As we close the door on 2024, it’s time once again to look back at what has been a unpredictable year in professional wrestling, which is really saying something.

While many websites and wrestling YouTubers have already made their lists on the best wrestlers of the year, it’s time for us here at Lace ‘Em Up to do the same, but in this case countdown the best wrestlers from TNA Wrestling.

Sure many lists and videos talking about the best wrestlers of 2024 will undoubtably be filled with WWE, AEW, and NJPW wrestlers, we decided to give some much needed spotlight to the men and women in TNA who did some of their best work in 2024.

Honorable Mentions

Leon Slater

Hammerstone

Matt and Jeff Hardy

Alex Shelley

Chris Sabin

Mike Santana

#10. Frankie Kazarian

After turning his back on Eric Young following a tag team match and subsequently beating him in a high profile match at the Rebellion pay-per-view, Frankie Kazarian would go on to do some of his best character work since his days as one half of the Bad Influence with Christopher Daniels.

Refering to himself as “The King of TNA” and constantly reminding ring announcer Jade Chung to mention it before his matches, Kazarian adapted a self-entitled persona which saw him belittle his opponents and even Tom Hannifan during Frankie’s numerous stints on commentary.

Inside the ring, Kazarian continued to put on impressive matches with the likes of Eric Young, Nic Nemeth and Joe Hendry before going on to win the 2024 Call Your Shot Gauntlet at Bound For Glory thus giving him a guaranteed title shot whenever he wants—All hail, the self proclaimed king.

#9. Masha Slamovich

Whilst 2024 was a difficult year for TNA’s women’s division, there were a few diamonds in the rough, case in point: Masha Slamovich.

Starting off the year as Knockouts Tag Team Champions with Killer Kelly, the duo known as MK Ultra would end up losing the belts to Decay before regaining them a month later and then losing them the next month to Spitfire before Kelly disappeared to deal with outside ventures.

In the meantime, Masha would form an alliance with Alisha Edwards as the two went on to win the Knockouts Tag Titles before calling themselves ‘The Malisha’. Holding the titles for 133 days (the longest reign for those belts this year), the two would split after losing the belts thus kick starting a brief rivalry as Masha turned babyface and even started to speak english for the first time on TNA programming.

Eventually, Masha would set her sights on Jordynne Grace and the Knockouts World Championship leading to their match at Bound For Glory which saw Slamovich emerge as the new champion. While her title defenses have been small (as of the timing of this article), There is no doubt that Masha has what it takes to be the next leading face of the Knockouts Division in 2025.

#8. Nic Nemeth

After attempts to sign CM Punk, Will Ospreay, Kamille and Mercedes Moné prove to be fruitless, TNA turned their attention to another big time star who was being built up as TNA’s biggest free agent since Kurt Angle or Christian Cage.

That free agent was Dolph Ziggler aka Nic Nemeth, who made his appearance known at the very end of this year’s Hard To Kill pay-per-view when he attacked Moose following the main event and signifying that he was now a part of TNA Wrestling.

In addition to working dates in New Japan Pro Wrestling, the former Intercontinental Champion would have some incredible bouts with Steve Maclin, Alex Shelley and Frankie Kazarian before winning the TNA World Title at Slammiversary and defending against Moose, Joe Hendry and Josh Alexander on different occasions.

It’s unclear on Nemeth’s contract status with the company going into 2025, but if nothing else his time in TNA has certainly been eventful.

#7. Josh Alexander

Speaking of Josh Alexander, ‘The Walking Weapon’ has had quite the year despite not winning a title as the first few months of 2024 have seen Josh battle Hammerstone on three different shows, prevailed in open challenge matches issued on TV, not to mention defeating Will Ospreay in a match and getting a 5.5 star rating which makes it the highest rated match by Dave Meltzer in company history.

Things took a turn for Alexander when he low blowed and pinned Joe Hendry during a six person elimination match for the world title at Slammiversary, making Josh a bad guy for the first time in years.

Although his momentum was stifled losing two major bouts with Nic Nemeth and Joe Hendry in the span of a few weeks, Alexander would recover greatly by taking Judas Icarus and Travis Williams under his wing to form The Northern Armory and making Steve Maclin pass out during a match at Bound For Glory.

Much like Nic Nemeth, it’s unclear what the future holds for Josh Alexander and TNA in 2025, although Alexander has expressed interest in sticking with the promotion-But will have to wait and see what comes next.

#6. Mustafa Ali

Following his 2023 release from the WWE and working in the independent scene, Ali would soon show up in TNA with his focus set on capturing the X Division Championship from Chris Sabin in the main event of No Surrender which he managed to achieve.

Ali (who was playing a politician inspired gimmick at the time) used his high flying moveset and intelligence to dominate and outsmart the competition with the former Cruiserweight Champion going on an undefeated streak for 148 days before losing the belt at Slammiversary and then failing to beat Nic Nemeth for the World Title which would end up being his last match with the company.

Although his run lasted around six months, Ali’s time in TNA was much needed not only to benefit his career, but also benefitted TNA as he would be the first X Division Champion since Samoa Joe in 2006 to grace the cover of Pro Wrestling Illustrated adding more publicity to Ali, the belt and the brand as a whole.

#5. Moose

As one of the companies most recognizable stars, Moose has been a consistent and dominating presence in TNA especially in 2024 as he won the TNA World Championship from Alex Shelley in the main event of the company’s first pay-per-view under the TNA banner at Hard To Kill.

the former football star turned wrestler successfully defended the belt against names like Shelley, Eric Young, Nic Nemeth and Matt Hardy before dropping the belt at Slammiversary ending his reign at a respectible 189 days.

In addition to being the world champion for most of the year, Moose alongside fellow wrestlers: Brian Myers, Eddie and Alisha Edwards and eventually JDC, formed a new faction in the company called ‘The System’ which ran rough shot over wrestlers in the locker room and on multiple occasions winning championship gold in the process.

In early November, Moose became the new X Division Champion and has so far done a good job as the new champ, thanks to his raw power and athleticism allowing him to overpower his more smaller opponents…It’ll be interesting to see if this success will continue into the new year.

#4. Mike Bailey

Now a former member of the TNA Wrestling roster and potentially heading to All Elite Wrestling, Mike Bailey has had an exceptional year considering the amount of great matches his had in 2024.

Partnering with Trent Seven as part of ‘Speedball Mountain’, the duo feuded with The Rascalz in the early months before Bailey returned to fight for the X Division Championship, culminating in him winning the belt for a second time but in his home country of Canada at Slammiversary.

While this reign would be short as well as his third and final run with the belt, he more than delivered in matches against Rich Swann, Zachary Wentz, Leon Slater, Vikingo and Moose with the latter actually beating Bailey to become the new champion.

After losing the belt, Bailey was betrayed by Trent Seven at the end of the show which would end up being Speedball’s final appearance before departing the company soon aftewards…capping off eleven months of putting on some of the best matches both on pay-per-view and TV.

#3. Ace Austin and Chris Bey (The ABC)

Before we start, we here at Lace ‘Em Up are wishing a speedy recovery to Chris Bey and hope for the best after his neck injury and hospitalization during the post BFG tapings.

With that all said, the team of Ace Austin and Chris Bey aka The ABC have become one of the best tag teams in modern wrestling and this year saw them have some of the best matches in all of 2024.

From their short but memorable rivalry with the Grizzled Young Vets to battling First Class to their months long feud with The System’s Eddie Edwards and Brian Myers for the Tag Team Titles, Ace and Bey continued to be the standard bearers for TNA’s tag division with the duo having their most high profiled match to date in the main event of BFG 2024.

Although the Hardys emerged victorious at Bound For Glory and a previously mentioned neck injury would sideline one half of the team, the amount of work both Ace Austin and Chris Bey achieved as a duo and as singles competitors this year have more than proven them to be the next big things in pro wrestling.

#2. Joe Hendry

When the year started for Joe Hendry, he feuded with A.J. Francis (aka the former Top Dolla in WWE) leading to a series of matches, segments and musical parodies by Hendry himself and while this did get some attention on the Scottish pro wrestler, it’s what happened one month later that changed everything.

In early May, Hendry released his theme song ‘I believe in Joe Hendry‘ onto the UK Singles Download Charts and Singles Sales Charts reaching number 4 and 6 respectively and combined with his use of social media, plus his appearances both in TNA and NXT helped to make Hendry a global sensation and the most over superstar not signed by WWE or AEW, which is an achievement in of itself.

Outside of this, Hendry also continued to work his way up the ladder in TNA as his bouts with Kazarian, Josh Alexander and Nic Nemeth have elevated him into the main event scene and could be positioned as the company’s next World Champion presumably by early 2025.

In terms of his media presence and ever growing popularity in wrestling Joe Hendry has certainly earned the right to be known as a rising star, however as close as he was to topping this list, there is one more talent that deserves this spot.

#1. Jordynne Grace

A homegrown star and badass in her own right, Jordynne Grace’s rise to the top of TNA’s Knockouts Division has been well documented and 2024 further cemented ‘The Juggernaut’ as one of this generation’s greatest wrestlers.

Following her victory over Trinity/Naomi at Hard To Kill, Jordynne Grace would make history by being the second TNA wrestler to enter the WWE Women’s Royal Rumble as Knockouts World Champion.

From there, Grace went on a rampage as she defeated everyone in her way and even made some surprise appearances in NXT where she interacted with names like Roxanne Perez and Tatum Paxley before defeating the latter at Against All Odds and other NXT stars through a series of open challenges.

While her reign ended at the hands of Masha Slamovich at Bound For Glory, her sixteen title defenses during her 287 day reign currently makes her the third longest reigning champion in company history.

Although it’s most certain that Grace (and husband Johnathan Gresham) will be leaving TNA in January of next year, Grace’s time in the company has made her one of the best success stories TNA has had for some time and it will be a big loss when she’s gone, but looking at the current crop of Knockouts on the roster I think the company will be just fine.

So that’s my list, Who do you think are the best wrestlers of TNA Wrestling in 2024? Let me know in the comment section.

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