Arianna Grace Retains TNA Knockouts Title Against Xia Brookside In Impact Main Event

In her third-ever TNA Knockouts World Title match, Arianna Grace successfully defended and retained her championship against Xia Brookside on Thursday’s “TNA iMPACT.” Not only was this another successful title defense for the liaison of TNA-“WWE NXT,” but it was the first Knockouts match to ever main event the show since it moved to AMC this past January.

The contest was hard-hitting, as Brookside proved in the beginning of the title fight that there are more multi-generational “birthright” stars than just Grace and her pals over on “NXT.” However, thanks to distractions from her fiancé, Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo, Grace used her title to get the final blow on Brookside before finishing her off with a knee to the face.

With Rebellion just around the corner next Saturday in Cleveland, Ohio, Grace will put her title on the line for the fourth time against the woman she took it from at No Surrender this past February, Lei Ying Lee. Recently, these two, along with the former Dani Luna, all faced off in a triple threat match at No Surrender last Friday.

Another first-ever Knockouts match occurred on tonight’s episode, as Tessa Blanchard emerged victorious, via knockout, against Jody Threat in a Bunkhouse match.

Former World’s Strongest Man Wants Francis Ngannou MMA Fight

There are very few heavyweight fighters in Mixed Martial Arts who have quite as much pulling (and punching) power as Francis Ngannou. Not only is he a former UFC Heavyweight Champion, but he is also the Lineal MMA Heavyweight Champion and is still one of the most sought after opponents in the sport, even to those without much MMA experience.

One man who wants to face “The Predator” is the former winner of the Worlds Strongest Man, Eddie Hall, who admitted on a recent edition of “The Ariel Helwani Show” that before he turns 40, he wants to dive deeper into the world of MMA, and Ngannou is someone he most certainly has his eye on. “There’s obviously people like Francis Ngannou who are just like the biggest, scariest bastards on the planet. Just a big, big fight like that. That’s what I’m looking for…I think I’d just wanna go up against the biggest, baddest person I can get up against.”

Hall also named current KSW Heavyweight Champion Phil De Fres as another potential opponent as the former Worlds Strongest Man aims to have at least one European or World Championship fight before he calls time on his competitive career. Hall has one MMA under his belt already, that being against Mariusz Pudzianowski at KSW 105 in April 2025. However, he did win a two-on-one fight in June 2024 against social media influencers the Neffati brothers.

There is good news for Hall as Ngannou is back fighting again after his contract with the PFL expired in March 2026. He will face Philipe Lens on May 16 in Inglewood, California on the same card as Ronda Rousey’s fight with Gina Carano, and Nate Diaz’s fight against Mike Perry.

MVP On Coming Up With WWE Character: ‘I Had To Explain To Vince What A Baller Was’

In his first run with WWE, Montel Vontavious Porter was the most valuable player from 2006-2010. Labeled as shameless, arrogant, and turbulent, he did it all in style. His presence was so intoxicating, that WWE had to conjure up the right price to pay him, which turned out to be the highest paid contract in “WWE SmackDown” history (on-screen wise). The character suited the man playing the role. While Vince McMahon had a way with creating the characters and gimmicks for his wrestlers, it was MVP who educated the former CEO and chairman on who and what MVP was about.

“I mean, to be real, the MVP persona came gritty. There was nothing to that, that Vince was going to coach me about regarding the MVP persona, because I created it. I knew what it was,” AEW star and Hurt Syndicate manager said on his “Marking Out” podcast. “I had to explain to Vince what a ‘baller’ was, what it meant to be balling. Now Vince, coached me on presence and we can make our money here with facial expressions and, you know, how to work the cameras…things like that. But not once did Vince ever tell me to study.”

In his first run, MVP stunned his opponents and audiences by becoming a former two-time Men’s United States Champion. His first reign with the title was historic, as he was the first man to ever hold the title for 343 days, the longest in company history at the time. He also went on to carry the WWE Tag Team Championship with Matt Hardy. Now, the former Superstar is enjoying each and every match he participates in, as he announced last year that he’s winding down his in-ring activity to concentrate more on his managerial duties.

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

Demetrious Johnson Thanked Hunter Campbell For Releasing Him After UFC HOF Induction

During the recent UFC Fight Night 271 event on March 28, former UFC Flyweight Champion Demetrious Johnson was announced as the latest inductee into the UFC Hall of Fame.

“Mighty Mouse” will be inducted into the Modern Wing of the Hall, joining the former UFC Bantamweight Champion Dominic Cruz who will also be inducted during the 2026 International Fight Week. Johnson was present at UFC Fight Night 271 to celebrate the induction along with his family, and during a recent appearance on “The Ariel Helwani Show,” Johnson was asked if he got the chance to catch up with Dana White, to which he said no. However, he did get the chance to catch up Hunter Campbell, the UFC’s Chief Business Officer, who Johnson credits as one of the main reasons why he is going into the Hall of Fame to begin with.

“I said, ‘I appreciate you letting me out of my contract. I really do.’ At the end of the day, the UFC could have said no. They could have said ‘Your black a** ain’t going nowhere. You owe us four more fights and you’re going to fight those fights.’ They let me get out of my contract, and when I went to ONE Championship, I made great money. I truly believe if I had never gone to ONE Championship, I wouldn’t be in the position I’m in today. I have to be grateful. I have to show respect.”

Johnson believes that when you’re straight and honest with someone that you get to see their true colors, and because he was honest and respectful with how he interacted with Campbell, Campbell in return congratulated him for both his UFC Hall of Fame induction, and his success in ONE Championship. With the induction, Johnson becomes the first fighter to be inducted into both the UFC and ONE Championship Hall of Fame.

TNA Thursday Night iMPACT Results 4/2 – TNA Knockouts World Championship Up For Grabs, Bunkhouse Match

Ali and Moose begin the action. The bell rings and the two lock up. Ali tags in Alexander, and Alexander lands a boot on Moose’s midsection. Moose delivers a uranage and a senton to Alexander, then kips up and tags out to Santana.

Santana lands a chop on Alexander, but Alexander whips Santana into the ropes. Eddie takes a cheap shot at Santana and tags in but Santana levels him with a shotgun dropkick and tags Slater in. Santana whips Slater into Eddie, where Slater lands a right hand on Eddie. Santana delivers a right hand to Eddie and double teams on him with Slater.

Slater connects with a springboard handspring back elbow on Eddie. He delivers a hurricanrana to Eddie off the middle rope, but Alexander sends Slater crashing into the mat spine first. This opens the door for Eddie to pin Slater, but Slater kicks out.

Alexander tags back in and fires off chops on Slater. He fires off shoulders on his midsection and delivers another chop to his chest before the two men exchange right hands with one another and Slater levels Alexander with a springboard spinning back heel kick.

Miguel and Ali tag in, and Miguel fires off right hands on Ali. Ali rocks Miguel with a right hand, but Miguel catches Ali with a DDT and dumps him inside the ring. Agent 0 tags in and delivers a chokeslam to Miguel. He follows it up with a suplex during the break, then whips Miguel into the corner and sends him crashing across the ring. He sends Miguel crashing into the mat and tags in Ali.

Ali jams his boot into the back of Miguel’s head, then tags in Eddie. Eddie continues wearing down Miguel, then tags out to Alexander. Alexander follows suit before all eight men get in one another’s faces on the outside.

Back from the break, Agent 0 lands a German suplex on Miguel. Eddie tags back in, then immediately tags out to Alexander. Eddie whips Alexander into the corner for him to land a splash on Miguel, and Alexander connects with a Michinoku Driver on Miguel. He goes for a pin, but Miguel kicks out.

Miguel delivers a springboard moonsault to level Alexander on the outside, but Santana tags in and delivers a Frog Splash to Eddie off the top rope. He goes for a pin, but Ali breaks the fall. Miguel levels Ali with a modified DDT and fires off right hands on him on the outside, but Alexander levels Miguel with a dropkick. Slater flies over the top rope to level Alexander, but Agent 0 flies over the top to level Alexander. Ali looks to fly over the top rope on the other side of the ring, but Moose powerbombs Ali on the ring apron.

Moose and Agent 0 exchange right hands on one another, but Agent 0 lands an uppercut on Moose in the corner. Everyone begins with one another as Hotch and Skyler try to interfere. Santana takes them out, but Eddie is waiting with a Boston Knee Party on Santana for the win.

Winners: Eddie Edwards, Cedric Alexander, Special Agent 0, and Mustafa Ali

We then head backstage, where Daria Rae storms into Santino Marella’s office and vents her anger with Marella making the Eight Man Tag Team Match official just now. She tells Marella that he’s skating on thin ice, then informs him that whoever walks out of tonight as Knockouts World Champion will defend the title against Léi Yǐng Lee.

Back from the break, we head over to a video for Sacrifice. Several TNA talents congratulate Ricky Sosa in the backstage area in the moments that followed his signing to the company, but Eric Young confronts Sosa and puts him on notice.

Back at ringside, The Hardys make their way out as we find out that The Righteous was the one to attack Matt Hardy last Thursday and Dutch launched a second backstage attack on him at Sacrifice.