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MAIN EVENT PREDICTION

ECW Champion Matt Hardy: So Matt Hardy is the ECW Champion, eh? Well no one would have known that had they tuned into ECW this past Tuesday night. Matt Hardy was MIA this week and not only was he not there, but he was hardly even mentioned. I think this goes one step further in proving how little faith WWE has in Hardy as a champion.

I know I am in the minority here, but personally I have never liked Matt Hardy. He has very one-dimensional in-ring ability and as much charisma as a dry piece of toast. His two standout feuds (Edge and MVP) had little to do with Hardy for their success. But nevertheless fans will always adore him due to his last name.

So we will be treated to Matt Hardy pitted against Mark Henry for the ECW Title at No Mercy. If I was in charge, I would get the title off Hardy sooner rather than later, although Henry is not a good choice either.

I am going back to the idea that I had a few weeks back of Finlay turning heel to capture the ECW title. Hardy could vanquish Henry at No Mercy and in the coming weeks Finlay could proceed to turn heel. Heaven knows I am sick of him playing around with Hornswoggle and dancing with little kids at the conclusion of a match against Bam Neely.

As much as I don't care much for him, Hardy makes for a better challenger than he does a champion. A Finlay versus Hardy rivalry is certainly more intriguing than anything Mark Henry could be involved in.

MID-CARD PREDICTION

Ricky Ortiz: Well, it seems that Evan Borne has officially "made it" and thanks to the free pass to any brand that is the talent exchange, he has been featured on Monday nights more prominently than he has on Tuesdays. That is good news for Ricky O. who is currently being featured as the top player in the new superstar initiative.

Honestly, I really do enjoy watching ECW and I like what ECW is all about. It, for the most part, really is a breading ground for Raw, Smackdown, and the stars of tomorrow. First C.M. Punk, then Kofi, next Borne, and now Ortiz is getting the ECW rub.

Borne is not completely out of the Tuesday night scene just yet as he will be teaming with Ortiz against The Miz and Morrison. This feud will probably be played out for a couple of weeks and it will be nice to see Ortiz in some longer matches against more established stars. Since after all, we have yet to really see too much of Ortiz in the ring.

After the program with The Miz and Morrison has run its course, Ortiz could go on to feud with his successor in the new superstar initiative, Jack Swagger. I think the two of them could put on a good program storyline-wise as each claim to be the shining star in the initiative.

I think it will be fun to watch Ricky O. progress both as a character and in the ring. He seems to have the look, let's just see what he does against real competition as opposed to jobbers.

FINGERS CROSSED PREDICTION

GM Mike Adamle: When Mike Adamle was announced as the new GM of Raw, like most people I was surprised. However, unlike many people, I was pleasantly surprised. At the time, Adamle was quickly becoming the most hated guy in WWE due to his moronic comments, obnoxious personality, and his inability to do the job that he was hired to do. That pleasant feeling that I initially had with the idea of Adamle as GM has slowly dwindled each week and I am now at the point where I hope each week Vince will come out to name a replacement and give Adamle his walking papers.

Initially I was thinking that with a small shift in character, Adamle could transform into a full fledged heel and he would grow to be the most hated GM in Raw history. But for some reason, WWE never flipped the switch on that heel turn. Instead Adamle continued to ask for acceptance from fans, all the while messing up on the job and looking like a complete jabroni.

Instead of being a badass heel with a bunch of power and hatred towards the fans for how he was treated before coming into a powerful position, he is a sniffling wimp who has his boss come to the rescue because he is such a failure. I mean it's not like he's announcing anymore. He doesn't have to think on his feet. For the most part, he can pre-tape all of his backstage segments. So that leaves him with five minutes or so that he must do live. He can practice all week long and he is able to bring notes out with him. There is no excuse for his poor performances week in and week out.

The Mike Adamle experiment should be over. He can't do his job. Shane McMahon should not have had to come to the rescue this week. Please, I'm begging, anyone will be better at this point. Whether it be Shane, Regal, Bischoff, even if it calls for Vince to make his return, just end the Adamle Experiment!

PLEASE NOT THAT PREDICTION

Christian Chooses a Side: All throughout Impact this week the audience was continually reminded that Christian had to choose a side, either with Angle, Sting, and Booker, or with Jarrett, Joe, and Styles. But one thing the announcers never explained was why he has to. Is there some unwritten code in TNA that if there is a split in the roster all wrestlers must choose a side?

Really, why can't Christian stay neutral? Just let the two sides do their own thing and stay out of the way.

But something tells me that this won't be the route that Christian's character will be taking. If Mike Tenay tells the audience that Christian has to make a choice, be assured that one will be made. So even though I wish I didn't need to be thinking about it, the question is posed: will Christian stay face and back up his buddy AJ Styles? Or will he turn heel and decide that the young guys don't hold that all important respect for the ones who came before?

I don't like this storyline as a turning point for Christian. Christian and Styles are my number one and number two favorite stars of TNA. A program with these two together should be something that I look forward to. But it is not. First of all, I hate the fact that Christian can't do his own thing in the minds of TNA. He must choose a side. Why? Well that cannot and will not ever be answered.

Second, this program and potential turn is happening too quickly. Both Christian and Styles have been flip-flopping between face and heel rolls way too often. I would much rather see a character develop rather than a quick turn just to fit a particular storyline. Also, Styles and Christian have spent too much time together over the year. I mean, first they have an alliance together, then they feud with one another, then they are friends, then they are a tag team, now they have this tension and it looks like they might be back in a feud once again. It is just too much. Why can't they move on to other things before coming full circle?

So I am just holding my breath that they don't make Christian take this path. Keep him neutral and don't put him back in a feud with Styles already.

ONE LAST PREDICTION

"Fast Forward" will appear exclusively on pwtorch.com each week. Email kylehodgdon@hotmail.com with any questions, comments, or personal predictions. Hodgdon urges you to read Marvel Comic's "Civil War" if you want to see a "split down the middle" storyline done right.


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