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Pro's from the Palace (#37) - Predictions for ROH and TNA No Surrender |
» Reported by Mike Siciliano of WrestleView.com
» On Saturday, July 16, 2005 at 7:42 AM EST
It's been one of the traditions of my column to do as many predictions as I can for shows that come by. Since I had the pleasure of experiencing Ring of Honor last week, so I decided this week to do a dual prediction column, for RoH's Woodbridge show tonight and TNA's No Surrender PPV tomorrow night.
Before I get in to it, let me state the obvious for anyone who hasn't checked out my picks in the past. My knowledge of the independents is LIMITED. Very LIMITED. SO, if my picks seem, well, out in left field, take that in to consideration before ripping me about it. I'm doing this to have some fun, and to make you guys think. It's my hope that you guys debate me on these picks, and not take it the other way.
Besides, I was 6 for 6 at Vengeance, so anything is possible! Here we go!
TNA No Surrender
Team Canada (Bobby Roode, Eric Young & A-1) vs. Lance Hoyt & the NWA World Tag Team Champions The Naturals
Truth be told, it bothers me when any card that is supposed to be considered a major card, i.e., a pay per view, doesn't have all their titles defended. And since TNA is only dealing with three titles, defending them should not be difficult. However, Impact has been promoting this feud between the Naturals & Hoyt against Team Canada, so at least there is some continuity with this contest. Personally, I think this is a pick 'em. In a six man, I would try and determine the winner by finding any advantage from the outside of the competitors, or in other words, think outside the six sided ring. Well, with this one, Jimmy Hart vs. Scott D'Amore, it's kind of a push there in that regard. Although Team Canada has the experience advantage, from what my brain tells me, something tells me in my gut that the champs & Hoyt will find a way to make this work. Hoyt is the strongest man in the match, and that may be the advantage that I am looking for to determine a winner.
Winners: The Naturals & Lance Hoyt
Street Fight: NO DQ match
Ron "The Truth" Killings & Konnan vs. Monty Brown & The Outlaw
Possibly here we're going to see if TNA is finally going to team up Billy Gunn (in whatever name he debuts at the pay per view), and BG James. A No DQ match would almost guarantee interference from James, and more than likely, Jeff Jarrett to assist his cronies. I don't remember hearing about any significant build up from the Impact streams leading in to this contest, but the match still has some definite intriguing factors. I'm going to go out on a limb and say this match doesn't have a declared winner due to the obvious outside interference that is, I would bet 1000% is going to get involved in this one.
Winner: No Winner declared
Super X Cup Qualifier Match
"Prime Time" Elix Skipper vs. Shark Boy vs. Sonjay Dutt vs. Mikey Batts
Shark Boy impressed me immensely by standing up to Samoa Joe in the triple threat match last week on Impact. His fearless attitude is going to be primary and necessary to handle the three other competitors in this contest. I am not familiar with Mikey Batts, as I haven't seen him compete a tremendous amount of times. Sonjay Dutt is a outstanding performer, and liable to be involved in some major league sick bumps in this one, but I am going to go out on a limb and say the best "athlete" in this match will take the dupe, and that is the man known simply as Prime Time.
Winner: Elix Skipper
America's Most Wanted vs. Michael Shane & Alex Shelley
It appears finally that Michael Shane has garned a new partner that may last since Kazarian went to WWE. I saw Shelley briefly at ROH last week when he interfered in two GenNext matches. Shelley seems to be highly emotional leading in to this match from his other experiences, and that may be an advantage to the new team. However, AMW is probably the most recognizable tag team in TNA (a recognized tag team in wrestling, ever heard of that VKM?) and I would expect that Storm & Harris would take the dupe in a war.
Winners: America's Most Wanted
Chris Sabin vs. Samoa Joe
Joe frightens me. He is that intense. He is that massive. He is that dangerous. Sabin is an amazing talent, but I don't know if he can handle the stiffest sumb**** that I have ever seen compete in the squared, or in this case, six sided circle. I am really curious to see where TNA takes the push they are starting with Joe, and I think that unfortunately, Sabin will eventually become another notch in Joe's belt. This should be highly competitive, but Joe's submission strength, and his strength overall would be too much for Sabin to overcome.
Winner: Samoa Joe
Special Guest Referee: Jerry Lynn
Sean Waltman vs. A.J. Styles
Styles said last week he could handle dealing with losing King of the Mountain last month at Slammiversary. I can't believe that. He has to be annoyed, no matter how possibly correct the move was, that he ended up being a Randy Orton version of the NWA World Champion. It also shocks me that Styles did not get a 1 on 1 rematch with psycho Raven for the title as well. Instead, he gets a match with Joanie Laurer's foot soldier, Sean Waltman. Personally, Waltman can't tie Styles's shoes in talent. I don't expect, much, unless they have an alternate agenda, that Jerry Lynn will play a very viable role in this one. Styles will take this one, for the simple fact that, I think he is a major league talent compared to Waltman, and honestly, I can't stand Waltman at all.
Winner: A.J. Styles
NWA TNA X Division Championship
Christopher Daniels defends against Petey Williams of Team Canada
Williams was one of the most dominating X Division title holders TNA has seen in some time. Until the reign of the Fallen Angel. I had the pleasure, or frightening experience of seeing Daniels at ROH take out Colt Cabana, and get in to the World Champion's business. I told my wife this one thing when reviewing the experience of seeing the Fallen Angel in action live.
"If I were to be walking down the road, and see this guy coming in my direction, I would run the other way."
Daniels is 210 pounds, I am significantly larger to say the least. He is that intense. He is that deadly, in this person's opinion.
This one will be a war. I know that for fact. I think that Daniels will figure out a way to get over the potential interference of Team Canada and retain the title. Daniels has taken the X Division to new heights, and I think TNA is not done riding the coattails of the X Division Champion.
Winner: Christopher Daniels
Dog Collar Match for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship
Raven defends against the monster Abyss
I thought I heard on Impact that this is going to be a steel cage dog collar match. Well, anyyway, dog collar or otherwise, I cannot see Abyss taking the title at this time. Raven has a ton of other people waiting at a shot at the title, where Abyss, outside of a program with AJ Styles, I cannot see who he would be able to defend the title with. This one will be vicious, brutal, and ruthless. Jarrett is definitely going to figure out a way to get involved in this one as well, which I am not sure how it is going to turn out, since I don't think Jarrett likes either one of these two guys. I'm going to take Raven for this one, but this one is definitely going to be a worthwhile match to witness.
Winner: Raven
Ring Of Honor continues its northeast corridor run with a extravaganza in Woodbridge, Connecticut tonight. Let's go through the card.
Four Corner Survival
Dixie vs. Kevin Steen vs. Azrieal vs. Homicide
I didn't have the chance to see Steen at the Long Island show, but I did see Dixie, Azrieal and Homicide. Homicide was in the 4CS match on Long Island with Aries, Gibson, and Joe. Homicide is an evil competitor, and if Smokes is with him, he is going to be a difficult man to contend with in this 4CS match. Dixie got beat up pretty good by the jobber Heartbreak Express last week on Long Island, and Azrieal lost a stiff contest with Roderick Strong last week. I would expect none of these talents to 'tag' up as they did in the 4CS last week. I expect violence. And I expect the Rottweilers to take this one...
Winner: Homicide
Nigel McGuiness vs. Claudio Castagnoli
The debuting Castagnoli takes on the Australian (oops, I meant British...I thought he was Australian from what I saw on Long Island, but I was corrected by a friend via email. Thanks for the clarification, my friend) star McGuiness, following two victories last week against Walker and Cabana. Being that I have never seen, nor head of Castagnoli it would not be wise for me to try and decipher a pick. I am going to say Claudio will win because more often than not, debuting superstars take the win. We'll see..
Winner: Claudio Castagnoli
Austin Aries vs. El Generico
Missed the chance to see the generic lucahdore in Long Island, but Aries showed me a tremendous amount of talent in the 4CS, specifically when he stood up to the monster Samoa Joe on more than one occasion. It boggles the mind that Aries, a 210 pound competitor, took out the monster Joe at his best, and won the World title from him after 21 months. Expect aerial antics, expect speed, and expect some major league spots in this one, but Aries is on a roll, and I suspect it will continue, regardless of the lack of knowledge I may possess on his opponent.
Winner: Austin Aries
AJ Styles vs. Roderick Strong
The Phenomenal One takes on the GenNext competitor in a match of two impressive talents. Both men were impressive in their matches last week on Long Island in victories over Jimmy Rave & The Embassy and Azrieal respectively. This one, I would say, is a pick em match, unless Alex Shelley does the run ins like he did last week, with one of them against Strong. I would personally love to see this competition, and I think anyone who would be lucky enough to see this match, will be treated to a incredible contest.
Winner: AJ Styles
Ultimate Endurance
Fall 1 - Tag Team Scramble, Fall 2 - Anything Goes, Fall 3 - For the Tag Team Championship
The Embassy (Fast Eddie & Mike Kruel) vs. Lacey's Angels (Izzy & Deranged) vs. The Ring Crew Express vs. (The ROH Tag Team Champions) The Carnage Crew
Some of these talents I have not had the pleasure. Fast Eddie, the RCE, and the tag team champions to be specific. I also have not had the pleasure of seeing a Tag Team Scramble match. I am not at all prepared or have the knowledge to truthfully make a pick. However, based on the times I have seen indy competitors, I have been impressed with the abilities and talents of Mike "The Killer" Kruel. So, I am going to go against the grain, and against my better judgment, seeing what I saw last week in the Styles/Rave match, and take the Embassy to win this contest, and win the tag team titles.
Winners: The Embassy
ROH Pure Title Match
Samoa Joe defends against Jimmy Rave
I'm still trying to figure out the logic here. Rave loses a match to AJ Styles, then tries to suffocate him with a dunkin donuts bag, and he gets a title shot as his punishment? Well, if you want to call this a prize, then you're one sadistic freak. Rave has the pleasure, or pain of facing Joe for the belt. I suspect Joe will take Rave, and anyone else who lurks around ringside, and turn them in to mulch. I don't expect the Embassy to put up much of a challenge to Joe's title at this time.
Winner: Samoa Joe
Christopher Daniels vs. Matt Hardy
I have been trying to come up with the words to try and describe my feelings on this Matt Hardy situation, and I have yet to be able to put them on paper. This whole situation is really bothering me in the worst possible avenue, as the spectre of Matt Hardy and his 'invasion' of the wrestling world is taking the competition out of the shows, and making it too unpredictable. I have always said that I would like to see the element of 'controlled chaos', but this particular stunt is almost uncontrolled.
Anyway, back to a handicap of these two talents. Daniels and Hardy is a dream match, one on one. Hardy is going in to this at a little bit of a disadvantage because I believe this is his first competition in the 90 days since his departure from WWE, and his obvious injury rehab time, so he has not gone in to combat in some time. Daniels however, is well versed in the art of combat, and I would suspect that the stunt that Hardy has pulled is going to have Daniels' temper at an all time high. We all know Daniels has not one positive thought to say about WWE, and the fact that Hardy could legitimately be using ROH and TNA in this stunt of his is going to have the Fallen Angel looking for blood.
I PRAY that there is no significant run in from a WWE star at this contest, but it's definitely a possibility. We'll have to wait and see. 1 on 1, I am going to make this pick.
Winner: Christopher Daniels
ROH World Heavyweight Championship
CM Punk defends against James Gibson
I feel for Gibson. Why? Because he is obviously a talented competitor, and he seems to be loving what he is doing at this time. His performance in the 4CS on Long Island was impressive. I read that he and Punk had some run ins in Manhattan, and Gibson got in Punk's face on Long Island when Punk signed his "WWE contract". Gibson apparently has been on a losing streak in ROH and has vowed to quit ROH if he can't take the title.
That bothers me, as I think James has a bright future with the future of wrestling. However, I think ROH is setting up Punk to go against Samoa Joe as his final title defense prior to his departure for WWE. With that in tow, I am sorry to say that Gibson is not going to get the title. A great match is iminent. I hope Gibson will be victorious. However, I am going to be picking with my head here, and pick Punk to take the dupe.
Winner: CM Punk
I expect to have these picks debated, and absolutely ripped to shreds. But, you know what? It's fun to make these types of picks, and I hope you enjoy debating me on them.
Till next time, drop me an email, by clicking here.
Kimosabe, sumo!?!?!?!
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