TNA Emergence 2025 Review

Moose challenged Trick Williams for the TNA World Championship as TNA rolled into Maryland for Emergence.

It’s been about a month since I wrote my last TNA review column. Honestly, I haven’t missed it much. Yes, I’ve kept up with Impact, but have mostly skipped through those shows in around half an hour. The product isn’t very compelling at present with Trick Williams as champion and a lack of interesting feuds. It seems to be all building to Mike Santana vs. Trick at Bound for Glory, but just like the EVENTUALLY Joe Hendry title win, it’s taking its sweet time. Emergence has a solid card, but nothing that really screamed ‘must-see’.

The Countdown to Slammiversary had Indi Hartwell defeating Rosemary and The Hometown Man (yes, they’re still running this) beat Ryan Nemeth which is probably the only wrestler on the roster that I would even contemplate Deaner beating.

TNA Emergence 2025 from the Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena: Baltimore, Maryland by Kristian Thompson

There was the usual excellent opening video package to highlight the current feuds in TNA. There really wasn’t a stand-out match for me going into the show. Most of the match outcomes felt pretty predictable, like most of these non-PLE events. Matt Rehwoldt and Tom Hannifan welcomed us to the show.

Match #1: TNA X-Division Championship: Leon Slater (c) vs Cedric Alexander

This is probably going to be the most exciting match of the show. Slater beat Moose to win the title last month, whilst Alexander lost to Mustafa Ali on his TNA PLE debut. Slater tried a Boston Crab early after taking Alexander off his feet. The action spilled to the ring apron and Slater wrenched at the knee of Alexander. Alexander bounced back to hit an STO hard on the apron. He tossed Slater back into the ring and hit a Michinoku Driver for 2. Alexander hit a snapmare out of the corner and a hard punt to the back. He hit another kick but Slater followed up with a chop. Alexander hit a dropkick for 2. Alexander nailed a chip and whipped Slater hard into the turnbuckle. He followed up with a nearfall. Slater went for some kicks to the calves. Alexander blocked a back elbow and hit a German suplex for 2. He hit a chop in the corner and one in the opposite corner. Alexander whipped Slater hard into the turnbuckle to continue the focus on the back. He tried some covers but Slater powered out of them all. Alexander took Slater down with a kick. He chopped him in the corner. Slater bounced out of the corner with a big lariat to finally get some offense in. Slater connected with some kicks to the calves. He hit some right hands and sent Alexander face-first into the middle turnbuckle. Slater hit a crossbody from the top rope for a 2 count. Slater’s back gave out as he went for a back suplex. Alexander took him down with a Fisherman Driver for 2. He targeted the back further with forearm shots. Slater jumped out of his arms and onto the middle rope. Alexander rocked him with a right hand. He wanted a superplex but Slater countered mid-air into a neckbreaker. Slater went for the Swanton 450 but Alexander blocked it with his knees. He hit a running kick. Alexander fought back with forearms. He hit a German suplex and another. Alexander nailed a third one and Slater collapsed as he tried to get to his feet. He called for the Lumbar Check. Slater landed on his feet after another German suplex attempt. He rolled Alexander up for 2. They traded nearfalls. Alexander hit a big right hand. He fell out to the floor under the weakness of his knee. Slater took advantage with a crazy dive over the corner turnbuckle. He tossed Alexander back into the ring. Slater wanted the Swanton 450 but saw Alexander had got up so he landed on his feet. Alexander hit a running Spanish Fly. Slater countered the Lumbar Check with a roll up for 2. He nailed the Styles Clash. Hannifan was screaming like a madman. Slater scaled the ropes and hit the Swanton 450 to retain after 15 minutes.

Winner by pinfall AND STILL TNA X-Division Champion: Leon Slater

Analysis: ***1/2 That was a pretty good opener, which was fairly safe and grounded for a Slater match. The quality was probably hindered by both wrestlers targeting a body part, rather than just going all out. It was good, but I probably had higher hopes going in.

Match #2: Mustafa Ali w/ Order 4 vs Matt Cardona

This doesn’t really feel like a PPV-worthy match but it has Ali so that’s always good. Cardona was feuding with and then fighting with The System, then Dark State and now he’s facing Ali for reasons I cannot recall. Ali tried some avoidance early on. He suckered Cardona into a roll up for a 2 count. Ali mocked Cardona with some push-ups. He hit a snapmare. Cardona tossed him to the ring apron but Ali’s speed saw him sneak through his legs. Cardona hit a hard clothesline to finally get some offense in. He hit some strikes in the corner and a flapjack for a 2 count. The action spilled to the floor. Ali set up for a powerbomb through the announcer’s table but Cardona tossed him over his back. He argued with Tasha Steelz and tossed Ali back into the ring. Cardona hit a dropkick from the middle rope. Steelz distracted the referee and Ali sent Cardona into the ring apron. Ali nailed a DDT from the apron onto the floor, with the assist from the Great Hands. Ali tossed Cardona back into the ring and got a 2 count. He hit his rolling neckbreaker for 2. Ali missed a standing twisting moonsault and both men were slow to get to their feet. Cardona hit a clothesline and a facebuster. Ali blocked a corner clothesline. Cardona countered a Tornado DDT into a regular DDT of his own for 2. He measured Ali for the Reboot but Ali escaped to the floor. Ali lingered on the ring apron so Cardona kicked him to the floor. Ali got back into the ring and turned Radio Silence into a sitout powerbomb for 2. He ran to the corner but Cardona drilled him with a kick. Skyler got involved but Cardona hit him with a Radio Silence. Ali sacrificed Hotch and struck Cardona from behind. Ali went up top and hit the 450 Splash but Cardona used a backslide to pin him and win the match after 10 minutes.

Winners: Matt Cardona

Analysis: *** Solid match with a dumb ending in my opinion. How can you absorb that move and roll your opponent up afterwards? Ali is way too good to lose to Cardona.

Ali and friends beat Cardona down after the match. They used one of the bigger agents, ‘Agent Zero’ to obliterate Cardona. He looks to be a mainstay of Order 4 now. The System ran down to stick up for Cardona and chase them off.

Analysis: The System as a face team is still a bit off for me at present.

They used that brawl to Segway into First Class coming down for their match next.

Match #3: The System vs First Class

I missed the first few minutes of this match. Edwards hit a Blue Thunder Bomb as Swann popped off the ropes. Francis involved himself illegally and slammed Edwards down hard. He measured Edwards for the Down Payment. Edwards fought out with forearms. Francis hit a knee to the ribs. Edwards reversed a suplex attempt into one of his own. He nailed a kick in the corner. The Secret Service of Mustafa Ali ran down to distract Myers who was setting up for System Overload with Edwards. The Great Hands took down Myers and JDC at ringside. Edwards hit a suicide dive to take them out. Agent Zero hit a Choke Bomb on the ring apron on Edwards. He tossed Edwards back into Francis who nailed the Down Payment for the win after 9 minutes.

Winners by pinfall: First Class

Analysis: *** It was a fine match that would’ve been equally fine on Thursday’s show. At least First Class won. They lose…a lot! Having Swann back is good. Talented guy. Hopefully, he stays focused this time around.

Joe Hendry joined commentary for this next match. If Sami Callihan loses, then he will retire. I knew they were pushing the fat-shaming angle, but I didn’t know TNA were going this far.

Match #4: Baltimore Street Fight: Mike Santana vs Sami Callihan

Callihan cut a quick promo before the match saying that if he was going to lose, he wanted to go down his way and challenged Santana to a Street Fight. Callihan tried to win it quick with the Cactus Driver but Santana blocked it twice. Callihan avoided Spin the Block, then they traded right hands. Santana hit a enziguiri but ran into a stunner. Santana took a breather on the outside but came back in with a superkick that sent Callihan to the outside. He followed up with a Moonsault from the apron. They continued the fight up the entrance ramp. Callihan blocked a powerbomb attempt then tossed Santana over his head with a back body drop. He went under the ring to hunt for some weapons. Callihan nailed Santana with a few chair shots. He went backstage and brought a garbage can back. Santana and Callihan went back into the ring. Callihan used a poster to give Santana a paper cut between his fingers. Santana blocked a second attempt by biting Callihan. Callihan used the poster to cut Santana’s mouth. Yes, a glossy poster of AJ Francis is a weapon in a match in 2025. He set up a chair in the corner. Santana blocked a running attack with a back elbow and hit a dropkick from the middle rope for a 1 count. He ran into a clothesline from Callihan, as he became unsure about using the steel chair. Callihan got a stapler from the garbage can. Santana stopped him from stapling his head. Santana tried a sunset flip but Callihan reached for the staple gun and stapled Santana in the chest! Callihan used the gun again under the armpit of Santana. He hit the Cactus Driver 97 for a 2 count. Callihan hit his finisher again but Santana kicked out! He charged at Santana in the corner but missed and crashed into the steel chair. Santana hit a cannonball for 2. Callihan avoided a Frog Splash but ran into a neckbreaker. He kicked out at 1. Santana called for Spin the Block and nailed it for the win after 11 minutes.

Winner by pinfall: Mike Santana

Analysis: **1/2 It was a pretty tame street fight that never really hit any considerable heights. If that is the end for Callihan, then he certainly didn’t go out on top, as he’s been on a bit of a downhill slope in terms of match quality over the last few years. That’s probably one of the most low-key retirement matches you’ll see.

Santana bumped fists with Callihan after the match. Callihan left his boots in the ring. The fans chanted for him as he walked up the ramp.

Match #5: TNA Knockouts World Tag Team Championships: The Elegance Brand (c) vs Lei Ying Lee & Xia Brookside vs Fatal Influence w/ Jacy Jayne vs The Iinspiration w/ Maia Sade

Ash and Jacy are not in this match as they’re involved in the NXT Women’s Championship match at their PLE this weekend. Fallon Henley and Jessie McKay started the match off. The Iinspiration had very bright ring gear, to say the least. McKay tried a roll up for a 1 count. She hit a suplex and then M tagged Henley in. The Iinspiration double-teamed M, until she broke free and tagged in Brookside. Cassie Lee tagged in, too. Nyx and Heather tagged themselves in. There were lots of mind games early on. Nyx rolled up Heather for a 2 count. She hit a running punt for another 2 count. Nyx tossed Heather into her corner and tagged Henley back in. They hit a double flapjack on Heather for 2. Lee made a blind tag. Henley didn’t realise so the Iinspiration double-teamed her in the corner with splashes. Heather broke up the pinfall attempt. M tagged herself in. She stretched McKay out with a Bow and Arrow Stretch and Heather flew through the air with a senton for 2. Brookside tagged in and hit a running punt on M for 2. Heather held Brookside in the corner so M couldn’t attack her. She tagged out and Nyx was in. There was so much tagging that I was losing focus. Henley was legal next. Brookside fought out of the corner with a head scissors on her. Lei Ying Lee was next in. It doesn’t help when 2 wrestlers in the match have the same surname. Lee took out Nyx with 10-count punches in the corner. Brookside tagged in and hit a running elbow, using Lee as a platform. Lee used her spinning facebuster but then realised Nyx was nowhere near the ropes to follow up with the next spot, so she rolled her right over to the ropes so Jayne could put Nyx’s feet on the ropes before the 3 count. That’s one of the worst spots I’ve seen for a long time, that wasn’t an injury botch. Jayne and Sade got into it at ringside. They brawled in the ring and Jayne hit her rolling elbow. Masha Slamovich and Ash started brawling in the ring, too. This was ridiculous in the middle of a title match. The referee ejected those 3 ladies. Ash didn’t even have shoes. Brookside flew to the outside to take out some of the heels with a crossbody. Lee used a diving senton to take out Fatal Influence. They did a Tower of Doom spot back in the ring with most of the wrestlers, but it was broken up. McKay hit a superplex on M. The fans were chanting “This is awesome” but I think they were watching something else on their phones. Ying Lee hit a spin kick. Henley took down McKay with a slingblade. Brookside hit a Codebreaker on Henley. Heather hit a stunner on Brookside. Heather fought out of the Idoliser. She distracted the referee in the corner and M bashed Lee over the head with one of the title belts to retain after 11 minutes.

Winner by pinfall AND STILL TNA Knockouts World Tag Team Champions: The Elegance Brand

Analysis: **1/4 Oh boy. That was a lot. Bigger does not always mean better. There was just too much going on, most of it silly with no psychology. No reason for The Elegances to lose, so at least there was that.

Match #6: No Disqualification Match for the TNA International Championship: Steve Maclin (c) vs Jake Something

Maclin clotheslined Something over the top rope in the outset. Something pulled him from the ring and they exchanged strikes at ringside. Maclin slammed Something face-first into the apron. He chopped him hard against the ring. Something responded by tossing Maclin into the steel steps. He picked up the steel steps and separated them. Maclin slammed Something into the steps, twice. Something fought back with a back elbow strike. They battled on the apron. Something clotheslined Maclin back into the ring. Something ran into a Busaiku Knee. Maclin hit the headbutt from the middle rope for a 2 count. He clotheslined Something in the back in the corner. The fans wanted tables because they didn’t get them in the earlier street fight. Maclin fought out of a powerbomb attempt and hit a forearm shot. They traded forearms but Something got the bigger strike in and scored a 2 count. Maclin fought out of another powerbomb attempt. He lit him up with strikes and nailed the Olympic Slam. Maclin went for a suicide dive but Something wiped him out with an upper cut in mid-air. He got in Kaz’s face, who was on commentary and rarely wrestlers. Something nailed Into the Void on the floor on Maclin. He picked up Maclin and hit a powerbomb on the steel steps! Something dragged Maclin up the ramp for some reason. He bashed Maclin with a big forearm. Something motioned to powerbomb Maclin off the stage but Maclin back body dropped him onto the ramp. Something rolled off the stage so Maclin ran and hit a diving clothesline on Something on the concrete floor. They brawled all the way back into the ring. Something countered a KIA attempt but Maclin tossed him shoulder-first into the ring post. He put Something in the Tree of Woe and hit his running spear. Something absorbed the spear and had a Dragon Sleeper locked in, despite being upside-down. There’s no DQ so the rope break didn’t matter. Maclin fought out of it by slamming Something into the bottom turnbuckle. He hit three spears in the corner. Maclin nailed the KIA to retain his title after 12 minutes.

Winner AND STILL TNA International Champion: Steve Maclin

Analysis: *** It was a physical battle and I get why they put the stipulations in, but they barely did anything violent with that. I think Something as a challenger for a title has now passed. We might see Kaz up next for Maclin, which would be fine.

Match #7: TNA World Tag Team Championships: The Hardys (c) vs The Rascalz

Matt and Zac Wentz started out. I don’t think one single person watching this thinks The Rascalz have a chance at winning. Matt hit a shoulder block but ran into a dropkick. The fans wanted Jeff to tag in, so Matt obliged. In comes Myron Reed, too. Jeff hit a shoulder block and did his dance moves. Reed got some nice air from a standing dropkick and scored a nearfall. Matt and Wentz got into the ring but The Hardys clotheslined their opponents down. Matt tagged in and sent Wentz throat-first into the bottom rope. Jeff tagged in and hit a splash for a 1 count. Matt tagged back in and did his Delete head-smashes into the corner turnbuckle. Jeff tagged in again and they hit a double suplex on Wentz. Jeff got a 2 count. He followed up with another nearfall then tagged Matt back in. Wentz blocked Poetry in Motion and made a dive to tag in Reed. Reed hit a legdrop on Matt against the ropes. He hit a nice legdrop from the ring apron, back inside for a 2 count. Reed backed Matt into the corner and tagged Wentz in again. Wentz grounded Matt with a sleeper in a seated position. Matt fought to his feet with a Side Effect. Jeff and Reed tagged in. Jeff hit a dropkick to the knee and at Atomic Drop. He splashed Reed in the corner and hit his corner dropkick for 2. Jeff nailed a superplex but Wentz flew through the air afterwards with a Swanton Bomb. Whilst he was down, Matt hit a top-rope elbow on Wentz. The Hardys sent The Rascalz into their corner. Jeff tried Poetry in Motion but The Rascalz sent Jeff into Matt as a battering ram. Wentz took out Matt at ringside with a dive. Reed covered Jeff for a 2 count. Reed hit a lung blower and Wentz made a blind tag, then nailed a double-stomp for 2. Matt tossed Wentz from the top rope to the ring apron. Reed hit a stunner on Matt. Reed went for an insane diving cutter from inside the ring to the floor, but Jeff held onto him and sent him into Matt who nailed the Twist of Fate on the floor. Matt sent Reed into the ring. Jeff went up and nailed the Swanton to retain the titles after 12 minutes.

Winners AND STILL TNA World Tag Team Champions: The Hardys

Analysis: ***1/2 It was probably the most exciting match on the card so far, but that hasn’t been much to aspire to. The Hardys can certainly still go, but the pace of The Rascalz was hard for them to keep up with at times. It put them off a little; I’m not sure if that was planned or not. A solid match and a dream come true for Wentz.

Match #8: TNA World Championship: Trick Williams (c) vs Moose

I remember when Moose fought Oba Femi and that was a match I was genuinely hyped for. Williams isn’t anywhere near Femi’s level, and Moose is still going to do the job to him. It’s very odd seeing Moose in the face role. It was physical from the outset. They brawled at ringside and Williams avoided Moose, who crashed into the steel ring steps. Williams bounced Moose’s head off the apron multiple times. Moose returned the favour. Williams sent him into the post. He chopped Moose against the barricade in front of Moose’s family at ringside. Williams tossed Moose back into the ring. Moose ducked a leg lariat and did his crazy top-rope crossbody. He went for the spear but Williams hit an overhead throw into the bottom turnbuckle. Williams stomped on Moose in the corner and made the cover for a 2 count. Moose ran into a flapjack. Williams chopped away on Moose in the corner. He repeated the dose in the next corner. Moose started to fight out of the corner with chops of his own. Williams took down Moose with a drop toe hold and a kick to the face. He nailed a neckbreaker for 2. Williams disrespected Moose with some kicks to the face. Moose hit a running uppercut in the corner and a Uranage. He hit a running senton for 2. Williams blocked a powerbomb attempt with a pump kick. He bounced off the ropes and Moose nailed a pop-up powerbomb for 2. Williams used a sunset flip pin to counter a spear attempt. He hit the Trick Kick and a Uranage on Moose. Williams hit the Attitude Adjustment for 2. He was getting frustrated. Moose blocked a suplex attempt. He fought back with chops. Moose lifted Williams to the top rope. He chopped him some more. Moose hit the superplex. He held onto his grip and got to his feet but Williams hit a suplex. That was a good sequence and the crowd was easily the most involved they had been all night. The two men exchanged right hands. Williams avoided a clothesline and hit an uppercut. Williams ran the ropes but Moose scouted him and hit a spear! Williams was able to roll out of the ring to save himself. Moose measured Williams for another spear but Trick sent him through the timekeeper’s table with a back body drop! Williams threw Moose back into the ring. Moose ducked the Trick Shot knee, but Williams almost bumped into the referee. Moose lined up a spear and again almost took out the ref. Williams went for a diving clothesline and this time did connect with the ref! He turned around and Moose nailed him with a spear. There was no referee to count the fall. Moose tried to revive him to no avail. He turned around and caught Trick with a Buckle Bomb. Moose went for another spear but Williams hit the Trick Shot. The referee crawled over but Moose kicked out at 2! Very good nearfall there. Moose ducked a leg lariat and hit a big headbutt that sent Williams into the corner. He missed spear in the corner. Williams nailed him with a Trick Shot to the back of the neck. Moose slowly got to his feet and Williams connected with another Trick Shot to the side of the head to retain the title after 17 minutes.

Winner AND STILL TNA World Champion: Trick Williams

Analysis: ***3/4 That was a really good main event and a better match than I expected, despite the predictability of the result. They had some great nearfalls in the last few minutes and it was probably Williams’ best match against a TNA opponent so far. A focused Moose is one of TNA’s best assets, such is his adaptability and skill set.

TNA President Carlos Silva handed Trick the TNA Championship as Emergence went off the air.

Final Rating: 6.5/10

This show was the personification of a non-PLE TNA event. Solid wrestling, with one match that stood above all the others and no notable moments or title changes. I’ve written on that kind of idea since I started at TJR. You could rinse and repeat that for most shows outside of Genesis, Rebellion, Slammiversary and Bound for Glory. It’s not a terrible thing, it’s just not very interesting. Moose vs Williams was my match of the night. Another few minutes and I think they hit that 4-star level, however, they had some great nearfalls and it was a clean win for Williams, which will surprise many. Leon Slater vs Cedric Alexander was a good opener, and The Hardys and Rascalz had a decent outing, but if you’re a weekly TNA viewer and you missed the show, then there’s nothing to get you to go back and catch up on.

Any feedback or comments are welcome. My email address is [email protected] in case anybody wants to get in touch with me and my X handle is @thomok6 as well. Thanks for reading!