Mike Santana faces Steve Maclin in grudge match for TNA world title, Cedric Alexander's challenger and more

Steve Maclin made his melodramatic return to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) connected Thursday night’s "Impact" to return connected Mike Santana for nan world title.

Maclin’s lucifer against Santana astatine Sacrifice was stopped owed to an injury, and later, Maclin was concisely "fired" from nan institution earlier Director of Operations Daria Rae worked to get him reinstated. It was a highly anticipated lucifer to spot who would go nan face of TNA.

Rae and Maclin were a portion of a conception earlier nan lucifer began. Rae gave Maclin a pep talk of sorts earlier nan lucifer took place.

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Mike Santana enters nan ringing during NXT astatine The Theater astatine Madison Square Garden successful New York connected March 31, 2026. (Brien Adams/WWE)

"You retrieve erstwhile you sewage fired? Of people you do. You cognize what’s truthful absorbing astir this company? Everybody loves to brag astir loyalty, that is until it’s inconvenient," she told a stoic Maclin. "You put your hands connected Tom Hannifan  and this full institution turned connected you overnight. They want to erase Steve Maclin from TNA history. But not me. I saw nan business differently. They saw you arsenic a liability, and I saw nan value. I saw a man who everybody other feared because they cognize precisely what you’re tin of erstwhile you’re focused.

"More importantly, I understand why men for illustration you are built nan measurement you are and what you’re built for. And tonight, you person an opportunity that cipher other is capable to do – return retired Mike Santana. Rip nan bosom correct retired of this institution and put nan TNA title backmost connected personification who is worthy of carrying it."

Eric Young, who became nan No. 1 contender for nan TNA world title, besides sewage into Maclin’s receptor up of his match. He warned that nan victor will person to look Young astatine his "most masochist."

Maclin vowed to put Santana successful a infirmary arsenic he tried to face nan champ earlier their match.

But would it beryllium capable to dethrone Santana?

It was a conflict from nan very beginning. The 2 each had their moments erstwhile they had nan precocious manus successful nan match. As Santana sewage backmost into nan match, Maclin was thrown retired nan ring. Maclin tried to move retired of nan measurement of immoderate aerial moves but Santana smartly erstwhile to nan apical statement and deed a large scatter connected nan outside.

Maclin utilized nan extracurricular to his advantage. He threw Santana into nan ringing station and sewage a array group up connected nan outside. Santana tried to jump disconnected nan steps to clothesline Maclin but came up a spot lame. Maclin instantly went to activity connected nan tweaked near leg.

As nan last minutes of nan lucifer wore on, it was go-time for some competitors. Santana deed Maclin pinch a Rolling Buck 50, but Maclin wouldn’t enactment down – not moreover aft a Blue Thunder Bomb.

Mike Santana makes his entranceway during NXT astatine nan WWE Performance Center successful Orlando, Fla., connected June 3, 2025. (Bradlee Rutledge/WWE)

Maclin sewage caught connected nan apical statement arsenic Santana deed an enziguri, causing Maclin to autumn backward done nan array he setup. Santana rolled him backmost into nan ringing and nailed a frog splash, but only a 2 count.

Santana signed for Spin nan Block. Maclin collapsed earlier Santana could deed it. Santana checked connected Maclin to make judge he was OK but fell for nan trap. Maclin deed a superkick and tried for nan pin, but to nary avail.

Santana made 1 past gasp effort. He mustered up capable power to deed Spin nan Block and pinned Maclin for nan win.

"This is my house," Santana proclaimed arsenic "Impact" went disconnected nan air.

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X Division Championship fallout

The System started nan nighttime basking successful nan glory that was Cedric Alexander’s X Division Championship triumph complete Leon Slater.

"Leon Slater, you were 1 time away, 1 time away, 1 time away, I’ll opportunity it again, he was 1 time distant from accomplishing his dream. One time distant from becoming nan grounds maker. No, see, past week, I became nan grounds taker," Alexander said. "Boo each you want. It is simply a truth of life that I americium now nan modular successful nan X Division.

"I americium nan signature champion of TNA. And you cognize what? I sewage a problem. Instead of being capable to observe my moment. Instead of being capable to unrecorded successful nan moment, personification decided to ruin nan party."

Alexander called retired Fabian Aichner, who appeared astatine nan extremity of Alexander’s lucifer pinch Slater.

Aichner obliged and had a connection for Alexander and The System.

"Buona Sera, System. Last week, I didn’t travel retired present for nary reason. I came retired present to make a sanction for myself – respect, redemption and recognition. That’s why I’m here. So, if you guys want to telephone yourself nan champion successful TNA, perfect. You spell correct up because nan bigger nan obstacle, nan bigger nan fight, nan amended I become. I’m not conscionable immoderate gimmick. I americium a early TNA champion. And you cognize what? That X Division title is looking existent nice. So Cedric, bask your infinitesimal while it lasts, my man because I’m not present to guidelines successful line. I americium present to return my spot."

Bear Bronson and Brian Meyers rushed Aichner successful nan aisle, but missed doing immoderate damage. Aichner dumped Eddie Edwards to nan floor. Alexander began attacking Aichner arsenic he sewage into nan ring. Aichner avoided Alexander’s Lumbar Check and reversed it into a chokehold.

Aichner was near opinionated gangly successful nan ringing arsenic The System pulled Alexander retired of nan ring.

Aichner and Edwards will quadrate disconnected adjacent week connected "Impact."

Santino Marella addresses Arianna Grace, Stacks

Santino Marella makes his entranceway during NXT astatine nan WWE Performance Center successful Orlando, Fla., connected Sept. 30, 2025. (Bradlee Rutledge/WWE)

Stacks and his fiancée Arianna Grace were ringside to watch nan lucifer betwixt Indi Hartwell and Elayna Black. Grace, nan erstwhile TNA Knockouts world champion, had feuded pinch Hartwell for immoderate time. Grace claimed that Hartwell was "obsessed" pinch her.

The lucifer came to an extremity erstwhile Stacks unsuccessfully tried to distract nan referee while Grace pushed Hartwell disconnected nan apical statement and began her beatdown. Grace blamed her father, Santino Marella, for why she’s nary longer nan TNA Knockouts champion. She said existent champ Lei Ying Lee didn’t merit her chance astatine nan title.

Marella, TNA’s head of authority, came retired and called Grace "classless." He said nan only point unfinished was Grace’s "attitude" and she needed to beryllium "grounded." He turned his attraction to Stacks, saying that he made him "sick" and that he was nan 1 "filling her caput pinch each this garbage."

Marella was astir to usage nan cobra connected Stacks earlier Rae came retired and put a extremity to it. Rae reminded Marella that if he wanted a lucifer pinch Stacks, he would person to taxable it to "the board" and get it approved.

Rae later announced that lucifer was approved for adjacent week’s "Impact." Marella will return connected Stacks one-on-one.

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"Impact" lucifer results:

Indi Hartwell def. Elayna Black via DQ.

"Broken" Matt Hardy def. Vincent.

Mustafa Ali def. Chazz "Starboy" Hall to clasp nan TNA International Championship.

Xia Brookside def. Jada Stone.