By Chris Shore

TNA Impact Wrestling on SpikeTV
Taped on 5/16 Tupelo Mississippi.

[Q1] The recap video covered AJ Styles and Kurt Angle brawling, the destruction of Magnus, and the return of Abyss…Todd Keneley, Mike Tenay, and Taz checked in on commentary and Hulk Hogan made his ring entrance. Hogan said Styles could join Aces and Eights if he wanted to, but Angle was going to chase him until Slammiversary, and booked Angle vs. Styles. He announced the TNA Championship contract signing, and then called out Abyss.

Abyss's music hit, but nobody came out. Hogan said he wanted to thank Abyss man to man, and they played the music again. This time Joseph Park made his way to the ring. Park said he was shocked when his brother Abyss returned last week. He said he had spent all this time looking for him, and Abyss was there while he was at home resting up from his beating. Hogan said he wasn't playing around and they needed Abyss. He said if anybody knew where he was, it was his brother.

Devon and D-Lo interrupted Hogan with their music. They came to the ring and Devon said they wanted Abyss too. He demanded to know where Abyss was so he could get his pound of flesh. Park asked them how dare they and Devon said, "Get out of my face, fat boy." Park said they were starting to piss him off and challenged Devon to a match right then.

Devon told Park to shut up. D-Lo jumped in and begged Devon to let him beat up Park. Hogan booked D-Lo vs. Park. Devon said that was fine, but he was going to take a chunk out of Abyss's ass when he saw him. Hogan said after Park bet D-Lo, he was going to green light Park getting Abyss to go after Devon…

Backstage, Invisible Question Guy asked James Storm to comment on what happened in the tag match last week. Storm said, Watch. Just watch," and walked off…[C]

Shore's Slant: A fair opening segment. I'm not crazy about D-Lo vs. Park, but whatever. Hogan's threat at the end was also weird. I would think anyone would have the green light at any time to take out Aces and Eights.

[Q2] A Christian York hype video aired…Bobby Roode made his ring entrance. Chavo Guerrero was out next…

1. Bobby Roode vs. Chavo Guerrero. Roode had a little offense, and then Chavo started his comeback and hit the Three Amigos. Roode knocked Chavo to the floor before he could hit the frogsplash. Bobby Roode walked out and spit beer in Roode's face to cause an apparent DQ, but there was no official decision…

Bobby Roode apparently defeated Chavo Guerrero by disqualification at 4:29.

Kurt Angle was shown walking backstage…[C]

Shore's Slant: Meaningless match with a screwy finish. I had high hopes with Storm down last week, and I realize it’s still early in whatever story they are telling, but this was a weak follow-up. He was also injured by this point in the tapings too, so it's certainly possible what they had planned was better and scrapped at the last minute due to Storm's issues.

A video recapped the AJ Styles storyline and Kurt Angle made his ring entrance. Angle said he never backed down from a fight, so when AJ walked away, it pissed him off. Angle said Hogan announced it was going to be Angle vs. Styles one more time at Slammiversary, but he didn't want to wait. He said he wanted to do it tonight, and called for AJ to come out.

[Q3] Aces and Eights music hit and Anderson walked out. He said Angle sounded like a woman. He said AJ wasn't Angle's boy. He said next week, everyone would witness the
patching in" of AJ Styles to the gang. He double dog dared Angle to show up. Angle said he didn't want to wait until next week to fight and attacked Anderson.

Anderson slipped from the ring and AJ ran in from the crowd. He jumped in the ring, but didn't attack Angle. Angle turned around and saw him. They stared off for a moment, and then AJ hit a drop kick out of nowhere. Anderson applauded from the floor and Styles walked away up the ramp…[C]

Shore's Slant: Well, at least AJ beats up Aces and Eights next week. I'm a little bored with him just beating up TNA guys. I like the AJ storyline, but I'm restless for it to settle into whatever it's going to be after he rejects everyone.

A video recapped AJ's attack on Angle…A Jay Bradley hype video aired. He and York made their entrances…

2. Jay Bradley vs. Christian York in a Gut Check Bound for Glory Challenge semi-final match. Bradley took quick control and used his power on Silva. He tossed Silva in the air and hit a big boot for two. Bradley flipped out of a chin lock and hit a springboard elbow, but Bradley slammed and setup for his finisher clothesline.

York ducked and hit a kick on Bradley. He dropped Bradley in the corner and hit a cannonball. York went for the Mood Swinger, but Bradley escaped. York jumped off the top rope, but Bradley stepped aside and hit the Boom Stick for the win…

Jay Bradley advanced in the Gut Check Bound for Glory challenge at 3:56.

[Q4] Gail Kim and Velvet Sky were shown backstage…[C]

Shore's Slant: Not a great match from Bradley and York. Bradley has impressive height, but his body is not great yet. York has always seemed a step slow on this run to me. Unimpressive first showing from the developmental guys.

Backstage, the ICQ guy asked Storm what Hogan said about what happened as Storm came out of Hogan's office. Storm said Hogan told him that actions have consequences. Storm said nobody else's actions had consequences, like leaving him beat down. ICQ asked Storm what's next, and Storm told him to keep watching…Kim and Velvet made their entrances…Backstage, Anderson put over AJ's attack on Angle and told D-Lo he needed to win tonight…[C]

Backstage, Brooke Hogan put over Mickie James to her face. Mickie thanked her and said she wanted to have a bigger spot on Slammiversary. Brooke said she knew that, but she had to ley Taryn and Gail Kim do their thing. She booked Mickie vs. Velvet for the title for next week. Bully Ray walked up and chased Mickie off. He told Brooke to tell Hulk that there wouldn't be a contract signing as much as there would be a contract negotiation. Brooke asked him for a divorce and Ray said never. She pushed him away and walked off…

[Q5] 3. Gail Kim vs. Velvet Sky. Velvet got the quick control, but Kim moved in the corner and Velvet hit her injured leg on the turnbuckle. Kim worked the leg over and went to the top rope. Velvet pulled her off and started a comeback, but her leg gave out. She tried to hit the In Your Face anyway, but Kim slipped out and swept the leg. Kim went for something, but Velvet kicked her in the back, driving Kim into the buckle. Kim bounced out and Velvet rolled her up for the win…

Velvet Sky defeated Gail Kim at 6:18.

Post-match, Kim put the ring post figure four on Velvet until ODB caused her to break the hold…A video hyped the X Division title match…[C]

Shore's Slant: Velvet Sky still can't wrestle, but give the devil her due. The Knockouts are at the top of the second hour again. I don't know if that's Velvet or Kim, but they have some interesting things going on in that division. I think her reign is over next week though, when Mickie turns to take the title. If not there then at the PPV. It’s coming.

[Q5] A video hyped the return of Suicide next week…In the ring, Christy Williams handled Old School ring introductions for the X Division match…

4. Kenny King vs. Chris Sabin vs. Petey Williams for the X Division Championship. King slid to the floor and let Sabin and Williams go first. Sabin dumped Williams to the floor and King slid in to attack, but Sabin saw him so they squared off. King hit a Pele kick to knock Sabin down, and Petey hit a face buster on King.

King came right back and settled into a singles match pace after hitting a kick on Sabin, who had tried to enter the ring. King hit a hangman on Williams, but Sabin recovered and attacked King. Williams shoved Sabin to the floor, hit a dive, and then ran a comeback on King. He setup for the Canadian Destroyer, but Sabin again recovered and clotheslined Williams.

Sabin went for a tornado DDT on King, but King escaped and hit a kick on Sabin. He hit a nasty backbreaker on Williams for two. He lifted Petey, but Sabin kicked King to stop him. He tied King to the Tree of Woe and then hit a DVD on King. Sabin setup for his finisher on Williams, and King recovered quickly to hit a running knee on Sabin to take him out, and then Royal Flush on Petey for the win…

Kenny King retained the x Division Championship at 7:16.

Backstage, Christopher Daniels fretted over Storm coming after he and Kazarian. Kazarian said he had Daniels's back in the match with Hernandez and not to worry…[C]

Shore's Slant: Pretty good match. Even though he's still in the next match, but this win by King did kind of take some of the shine off Sabin with him not winning here. Looks like a flaw in the triple threat format I didn't consider before. This has been a fast show. Usually that means it has been a good show, but that's not the case here. It hasn't been a particularly bad show, more uninspiring than anything, but they have managed to walk that line between fast paced and crash TV well tonight.

Backstage, D-Lo thanked Anderson for saving him from Bully Ray. Anderson said he didn't do it for D-Lo, he did it for the club. He pointed out that D-Lo had been in hot water since he buried Wes and Garett. D-Lo said he knew he made a mistake and he wanted to make it right. Anderson said he was pulling for him and walked off…

5. Christopher Daniels (w/Kazarian) vs. Hernandez. Daniels tried to slam Hernandez, so Hernandez clubbed him down. He hit Air Mexico and posed for a good pop, but Kaz distracted him and Daniels attacked from behind.

[Q7] Daniels dumped Hernandez to the floor for Kaz to beat on, but Hernandez recovered quickly back in the ring and fought back. He missed a splash in the corner, and that's when Storm walked out. Daniels watched Storm walked out, and that let Hernandez hit the shoulder tackle of death to win.

Hernandez defeated Christopher Daniels at 4:28.

Post-match, Storm announced the Slammiversary tag title match would be Hernandez and Chavo vs. Roode and Aries, Bad Influence, and Storm and a partner of his choice…[C]

Shore's Slant: I'm interested to see if Garett and Wes help D-Lo here after an apology. The match between Hernandez and Daniels was a snoozer. Everyone, including me, was watching the entrance. That and Hernandez is terrible in the ring. Let me get this straight. The flying over the top rope shoulder tackle is less powerful than the standing shoulder tackle? Physics can be your friend TNA.

6. D-Lo Brown vs. Joseph Park. Park and Brown (sounds like a law firm!) waddled around the ring, hitting each other with strikes, clotheslines, and belly bumps. D-Lo pummeled Park in the corner until Park was busted open. Park saw his own blood and snapped.

[Q8] Park slammed into D-Lo in the corner and hit a Black Hole Slam for the win…

Joseph Park defeated D-Lo Brown at 4:41.

Post-match, Park seemed to snap out of his fugue and asked the ref what happened…[C]

Shore's Slant: No apology before the match, and no help from the gang. I don't think D-Lo is ultimately dumped from the group, but who knows at this point? I don't know why he's even in it at all. The silly split-personality story coming with Park has the potential to be epically bad. I hope not, but these types of stories never seem to work in wrestling.

Jeremy Borash stood at a podium in the ring and introduced Bully Ray. He shoved Borash to the mat, so JB beat it. Ray said his name and gave his pedigree. He said they were going to have a contract negotiation, not a contract signing, and called out Sting. Ray stopped Sting halfway down the ramp and called out Hogan so they could make it official. Hogan came to the stage.

Ray said this was the first time they were face to face since he screwed everyone over. He said if Sting was looking for an apology it wasn't going to happen. Sting told Ray he should break Sting's arm and leg, cut his throat out, put his eyes out, and make him bleed. Ray asked him what was wrong with him and Sting said if Ray didn't do those things to him, he's going to do them to Ray. He said he didn't have any demands initially, but since Ray asked, he wanted a No Holds Barred match.

Ray agreed, if Sting promised, and signed, to never challenge for the championship again when he lost. Hogan told Sting not to do it. Ray said there was Hogan making decisions for Sting again. He again asked Sting for the stipulation. Sting accepted, and then beat down Bully Ray to close the show…

Shore's Slant: I have to admit that the idea of Sting never challenging again is an interesting twist. It's wrestling so they can always ignore the stipulation down the road, but it's Sting. I find it surprising TNA would even saddle him with the stipulation considering they think he and Hogan are the money makers. Not a bad ending, and an interesting stip, but I still don't want to see Sting here at all. He needs to be in feature matches, not World Title stories. Jason Powell will have more tomorrow in the Hitlist and audio review. Thanks for watching along tonight.

Questions? Comments? Anyone, anyone? Let me hear from you. Email me at css3238@gmail.com or tweet me @TheShoreSlant with whatever is on your mind.

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