TNA Impact Wrestling: Complete Preview, Rumors, News and More for January 2

After another wild week of Impact Wrestling that saw the possible retirement of Jeff Hardy, TNA is moving into 2014 with an action-packed episode of the company’s flagship show.

With the New Year’s festivities still fresh on everyone’s mind, there is no better way to celebrate than with the coronation of the new TNA World Heavyweight champion Magnus.

President Dixie Carter will be gloating about how her new face of the company earned the title at Final Resolution, and there would be no better time for AJ Styles to return to the Impact Zone than during this celebration.

Here is all the vital viewing information for this Thursday’s episode and a preview of the show.

Where: Universal Studios, Orlando, Fla.

When: Thursday, Jan. 2, 9 p.m. ET (Pre-taped)

Watch: Spike TV

The Coronation of Magnus

After spending last week in England celebrating his championship victory, Magnus will return to the Impact Zone on Thursday. Dixie Carter has planned a huge celebration for the official coronation of the new champion, but there are few times in wrestling that an event like this isn’t spoiled by a major protagonist.

This must be the moment AJ Styles makes his triumphant return.

Question on Everybody’s Mind: Will Styles Show up in TNA?

Despite the constant rumors and speculation about Styles’ contract with TNA, there is no doubt that he will come back at some point over the next two weeks and try to fight Magnus in order to prove his worth as the undisputed champion.

The whole purpose of this storyline was to build AJ as the ultimate anti-authority figure, and with Magnus taking the role of corporate champion, there is no better moment for the real titleholder to make his presence felt than at the coronation.

Photo via ImpactWrestling.com

Hype Meter: 5 out of 5 Epic Returns

Styles has been booked in the same way CM Punk was against Vince McMahon and the WWE’s authority in 2011, but TNA has played the angle much slower. The only criticism of the Punk storyline was that the company rushed him back to television, and Impact Wrestling has not made that same mistake.

The hope is that all the talk of his contract running out is just a scripted portion of the show and that Styles has re-signed long term. With everyone fooled, the face of the company can return on Thursday and spoil the celebration.

Once he ruins the party, the next step is a title unification match.

TNA Rumors: Latest Rumors Surrounding AJ Styles’ Contract Talks, according to PWInsider (via Wrestling Inc).

Austin Aries Defends the Title Against Chris Sabin

Austin Aries is one of the most talented wrestlers in the industry today, but he has been seriously underutilized by TNA over the last year. While there is hope that the former world champion will be heading back to the main event scene soon via the X Division Championship, there is also a feeling of doom hanging over Aries’ title reign.

Aries will defend the belt against Chris Sabin this week on Impact, and judging from the comments from Sabin to his girlfriend Velvet Sky in the backstage area last week, there could be a dirty finish that furthers a major storyline.

Question on Everybody’s Mind: Is Aries Going to Lose the Title?

Sabin and Aries have formed a great chemistry in the ring over the years, and the resultant matches always steal the show. This Thursday’s title match should be no different, but the continued tease of Velvet Sky as a reluctant heel accomplice has to be going somewhere.

If Velvet Sky goes full heel Thursday, Sabin will win back the championship.

There is always a chance Aries just wins the match clean and proves to be the better man, thus winning the hand of Sky as his valet, but the continued backstage work between Sabin and Sky is teasing a heel turn.

Photo via ImpactWrestling.com

Hype Meter: 4 out of 5 Long-Term Storylines

Whether Aries loses the title Thursday or not, the hope is that the long-term booking of this angle leads to The Greatest Man That Ever Lived back in the world title scene, possibly with Sky as his valet. Sabin has proven to be a great worker and a valuable asset to the company, but he is not a top star.

With the X Division Championship around his waist, a vanquished Sabin and a new valet in Sky, Aries would look incredibly strong if he were to cash in his title for a chance at the TNA World Heavyweight Championship later this year.

TNA News: Impact Ratings Climb, per Raj Giri of Wrestling Inc.

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