The Hogan-Bischoff alliance flexed its muscles in TNA on January 4, 2010. While the first episode recorded an all-time high rating for the promotion, the following months proved the new regime lacked a recipe for long-term success.
Overbooking, repetitive angles, and forced turns create a sense of strong disapproval for the two men among TNA loyalists. Amid the so-called rebuilding era, fans witnessed some all-time clinics featuring the likes of AJ Styles and Kurt Angle on pay-per-view events.
Let’s take a look at some of the best TNA Wrestling PPV matches of 2010:
Kurt Angle vs. Jeff Hardy (World Title Tournament Semi-final Match – No Surrender)
This match is arguably the best from Hardy’s run with TNA in 2010. The Charismatic Enigma met a longtime opponent in Kurt Angle at No Surrender. This match was the semi-final of the world title tournament.
Some pretty stiff exchanges between two men who were no strangers to each other. Kurt even broke his rib from a spot. Too many finishers, repeated time extensions, and no contest ending were the major drawbacks.
Still, this one is one of the best TNA Wrestling PPV matches of 2010.
Generation Me vs. Motor City Machine Guns (TNA World Tag Team Title Match – Bound for Glory)
The feud between Generation Me and Motor City Machine Guns defined TNA’s tag team division in 2010. Jeremy and Max Buck failed to capture the tag team titles at Destination X. They got their rematch at Bound for Glory on October 10.
This was an incredibly fast-paced match with a lot of offense from both teams. Generation Me displayed their heelish edge and pulled a rare DDT out of the corner. Shelley and Sabin were fantastic in their offense as well.
Beer Money Inc. vs. Motor City Machine Guns (TNA Tag Team Title Match – Victory Road)
A rivalry so profound that even FTR and The Young Bucks took inspiration from it. Beer Money and MCMG were two of the best tag teams in the business at the time.
You had Robert Roode and James Storm as an epic throwback to the eighties tag team with some traces of modern wrestling. Shelley and Sabin, on the other hand, perfectly embodied fast-paced tag team wrestling.
This match at Victory Road would lead to a critically acclaimed Best of 5 Series between the two teams that’s fondly remembered to this day.
Kurt Angle vs. Mr. Anderson (Steel Cage Match – Lockdown)
Knowing Kurt Angle gave us this classic while not being anywhere near to his 100% makes me appreciate him even more. Back in the day, fans weren’t aware of the Olympic Gold Medalist’s battle with addiction.
Anderson was never an in-ring genius, but if there’s anyone who could’ve given him carried him to an all-timer, it’s Angle. From the in-ring action to the announce team’s brilliant commentary to the fans, everything about this match was superb.
The moonsault from the top of the cage was the cherry on top.
AJ Styles vs. Kurt Angle (World Title Match – Genesis)
Leave it to AJ Styles and Kurt Angle to deliver a show-stealer. The two men had given iMPACT their TV Match of the Year contender on January 4. The Genesis outing, in my opinion, is a lot better because of the time they got to tell their story.
While the TV match was extremely fast-paced, this match progressed slowly but with more moves to compensate for the lack of pace. Angle did some amazing mat wrestling. Both men even stole each other’s finishers to a huge ovation from the crowd.
Ric Flair’s interference at the end of the match may seem like an overbooking at first, but we wouldn’t have got the faction warfare without it.
Also read: Jordynne Grace says Royal Rumble Appearance Is Not The Last WWE Universe Will See Of TNA
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