TNA Impact! Notes: First Live Impact! Show in 8 Years, Matt Cardona Returns, Cora Jade, Wes Lee, & More NXT Talents Appears, Josh Alexander Explains His TNA Quit Decision, Steph De Lander Revealed as “23” & Mance Warner Makes TNA Debut, JBL Appears

First Live TNA Impact! Show in Eight Years

Thursday’s TNA Impact! show at the Boeing Center At Tech Port in San Antonio, Texas was notable being a live and not a taped episode.

This was TNA Wrestling’s first live Impact! show since 2017.


Matt Cardona Makes Surprise Return on Thursday’s TNA Impact Show

Thursday’s live TNA Impact! show also featured Matt Cardona making his surprise return to TNA.

During the show, TNA World Champion Joe Hendry came out to the ring and talked about his title victory at Genesis 2025 and thanked the fans for all of their support on his road to the title. After some more words, Hendry issued an open challenge to anyone from anywhere for a match for his title.

This led to TNA Director of Authority Santino Marella coming out to the stage and talked about how he had a bunch of surprises in store for tonight’s show. Marella revealed his first surprise being Hendry’s opponent for his match tonight, which was Cardona who came out to the stage for his surprise return.

This was Cardona’s first appearance in TNA since this past October’s Bound For Glory 2024 event.


NXT’s Cora Jade, Arianna Grace, Wes Lee, Tyson Dupont, & Tyriek Igwe Makes Surprise Appearance on Thursday’s TNA Impact Show

Thursday’s live TNA Impact! show also featured WWE NXT talents Cora Jade, Arianna Grace, Wes Lee, Tyson Dupont, & Tyriek Igwe making a surprise appearance.

Near the end of the Six-Knockouts Tag Team match between Masha Slamovich & Spitfire and Rosemary & Heather & Ash By Elegance, Jade’s music played interrupting the match and she came out to the ring. Jade handed Slamovich a mystery envelope. Slamovich opened the envelope and pulled out a photo of her with a red “X” crossed out over it. This led to Slamovich and Dani Luna getting hit from behind by Ash By Elegance who rolled up Slamovich to give her team the victory as Jade looked on.

Prior to the start of the WWE NXT Tag Team Championship match between The Rascalz and Fraxiom, “NXT Liaison” Grace was seen seated in the commentary table as the guest commentator for the match.

Near the end of the WWE NXT Tag titles match, Lee, Dupont, & Igwe all ran out and interfered in the match causing The Rascalz to lose.


Josh Alexander Explains His Quitting TNA Decision & Northern Armory Respond Attacking Him

Thursday’s live TNA Impact! show also featured Josh Alexander explaining his decision to quit TNA Wrestling at TNA Genesis 2025.

During the show, Alexander came out to the ring with the rest of the Northern Armory’s Travis Williams and Judas Icarus. Alexander grabbed a microphone and talked about his thanks to TNA for giving him the opportunity to address some things because he didn’t have to. Alexander talked about how he wants to remembered for the good times he had in TNA and not the past few months. Alexander then talked about how he has been in TNA for the past six years and how his son is now six years old and only has ever known him as a TNA wrestler. After some more words about being a fan of TNA since he was 15 years old, Alexander stated that his time in TNA over the past six years has been a dream come true for him. Alexander then stated that it is now time for him to step away.

This led to an upset reaction from Williams and Icarus. Alexander stated for them to not worry because they have all the talent in the world and him about going to bat for them with TNA management. Alexander stated that the Motor City Machine Guns did as well. Alexander then stated that they are the best up-and-coming tag team in the world and for them to “just do it the right way. Because it’s gonna be without me.” Williams and Icarus responded telling Alexander that he can’t quit leading to the two getting in a small argument over the situation and ended with them attacking Alexander.

This led to Eric Young running out to save Alexander and cleared the ring of Williams and Icarus. Young then stated that next week it will be them against him and Alexander in a tag team match.


Steph De Lander Makes Her Surprise Return and Revealed as Mystery “23” Person and & Mance Warner Makes Official TNA Debut

Thursday’s live TNA Impact! show also featured Steph De Lander making her surprise return from injury and revealed as the mystery “23” person and GCW talent Mance Warner making his official TNA debut.

This was initially setup over recent months shows over several mystery “23” videos airing that teased Sami Callihan and PCO being the target. During tonight’s show, another mystery “23” video aired following The Hardys victory over The System.

In a follow-up segment, Callihan came out to the ring and talked about how he had enough of this and demanded for this mystery person to come out. This led to De Lander’s music playing and her coming out holding the TNA Digital Media Championship. De Lander stated that the mystery “23” person was her and stated that she is the new Digital Media Champion after divorcing her husband PCO. De Lander then stated that she did not come alone and welcomed everyone to her new boyfriend, which was revealed to be Warner who came out from beind and attacked Callihan in the ring. De Lander then went into the ring and proceeded to make out with Warner next to Callihan’s fallen body.

This was De Lander’s first appearance in TNA since this past September due to a neck injury and surgery.


JBL Makes Surprise Return Appearance on Thursday’s TNA Impact Show

Thursday’s live TNA Impact! show also featured WWE Hall of Famer John Bradshaw Layfield making a surprise return appearance.

Near the end of the TNA World Championship match between Matt Cardona and Joe Hendry, Cardona and Hendry were involved in a ref bump spot that led to Cardona accidentally laying out the referee in the corner. Hendry hit the Standing Ovation to Cardona for a near fall that was not counted due to the referee still being down. This led to Hendry picking up Cardona only to get hit with a low blow in return. Cardona then left the ring and grabbed the TNA World title to use as a weapon. This led to JBL coming out from the crowd and grabbed Cardona before he could get into the ring and laid him out with a Clothesline from Hell. Hendry managed to recover and looked on confused at JBL being at ringside and his actions. This led to Cardona striking Hendry with the belt while the referee was still down. After some more action and the referee coming back to his senses, Hendry hit another Standing Ovation to Cardona for the pinfall victory to retain his TNA World title.