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Countdown to TNA Final Resolution
By
SLAM! Wrestling Staff
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The apparent cure for a New Year's Eve hangover, at least according to TNA,
is a healthy dosage of PPV wrestling action.
Yes, believe it or not, 2008 isn't even a week old and already we have a major
show on our hands - Final Resolution. Some will say it's smart planning by the
southern boys to be the first out of the gate, others will say it's too soon.
Regardless of your school of thought, you can't help but be intrigued by this
PPV. Let's take a look at the lineup.
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MAIN EVENT: TNA HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
MATCH
Kurt Angle vs Christian Cage |
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SLAM! Predictions
Jon Waldman
The focus in this match is squarely on AJ, which in theory is good, but in reality
it's on him for all the wrong reasons. Back when TNA began, Styles was the showcase
star of the company, and really could, and should be again. This match exemplifies
what's wrong with TNA - the company, rather than building its own stars and
taking a successful group of indie wrestlers (namely RoH signess) and taking
them to the global stage, is relying too heavily on former WWE names and WCW
formulas that put the goddamn company out of business! Here's a resolution TNA
- stop making one of your former franchise stars into a wussy and an also-ran.
Let AJ destroy both guys in the bout here and walk out with a title shot against
Angle next month.
Mark Xamin
This is a tough one. Not since Summerslam 1992 havewe seen the "who's corner
will he be in?" angle played, but it's always been one of my favorites.
So who's corner will AJ Styles be in? My guess is Kurt Angle's, so I'm going
with Angle in this one with help from AJ.
Matt Mackinder
I’d like to think this match will have no outside interference and could possibly be a (very) early contender for a top match of 2008. But no, we’ll get a cluster-you-know-what. Angle keeps the gold and AJ Styles ends up crying or whining for some reason. Ugh.
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TNA TAG TEAM TITLE MATCH
AJ Styles/Tomko vs. Kevin Nash/Samoa Joe |
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SLAM! Predictions
Jon Waldman
On to stupid match #2 - why the hell would you put Joe with Nash? The partners-who-don't-get-along
formula has been used far too often recently, when only Matt Hardy and MVP have
been able to do it successfully. I sincerely hope that Nash is choked out by
the end of the night, but in reality Tomko and Styles will go their separate
ways, meaning we see another lame "alliance" at match's end.
Mark Xamin
Does it make me a terrible person that seeing Nashin the ring (as limited as
he is these days) makes me feel nostalgic and a little bit giddy inside? Tomko
chose to walk alone on Impact, but Styles is still torn. I have to pick Joe
and Nash due to miscommunication between Styles and Tomko. New champs.
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ULTIMATE X MATCH
Motor City Machine Guns/Jay Lethal vs. Team 3D/Johnny Devine |
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SLAM! Predictions
Jon Waldman
Those steel cables had better be reinforced tonight. As much as there's a curious
intrigue to see if Bubba Ray can shimmy his way to the X, this could end up
killing this gimmick (not that that's a bad thing for TNA). Sabin will be counted
on heavily to guide this match, and really, the faces should win here. Unfortunately,
I think Ray will end up getting the X for his team. Oh, and the over-under tonight
for X falls is two.
Mark Xamin
Well, Team 3D and Johnny Devine have the momentum going into this one, after
the whole wrist-breaking incident on Impact. You know what that means...Black
Machismo and the Machine Gun's take the victory and promptly get a beat down,
dragging the feud out for a while longer.
Matt Mackinder
Seeing Brother Ray climbing anything is downright frightening. Lethal and the
Guns are way over, but Devine is getting a semi-push. Still, I like the faces
here so the Guns and Machismo take it.
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GRUDGE MATCH
Abyss vs. Judas Mesias |
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SLAM! Predictions
Jon Waldman
Now here's a match I actually want to see. Mesias should be kept strong as all
hell and ideally put Abyss on the shelf, maybe even remove the mask. The match
would mean more if not for Mesias's injury, which resulted in a long layoff
after a hot start to the battle, but it can still be effective if Judas is allowed
to go over huge.
Mark Xamin
As much as I originally liked Abyss, he's become a little stale lately. He's
so much better as a heel. I'm going with Judas Mesias, but it won't be the end
of the feud.
Matt Mackinder
Mesias – the man whose finishing move was stolen by Shelton Benjamin –
has a tight gimmick. Abyss’ is going stale. Gotta go with the hot hand
here and give Judas the win. I wonder if he has the WSX World title stashed
somewhere…
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TNA WOMENS TITLE MATCH (NO DISQUALIFICATIONS)
Gail Kim vs. Awesome Kong |
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SLAM! Predictions
Jon Waldman
Congrats TNA - you've booked yourself into a corner again. Let's look at this
very clearly - TNA has put Gail over Kong, making the monster look weaker than
the champ. What does it say when the supposed dominant force needs a no-DQ stip
to beat the supposed underdog? Either with a win or loss, Kong looks weak. It's
time to move on to the Kim/ODB feud. Kim wins.
Mark Xamin
As much as I'd like to see Gail Kim retain and hold the title for a few more
months, I think Awesome Kong takes this one and wins the belt. Either way, this
is women's wrestling at it's best since the WCW days.
Matt Mackinder
Sift through the archives – Awesome Kong was a male behemoth in WCW and
the old GWF back in the early ‘90s. I guess that pretty much applies here,
too. Kim is a top-notch champ and she finds a way to KO Kong here and keep the
gold.
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MIXED TAG TEAM MATCH
Booker T/Sharmell vs. Robert Roode/Ms. Brooks
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SLAM! Predictions
Jon Waldman
Holy crap, why does someone let Vince Russo hold the book? It was not a good
idea to put Elizabeth in the ring in WCW and it's even worse to put the M.A.K.E.
in the ring in TNA. You'd think that this would be some sort of caveat to end
the dumb Roode/Brooks angle, but it won't be. Sorry fans
Mark Xamin
You know, the obvious choice would be Booker and Sharmell, but Booker is such
a class act that it wouldn't surprise me if he insisted on putting Roode over.
Still, I'm going with Booker since they'll want to keep him strong.
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GRUDGE MATCH
Kaz vs. Black Reign
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SLAM! Predictions
Jon Waldman
Like Styles, Kaz is the kind of guy this company should be built around. Instead,
he gets put with Goldust v.2.0. Lovely. Kaz had better win.
Mark Xamin
Kaz wins despite interference from Relik.
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TAG TEAM GRUDGE MATCH
LAX vs. Jimmy Rave/Lance Hoyt
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SLAM! Predictions
Jon Waldman
Could be a strong match, given the RoH talent, but I still am not buying Lance
Hoyt. LAX wins.
Mark Xamin
This is a tough one, because when you think it's an obvious pick, TNA surprises
you and goes in the other direction. I'm going to pick Hoyt and Rave. I'm still
hoping they bring in Prince Nana.
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-- compiled by SLAM! Wrestling staff
