Top-5 All-Time Mark Out Moments in TNA History?

[It's Damn Real!]

I'm sure this has been done before, but it's been a while since I remember seeing a thread like this in the no-spam section for TNA, so one more go-around shouldn't hurt any.

Though you don't need to actually put them in order of importance, list your Top-5 All-Time TNA Mark Out Moments and the reasons why here. Was it a debut? A championship changing hands? Blown spot? Amazing promo cut on live Pay-Per-View? Whatever it is, for whatever the reason — share with us here.

My own lists goes as follows:

5. Kurt Angle is Coming to TNA Vignette:

Not only did this incredible vignette (amazingly shot, by the way) air at the conclusion of No Surrender 2006, surprising the wrestling world, but the entire thing apparently also caught then color commentator Don West off guard, because when the footage stopped airing, live on Pay-Per-View mind you, his response was an unedited and gut-bustingly hilarious "Holy SHIT!"

This is also where It's Damn Real! was born.

Spoiler

[YOUTUBE]lqIB4CWDkiM[/YOUTUBE]

4. Kurt Angle's Moonsault Off the Top of the Cage at Lockdown 2010:

This match was far and away the best match Ken Anderson ever put on in TNA to date, and the entire build of that story combined with the work put into the match up to the point Kurt began to climb to the top of that cage to hit that moonsault made the entire thing absolutely epic. To boot, when you have X Division/spot guys doing these types of things it's still impressive, but not nearly as impressive as when a guy like Kurt Angle pulls it out. Angle is just not known for this type of spot, so when it happens it's all the more amazing.

Spoiler

[YOUTUBE]sY3L3cuNROY[/YOUTUBE]

3. Raven Debuts in TNA

Having grown up a total "WCW guy" in the 90's, seeing Raven, who was probably my second or third favorite star in the company behind Steiner and Sting debut in TNA and steal the NWA World Heavyweight Championship from Jarrett was incredible. The whole landscape of the company changed in a single night and Raven ended up being at the forefront of it for months and months following, also having multiple memorable matches and moments like getting scalped by James Mitchell and winning the title at Slammiversary 2005.

Spoiler

[YOUTUBE]8a5E1mo7KAo[/YOUTUBE]

2. AJ Styles Becomes the First Ever X Division Champion

Such an awesome moment. Styles was coming up at the time as the budding young star in NWA/TNA and put on a great match with Psicosis, Low-Ki and Jerry Lynn. The Spinal Tap he hits on Lynn to win the title was quite impressive, but just the idea that AJ won the title before all others and was presented the belt by (guest referee) Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat just made the whole thing so much more memorable.

Spoiler

[YOUTUBE]4z8M-i8bjKw[/YOUTUBE]

1. Hulk Hogan Has Arrived in TNA:

Yup. Hogan in the #1 spot. You read right.

It's easy to look back on Hogan now and think to yourself that he's failed at this and failed at that and that he's an egotistical, self-aggrandizing this and that and that you wish he'd just leave already. We read posts like that daily, but think back to the major hype behind the company when Hogan signed. Think back to the build up to his debut. Think back to the reaction in the iMPACT! Zone when Hogan's name was announced. Think back to the reaction when he walked through the tunnel. That's what makes this the #1 moment on my list.

Hogan, age be damned, was (and is) still the most infamous name in the industry, and the fact he was taking it to TNA was an indicator of just how far the company had grown from it's roots in the Asylum/Tennessee.

Spoiler

[YOUTUBE]fOUkMNfdxFQ[/YOUTUBE]

Those are mine. What are yours?

Please remember, you must include a reason why for each of your listings for your post not to be considered spam, so please do not just line-list your choices and click submit.

 

[DirtyJosé]

5: ODB pulls up Tara's tights, we get view of crack.

This is live! This is wrestling! This is...the only reason we tolerate women's wrestling on any brand in the first place. Woo hoo, famous butt crack!

4: Jarrett gets jumped in a bathroom.

Jarrett, at the precise moment he responds "Yo", is at the most human and the most sympathetic I could ever remember him being through his entire career before and after this segment. Well done.

3: Bischoff opens Impact playing a guitar.

C'mon, who knew he could play? Guitars and wrestling go together like peanut butter and cat shit. Can't be afraid of trying new things in the middle of a losing war, so props.

2: Ken Anderson arrives!

Forget Hogan and Bischoff. Forget Hardy 1 and Hardy 2. I was already a big fan of Anderson, so getting the chance to see him on the screen again made me ecstatic. Winner winner, chicken dinner babay.

1: Jeff Hardy shows up in no condition to perform, Sting jobs him out

This was hands down the coolest thing I'd ever seen in TNA history. The way Hardy manages to keep his wits about him long enough to do the J.O.B., the way he played up the crowd, and the way the then top face of the company acknowledges the crowd's chat of "This is Bullshit" and agrees with it on camera. This IS WRESTLING!

 

[dcarson108]

5) Sting's First Return (Destination X 2006 I believe)

I always liked Sting in WCW and he had been out of the limelight for 5 years. While we all knew it was coming, when the lights when out at the end of the show, we all knew what was up.

4) Bound for Glory 2005

This PPV was just incredible. From the 4 way pre show, Jushin Liger, Ulitmate X, Monster's Ball, Daniels/Styles, to Rhino's incredible finish. The main attractions were excellent to go along with a solid under card. Any wrestling fan should check this show out.

3) Raven wins the NWA championship.

I always felt Raven was one of the most underrated wrestlers from a character and in-ring prespective. He could have been huge in WCW and WWE (hell, I'd still pay to see him in IW or WWE) but he never got the chance to main event. Seeing a company put their main title on him was great. While his feud with Larry Z was good, it was sadly downhill for Raven's career from here.

2) Christian's TNA Debut

I was a huge Christian fan and we he left WWE, I was hoping he would end up in TNA. Much like Sting, his debut wasn't super shocking, but it was fantastic to know he actually made the jump. Not to mention his awesome promo that night.

1) Kurt Angle's TNA Debut

We all thought it was too good to be true. TNA promised something huge and they delivered. While Angle hasn't brought TNA to the next level, it certainly isn't his fault. If anything, he's keeping the company around.

Had I been watching TNA during its early days, Raven's debut would certainly be up there.

 

[The Dragon Saga]

5. AJ Styles Claims TNA World Championship
No Surrender 2009, AJ Styles defeated Matt Morgan, Sting, Hernandez and Kurt Angle to gain the TNA World Heavyweight Championship for the first time. I remember watching it and actually jumping out of my seat, he'd not won the belt since its incarnation and when you take into question how big hes been in the companies history it was a bit over-due but made for a great moment and followed a pretty cool celebration.

4. AJ Styles vs. Samoa Joe vs. Christopher Daniels
Still remember watching Unbreakable 2005. My jaw was dropped and I had my eyes inches from the television screen, I could hear the dust at the side of the speakers disintigrate as Daniels hit the BME. Samoa Joe flung both men around like they were nothing and AJ Styles hit the Spiral Tap for the win, but Jesus Christ, it was that moment when TNA offically arrived. It was a great match and I marked out at the very end, even clapped in-front of the television.


3. Kurt Angle Comes To TNA
I'd began to lose an interest in TNA around this time. It was on The Wrestling Channel at the same time as Smackdown was on Sky Sports so I obviously picked Smackdown. One night I remember it going to an advert on Smackdown so I flipped the channels to TWC, and who rose his head upwards to laugh into the camera and simply scream, "YEAH!"? Kurt Angle. It was shocking to me, and it was right around the time I got into wrestling forums. Great moment.

2. Samoa Joe Debuts
Slammiversary 2005. A few days before he was signed and as a Ring of Honor fan I liked it, simply because I knew it was bringing him to a; at that point, bigger stage. The Joe fans echoed in the iMPACT! Zone, everyone waited and waited for a moment as TNA built the anticipation as Sonjay Dutt waited and then his music hit and the place errupted! Joe was the biggest commodity the independant circuit had at this point, he was huge, and to see him get that reaction was awesome. And then he decimated Sonjay - old Joe style.

1. Christian Cage

Spoiler

[YOUTUBE]8P-tAtMZHAs[/YOUTUBE]

When Christian left WWE I thought they were shitting me. Right before his release he was being built-and-built, and then he left! When TNA began hyping this "surprise" I thought it could be him and when he actually debuted, in the fashion which he debuted in, it was great! The whole thing where they showed his feet as he walked along the corridor, before the countdown began, lighting hit, the screen said, "Christian Cage". The fans went crazy; it showed how much people appreciated Christian. He was one of my favorite wrestlers since the DDP angle and one of my favorite WM matches is Christian vs. Jericho. So to see him come to TNA and from the start be handed such an important, main event role. Dude deserved it, and I loved it.

 

[fenfool]

Honorable mention: Jarrett decks Hogan during a press conference prior to Hogan bailing on TNA the first time.

5. Styles vs. Joe vs. Daniels - three guys who would never get a fair shake in WWE main eventing, this was an X division lover's fantasy.

4. Kong vs. Kim - a women's match that mattered, with build, work, emotion...this could have main evented, and there aren't many women's matches you can say that about.

3. Joe vs. Angle - a dream match, newcomer/legend Angle vs. BMOC Joe...just having them in the ring was awesome.

2. Elix Skipper's cage walk - insane move, he basically dives off a 15-foot cage after walking a length of it to take down AMW & Daniels stacked up...this was just nuts.

1. Kurt Angle announcement - came moments after the announcement of Impact! in prime time, which was the swerved announcement...TNA seriously overdoes swerves, but this was exactly right. The reaction of the crowd was amazing.

 

[jtolliver23]

Ok, here's my 5:

5-Gail Kim vs Awesome Kong in a street fight on Impact: This match was incredible, even more so because it showed what women's wrestling could be if given the chance. This was also Gail Kim's last match before going back to WWE.

4-AJ Styles vs Christopher Daniels vs Ron "The Truth" Killings vs Elix Skipper Ultimate X-This match was amazing. First just the concept of starting as a tag match, then whoever got pinned was eliminated and made into a triple threat, then once somebody got pinned the final two competed in the Ultimate X. Very innovative. But the two best spots that just made me go Holy Shit! Are Christopher Daniels doing a moonsault off the cables onto AJ and Elix. Then AJ holding the cables and swinging and flipping forward and landing on the other two. Awesome!

3-James Mitchell tries to set Sting on fire-This was during the Sting/Abyss fued, Sting chased Abyss outside and James Mitchell was waiting and "set" Sting's face on fire. That had me in front of the tv, cursing James Mitchell, but made for interesting tv.

2-Kurt Angle arrives and confronts Samoa Joe. Seriously, who was not standing up in their house when Kurt headbutted Joe? I was up and excited ready for that fight to happen right then and there. And the matches that came from it did not disappoint.

1-Sting vs Jeff Hardy Victory Road 2010-I know that this was a horrible thing for the company, I know that. But I am not a fan of Jeff Hardy, so seeing Sting squash him the way that he did, was the best damn thing in the world for me. I understand that Sting had to because of Jeff's state of mind and what not, but it was damn entertaining to me. I was laughing so hard and yelling "that's what you get fucking stoner!" I sometimes derive pleasure out of other people's misery...who doesn't though?

 

[BobbyDigital]

top 5 TNA moments, hmmm....

5. Angle headbutting Joe. I was never a big fan of Joe's and the fact that he was Angle's first target was cool.

4. The formation of the Main Event Mafia. All world champs at one point, original and stone cold pimpin.

3. I don't know why but Shark Boy coming out of his coma as Stone Cold Steve Austin. All those segments were hilarious.

2. Christian Cage debuts. Finally, he was going to get the respect he deserves.

1. Christian Cage defeats Jeff Jarrett for the World Title. I should've stopped watching wrestling altogether after this because it would have been a great ending to my fandom but I stuck around. Wrestling is like crack!!!!

 

[i'm a cm punk girl]

kurt angle's debut him and joe's feud was great
The MCMG vs Beer Money best of 5 was such a great series
bound for glory 2007 i was there live a great ppv
aj styles vs abyss lockdown 2005 maybe my favorite tna match
velvey sky's entrance(hottest woman in wrestling)

 

[He's Phenomenal]

5) Ric Flair Debut - Pure shock is why this one is here. When TNA went live (early hours in the morning here) I was watching and didn't expect to see Ric Flair! But as soon as he strolled in I knew he was there for AJ. I was never a big Flair fan (have become one) it was just the surprise of seeing him that made me mark out.

4) AJ Styles vs. Sting at BFG 11 - I'd only been watching TNA for a year at this point but was a huge AJ Styles fan. After a great series with Matt Morgan, with AJ on the losing end, he was talking about not being good enough and was thinking about leaving. But Sting persuaded him to come back, they had a nice story going, and AJ went on to the win World Title at Bound For Glory. Great moment.

3) Hulk Hogan Signing - I can see why this is number 1 in the OP, it's definately the biggest moment in TNA historys, but it's numer 3 for me personally. If we're talking prolonged excitement, then there's no doubt this would be number 1. Hogan's debut had me excited for months. But there's just guys I'm a bigger mark for.

2) The Outsiders at Lockdown - Leading up to Lockdown Scott Hall was looking to be in pretty terrible shape and I didn't think we'd really see the Outsiders (Hall would be wearing a track suit). So when Hall and Nash stepped out in full Outsider attire, and Hall looked pretty decent, I marked big time.

1) Rob Van Dam Debut - Van Dam is probably my favourite wrestler of all time so seeing him debut in TNA is always going to be number 1 in a list like this. I'm not sure anything TNA do in the future could top that.

 

[GrandSword]

Grand Sword top 5 mark out moments in no particluar order.

Sting defeats Kurt Angle at Bound For Glory

Sting and Angle are two of my all tiem favourites. When they faced off I thought, this was a good opportunity for Sting to put over Angle and cement him as the top guy regardless of what company he worked for. Also Kurt was younger and Sting could be retiring at any moment. But of course it was TNA's wrestlemania and the face always should go over.. I forgot that and marked out like a little kid when the Icon and ultimate good guy defeated the technically brilliant best in the world bad guy Angle. even with Kevin Nash's inetrference... Sting took out both of them and won the title!

Elix Skipper walks the cage

Skipper did something absolutley mind blowingly dangerous and pulled it off to perfection as did the AMW member he hit it on! Both men crashed from ten feet in the air to the mat in a spot that defies logic. I hope Skipper got a big fat bonus for that one!

Kurt confronts Joe

kurt brand new to TNA and fresh of defeating the Undertaker clean went to face to face with the undefeated Samoa Joe. Wow the electricity. Joe had stolen the TNA belt, Angle was here to take on the best and went straight after Joe. Headbutt!!! Joe's busted open. Enzaguri!!! Angle is down Pull apart brawl!! Holy shit the new era of TNA just turned up to eleven!!!

Unbreakable 3-Way

About 15 minutes into this match my brain realised that I am watching one of the greatest matches I have ever seen. I then relaised that I was watching history unveil in front of me as this will be one of those matches that everyone talks about for years to come. And I just stareted marking out at just about every move. It was a brilliant match and I think it is a true testament to how good it was that the winner didn't matter. Either of the three men could have won and it wouldn't have any difference to how good it truly was. Over the thousands of wrestling matches performed over the years not many can claim to that...

AJ Styles gets turned inside out in Ultimate X

Ultimate X is a match that TNA came up with that is a big hit. Something that WWE probably wishes it had. It is high flying very exciting and death defying. And then there is Chris Sabin's drop kick to AJ Styles while he is trying to win the match. Styles gets turned inside out about ten feet in the air and crashes and burns on the mat in a spectacular spot that ahs to be seen to be believed!

 

[trinerigelado]

1. The first time I saw the canadian Destroyer. The best finisher at the time.
2. Velvet Sky's ass. It's Velvet Sky's ass.
3. Hector Garza getting busted by border patrol. Why do you think luchadors get so many US bookings? Because promoters think El Dandy would be a big star in the US. Good to remember that wrestling is a dirty business.
4. Jeff hardy being fucked up. Funny shit.
5. The fact that people in TNA think paying guys like Flair, Sting, Hogan, and Angle big money to draw what homegrown guys show that they can is good business.

 

[sdaniel1977]

If you mean a worker mark you have to say Jay Lethal. I mean if you close your eyes you see the late "Macho Man" Randy Savage when you hear his voice, and then when you open them you see a perfect copy of the ring movements. If imitation truly is the sincerest form of flattery then we all know who Lethal watched coming up. As far as from a fan view, I'd have to say Sting and Flair. As a guy who grew up around Charlotte I remember the NWA days when you'd see these guys just out and about in the Charlotte area, not holed up like celebs, but among the regular folks. Wrestlers weren't celebrities then, they were a part of the area they lived in. The 80's in the minds of a lot of folks were the greatest time in wrestling and those 2 guys were as good as it got.

 

[CM11]

Ok top 5 moments in TNA, quite simply before the hogan era because nothing has changed dramatically since he came, if anything hes drainin TNA.
Anyway
5. Ken Anderson winning his first world title

 

[CM11]

Ok top 5 moments in TNA, quite simply before the hogan era because nothing has changed dramatically since he came, if anything hes drainin TNA.
However big props for my first point of 5
5. Ken Anderson winning his first world title
Bascially I started respecting this guy during his time in WWE when he had a great fued with Undertaker, then went on to beat former world champs. Think Kane Batista Beniot were all ones he beat. Remember loving his Mic work and in ring ability, he knew how to entertain. He won his first world title and had good build in TNA and I thought finally hes made it as biggest draw!!! Wish they will keep him around the title scene. I thought finally some1 different gets the title rather than the regular title holders. i.e angle sting etc and he was a brand new world champion. TNA was making the right move here. Again messesit up!!

4. Lashley signs with TNAith
MEM storyline was fantastic, all top guys however like alot people noticed the people they had taken on mafia werent strong enough!!! Lashley was!! plus it was smart move to get him signed for publicity as he was a professional fighter and was making big moves in MMA business aswell!!!

3. Christian Cage Debuts
Finally getting the acknowledged as the true superstar he is!!! Since his time in TNA held more fueds than i can remember that were unbelievable!!! Put joe and styles over as well as tryin to push Tomko and help others out. At one point the true vocal point of everything TNA was about!!! Could do with him now!! Plus christian cage is much cooler name!!

2. Angle Debuts
The best as what he does. Brought real stardom to TNA. Anything I can say has been said so il leave it at that!! Tna also went 2 hour show not long after he came!!

1. Sting
Easy number 1. Heres why. Sting comes to TNA instead of big money WWE. That tells the story about sting. Easy to go with the money but this showed how much he was serious he didn trust WWE. Tells alot bout Sting. When Sting comes TNA gets alot more publicity aroung the wrestling community. Simple as that!! More people watch the show. Spike picked the show up. Ratings begin. Any1 who says this isnt the biggest thing to happen to TNA are wrong simple because Sting shook TNA and made alot of improvements by himself. Ratings, viewers TV time on a major network!!! He changed TNA bigtime something Hogan has not!!
Thank you Sting!!!

 

[daddyJ_t]

so i dont watch alot of tna, but to the op i have to say a couple things. hogan is a ****e so it shouldnt be an omg moment that he made his way to tna. and as for angles top of the cage moonsault, dude have u ever watched any wwe at all? hes done it before when he faced a believe benoit and i believe edge also. now i could rip apart a few of peoples other moments but i will try to come up with my own. id probably have to say rick flair showing up. now that really surprised me. other then that the closest thing i can think of is when they tried to rip off the montial screwjob and even that was a omg of disgust, not surprise

 

[Dowdsy McDowds]

In no real order -

Petey Williams Canadian Destroyer - First time I saw this I had no idea what the fuck happened or how he did it. Went on YouTube and watched a video of it over and over again. Absolutely amazing.

Daniels and AJ beat LAX for tag belts in Ultimate X - Can't remember the PPV but this was maybe 6 months or so after I started watching TNA and I was psyched that my 2 favourites beat a team who were very impressive at the time.

Sting's first match - Hearing the crowd yell "YOU'VE STILL GOT IT" gave me chills.

Christian's debut - Wasn't a huge fan of his in WWE before the switch but was pretty good in TNA.

Lethal's Flair impersonation - Hilarious and led to a good storyline for a wee while then sadly fizzled out.

 

[flyawaymsg]

I've only marked out twice for TNA...The first time was the very first show in huntsville with scott hall, ken shamrock, and the first ever crowning of the x division champion aj styles..The second time was the first head to head show with Raw with Bischoff, Hogan, Hall and Nash standing in the middle of the ring.

 

[Skairipa Matrix]

hmm this is a tough one...

5. Jeff Hardy returns to TNA in 2010 at the time i was still 1 of jeffs biggest fans and i didnt think he was gonna go there i thought he was just taking time off from wrestling then his music hit and i marked out because i was pumped to see him in TNA again! plus the fact Homicide couldnt get out of the steel aslyum was funny shit!

4. Fortune beats the shit out of EV2 and Abyss takes out RVD as a fan i loved this moment i mean all the ECW guys were in the ring just celebrating Hardcore Justice and i was thinking to myself "man this is a lame way to end iMPACT!" then all of sudden the lights went out and everybody was thinking Sandman was coming but then the lights come back on and Fortune is beating the hell out of all the ECW originals all over ringside and in the ring leaving most of them bloody messes and then abyss runs out and fights with RVD to the back and BAM! we see RVD is laid out and covered in blood backstage i was shocked i didnt see this coming at all and it lead to a great fued between Fortune and EV2!

3. AJ Styles vs Christopher Daniels vs Samoa Joe i cant rember off the top of my head which ppv this amazing match is from but it was just a great match and by the end it didnt matter who won because it was that good of a match! samoa joe's best match ever right here and AJ and daniels put on a show as well! 1 of my favorite matches of all-time!

2. Abyss attacks Christian Cage in his house this wasnt persay a mark out moment but it was 1 of my favorite moments in TNA ever! abyss had been wanting a title shot and then alex shelley is filming christian cage at his house and just when it looks like christian was gonna beat down shelley BAM! abyss attacks! they brawled through his house (yes his real house) and after they brawled through the house abyss attempts to "drown" christian cage in his own pool it was just a really cool moment for me

1. Christian Cage debuts! BEST MOMENT IN TNA HISTORY! they were promoting it as a big name jumping ship to tna and then the 10 second countdown begins and its Christian Cage! it was just an amazing moment and i think without him jumping ship to TNA we would have never seen the big names like Kurt Angle show up there so he might have saved the company by jumping ship to there!