Reviews

TNA Impact Review – April 24, 2025

By TJR Staff • Published 25th April 2025
TNA Impact April 24

A big tag team match featuring Joe Hendry & Elijah facing Ethan Page & Frankie Kazarian headlined this week’s show, just ahead of this weekend’s Rebellion PPV.

Hello again, folks. I am Kristian Thompson, and I am back after two weeks off as my daughter has been in hospital after open-heart surgery. Shout out to my friend John Canton for his understanding and messages of support during a difficult time for my family. I did catch the last two weeks of TNA shows, and it was somewhat nice to watch them without having to pause and frantically write every wrestling move I could to cover the action. Here are some quick thoughts on the two shows:

April 5, 2025 TNA Impact

  • I enjoyed the opening exchange between Kazarian and Ethan Page. It was a promo contest to see who was the bigger scumbag. Page just fits in so well on the main event scene in TNA
  • I’m not a fan of the storyline between Deaner and The System trying to recruit him. The guy literally hasn’t won a match in 2025. Give this spot to a more-talented face wrestler.
  • Match of the night was the triple threat to qualify for Unbreakable, with AJ Francis beating Sami Callihan and Mance Warner. It certainly fit the characters of Warner and Sami to utilise the no-DQ rules. More wrestlers should do this.
  • Eddie Edwards vs Steve Maclin could’ve been so much more, but they used the match to continue teasing Maclin being tempted to join Eric Young and friends
  • The main event promo from TNA Champion Joe Hendry, where he feigned having to drop the title, was well done. It was a great moment also seeing him at WrestleMania having a huge career highlight against Randy Orton, despite losing in 3 minutes (we won’t get into that as many people have covered it)
  • There were no Knockouts matches on the show. Not acceptable with their current roster. Overall, it was an average show and I’d probably go 6/10

Unbreakable special 17/4/25

  • This was a 3-hour show with a pre-show. I didn’t watch that. I loved the idea of bringing back a one night tournament for the new TNA International Championship. Eric Young won the first triple threat qualifier in a match that Zac Wentz carried with his high-flying style and JDC was just there to fill in a spot. The second qualifier was Steve Maclin over Eddie Edwards and Ace Austin. The crowd came alive for the first time in the whole night during a double suplex spot. Alisha accidentally struck Eddie and Maclin finished him off with the KIA in a very good match. So the final was AJ Francis vs Maclin vs Young, which Maclin won by pinning AJ. That definitely feels like the right decision as he’s very popular and I felt he had his World Title run cut far too short, so giving him some gold again is right. It was good to see AJ Francis back in a big-profile match, though.
  • The 6-man tag where The Hardys & Mike Santana defeated The Nemeths & Mustafa Ali was really well done. I thought Matt was the MVP here- you could really feel his hatred towards the Nemeths after what they did to him inside the steel cage. I do enjoy it when wrestling companies combine feuds to make tag matches. That’s what they did with Hendry/Slamovich v Kaz/Blanchard, too. The women carried most of this match as they protected Hendry a bit with his injury. Hendry pinned Kaz after he accidentally clotheslined Tessa. It was an odd booking decision for Kaz to lose only a week out from Rebellion. Usually, the face team would lose that. I’m looking forward to Blanchard vs Masha at Rebellion. I think they have to crown Tessa the champ as it’s the right time.
  • It was fantastic to see Chris Bey on the stage. He seems to be doing really well. I don’t know if he will ever wrestle again, but he can walk and that’s what’s most important.
  • The Barbed Wire Massacre match was very fitting for Mance Warner vs Sami Callihan. Callihan was dressed as Mick Foley and even gave Warner Mr. Socko with a barbed-wire sock. I’m not sure how dangerous that wire is, but they certainly pulled out some brutal-looking spots during the match which was won by Callihan. At one point, Callihan stapled Warner’s tongue to a door, then smashed it with a steel chair. That would’ve been a main event on any TNA weekly show and both men certainly have committed to this feud. Overall it was a great show and without any official calculations I would probably go around an 8/10. Kudos to the fan in the front row who looked exactly like Scott Steiner.

Now, onto this week’s show!

TNA Impact 24/4/25 from the St. Joseph Civic Arena: St. Joseph, Missouri by Kristian Thompson

The opening video recapped Unbreakable, which I already commented on, so there’s no point revisiting that. Congratulations to Steve Maclin who is the new TNA International Champion. We are straight into the action with our first match of the evening.

Match #1: Ace Austin & Trey Miguel vs The System w/ Alisha

JDC and Trey Miguel started in the ring. Miguel wrestled in his bandana, which was odd. It was even in the early goings. Miguel got on top with a few arm drags and a dropkick to the corner. He sent Moose into JDC’s nether regions. The face team double-teamed JDC with super kicks, but JDC bailed to the floor. Alisha held Miguel’s leg and Moose took him down from the apron to the floor. Moose tagged in and sent Miguel into the steel ring post.

(Commercial break)

JDC was in control as we returned to the action. He continued to target the left shoulder of Miguel, then tagged in Moose. Moose tossed Miguel to the mat with contempt. Miguel escaped a powerbomb and hit an enziguri. He finally got the tag to Austin. Austin took down JDC with kicks. He blocked a clothesline from Moose and took him down with a leg sweep. Austin nailed his spinning kick from the middle rope for 2. He made the tag to Miguel. They tried a Poetry in Motion, but Moose caught Miguel and powerbombed him on top of Austin. Moose tagged in JDC, who hit a beautiful dropkick for 2. All 4 men were in the ring now. Miguel slid through the ropes to hit a DDT on Moose on the floor. Brian Myers came out and took out Austin with the Roster Cut. Alisha distracted the referee so JDC hit a low blow and an inverted DVD for the win after 9 minutes.

Winners by pinfall: The System

Analysis: **3/4 It was pretty slow as the heels kept Miguel in the ring for the majority of the match. It’s good to see The System getting some momentum again. They went from rarely losing in 2023/4 to completely unable to win a match at the start of this year, but now are starting to pick up some more wins again.

There was a promo video for Tessa Blanchard vs. Masha Slamovich at Rebellion. That should be a terrific match. That was followed by a hype video for the men’s World Championship match for Rebellion.

Mike Santana was hosting an AA meeting. He turned the focus to his feud with Mustafa Ali. That really has been the best story in TNA this year that hasn’t involved a title. Santana said Ali was the true addict because he was addicted to Santana. That should be another great match on Sunday.

Match #2: NXT’s Jacy Jayne w/ Fatal Influence vs Rosemary

This feud didn’t even make the Unbreakable main show and they’re already slated for a pre-show tag match on Sunday. It’s really not that interesting. This referee really annoyed me at Unbreakable as I couldn’t get over how ridiculously obvious he makes it that the wrestler is going to kick out at 2. He does two normal counts and then the third count is laboured and very unnatural. It’s really off-putting. Jayne hit a nice running knee strike, but Rosemary sat up Undertaker-like. Rosemary hit a reverse DDT. She took Jasmyn Nyx off the apron but turned around into a discus punch and Jayne got the win after 4 ½ minutes.

Winner by pinfall: Jacy Jayne

Analysis: ** It wasn’t very interesting and they haven’t put much effort into making us care about this feud.

Fatal Influence tried to triple-team Rosemary after the match, but Xia Brookside & Lei Ying Lee ran down for the save, setting up a 6-woman tag team match for the Rebellion pre-show.

The Nemeths Visit The Hardy Compound

I’m not sure I can do this justice, so I’ll include the video from YouTube if you’d rather watch it to make more sense: The Hardys TORMENT The Nemeths At The Hardy Compound | TNA iMPACT! April 24, 2025

A cackling Willow welcomed Ryan and Nic to the compound. They drove to the front gate and one of Matt’s sons welcomed them in. The Nemeths walked up the driveway. WIllow was doing a ridiculous dance and then disappeared, leaving his umbrella behind. Jeff attacked Nic from behind. They brawled into the woods. Jeff sent Nic into a tree. He bashed Nic over the back with the umbrella multiple times. Nic threw dirt in Jeff’s eyes to escape. Jeff fought back and sent Nic into a truck. Nic tossed him in the back and they continued to fight. Nic hit a superkick. He put Jeff on the top of the truck. Jeff got the upperhand and tried a powerbomb but Nic back-body dropped him through a bunch of tables that were set up on the ground. That looked like a rough landing as the tables disintegrated. Nic took one of the Tag Team Titles out of the truck and went up to the house, then opened the door. The camera went to Ryan. Matt found him and was beating him down. Nic walked through the house and found the Hardy trophy cabinet. He tried to replace one of the Tag Titles with a weight to not set off the alarm. Matt and Ryan brawled around the fountain. He felt a premonition that the Nemeths had the titles. Matt slammed Ryan’s arm against the pool gate then speared him into the pool. This caused Ryan to have all these weird dreams. Firstly, Ryan then appeared in the games room. He gave Senor Benjamin a ticket and went into the cinema with Matt’s boys. Ryan took a seat with Senor. The film was Maxel the Great. It was a black and white film with Ryan as the villain. Maxel took Ryan down with a dropkick off the top and the movie ended. He woke up and got some counselling from Wolfgang. He retold the story of Nic getting suspended and recounted his childhood. Ryan woke up again and he was at the piano with Reby and Matt’s daughter. He asked for the Tag Titles but Matt’s daughter kept screaming “No!” Ryan woke up as a goth. That was terrifying. Matt tried to drown Ryan. Nic appeared with the titles. Matt got out of the pool and chased Nic. One of Matt’s sons held him in a waist lock so Matt could catch up. Ryan hit Matt from behind with the championship. Jeff appeared in all black. The Nemeths ran off and left the compound.

Analysis: That was a lot to cover. I do enjoy these segments as they aren’t done often and are very clever. The ending has me thinking we will see a different version of Jeff on Sunday. Matt’s kids are pretty cool and do a good job every time. They have done this feud very well.

Ace Austin and Trey Miguel cut a promo on The System ahead of their 6-man tag on Sunday. For some reason, Sean Waltman will be in their corner.

Match #3: Tessa Blanchard vs Missa Kate

I have never heard of Kate and she doesn’t have a hope here. Kate did score with a backbreaker, but Blanchard dominated the rest of the match and won with the Buzzsaw after only 3 minutes.

Winner by pinfall: Tessa Blanchard

Analysis: *3/4 An easy way to continue to push Blanchard as dangerous. Masha Slamovich came down afterwards and trapped Blanchard with an arm bar until security broke up the brawl.

Steve Maclin and Eric Young were sitting by a fire having a drink. Young said if he didn’t win the International Title last week, then he hoped Maclin did. He said this is the last time that Young would offer Maclin a spot in the Northern Armory. Maclin collapsed so it was obvious that Young spiked his drink. Young threw Maclin’s notebook in the fire and said he would see him at Rebellion.

There were highlights from Joe Hendry’s appearances at WrestleMania and NXT this week. What an 18 months this man is having.

Match #4: Joe Henry & Elijah vs Frankie Kazarian & Ethan Page

The crowd has been pretty quiet tonight, but they came to life during Hendry’s entrance. Elijah and Kaz started out. Elijah outsmarted Kaz with an arm drag and a shoulder tackle. Kaz nailed Elijah with a knee to the rib,s but Elijah targeted the left arm of Kaz. He chopped Kaz in the corner and down to the mat multiple times. Elijah whipped Kaz to the opposite corner and followed up with a clothesline. He hit Old School from the top. I know it’s wrestling, but how can your opponent not just knock you down from that move? Elijah tossed Kaz to the floor and he and Page argued about the match.

(Commercial break)

Elijah was still in control of Kaz as we returned to the action. He pummelled Kaz with right hands in the corner. Elijah sent Kaz hard into his own corner. Kaz tagged in Page. Page wanted Hendry so Elijah made the tag. Page pinned Hendry in an NXT Title match last year. He targeted the rotator cuff injury of Hendry. Hendry used his left shoulder to knock down Page. He hit a hip toss with the good arm and that stung. Hendry hit a suplex, but not his usual stalling one because of his shoulder. Hendry tagged Elijah and he hit Page with an Atomic Drop and a big boot. Kaz tripped Elijah up which gave Page the advantage. Kaz tagged in and he continued the assault on Elijah with a neckbreaker and the first nearfall of the match. He tossed Elijah into the corner and Page tagged in again. Page attacked Elijah in the corner with elbow strikes. Elijah blocked a corner clothesline with a big boot. Page poked Elijah’s eye and tagged Kaz in. Kaz sprung in with a leg drop for 2. Kaz tried a roll up but Elijah held the ropes then hit a jumping knee strike. Page snuck around the ring and dragged Hendry off the apron and sent him into the steel ring steps. Elijah was distracted so Kaz took advantage and nailed him with repeated right hands. Page tagged in, but Elijah blocked an attack in the corner and hit a unique dropkick facing the opposite way. Elijah made the tag to Hendry and Kaz also tagged in. Kaz ran into a fallaway slam. Hendry hit one on Page, too. Hendry kipped up, but that hurt, too. Hendry nailed Kaz with the AA for 2. He was really struggling with the shoulder injury. Kaz tried a Fade to Black but Hendry rolled through for 2. Kaz hit a scoop slam (not a power slam, Hannifan) and the springboard leg drop for 2. He measured Hendry for the chicken wing submission. Page tagged himself in. Hendry clotheslined Kaz. Page hit a powerslam on Hendry for 2. He sent Hendry into the turnbuckle. Page wanted a superplex with Kaz’s help and they nailed it but Elijah came in and broke up the pin. Elijah and Page traded blows. Elijah nailed Page with the Cross Rhodes. Kaz hit him with a backstabber. Hendry hit a running cutter on Kaz. Kaz wriggled free of the Standing Ovation attempt. Page left the ring apron and abandoned Kaz. Hendry tagged Elijah and Kaz turned around into the Highwayman’s Farewell on Kaz for the win after 15 minutes.

Winners by pinfall: Joe Hendry & Elijah

Analysis: ***1/4 That was a strange tag match as the faces were in control for well over half of the match, especially the entire first half. I actually liked that because most tag match structures are very predictable with the ‘face-in-peril’ act leading into the hot tag. Hendry sold his injury really well all match. Even after he did his spin he would wince. It was a good enough tag match which showed how crafty Page is, to preserve his energy for Sunday whilst his opponents go in weakened. Elijah continues to look good in TNA, too.

After the match, Hendry was down in the corner, looking worried about his injury. Page looked confident and told him he would see him on Sunday.

Final Rating: 6.5/10

It was certainly nothing on the Unbreakable show, in terms of wrestling quality, but I enjoyed the final touches being put on the Rebellion PPV. They have heavily invested in the Knockouts Championship feud, with several segments tonight and a long build up to this Sunday. I always like those Broken Hardy segments. They’re not everyone’s cup of tea, but I think they’re just so clever. That’s been another great feud and even Ryan has been good! I think Sunday will be the end of Ali/Santana but that’s been TNA’s best feud this year and they have put significant promo and in-ring time into that. I’ve said before how the crossover to Santana’s addiction has been used and kudos to him for being able to lean into that to create a wrestling angle. The main event was the only match really worth watching on this show, but it was nothing special.

The next TNA monthly special is Rebellion, taking place at the Galen Center in Los Angeles, California, on April 27th. Here’s the final lineup with my predictions in bold:

* TNA World Championship: Joe Hendry (c) vs NXT’s Ethan Page vs Frankie Kazarian
* TNA Knockouts World Championship: Masha Slamovich (c) vs Tessa Blanchard
* TNA World Tag Team Championships: The Hardys (c) vs The Nemeths
* TNA X-Division Championship: Ultimate X: Moose (c) vs El Hijo del Vikingo vs Leon Slater vs Matt Cardona vs Sidney Akeem vs KC Navarro
* TNA International Championship: Steve Maclin (c) vs Eric Young
* TNA Knockouts Tag Team Championships: Ash & Heather (c) vs Spitfire vs Lash Legend & Jakara Jackson vs Gigi Dolin & Tatum Paxley
* Falls Count Anywhere Match: Mustafa Ali vs Mike Santana
* Elijah’s Open Challenge
* The Rascalz & Ace Austin vs The System

Any feedback or comments are welcome. My email address is kristian.l.thompson@gmail.com in case anybody wants to get in touch with me and my Twitter/X handle is @thomok6 as well. Thanks for reading!