By Ryan Kester

Austin Aries and Jeff Hardy

The direction they took this feud last night was intriguing, if not a bit odd. The Champion trying to prove something to the challenger really doesn’t work well, unless they are attempting to turn Aries.

If the plan is to turn Aries, this was an effective first step along that road. TNA still failed to make this feel like it was building to the main event of the year, but they have time to correct that.

Aces and Eights

While the hammer to the head portion of Aces and Eights segment was mind-numbingly dumb, this was effective in making the group look brutal again. I'm glad that TNA is getting away from the roster splitting aspect of the group that made it smell a bit of NWO.

TNA needs to get someone else to play a foil to Aces and Eights. Hogan was tolerable in that role when he was playing himself, but this "Hollywood" persona is so over the top that it gets overexposed quickly and TNA certainly went o the Hogan well way too many times last night.

Open Fight Night

The challengers on this month's Open Fight Night were used well. This was a shining example of how this concept can work.

In a stark contrast, Gut Check was once again terrible. They featured a guy that does not look like a professional wrestler but instead like someone trying to play the part, that man was promptly squashed, and I am left feeling like TNA's recruiters are terrible at their job. This is not good storytelling and it does not make me care in the slightest.

Overall Show

Last night's show was rather mediocre. They failed to make it feel like their biggest show of the year is just a few weeks away.

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 at @TheRyanKester.

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