At least three stars are coming to Impact for Slammiversary

With only one episode of Impact Wrestling remaining before Slammiversary on July 18, Impact’s talent teases over the past few weeks became a little clearer last night when they showed that we will be seeing at least three surprise appearances. Their identities remain a mystery.

The following scene closed the episode.

The images flashed on screen of former champs were James Storm, Bully Ray, EC3, Eric Young, Kurt Angle, and I think Chris Sabin. Other wrestlers shown were Amazing Red, Luke Gallows, Karl Anderson, Angelina Love, Velvet Sky, Mike Bennett, Maria Kanellis, Aces & Eights, and the Bulgarian, Canadian and Japanese flags. That’s been mostly the same list of suspects since the beginning. I believe Love and Sky were new additions, and other than the obvious Miro/Rusev tease, I’m not sure who would be represented by the country flags. The Team Canada gimmick might be flushed after key component Michael Elgin was canned.

The real takeaway from that scene was the end with three hands for three whiskey glasses. That should imply that there will be one new faction looking to wreak havoc on Impact. EC3, Luke Gallows, and Karl Anderson would be the biggest names to fill that role.

The Good Brothers seemed like a lock until they began posting photos with the Young Bucks.

Nick Jackson, Gallows, and Anderson all posted the same image. This is most likely just a troll job. Gallows has fashioned a braided beard lately, as well as looking jacked in an Impact t-shirt. I’m guessing he didn’t undo the braid just for that photo.

Gallows and Anderson are also scheduling their own PPV on August 1.

Talk ‘N Shop A Mania has no matches announced yet.

Speaking of another apparent lock to sign with Impact, Heath Slater made a shocking appearance for WWE on Raw earlier this week. He was squashed by Drew McIntyre in an impromptu title fight. If I was the bookerman for Impact, I would tear up Slater’s potential contract after seeing that. How are you going to rebuild him with the freshness of jobber stink still attached to his name? What does it say about your own promotion if Slater comes in and finds success?

Returning stars may not be limited to just men. Madison Rayne announced her return to the ring for the #1 contender gauntlet. In a trash-talk session to Knockouts Champ Jordynne Grace, Deonna Purrazzo mentioned that she isn’t the only person who sees Impact as ripe for the picking. The Flashback Moment was Madison Rayne & Velvet Sky with Lacey Von Erich defeating Angelina Love and Tara at Lockdown in 2010. That must have been shown for a reason, which could be a hint for the returns Love and Sky as the Beautiful People.

Other moments during last night’s show relating to this topic were Johnny Swinger diddling with the Super Eric costume and a Slammiversary hype video for the four-way Impact Championship main event. The mystery opponent was teased to be EC3, Gallows, Anderson, Bennett, Young, Bully Ray, Angle, Curt Hawkins, Mr. Anderson, and Sting.

Next week’s Impact Wrestling will be the go-home show to the PPV. I’m expecting a big pop for the closing scene to motivate fans to purchase Slammiversary.

Who are you picks as to the owners of those three hands? Would you be excited for a return of the Beautiful People? Who do you think is supposed to be represented by the images of the Canadian and Japanese flags?