Reviews

TNA Genesis 2025 Review

By Kristian Thompson • Published 20th January 2025
TNA Genesis 2025 PLE Review

TNA Genesis featured Nic Nemeth defending the TNA World Title against Joe Hendry, Tessa Blanchard facing Jordynne Grace, and more.

The big announcement this week was the partnership struck between WWE (NXT) and TNA, which is tremendous timing to get more eyes on this TNA PPV. The momentum that this should give TNA after this weekend, then with the first live Impact weekly show in years on Thursday, should really help them kick on in 2025. I felt like I wrote a lot about momentum for TNA in 2024, however it often seemed to be stifled with poor booking and inconsistent contracts where wrestlers would show up to a few tapings and then disappear for months on end. At least with this NXT partnership, there will be more talent that can appear more often in TNA.

I didn’t review this week’s Impact show as we were bringing our newborn daughter back home from the hospital for the first time, but I’m back to review this show and hopefully all shows in the future. I am not going to get too excited for Genesis (the card is excellent) because too many times I have had really high hopes for a TNA show in 2024, only to be somewhat let down. Is it finally the night for Joe Hendry? The partnership deal with WWE probably leads me to answer “No” at this point, because you can play out the potential heel Nemeth turn (that’s what I think is going to happen tonight) on TNA and NXT. Nemeth back in WWE would be cool. However, you could argue that this might mean they put the title on Hendry, who was really popular on NXT, and then he could float between the two shows. That might be the catalyst for him re-signing with TNA instead of appearing exclusively on WWE, which I think we all assumed would happen in 2025.

I did not watch the pre-show (it’s on TNA’s YouTube channel) but it did go for an hour and I saw Mark Henry was on there so that’s cool. Ashante Adonis from NXT started the show with an open challenge. Jake Something answered the challenge and beat him easily. Frankie Kazarian beat Leon Slater by cheating in the second match of the pre-show. Jade Chung had been replaced as the ring announcer. McKenzie Mitchell, a former NXT interviewer, was the new face and did a good job throughout. The famous ‘Red Cap’ wrestling fan was on the show a lot with lots of attention-seeking signs, too.

TNA Genesis 2025 from the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland, Texas

The show began with the national anthem and typically impressive opening video package that highlighted the main matches on the card, which is pretty strong. Tom Hannifan and Matt Rehwoldt were on commentary as usual. The set had two big video screens and the yellow ropes were back. The crowd was loud to kick off the show and it looked like a full house. I think Hannifan said it was the highest-ticketed gate in the history of TNA. I saw HHH putting TNA over on Twitter which is pretty great. Let’s hope we see some bigger NXT names in TNA than that ‘leant’ to TNA in 2024.

Match #1: TNA X-Division Championship: Moose (c) w/ JDC & Alisha Edwards vs Ace Austin

This is a good choice for the opener, as both guys are in the top 5 or 6 wrestlers in TNA. Moose had a new X-Division title, but I don’t pay too much attention to those sort of things so if the commentators didn’t announce that then I probably wouldn’t have noticed. Austin came out of the gates on fire with a dropkick in the corner. He sent Moose out of the ring then kicked him in the back of the neck, from the ring apron. Austin avoided a leg-sweep on the apron and took out Moose with a cannonball. He kissed a fan’s original title belt at ringside. Moose clubbed Austin from behind and went back into the ring to break the referee’s count. He whipped Austin hard into the barricade at ringside. Moose repeated the dose on the opposite barricade. He went for a spear on the outside and Austin sent him crashing into the barricade. Moose tried to suplex Austin on the ring apron. Austin tried a suplex of his own but Moose hit a pump kick. Austin bounced back with a suplex on the floor. The action finally spilled back into the ring. Austin kicked JDC off the ring apron. He tried a springboard attack but Moose choke-slammed him on the ring apron. There’s no way that that move doesn’t hurt. Austin was lifeless on the floor as the referee began his 10 count. He began to stir at 7 and snuck back in at the count of 9. Moose choked him out on the mat with his foot. He chopped Austin in the corner. Austin was barely able to prop himself up. He took another chop to the chest. Moose missed a third chop. Austin hit a flurry of offense in the corner. His neck was bothering him so Moose nailed him with a Uranage. Austin countered a powerbomb with a clothesline attempt but he couldn’t take Moose down. He hit two more clotheslines to no effect. Austin blocked a pump kick and rolled Moose through for a 2 count. He leap-frogged a spear attempt and his a Russian Legsweep. Austin nailed a leg drop. Moose missed a corner attack so Austin nailed him with a spinning kick from the middle rope. He followed up with a double stomp for 2. Moose blocked The Fold and hit Go to Hell from the middle rope for 2. I love that move. Austin fought back with a forearm but Moose chopped him to the mat. They exchanged strikes in the centre of the ring. Austin got the better of it but Moose crunched him with a headbutt. He sent Austin to the apron but Austin hit a kick. Moose tried for Go to Hell from the top rope but Austin hit a head scissors. Moose rolled through to the ring apron. Austin went from inside the ring to hit a head scissors from the apron. He didn’t connect too well, but Moose did a good job flipping over to sell the move. JDC sent Austin into the ring apron whilst the referee was distracted. Moose ran around the ringside area and went for a spear on Austin, but he moved and nailed JDC instead. Austin hit The Fold on the floor! Eddie Edwards and Brian Myers ran down to ringside, so Austin vaulted over the top rope with a moonsault to take them both out. Austin went for a springboard move back into the ring but Moose speared him in mid-air. Moose rolled over into the cover but Austin kicked out right before 3. Great nearfall there. Moose lined Austin up for another spear. Austin rolled him up for 2. He countered a Uranage with a roll up for 2 again. Austin hit a spinning kick. He tried for the Art of Finesse but Moose speared him in the back! Moose hit a weak-looking spear to retain the title after 14:50.

Winner by pinfall AND STILL TNA X-Division Champion: Moose

Analysis: ***3/4 That was a great opener that was full of action and great nearfalls. I enjoyed their chemistry. Austin fought off all The System but couldn’t finish Moose off in the end. I wouldn’t mind a return match down the line.

The System were about to attack Austin after the match but Steve Maclin and Eric Young ran down for the save and I guess we are into the next match now. This is probably the only match on the card that I have no interest in.

Match #2: Eric Young & Steve Maclin vs The System

Both teams brawled around the ring to start the match. The System had cool new merch shirts. They all went into the ring to continue the fight. Maclin and Young used right hands in the corner on their opponents. The System bailed to the floor for a breather. The match still hadn’t started. Maclin hit the Busaiku knee on Myers. Alisha tripped him up and Edwards nailed the Blue Thunder Bomb. Edwards mounted Maclin with right hands. I think the match had officially started now. Edwards raked the face of Maclin in the middle rope. The referee was dealing with Young so Alisha attacked Maclin, too. Maclin fought back in the corner with chops but Edwards hit a thumb to the eye. Myers tagged in and hit a Russian leg-sweep for a 1 count. He tried a sleeper hold but Maclin seated on the mat. Myers hit a clothesline then tagged Edwards back in. He nailed a short-arm clothesline on Maclin. Myers tagged back in and hit a suplex for a 1 count. Maclin tried fighting them both off. He hit a knee strike and then both men clotheslined each other. Maclin finally made a tag to Young. Myers also tagged in. Young hit a dropkick on Myers. He did his Ric Flair routine in the corner and clotheslined Edwards off the apron. Young nailed his top rope elbow on Myers for 2. Edwards distracted Young so Myers attacked him from behind. They hit a double-team suplex for a 2 count. Myers lined up Young for a spear. Young blocked him and tried for a piledriver. Edwards stopped him but Young made the tag to Maclin. Alisha got into the ring and slapped Maclin. Myers hit the spear for 2. Edwards hit a corner clothesline on Maclin. They wanted the backpack stunner/elbow drop combo. Young ran back in and sent Edwards into Myers in the corner. Young nailed a neckbreaker on Edwards. Myers hit a spear on the corner on Myers. He nailed the KIA for the win after about 9 minute of official ring time.

Winners by pinfall: Eric Young & Steve Maclin

Analysis: ***1/2

Match #3: TNA Knockouts Tag Team Championships: Spitfire vs Ash & Heather-by-Elegance w/ George Iceman

It’s been pleasing that they’ve actually been bothered to write a feud for these titles over the last month. The division is really lacking but they’ve done something with these 4 every week on TV in December. The heel team is so over-the-top but at least it’s a storyline. Dani Luna and Ash started the match. Luna hit a scoop slam and a splash for 2. Jody Threat tagged in and rolled Ash up for 2. The referee took forever to get down to the mat, which was odd. Luna tagged back in. They tried for a double suplex but Ash escaped to take in Heather. Heather ran straight into a double suplex for a nearfall. Heather rolled to the outside for a break. Iceman was up on the apron causing interference. Luna went for a dive to the outside but Ash stopped her with a kick through the ropes. Heather through Luna back into the ring. She hit a dropkick and Ash helped her hit a double stomp on the floor. Ash tagged in and got a 2 count. She tried for another pin but only got 2 again. Ash choked Luna out in the middle rope with her knee. Heather hit Luna with the pom-poms but I’m not sure how that could possibly do damage. Ash got another nearfall. She tagged in Heather and hit a springboard back elbow. Heather hit a nice dropkick in the corner for 2. She beat Luna down with clubbing blows to the back, then tagged in Ash again. Ash stomped away on Luna in the corner and scored a 2 count. She tried a sleeper but Luna sent her into the ropes and hit a single-leg dropkick. Threat finally got to tag in; as did Heather. Threat was on fire with an overhead through to Ash and a Fallaway Slam on Heather. She hit her corner clotheslines and a Falcon Arrow but Ash broke it up. Luna ran in and they brawled to the floor. Ash hit a knee strike on the apron on Threat and tagged herself in. Ash hit a backstabber then Heather followed up with a double stomp on Threat for 2. That was nice. Threat tried to fight off both the heel with strikes. Luna tagged herself in. Threat hit a cannonball to take both the heels out. Luna nailed a snap German suplex on Ash, then another one. Heather dived in with a crossbody. Threat dumped her to the outside. Threat sent Ash into the ropes but missed her knee attack. Luna nailed a kick on Ash on the ring apron. She hit a German suplex from the ring apron back into the ring. Wow! Spitfire hit a double team sit-out powerbomb for the win after 10 minutes. I didn’t see the tag in there at the end, but the action was pretty frenetic.

Winner by pinfall AND STILL TNA Knockouts Tag Team Champions: Spitfire

Analysis: *** That’s probably as good a match as you’re going to get from this division currently. I don’t know where they go now as the Elegances were the only other team in the division and now they have been vanquished. Luna is such a talent. I hope she breaks out into singles action in 2025.

Match #4: Tessa Blanchard vs Jordynne Grace

This is probably the match I’ve been looking forward to the most. Blanchard has been away from TNA for almost 5 years. Grace has been TNA’s best talent (male or female) since. Lots of people have complained about Tessa returning but I’m just happy she’s back in front of a decent audience. She’s too good to not be on TV full-time. They were all over each other from the opening bell. Grace tossed Blanchard across the ring twice, then tossed her to the outside. She hit a crazy diving crossbody over the top rope that almost ended disastrously but thankfully Tessa caught her before Grace hit her neck on the floor. Grace tried to slam Tessa from the steel steps but she pulled her down hard onto the steps. Grace blocked a hurricanrana attempt and slammed Blanchard hard into the barricade. She tried to powerbomb Blanchard on the ring apron but Tessa blocked it with a double stomp. Grace blocked a kick but Blanchard nailed her with a knee strike. Blanchard assaulted Grace on the floor with right hands. She told the fans to shove it. I’m glad she’s come back as a heel that doesn’t run away from the challenger. Blanchard tossed Grace back into the ring and scored a 2 count. She tried for another pin but again Grace kicked out. Tessa backed Grace into the corner. She tossed her into the middle rope and hit a superkick. Blanchard hit a step-up splash from the ring apron for 2. She tried to lock in a Dragon Sleeper. Grace escaped and tried to lock in one of her own. They continued the counters and Blanchard got a 2 count. Blanchard tossed Grace into the corner turnbuckle. She nailed a hard right hand. Grace fought her off and put her on the top rope. She wanted a superplex but Tessa rolled through and tried a Sunset Flip Bomb. Grace held onto the ropes to block it. She hit a back elbow but Blanchard hit a step-up Codebreaker off the middle rope for a nearfall. Blanchard went to the top rope but Grace stopped her with a palm strike. Grace bounced Tessa’s head off the top turnbuckle then nailed a perfect Fallaway Slam from the top rope. She actually had time to stand there on the top rope and hold Blanchard before tossing her over her head. Amazing. Both women exchanged strikes on the mat. The intensity in this match is really high. Grace got the better of the exchange. Blanchard fought back with a knee to the ribs but Grace hit 2 scoop slams. She tossed Blanchard hard into the middle turnbuckle. It looked like Grace wanted a package piledriver but she hoisted Blanchard up into a powerbomb for a 2 count. Blanchard escaped a Full Nelson attempt and hit a hip toss, then nailed a standing Destroyer for a close 2 count. She tried another pin but Grace kicked out again. Grace avoided the Hammerlock DDT. Blanchard ran the ropes right into a spinebuster which led to a nearfall for Grace. Grace tried to hoist Blanchard up off the mat but she received some stiff forearms. Grace slapped Blanchard hard and went for the Jackhammer. Blanchard slipped out the back and hit a jumping neckbreaker for 2. Grace pulled herself up using the ropes and landed on the ring apron. Blanchard knocked her down and hit a spinning crossbody on the floor. They brawled around the ring and Blanchard wanted a piledriver on the steel steps. Grace put her up on her shoulders and nailed a Death Valley Driver on the floor! The crowd was loving the match. Grace tossed Blanchard into the ring and covered her for a 2 count. She went for the Juggernaut Driver but Blanchard blocked it. Blanchard avoided a corner clothesline and escaped to the apron. They fought on the top turnbuckle and Tessa used a Crucifix Bomb for another nearfall. Grace had some HBK vs Hogan-esque selling there. Blanchard nailed Grace with some hard rights on the mat. She tried for a leg submission but Grace escaped and tried a roll up to no avail. Blanchard almost locked Grace in a stretch submission but Grace sent her into the top rope and used it as a springboard German suplex. Great spot. She nailed a suplex with Tessa landed high on her neck and scored another nearfall. Blanchard escaped the Vertebreaker attempt. She ducked under a backfist and then they both clashed heads. Blanchard hit a cutter for 2. She pointed to the top rope as she looked for the finish. Graced ducked out of the way and backed Blanchard into the corner. She tried to pull Blanchard off the ropes and hit an airplane-spin type slam for 2. I think Blanchard was trying to remove the middle turnbuckle there. Blanchard tried a sneaky roll up for 2. She escaped a powerbomb then unsuccessfully tried to pull one of the bottom turnbuckle pads off. Grace tried for the Muscle Buster but Blanchard had it countered. Blanchard pulled Grace towards the corner and hit a DDT into the turnbuckle, which the commentators tried to tell us was slightly exposed but it clearly wasn’t. The ring crew missed the memo about this spot. Blanchard covered Grace but Grace grabbed the rope just before 3. Blanchard successfully removed the middle turnbuckle pad. She nailed a bulldog into the exposed steel turnbuckle. The referee was right there and watched it all. Blanchard hit Magnum from the top and Grace sold it like a champion. That was enough for the pinfall win for Blanchard after 21 minutes.

Winner by pinfall: Tessa Blanchard

Analysis: ****1/2 That was a sensational match from top to bottom. That’s my match of the year so far and the best women’s match I’ve seen since WrestleMania last year. I think it might be my highest-ever rated TNA women’s match, too. They beat the stuffing out of each other for over 20 minutes and you had the feeling there was more in the tank from both women. The amount of counters that they were able to do showed how even the match up was. The best part about this match was that Tessa’s offense felt so fresh as a first-time opponent against Grace, yet the chemistry was perfect between them. The one thing Blanchard does that annoys me is her awful facial expressions when her opponent kicks out. She looks ridiculous and I can’t believe no one has coached her on that. I think that might be the end of Grace in TNA. She’s been the best performer and all-round company champion since Blanchard left in mid-2020. I hope she doesn’t get lost in the WWE machine. What a way to go out, if that’s the case.

Match #5: I Quit Match: Josh Alexander vs Mike Santana

I missed the announcement that this has been changed to an I Quit match. Heels don’t usually win these match types so I’d be confident in Santana winning here. The stipulation certainly suits the intensity that has been brought to the feud. Alexander’s stable mates are banned from ringside, even though it’s a No-DQ match. It was frenetic early Alexander tried a crossface but Santana broke free and tossed him to the outside. Santana followed him but Alexander ran back into the ring. Alexander tossed him to the outside and then kicked him in the head when Santana came back in. He hit some chops but Santana fought back with two kicks to the head. He hit a diving senton over the top rope. Santana gently tossed Alexander into the guard rail. He hit a running kick to the head and sent him into another barricade. Santana followed up with another kick and then got a table from underneath the ring. The crowd liked that. Santana wanted a powerbomb but Alexander slipped out the back. He hit an overhead belly-to-belly suplex on the floor. Alexander locked Santana in the Figure 4 using the steel ring post. Santana blocked Alexander from sending him into the post. He tossed the Canadian into the steel post. Alexander fought back with a chop block. He stomped away on Santana on the floor. Alexander tossed Santana back into the ring and hit the 3 Amigos, along with some disrespectful dancing. He wrenched Santana against the top rope but missed his diving crossbody and fell to the floor. Santana was favouring his left leg. He missed a kick so Alexander pulled him over the top rope and hit a powerslam on the ring apron. The referee asked if he wanted to quit but Santana refused. Alexander tossed Santana back into the ring. He kicked him in the head a few times. Santana tried to fight back but Alexander chopped him hard. Alexander hit some forearms and went to his favourite German suplexes. He hit 2 but Santana blocked the third. Santana tried a rolling cutter but Alexander lifted him up for a Torture Rack Bomb. Santana fought out of it and hit a cannonball in the corner. He signalled towards the table. Alexander fought him off with elbow strikes. He missed a moonsault from the top and ran into a Death Valley Driver. Alexander slapped the microphone away from the referee. He blocked Spin the Block and locked in the anklelock. Santana wouldn’t quit. He rolled through and made the ropes. Alexander had pulled his boot off. Santana ran at Alexander, who launched him over the top rope and crashing through the table at ringside! Alexander decided that it was time for another table. He put this one in the ring. Alexander tossed the steel steps into the ring. He nailed a scoop slam on the broken table. Santana told the referee to get out of his face. Alexander brought a steel chair into the ring. He smashed Santana over his injured leg, twice. Alexander went to town with the chair. Santana still wouldn’t quit. He was laughing. Alexander got the zip ties. He pummelled Santana with right hands and forearm strikes. Alexander took off his elbow pad and smashed Santana across the face with strikes. He launched Santana up and nailed the C4 Spike. Santana popped straight up. I hate that. He nailed a Buckle Bomb in the corner. Santana hit a hurricanrana from the top and a Frog Splash. He measured Alexander and nailed Spin the Block so hard that his head gear fell off. Alexander wouldn’t quit. Santana had the zip ties now. He tied Alexander’s hands behind his back and nailed Spin the Block again. Alexander refused to quit again. Santana set the table up in the corner with Alexander trapped underneath. He used the steel steps as a launching pad and hit a cannonball through the table but I don’t think there was any impact on Alexander whatsoever. Alexander sold it well, though. Santana got a black mystery bag from underneath the ring. I think they had billiard balls in them. He bashed Alexander across the ribs with them multiple times. Alexander was bleeding from the mouth and the forehead. He was still zip tied. Santana was about to stomp Alexander’s head against the steel steps but Alexander quit. The match lasted 23 minutes.

Winner: Mike Santana

Analysis: ***1/2 This was pretty good but it’s not the best stipulation as a feud-ender because wrestling bookers rarely have the face guy lose. It doesn’t fit their character. It was moderately violent but they didn’t go too far. It was probably 5 minutes too long. I hate the zip tie spots as I have for most of Alexander’s heel run.

Santana wanted Alexander to shake his hand after the match. Alexander told him he was the standard of TNA, now. Alexander said he quit tonight and he quits TNA, too.

Analysis: I thought that’s been coming for a while but now they’ve been able to write it into a storyline, which works. Alexander has been a tremendous talent for TNA but he’s probably done all he can here.

Match #6: TNA Tag Team Championships: The Hardys (c) vs The Rascalz

The story for this match was very weak but I’m sure it will be an excellent match. NXT’s Tag Team Champions, Nathan Frazer & Axiom were at ringside to watch the match. It’s Trey Miguel starting off against Matt Hardy. It was very even so they both tagged out and allowed their partners to try their luck. Jeff and Zac Wentz were the legal men. Wentz hit a leg sweep for a 1 count. Matt tagged in and did his Delete turnbuckle smashes. He used the bottom rope to slingshot Wentz. Jeff tagged in and got a 2 count. Miguel tagged in and they did some double team work on Jeff. Matt ran in and got a double back elbow. The Rascalz turned their attention to Jeff. Miguel made a bling tag. The Rascalz did their MCMG tribute and got a 2 count on Jeff. Wentz tossed Matt from the ring. He tried a suicide dive to the outside but Matt caught him with a Side Effect on the floor. Matt tossed Wentz into the crowd. Jeff worked on Miguel in the corner. He hit a dropkick to the back and tagged in Matt. Matt hit a leg drop and an elbow for 2. Jeff tagged in and they hit the Plot Twist for 2. Matt tagged back in again. They tried a double team move and Miguel avoided it to make the diving tag to Wentz. Wentz hit a double dropkick to the Hardys. He hit running elbows in the corner then tagged Miguel in. Wentz hit an assisted dropkick to each Hardy in opposite corners. He nailed a baseball slide and sent Matt into Frazer and Axiom at ringside. Miguel went for a suicide dive and took out the NXT Tag Champions by mistake. Frazer and Axiom got in Miguel’s face. Security escorted the NXT wrestlers to the back. Jeff launched himself off the steel steps into The Rascalz against the ring barricade. He hit a front-facing suplex on Miguel for 2. Matt came in and hit a Side Effect on Wentz. He ran into an enziguiri from Miguel. They hit Poetry in Motion on Miguel. Miguel avoided the Twist of Fate and sent Matt crashing into Jeff, who fell off the top rope. Miguel hit a spinebuster on Jeff, then Wentz nailed his double stomp off the top rope. Wentz took out Matt through the ropes. Miguel was supposed to cover Jeff but I don’t know what happened there. Miguel hit a superkick on Jeff in the corner. Jeff escaped a Torture Rack Bomb and hit a Twist of Fate on Miguel for 2. Wentz prevented Jeff from hitting another Twist of Fate. He went for a UFO cutter but Matt sent him over the top rope and to the floor. Both Hardys hit the Twist of Fate on Miguel. Jeff with the Swanton for the win after 13 minutes.

Winners by pinfall AND STILL TNA Tag Team Champions: The Hardys

Analysis: **3/4 That was a very basic and disappointing tag team match that highlighted the age difference between the two teams. The Rascalz had to hold back offensively because The Hardys couldn’t go with them – that’s my opinion.

Match #7: TNA Knockouts Championship: Clockwork Orange House of Fun Match: Masha Slamovich (c) vs Rosemary

This is a No-DQ match where falls count anywhere. There were all sorts of weaponry around the ring. They used weapons straight away as Slamovich used a trash can to the back. She found a staple gun but Rosemary blocked it and turned it towards Slamovich. Slamovich was able to staple Rosemary’s hand and then her chest. All within the first 2 minutes. Slamovich unhooked some more weapons from the chains around the ring. She hit Rosemary across the back with a steel pipe. Rosemary sprayed the green mist in Masha’s face. She tossed Slamovich back into the ring. Rosemary wanted a DDT on the chair but Slamovich blocked it. She ran at Rosemary, who sent her face-first into the steel chair. Rosemary took a table and set it up against the ring. She took too long and Slamovich hit a springboard crossbody using the steel chair, which sent Rosemary crashing through the table. That was very smooth. Slamovich choked Rosemary with a steel chain. She dragged her around the ring, then tossed a trash can at her. Rosemary recovered and hit her across the back with the steel chair. She threw the chair at Masha, then went under the ring to look for some more weapons. Rosemary found the famous ‘Janice’ nail pole. She missed with a wild shot towards Slamovich. Slamovich tried to hit her with a pole but it broke against Janice. Rosemary hit Slamovich in the ribs, then raked the nails against her back. She went backstage and came back with a bag of tacks. Rosemary spilled them all over the stage. Slamovich avoided a chokeslam on the tacks, but ran into a spear on the pile. They made their way back into the ring. Rosemary had a barbed-wire board. Slamovich avoided a Death Valley Driver attempt. She hit the Snow Plow onto the wire but Rosemary kicked out at 2! Slamovich went to the middle rope and hit a double stomp with Rosemary still on the wire board. She went for another cover but Rosemary kicked out again. Slamovich was bleeding from the back. She collected a ladder from ringside and set it up inside the ring. Slamovich hit Rosemary with a trash can lid. She climbed to the top of the ladder but Rosemary recovered and went crashing through only the first table. It looked like a really nasty landing as the table didn’t break correctly. Rosemary covered Masha on the floor but she got her shoulder up barely before the 3. That looked like it hurt. Rosemary set up some chairs in the ring and brought Slamovich back into the ring. She laid Slamovich down on the chairs and scaled to the top rope. Slamovich sat up and met her on the top rope. Slamovich hit her top rope piledriver, Requiem, through the stack of chairs for the win after 13 minutes.

Winner AND STILL TNA Knockouts Champion: Masha Slamovich

Analysis: ***1/2 It was better than I thought it was going to be and that was mostly due to the last two spots which were pretty brutal-looking. Up until then it was just moving between simple weapons spots. Credit to both women for taking some nasty bumps to entertain the fans. I’m looking forward to Slamovich moving onto a new feud. With that being said….

After the match, NXT’s Cora Jade made her way to the ring to face-off with Slamovich. Slamovich was watching her match on NXT last Tuesday.

The pre-show panel discussed the main event whilst they cleared all the weapons from ringside. Santino Marella banned Ryan Nemeth from ringside for the match.

Match #8: TNA World Championship: Nic Nemeth (c) vs Joe Hendry

Is tonight finally the time for Hendry? We will find out in about 20 minutes, I guess! This is the second singles match between the two stars. It was very even early on, with a lot of feeling-out. Hendry sent Nemeth into the ropes and nailed a hip attack. Nemeth shifted into a sleeper hold from the stalling suplex attempt. Hendry regained control and hit the suplex. Ryan Nemeth showed up in the crowd with a ticket. Hendry was distracted so Nemeth hit a jumping DDT for a 2 count. Hendry broke free from an arm lock. He nailed a few upper cuts. Hendry bounced off the rope with a sunset flip for 2. He tried 2 more pins unsuccessfully. Nemeth took control with a neckbreaker. He nailed a jumping elbow drop for 2. Nemeth tried a sleeper hold with Hendry grounded to the mat. Hendry recovered and sent Nemeth off the ropes and into a cutter. Both men took some time to get to their feet. They exchanged strikes in the centre of the ring. The crowd were behind Hendry fully. Hendry took over with right hands and a clothesline. He nailed the Fallaway Slam and kipped up. Hendry measured Nemeth for the Standing Ovation. Nemeth slipped out the back and tried for a sleeper unsuccessfully. He nailed a headbutt and ran the ropes, but Hendry launched him into the air with a pop-up powerbomb for a close nearfall. I had never seen that move before Kevin Owens came to NXT and it’s lost its gloss as a finisher but I was happy to see him using it to beat Mysterio on SmackDown. Back to the match…Hendry sent Nemeth crashing to the mat with an Attitude Adjustment for 2. He put Nemeth on the top turnbuckle. Hendry wanted a top rope Fallaway Slam but Nemeth tossed him to the mat and went for a crossbody. Hendry held on and powered Nemeth onto his shoulders. Nemeth turned it into a Fame Asser for a close 2 count. Great timing there. They countered a few more times and Hendry hit a Fallaway Slam from the middle rope. Frankie Kazarian came down to ringside with his Call Your Shot trophy. He went to climb into the ring but John Layfield came from the crowd and destroyed him with the Clothesline from Hell. I love it. Layfield punched Ryan out and left through the crowd. I still don’t know the payout to these appearances and neither do TNA. Nemeth went for the Danger Zone but Hendry held onto the ropes. He launched Nemeth into the air and slammed him down with the Standing Ovation but Nemeth kicked out. No one has ever kicked out of that move. Great call by Tom Hannifan. Hendry called for it again. Nemeth escaped and sent Hendry into the top turnbuckle. He nailed a superkick and the Danger Zone! Nemeth followed up quickly with a cover but Hendry kicked out! The match is heating up now. Nemeth wanted another super kick. Hendry caught him with another Fallaway Slam. He nailed the Standing Ovation again and pinned Nemeth to finally win the World Title!

Winner by pinfall AND NEW TNA World Champion: Joe Hendry

Analysis: ***3/4 The match was pretty basic for the most part but the last 5 minutes were excellent. You’re never going to get a classic match out of Hendry but the fans will long remember him becoming World Champion. The moment of Hendry winning the title was long overdue and I almost thought it wasn’t going to happen but at last it has. I’m very happy for him because he’s gotten himself over and overcome some questionable booking along the way. Becoming champion means he’s staying with TNA which I’m pleased about.

After the match, Hendry celebrated with his parents at ringside. He went into the crowd and celebrated with the fans as Genesis went off the air.

Final Rating: 7.5/10

It was a very strong start for TNA’s PPV year. It wasn’t filled with mind-blowing returns or debuts, but it was a solid night of wrestling that was capped off with a very memorable moment in Joe Hendry becoming World Champion. Nic Nemeth had done a great job as champion and I was happy for him to continue if Hendry was moving on to WWE. That’s not the case, and I’m pleased for Hendry who has made his name known around the world through hard work and self-promotion. The match of the night was easily Tessa Blanchard vs Jordynne Grace. They put on an absolute clinic and their chemistry was excellent. The whole match was so smooth, which we haven’t always seen from Grace in big-time matches. Tonight was absolutely stellar. Nothing else got over 3 ¾ stars from me. I thought the Tag Title match was bland and a letdown. The Hardys are over for sure, but that wasn’t an exciting match against a very exciting team in Miguel & Wentz. The second best match was either the main event or the X-Division opener. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the match between Rosemary and Masha Slamovich.

The next TNA monthly special is Sacrifice on March 14th from El Paso, Texas. This Thursday is a live episode of Impact.

Any feedback or comments are welcome. My email address is kristian.l.thompson@gmail.com in case anybody wants to get in touch with me and my Twitter/X handle is @thomok6 as well. Thanks for reading!