Storylines
The event will feature several professional wrestling matches that involved different wrestlers from pre-existing scripted feuds, plots, and storylines. Wrestlers portray heroes, villains, or less distinguishable characters in scripted events that build tension and culminate in a wrestling match or series of matches. Storylines are produced on TNA's weekly programs, Impact! and Xplosion. [3]
At Slammiversary, The Nemeths (Nic Nemeth and Ryan Nemeth) lost their TNA World Tag Team Championship to The Hardys (Matt Hardy and Jeff Hardy in a four-way ladder match also involving The Rascalz (Zachary Wentz and Myron Reed) and Fir$t Cla$$ (A. J. Francis and KC Navarro). [4] [5] Two weeks later on the July 31 episode of TNA Impact!, The Rascalz defeated The Nemeths, but post-match, The Nemeths announced they were invoking their contractually obligated rematch against The Hardys at Emergence. They would later disparage the people of Rhode Island, where the show was being held, before The Home Town Man came out to defend them. Unfortunately, he'd be attacked by The Nemeths before being saved by security. [6] [7] The following week, TNA Director of Authority Santino Marella suspended Nic due to the attack on The Home Town Man, while putting Ryan in a match against The Home Town Man on the Countdown to Emergence pre-show; the TNA World Tag Team Championship match was changed to The Hardys defending the titles against The Rascalz. [8]
On the July 31 TNA Impact!, Leon Slater defeated Jason Hotch and Cedric Alexander to retain the TNA X Division Championship, pinning Hotch to do so. [6] [7] Afterwards, Alexander congratulated Slater and said that they both needed to fight each other again to see who was the better man. TNA then announced that Slater would defend the TNA X Division Championship against Alexander at Emergence. [9]
Also on the July 31 TNA Impact!, The System (Moose and Eddie Edwards) defeated TNA World Champion Trick Williams and A. J. Francis, where Moose pinned Williams following failed interference from KC Navarro. [6] [7] Subsequently, TNA announced that Williams would defend the TNA World Championship against Moose at Emergence. [10]
On the June 19 episode of TNA Impact!, Jake Something made his return from injury and initially feuded with Mance Warner, before setting his sights on Steve Maclin's TNA International Championship. Three weeks later on July 10, Maclin retained his title against both Warner and Something in a three-way match, in which Warner was pinned. [11] [12] Something would later get a singles opportunity for the title against Maclin on the August 7 episode of TNA Impact!, but the match ended in a double countout. [13] [14] Santino Marella then made a rematch official between both men for Emergence in a No Disqualification, No Count-out match. [8]
On the Countdown to Slammiversary pre-show, The Elegance Brand (Ash by Elegance and Heather by Elegance) defeated The IInspiration (Cassie Lee and Jessica McKay) to retain the TNA Knockouts World Tag Team Championship due to outside interference by M by Elegance and The Personal Concierge. [4] [5] Three weeks later on the August 7 episode of TNA Impact!, Léi Yǐng Lee and Xia Brookside defeated M and Heather, as Ash took on Jacy Jayne for the TNA Knockouts World Championship later that night, somewhat putting themselves in the tag team title picture. [13] [14] The following week, Santino Marella announced that at Emergence, The Elegance Brand (represented by Heather and M) would defend the TNA Knockouts World Tag Team Championships against Lee and Brookside, The IInspiration, and Jayne's Fatal Influence stablemates Fallon Henley and Jazmyn Nyx in a four-way tag team match. [8]
After losing to then-TNA X Division Champion Moose on the July 17 TNA Impact!, Sami Callihan was baited to leave his boots in the ring as a sign of retirement, but ultimately decided against it. [15] [16] Two weeks later on July 31, Callihan was interviewed by commentator Tom Hannifan about the comments made by Moose and the decision of retirement. Though Callihan believes his time is winding down, he still wanted to prove to himself that he was still a capable wrestler, and as such, called out Mike Santana for a match at Emergence. [6] [7] The match would be made official the following week. [8] Callihan later reiterated the week after on TNA Impact! that if he lost to Santana at Emergence, he would indeed retire from in-ring competition. [17]
On the August 14 episode of TNA Impact!, Indi Hartwell and Dani Luna were victorious in a tag team match against Harley Hudson and Myla Grace. However, as the two walked back up the ramp, Rosemary, returning after losing a Monster's Ball match against Xia Brookside in June, appeared from the crowd and sprayed Hartwell's face with green mist. In an interview backstage, Rosemary labelled herself as the "gatekeeper" of the Knockouts Division and declared that anyone who wanted to move up had to go through her. [17] As a result, TNA announced a match between Hartwell and Rosemary for the Countdown to Emergence pre-show. [18]
