Magnus defeated Jeff Hardy at a TNA Impact Wrestling taping event tonight to become the new TNA World Heavyweight Champion.

After several weeks (and what will be months by the time this match airs) of tournament matches, Magnus and Jeff Hardy faced off in a "Dixieland" match to determine the winner of the vacant title. The spot was left empty when the "real" world champion, AJ Styles, left TNA Wrestling following his win at Bound for Glory, and took the title with him. The Dixieland match started inside a steel cage, which the opponents were forced to escape. Once outside the cage, the title was suspended above the entrance ramp, with ladders made readily available for use.

TNA President Dixie Carter was ringside for the match, as was her nephew Ethan Carter III, and her assistant Rockstar Spud. They all got involved in some way during the match, basically costing Jeff Hardy the world title. To end the broadcast, Magnus celebrated with the Carter family and Rockstar Spud. This was his first World Championship win, and his first major singles title in professional wrestling. Magnus is a former two-time tag team champion, as well as a former IWGP tag team champion, and has been slowly turning heel since his controversial win at Bound for Glory this October.

TNA will be visiting the United Kingdom in early 2014, which is likely to at least be a partial reason for putting the title on him now. If they were to turn him heel, doing so in the UK (where he is from) and alongside Dixie Carter would draw him massive heat.

No it won't. They'll just cheer him and boo AJ.

^ Shhhh, this is an awesome moment. SO SHhhh

Magnus is the TNA World Champion now.

"TNA will be visiting the United Kingdom in early 2014, which is likely to at least be a partial reason for putting the title on him now. If they were to turn him heel, doing so in the UK (where he is from) and alongside Dixie Carter would draw him massive heat."

That woulda been a genius idea