Tag: Thursday Night iMPACT

TNA Impact On AMC Viewership & Ratings Report, Holds Steady In Week Two As Fan Reception Improves

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.

TNA Thursday Night iMPACT! AMC Debut Preview 1/15/2026

A new era of TNA Wrestling begins tonight as Thursday Night iMPACT! makes its historic debut on AMC, airing LIVE at 9/8c from the Curtis Culwell Center in Dallas, Texas. Streaming on AMC+ and TNA+ in the U.S., Sportsnet and Sportsnet 360 in Canada, and TNA+ internationally.

  • TNA World Championship: Frankie Kazarian (c) vs. Mike Santana
    (Bully Ray as guest commentator)
  • TNA Knockouts Tag Team World Championship: The IInspiration (c) vs. The Elegance Brand
  • Six-Man Tag Team Match: The Hardys & Elijah vs. Order 4
  • WWE’s AJ Styles to appear

TNA Quietly Removes X-Division Title Match From AMC Debut Amid Contract Uncertainty Of The Rascalz

TNA Wrestling has made a notable last-minute change to the lineup for its upcoming AMC debut episode of iMPACT!, and it appears to stem from real-world contract issues rather than creative direction.

The company has quietly pulled the previously announced X-Division Championship match that would have seen Leon Slater defend his title against Myron Reed. The bout has been removed from promotional graphics and the official event listing for Thursday’s show at the Curtis Culwell Center in Dallas. While Slater is still featured in TNA’s “tune in” press materials for the venue, Reed’s name is no longer mentioned.

Behind the scenes, reports suggest the decision is tied to the contract status of The Rascalz. According to PWInsider, members of the group are no longer under contract with TNA Wrestling. Trey Miguel and Zach Wentz are believed to have seen their deals expire at the end of 2025, with no option in place for TNA to extend them for an additional year.

Reed appears to have confirmed his own status indirectly, as his social media now lists him as a “free agent.” Dezmond Xavier has also resurfaced recently, though he is likewise believed to be unsigned. While all four performers still appear on some TNA roster listings, multiple sources indicate that there are currently no active contracts binding them to the promotion.

TNA officials reportedly declined to comment when asked about The Rascalz’ status. Despite the group still being listed on the company’s website, the belief backstage is that all four wrestlers are free to work elsewhere without restriction.

As for the X-Division Championship picture, Leon Slater’s reign remains intact and unaffected by the change. He is still scheduled to defend the title this Saturday at TNA Genesis in a Triple Threat match against Cedric Alexander and Moose, a bout that continues to be heavily promoted.

With TNA stepping onto a new platform with its AMC debut, the situation surrounding The Rascalz is one worth keeping an eye on, especially given their popularity and long-standing association with the company’s X-Division.

TNA Reportedly Wants AJ Styles To Wrestle On AMC Debut Episode Of “Thursday Night iMPACT”

TNA is gearing up for a massive relaunch in 2026, and the company is apparently shooting big when it comes to star power. With the promotion’s new multi-year media rights deal officially locked in, iMPACT is set to make its AMC debut on January 15, 2026, airing live from the Curtis Caldwell Center in Garland, Texas. And according to the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, TNA is hoping to bring back one of its most iconic names for the premiere: AJ Styles.

Per Dave Meltzer, a WWE source says TNA has reached out with interest in having Styles actually wrestle on the debut episode. The idea is simple—kick off the AMC era with a major ratings splash by featuring the man many still associate with the company’s glory years. Styles himself recently said he’d love to wrestle in TNA one more time before wrapping up his in-ring career, and January would mark his first match for the promotion since 2013.

WWE did allow “The Phenomenal One” to make a cameo at TNA Slammiversary back in July, appearing in a non-wrestling role. Letting him work an actual match is, of course, a different conversation entirely—but not outside the realm of possibility given WWE’s slightly more flexible approach to cross-promotional moments in recent years.

If the match does happen, Meltzer notes a likely opponent: Frankie Kazarian. The reigning TNA World Champion has a long, shared history with Styles dating back to the 2000s, and the two have locked up many times over the years. A Styles vs. Kazarian showdown on AMC’s debut night would be a fitting callback for longtime fans while spotlighting today’s TNA main event scene.

Along with the network move, TNA is giving its flagship a refreshed identity. The show will officially be known as Thursday Night iMPACT, maintaining its two-hour timeslot from 9–11 p.m. ET and streaming concurrently on AMC+.

Whether AJ Styles steps back into a TNA ring remains to be seen—but if TNA gets its wish, their AMC premiere could instantly become one of 2026’s most talked-about wrestling nights.