November 9, 2008
SLAM! Predictions
Mark Xamin
I hope for the sake of TNA that AJ Styles gets a chance to run with the title. A nice lengthy feud with Joe, Angle and Styles over the title could restore some of the fervor TNA had when Joe, Styles and Christopher Daniels were feuding over the X Division title. So, my pick is AJ, but whether or not TNA will go through with it, we'll see.
Andy McNamara
I'm thinking outside interference will play a big factor. Styles will come close but with some help from The Main Event Mafia, Sting will retain.
Bob Kapur
The brewing feud between these two was really the setup for the whole war between the Main Event Mafia and the TNA Originals. An AJ win now would pretty much cool down the heat in the whole thing before it really started rolling, so look for Sting to keep the belt somehow, likely with a lot of help from his faction.
Chris Schramm
AJ Styles? Where has this guy been? Nowhere near the top. So why would he even be getting a shot? This guy was TNA, but when TNA brought in more-established stars, his market fell. Sting will win but look for TNA to give Styles a good showing; after all, he was the heart of TNA at the beginning.
Matt Mackinder
Being that Sting drops the title shortly after he wins it each year at Bound For Glory, we get a change of pace this year and he retains after a BS run-in from God knows who. Styles will get the belt one day, just not here.
SLAM! Predictions
Mark Xamin
Again, if TNA was smart, they'd push their original, Samoa Joe. Nash is over the hill and 10 years past his prime. The point of bringing in these older stars is to put over the new stars, so why wouldn't Joe win?
Andy McNamara
Samoa Joe had better have his working boots on because Nash just can't do it in the ring for long spurts anymore. This should be patterned after Kurt Angle's match with Hulk Hogan a few years where everything was kept simple. Joe gets his revenge for the big win.
Bob Kapur
This will be interesting, more so to see whether Nash will be able to hang with Joe for more than five minutes. My bet is no. Joe wins.
Chris Schramm
If Nash wins, look for fans to never watch TNA again. Nash is old. Joe is now; but with Nash's inside power, I can see Nash winning. I hope this is the last match of Nash's career and they do an injury angle so we don't have to see him again. He is a disease and one of the names that is stopping TNA from growing.
Matt Mackinder
Can Nash still move around? Joe can. So the more mobile one wins here.
SLAM! Predictions
Mark Xamin
This should be interesting. I'd hardly consider Christian Cage to be a "legend," and I'd hardly consider Booker to be one yet either. But Booker is closer to that distinction than Christian, so... I dunno, let's go with Booker to retain.
Andy McNamara
TNA will want to keep the new stable strong so Booker will keep his strap thanks again to some help from his friends.
Bob Kapur
The obvious choice is to have Booker T win, which leads to Cage having to join the MEM unwillingly. But I think that this would be too obvious, so to mix it up, they will think about doing the opposite. But I also think that they would figure out that people would come to that conclusion, and so to swerve those people, they will do exactly that. Thanks, Vince Russo, now my brain hurts. Cage wins... maybe.
Chris Schramm
Legends? Hmm. I do not think so; but still an interesting match-up. I see Booker T winning this because since losing the TNA title, Cage has been buried. I don't expect to see that stop here.
Matt Mackinder
This title should only be eligible to be won by former WWE guys. Maybe TNA can bring in Dick Kroll to ref this match. Wait, that's going TOO far back. What does this title even prove? Maybe Cage figures it out after he wins.
SLAM! Predictions
Mark Xamin
Beer Money Inc has been the toast of the tag team division for a while now, but MCMG is more than capable of carrying the division as well. This could be a really good one, but I'm going with Beer Money Inc. to retain.
Andy McNamara
This is a pick'em in my book, and should be one of the most entertaining battles on the card. I'll go with The Motor City Machine Guns.
Bob Kapur
It would seem that the on-again, off-again push for the MCMGs is on again. Look for Team 3-D to cost Beer Money the belts.
Matt Mackinder
The Detroiters finally get tag team gold and make me proud.
SLAM! Predictions
Andy McNamara
Hopefully Angle won't have to land on too many thumbtacks. Angle wins this one clean.
Bob Kapur
Hopefully the drama between Abyss and his new best friend Matt Morgan won't spill over into this one, as it could be a good match otherwise, particularly if somehow Abyss finds his hardcore edge again. Either way, though, Angle wins.
Chris Schramm
Angle is wrestling hurt and this is expected to be a brutal match. I just hope Angle does not sustain any additional injuries. For some reason I see Abyss winning here with some brutal ending. What that ending is? I am unsure. I just hope it's planned out well and no one gets hurt.
Matt Mackinder
Angle is now this far down the card? I guess his weight isn't the only thing that's decreasing. Ooooh. Angle also wins and Abyss bleeds like always.
SLAM! Predictions
Mark Xamin
Rhino should win out, eventually... but I hope for the X Division's sake that Bashir at least makes it look like a fight. Rhino takes this one.
Andy McNamara
Ummmm, Rhino?
Bob Kapur
So what's the grudge? Simply that Rhino doesn't like Bashir bashing the USA? So much for the right to free speech! Bashir wins.
Chris Schramm
Bashir is on a roll here. And I do not see that ending in this match. It is an odd match-up, with a little bit of clashing styles.
Matt Mackinder
Gore! Gore! Gore!
Visit the SLAM! Wrestling store!
Take a look back at the Main Event Mafia's roots. Purchase TNA, WWE, WCW and other DVDs in the SLAM! Store!
-- compiled by Jon Waldman
Countdown to TNA Turning Point
By SLAM! Wrestling
 | ||
|
It's Turning Point time once again for TNA, as tonight's pay-per-view presents
fans with an opportunity to see a card with a strong set of matches between
the Main Event Mafia and the TNA Originals. Mixed in as well are a few intriguing
bouts that feature other feuds and mixed-bag bouts, so it should be an interesting
night. Let's now take a closer look at TNA Turning Point.
| TNA HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP AJ Styles vs. Sting |
|---|
SLAM! Predictions
Mark Xamin
I hope for the sake of TNA that AJ Styles gets a chance to run with the title. A nice lengthy feud with Joe, Angle and Styles over the title could restore some of the fervor TNA had when Joe, Styles and Christopher Daniels were feuding over the X Division title. So, my pick is AJ, but whether or not TNA will go through with it, we'll see.
Andy McNamara
I'm thinking outside interference will play a big factor. Styles will come close but with some help from The Main Event Mafia, Sting will retain.
Bob Kapur
The brewing feud between these two was really the setup for the whole war between the Main Event Mafia and the TNA Originals. An AJ win now would pretty much cool down the heat in the whole thing before it really started rolling, so look for Sting to keep the belt somehow, likely with a lot of help from his faction.
Chris Schramm
AJ Styles? Where has this guy been? Nowhere near the top. So why would he even be getting a shot? This guy was TNA, but when TNA brought in more-established stars, his market fell. Sting will win but look for TNA to give Styles a good showing; after all, he was the heart of TNA at the beginning.
Matt Mackinder
Being that Sting drops the title shortly after he wins it each year at Bound For Glory, we get a change of pace this year and he retains after a BS run-in from God knows who. Styles will get the belt one day, just not here.
| GRUDGE MATCH Samoa Joe vs. Kevin Nash |
|---|
SLAM! Predictions
Mark Xamin
Again, if TNA was smart, they'd push their original, Samoa Joe. Nash is over the hill and 10 years past his prime. The point of bringing in these older stars is to put over the new stars, so why wouldn't Joe win?
Andy McNamara
Samoa Joe had better have his working boots on because Nash just can't do it in the ring for long spurts anymore. This should be patterned after Kurt Angle's match with Hulk Hogan a few years where everything was kept simple. Joe gets his revenge for the big win.
Bob Kapur
This will be interesting, more so to see whether Nash will be able to hang with Joe for more than five minutes. My bet is no. Joe wins.
Chris Schramm
If Nash wins, look for fans to never watch TNA again. Nash is old. Joe is now; but with Nash's inside power, I can see Nash winning. I hope this is the last match of Nash's career and they do an injury angle so we don't have to see him again. He is a disease and one of the names that is stopping TNA from growing.
Matt Mackinder
Can Nash still move around? Joe can. So the more mobile one wins here.
| TNA LEGENDS TITLE MATCH (IF
CHRISTIAN LOSES, HE MUST JOIN THE MEM) Booker T vs. Christian Cage |
|---|
SLAM! Predictions
Mark Xamin
This should be interesting. I'd hardly consider Christian Cage to be a "legend," and I'd hardly consider Booker to be one yet either. But Booker is closer to that distinction than Christian, so... I dunno, let's go with Booker to retain.
Andy McNamara
TNA will want to keep the new stable strong so Booker will keep his strap thanks again to some help from his friends.
Bob Kapur
The obvious choice is to have Booker T win, which leads to Cage having to join the MEM unwillingly. But I think that this would be too obvious, so to mix it up, they will think about doing the opposite. But I also think that they would figure out that people would come to that conclusion, and so to swerve those people, they will do exactly that. Thanks, Vince Russo, now my brain hurts. Cage wins... maybe.
Chris Schramm
Legends? Hmm. I do not think so; but still an interesting match-up. I see Booker T winning this because since losing the TNA title, Cage has been buried. I don't expect to see that stop here.
Matt Mackinder
This title should only be eligible to be won by former WWE guys. Maybe TNA can bring in Dick Kroll to ref this match. Wait, that's going TOO far back. What does this title even prove? Maybe Cage figures it out after he wins.
| TNA WORLD TAG TEAM TITLE MATCH
Motor City Machine Guns vs. Beer Money, Inc. |
|---|
SLAM! Predictions
Mark Xamin
Beer Money Inc has been the toast of the tag team division for a while now, but MCMG is more than capable of carrying the division as well. This could be a really good one, but I'm going with Beer Money Inc. to retain.
Andy McNamara
This is a pick'em in my book, and should be one of the most entertaining battles on the card. I'll go with The Motor City Machine Guns.
Bob Kapur
It would seem that the on-again, off-again push for the MCMGs is on again. Look for Team 3-D to cost Beer Money the belts.
Matt Mackinder
The Detroiters finally get tag team gold and make me proud.
| GRUDGE MATCH Kurt Angle vs. Abyss |
|---|
SLAM! Predictions
Andy McNamara
Hopefully Angle won't have to land on too many thumbtacks. Angle wins this one clean.
Bob Kapur
Hopefully the drama between Abyss and his new best friend Matt Morgan won't spill over into this one, as it could be a good match otherwise, particularly if somehow Abyss finds his hardcore edge again. Either way, though, Angle wins.
Chris Schramm
Angle is wrestling hurt and this is expected to be a brutal match. I just hope Angle does not sustain any additional injuries. For some reason I see Abyss winning here with some brutal ending. What that ending is? I am unsure. I just hope it's planned out well and no one gets hurt.
Matt Mackinder
Angle is now this far down the card? I guess his weight isn't the only thing that's decreasing. Ooooh. Angle also wins and Abyss bleeds like always.
| GRUDGE MATCH Rhino vs. Shiek Abdul Bashir |
|---|
SLAM! Predictions
Mark Xamin
Rhino should win out, eventually... but I hope for the X Division's sake that Bashir at least makes it look like a fight. Rhino takes this one.
Andy McNamara
Ummmm, Rhino?
Bob Kapur
So what's the grudge? Simply that Rhino doesn't like Bashir bashing the USA? So much for the right to free speech! Bashir wins.
Chris Schramm
Bashir is on a roll here. And I do not see that ending in this match. It is an odd match-up, with a little bit of clashing styles.
Matt Mackinder
Gore! Gore! Gore!
Visit the SLAM! Wrestling store!
Take a look back at the Main Event Mafia's roots. Purchase TNA, WWE, WCW and other DVDs in the SLAM! Store!
-- compiled by Jon Waldman
|