Austin Aries Showed Up in NXT (SPOILERS)


Photo credit: WWE.com

The commentators always say "Anyone can show up in NXT", and that statement continues to be ever more true. Former TNA World Heavyweight Champion & Ring of Honor World Champion Austin Aries showed up at Friday's NXT tapings. This has been rumored for months now, but has now come to fruition. Along with his World Championship reigns in both TNA & Ring of Honor, Aries is a six-time X Division Champion, one time TNA World Tag Team Champion with Bobby Roode, and a one time ROH Tag Team Champion with Roderick Strong. This makes Aries the second for TNA World Heavyweight Champion to show up in NXT in the last year, the other being Samoa Joe.

Now I'm going to talk about what happened at his debut, but before I do...


You've been warned

Aries was introduced by General Manager William Regal. He walked out as the titantron read Austin Aries, with the same logo on his t-shirt, so he likely got the Samoa Joe-deal where he gets to keep his name. Aries made his way down the ramp, only to get attacked by Baron Corbin. Corbin beats him down and apparently hit the End of Days on the floor. It ended with Aries being attended to by EMTs and trainers (get the z-packs, Amann). It looks like Aries first feud will be against the indy-hater Corbin.

Personally, I'm so glad to see Aries in NXT. He was easily one of sole reasons to keep watching TNA during these last few years, and he's so talented and totally deserves it. I'm a little surprised just because of his age (37, not exactly a youngster), but he'll be a great addition to NXT. And to TNA, after losing not only Aries, but Samoa Joe, AJ Styles, Doc Gallows, and Karl Anderson (hell, even Jesse Sorensen) to WWE, you can look on the bright side. At least you got to keep James Storm and got Mike Bennett!...oh boy.

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