Austin Aries enjoyed his most successful year in wrestling in 2012. After almost retiring the previous year, he traded in his X-division championship for a shot at Bobby Roode's World Heavyweight Championship. This would become known as Option C, a staple of TNAs annual Destination X event. After ending Roodes record setting nine month title reign, Aries proved that the X-division stars were worthy of main eventing pay per views and representing TNA as the face of the promotion (something fans had already known and demanded for years). His biggest defense came at that years Bound For Glory when he faced the Charismatic Enigma Jeff Hardy who was on his own personal road to redemption after his regrettable antics in 2011. Having won the annual BFG Series, Hardy was looking to cap off his comeback year with a World title reign and fans were ready to accept the North Carolina native once again. That night TNA fans witnessed a fresh main event never seen before, something rare these days as every big star in every promotion seems to have already faced everyone else. Hardy and Aries gelled extremely well together and fans were captivated towards the finish. Hardy would win that night, thus cementing his comeback and forgiveness from TNA management. They would face each other again one month later in a brutal ladder match.