TNA Slammiversary PPV results
June 2, 2013
Boston, Mass.
Report by James Caldwell, PWTorch assistant editor

Third Hour PPV Results

After the Knockouts match, TNA ran a video package on the build-up to A.J. Styles vs. Kurt Angle in the PPV semi-main event tonight.

In-ring: Kurt Angle was introduced first for the PPV semi-main event. Then, a new theme music that sounded like a Johnny Cash tribute played to bring out A.J. Styles. The crowd was completely silenced by the captivating new theme song. No sign of Styles as the announcers laid out. Christy Hemme then announced Styles, who slowly emerged on-stage with his head covered by the hood of his black jacket. The announcers stressed Styles walking alone, then Styles, dressed in all-black, hit the ring and stared down Angle.

8 -- KURT ANGLE vs. A.J. STYLES

The two men paced the ring before Styles tried a leg takedown, but Angle avoided. Styles smirked, then went after Angle's taped left knee. Angle shook it off, then put a boot in Styles's throat. Styles absorbed the corner attack, then went back to the left knee to find an opening. Styles tried his new calf-killer submission, but Angle grabbed the bottom rope to force a rope-break.

Angle suddenly exploded on Styles with an inside-out clothesline, putting both men on the mat. The crowd tried to generate some energy with a slow-clap before the two men returned to their feet trading bombs. Angle then put together two clotheslines and a belly-to-belly suplex for a nearfall. It took a lot out of Angle, who sold knee pain, giving Styles an opening to suplex Angle for a nearfall of his own.

At 10:00, Styles delivered a slingshot elbow drop for another nearfall. Styles very slowly tried to climb the top turnbuckle for a moonsault, but Angle popped to his feet and threw Styles down to the mat, but Styles landed on his feet, only to have Angle suplex him neck-first into the turnbuckle. That flurry woke up the crowd and fired up Angle. It also fired up Styles, who suddenly put together three strikes into a clothesline for a two count. But, Angle came back with an Angle Slam for a close two count.

Angle dropped the straps, then wanted the Anklelock, but Styles easily escaped and shoved Angle to the corner. Angle hobbled toward Styles, who rolled Angle to the mat into the calf-killer center-ring. Angle teased tapping out, but then rolled through into the Anklelock. Angle grapevined Styles this time, but Styles rolled on his back to kick Angle in the face for an escape.

At 14:30, Styles side-stepped Angle, who went flying into the corner turnbuckle. Styles then hung up Angle in the corner and delivered a basement dropkick. Styles wanted to follow with a springboard dive, but Angle moved and Styles ate the mat. Angle then rolled up Styles for a close two count. More counters and reversals, then Angle stacked up Styles center-ring and managed to trap Styles's shoulders to the mat for a three count.

Post-match, Styles, frustrated, rolled out of the ring as Angle stood tall in the ring. Angle then left the ring and slowly walked down the entrance ramp as the announcers stressed Angle winning with fundamentals. TNA cut to a shot of the announcers to react and Styles walked right in the middle of the camera shot, drawing the announcers's attention.

WINNER: Angle at 15:45. They seemed to be feeling each other for about the first 10 minutes with a different A.J. Styles facing Angle tonight, then the last six minutes was fantastic. Best Match thus far. But, it's going to be difficult for Styles to be taken seriously after all this build-up with his Lone Wolf character and he loses on PPV. (***1/4)

Backstage: The camera focused on the back of Bully Ray's head. Bully then turned around to cut a promo on Sting. Ray stressed bringing back the piledriver tonight because it's No Holds Barred. Ray said he's "tipping his cap" to Sting because he wants Sting to know what's going to beat him tonight. "I'm going to break your neck," Ray declared.

Video Package: Sting vs. Bully Ray feud leading to their main event title match tonight.

Tale of the Tape: The announcers broke down the bullet-points on the match. Tenay noted that Sting beat Matt Morgan to get this title shot, then noted Sting is trying to wrestle control of the company back to TNA if he can defeat Bully tonight.

In-ring: Sting was introduced to a loud reaction. Sting took his time marching to the ring as Tenay noted that TNA has dominated Aces & Eights tonight. Once in the ring, Sting bounced up and down playing to the crowd before Aces & Eights's music played. Out came Bully Ray by himself through the back entrance. Bully took his sweet time coming to the ring as Keneley tried to ask Taz about using the piledriver, which annoyed Taz, who said he wanted to discuss it during the match. Taz then filled time talking N.Y. vs. Boston before Ray embraced Taz on the way to the ring.

Before the match started, ring announcer Jeremy Borash handled formal ring introductions. Sting, at 265 pounds, was introduced first. Bully, introduced at 275 pounds, was booed as he paced the ring staring down Sting. Ray turned to pose and taunt the crowd, then he turned around and ate a Stinger Splash. The bell sounded at 9:35 to begin the match.

9 -- TNA World Hvt. champion BULLY RAY vs. STING -- TNA World Title match -- No Holds Barred -- Sting's final TNA Title shot

Sting dominated Ray early on, rocking the champ. About five fans chanted, "You still got it," insulting Sting. It picked up to about 25 fans chanting, then died out. Sting requested the title belt from So Cal Val, then he used it to inflict more punishment to Ray. On the floor, Sting wanted a big Stinger Splash into the guardrail, but Ray intercepted him with a big knock-down clothesline.

Ray posed, then used the title belt as a weapon before handing it over to Taz. Ray proceeded to open up Sting's t-shirt and chop away at his chest. Ray then went under the ring looking for weapons, but didn't find anything that he wanted. Ray went back to right-hand blows, then a chair was introduced into the match. Sting stole the chair, then stalked Ray, but Brooke Hogan suddenly walked out on-stage covering her mouth with her hands. Sting told ref Earl Hebner to get her out of here, then Sting popped Ray across the back with the chair. Sting then grabbed Brooke and told her to leave.

After Brooke disappeared to the back, Sting walked back to Ray to re-focus on the situation. Only, the situation turned into a hard low-blow from Bully. Ray then cracked the chair across Sting's back several times, which sent Sting reeling back into the ring. In the ring, Ray delivered the piledriver, but Sting kicked out in-time. Tenay said Ray cost himself the match because he telegraphed the piledriver ahead of time. (Assuming Sting actually watched Ray's pre-match promo.)

Ray, stunned, went under the ring and retrieved a table that he set up in the ring. Sting, now sporting a ripped-up t-shirt, cut off Bully before going for ten corner punches, but Ray intercepted. Ray then carried Sting across the ring before powerbombing Sting through the table, wow'ing the crowd. Ray covered, but Sting rolled a shoulder to escape the pin.

Ray, stunned, went to the floor and began ripping up the ring. Ray stripped away the canvas, revealing the floor-boards below. "E-C-W" chant as Ray exposed the wood. Ray then wanted a piledriver on the floor-boards and connected. Sting sold being out cold, then Ray covered Sting, but Sting rolled a shoulder again to escape a pin. "What?!" the announcers said in unison. They needed Don West to accurately capture the moment.

Ray wanted another piledriver, but Sting back-body-dropped Ray across the ring. Sting and Ray avoided each other's follow-up offense, then Sting delivered a Scorpion Deathdrop into the wood. Sting covered, but Garett Bischoff suddenly hit the ring. The Aces & Eights C-Team roughed up Sting as Tenay flipped out. Taz quietly said they are playing within the No Holds Barred rules.

Fifty-four-year-old Sting fought off the C-Team with low-blows, then chucked Garett Bischoff over the top rope onto the entrance ramp. Sting stumbled around the ring, then intercepted a chain from Devon. Sting smashed Ray with the chain, covered, but Devon yanked ref Earl Hebner out of the ring. Keneley noted it's the second time Sting has had the match won. Did the rest of the TNA roster head on home or they just don't care about helping out Sting?

At 14:00, Sting re-entered the ring to take a hammer shot from Bully, who received it from Mr. Anderson in the chaos. Sting sold being KO'ed, then Bully covered Sting and it was good for the win. After the match, Bully and Co. stood tall in the ring as Sting remained flat on his back in the ring. Tenay said Sting cannot challenge for the title again. Keneley dejectedly said they'll see everyone on Impact as the PPV signed off at 9:52.

WINNER: Bully at 14:22 to retain the TNA Title. Lots of bells & whistles to get through this main event, where they depended on pretty much the same finish as Lockdown with another round of Aces & Eights interfering when there were other options available. As for what's next, Sting had two visual pins to give him his "out" and TNA has their "out" for a potential re-match despite this being billed as Sting's final title shot. It felt like TNA tried to build up enough goodwill during the first two-and-a-half-hours of the show before this main event finish. (**1/4)

*** LIVECAST ALERT ***

Join Caldwell & PWTorch columnist Greg Parks for the post-Slammiversary show at PWTorchLivecast.com starting at 11:30 p.m. EST. CALL IN/LISTEN HERE

*** REAX ALERT ***

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