TNA Thursday Night iMPACT! tonight on AMC.
Watch on AMC, AMC+, & TNA+ (US), Sportsnet & Sportsnet 360 (Canada), TNA+ (internationally)
TNA Thursday Night iMPACT on AMC taped from the Tingley Coliseum in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
TNA Wrestling delivered a classic Feast or Fired twist on Thursday night, and former world champion Steve Maclin ended up with the worst possible outcome.
During this week’s episode of TNA IMPACT, the four briefcases from last week’s Feast or Fired match were finally opened, revealing exactly what was on the line for Steve Maclin, Eric Young, Eddie Edwards, and the returning Trey Miguel. It marked the first Feast or Fired match in three years, and TNA wasted no time reminding fans why the concept remains so ruthless.
Trey Miguel was the first to open his case, learning he had earned a shot at the TNA International Championship. Eddie Edwards followed, discovering he’ll be receiving an opportunity at the TNA World Championship. At that point, the tension was already high — and it only escalated from there.
Maclin was next. When he opened his briefcase, he found the dreaded pink slip, signaling that he had been fired from TNA. The former champion stood in stunned silence as the reality set in. Moments later, Eric Young opened the final briefcase, revealing an opportunity at the TNA X-Division Championship. Young didn’t miss the chance to rub salt in the wound, mocking Maclin and reminding him that “actions have consequences” before laughing and walking away.
Maclin declined to comment on the situation, choosing instead to leave the ring visibly shaken.
The result is especially notable given Maclin’s history with the company. He joined TNA in 2021 after departing WWE and quickly became a key player. Maclin captured the Impact World Championship in 2023 (now known again as the TNA World Championship) and also enjoyed two reigns as International Champion throughout 2024. Reports late last year indicated that Maclin had signed a short-term contract extension after his deal expired in December, making this storyline development all the more intriguing.
Whether this “firing” leads to time away, a storyline suspension, or something more unexpected remains to be seen. One thing is certain: Feast or Fired has once again shaken up TNA in a major way, and Steve Maclin’s future with the promotion is now clouded with uncertainty.
TNA’s jump to AMC got off to a rocky start, and heading into week two, there was real concern that Impact might follow a familiar wrestling trend — a sharp drop after the premiere. While the January 22 episode did see a slight decline, the numbers suggest the situation isn’t nearly as dire as some feared.
According to reports from Wrestlenomics and the Pro Wrestling Torch, the second AMC airing of TNA Impact averaged 171,000 viewers, along with a 0.03 rating in the key 18–49 demographic. That’s a modest dip from the debut episode’s 173,000 viewers and 0.04 demo rating, translating to just a 1% drop in overall viewership and a 0.01 slide in the demo. Considering how often wrestling shows see steeper declines after a premiere, TNA managing to retain most of its audience is an encouraging early sign.
Where Impact really rebounded, though, was in fan perception. The episode scored a 6.09 rating on Cagematch, a massive improvement over the premiere’s rough 1.47 score. That jump suggests that while viewers may still be cautious, those who tuned in were far more satisfied with the in-ring product and presentation this time around.
A big talking point from the show was the return of TNA’s classic “Feast or Fired” match. Eddie Edwards, Eric Young, Steve Maclin, and Trey Miguel walked away with the briefcases, but it was Miguel’s involvement that generated the most buzz. Just a week earlier, Miguel had exited TNA for AEW, only to be released almost immediately after past comments resurfaced and were deemed homophobic. With his AEW stint ending as quickly as it began, Miguel was free to return to TNA — the company where he spent the majority of his eight-year career.
While Impact hasn’t delivered a breakout ratings moment yet, holding steady in week two and dramatically improving its reception gives TNA something to build on. The bigger question now is whether the promotion can turn that stability into growth as its AMC run continues.
Trey Miguel is once again part of the TNA Wrestling roster, and the company didn’t waste any time making his return feel important.
Miguel made his surprise comeback on this week’s episode of TNA iMPACT!, entering the Feast or Fired match to immediately reinsert himself into the title picture. During the bout, commentary confirmed what had been rumored earlier in the day — Miguel has officially re-signed with TNA Wrestling.
The former X-Division standout’s return comes after a short and rocky stint with AEW. Miguel was released from that deal not long after signing, reportedly due to a past 2020 social media comment that resurfaced. The comment, which was a homophobic response to an online troll, led to backlash at the time, and Miguel later issued a public apology. With that chapter seemingly behind him, TNA has welcomed him back into the fold.
Prior to his on-screen return, reports had already suggested that TNA was in talks to bring Miguel back, making Thursday night’s appearance a confirmation rather than a total shock — though the timing and presentation still caught fans off guard.
Miguel wasn’t alone in the Feast or Fired match, which featured a stacked lineup including AJ Francis, The Home Town Man, Rich Swann, Mance Warner, Eric Young, Jason Hotch, John Skyler, Eddie Edwards, Brian Myers, and Steve Maclin.
By the end of the chaotic stipulation match, Steve Maclin, Trey Miguel, Eddie Edwards, and Eric Young walked away with the four briefcases. As always with Feast or Fired, three of the cases guarantee future championship opportunities, while the fourth carries the brutal consequence of termination. Which briefcase contains what will be revealed on next week’s episode of TNA iMPACT!.
With Trey Miguel immediately landing a briefcase in his first night back, it’s clear TNA sees him as a key player moving forward — and his return could have major implications for multiple divisions depending on how the briefcases shake out.
TNA Thursday Night iMPACT! on AMC LIVE TONIGHT at 9pm ET from the Tingley Coliseum in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Leon Slater has found himself at the center of a lot of buzz this week, and while his surprise appearance on WWE SmackDown turned heads, there’s now more clarity on why the TNA X-Division Champion has been pulled from multiple scheduled matches.
WWE had interest in featuring Slater during its ongoing European tour, which included SmackDown emanating from Wembley Stadium. Slater answered Carmelo Hayes’ open challenge for the United States Championship, giving the British standout a high-profile moment on WWE television. Although Slater didn’t walk away with the title, his performance reportedly left a strong impression backstage.
At the same time, fans noticed Slater’s sudden removal from upcoming TNA programming. He was initially advertised to defend the X-Division Championship against Myron Reed on the AMC debut of Thursday Night iMPACT, but that match was quietly scrapped. Shortly after, Reed and The Rascalz were announced as new signings with AEW, further fueling speculation.
Slater was also pulled from a major title defense at TNA Genesis on January 17, where he was set to face Cedric Alexander and Moose. That bout has since been changed, with Alexander and Moose now challenging Joe Hendry instead.
Given Slater’s crossover appearance on SmackDown, rumors quickly surfaced suggesting a working arrangement between WWE and TNA—possibly with Slater’s appearance being traded for AJ Styles showing up on iMPACT. However, according to Fightful Select, the situation is far less political and more logistical.
The report notes that Slater is one of several TNA talents currently dealing with visa issues. Because he was already back home in the UK, TNA opted to allow WWE to use him during their European tour rather than keep him sidelined entirely. During iMPACT, TNA officially addressed the situation in a backstage segment, announcing that Slater would miss Genesis due to those visa complications.
Before Friday’s SmackDown, Slater’s most recent WWE appearance came at NXT New Year’s Evil, where he suffered a loss to Oba Femi. Despite the crossover exposure, Slater remains under contract with TNA through the end of 2026.
While visa issues may have temporarily disrupted his TNA run, Slater’s recent WWE appearances have only elevated his profile. Once those matters are resolved, it’ll be interesting to see how TNA positions its X-Division Champion after gaining valuable experience on one of WWE’s biggest stages.
The IInspiration’s latest run in TNA appears to have reached its final chapter.
On the debut episode of TNA iMPACT! on AMC, Cassie Lee and Jessie McKay dropped the Knockouts Tag Team Championships to The Elegance Brand, a result that now carries much bigger implications. According to a report from Fightful Select, the former champions are expected to be finishing up with the company following the title loss.
While Lee and McKay were still prominently featured on television, their contractual status had already been a talking point for months. The duo’s TNA deals officially expired back in October, even as they continued working with the promotion and eventually captured the tag titles. Rather than locking into new long-term agreements, The IInspiration continued on a series of short-term arrangements.
Despite being open to staying with TNA under the right circumstances, both sides ultimately decided this week would be the right time to move on. With the titles now off them and the AMC era of iMPACT officially underway, their exit neatly closes the book on their most recent TNA chapter.
The report also notes that there is outside interest in Lee and McKay, suggesting this may not be the last fans see of the popular tag team anytime soon. Given their name value and experience, that’s not much of a surprise.
Before returning to TNA, Lee and McKay were best known to WWE audiences as Peyton Royce and Billie Kay, where they enjoyed a long run and held the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships. Their chemistry and character work made them one of the more memorable women’s teams of the modern era.
For now, The IInspiration’s future destination remains unclear — but with momentum, name recognition, and championship pedigree, their next move will be worth keeping an eye on.
TNA IMPACT’s first episode on AMC came with a major surprise, as Daria Rae — formerly known to WWE fans as Sonya Deville — made her long-awaited return to pro wrestling and instantly shook up the company’s leadership structure.
The segment opened with Director of Authority Santino Marella addressing the audience after footage aired of Arianna Grace turning on her father in favor of Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo. Marella emphasized that IMPACT’s move to a new network meant increased visibility, higher expectations, and new goals for the company. With that in mind, he revealed that TNA had brought in someone new to help guide the promotion into this next era.
That person turned out to be Daria Rae.
Rae made her entrance to a strong reaction and initially echoed Marella’s comments, explaining that she had been closely watching TNA and was impressed with its potential. However, the tone of her promo quickly shifted. Rae dismissed Marella as a non-factor, openly mocking him and claiming even his own daughter wanted nothing to do with him. She bluntly told Marella that TNA didn’t need him and warned him to stay out of her way moving forward.
With authority already established, Rae revealed her first major move: a new signing to the Knockouts division.
That announcement brought out Elayna Black, formerly WWE NXT standout Cora Jade, who officially made her TNA debut. The moment marked a significant reset for Black, who had been released by WWE in May after a four-year run and had briefly returned to the independent scene before stepping away from wrestling last summer.
Rae’s appearance was just as notable. After spending a decade with WWE, she departed the company in February and later announced her retirement from wrestling in July. Her arrival in TNA not only signals a return to the industry but also places her in a position of power from day one.
Between Rae’s surprising role and Black’s addition to the Knockouts roster, TNA wasted no time making a statement on its AMC premiere. The company’s new era is clearly focused on bold changes — and this opening segment made it clear that more shake-ups could be right around the corner.
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