‘TNA: Genesis 2025’ PPV Review
Welcome to this review of TNA Wrestling’s Genesis 2025 pay-per-view, which emanated from the Curtis Culwell Center in Dallas, Texas, and opened with the usual free-to-view pre-show Countdown to… which saw Jake Something defeat WWE’s Ashante Adonis (yes, there are WWE appearances in this show!); and Frankie Kazarian defeat Leon Slater. Now let’s get into the review!
Match #1: X-Division Championship – Moose def. Ace Austin
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
As promised, Moose unveils the new X-Division Championship belt. The bell rings and Austin immediately goes on the attack with a running dropkick. The fight spills to the outside where Moose whips him into the barricade. JDC provides a distraction, allowing Moose to hit a thudding Chokeslam into the apron. Austin just makes it back into the ring before the referee’s 10 count. Moose connects with Go To Hell but Austin stays alive. Austin fights back with a series of strikes, then counters another Go To Hell attempt. Moose inadvertently spears JDC, allowing Austin to capitalize with The Fold on the outside. The System’s Eddie Edwards and Brian Myers appear at ringside but Austin takes them out with Soar to Glory. Moose spears Austin out of mid-air for a very close near fall. Moose counters The Art of Finesse , then hits one final spear to win.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #2: Steve Maclin & Eric Young def. The System (Eddie Edwards & Brian Myers)
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
The competitors finally enter the ring and our next matchup is underway! Alisha trips up Maclin from the outside, allowing The System to gain control. After several minutes, both Maclin and Eddie are down following double clotheslines. Maclin makes the tag to Young, and he goes on the attack. Young hits Myers with a top rope elbow drop for two. Alisha intercepts Caught in the Crosshairs from Maclin. The referee is distracted, allowing Alisha to strike Maclin. Myers follows up with a spear but it’s not enough. Young prevents the System Overload, as Maclin spikes Myers with KIA to win.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #3: Knockouts World Tag Team Championship – Spitfire (Jody Threat & Dani Luna) def. Ash & Heather By Elegance
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Ash and Heather By Elegance jump Spitfire before the opening bell to gain the early advantage. Spitfire quickly turn the tide with double team offense. The Personal Concierge distracts the referee, as Ash kicks Luna from the apron. Ash and Heather plant Luna with a double team foot stomp to the floor. Luna dropkicks Ash to create some much-needed separation. Luna makes the tag to Threat, who quickens the pace. Threat hits Heather with a sit-down driver but Ash breaks the pin with a Meteora. Threat tosses Heather out of the ring with Pop Shove-It. Spitfire put Ash away with the Pressure Drop to win.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #4: Tessa Blanchard def. Jordynne Grace
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Tessa Blanchard returns for an in-ring collision with Jordynne Grace! The fight is on as Grace hits a dive through the ropes, followed by a Juggernaut Jackhammer on the floor. Blanchard drops her on the steel steps to gain control. In the ring, Grace fights off a Sunset Flip attempt, smashing Blanchard face-first into the turnbuckle. Instead, Blanchard hits a modified Codebreaker out of the corner for two. Grace turns the tide with a Fallaway Slam off the top rope. Grace hits a sitdown powerbomb for two. Blanchard bounces back with a Destroyer for a near fall of her own. Grace hits a rolling Death Valley Driver off the steps to the floor. Blanchard attempts to remove the turnbuckle pad. Blanchard drops her with Buzzsaw into the exposed turnbuckle for another near fall. This time, Blanchard drives her into the exposed buckle with a bulldog, followed by Magnum to win.
My Score: 4.5 out of 5
Match #5: I Quit Match – Mike Santana def. Josh Alexander
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Josh Alexander battles Mike Santana – who will make their opponent say “I Quit”? We learned earlier tonight that The Northern Armory has been banned from the building. Santana leaps over the top, crashing into Alexander on the outside. Santana sets up a table at ringside but Alexander makes him pay with a belly to belly throw. Alexander locks in a Figure Four Leg Lock, wrapping Santana’s legs around the steel ring post. In the ring, Alexander hits two German suplexes. Santana connects with the running cannonball in the corner. Alexander crashes and burns on a Moonsault attempt. Alexander secures an Ankle Lock but Santana’s boot comes off. Santana goes crashing through a table but it’s not enough to make him say “I Quit”. Alexander assaults his ankle with a steel chair and Santana tells Josh he’ll have to kill him! Alexander hits the C4 Spike but Santana springs to his feet. Santana gains control with a top rope frog splash, followed by Spin the Block. Alexander does not say “I Quit”. Turnabout is fair play as Santana zip-ties Alexander’s hands together. Santana hits another Spin the Block. Santana cannonballs a table as Alexander crumbles beneath. Mike whips him with a Slapjack, then threatens to drive his face into the steel steps, forcing Alexander to say “I Quit”.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #6: TNA World Tag Team Championship – The Hardys (Matt & Jeff) def. The Rascalz (Trey Miguel & Zachary Wentz)
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Matt Hardy dumps Wentz into the crowd. The Hardys cut off the ring and begin to wear Miguel down. The Hardys have Miguel beat with the Plot Twist but Wentz breaks the pin. The Hardys fall right into the laps of Fraxiom at ringside. Miguel dives through the ropes but inadvertently collides with Fraxiom. Tensions begin to boil over between The Rascalz and Fraxiom before security removes them from the iMPACT! Zone. The match continues in the ring as Jeff intercepts top rose offense from Miguel and hits the Twist of Fate. Matt hits a second Twist of Fate on Miguel as Jeff capitalizes with the Swanton Bomb to win.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #7: Clockwork Orange House of Fun Knockouts World Championship – Masha Slamovich def. Rosemary
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Anything goes in the Clockwork Orange House of Fun with the Knockouts World Title on the line! Masha Slamovich uses a staple gun as a weapon. Moments later, Rosemary sprays green mist into the face and eyes of Slamovich. Slamovich charges at Rosemary, sending them both crashing through a table on the floor. Rosemary reintroduces her to Janice, the signature nail-filled weapon of Abyss. They fight to the top of the stage where Rosemary spears her into a pile of thumbtacks. Back in the ring, Slamovich hits the Snow Plow into a barbed wire board but it’s not enough. Rosemary pushes Slamovich off a ladder through a table below. Rosemary goes for the pin but Slamovich somehow kicks out. Slamovich hits Requiem into a collection of steel chairs to retain the Knockouts World Championship.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #8: TNA World Championship – Joe Hendry def. Nic Nemeth
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
It’s time for the main event as Joe Hendry challenges Nic Nemeth for the TNA World Championship! Despite being banned from ringside, Ryan Nemeth reappears in the crowd after purchasing a front-row ticket. Nemeth slows the pace as he begins to wear Hendry down. Minutes later, Hendry hits a Fallaway Slam to begin building momentum. Hendry goes for the Standing Ovation with Nemeth counters. Nemeth delivers a straight headbutt but Hendry bounces back with a pop-up powerbomb for two. Hendry connects with an Attitude Adjustment for another near fall. Nemeth attempts a top rope crossbody but Hendry rolls through. Nemeth counters into a Famouser for two. Hendry hits a Fallaway Slam from the turnbuckles. Frankie Kazarian makes his way to ringside with the Call Your Shot trophy but John Layfield neutralizes him with a Clothesline from Hell! Ryan Nemeth jumps the guardrail and gets a right hand from Layfield. In the ring, Hendry hits the Standing Ovation but somehow, someway, Nemeth kicks out. Nemeth hits the Danger Zone but this time it’s Hendry who kicks out just in time. Hendry has a resurgence, connecting with one final Standing Ovation to win the match and become the new TNA World Champion!
My Score: 4 out of 5
Final Verdict: 4/5
Finally! Finally! TNA finally pulled the trigger on Joe Hendry being their champion. It’s about time and, honestly, it’s well deserved. But that was the second-best match of the night… And it kills me, given my personal opinion (which TBH has been formed by all the reports from the IWC over the years), to say that Jordynn Grace and Tessa Blanchard(!) stole the show. If you can forget her actions and just enjoy the wrestling, Blanchard was a perfect opponent for Grace and, by the looks of things, will be the face of the women’s division. Though Masha Slamovich was no slouch, with her match against Rosemary coming in a close third in terms of matches during this pay-per-view. As I’ve said before, no matter what the weekly product looks like and plays out, TNA can certainly pull out all the stops when they need to. as they did here.
