411’s PPV Roundtable Preview: TNA No Surrender 2006
Posted by Larry Csonka on 09.23.2006
The first ever Tag Team Ultimate X highlights the latest TNA PPV offering!
Introduction:
Here we are once again, preparing for another PPV weekend. This time it is TNA and the show is No Surrender. There are some big matches on tap, some big feuds continuing and possibly ending and the promotion is promising a big surprise. Today I have gathered the esteemed 411 staff in order to break down the show. Let's meet the staff and get to work!
THE STAFF:
From the Week in Hardcore, Stuart Carapola.
The man who is looking for his girlfriend, Andy Clark.
He can do it high or low, he is Sat.
Ron Gamble, that's all you need to know.
The man with a great name, Scotty Flamingo.
The man that brings the honor, Ari Berenstein.
The master of Evolution, Mathew Sforcina.
New 411 Video/DVD reviewer John Gregory.
Veteran 411 Video/DVD reviewer Brad Garoon.
The man that will take over then I finally retire, Steve Cook.
The spotlight is on for Michael Weyer.
The man that is way to excited for Smallville to return, JT~!
The man behind ASK 411, Chris Clarke.
A man that claims to tell the truth, Bayani Domingo.
Straight Edge people smell like cabbage, but Meehan is still good people.
Finally It is I, the Godfather of the 411 Wrestling Zone, Larry Csonka.
TNA NO SURRENDER 2006!:
Petey Williams vs. Jay Lethal
Brad Garoon: Jay Lethal is a bit of fresh air in TNA, especially when compared to the ultra-stale Williams. Neither of these guys is going to set the world on fire however, and I don't see the X-Division being reinvigorated any time soon, so in the end the winner doesn't really matter.
Winner: Jay Lethal
Michael Weyer: From X Division title match to PPV filler. Williams is always good and if Sabin beats Senshi, it'd set up an "old rivals" match at BFG. But I'm leaning to Lethal who's really catching on and could earn that shot too.
Winner: Jay Lethal
Ron Gamble: Jay Lethal can be really good... when he's allowed to be. However, TNA has been pushing Petey and his flippity-floppity finisher hard for the past year or so, and that won't change here.
WINNER: Petey Williams
Chris Clarke: Everyone knows what they want to see when Petey is in the ring
Winner: Petey via DA DESTROYER
Sat: Only one logical choice here.
Winner: Petey Williams
Bayani Domingo: Wow, there is no build up what so ever for this. The funny thing is that TNA is trying to push both these guys. It comes down to whether I believe Senshi will win the title match or Sabin. Personally I think Senshi has a little more run as champ so I guess we gotta pick the face here.
Winner: Jay Lethal
Andy Clark: This should be a good match, but I question putting filler matches on this card when there are three main events and the Battle Royal which should get time. Lethal won on Thursday so Petey wins here.
Winner: Petey Williams
Meehan: Petey is stuck with little to do while Lethal continues to be TNA's "hot prospect." Plus - if Ron Killings *is* in fact gone from TNA land (for now) - I wouldn't be surprised in the least to see a guy like Vinny Ru try to prove that he's "turned a new leaf" from the get-go. What better way for him to "clean up" his shock-promoter image than by pushing Lethal in Truth's place "as a sign of good faith" to the African American community (perhaps even in response to Russo's "smutty" and "lowbrow" former employers at WWE - who seem to be pushing the race card pretty heavily of late with stuff like Shelton, Jimmy Wang Yang, Cryme Tyme, etc.)?
Winner: The Great Black Hope, Jay Lethal
JT: I really want to say that Petey will keep his momentum going here, but with TNA in the sack with Jackass 2, I have to say Lethal via shenanigans.
WINNER: Jay Lethal
Larry Csonka: TNA, they love parity booking.
Winner: Petey Williams
Eric Young vs. A1
Brad Garoon: Honestly, is there anyone who cares about this?
Winner: Eric Young
Michael Weyer: Um, didn't we just do this? Okay, it was marred by the fire extinguishers but still no reason to throw it on again. I don't see much of a difference in the result.
Winner: "Don't Fire!" Eric Young
Ron Gamble: Al? The guy's ring name is Al? (ed. note: that's A-One) Oh. That's different. Never mind.
WINNER: Don't Fire Eric
Chris Clarke: Don't Job Eric!
Winner: Eric Young
Sat: There's no way that A1 is winning
Winner: Eric Young
Bayani Domingo: Who is A1 again?
Winner: Eric Young
Andy Clark: Wow, do we really need to predict this match?
Winner: Eric Young
Meehan: It's Butters versus Magilla Gorilla in the rematch of the century that few thought would happen and even fewer cared to see! Why this one would make the PPV for any other reason than but to keep Eric in the spotlight is beyond Mee, so don't go expecting a ***** classic OR an A1 win from this match.
Winner: Eric Young
JT: Eric Young hasn't lost since Team Canada split, and I don't recall anything being said about him being fired if he loses here, so...
WINNER: A1
Larry Csonka: A1 still has a job? Shit, tag him wit Hoyt and let Killings have a real match.
Winner: Eric Young
Abyss vs. Raven vs. Runt
Brad Garoon: Runt's feud with Abyss seems to have no more juice left in it, and as far as I'm concerned there's no use for LSD outside of the big man/little man feud. Adding Raven to every Abyss feud isn't the answer. I'm hoping Abyss wins here and goes on to a program against Joe.
Winner: Abyss
Steve Cook: Raven's giving Abyss a run for his money in the weight department these days, but Abyss still has a significant size advantage in this match. I think he'll use it to get the duke here and propel himself up the singles ranks while Raven & Runt will probably do something with Team 3D.
Winner: Abyss
Ari Berenstein: While TNA hasn't done a good job of explaining it, Runt seems to be rebelling against Raven because he doesn't like the implication that he was created and manipulated by Raven. Runt wants to prove that he can lay the beat down and win on his own. Meanwhile, Raven and Abyss are no strangers to each other and while I like both of them, I think their best stuff against each other happened last year and there is no way to top it.
Winner: Abyss
Stuart Carapola: Raven created Runt? I don't remember that...anyway, Raven's forever stuck on the treadmill and Runt's never going to get a serious push (which a win here would indicate), so we'll put TNA's resident indestructible monster over.
Winner: Abyss
Andy Clark: This match should be all kinds of hardcore fun. I was actually hoping they'd save this match for BFG where I'll actually pay for it, but alas. Perhaps a Monster's Ball with Monty instead? In any event, I don't think Raven has won many matches since he's been back (Larry Z and A1 don't count), so why not now?
Winner: Raven
Michael Weyer: A good old fashioned brawl and bloodbath where all three guys hate each other equally. I can see this going all over the place and picking a winner is hard. But I'll go with Raven, who deserves a win after too long on the sidelines.
Winner: Raven
JT: Who the hell knows? Runt appears to be a part of this merely to keep 3D in everyone's mind. Raven appears to be a part of this just because he's on the roster. Same for Abyss. They tried to make this seem important, but meh.
WINNER: Abyss
Mathew Sforcina: First off- I am probably the biggest Russo fan on the site, since that was what I came in with. TNA's ratings are sliding while PPV remains steady. I understand the logic behind a guy who is known to increase ratings. But I also understand why this is really, REALLY stupid. Still, Que Sera Sera. Anyway, to the matches. Anyone winning here actually propels the storyline, just in different ways. Regardless, there WILL be a rematch, that rematch WILL be bloody as all get out, and whoever gets the pin here WILL steal it from the third man. So let's go the opposite of the expected, and the biggest guy steals from the smallest.
Winner: Abyss (Pin after Acid Drop through something hard)
Ron Gamble: Don't know, don't care. But, I have to pick someone, so...
WINNER: Raven
Chris Clarke: Abyss has gone over a lot in the last little while, so I suspect he won't be in the finish on this one. I think we've gotta re-establish Raven.
Winner: Raven
Sat: The only two people that I could see winning are Raven and Abyss, so let's go with...
Winner: Raven
Bayani Domingo: How random is this match? I thought Raven and Run were a team now? I'd love to see the debut of another Dudley here….I'm going with Dudley Moore.
Winner: Raven
Meehan: Haha, cute. Runt has absolutely no business in this one from an odds-on-favored standpoint, but then again he's also willing to take the crowd-pleaser bumps that his opponents are either too big (Abyss) or too old (Raven) to pull off in convincing fashion. And in spite of the beating he's bound to take in this contest, I'm gonna' root for the underdog here and say that the little guy pulls the big upset before all's said and done - perhaps even with the help of a long-lost half-brother (or two).
Winner: Little Runt Deadly
Larry Csonka: Fun little story and build here, they will do some wild shit and build towards the traditional Monsters Ball match I figure, maybe with Monty or someone else tossed into it.
Winner: Raven
TRIPLE CHANCE TAG TEAM BATTLE ROYAL: #1 Contender's Match: AMW, The James Gang, The Naturals, The Paparazzi, Diamonds In The Rough, Bentley and Kazarian, The Truth and Lance Hoyt, Shark Boy and Norman Smiley
Stuart Carapola: The only two teams in here worth putting over are the Naturals and the Paparazzi, but since the Paparazzi might not be seen as in position to be pushed to the Tag Team Title just yet, I'll go Team Franchise.
Winners: The Naturals
Andy Clark: Storyline wise it makes sense for The Naturals to win, but LAX vs. The Naturals at BFG does absolutely nothing for me.
Winners: James Gang
Sat: It's between three teams, but only one that makes sense.
Winner: The Naturals
Ron Gamble: 1. As you might know, ECW got in trouble because of some stupid comments about Steve Irwin after his death.
2. TNA needs to take advantage of some stupid mistakes they make in Stamford.
3. This is a chance to do that, but only if they pull the correct trigger.
WINNERS: Shark Boy and Norman Smiley (What?)
Scotty Flamingo: Man, TNA has the best tag scene I've seen in wrestling in years. I don't think the E has this many teams if you combined Raw and Smackdown. Unfortunately, it is pretty obvious that the Naturals are the only team here that has a chance of winning. AMW is splitting and the rest just haven't been pushed. I'd like to see Norman and Shark Boy pull off the upset just because.
Winner: The Naturals
Ari Berenstein: Will The Naturals relinquish their title shot only to win it back here? No, it's more likely that they end up runner up AGAIN and have Shane Douglas chew them out some more. Maybe the Naturals then turn heel and dump their former motivator ala the Hardy Boyz and Michael P.S. Hayes. And since AMW is the only other tag team that matters in TNA, even though it looks like they're breaking up...
Winners: AMW
Mathew Sforcina: Well, given the result of the Ultimate X match, faces need to win here. And really, having something like Shark Boy pinning an AMW member will continue nicely the break up they seem to be doing for whatever damn reason. So, let's go with the shock.
Winners, and NEW #1 Contenders: Smiley Boys (Miscommunication between AMW members and Gail).
John Gregory: With the extra attention they've been getting with the Douglas angle, it'd make sense for The Naturals to win, no matter how little they're over, most likely over The Paparazzi. Everyone else is thrown in here because hey! Why not?
Winner: The Naturals
Brad Garoon: The only teams I care about are in the Ultimate X match. I suppose the Paparazzi are interesting but with Nash gone their momentum is shot. Bentley and Kazarian can always be counted on for some quality but in reality this comes down to the two teams that TNA refuses to stop shoving down our throats, AMW and the Naturals. I'll go with AMW winning only to implode when they get their title shot.
Winners: AMW
Steve Cook: Truth & Lance Hoyt? What the hell? I'm going to pick the team that should win, not the team that I expect to actually win.
Winners: Shark Boy & Norman Smiley (boy, are these roundtable results gonna fuck with some peoples' heads)
Michael Weyer: I see AMW losing to further the break-up angle. Wow, Hoyt is still with TNA? Haven't seen him for a while but he and Truth are too much an ad hoc team. Ditto for Sharky and Smiley. I see the Naturals winning it to finally give them the big push.
Winner: The Naturals
JT: Well, against my better judgment: The Naturals have been on a horrible streak, they cut their hair like asked, and Shane Douglas with them has been good. So I'm going to venture that the payoff of all the "training" is coming with this match.
WINNER: The Naturals
Chris Clarke: It certainly won't be one of the thrown together teams... and since it's likely a face will win Ultimate X, I suspect a heel goes over here - maybe a Nash return?
Winner: The Paparazzi
Bayani Domingo: Ok, when did The Truth and Hoy become a team? How odd. I figure this will probably lead to The Naturals winning, then turning on Douglas. Why? No reason. Also, how sad is it that TNA has a 10 actual tag teams (not counting Killings/Hoyt) and WWE has like…6 total. Pretty sad. Oh crap, maybe Truth/Hoyt could be called the Mint Milano HT.
Winner: The newly enfranchised Naturals
Meehan: What's the stip here? Better yet - don't care. Let's just go by process of elimination. Sharky and Norman are laughable, Lance and Truth are beyond a long shot, AMW is on the verge of a breakup (so much for the Dudleyz revenge, eh?), The James Gang are useless, and the Paparazzi are still WAY too under pushed to pull off a win here. That leaves us with the "win or Franchise walks" Naturals, who are probably the most likely of what's around to leave with their hands held high after the dust settles in this cluster.
Winners: The New and Improved Naturals
Larry Csonka: This has the possibility to be a very fun match. A lot of TNA "Gauntlet" Style matches are, but just the same it could end up as a giant cluster fuck. The Diamonds In The Rough, Bentley and Kazarian, The Truth and Lance Hoyt, Shark Boy and Norman Smiley all are screwed here, The Paparazzi then are next. I think that We'll get down to the naturals and AMW…again, and AMW will finally explode once and for all, leaving the Naturals to win the match. Douglas will turn on them eventually I still feel.
Winner: The Naturals
Rhino vs. Christian Cage
Stuart Carapola: Rhino is scary over, while Christian is kind of stuck in a rut. Both men would have something to gain by winning this match, but I think Rhino going over would help build him back up to the point where he can have a headline feud against Joe down the line.
Winner: Rhino
Andy Clark: This should be fun. Here's hoping the feud continues into BFG with a nice, violent stipulation added. They gotta get Christian back in the heel frame of mind, so he wins via nefarious means.
Winner: Christian Cage
Sat: I really have no idea who is going to win, so I say Christian Cage, just so this feud can continue
Winner: Christian Cage
Ron Gamble: Again, Irwin was a nature lover, so...
WINNER: Rhaeiouyno
Scotty Flamingo: Christian has kind of fizzled out since winning the TNA title and then being overshadowed by Sting and Jarrett. Rhino has actually been fired up for the last couple of months though. Both guys need the win, so I'll just go with who I want to see win it.
Winner: Rhino
Ari Berenstein: Rhyno has been hot hot hot these last few weeks and Christian has finally got his groove back by being, well...the Christian we know and love to hate. One year ago Rhino was headlining TNA pay per views and jump started the Spike TV era with the impromptu NWA title win at Bound For Glory. My guess is Cage goes over here and Rhino takes the rematch in Detroit.
Winner: Christian Cage
Mathew Sforcina: Well, given that Cage is the hot heel he should have been since day 1, and Rhino the tired face, the outcome will be clear.
Winner: Christian Cage (Cheating)
John Gregory: I disagree with Rhino getting a build-up. TNA doesn't do that well. Look at Abyss, the guy loses almost every feud, but it doesn't matter. Cage needs to build some heel heat and become meaningful again. Rhino is just the first step.
Winner: Christian Cage (by heelish tomfoolery and shenaniganery)
Brad Garoon: I figure this match is here just to make absolutely certain that Sting is never involved in any kind of match that doesn't include Jeff Jarrett. This could actually be pretty solid even if neither guy has anywhere to go from here. Well, to be fair I suppose Christian could challenge Sting if he wins the belt at BFG, so in the interest of fairness I'll call him the winner.
Winner: Christian Cage
Steve Cook: Christian turns against Sting at Hard Justice, so that sends him right into a feud with…Rhino? I still don't get this one, it's not like Rhino & Sting were well-established drinking buddies or even had much of a connection to one another before Christian stabbed Sting in the back. It's not that I mind a Rhino vs. Christian match, but why's Rhino fighting Sting's battles for him? At any rate, Rhino will lose this battle.
Winner: Christian Cage
Michael Weyer: TNA has done a good job showing the history between them and it promises a good match. Rhino will do his best but a newly-heel Christian needs a big push and a win over Rhino would do the trick.
Winner: Christian Cage
JT: Pretty simple and pretty obvious. Cage has been owning him. He (against normal booking logic) will do so again, so that Rhino can get the payback in his hometown at Bound For Glory (which will suck, because I'll be there, and probably the only one rooting for Christian).
WINNER: Christian Cage
Chris Clarke: Rhyno is enhancement talent and Christian is newly turned - therefore, heel is supposed to go over here.
Winner: Christian
Bayani Domingo: Hopefully this is the beginning to CC replacing JJ as the top heel.
Winner: Vitamin C
Meehan: Rhino's been getting gooched at every turn in this feud, so he seems likely to go over here to maintain his heat - but Cage is a new heel and he's hurting for a big PPV win to help establish his heelish staying power as the company's number two baddie behind Jarrett. Expect blood, plunder, and a fair share of shenanigans to dominate this one. Rhino will dominate alright, but in the end I'd say Captain Charisma eeks one out in spite of the fact that he's likely to wind up on the wrong end of one heck of an ass-kicking.
Winner: Christian Cage
Larry Csonka: These guys are friends and will go all out to have a great match. Their build has been very good and they obviously have the chemistry together. Cage wins through nefarious means because this feud…MUST continue!
Stuart Carapola: So does anybody here think that Joe's going to lose his first match in the middle of the card, on a throwaway show, in a non-title match, whether it's against Jeff Jarrett or not? Me neither, although I expect Sting to be involved in the decision somehow.
Winner: Samoa Joe
Andy Clark: You know, I've been fighting people that said Joe's first loss would be to Jeff Jarrett for almost a year. There is no way that they would put Joe in that position. But now that the time is finally here, I see how wrong I was. If I were Joe I wouldn't trust those "fans" at ringside.
Winner: Jeff Jarrett
Sat: As I wrote in this week's High Road/Low Road, Jeff Jarrett will end Samoa Joe's undefeated streak to become the most hated man in wrestling.
Winner: Jeff Jarrett
Ron Gamble: Steve Irwin loved Sa... no, I can't go there. Um, it's non-title. That's reason enough for me.
WINNER: Joe Kills Bitches Dead
Scotty Flamingo: Ugh. I just hate this whole angle. Joe's first match against Jarrett should have been a title match with Joe destroying him and saving TNA. It should have been handled like The Ultimate Warrior coming out of nowhere and destroying the Honky Tonk Man for his first IC title. Now, if Joe gets a title shot, it won't be quite as hot. The fan lumberjack aspect just really comes of as Indy to me. It is just cheesy. The "fan" interviews they've been showing give me the doosh chills. It'll either be a bunch of plants, or a bunch of redneck marks that will further color TNA as a hillbilly promotion.
Winner: No Contest. Jarrett will somehow escape, but won't beat Joe.
Ari Berenstein: I am scared to death of this match...even though Jarrett has shown he is willing to lose at times, I would never put it past him to book himself OVER the fans and Joe in the process. I'll agree with some of the other staffers--this is the wrong time for this match. If Joe wins, Jarrett looks weak going into his fight with Sting and Sting's title win means a lot less than it should. If Jarrett takes Joe's win streak (which is what I feared from the beginning might happen), then it destroys Joe's aura to give a rub to someone who basically is the company anyway. Joe should ultimately lose to someone who can benefit the most from it, but I don't see Jeff outright losing, so therefore:
Winner: No contest-Smozz finish with fan involvement.
Mathew Sforcina: Jarrett has a chance to put himself over Samoa Joe & The Fans in one match, and people think he WON'T take it? Some new guy debuts as a plant, and Jarrett continues to think he has legit heel heat.
Winner: Jeff Jarrett (Plant shenanigans)
John Gregory: Here's praying that Joe pulls a Bruiser Brody and shoots this one out to the max. Come on. You know you wanna see that. But what are you going to get?
Winner: Darth Jarrett (THE DARKNESS IN WHICH ALL LIFE DIES!)
Brad Garoon: I don't even want to talk about the infinite number of reasons that the entire angle leading up to this cock-tease of a match is frustrating. Joe may not be a draw, but neither is Sting, so they should at LEAST put the belt on someone that their current fans are into. If Joe loses this meaningless match I think I'll have to quit TNA altogether.
Winner: Samoa Joe
Steve Cook: I really fear this match. Does anybody REALLY think that Jeff Jarrett wouldn't put himself over anybody with a pulse. Hell, if he had a hand in booking the war on terror he would have already bashed bin Laden over the head with a guitar by now. Actually, that's not such a bad idea now that I think about it. In any event, Samoa Joe going over is completely the right decision and it should happen…but I said that about Monty Brown a long time ago in a match against JJ and look how much he's done since then.
Winner: Samoa Joe (please for the love of all that is holy)
Michael Weyer: I hate this. I SO hate this. I HATE having to say what I'm about to say but let's face it: Jarrett's going to win. With the arrival of old buddy Russo and his insistence on pushing himself for a face turn, he's going to be the one to end Joe's streak. Is it right? Is it fair? Is it what the fans want? Hell, no. But I'm afraid that's what's going to happen and the goofy stips seem to confirm it.
Winner: Jeff Jarrett
JT: A pissed off (undefeated) Joe and 18 fans vs. Jeff Jarrett. There is absolutely NO reason for JJ to win this match. NONE.
WINNER: Samoa Joe
Chris Clarke: Russo is on the booking committee, so this is the last time Jarrett will job.
Winner: JOE
Bayani Domingo: Is the title on the line? No? Is Samoa Joe still destined for the title? Yes?
Winner: Joe is gonna kill him.
Meehan: This has "disaster" written all over it, and I am astounded that TNA Management had the cajones to go through with something so clearly enticing to all sorts of ringside lawsuits. Hey, it's their funeral, I suppose. And Jarrett's, too... no WAY Joe is going down here.
Winners: Lawyers across the country. And Samoa Joe.
Larry Csonka: It makes no sense for Joe to lose here. I can see it happen, but I hope not.
Stuart Carapola: I really don't have much to say except that the leader of the X-Division Job Crew is going to be Senshi's bitch.
Winner: Senshi
Andy Clark: Yaaaaaaaawn. This match better be damn good. I guess TNA owes something to Sabin and they need to get over that stupid Jackass movie.
Winner and NEW X-Division Champion: Chris Sabin
Sat: I am hoping that Senshi's run as champion ends here.
Winner: Chris Sabin
Ron Gamble: Senshi hasn't been seen much lately, has he? I know he was injured, but there's more to it than that.
WINNER: Hail Sabin
Scotty Flamingo: WHY IS TNA SO IN LOVE WITH CHRIS SABIN???? The following are guys I would prefer to see with the X-Division title.
Alex Shelly
Jay Lethal
Sonjay Dutt
Homicide (I don't care if he is a tag champ)
Kevin Nash (at least he has a personality)
Shark Boy
Petey Williams (but just barely)
Winner: Senshi, but never underestimate TNA's love for Sabin.
Ari Berenstein: The serious master vs. the young jack ass. That would have had tons of potential, had they started to push this program sooner. As it is, the X Division is still in disrepair. This will be a good match and hopefully another step in rehabbing guys from the Kevin Nash fiasco.
Winner: Senshi
Mathew Sforcina: Eh.
Winner, and STILL X Division Champion: Senshi (Double Stomp off Ultimate X support)
John Gregory: Senshi's reign hasn't gone so great, and has reduced the X Division's prestige that it had gained from the Joe/Daniels/Styles wars of 2005 and 2006. But with all the Jackass hullabaloo with Sabin, I can't see them not switching the belt here.
Winner and NEW X DIVISION CHAMPS: Chris Sabin
Brad Garoon: So logic would have dictated Nash beating Sabin in the number one contender's match, cheating Senshi out of the title and then getting beaten by Sabin for the title so that the X-Division could have been legitimized again. With Nash gone all we have is an emotionless match between Sabin and Senshi. Sabin has no momentum so I say keep the belt on Senshi. Since TNA has no idea what to do with Joe I say they bump him back down to the X-Division and have him claim dominance over Senshi. They could build a pretty interesting angle out of it as long as Senshi can get over himself enough to be the underdog.
Winner: Senshi
Steve Cook: Depending on who you listen to, Senshi has not done much to endear himself to TNA management in recent months. However, with the recent change to TNA's booking committee, Chris Sabin is missing at least one huge fan of his to lobby for him. Emphasis on "huge", har har har. I think Sabin goes over hopefully leading to Alex Shelley taking the strap from him.
Winner: Chris "Mr. Personality" Sabin
Michael Weyer: Senshi really hasn't clicked and Sabin has been put through the mid-card treadmill for so long, it's time he got a good push and confirm he is a great worker for the company.
Winner and NEW X-Division Champion: Chris Sabin
JT: said it best; this has had virtually no *serious* build, Senshi is being pushed, and Sabin has ZERO momentum. The obvious choice is Senshi, so I'll go out on a limb because of the comments Senshi made about beating "his two friends" this week on Impact. On second thought, no I won't, because usually not ALL belts being defended on a PPV change hands.
WINNER: And STILL X-Division Champion, Senshi
Chris Clarke: Senshi is boring as heck - time to get the X-title on a face so the Nash angle can continue.
Winner and NEW Champ: Chris Sabin
Bayani Domingo: If this match doesn't deliver than the title needs to go on Petey or Lethal or Shelley next month. Right now Senshi is uninspired and Sabin is bland.
Winner: Lo Shi…uh…Sen Ki.
Meehan: Backstage, rumor has it that Senshi is a whiny and entitled little bitch with nothing better to do but put himself over. Sabin, meanwhile, is a company guy who's been bouncing from angle to angle at the drop of a hat - clearly willing to do whatever TNA management asks of him along the way. Say - that sounds like MORE than enough reason for a title swap to Mee! But since TNA is prone to stupid and short-sighted booking, I'll break from convention and say...
Winner: Chris Sabin, but no title change due to something screwy.
Larry Csonka: Should be a good match as both guys have been doing well. Senshi seems to be in the TNA doghouse and I wouldn't be shocked to see him loose. Add to that the fact that TNA is hyping Jackass II through Sabin, so it makes sense for him to win.
Stuart Carapola: I AM SO TORN! I'm a huge Homicide mark and a huge Daniels mark, but I like Hernandez better than Styles, so my heart's with them. However, my head can operate independently from my heart, and if this does end up closing the show, I would have to expect that unless they're really going to go crazy and actually give LAX a super mega push, Styles and Daniels regain the title.
Winners: The Phenomenal Fallers
Andy Clark: As much as I would love to see AJ & Daniels win the gold again, LAX is hot right now. Giving them the win in an X-Division specialty should boost their worth even higher than it already is.
Winners and STILL NWA World Tag Team Champions: LAX
Sat: This will be one hell of a match. I would have no problem with either team winning, but in the end Styles & Daniels will win in their match
Winner: AJ Styles and Christopher Daniels
Ron Gamble: LAX have never been on the Ultimate X cables. But, TNA wouldn't have signed the match if they couldn't climb them, right? Right?
WINNERS: The Phenomenangels
Scotty Flamingo: This is the match that is making me consider buying this PPV. Putting AJ and Daniels in the tag division freshened up the X-Division and the Tag Division. Plus they are a great team. I never thought LAX would have made anything of themselves, but kudos to them for pulling it off. Homicide is great, and Hernandez is a good big man. Even Konnan doesn't annoy me.
Winner: AJ/Daniels
Ari Berenstein: LAX are what's new and what's hot right now; Styles and Daniels represent the babyface faithful. Styles and Daniels have the Ultimate X experience advantage; Homicide may be nervous for his previously injured shoulder and Hernandez may be too big to crawl up the X cables. Styles and Daniels have the edge and will pick up the win to send the fans home happy. If they do win however, I don't think their second reign will be so long lived. I expect these two teams to trade the belts for a few more months to come.
Winner: and NEW NWA tag team champions, AJ Styles and Christopher Daniels
Mathew Sforcina: This will be your main event. This will rock. This will see a couple of gringos get killed.
Winners, and STILL NWA Tag Team Champions: LAX (Cheating into Gringo Killers for all!)
John Gregory: This might very well top the 3-way classic from Unbreakable last year. Every time a non-heavyweight division match has headlined a TNA PPV, it has delivered. Expect no different from these four. COP KILLA!
Winner and still champions: LAX
Brad Garoon: This is the only feud in TNA that is still holding my interest. I really hope that the LAX hold onto the belts because I think they're the most interesting thing that TNA has going, but with my suspicions that AMW is winning the battle royal I'll put my money on the baby faces coming out on top here.
Winners: Daniels & Styles
Steve Cook: Tough choice here. If it's the main event, Styles & Daniels should probably win to send the fans home happy…but then again, LAX has quite the fan following themselves. LAX has been one of the biggest TNA success stories this year after their stint of mediocrity upon formation, let's have the run continue and see how far they can go with it. Or as my people would say: ¡Viva la revolución! ¡Los trabajadores unen! ¡Todo granizo el Cambio latinoamericano!
Winners: LAX
Michael Weyer: My first thought was AJ and Daniels, of course. It's their match and I always thought LAX was a bit wrong for the actual champions. But then I considered that this is the first ever Ultimate X tag match and that LAX is still pretty over. And that's when I realized what TNA might be planning. Think about it: What happens if Daniels or Styles grab one belt and Hernandez or Homicide grabs the other? It sets up a rematch at BFG with the Naturals taking part and them getting the belts. I'm sure it'll be an awesome match but don't look for a conclusive winner.
Winner: Draw due to one member of each opposing team grabbing one belt.
JT: While LAX is on the roll, I'd really like to see them put the belts back on AJ and Daniels to keep this feud not only going, but fresh. There is nothing fun about tag champs defending against the same team over and over and over and winning constantly. Not only that, for the sake of kayfabe, Daniels and AJ clearly have the athletic advantage for this sort of match.
WINNER: And NEW Tag Team Champions, AJ Styles and Christopher Daniels
Chris Clarke: LAX is hot, but this is a face-win kind of match.
Winner and NEW Champs: The Phenomenal Angels
Bayani Domingo: If this main events the show, it'll be **** easy. 3 of the 4 guys are guaranteed 5 star caliber athletes and Hernandez has been surprisingly good in his role. Right now it makes no sense to take the title off the Phenomenal Angels and you know Konnan will get involved. A non-wrestling Konnan led LAX trumps 3LK any day. Just count down the days though till Senshi joins them…his mongrel Puerto Rican Cambodian cro-magnum self.
Winner: LAX
Meehan: I'm a huge mark for Ultimate X, so adding the team dynamic to the mix might well promise to make the bout all that much more exciting. Unfortunately, I just can't make myself like Christopher Daniels... and I see little reason for he and AJ to be tagging at this point in their careers when it's painfully obvious that either of them could be chasing a singles belt. Shame on them for leaving the NWA title picture to outsiders and old-timers, and double shame for sitting idly by as youngsters of the same X Division that THEY HELPED TO BUILD are reduced to an afterthought joke for a Johnny Knoxville movie that's likewise five years past its relevance. Sorry, PhenomenAngels - but I'm voting against y'all just for spite on this one.
Winners: The Latin American eXchange, puntas!
Larry Csonka: LAX has been on a HUGE roll as of late with incredible momentum. AJ and Daniels have also been on a great roll. They have some great chemistry and the matches they have had have ruled all kinds of ass. Styles and Daniels winning would be a great feel good story, especially if this ends up as the main event but I think it is way to early to derail the LAX Express.
Winner: The Latin American Exchange
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