Reviews

TNA Impact Review – July 17, 2025

By TJR Staff • Published Jul 18, 2025 09:52 EDT
TNA Impact July 17 Review

The Slammiversary main event combatants faced off in Impact tag team action, as TNA put the final touches on this Sunday’s blockbuster card.

This will be my final weekly review of TNA Impact for the foreseeable future. I will still continue to watch the product and write reviews of the PLEs/ monthly specials. Last year, our family found out that our newborn child (in utero) at this stage had a serious heart condition. I took a few weeks off work at the start of this year after she was born.

When we realised it was more serious than first expected, my work graciously granted me 6 months off at very short notice. I return to work on Monday and will be fully focused on that and caring for my family. Being in Australia, after getting home from work and helping with our 5 kids doing the ‘Dad duties,’ I usually don’t begin writing until late at night. That leaves me pretty tired on Saturday to function as a responsible parent, so something has to give, and it’s this column, which I have thoroughly enjoyed since Slammiversary 2022. That’s probably okay if it’s your job and you get paid for it, but I write because I enjoy it, and I like seeing TNA get covered. I guess you could call this my 3-year anniversary, and my gift is taking some time off. I could quit altogether, but I think I would probably stop watching TNA then. I will probably pick it back up over our summer break (December/January) if the website wants the column. The little feedback I get is always nice to read, but I doubt this column will be missed very much. Thanks, as always, to John Canton, who is always understanding. Let’s get on to the show.

(Editor’s Note from John Canton: Kristian is awesome, and I’m glad that he has reviewed TNA for us for the last three years. I don’t know how he does it with such a big family, but I admire him and I respect his decision. As he said, he’ll still review the TNA PLE shows. Thanks for doing what you’ve done for us, my friend.)

TNA Impact 17/7/25 from the UPMC Events Center in Township, Pennsylvania by Kristian Thompson

The opening video focused on the events of last week’s show, with Masha Slamovich’s team beating Fatal Influence. She also pinned Jacy Jayne on this week’s NXT show. They also recapped a main event brawl where Joe Hendry accidentally struck Mike Santana. There has been A LOT of wrestling over the last week. AEW All In, WWE’s SNME and Evolution and NXT Battleground. I didn’t have it in me to watch ROH Supercard of Honour. There’s been lots of crossover between TNA and NXT, too, and we know now that Masha vs Jacy is official for Slammiversary, after Jacy beat Jordynne Grace due to a heel turn by Blake Monroe (FKA Mariah May).

Match #1: Non-Title Match: Moose w/ Alisha vs. Sami Callihan

Moose hit Callihan with a kick as he charged after the bell. He choked Callihan out in the corner and utilised the 5 count. Moose whipped Callihan hard into the corner turnbuckle. He choked him out against the mat, using his boot. Callihan avoided a corner spear and hit a stunner for a 2 count. He whipped Moose against the ropes, but Moose followed up with a spear. It sent Callihan out of the ring, so Moose was unable to pin him. Moose ran at Callihan, who picked him up for a scoop slam on the floor. They rolled back into the ring. Callihan called for the Cactus Driver. Moose pushed him against the ropes and nailed him with the spear for the easy win after 3 minutes.

Winner by pinfall: Moose

Analysis: ** That was almost a squash. I understand the need to make Moose look strong ahead of Sunday. Those spears aren’t knocking over my 90-year-old grandmother, though.

Alisha took a microphone and my brain already started to hurt. Moose said Leon Slater is stepping into the biggest match of his career on Sunday. He said for him, it was just another Sunday. Moose said Slater won’t be the youngest X-Division Champion, he will continue his reign and become the longest champion of all time. Moose turned his attention to Callihan and told him he didn’t have it anymore. He called him a fat piece of garbage. Moose said Callihan should get out of the ring and go work in catering. He told Callihan to leave his boots in the ring and get out. Moose introduced The System as they have a match next.

Analysis: I’m sure Sami ‘okayed’ the segment, but that was pretty rough of Moose.

There seemed to be an issue with TNA+ as the next thing we saw was a brawl happening in the ring before the match began.

Match #2: Order 4 vs The System

It seemed like Mustafa Ali hired Dark State to take out The System. They hit a double powerbomb on Myers. Ali and friends backed up the ring looking pleased.

NO CONTEST

Analysis: No rating. That was fine. It makes Dark State look like a threat. It might lead to The System vs Dark State on Sunday.

Gia Miller was with Dani Luna. She asked how she felt as she is about to face Tessa Blanchard. Luna said she was excited for the competition. She said the Knockouts division was as good as she can ever remember. Luna said Blanchard was in her way.

Analysis: I think a Luna push after Slammiversary would be good. She’s popular and has a great offensive arsenal.

There was a video package for the TNA World Title match at Slammiversary.

Match #3: Tessa Blanchard w/ Victoria Crawford vs Dani Luna

Luna overpowered Blanchard early on. She hit a diving clothesline for a 2 count. Luna focused on the left arm with a submission. Blanchard tried to fight out but copped a dropkick. Luna followed up with a chop in the corner. Blanchard kicked Luna into the turnbuckle and she crashed hard to the mat on her head. Blanchard scored a nearfall. She choked Luna out using the middle rope, then hit a running boot. Blanchard went to the ring apron and dived back inside the ring with an elbow drop for a 2 count. Luna avoided a neckbreaker attempt. Blanchard hit a dropkick for 2. She mounted Luna with right hands on the mat. Blanchard targeted Luna’s left knee with strikes. She kicked Luna in the head a number of times. Blanchard locked in a body scissors. Luna stood up in the hold and turned it into a suplex. Both women were slow to get up. Luna blocked a right hand and scored a few of her own. She hit a big boot and sent Blanchard into the ropes. Blanchard escaped the Luna Landing attempt, but ran into a single-leg dropkick. Luna hit a powerbomb with a pin for 2. Blanchard escaped off the shoulders of Luna again. She backed her into the corner but Luna fought her off with elbows. Blanchard hit a big boot in the corner and a Code Breaker for 2. She went back to her horrifying facial expressions. Blanchard was too slow at climbing the ropes so Luna cut her off. Blanchard knocked her down and went for Magnum, but Luna caught her and bounced her off the ropes with a Blue Thunder Bomb for 2. Luna went for the Luna Landing again. Crawford grabbed Blanchard’s legs and pulled her over to the corner. Blanchard hit Magnum from the top to win the match after 10 minutes.

Winner by pinfall: Tessa Blanchard

Analysis: ***1/4 It was a very competitive match that probably wasn’t as pretty as you might expect. They mucked up a little bit and their timing was out but it helped to make it look like a legitimate fight.

Crawford and Blanchard beat down Luna after the match until Indi Hartwell chased them off. The easiest booking move in all of wrestling.

Analysis: Indi vs Tessa has been one of the better stories of 2025 in TNA.

They showed footage of The Iinspiration signing autographs for fans a few weeks ago until The Elegance Brand showed up and tossed their posters everywhere. The Iinspiration cut a pre-taped promo on The Elegances, ahead of their match on Sunday.

Analysis: Why didn’t they show this 3 weeks ago? Weird.

The Elegance Brand Address the Knockouts Division

Ash had the microphone and said she has been forced to apologise for her actions from a few weeks ago. She said she was fined $5000. Ash said she was sick of hearing about NXT vs TNA, when everyone should be talking about her. I almost forgot she had a title shot after winning the battle royal. She was screaming and sounding delusional. Ash called The Elegance Brand the most dominant women’s brand in wrestling history. That’s a laugh. Here comes Fatal Influence. Jayne, Nyx and Henley faced off with The Elegances. Jayne laughed Ash’s claims off. She said after she beats Masha, Jayne would be happy to remind Ash where she stood in terms of her wrestling ability. Masha Slamovich entered next. She slapped Ash on the way to the ring. Slamovich had a microphone. She said she was sick of seeing Jayne stand there with a smug look on her face. They traded insults. Slamovich said she carries her Knockouts Title with pride and won’t let an outsider take it from her. She got right in Jayne’s face. Jayne held up her Women’s NXT title and that was it.

Analysis: I hope Slamovich doesn’t lose on Sunday. We don’t need more TNA titles being taken to WWE.

Mike Santana had a video package hyping up his chances for Sunday.

Match #4: Judas Icarus w/ Travis Williams vs The Hometown Man

Ugh. Do I have to? Deaner hit some strikes early. He hit a 10-count of punches in the corner. Deaner hit an Aeroplane Spin slam for 2. Williams slid in the ring to distract Deaner. Icarus bit his fingers and kicked his legs out from under him. He nailed a Superman punch for 2. Icarus tried to remove Deaner’s mask unsuccessfully. Deaner fought back with a slap. Icarus hit him with a cheap shot to the throat, then Williams interfered whilst the referee was dealing with Icarus. Deaner hit a clothesline and a spinning scoop slam. Icarus avoided Sliced Bread by raking the eyes of Deaner. Deaner hit a dive to the outside to take out Williams. He went back into the ring and hit Sliced Bread on Icarus for the win after 4 minutes.

Winner by pinfall: The Hometown Man

Analysis: *1/2 I feel for Icarus, who is quite talented. Since when is Sliced Bread a finisher? Not since Brian Kendrick’s WWE days.

Eric Young tried to attack Deaner post-match, but he got away through the crowd. At least they’re enjoying the gimmick. I am not.

There was another pre-taped vignette for Enzo Amore. He took a few half-shots at AEW. My guess is he turns up at Slammiversary and I won’t care either way. I don’t think he’s anything great.

TNA International Champion, Steve Maclin, cut a pre-taped promo asking for anyone from any company to challenge for his title. It sounded like an open challenge, but he didn’t name Slammiversary specifically.

Analysis: They really should have him on the card. He’s consistently one of TNA’s best performers.

Match #5: Matt Cardona vs Jake Painter

I think Painter lost to Moose in a handicap match a few weeks ago. The match didn’t even begin because Dark State interfered and beat them both down. They hit a huge powerbomb on Painter. They were about to do the same to Cardona but his former tag partner, Brian Myers, ran down for the save. Dark State was about to powerbomb him, but his System teammates ran down with weapons to stop the madness.

NO CONTEST

Analysis: No match rating. Usually, I would criticise the same exact happenings twice in the same night, but it fits the storyline of Dark State trying to terrorise TNA.

Let’s Hear from The Hardys

As always, the fans were right behind Matt and Jeff. They have been part of my wrestling life since I started watching in 2001, and I have followed them through multiple companies in that time. Matt thanked the fans for always being with them. He mentioned that they’ve won titles over 4 different decades. That’s crazy. Matt said that they always promised each other to only wrestle if they felt that they were at the top of their game (their AEW run was not that). He said that after they’re gone, TNA would still move forward. Matt mentioned that since they lost their titles, they’ve also lost a number of matches. Jeff strangely reminded him that he lost to AJ Francis recently. Matt thanked him for that, jovially. He said if they couldn’t be the best team in TNA, then they shouldn’t be in the ring. Jeff wondered if they should disband if they can’t win on Sunday. Here comes Leon Slater, their friend. He didn’t like what he was hearing. Slater said The Hardys have held him up over the last 6 months. He said they helped him become a man in TNA and win the chance to have a huge match this Sunday. Slater said he can’t thank them enough. Matt appreciated it but told him to focus on Moose on Sunday. Slater said he knew what to focus on, but he told them to get back to what they were good at and the best place to do that is by jumping over ladders and doing crazy stuff at Slammiversary. Here comes First Class with the interruption. AJ Francis felt insulted that they mentioned his name. He said this is not the 2000s version of The Hardys. Matt told Slater to stand down so he stayed healthy for Sunday. He left the ring. Francis said they were worried about The Nemeths and The Rascalz, not The Hardys. He told them they weren’t even the best brother team in TNA. Here comes Ryan and Nic, now. Nic reminded them all that they are the champions, in case they forgot. Ryan told the fans that they would be champions forever. They aren’t booked like Hulk Hogan, brother. Ryan said they had been in more ladder matches than all the other teams combined, despite never being in a ladder match. The brawl started and The Rascalz hit the ring. There’s still no Trey Miguel. The Hardys grabbed a ladder and brought it into the ring. They took down The Nemeths with ladder shots. They clotheslined Francis over the top rope using the ladder. Jeff set the ladder up and they both climbed to the top of it as the segment ended.

Analysis: It was long, but I thought it was effective. They put the seeds in our minds that maybe Matt and Jeff are leaving for WWE after Slammiversary. It sounded like they were looking for an out, whilst trying not to let the fans down. I think First Class might win on Sunday, but I’m really not sure.

The commentators ran down the card for Slammiversary. The Knockouts Tag Title match has been relegated to the pre-show, in place of The System & Matt Cardona vs Dark State. Not a huge fan of that decision.

All the competitors entered for the main event. They had this match on a monthly special not long ago. Frankie Kazarian continues to be booked to do nothing.

Match #6: Trick Williams & Frankie Kazarian vs Mike Santana & Joe Hendry

Santana and Hendry argued about who was going to start the match. Williams attacked them both from behind and dragged Hendry to their corner.

(Commercial break)

Williams hit a dropkick on Santana as we returned to the action. He tagged Kaz in. Kaz hit some forearms and a back suplex for a 2 count. They exchanged right hands and Santana chopped Kaz into the corner. He hit a big clothesline. Kaz avoided a scoop slam but ran into a cutter for 2. Kaz avoided a powerbomb. Williams kneed him in the spine as he bounced off the ropes. Kaz hit a spinebuster and his springboard legdrop. He tagged Williams back in. Williams hit two suplexes, but Santana avoided a third. He nailed the Trick Kick. Williams hit a Falcon Arrow for 2. He backed Santana into the heel corner and tagged Kaz back in. Kaz choked Santana out against the middle rope. Santana bounced off the ropes and used an inside cradle for 2. Kaz hit a hard clothesline and tagged Trick. Williams hit an upper cut and tagged Kaz in again. The fans wanted Hendry. The heels went for a double clotheslin,e but Santana hit a springboard moonsault and tagged in Hendry. Hendry clotheslined everything that moved. He nailed a running cutter on Kaz and clotheslined Williams over the top rope. Hendry hit the Fallaway on Kaz and kipped up. He hit one on Williams and kipped up again. Hendry got right in Santana’s face and set up for the Standing Ovation, but Santana tagged himself in. Santana annihilated Kaz with Spin the Block to win the match after 10 minutes of TV time.

Winners by pinfall: Mike Santana & Joe Hendry

Analysis: *** That was a fine main event, even though you knew there was only one man possibly getting pinned. I liked the continued tension between Hendry and Santana.

Williams got into the ring with his TNA World Title. All 3 men had a face off. Trick held up his championship and then left the ring.

They didn’t play the usual end credits. Instead, it went to an old workshop. They showed old, wore TNA logos. There were highlights of AJ Styles. In the toolbox there was Styles’ old TNA vest. That was the end of the show.

Analysis: That’s a cool way to end the show, by showing that the rumors were true and AJ Styles will be at Slammiversary on Sunday. I wonder what capacity he will appear in.

On social media on Friday morning, TNA confirmed AJ Styles will be at TNA Slammiversary. There is more info on TNA’s website as well.

Final Rating: 6.25/10

It certainly didn’t have the best wrestling we have seen in TNA this year, but it was a solid show to build excitement for Sunday’s PLE. There were two matches that didn’t start because of Dark State interference and a Deaner match, but at least they were all short. Tessa and Dani Luna put on the best match of the night. I especially have enjoyed how TNA have treated the tag team division far more seriously lately. Sunday’s card is great. Not only are there solid matches, but enough of the matches (apart from Moose vs Leon, surely that’s a lock for Slater) get you thinking about the possible winner. I hope it’s the end of NXT wrestlers holding TNA titles, however I have enjoyed a more serious Williams over the last month. It’s time for TNA to get themselves taken more seriously in this crossover, too. I look forward to what Sunday delivers.

The next TNA PLE is Slammiversary on Sunday, July 20th. Here’s the card so far with my predictions in bold:

* TNA World Championship: Trick Williams (c) vs Joe Hendry vs Mike Santana
* TNA Knockouts Championship & WWE NXT Women’s Championship: Masha Slamovich (c) vs Jacy Jayne (c) or Jordynne Grace
* TNA X-Division Championship: Moose (c) vs Leon Slater
* TNA World Tag Team Championships: Ladder Match: The Nemeths (c) vs The Hardys vs First Class vs The Rascalz
* Matt Cardona & The System vs Dark State
* Indi Hartwell vs Tessa Blanchard
* Cedric Alexander vs Mustafa Ali
* Pre-show: TNA Knockouts Tag Team Championships: The Elegance Brand (c) vs The Iinspiration

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