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Countdown to TNA Destination X
By
SLAM! Wrestling Staff
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Destination X hits the airwaves in a few hours, and it's going to be an interesting
night for TNA. You have the modernization of a classic match, two feuds that
have gone on forever and a title bout that could pop a huge buyrate. Will there
be enough excitement for it? Quite possibly. Let's look at TNA Destination X.
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MAIN EVENT: NWA WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE
MATCH
Samoa Joe vs. Christian Cage |
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SLAM! Predictions
Bob Kapur
Is the time right for Joe to be the man in TNA? Or does Cage keep the gold somehow?
It would be too easy to hand the belt to Joe (maybe do it at Slammiversary)
right now, so I see Christian retaining with some outside shenanigans. You gotta
love Cage's charisma, though.
Matt Mackinder
Is the time right for Joe to be the man in TNA? Or does Cage keep the gold somehow? It would be too easy to hand the belt to Joe (maybe do it at Slammiversary) right now, so I see Christian retaining with some outside shenanigans. You gotta love Cage’s charisma, though.
Jon Waldman
The real question is not whether Joe will beat Christian here. Instead, it is
whether TNA takes the threat from the NWA seriously. In case you haven't heard,
the NWA has been making movements about wanting to pull their Heavyweight Title
(you know, the one with lineage dating back to 1700 BC) from TNA. Part of this
involves a challenge from Brian Danielson, made via YouTube, who, as we all
know, has had many battles with Samoa Joe. So the answer comes like this - if
Joe wins, then you know TNA is doing the smart business move and will set up
a mega match between the two that indie fans everywhere will flock to. However,
if Cage wins, then you know that TNA will simply give back the belt, make a
"TNA World Heavyweight Title" and move on like the NWA was never part
of the company. With Russo booking, the latter is the more likely scenario,
with a good dozen run-ins.
Greg Oliver
Shouldn't there be more hype, more of a build-up, more excitment if Samoa Joe
was (finally) going to win the NWA World title? Yeah, I thought so too. So I'm
going to pick some sort of ridiculous Russo-like finish with a dozen run-ins,
false finishes and Cage walking out still champion somehow.
Jason Clevett
As much as I want Joe to get the belt, with the way TNA runs right now, I don't
want to see it at this point in time. The guy who made the ROH Title into what
it is today deserves better then what will arguably be a title win with 4 run
ins, one by Jeremy Borash in a nun outfit, and a reign that will be marred by
Vince Russo BS. I think Joe gets screwed out of the belt this round and comes
back to win it next month inside a steel cage at Lockdown.
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ELEVATION-X MATCH
AJ Styles vs. Rhino |
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SLAM! Predictions
Bob Kapur
This could either be a fun little match, or a huge embarrassment for all concerned.
I like the concept, so am hoping for the best. This should end the feud once
and for all, with Rhino getting the win - and somehow this will help AJ Styles
realize that his friendship with Chris Daniels was too special to throw away
(if anyone remembers the original pretense for the feud).
Matt Mackinder
Who takes the fall, literally, here? Rhino's an ECW alum, so he's
good for some juice and a big bump. Styles is actually a solid heel and an even
better worker. That being said, I'd love to see Rhino take this match and
get a push from TNA management.
Jon Waldman
I had wondered for a while when we would see the next scaffold match; well,
we're seeing it now, and shame on WWE for not beating TNA to the punch and putting
that match in ECW. Yes, I am well aware of the dangers and the sub-par wrestling
elements of the scaffold, but for pure drama there is no better bout. The dimension
of the free fall from a legit 20 feet in the air makes fans ooh and ahh with
every hit, something you do not get in any other wrestling match. The assumedly
more secure structure from TNA will give this bout an added safety measure,
so you can expect there to be actual wrestling elements here. To me, Rhino must
take the fall here, after a moment where he has the opportunity to throw Styles
off, only to be deceived by his friend. The alternative would be for Christopher
Daniels to return and save Rhino from last-minute doom, but because Rhino will
be able to absorb the impact of the fall better, I believe the big man takes
the fall.
Greg Oliver
Usually a feud ends with a big bout, the blowoff. This feud has to end, though
it has been entertaining. Good guys usually win blowoffs, especially when belts
aren't at stake. So I'll take Rhino to win, 'cause it sure won't be him taking
the big bump.
Jason Clevett
This one should be interesting as AJ is known for his risk taking and Rhino
is more of a power wrestler. Look for some legit tense moments but really, scaffold
matches aren't that interesting even if one of my favorite wrestlers is in it.
AJ takes the tumble and Rhino wins.
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X-DIVISION MATCH
Chris Sabin vs. Jerry Lynn |
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SLAM! Predictions
Bob Kapur
This should be an amazing match - Jerry is still gold in my book, and Sabin is
one of the most underrated talents in the ring today. If not for the idiotic writing
(enough with the geriatric jokes already) this could have been a really hot feud.
Sabin finally gets his long-overdue comeuppance.
Matt Mackinder
I love it when Sabin mocks Lynn with the walker schtick. Good stuff. This match
could easily be the main event to boot. Is this a swan song of sorts for Lynn?
He can still move, albeit a step slower, but is still a good performer; though
he is not yet a champion. Sabin keeps the strap.
Jon Waldman
For some ungodly reason, Russo continues to put Lynn up against Sabin. I don't
know how many PPVs in a row these two have fought, but it's beyond the point where
anyone truly cares. My gut tells me Lynn pulls off the win, a la Randy Couture
coming back at age whatever and beating Tim Sylvia last week in UFC. If that happens,
yay for TNA; but remember, for every Couture comeback, there is a Mirko Kro Kop
waiting to obliterate the champ. Lynn wins.
Greg Oliver
If they were going to put the belt on Jerry Lynn, they should have done it already.
That said, I think they'll do it here, and have Lynn lose the title on an Impact.
Jason Clevett
Jerry is awesome. One of the best reasons to watch TNA is to see this vet again.
Unfortunately, this angle is one of the reasons not to. Given enough time (and
with 2 out of 3 falls, lets hope it does) this could be a show stealer. I hope
Lynn takes the belt, he deserves it and I am picking him.
SLAM! Predictions
Bob Kapur
Sting vs. Abyss (Last Rites Match) - Sting wins - not sure how, but that's
because the convoluted match types they've given these guys has left me not caring
about the gimmick anymore.
Kurt Angle vs. Scott Steiner - Steiner sucks. Kurt wins.
Matt Mackinder
Sting vs. Abyss (Last Rites Match) - End this feud already. Sting gets
'er done here.
Kurt Angle vs. Scott Steiner - Who's the bigger 'roid freak?
It doesn't matter. Angle gets the "W."
Jon Waldman
Sting vs. Abyss (Last Rites Match) - Speaking of feuds that have gone on
forever. Please let this be the end. Sting wins, and Abyss gets unmasked.
Kurt Angle vs. Scott Steiner - There's a reason why this match never happened
in WWE, and you'll see why tonight. Angle wins.
Greg Oliver
Sting vs. Abyss (Last Rites Match) - The feud that won't end. Abyss
wins.
Kurt Angle vs. Scott Steiner - A feud that hopefully is going nowhere.
Angle wins.
Jason Clevett
Sting vs. Abyss (Last Rites Match) - Speaking of convoluted dumb Russo
storylines. Um. Sting I guess.
Kurt Angle vs. Scott Steiner - Remember Royal Rumble 2003? The worst
Heavyweight title match in Rumble history had Steiner. The best one was the
same show featuring Angle. Expect this one to be somewhere in the middle. Angle
wins.
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-- compiled by Jon Waldman
