10 Most Important Matches That Defined TNA

TNA has been around for almost two decades now with countless memorable moments. The company never reached its full potential to compete with WWE and never even had the status AEW currently has selling out major venues. However, the matches to take place in TNA certainly left an impact on the company’s identity.RELATED: 5 Best & 5 Worst Debuts Of Former WWE Wrestlers In TNABoth positive and negative moments from TNA feature the matches being remembered forever. Most were great and showed the talent thrive despite TNA often having creative issues. There were also instances of some embarrassing matches creating longer-term memories. One constant for the following matches is that they all defined the history of TNA.

10 Sting Vs Kurt Angle (Bound For Glory 2007)

The signings of Kurt Angle and Sting each came in 2006 to make them the two biggest names in TNA. A dream match between the two legends would be for the TNA World Championship at the company's biggest event, Bound for Glory 2007.

Sting delivered one of the better performances of his career to keep up with Angle in the ring. This was the biggest dream match that TNA could book at the time and it lived up to the hype for one of the better nights in TNA’s history.

9 Kurt Angle Vs Samoa Joe (Genesis 2006)

TNA did not wait long to put Kurt Angle in the match that fans most wanted when he signed with the company. Samoa Joe’s undefeated streak was at its peak during his main event ascension when facing Angle at Genesis 2006.

An argument can be made that TNA rushed the match too soon, but it created strong business. Angle and Joe had instant chemistry to live up to the hype. Angle ended Joe’s streak in front of a red-hot Impact Zone who were treating it like a major match.

8 Sting Vs Hulk Hogan (Bound For Glory 2011)

The Hulk Hogan era of TNA was viewed as a huge failure for both failing to live up to his expectations of competing with WWE and alienating fans. However, Hogan did show passion for the company at Bound for Glory 2011 when wrestling with a painful injury.

Sting and Hogan culminated their TNA feud by playing off their WCW past and leaving it all in the ring. The match wasn’t a classic by any means, but it was shocking to see the legendary rivalry playing out for the smaller promotion.

7 America's Most Wanted Vs Triple X (Turning Point 2004)

The early stages of TNA saw them finally having monthly three-hour PPVs at the end of 2004. Turning Point was the second PPV in TNA’s new formula and featured a must-watch main event of America’s Most Wanted vs Triple X in a cage match.

Elix Skipper performing a tightrope act by walking the cage and delivering a Hurricanrana is still one of the most popular visuals in TNA history. The incredible tag match was the main event over Randy Savage’s one TNA match, showing just how important this Six Sides of Steel match was.

6 Jeff Hardy Vs Kurt Angle Vs Mr. Anderson (Bound For Glory 2010)

Hulk Hogan Eric Bischoff Bound For Glory

TNA spent a lot of time hyping up the 10/10/10 date at Bound for Glory 2010. Jeff Hardy, Kurt Angle, and Mr. Anderson faced off in the main event for the vacant TNA World Championship with fans wondering what the big swerve would be.

Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff helping Hardy win saw all three turning heel to form Immortal. This match turned out to be a failure since the rip-off New World Order faction did nothing to help TNA, but it defined the worst side of the company.

5 Awesome Kong vs. Gail Kim (Final Resolution 2008)

The Knockouts Division of TNA changed the game for women’s wrestling in North America thanks to the Gail Kim vs Awesome Kong feud. TNA put their best two female talents in a rivalry with the newly debuted title on the line.

Final Resolution 2008 featured the most important match in their rivalry when Gail retained the Knockouts Championship in a No DQ match. Kong and Kim proved that the women deserved a bigger spotlight, with both women becoming a strong point for TNA.

4 Motor City Machine Guns Vs Beer Money (TNA Impact)

Another genre to benefit from TNA giving the talent a chance to show their skills was the tag division. Beer Money and the Motor City Machine Guns are still considered the two most successful teams in company history.

TNA placed the two teams in a best of five series with a different stipulation for each match. The fifth match in the series turned out to be the best when the Machine Guns won an instant classic over Beer Money in a two out of three falls match.

3 Samoa Joe Vs Kurt Angle (Lockdown 2008)

The rivalry between Kurt Angle and Samoa Joe lingered for years heading into a huge cage match at Lockdown 2008. Joe finally scored the big win to capture the TNA World Championship when defeating Angle in a strong match.

TNA used an MMA-style build to create a big fight feel for the cage match between the two superb in-ring performers. Lockdown 2008 received the best buy rate in TNA history for a PPV to show just how much the story resonated with fans. This event reportedly received 55 thousand pay-per-view buys.

2 Sting Vs Jeff Hardy (Victory Road 2011)

One of the lowest moments in TNA and wrestling history featured Jeff Hardy attempting to perform under the influence at Victory Road 2011. Sting was advertised to face Hardy with the TNA World Championship on the line in a dream match.

TNA regretfully sent Hardy to the ring, thinking he could perform until Eric Bischoff came to the ring to buy some time. Sting defeated Jeff in a few minutes of uncomfortable television that is still discussed to put down TNA’s history today.

1 AJ Styles Vs Samoa Joe Vs Christopher Daniels (Unbreakable 2005)

Three hungry wrestlers leaving it all in the ring showed that TNA was trying to do something different in the industry. Unbreakable 2005 had the match most fans consider to be the best to ever take place in a TNA ring with AJ Styles, Samoa Joe, and Christopher Daniels.

All three wrestlers were at the top of their game during the incredible feud for the X-Division Championship. Styles pulling out the victory was the right call. In the end, the most popular face in the match won, which helped make it a timeless match no matter how many years go by.