10 Precise Moments TNA Was The Best Wrestling Show On Earth

9. AJ Styles Vs Samoa Joe Vs Christopher Daniels - Unbreakable 2005

Kurt Angle TNA Debut
Impact Wrestling

Surely still the best match in company history, which is some achievement considering its age and the countless developments of the style these three wrestlers and select others pioneered.

At TNA's Unbreakable 2005 pay-per-view, AJ Styles, Samoa Joe and Christopher Daniels added pizazz and polish to that era's American independent scene spotfest, finally reflecting exactly what the distinct number two promotion in North America could offer as a distraction from the unassailable market leader.

Batting back accusations of the battles being psychology free (the conversation never changes...), the three used the escalation of risk as a narrative counterweight. The aerial assaults peaked with a corkscrew dive from Samoa Joe before the trio moved towards a third act shaped around the undefeated 'Samoan Submission Machine's attempt to keep his title and the near-fatal blows landed by Styles and Daniels to try and take it away.

TNA even booked the perfect finish, preserving Joe's streak when 'The Phenomenal One' defeated the 'Fallen Angels' after an inch-perfect Angel's Wings counter. This wasn't destroying the form or killing the business, but celebrating the advancements TNA were only too proud to promote.

 
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Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation over 7 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 30 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz", Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 50,000,000 total downloads. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live. Follow him on X/Twitter - @MichaelHamflett