TNA Wrestling had a superb 2005. The promotion found its way to Spike TV after several months of airing through webcasts. The deal with the network allowed the promotion to showcase matches to wider audiences.
TNA would also receive its first of several five-star rating for the all-time classic AJ Styles versus Christopher Daniels versus Samoa Joe from the Unbreakable pay-per-view event. These three men would also be responsible for delivering PPV quality, Match of the Year contenders week in and out at IMPACT tapings.
Let’s take a look at some of the best TNA Wrestling TV matches of 2005.
The Naturals vs. America’s Most Wanted (NWA World Tag Team Title Match – April 29)
The Naturals and America’s Most Wanted were involved in a heated feud over the NWA World Tag Team Championship in 2005. Both teams squared off for AMW’s tag team titles at the April 26 TNA iMPACT taping.
All four men went back and forth for nearly 17 minutes. The ringside presence of Chris Candido helped Andy Douglas and Chase Stevens with some good motivation. Sadly, Candido passed just two days after the taping.
AJ Styles & Sonjay Dutt vs. Alex Shelley & Roderick Strong – TNA iMPACT #69
A fast-paced match-up that truly represented TNA’s X Division in every sense of the word.
AJ Styles and Sonjay Dutt worked Alex Shelley and Roderick Strong with some creative offense. Strong pulled off a dropkick to mock Styles only for Styles to hit him back with the same move.
Shelley did a wonderful job with his selling. All four men would deliver an incredible multi-man Elimination Match at the Genesis pay-per-view event.
Bobby Roode vs. Christian (TNA iMPACT #75)
Christian Cage arrived on the IMPACT Zone at the Genesis PPV. Captain Charisma would be confronted by Scott D’Amore and Robert Roode with an offer to join Team Canada. Cage would reveal his decision by delivering a Killswitch to Scott following the main event between Jeff Jarrett and Rhino.
The angle would lead to his TNA in-ring debut against Bobby Robert at the November 29, 2005, television taping. This was a strong outing for Christian’s TNA in-ring debut. Roode played the perfect heel foe to the babyface Christian. There were lots of sequences and some interferences featuring Team Canada.
Chris Sabin vs. Matt Bentley vs. Petey Williams (Ultimate X Match – November 3)
Chris Sabin, Matt Bentley and Petey Williams had to witness a major botch during their X-Division Match at TNA Bound for Glory 2005. The trio ran it back a couple of days later at the IMPACT 2-hour Prime Time Special.
The stipulation was the same from Bound for Glory with the winner getting a title shot against AJ Styles for the X-Division Championship at Genesis. The action was superb with some innovative spots, and the right winner in Williams.
Six-man Tag Team Match – TNA iMPACT #70
This is arguably the best TNA Wrestling TV match of 2005. All six men had already proved their mettle by the time they got inside the six-sided ring to face each other. Alex Shelley, Samoa Joe, and Christopher Daniels were members of the Fallen Angel’s Team Ministry stable.
Shelley, Sonjay Dutt, and Austin Aries got their highlights with A Double putting on a clinic with his performance. Joe and Styles had some fantastic exchanges ahead of the Elimination Match at Genesis 2005.
Also read: Best TNA Wrestling PPV Matches Of 2005
