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So we're at what's theoretically the biggest PPV of the year, and TNA seems to be trying to make up for lackluster build-up by putting together what appears to be a really solid wrestling card. Overall I'm fairly content with that deal, though a well built-up marquis match would have been nice. I'm also including a bit this month where I got picks from my wife, who's a casual wrestling fan - I figure that marital competition should make for reasonably good reading. Yet without any obvious "gimme" matches on the card in terms of who's likely to win, I'm a little nervous that I might get trounced.

Angle vs. Sting
World Championship Match

Where We've Been:
We haven't been much of anywhere for very long. With the exception of some brief interactions in April and May, this feud essentially sprung up out of nowhere when Sting won the right to be Kurt Angle's fellow tag-team champion about six weeks ago. Since then, we've had Angle's wife pretending to be slapped by Sting (apparently at his orders), stalking of Sting's son, and, most significantly, the return of a darker, angrier Stinger. Karen Angle is theoretically barred from ringside by a restraining order, which is all for the best. What this match lacks in terms of prolonged build-up they're trying to remedy via intensity and the resumes of the two men involved.

Where We're Going:
There was some talk of a vote on TNA.com to determine whether there would be a rematch, but I don't know what became of that. In the meantime, I can't work up too much excitement for either possible title reign coming out of this PPV. Angle's been champion a while now, but I'm not really sure with whom Sting could feud if he wins.

Rachael's Prediction: Angle - everyone's expecting him to get his comeuppance, so she's betting on the swerve.

Official Prediction: Sting - if this is supposed to be the climax of the year, you should send the fans home happy. That means a face win in the main event.

Samoa Joe vs. Christian Cage (w/ special guest referee Matt Morgan)
There Must be a Winner Match

Where We've Been:
This match pretty much consists in the leftovers from the main event. Samoa Joe was in a foul mood after losing to Angle at Hard Justice, and Christian Cage was unfortunate enough to cross his path before battling for the number one contender's spot himself. Joe cost Christian the title shot, and we have ourselves a feud. Since then, there's been a lot of Samoan-heritage-related taunting from Cage and a lot of anger from Joe, culminating in a DQ win for Christian in September. When Cornette tried to create some order out of their brawling, his enforcer Matt Morgan got dragged in as a special guest referee. Another important factor going into this feud is that Christian Cage has still technically been never pinned or made to submit since arriving in TNA.

Where We're Going:
Either man should be #1 Contender after winning this match, but with the Fight for the Right match determining who gets the next title shot, they'll probably end up working together for another month until the title picture clears out a bit.

Rachael's Prediction: Christian Cage - he still hasn't lost.

Official Prediction: Samoa Joe - Joe could use some heat back, as the fans have stopped believing that he's likely to kill anyone. Christian's streak has to end sooner or later; I doubt they're going to give it to an up-and-comer, so the next best plan would be having to lose to someone in such a way that there will be no shame in the loss.

Fight for Right Match
#1 Contender's Reverse Battle Royal

Where We've Been:
This is pretty much where everyone who didn't have a match ended up, so there are various crisscrossing feuds going on. To the best of my knowledge the people in this match are: Lance Hoyt, Jimmy Rave, BG James, Kip James, James Storm, Eric Young, Chris Harris, Petey Williams, Kaz, Robert Roode, Alex Shelley, Chris Sabin, and Junior Fatu. Robert Roode and Kaz are feuding over the affection of Ms. Brooks, VKM are feuding with talent, and Roode, Hoyt, Rave, Harris, VKM, and Storm all have connections to the knockouts' match.

Where We're Going:
Despite my knowing of 13 people in this match, I can't think of any of them having issues with either man in the World Title Match. Harris and Fatu could potentially work with Angle, Roode and Storm might be able to feud with Sting, and Shelley or Eric Young would probably get the crowd so worked up that they could work with anyone, but all of those are stretches.

Rachael's Prediction: Petey Williams - He's been underutilized for a while and could use the push.

Official Prediction: James Storm - I got here by process of elimination. If we rule out any tag team wrestlers, we end up with Storm, Harris, Young, Williams, Kaz, Roode, and Junior Fatu. Having Fatu win would just send the message that the TNA title is all about washed up WWE wrestlers. Roode could work, but he and Kaz are likely to cancel each other out. It's hard to believe that TNA will suddenly push Young or Williams into the main event after sitting on both for over a year. That leaves Storm and Harris, and since I'm picking a face to win the title, I go with the heel here. My real guess would be someone not listed, but I have no idea who that would be.

Team 3D vs. The Steiner Bros.
Tables Match

Where We've Been:
This is actually the oldest feud on the roster. A few months ago, Team 3D, then supposedly face, tried to show respect to the Steiners, only to get rebuffed. Since then, a life threatening injury to Scott Steiner and TNA finally taking notice of the hatred 3D gets in the Impact Zone have led to a role reversal. The Steiners won their match at the next PPV, only to have 3D brutally assault each of them and take them out on succeeding Impacts. In the meantime, 3D has been claiming they're better than everyone and destroying random wrestlers, while the Steiners have been out selling their injuries.

Where We're Going:
I think this feud has about run its course, but with the Steiners absent the last month or so they might drag it out a bit longer.

Rachael's Prediction: N/A - Rachael is boycotting this match, on the grounds that Team 3D buried LAX, which led to Konan being less valuable to the company, which led to his leaving and having horrendous health care. The logic is tortuous, but it's there.

Daniel's Prediction: Team 3D - they've got more going on right now. Also, I need a few heels winning top-level matches, and a 3D win splits the victories and gives them the option of having a rubber match next month.

"Black Machismo" Jay Lethal vs. "The Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniels
X Division Championship

Where We've Been:
Christopher Daniels won an X Division title shot back when Samoa Joe was champion. However, the title was tied up in the main event for a few months, which gave Lethal enough time to score a couple of pin-falls on Daniels and claim the title shot. Lethal went on to upset Kurt Angle for the title, only to lose a non-title match to Daniels a few nights later.

Where We're Going:
It doesn't so much matter. Either one of these guys could serve as the nexus of a rebuilt X Division, and I'm guessing they have another month of feuding anyhow.

Rachael's Prediction: Lethal - they wouldn't have bothered giving the belt back to him if they were just going to make him drop it again.

Official Prediction: Daniels - he's the more experienced of the two, and so the more logical person to be holding the belt as TNA gets more exposure. Lethal's schtick is starting to get a bit old anyway.

Team Pacman vs. AJ Styles & Tomko
Tag Team Title Match

Where We've Been:
Adam "Pacman" Jones came to TNA to prove that he was a team player (and perhaps in part because he got suspended from the NFL). He immediately teamed up with Killings, and was granted a title shot on the basis of…um…something. They got their shot at No Surrender, when Sting and Kurt Angle exploded, and Jones was able to pick up the pieces. Jones is contractually barred from engaging in any violent contact with anyone, so the bookers have had fun having him be a distraction and almost fight without ever actually doing anything. AJ Styles and Tomko earned their shot when Styles survived 30 minutes in a massive gauntlet match last month.

Where We're Going:
TNA has a host of viable tag teams, and so hopefully the division will be getting more attention in upcoming weeks and months. Tomko and Christian have been getting on each others' nerves, and so the lackey possessing another championship might lead to some promo gold.

Both Predicitions: Tomko & Styles - you can't have a tag team division when one of the champs can't wrestle, and Christian's Coalition have consistently been among the best things to watch on Impact.

Gail Kim vs. Roxxi Leaveux vs. Jackie Moore vs. Ms. Brooks vs. Christy Hemme vs. 5 Newcomers
Gauntlet Match to Crown the First Women's Champion

Where We've Been:
The five TNA knockouts have been at each other's throats, but since none of them have had any mic time there hasn't been much back-story to the match. Gail Kim has been the only face, so everyone has been teaming up against her, though Ms. Brooks somewhat turned a few weeks ago. The only newcomer we've seen wrestle is the large Amazing Kong, who beat Gail Kim in a one on one match this past week. Christy Hemme was talking a few months ago about how women's wrestling should be taken more seriously, but they seem to have dropped that plotline.

Where We're Going:
Whoever wins this match, there isn't likely to be much story going forward. They'll probably just run various combinations of these ten women for the next few months without much rhyme or reason.

Rachael's Prediction: Christy Hemme - she deserves it, since she was out front on the women's wrestling thing.

Official Prediction: Gail Kim - Kim is one of the most fun people to watch on Impact every week. She should be the first women's champion.

XXX vs. LAX
Ultimate X Match for the #1 Conterdership to the Tag Team Championships

Where We've Been:
The story behind this match is that it has no story, but no one should really mind that. The four men in the ring are among the best in-ring workers in wrestling today, and this match promises to be a load of fun.

Where We're Going:
Either team could work face or heel, and either team could have phenomenal matches with pretty much anyone. LAX has a bit more history with their possible opponents than do XXX representatives Senshi and Elix Skipper, but that's unlikely to matter.

Both Predictions: LAX - they've earned it, and have no business being away from the tag team titles for more than a week or two at a time.

Abyss vs. Raven vs. Black Reign vs. Rhino
Monster's Ball

Where We've Been:
Abyss and Rhino were both feuding with Judas Mesias, who had the good form to get injured a few weeks ago. In a random match between Black Reign and Rhino, Raven decided to take an interest in the demented one, and later that night cut a promo about how he's ready to get back in the game and be taken seriously.

Where We're Going:
Raven's looking healthier than he has in years, and hopefully that means he really is ready to get back involved in a main-event capacity. If so, a brawl like this could be his coming-out party, as even at his worst Raven can brawl with the best of them.

Both Predictions: Raven - he needs the win to catapult him back into significance. This is probably my only pick where I'm allowing myself to choose based on what I want, rather than what I think they're likely to do.



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