Reviews

TNA Impact Review – May 22, 2025

By TJR Staff • Published May 23, 2025 09:57 EDT
TNA Impact May 22 Review

It was a big night of tag team action on TNA Impact as Joe Hendry teamed up with Elijah against The System.

The opening video recapped last week’s show, where there were a lot of DQ results, and Jeff Hardy beat Nic Nemeth in the main event. I didn’t review last week’s show as it was my daughter’s birthday and we had a rare weekend away with the 7 of us. This Under Siege show feels like the definition of a ‘between PLE event’ and even feels like it’s just being used to build the Joe Hendry vs Trick Williams story for the NXT Battleground PLE this weekend, too. It’s not just TNA that is in a bit of a lull right now, as WWE feels certainly like it’s going through the motions and even the AEW Double or Nothing PLE has only two matches I am interested in, whereas they usually have a whole stellar card each month. Perhaps I am just worn out, but the people I speak to regularly about wrestling have tended to agree with me.

TNA Impact 22/5/25 from the Bren Events Center in Irvine, California by Kristian Thompson

Match #1: Mustafa Ali w/ Order 4 vs Ace Austin

One thing TNA is doing well is how they present Mustafa. He has moved from a cocky yet cowardly heel to a bad guy who has completely snapped after losing the feud against Mike Santana. I believe this is Ace Austin’s last appearance with TNA, which is a real shame on a number of fronts: I don’t think they used him as well as they could’ve in terms of pushing him to the top (he’s always one of the most popular guys on the show) and also I can’t see him doing as well in any other main wrestling promotion. I hope I’m wrong as I have always been a fan. Austin tried an early dropkick but Ali caught him and hit a shoulder block. Austin avoided a German suplex and Ali went for the injured leg but copped a kick to the face. He sent Ali off the ropes and hit a tilt-a-whirl slam for 2. Austin nailed Ali in the spine with a kick and then dropkicked him to the floor. He hit a PK from the ring apron but his left knee was still bothering him from last week. They went back into the ring and Ali avoided an attack in the corner and hit a Dragon Screw from the top rope. That was cool. He hit a running chop block to the injured left knee of Austin. Ali went to the outside and smashed Austin’s knee into the steel ring post. He went back into the ring to continue the assault with another Dragon Screw. Ali backed Austin into the corner with another kick to the knee. He ran at Austin, who blocked an attack with a knee strike. Austin tried to go up high but Ali cut him off with a dropkick to the mat. Ali set Austin up in the Tree of Woe and went for a baseball slide but Austin pulled himself up and Ali had an unfortunate meeting with the ring post. Austin missed a splash so Ali locked in the Sharpshooter. Austin was able to make the ropes to break the hold. He got to his feet but ran into a big clothesline and Ali got a 2 count. Ali went to the top rope but Austin avoided the 450 and sent Ali into the middle turnbuckle. Austin wanted a corner attack but Ali pulled Tasha Steelz in the way. Ali nailed another chop block to the left knee and locked in a knee bar submission for a quick tap out win. The match went 8 minutes.

Winner by submission: Mustafa Ali

Analysis: ***1/4 It would’ve been a better quality match without the ‘injury’ to Austin, but it plays to Ali’s new character and they still had a good match. I wish Austin well.

The System had a quick taped promo backstage ,kissing up to Robert Stone and dissing Joe Hendry. The close ups made Eddie Edwards look older than he probably is. The System vs. Hendry and Elijah is the main event.

Rosemary cut a quick backstage promo to hype up her Under Siege match with Xia Brookside. She has Lei Ying Lee knocked out with her. At least Rosemary is making an effort with her face paint again.

Match #2: The Northern Armory w/ Eric Young vs The Aztec Warriors

I’ll be honest and say every time Judas Icarus and Travis Williams wrestle, I have to go onto Google Images and look up which one is which because I forget. Yes, it’s easier to tell the masked men in this match apart from their opponents. Williams (the bald one) started the match with Laredo Kid. Kid tried a quick roll up and Williams shoved him. Kid hit a shoulder block and a springboard head scissors, then a regular head scissors. Octagon Jr. tagged in and whipped Williams against the ropes but Williams held on and made the tag to Icarus. Octagon blocked some strikes and took Icarus down with a spinning head scissors, then tagged Kid back in. They hit a double team hip toss and a double dropkick for 2. Williams got the referee’s attention so Icarus bit through Kid’s mask to his forehead. He hit a dropkick for 2. Williams stomped on Kid around the ring. Icarus tagged in and hit a Superman punch for 2. The fans were getting stuck into Young at ringside. This distracted Icarus, who ran into a palm strike. Kid sent Icarus into the corner for a kick from Octagon. Octagon tagged in and hit a flying crossbody then a springboard kick. Williams ran into a pump kick. Octagon flew over the top rope with a twisting senton but almost hit his face on the ring apron. Kid took out everyone with a moonsault at ringside. Octagon measured Icarus in the corner with a running forearm and a Michinoku Driver. He nailed a split-legged moonsault for the pinfall win after 7 minutes.

Winners by pinfall: The Aztec Warriors

Analysis: *** A solid tag team match between two teams that confuse me. Good to see them build up the Warriors with some wins. They could be challengers for the heel Nemeth team in the future.

Xia Brookside was backstage comforting Lei Ying Lee. She said she wouldn’t be dragged down to Rosemary’s level and would get revenge for Lee at Under Siege.

Match #3: Eddie Edwards w/ Alisha vs Jake Painter

Cody Deaner was on commentary. Deaner will face Edwards tomorrow night. Edwards beat Painter up at ringside right in front of Deaner. He tossed him back into the ring and Painter used a surprise roll up for 2. Edwards took his head off with a clothesline. He took too long to follow up, so Painter used a backstabber for 2. Edwards kicked Painter square in the chest and measured him for the Boston Knee Party. He ran into a kick. Edwards hit a knee to the ribs and the Boston Knee Party for the easy 2 minute win.

Winner by pinfall: Eddie Edwards

Analysis: * It probably went a minute too long. I hope Edwards beats Deaner. I don’t want to see him on TV again. It won’t happen, though.

There was a pre-taped video of highlights of Mance Warner and SDL’s return to TNA. There wasn’t much to it.

Match #4: First Class vs Sami Callihan & Mike Santana

I’m glad I didn’t review last week’s First Class Penthouse or AJ Francis might’ve abused me on X again. They’ve easily been some of the worst TNA segments in 2025. Francis has been trying to recruit both his opponents this year. Navarro and Santana started the match. Big Mike chopped KC down hard. He nailed another hard chop and tagged Callihan in. Callihan hit another big chop. KC tried to talk his way out of a beating and ran into a pop-up powerbomb. Callihan hit a big toss across the ring. He tossed KC over the top rope but Francis caught him. KC hit a slingblade back in the ring. He tagged in Francis, who used KC as a battering ram in the corner. Francis hit a running senton for 2. He tried a sleeper hold but Callihan used rib strikes to block it. Francis and Callihan made tags to their partner. Santana took out Francis with a big boot. He hit a rolling cutter and took Francis off the apron. Santana wiped out Francis with a dive to the outside. KC avoided a Frog Splash but ran into a high-impact rolling DVD. Francis tried to interfere again but Santana clotheslined him to the outside. Santana tagged in Callihan. Francis dragged Santana out of the ring and held Callihan so KC could hit a 619. KC hit the Blessing in Disguise to win the match after 6 ½ minutes.

Winners by pinfall: First Class

Analysis: *** That was a fun tag team match with a very unexpected winner from my point of view. KC usually eats the pin in losses so for him to get a win for his team is a nice change. Santana vs Francis is on for tomorrow night.

They showed highlights of Joe Hendry’s concert on this week’s NXT. He had some funny lines, as always, and finished it with a guitar shot over the back of Trick Williams.

Debate – Robert Stone and Santino Marella

Thankfully everyone was in the ring and there were no entrances. Just quietly, I hate this angle. Both men were given 2 minutes. Marella called Gia Miller your honor and addressed the fans as the jury. Marella said he had worked hard and stepped outside his comfort zone over the last 2 years in TNA. He always wanted to do the right thing for TNA and his love of competition. Marella said he wasn’t impressed with Stone’s shenanigans and he wouldn’t be pushed around. His time was up. Stone spoke down to the crowd. I liked him better as Robbie. He said Marella had done absolutely nothing to make TNA better. Stone went berserk as the fans drowned him out with boos and called Marella a joke. He told Marella he didn’t deserve to be in power or even in wrestling. Miller told him his time was up but Stone kept ranting. Stone said when he’s in charge on TNA he’s going to fire all the losers and create real superstars. His voice was hurting my ears. Miller said that counts as his final remarks. Marella had the chance to rebut. He called Stone stupid and said that TNA was rising, not failing, because of him. Marella said Stone might have a sense of style or fashion, but Marella has a sense of what the people want. Marella said he can’t take the soul of TNA away and that he will always fight for the fans. Tessa Blanchard turned up and pulled Ariana Grace out of the ring. Blanchard shoved Miller to the mat. She choked Grace out in the corner. Stone took a cheap shot on Marella. Masha Slamovich turned up and brawled with Victoria Crawford but the numbers wore her down. Blanchard set Masha up for a powerbomb through the table. Grace grabbed her from behind and nailed a right hand. They gave Blanchard a powerbomb on the table but it didn’t break. They improvised and Masha tried a DVD through the table in the corner but it still didn’t break. You can’t do anything else but laugh.

Analysis: Wowsers. There was the Marella promo, and the rest was just a mess. Please just get it out of the way with a match between Marella and Stone for the power of TNA.

Matt Cardona cut an ‘Earlier today’ promo. He’s the number 1 contender for the International Championship. Cardona suggested that TNA award him the title if Steve Maclin can’t compete. Marella walked by and said Maclin would be cleared next week for a title match on Impact.

Analysis: That should be a solid match up for next week’s show.

Match #5: Spitfire vs Vipress & Mazerrati

I am not sure who these opponents are. One of them dressed in a trench coat which isn’t really wrestling attire. Mazerrati and Luna started off. Threat came in quickly and did her weak-looking corner clotheslines. She nailed a T-Bone suplex and Vipress tagged in. She took it to Threat with a kick for 2. Mazerrati tagged back in with some knee strikes for 2. She hit an enziguiri for another nearfall. Threat began to fight back and they traded forearms. She blocked a snapmare and tagged in Luna. Luna hit a running single-leg dropkick. Vipress tried to interfere from the top rope but ran into a hard clothesline. Luna hit a rough-looking German suplex on Mazerrati. Vipress hit a forearm from the ring apron so Luna German suplexed her back into the ring. Cool move. She tagged in Threat and they nailed the Pressure Drop for the win after 6 minutes.

Winners by pinfall: Spitfire

Analysis: ** The unknowns got a lot more offense in than I expected. They need to give us more information on these wrestlers before they just chuck them in to lose. A taped 30-second promo or highlights package of them from somewhere wouldn’t be hard to do, surely.

The Elegance Brand tried to attack Spitfire as they celebrated but failed and were laid out.

Matt Hardy and Leon Slater discussed strategy ahead of their title shot at Under Siege. Matt acted like a coach and gave Slater some tips for the match.

Trick Williams came to the commentary table for the main event.

Match #6: The System w/ JDC vs Joe Hendry & Elijah

Brian Myers and Elijah started the match. Elijah hit an overhead suplex and Myers backed into the corner to tag in Moose. Moose doesn’t have a match at Under Siege, despite being the X-Division Champion. Elijah tagged in Hendry. Moose overpowered the TNA World Champion initially but Hendry fought back. Moose targeted the injured shoulder of Hendry, then tagged in Myers. That didn’t last long because Moose tagged straight back in. Hendry blocked a suplex but ran into a pump kick. Hendry hit the stalling suplex for a 1 count. He tagged in Elijah who hit a DDT on Moose. Moose bounced into his corner and Myers tagged in. JDC distracted Elijah who fell as he was doing his top rope axe handle. Myers took advantage with a sleeper hold. Elijah fought to his feet but Myers tripped him up.

(Commercial break)

Myers was still in control of Elijah as we returned to the action. Moose tagged in and took Elijah to the outside. He went for a chop but missed and hit the ring post. Myers ran into the post, too. Elijah slid into the ring but Moose had recovered. He went for the sleeper but Elijah hit a jawbreaker. Elijah sent Myers over the top rope. He kicked Moose off and went to tag Hendry but Myers dumped him off the ring apron. Moose dragged Elijah over to the heel corner and tagged in Myers. JDC nailed Elijah with a right hand with his ring on, behind the referee’s back. Myers nailed a back elbow on Elijah and tagged Moose back in. Moose knocked Hendry off the apron. He choked Elijah out with his t-shirt. Moose hit a Uranage after Elijah made a short comeback with a kick in the corner. Myers tagged in again. He applied a front facelock so Elijah couldn’t quite reach Hendry. Myers nailed Hendry with another cheap shot but turned around into a knee strike from Elijah. Hendry finally got the tag in. Moose did, too. Hendry took Moose off his feet with his third clothesline attempt. He nailed the Fallaway slam. Moose tried his crazy crossbody from the top but Hendry side-stepped him. Both men collided with a clothesline in the centre of the ring. Myers tagged in but ran straight into a pop-up powerbomb. Elijah tagged in and hit the Highwayman’s Farewell for the win after 12 minutes.

Winners by pinfall: Joe Hendry & Elijah

Analysis: **3/4 That was a fairly methodical, uninteresting tag team match that we have seen dozens of times involving The System, where they cheat and knock the waiting face wrestlers off the apron multiple times. Myers, as on most occasions, was just there to take the pin.

Frankie Kazarian attacked the winners from behind after the match. He signaled Williams to get into the ring. Hendry fought back with upper cuts and Elijah destroyed him with a guitar shot to the head. Williams decided not to get into the ring.

Analysis: I think Williams will pin Hendry at Under Siege to make us think he can beat him at Battleground, but Hendry will beat him at the NXT show.

Final Rating: 6/10

It was a very heavy show in terms of tag team action. They were all pretty solid bouts but nothing worth watching if you missed it. First Class vs Callihan and Santana was probably the pick of the bunch, and I enjoyed Ali vs Austin despite it being a different style of match than you might expect. They really didn’t do much to add any interest in Under Siege, however the new matches added in Francis vs Santana and an 8-person tag match will probably be two of the better match ups on the show. There are just not enough decent storylines or big-time bouts that are must-see in TNA at present, and leaving the three men’s championships off the card is not going to help.

The next TNA PLE is Under Siege on May 23 from the CAA Centre in Brampton, Ontario. Here’s the final card:

* TNA Knockouts Championship: Masha Slamovich (c) vs Victoria Crawford
* TNA World Tag Team Championships: The Nemeths (c) vs Matt Hardy and Leon Slater
* TNA Knockouts Tag Team Championships: Match by Elegance (no disqualifications): The Elegances (c) vs Spitfire
* Joe Hendry & Elijah vs Trick Williams & Frankie Kazarian
* Eddie Edwards vs Cody Deaner
* Order 4 vs The Rascalz, Indi Hartwell & a partner of their choosing
* Mike Santana vs AJ Francis
* Tessa Blanchard vs Arianna Grace
* Countdown Show: Xia Brookside vs Rosemary

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!