411’s PPV Roundtable Preview: TNA Bound for Glory 2009
Posted by Jeremy Thomas on 10.17.2009
TNA's biggest Pay-Per-View is LIVE this Sunday, bringing us what could be the last match of Sting's career as he takes on AJ Styles for the TNA World Title! Plus, a four-way Full Metal Mayhem match for the IWGP and TNA Tag Team Titles, Matt Morgan vs. Kurt Angle, Ultimate X, Samoa Joe vs. Bobby Lashley and more! Come see what the 411 Staff has to say about Total Nonstop Action Wrestling's premiere PPV event!
Welcome, one and all, to the 411 TNA Roundtable! Last month we got a new TNA World Champion, as AJ Styles won the five-way match to claim the championship from Kurt Angle at No Surrender. Bobby Lashley had his first win in TNA over Rhino, Kevin Nash retained his Legends Title against Abyss, Samoa Joe beat Daniels to retain the X-Division Title and ODB proved once and for all where the Knockouts Title belongs (hint: not around a guy's waist). We also had the first TNA Knockout Tag Team Champions crowned in Taylor Wilde and Sarita.
This month, it's the big show for TNA as they present their premiere Pay-Per-View, Bound For Glory. AJ Styles defends his title against Sting in what looks to be the last match of Sting's career, while Samoa Joe battles Bobby Lashley in an MMA vs. Wrestling exhibition. Mick Foley takes on Abyss in a Monster's Ball match, Amazing Red defends his newly won X-Division title in a five-man Ultimate X match, and the Beautiful People get a second chance at the Knockouts Tag Team Titles! All the other titles are on the line too, as the Tag Team Titles and IWGP Tag Team Titles are on defended in a Full Metal Mayhem four-way match, Kevin Nash tries to keep Hernandez and Eric Young from claiming his Legends Title and ODB has a three-way match with Tara and Awesome Kong for the Knockouts Championship. It's a packed show, so let's get right down to it!
Before we do, though, don't forget to bookmark 411Mania for all your entertainment needs, or even make it your home page! And don't forget the Twitters too!
Andy Clark: I really don't understand why they put the title on AJ last month. Sting entering the show as champion and giving AJ a shot makes much more sense. Since AJ already has the belt I'm not quite as excited to see him win. The match should be good but it seems somewhat anticlimactic as its pretty apparent AJ breaks "the streak."
Winner and STILL TNA World Heavyweight Champion: AJ Styles
Michael Weyer: Giving AJ the belt last month was great but seemed odd to do when BFG seemed better. I do fear a title change as it almost seems like Sting has it in his contract that he wins the belt at BFG. However, the fact is Sting has had his time and I just can't see even TNA being short-sighted enough to take the belt off one of their best home-grown guys just to satisfy a man who was over long ago.
Winner and STILL TNA World Champion: The Phenomenal One
Julian Bond: With the way things are going right now with the "young" guys finally…FINALLY getting pushes (and me loving every moment of it), I seriously predict that this PPV is going to be used as a prime example for TNA to show that they are the place to showcase new talent…FINALLY. So with that, this is the moment that is way over due with Sting "passing the torch" to AJ via his possible retirement. I know Sting has slowed down a bit in the last couple of years, but I am crazy excited about this bout as I think that the two will tear down the house. If his last match, this is the perfect way for the Stinger to go out versus the super-awesome AJ Styles.
Winner and STILL TNA World Champion: AJ Styles
Jeremy Thomas: This is the easiest pick of the card. The entire thing has been set up around Sting's last match, and people have been waiting for him to pass the torch to AJ for a while now. That means that these guys are going to go out there, bust their ass as much as possible and put AJ over HUGE in doing so. The end will see AJ win, cleanly, to give the fans that special moment. As a side note, it will also make the first time anyone's successfully defended the TNA World Title at Bound for Glory, which will just be another feather in the Phenomenal One's cap.
Winner: AJ STyles (STILL TNA World Heavyweight Champion)
Andy Clark: If this were a WWE-style Ladder Match I'd be stoked; as it stands I am optimistically skeptical and hope it turns out well. Even without Booker T's contract issues I think we'd see new tag team champions, the question is who gets the win. Any of the three challengers could win, and I'd have to think Team 3D are the favorites. Since World Elite is getting pushed hard though I'll pick the British Invasion in the upset.
Winners and NEW TNA World Tag Team Champions and STILL IWGP Tag Team Champions: Doug Williams & Brutus Magnus
Michael Weyer: The change is basically to give Team 3D their own special match. Because of that, I do believe they're the ones who are going to go over here to get both belts and put one final stamp on the legacy in what should be a wild brawl.
Winner and NEW TNA and IWGP Tag Champions: Team 3D
Julian Bond: Kudos to TNA for making the feud between these four a very good lasting one that actually makes sense. And even more kudos for making this a big good ol' ladder match. This should be pretty good here and with the two-belt stipulation I think that Beer Money finally gets some tag-team gold back again, while I predict that the Brits retain their IWGP belts.
Winner and NEW TNA World Tag Team Champions: Beer Money …AND Winner and STILL IWGP Tag Team Champions: The British Invasion
Jeremy Thomas: In all honesty I think the smart money is on Beer Money, but I'm going with my heart here. I love the British Invasion, and I think the fact that New Japan doesn't seem to want a lot of tag title changes out of their promotion means that they retain. I'm also going to give them odds on winning the TNA belts because TNA seems very high on them right now, and this would really be the event that puts them over. Dixie's been talking about seeing the new blood come out on top for a while now, and that totally reads to me that Williams and Magnus come out riding high.
Winner: The British Invasion (STILL IWGP Tag Team Champions; NEW TNA Tag Team Champions)
411Mania Roundtable Consensus: British Invasion (2.5-1-0.5-0)
WRESTLING'S BEST vs. WRESTLING'S FUTURE
Kurt Angle vs. Matt Morgan
Andy Clark: TNA has done a nice job of building up Matt Morgan over the past few months and it's coming to a head nicely at the biggest show of TNA's year. With AJ winning in the main event I'm just not sure the other young guys will also go over. I'll pick Morgan here but I wouldn't be surprised to see it be a "so close" type loss, where Morgan gets over even in losing.
Winner: Matt Morgan
Michael Weyer: TNA's done well building Morgan up as a real threat but even given his recent problems, I don't see Angle losing at the big show of the year. Should be a good match but Angle gets over in the end.
Winner: Kurt Angle
Julian Bond: This should be a good bout here. I think that Morgan has so much good potential to be a good steady main-eventer and going one-on-one against Angle should be the perfect test to see if he could hang with some of the best. Despite my thinking of BFG being the place where all younger talent going over, I think that Angle will still take the win here but in the process of Morgan getting majorily over even more with barely losing to Kurt.
Winner: Kurt Angle
Jeremy Thomas: This is probably the toughest pick. On one hand, Angle could easily win and still put Morgan over in doing so. However, this is probably where the Main Event Mafia falls apart, and I think that a loss by Angle would accelerate that. Angle will look dominating for the majority of this match, but the Blueprint will end up fighting back and taking Angle down for the biggest win in his career.
Andy Clark: We get a title change but I'm not sure to whom. Hernandez should probably get some heat back after being screwed out of his World Title shot last month, although Eric Young could probably use a belt to solidy World Elite.
Winner and NEW Legends Champion: Hernandez
Michael Weyer: We've had our fun but really time to get the belt off Nash and onto someone more capable. Young is possible for comic relief but I think Hernandez gets it as reward for his service and show how he can make it work for the big belt down the road.
Winner and NEW Legends Champion Hernandez
Julian Bond: Loving the Hernandez/Young/World Elite angle going on and I think that Big Sexy Nash here is only in match to drop the belt without being directly pinned (booking-wise...not stupid backstage politics wise). With that, Hernandez gets his first taste of singles gold with a win pinning his nemesis Young.
Winner and NEW TNA Legends Champion: Hernandez
Jeremy Thomas: I'm with the other guys here. Nash needs to drop the title, though he hasn't been bad with it at all which really surprised me. I could see them putting it on Young, but with my pick of the British Invasion winning that probably is enough for the World Elite. Meanwhile, Hernandez deserves a win after they booked him badly last month. This should be a better match than I think some people expect, thanks to Young and Hernandez.
Winner: Hernandez (NEW TNA Legends Champion)
411Mania Roundtable Consensus: Hernandez (4-0)
MMA vs. TNA
Samoa Joe vs. Bobby Lashley
Andy Clark: The Submission stipulation for this match really detracts from their first time encounter in my opinion. I would have preferred to see a straight up hard hitting contest between these two, now we'll just get some lame faux MMA work. I really thought they would have booked Lashley-Angle in the main event of this show but this is probably a worthy replacement.
Winner: "The God of Thunder, The Boss, Undefeated MMA Superstar and Former Heavyweight Wrestling Champion" Bobby Lashley
Michael Weyer: I had real hopes until the "MMA rules" stip. This is the first meeting of these two, they should have a regular bout first before we get to gimmick stuff. This gives the advantage to Lashley and since he's the new arrival in TNA, he should be getting the win here.
Winner: Bobby Lashley
Julian Bond: I am actually interested to see the result of this match. Can't say that it will be the greatest cause Lashley still really haven't seem to have his full wrestling groove back yet, but I think that Joe's the right person to put him against. Think it's obvious that Lashely gets the big win here.
Winner: Bobby Lashely
Jeremy Thomas: Lashley isn't losing this soon into his tenure. I almost wanted to say Joe wins in an upset, but the cards aren't stacked that way. My concern is how well the submission/MMA stipulation will play out; MMA-style matches traditionally have not worked well on wrestling shows as fans usually want more dynamic action. But if anyone can make this match look good it's these guys, and I think it will go over okay.
Winner: Bobby Lashley
411Mania Roundtable Consensus: Bobby Lashley (4-0)
MONSTER'S BALL MATCH
Mick Foley vs. Abyss
Andy Clark: The addition of Dr. Stevie as the guest referee really brings this match down. I'm slightly disappointed they are running a one-on-one Monster's Ball, but the feud between Abyss and Foley has been very good to this point. I think both men will pull out all the stops I just hope they don't involve Stevie too much to detract from what is a Hardcore dream match.
Winner: Abyss
Michael Weyer: Monster's Ball was meant to be a multi-guy affair so making it just two guys weakens the concept. Stevie as the ref also distracts from what could be a terrific hardcore battle. Tough to pick a winner here but I do think Foley will give Abyss the rub in the match he helped create and give the folks a bloody show.
Winner: Abyss
Julian Bond: Another potentially good match here. I especially like the special stip with Dr. Stevie being the guest referee (particularly knowing in reality that Abyss would absolutely destroy Foley). It should hopefully be good bloody fun here with Abyss getting the W here.
Winner: Abyss
Jeremy Thomas: In a recurring theme here, Mick passes the torch to Abyss in what should be a fantastically bloody match. Even with Dr. Stevie playing evil referee, I think Abyss comes out on top here and stands tall over Mick in a nice, wild brawl.
Andy Clark: This match should be a lot of fun and I hope they let Don West to join the commentary team for it. If Red hadn't just won the belt and gotten a new manager I'd probably give Daniels the win, but since Red is pretty new to non-jobberdom I figure he retains. This match could very well steal the show.
Winner and STILL X-Division Champion: Amazing Red
Michael Weyer: Surprised they gave the belt to Red and shakes this up a bit. I still think Red is just a transition champ and they want to give a title change for the big show. D'Angelo is still unproven and Suicide/Homicide have their own feud. So I think Daniels will get it back to elevate the Division back to its old strengths and all of them will make the match a show-stealer.
Winner and NEW X-Division Champion: The Fallen Angel.
Julian Bond: God bless the Motor City Machine Guns (my boys from Detroit!!), but kind of glad they're not in this match here. No offense to them nor Creed and Lethal, but it's good to have a fresh batch of X-Division participants here. Should be an awesome bout as always and I think that Red retains it here since he just got the darn thing.
Winner and STILL X-Division: Amazing Red
Jeremy Thomas: I wanted to say title change, but I think that keeping the belt on Red would be a great chance to put him strong as a champion and that would add credibility to the title more than hotshotting it to another guy. Dinero will get his shot as champion some day but not here, and Homicide and Suicide are doing their own thing. That leaves it down to Daniels, who I think will end up coming very close but ultimately falling short. Of course this will be a show-stealer and probably match of the night, but that goes very much without saying.
Winner: Amazing Red (STILL TNA X-Division Champion)
Andy Clark: Is the Beautiful People combination going to be Velvet Sky & Madison Rayne or Velvet Sky & Lacey Von Erich? The Beautiful People will eventually get the belts but I think the faces retain on this night.
Winners and STILL Knockout Tag Team Champions: Taylor Wilde & Sarita
Michael Weyer: Not sure which combo of the Beautiful People we get but don't see the belts changing hands so soon after being created.
Winners and still TNA Knockouts Tag Team Champions: Wilde & Sarita
Julian Bond: Should hopefully be a good bout here if given time. I think that with the new inclusion of the female Von Erich, the Beautiful People will take the straps here.
Winner and NEW TNA Knockouts Tag Team Champions: The Beautiful People
Jeremy Thomas: When I look at Sarita and Taylor, I think of a line from Coyote Ugly where the lead's best friend just got married. She looks at Piper Perabo and says "I think he was an excellent choice for my first marriage." The faces made good champions, but this title was made for the Beautiful People and we just needed to see them chase the belt a little bit first. This should be quite the enjoyable little match, and in the end I think Lacey gets involved and costs the champions their titles.
Winner: The Beautiful People (NEW TNA Knockouts Tag Team Champions)
Andy Clark: I generally don't care about the Knockouts Division, despite how much some people rave about them, but this has been a pretty nice build. This is very reminiscent of a WrestleMania match build where you just take the top wrestlers in the division and have them go at it. I think a Kong-Tara singles match would have been better received, but ODB has a physical style to fit in there well with the others. The winner here is a toss up.
Winner and NEW Knockouts Champion: Tara
Michael Weyer: It was nice having ODB finally get the belt but I sense a change here. It promises to be a hard hitting battle between her and Kong but I believe Tara is going to take advantage to get the win and hopefully get a real run with the belt this time.
Winner and NEW Knockouts Champion: Tara
Julian Bond: Good build-up here between these three and I hope that the match will go over just as well. Since Tara and Kong are still terribly after each other's throats, I think that Kong may sneak in to get the title once again to feud with Tara.
Winner and NEW TNA Knockouts Champion: Kong
Jeremy Thomas: Sorry ODB, I hope you enjoyed your reign. Really, the only question is who wins here between Tara or Kong. It comes down to the fact that Kong's been without the title for quite a while and she deserves the belt. Also, Tara will make a great choice to chase the title down for a while, and can hopefully bring back something akin to the glory days of Kim/Kong.
Winner: Awesome Kong (NEW TNA Knockouts Champion)
411Mania Roundtable Consensus: Tie (2-2-0)
There you have it folks. And now for the monthly Roundtable awards…the 411Mania staff's sure pick of the show and anyone's game match!
Sure Pick of the Show: AJ Styles over Sting, Hernandez over Kevin Nash & Eric Young, Bobby Lashley over Samoa Joe, Abyss over Mick Foley (4-0) Anyone's Game: Kurt Angle vs. Matt Morgan and The Beautiful People vs. Sarita & Taylor Wilde (2-2)
And of course...the standings Year-to-Date! No Surrender had an uncanny level of prediction from our staff--except for yours truly, who went a paltry 3 for 7. Let's check out the rankings!
Aaron Hubbard: 6 of 7 (85.71%)
Robert S. Leighty: 6 of 7 (85.71%)
Mathew Sforcina: 13 of 16 (81.25%)
Larry Csonka: 18 of 25 (72.00%)
Jeremy Thomas: 21 of 32 (65.63%)
Michael Weyer: 21 of 32 (65.63%)
Julian Bond: 21 of 32 (65.63%)
Andy Clark: 16 of 25 (64.00%)
Chris Lansdell: 9 of 16 (56.25%)
John Peters: 5 of 9 (55.56%)
Sforcina's is still near the top, but he's been eclipsed by Robert and Aaron's No Surrender appearance! Will Bound For Glory let myself, Andy, Julian or Michael creep closer to the number one spot? We'll find out soon enough!
And, of course, don't forget to join us Sunday night for LIVE coverage starting at 7:30 pm!
Such a big show, to have only 4 writers predicting over it.
Posted By: Irrelevant Rites (Guest) on October 17, 2009 at 02:58 PM
TNA has a PPV this weekend?
Posted By: Jay (Guest) on October 17, 2009 at 03:49 PM
Matt Morgan: wrestling's future? That stuttering big dope? Hahaha, maybe TNA's future (not saying much), but not wrestling's.
Posted By: Vince McMahon (Guest) on October 17, 2009 at 04:14 PM
Winner: "The God of Thunder, The Boss, Undefeated MMA Superstar and Former Heavyweight Wrestling Champion" Bobby Lashley
dont forget the greatest MMA fighter in the world.
Posted By: Guest#6084 (Guest) on October 17, 2009 at 06:02 PM
TNA's big PPV of the year, and only 4 guys in the roundtable? Meh to that...
Posted By: Blackbird 13 (Guest) on October 17, 2009 at 06:13 PM
At first I wasn't sure about this PPV, but after reviewing the card this looks like it will be a great show. I think I just might order this.
Posted By: JD (Guest) on October 17, 2009 at 06:49 PM
Oh c'mon I know most of 411 hates TNA but could all of them at least show up when it's their biggest and most important show of the year?
Posted By: Michael (Guest) on October 17, 2009 at 07:32 PM
Thanks for only including people who wanted to actually comment on the matches. I am glad to see there were no WHO CARES?!? picks in the articles like last time.
Posted By: PD (Guest) on October 17, 2009 at 07:33 PM
I feel Red really has to win for me not to lose some more hope for TNA. why give him a manager (after seeing his piss por "Woo's" and lack luster "Yeahs" it's clear he needs one) if you were just to srtinp him of the title and return him to jobberdom. Red has not been elevated enough wiht the title to carry a fued without it whereas Daniel can easily and Suicide and Homicide clearlyhave a fued set up. Let Red fight Pope or awhile and move Daniels onto a more high profile fued.
Posted By: Butters (Guest) on October 17, 2009 at 11:05 PM
Only 4 writers on this? Guess it was better than adding sforcina and hear him bitch all the way through it like the hiac roundtable
Posted By: Guest#5249 (Guest) on October 18, 2009 at 12:01 AM
At least the writters wanted to review this - I remember the prick sho didn't even watch TNA giving predictions like 'Who cares'.
Posted By: JAK (Guest) on October 18, 2009 at 07:08 AM
I think four writers is perfect.
Honestly, who bothers to read everyone's prediction when there are 14 predictions on every match?
Posted By: JO (Guest) on October 18, 2009 at 10:56 AM
It's a good card which will make a good show. Only question is what will be the aftermath. Good show to get ready for which should've been hyped more, instead of just on Spike.
Posted By: Brian B. (Guest) on October 18, 2009 at 05:41 PM
I agree with JD's comment on the number of writers. A short list of concise picks works fine.
Posted By: Mitch (Guest) on October 18, 2009 at 08:34 PM
Ha Ha, TNA's biggest show predicted by four writers...
Posted By: Guest#7467 (Guest) on October 18, 2009 at 08:45 PM
