Who Should Walk Out Of Hardcore Justice As World Champion?

Tonight, at Hardcore Justice, Austin Aries and Bobby Roode will collide over the World Heavyweight Championship in what will be the final match of their current series. While they will likely meet in the future, it won't be when Roode or Aries is champion over the next few months. The question is whether more can be offered through Roode walking out as champion or Aries walking out as champion. There is an argument for both men entering Bound For Glory as the World Heavyweight Champion.

The stipulation is an easy out for a Roode victory. Because this will be their last encounter for now, Roode can cheat his way to victory. He won't have to meet Aries again and Aries won't be able to do anything about it. It is a great way to build additional heat on Roode.

It seems a given that at Bound For Glory, it will be Bobby Roode vs James Storm. Storm came very close to winning the World Title from Roode back at Lockdown but the "It-Factor" retained the title by the skin of his teeth. Storm has been on an incredible roll this year. His return at Slammiversary, ending the undefeated streak of Crimson plus his excellent showing in the BFG Series puts him over the top.

The Storm vs Roode Match has buildup and it has history. Storm walked away from wrestling because he let everyone down. Now at Bound For Glory, he has what seems to be another chance. Will it be for the title? Does it need to be for the title?

If Roode wins tonight, I believe it will be Bobby Roode vs James Storm in the main event at Bound For Glory. The remainder of the card will be created under it but that will be the primary focus. The match has almost a year's build to it. The Storm chase can culminate at the biggest PPV of the year, creating that BFG Moment that TNA needs.

The unfortunate thing is, Storm's win at Bound For Glory won't mean as much as it should have just a few months ago. Roode has been retaining the title by any means necessary most of the year. He has gone through guys like AJ Styles, Sting, Jeff Hardy, RVD, Mr. Anderson and others. Roode is the longest reigning champion who has defeated the best. Had that been the full story, then Storm's title win would be epic.

However, TNA put Austin Aries over Roode at Destination X. Aries did what all the other names (including Storm) couldn't; beat Bobby Roode cleanly in the middle of the ring. If Storm wins the title at Bound For Glory it won't mean as much because Austin Aries had already done it earlier in the year. While a title win still means alot, the title would have switched hands twice before in 2012.

The other solution is that at Hardcore Justice, Austin Aries successfully retains the title. An Aries title retention actually makes the product leading up to Bound For Glory that much more unpredictable. That means that Storm isn't a shoe-in for the World Title Match which means the BFG Series and No Surrender isn't a foregone conclusion.

If Aries retains then Roode vs Storm would still be a Grudge Match. The backstory is still there and Storm can still tell a story by finally beating his former best friend cleanly in the middle of the ring on IMPACT Wrestling's biggest night of the year. It also opens up a new main event.

With Roode vs Storm happening, the World Title Match with Aries as defending champion is still available. This rounds out the BFG card a little more as there are numerous big time matches that could take place in the main event of BFG. Aries vs Styles, Aries vs Angle, Aries vs Hardy or many other possibilities. It makes the BFG Series unpredictable and opens up the possibility that most of the other BFG Series participants can win the thing.

Whether it be Aries or Roode walking out of Hardcore Justice with the World Title, it will set the table for TNA's "crown jewel" PPV. The groundwork for upcoming PPVs will likely be laid but the World Title Match result will solidify it.