TNA iMPACT 6/26 Recap: Mike Santana Wants TNA World Championship At Slammiversary

Joe Hendry thanked fans for sticking with him despite having a rough go inside the ring as of late. Hendry said he refuses to dwell on the negatives because the fans fuel him. He said Trick Williams has something that belongs to TNA, and that is the TNA World Championship. Hendry vowed to bring the title back to TNA.

Killer Kelly Sends Cold Message to Masha Slamovich

Killer Kelly was backstage, and she said Masha Slamovich forgot who turned her into a monster. She vowed to rip the TNA Knockouts Championship out of Slamovich’s hands.

Zachary Wentz w/Trey Miguel vs. Ryan Nemeth w/Nic Nemeth

Wentz delivered a dropkick to Ryan early on. He then landed a corkscrew crossbody. Wentz went for a handspring, but Nic tripped him when the in-ring official wasn’t looking. Ryan got caught with a handspring knee. Wentz then landed a standing shooting star press.

Ryan tripped Wentz off the top turnbuckle and connected with a DDT for a near fall. Nic handed Ryan one of the TNA tag titles, but the referee took the belt away. Wentz then landed the Spiral Tap for the win.

Winner: Zachary Wentz

Trick Williams Is Ready For Joe Hendry

Gia Miller was backstage with Trick Williams, who was asked about his title defense at Slammiversary. Williams admitted Hendry still has heart, but he’s going to kick out whatever is left of him. He said AJ Francis will kick Mike Santana back to the block.

Masha Slamovich Adds Stipulation to Killer Kelly Match

Masha Slamovich was interviewed by Gia Miller. Slamovich was asked about the Knockouts battle royal and her scheduled title defense against Killer Kelly. She said she was built for pressure. Slamovich then dared Kelly to make their title match a chain match.

Ariana Grace then told Slamovich that she has something special in the works, but she can’t tell her yet.

TNA Knockouts Battle Royal

The Elegance Brand and The IInspiration were eliminated early on. They all brawled outside of the ring before security attempted to break them up. Katie Arquette was the next participant eliminated. Jada Stone landed a meteora on Tasha Steelz, but she was eventually eliminated by the Order 4 member.

Myla Grace sent Dani Luna over the top rope for another elimination. Grace and Harley Hudson teamed to eliminate Rosemary. Steelz and Alisha Edwards then sent Grace and Hudson over the top rope. Steelz turned on Edwards and eliminated her. Lee delivered a high knee to knock Victoria Crawford off the apron.

Steelz then kicked Brookside for an elimination. Lee eliminated Steelz, but Tessa Blanchard took advantage by sending her outside of the ring. The final two were Indi Hartwell and Blanchard. They fought on the ring apron, but Ash by Elegance eliminated both of them to win the match. As it turns out, Ash was never eliminated.

Winner: Ash by Elegance

After the match, Masha Slamovich made her way out, followed by NXT’s Jacy Jayne. Slamovich, Jayne, and Ash all had a staredown.

Jake Something Wants TNA Gold

Jake Something was backstage, and he addressed his return to TNA. He said Tommy Dreamer has always had his back, and he couldn’t stay home while Mance Warner delivered a cheap shot to his mentor. Something also warned Steve Maclin that he’s gunning for the TNA International Champion. Maclin then appeared and said that he’ll see him down the line.

Call to Arms Match: Mustafa Ali vs. John Skyler

Ali took advantage of Skyler being tagged to the top rope right away. Skyler tried fighting back with a back elbow, followed by a chop. He even landed a high knee, but Ali pulled his hair to slam him down to the mat. Hotch handed scissors to Skyler to be freed from the rope.

Skyler countered a neckbreaker with a DDT. Ali charged in, but Skyler landed a spear from the middle rope. Ali then grabbed a rope and choked Skyler. Ali connected with a 450 splash for the win.

Winner: Mustafa Ali

Cedric Alexander Crosses The Line

Ali wasn’t done after the match, as he grabbed a steel chair. He sent Hotch into the ring post. Ali was going to land a chair shot, but Cedric Alexander made a surprising appearance to stop him. Alexander ended up aligning with other members of Order 4 as Ali left the ring.

Matt Cardona Continues Beef With The System

The System was backstage. Moose said Leon Slater has the biggest match of his life at Slammiversary, but it’s just another day for him. Matt Cardona argued with The System over their sneak attack last week. Cardona and Edwards agreed to a match next week.

The Hardys vs. The Northern Armory w/Eric Young

The Hardys landed a double-team hip toss on Judas Icarus. Matt knocked Icarus off the apron, but Young delivered a cheap shot when the referee was distracted. Travis Williams leaped off the apron and landed a knee. Young became unhinged, and he was escorted away by security.

Icarus got Jeff in a sleeper hold, allowing Williams to land a dropkick. The Hardys rebounded and hit the Plot Twist on Icarus. Jeff capitalized with a Swanton Bomb for the win.

Winners: The Hardys

After the match, Jeff asked Leon Slater to enter the ring. Matt gave Slater a pep talk going into his X Division Championship match against Moose at Slammiversary. Slater responded by expressing gratitude. He said he won’t just show up at Slammiversary, he will show out. Slater vowed to give Moose the toughest fight of his life.

Moose vs. Shane Sabre vs. Jake Painter

Slater was on commentary for the match. Moose grabbed a mic before the match began, and he vowed to show Slater what he’s going to do to him on July 20. Moose chopped both of his opponents on opposite corners. He then delivered double clotheslines to both of his opponents. He then powerbombed Sabre onto Painter. The TNA X Division Championship then connected with a spear for the win.

Winner: Moose

After the match, Moose attacked Painter before Slater got in his face. The two exchanged words before Moose left the ring.

Mike Santana and AJ Francis Trade Barbs

Mike Santana and AJ Francis had some final words before their street fight. Francis said Santana doesn’t deserve to challenge for the TNA World Championship. Santana said he’ll make Francis pay for costing him during his first world title match under the TNA banner.

Street Fight: Mike Santana vs. AJ Francis w/KC Navarro

Santana and Francis brawled right away. Santana clotheslined Francis over the top rope. He followed up with a baseball slide, which sent Francis into the barricade. Santana looked under the ring and pulled out a table. Santana set up the table, but his fight with Francis spilled into the crowd. He sent Francis crashing into the steel barrier. Francis rebounded by lifting Santana up and slamming him onto the guardrail.

Santana grabbed a trash can and threw it at his opponent. He then clotheslined Francis out of the crowd. Santana leaped off the steps, but Francis caught him and threw him into the steel post.

Francis grabbed a trash can lid and hit Santana in the back. He tossed a chair inside the ring. Francis delivered a chair shot to Santana and then choked his opponent with the weapon. Santana tried fighting back, but Francis delivered a scoop slam onto a seated chair. Francis placed a trash can over Santana’s head and delivered Tennessee Whiskey. Santana fired up and sent Francis out of the ring—the Puerto Rican star then dove outside of the ring to take out his opponent. Francis was sent into the steel steps.

Santana grabbed a second table and set it up near the first table. He then scored a springboard moonsault. Francis was planted by the Rolling Buck Fifty, but he got his shoulder up before the three-count. Santana set up two seated chairs and landed the Death Valley Driver for a near fall.

On the ring apron, Francis lifted up Santana, who countered. Santana then put Francis through both tables with another Death Valley Driver. Trick Williams ran down, but he was cut off by Joe Hendry. The two brawled on the entrance ramp and in the backstage area.

Back in the ring, Santana landed the Papi Splash for a close two-count. Francis countered Spin The Block with TFL. He looked for the Down Payment but settled for a Styles Clash. Santana got revenge on Francis by slamming a champagne bottle on his head. He then landed Spin The Block for the win.

Winner: Mike Santana

Before “TNA iMPACT!” went off the air, Santana grabbed a mic and said when you mentioned the TNA World Championship, you should mention his name. Santana then made it clear that he wants in on the main event of Slammiversary for TNA’s top male prize.