For the first time in 16 months, All Elite Wrestling fans saw Hikaru Shida in action.
The Japanese star returned on the special Thursday edition of “AEW Collision” to answer an open challenge laid out by TBS Champion Willow Nightingale. According to Nightingale, she wanted to face the very best amongst the roster, which opened the door for Shida, a former three-time AEW Women’s Champion, to resurface.
In the closing moments of their TBS Championship match, Shida dodged Nightingale’s top rope moonsault, then blasted her with a running knee for a near fall. Eager to finish Nightingale off, Shida followed with another running knee. Again, though, Nightingale kicked out, and ultimately, surprised Shida with a backslide pin for the win.
Evidently frustrated by the result, Shida raised her cane as if she were about to strike Nightingale with it from behind afterward. Instead, she dropped it, with Nightingale then offering a thumbs up for Shida’s efforts.
Prior to the April 2 edition of “Collision,” Shida’s last in-ring appearance for AEW came in late November 2024, when she took on Kris Statlander in a singles match on “AEW Dynamite.” Following that, Shida experienced visa issues that were eventually resolved by October 2025. The same month, she also reportedly sign a contract extension with AEW.
In between her AEW outings, Shida continued to compete in Japan for promotions such as WAVE, ZERO1, and OZ Academy. Most recently, she took part in OZ Academy’s Sonoko Kato Retirement show in November 2025 through an eight-woman tag bout. Whether she will serve as a regular fixture for AEW now has yet to be seen.
While it’s not an easy match to predict due to its four-way status, half of us believe that Joe Hendry will retain the NXT Championship on the Stand & Deliver stage. It’s his first Stand & Deliver as champion, which is yet another big deal for the viral sensation, and 50% of us who cast our votes believe he’s hanging on to the gold as the fan-favorite, despite the best efforts of Ethan Page, Ricky Saints, and Tony D’Angelo.
Page and Saints are both already one-time NXT Champions, and both (albeit, like Hendry) are main roster-ready and feel like they could be called up at any time. Even if they aren’t called up, the pair are running a storyline together, best described as “frenemies,” as Page decided he also wanted to challenge for the top title once again after losing his North American Championship, much to the chagrin of his friend, Saints. The “Absolute” one is tolerating Page, but the pair are on a crash course to a feud of their own, and we don’t think either one is taking the NXT Championship along with them.
As for D’Angelo, it almost feels like his story isn’t as fleshed out as it could be, but that could also be the fact he was thrown into this four-way match. While it’s good he’s on the Stand & Deliver card, the former “Don” of “NXT” could benefit greatly from a singles feud, leading to a match where he captures the title from Hendry. That feels like the likely next step, which may require D’Angelo going heel again, but it’s one of the many reasons half of us convinced Hendry retains the title at Stand & Deliver. As for the other half, 43% of the WINC crew see it as finally being Tony D’Angelo’s day in the sun, while 7% believe “NXT” is gearing up for another title reign for Ethan Page.
“Street Fighter” might be right up Roman Reigns’ alley, as “Akuma” has always been a physically imposing character, and the franchise is built upon physical altercations – as the name suggests. However, another role Reigns recently had was voicing one of the “Zebros” alongside WrestleMania 42 rival CM Punk, in “Zootopia 2.”
Jimmy Fallon then asked Reigns about the film, which the former champion described as the toughest role he’s ever had.
“You know, when you’re performing, you need a little bit of feedback? We didn’t have any lines for this, we literally said ‘Zebros’ the whole time,” he said. “In two minutes, I said ‘Zebros’ 500 times, all different inflections, different deliveries, different ways, and then nobody’s giving me any feedback.”
Reigns further explained that he’s used to getting pops from the crowd, but when it came to the voice acting, there was no reaction from the studio, and he had no idea whether he was doing the right thing or not.
“I was telling myself ‘I’m never going to do this again,’ probably, ‘this is my last voice-over gig,'” he said. “And then it ended up doing doing great! Did a great box office! Our characters, specifically!”
However, when reminded that he acted alongside Punk, Reigns’ tone changed entirely.
“That’s the only unfortunate part. The good thing is, is we didn’t actually have to do it together; we had separate studio time,” he clarified. “You can clearly tell the size difference from who I am.”
If you use any quotes from this article, please credit “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” and provide a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.
TNA iMPACT Results – April 2, 2026 – Mike Santana opens the show and says he went through one of the toughest men in TNA, Steve Maclin, and “dropped him.” He promises to walk into Sacrifice as world champion and walk out the same — and now he’s moving on to Eddie Edwards at Rebellion.
Eddie Edwards and Cedric Alexander interrupt. Edwards reminds Santana that he pinned him last week and says that when he wins the TNA World Championship at Rebellion, The System will officially run TNA. Santana fires back that Edwards doesn’t even believe his own words, otherwise they’d be fighting already. Alexander shifts the focus to Leon Slater, saying the X‑Division Champion has been “ducking and dodging” him.
Leon Slater arrives and tells Alexander he beat him nine months ago and will do it again. Alexander says he doesn’t care about the fans anymore — only The System, who will hold all the gold after Rebellion.
Mustafa Ali and Order 4 join the chaos. Ali, dressed to compete, promises to beat Trey Miguel for the International Championship at Rebellion. Trey Miguel comes out and calls Ali a coward who hides behind numbers. Miguel says Ali isn’t walking out with the title — “You mean not walking away like Jada Stone?”
Santana challenges the heels to fight, even though they’re outnumbered. Moose arrives to even the odds. Moose launches one of the Great Hands onto the others, and Santino Marella comes out with “an idea on his brains.” After the break, it becomes an eight‑man tag.
Mike Santana, Leon Slater, Trey Miguel & Moose (w/ Alisha Edwards) vs. Mustafa Ali, Agent Zero, Eddie Edwards & Cedric Alexander (w/ Order 4)
Moose starts with Ali, who immediately tags out. Alexander enters and gets flattened by a senton. Santana tags in, but a cheap shot from Edwards gives the heels a brief opening. Santana answers with a dropkick and tags Slater. Slater and Santana hit crisp double‑team offense on Edwards. Slater hits a rana off the middle rope, but Alexander catches him on the apron with an uranage and follows with a dropkick to the back of the neck.
Miguel and Ali tag in and have a fast exchange. Miguel hits a sliding DDT to the floor and a meteora in the ring for a near fall. Ali boxes Miguel’s ears and tags Agent Zero, who plants Miguel with a choke slam and a press slam. Ali returns to choke Miguel on the ropes while Tasha Steelz gets in a cheap shot. Edwards tags in and chops Miguel down. Edwards draws Moose into the ring so the heels can swarm Miguel behind the referee’s back.
Alexander gets caught in a small package for a near fall, then drives a knee into Miguel’s ribs. Miguel avoids Edwards in the corner, but Ali cuts him off from tagging. Ali distracts the referee so the Great Hands can attack Miguel on the floor. Miguel fires back with a clothesline that flips Ali inside out, but Zero tags in and hits a German suplex. The System double‑teams Miguel, and Alexander gets a near fall after a Michinoku Driver.
Miguel rallies with a Lionsault on Alexander, kicks Edwards away, backdrops Ali, and finally reaches Santana.
Santana unloads on Edwards with a flying knee, then dives onto Alexander on the floor. Santana hits a frog splash on Edwards, but Ali breaks the pin. Miguel hits Ali with a flying DDT, and the match breaks down into a series of dives. Ali attempts a dive onto Moose and gets powerbombed on the apron.
Moose and Agent Zero square off. Zero boots Moose, but Moose answers with a top‑rope superplex. Ali hits a 450 on Moose. Slater hits a 450 on Ali. Ali hits Slater with a Lumbar Check. Miguel wipes out Ali. Santana clotheslines Zero out of the ring, knocks down the Great Hands, and hits Alexander with a rolling stunner.
But Edwards catches Santana with the Boston Knee Party and pins the TNA World Champion for the second straight week.
Winners: Mustafa Ali, Agent Zero, Eddie Edwards & Cedric Alexander
Daria Rae confronts Santino Marella backstage and complains about the impromptu eight‑man tag he made earlier. She warns Santino that he’s on thin ice with the board. She also announces that whoever wins tonight’s Knockouts World Title main event will defend against Lei Ying Lee at Rebellion.
The Hardys and The Righteous
Matt Hardy appears conflicted between his Broken persona and his classic self as he addresses The Righteous. He says the Hardys extended brotherhood, even having Jeff paint Vincent’s face for their match on Friday, but The Righteous didn’t reciprocate.
Vincent and Dutch come out and insist they’re “family.” They claim they didn’t betray the Hardys — love simply requires sacrifice. Dutch says love isn’t gentle, and the Hardys aren’t victims, but “the offering.” The message is cryptic and unclear.
The Hardys challenge them to fight. Vincent says the Hardys have something The Righteous want — not titles or money, but something else. Matt invites them into the ring again, but Vincent declines. Matt makes the match for next week. Dutch agrees, but only if it’s “extreme.” Jeff raises the stakes to a tag team tables match for the TNA Tag Team Titles.
Backstage, the person in the bunny costume uses “magical powers” to abduct Victoria Crawford while she’s walking with Tessa Blanchard.
Arianna Grace mocks Mike Santana backstage for losing his match. She tells him world champions are supposed to win and suggests he take notes. Santana reminds her that “they don’t even work here.”
Tessa Blanchard vs. Jody Threat — Bunkhouse Match
Blanchard enters in jeans and brings a bull rope. Threat, dressed in black, is attacked on the ramp, but fires back with a trash can shot and throws Blanchard into the ring to officially start the match.
Threat searches under the ring for weapons — chairs, cables, trash cans — and pelts Blanchard with one. She tosses a kendo stick into the ring, nearly hitting commentary. The extended search gives Blanchard time to recover, and she catches Threat with a sliding dropkick to take control.
Blanchard attacks until she misses a charge with a trash can. At ringside, both women struggle to move a massive equipment case. Threat eventually gets it into the ring, but Blanchard cuts her off with a running forearm. Threat powerbombs Blanchard onto the apron and throws her back inside.
Threat sets Blanchard on a chair for a meteora, but Blanchard escapes and Threat crashes knees‑first. Blanchard wedges a chair in the corner, traps Threat’s head against it, and hits a dropkick. Threat rallies with the cowbell and headbutts Blanchard, leaving her draped over the top turnbuckle. Threat uses a cable to choke Blanchard.
Threat hits Blanchard with the cowbell again and wedges her head into the heavy case, but misses a knee drop into it. Blanchard removes her belt and whips Threat repeatedly. She then takes the referee’s belt and tries to choke Threat out. Threat powers Blanchard onto her shoulders while being choked and hits an F5‑style slam, but Blanchard maintains the choke and slides to the floor for extra leverage.
The referee stops the match, awarding it to Blanchard.
Winner: Tessa Blanchard (referee stoppage)
Backstage, Ryan Nemeth demands answers about who attacked his brother Nic Nemeth at Sacrifice. He questions BDE, and Frankie Kazarian joins in to stir trouble. Elijah arrives to chase the heels off.
Later, a battered Tessa Blanchard is led into a red‑lit room by the bunny.
AJ Francis vs. Home Town Man
AJ Francis goes for a choke slam early, but the Home Town Man slaps him across the back of the head to break it. The Home Town Man tries to body‑slam Francis, and it goes exactly as expected — Francis doesn’t budge. Francis mocks the crowd for chanting for the local competitor, then drills him with a running knee and flips over the top rope to the floor.
Francis spits on the Drew Brees jersey the Home Town Man wore to the ring. The Home Town Man fires up with a full Hulk Hogan–style comeback and actually manages to slam Francis. He charges in, but Francis cuts him down instantly with a spear. Francis follows with a choke slam and scores the pin.
Winner: AJ Francis
After the match, AJ Francis plays footage from Sacrifice showing Nic Nemeth laid out in the locker room. Francis ends the speculation and admits he was the one who attacked Nemeth. He says Nic steals opportunities from him, and that he is the real show stealer in TNA.
Ryan Nemeth comes out to defend his brother but refuses to step into the ring. Francis tells him he’ll leave Nic Nemeth “without a pulse” at Rebellion in Cleveland. Commentary clarifies that Francis is facing Nic, not Ryan.
Backstage, Lei Ying Lee shows Xia Brookside a message from her father to motivate her for tonight’s Knockouts World Title match.
Moose vs. Agent Zero is made official for Rebellion.
The One Man Gang is shown in the crowd for the main event.
Xia Brookside (w/ Lei Ying Lee) vs. Arianna Grace (w/ Stacks) — TNA Knockouts Championship
This marks the first Knockouts main event of the AMC era.
Brookside starts fast with an Oklahoma Roll for a near fall and targets Grace’s arm with an arm ringer. Grace slips out and sweeps the leg. Brookside answers with a series of arm drags and a dropkick, sending Grace to the floor to regroup with Stacks.
Stacks distracts Brookside, allowing Grace to land a cheap shot and take control. Grace hits a diving clothesline for a near fall, then delivers a backbreaker and chokes Brookside on the ropes. Grace follows with a fisherman’s neckbreaker for another near fall. Brookside escapes a chinlock, and both women collide with simultaneous clotheslines.
They trade strikes, and Brookside gains momentum with multiple clotheslines.
After the commercial break, Grace is firmly in control. She hits a meteora in the corner, a Russian leg sweep, and a facebuster. Stacks hands her the cobra, but Brookside fires back with a tornado DDT. Stacks drags Brookside out of the ring, drawing Lei Ying Lee into the fight. Grace sends Lee into the steel steps. Brookside tackles Grace with a Thesz Press and unloads with punches. She then hits Stacks with a tornado DDT on the floor, all in front of Carlos Silva.
Back inside, Grace goes for the cobra, but Brookside counters and applies it herself. They struggle over the weapon until Brookside shoves Grace into Stacks and rolls her up, but Grace kicks out and drops Brookside with a boot.
Grace grabs the title belt but hesitates. Brookside hits a lung blower for two. Grace sends Brookside into the turnbuckles and climbs the ropes. Brookside catches her and sets up for the Brooksie Bomb, but Stacks interferes again. Lei Ying Lee spears Stacks. With the referee distracted, Grace grabs the title belt and blasts Brookside in the face. Grace hits another facebuster and gets the pin.
Winner: Arianna Grace (retains the Knockouts Championship)
After the match, Grace and Stacks surround Lei Ying Lee as she checks on Brookside. Mike Santana runs out and clears the ring, dropping Stacks with a discus lariat.
Eddie Edwards comes through the crowd to address Mike Santana. Edwards mocks Santana for letting his emotions control him, allowing Arianna Grace and Stacks to get inside his head. Edwards reminds Santana he has pinned him twice and says Santana clearly isn’t in control of himself.
Santana invites Edwards to climb over the guardrail and fight him, but Edwards refuses. He says he already beat Santana once tonight and will do it again at Rebellion. Edwards claims that on the biggest night of Santana’s life, he’ll be remembered as the man who couldn’t hold it together. Santana fires back that he is the standard of TNA — and the only thing that won’t be held together at Rebellion is Edwards’ face.
Father James Mitchell appears to close the show. He welcomes Tessa Blanchard — now fully cleaned up and in new attire, showing no signs of the Bunkhouse Match — into the “Undead Realm.”
Next Week on iMPACT:
The Hardys vs. The Righteous — Tables Match for the TNA Tag Team Titles
Sandwiched (along with next week’s episode) between two major events, tonight’s “TNA Impact” was a bit of a strange one, with four matches and a whole lot of jabberjawing in between. There was plenty of setup for next week’s TNA Rebellion, and the main event did have a title on the line, though it didn’t spark enough of a reaction in any of our staff to warrant an entry here.WWE
As with any wrestling show, not all faces and figures can fit into a singular broadcast. Still, I expected more from tonight’s edition of “Thursday Night iMPACT.”
Across the first hour, we saw an exhilarating eight-man tag bout pitting members of The System and Order 4 against TNA World Champion Mike Santana, X-Division Champion Leon Slater, International Champion Trey Miguel, and Moose (see elsewhere in this column for a more extensive breakdown). The duration of this match plus the preceding promo segment, however, totaled 35 minutes, over a fourth of the entire “iMPACT” broadcast.
While an overall fun match to watch, I did find myself growing tired of it as time stretched on, especially knowing that TNA had already spent 13 minutes to set it up with a series of mini promos and faceoffs in the ring. By the time we reached the 30 minute mark of this match-promo combo, I simply wanted it to end so I could see the other action that “Total Nonstop Action” promises.
Following this, the only other substantial piece featured in the first hour was another promo segment, in this case between the Hardy Boys and The Righteous. Again, the work itself wasn’t bad; the exchange between the two teams actually sparked intrigue in me. The fact that there wasn’t more notable content surrounding it was disappointing, and frankly, seemed to be a disservice to talents that could have furthered their respective stories in that time as well. Instead, the same hour closed out with another scene involving Mike Santana backstage.
