Andrew’s TNA Live iMPACT! Results & Match Ratings: 5.1.2025

We get another Live episode from the campus of UC Irvine, hence why the show didn’t start until 10pm Bianca Belair time (est). The live episodes have been pretty good so far this year, so even though the TV episodes have kinda sucked the last month or so…there’s a glimmer of hope tonight.

Sure we’re gonna open with “hearing from Joe Hendry” because of course we are. But it’s also a live crowd and the fans still embrace the gimmick even if consuming the product weekly is wearing the gimmick thin for me personally. Let’s get to the show and see if we see Trick, Dark State, or any surprises.

Oh it looks like Wentz is gonna get his title shot tonight for the X Division title! That’s a little unexpected.

The boys from the Treehouse are FIRED UP! @ZacharyWentz challenges @TheMooseNation for the X-Division Title TONIGHT!

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Ratings:

• Mike Santana vs Isaiah Moore: Santana wins via Running Powerbomb – SQUASH
• X Division Championship: Moose (c) w/The System vs Zachary Wentz w/Trey Miguel: Moose retains via Lights Out – *** 1/2
• Maggie Lee vs Jody Threat w/Dani Luna: Jody wins via Pop Shove It – *
• KC Navarro w/AJ Francis vs Leon Slater: Leon wins via Swanton 450 – ** 1/2
• The Kaiba Boys & Frankie Kazarian vs Joe Hendry & The Hardy Boyz: Nic wins via Danger Zone – ***

Results:

So today is Hendry’s birthday, so the crowd pops and sings Happy Birthday, Hendry with a fairly stock standard babyface champion promo, calls out Trick, and Trick’s music plays but Trick has a tron message since he’s got a Battle Royal to prepare for. So basic steps, but nothing egregious. 

Sami is called to the back by Santino and SDL & Mance show up, and they seemingly squash their issue “I don’t like ya, but I respect ya” kind of style. I’m just glad we get away from it since the feud kinda sucked. They tend to drag bad things out, like Kon versus PCO…awful. 

Mike Santana vs Isaiah Moore

Enhancement talent match, Moore tries to start fast but his offense is slow. Everything he does looks like its in slow motion and aside from a dodge and flip here or there, Santana beats him easily. Outline in Chalk and then a Running Powerbomb, and its over.

After the match Santana cuts a choppy promo because the mic sucked, but it sounds like he’s setting his sights on Hendry and hopefully someone stops that. No one wants a Babyface vs Babyface title match, especially since TNA stories are written like 4 year olds with half eaten crayons. So we need someone to get in the way of Santana quick or things just won’t be good, that’s not even a jaded assumption, that’s just the facts of how the last few years have gone. 

Maclin comes out to address his title defense and he gets mugged by the Northern Armoury on the way down the ramp. EY continues with the Dump Matsumoto tribute and uses the steel chain to beat the hell out of Maclin, choke him and then crucify him against the ropes. Just a typical beating segment to force the angle forward even though the protagonist has been winning the bulk of the interactions. 

The WAR between @SteveMaclin and @TheEricYoung continues NEXT WEEK on #TNAiMPACT! @milanmiracle

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X Division Championship: Moose (c) w/The System vs Zachary Wentz w/Trey Miguel

Wentz starts quick, Sole Butts, Enzuigiris, perches and Moose tries a Go To Hell, but Wentz continues the speed kills idea. Connects with a flurry of strikes, Moose powders and Wentz hits a Tornillo, does the Rascalz pose into the camera and we go to commercial. Back from commercial we go to paint by numbers commercial break where Moose is in control after managing to knock Wentz off the turnbuckle at some point,  but after eating a few haymakers Wentz fires, PK, Sole Butt, Stomp, Triangle Moonsault and Wentz is rolling again! He throws Moose back in, another Tornillo this time from the corner and only a two count.

Wentz wants to fly, but Moose gets up, Leap Frog in Moose catching him in a Pop-Up Powerbomb, but only for two! Lights Out attempt, but Cradle Counter, kick, Double Leg Cradle, kick, Moose gets up, Escalara Crossbody, into a Kip Up, Looks for the Jacknife but CODE RED COUNTER from Wentz, but only a two count! Wentz tries to grab Moose, Moose grabs the tights to Dart Wentz into the buckles. Moose tries Lights Out again, X Factor counter form Wentz! SPIRAL TAP from Wentz but again, only a 2 count! UFO Cutter, but Moose shoves him away, Wentz tries to gather himself but Lish grabs his foot just long enough for Moose to finally hit Lights Out and retains.

Oh God it’s Deaner out to continue this sob story angle about his contract is expiring tonight. I hope it actually does, Jesus I can’t tolerate him. He’s the embodiment of cringe. Deaner must have grabbed the wrong script that said Dreamer, because this is some sappy useless idiot stuff. I hate everything about this sad sack crap, and now Santino’s music plays, he plays into the sad thing because of course he does he’s a goofy babyface. He said he can’t give a new contract, but he can extend it. Deaner will get a match at Under Siege versus Eddie Edwards. Robert Stone’s music kicks in! Robbie E and Alicia Fox are in the building because the higher ups are putting Santino Under Review and Victoria is getting a random title match at Under Siege. This was at least an interesting wrinkle.

Tessa Blanchard is already a fan of @MrStoneWWE! @milanmiracle

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Maggie Lee vs Jody Threat w/Dani Luna

Jody starts quick, a few Elbows, Thesz Presses, Ground and Pound, looks for her German Suplex off the ropes but Maggie holds on, Back Thrust Kick finally gives out Elegance Giant some momentum. A few well placed strikes, running Knee Strike in the corner, Bow and Arrow Submission, but Jody flips it around for a pinfall. Maggie kicks out, and Jody fires up with some slow blocks against bad punches, Jody goes for Cringe Kojima style chops, pulls off the Knees to the back into the German Suplex. Jody wants Pop Shove It, but Maggie claws the eyes, Jody perches and Maggie crotches her and then hits a Tower of London for two! Jody fires again, quick strike Lariats in the corner, Pop Shove It and Jody wins.

KC Navarro w/AJ Francis vs Leon Slater

Leon and KC change directions, dodge, and dodge, and continue to change angles. KC shows off, so a Kick to the face rocks him and then Leon starts putting some offense together. KC gets knocked out of the ring, Leon throws him into a post, KC manages a small counter, tries to throw Leon back in the ring and Leon Tiger Feints back out to drop KC down. Leon throws KC in, climbs the ropes and AJ starts to interfere but the ref sees him, ejects him and a Satellite DDT from KC gives him the chance to try and choke out Leon, but Leon drives him back into the corner, rope runs, Jump Kick into Final Cut for a two count!

KC powders, Leon goes for the Over the Post Dive, but KC moves. Leon lands his on his feet, KC is saying he’s too smart, gets cold cocked, thrown back in and Leon hits the Swanton 450 for the win.

This makes sense because they want to push Leon, but aside from flips he’s useless. KC has a great personality, great skillset and more than just flips. They want to Leon to become ‘the youngest X Division champ’ but I couldn’t be less interested in him. 

The Kaiba Boys & Frankie Kazarian vs Joe Hendry & The Hardy Boyz

They bring back the Hendry Boyz mashup music for their entrance, which is actually pretty cool.

Kaz and Jeff start, but it breaks down immediately into all 6 men throwing hands, the babyfaces clear the ring and do the DELETE taunts…and commercial break. We come back from commercial and Matt is hitting Delete Headsmashes on Kaz, a Side Effect on Ryan and then hits the Extreme Elbow but only for two. Matt wants the Twist of Fate, but he gets too close to the heel corner. Nic grabs the ref, Kaz hits a Guillotine Leg Drop, Ryan with the Russian Leg Sweep and then tags in Nic who gets a few pot shots before tagging in Kaz. Kaz and Matt trade a few shots, Kaz claws the face and the heels keep control.

Ryan tags in, isolation in the corner keeps Matt getting pummeled, quick tag back to Kaz and the Cravat has Matt grounded until the crowd tries to fire him up…but Kaz throws him down and Springboard Leg Drop gets two. Kaz mocks the Twist of Fate for Matt counters with the Side Russian, simultaneous tag, Nic and Jeff are in. Jeff signature hot tag offense, Leg Drop, Elbow, Kaz feeds into a Jawbreaker, Ryan eats a Twist, Nic tries something but eats the Mule Kick. Jeff wants a Twist on Nic, but he tries to fight out, but Matt comes in to help, Poetry in Motion, Side Effect into Splash from Jeff! Everyone’s in the ring, series of Hat Trick Sack of Shits!

Kaz tries to use a belt, Joe ducks it and Matt hits the Twist on Kaz. Hendry hits the Standing Ovation, looks to Jeff to hit a Swanton, but Trick Williams shows up and pulls out Hendry during the chaos and throws him into the steps! Jeff gets crotched, Matt gets taken out, Danger Zone on Jeff! Heels win and Trick and Joe are back in the ring…TRICK SHOT leaves Joe laying!

Overall Score: 6.75/10

This wasn’t the best episode, but it was entertaining and nothing really seemed to drag…which is more than I can say for most of the TNA episodes last month or so. Robbie E and Alicia Fox were unexpected, Trick makes sense, Cody Deaner needs to go away forever, Wentz burning his title shot already is frustrating. It’s frustrating because I like Wentz and if they’re gonna crown Leon, it better not be against Moose. Leon has no charisma, he’s tiny, suspension of disbelief can’t wish this away. So if it’s inevitable, just have Moose either cash in Option C or drop it to someone who isn’t the charisma vacuum known as Leon Slater.

But yeah, it was an inoffensive show. Not a lot of wrestling but enough segments that didn’t overstay their welcome and kept the show moving along at a decent clip. Nothing to write home about, but it planted seeds for Under Siege and had some things to genuinely be interested in.