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Steve Maclin made his dramatic return to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) on Thursday night’s “Impact” to face Mike Santana for the world title.
Maclin’s match against Santana at Sacrifice was stopped due to injury, and afterward, Maclin was briefly “fired” from the company before Chief Operating Officer Daria Rae worked to reinstate him. It was a highly anticipated match to see who would become the face of TNA.
Rae and Maclin were part of a segment before the match began. Rae gave Maclin something of a pep talk before the match took place.
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Mike Santana enters the ring during NXT at the Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York on March 31, 2026. (Brien Adams/WWE)
“Do you remember when you got fired? Of course you do. You know what’s so cool about this company? Everyone loves to brag about their loyalty, until it’s inconvenient,” Maclin told a stoic Maclin. “You put your hands on Tom Hannifan and this entire company turned against you overnight. They want to erase Steve Maclin from TNA history. But I don’t. I saw the situation differently. They saw you as a burden, and I saw the value. I saw a man that everyone feared because they know exactly what you are capable of when you are focused.
“More importantly, I understand why men like you are made the way they are and what they are made for. And tonight, you have a chance that no one else can: eliminate Mike Santana. Rip the heart out of this company and return the TNA title to someone worthy of wearing it.”
Eric Young, who became the number one contender for the TNA World Title, also got in Maclin’s ear before their match. He warned that the winner will have to face Young at his “most masochistic” moment.
Maclin promised to take Santana to a hospital as he attempted to confront the champion before their match.
But would it be enough to dethrone Santana?
It was a fight from the beginning. Each of the two had their moments when they had the advantage in the match. When Santana returned to the match, Maclin was ejected from the ring. Maclin tried to get out of the way of any aerial moves, but Santana smartly reached the top rope and hit a big splash on the outside.
Maclin took advantage of the outside. He threw Santana into the ring post and set up a table on the outside. Santana tried to jump off the steps to hang Maclin’s clothes, but he went a little limp. Maclin immediately went to work on the sprained left leg.
As the final minutes of the match progressed, it was match time for both competitors. Santana hit Maclin with a Rolling Buck 50, but Maclin didn’t stay down – even after a Blue Thunder Bomb.
Mike Santana makes his entrance during NXT at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida on June 3, 2025. (Bradlee Rutledge/WWE)
Maclin was trapped on the top rope when Santana hit an enziguri, causing Maclin to fall backwards through the table he had set up. Santana rolled him back into the ring and hit a frog splash, but he only got a two count.
Santana signed for Spin the Block. Maclin collapsed before Santana could hit him. Santana checked on Maclin to make sure he was okay, but fell into the trap. Maclin threw a superkick and tried to pin, but to no avail.
Santana made one last effort to breathe. He mustered enough energy to hit Spin the Block and pinned Maclin for the win.
“This is my house,” Santana proclaimed as “Impact” went off the air.
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The consequences of the Division X championship
El Sistema began the night basking in the glory that was Cedric Alexander’s X Division Championship victory over Leon Slater.
“Leon Slater, you were one day away, one day away, one day away, I’ll say it again, he was one day away from fulfilling his dream. One day away from becoming the record maker. No, look, last week, I became the record maker,” Alexander said. “Boo all you want. It’s a fact that I am now the standard in the X Division.
“I’m TNA’s signature champion. And you know what? I have a problem. Instead of being able to celebrate my moment. Instead of being able to live in the moment, someone decided to ruin the party.”
Alexander called out Fabian Aichner, who appeared at the end of Alexander’s match with Slater.
Aichner accepted and had a message for Alexander and The System.
“Buona Sera, System. Last week, I didn’t come here for no reason. I came here to make a name for myself: respect, redemption and recognition. That’s why I’m here. So if you want to call yourself the best in TNA, fine. Keep going because the bigger the obstacle, the bigger the fight, the better I’ll get. I’m not just a gimmick. I’m a future TNA champion. And you know what? That X Division title looks real “Good. So Cedric, enjoy your moment while it lasts, friend, because I’m not here to stand in line, I’m here to take my place.”
Bear Bronson and Brian Meyers rushed Aichner into the hallway, but did no harm. Aichner threw Eddie Edwards to the ground. Alexander began attacking Aichner when he entered the ring. Aichner avoided Alexander’s lumbar check and reversed it into a choke.
Aichner stood tall in the ring as The System carried Alexander out of the ring.
Aichner and Edwards will face off next week on “Impact.”
Santino Marella addresses Arianna Grace, Stacks
Santino Marella makes his entrance during NXT at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida on September 30, 2025. (Bradlee Rutledge/WWE)
Stacks and his fiancée Arianna Grace were front row to watch the match between Indi Hartwell and Elayna Black. Grace, the former TNA Knockouts World Champion, had feuded with Hartwell for some time. Grace claimed Hartwell was “obsessed” with her.
The match came to an end when Stacks unsuccessfully attempted to distract the referee while Grace pushed Hartwell off the top rope and began their beatdown. Grace blamed her father, Santino Marella, for why she is no longer the TNA Knockouts Champion. He said current champion Lei Ying Lee did not deserve her title shot.
TNA Authority Director Marella came out and called Grace “classless.” He said the only thing left to finish was Grace’s “attitude” and that she needed to be “grounded.” He turned his attention to Stacks, saying that he made him “sick” and that he was the one who “filled his head with all this crap.”
Marella was about to use the cobra on Stacks before Rae came out and stopped him. Rae reminded Marella that if she wanted a match with Stacks, she would have to submit it to “the board” and get their approval.
Rae later announced that the match had been approved for next week’s “Impact.” Marella will face Stacks one on one.
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Results of the match “Impact”:
Indi Hartwell defeated. Elayna Black via DQ.
“Broken” Matt Hardy defeats. Vincent.
Mustafa Ali defeated. Chazz “Starboy” Hall will retain the TNA International Championship.
Xia Brookside defeated. Jada Stone.
