The TNA Top 10 Rankings: 8.22.07

Introduction:
Once upon a time here at 411 I used to do a weekly rankings column, but in the end while there was a lot of TV, there wasn’t enough to need a weekly rankings column. So I ended it. I have had the call to arms to have them return and I have been contemplating a way to bring them back and have them work well. I think that I have come up with the right way to do things. What I will do is have two monthly rankings columns, one for TNA and one for WWE. I will do them around, usually after a WWE. Since TNA has already had the “HARD JUSTICE” PPV, I will begin with them and break down the rankings. For WWE, I will come back with their debut rankings after Summerslam. For TNA I will try to maintain the traditional Top 10 listings, while for WWE due to the amount of titles and shows, I will maintain a Top 5.

Special thanks to THE WIFE for her awesome graphics and contributions to the column.

The Criteria:
The Csonka Commission will try to use a formula of some of, if not all of the following to determine the rankings:
-Wins and Losses
-Popularity
-Shoe Size
-Strength of Schedule
-Golf Handicap
-Championship Pedigree
-Defeating Champions in Non-Title Affairs
-Christi’s assessment of their ring gear
-If you are named #1 Contender by the Promotion

---

CHAMPION: KURT ANGLE
Championship Won: June 17th
Defenses: -D1: TNA Hard Justice vs. Samoa Joe via pin

The Contenders:
1. “The Monster” Abyss – Abyss got the pinfall in the Doomsday Chamber of Blood match at the Hard Justice PPV. Due to the stipulation of the bout, he was named #1 contender. Abyss then put that right to fight for the title up against Christian Cage on Impact, in a first blood match. He was able to win that bout and remains the #1 contender for the TNA World Title and will get that shot at the No Surrender PPV against Universal Champion Kurt Angle. Abyss is a former NWA Champion and is looking to regain the gold.

2. “The Tennessee Cowboy” James Storm – The Tennessee Cowboy has had a great run since the split of AMW. He’s charismatic, been winning matches and is one of the hottest heels in the entire company. With big wins over former NWA champion Rhino and a match of the year candidate with Chris Harris, Storm’s stock is constantly on the rise and will be a force to be dealt with.

3. Samoa Joe – While recently losing the match for Champion of the Universe, Samoa Joe is still a topflight contender in TNA. Multiple Time X-Division Champion and former tag team champion, Joe is focused on not only the TNA World Title, but on Kurt Angle for revenge. Joe has been a dominant force in TNA since day one, and seems to have a new rage and fire in him, which could be bad news for the rest of the promotion.

4. “The Instant Classic” Christian Cage – The former two-time NWA Champion still has the claim that he has never been pinned or submitted in his near two-year TNA tenure. But recent losses to Abyss in the First Blood match as well as in the Doomsday Chamber of Blood match keep his low on the list. Cage looks to be on a collision course with Samoa Joe, which will have a huge impact on the rankings.

5. Robert Roode – Once known as the Canadian Enforcer, Robert Roode has transformed his massive wealth into a new persona and have been impressive in TNA. With wins over Jeff Jarrett and Eric Young, Roode is solidly entrenched in the ranking, just needing a few more solid wins to get into the upper echelon.

6. Sting – The man called Sting is considered an ICON by many, and honestly you cannot have a top 10 list without him. The future hall of famer is a multiple-time NWA World Champion and has had a good TNA run. He was part of the winning team in the Doomsday Chamber of Blood match and is looking to climb the rankings for another title shot.

7. Tomko – Since debuting in TNA, Tomko has been attached to former employer Christian Cage. Through this relationship he has had wars with the Monster Abyss and scored a huge win over Samoa Joe. One half of the IWGP Tag Team Champions, Tomko is looking to add TNA gold to his pedigree.

8. “The Phenomenal” AJ Styles – No TNA top 10 list in complete with out a mention of AJ Styles. The former multiple-time NWA Champion (The only multiple time triple crown winner) is a class performer and has earned the moniker of “Phenomenal.” He is a threat to any championship in the promotion.

9. “The Punisher” Andrew Martin – While new to TNA, “The Punisher” Andrew Martin has made an Impact to be sure. He was part of the winning team in the Doomsday Chamber of Blood match and is looking to climb the rankings for a title shot.

10. “The War Machine” Rhino – Rhino is on a career downturn as he has suffered loss after loss on PPV this past year. James Storm recently has turned in two big victories against the former NWA Champion, and if Rhino cannot rebound, he will not see the TNA title scene anytime soon.

---

CHAMPION: KURT ANGLE
Championship Won: August 12th
Defenses: NONE

The Contenders:
1. “Black Machismo” Jay Lethal – “Black Machismo” Jay Lethal was on top of the world when he won the X-Division title at Slammiversary, but just days after the greatest day was one of his worst as he lost that title in a 3-way match with Samoa Joe and Chris Sabin. Black Machismo continued to work hard, and at Hard Justice pinned Christopher Daniels in a tag team match. Daniels was the #1 contender, and TNA Spokesperson Jim Cornette decided that they would face off one on one for the shot at the X-Title. Black Machismo won the bout on Impact and now heads to No Surrender to face off with Universal Champion Kurt Angle to try and regain his gold.

2. “The Fallen Angel” Christopher Daniels – “The Fallen Angel” Christopher Daniels was initially the #1 contender for the X-Division title until he dropped a tag team match to Black Machismo. This led to the above-mentioned match made by Jim Cornette, which Black Machismo was able to steal after lots of shenanigans by XXX and The Guru. Daniels is now enraged and is looking to regain his shot at the TNA X-Division Title.

3. Kazarian – Free at last, free at last, good God almighty Kazarian is free at last! The man known as Kazarian has severed his ties with Serotonin and in on a roll. He had a tremendous showing in the Ultimate X match and scored the big win over his former leader Raven at Hard Justice. The former X-Division champion is looking to climb back to the top of the division and had found a new motivation, which makes him as dangerous as ever.

4. Senshi – While XXX is back in full swing, the former multi-time X-Division champion Senshi is always a threat to the title. The Warrior is focused on wining gold and nothing else in TNA, whether it is tag or singles gold. One has to wonder if this will cause dissention in the ranks of XXX with Christopher Daniels being a top contender as well.

5. Chris Sabin – Chris Sabin is a former multi-time X-Division champion as well as one of the longest reigning champions. He lost the title to young Black Machismo and never received his one on one rematch for the title. While he is focusing on the tag team aspect of wrestling, should he decide to go back after the X-Title he would be an instant threat.

6. “The Guru” Sonjay Dutt – “The Guru” Sonjay Dutt is a young popular wrestler with lots of flash. The gutsy babyface is always in a match and tends to surprise opponents with his resilience. “The Guru” is still looking to win his first TNA championship, but to do so he’ll have to get back on track and pull off a string of victories.

7. “The Phenomenal” AJ Styles – I said it above and will say it again, no TNA top 10 list in complete with out a mention of AJ Styles. The former multiple-time X-Division Champion (The only multiple time triple crown winner) is a class performer and has earned the moniker of “Phenomenal.” He is a threat to any championship in the promotion.

8. Alex Shelley – Alex Shelley is a well-versed and skilled wrestler. He’s had success in TNA as a singled worker, but now is focusing on the tag team aspect of wrestling with partner Chris Sabin. Shelley has the talent to make a run for the gold; he just hasn’t been able to do it as of yet.

9. Petey Williams – Petey Williams has fallen off the map a bit here in TNA, but if given the chance the former X-Division Champion could easily vault back into contention with a few big wins. He’s always one Canadian Destroyer away from another run as champion.

10. Homicide – While Homicide is focused on tag team wrestling; he is always a danger for the X-Division title. He showed he was a threat in the Ultimate X Match recently, and if he decided to go after the title the rest of the division should look out.

---

CHAMPIONS: KURT ANGLE and ?
Championship Won: August 12th
Defenses: NONE

The Contenders:
1. TEAM PACMAN (Ron “The Truth” Killings and Adam “Pacman” Jones) – Adam “Pacman” Jones, after being suspended by the NFL, signed a TNA contract and debuted at Hard Justice. Unfortunately Jones cannot wrestle, but Ron Killings, who had a confrontation with Jones that night was able to convince TNA Spokesperson Jim Cornette to give them the tag title match at No Surrender. Will Killings be able to go it alone since Jones cannot fight, and who will Angle chose as a partner to defend the titles?

2. LAX (Hernandez y Homicide) – This time last year LAX was the hottest act in TNA. The team has suffered set backs, losing the title to Team 3D and losing their revolutionary style leader in Konnan. But Hernandez y Homicide have continued to work hard and succeed, including a win over the VKM at Hard Justice. Where the team will go is anyone’s question, as is what role Hector Guerrero will play with the newly turned face team. One thing is for sure, and that is they could take the titles at any time.

3. XXX (Senshi, Daniels and Skipper) – XXX is back and in full effect. One of the most successful and cerebral teams in TNA history is back and while they suffered a loss at Hard Justice, they have looked amazing. You’ll never know which two you’ll get, and that numbers game is what always allows them the advantage.

4. Team 3D (Ray and Devon)- While they lost the tag team titles at Victory Road, and suffered a loss to The Steiner Brothers at Hard Justice, the former tag team champions are still considered a top contender in the eyes of the Csonka Commission. They have never received their rematch, and when they do they will be ready to retake the gold they worked so hard to obtain.

5. The Steiner Brothers (Rick and Scott)- I do not think that anyone could have thought that The Steiner Brothers would be back together in 2007, but thanks to TNA they are. They scored a huge win over Team 3D and are looking to add to their legacy with the TNA Tag Team Titles.

6. VKM (Kip and BG James)- The VKM are not a favorite of the Csonka Commission, but they have continued to keep a decent win/loss record and have a pedigree of championships behind them. They are always a viable contender, and could leap into contention at any time.

7. Sting and Abyss – A combination not known for their tag team wrestling, these former world champions that were once rivals have worked well together, including big wins over Cage and Styles, as well as winning the Doomsday Chamber of Blood Cage match. The Monster and the ICON have proved themselves and are a dangerous duo to be sure.

8. The Christian Coalition (Christian Cage, Tomko and AJ Styles) – Over the past months The Christian Coalition, in any form has been a dangerous team. While coming off of some recent losses, you can never count them out; especially with Christian as their “fearless” leader.

9. “Black Machismo” Jay Lethal and “The Guru” Sonjay Dutt – While not a traditional tag team, these men have been tagging on and off in TNA for over 2-years now, and are a duo to watch out for. They scored a big win at Hard Justice over The Motor City Machine Guns and XXX; and if they decide to make a dedicated run for the titles, these fan favorites have as good a chance as any.

10. The Motor City Machine Guns (Sabin and Shelley) – Considered one of the most talented tag teams in the world, the Motor City Machine Guns haven’t been able to put the wins together as of yet in TNA. They have all of the talent in the world and of they get hot, watch out!

---

Have feedback and such? Drop me a line!

WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event Podcast~!

We are back for the latest Tremendous Tirades Podcast Adventure! We run down Saturday Night’s Main Event, discuss the problems the show had, the following of the TNA Impact formula; which is a bad thing, and a discussion of why Saturday Night’s Main Event just doesn’t work in 2007. From there we move onto DEAR CHRISTI, where we discuss PACMAN, a TNA Women’s division and the status of “THE SHIRT~!” Finally we look forward to Summerslam; have some TV discussion (BIG BROTHER~!) as well as some advice to the guys trying to boycott TNA. One hour of fun just for you!

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD~!

If that doesn’t work, copy and paste the following link into your browser and you’ll be fine: http://www.sendspace.com/file/t6tfac