411’s PPV Round Table Preview: TNA Victory Road (2007)

INTRODUCTION:
As amazing as it seems there are only two wrestling PPV’s this month! That’s right kids, and to kick off the July PPV’s first up is TNA’s offering, Victory Road! We have the Match of Champions main eventing the show, former tag team stand outs Harris and Storm try to find their way in the singles world and the death defying Ultimate X Match returns for this show! There is a lot to discuss and as always I have gotten the band back together to discuss the show, so let’s meet them and break this bad boy down!

THE STAFF:
No, he really isn’t Raven, he’s just Scotty Flamingo!

The man, myth and legend of 411 Ron Gamble!

The reigning Rant Wars champion Bayani Domingo!

Destiny’s Matt Adamson!

ECW reporter Michael Bauer!

From the High Road, Sat!

Shining a Spotlight’s Michael Weyer!

The custom made man, Ryan Byers!

Coming off of his latest Fact or Fiction appearance, JT~!

Finally, it’s me, Larry Csonka!

TNA VICTORY ROAD 2007~!: size=36>

#1 CONTENDER’S 10-MAN ULTIMATE-X GAUTLET MATCH

(EXPECTED PARTICIPANTS: KAZ, SONJAY DUTT, BLACK MACHISMO, HOMICIDE, ELIX SKIPPER, PUMA, SHARK BOY, CHRISTOPHER DANIELS, SENSHI, PETEY WILLIAMS)

Scotty Flamingo: This is sure to be red hot. I only worry that 10 men will be a bit too much and make things sloppy. This is where the whole Joe as X-Champion bites TNA in the ass. I just can’t see Joe losing to anyone in the X-Division right now. Anyway, I think they’ll go with the only guy they’ve done anything with lately.

Winner: Black Machismo Jay Lethal

Ron Gamble – When it comes to any kind of “X Division Free-for-All,” I always have one pick that I go to over and over again. He’s always lost, but why should I let that stop me?

Winner: Shark Boy

Bayani Domingo: Wouldn’t it be a total mind f*ck to have RVD just show up out of nowhere and steal the win here? Actually I think the bigger mind f*ck to have it be Konnan dressed as Max Moon to complete the biggest swerve in TNA history. Eh, I’ll just go with Senshi instead, him against Joe for the X-title hasn’t happened yet so why not?

Winner: Senshi, via Sen-shinanigans.

Matt Adamson: This is one of those matches that gets the crowd going but really doesn’t do much else besides decide a potential #1 contender. I’d like to see Daniels win it. If he doesn’t, I don’t exactly understand why because he is a league better than anybody else in the match besides Senshi. I don’t see any reason why either of them wouldn’t win it. I guess I’ll go with my preference.

Winner: Michael Stipe… I mean, Christopher Daniels.

Michael Bauer: I don’t have a ton of time to delve into this, but let’s just say it’s the one person who could get the belt off Joe and sustain a long enough feud to push off Angle vs. Joe.

Winner: Christopher Daniels

Sat: This is going to one hell of match because the ring is going to be full. I think the winner is pretty easy to pick because he deserves to win after losing the title only days after winning the title. The only other guy that I could see winning this match is Christopher Daniels.

Winner: Jay Lethal

Michael Weyer: I expect maybe a new face in there of that mix. Gauntlets are usually fun and it’s a good showcase for the talent I wish would get more TV time. For the winner, Jay is still pretty big so he could go over here. But Daniels’ new attitude has been rising too so they may decide to have him win and be the big man in the X Division again. Maybe Nash can do his commentary, which is surprisingly funny. However…

WINNER: The Fallen Angel

Ryan Byers: Wait a second, they’re bringing back Puma? Awesome! As far as the rest of the match is concerned, it’s probably going to be a mess. However, if you look at the lineup, I think that the winner is pretty easy to spot. Homicide and Daniels are generally not X Division competitors at this point in their careers, so they’re out of the running. After you’ve eliminated them and look at the rest of the list, one guy sticks out as having received the most TV time and most wins since the last pay per view: Kazarian. He may seem like a bit of an underdog on paper, but I think the company is high on him and ready to pull the trigger. It’d be a well deserved push, too, as he’s a long-time member of the roster and a solid performer that the company hasn’t truly capitalized on in the last several years.

Winner: Frankie Kazarian

JT: What is the reason behind this match? Does the winner become #1 contender to the X-Division title, or is this just a filler? I suspect either way this may open the show, and has the people to make it a hot opener. Senshi seems to have lost some of his initial steam so I’ll go with him to maybe lead to some Kenshi/Machismo stuff.

WINNER: Senshi

Larry Csonka: Well let’s break things down. Sharky won’t win because he is there to be the lovable job guy that everyone knows. PUMA won’t win because he is the guy to bring in to make it look like they are bringing in International talent. Petey is there as the former X Champ and Ultimate X veteran that could believably win. Homicide is the tag guy that fits in perfectly. He will play the emotion of the crowd and is believable to win, but won’t. Elix is the returning hero for TNA fans. They love him and will expect a big spot from him. The crowd will love him, but he won’t win. Daniels is too been there and done that, and I think they have more for him, possibly XXX rated. Now we get down to the final four so to speak that have the best chance to win. Sonjay won’t win, as I think they have something else planned. Senshi has been rumored to be getting more of a push, but I think that this lies in the XXX reunion. That leaves it at Machismo and KAZ. Machismo has a great chance as the former champ that had a very short run and has past history with Joe in ROH. KAZ is the real wildcard and I think could pull it out. A former X champ and man that has competed in the Ultimate X, him winning would be unexpected and deserving. He has the natural feud with Serotonin members if he would go on to win the title and can work with anyone in the division. I will agree with my good colleague Mr. Byers and go with him.

Winner: KAZ

JERRY LYNN AND BOB BACKLUND vs. THE MURDER CITY MACHINE GUNS (ALEX SHELLEY AND CHRIS SABIN)

Ron Gamble – Being an old fart, I know who I want to win, and I will be rooting them on, even if there is no way they will win. Do you see a trend here?

Winners: Mr. Backlund and Mr. Lynn

Bayani Domingo: Ugh. This better be the blow off to the Backlund/MCMG feud. If they let the old guys go over here then I’m absolutely baffled with why TNA even bothers letting fans in the building that actually…I dunno, SHIT all over silly angles. NO, not Kurt. Maybe Eric though.

Winner: MCMG’s, via the collective will of the IWC

Matt Adamson: The Old School vs. New School debate was one of the funniest things I have seen in a while. When Shelley called Backlund something to the effect of “one of the ugliest gingers”, I just about lost my dinner laughing. That makes me excited about this match because Shelley is awesome. I think he and Sabin have the advantage here and I’d like for the both to get a rub from beating these two old timers.

Winners: Sabin & Shelley

Michael Bauer: Oh please fucking shoot me!

Winners: Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin

Sat: If the Murder City Machine Guns are going to be a credible tag team, then they need to win this match.

Winner: Murder City Machine Guns

Michael Weyer: Okay, give it to Shelly and Sabin for a pretty cool tag team name. The rest of this is pretty lousy with a bad setup and we can hope it ends the Backlund/Shelly angle once and for all. For the winners, I don’t see them giving Shelly and Sabin a new name only for them to lose.

WINNER: MCMG (hey, that’s catchy)

Ryan Byers: There hasn’t been much of a build up to this one, so it’s almost impossible to figure out where they’re going in terms of victors. However, as a default rule, you’ve got to go with the team featuring a sixty-year-old man losing.

Winners: The Murder City Machine Guns

JT: Lynn always seems to find himself on random PPVs. Lynn always seems to lose. Let’s combine those two sentences shall we? Lynn always seems to lose on random PPVs.

WINNER: Shelley/Sabin

Larry Csonka: As I said after the last PPV, this is the natural culmination of the feuds ad the way to get the MCMG off and running. Lynn and Backlund found victory last month and that gives them the momentum going into things. Sabin and Shelley have SUCH potential to make the TNA tag scene hot again and them winning here could be the first step in making this so. The match will have some good comedy and work and should be good stuff.

Winners: The Murder City Machine Guns

ERIC YOUNG & GAIL KIM vs. ROBERT ROODE & MS. BROOKS

Scotty Flamingo: Gail Kim is one of the most underrated workers in TNA right now. She always works hard and makes you care about her angles. Roode is coming into his own as a solid midcard heel, and the crowd is always into Young. This will be solid with good work from all four. Young has his freedom, so it is time to move Roode up the card.

Winner: Roode & Brooks

Ron Gamble – Has any feud gotten older quicker than this one? I’m ready for Young and Roode to move on already.

Winners: Robert Roode and his floatation device

Bayani Domingo: Eric gets all the hot ass in TNA. Seriously, I gotta just kick it with him and hope for the leftovers. Roode main evented Impact! this week while EY was nowhere to be found. Looms heavy over this match doesn’t it? Or not, there is no logic in TNA’s booking anymore.

Winner: Eric Young and Gail Kim

Matt Adamson: This feud should have ended last month, but alas, here were are having yet another mixed tag (TNA must have the record for mixed tags to Pay Per Views ratio). This one seems like it’ll finish the job, and Young will win.

Winners: Young & Kim

Michael Bauer: See my response to the above match.

Winners: Robert Roode and Ms. Brooks

Sat: I really wish that this feud would end, but it just keeps going and going. I don’t see Eric Young and Robert Roode factoring into the win or loss, so I see Ms. Brooks pinning Gail Kim

Winner: Robert Roode and Ms. Brooks

Michael Weyer: Sigh…I knew this was coming eventually despite my hopes. Frankly, the Young/Roode thing should have been done a while ago. But Gail is more than ready to show her stuff in the ring so hopefully this sends both sides to more productive angles.

WINNER: Eric and Gail

Ryan Byers: This feud should’ve ended after the last pay per view, quite frankly. I guess when you’re too busy trying to pay lip service to every WWE wrestler who defects to your promotion you don’t have all that much room for elevating home grown talent, though. It’s unfortunate, because that kind of mentality is keeping talented, over guys like Young and Roode stuck in wrestling purgatory while TNA treats Tomko like he’s Randy Savage. Frankly, the winner here isn’t going to mean anything long term, but I’ve got to go with the face team since a.) that lessens the chances of the feud continuing even further and b.) it seems like TNA is pushing Gail Kim to the moon.

Winners: The Can-rean Connection

JT: Roode has been a lot less stale lately, but Eric Young is on fire with the crowd and Gail Kim has been one of the brightest spots on the show lately.

WINNER: Young/Kim

Larry Csonka: I have to agree with most that this is another example of TNA not quite knowing when to end a feud. Last month was the perfect place to do so and move on for both men. That being said I feel that this has potential to be a fun match as Gail, Eric and Roode have all been on lately and Brooks has been playing her role perfectly and can go in the ring when called upon.

Winners: Roode INC.

TOMKO AND AJ STYLES VS. ABYSS AND STING

Scotty Flamingo: This match was sorta thrown together after the dropped Sting feud with Daniels. However, all four guys have history, so it works for me. I’m curious to see how this will turn out as it has four guys who use totally different styles. Tomko and Abyss had a nice little hardcore brawl last month, so hopefully that will continue here. The “Eyes Without a Face” win this one with Mitchell’s new acquisition destroying both afterwards.

Winners: Stabyss

Ron Gamble – Abyss talked! That gives away the end right there!

Winners: Tomko and AJ

Bayani Domingo: Look, I’m as big of a fan of the “Christian Coalition” as anyone and I think that is one of the few angles/stables that has paid off for all of the guys involved so far. I love that Tomko/AJ now have their own personalities and all, but having them get squashed by a now vocal Abyss and mid-life crisis Stinger is insane. Luckily we’ll probably end up with a big useless schmozz at the end with Ricky Banderas showing up. I hope he has that awesome fireball/squiggly line power again.

Winner: AJ-ko, via Puerto Rican Monster special attack #7

Matt Adamson: Something about this match leaves me uninspired. I’m going to guess that Abyss and Sting are going to lose this one when Judas Masias debuts.

Winners: Tomko & Styles

Michael Bauer:Believe it or not, I actually want to see this match. As much as the angle has sucked, they did get me caring about Abyss.

Winners: Abyss and Sting

Sat: This is where Mitchell’s new monster debuts and takes out Abyss. This leaves Sting against Tomko and Styles and Tomko and Styles getting the win.

Winner: Tomko and AJ Styles

Michael Weyer: Now this…actually looks promising. Not sold on Tomko and AJ as a team but against Abyss and Sting, it could be a pretty fun mix of brawling and high-speed action. I’ll go with the general consensus that Mitchell’s new monster will interrupt and give the heels the win and set up the new program for Abyss.

WINNER: Tomko and the Phenomenal One.

Ryan Byers: The slow burn to Christian versus Abyss continues, and, as long as that match is being built up, Abyss shouldn’t be losing anything. Period. I suppose that technically Sting could take the pinfall without hurting the booking too much, but the story would be helped far more by the monster getting a fall over Tomko, leading in to a singles match with Styles next month.

Winners: Chris Park & Steve Borden

JT: I saw that it was mentioned that these guys all have history, but the only match involving two of four of them seems to be Abyss & Tomko (Yes, I know Abyss / Sting, but they aren’t opponents), so this match seems really unimportant to me. Not that it can’t be a good match though. With an hour constraint every week, TNA usually always has a match or two that there really wasn’t enough time to build for; should still be entertaining.

WINNER: Abyss/Sting

Larry Csonka: While the Sting/Abyss partnership is odd and not what I wanted, it works for what they are doing. It should be a good match with all of the gimmicks to help them out, and that’s fine. I expect Mitchell’s “son” Judas to debut and fight with Abyss, leaving Sting to get pinned and possibly him vs. AJ at the next show.

Winner: Tomko and Styles

“THE WAR MACHINE” RHINO vs. “COWBOY” JAMES STORM

Scotty Flamingo: At least there is some history this time. This is a sticky match as both guys really need a win and can’t afford to lose. I feel bad for Rhino as I feel like he’s really worked hard, was one of the first major name to jump from WWE to TNA, and basically burnt his bridges by trashing the ECW titles. Yet he’s forgotten while others that came after him like Christian and Angle are main eventing every month. Storm has put on arguably the best Impact match ever, and the awesome Texas Death match; so he deserves a push too.

Winner: I’ll go with Storm

Ron Gamble – Do you think James Storm is regretting the breakup of AMW yet? Not only did he lose that feud, he’s getting Rhino in a match built up over alcoholism, while Chris Harris gets to fight for the world title. I don’t see things changing here.

Winner: Rhino

Bayani Domingo: Why isn’t Spike Dudley in this angle? Wasn’t he supposedly an alcoholic or something a while back? At this point I’m really at a loss for why they ever broke up AMW but it’s obvious Storm here is the Jannetty/Anvil/Pillman/Daniels of the group here. Something tells me this is going to be a very “heel heavy” show in the win column so based on that I’m going against logic and letting Rhino win then something with a sore loser spitting beer in his face and this all culminates in a Beer City Bash Match was is a glorified scaffold match above a vat of beer. Damn I’m good.

Winner: Rhino, via 60-day chip.

Matt Adamson: This is one of those matches that would be nice for TV, but for PPV just seems like filler. Too bad too, because I like both of these guys. I can’t really say who will win since the point of this match isn’t known to me, so I’ll flip a coin. Tails, James Storm.

Winner: James Storm

Michael Bauer: This feud has got to live on, but that can’t happen if Rhino wins here. Cause you know, he’s gotta fight the demons.

Winner: James Storm

Sat: I am really looking forward to this match on Sunday. I think that this feud is going to get dragged out for awhile, so I’ll take James Storm to win by breaking a beer bottle over Rhino’s head

Winner: James Storm

Michael Weyer: The set-up for this was sort of out of nowhere but this could be an interesting battle. They may seem mismatched but that could actually work out well with Storm getting the initial win to push things on.

WINNER: The Cowboy.

Ryan Byers: This angle has really only just gotten off the ground, so I can’t imagine that it would be ended by a clean Rhino victory in the first encounter between the two. Besides, one of the great default rules in TNA is “When in doubt, Rhino puts the other guy over.”

Winner: James Storm

JT: Rhino is on the warpath and has been made to look like the victim who has overcome the odds, while Storm has been portrayed as a drunken idiot. That should translate into the outcome.

WINNER: Rhino

Larry Csonka: The build started well and then kind of fizzled this week with the odd Storm promo. That being said both men have been working really hard and I think the match will be another good one. Storm wins to continue the feud, although neither man should be losing right now.

Winner: James Storm

“THE INSTANT CLASSIC” CHRISTIAN CAGE vs. “WILDCAT” CHRIS HARRIS

Scotty Flamingo: I’m really looking forward to this match. I like the feud. Christian is pissed at Harris for costing him the title and wants to humiliate him Harris deserves the push and I hope he runs with it. This is an important match in determining TNA’s direction. They’ve been accused of being too obsessed with ex-WWE talent, so this is a chance to push one of their own guys.

Winner: Chris Harris

Ron Gamble – See my comments about the Rhino/Storm match, and look at the reverse side.

Winner: Chris Harris

Bayani Domingo: What do you do when you have a match where neither guy can afford to lose? Cage needs to stay strong and Harris’ push relies on him looking good in singles competition. Cage has escaped a pinfall thus far and unless they think Harris is really a future champion I doubt he’s the one that gets the pin here.

Winner: Christian, via failed Harris push #3

Matt Adamson: I think this match has the potential to be really good, but I sure would like to see Cage vs. Storm. This is another one of those matches that just doesn’t seem to fit. Neither of these guys should lose this match, so I call shenanigans for whatever reason to elongate this feud.

Winner: Nobody. Why have either of them lose… yet?

Michael Bauer: I disagree with the notion that Cage needs to win here. He won’t be near the title scene right now with Abyss still lurking around. The problem is, neither will Chris Harris, unless a win here gets him but one title shot.

Winner: Chris Harris

Sat: I really want to see Chris Harris win this match, but something tells me that Christian Cage is going to win this match.

Winner: Christian Cage

Michael Weyer: Another feud sort of spinning out of nowhere but Harris is good in the ring and a nice match for Cage. It’s a bit of a comedown for the former champ to be here but a win will keep him in the limelight for a bit, filling the hole Jarrett’s leaving behind.

WINNER: Christian Cage

Ryan Byers: TNA has booked itself in to a bit of a corner here. On one hand, you want to keep Christian strong heading in to his match with Abyss, because that’s probably the closest thing to a money contest that TNA has at this point. On the other hand, you don’t want to cut the knees out from under Harris as you attempt to turn him in to a legitimate singles star. Of the options, the latter is probably the lesser of two evils, as Harris is still relatively young in his tenure as a singles wrestler and can be saved by a couple of good follow-up feuds/matches, particularly one final go-round with James Storm.

Winner: Christian

JT: As it was mentioned, neither of these guys should lose this match. That being said, it really does appear that they are trying to establish Chris Harris as a legitimate top tier guy. Getting the rub from Christian here would certainly help that.

WINNER: Chris Harris

Larry Csonka: This is a match that I think has a good chance to not only surprise people but possibly steal the show. Cage had been on a roll as has Harris and he has a TON to prove. It will be good, Harris will get a phantom or close win only for Cage to cheat and get the real win. Harris gets the moral victory and probably a rematch where he should get the big win.

Winner: Christian Cage

THE MATCH OF CHAMPIONS: TEAM 3D © vs. KURT ANGLE © AND SAMOA JOE ©

Scotty Flamingo: WHY couldn’t this have been Angle/Joe Vs Daniels/AJ?? That match would’ve been SO much better in every way. Plus it would’ve actually been conceivable to see Daniels or AJ take the X or even World Title. Does anyone honestly believe that 3D has a chance in hell of getting the pin?? That leaves Joe or Angle. I see a couple of possibilities. One is that Angle wins and the PPV closes with him holding four belts. The other is a Russo finish where Joe pins Angle and becomes world champion. I can almost see that because then they could just reward the winner of the Ultimate X with the vacated title without having to have Joe job. However, Russo has shown some restraint lately, so I’ll go with Angle.

Winner: Kurt Angle

Ron Gamble – Knowing that Vince Russo likes to mess with things in the main event, and knowing that he likes to book twists that would make M. Night Shyamalan scratch his head, I can see only one possible ending for this match.

Winner: Samoa Joe pins Kurt Angle and wins the TNA World title

Bayani Domingo: Whacky whacky whacky. I’m going with the obvious “Double Pin” on both Dudleyz, leading to Angle/Joe holding the belts, Joe costing Angle the tag titles, Angle costing Joe the X-Title, then they fight over the TNA title at BFG where Joe wins. Eh, they could piss off the entire audience and go double DQ or count out right? Then again, Buh Buh Ray Dudley: X-Division Champion. Has a nice ring to it doesn’t it?

Winner: Jo-ngle, via double pin off Angle Slam/Muscle Buster

Matt Adamson: The only reason this match shouldn’t be a slaughter is because Angle and Joe don’t get along. They will probably come to blows at some point to allow Team 3D to look like that have a chance. You just know who’s going to win this one, because honestly, D’Von or Bubba as World or X Division champion? No way.

Winners: Joe & Angle

Michael Bauer: This is as much a foregone conclusion as this pay per view being way too over hyped.

Winners: Kurt Angle and Samoa Joe

Sat: I think that it is safe to assume that there is no chance in hell that Team 3D is going to win this match. So, it’s down to Kurt Angle and Samoa Joe. So, I see Samoa Joe winning the match and picking Kurt Angle to be his new tag team partner.

Winner: Samoa Joe

Michael Weyer: Now if TNA was smart…(waits for laughter to subside)…they would have had Styles and Daniels beat 3D for the tag belts and at least give fans the SLIGHTEST chance for one of the two big titles to change hands. Instead, there’s no way either Ray or Dvon is getting a singles belt so we get that old Russo favorite of the whacky tag champs who can’t stand each other, further hogging the limelight.

WINNER and NEW TNA WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: The Olympian and the Samoan.

Ryan Byers: As much as I want to see D-Von Dudley as the X Division Champion, I don’t think that’s actually going to happen. Instead, with TNA’s current plans involving a Joe vs. Angle title match sometime this fall, that team has to pick up the win in order to keep them strong. Of the two, I’d think that Angle has a much greater likelihood of getting the pin than Joe does, mainly because the more dominant he looks as a champion heading in to the match with Joe, the more people will get behind the big Samoan. (Assuming, of course, that Joe is also dominant in his own right.) Our Olympic gold medallist is already toting around two belts, and a third would only make him look a more menacing presence for Joe to finally unseat down the road.

Winners: Angle & Joe (Angle takes the fall)

JT: Well, neither tag champ will be X or World champ after this match, so I guess it comes down to if they either intend to book Kurt Angle or Samoa Joe as a complete beast (although I don’t see any of those guys being beaten for their x title so it really makes no sense) or if they have a sole tag team champion (everyone seems to forget that Cornette said that if a tag champ is pinned, the man that pins him gets BOTH tag team titles unless something has changed and I missed it). I’ll say the latter, with Samoa Joe adding to his titles before going after Kurt’s World Championship.

WINNER: STILL X-Division champ and NEW Tag Team Champion, Samoa Joe (and Angle by default)

Larry Csonka: I know a lot of people are down on 3D, but when the time comes they know when to bring it, and in the main event of a PPV I expect just that. This has potential to rock the house, and I am rather excited for it. As fun a thought of Ray as X Champ is, it will not happen. 3D loses and the build and drama to Angle vs. Joe moves on.

Winners: Angle and Joe

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