Preview Thursday’s IMPACT WRESTLING broadcast on SpikeTV at 8/7c as the road to the June “Slammiversary” event continues! Reminder: Beginning May 30, IMPACT moves back to its old time at 9/8c on SpikeTV! Thursdays at 8/7C until then!

Thursday’s IMPACT is LIVE on SpikeTV from Tampa, Florida, at the USF Sun Dome – ORDER TICKETS AT TICKETMASTER

- Has a TNA Original finally turned his back on the company and the fans? The Aces and Eights have announced that on Thursday’s IMPACT from Tampa, they will hold a “Patching In” ceremony to officially welcome AJ Styles to the group!

- How will TNA General Manager Hulk Hogan react to the news that AJ is joining the Aces? Hogan will be on IMPACT in Tampa to address the situation!

-In a huge match Kurt Angle will take on Mr. Anderson from Aces and 8s renewing their rivalry.

- The final countdown is on to Sting vs. Bully Ray for the World Heavyweight Championship at Slammiversary! Both champion and challenger will be in attendance on Thursday’s IMPACT – will Bully Ray and The Aces attempt to eliminate Sting before their title match?

-James Storm announced last week on IMPACT that he will be in the Tag Team Title Match at Slammiversary. Who will “The Cowboy” select to be his partner? Find out this Thursday on Impact!

- The TNA Knockouts championship will be on the line on Thursday’s huge broadcast as Velvet Sky will defend the gold against her friend (and former titleholder) Mickie James!

- The GutCheck Tournament continues on Thursday for a spot in the upcoming “Bound For Glory Series”, as Sam Shaw battles Alex Silva

- The mysterious masked X-Division superstar SUICIDE makes his return IMPACT WRESTLING on Thursday as well!

The goal is to raise $30,000 over the next 93 days.

ORIGINAL: TNA X-Division wrestler Zema Ion recently had to be rushed to the hospital for severe stomach pains. He posted the following on Twitter…

“Good morning! Ended up goin to the hospital afterall last night. And long story short….it was one of the smartest things i could have done”

He then added the following update though Facebook, noting that he had appendicitis and that doctors found a tumor on his colon…

“I’m alive! Seriously thank you all for the get well wishes. Means the world to me. I was rushed to the hospital lasts night for sharp stomach pains i was having. I couldnt stop puking. For like 9 straight hours. I didnt wanna go to the hosptial, but the pain was too much to handle. Thank god i went, as i ended up having appendicitis and had to have my appendix removed today. I consider this a blessing in disguise too, coz the cat scans also revealed that i have a tumor on my colon and will eventually need another surgery to try and remove it. Hoping it is not cancerous. Pray for me! This really sucks lol”

– According to sources, TNA is either close or has a deal to produce a new video game. It was reported back in February that TNA President Dixie Carter and TNA producer Jason Hervey met with Activision about a new video game. TNA never released a follow up to “TNA Impact” produced by Midway back in 2008.

– The May 16th edition of TNA iMPACT! Wrestling drew 1.05 million viewers. That is down 17% from last week’s 1.27 million. The viewership is the lowest of the year and in fact the lowest of the post-Monday Night iMPACT! era. The show was up against the high-profile New York Knicks vs. Indiana Pacers game, which drew a big 4.6 million viewers and likely hurt the iMPACT! rating. The final rating will be out shortly.

UPDATE: Last night’s TNA iMPACT! Wrestling did a 0.84 (0.8) cable rating, down 17% from last week’s show. The rating is the lowest since October 4th. The show ranked #34 among cable shows in overall viewers and #19 on the male 18 – 34 and male 18 – 49 demos.

The show was down a tenth in both key male demos.

“Good morning! Ended up goin to the hospital afterall last night. And long story short….it was one of the smartest things i could have done”

He then added the following update though Facebook, noting that he had appendicitis and that doctors found a tumor on his colon…

“I’m alive! Seriously thank you all for the get well wishes. Means the world to me. I was rushed to the hospital lasts night for sharp stomach pains i was having. I couldnt stop puking. For like 9 straight hours. I didnt wanna go to the hosptial, but the pain was too much to handle. Thank god i went, as i ended up having appendicitis and had to have my appendix removed today. I consider this a blessing in disguise too, coz the cat scans also revealed that i have a tumor on my colon and will eventually need another surgery to try and remove it. Hoping it is not cancerous. Pray for me! This really sucks lol”

John Klinger (Germany)
Shanna (France)
Barry Ryte
Chance Prophet
Dab Savage
Dimitri Soliotopoulos (France)
Facade
Jake Dirden
Judas Yorick
AJ Kirsch
LuFisto

Five additional matches were announced for the pay-per-view event, which emanates live from Agganis Arena on the campus of Boston University on Sunday, June 2. The updated card is as follows:

* Bully Ray defends the TNA World Heavyweight Championship against Sting – billed as “Sting’s Last Shot.”

* AJ Styles will face Kurt Angle.

* In a Four Team Elimination Tag Team Championship Match, Chavo Guerrero and Hernandez defend the TNA World Tag Team Championship against Christopher Daniels and Kazarian, Austin Aries and Bobby Roode, and “Cowboy” James Storm and a mystery partner.

* Devon defends the TNA Television Championship against Joseph Park.

* Kenny King defends the X Division Championship in an Ultimate X Match against Chris Sabin and an opponent to be determined.

* Taryn Terrell will square off against Gail Kim.

So just to recap, here is the updated card for the TNA Slammiversary pay-per-view:

No Holds Barred World Title Match:
(If Sting loses, he never gets another TNA World Title shot)
Bully Ray vs. Sting

A.J. Styles vs. Kurt Angle

Elimination World Tag Team Title Match:
Chavo Guerrero and Hernandez vs. Christopher Daniels and Kazarian, Austin Aries and Bobby Roode, and James Storm and a mystery partner

TNA TV Title Match:
Devon vs. Joseph Park

X-Division Title Match:
Kenny King vs. Chris Sabin vs. opponent to be determined

Taryn Terrell vs. Gail Kim

– The latest rumor coming out of TNA is that the company is close to signing a new video game deal. We hope to have more on this shortly.

– While Rob Van Dam is said to be considering signing with either WWE or TNA, word is that he has not had any recent talks with TNA. As noted yesterday here on the website, RVD will return to the ring on June 21st for Family Wrestling Entertainment in Queens, NY at the ELMCOR Center. He will be facing former WWE and ECW rival Tommy Dreamer in Van Dam’s first post-TNA match. The event will also feature John Morrison vs. Carlito, a 30 Man Rumble, Paul London vs. Akio (Jimmy Wang Yang), Petey Williams vs. Brian Kendrick and more.

Dixie Carter recently spoke about the future of TNA and the name Magnus came up. Here is what she had to say…

“Magnus could be the future of our company. He was only 21 when I signed him and I don’t think people realize that because he looked so much more mature than that. He’s really grown. He’s a fabulous talker and his in-ring work has come so far. He’s gorgeous and carries himself like a superstar. Magnus is the real deal.”

Do you agree with Dixie Carter’s above comments about Magnus? Let us know in the comments section below!

– The Las Vegas press conference was also mentioned on several local affiliates, including this blurb for the local CBS affiliate.

– Kurt Angle appeared at Wednesday’s “The Rumble on the Rails”, USA vs. Iran vs. Russia event at the Grand Central Terminal in New York City. The amateur wrestling aired on the NBC Sports Network. ImpactWrestling.com has the story, including photos of Angle at the event and talking with ESPN personalities. Angle was also shown during ESPN’s coverage of the event. The company had a production team on hand to film his appearance so that may show up on iMPACT! either tonight or next week. The event was held to help save wrestling as an Olympic sport.

“Right at 8pm tonight on @SpikeTV @HulkHogan will name @AJStylesOrg #Slammiversary opponent! Plus Hulk calls out @TherealAbyss!” she wrote.

– ODB revealed on Twitter that she will be a special guest bartender tonight at The Squared Circle restaurant located at 2418 N. Ashland Chicago, Illinois.

She wrote, “gonna b at the @theSQDcircle tonite 7-9pm as your special guest bartender n @BrianStiffler will b there hopefully w out his stiffy cam #BAM.”

More information on the restaurant, which is owned by TNA Knockout Tara, is available here.

– Tonight on iMPACT! Wrestling, former Gut Check participants will battle in a tournament for a spot in the upcoming Bound For Glory Series. In the first match of the tourney, Jay Bradley will face Christian York. The official YouTube account of TNA Wrestling has released the following video previewing the contest.