TNA World Heavyweight Championship
Bobby Roode (c) vs. Austin Aries
Just a year ago Austin Aries was fighting at Destination X for the contract of his life, and Bobby Roode wasn’t on the card. It’s been a damn good year in TNA and on Impact Wrestling, and to say both these men have come miles in such a short time is a huge understatement. Both Aries and Roode have completely changed the landscape of the their respective divisions; to see them colliding tonight is almost a dream come true. Almost.
Here’s my big problem with this match: it’s not at Bound for Glory. I’ve said it a dozen times by now, Austin Aries is THE guy to take the belt from Bobby Roode. He’s a crowd-turned face with a ton of upcoming support. Bobby Roode is one of the best heels in professional wrestling today, and is in the midst of of the best World Championship runs of the last decade. He really is the “it factor” of professional wrestling, and Aries is the next big thing for TNA. I know all signs point to James Storm finally getting justice and big win over Roode, but what then? Storm is the Champion for a few months, the fans are happy, and they move on to the next guy in line.
Austin Aries and Bobby Roode could be booked like John Cena and JBL during Bradshaw’s ungodly WWE Championship reign atop Smackdown. Of course Aries will never reach Cena-level popularity, but the stage has already been set for the angle. Roode is the former-tag-specialist-turned-main-eventer, Aries is the former heel that got over by connecting with fans and being that damn good. I’m begging TNA not to waste Roode’s fantastic title reign on James Storm, however tempting and cliche it must be.
Aries is THE guy. The only problem is that the title isn’t going to change hands tonight. Not at Destination X. And it shouldn’t. Aries is the ultimate underdog, and here on HIS pay-per-view the build and story would be absolutely perfect. But Bound for Glory is the ultimate stage in TNA – that’s where this match should be happening. And so, with the Bound for Glory series underway again, and Austin Aries not even on the list…it’s not going to happen. TNA will miss a huge opportunity, and when Bobby Roode drops the belt to Storm at BFG the fans will cheer. For a moment. But it’s the ultimate cliche match-up in professional wrestling – I’ve seen it too many times to care.
Prediction: Bobby Roode retains
Why Should You Order TNA Destination X?
Damn. Good. Wrestling. Matches.
If Austin Aries and Bobby Roode isn’t enough to get your mouth watering, you’re crazy. But if that World Championship match-up isn’t good enough, and Samoa Joe vs. Kurt Angle and AJ Styles vs. Chris Daniels doesn’t sell you, you may as well stop calling yourself a wrestling fan. The 5 X-Division matches are going to be head-to-toe spot-fests, but they’ll still be fun. There’s going to be enough high-impact pro wrestling on this card that I think you’d be crazy NOT to order.
If you’re complaining about the lack of story being continued at this PPV, realize that TNA may not want to force its viewers to buy Joseph Parks and Bully Ray AGAIN. Maybe they don’t want to force their viewers to buy the same Knockout’s Championship match AGAIN. So buy this PPV full of amazing matches and a brilliant main event story being driven forward, and get those other matches for FREE on Impact Wrestling this Thursday! You can’t really complain too much about that…
Follow me @MikeKillam on Twitter for full coverage of tonight’s TNA Destination X PPV, and don’t forget to “share” this story using those handy Facebook and Twitter bottons at the top of each page! Thanks!
