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411’s PPV Round Table Preview: TNA Genesis 2006

November 18, 2006 | Posted by Larry Csonka

Introduction:
Welcome back to another edition of 411’s PPV Round Table Preview! This time we shall look at the TNA Genesis 2006 PPV event. TNA has put together a big card, with all three titles on the line and what is being called a true “dream match” with Kurt Angle vs. Samoa Joe. I have assembled the staff to break down this PPV match by match, so let’s meet them and get down to business!

The Staff:

  • 411 veteran Ron Gamble.
  • The man that always takes the high road, Sat.
  • Truth is always told with Bayani Domingo.
  • Shining a spotlight on this PPV is Michael Weyer.
  • Meethinks it is Meehan.
  • One half of the HEAT recap team, Scott Slimmer.
  • The man that brings honor to all columns, ARI.
  • When you ASK 411, you always ask Steve Cook
  • The other half of the HEAT recap team, Jeff Small
  • One half of the Hidden Highlights team, JT~!
  • Finally, I am the head honcho of 411, I am Larry Csonka

    TNA GENESIS 2006


    THE CARD:

    Robert Roode’s Open Challenge

    Ron Gamble – Let’s look at the facts: 1. TNA has spent a lot of money promoting the NEW Robert Roode; 2. Roode lost in the Fight for the Right to Paaaaar-tay tournament; 3. TNA wants its money’s worth.

    WINNER – Roode Boy

    Sat: An open challenge usually means that the person issuing the open challenge is going to win.

    Winner: Robert Roode

    Bayani Domingo: Anytime you have a “Challenge” named after you, the chances of you winning said changes are high. That being said, I’d love to see this challenge answered by K-Fed, in the biggest “Holy SH*T” moment in TNA HISTORY!!

    Winner: Roberto Roode-olfo. Sorry, he has the makings of a great Super Crazy-esque Mexi-curl.

    Michael Weyer: Hard to predict given we don’t know who else the opponent will be. TNA seems to be giving Roode a push but it may be that they have some “surprise twist” that could be his downfall.

    Winner: Challenger

    Meehan: With everybody who’s anybody currently busying themselves with other angles or occupying other slots on the card, that leaves us with Ron Killings, Lance Hoyt, Shark Boy, Brother Runt, and *maybe* Sonjay to answer the open challenge. In other words, I think we all know who’s walking out of this one a winner.

    Winner: Robert Roode (Heels 1, Faces 0)

    Scott Slimmer: I’m not saying that I have all that much faith in TNA’s ability not to completely book themselves into a hole, but I can’t see anybody thinking it would be a good idea to job out Roode in the first big pay-per-view match of his new push. Then again, why isn’t Rhino currently booked for a match at this show? Everybody seems to believe that Rhino will show up during the AJ Styles / Christian Cage match, but I’d laugh my ass off if he answered Roode’s challenge and then plowed right through him. I’ll go with the odds and assume that Roode will pick up the win against whoever the challenger turns out to be, but I’ll also have my fingers crossed that the match ends with three little words: Gore! Gore! Gore!

    Winner: Robert Roode

    ARI: Robert is such a formal name.

    Winner: Robert Roode

    Steve Cook: My colleagues that insist that the person issuing the open challenge always wins obviously never watched ECW, where New Jack answered every open challenge ever issued. I don’t think he will answer this one though, so ol’ Robert might have a chance.

    Winner: Ms. Brooks’ guy

    Jeff Small: Probably will be Rhino. If it is, let’s all say goodnight to Roode’s push.

    Winner: Open Challenger

    JT: I’m torn on several of these matches, and this is one of them. We know they’re trying to push Roode, but it’s almost as if they want him to have to pull his way out of a funk first. That, I do not like, because we just saw this with The Naturals. Hopefully, it’s not the case, Roode had a fluke match, and gets the win here to really get his push started on a PPV match (because the pre-show at BFG most certainly does not count).

    WINNER: Robert Roode

    Larry Csonka: In theory this should be the debut of his image consultant and PR person, as he builds a “company around himself. He also should win here, but who knows what they will do.

    Winner: Robert Roode


    Lance Hoyt and Ron Killings vs. Austin Starr and Alex Shelley w/Nash

    Ron Gamble – More facts: 1. TNA spent a lot of money promoting the NEW Austin Starr; 2. Starr lost in a televised match against Petey Williams and Johnny Devine; 3. Starr and Shelley will have Kevin Nash in their corner.

    WINNERS – The Paparazzi

    Sat: The obvious choice would be Starr and Shelley, but I think that there will be dissension between Starr and Shelley allowing Hoyt and Killings to win the match

    Winner: Lance Hoyt and Ron Killings

    Bayani Domingo: This is a good test of how the Starr/Shelley angle is going to play out. Right now Starr and Shelley as tweeners would be one of the best tag teams in TNA. Ring-wise and charisma wise. Their short run together as part of the OG “Generation Next” stable proved that. I feel like at some point ‘Truth Hoyts’ is gonna dissolve and feud, which is fine, a heel Hoyt is better than a face one in my opinion. So a loss here would tease the tension, then again, if they are going to feud Starr and Shelley, a miscommunication leading to a loss could also work. My guess, the team of Ebony and Ivory take the loss.

    Winner: AS-squared.

    Michael Weyer: Hoyt and Killings seem to be actually clicking as an ad hoc team but TNA is still intent on pushing the Paparazzi. My hope is that Nash does more of his commentary, which is quickly becoming a highlight of TNA broadcasting.

    Winner: Starr and Shelly

    Meehan: Remember what I said about Hoyt and Killings being freed up to job for Bobby Roode? Strike that, and just replace the words “The Paparazzi” where Roode’s name used to be.

    Winners: The Nash-holes (Heels 2, Faces 0)

    Scott Slimmer: Oh how I loathe wacky mismatched tag teams like Hoyt and Killings. Sure, they’ve been teaming for a while now, but to me they’ll always seem like a cross between Crockett & Tubbs and Felix & Oscar. On the other hand, Starr and Shelley seem to mesh well both in the ring and out of it. Oh, and you should never, and I mean NEVER, underestimate the power of having a truckload of Big Sexy in your corner. That, my friends, is some powerful mojo right there. Look for Starr and Shelley to pick up the win.

    Winners: Austin Starr and Alex Shelley w/ Kevin Nash

    ARI: Kevin Nash is no Judge Wapner. Or Judge Judy.

    Winner: Starr and Shelley

    Steve Cook: Russo insists that both Killings & Hoyt will be pushed. Unfortunately.

    Winners: Killings & Hoyt

    Jeff Small: Starr and Shelley would make an excellent full-time team but it’s just not meant to be. While the team of Hoyt and Killings has jobber written all over it, I expect them to get the win via heel miscommunication. Afterwards, LAX gets to squash Killings and Hoyt like the jobbers that they are.

    Winners: Hoyt and Killings

    JT: Paparazzi Inc. has no problem getting TV time. Ron Killings, not so much. Only as we’ve learned, Russo is apparently very high on him. So, while the main focus of this seems to be to further the whole AS/AS/KN thing, the background story here is getting Killings someone to feud with in order to get some more TV time; something I am most definitely all for. That requires a loss here so that he and Hoyt and head towards a match up.

    WINNER: Kevin Nash (ZING!)

    Larry Csonka: This match should actually be a lot of fun. Shelley and Starr rock, that is given and Killings can hang with anyone. Add in a legit big dude doing some cool X-Style spots and this should be a damn fine little tag match here. I say Starr steals the win after Shelley does all the work, to further their dissention.

    Winner: Austin Starr and Alex Shelley


    The Voodoo Kin Mafia (Kip and BG James) vs. The New Movement (Kazarian, Bentley and Devine)

    Ron Gamble – Three on two? And the two have a brand new name mocking the competing company? *SNIFF SNIFF* I smell Vinny Ru’s handiwork.

    WINNERS – Voodoo Chili lives!

    Sat: Seems to be that TNA is more interested in VKM than Kazarian, Bentley and Devine, so they will be the winners.

    Winner: The Voodoo Kin Mafia

    Bayani Domingo: I hope this is a “Kiss My Ass” match as VKM LOVES man ass love. I assume that TNA wouldn’t kill off the rumored “New Flock” out of the gate, but if they are pushing VKM then they can’t lose either. This is why I like and hate Russo booking. At least everyone gets some kind of a push and storyline, but then you run into so many non-finishes, DQ’s and screwy endings because “no one can take a clean loss and stay over”. Whatevs dude…more Russo booking will lead to…

    Winner: VKM winning per DQ, Raven leads his Flock

    Michael Weyer: Is this really the best they can do? I mean, the James Gang was already a good name but now they’re messing them up just to get a cheap shot at WWE. Ah, well, hell with it.

    Winner: VKM (can’t believe I’m writing that)

    Meehan: Though I’m normally the king of positive spin, I simply refuse to be entertained by any combination or gimmick involving the erstwhile “James Gang” going back to playing the roles of Billy Gunn and The Road Dogg in the year 2006. One dX rehash is enough.

    Winners: VKM, and whatever football game happens to be on at the same time. (Heels 2, Faces 0, Hack-nobody has beens 1)

    Scott Slimmer: Dude, seriously, you’re telling me that nobody in TNA could come up with a better play on VKM than “Voodoo Kin Mafia?” What the hell were the losing choices? Anyway, the only way for VKM to continue their little holy war against, um, the other VKM is for them to pick up the win here. Unless, of course, TNA has signed Vader, in which case I guarantee this match ends with Kazarian, Bentley, and Devine shoving VKM’s faces up Vader’s ass. But let’s just hope that little slice of the Apocalypse doesn’t actually come to pass.

    Winners: The Voodoo Kin Mafia

    ARI: Old and busted is beating new hotness because they’re in with the bookerman.

    Winner: Voodoo Kin Mafia

    Steve Cook: Has Raven officially become Bentley & Kaz’s leader yet? If not, they lose.

    Winners: VKM (hahahahahahahahaha)

    Jeff Small: See why would you debut two new “squads” against each other? Expect VKM to win just so they can unleash war against the WWE. Or something like that.

    Winners: Vincent Kennedy McMahon

    JT: I’m with Meehan here. Fuck positive. He already covered VKM, and I’ll join him on the other side. All I have to say about Kazarian, Bentley and Devine is… what … in … the … FUCK. Seriously. I haven’t seen Raven’s involvement in this yet, but if I do, and my feelings stay the same, then I give you the following mission: If I EVER give those guys HH love, by all means, find this column, copy and paste these words, send them to me, and call me a lying asshole. I may have found my Boogeyman of TNA. Time (and Raven) will tell on that one.

    WINNERS: The James Gang

    Larry Csonka: Jesus they really are DX-lite, handicap matches against a new faction that COULD be pretty good. Russo-FN-riffic!

    Winner: The Voodoo Kin Mafia


    The Naturals w/Shane Douglas vs. Sonjay Dutt and Jay Lethal

    Ron Gamble – I like Dutt and Lethal, but… NEXT.

    WINNERS: Naturally Evil

    Sat: The Naturals are the team that they have been working on, so they definitely win

    Winner: The Naturals

    Bayani Domingo: Damn, as a throw in, this match could be very good, **** potential. But knowing they’ll only get about 5 to 7 minutes tops for this, it looks more like a **1/2. SonJay Lethal Dutt has some legs as a tag team, but clearly the Naturals are gaining the kind of heelish momentum they’ve lacked since they lost their feud with America’s Most White Trash. Son/Jay can take the loss here as they seem to be going nowhere themselves.

    Winner: The FraNaturals.

    Michael Weyer: The Naturals’ push took a hit when Russo took over but they can still pull out the stops and while Dutt and Lethal are good, I think they’ll come up short.

    Winner: The Naturals

    Meehan: Holy crap. Remember when I said that “maybe Sonjay” might be free for job duty to Bobby Roode? Again, strike that… add Lethal to the mix, and replace “Roode” with “The Naturals.” Man, this under card is powerful weak, Tom.

    WINNERS: The Naturals (We’ll call that three wins for the heels of the night so far)

    Scott Slimmer: Remember what I said about loathing mismatched tag teams like Hoyt and Killings? Well the same thing goes for Dutt and Lethal. Granted, they mesh much better than Hoyt and Killings, but I still see them both primarily as singles competitors. What exactly is their bond as a tag team? The fact that they both have a better tan than Roddy Piper? The Naturals need to be booked strong so that they can one day feud with the eventual winners of the LAX / AMW feud. Dutt and Lethal, on the other hand, need to be booked weak so that it makes sense when they’re forced to return to the X-Division and once again lay down for the champion of the moment. It’s a Circle of Life kind of thing.

    Winners: The Naturals w/ Shane Douglas

    ARI: Very random.

    Winner: The Naturals

    Steve Cook: Well, I like Lethal. The rest of these guys can kiss my black ass.

    Winners: They call them the Naturals, natural as can be.

    Jeff Small: Lethal was just squashed like a bug on Impact. Dutt hasn’t done anything of note in a long, long time. Their opponents, the Naturals, just finished putting the beat down on Team 3D. The Naturals should pick up a fairly quick win before Team 3D returns to chase them away.

    Winners: The Naturals

    JT: Shane chipped and chipped and chipped, but you know what, he really SNAPPED at Bound For Glory. Since things have gotten physical between coach and player, the Naturals may have hit their stride. Even if they haven’t, Dutt and Lethal aren’t going over here. Peaks and valleys… or something. This will be a minor peak on the way up for Team *in certainly overly used joke and best Ivan Drago voice* “WIN OR I WILL BREAK YOU!”.

    WINNER: The Naturals

    Larry Csonka: I saw a match between these guys on one of the UWF/TNA shows, and it was a good match. This should also be a damn fine little midcard match, and I could see 3D getting involved. I actually like them being off the card, as it shows they are selling the injuries. The Naturals should win.

    Winner: The Naturals


    AJ Styles vs. Christian Cage

    Ron Gamble – Hmmmm, I don’t see Rhaeiouyno anywhere on the card. I wonder if he’ll have anything to do with the end of this match. Hmmmmm…

    WINNER – Mr. TNA himself

    Sat: This one could go either way, but I see Christian Cage winning here. Also expect some outside interference.

    Winner: Christian Cage

    Bayani Domingo: I wish they was better built as this could be a great match and feud. Clearly Rhyno gets involved at some point since he’s not even on the card. I think this is just TNA giving us a good match for the sake of a good match, no build, no logic. Either way you’ve got TNA’s perpetual baby face vs. the next big Heel. Take this for what it is, as a stand-alone match, and this should be ****…until the Rhyno-ference.

    Winner: The Phenomenal One…

    Michael Weyer: Now this I’m looking forward to. I just wish TNA had been smart to build up to it better but it should still be a very good match to showcase both men’s strengths. AJ could use a win after the X title loss but they seem to be building to Christian in the main event scene again so he’ll probably pull it out.

    Winner: Christian Cage

    Meehan: I for one was a HUGE fan of Thursday night’s cage match, and I thought that both the competitors AND the announcing team did a fine job of making both guys look like winners regardless of who won. But with Rhino still left without a program in the near future, I can’t help but fear that he’s gonna’ make his presence felt in this one just to keep Christian’s win streak alive and to give him something to do. Smells like a Russo-Rhino-run-in!

    Winner: Christian Cage via dq (and the heels keep rolling)

    Scott Slimmer: It would be just way too easy to predict that Rhino will run in and cost Cage the match in order to continue their feud, and contrary to what I said on my EHarmony survey, “easy” isn’t really my style. How much more interesting would it be to have Rhino run in and accidentally aid Cage defeating Styles? Rhino runs down to the ring, sets his sights on Cage, and goes for the gore, but Cage slides out of the way. Rhino’s momentum carries him forward and he inadvertently gores Styles. Cage pins Styles while Rhino looks on in disbelief. That could easily set up a three-way match between Styles, Cage, and Rhino at the next pay-per-view. As Colonel John “Hannibal” Smith used to say, I love it when a plan comes together.

    Winner: Christian Cage

    ARI: Two week build to a match that could be marquee for any other PPV besides this one. Should still rock.

    Winner: AJ Styles (Rhino interference)

    Steve Cook: Is Christian actually undefeated? If so, it’d be a nice way to get AJ over even more by having him beat the Captain. Won’t hurt Christian any.

    Winner: AJ Styles

    Jeff Small: Sucks that this match has no buildup at all. Russo’s quite the mark for Styles so I expect him to use a surprise rollup to defeat the cocky Cage. Should be quite the match to boot.

    Winner: AJ Styles

    JT: You know, all logic points at AJ winning considering how high on Russo’s list he is. But you know, I’m going to do what any kid does when caught with their hand in the cookie jar: attempt to justify. They are trying to build Christian as the top heel, and what’s one of the tactics used do so? Getting the W when you shouldn’t. Now, by no means do I think Christian will get the clean win. However, if someone interferes and attacks someone, the ref tends to take the side of the person being attacked (as if Rhino would REALLY be out there to help Styles). Thus:

    WINNER: Christian by DQ

    Larry Csonka: This is where we get into the big matches for the show. This has been a match I have wanted to see, and with Cage on a roll as a heel and AJ being AJ, I think we will get a DAMN good match here. Cage debuted last year at Genesis and has been undefeated, and I don’t think that AJ will be the guy to do it here. I still think that Rhino will be that guy down the line for the big revenge match. Should rock though.

    Winner: Christian Cage


    TNA X-TITLE MATCH: Christopher Daniels © vs. Chris Sabin

    Ron Gamble – I watched Pitt/West Virginia Thursday night (and Pitt was ROBBED!), so I haven’t seen the show yet. Thanks for ruining one match for me! As for this match, if Daniels is the champion who just won the belt Thursday night (wink, wink), he’s not going to lose it on Sunday.

    WINNER – Angel Boy

    Sat: I think that Russo believes that title changes create interest, so expect another title change.

    Winner: Chris Sabin

    Bayani Domingo: Bitter, cocky heel Sabin rules. This could be a really great match and probably will be. Luckily I’ll see both these guys this weekend as they’re both booked on PWG’s All-Star Weekend as half the X-Division *shameless plug, visit the website*. ‘Tween Daniels and Heel Sabin might just steal the show, but this merry-go-round booking for the X-Division has got to end, something tells me Sabin takes it and solidifies himself as the top X-Division heel. At this point, Daniels can take almost any X-Division loss and still remain one of the Top guys in TNA…nay…the business. Yeah, I said it…like a true Daniels mark…Don’t like it? Eat a D*ck!!

    Winner: Heel Sabin!!

    Michael Weyer: It should be a great match but unfortunately it appears Russo has gone back to his “multiple changes mean interest” in title matches mentality. So look for the X Division to take another hit with its third title change in a month.

    Winner and NEW X Division Champion: Hail Sabin!

    Meehan: Sabin needs the win here to keep his heel turn strong, and MeeThinks Daniels was merely given the strap as a transition champion so as to protect the X Division poster boy AJ Styles from jobbing cleanly so fresh into Russo’s booking run. That means – Sabin gets the win, Styles gets the rematch that should have gone to Daniels. Style eventually wins the belt back from Sabin, and Daniels turns on Styles in a jealous rage by — say — March.

    Winner: Chris Sabin (make that five heel victories for the night)

    Scott Slimmer: I hope somebody buys Genesis after having bought Bound for Glory and then somehow missing all of the subsequent episodes of Impact. How bizarre it would be to see Chris Sabin challenging for the X-Division Championship after having won that same championship only a month earlier. My friends, this little business we love so dearly truly is a strange beast. Anyway, Sabin would end up looking pretty darn worthless if he were to lose this match after losing the belt to AJ Styles mere weeks ago, and having Sabin look worthless isn’t something that TNA can afford to let happen at this point. Styles and Daniels can’t carry the X-Division forever, so somebody needs to step up and become the new face of the X-Division. Winning the title at two consecutive pay-per-views would be a great way for Sabin to begin that process, so look for him to pick up the win in this match.

    Winner: Chris Sabin

    ARI: The hot potato of TNA is this title. I wouldn’t put it past Russo for another switch. Still, I stick with Daniels.

    Winner: Christopher Daniels

    Steve Cook: Daniels owns everything. If he loses to Sabin here, I will riot. Though…whoever said there’s no way Daniels loses because he just won the belt on Thursday…um, Sabin lost the title two days after he won it. AND IT’S RUSSO!

    Winner: Christopher Daniels

    Jeff Small: So why did Sabin lose the X-Title a couple weeks ago? Oh yeah, Russo’s booking this show.

    Winner: Christopher Daniels

    JT: Everyone has covered it. Russo seems to be on a title shift every 18 hours kick, so…

    WINNER: And NEW X Division Champion, Chris Sabin (plus, he got kind of shafted with the one week thing so at least now we know it was the start of this current trend)

    Larry Csonka: This match should also be damn good. Unfortunately I think they play hot potato with the title again and try to rebuild the heel Sabin character, which they could have been doing if he never lost the title, but a moot point.

    Winner: Chris Sabin


    NWA TAG TITLE MATCH: LAX © w/Konnan vs. AMW w/Gail Kim

    Ron Gamble – LAX is taking the “We Hate America” angle to new heights, or depths, or widths, as the case may be. Even though AMW is the “reset button” on the tag titles, there’s no need for a reset here.

    WINNERS: The Workers Struggle Has No Borders

    Sat: LAX is the hottest tag team in TNA and they will win this match due to some help from a new member…

    Winner: LAX

    Bayani Domingo: This is the beginning of the next best feud LAX has available and turns AMW ‘Tweener enough to allow for a future full on face turn. This is a guaranteed ***1/2 match at the least. Konnan has been perfect in his role thus far and more Gail Kim on my TV is all kinds of spanktastically goodness. If done right this feud could put LAX over as the single biggest Tag Team in the business. Sorry, but with the KoW dissolving, the throne needs some warming right?

    Michael Weyer: Another wild battle that’ll go all over the place and show how LAX can really handle the bigger teams. Given the fact AMW had such a long reign as tag champs earlier in the year, I don’t see them winning except by DQ but I expect LAX’s cheating to turn the tide.

    Winner and still NWA Tag Team Champions: LAX

    Meehan: Love ’em or hate ’em, LAX is probably the hottest tag team in TNA history (yup, that includes The PhenomenAngels) – and I see no reason why the U.S. good guys (since WHEN?) should get the win back here. In short – look for an LAX victory, thus bringing the heel success rate to a whopping 6 out of 7 — just to make both main event “good over evil” outcomes all the more meaningful. After all, Russo’s a religious type in love with the notion of repentance and good taking a beating only to emerge from all the bad and triumph in the end. What better way to make the main event faces’ victories all the more dramatic than to have them be the sole “true” good guy winners of the night?

    Winners: The Token Foreign Heel Stable, err… LAX.

    Scott Slimmer: LAX is hot right now, and that’s really all you need to know about this match. Why screw that up by having them drop the titles? AMW’s time away from the belts has helped to begin to freshen up their act, but I think it’s still too soon to put them back at the top of the mountain. Heck, having AMW chase LAX’s titles for a few months would be a fun twist on the countless number of times we saw other teams chase AMW’s titles for months on end. AMW may eventually win the titles at the conclusion of this feud, but that certainly isn’t going to happen in this match.

    Winners: LAX w/ Konnan

    ARI: Too early to snuff the heat of LAX and too early in the baby face of run of AMW for a title switch. Much bleeding to occur.

    Winner: LAX

    Steve Cook: Picking against AMW is often a foolish move, but LAX are still fucking awesome even if they’re trying to burn American flags. Beating the crap out of Petey Williams makes up for that in my book.

    Winners: LAX

    Jeff Small: Will someone really burn a flag? Unless a burning flag on a pole rematch is in the wings, LAX should pick up the win and move onto better things.

    Winners: LAX

    JT: Well, I guess one week builds have to start somewhere! The AMW face turn is only in the early stages, so LAX needs a victory here to help that out and keep it going. In the cheap plug dept., find out why in Hidden Highlights Sunday!

    WINNER: And STILL Tag Team Champions, LAX

    Larry Csonka: I am looking forward to this match. LAX is a hot act right now, and I think they retain to keep stability in the division. I could see AMW on the cusp of winning, only for LAX’s new member Senshi to arrive and ghetto stomp some redneck trash. With Senshi in, Konnan could take some time off to work with AAA and Homicide could get a chance to shine on the mic. Also, Petey could get involved, I won’t rule that out. Canada’s Most Wanted.

    Winner: LAX


    CLASH OF THE TITANS: Samoa Joe vs. Kurt Angle

    Ron Gamble – Here it is. The match people have been waiting for since Kurt Angle officially joined TNA. The Samoan Submission Machine vs. The Olympic Champion. And I have to pick a winner?

    WINNER: Joe… no, Kurt… no, JoKur!

    Sat: I could also see this match going either way, but Kurt Angle wins this match to end Samoa Joe’s streak. Expect a great match.

    Winner: Kurt Angle

    Bayani Domingo: So for the first time EVER, I’m buying back-to-back PPVs. I have about 4 or 6 buddies all-willing to chip in to watch Genesis just for this match. Looking at this card however, there are chances this won’t even be the MOTN. Which is a good thing, because I want a “Good” Joe/Angle match, then a “Great” match the next PPV, then a “Fan-f*ckin-Tastic” one in two months. This won’t be the end all be all to the feud because this is just the beginning but it will be good. And it will foreshadow what could be the biggest true passing of the torch we’ve seen since Stone Cold/Bret Hart.

    Winner: Out on a Russo-esque limb….No Contest.

    Michael Weyer: THIS is the money match that will no doubt be responsible for most of the show’s buys. I still say TNA should be waiting a bit longer but it should be a classic. Picking a winner is almost impossible. Joe has the streak but Angle has the big spotlight. I think they might go for a double-DQ or count out or even time limit draw to set up another battle later.

    Winner: No contest (although the fans will be the real winners)

    Meehan: For Mee, the outcome of this bout is a no-brainer. Joe is a “lost soul” in Russo-booking 101, and his deviance from the straight and narrow path (as evidenced by his unholy alliance with Abyss) means that he’s due for a good-over-evil comeuppance in short order. Couple that with the fact that Angle gets instant TNA-specific cred as being the guy who FINALLY broke Joe’s unbeaten streak, and you’re staring at a pretty strong case to give Kurt the win in this one. That fact not withstanding, however, the match should be incredible and I’m very much looking forward to it.

    Winner: Kurt Angle (as good FINALLY triumphs over a PPV of so much evil, so all is right with the Russo world)

    Scott Slimmer: So, how do you book a match between your current unbeaten wrestling machine and your new, debuting wrestling machine? I had no idea how I was going to pick a winner in this match, and yet something about this situation seemed somehow… familiar. And then it hit me. Kurt Angle went on his own little undefeated streak when he debuted in the WWF back in 1999. Granted, Angle’s streak was nowhere near as impressive as Joe’s, but it still got a lot of hype (mostly from Angle himself). Everyone wondered who would finally be able to dethrone this wrestling machine. Austin? The Rock? Triple H? Nope. The WWF signed a second wrestling machine, and Tazz defeated Kurt Angle in his debut match at Royal Rumble 2000. Granted, Tazz was nowhere near as impressive then as Angle is now, but he still got a lot of hype. So there you have it. The precedent has been set. The only was to defeat an unbeaten wresting machine is with a new wrestling machine. And hey, in the end, this is the best possible way for Joe’s unbeaten streak to finally come to an end. We’d never really look at Joe the same way again if he fell to somebody like Sting or Jarrett or Abyss. But Angle? There’s no shame is losing to a freaking Olympic Hero.

    Winner: Kurt Angle

    ARI: Dream match I’ve been waiting years for. Now it’s reality–for better of for worse, it’s damn real.

    Winner: Draw (if there is a time limit) Barring that, Samoa Joe

    Steve Cook: You know, this one really could go either way. But I’m thinking Angle wins it, because when you really think about it…who could possibly be more qualified to end Joe’s winning streak? Anybody else would be a complete letdown.

    Winner: Kurt Angle

    Jeff Small: Tough match to predict, but I’m going with Mr. Joe. The dude’s related to Umaga somehow so he ain’t gonna take no shit from an Olympic Gold Medallist.

    Winner: Samoa Joe

    JT: They need to be very careful here. Nobody remembers Angle vs. HBK part II. They remember their match at WM because it was their best. I understand the circumstances of performing at WM, but the good thing is that is not the case here. No need to blow the load. Give us a taste, next time give us a few bites, and top it all off by giving us the whole plate. That being said, I honestly have no idea. Undefeated vs. Biggest acquisition ever needing a win. I don’t even want to call it. I don’t even want to guess.

    WINNER: Larry’s live coverage will tell you at 11 p.m. on Sunday.

    Larry Csonka: This should rock all kinds of ass. I will say (and said on NOVEMBER 3RD) that the match ends in a ref stoppage due to Joe bleeding too much. He will have Angle in the clutch, he’ll be fading, and the ref will check on Joe, then Angle and then ring the bell. The place will explode, until JB says, “Your winner, due to referee stoppage…KURT ANGLE!” It was set up with the head butt and Joe bleeding, as well as Angle’s remarks that he didn’t know that, “Joe was a bleeder” on Impact. That’s what I see anyway, I could and have been wrong before but I think that is how it will go down.

    Winner: Kurt Angle


    NWA TITLE MATCH: Sting © vs. Abyss w/James Mitchell

    Ron Gamble – Abyss has taken on the Undertaker role in TNA, as being the first guy to get a pay-per-view title shot against the new champion. And, just like Undertaker, he can’t win.

    WINNER: A Man Called Steve just doesn’t have the same ring to it…

    Sat: There’s no way that Abyss is winning the title, so expect Sting to retain.

    Winner: Sting

    Bayani Domingo: This was smarkish booking. No one believes Abyss is gonna win, so him losing to Angle was no big deal in the bookers mind. Still, Abyss looks weak going into this. To be honest, I think it’ll be okay because my guess is this goes on between the Tag Match or X-Division Title match and Joe vs. Angle, which HAS to be the main event. Probably a good little match, nothing special, but at this point Sting is a transitional champ, there is nothing wrong with that, but still, they are simply keeping the belt warm for Angle, Joe, or Christian. None of which are bad choices. Add in Rhyno and between these 6 men, this is arguably the best Heavyweight Title scene in ‘televised’ wrestling. No…any main event scene involving K-Fed or Test doesn’t count.

    Winner: Stinger.

    Michael Weyer: I’d like to think it’s time they finally gave a push to Abyss as champ but I doubt it’s going to happen. It’ll be tough having to follow Angle-Joe but hopefully they can mesh well.

    Winner and still NWA World Champion: Sting

    Meehan: Abyss – THE very embodiment of “Jobber to the PPV Stars.” Go back and check the guy’s title shot win-loss record… it just doesn’t stack up. Booker T wins a WCW title in his first shot at it, Benoit does the same in WCW (and falls JUUUUST short in WWF), and – heck – even Batista and Cena score a one-push title victory for their efforts. Abyss? Not so much… and I honestly can’t see him faring any better on this go-round.

    WINNER: Sting (and Russo can sleep at night because good beats evil to close out the show)

    Scott Slimmer: Ron said that Abyss has taken on the Undertaker role in TNA, but I’ve always seen him much more on par with Kane. He’s a monster, he’s over, and neither winning nor losing any number of matches is ever really going to significantly change that. One consequence of this is that winning the title does Abyss absolutely no good. It’s not like he’s going to look like more of a monster just because he’s got a bright, shiny new belt around his waist. Abyss is just one of those guys who is above needing a title. Although, now that I think about it, Kevin Nash once said almost exactly the same thing about the Undertaker, so maybe Ron was right all along… Anyway, look for Sting to retain the title here and then drop it somewhere down the line to either Kurt Angle or Samoa Joe.

    Winner: Sting

    ARI: Abyss is the main event jobber to the stars (edit after the fact–I didn’t even read Meehan’s comments until after I posted mine). Sting is Sting. This will be decent enough so long as it is not the last match. If it’s on last, there will be no crowd pop left because Joe v. Angle will have taken it all.

    Winner: Sting

    Steve Cook: Abyss has done my boys at the NWF proud over the years, and Mitchell’s always one to keep an eye on, but I think the Stinger’s still got some gas left in the tank.

    Winner: Sting

    Jeff Small: This match is DOA thanks to Sting disappearing for weeks and Abyss jobbing to Kurt Angle on Impact. Bring on Sting/Cage!!!

    Winner: Sting

    JT: There is no need to dissect this. We all know where it’s going.

    WINNER: And STILL NWA Champion, Sting

    Larry Csonka The scary thing is that I think I am understanding Russo-Riffic booking. Look, they had Angle face Abyss on a UWF/TNA house show and then they have them do the match on Impact with Angle winning. We also haven’t heard if Sting has renewed his contract. I say that they use this to have Sting give the “rub” to Abyss and he wins the title. And then if you use my above angle for the Joe vs. Angle match, Angle is the #1 contender because he beat Abyss. Then they can have Angle beat Abyss for the title, run an angle to keep Angle and Joe apart for a few months, build another match with the stip it has to be by pin or submission to win and I think that could be money. If not, then they just wasted Abyss, again and nothing makes any bit of sense.

    Winner: Abyss

    Make sure to join 411 this Sunday evening at 7:30pm for our LIVE play by play coverage of the show.

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