Countdown to TNA Bound For Glory
By JON WALDMAN -- SLAM! Wrestling
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It's Bound For Glory time in TNA, and the company is all revved up for its
main event of the year.
There's a lot of anticipation for tonight's event, taking place in Chicago.
As you've seen throughout our interviews, the boys and girls are rarin' to go
with what should be an interesting night of sports entertainment, so let's get
right to it.
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TNA WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Sting vs. Samoa Joe |
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SLAM! Prediction
In a perfectly mapped out world, where storylines were consistently built and
hype was fully developed, this match could have been a calling card bout for
TNA. If you look at it on a basic level, this should be the culmination of the
new guys versus the old guard, not what looks like the starting point. After all,
BFG is the supposed big show of the year right? If that's the case, then it
should be where one run of storylines end and another begins. That's what WWE
has done effectively with WrestleMania, and to a lesser extent Summerslam, and
TNA has never been able to do.
In order for this feud to really get off the ground, as much as it pains Samoa
Joe fans like myself to say and see, Sting must go over, leading to an all-out
takeover of all of TNA's titles, a la the nWo. Take Sting, but watch out for
outside shenanigans.
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GRUDGE MATCH (SPECIAL OUTSIDE
ENFORCER -- MICK FOLEY)
Jeff Jarrett vs. Kurt Angle |
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SLAM! Prediction
This is quite possibly the toughest match to call. When you look at it, you
have the returning, conquering hero, versus the apparent hottest commodity in
pro wrestling. Can anyone suspend disbelief enough to allow the thought that
Jarrett, who has been away for two years, can beat a guy who has consistently
been a main eventer over that same span? I can't, which is where Foley comes
in.
As obvious as it seems, the Jarrett/Angle match is a one-off which will transition
into Angle/Foley. Mick will help Jeff win the match tonight and move into what
could be an interesting battle. This, of course, will leave Jarrett open to
continue his pursuit of Triple H/Ric Flair, as he battles Sting at the next
PPV (or hey, maybe at the end of the PPV, a la Hulk Hogan/Yokozuna). What's
that old saying? The more things change, the more they stay the same.
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TNA TAG TEAM TITLE MATCH (MONSTER'S
BALL, SPECIAL GUEST REFEREE - STEVE McMICHAEL)
Beer Money Inc. vs. LAX vs. Team 3D vs. Matt Morgan/Abyss |
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SLAM! Prediction
What can I say about this match, other than it's designed to get Abyss over.
Yes, 3D, BMI and LAX have all upped the hardcore violence in recent months (which
makes this match perfectly appropriate), but this is Abyss's calling card. Mongo's
involvement should be minimal (for the love of God make it minimal), but expect
some sort of football tribute -- maybe a kickoff tee gouging someone's eye.
The team without a name wins.
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TNA KNOCKOUTS TITLE MATCH (TRIPLE THREAT)
Taylor Wilde vs. Awesome Kong vs. Roxxi Leveaux |
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SLAM! Prediction
It's a shame that Taylor hasn't got over with the TNA crowd, but it's also not
unexpected. The common thread that has weaved through every woman in TNA is
that they've been given a chance to develop their character and make you care
about them. I honestly can't remember if Wilde has done a promo, so if she has,
that tells you how effective she's been. Kong would seem the right woman to
hold the belt again, but I don't think TNA fans really want another dominating
streak from her. I wouldn't be surprised, then, if Roxxi picks up the duke here,
maybe with a tease of a heel turn.
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TNA X-DIVISION TITLE MATCH
Shiek Abdul Bashir vs. Consequences Creed |
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SLAM! Prediction
Something about this angle just doesn't work for me. Either it's
that the Arab terrorist schtick is not having an impact on North American audiences
anymore, or that Creed is not believable as the all-American hero. Actually,
it's both. I wish the X could go back to the way it was - no gimmicks needed,
pure wrestling that was new and cool. As is, I could care less about this match,
and will only say that Creed goes over so that TNA can build up against an old
guard heel (X-Pac?) as part of the big gimmick.
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GRUDGE MATCH (ASYLUM)
? vs. ?? vs. ??? vs. (you get the picture) |
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SLAM! Prediction
Ah, another TNA signature match -- no participants named. Come on -- you couldn't
give us the names of the 10 or so participants? I'm going to guess that the
Prince Justice Brotherhood, MCMG, Sonjay Dutt, Jay Lethal, Petey Williams and
a couple others will be in here, but really, there should have been a list named.
This would seem to be where Suicide should be introduced, but that's in doubt
now with Kaz's injury. Then again, they could just have a stand-in don the red,
black and white costume, so yeah, let's go with Suicide debuting and winning.
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GRUDGE MATCH (TRIPLE THREAT)
Booker T vs. Christian Cage vs. AJ Styles |
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SLAM! Prediction
Essentially, this is being built to lead to Cage's decision for which side of
the battle he's on, and since Christian so rocks as a heel, I'm guessing he's
going over to the old boys club, and in the process will help Booker T claim
victory. Sodas rule!
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GRUDGE MATCH (MIXED 6-PERSON TAG)
Rhino/ODB/Rhaka Khan vs. Beautiful People |
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SLAM! Prediction
I really, really hate Kip. Move the girls to WWE, leave him behind. Rhino and
James don't make much difference here, because really it's about the ladies,
and Khan is throw-in also (my guess is this was supposed to be the Kim sisters
at one point). I'm guessing the heels go over here.
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