TNA Impact results and reactions from last night (July 4): Sin City

TNA Impact returned to Spike TV last night (July 4, 2013) from Las Vegas, Nevada, featuring an Independence Day showcase that shined at times but baffled more often than not, as is usually the case with this promotion.

Click here to get full results and to check out the open thread. Now let's get right to reactions:

• There isn't a whole hell of a lot to say about this show, especially considering the fact that I was watching a replay and didn't have to put up with watching things I didn't particularly care to see, like Hernandez vs. Jay Bradley. I guess it's good to get that out of the way on a holiday show when no one would be watching.
• Three things stuck out to me in that segment between Hulk Hogan and Austin Aries: 1) Hogan delivering the greatest line in the history of TNA when he said "There's a checks and balances system here at Impact Wrestling, brother." 2) Aries responding to Hogan calling him out for infringing on other's gimmicks by saying, "I don't infringe on people's gimmicks, brother." 3) The plight of TJ Perkins.
• I'll expand on point three here. I get the decision to have Aries beat down Perkins to steal his Suicide suit to get into the X Division title match to win the belt and, in turn, a shot at Bully Ray and the heavyweight title. What I don't get is why Perkins was revealed as the real Suicide only to be brought back out this week in a new suit that looks just like the old suit but with a new name, "Manik." So, Suicide is really TJ Perkins, who is going to go back to wearing the Suicide ring gear but is now known as Manik. Oh, and they did a stretcher job for him in the main event anyway. It's unbelievable the sequence of events for this guy.
• Mickie James on that ladder. Mickie James cutting a promo. Mickie James being Mickie James. What else is there to say?
• I'm not sure why AJ Styles still looks like he hasn't showered since he was still living with his parents but memo to TNA: that does not make him look like a loose cannon who we aren't sure whether or not to trust. It just makes him look the guy you step over in New York City when you're worried he might slash at you and infect you with some incurable disease. That guy will never get over.
• Gut Check desperately needs to die. It wasn't a good idea when they first used it, found some life with the Joey Ryan angle, but that was lost when he was released thanks to the company bleeding money, and now we're left with Skidmark (Ryan Howe) getting shot down by Al Snow wearing something he stole from his dad's closet. It's ridiculous.
• Done with Joseph Park. His act was interesting at first, and his performance as a green as goose shit rookie was downright admirable but how much longer are they going to keep this going? He's not a rookie anymore. Hell, he's been around in this capacity for like a year now. Not only that, they actually did an angle where he was sent down to OVW to train in developmental. He shouldn't be wrestling like he still has no clue what he's doing. I'm all for the slow burn, but if you don't progress your characters, I'll stop giving a shit real fast. I know because I'm doing it here.
• Plus, why have we never seen someone sit Park down and try to figure out why he's going in and out of insan-o mode during matches? Shouldn't he be seeing a doctor for this? Where the hell is Dr. Sampson when you need him?
• Magnus is now in the Main Event Mafia and I'm really supposed to care so much more than I do. I will say this: Sting loves him, thinks he's a top guy worthy of headlining status, and he probably has the chops to get to that point in his career. I just don't connect to his character. I'm not saying he's not good, because he definitely is, I'm just saying he's not someone I would go out of my way to see. Your mileage may vary, however, and TNA, based on spoilers for next week, clearly has him in its plans for the immediate future. In fact, the idea of Styles winning the Bound for Glory Series looks like it has been put out of pasture in favor of Magnus.
• Hands down, the best part of this show was the main event, as it should be. Chris Sabin and Aries absolutely tore the house down. I also thought the Aces and 8s and Main Event Mafia weren't a terrible distraction on the outside keeping each other at bay. If you're going to have two warring factions, this is the way to use them against each other without featuring them too heavily and letting other, much younger and far more talented wrestlers, get their time in. I don't understand the push for Sabin, but if they see money in him, go for it. He's fun as hell when he gets between the ropes and that's really all that should matter, even if that's not the case.

Your typical effort from TNA. Plenty of awful, some bad, some good, some great.

Grade: C

That's it from me, Cagesiders. Now it's your turn to sound off in the comments section below with all your thoughts on last night's show.