TNA Impact! Wrestling Open Fight Night: Roode Becomes Longest TNA Champion

TNA Wrestling's newest concept, Open Fight Night, is one that could catch fire if done effectively. The Thursday, May 24 edition of Impact! Wrestling showed that Open Fight Night has the potential to be a major hit when it goes live all summer starting next week.

Open Fight Night opens with Hulk Hogan in his office with AJ Styles, Kurt Angle, Bully Ray, and Jeff Hardy. All four men are contenders to face Bobby Roode for the TNA Heavyweight Title later on. Styles, Angle, Ray and Hardy try to convince Hogan to pick them to face Roode for the title. Hogan kicks start the show by eliminating Ray.

(A very interesting start to the show. It provided a real life meeting atmosphere, even included the creative script to the show Hogan reads off from and "what is supposed to happen." It was a different look and feel to an opening of a wrestling show.)

After the Open Fight Night opening, Gail Kim and Madison Rayne come out to the ring to call out their opponents, Mr. and Mrs. ODB.

Gail Kim and Madison Rayne vs. ODB and Eric Young

Your winners, ODB and Young. A longer, opening match than we have seen on recent openings. Once again, with Young and ODB featured, this was a entertainment match to laugh at.

Match Rating: 2.5/5

Hulk Hogan is backstage talking to someone on his phone.

Rob Van Dam vs. Gunner

Your winner, Rob Van Dam. A quick matchup that ended this feud with Gunner, as Van Dam scored the victory in revenge.

Match Rating: 3/5

Devon vs. Garett Bischoff for TNA TV Title

No contest match. Robbie E and Rob Terry come to the ring to attack both Devon and Bischoff. Devon and Bischoff fight them off. The match itself was nothing special to watch and it is another win for Devon due to interference.

Match Rating: 2/5

Hogan is backstage in his office and eliminates Jeff Hardy from contention.

Ray comes out to the ring in frustration and takes it out on the fans at the Impact! Zone. Ray looks out to the crowd and calls Joseph Park from the audience to enter the ring. Park reluctantly does so with the fans fully behind him.

Park talks about his brother's disappearance and how Ray matches up to all the facts. He asks the crowd on whether Ray is guilty or not. All agree that Ray is guilty. With anger, Ray knocks Park down and says, "not guilty" before leaving.

(The crowd was making lots of noise on this one. The storyline has developed smoothly and fans at the Impact! Zone were into it. The audience was even chanting "Yes," which Daniel Bryan from the WWE made popular.)

A TNA Gut Check promo airs on Joey Ryan.

Joey Ryan vs. Austin Aries

Your winner, Austin Aries. Not a bad showing for Ryan. Overall, an entertaining match and one of the better ones on this edition.

Match Rating: 3.5/5

Booby Roode vs. AJ Styles for the TNA Heavyweight Title

Your winner and longest reigning TNA Champion, Bobby Roode. An excellent TV main event match. Tons of action on both sides and was glad to see Styles get his chance again in the spotlight. The crowd was also very loud and cheering for Styles. The length of the match was also good.

Match Rating: 4.5/5

Roode celebrates in the ring, as he opens a bottle of champagne and begins to roll around the ring in joy. He invites Hogan to the ring to join him, which he does. Hogan is impressed and respects his run as TNA Champion.

Hogan says he has a guest with him who would like to join. The lights go off and it is the return of Sting. Sting attacks Roode and Hogan makes a blockbuster announcement for next week's live TNA Impact!

Hogan announces that once Impact! Wrestling goes live at 8 p.m. Eastern time next week, there will be a lumberjack match between Sting and Roode.

The show closes with Hogan and Sting in the ring and Roode on the ramp.

Peragine's Take

Impact! Wrestling Overall Rating: 3.5/5

I felt this Open Fight Night showed that if TNA can correctly do this format, it can be a success, especially when it goes live beginning next week for the summer. The show was centered around wrestling and the main event was one of the more exciting ones to watch in recent editions.

Some will point Hogan had too much TV time. He might have, but it did not bother me. He is the anchor of TNA and must be leveraged to smooth out the program.

From a wrestling standpoint, most of the matches were fine and the main event was a standout feature. Also, the return of Sting was good to see, as it appears he will be going back to a more full-time wrestling schedule.

Open Fight Night has the pieces to make it work. It all depends how TNA approaches it. This edition was a safe and fun show to watch. Hopefully, and with an even louder crowd when it goes live, TNA can turn the corner on both the creative side of the show and boost its slow ratings in 2012.