wrestling / Columns

411 PPV Roundtable Preview – TNA Hardcore Justice 2012

August 11, 2012 | Posted by Greg De Marco

Welcome to 411Mania’s TNA Pay-Per-View Roundtable! This month TNA presents Hardcore Justice as Austin Aries defends his World Championship against former champion Bobby Roode. The Bound For Glory Series contenders compete in three different hardcore 4-way matches, each worth 20 BFG Series points! Plus X-Division Champion Zema Ion and Knockouts Champion Brooke Tessmacher defend their titles.

Tweet At Me!

http://www.twitter.com/411mania
http://www.twitter.com/411wrestling
http://www.twitter.com/411moviestv
http://www.twitter.com/411music
http://www.twitter.com/411games
http://www.twitter.com/411mma
http://www.twitter.com/gregdemarcoshow – that’s me!

Tha Crew!

We kick things off with the author of Shining a Spotlight, Michael Weyer!
Following him is the man providing Views From The Hawke’s Nest, TJ Hawke!
Coming in Third? Ring Crew Reviews own Jack Bramma!
Don’t forget the man behind The Heel Report, James Wright!
Our fifth writer is
And finally…your’s truly, Greg DeMarco!

The official “Please Buy The PPV” Video!

Quick…Look At The Card!

World Championship: Austin Aries (champion) vs. Bobby Roode
Bound For Glory Series Ladder Match: AJ Styles vs. Kurt Angle vs. Christopher Daniels vs. Samoa Joe
Bound For Glory Series Tables Match: James Storm vs. Jeff Hardy vs. Bully Ray vs. Robbie E
Bound For Glory Series Falls Count Anywhere Match: Mr. Anderson vs. Rob Van Dam vs. The Pope vs. Magnus
Knockouts Championship: Miss Tessmacher (champion) vs. Madison Rayne
X-Division Championship: Zema Ion (champion) vs. Kenny King
Kid Kash & Gunner vs. Chavo Guerrero, Jr & Hernandez

Staff Picks and Analysis!

World Championship
Austin Aries (champion) vs. Bobby Roode

Greg DeMarco: In what has been the surprise of 2012 to date, Austin Aries is still walking around with the TNA World Heavyweight Championship. He won the title at Destination X, leaving many of the internet analysts to believe that Roode would win that title back sooner rather than later. Now it’s conceivable that Aries is still champion at Bound For Glory, or that he at least makes it to No Surrender before dropping the title. I’m in a different camp—if Aries doesn’t lose at Hardcore Justice, he should hold it through Bound For Glory. Otherwise, the BFG Series ending will completely telegraph the No Surrender main event result.

So what will happen? Roode is equally effective at being the challenger as he was at being champion. He’s currently carrying two feuds (Aries and James Storm) and is one of the best heels in all of wrestling. While Aries vs. Joe or Aries vs. Angle for the title could be entertaining, I think that will happen in a non-title sense. I do see BFG having Roode vs. Strom for the title, and I see Roode regaining his belt sooner rather than later.

Winner: Bobby Roode regains the TNA World Championship

Jake St-Pierre: If you would have asked me this right after Destination X, I would have said that Bobby Roode would win the title back. I disliked that they ruined the momentum of Bobby’s reign at the time. However, TNA made the right decision now that I’ve stepped back and seen how they booked the fallout. So that’s why I think Aries is going to keep his title here to defend against Samoa Joe at Bound for Glory while Roode goes on to continue feud with James Storm, which is personal enough to not need the title. This is a tough one to pick, but I think TNA is high enough on Aries to keep him at the top for a while.

Winner: Austin Aries.

TJ Hawke: I assume they are tempted to put the belt back on Roode if they are determined to do Storm vs. Roode at Bound for Glory. I don’t think I can adequately express how much that would kill my (limited) interest in Impact Wrestling for a while. They had a great match at Destination X, and I hope they can top themselves here.

Winner: Bobby ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

James Wright: How far we have come since the predictions for Slammiversary! While this match is pretty much as weakly booked as those matches were I now have the faith in TNA that they will deliver on the night despite this. All I would ask is that Aces & 8s stay the hell away from this or any other match in the night. My only question is why this match doesn’t have any type of stipulation yet seeing as the event is called ‘Hardcore Justice’, also to be facetious, who exactly is getting the ‘Justice’ here? It might make a little bit more sense if Roode had somehow screwed Aries and now Aries was meeting him in a Hardcore match to beat the living piss out of him and take his title. Still that’s what you get if you look too much into the title of a PPV, you start getting irate over little things like an Elimination Chamber gimmick match not main eventing a PPV with the same name. Anyway whatever the case you have to expect a good match between these two men and I can’t see Aries pulling an Orton and killing his momentum dead with Bound For Glory still a couple of months away, so I reckon that Aries goes over clean here to leave TNA with options heading towards their biggest event of the year, and a possible third match between the two at the next PPV.

Winner: Austin Aries

Jack Bramma: While I like Roode and enjoyed his title run, it’s way too soon to take the belt off Aries. Doing so would retroactively sour and deflate Aries’s crowning moment at Destination X. This just seems like a placeholder feud to buy some time and extend the Aces ‘n Eights intrigue until Bound for Glory in a few months. I expect a very good match but Aries to retain clean.

Winner: Austin Aries

Michael Weyer: So the key question: Will TNA take the title off Aries after just a month so we get the Roode/Storm showdown at BFG? I know people were upset about Aries winning the title after it seemed they were doing the former Beer Money encounter again but Aries has taken off with the crowds as the champ, dominating in promos and the fans respond like wild to him. So I don’t see him losing his first PPV as champ. Possibility of next month but even that’s doubtful. Besides, the idea of Roode continuing to lose control after another loss is just too good to pass up. They did throw us a swerve last month but I’m pretty sure Aries retains as even TNA can’t be foolish enough to kill off one of the best goodwill moves they’ve made in a long time.

Winner and STILL TNA World Champion: The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived

411Mania Staff Pick: Austin Aries (4 out of 6 votes)

Bound For Glory Series Ladder Match
AJ Styles vs. Kurt Angle vs. Christopher Daniels vs. Samoa Joe
Winner Receives 20 Points in the BFG Series

Greg DeMarco: BFG Series or not, this match has Match of the Year potential—and big time. Joe and Angle will enter the PPV amongst the top three competitors, with Daniels and Styles in a position that really needs the 20-points that happen to be at stake in this one. The stipulation doesn’t really favor anyone, however AJ and Daniels have the most experience in a match of this sort. Angle would have no problem climbing (and fighting) on a ladder. Joe’s size isn’t a factor, as he’s one of the most agile “big men” in the business. Joe and James Storm have been positioned at the top of the series from the start, and having them as the final two makes the most sense. Thus, I see Joe pulling off the mild upset in this match.

Winner: Samoa Joe earns 20 Bound For Glory Series points

Jake St-Pierre: This–given proper time–has the potential to be a Match of the Year candidate. Samoa Joe has been rolling lately and I want him to win, but I have a feeling the end of this one will involve the crackwhore, AJ Styles, and Christopher Daniels. I do NOT want that to happen, but for the sake of storyline continuity we may have to sit through it. Logic from that points to the crackwhore helping Christopher Daniels win, but I have a feeling Joe will pick up the pieces of a schmozz and get 20 points to try and catch up with James Storm. This has the makings of an amazing match. Let’s just hope TNA lets it be a match and not a scapegoat for their shoddy story.

Winner: Samoa Joe.

TJ Hawke: I’m sure they will have a great match, but I don’t think the ladder stipulation was warranted here at all. However, the only downside of this match is that Angle may try to do something really stupid and kill himself. I hope that doesn’t happen. All these men step it up on PPV when they are against one another.

Winner: Samoa Joe

James Wright: If history tells us anything it is that this match will be epic. TNA have really outdone themselves here, although I’m slightly skeptical as to whether the ladder stipulation actually fits these guys, or rather that putting four of your top performers in a high risk match at this point in the year is such a wise decision since either of the other two stipulations would have worked in a match where the in-ring action is sure to be superb no matter what. The ladder stipulation seems to be like adding a little spice to an already perfect dish, at this point it just seems unnecessary, still at least they are sticking to the ‘Hardcore’ theme in this match, or at least to some degree they are anyway. Personally I think the Falls Count Anywhere stipulation would have served more of a purpose in this one, but whatever the case you just know these men are going to put on a five-star classic no matter what. I’m hoping that Joe wins so as to continue to give Storm a run for his money.

Winner: Samoa Joe

Jack Bramma: This could easily go to any of the 4 but I’ll go with Styles since he’s lagging in the BFG standings.

Winner: AJ Styles

Michael Weyer: Let the spotfest commence! I’m excited for this one as all four guys know how to bring it and all know how to work together well. The result is hard to pick as Styles can use the points but I see him kept by Daniels to continue their feud. Angle is a possibility but TNA seem to be hot on Joe again and his winning gives him a push that can also lead to a good match next month with Storm for the top of the rankings. So I say it’s Joe and sure to be a candidate for match of the night.

Winner: Samoa Joe

411Mania Staff Pick: Samoa Joe (5 out of 6 votes)

Bound For Glory Series Tables Match
James Storm vs. Jeff Hardy vs. Bully Ray vs. Robbie E
Winner Receives 20 Points in the BFG Series

Greg DeMarco: This match seems to be James Storm’s to lose, as does he entire competition. Storm is headed down a path towards facing Bobby Roode at Bound For Glory, title on the line or not. Jeff Hardy and Bully Ray likely can’t even tell you how many table spots they’ve participated in during their respective careers—and even if they were to guess they’d likely be far off. Robbie E has been the doormat of this year’s series, rarely making it past a few minutes in each match when his are even televised. That said, E is my dark horse candidate to win…his winning is a great part of the story, and the 20-points will only take him so far. But he’s a dark horse, not a favorite. That distinction belongs to the likely Series winner, James Storm.

Winner: James Storm earns 20 Bound For Glory Series points

Jake St-Pierre: This is an interesting match because at the moment, James Storm is the leader of the Bound for Glory Series. He’s also under fire for perhaps being the leader of Aces and Eights. I think they’re going to be a part of this match big time, perhaps helping James Storm when he’s in trouble to further frame him. It’s intriguing and I can’t wait to see what happens. I’ve said that a lot for TNA lately.

Winner: James Storm (with help of A&8)

TJ Hawke: Gimmick overkill. I assume this match is being set up to make Bully Ray seem like the favorite, but for James Storm to pull off the win. I don’t have a lot of interest in this match. Though I do find Robbie E amusing so hopefully something…amusing happens with him.

Winner: James Storm

James Wright: The problem with constantly making PPV matches that have no real booking behind them is that you end up either not caring about the winner or knowing exactly who the winner is going to be just from the men thrown together in the match. Here it just seems obvious that James Storm will win the match. But then again the table environment does suit the Bully, and Hardy has had some success in that area before. Part of me would love to see Robbie E win just for the hell of it, and it would put him back into contention and not make him a complete jobber in this whole series. Still despite these factors I just can’t see TNA taking away anything from Storm’s momentum right now.

Winner: James Storm

Jack Bramma: A tables match might be the least enthusiastic way to put over someone in wrestling history. It’s not a pinfall or submission or even passing out due to the pain; it’s getting a win by breaking a table, a feat that even ECW didn’t deem worthy of victory. ANYWAY, this would be an easy way for a heel to steal a cheap win and since Robbie E is bringing up the rear, that leaves Bully Ray as the likely contender to snatch a victory here. Though I see that as more of a tease after he eliminates James Storm in duplicitous fashion only for Jeff Hardy to get the win for all the creatures.

Winner: Jeff Hardy

Michael Weyer: This one I’m less excited about. Robbie E has no business here and we can hope he’s taken out fast. If I never see Jeff Hardy in a tables bout again, I’ll be happy and Bully is great in these brawls but still a bit hard to see him winning. No, they’re intent on Storm for the BFG series so he’ll get the win here and hopefully set up a showdown with Joe next month.

Winner: James Storm

411Mania Staff Pick: James Storm (5 out of 6 votes)

Bound For Glory Series Falls Count Anywhere Match
Mr. Anderson vs. Rob Van Dam vs. The Pope vs. Magnus
Winner Receives 20 Points in the BFG Series

Winner: Given each wrestler’s position in the BFG Series, this one could really go anyway. Given the gimmick, it could be entertaining (Anderson had a great hardcore match with Bully Ray at Bound For Glory 2011), but in the grand scheme of the BFG Series, it will be newsworthy. I don’t see Pope getting the win. Anderson and RVD don’t strike me as making the Final Four of the series, but Magnus could really benefit from the push of making the final four. Why not?

Winner: Magnus earns 20 Bound For Glory Series points

Jake St-Pierre: This one is thrown together no doubt, but these four have the potential to give us something good. I don’t think any of these men will go on to do anything in the BFG Series but I doubt that’s what they’re here to do. They’re here to provide a good match to fill up the card. However, with 20 points being on the line stuff could change big time, so this could be quite intriguing. I think RVD may get up there in the rankings, as he’s ever pushed by TNA.

Winner: Rob Van Dam

TJ Hawke: Call me crazy, but I really want to see this match. I’m not saying I think it will be good (I guess it’s possible though), but the match itself is so inherently fascinating to me. Anderson, RVD, and Pope were all guys I was once big fans of, but I have no interest in any of them right now. I think TNA is wasting time and money pushing/booking any of them. I really hope Magnus wins.

Winner: Magnus

James Wright: Wow, this match up really doesn’t seem to matter to me, despite it containing three of the guys who I had a serious interest in, in the past. This just shows you what inconsistent booking can do to the fans, it makes you completely stop caring about a guy that you might think is really talented and has all the potential in the world. I’m personally hoping that TNA gets behind Magnus in this one as the guy represented the company well in Ring Ka King and could easily be a future main eventer if given the right push. He also needs the points in the series to be taken as a serious contender, which I think he could be, in the same way that Robert Roode became a serious contender last year, but hopefully this time with a better result.

Winner: Magnus

Jack Bramma: I’m assuming this is first pinfall wins rather than elimination but regardless, it should be some chaotic fun as all four will have the whole building to put together a good brawl with plenty of unexpected cutoffs. I’ll go with another fan favorite picking up the victory with Mr. Anderson.

Winner: Mr. Anderson

Michael Weyer: And now we have the least appealing of the four-way battles. I just don’t see this rising above a big mess, the four clashing all over the place and sure to see some weapons used. However, it just doesn’t seem as important as the other ones. I’m hoping for Magnus but my gut tells me they’ll go with Anderson, more of a star than the others and getting more of a push in the BFG.

Winner: Mr. Anderson

411Mania Staff Pick: Magnus (3 out of 6 votes)

Knockouts Championship
Miss Tessmacher (champion) vs. Madison Rayne

Greg DeMarco: I must admit that I am a little worried about this one. Tessmacher has done a great job as champion, and has easily exceeded any expectations I’ve had of her. She’s shown great improvement in the ring, and has gotten over as a big time face. (Velvet Who?) Madison Rayne is a great heel, and much better when she’s not Gail Kim’s lackey. Rayne is currently in a relationship angle with Earl Hebner, who for some crazy reason is still assigned to her matches! Too soon for Tessmacher to lose, but Rayne has the angle. Sadly, going with Madison. It’s possible we’ll get a Brooke Hogan reversal, either on the PPV or on Thursday’s Impact Wrestling.

Winner: Madison Rayne, thanks to Earl Hebner, is your NEW Knockouts Champion.

Jake St-Pierre: I have no interest in this match, as both are horribly sloppy wrestlers and the story behind this just defies competency. It may surprise me, but this won’t be anything to sneeze at.

Winner: Brooke Tessmacher.

TJ Hawke: This will suck so bad. I have zero interest in watching this. Extreme Expose.

TJ Hawke: Brooke (I guess)

James Wright: Tessmacher is exactly the same type of wrestler as John Cena in that I am interested in her matches simply because I want to see someone take the belt off her. I don’t care if the TNA Knockouts Division is in poor shape these days, titles still mean something to me damn it and who holds them is important. Tessmacher represents everything that the Knockouts division used to be against and someone has to take her down, and if it can’t be Gail Kim then it might as well be the Queen Bee herself; Madison Rayne. I’m not expecting great things from this match, but I’m hoping for the right finish.

Winner: Madison Rayne

Jack Bramma: In a somewhat flailing division, Madison has been one of the most entertaining attractions to me for a while now. Plus, she has a storyline, even if it isn’t exactly Shakespeare. I’ll take her.

Winner: Madison

Michael Weyer: Brooke has been good as champ but it’s been clear they’re building up Madison for a while. She might be fun as the ultra-annoying heel even if her ring skills are a tad lacking. We can see the result easy as Hebner does a quick count to let her win and continue one of the more upsetting storylines in recent TNA history.

Winner and NEW Knockouts Champion: Madison Rayne

411Mania Staff Pick: Madison Rayne (4 out of 6 votes)

X-Division Championship
Zema Ion (champion) vs. Kenny King

Greg DeMarco: Kenny King obviously made the right move leaving Ring of Honor for TNA. He has insane star potential, and is already catching on. I think this might be too fast of a title match, but he’s the hot hand. Bobby Roode already cost him one title match, and while I don’t see Roode getting involved here (although it’s not outside the realm of possibility), I think Ion wins on his own. By cheating, but on his own. Hairspray will be involved, and Ion retains.

Winner: Zema Ion retains the X-Division Championship thanks to hairspray related cheating

Jake St-Pierre: I love Kenny King and I do want him to win, but history tells us that going over on TV means you’re not going over on the PPV. Both Ion and King are mega-talented and will have a good match given suitable time, but I have a feeling that Kenny won’t be having a champagne celebration at Hardcore Justice.

Winner: Zema Ion.

TJ Hawke: I don’t foresee these two guys having much in the way of chemistry, but this matchup should be fine. Both guys need a great wrestler to have great matches, but I don’t think this match will be put into a position where they need a great match. These guys would interest me more if they were in a tag team. Kenny King is probably the better overall talent, but I assume Ion will win.

Winner: Zema Ion

James Wright: The question here is whether TNA really want to invest in a guy like Kenny King right off the bat or if they are too invested in the Ion-Sorenson rivalry to have him lose the belt at this point. To my understanding Sorenson won’t be back all that soon, and when he does TNA will be hard pressed to have the rivalry between the two live up to the hype. Whereas Kenny King really does seem like if they gave him the ball at this point he could really run with it. He has some notoriety coming off of his more than questionable departure from ROH and that could work in his favour if he is able to win everyone round and show himself as a fighting, and more importantly entertaining, X Division champion. On this occasion I have to go with the new guy and I would only ask why TNA didn’t just put the belt on him at Destination X, but then again we were asking the same question at Bound For Glory with Bobby Roode and that turned out alright in the end.

Winner: Kenny King

Jack Bramma: Zema retains until they find some long-term direction for the division.

Winner: Zema Ion

Michael Weyer: Way too early to take the belt off Zema yet as the guy is a great jerk heel and has been built for a while. So we get to see him show his stuff against King, who’ll give a good try but lose in the end. Either way, it’s a good shot for the X Division and Ion should get more of a chance to prove himself to fans.

Winner and STILL X Division Champion: Zema Ion

411Mania Staff Pick: Zema Ion (5 out of 6 votes)

Kid Kash & Gunner vs. Chavo Guerrero, Jr & Hernandez

Greg DeMarco: I know people are raising an eyebrow at the fact that Chavo & Hernandez are basically a Mexican pairing, but who better to pair Chavo with? Hernandez is over as a face, and he’s got nothing going on right now. Thanks to the matching tattoo patterns, Kash & Gunner already look like a team. Kash is a great talker and Gunner can be a bad ass in the ring, so that one works. And hey, TNA is putting a mid-card (arguably lower card, actually) match on their PPV! I’d rather see at least two of these guys as TV champ (Chavo & Kash) and possibly a third (Gunner). Plus, we’re not that far from establishing these guys in the tag team division—something I’m all for. Count me in on this one. I expect a match that no one has any expectations for to really surprise some people.

Winner: Chavo Guerrero, Jr & Hernandez pick up the win

Jake St-Pierre: This is a good way to ease Chavo into the TNA landscape a bit more, but it’s not like it’ll be a great match. I just hope Chavo quits trying to use Eddie’s offense to get over and uses his natural talent. It’s gonna be a filler match, but it has a backstory, a feud, and a purpose.

Winner: Chavo and Hernandez

TJ Hawke: How is this a real match on a real wrestling PPV? I think this match will be just fine. Chavo is apparently really over at the Impact Zone. If this match happens early enough on the show, the crowd’s interest in him may carry over to the whole match. Kid Kash has also looked good recently, and I am glad this is his third straight PPV with a match.

Winner: Chavito

James Wright: I know that Chavo is a Guerrero but I really feel like his debut in TNA was much-to-do about nothing. It’s cool that Hernandez has a new running buddy and Chavo certainly could be a good presence in the X Division but lets face it; his glory days are behind him and he will probably be used in the same way that he was in the WWE, to make others look good. Let’s just hope that this time it will be guys who actually can benefit from a push against a guy like Guerrero, and not an faux Irish troll who has no need to get in the ring with Chavo, let alone beat him time and time again. However since he has just debuted and his opponents are Kash and Gunner, I am still going to give Guerrero the win.

Winner: Chavo & Hernandez

Jack Bramma: In one of those dynamite debuts that was questionable more for its choice of subject than its execution, Chavito was brought in and heralded like he was the second coming of Danny Hodge. Then he gets hamstrung into this midcard feud that has a touch of poor taste and xenophobia to it. I don’t have huge qualms here, but Chavo and Hot Stuff need to go over though for some reason I suspect we might get a Hernandez heel turn to set up a midcard stable. But I’ll go with the happy ending.

Winner: Chavo and Hernandez

Michael Weyer: Hands up anyone who actually believes TNA will have Chavo lose in his first PPV for them? Yeah, me either.

Winner: Chavo and Hernandez

411Mania Staff Pick: Chavo Guerrero, Jr & Hernandez (6 out of 6 votes)

Official Music Video Of The Event!

Overall Impression

Greg DeMarco: I can’t see why you wouldn’t buy a TNA PPV event at this point. They’re cheaper than their WWE counterparts, and feature better wrestling from top to bottom. I feel like every event through Bound For Glory is a must-buy right now.

Buy or No Buy: Easy Buy. 100%.

411Mania Staff Pick: I might have forgotten to solicit Buy or No Buy votes from the panel, so we’ll just call the consensus a Buy!

Catch our live coverage on Sunday starting at 7:55 PM eastern right here at 411Mania.com!

article topics

Greg De Marco