Impact Wrestling Review: Anderson Returns, AJ Styles Prevails

By Chris Featherstone

This episode of Impact Wrestling was presented to us from Salt Lake City, UT. It came on the heels of TNA's biggest pay per view, Bound for Glory, where AJ Styles captured the TNA World Heavyweight Championship for the first time in over four years.

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The first segment where we saw the exchange between AJ Styles and Bully Ray was a bit above average, but I still cringe at times when AJ Styles grabs a mic. He has amazing talent in the ring, but his mic work is mainly what holds him down from being a targeted guy for the WWE. He tried to have an edge with his verbal war with Bully. It helped a little, but not enough. Thankfully, his talent compensates for most of the lackluster mic work.

This also was a good spot for Mr. Anderson to return. It will free up the world title scene more, and wean Bully out of it. Anderson may simply benefit short-term from this feud with Bully, but at least they will most likely create a feud that sparks the interest of the fans.

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Brooke/Gail Kim (w/Lei'D Tapa) vs. ODB/Velvet Sky was a good way to showcase the Knockouts, but also showed the lack of depth in the division. In other words, what you saw is pretty much what TNA has. That's it. Lei'D Tapa is a good addition to the list, but aligning herself with Gail Kim may be a bad idea.

For weeks, she came down and interfered in matches, claiming the it was her island. Now, she takes a back seat in Kim's ride, and is supposed to ascend in the ranks? Not quite. Unless she turns babyface soon, which most likely will not happen, her stock will slowly decease associating with Kim.


Ethan Carter III vs. Dewey Barnes was not interesting in the slightest. Kudos to "Derrick Bateman" for finally getting a good spot on television. He is good wrestling and athlete. However, making him Dixie Carter's nephew and giving him a narcissistic gimmick may not be the best option. A more accurate verdict will come with more time, but not good so far. Honestly, Dewey Barnes was more entertaining than Carter. He reminded me of a mixture of Bob Backlund, Shark Boy, and "Brutal" Bob Evans.

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The "Cele-Brotion" segment was cheesy, but at least it is giving the tag team division some well-needed exposure again. TNA has the opportunity to re-define itself by making the division must-see again, and although the Bro-Mans winning the title was a joke, it may end up helping the exposure of the division. While the team is more of a comedy act than a championship-caliber team, it still allows other teams that are more fitting to hold the title to chase it.


AJ Styles vs. Bully Ray was a good match, and had some good close calls. Of course we could have seen Dixie Carter create a screwjob finish and cause AJ to lose the title, but him retaining it was a good thing. The TNA fans are very pro-AJ, and he should be to person who re-establishes some legitimacy back to the company. Like I said, his mic work must improve, but he has shown time and time again that his matches speak for themselves. Anderson coming out and causing Bully the match was also a good idea, as it further transitions him out of the title picture, unless this is brewing to a triple threat title match for the next pay-per-view (or TV special).

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Should Bully Ray stay in the world title picture, or not? Sound off below.

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