The road to TNA Genesis 2026 comes to a close with the first episode of Thursday Night iMPACT on AMC. If you think everything is about to change, you’re wrong. Nothing will change; TNA Wrestling takes back its rightful place on a major US cable TV channel. The fans, the talents, the Knockouts, our favourite announcers: nothing changes.
Last night on NXT, Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo retained the TNA International title thanks to Arianna Grace. Also, Wren QCC (Kendal Grey and Wren Sinclair), ZaRuca (Zaria and Sol Ruca), and Fatal Influence (Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid) will face off next week to determine the new contenders for the TNA Knockouts World Tag Team title.
Crossing the lines also means crossing the reviews. NXT may be a WWE show; taking a look at what happens on Tuesday nights has become essential to understanding what may happen on Thursday nights. That’s never been truer, and it keeps on being bigger and bigger. Let’s Nygma-dive into it.
ZaRuca vs. WrenQCC vs. Fatal Influence.
The winner will earn a shot at the @ThisIsTNA Knockouts Tag Team Championship! 👀 pic.twitter.com/ZBODDTbasJ
— WWE (@WWE) January 14, 2026
TNA Thursday Night iMPACT Preview (01/15/26) – The Stakes at TNA Wrestling
After calling his shot and controversially capturing the TNA World Championship, Frankie Kazarian faces the ultimate test as Mike Santana receives his rematch on the premiere of Thursday Night iMPACT on AMC, with the winner set to defend the Championship just two nights later at Genesis.
Adding to the excitement, it was revealed that Bully Ray, the two-time TNA World Champion, 23-time World Tag Team Champion, TNA Hall of Famer, and host of Busted Open, will be the Special Guest Commentator for the main event. Meanwhile, Nic Nemeth remains in the shadows after teasing that he may call his shot at any moment.
“The Phenomenal” AJ Styles returns as TNA Wrestling begins a bold new chapter on AMC. For the first time since Slammiversary, Styles steps back into the iMPACT Zone at a pivotal moment in the company’s history, and the impact of his return will be felt immediately. What will AJ Styles have in store?
The TNA Knockouts World Tag Team Championship will be on the line as The IInspiration defend their titles against The Elegance Brand. After dethroning Heather and M last summer to begin their reign, The IInspiration now face The Elegance Brand, determined to reclaim the Knockouts World Tag Team Titles. With tensions higher than ever in the Knockouts Division and Genesis just days away, only one team can leave Dallas as champions.
Last week, Mustafa Ali attempted to erase Elijah by proposing a ban on everything associated with him. Elijah answered by arriving on horseback, sending Order 4 retreating from the iMPACT! Zone. Now, Elijah and The Hardys look to send a final message just two nights before Genesis, where Elijah will clash with Ali, and The Hardys will defend the TNA World Tag Team Championship against The Righteous. This star-studded six-man tag team bout will mark Elijah’s first match in six months. Who will gain momentum heading into the first pay-per-view extravaganza of 2026?
.@AMC_TV is the new home of #TNAiMPACT starting Thursday, January 15 LIVE at 9pm ET! Watch every Thursday on AMC, @AMCPlus and TNA+ starting January 15! pic.twitter.com/En89tpMLHB
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) December 30, 2025
TNA Thursday Night iMPACT Preview (01/15/26) – The Nygma’s View
A new era means comebacks, changes, surprises, and more. With two title matches, another match, and two TNA Legends coming back, this episode is more than special. *For some unknown reason, the X-Division Championship match between Leon Slater and Myron Reed is not advertised anymore for the show.*
The Phenomenal One, AJ Styles, is back in the iMPACT Zone. At TNA Slammiversary 2025, he only came to acknowledge Leon Slater. May he be the reason why Slater is matchless this Thursday night? As 2+2=5, I only see two things happening on iMPACT. Styles will come to ask Slater to be on his retirement schedule. The second option is a match, but I’m not convinced of that. Nygma says: A Phenomenal moment, for sure.
The IInspiration put the Championship on the line against the Elegance Brand, again. How many times have we seen this? According to Cagematch, this one will be the third. We know ZaRuca, WrenQCC, and Fatal Influence will compete next week to determine a new contender. Nygma says: More than a match, it could be a moment for the NXT ladies to come and make a statement.
BREAKING: TNA Hall of Famer @bullyray5150 will be the special guest commentator for the main event as #TNAiMPACT premieres on @AMC_TV THIS THURSDAY at 9/8c LIVE from the Curtis Culwell Center in Dallas, Texas. @AMCPlus
Get tickets HERE: https://t.co/ExkKtFAL5O pic.twitter.com/UUU0tcvgGH
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) January 13, 2026
Elijah and the Hardys face their Genesis opponents, Mustafa Ali and The Good Hands. Will there be horses and guitars? We’ll see. Will there be Order 4 at ringside? We’re sure. The Hardys may not like Dutch and Vincent’s mind games, but we can expect them to appear and try to give Ali and his allies the win. Nygma says: That would make sense, but that wouldn’t be fair.
Frankie Kazarian vs. Mike Santana. Act II, Scene I. Santana shamefully lost the title because of the NXT Outlaws. If we remove the time off-TV TNA took, he was Champion for about 4 days. Then, Frankie Kazarian deserved to be the TNA World Champion once in his incredible career. Nygma says: Because of Nic Nemeth, of Bully Ray, whoever, this match will end up a mess. At TNA Genesis, it will be Nemeth vs Kazarian vs Santana.
I’ll see you tomorrow night live at 3 AM my time. As I said, 2026 will be a loaded year for TNA Wrestling. Because of that, my year will be loaded, too. Making history is a chance when you can be a witness to this new era. Thursday Night iMPACT on AMC and TNA Genesis offer so many reasons to write about TNA. Let’s be honest, as tired as I am and will be, I wouldn’t miss it for the world. Till then, may the Nygma be with you.
TNA Thursday Night iMPACT Card (01/15/26)
Matches Announced
- Elijah & TNA World Tag Team Champions The Hardys (Jeff Hardy & Matt Hardy) vs. Order 4 (Jason Hotch, John Skyler & Mustafa Ali)
- TNA Knockouts World Tag Team Title Match: The IInspiration (Cassie Lee & Jessie McKay) (c) vs. The Elegance Brand (Heather By Elegance & M By Elegance) (w/The Personal Concierge)
- TNA World Title Match: Frankie Kazarian (c) vs. Mike Santana
Special Guests Announced
- AJ Styles Returns
- Bully Ray Will Be the Special Guest Commentator for the Main Event
More From LWOS Pro Wrestling
Header image credit – TNA Wrestling – Stay tuned to Last Word on Pro Wrestling for more on TNA iMPACT preview, TNA Genesis 2026, TNA on AMC, and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world. As well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world. Catch Thursday Night iMPACT on AMC in the US, Sportsnet in Canada, and TNA Plus worldwide. All TNA events, shows, and previous episodes are available on TNA Plus and the TNA Wrestling YouTube channel.
