10 Ups & 1 Down From Impact Wrestling Slammiversary XVI

4. Austin Aries: Top Guy

Let it never be said that Austin Aries isn't a fantastic all-round professional wrestler. Yes, he's kind of a d***, and yes, his WWE run wasn't what it should've been, but his abilities should never be in doubt. He's a cunning technician between the ropes, an engaging talker, still one of the best in the business at building a match that pushes both participants forward, and in Impact, he has found the perfect home base.

Impact have made him the man, and Aries justified it with an excellent World Title defence last night. This was no mean feat. Following two brutal hardcore-themed matches in Callihan vs. Pentagon and LAX vs. The OGz was always going to be tricky, but Aries and Moose accomplished it by executing their more traditional layout to perfection, though they weren't shy of getting crazy themselves.

Despite all this, the biggest shock wasn't the bout's quality, but its outcome. Moose's victory seemed inevitable beforehand, but his hopes were killed by a quick penalty kick/brainbuster combination in a shade under sixteen minutes. A pleasant surprise, as while Moose delivered perhaps the best singles performance of his Impact run, Aries feels like the right guy to lead this promotion forward.