Our TNA iMPACT results for tonight include Fraxiom defending the NXT Tag Team Titles against The Rascalz, The Hardys take on the team of Moose and JDC, and we’ll hear from newly crowned TNA World Champion Joe Hendry.
TNA iMPACT Card
The announced card is as follows:
- WWE NXT Tag Team Championship: Fraxiom (c) vs. The Rascalz
- The Hardys vs. Moose and JDC
- Masha Slamovich and Spitfire vs. Rosemary, Heather, and Ash by Elegance
- We’ll hear from new TNA World Champion Joe Hendry
- We’ll also hear from Tessa Blanchard and Josh Alexander
TNA iMPACT Results:
This week’s episode of TNA iMPACT kicks off with a recap package of what went down at Genesis.
A video plays from earlier in the day with Santino Marella outside with Gia Miller. Marella says tonight will be taken to the next level because the show is live and teases surprises for tonight.
Do you believe in the new TNA World Champion?
Newly crowned TNA World Champion Joe Hendry makes his way to the ring. Joe Hendry gets “you deserve it” chants. Hendry thanks the fans because every time he was having an uphill battle the fans continued to chant we believe. Hendry wants to talk about what this title reign will mean for him, TNA, and this entire industry.
Joe says he told Santino that he’ll defend the TNA Championship against anyone from anywhere. Santino Marella interrupts and congratulates Hendry on his big win at Genesis. Marella says he has an individual who took Hendry up on his offer and he will defend his title tonight against the returning Matt Cardona.
Eric Young and Steve Maclin are backstage. Young tells Maclin that he believes Josh Alexander is worth saving. Maclin says he doesn’t agree and says no one in TNA owes Alexander a damn thing. Josh Alexander comes in and says he’s not here to make excuses and he respects them both. Alexander shakes EY’s hand and tries to shake Maclin’s hand, but he declines and Alexander walks away.
Nic Nemeth will address things next week on TNA iMPACT
Gia Miller is backstage and tries to get a word with Nic Nemeth. Ryan Nemeth comes out and tries to hog the spotlight. Nic comes out and tells Gia he’ll address everyone next week.
Masha Slamovich and Spitfire vs. Rosemary, Heather, and Ash by Elegance
- The finish of the match saw NXT’s Cora Jade come out and distract Masha Slamovich allowing Ash by Elegance to roll up Dani Luna to score the pinfall victory for her team.
Winners: Rosemary, Heather, and Ash by Elegance
Grade: B-
Even though we saw her at Genesis, Cora Jade was a nice surprise here. Her appearance leading to the finish of the match made sense as well. The match was fine for what it was. Nothing special by any means.
Josh Alexander’s “contractually obligated” TNA iMPACT appearance
Josh Alexander makes his way to the ring with the Northen Armory following the commercial break. Alexander says at Genesis, he quit TNA. Alexander thanked TNA for letting him come out and address this because they didn’t have to. Josh says he broke at Genesis when he gave everything he had at Mike Santana and it wasn’t enough. He reconfirms that Santana is the new standard of TNA.
Alexander says he doesn’t want to be remembered for the guy he’s been the last few months as he believes the good of what he’s done in this company outweighs the bad. Josh talks about growing up being a TNA fan and says the time he’s been here has been special to him but he needs to step away.
Alexander puts over the Northern Armory and says they are one of the best up-and-coming tag teams in the world and asks them to do things the right way because they have to do it without them. The Northern Armory tells him they can’t leave and they attack Alexander.
Eric Young hits the ring and chases the Northern Armory off. Young challenges the Northern Armory to a match next week with Josh Alexander as his tag team partner. Alexander doesn’t look thrilled about this.
Moose and JDC (w/ Alisha Edwards) vs. The Hardys
- The finish of the match saw Jeff Hardy hit Moose with a Swanton Bomb to score the pinfall victory for his team.
Winners: The Hardys
Grade: B+
A fun tag team match that didn’t go overly long. The Hardys looked energized here and I’ll never complain about watching Moose take a clean loss. Good stuff overall.
The ’23’ mystery is finally revealed
Another video plays in the arena for the number 23. Tom Hannifan makes note that today is January 23, so the reveal of whatever this build-up is should likely occur tonight.
Sami Callihan hits the ring after the commercial break. Callihan says he’s sick of waiting on whatever ’23’ is and calls them out right now.
Steph De Lander comes out and says she’s the number ’23’ and that she’s the new TNA Digital Media Champion that she got in the divorce. PCO isn’t mentioned by name. De Lander introduces her new boyfriend, Mance Warner.
Mance Warner lays out Sami Callihan with the Digital Media Championship and makes out with De Lander.
Ariana Grace joins the commentary team for the next match.
WWE NXT Tag Team Championship: Fraxiom (c) vs. The Rascalz
- The finish of the match saw interference from Wes Lee and his cronies. This allowed Fraxiom to take advantage and retain their titles.
Winners: And still WWE NXT Tag Team Champions, Fraxiom
Grade: A-
This match started hot and never slowed down. I really enjoyed this one. I would have given the match an A if not for the stupid interference at the end so I gotta bump it down to an A-. I’m not really interested in seeing The Rascalz feud with Wes Lee continue but it seems like that’s the direction we’re going in.
Mike Santana is interrupted by a surprise return
After the commercial break, Mike Santana makes his way to the ring. Santana says he went toe-to-toe with one of the best in the world at Genesis. Santana says not only did he pass him the torch of being the new standard of TNA, but he also made him say he quit.
Mike Santana says in 2025 the goal remains the same, he will climb the mountain and become the TNA World Champion. He’s interrupted by the returning Mustafa Ali. Ali says he’s here to officially announce that he’s signed with TNA Wrestling. Ali says there is work to be done and TNA needs great leadership and he’s that great leader. Mustafa says he wants to give everyone something to believe in. Ali says he will become the next TNA World Champion.
Tessa Blanchard has go-away heat
Tessa Blanchard comes out on the stage after the commercial break with a microphone in her hand. The crowd boos her out of the building. Blanchard says it’s good to be back in Blanchard country, but this crowd doesn’t seem to agree. They show a shot of her father Tully Blanchard watching in the crowd. Blanchard continues to talk about her family’s history and the crowd continues to boo not caring.
Tessa heels the crowd and embraces the hate by running down their local sports team. Blanchard says her family knew she could be greater than Stone Cold Steve Austin or Terry Funk. Blanchard says the standard in TNA has been raised and she took out the trash last week at Genesis. Tessa says she answers to no one.
Frankie Kazarian joins the commentary team for the main event.
TNA World Championship: Joe Hendry (c) vs. Matt Cardona
- The finish of the match saw a ref bump and a low blow from Matt Cardona. JBL shows up and hits Cardona with the Clothesline from Hell. JBL and Joe Hendry have a staredown before JBL leaves. Eventually, Hendry hit Cardona with a Standing Ovation to score the pinfall victory.
Winner: And still TNA World Champion, Joe Hendry
Grade: B
Joe Hendry celebrates his win as TNA iMPACT goes off the air.
TNA iMPACT Review:
This was easily the best episode of iMPACT in quite some time. They really knew what was on the line tonight with a live show and decided to pull out all the stops for it. We had some great surprises and some very good in-ring action. I enjoyed tonight’s show a great deal. I hope they can continue this momentum next week when the show returns to a taped format.
Grade: B+
READ MORE: Frankie Kazarian Re-Signs With TNA Wrestling
What did you think of this week’s episode of TNA iMPACT? What was your favorite match or segment? Let us know your thoughts by sounding off in the comments section below.
