Sami Callihan returned to TNA during a chaotic Knockouts Championship match

It was a night of returns for TNA at Rebellion (Apr. 20, 2024). Matt Hardy and Mike Santana took the headlines, but it was Sami Callihan with the most chaotic return of the bunch. The Death Machine made his presence felt in the Knockouts Championship bout.

Jordynne Grace defended the women’s title against Steph De Lander. With Matt Cardona out due to injury, SDL hired the Good Hands to watch her back. Once John Skyler and Jason Hotch stepped over the line with interference, all hell broke loose.

Grace secured a sleeper, and De Lander was fading. That’s when Skyler distracted the referee. Grace released the hold to protest. Hotch handed the title belt to SDL as a foreign object. Grace ducked the swing and fired off a spinning backfist. That strike inadvertently clobbered the referee. SDL pounced for a German suplex then smashed the champ with the belt. The ref was still unconscious, so Hotch stripped off the official’s shirt to make the count himself. 1, 2, lights out. PCO was in the ring to goozle the Good Hands with a double chokeslam.

De Lander tried to seduce PCO with her feminine wiles. Did it work? Nope. The French-Canadian Frankenstein goozled SDL. Big Kon ran in for the save to attack the monster. That led to a showdown between Grace and Kon. He pie-faced her down to the mat with force. She responded with a low blow. Grace power lifted Kon into a fireman’s carry position, but the numbers game got her before executing a maneuver.

Kon was going to snap Grace’s neck. Lights out. Sami Callihan was in the ring with a baseball bat. The Death Machine cleaned house. He forced SDL back into the ring, and Grace finished with a pumphandle driver. A backup referee ran in for the three-count.

That was wild stuff. If the decision is to make it wacky, then might as well go full steam ahead. TNA did exactly that for a crazy sports entertainment finish.

For full results to TNA Rebellion, click here. The PPV is available for viewing through TNA+, TrillerTV powered by Fite, and various other outlets.

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