411’s TNA Power Rankings 5.19.13: Edition Two – Bully Reigns Supreme
Welcome one and all to the debut of the 411 TNA Power Rankings! I am Jack McGee; you may know me from such works as the Hollywood 5&1 (for a time), the MMA 5&1 and Wrestling’s 4R’s (not any more, I was a fill in). I know that some people feel that TNA doesn’t get their fair shake at times, and I know that some people want the company to get more attention. Well, I have heard those people and figured that I could maybe rectify that and add something to the zone. So we are back with the second ever edition of my TNA rankings, my bi-weekly look at the TNA roster. This column is similar to the NFL Power Rankings that a guy like Steve Cook would do, or a non-numbers version of MP Schroeder’s WWE RPI Rankings. I want to have some fun with this, keeping it serious, but also with an old Apter Magazine “Kayfabulous” feel at times. Lets get to work…
My Base Criteria:
Wins and Losses
Momentum
Overall Strength of Booking
Only TV and PPV Count Towards This, Not House Shows (unless they do BFG Series matches on house shows again this year)
If You Hold a Title, Your Chances of Appearing Are Good
 1. Bully Ray (even): Since March 10th, Bully Ray has been your reigning and defending TNA World Champion. For over 70-days Ray has been carrying the title, leading Aces and 8s and controlling Impact Wrestling. But now he will have to face the biggest challenge of his career, making it to Slammiversary and defeating the ICON Sting. Bully Ray has been untouchable, he won the world title, pulled the wool over everyone’s eyes when he revealed himself the president of Aces and 8s and now, he could destroy Sting’s hopes of ever being world champion again… |
 2. Sting (even): On the May 2nd edition of TNA Impact Wrestling, Sting defeated Matt Morgan to earn a shot at the TNA Title. Sting will get that shot at the upcoming Slammiversary PPV. Sting will attempt to defeat the man on top of the list, Bully Ray, and save TNA from the evil of Aces and 8s. Sting is a former four-time TNA World Champion, holding the title for a combined 326 days. That is second all time, behind five-time champion Kurt angle and his combined reigns of 463 days. But now Sting faces the biggest test of his career at Slammiversary. Win, and take the gold one more time and deal a possible deathblow to Aces and 8s. Lose, and never compete for the TNA World Title again… |
 3. Abyss (debut): Aces and 8s have systematically taken out nearly all of TNA’s heroes, but they didn’t anticipate the return of a monster. After nearly a year’s absence, Abyss returned, destroyed the gang backstage, hit the ring and put Anderson through a table and pined the TV Champion Devon. The monster is back and he is out for vengeance against the group that threatens to destroy TNA. One can only hope that he and his brother, you know Joseph Park, can reunite and form a new bond. The threat of the brothers working together may be enough to fully give TNA an advantage against the powerhouses that Aces and 8s have. |
 4. Hulk Hogan (-1): Bully has the title, and Sting and the Monster Abyss are the two main soldiers fighting the big battle, but the Hulkster still continues to lead the charge. While the GM takes a small drop in the overall rankings, he is still one of the few that have done any damage to the Aces and 8s faction. Combine that with the fact he has rallied Sting and Abyss to fight the war, and the fact that he is still trying to recruit AJ Styles, that makes Hulk Hogan one of the most important parts of the company and the man with the power… |
 5. AJ Styles (even): This version of AJ Styles finds him exactly where he was the last time the rankings came out. He is a coveted property for both TNA and Aces and 8s as he strolls around arenas with level of brooding that would make Angle jealous. Styles has made it known that he will stand up for himself, and not allow bullies like Kurt Angle tell him what too do. Angle and Styles meet one more time at Slammiversary, and whoever wins will certainly take a big jump up the rankings. |
 6. Kurt Angle (+1): While I give Kurt Angle an “A for effort,” the man is not a good negotiator. But where there is a will there is a way, and Angle has been fighting the good fight against Aces and 8s and now will try to beat some sense into AJ Styles. The question is this for Angle: is it more important to get the victory against AJ Styles, or to get AJ to see the light? As we get closer to Slammiversary, Angle will have to make that decision… |
 7. Kenny King (+1): Kenny King jumps up the rankings this time around, following a successful title defense on the May 16th edition of Impact Wrestling. The champion defeated Petey Williams in a match that also involved Chris Sabin. Williams is out of contention for now, while King continues his strong reign as champion. King is now the 18th longest reigning champion in history as far as combined days goes, he is in his first run and is over 78 days. By the time Slammiversary rolls around, he will be #16 on that list. The former ROH star is finally on a run and making waves in TNA. |
 8. Chris Sabin (-1): Chris Sabin still has momentum from his recent return to TNA. The previous week he had a good promo outing with champion Kenny King, and while he did not win the X-Division title on Impact this week, he was not eliminated from contention like Mr. Williams was. Sabin is not the new champion, but he will get another chance in a match at Slammiversary. Can the Cinderella story come true for Sabin, or will all of his hard work on the road to recovery be a pipe dream? |
 9. Devon (-5): Devon takes a big tumble on the list this week, partly because he has not defended the title in a very long time, and partly because he has not looked good. The man not defending the title hurts the power of the ranking, but being destroyed by Abyss and lowering himself to defend his TV Title against a green hornet like Joseph Park at one of the biggest shows of the year just aren’t all that good come rankings time. As Georges St-Pierre would say, “I am not impressed by your performance.”. |
 10. Velvet Sky (debut): TNA Knockouts Champion Velvet Sky makes her debut on the list after a good run over the last few weeks. Sky has held the title for over 110 days, and her two reigns give her a total of over 140 days, which is good enough for 6th on the all time list. Sky pinned Tara in a tag team match on the May 9th edition of Impact, and followed that up on May 16th with a victory over Gail Kim on Impact. But can Sky keep the momentum going when she faces Mickie James with the title on the line on May 23rd? |
Those recently bumped from the list include: Matt Morgan (#10), Chavo and Hernandez (#9).
Those on the outside looking in include: James Storm, Austin Aries, Christopher Daniels, Bobby Roode, François Kazarian and Jay Bradley.
And there you have it for this week! At this time, the next edition of the rankings is scheduled to run on the weekend of May 31st; right before the Slammiversary PPV.
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