411’s PPV Roundtable Preview: TNA Destination X 2010

Welcome, 411 wrestling readers, to 411Mania’s TNA Pay-Per-View Roundtable! Last month, TNA went Against All Odds, and AJ Styles successfully defended the World Title against Samoa Joe. The Pope D’Angelo Dinero won the 8-Card Stud Tournament by beating Desmond Wolfe, Matt Morgan and then Ken Anderson while the Nasty Boys defeated Team 3D thanks to Jimmy Hart’s return to TNA.

This month it is all aboard for Destination X. AJ Styles is rolling along with the World Title thanks in part to Ric Flair at his side, but he has to get through Abyss to make it to a date with the Pope at Lockdown. The World Tag Team Titles are on the line as the freshly-turned Beer Money try to capture the belts from the feuding partners Matt Morgan and Hernandez. Doug Williams defends his X-Division title against the Prince of Punk in Shannon Moore while in another X-Division match Generation Me battle the Motor City Machineguns in Ultimate X…with a shot at the Tag Team Titles on the line. Kazarian, Daniels, Amazing Red and Brian Kendrick fight in a Ladder Match for a shot at the X-Division title, Tara defends her Knockouts Title against Daffney, Brutus Magnus Rob Terry for the Global Championship and the Band fights for a TNA contract against Kevin Nash and Eric Young. It’s another packed show from TNA, 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!

411Mania.com
411 Wrestling
411 Movies & TV
411 Music
411 Games
411 MMA
411 Boxing
Follow Jeremy!

Joining the Roundtable this month are:

Chad Nevett of “High Road/Low Road” and the Impact R’s!
Our resident Ask 411 Guru, the one and only Mathew Sforcina!
Aaron Hubbard of “The Contentious Ten” and the ROH R’s!
Michael Weyer!, from “Shining a Spotlight!”
The Man himself, Larry Csonka!
Julian Bond of “Against the Grain!”
And of course, yours truly Jeremy Thomas!

---

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

I’ll give them credit, that’s a very solid opening video for the Pay-Per-View.

TNA Destination X 2010

THE CARD:

TNA WORLD TITLE MATCH
AJ Styles © vs. Abyss

Chad Nevett: I haven’t been enjoying Abyss’s push at all and, given the Pope’s title shot at Lockdown, AJ looks like he’s walking away champ. I don’t know how that will work with Abyss as the next Hulk Hogan, but it’s the only thing that makes sense to me.

Winner and STILL TNA World Heavyweight Champion: AJ “Stylin’ & Profilin'” Styles

Mathew Sforcina: Let’s see, always assume that Russo will add another, un-needed level of confusion and mess to an already overloaded storyline. So let’s say… Samoa Joe returns, and then ‘accidently’ costs Abyss the match when he blasts AJ with a chair, drawing the DQ.

Winner, and STILL TNA World Heavyweight Champion: AJ Styles (DQ, Joe-ferance)

Aaron Hubbard: These guys have put on great matches on the past, as AJ bumps around for Abyss to make his offense look spectacular. Not sure how the match will work with Abyss as the babyface, but this could be pretty good. Don’t think they are doing a title change one month before Lockdown though, even if it is to Hogan’s “John Cena”.

Winner: AJ Styles

Michael Weyer: These two are always great for some wild matches and this should be no exception. AJ will bump like crazy while Abyss pounds him around but they’re setting up AJ and Pope so no title change here.

Winner and still TNA World Champion: The Phenomenal One

THE Larry Csonka: There is only one thing that I hate about this match, and that is the fact that the POPE has a title shot lined up for the next PPV. With that being the case, they may as well say, “THJIS MATCH DOESN’T MATTER!” But, with that being said, AJ and Abyss have had some DAMN good matches throughout the history of the company, and if they are given the time, and if there isn’t too much bullshit booking, they should easily deliver a strong main event match.

Winner: AJ Styles

Julian Bond: Why is poorly underutilized Abyss in this main event? ….oh yea….HOOOOOGAN! Me prays that Abyss one day sooner than later stops acting goofy and start finally getting serious…which doesn’t include wearing “Hogan’s Ring of Power” all the time! AJ moves on to face the Pope next month.

Winner: AJ Styles

Jeremy Thomas: And this is our first foregone conclusion of the Roundtable. It’s very simple here: you have to look ahead to Lockdown, and D’Angelo Dinero’s going to get a better reaction taking on a heel than he would a face. Add in the fact that conventional booking says that since AJ was been made to look weak on the last Impact, he needs to go over here. I’m actually looking forward to this match, because AJ and Abyss can go, but you can guarantee some overbooked ending, possibly with Joe’s return, that will result in a dirty win by the champion.

Winner: AJ Styles (STILL TNA World Heavyweight Champion)

411Mania Roundtable Consensus: AJ Styles (7-0)

ULTIMATE X #1 CONTENDER’S MATCH FOR THE TAG TEAM TITLES
Generation Me vs. Motor City Machine Guns

Chad Nevett: This looks like it will be match of the night given the amount of talent in the ring. Hopefully, this is given a decent amount of time so the Guns and Bucks can show off their high speed, high risk movesets. I think the Guns need the win here since Generation Me is still pretty new in TNA and the Guns seem like better choices for tag team title contenders.

Winners: The Motor City Machine Guns

Mathew Sforcina: By process of logic, and the idea that maybe, just maybe, somewhere in TNA’s thinking they might notice that Beer Money V MCMG is, you know, a GOOD match…

Winner: Motor City Machine Guns (Contract Retrieval)

Aaron Hubbard: Easy prediction for match of the night here. Both teams rock, they all can fly, and they should deliver in this gimmick. Either team could win and it wouldn’t really matter either way, since the Guns’ ship has pretty much sailed and Generation Me isn’t established enough. I’ll flip a coin. Generation Me gets heads, MCMG gets tails.

Winner: The Motor City Machine Guns

Michael Weyer: If they give enough time, we can get the match of the night as these four are good and making it Ultimate X enhances that. Hopefully, TNA uses sense to realize the MCMG are the guys who should win to set up a good tag title match later.

Winners: MCMG

THE Larry Csonka: This match has kick ass written all over it. Both teams are great, and will be out to prove something in this PPV spot. I hope that they don’t overuse the “gimmick” and work more of the high speed exhibition tag match that we know that they can, and the work the gimmick into it. I have high hopes for this match, one of the reasons I will put down my hard earned cash for the show. The Guns get their win back an move onto a feud that once started a long time ago but never got to finish.

Winner: The Motor City Machine Guns

Julian Bond: This should be hopefully REALLY good and I’m so glad that TNA is giving the great up-starts in Gen Me a nice push here. I think that MCMG gets a needed win here to put them back on the tag team title map to face Beer Money only to maybe have Gen Me attempt to get a shot down the line again.

Winner: MCMG

Jeremy Thomas: This match SHOULD be fantastic. It could conceivably wind up bombing; I could see a potential weak crowd reaction hurting this by virtue of being on an overstacked card. If they’re smart they’ll put this on first and it will not have to follow anything else, thus leaving the crowd super-hot to start off the show. It makes more sense for the Guns to win this one, especially considering who will win the Tag Title match.

Winner: The Motor City Machineguns

411Mania Roundtable Consensus: The Motor City Machine Guns (7-0)

LADDER #1 CONTENDER’S MATCH FOR THE X-DIVISION TITLE
Kazarian vs. Daniels vs. Amazing Red vs. Brian Kendrick

Chad Nevett: This is a bit of a toss up. All four guys have had title shots sometime in the past two months and lost. None stand out as anyone that the current management is high on. Kazarian was meant to have his shot at Destination X, but that got folded into the triple threat with Daniels along for the ride, so I figure Kaz will take this and get another shot at Doug Williams.

Winner: Kazarian

Mathew Sforcina: *flips 4 sided coin*

Winner: Kazarian (pins Red after Best Moonsault Ever on him)

Aaron Hubbard: Three of these guys are good workers and Amazing Red is a good spotmonkey, so this has the potential to steal the show. Presumably, the winner gets a shot at Lockdown against the winner of the X-Divsion Title match, who I have as Doug Williams. That means it would have to be a babyface, and since Amazing Red really isn’t all that great and Kazarian is recently back to being himself again, I’ll go with the former Suicide.

Winner: Kazarian

Michael Weyer: Why this isn’t Ultimate X, I don’t get. It’s a real toss-up in many ways as all four guys could earn a shot and make it work. I think Kaz gets in, however, as they seem to have been setting up plans for him getting the title down the line.

Winner: Kazarian

THE Larry Csonka: The winner gets the next X-Division title shot. Daniels is just another guy to the new regime, which is a shame. Red lost Don West and has been mostly forgotten. Kendrick can be good, but his independent work, in my opinion has been uninspired. Kaz was supposed to have the PPV shot, so I think that he wins the #1 contender’s bout once again and works to get the title.

Winner: Kazarian

Julian Bond: Oh X-Division…here’s hoping that you start to resemble a good tight division instead of doing a “favor of the month” that they’ve been doing for the LONGEST TIME now. So here’s to Kazarian to help achieve this.

Winner: Kazarian

Jeremy Thomas: This is simple math. Amazing Red is just filler in this match and putting the title back on him is clearly not in the current regime’s plan. Daniels doesn’t seem to have a direction right now, and Kendrick hasn’t gotten much of a push so far. Meanwhile, Kazarian got a big promo and has momentum. This will be a fun little spotfest, with Kaz winning the shot that he should have had this show.

Winner: Kazarian

411Mania Roundtable Consensus: Kazarian (7-0)

TNA TAG TEAM TITLE MATCH
Matt Morgan and Hernandez © vs. Beer Money

Chad Nevett: Despite having won the belts a relatively shot time ago, they’ve been teasing a break-up of the tag champs, and Beer Money are newly-turned heels. I would be very surprised if Hernandez and Morgan walk away with the belts, but they may want to tease that out further. Still, Beer Money for the win.

Winners and NEW TNA Tag Team Champions: BEER! MONEY!

Mathew Sforcina: Ok, the Morgan/Hernandez experiment hasn’t worked. So let’s go with a team that can be relied upon to be awesome. Please?

Winners, and NEW TNA Tag Team Champions: BEER! MONEY! (Misplaced Guitar Shot from Jarrett)

Aaron Hubbard: Two partners that don’t like each other? Check. Two big guys as champion that would squash the Machine Guns or Generation Me, whoever wins? Check. Major PPV with cage match stipulations on the horizon for the partners to fight each other? Check. Beer Money wins the titles again, and Morgan and Hernandez will start feuding.

Winner: Beer Money

Michael Weyer: I don’t think Morgan and Hernandez have clicked as champs as well as TNA hoped. This would be the best time to end that experiment to split them up for a feud and set up Beer Money/MCMG for the belts.

Winners and NEW TNA Tag Team Champions: Beer! Money!

THE Larry Csonka: Beer Money has been getting the big push as of late, and it is obvious that Hernandez and Morgan as the PARTNERS THAT CANNOT GET ALONG. Morgan turns and leaves Hernandez out to dry as Beer Money grab the tag team titles.

Winner: Beer Money

Julian Bond: Ha…do I even need to explain the guess here…unless TNA is brain dead and doesn’t go with the obvious heel turn from Morgan.

Winner: Beer Money

Jeremy Thomas: Wacky partners do not get along! We know how this always turns out. So Beer Money win here, and Morgan and Hernandez start to fight in earnest.

Winner: Beer Money (NEW TNA World Tag Team Champions)

411Mania Roundtable Consensus: Beer Money (7-0)

X DIVISION TITLE MATCH
Doug Williams © vs. Shannon Moore

Chad Nevett: I’ve always liked Shannon Moore. I was probably the only fan of his tag team with Jimmy Wang Yang, I know, but he’s always been decent in the ring. This title shot comes out of nowhere — it’s even less logical than Kendrick’s debut title shot since at least he’d been on TV somewhat recently. Doug Williams makes for an interesting champ with a style different from the rest of the X-Division, so he should retain.

Winner and STILL TNA X-Division Champion: Doug Williams

Mathew Sforcina: I don’t need to google Dilligaf Moore. It’s my opinion about you, has been for a long time.

Winner, and STILL TNA X-Division Champion: Doug Williams (Chaos F’n Theory)

Aaron Hubbard: Well, I don’t hate Shannon Moore, and he is one of Hogan’s imports, so I could see them giving him the belt here. I hope not though; the complete lack of build would just make the title change even more meaningless. It will likely be a good match regardless.

Winner: Doug Williams

Michael Weyer: I just can’t get really excited about this bout somehow. Moore has the backing of Hogan but the build hasn’t been good so hopefully they hold off on a title switch for now to keep Williams going.

Winner and still TNA X-Division Champion: Doug Williams

THE Larry Csonka: If Shannon Moore has his working boots on, this could be a good match, but much like Sean Morley, I have to question bringing in a guy that has been treated as nothing but a jobber for years and putting him into a position like this. I fear for Doug Williams here, because the dude deserves a good run.

Winner: Shannon Moore

Julian Bond: As much I am a fan of Moore’s, I am kind of pissed that TNA scrapped the nicely-received return of Kaz in a title match and went with the suddenly and randomly returning Shannon Moore…you know…the King of Punk?!? So I wish that Kaz and Moore switches as not to have the obvious winner here.

Winner: Doug Williams

Jeremy Thomas: I don’t see why they would put the belt on Moore here. Nothing against him, I like him a lot. But Williams is starting to hit his stride and the smart thing here would be to have him retain the belt and go on to face Kazarian. But then, TNA doesn’t always do the smart thing…but we’ll see.

Winner: Doug Williams (STILL TNA X-Division Champion)

411Mania Roundtable Consensus: Doug Williams (6-1)

KNOCKOUTS TITLE MATCH
Tara © vs. Daffney

Chad Nevett: This feud has been nothing special. Daffney is an interesting character, but the in-ring performance has been lacking. Tara hasn’t exactly set the world on fire in the ring lately either. I figure Tara retains because… uh… she’s Tara…?

Winner and STILL TNA Knockouts Champion: Tara

Mathew Sforcina: Please don’t make me choose! That’s like having to choose between Air and Water! Great Taste and Less Filling! Ask 411 Wrestling and Ask 411 Games! You simply cannot demand of me to make a choice here. Oh wait, you can. Damm. Well… I can see Daffney winning here, but let’s say Tara wins this straight up one, forcing Daffney to demand a gimmick match, and giving us time for the Love Triangle with Stevie.

Winner, and STILL TNA Knockouts Champion: Goddess (Widow’s Peak on Demi-Goddess)

Aaron Hubbard: Well, I care more about this than anything with the Divas in WWE, so it has that going for it. I’ll predict they late these two psychos fight next month in a cage under some wacky stipulation, and for that to happen, Tara should retain.

Winner: Tara

Michael Weyer: I’m actually looking forward to this one, a battle of hot psychos. I’m happy TNA is giving Tara more of a shot as champ as she should be able to carry things well and Daffney should match her for a wild battle. Given enough time (which is debatable for TNA), we can see why the Knockouts deserve more of a shot.

Winner and still Knockouts Champion: Tara

THE Larry Csonka: They have had intense brawls, but I am not sure the match will be that god. No need to change the title, it needs stability at this point. Bring back Hamada and let her kill bitches.

Winner: Tara

Julian Bond: Good laid-out feud that should hopefully equal a good match here. Hope Tara retains to get this going a little bit longer.

Winner: Tara

Jeremy Thomas: I think Daffney needs a run with the title. However, I don’t think it should be here. Tara will retain here in a match that I’m actually looking forward to. It will help the title gain some cred that someone’s been able to hang on to it for a bit, and Daffney’s win will mean more after a more extended feud while they build up some other contenders.

Winner: Tara (STILL TNA Knockouts Champion)

411Mania Roundtable Consensus: Tara (7-0)

TNA CONTRACT – OR LEAVE THE COMPANY FOR GOOD
Eric Young & Kevin Nash vs. Scott Hall & Sean Waltman

Chad Nevett: I expect a swerve where Nash lay down for Hall and Waltman as this has all been a work to get the entire Band into TNA. Young may or may not have been in on it. Probably not, because then he can feud with the three of them or something.

Winners: The Band

Mathew Sforcina: Remember when Eric Young was an effective, over heel? No, neither can I really…

Winner: Hall and Waltman (Last Call on Young)

Aaron Hubbard: As long as Eric Young and Sean Waltman carry the action and it doesn’t exceed ten minutes, this will be okay. Not good, but okay. Presumably The Band wins to justify their continued appearances on the show (more Hall than Waltman), but this is TNA, king of convoluted logic and never-ending feuds that no-one cares about.

Winner: Hall & Waltman

Michael Weyer: Oh, please, like the stipulation doesn’t totally give away the result?

Winners: Hall and Waltman

THE Larry Csonka: I hope I am wrong, but I fear the big beat down on Young as Nash helps his boys out.

Winner: Scott Hall and Sean Waltman

Julian Bond: Alrighty then….

Winner: Nash/Young

Jeremy Thomas: The contract stipulation makes it simple here. The Band retains. I hope it’s not by a Big Kev swerce because it’s entirely too obvious, but then again…it is the likely route.

Winner: Scott Hall & Sean Waltman

411Mania Roundtable Consensus: Scott Hall and Sean Waltman (6-1)

Mr. Anderson vs. Kurt Angle

Chad Nevett: I could really go either way on this. A win could solidify Anderson, but Angle already dropped a loss to him at Against All Odds. I’ll say Angle wins, but the feud continues with the rubber match at Lockdown.

Winner: Kurt Angle

Mathew Sforcina: Well, if nothing else this match should be quality, in that Anderson is the Gucci of human luggage. Or at least a cheap knockoff of Gucci that falls apart as soon as you try to fill it…

Winner: Kurt Angle (Ankle Lock after Anderson breaks an arm)

Aaron Hubbard: TNA seems pretty high on Anderson, so I can seem them giving the win to him, although more than likely they’ll be in Lethal Lockdown next month. Angle doesn’t lose anything by losing and Anderson gets a lot from winning. The quality of this largely depends on which Anderson shows up: if the good one shows up, this could be a fantastic match. If the average or worse Anderson shows up, Angle will still make it watchable.

Winner: Ken Anderson

Michael Weyer: Still a bit thrown by them putting these guys in such a high profile feud but the first match was good. Hopefully, the second can continue that trend. Hard to pick as Angle could get the win back but I think they’ll have Anderson win here to set up Angle’s ultimate revenge at Lockdown.

Winner: Anderson

THE Larry Csonka: The booking of the feud has been messed up, as the basically ended the feud, and they restarted it so that they could do the match. Anderson won at the last PPV, so Angle takes the win here.

Winner: Kurt Angle

Julian Bond: This feud is probably one of the best basic good one that TNA has done in a long time. It’s simple, well-done, and to the freakin point, which is something TNA should do more of. I’m guessing that Mr. Anderson gets another win here over Angle only to have them finish it out in a cage next month at Lockdown.

Winner: Mr. Anderson

Jeremy Thomas: This is actually the toughest one to call. I’m going to be the tie-breaker here, so I’ll go with Angle. Anderson could get propelled by the win, but I don’t think that they’ll hurt Angle’s credibility by having him eat two losses in a row to Kenny. I could well be wrong, though; either way, this could be a very good match.

Winner: Kurt Angle

411Mania Roundtable Consensus: Kurt Angle (4-3)

GLOBAL TITLE MATCH
Rob Terry © vs. Magnus

Chad Nevett: Hmm… a big, ‘roided-out freak against a decent in-ring wrestler that would look huge next to the average guy, but looks like a little girl next to his opponent? Who, oh who, could Hulk Hogan possibly have booked to win this? Huh… I wonder… After the squash match they booked Doug Williams in, I can only imagine how short this one will be.

Winner and STILL TNA Global Champion: Big Rob Terry

Mathew Sforcina: Always bet on the guy Dixie has a crush on.

Winner and STILL TNA Global Champion: Rob Terry (whatever the hell his finisher is, I don’t care.)

Aaron Hubbard: I don’t care. Rob Terry sucks, this will suck, and nobody will care. Hopefully this is on the pre-show thing (do they still do those) so that nobody has to pay to see it.

Winner: Rob Terry

Michael Weyer: Well, here’s some filler for you with two guys I really don’t care about over a belt few care about. I’m really not into this one at all but I guess I’ll go with the current champ.

Winner and still Global Champion: Rob Terry

THE Larry Csonka: I wish TNA would stop this trend of adding matches to PPVs that don’t have to be added, and have next to no build. They started build for this match, but basically forgot it, and while Magnus is greatly improved, I just don’t see this being a good match. It also adds nothing to the PPV, which now has nine matches, and that is too much.

Winner: Big Rob Terry

Julian Bond: Double alrighty then…

Winner: Rob Terry

Jeremy Thomas: Hey, remember when the Global Title was the Legends Title and AJ was trying like hell to get it over? Glad that effort’s been recognized by wasting the title. I don’t give a rat’s ass about this match, so I’ll go out on a limb and say Magnus wins it, just because I don’t like Rob Terry.

Winner: Magnus

411Mania Roundtable Consensus: Rob Terry (6-1)

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: Half the damn show (7-0)
Anyone’s Game: Kurt Angle over Mr. Anderson (4-3)

And of course…the standings Year-to-Date! Against All Odds resulted in a perfect score for our PPV Previewer Shawn Lealos. Meanwhile, I went 7 for 9, Julian went 6 for 9 and Weyer predicted on the low end with 3 for 9; the tournament was pretty much a make-or-break situation though as it screwed some of us. Let’s check out the rankings!

Shawn Lealos: 9 of 9 (100.00%)
Mathew Sforcina: 13 of 16 (81.25%)
Robert S. Leighty: 10 of 14 (71.43%)
Chad Nevett: 21 of 31 (67.74%)
Larry Csonka: 26 of 40 (65.00%)
Julian Bond: 40 of 62 (64.52%)
Jeremy Thomas: 45 of 71 (63.38%)
Andy Clark: 29 of 47 (61.70%)
Michael Weyer: 39 of 70 (55.71%)

So Sean is now the leader at 9 for 9, though he’ll need to do a little more predicting to end up in the year-end finish. Otherwise, Sforcina is still in the lead; can he maintain that 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!