“TNA Impact” continues to settle in on the AMC Network, having now established its key players as they pass the four-month mark. This week, the show featured two title matches, together with a mixture of in-ring motion and promo work.
The “Broken” universe continues to make a comeback, with one other essential figure from that mythology returning to the screen tonight. Plus, Xia Brookside continued to construct momentum for her upcoming title challenge. At the identical time, we’re still finding logical issues with a few of the storytelling decisions the corporate is making.
You will find opinions on all that and more below. For those who’re searching for a more detailed description of tonight’s episode, take a have a look at our 5/21/2026 “TNA Impact” results. Otherwise, strap in for our thoughts on the show and be happy to chime in with a visit to the comments.
Hated: The System’s promo was an auditory nightmare
Cedric Alexander won the X-Division title from Leon Slater last week, so naturally that meant the System had to return out and proclaim their supreme greatness before everyone who dared to present TNA a go this week.
Alisha Edwards asked not once but twice if everyone desired to know something, and should you’re anything like me it was: “Tips on how to temporarily deafen yourself.” Thankfully, Alexander had that front entirely covered as he proceeded to bellow his entire promo.
He made the essential clarification for anyone who didn’t know that he had won the title from Slater just sooner or later faraway from breaking the title’s record. After which he repeated that clarification a number of times because he understood that hearing issues might need been a thing during this segment. He was yelling so loud and so hoarsely that it seemed like we were going to look at his larynx swell in real time, and it is de facto difficult to say what the segment completed. I for one have the other of interest within the System they usually just so occur to own two of the primary titles on the show.
They’re just a gaggle of individuals and their goal is to only profess how great they’re, which is effective and all. Nonetheless, Alexander is the one wrestler that one would say is definitely good, and even they’re a gaggle of jobbers which have suddenly turn out to be the highest faction in the corporate with, as said, two of the primary titles in the corporate. And the difficulty is that they are sure to eventually hold all the gold including the World title, since it’s so abundantly clear that they’re just going to be continually booked to go over for the gold despite being one in all the worst acts on the cardboard. It’s like if 3MB was suddenly booked just like the Shield, and given segments that they simply cannot carry.
It doesn’t feel like the precise kind of heat to have voices and personalities so annoying and grating it makes the show unbearable to look at. If one had the selection then the show would have just been turned off. Because not only does this get aired in itself however the very proven fact that they’ve gold strapped to their waists means the viewer is doomed to have to sit down through it again next week.
Written by Max Everett
Loved: Starboy steals the show
I have been on board with Mustafa Ali issuing an open challenge for his International Championship to any wrestler the world over who wishes to reply since he did so a handful of weeks ago, because it’s a fantastic opportunity for the TNA Wrestling audience (myself included) to see some latest talent show what they will do within the ring. Tonight was no different with Chazz “Starboy” Hall difficult Ali for his title.
This was actually the primary time that I had seen Starboy wrestle since a few matches that he had in AEW back in 2023 and a transient first-round WWE Speed Championship Tournament match against Lexis King in April. I knew who he was, but truth be told I didn’t really remember any of those matches I had seen that he competed in solely because they were essentially all short squash matches. Well, it took me about two minutes before I used to be an easy fan of his.
The best way that he moved contained in the ring was just so smooth and almost mesmerizing to look at, with him doing loads of fun and unique moves throughout his stellar International Championship match against Ali. My only real grievance about this was that it wasn’t given some more television time to make for an extended match since I’d’ve very much selfishly enjoyed that, but I can even get that TNA wants to maintain Ali looking fairly strong by having him run through talent with relative ease as champion.
Written by Olivia Quinlan
Hated: TNA’s confusing match-making process
As TNA’s Director of Authority, one would think Santino Marella has the ability to make any match he wants official. Seems, that is not actually the case.
Tonight, Marella expressed interest in organising a future contest between himself and his soon-to-be son-in-law Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo. It was then that fellow authority figure Daria Rae, also generally known as “The S.U.I.T”, informed Marella that he first needed to submit a “formal request” to the TNA Wrestling Board and subsequently gain their stamp of approval.
Minutes later, Marella revealed that he’s bringing back the Champions Challenges, where champions from the lads’s and ladies’s divisions will team as much as tackle TNA all-stars of their respective tag team matches. In the identical backstage segment, Rae informed Marella that the Board granted his request to face Lorenzo in singles competition. When Eddie Edwards then spontaneously approached Rae with a suggestion of himself vs. Fabian Aichner next week, Rae immediately approved it herself.
Within the grand scheme of things, TNA’s match making process is not a vital or standout component to “TNA Impact.” Tonight’s series of events, nevertheless, stood out enough to make me query if the confusion surrounding it was intentional or just an oversight on the corporate’s part.
Why did Marella must submit a match request to the TNA Board, but Rae could grant one other one on the spot? Hopefully the corporate provides a solution to this query sooner, slightly than later.
Written by Ella Jay
Loved: Xia Brookside vs. Jada Stone was a show-stopper
After Arianna Grace rudely interrupted Elayna Black and Indi Hartwell’s match earlier this evening, I used to be glad how the Knockouts division bounced back with Xia Brookside versus Jada Stone. The chemistry these two had was so solid and profound, that I actually have to tip my hat to them and slap a love on this.
Since Brookside turned heel, I actually have to say, I’m quite surprised with how much smoother her wrestling abilities come across my television set. In my humble opinion, I felt she was holding back as a face. I consider the saying “nice girls finish last” was eating away at her, as her title opportunities were becoming few and much between in her solo profession as a face. Now, as a nasty guy, she will be able to unleash a plethora of moves, and are available one step closer at seizing the title from her former friend/current two-time Knockouts World Champion, Léi Yǐng Lee.
As for Stone, she is a bonafide star in my book! Every time she’s been showcased, her abilities grow more promising than the last. Perhaps it’s just me, but her work ethic and charisma jogs my memory of one other former Knockout Champion/current AEW star Taya Valkyrie. Her vitality and fearless young attitude has me extremely excited to see where her journey goes. At this rate, she could turn out to be a near future Knockouts World Champion.
Written by Brie Coder
Hated: Mike Santana’s title reign continues
Mike Santana won the TNA World Championship back in the course of the company’s AMC debut, so it’s fair to say he’s been one in all the primary standard-bearers for this latest era of TNA. The issue is: the character of Santana is nowhere near interesting enough to justify this position.
Santana has done a robust job of proving himself as a worthy singles star, and I would not mind seeing him proceed to play a task on TV as this show moves forward. Nonetheless, TNA is in serious need of engaging stories, especially at the highest of the cardboard, and it looks like we have seen enough of Santana’s reign to know that is not going to return at this point. I consider it’s about time for a change, though I can not say I’m overly excited for any of the challengers currently lining as much as face Santana, equivalent to Eric Young or Eddie Edwards.
Along with stories, TNA needs latest blood on the lads’s side. That is not a simple problem to resolve in today’s pro wrestling climate, but something about TNA has just felt stale, and that is not what you wish if you’re lower than half a 12 months right into a latest television deal.
Written by Nick Miller
Loved: Willow the Wisp returns
The Righteous have asked for they usually have received the “broken” versions of each Matt and Jeff Hardy, with the previous reviving his eccentric alter ego a number of weeks ago. Now Jeff has unlocked his long-gone but not forgotten alter ego: Willow The Wisp.
Prior to now, Jeff’s runs as Willow have been met with mixed reactions. Some found the gimmick to be terrible, while others enjoyed its spookiness. No matter the way it was perceived, I’m more interested by what it may be in the current day.
Prior to tonight, TNA Wrestling fans last saw Willow in 2016 during a backstage brawl at Certain For Glory. Which means a decade has passed by, and knowing The Hardys, multiple creative ideas for his return have floated around since then. Also knowing The Hardys, those ideas likely involve supernatural, bizarre, and/or cinematic elements. Given TNA’s position on AMC, it seems only fitting that Willow the Wisp and “Broken” Matt Hardy now bring them to life of their feud against The Righteous, one other theatrical and strange duo.
The imagination between these 4 competitors is really limitless, which makes me all of the more interested and invested in seeing how the remainder of their storyline plays out. Will we witness the return of the Hardy Compound? Will The Righteous be deleted? Or will they break the already broken? All legitimate questions that I’m excited to have answered, hopefully.
Big kudos to Jeff Hardy for with the ability to pull off his transformation into Willow in a matter of seconds as well.
Written by Ella Jay