-Disappointingly, due to some cable service problems, I was late to being able to see the show, so I missed the first match, featuring Kaz beating Samoa Joe in 11 minutes. James Caldwell rated it **3/4.

2 -- DOUGLAS WILLIAMS vs. MARK HASKINS -- Open Challenge Match

-The six-sided ring looks small compared to the usual ring, even though its surface area is larger.

-It's a tough situation for this to feel "PPV-worthy" when nobody's heard of Haskins, thus there's no real backstory other than what the announcers can fill in, plus it's not as if Williams has been a significant part of Impact TV in recent months.

-With Taz off tonight due to a family engagement, Jeremy Borash replaced him. I'm interested to hear how they delegate their roles since both serve the same purpose as play-by-play men. It's a curious choice to have Borash fill in rather than a wrestler to provide color commentary. I'm not sure if I could take three hours of Bully Ray, for instance, even though in the long run I think he could be a good heel commentator when his in-ring days are over, but what about Don West? Especially considering it'd be a throwback to the instances early in TNA when the X Division really was featured since he called those matches, it'd have been my choice.

WINNER: Williams in 8:00. Some nice action, but pretty forgettable all things considered.

-So Cal Val interviewed Austin Aries, asking what his strategy is. He graded her dress "three-stars." Then he said the so-called wrestling fans who are watching via illegal stream, "I hope you choke on whatever you're eating." He said he's not a spot money or a 5-9 "vanilla midget," but rather a polished wrestler who is better than anyone in the industry. He said he can defeat anyone on the roster. He said if he wins, it's TNA's victory because he has no limits. He said he'll make his opportunity when he defeats three other very good wrestlers. He said they're not Mr. It, and tonight they'll find out they're not as good as he is.

3 -- GENERATION ME (Max & Jeremy Buck) vs. ERIC YOUNG & SHARK BOY

-Young and Shark did a comedy bit where each decided to start the match at the same time, then withdrew like a mirror, like two people who start talking at the same time, then stop and can't quite figure out who is going to actually begin talking. They finally decided on Shark, but of course Young then immediately blind tagged himself in.

-Borash said the six-sided ring is smaller. Hmm. I thought Tenay always pitched it years ago as having more surface area overall, even though each rope length is smaller because of six sides instead of four. He said not every wrestler on the show has participated in a six-sided ring before, so that could come into play.

WINNERS: Young & Shark Boy in 7:00.

STAR RATING: Some good action. Not every spot was timed perfectly but overall it was high-energy and filled its spot on the card fine. I'm not sure having a make-shift comedy team beating Generation Me sends a message to fans that makes GenMe a serious act themselves going forward as either a team or singles. It seems giving the established team a win over the comedy act was the more obvious call.

-As Daniels talked to someone backstage about his ComicCon appearance, A.J. Styles arrived. They shook hands and shared a laugh when Styles asked Daniels not to mess too bad with his good looks.

-Val interviewed Shiima Xion backstage. He said he's considered a huge underdog, but it's a big opportunity, and he wants to show everyone he deserves what he wants, and he wants that TNA contract.

-A video package aired on the Ultimate X match, the same one that aired on Impact last week.

4 -- ALEX SHELLEY vs. AMAZING RED vs. SHANNON MOORE vs. ROBBIE E. - Ultimate X Match

-Borash and Tenay had to stall as they set up the structure in the ring. I assume it wasn't planned because, really, who would put in the script "more face time" for Tenay and Borash.

-Borash said Robbie just purchased his own "tanning tent" where he can spray himself.

-Borash said Chris Sabin had a cadaver's ACL replace his torn ACL and he's months away from returning to action.

-I wonder how many people in this match Hulk Hogan knows the names of.

-Due to added scaffolding above the ropes that form the "X" about 18 feet above the ring surface, Moore was able to climb the scaffolding and then hang and stand on the top rope. He knocked Red off of the top rope by kicking him. Shelley then kicked Moore off of the top rope right by the "X." Shelley then disconnected the "X" to win.

-Borash noted this was the 25th "Ultimate X." That is too many for a company that's only been around 9 years.

-Afterward Chris Sabin came out and congratulated Shelley. He asked him if he was okay, and it seemed genuine. Sabin was limping, but walking without a crutch.

WINNER: Alex Shelley.

STAR RATING (**1/4): The lack of backstory and hype created a less than ideal scenario for the wrestlers, who didn't have much of a story to draw from personality-wise other than their stock characters, such as they are with such limited TV time. So, in effect, it was a spotfest. Not a great one, either, it seemed at least nobody overdid it in terms of taking huge chances from high places.

-Val interviewed Low Ki said he has proven to everyone in his career he's not too small and has what it takes. He said tonight for him to gain his TNA contract, he has to fight with everything he has to prove he belongs "where professional wrestling still matters."

-A video package aired on the RVD-Jerry Lynn match.

5 -- ROB VAN DAM vs. JERRY LYNN

-Jerry Lynn's intro music sounds like someone belching really loudly.

-Lynn, even in high-def, looks the same age as when I first saw him wrestle in the PWA in Minnesota at indy shows in the late 1980s.

-Borash talked about the epic matches these two had in 1999 in ECW. He said the letters ECW. Borash said he and Lynn were roommates in Minneapolis way back.

-A loud battle chant took place with "RVD!" vs. "Let's Go Jerry!"

-Borash built up the match by saying when he produced an ECW documentary in 2005, almost everyone said the Lynn-RVD series of matches were as good as any matches of that era.

-They went 17 minutes and had a very good match that would fit in nicely with their classics in 1999. Lynn teased heelish, aggressive tendencies. RVD bled from the forehead after Lynn dove onto his head which crashed into a chair on the mat. Lynn gave RVD a sunset bomb onto a chair mid-ring for a near fall. RVD came back shortly thereafter with a Five-Star Frogsplash for the clean win.

WINNER: RVD in 17:00.

STAR RATING: ***1/2 -- Not a match of the year candidate, but easily the best match of the show. It felt like an actual match, not a display of highspots.

-Jack Evans gave a humble, realistic sounding promo about how important this match is to him. These all felt like real MMA fighter promos adding to the sense that something was on the line and a real competition was going to break out.

6 -- JACK EVANS vs. LOW KI vs. ZEMA ION vs. AUSTIN ARIES -- Winner Gets TNA Contract

-Borash noted that Evans's name was trending on Twitter in the top ten Thursday night after his match aired.

-At 4:00 Aries and Low Ki began to get in each other's face and argue, setting up an issue between them.

-"This is awesome!" broke out nearly ten minutes in. That was followed by a louder chant of "Sign them all! Sign them all!" I can't disagree with that suggestion. The crowd followed with "This is wrestling!"

-Evans yelled out for the "630!" and then climbed to the top rope. Zema knocked Evans off the top rope and hit his own 450 on Low Ki. Aries broke up the pin attempt. Evans climbed back to the top and went for the 630, but Low Ki lifted his knee. Aries kneelifted Evans, then gave Low Ki a brainbuster suplex for the win.

WINNER: Aries in 14:00 to earn a TNA contract.

STAR RATING (***1/2): A very good four-way. A big dose of amazing grace and athleticism with personalities attached to it that is grossly underutilized on nationally televised wrestling promotions. There are so many one-on-one matches and feuds that could be built with these four in the long-run where the moves augmented the story being told, which is the best way to make money with this type of talent, not just throwing them out there to fill the ring with big spots.

-Val handed Aries his contract. He asked her, "Are you surprised?" He said he is the greatest man that ever lived. Aries is a man among boys in how he carries himself. There's a confidence, cockiness, and credibility in how he carries himself that isn't particularly common at any size or weight.

-A backstage promo aired with Abyss hyping his match. "When the end is near and it's your time to die, I promise, I'll make it quick, but not too quick," he concluded.

-A video package aired on Kendrick-Abyss.

7 -- ABYSS vs. BRIAN KENDRICK -- TNA X Division Title Match

-Abyss swatted away Kendrick's early offense.

-A fan yelled, "Nobody likes you, Abyss! Nobody!" Watch out or this notoriously insecure performer is going to just run away and get an even bigger complex.

-Abyss read some passages from "Art of War" in the corner of the ring, giving Kendrick a chance to regain his senses at 5:00.

-Slow, methodical pace, Definitely different from the first six matches on this show.

-Abyss crashed into the ref in the corner. Kendrick then hit Sliced Bread for a near fall. The crowd counted to 11. Eric Bischoff walked out looking just miserable. He told Kendrick to just get the hell out of the ring. He punched Bischoff. Scott Steiner, Gunner, and Bully Ray charged to the ring and attacked Kendrick. Shark Boy, Generation Me, and Amazing Red made a quick attempt to save Kendrick, but the three heavyweights easily three the four smaller guys out of the ring. Then came a huge parade of X DIvision wrestlers and they beat down the heavyweights and cleared the ring.

-Kendrick hit Abyss with a Victory Roll and ref Earl Hebner recovered at ringside, and while standing at ringside, counted the pin. Immortal looked on from the stage in disbelief as the X Division wrestlers lifted Kendrick and celebrated together. Red confetti dropped from the ceiling.

-Ray yelled at Abyss. Abyss shoved Ray down.

WINNER: Kendrick to capture the TNA X Division Title.

STAR RATING (**): Passable big man/little man match, but pretty methodical and drawn out at times.

-A video package aired on Styles vs. Daniels.

8 -- A.J. STYLES vs. CHRSTOPHER DANIEL

-Styles introduced at 220 lbs. That seems to be stretching things a bit more than is credible given what we know about the heights and weights of UFC fighters.

-You could tell in the early minutes that they were pacing themselves for a long match. Not that they were lazy, but it was clearly going to be a slow build as there was no sense of urgency to "get in their spots" or shift into third gear anytime soon, much less fourth gear.

-Deliberately paced mat work seemed to take the wind out of the sails of the fans a little as they were used to a different pace early, but they seemed to be supportive of the legacy of these two in TNA.

-Borash and Tenay talked a lot about Styles being the original model for the X DIvision's creation, but also noted that Daniels taught him a lot along the way. They noted that Styles and Daniels each named their kids after one another.

-Twenty minutes in it seems like they're going to have to shift up the pace soon to not fall short of expectations, and considering in some circles expectations were "Match of the Year Candidate or Bust," they were running out of time.

-Daniels stopped Styles from using Angel's Wings against him. Styles lifted his leg on a Best Moonsault Ever attempt. Styles immediately hit a Styles Clash for a near fall. The crowd applauded the kickout. Styles went for a slingshot flip splash, but Daniels lifted his knees. Daniels quickly hit Angel's Wings for a near fall. Daniels reacted with a look of shock.

-Daniels hit three quick standing elbow drops. Then he climbed to the top rope, but Styles knocked him off balance. Styles then met Daniels on the top rope. He set up Angel's Wings from the top, but Styles backdropped out of it and then executed Spiral Tap, his original finisher in TNA. The crowd was chanting for it. Styles seemed a little unsteady and tired, but hit the move, although not quite with the ease and grace of 8-9 years ago. It was good for the three count.

WINNER: Styles in 28:00.

STAR RATING: (***): Whatever has always held down Daniels from being seen in that very top tier of this style of wrestling was on display here. This was a good heavyweight style match, but not a great heavyweight style match. And when you add the expectations of it being the main event on Destination X and the type of dynamic personalities, faster-paced and higher-impact moves, and just the overall flashiness on display earlier, this felt like a semi-main-event that was meant to bring the crowd down before the younger, more exciting and dynamic main eventers came out. Still, a good match, but not where it needed to be for this spot on the card or for filling 28 minutes of time.

-Afterward Daniels looked on the verge of tears - or at least trying to tear up really hard. Styles offered a handshake. Daniels at first turned away, but then turned back, shook his hand, and hugged him. The show ended with Daniels raising Styles's arm as Tenay signed off.

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