 |
Give TNA points for originality.
If nothing else, tonight's main event match for all of the marbles is a unique concept in wrestling, giving all (or almost all) of the power to one or two individuals. Think of it as Lance Storm's early run in WCW, but put those early weeks into one match. That's what you have tonight.
The notion has its supporters and its detractors, but if nothing else it has people intrigued, and that alone can bring the interest, and hopefully buyrates, up to new levels. Let's head to the SLAM! staff to see what they think will happen at Victory Road 2007.
| MAIN EVENT: TRIPLE TITLE MATCH Samoa Joe/Kurt Angle vs. Team 3D |
|---|
SLAM! Predictions
Matt Mackinder
Angle and Joe lose? You think? I see 3D controlling the middle of the match,
until Angle or Joe gets the hot tag to the other. In the ensuing melee, the
two come to blows, possibly inadvertently, and 3D takes advantage with a quick
rollup (with both Dudleys getting the pin on Joe) for the win. Angle and Joe
have a staredown like we've seen 1,218 times before and maybe start brawling.
But in any event, 3D wins and begin a confusing "reign."
Jon Waldman
Concept good; execution bad. No offence, but neither Ray or Devon has had a
singles career worthy of holding the biggest belt in the company. Had it been
the Steiners, a mix of Christian Cage and one of his cronies or Triple X (more
on that below), You have to figure that the Samoan Submission Machine gets the
duke, only because it'll put him "one up" on the Olympic hero. As
for his partner? Methinks AJ.
Andy McNamara
I absolutely love this idea for a match. It's fresh, new, and a bit confusing
wrapped all into one. I pick Angle and Joe keeping their respective titles,
but Kurt is able to bring home the tag gold as well.
Jason Clevett
Lance Storm has a great commentary on his website pointing out all of the flaws
in this match. It just doesn't make sense. It made sense in 1995 when Diesel
and Shawn Michaels had the same type of gimmick match against Owen Hart and
Yokozuna, but Diesel and Michaels were best friends. Angle and Joe hate each
other. This match just doesn't make any sense at all. And why the hell is Samoa
Joe in the X-division... again? Angle wins the tag belts.
| GRUDGE MATCH Christian Cage vs. Chris Harris |
|---|
SLAM! Predictions
Matt Mackinder
This should be the best match on the card. I like Harris' push and I like
Cage's charisma. Putting Harris in a top match like this speaks volumes
of his talent. But is he ready for a big PPV win? Not yet. Christian uses his
conniving ways to eke out the victory, but the match will be worth the entire
cost of the event.
Jon Waldman
Harris has defied the tag team odds and shown to be as much a singles star as
James Storm. I guess we can call these guys the "Edge and Christian"
of TNA. Harris goes over here, but not without some sort of shenanigans.
Andy McNamara
Nice push for Harris, and I think he gets elevated here with a victory...courtesy
of an assist from Tomko.
Jason Clevett
Chris Harris has been the victim of so many stops and starts as a singles wrestler,
hopefully this is the first step in heading towards a solid push. He should
score a win over Cage to start elevating him - Cage wouldn't be hurt by the
loss and it benefits the company in establishing another main eventer.
| GRUDGE MATCH Rhino vs. James Storm |
|---|
SLAM! Predictions
Matt Mackinder
I never thought America's Most Wanted split up could work, but it sure has. Rhino can be a fall guy on pay-per-views and Storm, like Harris, is climbing the ranks. I'm all for a Gore! Gore! Gore! victory from Rhino, however, and that's how the fat lady will sing.
Jon Waldman
Seeing Rhino get constantly shunted down the card and further from anything meaningful makes me re-iterate my thoughts that he's not as good as the hype around him. I've never been convinced that he belongs in the upper card, dating back to his days in ECW. Storm gets the win, hopefully cleanly.
Andy McNamara
This should be an all out slugfest with lots of power spots. I believe both guys come out looking great from this one, but in the end it's the "Cowboy" who rides away victorious.
Jason Clevett
Storm is another guy who has really shown a new side of himself and brought his working shoes lately. Storm goes over.
|
UNDERCARD
|
|---|
SLAM! Predictions
Matt Mackinder
Eric Young/Gail Kim vs. Robert Roode/Tracy Brooks - A yawner. A flip of the coin says Young and Gail win. Maybe Traci turns on Bobby and Eric walks out with a lady on each arm..
10-Man Ultimate X Match - Gotta go with the Macho Man, er, Black Machismo
here. I love the gimmick and Lethal has it down perfectly.
Sting/Abyss vs. AJ Styles/Tomko - Tomko and Styles get the win after James
Mitchell's new monster brutalizes Abyss and Sting.
Bob Backlund/Jerry Lynn vs. Chris Sabin/Alex Shelley - As much as I am
a tried and true old school fan, I have to stay true to my Detroit roots and
go with Sabin and Shelley on this one.
Jon Waldman
Eric Young/Gail Kim vs. Robert Roode/Tracy Brooks - I'm calling that
Young pins Tracy.
10-Man Ultimate X Match - No question here - Triple X re-unites and destroys
the rest of the division, en route to a brutal beating of Samoa Joe.
Sting/Abyss vs. AJ Styles/Tomko - Ho hum. I'll say Sting/Abyss just for
the heck of it.
Bob Backlund/Jerry Lynn vs. Chris Sabin/Alex Shelley - The young'uns
need the W. The others need cathaters.
Andy McNamara
Eric Young/Gail Kim vs. Robert Roode/Tracy Brooks - I like this feud,
and Eric Young is a strong underdog babyface, similar to Spike Dudley back in
the day. Despite a valiant effort Roode cheats and puts away Young.
Jason Clevett
Eric Young/Gail Kim vs. Robert Roode/Tracy Brooks - Have these guys
been feuding since TNA began? It sure feels like it. This should have ended
at Slammiversary. Roode and Brooks win to continue the feud for some reason.
Visit the SLAM! Wrestling store!
Get a feel for life on the wrestling road by picking up autobiographies and other books in the SLAM! Store!
-- compiled by Jon Waldman