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Welcome to the cage.
It might seem like a simple intro, but it is, after all, time once again for TNA's annual steelfest. What began as being overkill is now an annual tradition of gimmickry at its... finest? Well, at least we'll give them points for creativity.
Nonetheless, there are a few very interesting tilts that lie ahead of us. Here's
a look at highlighted matches that hit the ppv airwaves tonight.
| TNA WORLD TITLE MMA MATCH Kurt Angle vs. Samoa Joe |
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SLAM! Predictions
Jon Waldman
Between the absurd retirement angle and Kurt's legal troubles, we know who wins
this one. TNA really should've gone all out and got John McCarthy as the ref
for this match. In terms of history, my natural inclination is to compare it
to the Owen Hart vs. Ken Shamrock Lion's Den match, circa 1998, and to me nothing
will ever compare to that bout in terms of MMA rip jobs. Joe wins.
Jason Clevett
When Joe said he would leave TNA if he lost, that locked down the result as
well. Joe finally gets the belt, but is it two years too late? Regardless, from
speaking to Joe this week he obviously expects this match to top their previous
ones, a daunting goal indeed and a reason to watch this pay per view.
| LETHAL LOCKDOWN MATCH Team Cage vs. Team Tomko |
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SLAM! Predictions
Jon Waldman
Revisiting War Games is good, but adding weapons is bad. Did no one learn from
December to Dismember? Russo really needs to learn the KISS method of booking
(Keep It Simple, Stupid!). In any case, this match will be bloody, and I fear
very boring. Anyone who can't see Morgan's turn coming needs to go back to Russo
Booking 101. Tomko's team wins.
Jason Clevett
Should be a good plunder match, and this is a big opportunity for TNA to do
something right and let Tomko and Matt Morgan shine. TNA is finally putting
Morgan into the ring, and the guy is a tremendous talent, as is Tomko who has
really come into his own in TNA. That said, TNA will probably go exactly opposite
with Sting or Nash scoring the win. I will go with Team Cage.
| X-DIVISION X-SCAPE MATCH Jay Lethal vs. Curry Man vs. Sonjay Dutt vs. Johnny Devine vs. Shark Boy vs. Consequences Creed |
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SLAM! Predictions
Jon Waldman
The natrual inclination would be for Creed to win this bout, since he's new
and all, but I'm going to take Curry Man here, simply because he's arguably
the hottest male star in TNA today. Lethal and Dutt need to start their feud
already, might I add.
Jason Clevett
Hooray, my favorite Canadian boy in another pay per view. Please don't die Devine!
It seems like, unfortunately, Devine's feud with Lethal has come to an end,
and I don't buy Dutt or Shark Boy as legit contenders at this time. So it will
either be Lethal or Curry Man. I will go with the champ, leading to some Macho
Curry madness in the future.
| GRUDGE MATCH Booker T/Sharmell vs. Robert Roode/Payton Banks |
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SLAM! Predictions
Jon Waldman
Whose bright idea was it to make the MAKE a wrestler? Yes, that was a rhetorical
question. I would hope for an end to this feud if we didn't have precedence
for Roode and long rivalries. I don't care who wins.
Jason Clevett
This is a match that deserves to be in a cage, and bring this feud to a conclusion.
Booker and Roode have worked very well together for the most part. Booker and
Sharmell take the win and put this to rest.
|
GRUDGE MATCH |
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SLAM! Predictions
Jon Waldman
If only we cared about Kip. Sigh. Honestly, very little of the VKM angle, from
beginning to end, has made me want to turn into TNA or watch their updates on
the site, save for maybe one or two shots of creativity. Meh, maybe the cage
will fall down and trap both for a half hour or so.
Jason Clevett
I don't care about this match. It didn't interest me when it was DX vs. DX and
that was 8 years ago! This isn't even worth giving a prediction.
|
GRUDGE MATCH |
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SLAM! Predictions
Jon Waldman
ODB's promise to rip off Saeed's covering is intriguing, especially since it's
Cheerleader Melissa underneath. I actually fear for Saeed's safety in this one
- it cannot be easy to wrestle in that garb. The heels will probably take the
fall via DQ here.
Jason Clevett
It will be interesting to see if they let Raisha show the talent she has (as
Cheerleader Melissa) or if Kong will do all of the work. Each and every time
the girls go out to try and steal the show, and always seem to. I expect this
one to be no different. Kim gets the win pinning Saeed.
|
QUEEN OF THE CAGE MATCH Angelina Love vs. Velvet Sky vs. Salinas vs. Rhaka Khan vs. Traci Brooks vs. Christy Hemme vs. Jacqueline vs. Roxxi Laveaux |
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SLAM! Predictions
Jon Waldman
Explain to me the logic of this match. The reverse battle royal is bad on one
level, but having all these women try to get into one door? Dear god this is
stupid. I'll say that Brooks wins, just for the hell of it.
Jason Clevett
Every time TNA does stupid gimmicks like these reverse battle royals, the world
takes a collective crap on the concept and execution, yet they never listen.
This didn't work the last time people had to fight outside the ring and try
and get in and it won't work now. No idea who will win, so I will pick Roxxi
for no particular reason.
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-- compiled by Jon Waldman