Wow TNA is starting it off hot with an Ultimate X match!

Zema Ion vs. Chris Sabin vs. Austin Aries (X Division champion) in an Ultimate X match.

 

This is Sabin’s 15th Ultimate X match?!  That is crazy.  Its not even an overused match.  The match probably would have been better if Sabin hadn’t injured himself.  That does limit what spots and stories can be told in the match.  Its a quick Ultimate X match as well.  Which makes sense, as the point is to put over Austin Aries in the next segment.

Austin wins the match and wants to be put in the main event spotlight.  Hulk Hogan comes out and agrees to give Aries a shot at the World title at the X-Division focused PPV, Destination X, on one condition.  Aries will have to give up the X title.  Its a very intriguing story that will lead into next week.  The title is important, but if you’re not wrestling in hopes of one day being the world champion then what the hell are you doing?  Should be a great lead up to the next PPV.

Hernandez vs. Devon (TV title).

I understand getting the TV title over but Hernandez needs to get over too.  He just came back, and in great shape, then loses his second match upon return.  I would have liked to seen Hernandez given more, and maybe build him up to that world title level he was so close to attaining not that long ago.

AJ Styles and Dixie Carter debate what to do next.  This is being pushed as TNA’s big soap opera angle and I hope it works out for them. But honestly, how could it?  In the end the fans are being asked to support two adulterers.  For no good reason either.  If either of their partners were known to be horrible people, then maybe we could get behind this.  I’m hoping some twist is coming to give the fans a reason to care and/or support AJ and Dixie.

Bound for Glory Series opener is a Gauntlet match.  The match includes AJ, Jeff Hardy, RVD, Magnus, Bully Ray, Kurt Angle, the Pope, Abyss (kind of), Robbie E, Daniels, Samoa Joe, and James Storm.  Storm eliminates Joe last.  Not a whole lot to move anything forward.  AJ and Angle have a brief altercation, but later in the night it only leads to Angle telling AJ to get his head back in the game and that folds into the larger AJ and Dixie story.  Pope is back, and we’ll see if this is a good run for him or not.  Apparently he’s been working on the new Batman movie.  Had not heard about that.  Abyss comes out from under the ring and tosses out Ray.  That’s about it for any progression within the Gauntlet.

Bully Ray wants Joseph Park to find his brother.  Still a great story but this segment was too brief to mean anything.

Miss Tessmacher (KO champ) vs. Madison Rayne.

Quick match just to get over Tess as the new champion.  Not bad, not great either.

Brooke Hogan tells Gail Kim that Brooke is in charge of matches and Gail will get her rematch whenever Brooke sees fit.  The heel in charge works better when its an actual heel.  Its not as compelling to see a face boss give shit to a heel wrestler.

Mr Anderson vs. Bobby Roode (TNA World champion).

Meh match.  Roode is still great but Anderson was just average.  Its time for Anderson to step up or move aside.  He’s still great on the mic, but as a wrestler I think he’s shown us all that he had to offer.

AJ and Dixie talk some more.  I might already be tired of this angle.  Hopefully next week brings something interesting to spice this story up.

Sting comes out to thank TNA and the fans for naming him to the TNA Hall of Fame.  Then three masked men attack him.  Well that has me excited for next week.  Its either three returning, new, or heel turned faces in TNA.  Either way could lead to a great story.

Two good angles going on in TNA and nothing that is awful.  The AJ and Dixie thing could go either way, but for now I’m remaining positive.