Happy New Years everyone, Yes as we are a few weeks into 2025 the anticipation for what the future will bring to professional wrestling is truly special; For WWE fans were on the Road to Wrestlemania, for AEW fans it’s a fresh start following a tumultuous 2024 and for fans of TNA Wrestling it’s the return of Genesis as a major pay-per-view.
Going all the way back to 2005, Genesis has been the host to iconic debuts, memorable title wins and a bunch of matches that could be considered the best in the company’s history.
As we get closer to this year’s event, let’s take a look back at the matches that have made this PPV one of the all time greatest.
Honorable Mentions
- Willie Mack vs. Moose (Genesis 2021)
- Ace Austin vs. Blake Christian (Genesis 2021)
- Eli Drake vs. Alberto El Patron vs. Johnny Impact (Genesis 2018)
- Jeff Hardy vs. Bobby Roode (Genesis 2012)
- MCMG vs. Team 3D (Genesis 2007)
- Kaz vs. Christian Cage (Genesis 2007)
- LAX vs. America’s Most Wanted (Genesis 2006)
#10. Kurt Angle vs. AJ Styles (Genesis 2010)
This match might rank low for some people considering the talent involve, but when you realize that the finish sees AJ (spoiler alert) cheat to win thanks to some Ric Flair interference, then you can kind of see why it’s only number ten.
Dodgy finish aside, it’s still AJ Styles versus Kurt Angle in the main event for the TNA World Championship, so you know the action is going to be great…and it was. Kurt being equally agressive and technical with his offense and AJ is able to answer him back with his own death defying moves.
A back-and-forth matchup with just the right amount of near falls to keep you hooked in, shame it ended in a by the numbers finish with a truly shocking heel turn from AJ.
#9. Kurt Angle vs. Bobby Roode (Genesis 2014: Night 2)
The first of three times Genesis was reduced to being a TV Special rather than a pay-per-view, Genesis 2014 is note worthy for hosting Sting’s last match in TNA before heading off to WWE and it also saw two bitter rivals face off once again inside a steel cage.
On night two of Genesis 2014, Kurt Angle and Bobby Roode battled with the stipulation being that if Kurt couldn’t beat Roode then his chances of going into the TNA Hall of Fame are over.
As to be expected, this match delivered from the action to the jaw dropping moments like Kurt’s ring rattling moonsault from the top of the cage and the commentary between Taz and Mike Tenay wasn’t too bad either.
Kurt managed to escaped the cage meaning he could be inducted into the TNA Wrestling Hall of Fame which he officially did the following month.
#8. Rosemary vs. Jade (Genesis 2017)
The mid 2010’s was a strange time for TNA; On the one hand the company spent much of their time trying to find a stable home to air their programming, but on the other you had some solid matches both on TV and pay-per-view and this match from Genesis 2017 is proof of that.
After winning her first (and so far only) TNA Knockouts title in an incredible steel cage match in late 2016, “The Demon Assassin” defended her title against Jade (aka Mia Yim aka Michin) in one of the company’s signature bouts: The Monster’s Ball.
Jade manages to have control of the match in various points much to the surprise of the commentary team, but Rosemary is more then capable at dishing out her own offense….Also props to Rosemary for taking that German Suplex into the thumbtacks spot because that looked painful.
A big superplex from the top rope onto a table in the middle of the ring allows Rosemary to retain the gold in turned out to be the final match for Jade before heading off to the WWE for the first of several times throughout her career.
#7. AJ Styles vs. Petey Williams (Genesis 2005)
We head all the way back to the inaugural Genesis PPV for this next entry as two of the best to compete in the X Division fight for the championship of the same name.
Unlike many of the cruiserweight matches where you see high spot after high spot or a endless parade of kicks, this match is more physical with the action as the pain and exhaustion is evident on both Styles and Williams.
Perhaps the biggest holy crap moment would have to be Petey German Suplexing Styles off the ring apron and into the guard rail, but AJ would get the last laugh by hitting a second rope Styles Clash to pick up the three count.
Yet another example of the X Division being one of the best TNA has to offer.
#6. Austin Aries vs. Jeff Hardy vs. Bobby Roode (Genesis 2013)
The last Genesis event to air on PPV until 2025, the 2013 edition doesn’t have too much that sticks out all that well today except for one thing, and that would be the three way elimination main event match for the TNA World Championship.
In what basically is a handicap match in all but name, Aries and Roode spend the majority of the match double teaming the champion in order to make it easier to eliminate him.
All three men put on a great performance in this match with Jeff Hardy especially as the valiant babyface trying to overcome the odds; It’s easily one of the best matches of 2013 and a tremendous way to end the PPV.
#5. Bully Ray vs. Abyss (Genesis 2012)
Frankly this match tends to be remembered for the spot where Bully Ray gets hit with a cheese grater before wincing in pain with the words: “Oh My Balls!”. Hilarious to everyone not named Bully Ray…Yes, Iconic…Certainly, but there’s more to this match than that one spot.
The booking of Abyss during the Hogan Era of TNA might be the second most egregious of all the TNA Originals (apart from Samoa Joe) due to the Monster basically being treated like a glorified jobber and often taking the pin in countless matches.
Bad booking to the side, Abyss was able to produce some amazing matches when given the chance and this Monster’s Ball Match from Genesis 2012 is no exception as it essentially was two big guys having a hoss fight with all the hardcore weapons you could think of.
A great match from two of wrestling’s greatest hardcore specialists.
#4. Kurt Angle vs. Samoa Joe (Genesis 2006)
2006 was a good time for TNA as they were becoming mainstream and business was picking up quite nicely as the previous month’s Bound For Glory did over 50,000 PPV buys. Fast forward a month later and those numbers would get surpassed with the company’s Genesis event with an impressive 60,000 buys which still stands as the highest in the promotions history.
One of the reasons why this show hold such a distinction would have to be it’s main event which saw the first ever one-on-one match between Samoa Joe and Kurt Angle which the company billed as “The Dream Match of the Decade”.
For over thirteen minutes, Joe and Angle kicked the crap out of each other with Kurt getting busted open in the early stages of the match. The crowd were unsurprisingly hyped for this bout with the crowd cheering for both men although most in Orlando Florida were firmly behind the Samoan Submission Machine.
Joe would tap out to the Ankle Lock thus ending the match and his 18 month unbeaten streak; The post match face off between the two competitors left the door open for more matches down the road…Many of which would go on to be the best in wrestling history.
#3. Jeff Jarrett vs. Kurt Angle (Genesis 2009)
The ’06 event may have seen Kurt Angle put on his most high profiled match (post WWE), but it’s his bout with TNA Founder Jeff Jarrett at the 2009 PPV that might be his best of all of his appearances at Genesis.
After losing a bout to Double J at the previous years Bound For Glory event, the animosity between the two continued on leading to this often forgotten singles match at Genesis 2009. From the opening bell, the action was frantic with both men determined to tear each other apart and needless to say they damn near succeeded.
Moments like Kurt battering Jarrett in the face with the ring bell leading to him bleeding like crazy to that iconic spot of Angle hitting the Olympic Slam off the stage, this match could’ve easily been the best of the night…But will talk more about that later.
While Kurt is no stranger from stealing the show with his in-ring abilities, Jeff Jarrett was no slouch in this match either as he persevered though much of Angle’s onslaught only to be caught by a crucfix style roll up allowing Kurt to get his win back.
#2. Beer Money vs. MCMG (Genesis 2011)
Continuing our theme of Genesis having the best match of the night (if not the year), we now go to 2011’s Genesis pay-per-view which sees two of the greatest tag teams in Beer Money and the Motor City Machine Guns face off for the TNA World Tag Team Titles.
Fans were well aware of how good both teams were as their Best of Five Series the previous year clearly showed; Solid ring work, great tag team psychology and a cheering crowd make up the bulk of this match and it’s easy to see why as all four men show why they are the best tag wrestlers of this generation.
Due to some miscommunication between Shelley and Sabin, Bobby Roode was able to pick up the win thus allowing Beer Money to win their fourth TNA World Tag Team Titles; Considering what would happen between these two towards the end of the year, it’s great to look back at this and see both Roode and Storm at their best in the tag division.
#1. Alex Shelley vs. Chris Sabin (Genesis 2009)
If you thought Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley as a tag team could produce magic inside the ring, then this match from the 2009 Genesis event proves they can put on a wrestling classic against each other.
In a match to crown the new TNA X Division Champion, Shelley and Sabin go almost twenty minutes displaying some fast pace, on the edge of your seat action. Everything from suicide dives to 450 splashes to finishing moves are being busted out for this one and the crowd are amazed with what they’re witnessing.
An underrated gem that still holds up well, a solid X Division title bout and in my opinion the best match to take place at Genesis in all of TNA Wrestling.
And that’s my list, Be sure to leave your thoughts on the article down below and don’t forget to check out my previous article on the Top 15 TNA Wrestling TV Matches of 2024.
You can follow me on my socials: @hakeemfullerton and @hakeem96.bsky.social and you can follow DiscussPW on both X/Twitter and Facebook for wrestling content such as this.