10 Awesome Wrestling Matches You May Have Missed In 2018

2. LAX Vs. The OGz (Impact Slammiversary XVI - 22 July)

That Impact Wrestling may never overcome TNA's ghastly reputation is borderline tragic, because the company's Don Callis/Scott D'Amore-helmed creative team has delivered nought but consistently strong pro-wrestling television all year, with their shows regularly trouncing WWE's erratic main roster output.

Slammiversary was their finest offering. Though it suffered from a few minor blips, it was one of the best American wrestling pay-per-views of the year, particularly with its three-match closing stretch of intense, well-built grudge bouts. Sadly, like the rest of their good-to-great programming, nobody was watching. Such is life in the sport's most poisoned brand.

The LAX civil war provided Slammiversary's biggest highlight. The legendary team's new faces (Santana and Ortiz) faced off against the old (Homicide and Hernandez) in a wild plunder brawl that, much like most of our list, didn't come with a single slither of flab. It's batsh*t. Totally batsh*t. Even The OGz's advancing years and depleting gas tanks couldn't hamper a scrap that came off more like a gang fight than a wrestling match, with the bloody intensity and reckless spots sure to satiate anyone who misses WWE's gory days.

Total Nonstop Action indeed.

Watch: Global Wrestling Network (free 30-day trial)

Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.