Cedric Alexander shocks TNA fans and wins the X Division title from Leon Slater

All eyes were on the Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) X Division Championship on Thursday night as Leon Slater looked to retain the title against Cedric Alexander and cement himself as the longest reigning X Division Champion in company history.

Slater knew a legacy was on the line as he looked to break a record set by Austin Aries. But he had to pin Alexander twice in one match to retain the title. It was a steep mountain to climb because Alexander had been just as dangerous since he joined the company.

The match started hot with Slater and Alexander trading blows to start the match. But the quick-witted Slater quickly rolled up Alexander for the first fall.

Alexander was able to go on the offensive from there. He hit a nasty German suplex outside the ring. He continued to work on Slater’s twisted neck. He then scored a back check to tie the match at 1-1.

Slater dug deep into his bag. He hit an avalanche of Styles Clash, which could have kept anyone else down. However, Alexander was expelled. Alexander was able to counter Slater’s high-flying abilities for just a moment and knocked him out of the ring.

Alexander sent Slater into the steel steps, leaving him busted. Alexander declared that he would be the “greatest” champion in Division X. A brainbuster later, Alexander tried to pin Slater, but was unable to take him down.

Alexander hit a spinal check again, but Slater kicked out. Slater summoned the last ounce of energy. A tilting slam set Alexander up for a Swanton 450. Slater missed and Alexander hit another lower back check, then again.

Leon Slater enters the arena during NXT at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida on January 6, 2026. (Craig Melvin/WWE)

Alexander pinned Slater for the victory, completely shocking the fans in Sacramento, California. This will be Alexander’s first reign and his first title of any kind in TNA.

Alexander reminds us, at least for TNA, that “the system always wins.”

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Fabian Aichner appears

Fabian Aichner, formerly known as Giovanni Vinci, walks to the ring during WWE SmackDown at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California on September 20, 2024. (WWE/Getty Images)

Moments before TNA went off the air, the lights went out in Sacramento Memorial Auditorium. Fabian Aichner emerged from the darkness.

Aichner looked at Alexander and seemed to mark himself as the next challenger for the X Division Championship. Aichner, known as Giovanni Vinci for much of his WWE run, hadn’t really been seen or heard from in months since leaving WWE.

Aichner wrestled under his real name for a stint in WWE before returning as Vinci on June 22. He was with WWE until 2025. He was a two-time NXT Tag Team Champion and Evolve Champion before becoming a WWE brand.

Eric Young earns future shot at TNA World Championship

Eric Young outlasted nine other men in an over-the-top battle royal and earned a shot at Mike Santana’s TNA World Championship to start the show.

The match came down to him and Elijah after the latter managed to kick The System members out of the ring while preventing Frankie Kazarian from attempting to re-enter the match after his own elimination.

Young and Elijah came to blows on the apron, knowing that as soon as their feet hit the floor, they would be eliminated. Young grabbed Elijah’s hair to try to hold on to the present moment. Elijah walked away, Young with his back to him. Elijah, however, disregarded his wide stance.

The TNA Original kicked Elijah in the groin and pushed him to the ground. Young won the match and received a shot at the TNA World Championship in the future.

He also made it clear that Santana was next on his list of people to eliminate, as he did Joe Hendry, EC3 and Ricky Sosa in previous weeks.

“Mike Santana, you left then,” he said.

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Mike Santana discovers his next opponent

Mike Santana is in the ring during NXT at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida on September 30, 2025. (Kevin Sabitus/WWE)

Mike Santana came out to address the crowd and praised Young for his efforts in helping build TNA from the ground up.

“You better come with something different because even though you’re someone who helped build this place, when it comes to the new era of TNA on AMC, I’m the guy. I’m the man. I’m the one holding down the fort week in and week out as the TNA World Champion.”

While Young could have earned a title shot, Daria Rae came out and revealed to the crowd that Steve Maclin had been cleared to return to action following an injury at the hands of Santana.

Maclin will get a chance at Santana’s TNA World Championship next week on “Impact.”

Santino Marella also walked out during the segment after being “suspended.” He revealed that Indi Harwell had re-signed with TNA.

The rivalry between Lei Ying Lee and Xia Brookside intensifies

Xia Brookside attends the “Freelance” screening at Regal Waterford Lakes in Orlando, Florida on October 24, 2023. (José Devillegas/Getty Images)

Lei Ying Lee brought home the TNA Knockouts Championship last week with a victory over Arianna Grace. She addressed the crowd before being interrupted by her former best friend, Xia Brookside.

All in black, Brookside claimed she was already in Lei’s head.

“You are such a fraud. I destroyed you mentally, I destroyed you emotionally, I destroyed you physically, and that title will be around my waist.”

Both contestants threw expletives at each other before the end of the segment. But Brookside made it clear she had her eyes on the title.

AJ Francis wins over KC Navarro

AJ Francis told PK Press Club Digital ahead of the SacTown Street Fight on “Impact” that he was going to make Navarro suffer.

That’s exactly what he did while carrying “Show Stealer” on his back. Francis took some punishment from Navarro – a few hits with a baseball bat and a kick with a trash can.

Francis managed to turn the tide for a few moments, using the baseball bat to his advantage. But Navarro dug deep. He lined up six chairs in the ring, hoping to get Francis through. Instead, Francis countered and attempted an avalanche takedown. Somehow Navarro countered with a cutter as both men crashed through the sea of ​​chairs.

It looked like that could have been it. Navarro went for the pinfall, but only got a two count.

Francis turned on the heat from there. He got hold of Navarro and paid a deposit through tables lined up outside the ring.

He brought Navarro back into the ring and got the pinfall victory.

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“Impact” match results

• Eric Young wins the 10-man battle royal to earn a shot at the TNA World Championship.
• AJ Francis def. KC Navarro in a street fight in SacTown.
• Rosemary and Allie def. Veronica Crawford and Mila Moore
• Cédric Alexandre def. Leon Slater will win the X Division Championship.