Reviews

TNA Impact Review – February 27, 2025

By Kristian Thompson • Published 28th February 2025
TNA Impact February 27 Review

This week’s TNA Impact was headlined by The Hardys teaming up with Oba Femi against The System in the main event.

The show opened with the regular recap of last week’s show which saw the debuts of Elijah and the Colons. TNA World Champion Joe Hendry and Elijah defeated them in the main event.

TNA Impact Live 27.2.25 from Full Sail University in Orlando, FL

The System Speak

There were “Oba’s Gonna Kill You” chants to welcome the heel stable. Moose is fresh off successfully defending his X-Title against Lexis King on NXT, and now faces Oba Femi for the NXT Championship at Roadblock. The insufferable Alisha Edwards was on the mic first up. If she and Ryan Nemeth ever made a team, it would be the worst television of all time. She said The System were always ten steps ahead of everyone after taking out Leon Slater last week. Eddie Edwards said another star found out what happens when you don’t trust The System. JDC told the fans to shut up. They were singing his old Fandango theme which rattled him. Clever fans in attendance tonight. He told Leon Slater that he made the wrong decision and handed the mic to Moose. The fans were still chanting about Oba Femi. Moose addressed the NXT Champion. He said he shook Oba’s universe up by appearing on NXT a fortnight ago and on Tuesday. Moose said that there’s a huge difference between being the ruler of NXT and the face of TNA. Eddie said wrestling was their way of life. He said they respected The System. Orlando said they came to TNA to show everyone what it means to be a Colon: dominance, greatness, violence. He said in order to take over TNA, there’s no point fighting with The System. Orlando said that they would have The System’s backs, if they watched theirs. Moose said that they liked The Colons and they all bumped fists.

Analysis: More power to the heels here. The Colons aren’t very compelling speakers so having them align with The System is fine. I hate when wrestlers (singles or tag) debut and lose. You have to put over your new talent.

Gia Miller was backstage with Spitfire and they discussed their Knockouts Tag Title match tonight with the stipulation that the losing team serves the winner for 24 hours. Thrilling.

Analysis: If they ended this feud then there would be no division so it has to continue.

The System were bullying Leon Slater again backstage until The Hardys walked in to support him. Security broke up the potential scuffle. Nothing segment there.

Match #1: Mike Santana vs NXT’s Oro Mensah

Mensah had a good little feud with Ethan Page last year but hasn’t done much on the NXT brand of late. Santana was on the offense early. Mensah managed to toss him outside but Santana caught a crossbody attempt and slammed him into the ring apron. Santana nailed a big boot and threw Mensah back into the ring. He met Mensah with a big chop in the corner and repeated the dose on the other side of the ring. Santana nailed a kick in the corner and a rolling cutter for 2. He went up high but Mensah quickly cut him off. They brawled on the top and Santana sent Mensah crashing down to the mat with a headbutt. Mensah quickly recovered with a flipping kick and then the Call of Autumn for 2. They had an awkward spot but Santana turned it into a sunset flip for 2. Santana hit the Buckle Bomb and the STB for the win after 5 minutes.

Winner by pinfall: Mike Santana

Analysis: **1/2 That was fine as another match to continue the momentum for Santana. Mensah has a cool moveset but obviously wasn’t going to win here.

Mustafa Ali and his cronies appeared on the screen. They played a campaign video painting Santana as an alcoholic.

Analysis: That was clever. Kudos to Santana for allowing this into the storyline. It can’t be easy revisiting those issues.

Santana ran into The Good Hands and Tasha Steelz backstage. He wanted Ali in a match. Ali’s staff said that they would pass the message on.

Analysis: It’s obvious that this match is coming but they aren’t rushing it. Sacrifice is looking pretty full so they may hold it off until Rebellion.

Match #2: Tessa Blanchard vs Kelsey Heather

Blanchard got a big reaction as usual from the Impact Zone. It was mostly boos. It was her first match in over 4 years on Impact. Blanchard overpowered Heather with clubbing shots to the back. She taunted the crowd but ran into a head scissors. Blanchard recovered with a dropkick and then suplexed Heather into the bottom rope. TNA Knockouts World Champion, Masha Slamovich, watched on. Blanchard hit a running upper cut in the corner. She feigned a corner clothesline then slapped Heather into next week. She tried her Implant DDT but Heather fought out with a Victory Roll for 2. Heather tried another roll up and got a 2 count. She ran into a cutter and the Buzzsaw for the win after 3 minutes.

Winner by pinfall: Tessa Blanchard

Analysis: *1/2 That was probably 2 minutes longer than I thought it was going to be.

Cora Jade attacked Slamovich from behind. Jade said that Masha should worry about her at Sacrifice and not Blanchard.

Analysis: The money match is Masha vs Tessa so I don’t see Jade winning at Sacrifice. I don’t think an NXT wrestler should hold a TNA title.

TNA’s newest signing, Elijah, was backstage with his tag partner from last week. Hendry was cautious about Elijah coming after his World Championship. Elijah said Hendry had nothing to worry about because he has a friend right here. Hendry said he can walk with Elijah as long as Elijah believes in Joe Hendry. The System walked in and bumped into Elijah to ‘welcome him to TNA’.

Analysis: There’s been a lot of The System tonight. That’s a good thing as they have lost a lot lately.

Match #3: KC Navarro w/ AJ Francis vs Steve Maclin

Matt Rehwoldt tried to put over last week’s talk show segment but it was legitimately one of the worst TNA segments in the last 5 years. Shocking. I’m not sure TNA knows what they’re doing with Maclin at present. He’s one of the most popular guys on the roster but he will be stuck in a feud with Eric Young and the Northern Armory for a little while, which is fine, but hopefully he gets a shot in the main event scene later in the year. KC tried a hurricanrana early but Maclin powerbombed him. Maclin battered KC with shots to the back in the corner. He hit a diving clothesline for 2. KC rolled to the outside for a breather so Maclin followed him. AJ fronted up the Maclin. They talked trash to each other which allowed KC to hang Maclin up on the top rope. Francis slammed Maclin on the ring apron and tossed him back into the ring. KC got only a 1 count and followed up with right hands in the corner. The Northern Armory walked out on the ramp to watch. KC hit a double stomp in the corner. He missed a clothesline and Maclin nailed him with a back elbow. Maclin ran into a sling blade and KC got a 1 count. He recovered with some clotheslines and a Thesz Press. Maclin nailed the Olympic Slam for 2. I love seeing that move as it reminds me of my favourite wrestler of all time, Kurt Angle. Navarro took advantage of a distraction and nailed a Frog Splash for 2. He hit the 305 but Maclin avoided another Frog Splash. Maclin caught Navarro in mid-air and slammed him face-first into the mat. He nailed his corner spear with Navarro in the Tree of Woe. Maclin with the KIA for the win after 6½ minutes.

Winner by pinfall: Steve Maclin

Analysis: **1/2 It looked like we were getting a third straight squash match but KC got enough offense in to make it watchable. Push Maclin!

Tessa Blanchard was walking backstage when she went by Lei Ying Lee. Lee told Tessa that she talked too much. Tessa told Lee that she doesn’t deserve to breathe the same air as her. Santino Marella broke it up. He said that we will see if Lee is on Tessa’s level at Sacrifice in a 1-on-1 match.

Analysis: That has to be one of the quickest setups for a PPV match in a while. That will be a win for Tessa but good to see Lee on PPV.

Match #4: TNA Knockouts Tag Team Championships: Spitfire (c) vs Ash and Heather-by-Elegance w/ George Iceman

Surely, this feud ends tonight. Could we please get some more women’s tag teams in TNA? WWE have released a bunch of women lately, surely TNA have to at least look at them. They’re stupid not to at least pick up the phone and call some of Indi Hartwell, Nixon Newell or Isla Dawn. I could easily see someone like Dawn straight away in the main event scene. Jody Threat and Ash started the match off. There was a bit of mat wrestling early then Threat tried a roll up for 2. Ash rolled away and tagged in Heather, who ran straight into a clothesline. Jody did the world’s worst corner clotheslines that wouldn’t knock over your grandmother. That was as bad as Christopher Daniel’s blade job getting shown live on the screen on Wednesday. Threat hit a diving clothesline and got a 2 count on Heather. She hit a powerslam and went to the top rope, but Iceman distracted the referee which allowed Heather to hit a lung blower for 2. Ash tagged in and stomped a hole in Threat in the corner and got a 2 count. Heather was in next and hit a snapmare. She tried a sleeper hold but Threat got to a vertical base fairly swiftly. Threat tossed Heather to the mat and nailed an enziguiri to tag in Dani Luna. Heather tagged in Ash. Luna took Heather off the apron and nailed Ash with a back breaker. She hit a hard powerbomb for 2. Luna nailed a German suplex on Ash and the fans wanted more of that so she connected with another one. Ash held onto Heather’s arm in the corner and they dragged Luna into the bottom rope. Heather hit a double stomp from the top but Threat broke up the pin. Threat tagged herself in and Heather escaped her shoulders to tag in Ash. Threat hit a Michinoku Driver for 2. She missed her knee strikes but nailed a stunner on Ash. Luna tagged in and hit an awesome German suplex on Heather by lifting her from the apron. Spitfire hit the Pressure Drop on Heather to retain the titles after 8 minutes.

Winner by pinfall AND STILL TNA Knockouts Tag Team Champions: Spitfire

Analysis: *** Match of the night! Not a classic but it was a solid match. Luna’s offense looks just about as legitimate as any Knockout on the roster. I really think she would do well going on a singles run this year. The crowd pop when she hit that German suplex over the top rope on Heather was almost the loudest reaction of the night.

Luna reminded the Elegance ladies that they were now their servants for the next 24 hours. The first job was to do their laundry. Iceman said he would take their place Santino reminded them of the rules to the agreement.

Analysis: Lame stuff but the fans were happy to see the heels get their just desserts.

Match #5: Mance Warner w/ SDL vs Sami Callihan

I only just noticed but it sounded like the ring announcer, McKenzie Mitchell, was losing her voice during these ring introductions. Could they clean up the Digital Media Title situation please? It’s silly to have an active title not being used. Callihan went straight for a steel chair and was disqualified after 30 seconds.

Winner by disqualification: Mance Warner

Analysis: DUD How stupid. Just put the match on Sacrifice instead of wasting 5 minutes of TV time on entrances and introductions.

Warner hit a clothesline after the match. He nailed Callihan with a chair shot. Security and some referees ran down to break up the fight. The crowd was pretty loud during this segment so that’s a good sign. It does seem that Callihan is trying again. Warner broke free of the security and they continued the brawl. Santino made a street fight for Sacrifice. It was Callihan’s turn next to be on the attack. Do these wrestling companies just employ weak security guards or what?

Wes Lee, Tyson Dupont and Tyriek Igwe were on commentary for this next match.

Match #6: Ace Austin vs Frankie Kazarian

Kaz is another talent not really being used at present, despite having a guaranteed title shot. Austin hit a dropkick early that sent Kaz into the corner. Kaz sent him to the ring apron but couldn’t bring him back for his slingshot cutter. Austin went to the top but Kaz sent him crashing to the mat. Kaz mocked Austin’s poses and clapped himself. Austin fought out of the Chicken Wing and rolled Kaz up for 2. He tried another roll up for 1, then an inside cradle for 2. Kaz targeted the left leg with a kick. Austin then showed no signs of selling and kicked Kaz with that leg. He hit some corner clotheslines and sent Kaz to the floor. Austin nailed a kick from the apron as Lee and friends watched on. He tossed Kaz back into the ring. Dupont and Igwe got in his face. Austin avoided a leg drop against the ropes but Lee distracted him and Kaz brought him back into the ring for the slingshot cutter and the 3 count after 6 ½ minutes.

Winner by pinfall: Frankie Kazarian

Analysis: **1/2 That should’ve been pretty good but it was very rushed and focused too much on Lee and his stable mates. I don’t think I have ever seen Kaz win with the slingshot cutter, either.

Lee, Igwe and Dupont continued the beatdown on Austin after the match. The Rascalz, steel chairs in hand, ran down to make the save. These guys clash in 6-man action at Sacrifice.

There was another concierge segment with the Elegances as they had to look after Jody Threat’s large dog. Yawn.

Ryan Nemeth tormented our ears by reminding us that Nic Nemeth returns in 15 days. Hopefully, he brings a muzzle.

Match #7: The System w/ Alisha vs NXT’s Oba Femi & The Hardys

Oba has one of the best entrances in all of wrestling at the moment. He has such a great presence. Femi and Moose kicked the match off but of course Moose tagged out before any physicality ensued. Eddie Edwards tagged in so Femi swatted him away with a right hand. Brian Myers saved Edwards from a Samoan Drop but Femi dropped them both with a double clothesline. The Hardys ran in to dump Edwards and Myers over the top rope.

(Commercial break)

Matt Hardy was in control of Edwards as we returned to the action. He used a sling shot to propel Eddie into the bottom rope. The Hardys hit Poetry in Motion on Myers in the corner. Jeff tagged in and was holding his knee. Moose was legal and pulled Jeff to the mat by his hair. Myers tagged himself in and abused the fans. He stomped away on Jeff then tagged Moose back in. Edwards was next in but Jeff nailed him with a jawbreaker. He made the tag to Moose but Jeff nailed him with a Twist of Fate, then tagged Matt in. Matt fired away on Moose with right hands. He avoided a splash in the corner and hit his Delete shots on the corner turnbuckle then a Tornado DDT. Matt nailed an incoming Myers with a hip toss. He hit Moose with a Side Effect but Edwards broke up the pin. Edwards tried a suicide dive on Femi but Femi slammed him into the apron. Myers speared Femi into the steel steps. The Hardys hit the Plot Twist on Moose but Myers broke up the pin by pushing Jeff right on top of the referee. Jeff hit Myers with a Twist of Fate but ran into a super kick from Edwards. Femi was back in and hit Edwards with a gigantic backbreaker. Moose levelled him with a pump kick but Oba fired up and the fans went berserk. Femi hit Moose with a spinebuster. The Colons ran in but Femi dealt with Eddie with a big boot and sent Orlando to the outside. He turned around and Moose nailed him with a spear. Matt snuck up on Moose and went for the Twist of Fate but Moose pushed him into the ropes and nailed the spear. The referee was very slow to crawl to make the count but eventually counted the 3. The match went for 7 ½ minutes of TV time.

Winners by pinfall: The System

Analysis: *** It was a very short main event but highly entertaining, especially when Oba Femi was in the ring.

The System and the Colons celebrated after the match. Joe Hendry and Elijah ran down at the heels backed down, despite having a 6 on 2 advantage. Santino Marella showed up again and made Moose vs Jeff Hardy in a Ladder match for the X-Division title and a huge 10-man tag team match for Sacrifice: Matt Hardy, Hendry, Elijah & 2 mystery partners vs The System and the Colons. Marella actually said 3 partners but that was obviously a mistake.

Analysis: A strong segment to end the show. The last 15 minutes of the show were easily the highlight. I saw Jeff holding his knee during the match but he wrestled Tuesday on NXT so hopefully he’s fine.

Final Rating: 5.5/10

Approximately 37 minutes of wrestling on your only show of the week simply isn’t good enough. I understand the need to build stories to Sacrifice, which they did really well tonight, but cut out a few of those matches and you have a much better show. Plus, TNA usually shows that they can build matches for their PPVs relatively quickly (see Lee/Tessa backstage segment) so there’s no reason why you can’t have more ring time. Tonight, there were more negatives than positives for me. I won’t focus on those for now.

I enjoyed everything about the main event. It felt like a big deal and should’ve been given more time. They are building Oba vs Moose at Roadblock as a big match. Jeff Hardy potentially on a singles run is great. I think Fraxiom may be the mystery partners but Tom Hannifan did say that Sacrifice would be a ‘legendary night’ during the end credits so I wonder if it’s going to be a legendary TNA team stepping up to the plate. The crowd reactions towards Tessa Blanchard continue to show that bringing her back as a heel was the correct idea. I enjoyed the little set up with her and Lee. You can have undercard women’s matches on PPVs and I think that’s great. It’s something WWE really don’t do, as they have too many women’s wrestlers and now too many women’s titles. Sacrifice is shaping up to be a great show and I guess one question will be which match will main event the show?

The next TNA monthly special is Sacrifice on March 14th from El Paso, Texas.

  • TNA X-Division Championship: Ladder Match: Moose (c) vs Jeff Hardy
  • TNA Knockouts World Championship: Masha Slamovich (c) vs NXT’s Cora Jade
  • NXT’s Wes Lee, Tyson Dupont and Tyriek Igwe vs The Rascalz and Ace Austin
  • Tessa Blanchard vs Lei Ying Lee
  • Street Fight: Sami Callihan vs Mance Warner
  • Joe Hendry, Matt Hardy, Elijah & 2 partners vs The System & The Colons
  • Inter-Promotional Tag Team Match: Wrestlers TBA
  • Nic Nemeth returns

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!