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411’s Round Table Preview: TNA No Surrender 2008

September 13, 2008 | Posted by Chris Lansdell

Introduction:
Greetings, humanity! Welcome back to another 411 Round Table Preview. I am your host, Chris Lansdell, and we’ve got a card full of potential to look at. 4 title matches, the return of Jeff Jarrett, AJ Styles getting his hands on Frank Trigg and a Ladder of Love match for SoCal Val’s hand!

Who’s going to do what to whom? Let’s see what the 411 Illuminati have to say!

Note: Because TNA is seemingly incapable of announcing a full PPV card any more than 24 hours before the Round Tables go live, several of the staff did not have a chance to contribute outcomes for all matches.

With us this month:

From Brooklyn Brawlin’, Dan Torkel!
Shining a Spotlight, it’s Michael Weyer!
Shimmy some lovin’, Andy Clark! No homo.
Former Wonder Years writer, Owain J. Brimfield!
One of Four R’s and my personal statistician, Jeremy Thomas!
Puroresu ichi ban, wakarimasu ka? Navigation Log’s Matt Short!
Westerfeld.
He draws heat! He’s spicy! He’s the boss….CSONKA MAN!

And, of course, the Lansdellicious One himself, Chris Lansdell!


TNA’S OFFICIAL VIDEO SHILL

Longer than normal, but featuring Christian’s great promo

TNA Sacrifice 2008

THE CARD:


Four Ways to Glory Match for the TNA World Heavyweight Title – Samoa Joe (c) vs Christian Cage vs Kurt Angle vs Booker T

Dan Torkel: There is no way, no how that Joe loses here, especially with Sting looming at Bound For Glory. I would personally love to see Joe beat Sting, breaking Sting’s streak of title wins at BFG. Then after AJ goes over Sting, have AJ return to prominence and end Joe’s title reign at Turning Point. This match should be awesome given the people in it plus the possibility of Nash, Sting and Jarrett interference, but Joe absolutely retains.

Winner: And Still Champion: Samoa Joe, Pin on Booker

Michael Weyer: I’m still a bit bugged at what exactly the “Four ways” thing means but it’s got major potential. It seems to promise a new champion one way or the other but Joe has done well as champ for a while and I don’t see it ending quite yet. They’ll come close several times but in the end, I still see Joe keeping on top for a bit longer, a smart move for TNA.

WINNER and still World Champion: Samoa Joe, pinning Booker

Andy Clark: This match could actually be damn good. The outcome of this match hinges entirely on who TNA wants Joe to face at Bound for Glory. If it’s Sting, he can either lose the title or keep it. If it’s Nash, he’ll definitely keep it. Sting still has issues with AJ and I’m not sure they’d want Sting in another BFG main event, so I say Nash turns on Joe and helps Angle win the title, setting up Angle vs. Jarrett for the belt.

Winner and NEW TNA World Heavyweight Champion: Kurt Angle

Owain J. Brimfield: It’s great to see Christian back in the title picture, as he has pretty good chemistry with Joe and Kurt. No way that Joe is dropping the title going into BFG, though.

WINNER: Samoa Joe

Jeremy Thomas: This should be a good match that will be have definite potential to be ruined by overbooking and shenanigans. Kurt’s not ready for a title run yet after losing his feud to AJ, and Cage isn’t in any position to win if he hasn’t signed a contract yet. I don’t see Booker pulling it off either, which leaves us with the champ retaining until Bound For Glory and his confrontation with Sting. The real question is, exactly how much interference WILL we have? Nash, Sting, Jarrett, Team 3D, Styles…the possibilities are endless. Is it sad that “None of the Above” is the least likely option? Yes, yes it is.

Winner: Samoa Joe (Pins Christian; STILL TNA WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION)

Matt Short: This could end up being a very high-drama match. I’ve never felt like multi-man matches like this were always that good as the formula doesn’t always work, but with the combination of guys involved and the story behind the match this has some potential. I don’t expect the title to change hands, but there will undoubtedly be some interference. Expecting it like I do, it doesn’t bother me as much as it might if it happened in another PPV main event. You could say I’m at peace with the notion. This is going to really kick off the bigger Old Guard vs. New Guard feud with clear battle lines drawn. Joe will retain, but I don’t think he’ll have the belt for much longer afterwards.

Winner: Samoa Joe

Jarrod Westerfeld: In all honesty, this isn’t the big hyped up confrontation for this pay-per-view, that’s Jeff Jarrett and Sting’s big showdown – something we saw 2 motherfucking years ago, only this time the roles seem to be switching up where Sting is the heel and Jarrett being the defender of the youth of TNA, or at least that’s what we’re going to be sold. So we’re left with Joe, a champion who’s been sold to us as being an uncontrollably rage head who can’t beat on the former WWE talents that he’s pit again, a former WCW champion that is now so self-interested that he’s basically buried every TNA home star that the fans have cared about since their individual débuts, a former Olympian that was once regarded as being as good, if not better, than Ric Flair in this craft until his falling out in late 2005 and 2006, and a guy that many didn’t buy as being main event calibre only until recently. And what’s the build been for this? Oh, right, Sting and Jarrett. Should we really care? If Joe retains, it still doesn’t mean much as he’s been sold so poorly; if Booker wins it’s a setback for the company as they’re rewarding a guy that’s basically talked down to a former 2 time champion of the company in AJ Styles and refers to the current champion as an indy wrestler; if Angle wins, it’s a step backwards and basically means Joe winning the title was completely meaningless; and if Christian wins it doesn’t progress the company anywhere. No matter what, we’re left with poor options because TNA wants to sell these guys as poor options. We lose no matter what.

Winner: Samoa Joe

Larry Csonka: While I could see the wild screw job ending, I feel that they will hold that off for Bound for Glory where they fully kick off the new vs. old angle. This has the possibility of being a good match.

Winner: Samoa Joe

Chris Lansdell: With the exception of Booker T, who has never done anything for me in the ring, I enjoy watching the guys in this match. There’s a definite expectation of quality from this, and judging by the rest of the card it had better deliver. Otherwise, we could be in for a LONG night. With the biggest PPV in their history coming up, you have to presume that Joe will be in the main event there. He doesn’t necessarily have to be champion going in though.

Winner: Kurt Angle

TNA Tag Team Championship Match – Beer Money (C) vs LAX

Michael Weyer: I really am pulling for LAX, just great as champs but it’s still a bit early as Beer Money has taken off better than I expected. I also expect a Six Sides of Steel match at BFG so Beer Money uses chicanry to retain to set that up.

WINNERS and still TNA Tag Team Champions: Beer Money

Andy Clark: The one time a stipulation match probably would apply. Then again, maybe they can hold off and do a Six Sides of Steel Match at BFG. With a BFG match in mind I doubt LAX would win the titles back just yet.

Winners and STILL TNA World Tag Team Champions: Beer Money

Owain J. Brimfield: Beer Money is just wonderful, although it’s funny how this feud has progressed from gimmick matches to a standard tag format. Storm and Roode get the win and the seeds are planted for the possible LAX split.

WINNER: Beer Money Inc.

Jeremy Thomas: I see no reason for LAX to win this one. Beer Money are on a great roll with the tag belts, and as much as I love LAX, you should keep the champs strong for this one. I don’t know who they’ll face once they finish off this feud, but I see them coming out of this match still champs.

Winner: Beer Money (Roode pins Homicide; STILL TNA TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS)

Matt Short: Their last PPV match was a lot of fun and I expect the same here. It’s too soon to take the belts off of Beer Money right now. They’re a great heel team. LAX is a good match for them. Funny how this feud opened with a gimmick and has now had back-to-back straight tag matches. No complaints here though, these two teams have been doing fine without the gimmicks. Beer Money retains with perhaps a hardcore match in the future.

Winner: Beer Money

Jarrod Westerfeld: A rematch of these two is fine considering their last bout was so much better than their first encounter in that horrible “fans revenge strap match”. My problem is this is what the tag division is left with: MMG is treated like a job squad because they refused to do something the company asked of them in FEBRUARY, something that didn’t need to be done considering the booking of the match; The Rock and Rave Infection is only utilized as a job team; the Prince Justice Brotherhood doesn’t seem to do anything as a tandem, so that’s virtually pointless; and every other tandem TNA has is either just random, thrown together superstars, or is being featured in things that don’t revolve around the tag straps. If TNA is serious about splitting LAX, then we’re going to be looking forward to a lot of nothing from this division. And that’s one thing they should try to avoid, but this is TNA and they’re getting behind Storm and Roode as a tandem, which isn’t bad, but is counter-productive to what their division currently has available.

Winner: Beer Money

Larry Csonka: This is another match that has the possibility of being really good. It isn’t the right time to take the titles off of Beer Money right now. I think that LAX takes the loss, more specifically Homicide and that they get the rematch next month, where Homicide loses it for them again and they then do the LAX split.

Winner: Beer Money

Chris Lansdell: So let’s see. We have the hot new heel team against the soon-to-be-split former champ faces, one of whom is fighting with one eye. I don’t think the result is in much doubt, I just hope we get a good match with enough time and the spot where they say their team name after the double suplex. Of course this match received NO build this week on Impact. Why? So we could hear Angelina Love sing Row Your Boat. Ugh.

Winners: BEER! MONEY!

TNA X Division Title Match – Petey Williams (C) vs Sheik Abdul Bashir vs Consequences Creed

Dan Torkel: I like the build to this but Bashir is not that great in the ring and Petey is getting stale without Steiner there so by default I call the only title change of the show here.

Winner: And NEW X DIVISION Champion: Consequences Creed

Michael Weyer: It’s been a good setup and making it a three-way battle promises some fun. Yeah, Bashir is rough but they’ve been building up Creed for a while yet and it seems time for him to win it. However, this is in Canada and having homeboy Williams lose the belt doesn’t seem right. I still expect an Ultimate X match at Bound For Glory so Williams retains to setup the big battle.

WINNER and still X Division Champion: Maple Leaf Muscle

Andy Clark: They have actually done an admirable job building up Creed, but Creed’s big win would seem better against Bashir by himself. I say Bashir wins, setting up Bashir vs. Creed next month.

Winner and NEW X-Division Champion: Sheik Abdul Bashir

Owain J. Brimfield: Creed is undeniably going to win the belt pretty soon, but after the crowd pretty much turned on him at the last PPV, I can’t see them letting Petey lose here.

WINNER: Petey Williams

Jeremy Thomas: I think if a title is changing, here’s your best shot. Abdul’s not yet ready, he still needs to piss some more people off before he’ll get a title run. Petey’s held the belt a while, and Creed’s primed for a big title win; I think it happens here, and we see a build to Creed vs. Abdul.

Winner: Consequences Creed (Pins Williams; NEW TNA X-DIVISION CHAMPION)

Matt Short: I’m not a fan of the Sheik Bashir character, but the build to this has been very good. Creed is facing two heels here, but there’s no promise that they’ll work together much during the match. It’s too early to put the belt on Creed just yet and it seems like the best bet is going with Bashir and finishing things at Bound For Glory. This should be a really enjoyable match though and a great chance for all three guys to shine.

Winner: Sheik Abdul Bashir

Jarrod Westerfeld: To be honest, does anyone really care about the X Division at this point? It’s not to state that these guys are bad, it’s just they don’t give us much reason to care for these guys as they focus almost entirely on Sting or Jeff Jarrett, or struggling to keep interest in the Knockouts division now that they’re trying to build around a new face in Taylor. Instead of following up the interesting fiasco between Creed and Williams at the last pay-per-view, they kind of put it to the side and if they have time they need to kill we’re treated to these three. Again, it’s not horrible, but Lethal and Dutt have more air time and exposure for their bouts despite the fact that they’re not even fighting for a title, but rather a ring. In all honesty, this is much like what TNA did when they paid more focus around Young and Storm’s fight for a toy spinner belt with a bottle on it. It’s like they don’t want to focus on these guys who do have interesting chemistry with each other, and look to have a decent storyline with one another, but we’re not getting treated to it in a big enough way. The worst part about it seems that this may be the nearing end of this division as more and more guys who make up this division are moved to other interests, especially to help form and maintain the tag division.

Winner: Petey Williams

Larry Csonka: Once again this is a match with a ton of possibility to be good right here. Petey has been floundering with limited TV time since Steiner has been gone, which is a shame. They seem to really like Bashir and I feel that they will make the title change here, and eventually build to Bashir vs. Creed for the title down the line.

Winner: Sheik Abdul Bashir

Chris Lansdell: Poor Petey. So talented, so incredible when he gets his chance, and so underused. Creed has been built well and could be something special, but he needs to drop some of the goofy stuff. Fuck Bashir up his ass with a chemical warhead. Unfortunately I can see him winning, leading to him and Creed later.

Winner: Sheik Abdul Bashir

TNA Knockouts Championship Match – Taylor Wilde (C) vs Angelina Love

Dan Torkel: Angelina as the singles champ doesn’t cut it with me. Maybe if they expand to Women’s Tag Titles then the Beautiful People should get it, but neither of them are good enough to hold the Knockout Belt. Taylor retain here, leading to another showdown with KONG!!!

Winner: And still Knockout Champion: Taylor Wilde

Michael Weyer: The loss of Gail Kim is shaking up the whole division but Wilde is starting to come into her own as champ and focus. There’s the possibility of Love getting it but it seems a bit early to break up the Beauties just yet. Besides, they’re still holding for the rematch with Kong down the road.

WINNER and still Women’s Champion: Taylor Wilde

Andy Clark: I told you people that the Knockouts division wasn’t going be entertaining for long. The Beautiful People are actually pretty over so it might make sense for one of them to win the title. Then Russo can book partners that hate each other! But the Beautiful People are over enough that even though they are heels it might make more sense to do it at Bound for Glory. Wilde wins here to set up a Triple Threat next month.

Winner and STILL Knockouts Champion: Taylor Wilde

Owain J. Brimfield: The Knockouts have been simmering under of late. Wilde retains to set up losing to Kong, so we can have a Kong/ODB title feud.

WINNER: Taylor Wilde

Jeremy Thomas: As much as I dig the Beautiful People, Angelina’s not getting a title reign at this time. This should be a strong win for Wilde to keep her rolling as champion toward the clash with Kong.

Winner: Taylor Wilde (STILL KNOCKOUT WOMEN’S CHAMPION)

Matt Short: Taylor Wilde is getting a hell of a push as Knockouts Champion. And she’s actually worthy of that push. Angelina Love of the Beautiful People is doing just as well. She and Velvet Sky have been awesome heels and it does seem like now is a chance to reward that work. But I don’t think it’s quite time for that yet. Wilde retains here, but I think she’ll definitely drop the belt to Love soon.

Winner: Taylor Wilde

Jarrod Westerfeld: In all honesty, why? I mean, I know people were trashing Kong and Roxxi’s brawl, but that had far more intrigue in it than this match does. It’s not that it’s Angelina Love, but it’s Taylor Wilde, some generic chick placed into a role as the champion of a division that has been long touted as being the best division this company has in this current day and age. That’s not the case right now as they try and shift focus onto the lesser known, and lesser cared for Taylor Wilde. If anything, a title switch here would actually help, but not as much if the title was being moved between Kong, ODB or even Roxxi. But hey, given the options here, Love could actually help the title look stronger.

Winner: Angelina Love

Larry Csonka: Wilde has had a fine little run, but with her winning the beauty contest I figure the Beautiful People use the numbers game and we get a title change here.

Winner: Angelina Love

Chris Lansdell: God I miss Gail Kim. With only Kong and ODB as credible challengers right now, the entire division is so easily mapped out whichever way they go. Either Jackie or Roxxi, and preferably both, need building up and fast. I have little interest in this match as neither lady has really shown me anything (and I rally wish they would…). Taylor Wilde being a WWE Development reject and coming to TNA where she wins a title really adds fuel to the TNA hater fire, but at this point she’s a better choice than half the female roster.

Winner: Taylor Wilde

Ladder of Love Match for SoCal Val’s Hand – “Black Machismo” Jay Lethal vs. “The Guru” Sonjay Dutt

Dan Torkel: The feud died early and often and it needs to end here. Since I think Creed will win the X-Title he will need a strong heel contender, so Dutt wins and Val goes heel on Jay.

Winner: Sonjay Dutt

Michael Weyer: The feud just hasn’t lived up to its promise and it may be time to end it now. Expect the usual ladder wildness with Lethal showing a tougher side and ending up climbing it to end this saga once and for all, hopefully.

WINNER: Jay Lethal

Andy Clark: Who is booking this show again? Do we ever get a happily ever after in Russo world?

Winner and NEW Husband of SoCal Val: Sonjay Dutt

Owain J. Brimfield: I’m probably the only one who digs the name of this match. This surely has to be the blow-off to this never-ending feud – I see Lethal winning but Val turning with a heel beatdown after the match.

WINNER: Jay Lethal

Jeremy Thomas: Oh for God’s sake, can’t we be done with this? Dutt wins, Val turns, and we can finally move on. Though the emotional scars of sitting through this feud will last a lifetime.

Winner: Sonjay Dutt (Val-erference)

Matt Short: In a feud that has been almost universally panned, this looks like it should be the final match between these two. I really hope it is, because this has been like 2008’s version of Eric Young vs. Robert Roode. Meaning that its gone on long past the point that it should have. It’s a simple story and should not have taken the time it took to get to this point. This should finally be the point where SoCal Val turns on Lethal. Then can we be done? This better at least lead to Dutt winning the X-Division Title as a heel.

Winner: Sonjay Dutt

Jarrod Westerfeld: At least it’s not a pole match, which wouldn’t have made any sense. After Dutt cut a really strong and good promo, I’m left to wonder if they’ll actually switch up the roles at all, as Dutt still comes off as heelish after that promo. In the end, I have to believe that the victor here has to be the guy that’s going to end up wooing Val, and the only one who could do that now is Dutt as he’s been very protective of her in his manipulative way. Lethal has basically broken her heart, been destructive of their relationship and has pushed her away from her and into the arms of his nemesis.

Winner: Sonjay Dutt

Larry Csonka: Let’s see, Lethal won the last time, they have been building towards Dutt getting the win and Russo hates the happy ending. Val likely will cost Jay the match. Hey, remember last year when he was beating Kurt Angle in the “Biggest Upset in TNA History?”

Winner: “The Guru” Sonjay Dutt

Chris Lansdell: Yes, Russo is booking. Yes, he hates the happy ending. Know what he loves? Shock TV. I think the perfect way to blow off this feud (after something like 7 PPVs in a row as opponents…) is to have the guys be beating shit out of each other, stop, realise that it is ALWAYS bros before hos, and keep their pimp hands strong. Knowing Russo they’ll start making out with each other, but the end result will be the same.

Winner: No Decision (Bros before Hos)

Rock ‘n’ Rave Infection vs Prince Justice Brotherhood

Dan Torkel: This has comedy opener written all over it and it should be entertaining. Since RNRI are essentially jobbers, I think they pop the crowd with a PJB win. I think they should be called the Prince Brotherhood of Justice so they can be nicknamed the PBJ.

Winner: Prince Justice Brotherhood

Michael Weyer: Prince Justice Brotherhood?! Who comes up with these?! This is purely filler and adding Christy as a competitor makes it even more comedy. I’d like to say the RNRI because they’ve been jobbing so long but you don’t give a team a name without them going over.

WINNER: The PJB

Andy Clark: They couldn’t find a dude to team with Lance & Jimmy? Unless someone débuts with that group (Joey Mercury would be a good fit and give them a bit of credibility), I say the superheroes win easily.

Winners: Prince Justice Brotherhood

Owain J. Brimfield: This should be a decent comedy bout and little more. Shame really, as the majority of these guys can really go.

WINNER: Prince Justice Brotherhood

Jeremy Thomas: Yay, its the six people we’ve been Pavlovian-ly trained not to give a rat’s ass about. This will be nothing particularly good, and while it may have some semi-decent comedy moments, I just don’t care. PJB wins hopefully to build them up, since there’s no point to building Rock N’ Rave at this point.

Winner: Prince Justice Brotherhood (Super Eric pins Rave)

Matt Short: I missed the first appearance of the Prince Justice Brotherhood and when I read I about it I couldn’t tell if it was real or not. Yet here we are. I hope they can at least make this entertaining somehow, because I’m not expecting any kind spectacular trios match here. I think Rock n’ Rave could be a good addition to the tag team division if they were given a chance to be serious, but since they’re not, The PJB wins this.

Winners: The Prince Justice Brotherhood

Jarrod Westerfeld: I honestly don’t even care, and wonder why this is being booked as this time could be split up and put into other matches to give them more time to build up stronger stories. As it looks, the Prince Justice Brotherhood can’t be splitting up this early into their inception, so a win here is a must.

Winner: The Prince Justice Brotherhood (Curry Man, Shark Boy & Super Eric)

Larry Csonka: I hate to be so blunt, but with eight other matches, this has no place on PPV. Sorry Curry Man.

Winner: The Prince Justice Brotherhood

Chris Lansdell: This hurts. The 5 men in this match were all more over at one point in their careers than they are now. There is no benefit to the winner of this match, no ramifications for the loser, and really no need for it. Sure, Christy seduced Curry Man a couple weeks back, but there was no build AT ALL this week for it, since using the PJB as judges of the pageant was FAR more important. Coin flip says the guys in gimp masks.

Winners: The Prince Justice Brotherhood

Team 3D vs. Matt Morgan and Abyss

Dan Torkel: 3D has been on the downward turn and a win here wouldn’t propel them anywhere whereas Morgan has shown great improvement and Abyss seems rejuvenated since his return. The monsters get the win here.

Winner: Morgan and Abyss

Michael Weyer: Team 3D has been on a downward spiral as of late and thus need a big win to get back on track. However, the push for Abyss has been strong as well as Morgan so they’ll probably get ahead after a big bone-crushing brawl.

WINNERS: Abyss and Morgan

Andy Clark: I’m actually kind of excited about this match and I bet this is a precursor to the first ever tag team Monster’s Ball Match next month. It’s a toss up for who gets the win, but let’s go with Team 3D, maybe with some veteran interference.

Winners: Team 3D

Owain J. Brimfield: Abyss hasn’t wrestled a proper match since his return and Morgan’s beast of a push needs to continue. Do the math.

WINNER: Matt Morgan & Abyss

Jeremy Thomas: This is actually a tough one to call. Compare Morgan and Abyss’s push against the fact that Team 3D just signed their contract, and I’m not sure who to call on this one. It’ll be a pretty decent brawl, and I’m going to go with 3D getting the cheap win in order to set up a rematch at BFG.

Winner: Team 3D (Devon pins Abyss)

Matt Short: Simple story here. They’ve been pushing Morgan hard and have gotten over the idea of him and Abyss reaching some kind of understanding. Team 3-D are a good choice to get this new team over. Should be short, but hopefully sweet.

Winners: Matt Morgan & Abyss

Jarrod Westerfeld: To be honest, I don’t care for this either, but it’s probably the only way they could figure to give us Abyss and Team 3D and make it seem fair. No matter how I look at it, though, this is a handicap match between the three and as such should just be a very strong Impact match, not a pay-per-view attraction. If they’re really planning on doing something with Morgan in this, he has to turn on Abyss – his face run has been a disaster and it’s because they’ve been trying to sell him as a whiner that we’re supposed to like and adore.

Winner: Team 3D

Larry Csonka: Like many I feel that they will lead this into a Monster’s Ball match like they normally have at Bound for Glory. I think Team 3D takes the win, partly as a thank you for re-signing, and partly because they will use weapons again on Abyss and pin him. This should slowly lead to Abyss snapping and going back to being a wild hardcore fighter.

Winner: Team 3D

Chris Lansdell: I’ve enjoyed what little we’ve seen of Matt Morgan. I’ve enjoyed even more the dull rhythmic thud coming from the direction of Stamford, CT that is undoubtedly Vince McMahon simultaneously kicking his own freshly buffed buttocks and pounding his cranium off the mahogany-panelled décor. Team 3D, while good when they need to be in gimmick matches, are still a step too slow for straight wrestling matches so this could be uglier than Westerfeld asking his cousin to prom. However, I agree with the assembled wisdom of my colleagues here.

Winners: Team 3D by nefarious means

MMA-Style Submission Match – Frank Trigg vs AJ Styles

Dan Torkel: This is weird. If Trigg wants to destroy Styles, we know he can do it. But it they go the wrestling route, then AJ can win it cleanly. I hope they don’t cut out AJ’s legs here. I personally think Jarrett will get involved here and help Styles signalling his siding with the Young Guns.

Winner: AJ Styles

Michael Weyer: I still can’t believe they’re going through with this. AJ has been on a great tear for a while, gaining back the standing he once had so having him lose to Trigg here would be a very bad move that makes little sense. But, since this is TNA we’re talking about…

Okay, didn’t know it was MMA rules the first time. That adds a new dynamic to it and might elevate it a bit but I still expect Trigg to come out on top.

WINNER: Frank Trigg

Andy Clark: I was much more interested in this match when I thought it was a regular match. I really wish they would keep the MMA shit in MMA. Don’t get me wrong, I like MMA but that’s not why I watch wrestling. I don’t have high hopes for this match but maybe AJ can save the day. Trigg wins after some light flickering interference by Sting.

Winner: Frank Trigg

Owain J. Brimfield: Surely even TNA wouldn’t be so stupid to have Trigg lose an MMA contest in his in-ring début?

WINNER: Frank Trigg

Jeremy Thomas: I don’t much like the MMA part, but it’s probably the best way to introduce Trigg, and it gives AJ a legit reason to lose, being out of his element. It should be enjoyable if Styles can adapt well, and that’s about all I have to say about it.

Winner: Frank Trigg (4:57 into Round Three)

Matt Short: I think that TNA showed that mixing some MMA with wrestling could work with the Joe vs. Angle cage match. Will this work here? All signs point to no, but we have to actually see the finished product here. I’d hope Styles would win here, but with the background to the match I see shenanigans giving Trigg the win here. Which will be depressing if Trigg doesn’t switch over to wrestler at least part-time.

Winner: Frank Trigg

Jarrod Westerfeld: Oh no…are they serious? Did we get the finish between Styles and Angle? If not, then why move into this? If we did, can we say we didn’t and avoid this?

Honestly, it’s an environment that helps to cover up any flaws Trigg might have in a wrestling match, but we’re now pulling Styles into a situation where he has to play up to someone else’s strengths, sacrificing how he looks in the eyes of the fans. It could be fine, but the end result is that instead of Styles looking strong as his own man, he’s still stuck behind the black ball as others are being moved up into title position, while he’s still fighting to prove himself in a company he helped build. With any luck, this ends here on this night so we can possibly see Styles move up into something bigger.

Winner: AJ Styles

Larry Csonka: I for one have no problem with TNA using MMA, because they have done it well thus far and I feel that it is a perfect way to introduce Trigg. I think Trigg screws AJ again here, steals the win and that sets up for “AJ’s” kind of match the next time.

Winner: Frank Trigg

Chris Lansdell: This worries me. MMA is wildly popular, but drawing attention to it could backfire on TNA. Trigg is going to be just fine in professional wrestling, he has the charisma and once he learns to pace his promos a little better, he’ll be excellent. AJ has been on fire lately and although he is likely to suffer the setback here, it’s all in the name of getting over the new guy. Some of the other top guys in TNA should take a page from AJ’s book.

Winner: Frank Trigg

Falls Count Anywhere – ODB vs Awesome KONG

Michael Weyer: Well, if any two women can handle it, it’s these two. The setup has been good and it’s time the Knockouts got some great brawling in. I see ODB taking it hard but Kong winning to put her back into title contention.

WINNER: Kong

Andy Clark: Like some of my colleagues I was unaware that this match had been added. On one hand I don’t think TNA wants Kong to job too much, but on the other hand a stipulation like this allows for ODB to gain the advantage. This could actually be pretty entertaining, and the winner is a toss up.

Winner: ODB

Owain J. Brimfield: Nice choice of match for these two. Should be a hard-hitting encounter and either woman could conceivably go over, but I’ll stick with my prediction for the next champ.

WINNER: Kong

Jeremy Thomas: With Wilde retaining in my prediction, we need a challenger for her, and I think it’s time to see Wilde/Kong again. ODB’s been booked pretty strong building up to this, so she can take the loss to the monster heel without any real damage.

Winner: Awesome Kong (Pin via Awesome Bomb)

Matt Short: This should be a really wild fight. I appreciate TNA letting the women cut loose like this every once and awhile. Kong should probably kill ODB when all is said and done, but it won’t be easy. Winner will go on to challenge Taylor Wilde so it makes even more sense to run a Kong vs. Wilde rematch at the next PPV.

Winner: Awesome Kong

Jarrod Westerfeld: I didn’t even realize this was on the card…until I surfed through the thread and saw this thing just bulging out for some unknown reason. I don’t know if we really need this many matches on this card, even if this’ll be fun, which odds are it will be. In the end, this’ll probably build to something bigger, which means that Kong goes over. I doubt that’ll be the case, though, as odds are they’ll want ODB to challenge Love at Bound for Glory and a win here would launch her to look like a legitimate challenger to the title.

Winner: ODB

Larry Csonka: Kong has been destroying everyone, and with her contract in question, they may take the chance to give ODB the win over to her secure a real contender, especially if Love wins the title.

Winner: ODB

Chris Lansdell: I used to like ODB. She was tough, she was funny, and she popped the crowd. A bit limited in the ring, but you can’t have it all. Then I had to watch the segment with her shitting. Kong is still Baskin Robbins, as n 31 flavours of amazing, but I fear that she needs to take a loss here since she still has the invincible aura around her, and ODB needs to be quickly established in the minds of fans as the top face.

Winner: ODB

The Bonus Question: How will Bashir offend people this time?

Michael Weyer: Talk about how awesome Quebec is. Trust me, nothing can rile a Canadian crowd up like that.

Andy Clark: Well, this show will take place just days after September 11…

Owain J. Brimfield: Oh, probably the usual about Canada being America Jr. and thus even more worthy of contempt. Alternatively, he drops his pants and farts “Oh Canada”.

Jeremy Thomas: He’ll tie September 11th and Canada together by claiming that Osama Bin Laden should have hit the CN Tower. And televisions across America and Canada will explode via an overload of bad taste.

Matt Short: Besides the mere existence of this character at this point in time? I’m sure they’ll work a 9/11 joke in here. Perhaps death to Israel? Show Loose Change?

Jarrod Westerfeld: I’m unaware of how he offended people the first time. I guess this time he could strip down to a banana hammock and start signing some David Hasselhoff classics, but I’m sure that would actually help drive in buyrates than it would scare them off – after all, who can hate on the Hoff?

Larry Csonka: I don’t give a shit.

Chris Lansdell: He’ll blame Canada for letting the 9/11 attackers through border control.

The Standings!

Owain Brimfield: 10 of 12 (83.33%)
Matt Short: 9 of 12 (75.00%)
Chris Lansdell: 14 of 19 (73.68%)
Wendell Mitchell: 5 of 7 (71.43%)
Shawn Lealos: 8 of 12 (66.67%)
Dan Torkel: 9 of 14 (64.29%)
Jeremy Thomas: 12 of 19 (63.16%)
Gavin Napier: 7 of 12 (58.33%)
Larry Csonka: 10 of 19 (52.63%)
Michael Weyer: 10 of 19 (52.63%)
Dan Wilcox: 7 of 14 (50.00%)
Robert S. Leighty Jr: 6 of 12 (50.00%)
Andy Clark: 9 of 19 (47.37%)
Jarrod Westerfeld: 8 of 19 (42.11%)
Bayani Domingo: 5 of 12 (41.67%)

It’s a tight one, if Owain slips up at all on this PPV then he’s easily catchable. And of course, plenty of time to go.

Don’t forget to join us Sunday night for LIVE coverage starting at 8pm!

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Chris Lansdell