Tonight’s episode of Impact Wrestling on AXS TV is all-new. Inter-promotional showdown with Lucha Libre AAA from Monterrey, Mexico. 8/7c on AXS TV and 8:30pm ET on YouTube for IMPACT Insiders
Here are the matches that have been announced for the show:
The Motor City Machine Guns and El Hijo del Vikingo vs. Trey Miguel and Los Vipers.
X-Division Champion Chris Sabin and Knockouts World Champion Trinity vs. Chik Tormenta & Dinamico.
Moose and Toxin vs. Josh Alexander and Octagon Jr.
USA: Thursdays 8pm ET on AXS TV, Thursdays 8:30pm ET on YouTube (IMPACT Insiders), Thursdays 10pm ET on IMPACT Plus
Canada: Thursdays 8pm ET on Fight Network, Thursdays 8:30pm ET on YouTube (IMPACT Insiders), Thursdays 10pm ET on IMPACT Plus, Saturdays 7pm ET on GameTV
Relive the earth-shattering event that was Bound For Glory 2023, featuring an unforgettable night of action from Chicago. See exclusive highlights from the Knockouts World Championship match as Trinity defended against Mickie James, and the epic showdown pitting Will Ospreay vs. “Speedball” Mike Bailey. Plus, the IMPACT World Championship match between Alex Shelley and Josh Alexander will be shown in its entirety! Tune in to IMPACT! this Thursday at 8/7c on AXS TV and 8:30pm ET on YouTube for IMPACT Insiders.
Impact Wrestling will be switching back to TNA Wrestling on January 13, 2024, at TNA Hard To Kill, as announced by Scott D’Amore at Bound For Glory 2023.
Speaking on a recent media call, Impact President Scott D’Amore explained the rationale for maintaining the standard four-sided ring setup.
Many fans had expected to see the six-sided return with the major rebranding, but D’Amore has no intention of reviving the hexagonal ring configuration.
You can check out some highlights from the media call below:
On why TNA has no plans to utilize the six-sided ring: “The six-sided ring question comes up all the time, I get it, I was in the ring when the six-sided ring was brought in. I know it has its supporters. The fact is, at the end of the day, almost to a person, the athletes that have performed in the six-sided ring don’t prefer it. They say it’s harder on the body, it creates more injury, and more than injury, it creates more wear and tear on the body. Doing it night after night is harder on the body. We’re happy to have conversations about how to make the product look the best, but one of the things, unwaveringly, that we’re not willing to negotiate on or compromise is the athlete’s health and safety. We’re going to be a four-sided ring. I know that disappoints a lot of people, but my respectful and honest question to that is, ‘do you really love the six-sided ring more than you love ensuring the health and safety of the men and women who get in the ring and put their health on the line? Do you want to make a more dangerous situation for them?’ It’s wrestling, never say never, there could be changes in the future. It’s a simple one for us, athlete safety is number one, so we have four sides. Take that off the table and anything else is possible.”
On TNA’s development of new production designs: “I know the fans have been waiting for a new set, and some have been waiting very patiently and some have been waiting a little less patiently than others, and it all comes from a point of passion. We’re hard at work designing a new look and new feel for TNA to both honor our history but also to be forward thinking and forward moving.”
CM Punk is a free agent in professional wrestling following his abrupt AEW exit in September, and while questions remain over where he will go next, recent reports indicate that Impact Wrestling, soon to once again be known as TNA, may have his attention. Nick Hausman’s “Haus of Wrestling” is reporting that Punk was backstage for the “IMPACT Wrestling on AXS TV” tapings in Chicago, though not for the Bound for Glory pay-per-view event. According to the report, Punk arrived just before the tapings began, around 6:30 pm CST, and was quickly taken to the locker room area.
Punk reportedly spoke with anyone who wanted to get some time with him backstage, which was said to have included key talent within the promotion. His backstage presence follows a weekend of post-Bound For Glory buzz, which has only gotten stronger since Impact announced it was returning to its original TNA name. There were also reports that his Punk’s friend, Ace Steel, had also been seen working backstage for Impact as a producer. Hausman claims Steel was even considered to wrestle in the “Gauntlet for the Gold” match on the PPV, but Impact didn’t want its fans to assume Steel coming into the fold was a guarantee that Punk would follow, generating potentially unfounded excitement.
CM Punk left AEW amidst controversy following an altercation backstage at All In, the massive event held at Wembley Stadium back in August. Recent reporting has indicated Punk wanted a return to WWE but his former promotion turned him down. If these reports prove accurate, the newly-rebranded TNA — a name that hasn’t appeared on one of Punk’s checks since 2003 — could end up being a bidder for his services.
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