Austin Aries is interviewed backstage, and says TNA calls on him when they need a main event for a great pay-per-view like this. They call on Samoa Joe, because they are two of the biggest and best names in the history of the X-Division and TNA Wrestling. He basically guarantees victory tonight, because he’s Austin Aries, and he’s the greatest man that ever lived.
The run a video package of Rob Van Dam and Jerry Lynn talking about their matches together and their history over the years. Lynn gives his final words to his fans, and thanks TNA for all the great years and matches he had with the company.
Another video with AJ Styles, Samoa Joe and Christopher Daniels talking about their iconic “Unbreakable” match is our final “Top 10 Moments” package.
Austin Aries vs. Samoa Joe
Aries is introduced as the longest reigning and undefeated X-Division Champion, and Joe is introduced as the 4-time Champion.
Aries and Joe go almost twenty minutes in this very back-and-forth contest, trying to prove which of them is the greatest X-Division star in TNA history. The Samoan Submission machine used his power and strength – as well as his superior striking abilities – to wear down A-Double, but as the match went on Aries’ endurance became a key factor as he continued to work over and injure Joe’s leg. Neither the Muscle Buster or the Brainbuster was executed in the match, however Samoa Joe was almost victorious with the Rear Naked Choke.
The finish saw Aries roll out of the Muscle Buster and roll-up Joe with all his weight for the 3-count.
Results: Austin Aries def. Samoa Joe via pinfall
Both Austin Aries and Samoa Joe define the X-Division, but their title match at Slammiversary 2012, although much shorter, was more exciting. The slower pace of this main event contest didn’t play into the favor of hosting this PPV in the Impact Zone; the live crowd didn’t seem to care about much of anything. It’s an understandable flaw – TNA got out of the Impact Zone because it was killing big matches like this with lackluster crowds. I don’t even think they were max capacity for this event.
I find myself in a state of repetition, but solid work by Joe and Aries that, given a reason or any sort of story, could have been more. That’s going to be the biggest problem for these random monthly pay-per-view shows. Good matches have an insanely hard time being elevated without the necessary drama that hooks in a live crowd. The deck is stacked even more against them when that live crowd is the Impact Zone.
Grade: B
