TNA Destination X 2012: Results, Highlights & More
While many fans didn’t give TNA’s 2012 Destination X a chance to be great, they will regret their decision when they hear the amazing show that was put on Sunday night.
TNA defied all of the odds and put together one of the best pure wrestling cards in the history of major federations and gave fans from all spectrums of the sport something to love. From Indy fans to hardcore fans to technical fans, Destination X had it all.
With no terrible storylines injected into the pay-per-view—just natural, in-ring storytelling—this was arguably the best wrestling event of 2012 so far, even trumping WWE’s WrestleMania 28.
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Complete Results
Last Chance Qualifier: Mason Andrews Def. Rubix, Lars Only and Dakota Darsow
X Division Title Qualifier 1: Mason Andrews Def. Kid Kash
X Division Title Qualifier 2: Kenny King Def. Douglas Williams
X Division Title Qualifier 3: Sonjay Dutt Def. Rashad Cameron
X Division Title Qualifier 4: Zema Ion Def Flip Cassanova
BFG Series Match: Samoa Joe Def. Kurt Angle (+10 for win)
Last Man Standing Match: AJ Styles def. Christopher Daniels
X Division Title: Ultimate X: Zema Ion Def. Kenny King, Sonjay Dutt and Mason Andrews
World Heavyweight Championship: Austin Aries Def. Bobby Roode
Top Highlights
The Main Event
With TNA pitting two of their top homegrown talents against each other, the popular feeling was that the company would not allow Bobby Roode to lose to Austin Aries—no matter how over with the crowd he was.
Most fans just wanted a clean finish to the main event that, for once, made Aries look strong, even if he had to lose. With that said, TNA made a great power move by handing the title to Aries in the same way the WWE handed the title to the red-hot CM Punk.
Both Roode and Aries came out of that match looking as strong as they possibly could. Not only has Aries reached star status, but the loss for Roode may be the shot in the arm he and the title need after an eight-month run as champion.
AJ Styles vs. Christopher Daniels
While the story between Styles and Daniels has been one of the worst in the history of pro wrestling, the in-ring action throughout has been excellent.
Sunday’s Last Man Standing match was just another example of that.
TNA didn’t mention the drug addict storyline for more than a few seconds the whole night, leaving the fans to enjoy the action in peace.
With a plethora of high-risk moves, blood and a finishing sequence that had me out of my seat with excitement, Daniels and Styles did the X Division proud.
The X Division Tournament
If you love the high-flying aspect of wrestling or the pure technical mastery side of the sport, this was your night to transform from an Indy fan to a TNA fan.
Five matches total made up the X Division tournament, which was ultimately won by new champion Zema Ion. As odd and different as the idea of the tourney sounded at the time, it was flawlessly executed by TNA bookers.
Every star in the tournament brought his best and left it all in the ring at Destination X. It was one of those bittersweet moments when you realize that some of the best talent in the world will walk away with nothing.
My hope is that TNA wises up and signs guys like Rubix, Rashad Cameron and Kenny King to give the X Division some real talent and depth
Winners and Losers
Biggest Winner: Austin Aries
As the match was coming to the end, I actually remember saying aloud that TNA had done a great job making both men look strong. At that moment, I was comfortable with Aries losing.
In a flash, the wrestling industry had been turned on its ear.
TNA Wrestling has been looking for a way to find a face that the fans truly want to get behind. As great as James Storm has been, he does not have the crowd support A-Double has going for him right now.
With the company capitalizing on his momentum, it’s safe to say that Austin Aries is TNA’s CM Punk. That’s not a bad thing for their future at all!
Biggest Loser: WWE
There have been questions for years about whether or not TNA Wrestling could ever compete with WWE, but last night’s PPV proved that there is a wide-open lane for a company like TNA to take to catch up to WWE.
If the people in charge can keep IMPACT fun for the casual fans while infusing more of the high flying on a week-to-week basis, there is no doubt they will be competing for views soon enough.
TNA has a deep roster that needs to be booked correctly to give the WWE a run for their money, and it appears those tides are changing. The booking in the IMPACT zone is on the upswing.
Watch out, WWE!
Check back for more on the TNA Wrestling as it comes, and visit Bleacher Report’s Wrestling Page to get your fill of WWE/TNA. For more Wrestling talk, listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot topics you just can’t miss (some language NSFW).
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