Cedric Alexander shocks TNA fans, 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 over Cedric Alexander and cement himself as the longest reigning X Division Champion in company history.

Slater knew a legacy was on the line when he appeared 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 as Alexander had been just as dangerous since entering the company.

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

Alexander was able to attack from there. He hit a nasty German suplex on the outside of the ring. He continued to work on Slater’s tweaked neck. He later hit a back check to tie the game at 1-1.

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

Alexander sent Slater into the steel steps, leaving him open. Alexander declared that he would be the “greatest” X Division Champion. A brainbuster later, Alexander tried to pin Slater but couldn’t get him down.

Alexander hit a Lumbar Check again, but Slater kicked out. Slater mustered the last ounce of energy. A tilt-a-whirl slam set Alexander up for a swanton 450. Slater missed and Alexander hit another Lumbar Check, then again.

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

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

Alexander is a reminder, 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 the 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 the Sacramento Memorial Auditorium. Fabian Aichner came out of the dark.

Aichner stared down Alexander and appeared to name himself the next challenger for the X Division Championship. Aichner, known as Giovanni Vinci for much of his run in WWE, hadn’t really been seen or heard from in months since his departure from 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 an Evolve champion before it became a WWE brand.

Eric Young gets a future shot at the TNA World Championship

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

The match came down to him and Elijah after the latter was able to throw members of The System out of the ring while also avoiding Frankie Kazarian trying to get back into the match after his own elimination.

Young and Elijah came to blows on the apron, knowing that as soon as their feet touched the ground, they would be eliminated. Young grabbed Elijah’s hair to try to hang on to the moment. Elijah broke away with Young’s back to him. However, Elijah did not consider his broad stance.

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

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

“Mike Santana, you’re off next,” he declared.

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Mike Santana gets to know his next opponent

Mike Santana stands in the ring during NXT at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Fla., 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 up with something else, because even though you might be 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 the fort week in and week out as your TNA World Champion.”

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

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

Santino Marella also came out during the segment after he was “suspended”. He revealed that Indi Harwell re-signed with TNA.

Lei Ying Lee, Xia Brookside rivalry heats up

Xia Brookside attends the “Freelance” screening at Regal Waterford Lakes in Orlando, Fla. on October 24, 2023. (Jose 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.

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

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

Both competitors threw explosives at each other before the segment ended. But Brookside made it clear she had her eyes on the title.

AJ Francis defeats KC Navarro

AJ Francis told Pakinomist Digital before the SacTown Street Fight on “Impact” that he would bring the pain to Navarro.

While he had “Show Stealer” across his back, Francis did just that. Francis took some punishment from Navarro – a couple of shots from a baseball bat and a drop kick with a trash can.

Francis was able to turn the tide in an instant by using the baseball bat to his advantage. But Navarro dug deep. He aligned six chairs into the ring, hoping to splash Francis through it. Instead, Francis countered and attempted an avalanche payout. Somehow, Navarro countered with a cutter as both men crashed through the sea of ​​chairs.

It looked like it might have been. Navarro went for the pin but only got two.

Francis turned on the heat from there. He grabbed Navarro and hit a payoff through tables set up on the outside of the ring.

He rolled Navarro back into the ring and picked up 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 SacTown Street Fight.
• Rosemary and Allie def. Veronica Crawford and Mila Moore
• Cedric Alexander def. Leon Slater wins the X Division Championship.