I did so well at the first TNA PPV this year, Genesis, going a putrid 2 wins and 4 defeats. So with that being said, and being able to catch Impact regularly since due to Spike’s replay schedule, I think I am a little more ready for Against All Odds. I have some comments on the card, however, before getting in to the picks.
At the beginning, I loved the MEM vs. Front Line angle. Now, it’s absolutely pathetic. The Front Line is in tatters, broken, bruised, and beaten, before it even gets out of the gate. Eric Young is fighting the Guns alongside Lethal and Creed. The Guns are just being selfish, and should’ve been kicked to the curb by the Front Line a long time ago. Rhino, Jarrett, Joe, and Styles, STYLES are freakin’ “injured”. Why the quotes? Because last week, when they did the review of the European tour, who’s participating in the tour house show matches…Jarrett, Joe, Styles, and if my memory serves, Rhino too. Shows you how smart these idiots are behind the scenes of TNA creative. By the way, where is LAX? Where is Sabin, another TNA original, booked for this card? Nowhere to be found. If I’m LAX, I’m screamin’ too for taking the hit against Angle in a handicap match last week. That does ZERO for a team’s rep, regardless of their past resume.
TNA’s whole inception of the angle involving the Mafia and the Front Line was the “originals” of TNA being held down by the superstars TNA has brought in. Where are the originals now? The absolute leader of that pack is AJ Styles, and he’s not in the storyline plans, to this moment, for this card, and that is absolutely piss – poor. I read a report that TNA is going to try and focus more heavy star laden talent on 4 specific pay per views, similar to what WWE does, but when they are not going to focus all their resources on each of the 3 hour “extravaganzas”, why have them at all?
WWE’s lineups for all of their pay per views are never truly that devoid of star power. This pay per view tomorrow night is beyond poor. It’s deplorable. No Joe, No Styles, No Rhino, (I know I’m contradicting myself with that one, but hey, I’m allowed, once in a while). Booker T defends the Legends belt against Shane Sewell? And last, but certainly not least, the main event. Four way for the TNA World Title, Angle vs. Sting vs. Ray vs. Devon. Who else can see how predictably pathetic this card is other than me? I need someone to defend this card to me, because frankly, I don’t see it. 3D is walking around with the IWGP straps, and they’re supposed to fight for the TNA world SINGLES TITLE? Um, er, um, hello? Brain power? Anyone? Bueller?
Ok, I could continue, but why bother. I’m sure you guys are bored with my rants as it is, so let’s get to the business at hand.
Matt Morgan vs. Abyss
I have got to say this in total contradiction to the first part of this ramble. I LOVED, loved, loved, loved, loved (did I say loved?) Abyss’s promo thursday night after he beat on Morgan for a while. This is the Monster. This is the man who wrought havoc and destruction throughout TNA, and this is the man who was and is desperately needed back in the fold for the product to prosper. His promo was perfect. Emotional, intense, and destructive, all in one fell swoop. THIS MATCH ALONE will be incentive for me to consider buying this DVD when it comes out, oh, in say, six months from now. (Yes, that’s a shot at TNA’s DVD distributors, you know how much I love those idiots.)
Getting back to the track here, the bottom line is, this is the beginning. The beginning of hell on earth for both men. I hope Morgan has the guts to handle what Abyss is going to throw at him. We all know Abyss can handle the weapons and the stips, and the blood. I don’t know if Morgan can. I think that was the force that blew him out of WWE. This feud will be a turning point for Morgan in TNA. If he performs well, he may be a main event player in waiting. If he doesn’t, and he’s capable of pulling a stinker job out of this, he may be in trouble for his position on the roster.
Who wins? Who cares? We do, when we get to see the violence behind this match. Obviously, The Monster prevails.
WINNER: Abyss
Brutus Magnus’ open challenge
This guy did not impress me. He looks like the atypical big man who’s trying to break in to the business. He reminds me of a Andrew Martin, someone who may be too big for his britches, and may not be too long for this world. I would not suspect this to be very long, an X Division wrestler will come out, get their ass handed to them, and that’ll be that. He would’ve impressed me more if he had annihilated Sharkie at the Impact Zone last week, but Sharkie had a shot or two before falling to the Modern Day Gladiator. If he’s supposed to be that good, he should figure out how to show it, fast.
I won’t add this to the record for the show, obviously, since we don’t know who his opponent will be.
Scott Steiner vs. Petey Williams
I gotta give Maple Leaf Muscle his due. He has gotten his ass kicked from pillar to post since he returned from ‘injury’ time on the sidelines, and still, he keeps coming back for more. I wonder how he’s going to be able to compensate for the lack of size he has in this bout with Steiner. Whenever you have a MEM vs. Front Line match, as this one is, the chances of a clean finish are slim, and I suspect this one will be ugly when its all said and done. Unfortunately, for the angle, for the show, for the PPV, and for Maple Leaf Muscle, I see not one reason to think that someway, somehow, the Mafia finds a way to get the job done.
WINNER: Scott Steiner
Now, Nash talked on friday about kicking Joe’s ass because of the promo over a year ago when Joe torn Hall a new one. Is the match booked? No. Why? Well, first and foremost, because Nash is probably not 100%, health wise. So, let me ask you something. If you’re gonna bring up something like that, DO IT BEFORE A FREAKIN’ MATCH, WILL YA? Because all that was was stupid filler time that has absolutely not one bearing on the pay per view, at least, going in to sunday night.
With all that being said, and the lack of preliminary matches leading to the 5 CHAMPIONSHIP matches, if you can call them that, let’s get to the meat and potatoes of this card. (Yeah, right.)
TNA Legends Championship
Booker T. vs. Shane Sewell
First of all, is Sewell a wrestler or a ref? Make up your minds, and let this dual thing go, because A) its confusing, and B) its pathetic. Also, this whole thing goes back to stuff that happened well before Genesis, if memory serves, and I doubt most of the people watching, myself included, and no offense intended, is going to remember a lot of stuff that happened last week, not even a few months ago, or dare I say it, over a year ago. So this match has zero buildup outside of Booker’s beatdown during the Bashir match last week. With all that being said, there is no chance on the pits of Hades that Booker drops the strap here. I can’t see this title being created, and then dropped to this guy. No offense to Shane Sewell, but I just don’t see it.
WINNER: Booker T.
TNA Knockouts Championship
Awesome Kong vs. O.D.B.
ODB scares me. She does the job well, inside the ropes, but she still scares the crap out of me. I don’t think Cornette’s attempts at keeping the Kongtourage out of the match are going to work out all that well, and I expect another dirty finish with either Kong winning or being DQ’ed. I suspect Kong will win, because truithfully, I don’t see TNA putting the belt on ODB. The gimmick is too spicy for a championship run. I would see someone else taking the belt off Kong in a 3 or 4 girl match before I see this one happening. It should be fun to watch, for a while, but I suspect a lot of people in O – Town will hit the bathroom during this match.
WINNER: Awesome Kong
TNA World Tag Team Championship
Beer Money, Inc. vs. Lethal Consequences
What happened to Lethal and Creed when they lost the belts so soon after they won it when they cashed in the briefcase is repulsive. It totally took away the value of the Feast or Fired briefcases. Obviously, TNA agrees with me as well, otherwise they would not be re-awarding a World title shot to Super Mex whenever he wants it. Now, the one thing here that is positive, is Creed is a wild card after taking the chair shot to the elbow from Storm. What I am expecting though, is TNA to blow it somehow, and have Creed come out like nothing’s wrong because these tapings happened so long ago, and I doubt anyone in creative is smart enough to play off this injury like they should. With all that being said, I am going to go out on a limb, and say the Front Line gets some gold, and Lethal Consequences are able to thwart the shenanigans of Beer Money. I said SHENANIGANS! Shenanigans, I say! I think EY may be a force in this match based on what happened last week, to boot. That may be the one wild card to pull Lethal and Creed over the top. SOMETHING has to happen here that’s out of the ordinary, or this whole show iwll suffer greatly.
WINNERS: Jay Lethal & Consequences Creed
TNA X Division Championship
Alex Shelley vs. Eric Young
Shelley looked geniunely pissed, and I liked his promo after the Guns lost to Young and Machismo last week. Shelley and Young could be the show stealer, because technically, they are as good as they come. No, they’re not on Bryan Danielson or Kurt Angle’s levels technically, but they can both mat wrestle. I think Young has a new found confidence too with his performance, because he has been superb ever since he dropped the paranoid schizo gimmick when the whole invasion angle began. I am also again curious if Sabin plays a part in this match, and we see the eventual dissolving of the Guns in TNA. As much as I don’t want to see it, especially since I want to see IWGP tag title defenses on American soil, but I can see this title on Shelley being a driving force between the duo. I don’t think EY will win, but I would not be surprised if he does.
WINNER: Alex Shelley
TNA World Heavyweight Championship
Sting vs. Kurt Angle vs. Brother Devon vs. Brother Ray
First, Sting’s holier than thou bullcrap has got to stop. Either be the heel, or be the face, this tweener crap is garbage. Sting trying to tag in to the match last week when Angle flips him off repeatedly. If I’m Sting, I kaboom Angle’s ass right in to 3D’s clutches, and walk out. Angle did that to you the week before, and you made yourself look weak by not returning the favor. Don’t tell me its because of the angle with the Mafia, cause it’s not, its all about the World title. Angle continues to live life on the fringe of true insanity, and this match may be the catalyst to bring him over the edge.
While I believe there is no way in hell that 3D walks out of here with the TNA World strap, I do see one potential positive thing happening here. A manic Angle vs. a pissed off Sting at the next PPV, title or not, would be something I would not mind seeing. This match will be uber ugly, there’s no chance in hell of a clean finish, and I wouldn’t be the least bit shocked if AJ, Joe, and all the others I mentioned up topside of this column return all at once in this clusterbomb of a main event. It’s just that putrid.
WINNER: Sting
By the way, did I mention that I think the booking of this card absolutely sucks?
If I didn’t, well, now I did.
Thanks for reading.
Debate me, please. I’m beggin’ ya. Click here to email me.
Here’s the link to the column’s page on facebook. Click here.