Reviews

TNA Impact Review – July 3, 2025

By TJR Staff • Published Jul 04, 2025 09:48 EDT
TNA Impact July 3 chain

The Knockouts Title was on the line in a chain match, while Matt Cardona faced Eddie Edwards on this week’s episode of TNA Impact.

The opening video focused on the events of last week’s show, with Joe Hendry looking for championship redemption, Cedric Alexander making a surprise appearance and Mike Santana defeating AJ Francis in a very good Street Fight.

TNA Impact 3/7/25 from the UMBC Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania by Kristian Thompson

Mike Santana was added to the main event of Slammiversary during the week. TNA often announces these big things just randomly on Facebook or X. That’s the issue with taping TV. Slammiversary is shaping up to be a huge show and tonight they add another 4 high-quality matches.

Match #1: The Iinspiration vs Victoria Crawford & Tessa Blanchard

Indi Hartwell joined commentary. Indi and Tessa have had their issues in the last few weeks. I’m looking forward to that match down the line, hopefully at this next PLE. McKay and Crawford started the match off. Crawford talked some trash but the Aussie was unfazed. She caught a kick attempt and rolled Crawford up for a nearfall. Lee tagged in. They kicked an interfering Blanchard out of the ring. Crawford crawled to her corner to tag Tessa in. Lee hit an arm drag but Blanchard tossed her hard into the middle rope and choked her out using her knee. Blanchard hit a hard running elbow against the ropes for a 2 count. Crawford and Blanchard double-teamed Lee in the corner, whilst the referee dealt with McKay who was trying to point out the cheating. Blanchard hit a snapmare and tried to lock in a sleeper. Lee got to her feet and hit a jawbreaker. Blanchard blocked her from diving to the corner with forearm shots. Blanchard tried to hit a Samoan drop but Lee rolled through for a 2 count. Lee reached out and made the tag; as did Crawford. McKay hit some right hands and a splash in the corner. She bounced Tessa’s face off her knee. McKay hit a neckbreaker on Crawford but Blanchard broke up the pin. Lee sent Blanchard out of the ring and crashing into Indi on commentary. Indi stood up and got in Tessa’s face. The Iinspiration hit the Idoliser on Crawford for the win after 5 minutes.

Winners by pinfall: The Iinspiration

Analysis: ** It was fine for a short match that was more about Indi/Tessa than the winning team.

Indi and Tessa brawled at ringside. Security weakly tried to step in. They both hit some more shots until more security came down. Indi challenged Tessa to a match at Slammiversary. They tried to come to blows again.

Analysis: Good! That will be a heck of a match. Looking forward to it.

The commentators ran through the Slammiversary card so far. It’s shaping up to be a terrific show.

Let’s Hear from Order 4 (Without Mustafa Ali?)

Tasha Steelz and The Great Hands came down to ringside. Steelz had the mic, whilst Skyler and Hotch stood on the ring apron. Steelz said she could see Order 4 heading down the wrong path, so she called Ali’s best friend, Cedric Alexander. Alexander made his way to the ring. Ali was next. Alexander asked if Ali remembered 205 live. Alexander and Ali wrestled for the WWE Cruiserweight title at WrestleMania. He asked if he remembered John Cena giving them a standing ovation. Alexander said he was here in TNA to help Ali, not hurt him. Ali told Alexander said that he didn’t need his help (bleep included). He told Alexander that he took his WrestleMania moment and his title from him. Ali said Alexander embarrassed him. He told Alexander that he could help him by giving him a rematch at Slammiversary. Alexander said he didn’t want to get hostile but he would gladly beat Ali again. Ali tried a cheap shot but Alexander nailed a kick. The Secret Service attacked Alexander from behind. The Great Hands took them out. Alexander gave one of the cronies the Lumbar Check. Alexander dared Ali to get back in the ring. Ali walked off.

Analysis: That was a great segment. They fit a lot in a short amount of time. That could be match of the night at Slammiversary. Bring it on.

There was a video package for the Knockouts Championship match, which is up next.

Match #2: Chain Match for the TNA Knockouts World Championship: Masha Slamovich (c) vs Killer Kelly

Just in case you missed the commentators reminded you 132 times over the last fortnight, these two used to be tag partners. The wrestlers are chained together at the wrist. No DQ or count outs. It’s pin or submission in the ring only. They threw right hands from the bell. Slamovich used the chain to hit a snapmare. She hit a kick to the front and the spine for 2. Slamovich went to the top but Kelly recovered quickly and sent her over the top to the floor. Kelly used the chain to pull Slamovich into the steel ring post. She wrapped the chain around Masha’s throat and hammered her with kicks against the post. They went back into the ring and Kelly hit a shot to the back of the head with the chain around her forearm for a 2 count. Slamovich fought back with a big clothesline for 2. Kelly rolled to the floor. Slamovich used her strength to pull Kelly against the ring apron, then the post. Masha bounced Kelly’s head off the post multiple times. She wrenched at the chain which was in Kelly’s mouth. Slamovich whipped Kelly around the ring with the chain. She locked Kelly’s arm and hit some headbutts, then tossed her into the steel ring steps. Slamovich dragged her up the ramp. She locked in a sleeper hold but Kelly tossed her off and she landed hard on the ramp. Kelly with a suplex on the ramp. She dragged Slamovich back into the ring and hit her with forearm shots with the chain wrapped around her arm. They exchanged right hands and clotheslined each other. Slamovich hit a rolling kick for 2. Kelly avoided Requiem with a back body drop. She ducked out of the way of a corner clothesline and hit a kick to the face. Kelly hit Angel’s Wings but it didn’t connect very well. Slamovich avoided a suplex and hit Snow Plow for 2. Kelly hit a cannonball and a dropkick in the corner for 2. Slamovich wrapped the chain around Kelly’s throat. She had her knee in Kelly’s back. Kelly couldn’t escape so she had to tap. The match lasted almost 12 minutes.

Winner by submission AND STILL TNA Knockouts World Champion: Masha Slamovich

Analysis: ***1/4 It was a predictable outcome, but they both worked hard and put together a nice little program over the last few weeks. The history that they played off was well done. It’s not an easy match to make interesting, but they had some decent spots.

NXT’s Fatal Influence attacked Slamovich after the match and left her lying. Lei Ying Lee and Xia Brookside chased them off.

Analysis: That might lead to a 6-woman tag match. I don’t think Jacy Jayne will beat Jordynne Grace at WWE Evolution, so it will be Slamovich vs Grace again.

There were highlights of The Hardys beating The Northern Armory last week. Eric Young was losing his mind at The Hometown Man backstage. Then he went to town with his stablemates and told them that they embarrassed him.

Analysis: It’s a lite-version of El Grande Americano because Deaner is not very good.

There was a pre-taped promo by Mike Santana, talking about how he has earned a shot at the Slammiversary main event, thanks to the fans.

Analysis: I like Big Mike. I think he will win the title at Slammiversary. He has impressed me a lot since returning to TNA.

Match #3: Eddie Edwards w/ Alisha vs Matt Cardona

Cardona really hasn’t done much to turn face. I find him pretty average either way. Edwards stopped his flurry of offense early. Cardona hit a back body drop out of the corner, then a back elbow. He hit a flapjack and a running forearm. Cardona measured Edwards for the Reboot. Alisha grabbed his leg. Cardona ran into the Blue Thunder Bomb and Edwards got a 2 count. Alisha slipped Eddie his ring. Brian Myers came down to ringside and tried to talk him out of using the ring. Edwards turned around and Cardona using a pin with a bridge to win the match in 3 minutes.

Winner by pinfall: Matt Cardona

Analysis: *1/2 I knew when I saw the lineup for tonight that one of the matches would probably have to suffer in its time length, and I guess it was this one. They are building towards a Myers/Cardona reunion possibly, or Edwards vs Myers at Slammiversary. It’s interesting, I’ll give them that.

After the match, the lights went out and NXT’s Dark State hit the ring. They beat the pulp out of Cardona and hit a powerbomb to stand tall.

Analysis: These guys aren’t very interesting. They are all no-namers and need a big star as the leader. It reminds me of the Retribution group, who had the great Mustafa Ali and still couldn’t get over.

There was a great video package for Leon Slater, which focused on his upbringing and how he got into wrestling. They need to do more of these, as it gives a great insight into the talent and how hard they work.

Match #4: Jake Something vs Mance Warner w/ SDL

Steve Maclin joined the commentary booth for this match. This was the second match of the night where you couldn’t hear the commentators over the entrance music. That’s pretty poor production. Warner hit a hard forearm to start the match and a number of chops. Something tossed him into the corner and hit a clothesline. He hit a harder follow-up clothesline and Warner needed a breather. SDL grabbed Something’s leg as he was preparing to do a dive to the outside. Something fought out of a DDT attempt. Warner blocked a corner spear and hit some jabs then an eye poke. He wanted a running knee but Something caught him with a forearm shot. Something stalked him around the ring. He got distracted by Maclin and the International Championship. Warner moved out of the way and Something blasted Maclin in the face. Maclin snapped and attacked them both, so the match was thrown out.

NO CONTEST

Analysis: ** The match only went 3 minutes but they packed a lot into it. I liked the physicality. Warner doesn’t have a great offensive arsenal, but he sells well and everything he does is believable. I’m glad Something has returned to good ovations from the fans. I think this is leading to a triple threat at Slammiversary, even though Maclin has already beaten Warner at the last PLE.

Security separated Something and Maclin, as Warner and SDL headed up the ramp. They cut to a commercial and returned to the brawl still happening backstage. Maclin said he would take both of them on, as security tried to hold them all apart.

Match #5: Zachary Wentz w/ Myron Reed vs Nic Nemeth w/ Ryan Nemeth

Trey Miguel is injured, so they’ve randomly brought Reed back in to walk Wentz to the ring. Wentz outwrestled Nemeth early on. He rolled to the floor. Wentz dived out of the ring and took out Ryan. Nic hit a cheap shot and we went to a commercial.

(Commercial break)

Wentz barely beat the 10 count back into the ring as we returned to the action. Nemeth wrenched at Wentz’s nose and then grounded him with a sleeper on the mat. Wentz slowly got to his feet but Nemeth ripped him to the mat by his hair. Nemeth did some cocky dancing and hit a jumping elbow for 2. Wentz blocked a right hand and connected with some of his own. He sent Nemeth into the turnbuckle, sternum-first. Nemeth lured him in and sent Wentz into the bottom turnbuckle for a 2 count. Nemeth went back to the sleeper. Wentz got up and nailed a jawbreaker. He took down Nemeth with a series of flying forearms. Wentz hit a double stomp to the back for 2. He went to the top rope but Nemeth was quick to cut him off. Wentz tried a powerbomb but Nemeth knocked him back to the mat. Wentz recovered quickly and nailed a superplex for 2. Nemeth tried for Radio Silence but Wentz hit a sit-out powerbomb. He missed a handspring knee strike and Nemeth caught him with the Fame Asser for 2. Nemeth tuned up the band for a superkick. Wentz caught him and rolled him up for 2. Nemeth tried a roll up. They exchanged pinfall attempts. Wentz hit a superkick and hit the handspring knee for 2. He tried to bounce off the ropes but Ryan stopped him. Wentz hit a springboard crossbody to the floor to take Ryan out. He rolled back into the ring and fell right into a superkick. Nemeth hit the Danger Zone for the win after 9 minutes.

Winner by pinfall: Nic Nemeth

Analysis: ***1/2 That’s the win The Nemeths needed heading in to Slammiversary. They worked very well together, although I prefer less submission wrestling when you have two great athletes who can easily have long matches.

Moose tried some cheap shots after the match but Slater ran into the ring to confront him. Moose backed down after they talked a bit of trash to each other.

Next week:

* TNA International Championship: Steve Maclin (c) vs Jake Something vs Mance Warner
* The Elegance Brand vs Harley Hudson & Myla Grace
* NXT’s Jacy Jayne & Fallon Henley vs Lei Ying Lee & Masha Slamovich
* The Rascalz & The Hardys vs The Nemeths & First Class

Analysis: Not as good as tonight’s lineup. I hope they have something for Steve Maclin at Slammiversary because next week is the last show before the PLE. Doesn’t look like it.

The King’s Speech Segment w/ Frankie Kazarian and TNA World Title Contenders

Do we really need ANOTHER talk show segment? Apparently so. Kaz put it over as some big deal then introduced Joe Hendry, Mike Santana and TNA World Champion, Trick Williams. So far, the segment has gone 5 minutes and we have only had entrances, and there was only 6 minutes left in the show. Kaz said he wanted to give Williams the floor. Williams said the truth is he has beaten both Hendry and Santana. He told them both he would have no problem doing it again at Slammiversary. Kaz asked Hendry what he had to say about that. Then he took the mic away from Hendry so he couldn’t speak. He did the same to Santana. Santana wasn’t putting up with that and took the mic. He told Kaz to watch himself. Santana threw insults at Hendry and Williams. He wants to be the best in the world and to do that he has to become World Champion next weekend. Santana said he is rolling into New York and taking the TNA World Title. Hendry wanted to talk next. He said the fans chant ‘Whoop That Trick’ because they want to see him get whooped. Hendry said it wasn’t Santana’s time yet because the fans still chant ‘We Believe’. Williams said Hendry has lied for a long time. He is not the man in TNA. Williams told Santana he lied to his daughter because he didn’t win the World Title. He told everyone he was coming to TNA to take the title and their fans, and he has done that. Kaz said if he wasn’t World Champion, then the only man worthy is Trick. Williams feigned leaving the ring and attacked Hendry and Santana from behind. He blasted Hendry over the head with the title. Williams hit the Trick Shot on Santana. Williams and Kaz stood tall as Impact ended.

Analysis: It would’ve been a better segment if half of it wasn’t entrances. The timing of TNA shows continues to be a serious problem (more below). I did enjoy the segment but it was nothing new. The match will probably be the best one of Trick’s title defenses so far. Does he walk out of Slammiversary as champion? I think Santana will win and then Kaz cashes in.

Final Rating: 6/10

On paper, it looked like one of Impact’s better shows of the year. But they stacked it too heavily and then time issues play a part. Edwards and Cardona got 3 minutes. Something vs Warner was thrown out after 5 minutes. It’s okay to just have 3-4 matches per show, give them decent amounts of in-ring time and then carry some over to next week. TNA have the tendency to want to do 5-6 matches, plus a big promo segment or two and a video package (2 tonight) and it completely affects the show quality. No way should I be struggling to lift this show to a 6/10 rating, but that’s what it is. The non in-ring segments were easily the best part of tonight’s broadcast. I love how they’re building Indi vs Tessa and Alexander vs Ali. Both good story-telling but completely different. I am NOT a fan of a TNA vs NXT title for a title match, though. I feel like TNA will win back its men’s championship, but lose their women’s one. That’s only if Grace wins at Evolution, though. I don’t see WWE giving TNA their NXT Women’s title. Only TNA bends the knee, not the other way around.

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

* 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
* 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!