|
Countdown to TNA Hard Justice
By
SLAM! Wrestling Staff
|
  
|
Questions surround tonight's Hard Justice Pay-Per-View.
Those questions include: Will PacMan Jones have the Mike Tyson effect that
TNA is hoping for? Will TNA really allow one man to carry all their belts? Will
certain feuds finally end? Will others begin?
All these and more will be answered in a few short hours. Let's go to the preview
of Hard Justice.
| |
MAIN EVENT: WINNER TAKE ALL MATCH
Samoa Joe vs. Kurt Angle |
| |
SLAM! Predictions
Andy McNamara
I think this is Samoa Joe's time to shine and bask in all the glory. He's
been denied the TNA championship forever, but here, it's the right time
in my opinion. I see Angle's wife somehow getting involved and costing
him the match. Or, and think about this, maybe her tiff with Kurt has all been
a ruse and she pulls a Vickie Guerrero chair shot out of nowhere and KO's
Joe a la her heel turn on Rey Mysterio last fall. Which way do we go? I like
Joe loading up on gold.
Matt Mackinder
The divorce angle means Joe should beat Kurt at his weakest ebb. With the fine
TNA tradition of ignoring what's best, they'll find a way to a no decision to
build for a blowoff in Atlanta.
Jon Waldman
A number of wrestling purists are wagging their fingers at TNA for putting all
the gold in one pot. While I don't believe the tag belts serve any useful purpose
here, especially given the amount of teams in the tag ranks who could easily
carry the belts with pride, World vs. secondary belt is always a fun confrontation.
Throwing in Karen Angle makes absolutely no sense to this feud, as it is hot
enough as is, but it's a classic case of Vince Russo - that being that a match
between two great combatants can't sell a PPV on its own. I expect the screwjob
here, giving Angle all the marbles.
John Clapp
If a five title belt stipulation doesn't warrant a blow-off to a feud, I don't
know what would. It's time for Joe to one-up Angle on PPV - I just hope the
estranged Mrs. Angle, Team 3D and the Steiners are all kept out of the picture
Sunday. The crowd should be hot, as TNA did a good job of portraying Angle as
a jerk (until his show-closing smackdown of Joe on Impact, I was afraid TNA
would further push Angle as a vulnerable, downtrodden figure, which would only
result in a deflated victory for Joe). If nothing else, the in-ring work should
be entertaining.
Marty Goldstein
The divorce angle means Joe should beat Kurt at his weakest ebb. With the fine
TNA tradition of ignoring what's best, they'll find a way to a no decision to
build for a blowoff in Atlanta.
Jason Clevett
It could be too late to give Joe the elevation he needed to have a year ago.
Still I am hoping Joe takes this and TNA finally gives a homegrown talent a
run at the top - and I also hope for longer than abyss.
|
GRUDGE MATCH
Team 3D vs. The Steiner Brothers |
|
SLAM! Predictions
Andy McNamara
This has also been another strong storyline build being built around the dream
match of which team is the best of all time.There will be a mixed crowd reaction
from Scott's recent injury return. I believe the Dudley's win by cheating and
the feud will continue w/ a tables or no DQ match of some sort down the road.
Matt Mackinder
Both teams are past their prime, but can pretty much still go. It's good
to see Rick and Scott together again, even if it's just for a short run
here in TNA. Team 3D has worked their heel role very effectively, and as champions
to boot. My old-school mentality has the Steiners getting one last run as tag
champs, but realistically, I see the Dudleys moving towards the straps.
Jon Waldman
Some call it a dream match. Me, I call it TNA's attempt to solidify Team 3D
as the greatest tag team in wrestling by having them beat legendary duos. I
half expect the Rock and Roll Express, or the Midnight Express even, to be the
next opponents for Ray and Devon. Team 3D wins handily here.
John Clapp
Again, props to TNA for a patiently-booked feud (even if Scott's injury was
the reason for delaying this so-called dream match). I haven't cared much about
either team for the better part of the last decade, but I am interested in this
match. 3D has found new life in their old heel form, and this match is equal
parts intriguing and fresh. Because it's somewhat new, I expect TNA to continue
the feud by way of a 3D win here.
Marty Goldstein
Steiners over 3D somehow. Given their uncertain contract status, I can't see
3D winning.
Jason Clevett
Ohh to see these two square off in their prime. I really wasn't that impressed
with Team 3D vs Rick Steiner and Animal a few months ago, and I don't blame
Animal entirely for that, so I think this match will be more for nostalgia then
in ring action. I'd say Team 3D takes it and heads towards a rematch.
| |
BAR ROOM BRAWL
Rhino vs. James Storm |
|
SLAM! Predictions
Andy McNamara
Obviously lots of plunder, however, these two have worked well in the past together
and will lay it all on the line. This is where Rhino finally gets his revenge
and will put away Storm in this blood bath.
Matt Mackinder
Storm is a solid heel. Rhino is a sub-par face and would be better off served as
a monster heel. Storm has the wrestling skills while Rhino supplies the power.
This will be a decent match for the undercard and expect Rhino to juice uncontrollably.
He's good for that. A Gore through a wall or something like that gives Rhino
the duke.
Jon Waldman
When has an alcohol feud ever gone over with the fans? This is going into places
it shouldn't go. Elevate Storm and put this feud to bed already.
John Clapp
Storm is one of the most reliable performers on the TNA roster, and Rhino usually
adjusts well to a wide variety of opponents, so this has the potential to be good,
especially given the match's saloon-inspired gimmick. It's not that I'm a fan
of involving alcoholism into storylines (although I'll switch my stance if Rhino
enters the ring in an absinthe-induced trance), but the "personal nature"
of this angle should result in a good brawl between two good brawlers. Expect
blood, maybe a smashed beer bottle, and Rhino's revenge.
Jason Clevett
This should be a pretty fun brawl. Storm continues to grow in his role and I think
should take this to continue to elevate him.
SLAM! Predictions
Andy McNamara
LAX vs. Voodoo Kin Mafia - The winner of this bout will most likely be
next in line to face the winner of Team 3D and Steiners feud. Might as well
push the youngsters, give it to LAX.
PacMan Jones' Debut - Jones will get a nice response and be interrupted
by someone to start a feud...but who? My pick is Robert Roode.
Matt Mackinder
Sting/Abyss/Andrew Martin vs. Christian Cage/AJ Styles/Tomko (Doomsday Chamber
of Blood) - Wow, guys like Chris Daniels and Senshi and Robert Rood still
float around in the midcard, and Andrew Martin shows up and is within 2 weeks
headlining a ppv? That's wonderful. Sting, Abyss and Martin take it.
Eric Young vs. Robert Roode (Ultimate Humiliation) - Please end this feud.
Young wins..
Chris Harris vs. Black Reign - Hard one to pick. Will Rhodes even show up
for the booking? Lets hope Harris.
Motor City Machine Guns vs. Black Machismo/Sonjay Dutt vs. XXX - This
should be a showstealer. MCM are so awesome. They take the match.
Raven vs. Kaz - Kaz needs to win this. We need to start elevating talent,
people!
LAX vs. Voodoo Kin Mafia - Without Konnan, I don't see LAX as a
legitimate threat. Even so, they win.
PacMan Jones' Debut - Oh joy. Maybe TNA should film in Cincinnati and
get half the Bengals to sign for the duration of their suspensions.
Jon Waldman
Sting/Abyss/Andrew Martin vs. Christian Cage/AJ Styles/Tomko (Doomsday Chamber
of Blood) - With apologies to Mr. Martin, TNA looks weak when they put a
WWE midcarder in a feature feud. I'll say the heels win, with AJ Styles earning
the title shot, just for something different.
Eric Young vs. Robert Roode (Ultimate Humiliation) - This feud needs to
go bye-bye. Roode wins.
Chris Harris vs. Black Reign - Having a Rhodes in each promotion means near-weekly
Dustyisms! I'll take Rhodes to go to the pay winduh. If you weeeeeeeeeeel.
Motor City Machine Guns vs. Black Machismo/Sonjay Dutt vs. XXX - MCMG,
from what I've seen on the 'net, look good, but come on - XXX just regrouped.
They get the win.
LAX vs. Voodoo Kin Mafia - VKM, undeservedly, gets the win.
PacMan Jones' debut - I'll go left-field here and say that PacMan is
being used to introduce another football player to the roster - Goldberg!
John Clapp
Sting/Abyss/Andrew Martin vs. Christian Cage/AJ Styles/Tomko (Doomsday Chamber
of Blood) - Team Reborn, led by Sting, takes this after Martin punishes
Cage, leading to the inevitable - and long awaited - Tomko versus
Test feud.
Eric Young vs. Robert Roode (Ultimate Humiliation) - Humiliation matches
are usually about much-anticipated face revenge, so Young wins this one.
Chris Harris vs. Black Reign - Rhodes hasn't felt relevant in years, but
TNA will put him over the younger Harris because, well, WWE has a Rhodes they're
pushing, so why not...
Motor City Machine Guns vs. Black Machismo/Sonjay Dutt vs. XXX - Should
be a fun bout - even though it seems like a recycled afterthought -
with Shelley and Sabin taking it.
Raven vs. Kaz - I want to say Raven takes this with a Bonzai Drop, but
I think it'd be better for Kaz to win and maybe gain some, I don't know, momentum.
LAX vs. Voodoo Kin Mafia - In this battle of acronyms, Homicide will
run around and bounce off the bigger VKM opponents, only for Hernandez to finish
Kip James with the Border Toss.
PacMan Jones' Debut - PacMan Jones, if you didn't see Impact, is a man.
I smell a Damaja/Basham run-in.
Marty Goldstein
Sting/Abyss/Andrew Martin vs. Christian Cage/AJ Styles/Tomko (Doomsday Chamber
of Blood) - If they are smart they'll either turn Test immediately or have
him go over. I don't see him drawing a dime without one or the other happening.
Eric Young vs. Robert Roode (Ultimate Humiliation) - The heel must always
be the one humiliated. Eric wins.
Chris Harris vs. Black Reign - Dustin "new colour" Rhodes has
to win to get established but I don't think Harris should be sacrificed to do
it.
Motor City Machine Guns vs. Black Machismo/Sonjay Dutt vs. XXX - 3 Way
Tag is Triple xxx all the wa-aa=ay.
Raven vs. Kaz - I have no idea about the Raven match so I'll go for him.
LAX vs. Voodoo Kin Mafia - LAX (politics aside) should go over the increasingly
useless in the ring VKM, so again, with typical TNA logic, Billy and Roadie
will be put over.
Jason Clevett
Sting/Abyss/Andrew Martin vs. Christian Cage/AJ Styles/Tomko (Doomsday Chamber
of Blood) - Wow, guys like Chris Daniels and Senshi and Robert Rood still
float around in the midcard, and Andrew Martin shows up and is within 2 weeks
headlining a ppv? That's wonderful. Sting, Abyss and Martin take it.
Eric Young vs. Robert Roode (Ultimate Humiliation) - Please end this feud.
Young wins.
Chris Harris vs. Black Reign - Hard one to pick. Will Rhodes even show up
for the booking? Lets hope Harris.
Motor City Machine Guns vs. Black Machismo/Sonjay Dutt vs. XXX - This
should be a showstealer. MCM are so awesome. They take the match.
Raven vs. Kaz - Kaz needs to win this. We need to start elevating talent,
people!
LAX vs. Voodoo Kin Mafia - Please... please... LAX.
Visit the SLAM! Wrestling store!
Grab all the gold you need, including replica
title belts, in the SLAM! Store!
-- compiled by Jon Waldman
