Bully Ray retained the TNA world heavyweight championship by pinning Sting after tons of interference by Aces and Eights members in their main event bout last Sunday evening at Slammiversary. If stipulations are to be followed (admittedly, there is a questionable pro wrestling track record in that regard), that means Sting will no longer be eligible to wrestle for the company's most prestigious prize as he agreed that would be the case if he lost to Ray.
Given the continued storyline involvement of Brooke and Hulk Hogan, this finish made sense if they are still heading toward an eventual Hogan chase of one more world title. Hogan has been battling age, cumulative career injuries and probably plenty of professional resentment during recent years. The Hulkster seems unable or unwilling to voluntarily step permanently out of the main event spotlight coveted by the young lions who have seemingly been waiting forever to escape his huge shadow.
The pay-per-view's finish could also portend the departure of Sting when his annual contract with TNA expires in January. That naturally resurrects the rumor of a possible match between Sting and the Undertaker at WrestleMania 30. It would be justification for Sting to make the long-awaited jump to WWE and give fans a fresh match-up that would also be one of the few legitimate dream matches currently on the horizon.
Kurt Angle, who gave an interview recently that indicated he might consider a WWE return down the road if he could get a part-time schedule, upended A.J. Styles in another of the ppv's top bouts. Taryn Terrell beat Gail Kim in a pretty solid Last Person Standing match. James Storm and Gunner won the tag team titles in a four-team event over Aries and Roode, Kazarian and Daniels and the duo of Guererro and Hernandez.
Chris Sabin captured the X-Division crown in a three-way over Kenny King and Suicide. Magnus, Samoa Joe and Jeff Hardy prevailed over Brisco, Bischoff and Anderson. Abyss became TV champ by defeating Devon after Joseph Parks was unable to make it to the ring due to some pre-match chicanery. Dixie Carter announced Kurt Angle's induction into the TNA Hall of Fame.
Axel's wife pulls plug
Over at WWE at Raw, Curtis Axel was announced as an opponent for Triple H before his wife Stephanie pulled the plug on the bout. Vince McMahon was out to support that decision even though Hunter was not on board with it and ready to lose his mind, which seemed to be at the point of not allowing him to work. Instead, Axel wrestled John Cena in a decent main event cut short by the interference of Ryback, who attacked Cena.
Paul Heyman, as proxy for his client C.M. Punk, attended a contract signing for the next pay-per-view with Chris Jericho. Heyman tried to convince Y2J that he shouldn't bother to show up at Payback because it will be held in Chicago, where Punk will be the hometown favorite. That didn't quite work the way Heyman had hoped, as Jericho didn't back down a bit.
Alberto Del Rio pinned Big E Langston and Sheamus got the best of Cody Rhodes. Miz stopped Wade Barrett with the figure four after Fandango distracted Barrett with his dancing. There was another Wyatt family vignette and Daniel Bryan picked up a DQ victory over Ryback in their bout when Ryback lost it and power bombed Bryan through a table. Problem was, it wasn't a tables match.
Two more books
Count George (The Animal) Steele and Bob Holly among those who now have books out on their wrestling careers. The suspicion here is that both should be very interesting, though Steele clearly had a more successful and enduring career overall. He was also a great interview subject when we visited with him six years ago at a Harrisburg Senators game where he was signing autographs and threw out the ceremonial first pitch.