Sosa returns during iMPACT as Mike Santana survives brutal title defense
Summary
– Ricky Sosa returned on TNA iMPACT to stop Eric Young from winning the TNA World Championship
– Mike Santana retained the title after surviving Young’s attack on his injured neck
– Nick Nemeth confirmed he will challenge Santana for the TNA World Title at Slammiversary
Ricky Sosa made his return at the perfect time on TNA iMPACT, and Eric Young’s championship plan fell apart because of it.
The June 11 episode opened with Mike Santana defending the TNA World Championship against Young in Denver. Santana came into the match at less than full strength after Young attacked him with a piledriver the previous week.
Young targeted Santana’s neck throughout the match. The former TNA World Champion used neckbreakers, heavy strikes, and constant pressure to wear down the champion.
Santana fought through the damage and nearly retained after hitting Spin the Block. The move connected, but the referee had been knocked down and could not count the fall.
Young then took advantage of the situation. He hit Santana with a low blow while the referee was down, then used the title belt before dropping the champion with another piledriver.
Santana somehow survived by getting his hand on the bottom rope before the referee counted three. Young then tried to set up the title belt again, but the match changed when Ricky Sosa appeared.
Sosa had not been seen since Young laid him out with a piledriver. His return distracted Young long enough for Santana to recover and score the pinfall.
The win allowed Santana to retain the TNA World Championship after one of his toughest defenses yet. Sosa also got a measure of revenge after Young tried to take him out of TNA.
The drama did not end there. Nick Nemeth came out with the Call Your Shot trophy and looked like he might cash in on the injured champion.
Instead, Nemeth said he was a man of his word. He confirmed that he will challenge Santana one-on-one for the TNA World Championship at Slammiversary.
Santana escaped Denver still champion, but the damage from Young’s attack was clear. With Nemeth waiting at Slammiversary, the champion may be heading into his next defense far from full strength.
