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Countdown to TNA Bound for Glory
By
SLAM! Wrestling Staff
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It's TNA's version of the grandaddy of them all this weekend, as Bound For
Glory weekend is finally here.
For months, TNA has been touting Bound For Glory as their big event of the year, and if
the lineup for this year's extravaganza holds up, it could be the best card
in the company's relatively short history.
Here's what to look forward to on Sunday.
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NWA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Jeff Jarrett vs. Kevin Nash (Special Guest Referee Tito Ortiz)
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SLAM! Predictions
Corey David Lacroix
Jarrett and Nash are really going to have to reach deep inside when in comes
to delivering a main event that will get first time viewers excited about the
product. Jarrett should retain, unless Ortiz decides to get involved in one
fashion or another. Has Nash already arranged to secure the title by nefarious
means? Wait and see.
Chris Sokol
One of the worst moves TNA has made since giving Nash a title shot at Against
All Odds. Rather than taking another step forward, TNA has taken two steps back.
Push the younger talent that can wrestle. If this match must go on, then hopefully
Jarrett will retain. Good idea, though, to promote a former UFC Fighter as a
guest referee on Spike TV.
Greg Oliver
I wouldn't put it past them to have the title switched to Nash, and Jarrett
reclaims it on their primetime special a couple of weeks later on Spike TV where
there will be a bigger audience.
Jon Waldman
Did Nash get on the booking team? He must have, because I can't see any other
reason why he'd be on top, with so many main event level competitors in TNA.
Ortiz will inevitably be a factor. Hopefully, he'll make an impact like Ken
Shamrock did a few years ago in WWE when he was a guest ref. Jarrett retains.
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X- DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP IRON MAN MATCH
Christopher Daniels vs. AJ Styles
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SLAM! Predictions
Corey David Lacroix
We've seen this before, and no doubt long time TNA fans may roll their eyes
in boredom at the prospect of another Daniels vs Styles confrontation. Still,
this match has more to do with hooking new fans into the product and as such,
both competitors should deliver what may very well turn out to be the match
of the night. This one could go either way, but I'm betting on Styles to retain.
Chris Sokol
Judging by TNA's track record, this match will be on right before the main event,
even though it will be much better. Styles and Daniels are hot prodigies in
TNA. Daniels won the last iron man, but expect Styles to pull out the win in
this one and even the score.
Greg Oliver
Gee, think it'll be match of the night? It'll go to the wire, and I'm picking
Daniels to regain his belt.
Jon Waldman
In a perfect world, Daniels would win his gold back here. This is, however,
a celebration night, and on those special nights, the faces always go over.
Styles retains.
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ULTIMATE X MATCH
Matt Bentley vs. Chris Sabin vs. Petey Williams
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SLAM! Predictions
Corey David Lacroix
Again, we've seen this before, and again, this is for the newbies tuning in.
The big question will be whether all three can exercise some creativity when
it comes to showing off some new high-risk manoeuvres with the Ultimate X challenge.
They most certainly have proven so in the past, but has the well finally run
dry? As for a winner, anyone can score this one. I'll give it to Bentley.
Chris Sokol
As many would expect, this should be an entertaining match. All three men have
competed in the Ultimate X match before, with Bentley being the only one to
have won. With Styles retaining, and Williams as the only heel in this match,
it appears as though Team Canada's captain will be taking this one.
Greg Oliver
Sabin vs. Williams. Never seen that before. Thankfully, Bentley is in there
to mix things up. I'll take him for the upset.
Jon Waldman
Everyone konws how much a fan I am of Sabin, so there's no question who I'm
picking.
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MONSTER'S BALL MATCH
Rhino vs. Abyss vs. Jeff Hardy vs. Sabu
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SLAM! Predictions
Corey David Lacroix
Mayhem on top of piles of mayhem. Abyss takes it.
Chris Sokol
TNA put alot of emphasis on Hardy prior to debuting on Spike TV. He's winning.
Greg Oliver
Abyss has to come out of this the winner.
Jon Waldman
This is going to be chaos times four. You have to expect a former WWE'er to
debut here. My feeling is Rhino takes it.
| OTHER MATCHES |
| Samoa Joe vs. Jushin "Thunder"
Liger |
Corey David Lacroix: Konichiwa Liger, meet the ass kicking
of your life. Samoa Joe wins.
Greg Oliver: Can they go to a draw? That would be the
best. Otherwise, Joe.
Jon Waldman: This one gets the draw. Joe's winning streak
dictates he can't lose, and you can't bury Liger.
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| Sonjay Dutt vs. Austin Aries vs. Alex
Shelley vs. Roderick Strong |
Corey David Lacroix: Another match of the night contender,
my crystall ball says... Sonjay Dutt.
Chris Sokol: It's about time TNA did something with Austin
Aries. A win here should propel him a little higher up on the card.
Greg Oliver: Aries has the most potential in the short-term,
so I'll take him.
Jon Waldman: I'll go with Strong, simply because I feel
like it.
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| Lance Hoyt vs. Monty Brown |
Corey David Lacroix: Touchdown Brown!
Chris Sokol: The crowd loves Hoyt, but Brown appears
to be striding towards a Heavyweight title shot. "The Alpha Male"
wins.
Greg Oliver: Hoytmania continues to build!
Jon Waldman: Brown needs the W, and Hoyt needs a new
name.
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| Diamonds in the Rough vs. Apolo/Shark
Boy/Sonny Siaki |
Corey David Lacroix: Coach Diamond finally delivers,
Diamonds in the Rough wins.
Chris Sokol: Filler match, The Diamonds In The Rough
get the win over their shaky opposition.
Greg Oliver: Diamonds are forever, and will come out
on top.
Jon Waldman: One team has a name, the other is an assembly
of jobbers. Guess who wins?
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The Last Word - Bob Kapur
It's only logical that TNA Wrestling would want to pull out all the stops
for this PPV, since this is their first opportunity to show off to their biggest
potential audience ever what exactly they're capable of delivering. To that
end, they've stacked it up huge, offering not only their signatures -- Ultimate
X and the Monsters Ball -- but also throwing in two other potential Match of
The Year candidates in the form of the Iron Man match and the Joe-Liger contest.
There are three potential problems with using this "everything but the
kitchen sink" approach. First, it makes each individual match seem less
special than it really is, and as a result, a match that would have been rated
five-stars on any other night, might mistakenly be seen as the "weak
link" on this show. Second, viewers might burn out too early and lose
interest in the last few matches no matter how good they are. This can be
dangerous, since if viewers start feeling bored -- even if it's unwarranted
-- good luck getting them to order the next one. Third (and this one applies
whether or not this show succeeds or not), is that after loading up everything
you've got on one night, how do you out-do yourself the next time?
That said, on paper, this card has what it takes to be the best PPV of the
year. All of the aforementioned matches should be bell-to-bell fantastic.
And even though I'm not as pessimistic about the Jarrett-Nash match as many
other fans seem to be, the involvement of Tito Ortiz in the main event can
only be a good thing.
Here's hoping the strategy works and the card is a tremendous success. If
not, the company's Glory days could be short-lived.
-- compiled by Jon Waldman
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