20 Best TNA Wrestlers Ever

16. Austin Aries

Austin Aries X Division
Impact Wrestling

The Greatest Man That Ever Lived has been one of TNA’s best feel good stories.

Here was a guy who had been overlooked by WWE completely, had a forgettable TNA run prior as Austin Starr and was a former ROH Heavyweight Champion, but was at a crossroads in his career and life. He wasn’t making the money he needed to continue wrestling full-time and considered hanging it up. TNA gave him another opportunity, and he blew past all expectations.

In 2011, Aries enjoyed a second wrestling life, and within a few months he became X Division Champion, and turned into one of the best parts of Impact. While always great in the ring, he improved so much on the mic, and as a character, that he moved into the main event scene. He deserved a promotion, and the company gave it to him. It hasn't always played out that way for wrestlers there.

Over the next couple years, Aries became the World Heavyweight Champion, in one of TNA’s most satisfying moments ever, and continued to be a key player throughout most of his run. While he unfortunately left after they had major money problems, his run from 2011 to 2015 was one of the best that a TNA wrestler has ever had.

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As Rust Cohle from True Detective said "Life's barely long enough to get good at one thing. So be careful what you're good at." Sadly, I can't solve a murder like Rust...or change a tire, or even tie a tie. But I do know all the lyrics to Hulk Hogan's "Real American" theme song and can easily name every Natural Born Thriller from the dying days of WCW. I was once ranked 21st in the United States in Tetris...on the Playstation 3 version...for about a week. Follow along @AndrewSoucek and check out my podcast at wrestlingwithfriends.com