NWA World Heavyweight title
Elimination Match
Abyss (c) vs. Sting vs. Christian Cage
Aaron: Did I say booked into a corner last month? Yes, I think I did. Christian hasn’t lost, Abyss still looks weak, and Sting’s character is mentally retarded.
Winner – Christian
Vinny Truncellito: I think it’s time to take the Abyss/Mitchell/Sting love triangle storyline away from the NWA championship, and shift the focus to Christian/Angle and Christian/Joe.
Winner – Christian Cage
Eric Szulczewski: So, if there was no reason to switch the title in the same match last month, is there any reason to do so now? Well, yes, there is, and that would be to create a more compelling title match in the near future. So what’s the most compelling match available in TNA? Sting/Angle, which leads perfectly into Angle/Joe IV eventually (notwithstanding that Angle/Joe I shouldn’t have happened yet), perhaps after Slammiversary. So, book it this way: Abyss gets eliminated first, Sting goes over Christian, we have the rematch between the two next month, then Angle gets his shot and the strap. Sounds good to me, and sounds just right given the Russo-riffic booking going on.
Winner and New Champion – Sting
Matthew Michaels: SO, do I think logically or like Russo? I still haven’t figured this out, which may be a partial explanation for my absence in the TNA roundtables lately. Or maybe it’s because I procrastinate too much. Either way, I choose to think of this as more of a “who should face the winner of Joe/Angle” match, since that’s the direction they’ve GOT to be heading overall in TNA. Christian/Angle never happened last week, and could be a good fight, but may be seen by some as “WWE-lite.” Sting/Angle is a potential dream match, but may be too soon and I don’t like the idea of taking the belt off of Sting just to put it back ON him to then have him JOB it. Abyss/Angle is interesting, particularly because of Angle’s win over Abyss in Kurt’s first match in TNA, but Abyss’ storyline is so tied to Christian and Sting right now, I’m not sure if he’ll retain. Joe/Abyss screams “TNA midcarders in over their heads” to me. Joe/Sting would be fun, but I don’t think TNA wants Sting booed, which is something that would definitely happen here. Joe/Christian is a match that I like for many reasons, not least because Joe’s had his streak broken, and now should be the one to kill Christian’s loss-free record. So, I guess I’m putting my money on Angle vs. Abyss or Joe vs. Christian as the next title match in TNA… which means this pick is all about who I think will win Angle/Joe 3.
Winner – Christian Cage
David Brashear: Let’s see here. We’ve got Sting and Abyss tied up in a feud, that could work without tying up the belt. The only question left is – if Christian wins, who’s up next? Joe? Would they want to throw Angle at Christian this early? AJ and Rhino are tied up together, so they’re both out. Could they possibly be considering moving Christopher Daniels to the main event slot? Anyway, my money’s on Captain Charisma.
Winner – Christian Cage
30 Minute Ironman Match Samoa Joe vs. Kurt Angle
Vinny Truncellito: Tough call. Joe didn’t go 18 months undefeated for nothing, but Angle sure as Hell didn’t jump from WWE to be a mid-carder.
Winner – Kurt Angle
Eric Szulczewski: Is there any way this one ends other than a draw after thirty minutes? The only question is whether Corny will go for sudden death. I don’t think so. Always leave ’em wanting more.
Winner – Draw
Matthew Michaels: This match is gonna rock so hard. Okay, so why do I think Joe wins this one? Well, first of all, he’s the f’n face of TNA and 2007 MUST be his year. That means putting the title on him by February, and not letting him and Angle near each other again until Slammiversary at the earliest. This being a 30-minute iron-man match gives the two wrestlers ample time to look good, and not lose their heat with the fans. One negative to having Joe win here and then be “chased” by Angle for months is Angle’s natural charisma as a heel; but since it looks like Russo’s booking them both as tweeners anyway, that point is moot.
Winner – Samoa Joe
David Brashear: The Joe/Angle feud’s been red hot, but I think Joe gains more by winning than Angle does.
Winner – Samoa Joe
Aaron: 6 months ago this was a dream. Now it’s overdone and I barely care. Way to book a huge into the ground Russo. By the way, the second match did half the buyrate of the first, proving my point. They better come through huge here if they want to keep any of the new fans.
Winner – Since all the new viewers left when Angle one and made Joe look weak, Joe should win here.
X-Title match
Christopher Daniels (c) vs. Jerry Lynn vs. Chris Sabin
Eric Szulczewski: Here’s the problem with either Daniels or Styles holding the X strap: there’s no serious competition. Given that, if there’s a belt swap and it does involve Daniels, I’ll be surprised. Therefore, let’s call for a little interference from Daniels’ next program eliminating him from any decision, and, hey, just for fun, let’s give Sabin another go-around with the belt, because I don’t think Russo’s stupid enough to put it on Lynn at this point. Unless he’s been watching too much Smackdown lately and thinking that over-forty is automatically a good thing.
Winner and New Champion – Chris Sabin
Matthew Michaels: Please, just keep the belt ON someone for an extended period of time, will ya?
Winner – Christopher Daniels
David Brashear: I think we’re getting up to the point I mentioned last week – the feud over the belt’s going to be between Sabin and Lynn, and Daniels doesn’t figure into it any other way. I’ll say that Lynn puts Daniels down, then Sabin pitches Lynn to steal the win.
Winner – Chris Sabin
Aaron: It’s good to have Jerry back. He’s the most underrated worker of the 90s save perhaps Malenko. Sabin isn’t bad at his new role, but doesn’t seem fully comfortable yet. I wish Daniels could be in a feud that’s actually about him for once. Sabin gets the most from a win and the other two get nothing, so, logically Sabin should win.
Winner – Sabin
Vinny Truncellito: They ought to give Jerry Lynn a nostalgia run with the strap, and let him feud with his former protégé.
Winner – Jerry Lynn
NWA World Tag Team title match
LAX (c) vs. Team 3D
Matthew Michaels: I think this title WILL switch hands, with the Dudleyz the beneficiaries (allowing them to finally say they’ve won every major tag title in the world, etc.). Just not at this PPV. I figure we’ll see this match end kinda screwy in LAX’ favor, then some sort of six-man with Low Ki finally added to LAX and Spike with his brothers, and finally a cage match where Bubba and D-Von finally win the straps.
Winner – Latin American Exchange
David Brashear: I think that we’re going to see a gimmick match when 3-D get the belts. LAX retains, but I’ll say they pull out some shenanigans (like a new member) to do so.
Winners – LAX
Aaron: Team 3D are desperately stale. LAX is wildly hot. For TNA fans, Team 3D actually seem more important for feuding with LAX, for full marks LAX get the rub. Interesting dynamic.
Winner – LAX
Vinny Truncellito: I can’t see taking the titles off the most dominant team in the company just yet.
Winner – LAX
Eric Szulczewski: Logic would dictate that the Dudleys get some back. Logic has no place in TNA these days. Sheremetyevo is so damn hot right now that they have to keep it going at full steam.
Winners – Sheremetyevo
Last Man Standing
AJ Styles vs. Rhino
David Brashear: Poor Rhino. TNA just can’t figure out a way to put him over. He came out on the short end of his feud with Christian Cage. Still, last man standing does favor Rhino, so maybe the winds of change are blowing (and AJ’s come out on top of almost every encounter till now).
Winner – Rhino
Aaron: This feud warrants a last man standing not at all. Rhino is still hugely over and AJ doesn’t have bad matches so this should be fun and could steal the show… again.
Winner – AJ Styles
Vinny Truncellito: I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: AJ is out of Rhino’s league.
Winner – AJ Styles
Eric Szulczewski: The knee-jerk here is to give it to A. J., out of the presumption that the audience doesn’t realize what a tough little bastard he is. Nonsense. This is where you give it to Rhiyno, because a dead-man-walking victory over A. J. would enhance him more than a win helps A. J. And even Russo wants the upper-mid-card to be strong.
Winner – Rhiyno
Matthew Michaels: AJ needs this win more than Rhino, if he’s going to be considered a legit heel, which is what Russo wants.
Winner – AJ Styles
PCS final event (10 minute match) Austin Starr vs. Alex Shelley
Aaron: This one makes me want to buy the show. This headlined ROH shows and was amazing.
Winner – Alex Shelley, followed by a beatdown
Vinny Truncellito: The obvious call is to have Big Sexy support his new boy over his old boy, so that means Russo will go the other way, and double-swerve us all.
Winner – Alex Shelley
Eric Szulczewski: I watch this show and I haven’t been paying attention to this shit. Okay, I’ve been paying attention to Nash’s promos. I’ve just reached the end of my rope when it comes to silly. Shelley as whiny bitch is golden, and Aries needs the elevation, so that’s where I’m going with this.
Winner – Austin Aries
Matthew Michaels: Time to turn Shelley babyface? Or at least hint towards that? Well, the easy way to do that is pretty simple — give Shelley the visual win here, but have the judges rule in favor of his rival. Hopefully Monty Hall and Foreigner will be in attendance.
Winner – Austin Starr
David Brashear: I’d love to see Shelley take this, but I don’t think he’s reached his breaking point yet. The real question is – who will the judges be? And, wouldn’t it be incredible if those judges were the Iron Sheik, Bob Backlund, and Randy Savage?
Winner – Austin Starr
Petey Williams vs. James Storm
Eric Szulczewski: Petey is sooooooo last month. Now Storm’s the hot property, what with him being all Pimp Daddy toward Gail Kim. That being said, the best way to advance the Storm/Harris feud is interference in this match. Ergo…
Winner – Petey Williams
Matthew Michaels: C’mon, Petey doesn’t win! Ah, but Chris Harris will be involved, so maybe he will. YET PETEY DOESN’T WIN! Storm beats Williams, then doesn’t stop, causing Harris to come out and make the post-match save…
Winner – James Storm
David Brashear: Storm gains the upper hand, then Harris comes out and blasts him with a beer bottle, then takes Gail Kim to boot. And thus we’ve got next month’s match ready to go.
Winner – Petey Williams
Aaron: James needs this to be viable in singles, while Petey will remain over due to his finisher.
Winner – James
Vinny Truncellito: The Canadian Destroyer has completed his face turn, and is on a roll. However, they probably want to keep Storm strong for his feud with Harris.
Winner – The Tennessee Cowboy, James Storm
Lance Hoyt vs. Chase Stevens
Matthew Michaels: Wow.
Winner – Lance Hoyt
David Brashear: I hate to see how TNA’s squandered the Naturals. First they yank every push they’ve gotten out from under them, and then they complain about their workrate. Still, I think Hoyt’s useless, so I’ll go against my gut and believe that hope springs eternal.
Winner – Chase Stevens
Aaron: Good lord, who cares.
Winner – Hoyt so he can have his Eckstein angle with some heat
Vinny Truncellito: Hoyt-a-maina runs wild… on the preshow.
Winner – Lance Hoyt
Eric Szulczewski: And Stevens was wondering how far he’d descend. First the Naturals are destroyed by horrid booking, and now he’s going to be sacrificial lamb to Lance Hoyt. Within three years, Stevens is going to end up sleeping in a doorway at Universal, attempting to remind members of the Impact audience that he was once a multiple-time tag champ.
Winner – Lance Hoyt
