Segment 6: A.J. Styles vs. Bobby Roode
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-235kTGl0Vs
Positives: A.J. really brought the energy in this match. The months he spent slowing down his style are making him seem extra exciting at this point. Also, Bobby Roode knows how to sell for the exciting babyface as well as anyone in TNA.
Remember when I said Hardy and Kazarian would have been “just okay” on mute? Not this match. Everything looked crisp and solid, and Roode did a lot to help A.J. tell the story of his journey back to the top.
Negatives: A.J. and Roode executed the finish fine, but Hebner’s count made it look like they had rolled through into a different position after he already counted “one.”
Not finishing in the top four of the BFG Series sends A.J. Styles back into the chaotic shuffle for the thousandth time. If there isn’t something good planned for him after this, he’ll never be a top star for TNA again.
Segment Score: +1
Segment 7: Christopher Daniels vs. Austin Aries
Positives: These two successfully carried over the intensity from their earlier promo exchange to this match. The opening moments (up until Aries got potatoed silly) were very active and exciting, and finish was well-executed too.
Negatives: There were some awkward moments in this match right after Aries got caught stiff diving into Daniels’ boot. Goodness knows how things looked for the live crowd when they cut to commercial right afterwards.
Segment Score: +0
Segment 8: Hulk Hogan is a Person Who Still Exists
Positives: Allegedly, this segment closes the book on Brooke Hogan in TNA. Now, where’s that flashy pen light thing from Men in Black?
Negatives: Hulk Hogan’s cheap pops are more shameless than Mick Foley’s, and also without the ironic charm.
When Hogan was breaking down the BFG Series leader board, he sounded like a third-rate game show host explaining the rules.
So, basically there is going to be a match that is worth so many points it renders the entire Series to this point meaningless.
Aren’t you glad you spent your summer watching Impact Wrestling?
The way Ray keeps his heat by completely no-selling any babyface victory is obnoxious. A lot of fingers are pointed at Hulk Hogan, but Ray’s been as guilty as anybody in recent months of taking care of himself and dragging down storylines with repetitive garbage.
TNA built Slammiversary around the stipulation that Sting couldn’t’ get another title shot if he lost, which he did. Here he is, two months later, getting a title shot on a week’s notice.
Segment Score: -2 (The announcements in this segment destroyed TNA’s two biggest storylines, earning the first -2 ever)
NET +/- SCORE FOR TNA IMPACT WRESTLING 7/27: +0
