‘TNA: Genesis 2026’ PPV Review
Welcome to this review of TNA Wrestling’s Genesis 2026 pay-per-view, which emanated – as it did last year -from the Curtis Culwell Center in Dallas, Texas, and opened with the usual free-to-view pre-show Countdown to… which saw Stacks retain his TNA International Championship against KJ Orso, Eric Young & BDE, and Tessa Blanchard & Mila Moore defeat Vicious Vicki & Indi Hartwell. Now let’s get into the review!
Match #1: AJ Francis def. Rich Swann
The following is courtesy of tnawrestling.com:
Former allies collide as AJ Francis battles Rich Swann in our opening contest on pay-per-view! Francis attacks him from behind before the opening bell. Swann quickly turns it around as he clotheslines Francis over the top rope, then flies to the outside. Swann goes for a handspring but Francis swats him out of mid-air. Swann avoids the Down Payment but Francis launches him face-first into the floor instead. Francis hits a big boot for two. Swann builds momentum, connecting with the 450 Splash for a near fall of his own. Swann bites the arm of Francis but is cut off in mid-air with the TFL. Francis plants him with the Styles Clash. Swann counters another Styles Clash attempt into a Destroyer but it’s not enough to keep Francis down. Swann soars with a top rope splash but Francis gets his foot on the bottom rope. Francis puts Swann away with the Down Payment.
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #2: Mustafa Ali def. Elijah
The following is courtesy of tnawrestling.com:
Elijah competes in his first singles match in six months as he battles the leader of Order 4, Mustafa Ali! Before the match begins, Elijah fends off a sneak attack from The Great Hands. Mustafa Ali takes advantage of the distraction and takes out Elijah with a dive to the outside. Ali remains in control with his signature rolling Neckbreaker. Both men exchange strikes in the middle of the ring with Elijah gaining the upper-hand with a clothesline. Elijah hits the Highwayman’s Farewell for two. The Great Hands prevent the Highwayman’s Farewell from the top rope. Elijah hits Sky High off the top but Special Agent 0 pulls referee Alice Lane out of the ring. Special Agent 0 and The Great Hands are ejected from ringside. With the referee distracted, Tasha Steelz enters the ring. Elijah is about to hit her with Highwayman’s Farewell but Ali smashes the guitar across his back! Ali scores the pin and the win.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #3: The Final Dance – Eddie Edwards def. JDC
The following is courtesy of tnawrestling.com:
JDC retires from in-ring competition as he battles System ally Eddie Edwards in The Final Dance. JDC tries to catch Eddie off guard with a surprise pin attempt in the opening moments. Eddie picks him off the top, then connects with a dive. The match spills to the outside where JDC hits a suplex into the hardest part of the ring. Eddie accidently chops the steel ring post. JDC soars over the top rope, crashing into Eddie on the floor. JDC hits a slingshot leg drop for two. Moments later, JDC connects with a tornado DDT, followed by a Falcon Arrow. Eddie bounces back with the Blue Thunder Bomb. JDC powers out of a headlock, then locks in The Walls. JDC hits the Codebreaker for another near fall. JDC sends Eddie flying with Air Raid Crash off the top rope. Eddie counters Down and Dirty into the Boston Knee Party but it’s not enough. Another Boston Knee Party and JDC still kicks out. Eddie connects with one final Boston Knee Party to score the victory.
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #4: Ryan Nemeth def. Mara Sadè
The following is courtesy of tnawrestling.com:
Mara Sadè looks to teach Ryan Nemeth a lesson as they go one-on-one at Genesis! Ryan avoids a superkick in the early going but Sadè takes him out with a crossbody off the apron. Ryan drops her back-first into the hardest part of the ring to gain control. Sadè builds momentum with a series of strikes, followed by a tornado DDT. Ryan dropkicks her off the top, then scores the pin with a handful of jeans and a hold of the ropes.
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #5: TNA Knockouts World Championship – Léi Yǐng Lee def. Zaria
The following is courtesy of tnawrestling.com:
After issuing an open challenge this past Thursday on iMPACT!, Léi Yǐng Lee will defend the TNA Knockouts World Championship against NXT’s Zaria! The early advantage goes to Zaria as she puts her strength on display. Zaria hits a clothesline, then locks in a modified Texas Cloverleaf. Lee fights free and attempts to secure a submission of her own. Lee turns the tide as she pummels Zaria in the corner. Lee hits an Exploder Suplex for two. Zaria breaks a Sleeper attempt by driving Lee face-first into the turnbuckle. Zaria regains control with a back suplex into the apron. Meanwhile, The Elegance Brand are seen watching on from the top of the stage as ZaRuca prepares to compete in a No. 1 Contenders Match for the TNA Knockouts World Tag Team Titles this Tuesday on NXT. Zaria accidently knocks out the referee. Sol Ruca and Xia Brookside fend off The Elegance Brand. Back in the ring, Lee and Zaria exchange a flurry of strikes. Lee plants her with Warrior’s Way to retain the title.
My Score: 4 out of 5
Match #6: TNA World Tag Team Championship – The Hardys (Jeff & Matt) def. The Righteous (Vincent & Dutch)
The following is courtesy of tnawrestling.com:
The mind games are over and the time for fighting is now as The Hardys defend the TNA World Tag Team Titles against The Righteous! The Hardys jumpstart the match by dragging Vincent and Dutch to the outside. Matt hits Vincent with the Side Effect. Matt is setting up for the Twist of Fate but Dutch gets involved and clotheslines Matt from the apron. The Righteous are now in control as they cut off the ring and wear Matt down. Matt creates separation with a Twist of Fate to Dutch, allowing him to make the tag to Jeff. The pace quickens as Jeff brings the fight to The Righteous. Jeff has a submission locked in on Vincent but Dutch breaks it up. The Hardys deliver a Plot Twist to Vincent. Dutch shuts down The Hardys’ momentum with Death Walks to Matt. Dutch hits Matt with a Twist of Fate, followed by a Swanton Bomb from Vincent. Jeff pulls Vincent off the cover as Dutch crashes and burns on a leg drop attempt to the floor. Dutch gets on the microphone and tells The Hardys that this is what they wanted. Matt hits Vincent with the Twist of Fate. Jeff seals the deal with the Swanton Bomb for three.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #7: Joe Hendry def. Cedric Alexander & Moose
The following is courtesy of tnawrestling.com:
Joe Hendry competes in TNA Wrestling for the first time in three months as he battles Moose and Cedric Alexander! Moose powerbombs Alexander into the apron. Hendry hits Moose with a powerbomb of his own into the apron. Hendry sends Alexander into the steel ring steps. Hendry hits Moose with a thudding back body drop into the steps. The match continues between Hendry and Alexander as the ringside physician and TNA President Carlos Silva look after Moose. Minutes later, Moose reenters the match and goes on the offensive. Moose hits Alexander with Go To Hell for two. Alexander spikes Hendry with a Death Valley Driver, then locks in the Crossface. Moose prevents Hendry from tapping but Alexander plants him with a Styles Clash for another near fall. Moose spears Alexander out of mid-air but it’s still not enough. Alexander takes out Moose with the Lumbar Check. Hendry hits Alexander with the Standing Ovation to win.
My Score: 4 out of 5
Match #8: TNA World Championship Texas Death Match – Mike Santana def. Frankie Kazarian
The following is courtesy of tnawrestling.com:
Santana hits a cannonball into the guardrails. They brawl into the crowd where Santana leaps off the top of a barricade, wiping out Kazarian on the concrete. In the backstage area, Kazarian drives him back-first into a steel garage door. Kazarian hits a powerslam on the exposed floor for two. Both men exchange chair shots with Kazarian gaining the upper-hand. Santana spikes him with a Piledriver into two chairs to score the three count. Nic begins the count but Kazarian makes it back to his feet at nine. Kazarian sends Santana crashing through a table with a Cutter for three. This time, Santana is back up at nine. Santana swings at Kazarian with a barbed wire baseball bat. Santana leaps off the top of a ladder, putting Kazarian through a table below. Santana wraps his arm in barbed wire and hits Kazarian with Spin the Block for three. Kazarian stays down for the 10 count, awarding the victory to Mike Santana!
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Final Verdict: 3/5
This year’s Genesis pay-per-view was a classic case of TNA delivering a mixed bag on pay-per-view – uneven in its undercard, but buoyed by a handful of genuinely strong performances that reminded you why sticking with the product can still pay off. The early portion of the show struggled to find momentum, with several matches feeling more functional than memorable, and too many finishes leaning on distractions or shortcuts rather than escalation. That said, the Knockouts World Title bout between Léi Yǐng Lee and Zaria was a clear standout, while Joe Hendry’s chaotic triple threat and Mike Santana’s brutal Texas Death Match brought the energy the show badly needed. Not an essential PPV, but far from a write-off – Genesis ultimately lands as solid-but-unspectacular, saved by a strong back end rather than carried by consistency throughout.
