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So I've been thinking about my "Where We're Going" column, and I realized that I so often get lost in the trees I fail to see the forest. So I spent a little time thinking of where TNA should be going in the next few months, leading up to their biggest show of they year. Because of course there should be a plan. Plans can change—people get injured, and other people get so randomly hot that they have to be pushed—but the basics should be there from the start. Plots in wrestling ebb and flow, and they should all hit their peak at the biggest show of them all. Here are the rules I was playing under:
1) There has to be a clear path between where we are right now (no earlier than May 27th) and where I'm saying they should be in October.
2) I can't rely on signing any one person, and can't even hope to get someone who TNA has no hope in getting (I'm counting RVD, Trish, and Lita as all in this category, though I suppose Lita might be negotiable). I certainly can't rely on new talent to be the lynchpin of any major storylines.
3) I have to think it's a plot TNA would reasonably get behind. That means, sadly, no LAX takeover of the show.
4) Where possible, I should respect TNA BFG traditions—i.e., try to get everyone on the card, have a Fight for the Right opener, and have the card generally reflect TNA style.


1) AJ STYLES defeats KURT ANGLE and SAMOA JOE(c)
World Heavyweight Championship Match

The Story:
Here's the story—at No Surrender AJ has a grudge match against Kurt Angle. To make sure Angle would fight, Cornette makes it a #1 contender's match. There is much over-booked wackiness, and no clear winner comes out. Cornette naturally makes this match a triple threat. In the weeks leading up to BFG, Joe is entirely dismissive of AJ, treating him as a mild distraction from the real war against Angle. Angle is frustrated by AJ's being in the match, cause he is sure AJ cares more about beating him up than winning the title. Kurt also warns Joe repeatedly that AJ might "steal" a win, waiting for both men to be weakened before sneaking in for the kill. At one point during the match, the ref gets knocked out, and Angle signs that he wants to take out AJ. Joe, chair in hand, looks like he's about to disagree, but then whacks AJ. The two of them tee off for a minute, leaving AJ a bloody mess. While he's down Joe and Angle do their thing, but somehow he keeps getting up. He taunts them to keep coming, before rallying with a flurry of offense. He takes out Angle with an Olympic Slam, and then Joe with a Pele. Slowly and painfully he climbs to the top rope and hits the Spiral Tap just as the ref recovers enough to make the three count. Confetti falls and the TNA roster comes out to hoist a near unconscious AJ on their shoulders as Tenay hits the punch-line of the night: "They tried to keep AJ from stealing the title, but they damn-sure couldn't keep him from earning it."

2) LAX (c) defeat THE MOTOR CITY MACHINE GUNS
Cage Match
Tag Team Championship Match

The Story:
After fending off the Rock & Rave Infection, LAX get upset in August by the Guns to lose the title. They regain the titles in September, and the PPV rubber match is set for BFG. The Guns request a cage match as an explicit nod to LAX's stellar outing with Styles & Daniels in 2006—they think they can top LAX at their own game. Hernandez wins with something wacky off the top of the cage.

3) ANGELINA LOVE defeats AWESOME KONG (c)
Knockouts' Championship Match

The Story:
Saeed gets taken out before the match. Kong just dominates Love, as one would expect. When she tries to put her away though, Velvet Sky just keeps causing distractions. Finally Gail Kim comes out, but rather than take out Velvet Sky she nails Kong with a taser behind the ref's back. The ref turns around as Love makes the cover for the win. Tenay laments how "we all wanted to see someone beat Kong, but not this way, never this way." They get bonus points if they cut to Nash watching backstage and muttering about how something looked familiar. Kim officially joins The Beautiful People the following Impact.

4) "THE ORIGINAL" SONJAY DUTT defeats "BLACK MACHISMO" JAY LETHAL
X Division Championship

The Story:
I'd actually hold off on the Sonjay heel turn till Lethal wins the X Division Championship back in August. Then Sonjay goes ballistic, renouncing his happy "guru" disposition and returning to his original ways. He wins clean here with a Hindu Press.

5) CHRISTIAN CAGE, RHINO, & STING defeat BOOKER T & TEAM 3D
Elimination Street-Fight

The story for this one's pretty much already in progress, and I think going nicely. They just have to stall by doing various combinations in the intervening months. I'd also have Christian and Booker cost each other the titles, I'd have one of the faces take out all three heels at the end myself—Rhino could probably use the push the most.

6) ???? defeats TOMKO (w/JAMES MITCHELL), ABYSS, and SCOTT STEINER

The Story:
For weeks in advance they'll hype that the fourth person will be a former ECW champion. Ideally, if they sign Bobby Lashley, this would be an awesome way to have him debut. Also, his being referred to as a former ECW champion (or some suitable euphemism) could set up a nice feud with Rhino, who would deny that he was any such thing. If they can't get Lashley, wins by any of Raven, Sandman, or Sabu would pop the crowd. If that doesn't work, they can no doubt find Mike Awesome or Justin Credible to job to Tomko. Speaking of Tomko, I came up with the Tomko/Mitchell pairing last night, and I think it could be great. Tomko would hire Mitchell because he was able to get Abyss title shots back in the day, but whenever Mitchell goes off on his rants Tomko will just role his eyes and/or be generally rational.

7) JAMES STORM wins Fight for the Right

The Story:
This match is a bit of a mess, but it's traditional. I would however bring back the stip from a few years ago that the winner of the opening round gets a bye to the finals—otherwise the gauntlet half of the match is just really pointless.

8) CURRY MAN wins Ultimate X
#1 Contender's Match for the X Division Championship

The Story:
If it's necessary to make it seem less silly, they can have him unmask at the end. I think CM vs. Sonjay would be gangbusters thought in November.

9) ROXXI wins Knockouts Battle Royal
#1 Contender's Match for the Knockouts' Championship

The Story:
Between the Ultimate X and the Fight for the Right tournament all them men are on the card, so it's really only fair that the women all get on too. Roxxi is the natural person to lead the charge against The Beautiful People.

So that's the card. I think it has a nice bit of balance. There are only two singles matches, but that's TNA style. One title is retained, and 3 change hands. The faces and heels split the title matches 2-2. Most importantly, every match is reachable by October, and all of them segue into feuds following BFG.


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