TNA Slammiversary 2024 Review

Moose’s odds of retaining the TNA World Championship were put in doubt, Ash by Elegance faced her biggest test in the Knockouts Champion, Jordynne Grace, and the hometown hero, Mike Bailey challenged Mustafa Ali for the X-Division Championship. More happened in what was billed as a historic night for TNA in years as Slammiversary concluded from the Verdon Auditorium in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

The Countdown

Four Way Match: Xia Brookside vs. Tasha Steelz vs. Gisele Shaw vs. Faby Apache

Tasha Steelz pinned Xia Brookside to win in 6:38

This was a fun sprint that could’ve gone either way considering the talent involved. After going through a commendable transformation as a character, I had my money on Gisele Shaw to come out victorious but Tasha’s cagey instincts suited her demeanor to steal the win. Apache had a pretty good showing for the time given, and it would be great to see her often in TNA.

Rating: 3/5

Singles Match: KUSHIDA vs. Rich Swann (replacing Jonathan Gresham)

KUSHIDA def. Rich Swann by Submission at 6:45

Firstly, kudos to KUSHIDA for paying homage to Hakushi through a change in appearance. It would’ve meant more if Gresham still made it to the PPV, but for a last-minute fill-in, Swann did a great job. Their chemistry was very good and reminded me of WWE’s cruiserweight division in 2016 – nicely paced, back-and-forth bolts of action. If it was Gresham, the result could’ve gone either way to cement the characters but KUSHIDA’s win here added momentum to progress his change of skin.

Rating: 3/5

TNA Knockouts World Tag Team Championships Match: Masha Slamovich & Alisha Edwards [C] vs. Spitfire (Dani Luna & Jody Threat)

Alisha Edwards pinned Jody Threat to retain the titles in 8:46

After a while, this rivalry felt meaningful even though the division was slim. It feels like the titles are holding a place for the crossover with NXT to work better, and having an unlikely yet formidable duo like Slamovich & Alisha feels sensible. I hope that this case is resolved sooner so that Slamovich can be pushed up to singles stardom again.

Rating: 3/5

To wrap it up, Santino Marella appeared as the Director of Authority and hyped the crowd ahead of the PPV. Then, he announced a surprise match to happen and one of the competitors was…

Canada’s own, Eric Young!

Singles Match: Eric Young vs. Hammerstone

Eric Young def. Hammerstone by Pinfall in 5:27

It was a safe way to rope in another hometown hero in EY through a surprise match, but having Hammerstone as his opponent was questionable initially. After sinking the teeth at the result, it was a fine way to elevate Hammerstone as the next monstrous villain.

Rating: 2.5/5

The Main Show

Singles Match: Matt Hardy vs. JDC

Matt Hardy def. JDC by Pinfall in 4:37

This match was expected to be a short, uncomfortable match because of Matt’s conditioning. JDC’s heat segments carried a good chunk of the match and the finishing stretch made sense after what happened to Jeff and Reby in the previous weeks.

Rating: 1.5/5

TNA World Tag Team Championships Match: The System (Eddie Edwards & Brian Myers) [C] w/Alisha Edwards vs. ABC (Ace Austin & Chris Bey)

Ace Austin pinned Brian Myers to win in 16:42

The energy was sky-high and in favor of the challengers, even though The System controlled most of the match by cornering Austin. ABC’s lightning offense, The System’s calculative and varied defense, and Alisha’s constant interferences blended for an old-school classic. ABC needed this win more than The System not only to bring a reset to the division but also to create a magical possibility with a crossover match with NXT as part of the alliance.

Rating: 4/5

Singles Match: Mike Santana vs. Jake Something

Mike Santana def. Jake Something by Pinfall at 11:34

This was a great exhibition match between these two that were off the track from the World Title qualifiers. I’ve been a huge follower of Jake’s work and he never fails to impress, but Santana’s potential to put on a blast in a singles environment is surprising. Nonetheless, he deserves to shine in a prominent stage like TNA after what he went through. The action was stiff and frenzy, giving a feel of a battle of bulls that suited both men’s styles. Santana’s win boosts his momentum to the next level, and the future is bright for the former stalwart of LAX.

Rating: 3.5/5

Six-Man Tag Team Match: The Rascalz (Wes Lee, Zachary Wentz & Trey Miguel) vs. No Quarter Catch Crew (Charlie Dempsey, Myles Borne & Tavion Heights)

Zachary Wentz pinned Tavion Heights for the win at 14:05

It felt wholesome to see The Rascalz back together in TNA, and it looked like they never missed a step. Dempsey and his crew were great as the technical maniacs that carry huge potential to be a marquee trio in NXT. Their control segments added more mileage to the ‘sympathy’ scale for Rascalz, and the homecoming trio’s comeback was exciting as usual. I hope that this isn’t a ‘one night only’ reunion and stays for a distinct length.

Rating: 3.75/5

Montreal Street Fight for the TNA Digital Media Championship & International Heavyweight Wrestling Championship: AJ Francis [C] w/Rich Swann, Smoke DZA & Josh Bishop vs. PCO

PCO def. AJ Francis by Pinfall at 13:50

Until a few hours before the PPV, I had fewer hopes for this match and thought it could be a stinker. But the stipulation change fared the better of both men to go wild in front of a raucous crowd. PCO as the homecoming hero did his usual crazy selling, while Francis showed his betterment for the most even though there were a few hiccups. The excessive interferences from Francis’ valets and Sami Callihan & Rhino’s counterstrikes were nicely done to seek a great pop from Montreal. Story-wise, PCO’s win was deserving after Francis bought the IHW Championship that alluded to PCO so much, and Steph De Lander’s post-match proposal to PCO was ridiculously entertaining.

Rating: 3.5/5

TNA Knockouts World Championship Match: Jordynne Grace [C] vs. Ash By Elegance w/George Iceman

Jordynne Grace def. Ash By Elegance by Pinfall in 12:16

Despite the lukewarm build to the storyline, this was Ash’s best match including her run in WWE. She needed some time to breathe in and show what was in her arsenal, but when the footing was found, it was game on for the formerly known Dana Brooke to showcase a competent style of action. On the other hand, Grace was the dominant champion who shattered Ash’s chances of pulling off the upset through her insane display of power. As much as there’s a chance for the rivalry to continue, it’s slowly starting to realize that a bigger or more powerful name has to step up and impose a genuine threat to Grace and I’m curious to see who it’ll be.

Rating: 3.25/5

TNA X-Division Championship Match: Mustafa Ali [C] w/Campaign Singh vs. “Speedball” Mike Bailey

Mike Bailey def. Mustafa Ali by Submission in 20:22

This was a fantastic showcase of high-octane action which has been the theme of the X-Division all these years. Ali’s run as the President of Pro Wrestling reached its peak form by bringing a sadistic edge throughout this rivalry, and Bailey was genuinely excellent as a sympathetic babyface. In-ring wise, there wasn’t any doubt in these lads to disappoint, but the final stretch that was an ode to The Montreal Screwjob felt wild to see. Of course, the stars involved had no direct connection to history, but the characters and the crowd worked amazingly. Honestly, I didn’t expect Ali to lose, but since the division has enriched with fresh talent and the initiation of the NXT crossover, things are bound to be even more amazing.

Rating: 4.5/5

Six-Way Elimination Match for the TNA World Championship: Moose [C] vs. Joe Hendry vs. Steve Maclin vs. Josh Alexander vs. Frankie Kazarian vs. Nic Nemeth

Nic Nemeth eliminated Frankie Kazarian last to win the title in 30:52

Firstly, kudos to TNA and the stars involved for piecing together the puzzle board into a scintillating main event. It was skeptical initially to see how it would boil down, but the consistent switch between talents in the spotlight gave an unpredictable feeling of being anyone’s ball game. Once the eliminations started to kick in, there were huge surprises in Hendry eliminating Moose and Alexander turning heel by ditching Hendry’s chances with a dirty tactic. The latter surprised the most, but it made the most sense from Alexander’s perspective as he hadn’t lost the World Title properly when he was the champion. Another huge yet positive curveball is offering Nemeth the victory. After being in the circuit for months, it was a well-earned payoff for the formerly known Dolph Ziggler to rejuvenate as a prominent main eventer in the American wrestling scene. If it wasn’t for Hendry’s game-changing momentum, I would’ve rooted for Nemeth so I’m happy for him!

Rating: 4.5/5

Overall Match Rating: 3.25/5 Overall Show Rating: 8/10

Match of the Night: Mustafa Ali vs. Mike BaileyThe Highlight of the Night: The wild climax of the main event Weak Link of the Night: N/A

Overall Thoughts

It’s been a minute since TNA has attracted this level of buzz since the rebranding and well-deserved is an understatement for the promotion. Every division had a cohesive story to get engaged and root for, resulting in a fabulous card of matches that ranged from being good to excellent. Every theme was touched upon – let it be a ridiculously booked brawl, a fascinating homecoming, or a roller-coaster ride of a main event. To top it all, the sold-out Montreal crowd was ecstatic which was a rare sight for TNA’s shows in years as advertised. The slate is cleansed with almost a fresh lineage of champions and I’m more than curious to see their next rivalries/stories.

What do you think of this PPV? Did you enjoy it as much as I did or are there any interesting perspectives you have in mind? Chime those thoughts in the comments section below.

Until next time, enjoy wrestling and life!