PWTORCH.COM
VIP SIGN-UP JUMP TO VIP
CONTACT US VISIT MMA TORCH




Select Next Article by Category



WE ARE A PROUD UGO AFFILIATE SINCE 1999



prowrestling.NET

WANT MORE NEWS? JASON POWELL, A TEN YEAR VETERAN INSIDER FULL-TIME PROFESSIONAL REPORTER, BREAKS NEWS AND OFFERS INSIDER INSIGHT EVERY DAY

MMATORCH.com

CLICK FOR DAILY UFC NEWS, UFC PPV LIVE COVERAGE, DAILY PODCASTS, BLOGS




The Specialists
DEJ Blog: Covering Against All Odds, Day 3
Feb 10, 2008 - 1:30:38 PM


Email This Article- Contact Us - VIP Sign-Up - Back to Home Page

| subscribe to this feed

By Jeremy Maes, The DEJ Experience

The day is finally here. TNA infiltrates the Greenville, South Carolina area for their Against All Odds pay-per-view. As I wrote Thursday there has been very little penetration and exposure in the market for the show and TNA is resorting to desperate measures. As an update, TNA has sold just under 1600 seats for the show and they have instituted a buy one get one free promotion as well as giving out tickets, even the one hundred dollar tickets, to different businesses to disperse as they see fit.

It cannot be stressed enough what a disappointment TNA has been the last few months as far as promotion. They have their street teams in the area but they usually means a handful of people handing out fliers to strangers or, as they have with a coworker, placed door tags on select houses. This is a decent idea but TNA went about it the wrong way. On the door tags they have a bunch of the TNA Knockouts in skimpy clothes promoting TNA wrestling and the PPV.

Imagine coming home, being a good conservative Christian, which makes up a large portion of the populous and finding half naked women on a door tag with the initials TNA on it. Your first reaction will not be of the family friendly variety. So in a matter of seconds they have turned off a potential customer who will spread the word and inevitably turn off more customers. Having the TNA in ads on its own merit has never really presented a problem to me before. After seeing the door tag it does cause mixed feelings. It doesn’t really matter now since they are relatively established as a name brand so changing it cannot be much of a business sense. Knowing this, even if it isn’t apparent to TNA management, they need to be much more careful. They need to understand the markets they are trying to penetrate and build a business relationship.

All right enough of that. Since the PPV starts at 8:00 for the off site audience, see, it start at 7:30 on the tickets, its time for predictions. This includes the Abyss/Judas Mecias offsite match that the paying audience in attendance has to watch on television and will be portrayed as being run live.

All predications are done with no actual thought and with a healthy dash of mindless meandering.

Barbed Wire Massacre 2: Abyss vs. Judas Mesias
It’s a taped match that paying customer have to sit and watch. Combine that fact with all of the usual backstage skits and that is a lot of time devoted to watching a large TV screen in a half empty arena. For this, TNA is not getting favorable responses. This match has been recorded and I forget who wins. I am going to keep it that way so I can have a decent experience tonight.
Winner: Abyss

Eric Young vs. James Storm
Who the hell cares. You cannot judge something if you have no idea what it is.
Winner: no one, we all lose, especially James Storm

Knockouts Title Match: Awesome Kong vs. ODB
All right this match has some actual momentum behind it. Since Gail Kim went down with an injury it opened up the opportunity for TNA to give the Orlando fans what they want. So they inserted ODB in this match. TNA tried making ODB a heel but her goofiness won out and fans got behind her on television.

Kong comes in as the monster champion saddled with a talking head who can actually wrestle. Hopefully this will be given at least ten minutes, giving Kong and ODB an opportunity to make the Knockouts a distinct and superior women’s wrestling than the WWE Divas. If not hopefully there will be an opportunity to end the charade and have Cheerleader Melissa reveal herself and add yet another good worker to the division.
Winner: Amazing Kong

TNA Tag Team Title Match: Tomko & Styles vs. BG James & Bullet Bob Armstrong
this match just has too much going for it not to be good. BG James and Pops are on a roll and have defeated the top teams in……….s**t, never mind. Why this match is on PPV is beyond me. It isn’t cute, satisfying or fun. Someone must have realized this and added the Kip James comment of being behind them 100% or something. You know, so when he turns on them it will be heartfelt. Basically they have given AJ and Tomko, who are having issues now, a reason to keep the tag titles while forwarding the fact they are on the outs. This way they can work weeks of television over the tag team champions retaining despite their problems and inevitably have a winner take all match at the next PPV. This match is destined to have all sorts of interference by any of the following names and probably some in tandem; Kurt Angle, Christian Cage, Kip James, Roxie, Brad Armstrong, Tad Evans, Curry Man and Tiger Mask.
Winner: AJ and Tomko

Booker T vs. Robert Roode
Roode cut the best promo of his TNA career Thursday and now he needs to follow it up with his best performance in TNA ever. They have done a decent job with the build up and have painted Roode as a dick. He effectively addressed the issue I had with this program in his promo Thursday and Booker has handled his end very well. His statements apologizing to TNA management, ownership and the like was a good mood setter for the match. Booker has the opportunity to really push Roode ahead of his lethargic ring performances and cement him as a high level player; something Kurt Angle and Christian Cage could not do. The only logical way for this feud to end is with a Booker T victory. Roode doesn’t need to win. He needs to look good and push himself. If he doesn’t this will start the “Chirs Harrisizing” of Bobby Roode. Now if TNA wants yet another match out of these two, Sharmelle will get involved costing Booker T the match on accident. Also, expect major outside interference from Sharmelle, Traci Brooks, Payton Banks, Payton Manning, Eli Manning, Against Me and NOW.
Winner: Robert Roode

Traci Brooks vs. Payton Banks
This match suffers from having very little build up and a lack of logical animosity. They have never sufficiently explained why Payton has it in for Traci and why she is changing her look to mimic Traci Brooks. They have just again established her as a wrestler and have not established Payton banks as a wrestler in the least. This is a simple time filler but Robert Roode will interfere.
Winner: Payton Banks

Petey Williams vs. Scott Steiner
TNA finally gave Petey a gimmick and now he is fighting over a brief case that he doesn’t need nor want. He has a TNA Heavyweight title match guaranteed. They have never explained why he would be motivated to risk it and potentially get nothing in the end. Scott Steiner has been entertaining enough in this as he mumbles and stumbles n his promos. He is a kooky guy and it just comes out great in this. Scott doesn’t need the win but Petey needs a reason to care about winning and losing. It also can lead to Steiner taking him under his wing and form a new tag team. Steiner does fall in to the Team 3D problem of degrading the X-Division wrestlers by continually mocking their size and abilities. Because of this Scott really shouldn’t win really the winner of this hinges on the winner of the Street Fight for the fate of the X-Division.
Winner: Scott Steiner

Jay Lethal & The Guns vs. Team 3D & Devine
I have already written a bunch about this match and it’s build up. One thing that is lost in all of the personal issues is the fact no one elected he MCM and Lethal as the torchbearers for the X-Division. No one asked Sonjay how he feels being left out of the match. No one talked to Petey Williams, Shark Boy (thank god), Curry Man, Elix Skipper as well. Come to think of it, if that is all the X-Division has to offer, the Motor City machine Guns losing isn’t all that bad. Really unless there is a renewed push on the X-Division wrestlers being the more athletic and generally different wrestlers in TNA there is no reason to have the division. Losing it at this point isn’t a big deal. There is no emotional investment either way team 3D have generally proven their point by always coming out ahead in their altercations. Even if they lose, team 3D has damaged the wrestlers in the X-Division by showing them to be small, weak and easily beatable. Their loss tonight will be a fluke and they come out unscathed. The idea that they will not be able to fight in the X-Division based on the new weight restrictions is meaningless. They never mentioned the title in any interviews. So really, who cares who wins?
Winner: Jay Lethal and The Motor City Machine Guns

TNA World Title Match: Kurt Angle vs. Christian Cage w/Special Enforcer Samoa Joe
This match has so much going on with it that a clean finish is impossible. TNA does not have the creative minds to pull of a satisfying and strong finish with a match with a more focused issue let alone one with multiple issues.

The only issue that should be on display in this match is that of the TNA Heavyweight Title. In the weeks leading to the PPV it was narily mentioned by anyone involved other than Jim Cornette and he only mentioned while trying to sign Samoa Joe to a new contract. Most of the attention has been on AJ Styles thinking he is getting some from Karen Angle. Kurt Angle being mad at AJ because he is uncommitted to him solely. Christian is proud ok Tomko but still mad at AJ. Tomko just needs his space but no one will listen. Elsewhere in the Melrose Place condominiums, Samoa Joe and his old hippie friend are strong-arming management for more money but it keeps getting messed up. Then Matt “The Man” Morgan harshed their buzz and ruined one of the contract signings and then that old bald man broke it up the second time. How Samoa Joe is satisfied with all of this is beyond me. The match is going to include interference from all of the above and maybe even some others. Here is a list of potential suspects, Dixie Carter, Jeff Jarrett, Vince Russo, Dutch mantel (comedic of course), Jim Cornette (Yeah he supposedly isn’t in town, so what) , Bella the Dog, Hold For Swank, Brian Difrango and Wade Keller (It is a new era after all).
Winner: Kurt Angle

Jeremy Maes is the "J" in the DEJ Audio Experience, found at PWTorch.com. He has been doing this for some time now, long enough that he can’t remember the start date. His famous words for all listeners have never changed “Don’t follow my path son. Don’t follow my path.” Find him on the PWTorch.com VIP Message Board, or shoot him an e-mail at theaudioexperience@gmail.com

For more BREAKING NEWS on WWE, TNA, ROH
visit our affiliate: JASON POWELL'S PROWRESTLING.NET

For UFC AND MMA NEWS & BLOGS
visit our affiliate: MMATORCH.COM - now featuring Jamie Penick's MMATorch Daily Audio Updates!

REACT TO THIS STORY IN OUR FREE PWTORCH FORUM

PWTORCH VIP SIGN-UP INFO - NO ADS, EXCLUSIVE CONTENT

| subscribe to this feed

MORE "The Specialists" ARTICLES
11/18 WWE ECW Hits & Misses: Miz & Morrison, All American Challenge, 6 Man Tag
PARKS: The Mike Adamle Experiment - How much blame for his failure is on his shoulders?
UNDER THE MICROSCOPE - 11/17 Raw: Clearance sale for Released Wrestlers merch, Relationship Building with Punk & Kofi, Batista vs. Ref
MAGIC, MEMORIES AND MANIA: Ten Step Plan for a more refreshing John Cena return
THE ABSURDITY OF IT ALL - ECW TV 11/18: The Offspring of Chris Masters and Alex Wright, The JoMizzy Fan Club, Doing The Vince Dance On Live Television
11/17 WWE Raw Hits & Misses: Superstar Forum, Jericho's Promo, Hardy vs. Regal, Lumberjack Match
THE ABSURDITY OF IT ALL - WWE Raw 11/17: Raw re-uses Scripts, Spoon-feeds Storylines, and Jericho Tries to convince Cena-haters
11/14 WWE Smackdown Hits & Misses: Hardy vs. Benjamin, Fat Jokes, Hardy vs. Undertaker
FAST FORWARD 11/17: Predictions on Survivor Series, Christopher Daniels, and Please No on Jeff Hardy's deranged character
KEY MOMENT OF THE WEEK: Guide to the beginning, middle, and end of the Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Jericho feud
THE ABSURDITY OF IT ALL - 11/14 WWE Smackdown: That's the Fine Art of Delivering Bad Jokes and Burying Opponents, Baby
11/13 TNA Impact Hits & Misses: Young vs. Bashir, Tag Title Match, End of the Show
UNDER THE MICROSCOPE - 11/13 TNA IMPACT: What I noticed that you might have missed
THE ABSURDITY OF IT ALL - TNA Impact 11/13: Young Dorks vs. 007 MEM, Worst Feud of 2008, Awesome Kong to Decapitate Disney Characters
11/11 WWE ECW Hits & Misses: Hardy vs. Finlay
11/10 WWE Raw Hits & Misses: Priceless, Phoenix vs. James, Michaels vs. Jericho
ECW Storylines and Feuds - Analyzing everything, which would be the Hardy-Finlay and Dreamer-Swagger feuds
Raw Storylines and Feuds - The final week for Jericho-Michaels, Kane-Mysterio, and more
ABSURDITY OF IT ALL Midweek Report: ECW, Survivor Series, Randy Orton, And Them Chinlock Blues
Smackdown Storylines and Feuds - Complete rundown of all the rivalries on WWE's blue brand

(c) 1999-2008 TDH Communications Inc. - All rights reserved.

Latest Free Podcasts
PWTorch Free Podcast
11/19 East Coast Audio: ECW - Miz & Morrison continue to shine, A guy debuted, Swagger punished (8 min. clip)
11/17 WWE Raw post-game Show: Caldwell and Parks discuss final hype for Survivor Series, John Cena's lack of presence, beards-a-plenty (7 min. clip)
11/17 VIP East Coast Audio: Smackdown - Matt Hardy vs. Shelton Benjamin, Intense debate on Jeff Hardy's character change (7 min. clip)
11/15 Radican Audio Showcase with Burgan pt. 2: Facebook, Last Call w/ Raven & Sandman review, WWE talent releases (10 min. clip)
11/15 Radican Audio Showcase with Burgan: In-depth thoughts and analysis of ROH's Driven PPV (10 min. clip)
11/14 Real Deal with Pat McNeill Audio: Jason Powell Interview, Funk & Foley Reunite, Survivor Series & More (5 min.clip)



ARE YOU VIP? SIGN UP NOW FOR $7.50 A MONTH FOR INSTANT ACCESS TO AD-FREE, BENEFIT-PACKED VIP VERSION OF PWTORCH.COM (see screen capture)
PWTORCH VIP HOME PAGE

INFO ON SUBSCRIPTION TO AD-FREE VIP SITE

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!


PWTORCH READER POLL

Who was the MVP of the Nov. 17 Raw if you saw the show?
Chris Jericho
John Cena
Miz & Morrison
Shawn Michaels and/or Rey Mysterio
Stephanie McMahon
Cody Rhodes and/or Manu
Randy Orton
C.M. Punk
JBL and/or Kane
Santino Marella
William Regal
Matt Hardy
Batista
Cryme Tyme
Kelly Kelly
Victoria
Evan Bourne
Mike Knox
Mark Henry
  

VOTE IN OR SEE RESULTS OF PREVIOUS POLLS

UPCOMING EVENTS LISTING

Articles Grouped by Category
Torch Today
TORCH STORE: Buy Two, Get One Free November Special on Back Issue Sets, Keller DVD
TORCH TODAY: PWTorch invading WWE Universe - join the official PWTorch.com reader group
THE DAILY WORD 11/17: Caldwell looks at Raw tonight, Triple H up for major movie role, NWA tapings in Hollywood, Where's Orlando Jordan?
WWE News
WWE News: WWE stock price takes an absolute beating on Wednesday
WWE News: WWE video game accessible on your Mobile phone; Video preview included
WWE News: WWE trying to re-energize fanbase through social networking to challenge Myspace, Facebook
TNA News
TNA News: Kurt Angle positioning himself as future leader of TNA; why TNA started Main Event Mafia angle
TNA News: Results and News from Monday's event in Nashville with the Tennessee Titans (w/VIDEO)
TNA News: TNA challenging WWE for market share in key region after WWE finishes European tour (w/VIDEO)
ROH News
ROH News: New video wire with promos for Nigel McGuinness vs. Bryan Danielson, Austin Aries vs. Jimmy Jacobs
ROH News: Nigel McGuinness says whether he enjoys being a wrestler; comments on C.M. Punk and Colt Cabana
ROH News: Replay times for Ring of Honor's "Driven" PPV featuring Steen & Generico, Nigel, Briscoes, Danielson, Jerry Lynn
Other News
Other News: Where is he now? "The Model" Rick Martel missing the wrestling travel schedule (w/VIDEO)
Hogan News: Did RVD help boost viewership for Week 5 of Hulk Hogan's CCW? Complete series ratings analysis
Other News: Bret Hart discusses whether his wrestling career is over; describes second book project
PPV Reports
RADICAN'S ROH DRIVEN PPV REPORT: Strong-McGuinness, Steen & Generico vs. Black & Jacobs
KELLER'S TNA TURNING POINT PPV 11/9: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of Sting vs. Styles, Nash vs. Samoa Joe, Main Event Mafia
CALDWELL'S TNA TURNING POINT PPV REPORT 11/9: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live PPV
TV Reports
11/18 ECW on Sci-Fi Report: Mayer's "alt perspective" report including Team Hardy vs. Team Henry, dancing debut, Dreamer vs. Swagger
CALDWELL'S ECW TV REPORT 11/18: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of WWE's Sci-Fi show featuring Matt Hardy, Finlay, Miz & Morrison
KELLER'S WWE RAW REPORT 11/17: Ongoing coverage of live show including Santino raps for Akon, Orton-Punk
Arena Reports
11/12 WWE in Newcastle, U.K.: Batista & Mysterio vs. Jericho & Orton, Shawn Michaels vs. JBL, Haas Hogan in the house
WWE News: Complete Smackdown tapings report for next two weeks - Jeff Hardy, Triple H, Koslov set up Survivor Series
WWE News: Second detailed report from England with full results of tonight's Raw telecast
MMA / UFC Coverage
MMATorch Briefing: Fedor wants to fight Lesnar, Filho out of WEC, Heavyweight rankings, Big announcement
MMA Update: New Top Ten Heavyweight Rankings by MMATorch Staff Just Released
UFC 91 AUDIO ROUNDTABLE (free): Pennick, Ennis, Pelkey, Bent (67 min.)
KELLER'S TAKE
KELLER: A look back at Mike Adamle's infamously disastrous and embarrassing debut as ECW announcer
KELLER: WWE addressed a lot of problems with Raw last night - a march through the eight in our reader poll
KELLER SHORT: What was missing from last night's celebration of 800 episodes of WWE Raw...
MITCHELL'S TAKE
MITCHELL SHORT: WWE Raw Wrestlers Have No Guts Part 2
MITCHELL: Scott Steiner and The Main Event Mafia: The Comeback Promo
MOJO MITCHELL'S WWE RAW 11/10: Stream of Stephanie McMahon Gets Creative And Ends All The Bad Storylines (Okay, One of Them)
MCNEILL'S TAKE
McNEILL's Mailbag: On Lauren Thompson and 70's Style Booking
Indestructible: McNEILL previews TNA Turning Point 2008!
McNEILL's Mailbag: Should Michaels face 'Taker at WrestleMania?
CALDWELL'S TAKE
CALDWELL'S MEDIA CLUB: Eddie Guerrero DVD review Day 6 - Eddie vs. Rey Mysterio... 'Nuff Said
CALDWELL'S MEDIA CLUB: Eddie Guerrero DVD review Day 5 - Eddie vs. Chris Jericho; the day no one cared
CALDWELL'S MEDIA CLUB: Eddie Guerrero DVD review Day 4 - Eddie vs. Ric Flair; the importance of the U.S. Title
RADICAN'S TAKE
TALES FROM THE PULPIT 11/18: Too small to be big and too big to be small: ROH's fight to get the buzz back (pt. 1)
RADICAN: Last Call with Raven & Sandman dissapoints despite fantastic production and high expectations
TALES FROM THE PULPIT 11/13: Why should you buy ROH's "Driven" PPV when it debuts tomorrow? (spoilers)
The Specialists
11/18 WWE ECW Hits & Misses: Miz & Morrison, All American Challenge, 6 Man Tag
PARKS: The Mike Adamle Experiment - How much blame for his failure is on his shoulders?
UNDER THE MICROSCOPE - 11/17 Raw: Clearance sale for Released Wrestlers merch, Relationship Building with Punk & Kofi, Batista vs. Ref
Guest Editorials
EDITORIAL: Career vs. Career - The Undertaker vs. John Cena at WrestleMania 25
EDITORIAL: A plan for a dramatic make-over of WWE through massive downscaling of TV, PPVs, roster size, titles
EDITORIAL: Vetter examines problems with ROH product
Torch Feedback
ECW on Sci-Fi Reax #1: "I was waiting for someone to take a shot at Swagger's lisp, but Ricky Ortiz?"
WWE Raw Reax #4: "Manu came away from his match with Batista stronger than when he walked in."
WWE Raw Reax #3: "...Easily the coolest moment on the show besides Santino's rap."
Ask the Editor
Ask the Editor: Wouldn't incorporating MMA-style holds into pro wrestling matches just be trying to be something it's not?
ASK THE EDITOR: Have the Michaels-Batista promos crossed a line with use of insider terms, references to "jobs"?
ASK THE EDITOR: Why do wrestlers in WWE refer to wrestling as "the business" and not "the sport"?
DVDs - VGames - Books
RADICAN: Last Call with Raven & Sandman dissapoints despite fantastic production and high expectations
RADICAN: Hey! The Claudio Castagnoli delivers one of the best independent releases of the year
DVD REVIEW by Brian Hoops: Magnum T.A. and Nikita Koloff reflections
Torch Flashbacks
WWE News Flashback: Mike Adamle the new G.M. of Raw: Controversial announcer shifted off of ECW announcing duties
RADICAN'S WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT 5 YRS. AGO (11-13-03): Benoit & John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar & Big Show, Vince McMahon rubs his temples, Kurt Angle
KELLER'S NWA-TNA PPV REPORT 5 YRS. AGO (11-12-03): Sting & A.J. Styles together vs. Lex Luger & Jeff Jarrett, Raven & The Sandman team, X Division Gauntlet
VIP Exclusive Features
11/19 Daily Keller Hotline: A specific proposal to overhaul the look and feel of WWE utilizing current talent in a new way (16 min.)
ECW ON SCI-FI ROUNDTABLE REVIEWS 11/18: Mayer, Mezzera, Parks rate and review
PWTorch Newsletter #1054 (19 Pages!): Your weekly megadose of news, analysis, columns, TV reports, more
Torch Trivia
Torch Trivia: How much do you know about Curt Hennig? - Part Two
Torch Trivia: How much do you know about Curt Hennig? - Part One
Torch Trivia: How much do you know about Champion vs. Champion matches?
Torch Instant Polls
Who was the MVP of the Nov. 17 Raw if you saw the show?
Rate the 11/17 WWE Raw on a 0-10 scale if you saw the event
POLL: What's your prediction for the Brock Lesnar vs. Randy Couture fight?
PWTorch Free Podcast
11/19 East Coast Audio: ECW - Miz & Morrison continue to shine, A guy debuted, Swagger punished (8 min. clip)
11/17 WWE Raw post-game Show: Caldwell and Parks discuss final hype for Survivor Series, John Cena's lack of presence, beards-a-plenty (7 min. clip)
11/17 VIP East Coast Audio: Smackdown - Matt Hardy vs. Shelton Benjamin, Intense debate on Jeff Hardy's character change (7 min. clip)
Annual Obituaries
SPECIALIST: List of Deceased Wrestlers for 1999 - Muchnick, Rick Rude, Owen Hart, Renegade...
SPECIALIST: List of Deceased Wrestlers for 2000 - Solie, Albright, Duncum, Tsuruta, Blue Demon, Al Costello
SPECIALIST: List of Deceased Wrestlers for 2001: Johnny Valentine, Terry Gordy, Chris Adams, Bertha Faye, Helen Hart