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Steve Maclin made his spectacular return to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) on Thursday night’s “Impact” to face Mike Santana for the World Title.
Maclin’s match against Santana at Sacrifice was stopped due to injury, and Maclin was later briefly “fired” from the company before Director of Operations Daria Rae worked to reinstate him. This was a highly anticipated match to see who would become the face of TNA.
Rae and Maclin were part of a segment before the match started. Rae gave Maclin a pep talk of sorts before the match.
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Mike Santana enters the ring during NXT at the Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York on March 31, 2026. (Brien Adams/WWE)
“Remember when you got fired? Of course you did. You know what’s so interesting about this company? Everyone likes to brag about how loyal they are, until it gets embarrassing,” she told a stoic Maclin. “You got your hands on Tom Hannifan and this whole company turned against you overnight. They want to erase Steve Maclin from TNA history. But not me. I saw it differently. They saw you as a liability and I saw the value. I saw a man that everyone feared because they know exactly what you’re capable of when you’re focused.
“Most importantly, I understand why men like you are built the way you are and what you are built to do. And tonight, you have an opportunity that no one else is capable of: eliminating Mike Santana. Rip the heart out of this company and give the TNA title back to someone who deserves to hold it.”
Eric Young, who became the #1 contender for the TNA World Title, also got in Maclin’s ear before his match. He warned that the winner will have to face Young in “the most masochistic” way.
Maclin vowed to put Santana in the hospital as he attempted to confront the champion before their match.
But would it be enough to dethrone Santana?
It was a struggle from the start. Both had their moments where they had the upper hand in the match. As Santana got back into the match, Maclin was thrown out of the ring. Maclin tried to move out of the way of any aerial movement, but Santana smartly positioned himself on the top rope and hit a big splash to the outside.
Maclin used the exterior to his advantage. He threw Santana into the ring post and set up a table outside. Santana tried to jump from the steps to Maclin’s clothesline but came out a little limp. Maclin immediately went to work on the twisted left leg.
As the final minutes of the match wore on, it was departure time for both competitors. Santana hit Maclin with a Rolling Buck 50, but Maclin wouldn’t stay down – even after a Blue Thunder Bomb.
Mike Santana makes his entrance during NXT at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida on June 3, 2025. (Bradlee Rutledge/WWE)
Maclin got stuck on the top rope as Santana hit an enziguri, causing Maclin to fall backwards through the table he had set up. Santana rolled him into the ring and hit a frog splash, but only a two count.
Santana signed for Spin the Block. Maclin collapsed before Santana could hit him. Santana checked on Maclin to make sure he was okay but fell for the trick. Maclin hit a superkick and tried to recover the pinfall, but to no avail.
Santana made one last effort to breathe. He mustered up enough energy to hit Spin the Block and pinned Maclin for the win.
“This is my house,” Santana proclaimed as “Impact” went off the air.
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X Division Championship Fallout
The system started the evening rejoicing over Cedric Alexander’s X Division championship victory over Leon Slater.
“Leon Slater, you were one day, one day, one day, I repeat, he was one day away from realizing his dream. One day away from becoming the record breaker. No, you see, last week I became the record breaker,” Alexander said. “Boo as much as you want. It’s a fact that I am now the standard of Division X.
“I’m the iconic champion of TNA. And you know what? I have a problem. Instead of being able to celebrate my moment. Instead of being able to live in the moment, someone decided to spoil the party.”
Alexander called out Fabian Aichner, who appeared at the end of the match between Alexander and Slater.
Aichner agreed and had a message for Alexander and The System.
“Buona Sera, System. Last week, I didn’t come here for no reason. I came here to make a name for myself – respect, redemption and recognition. That’s why I’m here. So if you want to call yourself the best in TNA, great. Go for it, because the bigger the obstacle, the bigger the fight, the better I get. I’m not just a gimmick. I’m a future TNA champion. And you know what? That X Division title looks really nice. So Cédric, enjoy your moment while it lasts, my man because I’m not here to wait in line, I’m here to take my place.
Bear Bronson and Brian Meyers rushed Aichner down the lane, but did no damage. Aichner knocked Eddie Edwards to the ground. Alexander began attacking Aichner as he entered the ring. Aichner avoided Alexander’s back check and reversed it into a choke.
Aichner remained standing in the ring as The System pulled Alexander out of the ring.
Aichner and Edwards will face off next week on “Impact.”
Santino Marella speaks to Arianna Grace, Stacks
Santino Marella makes his entrance during NXT at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida on September 30, 2025. (Bradlee Rutledge/WWE)
Stacks and his fiancée Arianna Grace were at ringside watching the match between Indi Hartwell and Elayna Black. Grace, the former TNA Knockouts World Champion, had been feuding with Hartwell for some time. Grace claimed Hartwell was “obsessed” with her.
The match ended when Stacks unsuccessfully attempted to distract the referee while Grace pushed Hartwell off the top rope and began her beating. Grace blamed her father, Santino Marella, for the reason she is no longer the TNA Knockouts Champion. She said the current champion, Lei Ying Lee, did not deserve her shot at the title.
TNA Authority Director Marella came out and called Grace “classless.” He said the only thing unfinished was Grace’s “attitude” and that she needed to be “grounded.” He turned his attention to Stacks, saying he made him “sick” and was the one “filling his head with all this garbage.”
Marella was about to use the cobra on Stacks before Rae came in and put a stop to it. Rae reminded Marella that if he wanted a match with Stacks, he would have to take it to the “board” and get it approved.
Rae later announced that the match had been approved for next week’s “Impact”. Marella will face Stacks one-on-one.
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“Impact” match results:
Indi Hartwell def. Elayna Black via DQ.
“Broken” Matt Hardy def. Vincent.
Mustafa Ali def. Chazz “Starboy” Hall will retain the TNA International Championship.
Xia Brookside def. Stone of Jada.
