Nic Nemeth returns to TNA, but it won’t be against who you would expect

TNA is holding fresh television tapings for Impact, and it features the return of Nic Nemeth.

Nemeth has been out of action in the Impact Zone ever since Moose cracked the Wanted Man’s neck with a devious chair attack a few weeks back.

TNA announced the TV Taping lineups for May 18 and May 19 at the Megacorp Pavilion in Newport, KY. Nemeth is on the list, but it’s curious that his opponents won’t be The System.

May 18

• Nic Nemeth vs. Frankie Kazarian
• Eddie Edwards vs. Joe Hendry
• Mike Santana vs. Steve Maclin
• Sami Callihan vs. Jonathan Gresham
• Mike Bailey vs. Trent Seven
• Jody Threat vs. Tasha Steelz

May 19

• Ryan Nemeth & Matt Hardy vs. Eddie Edwards & Brian Myers
• Nic Nemeth & Ryan Nemeth vs. Ace Austin & Chris Bey
• Marti Belle vs. Jordynne Grace
• Jake Something vs. Alexander Hammerstone
• Ash By Elegance vs. Shazza McKenzie
• TNA Digital Media Championship: Laredo Kid (c) vs. AJ Francis
• Dani Luna vs. Tasha Steelz

A few thoughts on the advertised matches. Nemeth versus Kazarian should be good in the ring, but I’m more curious if this result fleshes out the pecking order for world title contention. A Nemeth brothers tag team should be fun. Going up against ABC is a tough task, however, it might be time to pull the trigger on the teases of tension between Ace and Bey. If that’s the case, then Nic and Ryan would earn a quality win on paper to angle toward a tag title shot.

Continuity is flowing for Hendry to wrestle Edwards. It was Hendry who pinned Myers to win the Champions Challenge. Santana and Maclin will have their rematch. Santana won round one in his surprise return to TNA. Bailey and Seven wrestle to determine the #1 contender for the X-Division Championship. Jake versus Hammerstone was supposed to go down at Under Siege, however, Hammerman was not cleared to compete on that evening. This should be an interesting heel versus heel dynamic with Jake turning to the dark side this week.

Gresham’s new gimmick is being tested early against Callihan. I genuinely wonder if the octopus ink will have an effect on the Death Machine. Callihan might be immune to all germs at this point. Grace is a fighting champion and will likely end up putting the Knockouts title on the line, and it would be nice to see Belle get a throwaway shot. Laredo Kid’s days with gold could be numbered. I struggle to envision Francis losing clean. First Class is sort of floating right now, so I can’t predict anyone obvious for interference, unless they revisit the Hendry feud.

Share your thoughts on the latest batch of TV tapings from TNA.