Austin Aries No-Sells Impact Title Loss
Was it a work or wasn’t it? That’s what fans were asking after Johnny Impact pinned Austin Aries for the Impact World Championship in October — only to have Aries no-sell the loss and storm out of the building.
After dispatching World Champ Eli Drake in his Jan. return to Impact, “The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived” had ruled the roost. Save a rapid title exchange with Pentagon Zero around the halfway point, he cemented himself atop the company throughout 2018.
As fall approached, though, Johnny Impact moved into position for a shot at the Gold. What looked like a standard champion vs. challenger battle, however, quickly began to blur the lines of reality.
Aries took pot-shots at Impact, contending he was only being positioned for the match because of his turn as star of TV’s Survivor and “crappy B-movies.” His opposition retaliated with low-blows about Aries’ behind-the-scenes demands (most memorably regarding catering) and more.
By their in-ring clash, what very much had the markings of a real-world brawl between the two during a press conference — including spitting and name-calling directed at Impact’s wife Taya Valkyrie — brought the rivalry to a boil.
Few were shocked when Impact upended Aries to become the company’s new champ. What followed, though, left the wrestling world abuzz.
Rather than playing up his defeat and slinking into the background to lick his wounds as expected, Aries immediately jumped to his feet, flipped off his opponent, fans and the announce team, then stormed out. It was shocking, to say the least!
It’s entirely plausible to think Aries legitimately objected to the booking decisions. Having left WWE in equally abrupt fashion in 2017, for similar reasons, perhaps he just took his ball and went home. Maybe it was all an elaborate ruse to paint him as a “Loose Cannon,” as some reported amidst the aftermath.
How much of Aries’ actions were scripted remains shrouded in mystery. The fact remains, though, he hasn’t been seen on Impact programming since and the company has advanced stories with next to no mention of the star.
For better or worse, Aries had fans talking in 2018. Only the future knows when and where he might emerge next.
Johnny Gargano/Tommaso Ciampa
It’s was a banner year for the former members of DIY! Once NXT tag champs, the 2017 implosion of the beloved pairing was the best thing to ever happen to Tomaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano…and, arguably, fans of “The Black & Yellow” brand in 2018!
Throughout the year, the rivals told a sprawling story of betrayal and retribution while delivering “Match of the Year” showings in every outing. Shockingly, Gargano was unable to garner a decisive victory over his former best friend — the emotional payoff fans so desperately wanted — and find resolution.
This fact proved utterly unique in the world of pro wrestling, often filled with absolutes where good almost always triumphs…eventually. Ciampa’s consistent escape from comeuppance served to extend the feud, amplify audience interest and crank the drama to epic proportions while bleeding, both literally and figuratively, into countless stories and characters across Wednesday nights.
When Ciampa captured the NXT title from Aleister Black, the Dutchman who not only reigned over NXT for most of the year but could easily deserve his own spot on this list, it seemed a foregone conclusion. Gargano would not only get his long-overdue revenge but capture championship gold in the process.
Wrong again!
Gargano and Ciampa’s story continues unabated, with sufficient twists and turns to earn the cliched label “a soap opera for men.” To the great dismay of viewers, “Johnny Wrestling” was revealed as the culprit responsible for sidelining former champ Black in a mysterious parking lot attack.
Gargano ended the year on a high, defeating Black in a cage match egged on by Ciampa. While that would seemingly open the door for another shot at the NXT title, the champ has other ideas — instead urging his former partner to challenge North American titlist Ricochet at the upcoming NXT: Takeover in Arizona.
In one of the most intriguing twists, and best promos of the year, Ciampa reflected on the men growing up in sports entertainment together, dreaming of dominating the industry side-by-side. They could do exactly that, he pointed out, by holding the NXT and North American titles together.
Will Gargano be persuaded to rejoin Ciampa now that both have seemingly turned their back on the fans? Have they reached a stalemate or truce? How does Gargano’s wife Candice LaRae factor in? Has Black let go of his fury toward either?
As 2018 came to a close, there were more questions than answers in this feud, which now extends into its third calendar year. Rest assured, fans will tune in to see what unfolds next.
