TNA's Best Matches
 

Now TNA is "gone", I'm posting my personal favourite match from each year each day on the front page. My choices are already locked in, but I'll do a round up of other nominated matches at the end of the series and post the yearly picks here.

Links to the video if available would be awesome too.

2002:

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This was the 1st thing that came to mind thinking of "awesome TNA matches"

turning point 2004 , petey williams vs chris sabin

Turning Point 2004: XXX vs. America's Most Wanted

Unbreakable 2005: Styles vs. Daniels vs. Joe

Lockdown 2008: Samoa Joe vs. Kurt Angle

Any of the steel cage matches between XXX and AMW.

2008- Victory Road- 4 Team 12 Man Elimination Match in the 3rd round of the TNA World X Cup- Team TNA (Curry Man, & The Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley, & Chris Sabin) vs. Team Japan (Masato Yoshino, Milano Collection AT, & Puma) vs. Team Mexico (Averno, Rey Bucanero, & Ultimo Guerrero) vs. Team International (Alex Koslov, Doug Williams, & Tyson Dux)

Christian Cage vs somebody

I really liked the vibe around the Knockouts in 2007, but I don't think they ever really had that timeless classic to them. Unless Kim/Kong was a lot better than what I am remembering.

How many matches did Kurt Angle and Samoa Joe have? Those should probably be 1-whatever.

The Samoa Joe, Christopher Daniels and AJ Styles three ways were actually better.

I will say that while searching for best of lists to give me reminders of what matches happened when, once you get to like 2010, it's so goddamn hard. Even with all that talent, they have so much bullshit in matches sometimes.

I know 2017 is only halfway done, but jesus was it tough to find one match.

Yeah, there are some great matches in the company's history, but I could never get into it as a whole, because theres so many overbooked, nonsense finishes. I basically just bought a bunch of Best Of dvds as those are mostly clean finish matches.

Might have been better from a pure technical standpoint. Joe and Angle had the mystique behind it because both guys were actually built really well. Whereas Daniels and Styles were generic and kinda boring character-wise.

I think they had three in their first series, and then did the other one at Lockdown without the rushing and overbooking. There may have been more, but there were at least four.

Thought it was the one where Angle handed him his first loss that I watched the build/match to and it was really good.

Apparently it was quite short. I remember the super-exciting announcement of Angle signing with TNA was quickly followed up by them announcing they had re-hired Vince Russo. A mixed week.

Angle & Joe's first match was at TNA Genesis 2006
2nd was at Turning Point 2006
3rd was a 30 Minute Iron Man Match at Final Resolution 2007
4th was a winner take all match for Kurt Angle's TNA World Heavyweight Title, and IWGP Heavyweight Title and Samoa Joe's TNA X Division Title & Tag Team Title at Hard Justice 2007
5th was the 6 Sides Of Steel Match for the TNA World Heavyweight Title at Lockdown 2008
6th was a TNA World Heavyweight Title match on the 4/24/08 200th TNA iMPACT!
7th was on the 5/17/12 edition of TNA iMPACT!
8th was a Bound For Glory Series Match at Destination X 2012
9th was on the 2/14/13 Edition of TNA iMPACT!
10th was on the TNA One Night Only: Ten Reunion PPV
11th was on the 1/16/15 Edition of TNA iMPACT!

It's a bit sad how many fell wayside.

Agreed last match on Impact that I could consider a great match was EC3 vs Matt Hardy in a last man standing match that featured a double turn. Since they quit touring Impact has been pretty much just trying to fill tv time and alot of the matches are just run of the mill matches.

There aee a few Taryn Terrell matches befor she retired that I tjought were good as well and I remember being bummed when she did. Was just getting real good in the ring.

2016:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=W6OEkgd9VXQ

2013:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vqFoI-7Udr4

2013:
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x11...er-match_sport

Couldn't find the full match on youtube but the link is from dailymotion with the full match.

2003:

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Taryn Terrell is so hot, and Gail Kim is Wonder Woman.

Juventud Guerra is so fucking talented. It's a shame that it can't come without the rock star attitude. The dude was a meteor in the Attitude era. He's one of those guys that make me wonder "What would have happened if he jumped ship?" Stereotypes of small guys aside, can you imagine X-Pac and Juventud Guerrera having a feud in the WWF mid-card as Austin does his stuff on top?

2004:

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2005 is OF COURSE:

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I remember 2010 having the crazy 2 out of 3 falls tag title match with Beer Money facing the Motor City Machine Guns. Either that or the Steel Cage match with Kurt Angle and Mr. Anderson would have to be my 2010 moty.

I don't hardly watch, and it's no secret I don't care for and have even openly mocked TNA, but as for 2010 itself, I heard great things about RVD v. Sabu @ Hardcore Justice 2010, and even with what limited knowledge I have of the company, I'd make it my 2010 TNA MotY.

<blockquote class="embedly-card"><h4><a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1a721k_rob-van-dam-vs-sabu-hardcore-justice-2010_sport">Rob Van Dam vs. Sabu - Hardcore Justice 2010</a></h4><p>TNA Hardcore Justice 2010 Rob Van Dam vs. Sabu</p></blockquote> <script async src="//cdn.embedly.com/widgets/platform.js" charset="UTF-8"></script>

Should be DQed for having RVD in it

This match is garbage compared to Angle-Styles I & II, Angle-Anderson, Lethal-Styles, or any of the 5 MCMG-Beer Money matches.

Likely were better than you remember, but the "vibe" was more of the point. Not only did you have people with vaginas being able to serious-pants wrestle and or brawl (without most of the "requisite" clothes tearing and hair pulling catfights), a lot of their matches weren't being burdened with the bullshit overbooking that the male side of the roster was plagued with for YEARS before and since. All the girls weren't glorified arm charms: they put over a technically gifted, average looking, chunky Asian in Hamada just as much as they put over Tessmacher's glorious ass. it got to a point where a vast majority of them could at least hold their own (Lacey Von Erich was kinda the exception to that rule; double negative points for being so shitty AND burdened with the Von Erich name) if not potentially tear the goddamn house down.

Hell, it even transpired that the one "All Knockouts" episode of Impact was one of their highest rated episodes ever. Ever. It was one of those things that TNA actually "got right" years before WWE got on that train, but of course being TNA, they eventually fucked it up.

In similar fashion, I actually remember really enjoying "Global Impact" - when they did that show in Japan - when it aired, though I don't remember why it was so good off the top of my head and need to go back and watch it to refresh myself. Although I suspect it was for a similar reason to your Knockouts vibe: they didn't overbook the show, there wasn't a lot of nonsense because that shit wouldn't fly in Japan, and I think it may have been a solid card from top to bottom, and if it wasn't they were able to fix mistakes in post before they showed it here. I remember feeling like it could have been a turning point for how they presented themselves as a company... aaaaannnnd subsequently, it was back to the same old LOLTNA nonsense.

Sabin vs Williams was great too.

Remember when Chris Sabin was like, the hot internet darling that people got behind? I seem to recall someone on here always referring to him as Chris Fucking Sabin or something along those lines.

Sabin was legit brilliant until he got injured.

Skippord was the world's biggest Sabin mark. He was white-hot right up through The Motor City Machine Guns, which is where it felt like he found his niche. Putting the "World Title" on him was a bit much. He never really felt like that complete player, in terms of personality coming around full-circle to match his ring skills, which never felt as "heavyweight" as some smaller guys can make it feel.

Yeah, I remember the vibe convinced me to actually order a TNA PPV. Seriously. I'm sure the matches were perfectly fine, and probably good, but you're right in that it the attitude around them was what really dragged me in.

The Knockouts were originally handled by Dutch Mantel and Scott D'Amore, from memory. I think D'Amore was involved in producing PPV and agenting, while Mantel was the mind behind a lot of the booking. Anyway, when Russo got wind it was doing well, that's when his stink was injected, and things like the girls winning briefcases that forced them to strip became a thing.

It's a pattern I've noticed with Russo. Without being too snarky, it does legitimately seem that he can't be around the success of others. He's got to get that total control of a project and would rather bring it down than see others succeed with it. There are other examples in TNA -- like when Mantel put together the Angle/Joe program that led to TNA's highest PPV buyrate, which they never replicated.

There are other examples, but I've just shot up in the middle of the night to break up my sleep, so they're not jumping through to me right now, but there are others from WCW and WWF, where you get wind of something working and then it being snuffed out by Russo. It's really weird. Like how some compulsive liars actually tell the complete inversion of the truth, so you can work out the truth by virtue of knowing how they lie, you can kind of tell what is working in a wrestling promotion by sniffing out the highest Russo involvement, which brings it down.

2006 is also pretty obvious

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2007 has shit quality even though it's on the official channel

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Yeah, it was that one. And it was relatively short. But damn, they made it work.

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

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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.

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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!

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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

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2011

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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

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: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:
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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>