TNA has two huge fan favorites at the top of the company with eyes on winning the world title from Trick Williams. That case wasn’t settled at Slammiversary when Joe Hendry and Mike Santana both came up short in defeat. But, that was a three-way dance. Perhaps the singular focus of one-on-one could produce a different outcome. That still means TNA needs to decide on who will be that man. It looks like Hendry and Santana settled that issue on Impact (July 24, 2025).
Hendry wrestled Santana in the television
main event on Thursday night. TNA didn’t do any hype promos. The matchup sold itself.
Hendry opened with a handshake. The crowd was split with three-syllable chants of, “Mike Santana,” and, “We believe.” Santana accepted the gesture of respect. Match on! Tensions increased the longer the action spanned. Hendry went on a run for a fallaway slam, an Olympic slam, a pop-up powerbomb, and an Attitude Adjustment.
Pop-up bomb and an A.A., but Santana is still in it! #TNAiMPACT pic.twitter.com/X1ukSuWOAs
— (@WrestlingCovers) July 25, 2025
Hendry could never hit the Standing Ovation finisher. Santana was able to escape Hendry’s grip. Santana went on a run of his own for a rolling cutter and a frog splash.
The finish came down to counter wrestling with a flurry of roll-ups back and forth. Santana gained the edge for a jackknife pin to win.
Santana and Joe Hendry going back and forth, but in the end Santana picks up the W!! #TNAiMPACT pic.twitter.com/fdNUYJoecp
— (@WrestlingCovers) July 25, 2025
After the match, it looked like Hendry passed the torch to Santana to be the man to save TNA from Trick Williams.
A sign of respect on the path to #TNABoundForGlory! @Santana_Proud @joehendry
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) July 25, 2025
Watch #TNAiMPACT LIVE on TNA+: https://t.co/vV0uAYI2F2 pic.twitter.com/HKtVzP7RIf
The question is now when Santana will get another crack at the TNA World Championship. The answer would seem to be Bound For Glory on October 12, however, that leaves a lot of time in the way. The two special events prior to that PPV are Emergence on August 15 and Victory Road on September 26. Time will tell how Santana’s story shakes out.
Share your thoughts on Mike Santana beating Joe Hendry clean.
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