Robert Stone Appointed to Oversee Santino Marella’s Actions on TNA iMPACT

TNA iMPACT kicked off the top of the second hour on May 1 with a tense moment for Cody Deaner, but the biggest shake-up came when Robert Stone dropped a power move that could shift the entire landscape of TNA management.

After Deaner delivered a heartfelt promo about his contract expiring at midnight, and Santino Marella offered him a lifeline in the form of a match against Eddie Edwards at TNA Under Siege, the spotlight quickly shifted. Robert Stone made his way to the ring, flanked by Deputy Director of Authority Victoria Crawford (formerly Alicia Fox), and used the moment to assert his authority.

Not only did Stone stir the pot with Deaner, but he made it crystal clear that he now has his sights set on Marella’s role, announcing that he has been officially appointed to oversee Santino’s actions moving forward. Stone stated his presence isn’t just ceremonial—he’s been given real power to monitor the decisions Marella makes as Director of Authority.

To cap off the moment, Stone also made a major match announcement: Victoria Crawford will officially challenge Masha Slamovich for the TNA Knockouts Championship at Under Siege 2025. With Crawford stepping into title contention and Stone tightening his grip on backstage decisions, their authority tandem is now front and center.

The moment ended with a public reminder of who’s really in control now. Stone isn’t just managing talent—he’s managing the management.

With this new dynamic in play, Santino’s ability to make calls without pushback is now in question, and Robert Stone’s influence could grow quickly behind the scenes.

Do you think Robert Stone will try to push Santino out completely? Drop your thoughts and predictions in the comments below.