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5/21 TNA THURSDAY NIGHT IMPACT REPORT

Welcome to PWInsider.com's coverage of TNA Thursday Night Impact from Sacramento, CA.

Our announcers are Tom Hannifan and Matthew Rehwoldt!

The combined might of The System come to the ring for a promo to open the episode.  Eddie Edwards said that Cedric Alexander winning shows that The System are taking over TNA and they are now one title short.  Edwards warned Mike Santana he is coming for his title.  Cedric Alexander said that Leon Slater was one day away from breaking a record, but Cedric is the record taker.  He was upset Fabian Aichner took his moment from him and told him if he has something to say, he can come out and say it.

Aichner came out and said he's here for redemption and recognition.  He said he's a future TNA Champion and is here to take his spot.  The System went to attack him but he took everyone down and hit the ring.  Cedric attacked him but Aichner avoided the Lumbar Check and took down Cedric with a choke.  The System pulled him out as Aichner dared them to return.

Backstage, Daria Rae was speaking to Steve Maclin.  She said the company wanted to erase him after he put his hands on Tom Hannifan.  They saw him as a liability but she saw him as an opportunity.  He has a chance to take out Mike Santana and put the title back on someone who's worthy.  She walked away as Maclin intensely stood there.

Elayna Black vs. Indi Hartwell.

Arianna Grace and Stacks are at ringside for commentary.

Black attacked Indi early.  Indi was preoccupied with Grace, staring at her numerous times, even when she was covering Black for near falls.  Indi drilled Black with a series of rights in the corner but was knocked over the top to the floor.  Black went to the floor and sent Indi into the apron.  Black nailed her with an running elbow to the back.  She nailed a double stomp after springboarding off the bottom rope.  Indi was whipped into the corner and nailed with a running knee for a two count.  

Indi made a comeback with a series of clotheslines and a spinebuster.  Hartwell went to the top rope but Stacks stepped up onto the apron.  Grace attacked Indi and began working over Hartwell, causing a DQ.

Your winner by DQ, Indi Hartwell!

Grace said Indi had unfinished business but it feels like it's been finished now.  Grace said she's no longer Knockouts Champion because of her father, Santino Marella.  He gave Lei Ying Lee a chance she didn't deserve because Santino was mad at her.  Santino came out to the stage.  He told Grace her attack on Indi was classless.  Lee deserved the rematch because she beat Grace.  The only thing unfinished is her attitude.  He said Grace was a brat and Stacks is the one filling her head with all this trash.  Santino said he was done with it and stepped into the ring.  He pulled out the cobra but Daria Rae came to the ring.  She said Santino is supposed to be in charge but he's picking fights with talent.  She said enough with his theatrics and sock puppet.  She said he's a judo master but that's the weakest of all martial arts.  If he wants to fight Stacks, he can submit a formal request to the TNA Board.

Backstage, The Elegance Brand were speaking when the lights went out.  When they went back, there was a message written in lipstick on a mirror - SEE YOU SOON - Rosemary, Allie and Mara.

Matt Hardy vs. Vincent - Jeff Hardy and Dutch are handcuffed to ring posts.

Vincent demanded the Broken Matt Hardy face him, not the traditional Hardys.  They battle back and forth.  Dutch, though handcuffed, still tripped up Hardy, allowing Vincent to take over.  Hardy battled back but was caught in the corner with body shots.  Vincent went to the floor and struck Jeff Hardy.  Matt responded with forearms but was caught as he rebounded off the ropes for a two count.  The battle went to the floor, where Dutch once again became involved.  Vincent slammed Matt into the steel steps.  Vincent choked Matt as he mocked Jeff.  Vincent maintained control as they went to a commercial break.

When they returned, Matt was drilling Vincent with a right hand.  Hardy began mounting a comeback.  They clotheslined each other and each went down.  They battle continued.  Vincent rolled up Matt for a two count.  The audience chanted for Matt.  Vincent continued to work over Matt and score two counts.  Vincent went to the top but Hardy grabbed his hand and bit him, then pulled Vincent down into the ring.  Matt went for the Twist of Fate but the referee was KO'd.  Vincent nailed Hardy and went for the key ot the handcuffs.  Vincent held it up but the lights went out.  When they returned, Jeff Hardy's alter ego, the masked Willow the Wisp was in the ring and nailed Vincent.  Matt hit the Twist of Fate and scored the pin.

Your winner, Matt Hardy!

Backstage, Elijah was playing the guitar.   AJ Francis applauded him and said they could collaborate musically.   Elijah blew him off.  Francis said he would regret that.

Injury Report: Moose is still out.  Indi Hartwell is being evaluated.  Mike Santana and Steve Maclin are cleared.

Santino Marella announced The Champions Challenge would return next week - a men's match and a women's match.  The winner of the main event will be the captain of the champions team.  Daria Rae announced Stacks vs. Santino next week.  Eddie Edwards requested he fight Fabian Aichner next week and Daria agreed.

TNA International Champion Mustafa Ali vs. Chaz "Starboy" Hall

Hall is a former GCW regular who now appears on WWE EVOLVE.  

Hall scored several near falls early.  Ali wasn't happy and drilled him with a kick to the mid-section and a hard chop in the corner.    Hall battled back and hit a space flying tiger drop top the floor.  John Skyler got involved, setting up Ali catching Hall with a cutter off the ropes for a two count.  Ali went for Splash Mountain off the ropes but Hall turned it into a rana mid-move.  Hall nailed a series of kicks and nailed a head scissors takedown from the ropes.  He followed up with a twisting DDT off the ropes and a spinning splash title the Cosmic Swirl for a close two count.  Ali smacked his ears to break up the momentum and used a pinfall combination to score the pin.

Your winner and still International Champion, Mustafa Ali!

Keith Jardine was backstage taking a selfie with a fan when he met Santino Marella.  Mara Sade asked him to be in her corner during the Champions Challenge match next week.  Jardine agreed.

Steve Maclin was preparing for his match.  Eric Young approached him and said Maclin was offered opportunity by Young but turned it down.  Then, he got fired and Young watched him become everything Young believed he could be.  He fought his way back and got a title shot, only to see Mike Santana try to end his career and send him to the hospital.  He mockingly called Santana the good guy who tried to take away Maclin's livelihood.  He disappeared and now has another title shot.  He said the winner has to face him.  Young told him nothing but the truth - he's Maclin's only friend and Maclin gets to control his own fate.  Does he win and face Eric Young or does he lose and disappear again...or maybe Young will make him disappear.  Maclin sat there intense and silent.

Jada Stone vs. Xia Brookside

They grapple back and forth.  Stone gains the advantage so Brookside goes to the floor to quell her momentum.   Xia returned and Stone challenged her.  Stone showed some nice prowess athletically and nailed a running elbow in the corner and a basement dropkick.  She climbed the ropes but Xia attacked and pulled her roughly down into the ring.  Brookside began working over the back of Stone's leg with elbows, then tied it up in the ropes and worked it over.  Trapping it in the ropes, Brookside nailed a dropkick to the leg and tied her up on the mat.  Stone battled back and nailed several clotheslines.  Her leg hampered her offense but she still caught Xia with a kick.  She nailed a split-legged moonsault but Brookside kicked out at two.  Jade nailed an inverted Code Breaker but was caught with Dark Side for the pin.

Your winner, Xia Brookside!

They showed Mike Santana and Steve Maclin come across each other in the back and nearly fight before security held them apart.  Maclin told Santana he was putting him in the hospital tonight.

Backstage, Arianna Grace said next week her father would be exposed by a real man, Stacks.  She said her father isn't really a fighter, he's a comedy act.  Stacks said Grace doesn't need her father in her life any more, she just needs him.

TNA Champion Mike Santana vs. Steve Maclin.

They began brawling intensely at the bell.  Santana went for a superkick, the same move that rocked Maclin at Sacrifice but Maclin escaped.  They battled back and forth.  Maclin was caught with a dropkick.  Santana charged him and chopped Maclin hard in the corner.  Maclin went to the floor in front of the announcers.  Santana teased a dive but Macin put space between them by walking away. Santana re-positioned and dove off the ropes, taking down the challenger on the floor.

Maclin regained control and slammed Santana face-first into the ring post.  He pulled a table out from underneath the ring and set it up.  They battled on the floor.  Santana showed damage to his leg.  Maclin snapped him across the top rope throat-first.  Santana crashed to the floor.  Maclin followed him and continued to work him over.  He elevated Santana and drove him down over Maclin's knee.  Maclin had words with TNA President Carlos Silva.  He tossed Santana into the ring, but could only score a one count.

Maclin continued to work over Santana's leg.   He used a step over toe hold to wear down Santana.  Santana tried to fire back but his leg was attacked and the knee buckled.  Maclin tied Santana's leg around the rope and dropkicked it.   Maclin cinched in a figure four leglock in the center of the ring.  The crowd chanted for Santana to make a comeback.   When they returned from commercial, Santana had reversed the hold but Maclin made it to the ropes.   Santana caught the challenger with The Three Amigos, but on the third, Maclin slipped away.  Santana caught him with a superkick.  Both competitors were down, spent.

The battle went back and forth.  Maclin avoided the rolling buck fifty.  Maclin went for Crosshairs but Santana avoided and hit a Rolling Buck Fifty for a two count.   Santana scored several two counts after a powerbomb and a blue thunder bomb.    Maclin came back and drilled Santana to the mat head-first for another two count.    Maclin continued to work Santana's back over.  He nailed the Crosshairs in the corner but Santana kicked up at the last second.

Maclin pointed at the table outside the ring and pulled Santana up in the corner above it.  He attempted a superplex through the table but Santana escaped and nailed a Yakuza Kick, sending Maclin crashing backwards through the table to the floor.  Maclin was tossed in.  Santana nailed the splash but Maclin kicked out at the last second.  Santana went for Spin the Block but Maclin went down and acted like he was hurt...but it was all a ruse as he surprised Santana with a superkick for a two count.  He went for the KIA but Santana ducked and nailed a leaping clothesline.  He nailed Spin the Block and scored the pin.

Your winner and still TNA Champion, Mike Santana!

Really good, physical main event.  

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