Against All Odds 2024 BreakDown
Written By: Danny Albers
TNA hosted their PPV Against All Odds from Chicago Friday. This was their first PPV since their partnership with WWE. There was a lot of buzz around this event expecting WWE stars to have an impact on the show, which would happen. Let's take a look at each make and provide a star grade for them.
Tag Team Match: The Rascalz VS Steve Maclin & Mike Santana
Result: Mike Santana & Steve Maclin win by pin
Star Rating (1-10): ★★★★★ 5
The odd pairing of Maclin and Santana to settle their difference with the Rascalz worked for the night. Santana and Maclin both got their time to execute their offense. Maclin was feathered for the majority of the match, as he came in providing the high impact offense. The Rascalz took control, and started wearing down their much larger opponents with speed and tag team maneuver. They looked to submissions to slow down both Santana and Maclin. When the Rascalz went for their spray paint to spray in the eye of Santana and Maclin, they got caught in the act by Maclin. Maclin hit a vicious elbow allowing Santana to get the pin for the win. After the match, Maclin and Santana still had their differences. This isn’t a good look for one of the best teams that TNA has. Two guys with little chemistry coming together to beat The Rascalz who are good enough to contend for the Tag Champions. It didn’t put them over at all. Also, Santana is good, but I don’t see what TNA sees in him. He’s getting the Jey Uso push, and I can’t imagine a main event built around him right now.
Rich Swann VS PCO
Result: PCO wins by pin
Stars Rating (1-10): ★★★ 3
Rich Swann and AJ Francis came out, and Francis called himself the Scottie Pippen of TNA (not sure if that’s a great thing). PCO came out and he absolutely ran through Swan. He hit a moonsault for the win, which is impressive. He can do that at his age, but he’s lucky he didn’t land on his head and paralyze himself. After the match, Steph De Lander came out and agreed to go on a date with PCO. The entire match and the segment with Steph felt like a waste of time.
TNA Tag Team Championship: © The System (Eddie Edwards & Brian Myers) VS Nic & Ryan Nemeth
Result: The System win by pin to retain the Tag Team Titles
Star Rating: ★★★★★★★★ 8
Not even the Nemeth Brothers are immune to the numbers game of The System. The Nemeth brothers started off red hot. Ryan Nemeth adopted a lot of his brother's offense, and he hit a Zig Zag on Myers. Alicia Edwards got kicked out when Dirty Dango brought attention to her on the ramp. Dirty Dango stayed ringside to even the fight for the Nemeth’s. However, Dango was secretly the new member of The System, he’d eventually cause a distraction and allow Eddie Edwards to hit the Boston Knee Party on Ryan Nemeth for the win.
Singles Match: Frankie Kazarian VS Joe Hendry
Result: Frankie Kazarian wins by pin
Star Rating (1-10): ★★★★★ 5
Somehow, TNA have themselves a global superstar in Joe Hendry. Being featured on USA Today and Apple Music. His theme has beaten the likes of Post Malone and Taylor Swift. So how you have a pay per view where he loses to Frankie Kazarian is beyond me. Kazarian is a veteran who the casual fan has never heard of. Kazarian didn’t need to win this match. Hendry is charismatic, but he’s not outstanding in the ring. That’s why stars that aren’t well known who can wrestle circles around him like Nemeth and Kazarian need to put the young star over. A missed opportunity here.
TNA X-Division Championship: © Mustafa Ali VS Trent Seven
Result: Mustafa Ali wins by submission
Star Rating: (1-10): ★★★★★★★ 7
Mustafa Ali continues to showcase his talent while holding the X-Division Championship. Trent Seven was the perfect dancing partner for the champion. Seven exposed Ali for being a disingenuous jerk by releasing a backstage video showing Ali trashing the fans in Chicago and saying “I’m from Naperville, not Chicago.” The funny moment aside, both guys can go in the ring. I’m always surprised by the athletic maneuvers that Seven can do. Ali picked up a submission victory, but Seven came out of this over more than before.
Tag Team Match: ABC VS Eric Young & Josh Alexander
Result: ABC win by pin
Star Rating (1-10): ★★★★★★★ 7
A really good tag team match in the middle of the card. Eric Young looks to be in great shape. ABC carried this match with some creative offense because head-to-head they knew they couldn't beat Alexander or Eric Young. Ultimately, a stray hit from Young to Alexander would cost them this match. ABC stealing the win in this way, sets up an interesting potential feud between Eric Young and Josh Alexander. There was nothing crazy. It was just 4 really good wrestlers having a great tag team match.
TNA Knockouts World Tile: © Jordynne Grace VS Tatum Paxley
Result: Jordynne Grace wins by pin to retain
Star Rating (1-10): ★★★★★★★★ 8
This was my favorite match of the entire night. Tatum Paxley stepped up in this spot, and represented NXT well. She gave Jordynne Grace a run for her money. This partnership has done a good job in protecting Grace who’s clearly the star here. Ash by Elegance, a.k.a. Dana Brooke and Paxley cost Grace the NXT Women’s Championship. Her credibility has been protected. Ash was ringside in this match to try and distract Grace. Paxley's cat-and-mouse style offense, and her unpredictability mixed with a good technical understanding despite her inexperience was impressive. Counter after counter, Tatum found ways to stay alive in this match, whether it was hiding under the ring and ramming Grace’s face into the exposed frame of the apron, or wild and chaotic elbows and backhands to get out of a maneuver off the top rope. It felt like Grace struggled to get a hold of Paxley long enough to hit a devastating move to win the match. After the match, Grace took out Ash and humiliated her by pouring champagne on her. Grace beat a NXT contender, and got back at the women who cost her the NXT Women’s Title. Good recovery from taking a pin at Battleground.
Broken Rules Match TNA World Championship: © Moose VS “Broken” Matt Hardy
Result: Moose wins by pin to retain (w/ the help of The System)
Star Rating: ★★★★★ 5
A bit of a sloppy ending to the show. Moose looks like a legitimate threat in there with “Broken” Matt Hardy, “broken” describing more of his body and appearance. Hardy is a legend, and there is a spot for him and Jeff Hardy, but it’s not challenging an athlete and former NFL player like Moose for the championship. Matt Hardy fought Moose into the crowd and the warehouse that is Cicero Stadium didn’t provide them much space to work. Moose took some really stiff bumps, like the back body dropping onto the ladder. But Mosse would win, and then the System came out and started beating down Matt Hardy. The Nemeth Brothers and Joe Hendry came out to help but to no avail. It would take Jeff Hardy coming out with a chair to even the odds. Besides Moose not being able to take a Twist of Fate, the ending got a good reaction from the crowd beside Jeff appearing to look worn down and old. It was a good match, and at the end of the night, Nemeth and Hendry stood with the Hardy’s and Ryan Nemeth getting the last laugh. It made Hendry look good as well as the Nemeth Brothers which doesn’t make up for having them lose but it’s a start.
Overall Show Star Grade (1-10): ★★★★★★ 6
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