TNA iMPACT! After The Bell (6/26/25) – Alexander’s Ragtime Band

If you carefully read my preview of TNA iMPACT!, you will soon know if Nygma’s crystal ball was right or wrong. Let’s dive into the episode.

TNA iMPACT! Results (6/26/25)

• Zachary Wentz (w/Trey Miguel) defeated Ryan Nemeth (w/Nic Nemeth)
• Ash By Elegance won the TNA Knockouts World Title #1 Contendership Battle Royal
• Call To Arms Match: Mustafa Ali defeated John Skyler
• The Hardys (Jeff Hardy & Matt Hardy) defeated The Northern Armory (Judas Icarus & Travis Williams) (w/Eric Young)
• Two-on-one Handicap Match: Moose defeated Jake Painter & Shane Sabre
• Street Fight: Mike Santana defeated AJ Francis

Saying it loudly

He was not announced to talk, but former TNA World Champion Joe Hendry kicked off the show. He thanked the fans for their continued support. On July 20 at Slammiversary, Hendry will get his rematch against Trick Williams for the TNA World Championship.

Nygma says: Joe Hendry had a rematch clause in his NXT Battleground contract, I won’t deny it. The fact is, he uses that clause a bit late. Since Hendry lost, some new contenders have emerged and shown they can be the TNA World Champion. Well, I still don’t believe in Joe Hendry…

Killer Kelly cut a promo backstage. She said Masha Slamovich will see who the real monster is next week when Kelly takes the TNA Knockouts World Championship. With tonight’s Knockouts Battle Royal, Kelly gets to see who her first challenger is.

Masha Slamovich later replied to Killer Kelly with a Chain Match next week on TNA iMPACT. Arianna Grace interrupted her and said that she had exciting things in the works, but she couldn’t mention them yet. Slamovich told her to bring it on. Nygma says: Arianna Grace means NXT, so an NXT surprise?

Surprising Happenings

The Rascalz finally ended their bad luck run, with Zachary Wentz defeating Ryan Nemeth. The early advantage went to Wentz, following a standing Shooting Star. Nemeth tripped him up on the top rope, then spiked Wentz with a DDT for two. Of course, Nic Nemeth handed Ryan one of the title belts, but the referee disposed of it as Wentz capitalized with the Spiral Tap to win.

After the match, The Rascalz were ready for another fight, but The Nemeths backed down. At Slammiversary, The Nemeths will defend the TNA World Tag Team Titles against The Rascalz, The Hardys, and First Class in a Four-Way Ladder Match. Nygma says: The 4-Way situation can only fit the cheaters or the braves, which means the winners will be hard to predict.

The ring was full of 20 Knockouts, including The IInspiration, The Elegance Brand, Léi Ying Lee, Tessa Blanchard, Indi Hartwell, Rosemary, Xia Brookside, Tasha Steelz, Jody Threat, Dani Luna, Victoria Crawford, Alisha Edwards, Harley Hudson, Myla Grace, Jada Stone, Mila Moore and Katie Arquette as they all vied for a future Knockouts World Title opportunity. The brawl went on between The IInspiration and The Elegance Brand (and it continued after the show), leading to the elimination of both teams.

Tessa Blanchard and Indi Hartwell were the final two, but Ash By Elegance returned to the match after rolling underneath the bottom rope earlier. Ash eliminated both Hartwell and Blanchard to win. After the match, Knockouts World Champion Masha Slamovich was on her way to the ring when NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne made her presence felt. Nygma says: Ash by Elegance?! Are you serious?

When I said Eric Young blew a fuse, and that could cost The Northern Armory their match against the Hardys, I was right. Young attacked Matt Hardy at the ringside, allowing The Northern Armory to take control. The referee caught Young on his second attempt and ejected him from the ringside. The Hardys hit Icarus with the Plot Twist. Jeff Hardy scored the win with the Swanton Bomb. Nygma says: What did you expect? I told you.

Making a Statement

What is a Call to Arms match? We found out that Order 4 members, Mustafa Ali and John Skyler, would have one hand tied to the rope. The one who got untied first had the advantage, and the winner would be decided by pinfall or submission only. Dirty Ali had a pair of scissors that Tasha Steelz hid after Jason Hotch gave them to Skyler. Mustafa Ali made the rules, so he won. He, of course, tried to attack Skyler with a chair.

But when “HIM” arrived, Ali saw a ghost from his past make his way to the ring. Cedric Alexander arrived. He tried to talk down to Ali, but Ali and Steelz wanted to attack him, but Skyler and Hotch interfered. Ali and Steelz backed off and left the ring. Ali stared down at Alexander as he headed to the back. Nygma says: Why didn’t I see it coming as rumours were running rampant on Alexander’s signing with TNA Wrestling?

After their match against The Northern Armory, the Hardys called out Leon Slater. Matt Hardy said that Slater is a future star. At Slammiversary, Slater will become a record breaker. Slater will become the youngest TNA X-Division Champion in the history of TNA. The Hardys know Slater will do it.

The crowd chanted for Slater as he joined the commentary table as TNA X-Division Champion Moose made his way to the ring. Moose sent a message to Slater as he dominated Shane Sabre and Jake Painter. After the bell, Moose looked to inflict further damage, but Slater confronted him in the ring. Nygma says: I just can’t wait to see this historical match.

A confident Trick Williams told Gia Miller that A.J. Francis would be victorious in the Street Fight against Mike Santana. He was wrong. Mike Santana rushed to attack him. The fight spilled into the crowd as Santana delivered a big boot over the barricade.

We saw trash cans, tables, and steel chairs flying. It was violent as expected. TNA World Champion Trick Williams made his way to the ringside, but Joe Hendry fought him off.  He smashed a champagne bottle over the head of Francis (not Nygma at all), followed by Spin the Block to win. Nygma is Violently Happy.

After the match, Santana said that he has worked hard to get to where he is today. He thanked the fans. Santana is not called the standard of TNA for nothing. When the TNA World Championship is mentioned, his name has to be noted, too.

Mike Santana said that he wants to be a part of the main event at Slammiversary. He added that Santino Marella knows what to do and that Marella owes him one. Santana is not going to New York to lose. Nygma has two quick things to say: The match was excellent, and Santana TNA World Champion.

The Best of The Rest

• Tessa Blanchard has unfinished business with Indi Hartwell.
• Jake Something put Steve Maclin on notice. He has his sights set on the TNA International Championship.
• Elijah is out of action due to a torn triceps, and KC Navarro dislocated his left knee.
• Matt Cardona argued with the System backstage.
• Backstage, Eric Young seemed to see a familiar face in The Home Town Man.

The Nygma’s Last Word(s)

“Alexander’s Ragtime Band” is an old song, from 1911, but I thought it fits this episode pretty well. Like the song and the band, this TNA iMPACT episode was terrific. Except for Ash by Elegance, I enjoyed every moment of it. Then, there are 3 episodes left on the road to Slammiversary, so it’s time for TNA to gird its loins and build a card that every fan will remember for the years to come.

Till next week, may the Nygma be with you.

TNA Slammiversary 2025 Card

• TNA World Championship Match: NXT’s Trick Williams (c) vs Joe Hendry
• TNA X-Division Championship Match: Moose (c) vs Leon Slater
• TNA World Tag Team Championship 4-Way Ladder Match: The Nemeths (c) vs. The Rascalz vs. The Hardys vs. First Class