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Mike Santana retains TNA World Championship, appears set for Slammiversary match vs Nic Nemeth
By Ryan Gaydos
Published June 13, 2026
Mike Santana has been on the top of Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) for quite some time but he faced one of his toughest challengers yet in pro wrestling veteran Eric Young on "Impact."
Young earned a guaranteed title shot with a battle royal win a few weeks ago. He made a statement against Santana last week when he hit the TNA world champion with a piledriver. Young was on a tear against the champion but continuous two counts nearly forced his hand against the referee.
But taking his eye off the prize ultimately hurt Young. Santana nailed a huge double underhook toss from the top rope against Young. A Santana bulldog and rolling cutter put him back in full control. Though, he couldn’t get Young to stay down either. The referee did get caught in the middle of the match, as Young hit him inadvertently.
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Mike Santana makes his entrance during NXT at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Fla., on June 3, 2025. (Bradlee Rutledge/WWE)
Santana hit Spin the Block but the referee was down. He tried to get the referee back up as quickly as possible. He picked up Young back to a vertical base and Young kicked him in the groin. Young nailed Santana with the TNA World Championship and then nailed a piledriver.
As the referee was counting, Santana somehow got his hand on the rope to break the count. Young was about to finish off Santana when Ricky Sosa appeared and distracted Young long enough for Santana to roll up Young.
Santana retained the TNA World Championship.
Nic Nemeth’s music hit and it looked like he was going to call his shot and get a title match on "Impact." Nemeth grabbed the mic and said he could call his shot and win the title, but he wanted to wait until Slammiversary.
Nic Nemeth enters the ring during the New Japan Pro-Wrestling Wrestling DONTAKU event at Fukuoka Convention Center in Fukuoka, Japan, on May 3, 2024. (Etsuo Hara/Getty Images)
Santana and Nemeth shook hands, signaling the match was on. The two later worked together to take out Order Four after Mustafa Ali’s match against KC Navarro for the TNA International Championship.
Nemeth then hit Santana with a Danger Zone. Santana was right not to trust Nemeth ahead of their match at Slammiversary.
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Moose returns, sets match vs Eddie Edwards
Moose celebrates during NXT at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Fla., on Dec. 30, 2025. (Andrea Kellaway/WWE)
It was a few weeks ago that The System took out TNA veteran Moose in the back. After the TNA broadcast reported that Moose was cleared to return, he came out of the back as The System dished out punishment to Leon Slater.
Cedric Alexander just pinned Slater in a tag team match with Eddie Edwards. Brian Myers and Bear Bronson got into the ring and put the beatdown on Slater. That’s when Moose’s music hit. He came to the ring and sent The System scurrying.
Moose said he will take on Edwards in a match at Slammiversary.
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"Impact" match results:
- Mike Santana def. Eric Young to retain the TNA World Championship.
- Mr. Elegance def. Elijah.
- Cedric Alexander and Eddie Edwards def. Leon Slater and Fabian Aichner.
- Allie, Rosemary and Mara Sade def. Ash by Elegance, Heather by Elegance and M by Elegance.
- Mustafa Ali def. KC Navarro to retain the TNA International Championship.
https://www.foxnews.com/sports/mike-santana-retains-tna-world-championship-appears-set-slammiversary-match-vs-nic-nemeth