TNA Slammiversary 2024 BreakDown

Written By: Danny Albers 

Pre-Show 

Match 1: Four Way Match: Faby Apache VS Gisele Shaw VS Tasha Steelz VS Xia Brookside 

Result: Tasha Steelz wins by pin 

What an excellent way to kick off the show. These four women proved why TNA is the birthplace of modern female wrestling. They’ve always done an excellent job in developing women wrestlers. The Knockouts division is in great shape. I think Tasha Steelz is a person to watch as we head into the second half of the year. If anyone is going to beat Jordynne Grace, it’s Steelz. She was somebody who was looked at as the potential face of this division a couple years ago. I also love Xia Brookside, I think she’s young and has excellent potential. 

Match Grade: A 

Match 2: Rich Swann VS Kushida 

Result: Kushida wins by submission 

I absolutely love the new look for Kushida, and him dropping the whole energetic good guy gimmick. He’s more vicious now. But Rich Swann’s work the last two years has been very disappointing, and nowhere near the 5 star matchmaker this guy is capable of.

Match Grade: C- 

Match 3: TNA Knockouts World Tag Title Match: © The Malisha (Alisha Edwards & Masha Slamovich) VS Spitfire (Dani Luna & Jody Threat) 

Result: The Malisha wins by pin to retain their titles 

I thought the Spitfire did a really great job in this match. It was a solid showing for them on a larger stage than they’re used to. Masha Slamovich is one of the best female wrestlers in the game today, she’s everything that WWE wishes Shayna Baszler was. I don’t understand why they had Alisha and Masha retain after what would happen later on the card, as the entire System would lose their matches and titles. 

Match Grade: B- 

Match 4: Eric Young VS Hammerstone 

Result: Eric Young wins by pin 

I was out of breath watching this match. These two heavyweights looked like they’ve never done a day of cardio before. The match was quick, and it was at a painstakingly slow pace. Hammerstone’s tenure with TNA has been very disappointing given how great he was on MLW. Also, at this point, Eric Young on TNA gives me more Chris Jericho vibes than anything. All his work has been terrible in his return, not holding a candle to his earlier stuff. Hammerstone losing to Eric Young on a pre-show makes little to no sense to me. 

Match Grade: F 

Main Show 

Match 1: Matt Hardy VS JDC 

Result: Matt Hardy wins by pin 

Hardy wasted no time in beating down JDC. The first shot at The System in the night. It was a fast night as this was almost more of a grudge match or street fight than a wrestling match. JDC attacked Hardy with an American Flag to start the match, but the tides would turn pretty quickly. Hardy hit a Twist of Fate off the top ropes for the pinfall victory. After he won the match, he wasn’t done. He’d pick JD up, and he’d hit 2 more Twist of Fates before finally backing off of him. 

Match Grade: D 

Match 2: © The System (Eddie Edwards & Brian Myers) VS ABC (Chris Bey & Ace Austin) 

Result: ABC win by pin to become the new TNA World Tag Team Titles 

The System has dominated TNA the last couple of months. This was a major shock to The System. ABC have been trying to get their belts back and feuding with Myers & Edwards for a while. Edwards and Myers are veterans, and their presence was felt in this match. It was smooth, and they never missed their mark. They amplified ABC in this feud. This match was excellent with many different elements. From high flying moves to the outside to Alisha getting involved and inadvertently getting taken out, causing the distraction for ABC to win. 

Match Grade: B+ 

Match 3: Mike Santana VS Jake Something 

Result: Mike Santana wins by pin 

TNA is doing a really great job in putting Mike Santana over as a singles competitor. His situation reminds me a lot of what WWE is doing with Jey Uso. The TNA crowd love him because he’s been around for so long and provided so many great matches for both TNA and AEW fans. He’s got all the physical traits to be a top player. He’s big and athletic, and is probably more technically sound then Jey Uso. Jake Something is a mammoth dude, and Santana was just as menacing in the ring. This was a great match, and I’m glad TNA gave them the time to work in this match. It is mind blowing to watch a guy fly so gracefully to the outside of the ring when they are the size of Mike Santana. 

Match Grade: A-

Match 4: No Quarter Catch Crew VS The Rascalz 

Result: The Rascalz wins by pin 

This was the show stealer on the card. No Quarter Catch Crew looked like a threatening force, and The Rascalz have slowly become the stars of the show on TNA. There might not be a trio in wrestling who are better than the Rascalz. Their chemistry and tandem moves are insane, and their high flying maneuvers are executed so well. It has amplified them even more since Wes Lee has been a major star on NXT for so long. He’s in a perfect spot for his career, and is getting over with the crowd because of this partnership between TNA and WWE. Even though they lost, NQCC really impressed in this match. Their exposure on this PPV card was similar to Tatum Paxley a couple of months ago when she challenged Jordynne Grace at Against All Odds. This partnership is becoming just as beneficial for TNA than WWE, and that’s important for both companies as they continue to work together. 

Match Grade; A+ 

Match 5: Montreal Street Fight for TNA Digital Median Title and Canadian International Heavyweight Title: © AJ Francis VS PCO

Result: PCO wins by pin 

I didn’t have a ton of expectations for this match. PCO and AJ Francis usually put me to sleep. But watching this match, I have to give them some credit. It was an entertaining match. There were some fun moments in this match, especially watching the uncoordinated Francis go crashing and burning through a table on the outside. Rich Swann got involved just to be fought off by Rhyno. PCO won by landing a chokeslam on Francis into a pile of chairs.

Match Grade: B- 

Match 6: Knockouts Championship: © Jordynne Grace VS Ash By Elegance 

Result: Jordynne Grace wins by pin to retain

I will be happy if I never have to watch another Dana Brooke match ever again. I think she’s far outlasted what her talent calls for, and since being on TNA she’s been pushed to the very forefront of the Knockouts division. She’s extremely boring in the ring, and even with this new gimmick it’s all very dry. I’m glad Grace picked up a win in dominant fashion. It builds to her resume. But I could think of 3 or 4 other females I’d rather watch in this spot than Ash. Just because she used to work for WWE, doesn’t mean she deserves to be in this spot. 

Match Grade: C-  

Match 7: TNA X Division Title: © Mustafa Ali VS Mike Bailey

 

Result: Mike Bailey wins by submission to win the X-Division Title 

What an excellent match between these two proving once again, the X-Division is one of the best divisions in professional wrestling. Mustafa Ali has been doing his best work in his professional career, and is probably better suited to push for a TNA World Title reign. Mike Bailey was ready to break out. He had been putting on bangers for the last couple years. His matches with Will Ospreay were some of the best on TNA television, and this match was just one example of how good his work is. This match was perfectly executed, and the right guy came out on top. 

Match Grade: A

Match 8: 6-Man Elimination TNA World Title Match: © Moose VS Joe Hendry VS Josh Alexander VS Steve Maclin VS Frankie Kazarian VS Nic Nemeth 

Elimination 1: Moose pins Steve Maclin 

As Steve Maclin was on a roll, taking out everyone in the match, he looked to hit his finisher on Frankie Kazarian to send the TNA veteran packing. As he lifted Kazarian for the finish, Moose hit a powerful spear and pinned Maclin. As Maclin walked off, he flicked off the crowd. 

Elimination 2: Joe Hendry pins Moose

Moose was dominating in the ring, and he looked to hit a spear on Hendry. But Joe Hendry dodged the spear and hit a roll up. Moose kicked out, and Hendry hit a chokeslam on Moose for the pin. This caused the entire crowd to erupt in cheers as it seemed like Hendry was going to win the match or atleast a favorite. 

Elimination 3: Josh Alexander pins Joe Hendry 

But TNA pulled a fast one on the crowd. As Hendry and Alexander were wrestling, Alexander kicked Hendry below the belt, and then he hit a finisher on Hendry for the pin. As the fans chanted “bullshit” throughout the arena, Alexander mounted Hendry and began to beat him down. The heel turn shocked everybody. 

Elimination 4: Nic Nemeth pins Josh Alexander 

But Nemeth wasted no time to try and exact revenge on Alexander who was bullying the referee. The two engaged in a really fun exchange while Kazarian was nowhere to be found. Nic Nemeth eventually landed a huge superkick to beat Alexander. 

Result: Nic Nemeth pins Frankie Kazarian for the win 

As Nemeth beat Alexander, Kazarian came in for a roll up to try and spoil the feel good moment for Nemeth. Nemeth recovered, and it didn’t take him any time at all to pin Kazarian and have an incredible moment in the ring holding the TNA World Championship. This was the end to what was an incredible match, and an excellent pay per view for TNA. The company seems to be trending in the right direction right now. 

Match Grade: A+ 

Show Grade: A-