Andrew’s TNA Genesis Results & Match Ratings: 1.17.26

Well the AMC debut was panned by most people. Be it IWC or contemporaries (like JBL and Eric Bischoff), and some of the wrestlers got snippy on Twitter which proves the negative backlash had an affect. If people’s opinions truly don’t matter, than you don’t acknowledge them. But even a general blast proves it struck a nerve.

The AMC debut was utter garbage, if you enjoyed it, get your head checked. It’s one thing to WANT things to go well because then there’s more jobs for everyone, which is cute, but don’t cope yourself into delusion. I detest AEW, but the AMC debut episode made Collision look like Citizen Kane.

Let’s hope the first PLE of the year corrects the botched mess that was the AMC debut.

Ratings:

• AJ Francis vs Rich Swann: AJ wins via Down Payment – *** 1/4
• Mustafa Ali w/Order 4 vs Elijah: Ali wins via Guitar – ***
• The Final Dance: Dango vs Eddie Edwards: Eddie wins via Boston Knee Party – **** 1/4
• Ryan Nemeth vs Mara Sade: Ryan wins via Dirty Pin – ** 1/2
• TNA Knockouts Championship: Zaria w/Sol Ruca vs Lei Ying Lee (c) w/Xia Brookside: Lei wins via Warrior’s Way – *** 1/2
• TNA Tag Team Championships: The Hardy Boyz (c) vs The Righteous: Hardyz retain via Twist/Swanton – ***
• Cedric Alexander vs Moose vs Joe Hendry: Hendry wins via Standing Ovation – ****
• Texas Death Match for the TNA World Championship w/Nic Nemeth as guest referee: Mike Santana (c) vs Frankie Kazarian: Santana retains via Spin the Barbed Wire Block – *****

Results:

AJ Francis vs Rich Swann

Swann’s outfit seems to be a little Black Machismo inspired.

AJ tries to grab Rich immediately, but Rich uses his speed and gets in multiple strikes, 10 count punches in the corner, kicks AJ over the top rope, tries a Dive, but gets caught, Rich counters the Down Payment and turns it into a Phoenix Senton to the floor. Rich throws in AJ, hits a few YES Kicks, goes for the Lethal Injection but eats a big Vader Hammer from AJ. AJ starts leaning on Rich, bending him in the ropes and just clubbing him as he slows down the pace. AJ just throws Rich across the ring from a Fireman’s Carry, hits Tennessee Whiskey and mugs to the crowd.

Offense continues for AJ, he chokes Rich against the steps, rolls him in, wants the Down Payment but Swann breaks the goozle with kicks and punches, but AJ re-secures his grab and just throws Rich out. Rich beats the count at 9 to no one’s real surprise. AJ steps on him and tries to lean his weight down, lifts him, showboats too long and eats elbows, a Jawjacker…but a Big Boot from AJ gives him the two count. AJ goes for some…lame Chin Lock/Chicken Wing attempt of a submission, so Swann gets out of it. AJ misses the Senton, Round Kick from Rich, Step Over Kick, Lethal Injection into Cartwheel Splash and 450 from the middle rope for two.

Rich goes back up, AJ cuts him off and just chucks him to the middle of the ring. Looks for the Moonsault, but Rich tries the Avalanche Powerbomb, but AJ stops it. AJ perches Rich, Superplex…? Rich fights back, bites AJ’s arm, headbutts him and AJ crashes down. Rich flies but AJ catches him with the TFL…only for two though! Down Payment attempt, countered, Sunset Flip, another try, Rich counters again but AJ turns it into a Styles Clash and mocks the AJ Styles pose. Goes for a second clash but Swann turns it into a Canadian Destroyer.

It looked good but we know that’s just a transitional move. Swann to the top, Five Star Frog Splash, but AJ gets his foot on the rope. Lethal Injection gets caught into a Reverse Down Payment. AJ finally hits the real Down Payment, and AJ wins.

Mustafa Ali w/Order 4 vs Elijah

Elijah gets attacked by the Great Hands on his entrance but gets rid of them easily. He and Ali start a quick rope run that Elijah turns into a Pop-Up Sitout Powerbomb. Ali powders and we get some slow outside the ring following strikes. Great Hands try to get involved again, but Elijah deals with them, has a pop moment but then Ali with the blindside Dive ruins the Drifter’s celebration. Ali continues his advantage, meticulously, deliberately, strikes, isolation submissions like Key Locks and Arm Triangles. Elijah uses the rope to counter the Arm Sumission, flings Ali to the outside. Elijah tries a dive but Mustafa hits that gorgeous Rolling Neckbreaker to stop Elijah in his tracks. Ali goes for a Standing Moonsault, but Elijah gets the knees up.

Both are slow to their feet so we get a Fighting Spirit spot. It makes sense here since they’ve had heat for a while. Ali counters an Elijah Powerbomb, Superkick connects but Elijah no sells and Lariats Ali back to Chicago. A little more dazed brawling, Ali with a slap, Bellclap, hits the ropes but eats the Elijah Knee Lift for two. Elijah wants a Cross Body but Ali catches him, cleans him onto his shoulders and Spicolli Driver! Ali tries a 450, Elijah says no, spins into the Highwayman’s Farewell Okada style! 1-2-Ali matrix bridges out and then Flair flops.

Elijah thinks his Shinsuke Nakamura with the torso kicks, forearm blasts, strikes in the corner. Perches Ali, wants an Avalanche Highwayman’s…Ali fights, Tasha distracts the ref, Great Hands save Ali and Ali connects with the Sky High Dropkick. Ali wanted the Springboard Spanish Fly, but Elijah catches it into a D’lo Brown special SKY HIGH! One, Two…Agent Zero pulls out the ref. The ref kicks them out, Tasha wants the guitar shot, Elijah grabs her, wants to Piledriver her but Ali grabs the guitar and hits Elijah before the referee is back from the ejection. Ali wins!

Overbooked but it made sense and was entertaining.

The Final Dance: Dango vs Eddie Edwards

Dango comes out looking like his outfit has a little Terry Funk inspiration. Nice touch.

Eddie and him shake hands but once Eddie turns his back Dango tries the Roll-up for 1 and they both grin. Simple tie up, they’re building this slow as they should. If this is Dango’s retirement, it needs to be something special. Lots of Headlocks, and funnily enough, the first chop comes from Dango. Dango hits the Dropkick during a rope run with a little AJ Styles flair. Very calculated, hip tosses, Eddie finally gets the best of things, connects a few chops, and Eddie is doing a good job showing that he’s slow to lock in, where Dango is egging him on. DANGO with a beautiful Snap Powerslam. Dango Chops Eddie, and while Dango’s chops are nothing compared to Eddie, it’s obvious he’s trying to fire up Eddie.

Dango tries to perch, eats the Gamengiri, Frankensteiner from Eddie and Dango powders. SHOT OF CAFFEINE! The start brawling on the outside, resetting the counts, Dango chains a few Chops into a Backdrop on the apron. Resets the count again, Eddie slams Dango into the post, looks for the Chop but Dango ducks. The brawling continues, not something we see much from Dango. Eddie rolls in Dango, follows but eats a gorgeous Beauty Shot! Eddie cuts off the run, Dango cuts off the cut off, kicks Eddie to the floor and Tope con Hilo!

Back into the ring, Hip Attacks, but Eddie answers the second with the Uppercut, second try from Eddie misses! Dango with the European Uppercut, Eddie is hung up in the ropes weird so Dango hits the Slingshot Guillotine Leg Drop for two. Counter holds into a TORNADO DDT and FALCON ARROW! Only a two count, but Dango is pulling out stuff we haven’t seen in a long time. Dango perches, Eddie cuts him off but Dango fights him off, charges…into a Blue Thunder Bomb for two! Eddie goes for a Sleeper Hold, and Dango smiles, the Cena reference is wonderful. Dango stands up, pushes Eddie back, Snapmare counter. Eddie jumps, Dango pulls off a Lion Tamer! Dango tries to reposition, Small Package attempt from Eddie, kick out, Dango connects on a Codebreaker! Only a two count, but the wrinkles and winks are wonderful.

Dango looks for a Superplex, Eddie fights off, Headbutts, Dango hits an Avalanche Air Raid Crash! 1-2-…TWO? Dango to the sky, Down and Dir-missed! Boston Knee Party! Dango kicks out of the party! Eddie lines up the Knee Party Again, connects, Dango kicks again! Eddie says “Please stay down”, Dango is refusing. Thrust Kick, Die Hard Driver! Third Knee Party finally does it!

Chef’s Kiss, wonderful match.

Ryan Nemeth vs Mara Sade

For people who don’t watch and think this is just an intergender match, stop it. This is the correct style of intergender. It’s a comedy male character, and a Knockout they’re building up. This isn’t just TNA doing the intergender stuff for the lolz, its actually being done right in the set up.

Mara…okay let me lock in for a second, she’s distracting. Ryan kisses his hand and shoves it in her face in the corner, Mara is disgusted, ducks the tie up, goes for a Sleeper but Ryan Snapmares her and gloats. He then puts her in a Headlock, she punches, looks for a Hip Toss, Ryan counters, Ryan hits the toss and Mara doesn’t land the landing perfect so Ryan giggles. She fakes the Superkick and he powders, then she hits the Crossbody off the apron, throws him in but he trips her on re-entry. Ryan Backdrops her onto the apron and he’s yelling at her that she actually loves him.

He rolls her back in, arrogant cover so Mara kicks out. Ryan goes for a kiss and eats a slap, Ryan grabs her hair and slams her back. Ryan does a lewd dance, balls his fist, and she blocks, then she throws a few punches herself, Dropkicks, Ryan eats a Splash in the corner. Tornado DDT from Mara for two. Ryan claws the eyes, tries a cradle with the ropes but the referee sees it. Ryan whines to the ref, Mara hits a perfect Slingblade. She perches, Ryan dropkicks her so she goes crashing down, Ryan uses the ropes for the roll up. Wonderful use on the story and the fact he still needs to cheat to beat her.

TNA Knockouts Championship: Zaria w/Sol Ruca vs Lei Ying Lee (c) w/Xia Brookside

A lot of pushing off, counters, but after Lei slips a Slam attempt Zaria runs her over with a Shoulder Tackle. Lei tries to perch off of a Irish Whip but gets grabbed and slammed. Ley connects on a Sweep, a kick into a Dropkick and then her corner Down strikes only get to like three before Zaria slips it and Snake Eyes Lei. Zaria grabs Lei and Suzuki style Hanging Chokehold in the corner, she breaks at the four count, gloats and goes for the pinfall but only two. Heavy lariats, short arm Lariat, still only a near fall. Zaria then just grabs her, Texas Cloverleaf but Lei tries to sit up using her core strength and then gets bombed into the ground and back into the Cloverleaf.

Lei sits up, grabs the leg and starts an STF, but Zaria fights it off, counters it into a near fall. Lei shoves her into the turnbuckle, and going for some desperate strikes. Wing Chun Chain Punches, into a Round Kick, Standing Side Kick, Back Elbow, Down Strikes in the corner get to ten this time. Lei wants a suplex, Zaria tries to stop but Lei powers through, Overhead T-Bone Suplex for two. Lei jumps on Zaria spider monkey style and goes for the Rear Naked Choke. Zaria stands up and Cannonball drives Lei into the buckles to break the hold.

Irish Whip from Zaria, misses the follow up, Lei gets caught by Zaria but they both fall out to the apron and trade strikes. Back Body Drop onto the apron from Zaria, and both women are down on the outside. M and Heather walk out to watch the match since ZaRuca could get a tag title shot soon. Rope run back inside, Zaria hits the Spear, F-5 from Zaria, but she clocked the referee! Sol and Xia are in to check on the referee, Xia and Sol take out M and Heather once M and Heather try something.

Back in the ring, the referee is still dead but Zaria literally pulls her up, Zaria posts herself with the Spear, Roll-Up for two, Headbutt from Zaria rocks Lei. Zaria wants the Hanging Chokehold again, but Lei fights out, hits a few strikes, classic Scottie Frankensteiner! Fighting Spirit, Lei wins it, Zaria pushes off, tries another F-5 but Lei turns it into a DDT. Spinning Heel Kick, Warrior’s Way from Lei and Lei retains!

TNA Tag Team Championships: The Hardy Boyz (c) vs The Righteous

The Hardyz attack the Righteous during the Hardy entrance. Big brawl, the music keeps playing and Jeff posts Dutch while Matt slaps around Vincenet. Jeff and Vincent start, Vincent tries to plead some twisted case, Jeff clocks him, tags in Matt, classic tandem work. Matt has Vincent in a chin lock and pulls at his ears and claws his eyes, the Hardyz are pissed. They’re coming out with nice anger, and Vincent has been getting pinballed from pillar to post..POETRY IN MOTION! Matt gets a little distracted by Dutch being back on the apron, Vincent gets in a couple quick shots but Matt hits the Side Effect. Calls Deletes, but Dutch grabs him then Lariats him and Vincent jumps on Matt.

Dutch tags in, crushes Matt a few times, tags back in Vincent who snaps off a Flatliner to a kneeling Matt Hardy. Matt tries to fight up as Vincent says sorry, and he doesn’t want to do this. Tag in to Dutch, Uppercut, Short arm Lariat and Dutch loves flicking his tongue. It’s weird. Matt gets throttled on the ropes and driven into the Righteous corner. Dutch lifts Matt, tries to set him up for something but Matt counters into a Twist of Fate. Simultaneous tag, Jeff Manhattan Drop, Facebuster and near fall. Jeff pulls off some odd looking Backbreaker. Dutch breaks the submission, Matt dispatches Dutch and we keep going.

Hardyz pull off the Plot Twist but it’s only a two count. Delete chants, Twist is countered, but the counter is countered, Duth trips up Matt on the rope run and it allows Vincent to tag out. Dutch hits Death Walks and lays out Jeff. Dutch tags to Vincent and calls for something. Tist of Fate from Dutch, Swanton from Vincent, but its so poorly positioned it takes Vincent too long to get to the spot in the ring for Jeff to interfere. After a brawl, Jeff is down, Dutch tries a Leg Drop and misses. Matt and Vincent are in the ring, Vincent tries to beg off, Dutch gets a microphone.

Dutch says they wanted this, they want to hurt. Twist of Fate to Vincent, Swanton from Jeff…and that was a completely unnecessary mid match mic moment. He’s good enough to grab a mic and talk but he can’t get up to make a save? A generally decent match, with the Hardyz showing anger, but that mic moment was stupid as hell.

Cedric Alexander vs Moose vs Joe Hendry

Early on each man gets a shot on someone and has moments to be in control. Headscissor from Cedric, Dropkick from Moose, Frankensteiner from Hendry and then Hendry Sack of Shit on Cedric. He gloats a little, Air Hendry attempt before they double team Hendry. Moose Powerbombs Cedric into the Apron, Hendry Powerbombs Moose. Hendry tries to throw Cedric into the ring, but Cedric flies out. Hendry slams Cedric into the steps, then Moose charges, Backdrop, and Moose flies into the steps. The medical person is saying Moose is too injured to keep going.

The referee tells Hendry and Cedric to keep going after an “injury timeout”, everyone playing babyface. Hendry misses the corner charge and eats the Dropkick to the back of the head. Cedric tries to follow up and Joe counters it into the Olympic Slam. Joe gets distracted with Moose slowly trying to get up, so when he charges Cedric, Cedric connects a few kicks. Crossbody, but Hendry catches him, before Hendry can full lift, Small Package, into Michinoku Driver and only two. Now Cedric is getting distracted by Moose. Strike Exchange, Chops and Kicks into the double down lariat spot. The crowd chants for Moose, maybe trying to will him back into the match. Moose doesn’t want to leave the match.

He hobbles into the ring and Joe and Cedric reluctantly hit him because he’s asking for it. Headbutt into Cedric from Moose, Uranage into Senton onto Hendry, Kip Up! But Moose sells the back hard. Cedric kicks and perches, Okada Dropkick from Moose! Sells the back. Hendry wants the Suplex, Moose counters, Chop and sell the back. Moose floats over the Suplex, posts Hendry, perches him and Moose goes to the sky, Suplexplex! Holds on, but Hendry hits his own Suplex and Cedric hits the Splash from off camera!

Moose and Cedric back and forth, corner shenanigans, GO TO HELL! But near fall, and the cover was awkward with Moose selling the back. Moose and Hendry chop battle. Moose charges, Pop-Up Powerbomb! Moose kicks at two. Kip Up from Joe. Joe does the turn, but eats the Death Valley Driver from Cedric! Into a Crossface! Hendry is trying to get out of the Crossface, the crowd wants Moose, Moose grabs Hendry’s wrist so he can’t tap, breaks the submission and tosses Hendry out. Strikes with Cedric, Cedric with the Body Scissors Roll, Sunsets out of Moose’s stuff, Styles Clash from Cedric! Moose kicks out of the Clash.

Cedric removes the Elbow pad, peppers some shots, Moose kicks and tries to build a head of steam, Cedric Lariats him! Cedric goes for an Oscutter but Moose catches him with a Spear for a near fall. Moose lined up Cedric for Lights Out, but the Back gives out! Lumbar Check from Cedric! But Hendry appears out of nowhere and Standing Ovation from Joe on Cedric! Joe wins.

Texas Death Match for the TNA World Championship w/Nic Nemeth as guest referee: Mike Santana (c) vs Frankie Kazarian

Nic’s ref outfit has booty shorts…of course it would.

Frankie powders when Santana charges, but then he initiates on his own time and they go at an intense pace, right where they left off Thursday. Frankie gets rocked to the apron, Santana misses the Yakuza kick over the rope, apron teases but counters aplenty. Kaz jumps down, Santana tries a PK, but Kaz moves and flips him face first into the apron. Kaz grabs a chair, misses the first time but not the second. Kaz tries the Whip, Santana counters, Kaz jumps the steps so Santana charges and launches off the steps to wipe out Kaz. A table gets added into the ring and Santana clocks Kaz with a Yakuza kick. Santana then gets a chair, to launch the cannonball into Kaz. Santana goes for the pinfall but Kaz kicks out at two. Santana walks Kaz around the audience, 10 count punches and field trip continues. Kaz manages to connect with a punch and now he’s conducting the 10 cent tour.

Every time the location changes the momentum changes. Santana looks for dive from the second level, but Kaz cuts him off, wants the Superplex, Santana fights him off and Double Axe Handle onto the concrete. The fight to the back, trash can, garage doors, and Kaz is getting the best of this so far. Scoop Slam from Kaz onto the concrete, two count. Chairshot duel, Kaz wins, sets up some chairs and tries a Fade to Black…but Santana says no, kicks Kaz into Tuesday. Santana gets on the chairs, Piledriver on Frankie through the chairs to the outside. Pinfall! Kaz now has to get back to his feet by 10, or Santana wins – Kaz BARELY gets up at 9. Santana then punches him repeatedly for standing up and finds another table.

Santana sets up the table, gets on the apron with Kaz and wants to Piledrive Kaz through the table. Kaz fights it off, they trade strikes on the apron, Santana perches, Santana launches but Kaz catches him with a Cutter through the table! Pinfall! Santana has til 10 – – Santana is up at 9! Kaz just Knees him in the back and sends him face first into the steps! Kaz sets up chekov’s table from earlier in the ring. Then he grabs a ladder and throws it into the ring. The desperation in this is great storytelling. Frankie does his Heavy Metal Rebel pose, but Santana walks behind him with a Barbed Wire Baseball bat. Swing Away Mikey, but misses, Kaz tries the Chicken Wing but gets tossed off. Bat to the gut, and across the forehead! Outline in Chair on Kaz! Santana puts him on the table, climbs the ladder and Papi shimmy, FEELING FROGGY! Pinf-no! Kaz kicked out a 2.8.

Both men connect on Lariats and again…Kaz spits in Mike’s face. Santana wraps barbed wire around his arm. Spin the Barbed Wire Block! Pinfall – – – can Kaz get up by 10…NO! Santana retains!

Danger Zone after Santana is celebrating a little. Nic tries to cash, calls for another referee, but before the referee gets there, Spin the Block! Drops Nic and the cash in never happens. 

Overall Score: 8.5/10

That…was a great show. I’ve never had brand whiplash this bad in my life. The only match that fell flat was the Hardyz and Righteous because there’s no reason to have the mic moment, its stupid, breaks momentum, adds a really b rated horror flick kind of pregnant pause, and made the finish feel moronic. Other than that…everything was done beautifully. Mara and Ryan wasn’t supposed to be a high quality match, but it did exactly what you’d want a comedy match to do. Ryan looks like even more of a chickenshit loser, having to cheat to “beat a girl”. Mara looked good in the ring (both aesthetically and athletically), and she’s got a perfect excuse to turn it into something silly that we haven’t seen in forever, a Lumberjills match or something equivalent.

Dango’s match was beautiful, I’ll be honest, if he was a more main event talent, that would’ve felt more like a 5 star match. I think I only rated it a bit lower because Dango was great at what he did, but he wasn’t like a generational main event talent. But it was beautiful. Moose looked great in the loss, Ali needing interference 73 times keeps his gimmick strong, AJ Francis had a really good match, and Santana looked like a million bucks, Kaz looked badass, and we all went home happy since Nic botched his cash in.

I wish I had answers for where this magic was two nights ago. But if THIS is a representation of what we have to look forward to, THIS, is awesome.