Despite only having three weeks of fairly uneventful television, TNA has put together a card where a full three-quarters of the announced matches have back-stories. Sadly, only two of them have anything resembling good back-stories, and the wrestling looks decidedly sub-par by TNA standards. They've been known to pull rabbits out of hats before, but I'm not overly optimistic.
Rachael has pointed out that it's only fair that if I post numbers that make her look bad then I should at least mention how well she's doing in a betting pool where she actually cares:
Rachael's YTD Football Average: 101/167 = .605
Daniel's YTD Football Average: 86/167 =.515
Tomko, AJ Styles and Kurt Angle vs. Scott Hall, Kevin Nash, and Samoa Joe
Where We've Been: Throughout the summer "Dr. Nash" was a member of Angle's posse. However, things turned ugly when Nash failed to help Kurt retain his title at Bound for Glory in October, and reached a boiling point last month when Angle brained him with the title belt en route to retaining his reacquired title. In that match, Angle was so panicked over the prospect of Sting's mystery partner that his wife cut a deal to bring the tag champs Styles & Tomko aboard as newly minted lackeys. Styles neglected to clear this arrangement with his old boss Christian Cage, and so the Coalition has been strained, if perhaps not dissolved.
With all that out of the way, this match essentially boils down to a grudge bout between Nash and Angle, with various other workers around to cover Nash's shortcomings in the ring. Hall was brought in as the only man Kevin could trust, but it's unclear how far they'll be willing to push the nWo angle. Joe was selected as a draft pick to even the sides, and really has no story involvement at all.
Where We're Going:This would normally progress towards a one-on-one match for the title between Nash and Angle, but I don't think they're going to trust the aging Nash with a solo main event anytime soon. So if anyone in this match has business with the title, it's probably Joe. That would also explain his random placement in this picture.
Rachael's Prediction: Angle's Alliance—TNA takes their time, and they're not ready to break up the Alliance yet.
Daniel's Prediction: Team Nash—It's a chance to have a happy ending at a PPV without moving the strap onto a face. Also I wouldn't be shocked to see Joe get a clean pin on the champ so TNA can begin it's semi-annual pretense of pushing Joe.
Christian Cage & Robert Roode vs. Kaz & Booker T
Where We've Been: Booker T debuted last month, but had his signing ceremony interrupted by a grumpy Christian Cage. This past week on Impact Christian got Roode to call out Booker, because apparently Roode is a moron. A post-match double team on Booker prompted Kaz to make the save, which makes a certain amount of sense, as he has unfinished business with both Roode (whose valet he has a thing for) and Cage (who claims his win last month was a fluke). Meanwhile, Ms. Brooks picked a catfight with Robert Roode's "#1 fan"—I have no idea whether that will turn out to be important.
Where We're Going: I can only assume we're headed to a prolonged Booker T-Christian Cage feud, which TNA will probably stretch out for months after anyone cares. I also expect that sooner or later Ms. Brooks will switch over to Kaz, since he's been treated like a main eventer for the last month, and so could use a personality.
Both Predictions: Booker T & Kaz. Booker already dropped his first PPV match—there's no way he loses his first two.
Team 3D & Johnny Devine vs. The Motor City Machine Guns & Jay Lethal Tables Match
Where We've Been: This is the most established feud on the card, and has by far the best built up. While trying to get a title shot Team 3D began ambushing random X Division stars. Sabin and Shelley struck back at Bound for Glory, costing them their match against the Steiners. Since then, 3D has been on a crusade to crush everyone in the X Division, and have been relatively successful. The main hiccup came last month at Genesis when the Guns pulled off the upset win. That only ticked them off further, and so later that night they claimed the X Division Title as a trophy. The following Impact, Johnny Devine turned on the X Division; they never really explained why, but then it makes sense that Devine would do anything to actually get on TV.
Where We're Going: We probably haven't seen the last of this feud, as it's been giving Team 3D something to do that's actually entertaining. Hopefully Lethal is just involved in the short-term, till they can find him a challenger for his title.
Daniel's Prediction: The Motor City Machine Guns & Jay Lethal--I would say they have to split the wins, but they really need to get Lethal that belt back. Besides, there will be the potential for some good promos from 3D if they drop three PPV matches in a row because of Shelley and Sabin.
Abyss & Rhino vs. Rellik & Black Reign 10,000 Tacks Match
WWB: I don't know who to feel worst for: Rhino, for being stuck in this crap, Abyss, for always being stuck in this crap, the fans, for having to watch this match, or Jay Lethal, because this match is listed above his on the official line-up. The story here is that James Mitchell got Black Reign to attack Abyss. Rhino got involved because he happened to be around at the time. After winning his match at Genesis, Abyss made the mistake of opening a large box Reign had brought to ringside. Rellik popped out, and here we are.
WWG: For all I complain, these brawls are usually kind of fun. If they only stop immediately after the match, this could be decent. I'm still waiting for the return of Mitchell's other monster, Judas Maseis, as he and Abyss have unfinished business.
Both Predictions: Abyss & Rhino--it's bad enough they have to be in this match; they certainly don't deserve to lose it.
Gail Kim (c) vs. Awesome Kong Knockouts' Championship Match
WWB: Kong defeated Gail Kim in her television debut, but a few days later Kim eliminated her when it counted in a gauntlet for the gold to crown the first TNA Women's Champion at BFG. Since then, Kong has decimated a host of women while carrying a picture of Gail Kim. Kim, after beating three random people for no particularly good reason last month, called out Kong.
WWG: Right now, there are only three women who get any sort of reaction—these two and, to a much lesser extent, ODB. Whoever wins this match, I expect a rematch or two until they can build up or import another woman with both credibility and personality.
Both Picks: Gail Kim. I think this is the hardest call of the night. I'm thinking Kim gets a fluke win tonight (maybe by DQ or some such) and that Kong eats her next month.
James Storm vs. Eric Young
WWB: These two have been drinking buddies ever since Young checked on Jackie Moore after she was hurt in their match at the Fight for the Right tournament. At Genesis Eric Young claimed Storm's self-made World Drinking Championship when Storm collapsed after attempting to drink whiskey from a funnel. Last week Young successfully defended that title in a speed-drinking contest, but Storm was not amused. He busted a beer bottle over Young's head and commenced with a fairly brutal beating.
WWG: Both of these two have bigger and better things in their futures. Young has been a cult favorite for a couple of years, and Storm has elevated his game every time they've put him in the limelight (with the notable exception of some of his Rhino-is-a-drunk skits). This has the potential to be the sleeper hit of the night, and the promo battles should be great regardless of who wins.
Both Picks: Eric Young—if Storm wins Young would have no reason to continue the feud.
15 Superstar Feast or Fired Match
WWB:
Four briefcases will be suspended above the ring. One will have a World Title shot, one will have a Tag Title shot, one will have an X Division Title Shot, and one will have a slip saying "you're fired." Here's a question—what happens if they get the three title shots first? Will everyone have to fight to not get the last briefcase? I never like these matches with a randomization element—it seems like part of the point of wrestling is that the best man's supposed to be. So far, the only announced participant in this match is Scott Steiner.
WWG: Kaz won four matches to get his title shot last month, and nothing really came of it, so don't expect much out of whoever gets the lucky briefcase with a World Title shot this month. The tag titles and the X Division title are both a bit more interesting, as both of those divisions need a #1 contender. With the Motor City Machine Guns occupied, LAX should clearly be the top pick for a tag title shot, with XXX being the next most likely. The X Division is so defunct I have no idea who should be in line next—Daniels again maybe?
Since they haven't announced who's in the match, we won't have official predictions for this one, but I do want to throw this out there—how awesome would it be if Homicide won the X Division Title Match, Hernandez won the World Title match, and LAX won the Tag Title match? TNA would reestablish two of their best wrestlers as having main-event caliber storylines at the cost of one silly gimmick match. That most certainly is not what will happen.
ODB & Roxxi Leveaux vs. Angelina Love & Velvet Sky
WWB: I have no earthly idea. I honestly didn't know this match was on the card till I checked the website a few minutes ago. Remember the old days when TNA would supplement a weak card by throwing out an X Division tag match with no story but lots of cool spots? My guess is that this is like that, but without the cool spots.
WWG: I don't even know where we are, much less where we're going. Eventually ODB will probably be in line for a title shot premised primarily on the fact that she's the only new knockout whose name the crowd knows.
INCREDIBLE BENEFITS! Over 50 full-length audio updates per month (iPod compatible)... New weekly award-winning Pro Wrestling Torch Newsletter (text and printable pdf versions) with latest exclusive insider news, new Torch Talks, great columns, Keller's cover story, much more... Hundreds of full-length back issues of PWTorch Newsletter from late-'80s to today... Ad-free access to PWTorch.com's Main Listing... VIP Forum with interaction with other subscribers and Torch staff... Torch Talk Library with text and audio of hundreds of interview installments from last 20 years... Great layout... Deepest archives on pro wrestling history anywhere... Keller's PWTorch Today PDF Bulletins with email alerts... VIP Email reports on major PPVs and TV shows... Staff Roundtable Reviews (text and audio) followiing major events... The best staff of writers and world class reporting since 1987... We'd love for you to join us and experience the most entertaining, authoritative, experienced staff of professional reporters and commentators in the business... SIGN ME UP NOW!
