I remember loving the shit out of Victory Road 2004, TNA's first proper PPV. And at the time it really was starting to feel like there was a viable alternative to WWE.

Now I look at the match card now and I completely forgot shit like Johnny B Badd being in TNA in 2004.

2008

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FbZjm8BM91Q" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Y'know AJ doesn't really have a "character" now he's just good on the mic and incredible in the ring.

AJ on the mic before becoming Christian's lacky made my ears bleed.

He wasn't on Joe or Angle's level when it came to bringing that big fight feel. He still isn't... but more so then.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Zoxv0iI4Zj8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

My god I knew I wasn't remembering that wrong. I had asked not long after his WWE debut when did Aj get so good on the mic because I had memories of him being bland to downright awful.

I can't believe I am going to give them credit for this, but TNA is a better developmental system to the WWE than NXT has been. They saddle their talent with so much shit that they develop the talent to become bulletproof, which they need in the WWE.

Gedo and Okada actually even say TNA was very influential in how Okada developed. Gedo said he sent Okada there because he knew how much talent he had, but knew TNA would treat him like shit and that would keep him humble. Okada says he learned how to become a character there because there weren't many gimmicks in NJPW, so when he came back that's when he debuted the Rainmaker character.

I think what Okada says about his experience is just him being humble and that Gedo was right. Apparently, when Okada was at Smackdown, he stood near gorilla and shook every single persons hand before they went out there and wished them luck.

Thanks TNA!

Yup, 2009 is a repeat!

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WZjgdmRGvf0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I always feel like Christopher Daniels is the last "big" indy guy to not have had a run in the WWE. Sure, there's plenty of young guys out there today, but of the original post-WCW big names... AJ Styles, Austin Aries, Bobby Roode, Chris Hero, Sami Zayn, Roderick Strong and hell, even Low Ki and Colt Cobana had brief tenues. Feels like Daniels is the one who never got picked up. Hopefully he'll at least get a brief go at it in NXT some day.

Would love some kinda storyline on Smackdown, perhaps if Joe ever gets drafted there, where AJ and Joe are feuding for the United States title and Daniel Bryan can book a match on a smaller PPV, featuring a mystery opponent from both men's past. WWE don't need to acknowledge TNA, but I'm sure most fans will know who Daniels is. It'd be like when Tazz debuted and fans just knew.

Certainly not on the bigger PPV's, but for something like Great Balls of Fire or Extreme Rules or TLC or whatever, it'd be a cool moment and definitely a great match.

2010 is another repeat

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LwmTEbkEysY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

2011

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dlhaUW_dXKw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

This makes me hopeful for a New Japan/GFW relationship, with Bobby Lashley coming in and working strong style.

I'd love to see him sign with the WWE. I don't know what shape he is in, but if he passes the physical, even if it's just a short run before he gets moved to being a road agent would be tremendous. Bring him up for the obvious interactions with Styles and Joe (don't waste time in NXT) and then see how he is feeling and being received. At this point, I could even see the guy being useful as a manager.

2012:

<iframe frameborder="0" width="480" height="270" src="//www.dailymotion.com/embed/video/x4rrpr7" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4rrpr7" target="_blank">AJ Styles &amp; Kurt Angle vs. Christopher Daniels...</a> <i>by <a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/SmarksWrasslin" target="_blank">SmarksWrasslin</a></i>

I don't want to be THAT guy but he was one of The Conquistadors.

:rant:

My favorite TNA match of all time is James Storm vs Chris Harris in a Texas Deathmatch at Sacrifice 2007. One of the few TNA storylines I got truly emotionally invested in. I pretend the blindfold steel cage match never happened.


https://youtu.be/oBFM8xj79jI

Oh my God. Tell me this was not actually a thing...

Sadly.

https://youtu.be/Corfl44XvnI

Lockdown 2007

BONUS WrestleCrap Induction: http://www.wrestlecrap.com/induction...ld-match-ever/

Why won't YouTube give you the embed code if you're on mobile?

It just doesn't and it's a pain in the arse.

Don't the blindfolds keep falling off in the Blindfold Match?

Yes. Yes, they do. And that's only like 3rd or 4th on the list of reasons why that was horrible.

2013

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Gcc-k9ujL2Y" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

:lol:

I don't know whether I can bring myself to watch this or not.

2014

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hqUVFXcDl5w" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

2015:

<iframe frameborder="0" width="480" height="270" src="//www.dailymotion.com/embed/video/x2wb8c2" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2wb8c2" target="_blank">(01.07.2015) World Tag Team Championship: The...</a> <i>by <a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/WrestlingEvolution" target="_blank">WrestlingEvolution</a></i>

I bet anyone can guess what 2016 will be

It will be EXQUISITE, yes?

Absolutely TANATALISING

2016:
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hBCU8wELJAA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Yeah, it was awful. The Blindfold match will never work as well as the Jake Roberts vs "The Model" Rick Martel from Wrestlemania 7 because they wore hoods, not actual blindfolds.

...Yeah, 2017 was a struggle

<iframe frameborder="0" width="480" height="270" src="//www.dailymotion.com/embed/video/x57ryhn" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x57ryhn" target="_blank">Mike Bennett (w/ Maria Kanellis-Bennett) vs. Moose</a> <i>by <a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/therackattackvideos" target="_blank">therackattackvideos</a></i>