Bleacher Report - Kurt Angle

TNA Impact Wrestling: Complete Preview, News and More for May 23

Donald Wood — Wed, 22 May 2013 08:42:54 -0400

There are just two episodes of TNA’s Impact Wrestling left until June’s Slammiversary pay-per-view, and the excitement around Thursday’s show, combined with the build to the next marquee event, has fans everywhere ready for the upcoming action.

Not only will Bully Ray and Sting likely find a way to get face-to-face before the night is over, but this action-packed episode will also feature AJ Styles possibly joining Aces & Eights, Kurt Angle squaring off against Mr. Anderson and the return of the infamous Suicide character.

With this much exciting action scheduled for Thursday’s Impact Wrestling from Tampa, hardcore and casual TNA fans alike can’t afford to miss a second of the build to June’s mega PPV.

Where: USF Sun Dome, Tampa, Fla.

When: Thursday, May 23 at 8 p.m. ET

Watch: Spike TV

AJ Styles and the Aces & Eights

According to Hulk Hogan, Kurt Angle, Mr. Anderson and AJ Styles will make the full heel turn and join the Aces & Eights this week on Impact. With so much focus on the gang already—Devon is fighting Joseph Park at the PPV, Angle is fighting Anderson and the world title is around Bully Ray’s waist—there are doubts that Styles will join Aces & Eights Thursday.

Question on Everybody's Mind: Is AJ Styles Joining Aces and Eights?

As much as TNA wants the fans to believe he is going heel, there is little doubt in my mind that Styles will end up Pele-kicking a member of Aces & Eights in the face before also attacking one of the good guys. The longer Styles stays as the mysterious character, the better he will be received from the fans.

While most believe Styles will turn down the cut, Bully Ray says he has AJ's vest ready:

Hype Meter: 4 out of 5 Sting vs. nWo Storylines

Styles is one of the most talented workers in TNA, but if you feel like you have seen this storyline before, it’s because this is heading down the exact same road Sting was on when he became The Crow version of Sting and teased joining nWo.

With Styles fighting Angle at the next PPV, expect him to prolong the decision to join the gang while remaining a tweener closer to the heel side in order to keep the intrigue surrounding the matchup. How TNA plays this angle out on this week’s Impact will have major long-term ramifications.

TNA News: Impact’s Ratings Continue to Plummet (Wrestling Inc.)

The Build to Slammiversary

Not only will wrestling fans be treated to Sting vs. Bully Ray for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship at Slammiversary, but the rest of the card for the event is shaping up to be just as thrilling. With the focus Thursday on building the rest of the card before the final go-home show, the fans should have a clear picture of what the PPV will look like by the time this episode is over.

Question on Everybody's Mind: Will Impact Help Build Interest for Slammiversary?

The fact that the card is shaping up to be even better than Lockdown or Genesis already has fans genuinely excited for the June 2nd show. Add in the intrigue of who James Storm will select as his tag team partner Thursday and what the status of Abyss will be, and there is no question that the excitement is building.

Even TNA president Dixie Carter is excited about Thursday's episode:

Hype Meter: 4 out of 5 Tri-Monthly PPVs

The decision to move to four major PPVs each year was a smart business move for a company still trying to make its mark on the industry, and the success of Thursday’s Impact will directly affect how well this event is received. In order to get wrestling fans interested and keep them involved enough to order the PPV, TNA must make this the most interesting show of the year. With a roster full of talent, that shouldn’t be an issue.

TNA News: President Dixie Carter Wants to Work with WWE (Digital Spy)

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TNA Impact! Wrestling: Bully Ray and Sting Pick Title Match Stipulations

Daniel Peragine — Fri, 17 May 2013 08:53:31 -0400

The Thursday, May 16 edition of TNA Impact! Wrestling, which was taped from Tupelo, MS. opened with a video package recapping the shocking return of Abyss last week to television.

Hulk Hogan got Impact! Wrestling started by coming out to the ring. Hogan grew impatient with A.J. Styles' reluctance to join TNA against Aces and Eights and booked him to face Kurt Angle in a match at the upcoming Slammiversary pay-per-view.

After calling out Abyss to the ring, Joseph Park arrived instead.

Park talked about Abyss and his return to TNA last week on Impact! Wrestling. Suddenly, Devon and D-Lo Brown of Aces and Eights interrupted and entered the ring. After a back and forth argument between Park and Devon, Hogan took control of the microphone.

Hogan booked a match between Brown and Park on Impact! Wrestling.

Match No. 1: Bobby Roode vs. Chavo Guerrero.

No contest match.

Not the start Impact! Wrestling needed, as this match was decent at best. During the match, James Storm came out to the ring and spit beer into the face of Roode, causing the disqualification. The crowd was pretty silent throughout the match.

Match Rating: 2/5.

After a commercial break, Angle stood inside the ring and called out Styles. However, Mr. Anderson came out instead. As Angle delivered a few punches to Mr. Anderson, Styles emerged at ringside.

Angle turned around and began shouting at Styles. Styles took matters into his own hands and knocked out Angle in the middle of the ring.

Match No. 2: Jay Bradley vs. Christian York.

Your winner via pin fall: Jay Bradley.

Unimpressive match between Bradley and York, as both wrestlers didn't show their true potential. Bradley and York have all the skills to become bright new talents on the TNA roster but their chemistry inside the ring did not seem to click.

Match Rating: 2.5/5.

Match No. 3: Gail Kim vs. Velvet Sky.

Your winner via pin fall: Velvet Sky.

After the match, Kim attempted to injure Sky by locking in a figure-four leg lock on the ring post. Another uneventful match, as it appears Sky's title reign could be coming to a close with Mickie James set to wrestle her next week on Impact! Wrestling in Tampa, Fl.

Match Rating: 2.5/5.

Match No. 4: Petey Williams vs. Chris Sabin vs. Kenny King for the X-Division Championship.

Your winner via pin fall to retain the X-Division Championship: Kenny King.

A solid triple threat championship match with some impressive in-ring work. There was no reason for TNA to take the title off of King, who has done good work as a heel X-Division champion.

Match Rating: 3/5.

Match No. 5: Christopher Daniels vs. Hernandez.

Your winner via pin fall: Hernandez.

Quickly after the match, Storm came out once more and announced a four-way tag team title match at Slammiversary. Nothing special to note about this match, as it simply helped lead in to Storm's announcement.

Match Rating: 2/5.

Match No. 6: D-Lo Brown vs. Joseph Park.

Your winner via pin fall: Joseph Park.

Brown's future in the Aces and Eights club appears to be in major jeopardy after another loss. It would not be shocking to see Brown get kicked out of the group in the near future.

Match Rating: 2.5/5.

TNA announcer Jeremy Borash introduced Bully Ray to the ring. After Ray stepped inside the ring, the champion forced Borash to the outside. Ray called out Sting to the ring to negotiate their match stipulations.

As Sting came forward to the ring, Ray called out Hogan to join them. Sting demanded a No Holds Barred match for the title at Slammiversary. Ray fired back, telling Sting that if he loses at Slammiversary, "The Icon" will no longer be able to compete for the belt in TNA again.

Sting accepted Ray's challenge. Afterwards, the two brawled inside the ring as Impact! Wrestling faded to black.

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