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411’s PPV Roundtable Preview: TNA Sacrifice 2010
Welcome, 411 wrestling readers, to 411Mania’s TNA Pay-Per-View Roundtable! Last month, TNA went under LockDown and AJ Styles defeated D’Angelo Dinero to retain the TNA World Heavyweight Title. Team Hogan defeated Team Flair in Lethal Lockdown, Kurt Angle took down Mr. Anderson, Kevin Nash wrestled twice and won his singles match but lost the tag one against Team 3D, Kazarian won the X-Division title without the champion present and Madison Rayne became the new Knockouts Champion when she and Velvet Sky beat Tara and Angelina Love.
This month the name of the game is sacrifice, in a very literal fashion. Rob Van Dam, the new TNA World Champion, will defend his title against former champion AJ Styles while new Tag Team Champions the Band defend against Ink, Inc. Kazarian also takes on the former champion to defend his X-Division Title in Douglas Williams, while Tara puts her TNA career on the line against Madison Rayne for the Knockouts Title! Orlando Jordan has a shot at Rob Terry and the Global Title, TNA’s three most popular tag teams face off to determine the #1 Contenders, Jeff Hardy battles Mr. Anderson and Jeff Jarrett and Sting take it to each other! That’s quite the stacked Pay-Per-View, isn’t it? Let’s check out and see what the staff has to say!
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Joining the Roundtable this month are:
Chad Nevett of “High Road/Low Road” and the Impact R’s!
The Man and Legend, Larry Csonka!
The man who gives us our dose of wrestling news every week in Cook’s Corner, Steve Cook!
And of course, yours truly Jeremy Thomas!
It’s an unspectacular promo, but a solid one.
TNA Sacrifice 2010
THE CARD:
Jeff Hardy vs. Mr. Anderson
Chad Nevett: With the Pope injured and Hardy not doing anything, we get this feud that has no real point. With RVD as champ, Anderson seems like a good potential contender if the Pope doesn’t return soon, while Hardy’s court case is coming to a head soon, so I’d give the win to Anderson.
Winner: Mr. Anderson
Larry Csonka: With the Pope out, Jeff Hardy steps into face Anderson. These two had some chemistry when they faced in WWE, so if they get the time, they should have a pretty good match. But time will be key since TNA has once again insisted on running nine matches on the show. Anderson could use the win here, but I have a feeling that Jeff gets the nod.
Winner: Jeff Hardy
Steve Cook: If things had turned out differently for both of these guys in their WWE stints, this very well could have been a World title feud. Hardy as the beloved champion, Anderson as the total asshole making Hardy’s life a living hell…that could have been pretty good business. But, shit happened and here we are. It should still be a good match, but it doesn’t have nearly the interest in it that one might have thought a couple of years ago.
Winner: Mr. Anderson
Jeremy Thomas: As dumb as TNA can be with their booking sometimes, they have to realize that Hardy can lose this match without losing much momentum while Anderson needs the win. This has a lot of potential, assuming that both men are motivated, and while I’m not expecting a MOTY contender here it should be enjoyable enough.
Winner: Mr. Anderson
411Mania Roundtable Consensus: Mr. Anderson (3-1)
Chad Nevett: Sting is evil because he hates Hogan and has been beating up Jarrett because… Jarrett doesn’t hate Hogan? We’ve seen these two go at it a lot lately, so expect more of that. Fine, but not great. I figure Sting wins so he can work his way through more of Hogan’s allies.
Winner: Sting
Larry Csonka: I do not think that this will be a match of the year candidate or anything, but JJ and Sting have worked a lot together, and their chemistry has led to good matches. JJ is always game and is still to this day an underrated worker, but the quality of the match will all come down to Sting and his motivation. And it is due to that, that I feel this match will disappoint. Sting has done nothing for months but run around with his coat and shirt, swing his bat and do as little work as possible. Hopefully he comes out motivated here, but I doubt he will. Sting likely wins this to cement his “I’m going to act like a face because I hate being a heel” run.
Winner: Sting
Steve Cook: These guys would be great at helping younger get talent over. So, of course, they’re feuding with each other. Makes sense.
Winner: Sting
Jeremy Thomas: These guys always seem to be able to turn it on well. The problem I see is that at this stage, not many people care. Sting’s character has been silly(er than the rest of his TNA run) as of late but I don’t see it stopping here, and I think he runs through Jarrett on his way to a collision with Hogan somewhere.
Winner: Sting
411Mania Roundtable Consensus: Sting (4-0)
Beer Money vs. Motor City Machine Guns vs. Team 3D
Chad Nevett: Because tag team number one contender matches have actually meant anything lately… the crowd is getting hotter and hotter for the Guns. Even Hogan and Bischoff shouldn’t be able to ignore that. We’ve seen this match on the past two Impacts (with Ink, Inc. as guest stars for one), so I’m expecting something around that quality. Solid with some nice spots, but not amazing.
Winners: The Motor City Machine Guns
Larry Csonka: I figure that the Guns and Beer Money will feud here in order to push the FANDEMONIUM DVD, with features both teams. Plus when you consider that TNA refuses to gibe them the tag team titles, having them win ANOTHER #1 contenders match make little to no sense. Team 3D wins, hypes that they have already beat the Band, and the feud goes on.
Winner: Team 3D
Steve Cook: So I’m guessing the team that wins this match gets a title shot on the next Impact, and then the winner of a straight-up tag team match on that Impact gets a shot at the Impact after that, of course leading to the losers of all of these matches getting a title shot the Impact after that. Well, it’s one way to establish tag team title contenders. I’ll pick Team 3D here and hope for a Beer Money/Machine Guns match.
Winner: Team 3D
Jeremy Thomas: For some reason, TNA seems to want to keep tossing 3D into title matches, even though they’re not exactly putting on compelling TV anymore. All credit in the world to Bubba and D-Von, but they’re moving further past their prime and it is starting to show quite a bit. I can’t get into this, but I see them winning to face the Band since they beat them at Lockdown.
Winner: Team 3D
411Mania Roundtable Consensus: Team 3D (3-1)
The Band © vs. Ink Inc. (Jesse Neal and Shannon Moore)
Chad Nevett: Huh. Now here’s a match that makes no sense since the whole point of Ink, Inc. getting a title shot was the beef both guys had with Matt Morgan. Now it’s just a match I don’t give a fuck about. Great booking, TNA.
Winners and STILL TNA Tag Team Champions: The Band
Larry Csonka: So they do the title change before the PPV and put the title on the Band. Waltman is out, Young is in for no reason other than they needed another man, and I am not impressed. Hall and Nash worked hard at the last PPV, it wasn’t great, but it was fine, but I hope that EY subs in for the sake of match quality. Ink Inc. isn’t the best name but I like the idea of the team. Moore needs something to do and I feel is a better tag team guy, and Neal is improving, and placing him with a veteran, and away from 3D is a good idea. I can’t see them switching the titles yet, so the band retains.
Winner: The Band
Steve Cook: I was watching the four-way tag team match on Impact and made the comment to somebody that I cared about half of the match. Beer Money & the Machine Guns get my respect. Team 3D’s kind of borderline. I couldn’t give a good goddamn about Ink Inc., so of course they won the match and are facing a team that I might care even less about at this show, though it’s certainly debatable. Joy.
Winner: The Band
Jeremy Thomas: Gee, as if this wasn’t a foregone conclusion. No one buys Ink Inc. as a threat. I doubt Moore and Neal buy themselves as a threat. The match I have few hopes for, because Moore and Neal can’t carry Nash and Hall.
Winner: The Band
411Mania Roundtable Consensus: The Band (4-0)
Desmond Wolfe vs. Abyss
Chad Nevett: So, if Abyss wins, he OWNS Chelsea for 30 days. Wow, that sounds absolutely fantastic and not at all horribly outdated and offensive! Throw in the latest chapter in this sad saga of Chelsea and Wolfe trying to frame Abyss for assault and I just want this to end. Sadly, Abyss getting Chelsea for a month now seems like a lock, so let the bullshit continue!
Winner: Abyss
Larry Csonka: Seriously? I have to talk about this? Ok. As bad as Desmond Wolfe needs a win here, and as much as it would make sense, they do not want to push him and were pissed when he won the Internet poll. Abyss is Hogan’s guy, and he wins here. This angle is taking the worse of Savage vs. Steele with some WCW Goldberg and Green Lantern all mixed in. Hopefully they get time, because they COULD have a good match, they are capable, but the angle really holds it back.
Winner: Abyss
Steve Cook: I can only assume that this whole program is a way to keep this Desmond fella from getting over. I mean, Bischoff & Hogan were right there for the Goldberg/Liz angle that led to the Fingerpoke of Doom that was one of the many factors that killed WCW. Then again, it’s quite possible that they think it was the greatest thing ever. The buildup for this has been so craptacular that it doesn’t deserve discussion. The result is fairly obvious because I don’t think a match with a woman on the line for 30 days has ever ended without the woman being forced to go with the guy she doesn’t like. But it’s all good because Abyss is the next John Cena.
Winner: Abyss
Jeremy Thomas: I don’t care. I’m sorry, I just don’t. The angle is stupid. Could TNA be as tasteless as letting Abyss “own” someone? Gods yes. The match will be good and despite that, the booking and angle will make me not care even more. Poor Desmond and Abyss.
Winner: Abyss
411Mania Roundtable Consensus: Abyss (4-0)
Rob Terry © vs. Orlando Jordan
Chad Nevett: In one corner, we have a ‘roided out Freak that TNA management is firmly behind. In the other, we have an oddball character that’s slightly controversial and may bring TNA press. Decisions, decisions… I’ll go with the guy who’s been getting beaten heading into this match.
Winner and STILL TNA Global Champion: Rob Terry
Larry Csonka: I don’t like the feud. You have a guy that can’t work in with a guy that can kinda work, which will make for a shit match. They are trying to do the Goldust vs. Razor angle, but this time the guy REALLY is Gay/Bi. And the worst mistake I feel they are making is that the Bi guy is the HEEL. So if he wins, and Terry goes ape shit and beats him down, is he gay bashing? Seriously, they have to be VERY careful how they portray the angle, because if it turns into “I hate you because of your lifestyle” then it fails. Please no Jizz.
Winner: Orlando Jordan
Steve Cook: One of these guys might have actually responded to a column I wrote several weeks ago. The other killed Kanyon. Yep, pretty easy choice here.
Winner: Rob Terry
Jeremy Thomas: Another one I don’t care about, except this doesn’t have Desmond’s work rate. I will say this, I loathe Orlando Jordan’s character and I am tired as fuck of seeing the LGBT community being portrayed in pro wrestling as heels. Jordan was all over the place talking about how he was being a positive role model and all this crap for coming out. You know what? This is the typical bullshit that is exactly why I don’t want to see sexual orientation used as a gimmick. No one in professional wrestling can portray it as anything other than “let’s creep out the hillbillies” no matter how good their intentions, and I hate it. But guess who wins? I hate TNA sometimes.
Winner: Orlando Jordan
411Mania Roundtable Consensus: Tie (2-2)
Tara vs. Madison Rayne ©
Chad Nevett: Tara is leaving the company. It could be a work to throw everyone off, but I’d rather see Tara leave and the belt stay on Madison Rayne.
Winner and STILL TNA Knockouts Champion: Madison Rayne
Larry Csonka: Unless we get a Russo swerve or Tara made up with TNA, Madison wins and ends the lackluster TNA run of Tara.
Winner: Madison Rayne
Steve Cook: The build to this has been pretty interesting. Tara turned heel on Sarita & Taylor Wilde, challenged heel Knockout Champion Madison to a title vs. career match, and beat Taylor & Sarita in seperate matches on last week’s Impact. It’s not often that they let somebody kill off most of their division before leaving the company, but that’s what makes TNA cutting-edge. Madison may have horrible taste in baseball teams, but I’ll give her the benefit of the doubt here.
Winner: Madison Rayne
Jeremy Thomas: No-brainer. Sorry to see Tara go, she was the epitome of wasted potential in TNA.
Winner: Madison Rayne
411Mania Roundtable Consensus: Madison Rayne (4-0)
Kazarian © vs. Douglas Williams
Chad Nevett: The volcano eruption resulted in Williams being stripped of the title during what looked like a solid run that wasn’t anywhere close to concluding. As well, the focus has been on Williams with Kaz barely making any appearances, so this little story of Kazarian being the champ with Williams still having the belt should end with Williams becoming the champ again officially.
Winner and NEW TNA X-Division Champion: Douglas Williams
Larry Csonka: This has all the makings of a good match. Kazarian has a lot of flash, but in all reality he works well with everyone. Douglas Williams is the shit and I have greatly enjoyed the “catch as catch can grappler” angle he has worked. While the booking going into the show hasn’t been all that strong, the match should more than make up for it. I think that Kaz wins, maybe by DQ, and that Williams keeps physical possession of the belt to keep the feud going, possibly leading to an X-Division KOTM match at Slammiversary.
Winner: Kazarian
Steve Cook: I’m picking Williams out of spite, because it was tremendously unfair that they stripped him of the title just because volcanic ash kept him from traveling to America. He also had a storyline going, which is something that Kazarian knows nothing about.
Winner: Douglas Willams
Jeremy Thomas: This is the one thing at Lockdown that’s turned out for the better. They built a tolerable little bit of heat for this and I’m actually interested to see them lock up. I love Williams and Kaz of course can go. But Williams gets his belt back.
Winner: Douglas Williams
411Mania Roundtable Consensus: Douglas Williams (3-1)
RVD © vs. AJ Styles
Chad Nevett: Word has it that, originally, the plan was for AJ to get the belt back here, but, now, a longer run for RVD perhaps? I see the longer run as likelier since they’ve been pushing Van Dam hard recently with both Hogan and Bischoff singing his praises. I’d rather see the belt back on AJ, but that doesn’t look too likely. Not sure what to expect from this match since AJ can deliver very strong performances, while RVD has looked locked into his usual routine lately.
Winner and STILL TNA World Heavyweight Champion: Rob Van Dam
Larry Csonka: And now we come to the main event of the evening. I absolutely hate that this was, essentially, wasted on TV for nothing, because this should have been a first time on PPV match. But hey, who wants to make money and sell PPVs? Anyway, if they get time, and if AJ lays out a good plan, this match should be great. Both guys are fun as hell to watch, and over the years AJ has developed into such a good worker, that even with RVD’s usual stuff, AJ should be able to call around that to make it flow better. With Slammiversary next month and the KOTM match on the horizon, I do not see the title change happening here. This has the chance to be an excellent match.
Winner: RVD
Steve Cook: If this isn’t a really good match I’d be surprised. RVD is over with the people and has cool offensive moves, while AJ’s catching on as a heel and is one of my favorite workers in da biz right now. I think the plan was originally for RVD & AJ to trade the title back and forth, but it seems that TNA brass wants RVD to have a nice long reign instead. I hope it works out better than his last one.
Winner: ROB VAN DAM! WHOLE FUCKING SHOW! FIVE STAR FROG SPLASH! SMOKE SOME WEED!
Jeremy Thomas: This match will be the match of the night. If AJ and RVD are motivated, it could be a TNA Match of the Year contender. Will they be? Tough to say. But I don’t see them hotshotting the title back already. TNA knows Rob is getting reactions and generating some interest and they’ll keep it on him, which isn’t a bad move to be honest.
Winner: Rob Van Dam
411Mania Roundtable Consensus: Rob Terry (4-0)
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: Half the show (4-0)
Anyone’s Game: Orlando Jordan ties Rob Terry (2-2)
And now it’s time for the Year-to-Date standings! LockDown was a very odd Pay-Per-View due to weird booking a volcanic ash cloud and a no-show. Even with two matches thrown out for not resembling the matches we picked on it was a poor show for predictions, except for Michael Weyer who ended up 5 for 7! Worst were myself and Larry, who ended up 2 for 7 and 1 for 7, respectively. Let’s check out the rankings!
Mathew Sforcina: 21 of 25 (84.00%)
Chad Nevett: 33 of 47 (70.21%)
Julian Bond: 45 of 71 (63.38%)
Jeremy Thomas: 54 of 87 (62.07%)
Larry Csonka: 34 of 56 (60.71%)
Andy Clark: 29 of 47 (61.70%)
Michael Weyer: 51 of 86 (59.30%)
Steve Cook: 3 for 7 (42.86%)
Sforcina maintains his spot in the lead, and this is the last show. Odds are that he stays there at this point. 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!
