Kester's TNA Impact Wrestling Rundown: Chris Sabin challenges Bully Ray, Rampage Jackson joins the Main Event Mafia, Magnus wins the Joker's Wild Gauntlet match, and more

By Ryan Kester

Bully Ray and Chris Sabin

The exchange between Chris Sabin and Bully Ray in the final segment was strong. The premise of their feud is a simple one, but the story makes it easy for people to get behind Sabin.

It's almost disappointing that the Bound For Glory Series and faction story is going on in the background as the result of the match next week's match feels extremely predetermined. TNA will have a lot of work to do next week to convince people that Sabin has a shot at capturing the belt. Even if Sabin isn't successful, I hope TNA has a plan behind the character to keep him in the main event picture. TNA could use a fresh babyface at the moment, and Sabin fits the bill well.

Main Event Mafia and Aces and Eights

The biggest problem with this angle, getting past the storyline reason why Sting reformed the Main Event Mafia in the first place, is that it feels the same as every other Team TNA vs. Aces and Eights feud that TNA went through before settling on a faction to face the heel group. The added elements of the suits and music just isn't enough to distract from the fact that it's the same babyfaces TNA has called on to face the group before. The addition of Rampage did little to endear me to the Main Event Mafia because it's been established that he's going to be a background player at best in TNA.

As it stands, the two factions simply aren't clicking. Aces and Eights is revolving entirely around Bully Ray's heat, and the rest of the group feels like an undercard act without him. The Main Event Mafia, on the other hand, comes off as a holding pattern for TNA's babyfaces until the Bound For Glory Series is done, and the collective feud feels like a rehash due to the cycle TNA has gone through the past year. It's that air of rehash that hangs over the TNA product right now that is making it difficult to invest in their product. Wrestling should never feel like a rerun.

On a purely selfish side note, by the end of last night's show, I was utterly sick of the Main Event Mafia and Aces and Eights theme songs. Goodness, that was a lot of faction entrances.

Bound For Glory Series

The Joker's Wild concept was clunky as all get-out, but it did produce a couple of intriguing strange bedfellows tag matches. The last tag match was particularly interesting in splitting two established tag teams to have them face their partners. One can only hope that TNA isn't planning on using it to setup for a breakup feud between Kazarian and Christopher Daniels, but for one night it was entertaining.

It's refreshing to see Magnus win the 25 points that were on the line during the evening. My colleagues and I have been anticipating a Magnus push through the previous two BFGS, and it's nice to see that TNA may actually be heading in that direction. There's a long way to go to Bound For Glory, but TNA has a chance to make a new star on their staling roster.

Taryn Terrell vs. Gail Kim

This match wasn't as good as the pair's Last Man Standing match. There were certainly spots I respect the women for taking, but the pacing of the match left a lot to be desired. The ending did the women no favors, either. If this was used to continue their feud, that would be one thing, but as a number one contender's match, this move was weak.

While at face value it appears Kim won to swerve viewers, I can easily see TNA using the weak finish as a means to transition into a triple threat for the Knockouts Championship.

Overall Show

Last night's show, taken as a whole, was solid. There were elements that left something to be desired, but taken as a while it worked.

If you have any questions or comments or just wish to chat with a fellow wrestling fan about whatever, then feel free to email me at ryan.kester@gmail.com or follow me on Twitter.