TNA Impact! Wrestling: Austin Aries Becoming the Future Main Event Star

The June 21 edition of "Open Fight Night" on TNA Impact! Wrestling began with a video recap of last week's episode.

Hulk Hogan opens the show by coming to the ring. Hogan first addressed what happened to Sting last week. As Hogan is speaking, the crowd begins to chant his name. Hogan calls out Austin Aries for his answer on whether he will go for the glory or go broke.

Aries, wearing his X Division title, comes forward and tells Hogan he put a great opportunity out there for him. Aries discusses the importance of the X Division title and came up with an idea on how to go about this. Aries says he is willing to relinquish the X Division title to face TNA Champion Bobby Roode if Hogan allows the next X Division title holder to get a shot at the World Title. Hogan accepts his proposal, but Roode suddenly hits the ring in frustration. 

Roode tells Hogan he should be sitting in his office and that Aries' X Division title means nothing. He says Aries made a vital mistake. Aries says since this is Open FIght Night, and the two begin to brawl at ringside. TNA officials run out to break up the fight.

Mr. Anderson then comes out and says he will be the Bound For Glory Series contest. Anderson heads to the ring to call out a wrestler to battle with.

(My Quick Take: Fantastic opening segment. Aries did a wonderful job by truly pointing out the significance of the X-Division and the title he holds. Hogan taking Aries' "Option C" was also a good choice, as the X-Division is again back in the spotlight on the long term. Well done).

Mr. Anderson challenges Christopher Daniels

Your winner, Mr. Anderson. A pretty decent opening match. Anderson continues to improve his ring work since his return. My feeling is Anderson will get a strong run with the Bound For Glory series. 

Match Rating: 3/5

TNA President Dixie Carter and AJ Styles backstage discussing their plans later on the show. 

Brooke Hogan talks with the Knockouts on their issues and why they deserve a shot at title chances. Brooke eliminates Madison Rayne first and will rule out another later.

Robbie E. challenges Kurt Angle

Your winner, Kurt Angle. Very quick match but clean finish. Nothing much to talk about, as Robbie E may be used as a squash wrestler in this series.

Match Rating: 2/5

A Gut Check promo airs.

Magnus comes to the ring and begins to make direct shots at AJ Styles on his scandal with Carter. He then issues the challenge.

Magnus challenges AJ Styles

Your winner, Magnus. Daniels and Kazarian interfere with an envelope. Styles gets distracted and Magnus comes up with the win. While the match lasted, there was some pretty good in ring work. 

Match Rating: 3/5

Taeler Hendrix versus Tara (TNA Cut Check)

Your winner, Tara. Hendrix looked pretty good in this opportunity match. She was with Tara until the end and the crowd was behind her. If accepted next week, Hendrix looks likely to be a nice addition to the Knockouts roster.

Match Rating: 3/5

Bully Ray and Joseph Park backstage

Samoa Joe challenges James Storm

Your winner, James Storm. A solid match with some hard-hitting action. After the match, Joe seemed like he was going to hit Storm with a beer bottle but instead handed him another in a sign of respect. 

Match Rating: 3.5/5

A video package airs on the Styles and Carter scandal. Afterwards, Styles agrees with Carter to get the secret out tonight.

Bully Ray challenges The Pope D'Angelo Dinero

Your winner, The Pope. Abyss suddenly appears during the match and allows The Pope to score the victory. A decent match, as The Pope is making his way back to wrestling more.

Match Rating: 3/5

Hulk Hogan talks to Jeff Hardy and Rob Van Dam backstage. 

Brooke Hogan makes her decision and gives Mickie James her opportunity to face Miss Tessmacher.

Mickie James versus Miss Tessmacher for the TNA Knockouts Title

Your winner, Miss Tessmacher. Lots of submission holds in the beginning but turned into some pretty decent Knockouts division action. It was a good, clean finish for Miss Tessmacher.

Match Rating: 3.5/5

Jeff Hardy versus Rob Van Dam

Your winner, Jeff Hardy. A quicker main event than expected, but some very good wrestling from Hardy and RVD. 

Match Rating: 3/5

Styles and Carter walk out, hand in hand, to the ring. Carter grabs the microphone and begins to speak first. Styles puts down Carter's microphone and says they do not need to do this. A woman comes down the entrance ramp and enters the ring. She begins to speak highly of both Carter and Styles and speaks the truth on what is really going on.

She talks about being a drug addict and said both Carter and Styles kept her secret. She continues to speak on Daniels and Kazarian, who got in their way. Daniels and Kazarian are shown backstage panicking. Daniels and Kazarian come out but Styles takes care of business in the ring as Impact! Wrestling closes.

Overall Impact! Wrestling Rating: 3.5/5

My Final Take:

TNA had to prove they could follow up possibly their best edition of Impact! in years, and I believe they pulled this off. I would not call it a great episode,"but overall, a very solid one.

The storyline between AJ Styles and Dixie Carter looks like it will come to a close, but I am sure TNA creative has more coming. It has taken lots of twists and turns but I did not fully expect the outcome. It was yet another twist.

Also, Impact! had lots of wrestling matches. In total, there were eight. That is much higher than an average show. Some were very short, some were longer. Either way, most of them had clean, solid finishes and though the main event was shorter than I would like it to be, Hardy and RVD made that up with lots of in-ring work.

Lastly, I really enjoyed the opening segment. Brilliant work on both Aries' and Hulk Hogan's part. Aries came out and really put an exclamation point on the X-Division, and I loved his idea of giving them title shots if they hold the belt. TNA found their man to build on as a main-event star. Aries is on the path to just that. 

Overall, this was another solid edition of Impact! With a clear Thursday night schedule, TNA has a great opportunity to draw viewers that they must not waste. Their shows are getting much better and stars are beginning to really grow.