TNA Emergence 2025 Review

This TNA PLE was live from the Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena in Baltimore, Maryland.

Leon Slater (c) def. Cedric Alexander to retain the TNA X-Division Championship

Early on, Slater connected with a Lariat to Alexander from the corner. Alexander hit back with a Fisherman’s Brainbuster for a near fall. Alexander went for a Superplex but Slater countered, only for Alexander to counter a Swanton 450 attempt by raising his knees. Alexander hit a series of German suplexes and both men exchanged some more near falls. Leon connected with Big Play Slater. He then followed up with a Styles Clash and a Swanton 450 to successfully retain the title.

Squish’s thoughts and rating: A good match to open the show but I thought they played it a bit too safe by Slater’s usual standards. This felt like a traditional singles match more so than the cruiserweight high-flying affair you’d want from these two. I’m not saying this is a bad match because it’s not but I expected better. 7/10

Both men shook hands after the match ended.

TNA World Champion NXT’s Trick Williams and First Class showed confidence for tonight.

Matt Cardona def. Mustafa Ali

Early on, The Great Hands (Jason Hotch and John Skyler) made their presence known from ringside. Cardona focused on Ali though and sent him crashing into the ring post. He followed up with a missile dropkick from the top-rope. Tasha Steelz distracted the referee while Hotch and Skyler set Cardona up for a DDT by Ali. Ali went for a 450 but Cardona countered it into a cover to get the victory.

Squish’s thoughts and rating: This could’ve been a good match if it hadn’t been for the finish. It looked like Ali hit the 450 but I think he wasn’t meant to so that Cardona could roll him up for the win. Ali shouldn’t be losing to Cardona though, no matter how they do it. 6/10

Cardona got decimated after the match and Agent Zero hit a double-handed chokeslam. The System made the save before their match.

Squish’s thoughts: I’m still not entirely sold on the concept of The System being a face group.

First Class (AJ Francis and Rich Swann) def. The System (Brian Myers and Eddie Edwards)

First Class took control early by isolating and beating down Myers. Myers hit Francis with a spear to create an opening and make the tag to Eddie. Eddie’s offence quickened the pace as he hit Swann with a Blue Thunder Bomb. Mustafa Ali’s Order 4 retired to get revenge on The System for saving Matt Cardona from a beatdown. Francis took advantage and hit the Down Payment on Eddie to get the win.

Squish’s thoughts and rating: A decent match that should’ve been on Impact rather than a PLE. I’m just glad they got the right winners. First Class lose far more than they should. It’s nice to see Swann back in the pairing. In fact, it’s good to have him back in TNA in general. Hoping for a good run for him this time. 6/10

Baltimore Street Fight: Mike Santana def. Sami Callihan

Joe Hendry joined the commentary team for what would be Callihan’s last match if he were to lose. This wasn’t previously scheduled to be a Street Fight but Callihan put the challenge out there and Santana accepted. Callihan gave Santana a pair of paper cuts between Santana’s fingers and lips. Callihan then used a staple gun to staple Santana’s chest. He followed up with a low blow and the Cactus Driver 97 for a near fall. Santana retaliated with the Rolling Buck 50 but Callihan powered out at one. It was Spin the Block that gave Santana the win.

Squish’s thoughts and rating: By Street Fight standards, this wasn’t nearly as extreme as you’d have expected it to be. If Callihan really is done for good, it wasn’t the best way to go out but I honestly can’t remember the last time he had a match I enjoyed unfortunately. It didn’t feel like a retirement match so if it really was one then that’s a bit of a shame. 5/10

After the match, Callihan left his boots in the ring. The traditional telltale sign that a wrestler has made the decision to retire.

Joe Hendry stopped Eric Young’s disrespect.

Ryan Nemeth reminded everyone that he and Nic Nemeth are owed a TNA Tag Title match.

The Elegance Brand (Heather by Elegance and M by Elegance) (c) def. The Inspiration (Cassie Lee and Jessie McKay), Lei Ying Lee and Xia Brookside, and NXT’s Fatal Influence (Fallon Henley and Jazmyn Nyx) to retain the TNA Knockouts World Tag Team Championship

Before the match, it was announced that Lei Ying Lee has re-signed a contract with TNA.

Masha Slamovich was here to support Lee and Brookside, NXT Women’s Champion and TNA Knockouts World Champion Jacy Jayne was here to support NXT’s Fatal Influence, Mara Sade was here to support The Inspiration while Ash by Elegance was here to support the champions. Lee hit Nyx with a spinning Facebuster early on but Jayne moved Nyx’s foot to cause a rope break. Jayne and Sade began to brawl from ringside into the ring. Jayne took her out with the Rolling Encore. Slamovich took the fight to Jayne as Ash joined in too, previewing their TNA Knockouts World Championship match at NXT Heatwave. The referee ejected all the managers from ringside. The Inspiration went for an Idoliser but Heather countered it. M struck McKay with the Tag Title belt to help her retain the titles.

Squish’s thoughts and rating: Notice how I barely focused on the match competitors in that breakdown? That says a lot. The more the merrier certainly didn’t apply here. It was a series of brawls rather than any kind of decent wrestling match. I’m not mad that The Elegance Brand retained though so that’s at least something. 4/10

Indi Hartwell wants the TNA Knockouts Title.

No Disqualification match: Steve Maclin (c) def. Jake Something to retain the TNA International Championship

Frankie Kazarian joined the commentary team for this match. Something hit a brutal forearm for a near fall early on. Maclin retaliated with an Olympic Slam. Maclin attempted an SCUD but Something neutralised him with a forearm in the air. Something hit Maclin with a powerbomb onto the steel stairs. Another powerbomb was attempted but Maclin countered it into a back body drop onto the ramp. Maclin jumped off the stage and took out Something on the floor below. Back in the ring, Maclin attempted to hit Something with Caught in the Crosshairs, only for Something to counter it into a Dragon Sleeper. However, Maclin fought out and hit KIA to retain his title.

Squish’s thoughts and rating: It was a hard-hitting match with a stipulation that fit the storyline but they could’ve utilised it more in the match. Hopefully, that’s the end of this feud and they can find a new challenge for Maclin to defend against. I assume Kazarian will be the next in line for a title shot and I don’t hate that. 6/10

Kazarian interrupted Maclin’s post-match interview with Gia Miller. Maclin was willing to fight right now but Kazarian backed away.

The Hardys (Jeff Hardy and Matt Hardy) (c) def. The Rascalz (Myron Reed and Zachary Wentz) to retain the TNA World Tag Team Championship

The Hardys took control early isolating and wearing down Wentz using frequent tags. Wentz managed to find an opening by sending Jeff and Matt crashing into each other. Matt hit Wentz with the Side Effect before Jeff and Reed both got tagged in. Jeff hit Reed with a Superplex while Wentz hit a Swanton and Matt connected with a top-rope elbow drop. Jeff countered a Flame On attempt and sent Reed into a Twist of Fate from Matt at ringside. A Swanton Bomb by Jeff was enough to retain.

Squish’s thoughts and rating: It was the match of the night to this point but that says more about the weaker quality of the card than this match itself. I’m not disputing that The Hardys can go but I am disputing that they can keep up with the pace of The Rascalz. It looked like the pace threw The Hardys off their game and I don’t mean in a storyline sense. Regardless it was a good match and I’m pleased Wentz got this match (again). 7/10

Both teams shook hands out of mutual respect.

We had an impromptu First Class Penthouse so they could trash the fans in Baltimore but Poe (mascot for the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens) came with The System to help shut First Class up.

NXT’s Trick Williams (c) def. Moose to retain the TNA World Championship

Moose went for a powerbomb onto the apron early on but Williams countered it and sent him into the steel stairs with a thud. The brawl carried on at ringside as Moose’s family watched on from the crowd. Moose connected with a step-up crossbody from the corner. Williams retaliated with a neckbreaker for a near fall. Moose delivered a series of blows, a Uranage and a senton. Moose nearly had it won with a Pop-Up Powerbomb. Moose went for a Superplex only for Williams to counter into a suplex of his own. Moose hit the Spear but Williams rolled out to ringside. Williams put Moose through the timekeeper’s table out at ringside. Williams then accidentally took out the referee. Moose hit another Spear and got the pin but there was no referee to make the count. Williams hit Moose with the Trick Shot but couldn’t get the win. Two more Trick Shots were enough though for Williams to retain.

Squish’s thoughts and rating: A really good main event that exceeded my low-middling expectations despite its predictability. The near falls in the closing sequence were exciting as you would want them to be and I’d say it’s was Williams’ best TNA singles match so far. When Moose is enjoying his feud, he’s one of the best people in TNA to be paired up with and that showed in this match. 7/10

The night ended with TNA President Carlos Silva handing NXT’s Trick Williams the title.

Squish’s overall thoughts:

This felt like the definition of a glorified episode of TNA Impact. Decent wrestling with maybe one standout match but no big moments or title changes so you probably could’ve skipped it. It’s been a lot of the same with TNA since I resumed watching it in 2022. All TNA PLEs feel like glorified TNA Impact episodes and it’s only really the Big 4 PPVs that feel impactful. It just makes these shows less enjoyable to watch sadly. The match of the night goes to the TNA World Title match. The near falls were fantastic, it was great to see Williams win clean, and had it been a bit longer, I’d have probably rated it a bit higher. Alexander vs. Slater was a fun opener, the TNA Tag Title match was good too but sadly if you skipped the show, you didn’t miss anything.

Overall rating: 6/10