All eyes were set on this TNA pay-per-view with the anticipation of a WWE Superstar answering Jordynne Grace’s open challenge, and a potential Jeff Hardy return to TNA. In between this were anticipated matches on a Friday night in Chicago, so let’s review Against All Odds.
Countdown:
Jonathan Gresham vs Sami Callihan: Well, this match was interesting. Callihan brought the action to Gresham before the bell sounded, but Gresham quickly took advantage. At the end of the match when Gresham was looking to use his mist. Kushida appeared and stole the mist from Gresham’s mouth. He took a vile and put the mist in the vile, Callihan took advantage and got the win. Typical TNA?
Winner: Sami Callihan
Knockouts World Tag Team Championships: Alisha Edwards and Masha Slamovich vs The Hex (Mari Belle and Allysin Kay): This match was better than I expected. I do not know how The Hex have not landed an extensive role with ROH as they would fit perfectly on that roster. Edwards and Slamovich are still finding their footing, but they were able to get their job done in their first defense as champions.
Winners: “And Still” Alisha Edwards and Masha Slamovich
Main Card:
Santana and Steve Maclin vs The Rascalz (Trey Miguel and Zachary Wentz): What a great opener. I loved how the commentary kept playing up the fact that Maclin and Santana were only doing this to be one-and-done. The Rascalz had great chemistry with the unlikely duo as this was a fun 15-minute match. Maclin and Santana hugged to celebrate their big win!
Winners: Santana and Steve Maclin
Rich Swann vs PCO: I hate the Swann and AJ Francis dynamic. Before the match, Francis trashed Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls before PCO came out to start the match. This match was not that great and I would have had Steph De Lander come out in the match to spice things up. However, she came out after the match was over to give her answer to PCO. She says that she will go on a date with him as the two celebrate. That should be interesting.
Winner: PCO
TNA World Tag Team Championships: The System (Eddie Edwards and Brian Myers) vs Nic and Ryan Nemeth: Within minutes of this match starting, Dirty Dango came out to help Alisha Edwards get ejected at ringside to make sure she did not help The System win this matchup. Moose came out shortly after to help encourage his fellow teammates to retain their tag team championships. As the Nemeth brothers were going to win Moose pulled the referee out of the ring as he yelled at Moose and Dango. Nic Nemeth took out Moose as Dango took out Ryan. The System took advantage and got the win. All the members of The System hugged Dango to celebrate their win except for Mosse who just looked on and smiled.
Winners: The System (Eddie Edwards and Brian Myers)
Joe Hendry vs Frankie Kazarian: Before the match, Hendry jokes about the speculation about him showing up at Clash at the Castle tomorrow, but he decided to go to Chicago and appear in TNA. He says that he is facing a TNA legend who made fun of him for sticking around for too long and even compared him to the dad from Spy Kids. The thing that confused me was that TNA said Ace Steel was going to be in Hendry’s corner and he did not come out until after the match was over. Kazarian hit Hendry with a loaded fist to cheat and win this one. Steel hit Kazarian to teach him a lesson Kazarian looked on shocked.
Winner: Frankie Kazarian
X Division Championship: Mustafa Ali vs Trent Seven: Before the match started Seven said that he had unseen footage from Ali’s interview that aired the night before on Impact. Ali said that the X-Division championship meant nothing to him and he said the title was a piece of garbage. Ali was angry about this and took action against Seven right away. It is also worth noting that Ali got a huge hometown reaction throughout the entire match, one of the loudest of the night. Between all of the low blows and thumbs to the eyes, this was anything, but a clean match. However, this is where in my opinion the pay-per-view picked up. Ali won with a sharpshooter as that looked like to be a shot towards Mike Bailey who has been eyeing Ali and the X-Division Championship.
Winner: “And Still” Mustafa Ali
Josh Alexander and Eric Young vs ABC (Chris Bey and Ace Austin): This match in my opinion was a little too long. Young and Alexander having the miscommunication to help give ABC the win is great storytelling. This will probably lead to them facing each other in Canada at Slammaversery, can you truly ask for anything better?
Winners: ABC (Chris Bey and Ace Austin)
TNA Knockouts World Heavyweight Championship: Jordynne Grace vs Tatum Paxley: This match ruled. Paxley fits so well in the TNA Knockouts division I would not mind her making more appearances going forward on the brand. I was a little disappointed that she did not get a big reaction because of the interactions she had with Grace leading to the show. Fun match though great use of the Forbidden Door!
Winner: “And Still” Jordynne Grace
Broken Rules TNA World Championship: Moose vs Matt Hardy: All that mattered about this match was what happened at the end. This match was weapons galore. Football helmets, ladders, chairs and more! The Nemeths cleaned out the System early on in the match to means Alisha was the only System member out there. This led to Reby Hardy coming out to attempt to Hardy win, but it did not work to her advantage as Matt speared her into a table. This led Mosse to take advantage and get the win. After the System beat down Matt and Reby the Nemeths and Hendry came out to make the save. The System was still in control as Jeff Hardy made his return! He and the rest of the babyfaces beat off the System as they all celebrated to end of the pay-per-view. Lethal Lockdown incoming?
Winner: “And Still” Moose
Overall: Besides the big surprises at the end, this show was not good. This was all generic TNA booking and the matches were not as good as the show anticipated. It was great to see Paxley and Jeff so hopefully, TNA can build a better show for their big anniversary show!
