Final iMPACT! - iMPACT! recap for December 18, 2025

Frankie Kazarian guests on commentary for the next match.

Bear Bronson last eliminates Eric Young in a twenty-man battle royal to earn a shot at the TNA World Championship in two weeks.

Backstage, we hear from Director of Authority Santino Marella, who says that he will unleash his inner animal tonight. Steve Maclin, Jeff Hardy, and Matt Hardy want NXT out of TNA. Santana says that NXT's team isn't in the ring with five guys; they are in the ring with five dogs who will eat them alive.

As per the Bioflex Injury Report: Matt Cardona is out following a shoulder injury from Lexis King's cane. Dani Luna and Indi Hartwell are out following contusions from their Dog Collar Match. Rich Swann is day-to-day from the Down Payment from AJ Francis earlier tonight.

Mike Santana is on the cover of the newest issue of Pro Wrestling Illustrated digitally tomorrow and in stores on January 13th.

Backstage, Gia Miller interviews Bear Bronson, who says that he is feeling validated following the scars on his body that tell his story and prove that it was worth it. He says that he believed in himself and that all roads led to TNA, and that it is a bad time to be Frankie Kazarian, as he has kicked down the front door to his kingdom and he is coming for him.

The Angel Warriors (Xia Brookside and Lei Ying Lee) beat Tessa Blanchard and Mila Moore.

Backstage, we hear from Dani Luna, who says that she went through hell in a Dog Collar Match and won. She also wants Lei Ying Lee to prove that she is a fighting champion, as she is her doomsday. She says Lei Ying Lee won tonight, but she wants to see if she can survive her.

Backstage, Gia Miller interviews The Angel Warriors (Xia Brookside and Lei Ying Lee). Lei Ying Lee says that Dani Luna is strong and tough, and if she wants a fight, she will give it to her and defend her title with honor. Xia Brookside admits that Dani Luna is scary, but Lei Ying Lee is champion for a reason. Lei Ying Lee then tells Dani "Anytime, anywhere...bitch."

Elijah is in the ring for a concert. He talks about what he did to Mustafa Ali at Final Resolution, then sings about El Paso, Texas. All of a sudden, he is interrupted by Tasha Steelz, who has a few ring workers set up a podium on the stage as Special Agent Zero watches. Tasha says she and Special Agent Zero are here to address what Elijah did to Mustafa Ali, who she then welcomes to the podium. Mustafa calls what Elijah did to him at Final Resolution "The Lasso in El Paso" and "his darkest moment," and says that the people cheered when he was dragged away by a horse. Elijah starts a "horse" chant before Mustafa Ali demands that everyone give a brief moment of silence, which is broken by Elijah's guitar. Mustafa says actions have consequences and that he will make Elijah's life hell, but Elijah says he would do it again. Elijah says they can fight about it. All of a sudden, two men in hoodies - who end up being John Skyler and Jason Hotch - attack Elijah, but Elijah overpowers them as Mustafa mocks him. Special Agent Zero steps up, but Mustafa tells him to stand down. Tasha gets in Elijah's face, and Elijah moves her out of the way only for Mustafa to blast him in the back with a guitar.

We hear from Indi Hartwell, who says that last week's Dog Collar Match was a war and that it look a lot from her. She says that Dani Luna beat her and that she is feeling it, but she does not back down. She says that she keeps climbing the ladder and gets knocked down, but Dani Luna took her to a limit she did not know existed, and when she comes back, she will prove that she is the best and one day become Knockouts World Champion.

Backstage, we hear from Moose, who says that he came close to winning tonight's battle royal, and while he will not be #1 contender for the World title, he never used his rematch clause for the X Division Championship. Moose challenges Leon Slater for the X Division title at Genesis, then Cedric Alexander shows up, says he is next in line and tells him to think about his cash in.

Backstage, Frankie Kazarian is talking to a painting of Elvis Presley on a wall, then says he will start 2026 by beating Bear Bronson. He says Bronson may have impressed some people, but it takes a lot to impress him, and his title is staying with him for as long as chooses.

Team TNA (Mike Santana, Jeff Hardy, Matt Hardy, Steve Maclin, Santino Marella) beats Team NXT (Brooks Jensen, Lexis King, Tyson Dupont, Tyriek Igwe, Channing "Stacks" Lorenzo) in a steel cage match During the match, Matt Hardy is attacked by Tyriek Igwe before he can even enter the cage. Later on, The Righteous (Vincent and Dutch) show up and check on Matt Hardy before carrying him off to the back. After the match, Santino stares down Stacks, then Arianna Grace gets in the steel cage, locks the door and hugs Santino before kicking him in the groin. Stacks and Arianna attack Santino, but Stacks climbs out of the cage when Maclin climbs in. Maclin confronts Arianna before she leaves the cage and calls Santana a deadbeat.

Here are the highlights from tonight's show!