TNA Wrestling is back with a bang, as the Hard To Kill pay-per-view event delivered a night of action-packed and high-octane wrestling. The event, which took place on January 13, 2024, at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, featured twelve matches, including three on the pre-show, and marked the first live broadcast under the TNA name since 2016.
The main event saw Moose dethrone Alex Shelley as the TNA World Champion, after a brutal and intense match that lasted over 30 minutes. Moose, who earned his title shot by winning the Feast or Fired briefcase, showed his strength and resilience, as he survived Shelley's signature moves, such as the Sliced Bread #2 and the Shell Shock. Moose finally put Shelley away with a devastating Spear, followed by a pinfall. Moose celebrated his victory by holding the TNA World Championship belt high in the air, as the crowd cheered and chanted his name.
The co-main event featured Jordynne Grace challenging Trinity for the TNA Knockouts World Championship, in what was rumored to be Trinity's final match with the promotion. Grace, who won the Call Your Shot Gauntlet at Bound for Glory, proved to be a worthy challenger, as she matched Trinity's speed and agility, and countered her aerial attacks with power moves. Grace eventually overcame Trinity's experience and resilience, and captured the Knockouts World Championship by making Trinity tap out to the Grace Driver. Grace and Trinity hugged and showed respect to each other after the match, as the fans gave them a standing ovation.
The opening match of the main card was a Knockouts Ultimate X match, where six women competed to grab the red X hanging above the ring, and earn a future title shot for the Knockouts World Championship. The match featured Alisha Edwards, Dani Luna, Jody Threat, Tasha Steelz, Xia Brookside, and the debuting Gisele Shaw. The match was a showcase of athleticism, innovation, and risk-taking, as the women used the ropes, ladders, and chairs to reach the X, and to prevent their opponents from doing so. The match ended when Shaw climbed the ladder and unhooked the X, securing her spot as the #1 contender for the Knockouts World Championship.
Other notable matches on the card included Josh Alexander defeating Alex Hammerstone in a hard-hitting and technical match, Chris Sabin retaining the X Division Championship in a triple threat match against El Hijo del Vikingo and Kushida, and ABC (Ace Austin, Brian Cage, and Chris Bey) retaining the TNA World Tag Team Championship in a six-man tag team match against The Rascalz (Dezmond Xavier, Trey Miguel, and Zachary Wentz).
The event also featured the debuts of A. J. Francis, Ash by Elegance and Nic Nemeth, who were previously known as Top Dolla, Dana Brooke and Dolph Ziggler respectively. Francis interfered in the match between Willie Mack and Rohit Raju, and attacked both men, causing a no-contest. Francis then cut a promo, declaring himself as the "Alpha Male" of TNA, and challenging anyone to face him. Elegance and Nemeth appeared on the pre-show, where they announced themselves as the newest additions to the Knockouts and X Division rosters, and expressed their excitement to compete in TNA.
Overall, Hard To Kill was a successful and entertaining event, that showcased the talent and diversity of TNA Wrestling. The event also set up several intriguing storylines and feuds for the future, such as Moose's reign as the TNA World Champion, Grace's first title defense against Shaw, and Francis' arrival as a dominant force. The event also marked the end of an era, as Trinity bid farewell to TNA and the fans, after a stellar career that spanned over two decades. Hard To Kill was a fitting name for the event, as it proved that TNA Wrestling is indeed hard to kill, and is ready to take on the wrestling world once again.
I hope you liked my review. π
