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Pro's from the Palace (#127) - PPV picks & thoughts on WWE, TNA & ROH |
» Reported by Mike Siciliano of WrestleView.com
» On Saturday, September 23, 2006 at 1:57 PM EST
TNA No Surrender time, ladies and gentlemen, and of course, there is always time to try and predict who wins, and what happens, so let's do this.
TNA's MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT
Dixie Carter, president of TNA has stated that an announcement will be forthcomng at the PPV that will re-define history within TNA as we know it. It has to be a new time slot or two hours for Impact!. I can't see them signing Bill Goldberg because quite frankly, I don't think Goldberg has the hunger to re-enter the wrestling business. If they do announce Goldberg as a signing, I think it will be the beginning of the end for TNA. Not because they signed him, but because they're panicking enough to keep throwing money at the big names, instead of continuing to produce new found talent that could be even bigger than Goldberg or Sting when the time comes.
TRIPLE CHANCE Tag Team BATTLE ROYALE for a shot at the NWA World Tag Team Championship
AMERICA'S MOST WANTED vs. THE NATURALS vs. THE JAMES GANG vs. THE PAPARAZZI vs. THE DIAMONDS IN THE ROUGH VS. MATT BENTLEY & KAZARIAN vs. LANCE HOYT & RON "The Truth" KILLINGS vs. SHARK BOY & NORMAN SMILEY
No. 1. I like how they have inserted, even though they have no chance of winning the match, guys like Shark Boy & Norman Smiley. Exposure to the mid-carders will give TNA more latitude and flexibility with their talent pool. Now, with that being said, we can eliminate Shark Boy & Smiley from contention for the win here. I also think we can eliminate Skipper & Young because quite frankly, they have had little to zero involvement with TNA storylines for the past few months. So, that leaves us down to six teams. I also think that Hoyt & Killing and Bentley & Kazarian will sort of balance themselves out, and eliminate each other. It may be a good mid-card tag feud to have these two guys go, and I think TNA needs to put Killings in something quickly before he walks away from the company all together.
So, with that, that leaves us to AMW, the James Gang, the Naturals, and the Paparazzi. Now, if the wild card known as Kevin Nash gets involved, which is possible, although I think highly doubtful, the Paparazzi may have an edge. I am going to go on the basis that Nash will not be there, and eliminate Shelley and Devine from contention. It's obvious from the naked eye that the top three teams for the titles, outside of Styles & Daniels are AMW, the James Gang, and the Naturals.
Why? Simple. AMW because of their rep, James Gang because someday soon, TNA has to put the belts on them, and the Naturals due to the Shane Douglas factor. Anyway. I think the Naturals will be next to go, to further elevate the tension betwen themselves and the Franchise, leaving the James Gang and AMW. If this goes down like this, how awesome would it be to have Team 3D come out, and influence the win for the James Gang or something to that effect, just to keep AMW out of the title picture. Anyhow, I think that TNA is going to give AMW a little more time off from the belts, and give the victory to the James Gang, and let them get a crack at the titles. Why? No reason. Just a hunch I have. I like this match, from start to finish. It has a lot of potential.
WINNERS: The James Gang
ERIC YOUNG vs. A-1
Now question, where did the storyline come from this, outside of the fact that Young and A-1 are former stablemates? Another question, has Eric Young become Jeff Jarrett's new Alex Shelley? It's all a little confusing here with this one. I think Young gets the win for one simple reason. There is a niche with Young and the creative storyline at the moment, while A-1 is recovering from food poisoning, and hasn't been on TV, that I've noticed, for some time. I think Young gets beaten up pretty good, but figures out a way to get the win.
WINNER: Eric Young
PETEY WILLIAMS vs. JAY LETHAL
I am thrilled that Jay Lethal has a pay per view slot. I am even more thrilled that it's up against an X-Division main stay like Petey Williams. This one has the possiiblity to steal the show from the undercard perspective. Both men can go 1000%, and the chances of either one of them coming out on top is virtually even. I think Lethal will come out on top because I am going to bet that TNA is trying to pull off some new faces, especially if they went out and signed Goldberg, they are going to need some new faces to balance that out. I also think that Senshi vs. Jay Lethal for the title has a lot of pop to it, and a lot of legs. I have seen them compete before in Ring of Honor, and they can go ten fold. I'd like to see it on the national stage of TNA.
WINNER: Jay Lethal
No DQ
ABYSS vs. RAVEN vs. BROTHER RUNT
Once again, TNA puts Abyss in a match where he is going to wind up with something coming out of his back, his head, or some part of his anatomy. This will make ECW look like chicken fights. If Runt can go with Raven & Abyss, which he definitely can, this will propel Runt to singles title matches, win or loss. Abyss needs to be given a shot to run with the gold, the NWA World title, but I doubt that will ever happen. Raven appears to be in limbo, I would think, and I am not sure where they are going to go with him down the line, and I don't know how many more of these matches he can take. Needless to say, this will be bloody, this will be barbaric, and this will be dangerous. I give the win to Abyss because he has the most to lose if he does fall. I think Mitchell helps out in some way, shape, or form to boot.
WINNER: Abyss
CHRISTIAN CAGE vs. RHINO
Although Rhino has taken his game to a whole new level within TNA, this match bothers me. Why? Because it's a WWE match in a TNA environment. Yes, the storyline has been good, but I would like to see different matchups. I don't enjoy seeing two former WWE guys fighting in a different environment like this because it just reminds me of the past when they fought under the shackles of WWE. Who knows? They may turn around and steal the show. I don't know. But, this whole match kind of rubs me the wrong way. I think Cage does something underhanded to win the match, which bothers me as well, because Rhino deserves another shot to run with the NWA world title, but that doesn't appear to be in the picture in the short or long term future for TNA.
WINNER: Christian Cage
X Division Championship
SENSHI vs. CHRIS SABIN
Now, all of a sudden, Sabin is back in the X title picture. Nash disappears, for injury reasons, I believe, and Sabin gets a title shot. It doesn't make sense to me. Senshi is not going to drop the title to Sabin this time. Maybe down the road, but there is still some legs in Senshi's title reign. I have no scientific data to back that up, like I said before, tis just a hunch I be playin'. Senshi retains.
WINNER: Senshi
Fan's Revenge Match
SAMOA JOE vs. JEFF JARRETT
By the way they are promoting this, I don't think this is going to be the main event, and that thrills me. Not because of the fact that Joe gets shafted, but because the Ultimate X match deserves to be THE main event.
Saw Joe's promo from last week. Gold. Platinum. Absolutely beautiful. "JOE IS GONNA KILL YOU!" This one will be uber ugly. I don't like the fan's aspect with this match, but still, Joe vs. Jarrett is definitely going to be the beginning of a serious rivalry that should eventually see Joe take the title from the King of the Mountain. I would have to think that TNA is not going to be stupid enough to keep the belt on Jarrett long term. If he doesn't come out of Bound For Glory with the title against Sting, then this monster is the most likely next challenger to take the title. I think Joe will get the first leg up on Jarrett with the win here.
WINNER: Samoa Joe
Ultimate X Match for the NWA World Tag Team Championship
The LATIN AMERICAN EXCHANGE vs. A.J. STYLES & CHRISTOPHER DANIELS
This one is a perfect booking. LAX win the title in their type of match, and now they gotta play by the X Division stalwarts standards with Ultimate X. I don't know a tremendous amount of information about Hernandez's style, but I've seen Homicide a bunch of times in Ring of Honor, and I can tell you this. Homicide can go both aerial and ground and pound, but this one may just be a little too high for even the Notorious 187. Styles & Daniels are possibly the next Dudley Boys, they are that good as a tag team, and even better singularly. I think this could definitely be an amazing match. Perfect world, Styles & Daniels win the match, but I am not sure they are prepared to have the title change hands so quickly. The question remains, if the James Gang win the battle royale, which matchup sounds more appealing? James Gang vs. LAX or James Gang vs. AJ & Daniels. My pick...
WINNERS: AJ Styles & Christopher Daniels
Some other business to take care of before calling it a day.
I know people are goijng to nail me for this one, but this Cryme Tyme gimmick in WWE. I don't like it. I don't like the vignettes. I think that the deal is really offensive when they show a vignette of a car jacking, no matter how "idiotic" or "funny" they try to spin it. I don't know who this "JTG" is, I don't know if he was/is the Neighborhoodie that Gaspard had a brief run as OVW Southern Tag Team Champs with. I know that the tag team scene needs work, and the fact that they're bringing in another team is not a bad thing, but this gimmick is definitely on the line of Katie Vick, Al Wilson, and all of the other ridiculously stupid ideas that come out of WWE creative.
I saw Smackdown this past week. Mr. Kennedy did a tremendous job to sell the legend of the Undertaker behind the mike during the Phenom's match with the World Heavyweight Champion, King Booker. I thought his facial expressions and his commentary with JBL was absolutely top notch.
I cannot stand the Mysterio vs. Chavo storyline. Mysterio vs. Chavo one on one is an absolute main event in any level. But, with the storyline, it makes things just seem too damn uncomfortable to stomach. Vickie Guerrero being involved in the storyline bothers me as well, but I can respect her working to try and provide for her children. One way or another, the use of Eddie Guerrero has to be ended. It is absolutely taken to a level that is well beyond the realm of tactful television.
Next week's six man match is absolutely top notch. Lashley, Batista, & the WWE Champ vs. the World Champ, Finlay and Regal. I love it. Nothing better. Finlay vs. Batista is a good feud for the Animal, and the real proving ground that is going to be how Batista responds. He needs to respond in this feud and he needs to respond big time, for his own career on Smackdown.
I will say this for the Animal, however. If/when London & Kendrick drop the WWE Tag Team Titles, the team of Lashley & Batista could be a viable option for the tag team division to run for the titles. Also Finlay and Regal could be viable contenders. Obviously, the angle involving James & Stevens and the Pit Bulls with the champs needs to be completed before the addition of any new teams to the mix.
Speaking of London and Kendrick, how cool is it that these guys have been champions for as long as they have been. Question, though. Last week, Ashley accompanied them. This week, they were alone. Are they going to have a manager or not?
I don't understand the marketability of Sylvester Terkay. And the pairing of Terkay with Elijah Burke. It just doesn't make a lick of sense to me. Someone want to enlighten me on this one?
Quick couple of comments on Ring of Honor. 1. How good is Bryan Danielson? Over one year as ROH Champion. He has fought multiple near 60 minute classics. He has fought the best that ROH has, and some of them are absolute gems. Danielson reminds me of a Dean Malenko type. And he can play the heel or the babyface. He has all the tools to be a major player in this business for years and years to come.
Austin Aries & Roderick Strong are defeated for the ROH tag team titles by The Kings of Wrestling. I saw the Kings of Wrestling at "How We Roll". Chris Hero is an excellent heel. Double C, well, he's very positive in his ring skills. It'll be interesting to see who ROH puts up for the next challengers for the tag titles. And how badly is Austin Aries's injuries to his ribs going to affect his return to TNA, if it ever happens. Austin Starr. Jeez, how corny.
One last thing about TNA. I have seen more than my fair share of ridiculous gimmick segments on Impact! lately, and maybe that could be the reason why TNA brought Vince Russo back. I enjoyed TNA's focus on WRESTLING. I hope they return to that facet of the business, and quickly, for their own survival.
I'm done.
Click here for the link to email me.
Click here to check out my myspace.com page.
Click here for New York Sports Works' website, with information on this friday's signing with Batista and James & Stevens' manager, Michelle McCool.
OK. That's it for now, everybody.
Beaucoup cenabling.
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