By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
TNA Impact (Episode 1,074)
February 20, 2025 in Orlando, Florida at Full Sail University
Simulcast live on AXS TV and TNA+
[Hour One] The show opened with a recap video package that had major audio issues. The problem continued as the opening montage started to air. They cut to a commercial break… [C]
TNA World Champion Joe Hendry was seated in the ring coming out of the break and the audio problem was fixed. Hendry had a guitar and said it was time for a concert. He said he would face anyone from any company for the championship. Hendry said he wrote a song about it.
Hendry sang a song that included lines about Sheamus and The Miz. The same commercial that played during the audio issue-plagued opening montage interrupted again. Weird. They went back to the ring after the commercial aired and Hendry was wrapping up his song.
Eddie “Primo” Colon and Orlando “Epico” Colon made their entrance. One of them spoke and told unfamiliar fans to Google them, but then he assumed that everyone knew them. A “where’s Carlito?” chant broke out. The Colons teased going after Hendry, but the lights went out.
Elijah (f/k/a Elias) strummed his guitar and then walked onto the stage to “holy shit” chants. Elijah sang about seeing two men who were looking for a fight. He said that’s why he decided to join TNA tonight. He sang that if you want to believe in Joe Hendry “or walk with me you’re in luck.” He asked the crowd who wants to walk with Elijah. A “this is awesome” chant broke out.
Elijah stood on the entrance ramp and said the Colons made their arrival and then he came along and made an even better arrival. Elijah said he thinks this area could use a Colon cleanse. Elijah asked Hendry if the had a guitar ready. Elijah was about to propose a tag team match, but he was interrupted.
TNA Director of Authority Santino Marella walked onto the stage and booked Hendry and Elijah vs. The Colons as the show’s main event. “And it’s going to smell fantastic,” Santino said. Elijah, who was in the ring with Hendry, said he didn’t see any reason why they couldn’t have a concert. Elijah played his guitar and then he and Hendry sang about raising some hell…
Backstage, Gia Miller interviewed Leon Slater, who spoke about beating JDC and earning the respect of the TNA fans…
The broadcast team was Tom Hannifan and Matt Rehwoldt checked in and hyped the show’s lineup and said The Rascalz vs. Tyson Dupont and Tyriek Igwe match was up next. It seemed like Hannifan was about to send it to a commercial break, but he was interrupted by the anime commercial that has now played three times [C]…
After the anime commercial, they cut to a shot from a corner of the building. Ring announcer McKenzie Mitchell was talking to the fans, but we couldn’t hear her at home. We could hear strumming of a guitar while a portion of the opening segment seemed to be showing on a video screen…
Powell’s POV: This has been an absolute shit show from a production standpoint thus far. That said, Elijah did get a really nice reaction. My guess? He slams a guitar over Hendry’s head later tonight.
Backstage, Gia Miller caught up with the Colons. One of them spoke about how they are history and legacy, and now it’s TNA Wrestling…
Hannifan and Rehwoldt spoke at ringside and then entrances for the next match took place. Wes Lee came out with the NXT duo, and then Ace Austin came out with The Rascalz…
1. “The Rascalz” Trey Miguel and Zachary Wentz (w/Ace Austin) vs. Tyson Dupont and Tyriek Igwe (w/Wes Lee). Igwe tossed Wentz at Miguel in an impressive show of power early on. Later, Igwe held Miguel in the air and then Dupont slammed him to the mat. The Rascalz battled back. Lee climbed on the apron and was tripped up by Austin. Miguel hit a Meteora from the the top rope on Igwe, and then Wentz followed up with a Swanton and got the three count.
“The Rascalz” Trey Miguel and Zachary Wentz defeated Tyson Dupont and Tyriek Igwe in 4:05.
After the match, Wes Lee got a mic and challenged Miguel, Wentz, and Austin to face him, Igwe, and Dupont in a six-man tag match at TNA Sacrifice…
Hannifan hyped Lei Ying Lee vs. Rosemary for after the break… [C]
Powell’s POV: No, they didn’t go to that damn anime commercial again. Hopefully it will be smooth (full) sailing the rest of the way. See what I did there? Okay, I’ll stop. Anyway, the match was fun while it lasted. I’m surprised they didn’t get more time. I’m also surprised they didn’t go with the heels getting a cheap win given that they are going with a six-man tag match at the TNA+ show.
“First Class” AJ Francis and KC Navarro walked onto the stage with four men and a woman. Francis called the segment the First Class Penthouse. They also had three women set up at a table on the side of the stage. Francis introduced the women and then introduced hip hop artist Reazy Renegade. Francis had a few seconds of a Renegade song play and then said they couldn’t afford more.
Francis introduced two of the other men on the stage and did the same bit for their song. Francis introduced the woman on the stage as Noelle Foley (Mick’s daughter) and the final man as Frank the Clown. He asked how they’ve been treated since they crossed the line. They said “first class.”
Francis said he wanted a tag title shot, but TNA management pacified him by giving him his own Piper’s Pit. Francis said it worked. He said he loved Piper so much that he hated Hulk Hogan before it was cool. Funny. He spoke about being paid by Cheez-It and other coverage he’s received. Navarro reminded him that they have a guest.
Francis teased that his guest as being Phenomenal and having a lot of style. Francis introduced “AJ… Francis” as his first guest. Francis asked the crowd if they were mad. He said he left “that place to save this place.” He delivered the First Class catchphrase to close the segment.
Powell’s POV: A crowded and rushed segment. Francis is a good talker and he had some good lines, but he was talking a mile a minute while trying to introduce everyone before getting to the gag of the AJ Styles tease.
Tom Hannifan accused Francis of stealing Byron Saxton’s wardrobe. Funny. He set up a video for the TNA Unbreakable event on Thursday, April 17. Hannifan said they would be celebrating the 20-year anniversary of the most important match in TNA history – Samoa Joe vs. AJ Styles vs. Christopher Daniels for the X Division Title. They also hyped the TNA Sacrifice event for Friday, March 14 on TNA+…
2. Lei Ying Lee vs. Rosemary. Both entrances were televised. Rosemary hit a reverse DDT for an early two count. Rosemary had Lee on her shoulders, but Lee slipped way and threw several punches. Lee mounted Rosemary in the corner and threw more punches while some fans counted along. Lee hoisted up Rosemary and performed an airplane spin before falling to the mat and then covering her for a two count. Lee hit Rosemary with her Thunderstruck finishing kick and scored the clean pin…
Lei Ying Lee beat Rosemary in 4:05.
After the match, Rosemary was down at ringside and was being checked on by the referee when Lee exited the ring. Rosemary shot up and sprayed mist in Lee’s face. A group of referees led Lee to the back…
Sami Callihan was backstage and had a camera follow him while he hunted dumbasses. Callihan found Mance Warner and Steph DeLander. Callihan attacked Warner. Callihan told the cameraman to give him the camera and then made it seem like he was hitting Warner with it before the feed cut out… [C]
Powell’s POV: The feed cut out intentionally in this case. Lee beating Rosemary was a mild upset, although Rosemary just lost to Knockouts Champion Masha Slamovich at the Genesis pay-per-view last month. The post match angle seems to suggest that Rosemary and Lee will be feuding rather than it being a case of the win moving Lee up the card.
Backstage, a trainer was tending to Lei Ying Lee when Tessa Blanchard entered the area and said she was ready for her physical. The trainer said he had to focus on Lee. Blanchard said she needed the trainer to focus on her. Blanchard went full Karen on the trainer and said he should take care of the stars, not the undercard talent. Blanchard told the trainer that what happened next was on him…
“The Northern Armory” Eric Young, Judas Icarus, and Travis Williams made their entrance and stood on the stage. Young delivered a promo and boasted that he got rid of Josh Alexander. Young called it a celebration of his unmitigated power. Young said Alexander started the Northern Armory, but he was too weak to hold on to it so he took it from him.
Young said Icarus and Williams were boys under Alexander’s leadership. Young said they will be men and champions under his leadership. The live crowd gave Young the “What?” treatment as he spoke about being the gatekeeper.
Young called out Steve Maclin to take his position beside him, saying they could run the company forever. Maclin didn’t come out. Young said Maclin warned him about Alexander and knew he had to go. Young said he may have gotten rid of Alexander for Maclin or for himself. He said the business isn’t black and white and about right or wrong, it’s about red – blood red…
The broadcast team hyped the upcoming match and said the No DQ match was up next… [C]
[Hour Two] Footage aired of a meeting that took lace earlier in the day. Mike Santana was in a room with a group of other men for an AA style meeting. Mustafa Ali entered the room with Tasha Steelz, Jason Hotch, and John Skyler. Ali took a seat next to Santana and spoke to the group of recovering from addiction. He suggested they don’t put themselves in stressful situations or add pressure to their lives. The others applauded him while Santana sat stone-faced. Ali said things can change, but people like Santana don’t…
The broadcast team spoke about the video. Rehwoldt wondered what Santana’s breaking point would be…
Footage aired from Tuesday’s NXT of Moose confronting NXT Champion Oba Femi, and then setting up an X Division Title match with Lexis King for Tuesday’s show…
Hannifan hyped Tuesday’s NXT show, which will include The Hardys facing two members of the No Quarter Catch Crew… Entrances for the No DQ match took place…
3. JDC vs. Leon Slater in a No DQ match. The production mishaps continued, as the sound was a second or two ahead of the action on the screen. Slater performed an early dive over the ring post and onto JDC at ringside. JDC caught Slater with a kick and then set up a chair on the floor and slammed Slater onto it. JDC rolled Slater back inside the ring and covered him for a two count. [C]
The audio meshed with the footage coming out of the break. Slater performed a 450 splash from the top rope that put JDC through a table at ringside. Slater rolled JDC back inside the ring and covered him, but Moose, Eddie Edwards, and Brian Myers showed up at ringside and pulled Slater out of the ring. Moose blasted Slater with a big boot and then Edwards and Myers slammed him through a table. Moose tossed Slater back inside the ring and then JDC pinned him…
JDC defeated Leon Slater in 11:25 in a No DQ match.
Alisha Edwards joined the other System members in the ring after the match. Moose set up to hit Slater with the X Division Championship belt, but he froze when entrance music played.
TNA Tag Team Champions Matt Hardy and Jeff Hardy made their entrance to the ring a big pop. The Hardys were outnumbered and were getting beaten up when the lights went out.
NXT Champion Oba Femi made his entrance. Femi entered the ring and made quick work of JDC, Edwards, and Myers. Moose fled to ringside and never got physical with Femi. An “NXT” chant broke out. Oba stood in the ring with the Hardys and Slater and motioned for The System to rejoin them, but the heels headed to the back…
Hannifan hyped Tessa Blanchard’s first match on Impact in over four years for after the break… [C]
Powell’s POV: The crowd was hot for Slater’s flashy spots, but they really popped huge for the Hardys and Oba afterward. JDC was holding his hand and/or wrist after the match. He was able to charge at Oba to get knocked down with a punch, but he winced and clutched the bad hand/wrist again once he rolled out of the ring. Hopefully he was just selling or the injury was minor.
Backstage, Santino informed The System that Moose, Myers, and Edwards will face Oba Femi, Matt Hardy and Jeff Hardy on next week’s show. The System members were not pleased…
Tessa Blanchard made her entrance and spoke from the stage. Blanchard told the crowd that she would not be wrestling. She said the backstage doctor decided that she was not a priority. A “shut the f— up” chant broke out. The fans also chanted something about showing her the door. She told the fans that half of them follow her on social media, so they should sit down and shut up or she’d show them the door. A “She’s a racist” chant broke out. They actually cut to a shot of a middle aged woman chanting “She’s a racist.”
Santino Marella came out and told Blanchard that weaseling out of her match was unprofessional. Santino told Blanchard that she has to wrestle next week or she will be fired. Blanchard got in his face.
Knockouts Champion Masha Slamovich made her entrance with a microphone in her hand. She told Blanchard that she hopes to see her wrestle next week and that she won’t be fired before she gets her chance to beat and brutalizer her. A “please don’t wrestle” chant broke out. Slamovich asked Santino to take the match that Blanchard was supposed to have. Santino agreed to let her take the match, so Slamovich headed to the ring where her opponent was already waiting…
4. Knockouts Champion Masha Slamovich vs. Mila Moore in a non-title match. Moore kicked Slamovich when she was entering the ring. Slamovich started to no-sell and then dropped Moore with a spinning back fist. Slamovich hit her piledriver finisher and got the three count.
Knockouts Champion Masha Slamovich defeated Mila Moore in 0:30 in a non-title match.
After the match, Cora Jade entered the ring and attacked Slamovich from behind. Blanchard was shown smiling as she stood on the stage and watched Jade leaving Slamovich lying. Jade exited the ring and walked up the ramp and then looked Blanchard up and down. Blanchard headed to the back and then Jade motioned for the belt while Slamovich was shown back on her feet in the ring…
Hannifan hyped the main event tag team match for after the break… [C]
Powell’s POV: Did the production team not realize what the fans were chanting at Blanchard or are they actually leaning into those chants? Putting the Blanchard controversy aside, this was a good segment that put heat on her for weaseling out of the match. Slamovich looked like a fighting champion for confronting Blanchard and taking her match, and they put more heat on Jade with the post match attack.
Backstage, Santino Marella and Arianna Grace announced Masha Slamovich vs. Cora Jade for the Knockouts Championship at the TNA Sacrifice event. Grace said the show would be held on Santino’s birthday. Grace said they would make history with a TNA and NXT showdown.
The Concierge, Ash By Elegance, and Heather By Elegance showed up and complained about the way their Knockouts Tag Team Title match went. Knockouts Tag Team Champions “Spitfire” Jody Threat and Dani Luna showed up and said they would give them a rematch. Santino announced that the teams will meet. He said that if Spitfire wins, then Team Elegance must be their personal concierges. For some weird reason, the champions said they would be Team Elegance’s concierges if they lost…
Rehwoldt said he the Knockouts Tag Team Title match could go horrible or amazing. Hannifan said it would take place next week…
Ryan Nemeth made his entrance and spoke from the stage. “My big brother returns to TNA Wrestling in 22 days at Sacrifice,” Nemeth said…
Entrances for the main event took place…
5. Joe Hendry and Elijah vs. Eddie Colon and Orlando Colon. Hendry and Eddie started the match. Elijah tagged in and put Eddie down with a clothesline. Elijah held Eddie’s arm and did an Old School rope walk before jumping off and hitting him. [C]
As the match continued, the broadcast team listed the following matches for next week: Oba Femi, Matt Hardy, and Jeff Hardy vs. Moose, Eddie Edwards, and Brian Myers, Mance Warner vs. Sami Callihan, Tessa Blanchard must wrestle or be fired, and Frankie Kazarian vs. Ace Austin.
Hendry was isolated by the Colons for a stretch, but he eventually made a hot tag to Elijah, who then worked over Orlando. Elijah put Orlando down with a spinebuster and covered him for a two count. Orlando came back briefly and then went for a move from the middle rope, but Elijah caught him with a knee strike. Elijah went for the pin, but Eddie broke it up. Hendry took out Eddie. Elijah hit Orlando with a tombstone piledriver and then pinned him.
Joe Hendry and Elijah defeated Eddie Colon and Orlando Colon in 13:10.
Elijah had his guitar while the referee raised his arm along with Hendry’s arm. They went to opposite corners and played to the crowd to close the show…
Powell’s POV: Hey, Elijah didn’t turn on Hendry. Of course, he may still do that at some point, but I like that they didn’t rush to it on night one. This live crowd was hot for Elijah, so TNA might be better off keeping him in a babyface role. I have mixed feelings on TNA bringing in a tag team that is best known to most fans for losing a lot in WWE and thrusting them right into a television main event. On one hand, it made TNA look a little minor league, but at least the Colons lost the match.
Overall, the technical issues on AXS-TV were a drag. For what it’s worth, Dot Net reader John W mentioned in our comment section that they didn’t have those issues on TNA+. The first part of the show felt really rushed, but things got better in the second hour and I like that they set up a big six-man tag team main event for next week’s show. I will be back later tonight with my weekly same night audio review of TNA Impact for Dot Net Members (including our Patreon patrons).
The audio & visual problems are only on AXS TV. I watched the beginning again on TNA Plus & there were no glitches.
Sounds like that’d been a really hot opening segment had it not been for the audio issues.
I wish I couldve gone tonight, gonna try to rearrange a few things and go tomorrow.
I dont have axs, so appreciate you covering it!