First matches announced for TNA Emergence

The first two matches are official for the Friday, August 15 TNA Emergence event, with a third match teased for the show.

In the main event, TNA World Champion Trick Williams will defend his title against Moose. The bout was set up with a tag team contest on Thursday’s Impact where Moose scored the pin on the TNA Champion.

Also announced for Emergence, Leon Slater will defend the X-Division Championship against Cedric Alexander. Slater defended his title on Thursday’s Impact against Alexander and Jason Hotch in a three-way, but Hotch ate the pin to give Alexander a justification to challenge for the title.

A third match for Emergence was teased as Sami Callihan delivered a promo challenging Mike Santana to a match for the show. In a backstage segment with announcer Tom Hannifan, Callihan discussed his weight gain following a catastrophic leg injury and how it played into his lifelong body issues. He went on to say that if he can’t beat Santana at Emergence, he may retire.

"If I lose, I think I got my answer. I think I ride off into the sunset… I leave my boots in the middle of the ring. And the Death Machine retires in Baltimore."@TheSamiCallihan faces his future in pro wrestling in an emotional interview with @TomHannifan.

WATCH #TNAiMPACT… pic.twitter.com/tygm0vLF4E

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) August 1, 2025

Emergence takes place as a TNA Plus special from Baltimore on Friday, August 15. The announced card:

TNA Emergence, Friday, August 15 —

• TNA World Champion Trick Williams defends against Moose
• TNA X-Division Champion Leon Slater defends against Cedric Alexander