TNA Impact Wrestling: A Bombshell on AJ Styles, Roode and Aries Match Announced

The July 12th edition of Impact Wrestling opened with a video recap of Austin Aries' title win, the Bound For Glory series, and last week's edition.

Bully Ray vs. Joseph Park

Your winner, Bully Ray. 

Match Rating: 2.5/5

(My quick take: A surprisingly pretty decent opening match. The live crowd was very much into it and made it a bit more enjoyable to watch. Bully Ray going on his phone to tweet and talk on the microphone really stamped how good of a heel he is. Different choice to open with a match rather than a promo.)

Samoa Joe vs. Rob Van Dam (Bound For Glory Match)

Your winner, Rob Van Dam. 

Match Rating: 3/5

(That win gets Rob Van Dam back in the picture. No problem with the win for RVD. The match itself wasn't too smooth, but it was decent and had a clean finish.)

Christopher Daniels and Kazarian come out to the ring. While they come out, a video recap is aired about Daniels and AJ Styles' match at Destination X. Kazarian takes the microphone first and says this is just the beginning of what will come. Daniels takes over and calls out Claire to the ring. 

Claire comes out. While Daniels is talking, Styles comes out to the ring. Styles says this story was over weeks ago. Daniels tells Claire to express what is really going on. Styles and Daniels continue to argue. Claire then takes the microphone and says Styles is the father of her baby. 

A video recap of Mr. Anderson, Kurt Angle and a recap of the Ultimate X match at Destination X.

Dakota Darsow vs. Zema Ion

Your winner, Zema Ion. After the match, Ion attacked Darsow and spoke on Jesse Sorensen.

Match Rating: 3/5

(Darsow looked much better on this edition of Impact. Not a long feature, but some pretty good in-ring work that help my final match rating.)

New TNA World Champion Austin Aries comes out to the ring. The live crowd continues to chant his name. Aries said he proved people wrong and that all things are possible. He calls this a wonderful moment for professional wrestling. Aries, who is speaking over an extremely loud crowd, asks everyone for silence.

Aries believes he will lead TNA to the next level in wrestling. Aries puts an important message to the wrestling industry by saying the TNA World Title is the most prestigious. As Aries is talking, former champion Bobby Roode comes out to the ring.

Roode is greeting by chants from the crowd and a loud chorus of boos. He continues to stare at the title he lost at Destination X. Roode, who is struggling to talk because of frustration, continues to pace quickly in the ring. Roode finally calls Aries a fluke. Austin fires back as Roode leaves the ring in massive frustration.

(That was a terrific promo by Aries. He really put TNA on the map and the importance of the World Title. Roode showed how frustrated he was with intensity by pacing the ring and struggling to talk in full sentences. It put the TNA World Title belt in the spotlight.)

Madison Rayen, in a video package, discusses why she loves referee Earl Hebner. 

Brooke Hogan comes out to the ring to join announcers Mike Tenay and Tazz.

Gail Kim vs. Ms. Tessmacher for the TNA Knockouts Title

Your winner, Ms. Tessmacher.

Match Rating: 3/5

(The match itself was just fine. I am enjoying these clean finishes.) 

Mr. Anderson vs. Kurt Angle in a Bound For Glory Series Match

Your winner, Kurt Angle.

Match Rating: 3.5/5

(This match really picked up in the second part of it. The best match of the night for Impact Wrestling. Slow to begin, then steamed up after the commercial break.)

As Hulk Hogan and Sting are in Hogan's office, Roode comes in demanding to talk.

Roode, who continues to rant to Hogan, tells Bobby to call him out at Open Fight Night next week. Roode says he will prove it next week on Impact.

Sting comes out to the ring, who is back on Impact after being laid out weeks ago by masked men. Sting calls out Hulk Hogan to the ring. Hogan's entrance music hits, but there is no sign of him coming out. Sting asks for him again and Hogan's music plays.

However, there is still no sign of Hogan. Sting continues to look confused in the ring and Hogan's music continues to play on and off. Finally, backstage footage shows the masked men attacking Hogan with his daughter assisting him. 

Sting looks to go backstage, but is attacked on the entrance way by a large group of masked men as Impact closes. 

Overall Impact Wrestling Rating: 3/5

I would not say this show was below average by any means, nor was it in line with the quality episodes viewers have been seeing. This edition of Impact Wrestling was average across the board.

Speaking about wrestling, there was some pretty decent action in the ring. The Kurt Angle and Mr. Anderson match was the best of the night. The Knockouts title match was also decent. I enjoy how TNA is going with clean finishes and not allowing interferences so often. All in all, a decent night of wrestling.

The AJ Styles storyline appears to have taken a new turn. It seems Claire is behind Christopher Daniels and Kazarian. The crowd was also dead for it. There seemed to be no understanding from the live audience. It is an intriguing storyline and makes it interesting, but the quarter-hour ratings really tell if it is working. In my opinion, expect this storyline to be lasting throughout the summer. 

Overall, I was hoping for a better Impact Wrestling after its solid Destination X pay-per-view. Next week looks very promising on an Open Fight Night edition.