Tonight’s live edition of “TNA Impact” featured title matches, new number-one contenders crowned in the tag division, and an appearance from Mama June, for those of you keyed into TLC reality TV. While it was far from the worst TNA has had to offer in 2026, the lows were fairly low, as you’ll see from our entries tonight. TNA/X

Leon Slater made his first defense of the X-Division title this year on Thursday, defeating Nic Nemeth in a match that showed glimmers of the brilliance TNA is capable of.

Slater is by far the most exciting talent the company has on its roster, and sticking him in the ring with a veteran the level of Nemeth was always going to turn out perfectly fine, at the very least. What it turned out to be was actually quite fun, Slater getting the fast start right out of the gates. As he should do.

Nemeth found his way back into things with the help of his brother at ringside. Which, to be honest, is the best application for someone like Ryan Nemeth. And thus ensued a very back-and-forth match that saw near-falls on either side.

It was one of those bouts that managed to feel like any and all attempted covers could have been the last, and that only mingled with the excitement of the bout’s actual action with it very possible there could have been a title change. That’s why when Ryan Nemeth got involved for the second time, popping up on the apron, and provided the distraction for Nemeth to connect with a superkick, it felt like the numbers game had proved too much.

Only, Slater did kick out of that and went on to finish the match with the Swanton 450 – a move he had tried and failed to connect with multiple times – and retain his title.

It wasn’t an instant classic to be talked about in years to come. But on a show that had very little going for it in a positive light, it was just cool to see that TNA can put on stuff like this when it wants to. A good match, a title match that very easily could have seen either win, complete with a post-match angle; Eric Young emerged to attack Slater, kick-starting his pursuit of the X-Division title.

Slater is a talent that really should be built around, always a highlight when he’s in the ring, and one that the company really needs at this stage in time. It would be nice to see more of this every Thursday.

Written by Max Everett