TNA Impact live results: 8-4-1 match returns

The 8-4-1 match returns on TNA Impact tonight to decide a new number one contender to the Knockouts Championship

The specialty match starts as an eight-person tag team bout. The members of the winning team then face off in a four-way match to determine the overall winner.

The 8-4-1 is scheduled to start off as Havok, Masha Slamovich, Alisha Edwards & Jody Threat vs. Dani Luna, Xia Brookside, Ash By Elegance & Rosemary. The winner earns a Knockouts Championship shot against Jordynne Grace at next month's Rebellion pay-per-view. Rebellion is taking place on Saturday, April 20.

At Rebellion, Eddie Edwards & Brian Myers are defending their TNA Tag Team titles against Mike Bailey & Trent Seven. Edwards takes on Bailey in a singles match tonight.

A match between Steve Maclin and Chris Sabin has also been announced for tonight's Impact.

Josh Alexander will respond to Alex Hammerstone ahead of a potential rubber match between the two. Plus, we'll also hear from new allies Rich Swann & AJ Francis.

A recap of Jake Something getting an X Division Title shot at Rebellion starts things off showcasing everyone in that match - especially Leon Slater alongside a showcase of The System taking out Nic Nemeth and Jordynne Grace beating Tasha Steelz. Ash By Elegance's concierge lets everyone know that Ash has had cosmetic surgery and she can't compete - and she'll be replaced by Steph De Lander. Tom Hannifan recaps the rules for the 8-4-1 match and we somehow don't get a graphic for this. 

Steph De Lander, Xia Brookside, Dani Luna, and Rosemary win the 8-knockouts tag match portion of the 8-4-1 match

Dani Luna worked over Alisha Edwards quickly to start and got 2 off of a seated forearm. Slamovich tagged in and took Luna down briefly before Xia Brookside tagged in and ate a beating in the corner with a series of lariats by Jody Threat. Brooside worked over Slamovich in the corner with a pair of shotgun knees to the neck getting 2. Luna landed a blue thunder bomb for 2 on Slamovich, who recovered and landed a black mass for 2. Dani Luna locked on a small package to pin Slamovich and move onto the four-way match for the title shot. 

Steph De Lander beat Xia Brookside, Dani Luna, and Rosemary to win the 8-4-1 Match

Since it's no DQ, Slamovich beat up Luna - much to the amusement of Steph  De Lander. Ash By Elegance briefly got touched and is in complete agony before Matt Cardona ran in and landed Radio Silence before SDL hit a TKO on Rosemary to advance to Rebellion.

In the parking lot, Chris Sabin and Steve Maclin argue and Sabin says he'll be a man about it and go to Santino to make a match. Shelley met with Sabin and KUSHIDA in his finest "Real Double J" Jesse Jammes shirt while Sabin complained about the issues they're all having together. 

Backstage, Ace Austin and Chris Bey chatted about Jake Something winning and Austin is upset at Chris Bey was even in the match - and it's not a matter of him not being talented enough, but they need to focus on the tag titles. 

Zack Gibson complained about Cody Deaner costing them their match last week and Deaner came out and said Santino gave him the chance to pick his opponent today. Gibson said that he was traveling through the city and saw nothing but mutants, but Deaner likes these mutants and he polled the fans on which "loud-mouthed prick" he should beat up. He slugged Gibson before grappling around with James Drake. Hannifan argues with Matt Reihwaldt and said "Shut up you stupid Chicago bald man!" - which is easily his best line in TNA.

The Grizzled Young Veterans defeated Cody Deaner

Gibson slugged away to start, but Deaner blocked a big shot and landed a flurry of punches before an inverted atomic drop. Drake used the scarf and Deaner eats the double codebreaker to win it. 

Gia Miller chatted with Nic Nemeth about facing Moose at Rebellion. He talked about facing Moose before Shelley interrupted him and blamed KUSHIDA for throwing the towel in and costing him the title. Nemeth challenged Shelley to a match and Shelley wanted a date for it, but Nemeth didn't give him one.

Josh Alexander walked out for a promo in full gear, which the commentary team picks up on as a sign of him wanting a fight. Alexander says that Santino gave him an open contract tonight and he calls out Hammerstone and wants his big ass down here now but instead gets Tracy Williams. Williams says if Hammerstone doesn't want a fight, that's fine because he does.

Josh Alexander defeats Tracy Williams in a must-see match

Williams got a nice flash schoolboy off a leapfrog for 2. Alexander hit a low crossbody on a seated Williams on the apron. Alexander landed a deadlift side backbreaker and went for the C4 Spike, but Williams dropped down to avoid it. Williams caught the foot and landed a series of slaps before they went back and forth on them and Williams landed a teardrop suplex. Williams pulled him off the top into a Kimura, which Hannifan brought up as being more serious for Alexander due to the torn triceps from the Hoverboard lock in 2023.

Alexander hit a slick overhead belly to belly before securing an ankle lock, but he ate a turnbuckle when Williams reversed it. Williams landed a sick back elbow before Alexander responded with a forearm shot in the corner. Williams landed a DDT on the top turnbuckle itself and got two! That was a fantastic spot and led into Williams getting an STF and then turning it into a crossface. Alexander recovers and landed another forearm and a release German! Alexander wanted a backslide, but turned it into a C4 Spike for the win. This was one of the best matches on TNA TV or PPV all year. Tracy Williams shined so brightly here as well. The fans chant "both these guys!" and they shake hands - this was incredible!

Hammerstone jumped them from behind with a rabbit lariat and sends Alexander outside before elbowing Williams in the head. Hammerstone put the headgear on Williams and put him in the torture rack. In a new TNA era filled with a ton of post-match interference, this was effective since the match before it was so great. 

TNA hypes up Mustafa Ali being on the cover of PWI - which is a smart way to make your champions seem like bigger stars. Backstage, Santino meets with Ali in a very WWE-like office with the magazine cover behind them and Ali tells him that Jake Something isn't fit for the X Division. Santino says there are no limits in the division and Samoa Joe proved that, while Ali doesn't trust him due to his name. He says that Rhino is also a dumb name before Santino freaks out and Ali guesses he's behind him and praises Mr. Rhinocerus! Rhino wants a non-title Old School Rules match next week and Santino makes the match.

Eddie Edwards defeated "Speedball" Mike Bailey in a fantastic match

Edwards started off strong with chops before Bailey shot back with a boot to the jaw. Myers and Alisha distracted Bailey and Edwards landed a powerbomb on the apron. Edwards trapped him on the floor for some crossfaces in front of the fans that would mean more if everything out of the ring wasn't just a black abyss. Edwards trapped him on top and chopped him before Edwards is sent down and ate a shooting star press for 2. 

Bailey landed a slick Asai skytwister press on the floor! Edwards recovered and landed a backpack stunner for 2. Bailey landed a nice head kick, but ate a lariat from Edwards before Bailey landed a shooting star shotgun knee strike to the gut. Bop and Bang sends Myers down before a sunset flip gets 2 for Bailey. Ultima Weapon misses thanks to Alisha and the Boston Knee Party to the back of the head wins it. This was also fantastic and one of the better blends of story and in-ring work in this era of TNA.

PCO ranted for KON and a monster's ball match somewhere. The Full Blooded Italians are hyped up for next week. Frankie Kazarian quotes the Bible to reinforce that EY sees himself as the hero and Kaz is wicked - and he may be, but Full Metal Mayhem doesn't favor EY, it favors Kazarian because he is more violent. He says he's the king of TNA and Chris Bey says this isn't a water park - he can't let that slide and he wants him next week.

Rich Swann's heel turn is recapped before he and AJ Francis come down and talk. AJ Francis says that this isn't about the fans - it's about them and they are First Class. Francis says he hasn't been this happy since his team beat theirs in the NFL! Swann said he was dealing with a losing streak and Francis took him from being on top to being even higher. He was going to snap the losing streak, but Joe Hendry blind tagged himself in and cost him his first win in months and then Hendry wanted him to sing and dance! He was upset, but AJ Francis was there for him no matter how many times he told him know. He was World Champion when there was no one there - which means he didn't need any of these people, and TNAJ Francis is money with Rich Swann. Swann as the worker and AJ Francis as his heater works wonderfully.

Tom Hannifan chats with Laredo Kid about his life, as the fans have seen him wrestle, but never seen much about him. He said that he started in 2003 and got signed to AAA. He faced Vikingo over a year ago and had an intestinal injury that almost ended his life and travel issues prevented him from getting the Digital Media Title - but he'll get a shot again. 

Steve Maclin defeated Chris Sabin in a great main event

Sabin got the edge early on with a snap armdrag off a tie-up. Sabin kept the arm work going by slamming Maclin's arm into the post, giving him a lot of physical credibility in ways that he doesn't normally showcase. Maclin recovered and attacked the back with forearm shots and ground away at him with a knee to the back during a chinlock. Maclin put him up top for a chop, but Sabin fought back with a missile dropkick. Sabin fired off a forearm shot to the jaw and to the neck for 2. 

Sabin set him up for the Cradle Shock, but Maclin fought back with elbows to the neck to avoid it. Sabin got a crossface, but Maclin turned it into a cradle for 2. Maclin avoided a dive by nailing a busaiku knee on the floor and a diving headbutt hit for 2. Maclin put him in a tree of woe and wanted a crossbody, but Sabin avoided it and Maclin rolled out. Maclin hit Mayhem for All/Rikishi Driver and only got 2. Back and forth forearm shivers from both men lead to a sole butt from Sabin, but Maclin forearms him to the floor and missed the scud missile dive.

A countout is teased, but Maclin got in at 9 before a satellite DDT hit for 2 on Maclin. Maclin turned a jackknife pin into the KIA/Death Rider and wins it! This was another excellent match and few people in the past decade have had their stock rise as much in Impact/TNA as Steve Maclin - and matches like this show why.