WWE RAW Results (05/12/08) Jim Ross welcomes us to the Joe Louis Arena as we go into the show with the lights out in the arena. The lights come back on and William Regal is in the ring...
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back; please step inside The Dog Pound. This Sunday TNA Wrestling presents to the world, their Pay-Per-View Against All Odds. Now, it's been awhile since I have done a column on TNA and that is quite simply due to the fact that I had lost interest in them for a time. As I have mentioned in the past, the way TNA handles their booking is what really turns me away. There appears to be little to no consistency and when it comes to a wrestling promotion, consistency is a must.
I don't however, want this to turn into another rant. I feel that this upcoming PPV offered by TNA has potential. It has potential to be one of their most solid of the year thus far, as long as the matches are given enough time and stories can really develop. Let the hype begin. I now present to all of you, my take on...Against All Odds.
There are a couple segments on this show that I feel are not ppv-worthy and I will get them out of the way right now. One, the Drinking Championship between James Storm and Eric Young. I like the comedy involved and I believe both men give 100% to this, but I also feel it is time to move on. I feel James Storm has the potential to be big, and now that Chris Harris is gone, it creates room for another guy to step up to the plate. Eric Young is solid in the ring, but fueds like this don't allow people to see it. TNA could have built this up for a big time segement on IMPACT not a PPV. Let Young take it and put an end to this "fued."
The other match that doesn't really do anything for me, is Traci Brooks v. Payton Banks. Not that I don't like them, I just feel there has been to little build-up between the two to deserve a spot on a ppv card. A little more time would have been great. I see Payton Banks winning her debut and the fued continuing.
Now, on to the meat of the show. It appears solid and as I said earlier has the potential to stand out. That said, one match I am looking foward too is Booker T v. Robert Roode. I believe Roode has the makings of a big-time heel in the future, and I wish TNA would see the potential he has. Having him in the ring with a veteran like Booker T is good overall. It will show that Roode can hold his own against the more experienced, and should he win, it provides Roode with some credability. That said, I however, expect Booker T to pull out the win here. To my knowledge he hasn't had a big win since joining TNA, and he needs retribution for what Roode did to Booker's wife. Should be very solid. Winner: Booker T
A Case v. Case match between Scott Steiner and Petey Williams is on the card as well. This is funny because in effect, one of the cases is for an X-division Title shot. But, what if the X division is abolished on the basis of a match later on in the PPV? Hmm? Booking? Anyway, I want to see a good match with these two. Anyone who knows me, they know I am not a fan of Steiner in the least. That said, I am a fan of Williams and would love to see him pull out the win after having to hit not one, but TWO Canadian Destroyers on Steiner! Winner: Petey Williams.
The Barbed Wire Massacre between Abyss and Judas Mesias! Expect a lot of blood. I like the way these two play off of one another, and james Mitchell has done very well at enhancing the story, but it is time for each man to move on. Abyss offers more than gimmick matches and always bleeding. He was once TNA champion, anyone remember? I say let them bleed, then call it a day! Winner: Judas Mesias
The future of the X-Division is on the line as the MCMG and Jay Lethal take on Johnny Devine and Team 3D. This is one storyline that TNA has been very good with. They have over-done it very little and have let the X-Division guys regain some of their credability. I say MCMG & Lethal pull out the win and end Team 3D once and for all. Next PPV - Lethal v. Williams v. Devine for the X-Division Title in an Ultimate X Match?
TNA has BG James cashing in his chance at the tag titles Sunday; his partner, the one and only "Bullet" Bob Armstrong. I expect a decent match here, where a couple of stories could develop. One, the tension between Styles and Tomko mounts, causing them to lose the titles. Two, the veterans James and Armstrong walk away the new champs which lead to new challengers. Like the young team of lance Hoyt and Jimmy Rave perhaps? So much potential here to use the match to develop stories, I hope TNA doesn't waste it. Winners: BG James & "Bullet" Bob Armstrong
One thing TNA does have is a very, very solid Women's Division. I like the way Awesome Kong has been built up and I like the way new challenger ODB has come across. ODB is one of the best female wrestlers I have seen in quite awhile and she knows how to get the crowd going! I say have Kong win and retain, hold off Gail Kim returning, and have ODB continue her challenge. Should be one of the top matches of the night. Winner: Awesome Kong
Then, the big one. Kurt Angle takes on Christian Cage with the TNA World Title on the line! Special enforcer Samoa Joe. My only question is, why is Joe not IN the match? This is where TNA kind of messed up. See, TNA could have built a story between Joe and Kevin nash based on what Joe said not so long ago about one Scott Hall. This could have been Nash's big full-time retur to the ring, and given Joe some more names to beat before going for the title.
I expect Angle to win, retaining the gold and setting up Angle v. Joe in the very near future. This time, it would involve the title, and this time, Joe wins it! Nash even said, Joe is money; well now is the time to cash in! Winner: Kurt Angle
So, there you have it. A very solid show with a lot of potential. Let's see if (with the ODDS AGAINST them) TNA can pull it off. That's all for now folks. Until next time remember, you're always welcome...at The Dog Pound
