Impact Wrestling Review: No Surrender Not So Friendly To Mr. Anderson, But Certainly To AJ Styles
Wait... that was two years ago.
Well, onward to 2013, the feud between Bully Ray and Mr. Anderson is quite different. Nowadays, both are the top two members of the Aces and Eights group, but for a number of weeks, have not been seeing eye to eye concerning the direction of the club. As a result, Anderson was granted a shot at the TNA World Heavyweight Championship at the No Surrender television special.
The show also presented the finals of the Bound for Glory series tournament.
AJ Styles vs. Austin Aries was actually much slower than expected. The match revolved around an excessive amount of counters, which became a bit annoying. The match picked up toward the end, with Styles defeating Aries to advance to the finals.
Magnus vs. Bobby Roode was a solid match. The two showed a great deal of chemistry together, making the match have an old school feel to it. With the soon-to-be demise of the Aces and Eights, the Main Event Mafia feuding with the Extraordinary Gentlemen's Organization would be a good spot to put all of those wrestlers after Bound for Glory. Unfortunately, before then, we may see another multi-person tag match between MEM and Aces and Eights.
Just got my first chance to watch #NoSurrender...thanks to everyone that came out, great calls from @RealMikeTenay & @OfficialTAZ
? Nick Aldis (Magnus) (@MagnusOfficial) September 14, 2013
The timing of Bully Ray vs. Mr. Anderson in the line-up was a bit odd, but rationally thinking, it could have been for the purpose of not losing any luster for the BFG series finale. Overall, the match was good, especially with the stipulation added. Anderson had a few close calls, which is good booking to draw that kind of suspense. The spear through the table that ended the match was a fantastic spot, and Anderson showed a valiant effort even with the remaining members of Aces and Eights attacking him.
The post-match piledriver has to be a set-up for something in the future, possibly Anderson returning at Bound for Glory to cost Bully Ray the title. Whatever the reason may be, it appears as if Anderson may fully revert back to his old gimmick.
Thats how its done. Thats how you destroy a man. I took his PRIDE, his SOUL and MY COLORS back. If GOD was a BULLY, he'd be ME.
? Bully Ray (@REALBully5150) September 13, 2013
The James Storm/Gunner and Chavo Hernandez segment showed the dismal state of the tag team division. Chavo and Hernandez is a decent team, but they should not be the top contenders in the division. Moreover, it appears as if Chavo Guerrero is starting to show some heel mannerisms again. So, with Bischoff/Brisco, Bro Mans and Bad Influence, I suppose TNA needs another heel tag team... or not.
AJ Styles vs. Magnus was a very good match, that the St. Louis crowd did a wonderful job creating a high energy atmosphere that resonated through the television screen. Throughout the match, both wrestlers looked like they had a shot to win the series, but it was fairly obvious that AJ Styles was going to win it all. I just hope that the weird entrance he has does not last until Bound for Glory. Not very creative, and he should choose one gimmick or the other.
St Louis, WOW! I'm glad that I had two amazing matches in front of u guys. #besttnafans U are what wrestling is all about.
? AJStyles.Org (@AJStylesOrg) September 13, 2013
Was the AJ Styles BFG series win predictable? Sound off below.