June 19, 2002, TNA Wrestling held their first-ever show. In celebration of their upcoming 13th birthday, we’ll have a number of TNA-centric articlescelebrating the good, the bad and the ugly of TNA/Impact Wrestling over the last 13 years. 

Part 1 (Matches #10-6): https://www.voicesofwrestling.com/2015/06/16/the-top-10-matches-in-impact-wrestling-history-part-1-10-6/

On June 4, 2004 at three in the afternoon, a little show called Impact aired for the very first time on Fox Sports Network. Since then, the show has stayed on the air for eleven years and aired over 500 episodes across three different television channels. I figured I’d look back at the ten best favourite matches in the history of the show. While Impact hasn’t always been known as a wrestling-heavy show, it’s produced more than a reasonable amount of worthwhile matches through the years.

5. The Hardys vs. The Wolves vs. Team 3D – Ladder Match
September 17, 2014

While Full Metal Mayhem is the better match, this was a more condensed, and thus action-packed, version of that match. This one didn’t slow down for even a second as they set up and knocked down crazy spot after crazy spot capped off by a nice little redemption story with Eddie Edwards, who took the fall in the previous two matches in the series, pulling down the titles to pick up the win. ****1/4

4. Rockstar Spud vs. Ethan Carter III
March 13, 2015

This was the highlight of TNA’s run on Destination America so far, the Spud/EC3 feud was about as well executed as possible. Spud was the perfect lovable underdog, and EC3 perfect as the overbearing bully. The second Spud walked into Wembley Arena and belted out a rendition of God Save the Queen you knew the crowd, desperately willing Spud to win, was going to help make this something special. And special it was, memorable for Spud bleeding buckets this was the best this match could have possibly been. ****1/4

3. The Wolves vs. Team 3D vs. The Hardys – Full Metal Mayhem
October 9, 2014

The 2nd match on this list from an awesome series, this feud was extremely clever in its construction. Take two long standing teams known for these kinds of matches, add in the less established team (at least on a national level) and have them beat both veteran teams at their own game. The three teams delivered with an extremely well-paced, violent spectacle. Memorable for things like Davey Richards being powerbombed on a guardrail and an insane Jeff Hardy dive, this match was a worthy finale to a really strong series of matches. ****1/2

2. Samoa Joe vs. Christopher Daniels
April 13, 2006

These two are no strangers to good matches, but few matches these two have had were as intense as this. This match was in that it kicked the show off and was joined in progress,the opening five minutes were then posted on YouTube. The opening image of Samoa Joe standing over an already bloodied Daniels couldn’t help but be draw you in from the start. Samoa Joe was a monster in this match, like he is in most great Samoa Joe matches, but showed just the right amount of vulnerability to get you to believe that Daniels could beat him. This had a sense of urgency and physicality that many Impact matches sorely lack. ****1/2

1. Motor City Machine Guns vs. Beer Money – 2/3 Falls – August 12, 2010 – There are certain matches where everything just clicks. Two of the best teams TNA has ever had and two teams with superb chemistry squared off in the culmination of their tremendous Best of 5 Series in front of a raucous crowd with more double team moves than you can shake a stick at. Everything worked. The first two falls didn’t feel inconsequential unlike many 2-out-of-3 falls matches, but it was the third fall that truly took this match to the next level. These two teams have had a lot of great matches, but none better than this. I absolutely adore this match. *****