411’s PPV Roundtable Preview: TNA Turning Point 2009

Welcome, one and all, to the 411 TNA Roundtable! Last month we had TNA’s flagship show as AJ Styles successfully defended the TNA World Title against Sting at Bound For Glory. The British Invasion won the TNA Tag Team Titles while Team 3D took home the IWGP Tag Titles in Full Metal Mayhem, Eric Young won the Legends Title by screwing over Kevin Nash, Bobby Lashley beat Samoa Joe, ODB and Sarita and Taylor Wilde retained their titles, as did Amazing Red in Ultimate X. And Kurt Angle defeated Matt Morgan in one-on-one action.

This month, it’s wrestling’s future hooking up in a match from the past for the top title as TNA presents Turning Point! AJ Styles, Daniels and Samoa Joe lock horns for the belt, while the British Invasion defend their TNA World Tag Team Titles against the Motor City Machine Guns and Beer Money. Amazing Red and Homicide will clash for Red’s X-Division belt and all Knockouts Titles will be on the line in six-women action! Tara battles Awesome Kong in Six Sides of Steel, Kurt Angle battles newcomer Desmond Wolfe, Bobby Lashley takes on Scott Steiner and a six-man street fight tops us off. Let’s get to the predictions, shall we?

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Joining the Roundtable this month are:

Julian Bond of “Against the Grain!”
Andy Clark of “The Shimmy!”
Chad Nevett of “High Road/Low Road!”
Michael Weyer, the man behind “Shining a Spotlight!”
The one and only Larry Csonka!
And of course, yours truly Jeremy Thomas!

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TNA’S OFFICIAL “PLEASE BUY OUR PAY-PER-VIEW” VIDEO:

No music video, but no silly commercials for TNA on iTunes or the like. I’m okay with that.

TNA Turning Point 2009

THE CARD:

TNA WORLD TITLE MATCH
AJ Styles © vs. Samoa Joe vs. Daniels

Julian Bond: Next to Wolfe vs. Angle and this, TNA is tempting me to chunk down the $30 (or is it $40 now?!?) to pay for this. Now only can you not go wrong with having these three in the ring again, but TNA has also backed this properly with a nice storyline. So me praying that this goes over awesomely well and that TNA treats Joe and Daniels nicely after this in regards to them and the World Title picture (aka hope Daniels and Joe aren’t going to start semi-jobbing again).

Winner and STILL TNA World Champion: AJ Styles

Andy Clark: Damn I wish this match had main evented Bound for Glory. I will be cheering my ass off for Daniels to win this match (even if it leads to an unfortunate heel turn), but I doubt I will get my wish. The match should be great, and if I remember correctly this will be the rubber match in this feud. I can’t see either of the challengers winning unless they just want to go for shock value. I’ll hold out hope for Daniels to win the belt as a thank you for almost killing himself last month. Eh, what the hell, I’ll even make it my official prediction.

Winner and NEW TNA World Heavyweight Champion: Daniels

Chad Nevett: All three guys are very talented and this looked like a great match even before they began putting Styles and Daniels at odds, but with all three men clearly out for themself, this has big potential. Styles hasn’t been champion too long and he got there with a big push by going over Sting and basically being named his successor, so I doubt they’ll take the strap off of him yet.

Winner and STILL TNA World Champion: AJ Styles

Michael Weyer: Seriously, is it even possible these three could put on anything less than a classic? All three are utterly brilliant and able to entertain and making this a World title match is all the more awesome. I’m sure they’ll be stepping up the game for this big show and going at it hard. I’d love to see Daniels win and get the big belt but I sense AJ holds onto it a while longer but should be an awesome bout.

Winner and STILL TNA World Champion: The Phenomenal One

THE Larry Csonka: I want to say this right away, I do NOT see this being the epic match that the Unbreakable three way was. It is four years later, both guys have a ton of bumps on their card, they are older, and capturing lighting in the bottle is NOT a promise here. But I DO think that the match will be a damn good one. If they take the title off of AJ already, they are stupid. I suspect we’ll get the unveil of TOMKO as well here.

Winner: AJ Styles

Jeremy Thomas: Will this be Unbreakable all over again? No, but that doesn’t mean we won’t get a great match. If AJ, Daniels and Joe can pull off even half as good of a match as they did then, it will be phenomenal. I see a lot of time given here, and yes, Tomko will reveal himself (or at least get involved). Frankly I have to half-wonder if we’ll see the appearance of the Red and Yellow for a big pop, but I doubt it and hope not. AJ has no reason to lose here, so he rolls on.

Winner: AJ Styles (STILL TNA World Champion)

411Mania Roundtable Consensus: AJ Styles (5-1)

TNA WORLD TAG TEAM TITLE MATCH
The British Invasion © vs. The Motor City Machineguns vs. Beer Money

Julian Bond: This should good especially with the Machineguns hopefully getting back into the TAG rankings instead of being random X-Division filler when needed. But I see the Brits still holding on to their new straps here.

Winner and STILL Tag Team Champions: The British Invasion

Andy Clark: This should be a great match. Finally the Guns are involved in the tag title hunt. I’d like to see them win the belts at some point, but I doubt it will be in their first outing. I think this is more of a transitional match to move from British Invasion-Beer Money to British Invasion-MCMG. With Robert Roode talking about Beer Money being the greatest TNA tag team of all time I’d love to see a Chris Harris return.

Winners and STILL TNA World Tag Team Champions: British Invasion

Chad Nevett: While I like Beer Money, their inclusion in this match seems unnecessary since they’ve been in the title mix for a long time now, and giving the platform to the other two teams solo would have been nice. That said, I don’t think their being in the match will change much as the British Invasion holding the belts is a big part of the World Elite’s power now and there’s no good reason to change that, so just expect a good match featuring six very talented guys.

Winners and STILL TNA World Tag Team Champions: The British Invasion

Michael Weyer: Another intriguing three-way although Beer Money have been in the title mix a bit too long. The Guns would be a great win here but I sense it’s the start of a program with the Brits that TNA will let run for a while.

Winners and STILL TNA World Tag Team Champions: The British Invasion

THE Larry Csonka: I also have high hopes for this match. All three teams have a certain level of greatness. The Invasion is always getting better as a team, The Guns are awesome, and Beer Money should anchor this just fine. They all have worked together, they should be familiar, and again, if given time, it could be a very good match. I wouldn’t change the titles just yet.

Winner: The British Invasion

Jeremy Thomas: For those who haven’t noticed, I love me some British Invasion and I love that they’ve been ruling the tag division. I think that, as good as the MCMG’s and Beer Money are, they will continue to roll through here and retain their titles, probably by taking advantage of an opportunity. Should be a pretty good match, too.

Winner: The British Invasion (STILL TNA Tag Team Champions)

411Mania Roundtable Consensus: British Invasion (6-0)

X-DIVISION TITLE MATCH
Amazing Red © vs. Homicide

Julian Bond: This should be good. With Homicide’s recent crazy-person heel turn, I wish that he may get another run with the title soon. But that probably ain’t going to happen and Red’s pretty solid run continues on.

Winner and STILL X-Division Champion: Amazing Red

Andy Clark: Homicide has been dominating Red in this feud, so as much as I just can’t see Red winning I’ll go with him to get the duke.

Winner and STILL X-Division Champion: Amazing Red

Chad Nevett: This is one of the harder matches to predict since both guys seem to be in the middle of a push. Both are talented and should put on a good show, but I’ve got to give the edge to the World Elite here again.

Winner and NEW X-Division Champion: Homicide

Michael Weyer: Still amazed Red’s held the belt this long but I sense it’s finally time for him to drop it here. It should be a great matchup but I see Homicide finally getting his big push at the top and give the X Division some nice new flavor.

Winner and NEW X-Division Champion: Homicide

THE Larry Csonka: If given the time, this could be a very good match. Both guys know each other and work the same style and pace. The World Elite had gold and I don’t want to see a MEM rehash with them. Don’t kill Red’s momentum, what little he has.

Winner: Amazing Red

Jeremy Thomas: I don’t think this is going to get the time it needs, but it will be pretty decent anyway. Homicide could use the title, but I suspect that Red retains because they seem to be keen on keeping the belt on him. I’m okay with that, though I worry about the X-Division title as of late. We’ll see how it goes.

Winner: Amazing Red (STILL TNA X-Division Champion)

411Mania Roundtable Consensus: Amazing Red (4-2)

ALL KNOCKOUTS TITLES ON THE LINE
Sarita and Taylor Wilde © and ODB © vs. The Beautiful People

Julian Bond: I thought that both ODB and Sarita/Taylor were going to lose their titles last month at Bound For Glory and I was thought wrong. But here I think that they shall drop the titles to the revamped Beautiful People so the ever-so lasting chase can start with the faces going against them.

Winner of all Knockouts Titles: The Beautiful People

Andy Clark: The placeholder champs finally lose their belts. I’m guessing Velvet Skye & Madison Rayne get the tag titles and Lacey gets the Knockouts Title?

Winners and NEW Knockouts Champions: The Beautiful People

Chad Nevett: As stated, the current champs seemed like placeholders until the timing was right for the Beautiful People to own the Knockouts division… and the timing is right.

Winners and NEW Knockouts Champions: The Beautiful People

Michael Weyer: The new stip makes this a bit tricky. The plan always seems to be for the Beautiful People to take over the division and this is the best opportunity for it, so I’ll err on the side of caution and pick them to dominate.

Winners and NEW Knockouts Champions: The Beautiful People

THE Larry Csonka: I honestly don’t have high hopes for the match. LVE sucks in the way I don’t appreciate and TBP have lost all of their heat since Angelina left. Hopefully it isn’t the train wreck that I imagine. Unfortunately I see TBP taking some gold home.

Winner: The Beautiful People

Jeremy Thomas: No question here. I’ve picked the People to beat Sarita and Wilde for a while now, and I keep being wrong. Sometimes, I can’t stop picking a particular horse, because they have to come through some time. I actually think this will be a changing of the guard somehow, and someone besides Lacey will end up with the singles belt while she’s in the tag team. It would do Lacey some good.

Winner: The Beautiful People (NEW Knockout and Knockouts Tag Team Champions)

411Mania Roundtable Consensus: The Beautiful People (6-0)

SIX SIDES OF STEEL
Tara vs. Awesome Kong

Julian Bond: FINALLY these two get to meet up one on one and I pray that it’ll be very good especially with the steel cage stipluation.

Winner: Awesome Kong

Andy Clark: My apathy for the Knockouts Division has been well documented, but I’m looking forward to this match. It would have made more sense to do a regular match first and the Cage Match next month, but this has the potential to be an epic women’s encounter. The winner is a toss up, but this just sets up for the triumphant face victory.

Winner: Tara

Chad Nevett: A match that looks like it will show what the Knockouts division can deliver. Tara is coming in strong and unafraid of Kong, but I don’t think that will matter much.

Winner: Awesome Kong

Michael Weyer: Personally miffed Tara isn’t in the title mix again but a one-on-one with Kong in a cage should be a great battle with plenty of hard hitting. Kong seems to be the favorite but I think Tara will pull it off in an upset.

Winner: Tara

THE Larry Csonka: While I like the feud here, I have to say that I HATE that their first one on one match will take place in the six sides of steel. I also hate that they are devaluing the six sides of steel gimmick by using it for the second time in a month. That all being said, it should be a good match, and with Kong unleashed, she should win here.

Winner: Awesome Kong

Jeremy Thomas: I’m going to enjoy the hell out of this. These two can go in the ring, obviously, and while I think it’s WAY early for a gimmick match I’ll take it. It’s time for Kong to be built up as a monster again the way the ‘E is doing with Beth, and I think that Tara will lose here after a hard-fought match to help give Kong that rub.

Winner: Awesome Kong

411Mania Roundtable Consensus: Awesome Kong (4-2)

Kurt Angle vs. Desmond Wolfe

Julian Bond: I (not to sound like a psycho Nigel McGuiness mark) would seriously consider ordering this PPV JUST for this match here. But since I’m broke and have a feeling that this will be a bit short to build up for an even bigger match later on, I won’t. But I still think that this will break a great contest in which I think Angle will barely pull off a win via clean pin or a DQ and Wolfe will probably beat the shit out of Angle post-match to continue this on.

Winner: Kurt Angle (either by pinfall or DQ)

Andy Clark: This could be a great match, but it also could fall apart. Hopefully Wolfe makes a good showing. The work leading up to this match has been so good that I think they can get away with the no finish I’m expecting. An uncontrollable brawl could be pretty wild.

Winner: Double DQ

Chad Nevett: After a few tastes, seeing these guys let loose should be great. It would undercut Wolfe’s push to have him lose, so expect Angle to put him over big time and probably continue the injury story.

Winner: Desmond Wolfe

Michael Weyer: The build-up for this has been great and it’s a dream matchup to be sure. We can only hope it doesn’t fall apart due to some freak injury or something but as it is, I think Wolfe gets the win to help set him up as a big player in TNA.

Winner: Desmond Wolfe

THE Larry Csonka: Wolfe has looked great thus far and has been booked very strong. I really think that he should either win here, or be DQ’d and beat Angle down, enough to take him off of TV for a bit so that Wolfe can roll on his own. But I have a bad feeling that they will kill his momentum here. Has the chance to be one hell of a match.

Winner: Kurt Angle

Jeremy Thomas: I think a lot of people are setting low expectations here…relatively speaking, of course. I expect this to be a very good match and if TNA is smart, they’ll let Wolfe beat Angle, if by some kind of sneaky-ass tactic. That’s going to shoot him into the stratosphere and give this feud even more heat than it currently has.

Winner: Desmond Wolfe

411Mania Roundtable Consensus: Desmond Wolfe (3-2-1)

Bobby Lashley vs. Scott Steiner

Julian Bond: No more MEM, but Steiner’s still doing his thing…which is cool with me!! Lashley had a pretty good outing with Joe last month and this should hopefully be good too.

Winner: Bobby Lashley

Andy Clark: I will say this: this match should be better than Lashley-Joe last month. There is no way Lashley loses, unless it’s by count out. Steiner should have a good outing but “The Boss” rolls right over him.

Winner: Bobby Lashley

Chad Nevett: To say that I don’t care about this feud would be understating my feelings. Lashley wins because why would he lose to Steiner this early in his TNA push?

Winner: Bobby Lashley

Michael Weyer: Not really my favorite feud in TNA right now as the match will probably be pretty slow and stiff. Lashley gets the win to continue his push and hopefully get better opponents.

Winner: Lashley

THE Larry Csonka: Steiner has been working hard, and the angle has a certain Rick Rude vs. Jake Roberts feel to it, which isn’t a bad thing. Steiner knows his role right now, and Lashley should win no problem.

Winner: Bobby Lashley

Jeremy Thomas: Don’t really care, to be honest. Steiner’s working hard here and Lashley is too, but I’m not very intrigued. We all know Lashley’s going to crush Big Poppa Pump, so let’s just move on.

Winner: Bobby Lashley

411Mania Roundtable Consensus: Bobby Lashley (6-0)

STREET FIGHT
Rhino and Team 3D vs. Matt Morgan, Hernandez and Pope D’Angelo Dinero

Julian Bond: I think that the “good guys” win the fight here, but I predict that Team 3D will finally lose it and start going full heel by kicking some ass post-match.

Winner: Matt Morgan, Hernandez, and Pope D’Angelo Dinero

Chad Nevett: An interesting story that works with the Angle/Wolfe feud of young versus old and, like the Angle/Wolfe match, I don’t see the veterans winning. To tie in with the conspiracy story, expect a screwy finish.

Winner: Matt Morgan, Hernandez, and Pope D’Angelo Dinero

Michael Weyer: This is pretty much a last-minute filler and nothing too important. I think they’ll have the heels win to work in the Morgan/Pope storylines

Winner: Morgan, Hernandez and Dinero

THE Larry Csonka: I hate that this was rushed onto the card. Next month’s PPV is always a throw away, and they could have saved this and the Raven/Stevie vs. Abyss/Foley matches BOTH for next month. I guess I should just be glad that they held off on one of them. Rhino and 3D both work well and their best in the anything goes environment, Morgan has looked good, Super Mex is great and the POPE is awesome because he is the POPE! With the heel turn just happening and the good guys not trusting Pope (who turned out of nowhere, but is for the best due to crowd reaction) the ECW boys take the win.

Winner: Rhino and Team 3D

Jeremy Thomas: Why is this on the show again? Why not keep it off and give more time to the other matches? Ahh, well. The match should be pretty damn good, and I expect to see Rhino and 3D pick up the win. Mostly, because I want to see Rhino win on PPV. How long has it been now?

Winner: Rhino and Team 3D

411Mania Roundtable Consensus: The Faces (3-2)

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: British Invasion over Beer Money & MCMG’s, The Beautiful People over ODB , Sarita and Wilde and Lashley over Steiner (6-0)
Anyone’s Game: Desmond Wolfe over Kurt Angle (3-2-1)

And of course…the standings Year-to-Date! Everyone from Bound For Glory—Michael, Julian and Andy—went 5 for 8, except for yours truly, who was a step below at 4 for 8. 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%)
Michael Weyer: 26 of 40 (65.00%)
Julian Bond: 26 of 40 (65.00%)
Andy Clark: 21 of 33 (63.64%)
Jeremy Thomas: 25 of 40 (62.50%)
Chris Lansdell: 9 of 16 (56.25%)
John Peters: 5 of 9 (55.56%)

Yeah, this is me hoping for better luck this time around. Can Hubbard and Leighty’s (for the moment) one-shot deal a couple of months ago keep them at the top? We’ll see!

And, of course, don’t forget to join us Sunday night for LIVE coverage starting at 7:30 pm!