Chairshot Wrestling News Report (7/23/2026): Kevin Knight Bloodies Kenny Omega, TNA Loads Impact and Jim Johnston Explains His Process

Kevin Knight sends a message to Kenny Omega, TNA presents two championship matches, Jim Johnston discusses creating WWE themes and more.

Kevin Knight ended the final Dynamite before AEW Redemption standing over a bloodied Kenny Omega while holding both the TNT and AEW World Championships.

Elsewhere, TNA prepared a loaded Thursday night featuring two championship matches and a trip to the Hardy Compound, Jim Johnston explained the creative process behind WWE’s most memorable entrance themes, and Callum Newman scored another major G1 Climax victory.

Kevin Knight Stands Over Kenny Omega Before Redemption

Knight successfully defended the TNT Championship against Darby Allin after striking his challenger with the title behind the referee’s back. Knight followed with the UFO Splash to record his 10th successful defense, giving him additional momentum before challenging Omega for the AEW World Championship on Sunday.

Knight struck again after Omega, Will Ospreay and Jon Moxley defeated Brian Cage, Hechicero and Jake Doyle. After the match deteriorated into a fight involving The Young Bucks and other members of the Don Callis Family, Knight blindsided Omega with the TNT Championship and posed over him with both belts.

Brodido defeated ProtOkada after Bandido pinned International Champion Kyle Fletcher, creating a significant result before their title match at Redemption. Divine Dominion retained the AEW Women’s World Tag Team Championship against Julia Hart and Skye Blue, while Willow Nightingale got the better of AEW Women’s World Champion Thekla during a confrontation moderated by Mick Foley.

AEW Dynamite Results — July 22, 2026

• Kevin Knight defeated Darby Allin to retain the TNT Championship
• Brodido defeated ProtOkada
• Jay White defeated Clark Connors
• Divine Dominion defeated Julia Hart and Skye Blue in a No Disqualification Match to retain the AEW Women’s World Tag Team Championship
• Kenny Omega, Will Ospreay and Jon Moxley defeated Brian Cage, Hechicero and Jake Doyle

What to Watch on TNA Impact

Nic Nemeth will defend the TNA World Championship against KC Navarro. Navarro received the opportunity after confronting Nemeth last week and directly requesting a chance to prove that he belongs in TNA’s main-event picture.

The Hardys will defend the TNA World Tag Team Championship against The Righteous in a Righteous Deletion Match at the Hardy Compound. The setting almost guarantees that the championship match will feature the unusual environments, characters and cinematic chaos associated with Matt Hardy’s previous Deletion matches.

The Knockouts Television Championship tournament continues with its final two first-round matches. Elayna Black faces Wendy Choo, while Jada Stone meets Alisha Edwards. Moose will also team with Elijah against AJ Francis and Frankie Kazarian, and The System will address what comes next for X-Division Champion Cedric Alexander.

TNA Impact Lineup — July 23, 2026

• TNA World Championship – Nic Nemeth (c) vs. KC Navarro
• Righteous Deletion Match for the TNA World Tag Team Championship – The Hardys (c) vs. The Righteous
• Knockouts Television Championship Tournament – Elayna Black vs. Wendy Choo
• Knockouts Television Championship Tournament – Jada Stone vs. Alisha Edwards
• Moose and Elijah vs. AJ Francis and Frankie Kazarian
• The System addresses the future of the TNA X-Division Championship

TNA Impact airs Thursday at 9 p.m. ET on AMC in the United States.

Jim Johnston Explains How He Created WWE Entrance Themes

Johnston said WWE frequently provided very little information before asking him to create music for a wrestler.

“I was told tidbits, and I truly mean tidbits, about the person’s vibe or character.”

Johnston was generally given the freedom to interpret those limited character descriptions and turn them into complete entrance themes. Although 90 minutes was an extreme example, he said WWE’s rapidly changing creative process often left him working under extremely short deadlines.

That process produced themes that did more than accompany wrestlers to the ring. Johnston’s best work immediately communicated a character’s personality, energy and importance, often before the wrestler appeared on camera.

Callum Newman Defeats Zack Sabre Jr. in G1 Main Event

Newman defeated Sabre with a flash pin in the main event of the fifth night of the G1 Climax. The victory moved Newman to six points and left Sabre with only two after three tournament matches.

Gabe Kidd handed Aaron Wolf his first loss, while HENARE defeated OSKAR and Drilla Moloney beat Yuya Uemura. Newman, Kidd, HENARE and Moloney now share the B Block lead with six points each.

NJPW G1 Climax 36 Results — July 22, 2026

• Gabe Kidd defeated Aaron Wolf
• HENARE defeated OSKAR
• Drilla Moloney defeated Yuya Uemura
• Callum Newman defeated Zack Sabre Jr.

Santos Escobar Sends Farewell Message to WWE

Escobar publicly reflected on his six years with WWE as his 90-day noncompete period approached its conclusion. The former Legado del Fantasma leader thanked the people he worked with but ended his message by telling Paul Levesque and Nick Khan to watch what he does next. Escobar is also returning to the El Hijo del Fantasma name he used before joining WWE.

Escobar’s combination of WWE television experience, name recognition and history in Mexico should give him options across several promotions. His next destination remains unknown, but the message made it clear that he intends to make his post-WWE career visible.

Knight delivered exactly the kind of closing image needed before challenging Omega. He did not simply win another TNT Championship defense—he left Omega bleeding and demonstrated that he is willing to use the same championship advantage against the AEW World Champion.

TNA’s lineup offers a different kind of attraction. Nemeth against Navarro gives a younger challenger the opportunity to exceed expectations, while The Hardys and The Righteous bring one of TNA’s most distinctive match concepts back to the Hardy Compound.

Johnston’s comments also explain why his themes remain so closely connected to the wrestlers who used them. He frequently received almost nothing to work with, yet found a way to create music that communicated more about a performer in seconds than many modern themes accomplish during an entire entrance.