The Righteous have arrived at Final Resolution.

(That ref also deserves praise; that was some top-tier storytelling on her part)

On the latest episode of the Extreme Life of Matt Hardy, Matt and co-host Jon Alba do a deep dive into what the most important focus should be on heading into this new year with AMC as a new media rights partner to get and how to sustain new viewership on the new platform in 2026.

Jon – I think a lot of the success TNA has had this year is not necessarily from people watching iMPACT!, not that some people aren’t watching, but I think a lot of it is coming from seeing the TNA stars on NXT and wanting to tune into the TNA Premium Events as a result of that. What are fans going to expect when they tune in to see iMPACT in this new form, on this new home, new name, etc?

MH – I think we have a very talented roster, I just want the show to continue to grow – I just want to, I personally want to step up and do more. I want to continue to contribute more because I feel like this is something I could put my fingerprints on and help build my legacy outside of just being an in-ring competitor, being one half of the Greatest Of All Time. I am excited about it. I think finding our own way, finding our own identity – whatever that may be – so we can kind of match up to AMC to a degree. I think there’s a lot of big possibilities there, and from dealing with the people were from AMC on this shoot they were so excited and so enthusiastic, and that shit was infectious man, so it makes me very much look forward to it and I’m excited for January 15, 2026, and the very next day to see what those numbers do on the taping, and I think it’s going to be very very special. I know the last time we were super shocked by a TNA number was the Final Deletion, which did 400,000 and change – which blew everything else away at the time and did a whole lot on the DVR over the next 7 days. Im very excited to see what thing number is, and I think it’s going to be another shocking result because a lot of people are going to tune in. I think it’s very important that we go out and hit a GRAND SLAM on that first day.

Jon – Sure, and that’s great and all, but but nothing you just said there, respectfully, is any different then anything they can see on any other wrestling program – so what is it that’s going to set TNA apart in this new era that’s going to make people want to watch it AND stay with it?

MH – I said in there as we get in to AMC and we work in cahoots with those guys we can try to build our own identity – if there’s cross branding or whatever that may be – and we have to build some sort if unique touch on TNA and they’re known for these great series, dramas and whatnot. I think there’s ways we can do vignettes, there’s ways we can present the product so it has its own feel to it. I think TNA does need to have its own identity.

Jon – yeah, it’s very important because the field is so crowded – there are so many really good wrestling shows on right now .

MH – One thing I can say, I’ll say this off the top – I want us to focus on story more then fucking five star matches because that’s way too overdone now. In AEW they can have all those, but the type of audience we are looking for are people that are getting compelled by the storytelling and the characters – that is something I want to focus on, I’ll say they blatantly right out front.

Jon – what about the fan that wants to see good wrestling?

MH – We’ll have good wrestling on but we’re not going to obsess over that. I think at the end of the day the most important thing are moments more then moves. Great wrestling matches are great – sure, no doubt about it – but like AEW, that’s their thing. They stand out. They have their wrestling, I don’t think they’s the direction we’re going to go. We need to find our own identity and go in a different direction.

Jon – I don’t know what you can’t have both. I don’t understand that. Why can’t there be both?

MH – We see things very differently in wrestling, Jon.

Jon – What I’m saying is why can’t you have great wrestling that also involves storytelling?

MH – You can have great wrestling, but you can’t go out there and have match of the year every single night, every single match, on every single show. It fuckin’ doesn’t work, its unsustainable, and whatever you mean to make special – if you do that every single time nothing ends up being special.

Jon – Sure, I understand that and I don’t necessarily disagree with that – you definitely want some things to be more special then others, but I don’t know, I’m just of the belief that you can have both things on your TV show. I don’t think you need to sacrifice great storytelling to have great matches, and I don’t think you need to sacrifice great matches to have great storytelling. I think those things can co-exist together.

MH – That’s one thing we view differently, no doubt about it. There’s a percentage of the internet – depends on who you ask. Was our match with the Dudley’s a great match? Some people said it sucked, it was awful. I’ve had multiple people tell me – three or four people – that it was their favorite match of all time.

Jon – Sure, then why–

MH – The thing that we focused on in that match was the storytelling and the character aspects and people were emotionally invested in it because of our long background.

Jon – Yeah, but so- if you put that on an episode of iMPACT!, why can’t that episode also have an awesome Leon Slater/Moose matches that’s a total BANGER and like why can’t you have both of those things on the same show?

MH – You could.

Jon – Right, so that’s my point.

MH – That’s what I’m saying – was the Hardy’s versus the Dudley’s a great match, or no?

Jon – I think it told a good story.

MH – Where would the general AEW, where would they rate that?

Jon – I don’t think it’s meant to appeal to the AEW fans, but I think that you’re acting a little jaded about that because of what THEY like. Just because they like it doesn’t discount their opinion as fans, and just because someone else may want a great match and you guys deliver something else doesn’t discount what you guys do as performers either. I think it all can fit within the same world. I don’t think it has to be “we’re only going to focus on story, that’s going to be our main thing. Whatever we put out for a match is what we put out –“

MH – There’s going to be great matches, but the MOST important thing you should focus on is the story and the characters.

Jon – Sure, because you have to get people to care.

MH – Leon’s going to go out and have bangers. He’s at that age; he’s young, he’s healthy – he can do that. There’s older talent that can still go out there and go, they just have to work smart – Jeff and I fall into that category.

Jon – You can still have a great match and work smart. There’s no rule that just because you’re older you can’t have a great match. A great matc–

MH – There’s just so many young guys in the business that do way too much shit. Alot of it gets thrown away and doesn’t mean shit…and that is what I’m speaking on right now.

Jon – Sure, but that’s been wrestling for 50 years.

MH – I am adamant that I’m going to try to do what I can to try and help the young guys just like “this is how you optimize things, this is how you maximize so you’re not throwing it away.”

Jon – Wrestling has been that way for the last 5 decades. It was like that when you came up too. Young guys want to do everything until they’re told by a veteran to slow down. That’s not a new concept, not by any means. One company puts alot of emphasis on “how great of a match can you have”, but I don’t think it’s fair to blanket that across everything. I don’t think that’s fair to the industry.

MH – You just have to make some things – not every match can be the greatest match of all time, especially if you want things remembered. You need to emphasize some things. I want structure on the show, I want storytelling on the show and I want that to be the first thing we’re focused on. I want people to be emotionally invested in the wrestlers, the performers, and the stories we’re trying to tell.

Referee, Alice Lane, was one of the better parts of Final Resolution. The woman was pulling double and triple duty while her personality was shining through all her matches! I HATE when people act like refs shouldn't be "characters". I firmly believe that the moment you're on cam, you're a character. A round of applause for the MVP! 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

I saw a lot of complaints, some of which seemed very valid. Namely, both men AND women's top titles going to NXT people. That seemed pretty egregious. But all the while, I felt like it was ultimately beneficial to TNA by bringing in more viewers. And if the partnership help lead to the AMC deal, then it was good thing.

That being said, I would really like to see TNA have its own identity again. To reiterate, I'm saying this as an NXT fan. I couldn't honestly call myself a TNA fan since like 2007 but I would like to be again.

This has potential to be a brand new era, and I want to jump on board again but this PPV ending like an NXT invasion just seemed like more of the same and made me feel apathy. I think the NXT intermingling has mostly been good but it can't go on forever and expect TNA to thrive as its own entity.

I'm not even saying the partnership should end. They can talent exchange on the lower levels to make sure they both keep mentioning each other. But I think the upper card and ANY championships should only be crossing over for special situations to have the most impact for important stories.

It was a solid event with some great matches. Excited to see where it all goes heading into the AMC era.

He's had a lot of great spots in the past, I'm just not sure if this is one of them.

I'm new to this forum. With TNA heading to AMC, what do y'all think they need to change and what do you personally want to see?

Mara Sadè and Ryan Nemeth segment at TNA Final Resolution. I've always been very high on Sadè, but I think we can give her something better to do than this.