Islanders & Their New Smackdown Attitude Welcome TNA To UBS Arena

This Sunday, July 20, is TNA Wrestling Slammiversary at UBS Arena.

Stefen Rosner

The Elmonters

, and

David Kolb

Jul 18, 2025

Since Mathieu Darche stepped in front of a mic on Long Island, he’s made one thing abundantly clear.

He wants his team to be a pain in the rear end to play against. He wants the team to play aggressive. He wants his team to be feared.

Darche’s actions have backed up that claim.

He retained the fiery Patrick Roy as head coach. He brought in Rocky Thompson for Bridgeport, a coach who has a similar mindset.

Thompson’s first few words? That Bridgeport is no longer going to be a punching bag.

Darche signed hard-hitting defenseman Alexander Romanov to an eight-year extension worth $6.25 million annually.

With the 17th overall pick in the first round, he drafted vicious defenseman — and I mean vicious — Kashawn Aitcheson.

Although he could have folded when it came to the Noah Dobson negotiations — Noah is a gifted offensive defenseman — it’s clear his style didn’t fit Darche or Roy.

He brought back the pest that is defenseman Tony DeAngelo on a one-year deal worth $1.75 million.

He didn’t trade center Jean-Gabriel Pageau, who will hit anything that moves, or the forechecking energizer bunny that is Casey Cizikas.

Even in the Islanders Blue & White Scrimmage, their prospect showcase, we saw big hit after big hit.

The fans may not have liked it when Marshall Warren hit No. 1 overall pick Matthew Schaefer, sending boo birds his way at Northwell Ice Center. Kudos to Warren for having the courage and the mindset that it doesn’t matter the talent—he’s going to do his job.

There’s a new smackdown attitude on Long Island.

And it just so happens that this Sunday, July 20, is TNA Wrestling Slammiversary at UBS Arena.

Here are the matchups (event begins at 7 PM ET):

TNA Knockouts World Championship Match

• Masha Slamovich vs. Jacy Jayne

The winner leaves Slammiversary with both the TNA Knockouts and NXT Women’s Championships

TNA X Division Championship Match

• Moose vs. Leon Slater

TNA World Tag Team Championship Ladder Match

• Nic & Ryan Nemeth (champions) vs. The Rascalz vs. Fir$t Cla$$ vs. Jeff & Matt Hardy

TNA Knockouts World Tag Team Championship Match

• The Elegance Brand (Ash & Heather) vs. The IInspiration