TNA Impact Review – May, 7, 2026

Greetings, all, and welcome to another TNA Impact review. We finish up this taping cycle in Syracuse, NY at the Upstate Medical Arena. Fun factoid about Syracuse, it is the birthplace of such luminaries as Rod Serling, Post Malone, Richard Gere, Tom Kenney and Tom Cruise. Michael Cole is from Syracuse, but he isn’t doing play by play, it’s Tom Hannifan and Matthew Rehwoldt. We’re Sky High with Excitement as Gia Miller -more than just a Pretty Woman – handles the backstage interviews. McKenzie Miller won’t have us running around in Circles figuring who is the ring as she is ring announcing. Where is Everybody? They’re right here. So, pour yourself a Cocktail and see who makes All the Right Moves as there is Time Enough at last to engage in some Impactful Discourse? Shall we? We shall.

(as always: please enjoy the other fine individuals who contribute to this site. They publish good work and serve as great standards for me to reach. They deserve the love and feedback.)

Previously on Impact, we get highlights of Leon Slater’s interview last week with the interruption of Cedric Alexander. All this sets up the tag match tonight between Moose and Slater vs. Alexander and Eddie Edwards (with a reference from the two-on-four tag match from two weeks ago where Slater and Mike Santana faced all four members of the System. We also get highlights of the “Walk With Elias” Guitar Strap match between Elijah and Frankie Kazarian.

Are you ready for the opening theme for TNA? According to the singer, they’re ready for you and they are ready for you tonight.

Hannifan greets us with shots of the fans in attendance. We instantly go to the first match:

No Disqualification match: Eric Young vs. Ethan Carter III

We get the formal intro from Hannifan and Rehwoldt. They go into a recap of the quick feud. Young came out inmask and poncho. ECIII is next and both got a resounding chorus of boos. Young didn’t wait for the bell and tried to jump EC3. Carter was prepared and hit a Thesz Press and started to beat down Young on the mat and around the ring. He sent Young to the floor with a flying forearm. Young eventually grabbed Carter and dragged him to the floor. Young tried to hit a piledriver abut EC3 reversed it into a backdrop.

Carter instantly went under the ring and grabbed a table. He set it up but Young attacked. However, Carter reversed it and ran Young into the ring steps. Carter again went under the ring and grabbed a garbage can and a couple of lids and threw them in the ring at Young. Carter also grabbed a chair and threw it, only for Young to grab it. Carter wrested the chair from him and slugged Young in the torso and the back.

Carter set the chair around Young’s neck but Young backed Carter into the corner. Young grabbed the trash can and waffled Carter in the corner. Carter recovered and whipped Young into the corner into the Flin-Flon flip and fly as Young landed on the apron and immediately ran to the other side. Young climbed to the top but Carter met him there and threw him to the mat. Carter also clotheslined Young in the ropes and both wrestlers went to the floor and we went to commercials.

We have a Classic Slammiversary match series on TNAPlus and we see Kenny Omega versus Sami Callihan. Omega hit a double stomp from the apron to the table on the floor on Callihan. Omega tried a dragon suplex to the table but Callihan blocked it and the two fought on the apron and the table. Callihan grabbed Omega’s testicles to stem the tide and hit a piledriver on the table.

When we return, Carter continued to beat on Young until Young reversed the One Percenter. Young hit a spinebuster off the ropes. Young repeatedly stomped on Carter in the groin on the mat. He slammed the trash can onto Carter and then went to the floor. Carter grabbed a chain from under the ring and wrapped it around Carter and started to choke him. Young started to whip Carter with the chain.

Young re-wrapped the chain around Carter’s neck but Carter managed to reverse it and slam Young to the mat. A mild “TNA” chant emerged as Carter wrapped the chain around the neck of Young but another One percent but Young reversed it with a belly to back suplex on the chain. Young went to the top but a moonsault hit nothing but mat. Carter recovered at hit a rolling neckbreaker. He grabbed the chain again and started to choke Young. He got Young on his shoulders and hit a TKO with the chain around Young’s neck.

Carter grabbed the chair and again placed it around Young’s neck but a low blow momentarily stopped any damage by Carter. However, Young still had the chair around his neck but Carter dropped a charging Young with a drop toehold. NOW, Carter got Young in position and hit the One Percenter with the chair around Young’s neck. Young cgot the apron and Carter grabbed him. However, two three low back kicks dropped Carter to the apron. Young grabbed Carter and hit the Piledriver to the table on the floor.

Young recovered and threw Carter into the ring. Young grabbed the chair and put it into position. Young hit another Piledriver onto the chair and got the victory.

Post-Match: Young posed in the ring as Carter sold the attack. Young stalked around the ring and then simply went to the backstage, posing on the rampway.

We go backstage to Miller with TNA Knockouts World Champion Arianna Grace, with “Stacks” Lorenzo in tow. Miller said tonight’s main event is Grace vs. Lei Ying Lee in their rematch. Grace said this is a rematch that should not be happening as she already beat Lee and that proves she is better than her. She asked why is she doing this – she answered her question by saying the match is happening because her father wants her to be humble. This is not about Lee’s climb and struggle to get another title shot.

Lorenzo chimed that Grace is jumping through hoop and after hoop and it is not fair because she already beat her and he knows she can do it again. Lee asked he thinks that because he has a plan and Lorenzo replied he always has a plan. Grace said that is good because she should not have to keep proving herself as they walk off screen to the dry heaving disgust of Miller.

Hannifan said he can relate to Miller as we get a rundown of card tonight and we more hype for the match in two weeks between Slater and Alexander. But next, we hear from “The Only One” after the break.

It is another ad for classic Slammiversary matches as Santana and Ortiz fought Homicide and Hernandez. LAX beat on Santana and Ortiz with trash can lids and then choked them with chains. Hernandez and Homicide threw Santana and Ortiz to the floor and Hernandez dove over the ropes onto their opponents. More plunder brawling a-plenty. Eddie Kingston grabbed a bottle of Drain-O and handed it to Homicide who was going to use it before the segment ended.

Hey, it’s that knockoff Dropkick Murphy riff, signifying an ad for Slammiversary at the Agganis Arena in Boston on June 28? Yup, it sure is.

We go from the ad to Alisha Edwards asking if we want to know something (well, knowledge is power, go on Alisha, please.) Actually, Brian Myers started to speak and said the System is carrying the workload tonight, as usual. Tonight, the tag titles are on the line as Myers and Bear Bronson face K C Navarro and Nick Nemeth. Bronson called their opponents glory hounds He can’t wait to rip their faces. Alexander said the fun doesn’t stop there as he and Edwards face Moose and his favorite subject, Slater. Eddie Edwards said tonight is what Rebellion should have been, a Night for the System. All their foes will find the hard way that you can’t beat The System.

We go back to the ring and an ad for Threads of Triumph, the book of wrestling fashion and iconic looks by Mitchell. We also get the music and chryon of Elayna Black who headed to the ringside. The response was mild disapproval. She got in the ring and immediately grabbed a mic. Let’s talk about something everyone knows she is the number one Knockout in this division. In fact, she is the only one that matters in the Knockout Division. It’s the truth.

There is a big title match tonight but she is not part of it. It doesn’t matter because who ever wins has to face her and the title will be hers. She makes more money and gets more attention when she walks to the ring than any woman who get in the ring and bust their glutes. That is also the truth (well….) That is the difference between her and everyone else in the division – they are Knockouts but she is a business.

BUT WAIT, that’s brings out…the Personal Concierge? Hmmm… He put the breaks on what she was saying (Black asked “are you kidding me?”) The PC said for her to watch her mouth (with a “toots” to boot.) The most beautiful and talented woman in this division is Ash By Elegance and he is sure she has some things to say about that. Sure enough, here she is (still wearing the “I am not a mark” shirt. Ugh..) Ash said Black looks like a gothic prostitute. Ash screeched laugh.

Ash and PC walked down the ring VERY SLOWLY (to prevent what almost happened on last week’s ep.) The Elegance Brand doesn’t just make brand; they swim in it. Black calls herself a business but Ash is an empire. She is a millionaire; she owns a mansion and yacht and has it all.

BUT WAIT, here comes Indi Hartwell. Hartwell said this is so embarrassing that the two of them are arguing about money (Ash reiterated it was her. Black rebutted.) Hartwell continued, saying that there is a title match tonight and instead of focusing on that, they are focusing on paychecks. Ash said that Hartwell sounds so poor – Black agreed, saying it smells a little broke. Ash said she looks like money and has money, and when she regains the Knockout World title, it will add to her empire. Black took an exception to that, saying that the title will be with her.

Hartwell said the two of them couldn’t focus on winning an argument much less winning a world title. Black is above this and started to leave. Hartwell said she wasn’t done with her but Ash stopped her as Black left up the rampway. Ash said she should let the real Knockouts talk about it. Hartwell took umbrage with that and said nothing about Ash is real. She is fake from head to toe and started with her hair to her face and her breasts. That angered Ash enough to strike Hartwell but Hartwell blocked it and slugged Ash to the mat. Ash rolled to the floor to the PC. Hartwell yelled at Ash, who continued to grab her boobs. Black stood at the ramp entrance and motioned toward the duo. The crowd started a “fake” chant.

We cut backstage to Daria Rae who faked wonder on who cancelled Santino Marella’s flight. She surmised that all the decisions tonight must be made by her. Hannifan started to muse how this will help Grace during her Knockouts Title Match tonight. We also get a rundown of the card again with a world Tag Team Title Match after the break.

We get another Slammiversary classic match segment on TNAPlus with a Knockouts World title match with Tasha Steelz, Jordynne Grace, Chelsea Green, Michin and Deonna Purrazzo. Steelz leapt from the top rope and hit the OKurr Cutter from the top turnbuckle on Minchin who was on a ladder. Purrazzo grabbed the Fujiwara Armbar on Grace and then switched to Steelz. We also get hype for TNA Impact’s first ever appearance in Sacramento.

We go back to ringside and get the hype for the TNA World Tag Titles Match.

TNA World Tag Team Title Match: The System (Bear Bronson and Brian Myers with Alexander and the Edwards in tow) vs. K C Navarro and Nick Nemeth

Navarro is out first to a decent pop. Rehwoldt did notice Navarro was wearing a Nick Nemeth “Wanted Man” t-shirt. Nemeth is out next with his “Call Your Shot” trophy in tow. Rehwoldt did show his indignation that it should be Nick and his brother, Ryan, challenging for the titles. The lights go dark and we hear that you can’t beat the System. That brought out the champs and the rest of the System. The teams jawed at each other before the match.

Myers and Navarro started. The two shoved each other but Navarro avoided a Myers corner charge and hit a back elbow. Myers blocked a snapmare but Navarro hit a tilt-a-whirl headscissors off the ropes. A dropkick got two for Navarro. Myers regained the advantage by slugging Navarro and throwing him hair first to the mat. Bronson tagged and the System tried a double suplex. However, Nemeth got in the ring and caught Navarro. The two then hit stereo dropkicks on the System components.

Myers went to the floor and Navarro and Nemeth doubled team Bronson with a double shoulderblock off the ropes. Nemeth officially tagged and hit an elbow on the arm of Bronson from the second turnbuckle. Bronson regained the momentum quickly with clothesline and then beat on Nemeth on the mat. A seated butt splash got two for Bronson. Bronson continued to maul Nemeth and choked him on the ropes with his leg. When the referee warned Bronson to stop, Alisha choked Nemeth on the ropes as Alexander mugged for the camera.

Bronson tagged Myers who continued to beat down Myers. Myers also choked Nemeth on the ropes with his leg and when the referee tried to break it up, Alisha choked Nemeth again. Myers grabbed Nemeth in a chinlock. Nemeth tried to rally and hit a jawbreaker to break the hold; only for Myers to regain the advantage with a flying knee off the ropes as Hannifan went over his history with Nemeth here and in the WWE.

Myers hit the chinlock again. Nemeth tried to rally but Myers stopped it with a belly to back suplex. However, Myers attempted to hit a spear out of the corner but Nemeth countered it with a Fame-asser. Both men writhed on the mat and tried to hope crawl for the tag. Nemeth got the hot tag and Myers tagged Bronson.

Navarro hit a dropkick that sent Bronson to the corner but not off his feet. Bronson blocked a whip to the other corner and threw Navarro to the turnbuckles. But, Navarro leapt over a charging Bronson and hit a tilt-a-whirl DDT off the ropes for two until Myers interrupted the pin. This brough Nemeth into the fray who beat on Myers and threw him to the apron. Nemeth hit a superkick but Alexander and Eddie caught him. Nemeth leapt over the ropes to drop the twosome. However, Myers recovered and a hit a spear to drop Nemeth.

In the ring, Navarro hit the 305 leaping dropkick over the ropes to Bronson. Navarro got ready to hit the Blessing in Disguise (Half nelson somersault reverse DDT) but Alisha grabbed his leg. That distracted Navarro enough that when he went for his finisher, Bronson recovered and hit the Bear Down (Rikishi Driver) for the victory.

Post Match: The champs celebrated in the ring and grabbed the belts from the referee. Here is Eddie with a microphone. Since the System is one-for-one tonight, why don’t we keep the System party rolling and called for Slater and Moose to have their tag match right now.

The System (Cedric Alexander and Eddie Edwards) vs. Leon Slater vs. Moose

Sure enough, Slater’s music and chryon played and Slater danced his way to the ring and Hannifin and Rehwoldt bring up the significance of next Friday. If Slater holds title until then, he is the longest reigning X-Division champion. Moose’s music played and Moose emerged to a good pop and the crowd chanting his name as we get the match..after the break.

We get another Best of Slammiversary package as we see Tessa Blanchard and Callihan square off for the TNA Impact World Title. Blanchard beat on Callihan on the rampway. The two crawled to the ring. Blanchard and Callihan traded punches with Blanchard getting the best of it. Blanchard got Callihan on her shoulders and hit a Samoan drop. Blanchard climbed to the top but Callihan evaded the leap. Blanchard rolled through and hit a tilt-a-whirl DDT. Callihan blocked the Buzzsaw DDT and beat on Blanchard and grabbed a crossface submission as we go back to ringside action.

Actually, before that, we get a hype piece for the Lockdown PPV special on August 23 in Chicago.

NOW, we go back to ringside for the tag match as Slater and Alexander start the match. Alexander got Slater into a corner but Slater reversed it with a chop. Slater with a big dropkick off the ropes band a spinning roundhouse kick, followed by a springboard back elbow off the ropes. Edwards tagged and fell victim to a hurincanrana.

Edwards recovered and dropped Slater with a running forearm. Slater, though, reversed a back suplex and tagged Moose. Moose dropped Edwards with a shoulderblock and beat Edwards on the mat. He did the same to Alexander when he came into the ring. Moose chopped Alexander to the mat. Moose tagged Slater who hit the 10 punch turnbuckle spot but Edwards tried to stop him on the 10^th punch. However, Slater leapt back and Edwards crashed into Alexander. Moose got in the ring and hit a running back elbow. He threw Edwards into Slater who met him with a big boot.

Moose launched Slater into Alexander for a running big boot. Slater returned the favor and threw Alexander into a backdrop. The System components hit the floor and Slater and Moose leapt over the ropes onto them. The faces soaked in the cheers of the crowd on the floor. Back in the ring, Slater leapt on Alexander from the top rope with a Crossover Bodypress for two and then tagged Moose.

Moose chopped away on Alexander in the corner and retagged Slater. Slater chopped Alexander. The tandem quickly tagged again as Moose knocked Edwards off the apron and stomped away on Alexander. Slater hit a rotating bodysplash off the ropes for a two count. Alexander backed Slater into his corner and tagged Edwards, who quickly got the advantage by beating Slater and hitting a thumb to the eye. Edwards whipped Slater to the corner and Slater went over the turnbuckles to the floor.

Moose tried to help his partner and got the crowd riled to give his partner some momentum. Slater just beat the count but Edwards mauled Slater on the mat. Edwards also slugged Moose. When Moose got in the ring to retaliate, the referee stopped him; that gave the System time to choke Slater in their corner.

Alexander tagged and continued to chop away at his nemesis. Alexander mauled Slater in the corner and choked him on the ropes. Again, when the referee went to break it up, Alisha choked Slater from the floor. Eddie tagged and mauled Slater in the corner. A Slater rally was cut short with a double chop to the throat. Alexander tagged and the tandem whipped Slater to the corner as a “Leon Slater” chant emerged. That got Slater some energy, who recovered and dodged an Edwards charge and Edwards crashed into the ringpost.

Alexander tried to stop Slater but a dropkick dropped “Prime.” However, Edwards grabbed Moose and pulled him form the apron, preventing Slater from making the tag. Alexander got a two count from a seated dropkick off a snapmare. Eddie tagged and beat on Slater and we get beaten by some commercials.

When we return, Eddie continued to beat on Slater, stopping any rallies from the champion. Edwards stepped on Slater’s foot to prevent a tag as Alexander tagged. Edwards whipped Slater into an Alexander’s Michinoku Driver for a two count. Alexander beat on Slater on the mat and started to smile and bad mouthed Slater. However, Slater reversed a whip into the ropes into a spinning kick that dropped Alexander. Slater got the hot tag on Moose who dropped Edwards and Alexander with headbutts.

He hit a running back elbow on Edwards in the corner and then got the Urinagi and Senton Splash on Edwards off the ropes. Moose got the crowd riled and measured Edwards but Edwards blocked a spear with a with a back elbow. Edwards got on the second turnbuckle but Moose grabbed him and hit the Go to Hell chokebomb for a two count until Alexander interrupted the pin.

Slater got in the ring and the System subdued him momentarily until he hit a double handspring back elbow off the ropes. All four were on the mat but arose. We had the natural pairing of Alexander and Moose and Eddie and Moose. The tandems traded shots until Alexander and Slater hit simultaneous big boots to drop each other. Moose and Edwards did the same with running clotheslines.

Moose dropped Edwards with a big boot but Alexander answered with a superkick. Slater hit Alexander with a running kick but Alexander recovered and turned another handspring elbow attempt into the Lumbar Check. Moose, though, hit Alexander with a Spear. Eddie tried a quick roll up for two but Moose reversed it and hit another headbutt. Moose got ready to Hit the Stick (Spear) but Edwards leapt over him tried for a sunset flip. Moose rolled out of it and got his own roll up for the victory.

Post-Match: Slater and Moose celebrated in the ring as the crowd loudly chanted “Moose” to his theme. We get another hype for next week and the match between Slater and Alexander to see if Slater can break the X-Division record.

Speaking of Breaking things, here is the Bioflex Injury report. EC3 and Young are in evaluation after their match tonight. Elijah and Kazarian are being held out this week due to injuries from last week’s strap match. And, Lee and Grace are medically cleared for action tonight, which is good because they are in the main event tonight. But that is not next, what is next is the TNA World Heavyweight Champion – after the break.

We get another Best of Slammiversary ad with A J Styles, Samoa Joe, Kurt Angle, Chistian Cage and Chris Harris We get Joe trying to get the Kokina Clutch, Christian falling into a ladder stomach first, Styles hitting his backflip DDT, Pele Kick but a Styles Clash was reversed to an ankle lock attempt. Angle hit an Angle slam on Harris from the ladder as we go back to action.

We come back to Slammiversary hype from Hannifan and then see highlights of the match last week between Vincent and Jeff Hardy. Vincent scaled to the top but the lights go out and when they come back, “Broken” Matt Hardy stood between the two, making the “delete” gesture. The lights go out and back on again, and we see Matt is gone and the roles were reversed. Jeff hit the Swanton Bomb for the win.
We go back to The Righteous snapping but cut to the Hardys. Matt said the Righteous are adorned in white but do not understand the gravity (“grovity” according to Matt) of this situation. The Righteous have opened Pandora’s box. They wanted the Broken Hardys and they got them.

What it is going to evolve to is something different. Mortal men have transparent areas in their mind, they don’t’ understand how to break through. But he and Jeff have done that in their minds and consciences. Jeff started to sing that the Righteous are why he wrote this song. They are here to instill fear. Jeff closes his eyes and when he opens them, they are milky white and we hear “delete” before returning to ringside.

When we get ringside, we hear Santana’s music as Santana made his way through the crowd and down to the ring. Rehwoldt said he proved how good he is two weeks ago in his classic match vs. Rich Swann. Hannifan asked what is next? However, Santana asked Syracuse what is good (note, not Syracuse Orange Football.) Last year, when he was trying to the get the TNA World title from Trick Williams and TNA, he was trying to bring back the essence of TNA. Two weeks ago, he and Swann did that and tore the house down. They showed what it meant to represent TNA.

When he steps through the ropes and stands in the ring, he pours his heart and soul into it every single night. A loud “TNA” chant emerged. He likes giving out his own title opportunities, so he is here to announce who is gets the next title shot. He asked the crowd and is about to announce until Rae interrupts and put the kibosh on it.

They keep having the same conversation and it is starting to hurt her head. So, she is going to say it very slowly for him. He does not make the matches and chooses opponents and to be honest, she didn’t like the match. Santana attempted a rebuttal but Rae told him to shut up, she’s talking. Since someone “mysteriously” cancelled Marella’s flight and can’t pick his opponent – and Santana can’t do it – she will. There will be a battle royale next week (in Sacramento) and the winner gets the title shot. She reiterates it slowly for him – as she said.

Santana said she was right, he doesn’t make the decisions, the fans do. He said that is fine because the outcome will be the same – his foot up their glutes and his arm Spins the Block and the opponent is outlined in chalk and Santana is victorious. Rae demands Santana music is stopped and to play Rae’s music. She left up the ramp as the crowd loudly cheered Santana.

We go backstage and A J Francis reintroduces himself. More than a year ago, TNA forced him to put “that pink-haired freak” Navarro into the First Class team with him. He’s has been a thorn in his side since. Navarro stole his victory over Nick Nemeth at Rebellion and now, Francis is going to steal something from Navarro – his health. Next week, Francis vs. Navarro in a Sac-Town Street Fight. He is going to Navarro why they call him the best big man in the business. And, that business is money, money, money. Francis walked off screen and we go back to hyping the main event of the show – after the break.

We get another best of Slammiversary segment with a match featuring Styles, Sean Waltman, Raven, Monty Brown and Abyss. Waltman leapt off the cage to drop Styles. Brown attacked Raven and pinned him. Brown grabbed a ladder as Raen was in the Penalty Box match. Styles leapt over the ropes and dropped Abyss and Waltman. Waltman threw Brown into the ring but Brown hit a flying knee to the back. Styles climbed the ropes but Abyss pulled him to the floor. Waltman dropped Abyss with spinning kick but Bronw threw Waltman to the other side of the ring. Brown dropped Waltman for a pin and sent Waltman to the penalty box as we go back to live (adjacent) action and more hype for TNA Lockdown in Chicago.

We go to the locker room and Navarro responded to Francis’ promo All Francis talks about is money and championships he can’t win. First Class became something when he joined. He even wrestled at Slammiversary with the torn ACL. But, he busted his butt for eight months and gave up his family to rehab. He mentioned his uncle who is sick but wanted to see his nephew come back. He is going to show in the street fight why he is TNA’s and AMC’s blessing.

We get hype for next week card, with the TNA World Title’s number one contender battle royal, the street fight between Navarro and Francis, The Diamond Collective (Victoria Crawford and Mila Moore) face Rosemary and Allie and the Slater vs. Alexander X-Division tile match.

We go back to the announce table and get some last-second hype for the TNA Knockouts World Title Match:
TNA Knockouts World Title Match: Arianna Grace (with “Stacks” Lorenzo in tow) vs. Lei Ying Lee

Lee does her martial arts routine on the rampway and in the ring. Grace and Lorenzo are next and the two walk slowly to the ring and pose. The two kiss and we get the introductions Hannifan reiterated that Grace is the disgrace of the Knockouts division and the legacy now has a black eye

Lee grabbed a headlock but Grace stopped herself on the ropes and taunted Lee. Lee continued to attack Grace, even when Grace backdropped her to the apron from the corner. Lee kicked Lorenzo. Lee also blocked a Grace kick on the apron and rebounded with a forearm smash. Back in the ring, Lee got a rollup for two. Lee hit a rolling kick to trip a charging Grace and hit a dropkick off the ropes. Lee hit the 10-punch corner spot and then an Exploder suplex. Grace bailed to the floor into Lorenzo’s grasp but Lee leapt over the top rope and dropped the tandem.

Lee slammed Grace into the apron around the ring. She also rammed Grace’s head into the barricade twice. Back in the ring, Lee climbed to the second turnbuckle but Lorenzo climbed on the apron to distract her. That gave time for Grace to shove Lee, who..ummm…gradually fell from the turnbuckles to the floor

Grace, now, mauled Lee on the floor and hit a suplex. When Grace and Lee got back into the ring, Grace got a two count with a seated bodypress. Grace taunted Lee and the crowd as she attacked Lee and slammed her head into the mat. Grace whipped Lee into the corner and hit a running back elbow for a two count. Grace arrogantly beat on Lee and then grabbed a chinlock.

Grace blocked Lee’s rally attempts and went back to the chinlock but Lee broke the hold with a jawbreaker. Grace escaped a Warrior’s Way attempt and hit the Graceland Slam for a two count. We cut to a PiP as Brookside sat blankly watching the screen in near darkness in a somewhat creepy visual.

In the ring, Grace put the boots to Lee until Lee caught a kick and applied a Single Leg Crab until Lorenzo helped Grace to the ropes. Lee hit a backslide for a two count. Lee hit Grace with a series of strikes and kicks. A spear got a two count. Lee grabbed Grace and attempted a powerbomb but Grace escaped and grabbed Lee for an assisted knee smash. She also came off the ropes for a flying back elbow for two-and-a-fraction.

Grace climbed on the apron and climbed to the top rope as Lorenzo encouraged her. A flying bodypress landed but Lee rolled through it. Lee picked up Grace for a Fallaway Slam for two-and—a-fraction. Lee climbed to the second turnbuckle but Grace met her there. Lee kicked Grace but Grace was undaunted to set Lee up and hit the superplex.

Grace put the badmouth on Lee as she continued to strike Lee. Lee had enough and started to rally with a series of strikes. Lee hit a spinning kick off the ropes. She grabbed Grace and put her in the Warrior’s Way (Airplane Spin facebuster) for two-and-a-fraction until Lorenzo interfered and put Grace’s foot on the ropes. The referee had enough and ejected Lorenzo. Lorenzo got on the apron to protest but Lee met him with a dropkick. However, Grace tried a quick rollup during the distraction. She followed it with a Twisting Neckbreaker for a two count.

Grace Lee and put her o her shoulders. Lee escaped with a kick and climbed to the top turnbuckle. Lee hit a twisting Blockbuster and got the victory and regained the TNA Knockouts World Title.

Post-Match: the crowd erupted and Rae presented Lee the title. The crowd was appreciative and continued to cheer Lee who posed on the turnbuckles as we went off the air…

…or do we?

After the credits, we go backstage and see Moose unconscious under a barricade as backstage personnel call for medical help. NOW, we go off the air.

Impactful Ruminations:

One: This felt like a one-match episode (it being the last of the cycle, too.) This show felt like it was running out the clock until we got the Knockouts Title change. This provides a summer (or at least a build up to Slammiversary) feud with Brookside. Lee is a solid champ (last week’s vignette aside.) Perhaps in the minority, but I still think Brookside would be a better fit for Birthright versus Grace. Brookside does give interesting nonverbals as she blankly looked at the screen that was weirdly unsettling. THe match itself was fine as Lee looked by and large very crisp in the ring (the fall from the turnbuckles seemed unnecessarily slow but that might just be me.)

Two: For Grace, she can go back to NXT and for those asking why no one from TNA came over to NXT to challenge or attack her, there’s the denouement. She is like her dad in that she has good mic and non-verbals but the actual in-ring action is average at best. I don’t know where this puts in standing in NXT or TNA, though. She has personality and needs to lean into it because in-ring stuff can be easily replaced by dozens (at least, on NXT.)

Three: The Young and Carter match happened. I know – I saw it. And, I reviewed it for you because I care about you all – and that’s it. IT seemed odd that we made this big production of EC3’s return (like him or not) and then in his first match back – you job him cleanly? Now what? Does he tread along? What about Young? That cleanse will come in the same time frame that makes snails look like cheetahs.

Four: We inch along gradually to the Hardy compound match. Not a bad segment and curious about the superimposing images of the Hardys and the Righteous.

Five: I could see what TNA was doing ensuring Navarro and Bronson were in the same ring throughout the match. It was a nice set up for the match with Francis. THe promo was a bit and up and down as he tried to tie in a lot and didn’t completely stick the landing. The story about his family and sick uncle were textbook babyface stuff but the rest kind of meandered.

Six: I got excited for a moment when I saw the Concerige interrupt Black. Ash vs. Black would be interesting, although Ash would outwrestle her. This was Black’s best promo and her side comments were natural. There’s a lot of work ahead but this did show that there is some uptick in her training. Ash being over the top obnoxious was okay but got to be grating (that is why we have the Personal Concierge for those moments.) Also, with her upcoming surgery, where does that leave the brand. I still think you can send M by Elegance after a singles title, too. She is that talented and shown she can handle the mic.

Seven: Hartwell continues to tread water with mid-card feuds. I am curious where this leads to (hopefully not lazy booking a triple threat match but it is almost inevitable.) Hartwell, who is the paragon of perfect acceptability in the ring, still has mass appeal with the audience and wondered what her plans are now that Lee regained the belt. How long does Lee hold it and for how long does Hartwell churn the water in mid-card feuds.

Eight: Who is the mystery man who attacked Moose (no, no Rikishi “I did it for the people” comments.) I wouldn’t mind it being Agent Zero to keep a good feud going so Zero can learned from an experienced vet. If Maclin wasn’t seriously injured, he would be a nice dark horse.
Nine: Nice job by TNA to keep the hype for next week going for the first live taping in a debut town for them.

10: The System did a solid job this week in their matches. Alexander has really fleshed out a nice heel character emoting an amalgamation of bitterness and arrogance. He is probably my fave of the group. Bronson has been the biggest revelation and might be second. The tag team title match was fait accompli and the other tag match will the last piece of what will be the main plot line in the X-Division title match.

11: Alisha’s accent on her catchphrase still triggers me when I think of my previous employ and working in MA and dealing with dozens of people with that same accent and tone.

12: One good note about Rae getting into the role is that this is the first time I did not mind her hitting a long promo.

13: I am excited for the Alexander vs. Slater match next week. It should be a classic and – for the first time in a while – the outcome seems murky, although Slater winning seems like the right hand to play.

Lastly: “I own a mansion and I own a yacht.” Ash By Elegance’s relationship with Elmer J Fudd confirmed (See the Bugs Bunny classic “Hare Brush.” Kids, ask your parents – maybe your grandparents.)

Keep Fighting the Good Fight.