Cedric Alexander defeated Leon Slater in the main event of Thursday’s “TNA Impact,” winning the X-Division Championship and preventing Slater from becoming the longest reigning champion in the title’s history. 

Slater got the first fall relatively early in the bout with a flash roll-up for the three-count. The action was taken to the outside as Slater looked for a suicide dive, got caught and release German suplexed to the floor. Alexander than rammed Slater spine-first into the barricade. 

When the action returned to the ring, Slater got the better of things and went back up to the ropes, missing as Alexander sidestepped him but working it into a springboard leg lariat. He then went to the top rope again and delivered a crossbody, but as he sought to finish the match he was caught in a roll-up attempt. An exchange of roll-up attempts led into Alexander hitting a Michinoku Driver for the two-count. 

Alexander eventually connected with the Lumbar Check to pin Slater and draw the match level. Slater thought he had the match won with an avalanche Styles Clash but Alexander managed to kick out at the count of two. Alexander then launched Slater into the steel steps and grabbed the X-Division title belt at ringside, declaring himself the champion-in-waiting to Carlos Silva and the commentary team. 

Slater was shown to be busted open from the steps spot. Though he almost stole the match with an inside cradle in the middle of the ring, Alexander kicked out and delivered a brainbuster for his own nearfall. 

Alexander delivered another Lumbar Check but this time Slater kicked out, rallying to hit a Blue Thunderbomb and going for the Swanton 450. He missed, allowing Alexander to hit another Lumbar Check, followed by a second for good measure and getting the pinfall to win the title. 

Despite the Battle Royal that saw Eric Young earn a future TNA World Championship shot against Mike Santana this week on “TNA Impact,” it appears Santana will have to pick up where he left off with Steve Maclin before facing Young. As announced by on-screen Director of Operations Daria Rae, Santana will be “Front Toward Enemy” and will physically face-off against Maclin next Thursday.

This match will occur nearly two months after their last encounter at the pay-per-view event, Sacrifice, on March 27, where the match ended via referee stoppage, after it was ruled that Maclin had suffered a concussion. During their match, Maclin took a kick to the jaw, which sent him towards the ropes and onto the mat on the outside. Immediately after the referee’s call, Maclin was taken to the hospital, where he was evaluated and cleared of all concussion tests. Now, the former two-time TNA International Champion is ready to return to the ring and crown himself a two-time world champion.

Currently in his second reign, “The Real Deal” reclaimed the championship at the “iMPACT” premiere on AMC this past January. His last title defense was against the former Impact World Champion Rich Swann in the main event of the April 15th episode. So far, Santana has held four successful title defenses.

The identity of TNA World Champion Mike Santana’s next challenger was determined in the opening bout of “TNA Impact.”

This week’s “Impact” kicked off with a battle royal in which the winner would earn a future shot at the TNA World Championship, currently held by Mike Santana. Amongst the crop of competitors, fans saw Elijah, Eric Young, The System (Eddie Edwards, Brian Myers, and Bear Bronson) Order 4 (Special Agent Zero, Jason Hotch, John Skyler), Home Town Man, Frankie Kazarian, and many others.

Former ECW World Tag Team Champion Mustafa Saed emerged as a surprise entrant, equipped with a trash chain and fistful of chain. Saed immediately faced off with Special Agent Zero, with the two trading jabs until the TNA regular eliminated the ECW alum for the first elimination. The field quickly dwindled as Dutch and Zero were simultaneously dumped to the outside afterward. BDE and Mr. Elegance met the floor as well in the seconds following.

Eventually, Edwards, Bronson, Elijah and Young stood as the final four. Seemingly still heated about his recent loss to Elijah, Kazarian tried to eliminate the musical star by his hair. Instead, Elijah tossed a charging Bronson and Edwards over the top rope and to the floor. With just Elijah and Young left, the action then moved to the apron. Chops were traded and a low blow was taken, causing Elijah to fall off and Young to celebrate his win.

As of this writing, the date and location for Santana’s world title defense against Young has yet to be revealed. Nevertheless, Young has promised to “cleanse” TNA of Santana whenever they do meet.

Shelton Benjamin has had an undeniably successful career, wrestling in major promotions across the globe. Speaking to his friend MVP on “Marking Out,” Benjamin credited a former member of The Four Horsemen for helping him succeed.

“Arn Anderson unlocked my potential,” Benjamin said. “He actually made me realize I had a whole lot more to learn. I was in [Ohio Valley Wrestling] for two and a half years, and when I came to the main roster … I was still green. … I probably had a few hundred matches under my belt. Still green. Arn Anderson treated myself and Charlie [Haas] like a well-oiled team. He would take us to the ring and we would run drills – tag team drills.”

At the time, Benjamin had a sense of arrogance about his knowledge of the business, but learning under Anderson made him understand how much more he had to grow. He credits the WWE Hall of Famer for helping him truly comprehend wrestling psychology.

“I was on the main roster for five solid years, doing four matches a week – minimum, every week, all year – before I started getting a clue of what this business was,” Benjamin continued.

Along with his career as a pro wrestler, Anderson spent many years as a producer in both WWE and later AEW. Some may remember that he occupied an onscreen position in AEW as well, serving as the manager for Cody Rhodes. These days, he has resumed his affiliation with WWE, appearing onscreen several times over the past several years, though he has seemingly retired from producing and training wrestlers.

If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit “Marking Out” and provide a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.