By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
TNA Rebellion
Cleveland, Ohio, at Wolstein Center
Aired live April 11, 2026, on pay-per-view
TNA Rebellion Pre-Show
-Tom Hannifan and Matt Rehwoldt hosted the pre-show from ringside. Authority figure Daria Rae joined them.
-“The System” Eddie Edwards, Cedric Alexander, Bear Bronson, and Brian Myers came out and delivered a promo on the stage. Alexander said they would “be kicking off Rebellion” with a new X Division Champion. Edwards spoke of winning the TNA World Championship in the main event.
-Ryan Nemeth made his entrance and delivered an in-ring promo. He noted that he was born and raised in Cleveland. He pointed out his parents in the front row. Ryan said his father always liked Nic more and went to his sporting events. Ryan claimed his mother liked him more (she shook her head and laughed). Ryan said she always came to his recitals and theater performances. He removed his pants to reveal Pittsburgh Steelers-themed trunks with “Buns of Steel” on the back. Nemeth introduced BDE, who made his entrance. BDE dropkicked Nemeth, and then the bell rang to start the match.
1. BDE vs. Ryan Nemeth. Hannifan noted that BDE was still looking for his first singles win. BDE hit a nice springboard cutter for a near fall. A short time later, BDE performed a top rope splash, but Nemeth rolled to the apron. Nemeth clotheslined BDE over the top rope and then hit his Big Hollywood Ending finisher and pinned him. Afterward, Nemeth went to the floor and posed in front of his parents.
Ryan Nemeth beat BDE in 5:00.
Powell’s POV: Ryan Nemeth was fun with his cheap heat antics. I’m happy they didn’t give BDE his first singles win on a pay-per-view pre-show. Hopefully, they can build up to his first win and do it on a live edition of Impact or even on an actual pay-per-view if they can generate enough interest.
-Home Town Man came out wearing a Rick Vaughn jersey and shades over his mask. Give ’em the heater, Ricky. Home Town Man tossed merch to the crowd.
-TNA President Carlos Silva joined Hannifan, Rehwoldt, and Rae. There wasn’t much of a crowd reaction, but the few fans who were vocal booed him. Silva spoke about the TNA schedule for the rest of the year. Rae sucked up to him. Silva spoke about Ricky Sosa, which led to Eric Young making his entrance. Young claimed Sosa was laid up in a European hospital due to the piledriver he gave him. Young brought up EC3 and called him a nepo baby. Young said he would come back later and give EC3 a chance to tell him why he belongs there.
TNA Rebellion Pay-Per-View
Charity Evonna performed the national anthem on the stage… A Rebellion video package aired… The broadcast team was Tom Hannifan and Matt Rehwoldt, and McKenzie Mitchell was the ring announcer… Entrances for the opening match took place…
1. Leon Slater vs. Cedric Alexander for the X Division Title. Hannifan said Slater can break Austin Aries’ record for longest X Division Title reign if he’s still champion on May 15. Slater performed an early top rope crossbody block that resulted in a two count.
Alexander went on the offensive and hoisted up Slater in a suplex position while standing on the floor and then dumped him on the apron. Back in the ring, Alexander performed a couple of German suplexes and got a two count of his own. Alexander delivered taunting slaps until Slater blasted him with a kick.
Slater caught Alexander with a running kick in the corner and then went up top and had to roll through when Alexander moved and went to the floor. Slater did his dive over the ropes and ring post into a spinning dive onto Alexander at ringside.
Back in the ring, Slater picked up another two count and once again had to roll through when Alexander saw him coming. Alexander put Slater down with a Michinoku Driver for a near fall. Alexander stuffed a Styles Clash attempt and crotched Slater on the top rope moments later.
Alexander knocked Slater off the ropes with a clothesline and then hit him with a brainbuster for another near fall. Hannifan said Alexander came in with a plan to exploit the neck injury Slater suffered at the hands of Eric Young. Alexander stood on the middle rope and performed a brainbuster on the top turnbuckle.
Alexander followed up with a Lumbar Check and had Slater pinned, but Slater got his foot on the bottom rope. A “this is awesome” chant broke out. Alexander left the ring and grabbed the X Division Title belt from a podium on the floor. Alexander kissed the belt and then returned to the ring with it. Slater grabbed Alexander and gave him a Styles Clash on the title belt. Slater followed up with a Swanton 450 and got the clean pin…
Leon Slater defeated Cedric Alexander in 14:20 to retain the X Division Title.
Hannifan said TNA has a live Impact on May 14 in Sacramento. He said Slater could break the Aries record if he is still champion on May 15…
Powell’s POV: A hot opening match with really good work from both wrestlers. TNA creative has to help Alexander establish an actual character. He turned heel and simply acts cockier. I couldn’t tell you anything about his actual character beyond that. Speaking of creative, I’m happy they didn’t go with The System winning all of the gold on this show. I mistakenly wrote earlier that Slater had to reach May 1 to break the record, but Hannifan emphasized after the match that it’s May 15. I corrected the mistake above to avoid further confusion.
Gia Miller interviewed TNA World Champion Mike Santana, who had his face painted. He said he and Eddie Edwards danced before, but he’s stronger, wiser, and ready to go. Alisha Edwards showed up and said she knows Eddie better than anyone. She told Santana that they should talk…
Frankie Kazarian made his entrance while Hannifan recalled Kazarian paying a child to distract Elijah so that he could attack him at a cemetery. Elijah had a male ring announcer who was not shown during his entrance…
2. Elijah vs. Frankie Kazarian. Elijah placed his hat and guitar under the ropes in his corner (what could go wrong?). Kazarian performed a German suplex that sent Elijah’s head into the top turnbuckle pad. Kazarian sent Elijah to the floor with a huracanrana.
Kazarian went to the floor and knocked beverage bottles from a TNA sponsor off the broadcast table before tossing Elijah back in the ring (there’s also a bin filled with drinks next to the announcers). Kazarian got the strap from Elijah’s guitar and whipped him with it. Hannifan said the referee was allowing a lot of leniency as Kazarian gave Elijah several lashes.
Kazarian held Elijah’s arm while he went to the ropes, but Elijah grabbed him and tossed him to the mat. Kazarian came right back with a backstabber and a clothesline. Kazarian went for a springboard move, but Elijah caught him and powerbombed him for a two count. Elijah threw punches in the corner until the referee stepped in (whipping a man with a guitar strap is fine, but the referee draws the line at punches in a corner of the ring).
Elijah got the guitar strap and whipped Kazarian with it while the referee stood by. Elijah gave Kazarian several lashes and then tossed the strap to the floor. Elijah chokeslammed Kazarian and covered him for a two count. Kazarian went to the floor and grabbed the guitar, but Elijah cut him off. Kazarian put the guitar in the ring and then performed a slingshot cutter on top of the guitar, which led to a near fall.
Kazarian went for Fade to Black, but Elijah stuffed it. Elijah grabbed a piece of the broken guitar and wound up to hit Kazarian with it, but the referee took it away. Kazarian kicked Elijah in the balls while the referee was clearing the guitar piece from the ring, which led to Kazarian getting the three count…
Frankie Kazarian beat Elijah in 12:25.
Powell’s POV: The referee’s selective enforcement of the rules suggests he could have a real future in the NHL if he can skate. Anyway, the crowd was quiet early, but they got louder as the match went on. I’d say that this could lead to a strap match for Kazarian and Elijah, but I think they just had one.
The sponsored injury report listed the Hardys as injured, yet cleared. Mickie James and ODB were cleared. Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo suffered a black eye and a bloody nose during the locker room fight with Santino Marella, but he’s been cleared. Mike Santana and Eddie Edwards were both 100 percent going into the main event…
Backstage, Knockouts Champion Arianna Grace was walking with Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo. Grace said she was nervous because she didn’t have the Cobra sleeve. Stacks said she didn’t need a puppet when she had him and his plan. Stacks whispered the plan to Grace, who said she loved it…
The broadcast team spoke at ringside. Hannifan recalled Mustafa Ali allowing Special Agent 0 to “take care of the Moose problem” for The System, in exchange for Eddie Edwards considering him for a TNA World Championship match. Special Agent 0 made his entrance. Moose came out with Alisha Edwards, and Special Agent 0 dove over the top rope onto Moose before the opening bell…
3. Special Agent 0 vs. Moose (w/Alisha Edwards). Once both wrestlers were in the ring, the referee checked on Moose, who told her to ring the bell. A table was set up at ringside. Zero performed a powerbomb that sent Moose into the ring post. It didn’t look very good, but Hannifan claimed it caused the ring to move.
Back in the ring, Moose got the better of an exchange of punches and then superplexed Zero. Moose played to the crowd, and then Zero kipped up. Zero and Moose went for simultaneous clotheslines. Zero stumbled before ending up on the apron. Moose speared Zero through the ropes and through the table on the floor.
Powell’s POV: Moose made a lot of contact with the ropes on the suicide dive, so it was fortunate that Zero was taking the move on the apron rather than the floor.
A short time later, Zero dove over the top rope, but Moose caught him and powerbombed him on the bottom piece of the ring steps.
Jason Hotch came out and distracted the referee while John Skyler grabbed Alisha and brought her to the apron. Moose blasted Skyler with a big boot, but he held on to Alisha’s hand, and they both fell to the mat. Alisha sold an ankle injury. Moose picked her up to apparently carry her to the back, but Zero hit him with a Claymore Kick. Zero chokebombed Moose, which drove his back into the edge of the apron. Back in the ring, Zero chokebombed Moose and pinned him…
Special Agent 0 defeated Moose in 11:00.
Powell’s POV: An enjoyable big man match with the right guy going over. Moose has taken plenty of losses. It would have hurt Zero’s gimmick had he lost this match. All eyes should be on Alisha, given that her husband is challenging for the TNA World Championship.
A video package set up the Hardcore Country tag match…
The Concierge stood in the ring and delivered some heel mic work. He said the only thing good that ever came out of Cleveland was Ash by Elegance, who moved to South Beach like LeBron James once she figured out that Cleveland sucks. The Concierge introduced the Elegance Brand. Mr. Elegance carried a trash can with weapons, while the ladies held signs.
ODB, Taryn Terrell, and Mickie James made separate entrances. Mickie brought out a bucket labeled “Mark Bucket” that was filled with various items. Ash grabbed a mic and screamed before demanding that James’ music be cut. Ash told the crowd that she is not a mark…
4. Mickie James, ODB, and Taryn Terrell vs. Ash by Elegance, Heather by Elegance, and M by Elegance (w/The Concierge, Mr. Elegance) in a Hardcore Country tag match. The babyfaces hit the heels from behind while Ash was on the mic to start the match. There was a trash can filled with weapons in front of the broadcast table. The heels threw a bunch of weapons into the ring.
Some of the men from Love Is Blind: Ohio were in the front row. Terrell emptied a bucket filled with lollipops in the ring. Terrell suplexed Heather onto the lollipops. The babyfaces grabbed the lollipops and threw them into the crowd. Ash hit ODB from behind with a kendo stick, and then Heather and M used a rope to tie her to the bottom rope.
At ringside, James superkicked Heather, who fell into a wheelbarrow. ODB escaped the rope and grabbed a cooler that was stashed at ringside. She poured pickle juice into the cooler and encouraged the fans to chant “Pickle Dick.” James and Terrell tried to slam The Concierge’s face into the pickle juice, but Mr. Elegance grabbed them from behind. They both hit him in the balls and slammed his face into the cooler, and he emerged with a pickle in his mouth.
The babyface trio put The Concierge in a pickle suit. The fans chanted “Pickle” as they tossed him to the floor. Terrell went up top and dove onto the heels, who were on the floor. She tossed Ash back inside the ring. ODB slammed Ash on the lollipop-covered mat.
ODB and James set up for a Whassup spot, but Mr. Elegance got physical with both of them and then posed over ODB. She used a pair of tongs to grab his junk. Ash sprayed hairspray into the eyes of ODB. Ash, Heather, and M all covered ODB and got the pin…
Ash by Elegance, Heather by Elegance, and M by Elegance defeated Mickie James, ODB, and Taryn Terrell in 11:00 in a Hardcore Country tag match.
After the match, Carlos Silva and Tommy Dreamer walked out. Fans chanted “ECW.” Dreamer told the Elegance Brand to get out of the ring. Silva and Dreamer entered the ring. Dreamer said he likes to do things spontaneously so that you catch the natural reaction.
Dreamer said he’s known ODB from the beginning. He said he’d like to see her again, but she’d need to get dressed up. Carlos Silva took the mic and said that for everything ODB has done for the company, they would like to see her at Bound For Glory because she will be entering the TNA Hall of Fame. The fans erupted with “ODB” chants. ODB got emotional. “You deserve it,” chants broke out.
ODB introduced he food truck partner “Big Al” and gave him a kiss. She said there would be no ODB without the fans. She said she had 25 years in the business and wasn’t done yet. She thanked the fans and encouraged the Knockouts in the back to keep doing their thing…
Powell’s POV: A mat classic. Forget about Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels or Kenny Omega vs. Kazuchika Okada, the new bar has been set. Well, the live crowd got a kick out of the chaos anyway. Congratulations to ODB. I enjoyed watching her go from working the independents, including Steel Domain Wrestling, to eventually finding success on the bigger stage in TNA. There was something that felt oddly right about the crew cleaning up the ring while Silva and Dreamer told ODB about the Hall of Fame induction.
Elayna Black looked at her phone and said some numbers, then looked into the camera and said she was just counting the money she’d made since this morning. She heeled on Cleveland, and said she planned to watch the Knockouts Title match…
Four male cast members from Love Is Blind: Ohio were shown in the front row again. They were all wearing wrestler t-shirts…
Powell’s POV: My gal was in the room at the start of the show and asked who was singing the national anthem. Without knowing that cast members were in the crowd, I joked that she’s a woman who makes the sappy music for Love Is Blind. To be fair, they seemed to have a bigger music budget for the Ohio season.
AJ Francis made his entrance and became the latest person on the show to heel on Cleveland. Francis said Nic Nemeth would be coming out with Bernie Kosar and asked why he should care. He said he’s the best big man in the business, and that business is money, money, money. Nic Nemeth and former Cleveland Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar made their entrance. They stopped at ringside and greeted Nic’s parents…
5. Nic Nemeth (w/Bernie Kosar) vs. AJ Francis. Kosar sat in a chair in front of Nemeth’s parents. Francis dominated the early action and taunted Kosar at one point. After collapsing under the weight of Francis earlier, Nemeth was able to power him up for a move that led to a near fall. Nemeth tuned up the band and went for a superkick, but Francis beat him to the punch with a spear.
Francis went for a chokeslam, but Nemeth countered with a Fameasser in midair and then covered him for a two count. Nice spot. A “Let’s go, Nic,” chant broke out. Nemeth went to the ropes, but Francis crotched him on the top turnbuckle. Francis went for a superplex, but Nemeth fought back and hit several headbutts before performing an avalanche Danger Zone. Nemeth covered Francis for another near fall. A “this is awesome” chant broke out.
Moments later, Nemeth went for a suicide dive, but Francis caught him and chokeslammed him on the floor. Francis pulled a chair out from underneath the ring and returned to the ring. The referee took the chair away from him. The referee scolded Francis and then turned to clear the chair from the ring. Francis hit the referee from behind. Francis grabbed the chair.
Bernie Kosar entered the ring. Francis got in a three-point stance, but he stopped short of going after Kosar when he heard entrance music. KC Navarro walked onto the stage while the broadcast team recalled him being Francis’s former tag team partner. Kosar picked up the chair and hit Francis with it. Nemeth put Francis down with the Danger Zone. Navarro grabbed the referee on the floor and put him back in the ring. The referee made the three count.
Nic Nemeth defeated AJ Francis in roughly 16:00.
After the match, Nemeth and Kosar celebrated. They went to the stage and bowed to each other before heading to the back…
Powell’s POV: A simple match in terms of Francis dominating early due to his size advantage, only to have the hometown hero come back thanks to a little help from his friends. It’s good to see Navarro back from a torn ACL that he suffered last August. Kosar is a legend in Cleveland, and the live crowd clearly enjoyed his involvement.
A video package set up the Knockouts Title match. Lei Ying Lee made her entrance with Xia Brookside. Arianna Grace was accompanied by Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo…
6. Arianna Grace (w/Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo) vs. Lei Ying Lee (w/Xia Brookside) for the Knockouts Title. McKenzie Mitchell delivered in-ring introductions. Lee was the early aggressor and jumped to avoid Stacks’s attempt to trip her. Elayna Black was shown watching the match on a backstage monitor.
The referee caught Stacks holding Grace’s arms to prevent her from being pulled into a pin. Brookside pulled Stacks off the apron, and the referee ejected Stacks. A short time later, Lee performed a Blockbuster for a near fall. Lee set up for her finisher, but Grace raked her eyes. Grace performed a move that drove Lee’s face onto her knee and covered her for a two count. Hannifan said Grace used the same move to beat Brookside on Impact.
Grace grabbed her title belt and returned to the ring with it, but the referee took it away. Lee performed the Warrior’s Way finisher and had the pin, but Brookside put Grace’s foot on the ropes. Lee asked what she was doing.
Brookside pulled Lee to the floor and punched her. Brookside mounted Lee and threw punches at her before letting out a primal scream. Brookside ran Lee into the ring steps and then smiled before tossing her back inside the ring. Grace hit Lee with a running knee strike before pinning her.
Arianna Grace defeated Lei Ying Lee in 8:50 to retain the Knockouts Title.
After the match, Carlos Silva climbed on the apron with the intention of presenting Grace with her title belt. Grace, who already had the belt, stole his hat and brought it to the stage, where Stacks greeted her…
Powell’s POV: The crowd seemed to be coming down from the previous match, but they did react to the turn and the finish. It will be interesting to see how Brookside does as a heel. I continue to suspect that Indi Hartwell will eventually dethrone Grace. There are still a few matches left, so it looks like this show will be going past the three-hour mark.
An ad aired for TNA on AMC… The broadcast team spoke at ringside and expressed surprise over Xia Brookside turning on Lei Ying Lee. They were interrupted by music…
Eric Young made his entrance and heeled on EC3 for being a nepo baby. He said Aunt Dixie (Carter) wasn’t there to protect him. Yes, he also heeled on Cleveland by saying he hates everything about the city and the state of Ohio.
EC3 made his entrance. Once in the ring, he went face-to-face with Young, who threw a punch that he ducked. EC3 clotheslined Young over the top rope to the floor. EC3 took the mic and said he’s back. EC3 challenged Young to a match on Thursday’s Impact. He closed by saying he had only one thing to say. “I’m from Cleveland, bitch”…
A brief video aired for TNA Slammiversary on Sunday, June 28, in Boston, Massachusetts, at Agganis Arena…
A video package set up the TNA International Championship match…
Tasha Steelz was shown typing on a laptop. John Skyler and Jason Hotch showed up. One of them asked if she was sure about this. She said by any means necessary. The men put weird helmets on while she slipped on a pair of shades.
Mustafa Ali made his entrance with a cyborg look and had several men wearing the same helmets as Skylar and Hotch, who removed theirs once they were in the ring with Ali. Rehwoldt said viewers were seeing the evolution of Order 4. Trey Miguel made a standard entrance. He stopped and hugged his father and brother, who were in the crowd…
7. Trey Miguel vs. Mustafa Ali (w/Tasha Steelz, John Skyler, Jason Hotch) for the TNA International Title. The “secret service agents” didn’t stick around. It was all Miguel to start. Ali eventually went on the offensive and stopped to taunt Carlos Silva, who was seated on the floor. Miguel came back and performed a meteora that drove Ali onto the bottom half of the ring steps. Miguel sold knee pain.
Back in the ring, Miguel performed a German suplex. Miguel performed a tornado DDT a short time later for a near fall. Ali went for a rolling neckbreaker, but Miguel was waiting for him and caught him with a Stomp. Ali went back on the offensive and hit a Canadian Destroyer from the top rope for a near fall.
Ali went for a 450 Splash, but Miguel shot up and caught him with a cutter in midair. Ali went to the floor. Miguel caught him with a DDT from the ring to the floor. Back in the ring, Miguel hit a top rope meteora for a good near fall.
Steelz distracted the referee while Skyler and Hotch slammed the helmets they wore to the ring over Miguel’s head. Ali hit a 450 splash and got the three count.
Mustafa Ali defeated Trey Miguel in 12:40 to win the TNA International Title.
Steelz, Skyler, and Hotch celebrated with Ali. Carlos Silva entered the ring to present the title to Ali, but Steelz took it from him and shooed him away…
Powell’s POV: There were some innovative and impressive moves. They said the TNA International Title was introduced one year ago. I still don’t care about it, but it’s an upgrade over the horribly named Digital Media Championship. I guess we’ll see if Ali can generate some interest in the title.
Backstage, Gia Miller apologized to Lei Ying Lee for bothering her at such a bad time. She said she could only imagine how Lee felt after her best friend, Xia Brookside, turned on her. Miller held the mic in front of Lee, who cried…
The latest Rosemary cinematic aired. Rosemary was with “Sinister Minister” Jim Mitchell and Abyss. Rosemary called Abyss a beautiful monster and said they could never repay him for what they had given them. She said all they ever wanted was for him to be happy. Rosemary told Abyss not to let Mitchell manipulate her. Rosemary turned to leave, but Abyss grabbed her arm and pulled her in for a hug. After Rosemary left, Mitchell cried.
Tessa Blanchard was shown walking through the Undead Realm. Mitchell told Abyss that he wanted to thank him for everything and added that he owed him an apology. Mitchell told Abyss they were on top of the world until he showed up to work one day and everything was different. He said they were in a parallel universe, and he became a father at eight years old. Mitchell recalled saying terrible things about Abyss and said he owed him an apology.
Abyss told him he didn’t owe him an apology. Abyss said Mitchell provided him with a family when he had none. Abyss said they were dominant. He recalled lying in barbed wire when Mitchell laid the TNA World Championship belt on his chest. He mentioned his battles with Sting, Christian Cage, AJ Styles, barbed wire massacre, and their good friend. They both pointed to the sky for Sabu.
Mitchell said they were the best years of his life. He said he’d been waiting for him for a long time. Abyss said Mitchell wasn’t a manager; he was his guidance, his hope, and his father. Abyss said Mitchell gave him life, and they dominated TNA. Abyss said the history books will show that, but they will never show how much he loves Mitchell. They struck an old pose, and then Abyss disappeared. Rosemary was shown smiling, and then a “to be continued” graphic was shown…
Powell’s POV: There’s no telling whether Rebellion will be better than AEW Dynasty or next weekend’s WrestleMania 42, but I’ll bet this show had more crying than those other shows combined. Anyway, this cinematic stuff isn’t for me, but it was nice to see Mitchell and Abyss together again, and the live crowd did applaud at the end of the video.
Entrances for the TNA Tag Team Titles took place. Hannifan played up the Hardys being wounded from their tables match on Impact. The broadcast team showed off McKenzie Mitchell’s “Threads of Triumph” book…
8. Matt Hardy and Jeff Hardy vs. Bear Bronson and Brian Myers for the TNA Tag Team Titles. The challengers got the better of the champions to start. Matt was isolated for a bit before making a tag to Jeff, who worked over Bronson and covered him for a two count. The crowd was vocal in their support of the Hardys.
Later, Matt hit a Twist of Fate on Bronson. Jeff went up top for the Swanton, but Myers grabbed him by his bad left arm and pulled him down, causing the arm to hit the top rope. Matt charged Myers, who backdropped him over the top rope. Bronson held up Jeff while Myers superkicked him, and then Bronson slammed and pinned him.
Bear Bronson and Brian Myers defeated Matt Hardy and Jeff Hardy in 10:25 to win the TNA Tag Team Titles.
Hannifan noted that Bronson and Myers ended the 265-day title reign of the Hardys. Carlos Silva presented the title belts to the new champions…
Powell’s POV: They told a story with the Hardys coming into the match wounded following their tables match win over The Righteous on Thursday’s Impact. Even so, it still felt surprising to see the Hardys drop the belts. I would have preferred to have seen the Righteous win if they were going to move the titles, but I’m not opposed to the idea of giving Bronson and Myers a boost.
Backstage, Alisha Edwards refused to let Moose take her to the hospital to have her ankle examined. She insisted that she stay for the main event…
The broadcast team announced EC3 vs. Eric Young, KC Navarro vs. AJ Francis for Thursday’s Impact…
Eddie Edwards made his entrance. The other System members joined Edwards on the stage, while two men sang the entrance theme. Mike Santana made his entrance through the crowd…
9. Mike Santana vs. Eddie Edwards for the TNA World Championship. McKenzie Mitchell delivered in-ring introductions for the main event. Edwards worked over Santana on the floor in front of Santana’s daughter, who was in the front row. Santana eventually came back with a flurry of moves that he capped off with a sit-out powerbomb for a near fall. Santana looked to the crowd and was cheered before he hit a top rope frog splash for a near fall.
Moments later, Santana set up Edwards for a move on the apron, but Edwards gouged his eyes while the referee was shielded. Edwards performed a fisherman’s buster suplex on the apron, which sent both men tumbling to the floor. A “TNA” chant broke out.
Edwards pulled back a mat on the floor to expose the concrete floor. Edwards set up for a Tiger Bomb, but Santana blocked it. Both men ducked clotheslines. Kingston chopped Santana, who then charged. Edwards jumped, and then Santana caught him on his shoulders and dumped him on the concrete. Edwards came up holding his right thigh or knee. Both wrestlers beat the referee’s count by returning to the ring at nine.
Alisha Edwards came out and used crutches to get to ringside. Moose made his entrance and then stood on the stage while pointing at the big screen. A video showed Alisha tossing aside the icepack and saying, “Yeah, right.” She grabbed her phone and said they’d find a way to get the X Division Title for Cedric. She said the boys won the tag team titles, and then said, “I love you, Eddie.”
Moose slowly walked to ringside. Bear Bronson and Brian Myers came out and stopped Moose from entering the ring. Santana hit Bronson and Myers with a flip dive. Santana returned to the ring and was drilled with a Boston Knee Party, which led to a good near fall for Edwards. Alisha tossed one of her crutches to Edwards, but the referee caught him. Moose entered the ring and speared Edwards while the referee was clearing the crutch.
Santana covered Edwards and had him pinned, but the referee stopped counting at two while looking behind her. Alisha was clearly late to break up the pin. A “You f—ed up” chant broke out.
The referee told Alisha to leave. Alisha got in the referee’s face on the floor and distracted her while Cedric Alexander entered the ring. Santana put Alexander down with a cutter. Edwards hit Santana with another Boston Knee Party for another near fall. The announcers acted stunned by Santana kicking out of two Boston Knee Parties. Santana stuffed a kick. Edwards hit him with another knee strike. Santana hit Spin The Block and covered Edwards for the pin.
Mike Santana defeated Eddie Edwards in 19:25 to retain the TNA World Championship.
Carlos Silva entered the ring and presented Santana with the title belt. Moose watched from the stage. Santana looked at Moose and nodded, and then Moose went to the back. Santana’s celebration continued while the producer credits were shown, and Hannifan wrapped up the show
Powell’s POV: I’m happy they didn’t have Alisha help Eddie win and try to act like no one saw it coming. Unfortunately, the spot with the referee stopping her count because Alisha didn’t grab her leg to break it up looked awful. Putting that aside, they have a good thing going with Santana, so I like the decision to have him retain.
Overall, this was a good show. I could have done without the extra half-hour, but I guess that’s just warming up some of us for the Tony Khan Marathon on Sunday night. I will be back later tonight with my audio review, which will be available as this week’s free Pro Wrestling Boom Podcast. Let me know what you thought of Rebellion by grading the show and voting for the best match below.
Join me for my live review of AEW Dynasty on Sunday.
It won’t be the first time I saw a heel Xia Brookside. I remember her heel turn on NXT UK, back when she had a spoiled brat/daddy’s girl character. Curious to see how she’ll do as a heel during her TNA tenure.