit the Codebreaker. Grace tried to rally but Brookside got her into position for the Brooksy Bomb (strait jacket slam off the top rope.) However, Lorenzo climbed onto the apron to distract the referee and Brookside. Meanwhile, Grace got a double eye rake. However, Lee charged into the ring and took out Lorenzo. That caused a referee distraction and NOW Grace grabbed the title and hit Brookside. The Graceland (Forward Fireman’s Carry Slam into a Facebuster) seemed academic and Grace retained the title.

Post-Match: Lorenzo and Grace celebrated in the ring as Lee checked on Brookside. Lorenzo and Grace taunted Lee and surrounded her until Santana hit the ring and accosted the duo. Grace got I his face. Lorenzo tried to attack from behind but Santana reversed it and Santana hit the Spin The Block to send Lorenzo the he floor.

However, The System’s music and chryon played as Edwards joined the proceeding from the stands. He said Santana runs around all emotional but that is his thing. He let Grace get to him – he let Lorenzo, of all people get under his skin. Now, he stands in the ring now a man pinned twice by Edwards. He is not in control but his bruised ego is.

Santana smiled told Edwards to look at him (Edwards was verbally accosted by the fans.) Edwards is talking really tough for someone on the other side of the guard rail. How about he walk through the people, as he does, step over the barricade and in the ring and say that to his face like a man.

Edwards started but then had second thoughts. Edwards beat him already once tonight the next time will be in Cleveland at Rebellion. On April 11, he will beat him for the third time and walk out of Cleveland as a three-time TNA Heavyweight Champion. Santana will walk out as the man who couldn’t keep his emotions in check and couldn’t hold it together on the biggest night of his life.

Santana said he will shoot straight with him. The only thing that won’t be held together is face when his size 12 stomps his glutes out. Edwads likes to call himself the heart and soul of TNA, but at Rebellion against the face and standard of TNA.

We have one final shot. We see Blachard walking through a foyer of oddities and asks what is this place. We look over her back shoulder and it is…James Mitchell (ooof….) who welcomed her to the undead realm. Blanchard looked both angry and scared as we close the books on this ep.

Impactful Ruminations:

One: This was, by and large, a one-bout show. But, it was a heck of a bout. Teddy Long jokes aside and retro WWE booking from the aughts, the eight man tag match at the beginning was great. All eight men went all out and loved the sell of Edwards having Santana’s number beating him two weeks straright (a point brought out in the promo at the end.) They clearly wanted to blitz the crowd and call audibles with Maclin on IR. This was a great opener and one of the best matches they have put out this year (certainly since the AMC “era” began.)

Two: Speaking of Maclin, I want to apologize, I did not know about the injury until after my review. They brought this up on Wrestling OBServer but major credit to the staff ro stopping the match appropriately and not having another OVW fiasco. Also, credit to Edwards for working on the fly and making the pivot to Rebellion seemless.

Three: Speaking of IR, no mention of The BioFlex Injury Report. Did we lose a sponsor?

Four: The other big take away was the AJ Francis confession. I have some mixed feelings about it but by and large, I like the call. I would love to see a more focused and angry Francis. This was unexpected. However, the thoughts that prevent me from really getting into this was a feeling of last minute improvistational thinking. After the Rebellion Match, what’s next? Are we going to buy the emeths as faces or is this just a momentarily lapse into face territory. I can’t see Ryan as a face as he has been relegated (and excels) as the flunky sidekick to Nick’s sustained success.

Five: Also, at Rebellion, Bernie Kosar will be in the corner of Nemeth. Sure. Kosar has a litany of health issues that make a popular nostalgic choice, but one that is very limiting and a bit random (although, to be fair, a good quarterback in the 1980’s.)

Six: Like I said last week, you can’t spell “The Land of Second Chances” without TNA. This time, it is James Mitchell, last seen doing “coke” with “hookers” on NWA Power.

Seven: Compounding that, they are dragging one of the brightest stars in the Knockouts, Tessa Blanchard into this. This is not what Tessa should be doing. The whole thing was very disconcerting.

Eight: I made the joke about it but seeing Brookside win the belt would not have been the worst idea. With the term “birthright” brought up by her and her dad, having her win and become heel – replacing Grace – would be an interesting idea and give Brookside an edge to her.

Nine: Did we lose Rich Swann? Shouldn’t he be mentoring BDE about Kazarian. I am glad Elijah is there but the mishandling of BDE continues.

10: Eric Young called himself the gatekeeper of TNA. Shoot comments that were not meant to be etc…..

11: Despite the talk about Blanchard and (yeesh) “The undead realm.” Blanchard shined in the Bunkhouse match. Threat did not do a bad job, either; kudos to her. I am glad someone finally got the Pelican case in the ring for use.

12. They are doing a great job giving us glimpses of what Zero can do. This match with Moose will be really integral in seeing how we can dispatch him into the title pictures.

13: For a first run show in a new location, this was as smooth as I have seen. I was very impressed with that.

14: The Righteous make their move (sigh) in a tables match. I would to see them get a win and even the title next week. They could offer a lot and coax one last feud out of the Hardys before the Hardys (should) head out to pasture. The Hardys don’t hold anything for me but the crowd is still insanely over for them. Nostalgia is an addiction for the intellectual.

15: Next Week is the match between Stone and Dani Luna and, per reports, Luna’s last match on TNA. They really should have kept her, despite the amicable nature of the split. She was really heading toward something big. I am curious where she lands and how she will be used.

Lastly: Maybe it has been my binge watching episodes of Task Master but I made a realization. You never see Vincent and Jason Mantzoukas in the same room, have you? Something to ponder.

Keep Fighting the good fight.