Headlocker — Jay Shannon
Against All Odds Predictions!
Our resident philosopher, Jay Shannon, breaks out his crystal ball to try and figure out what will happen at Sunday’s Against All Odds TNA Pay-Per-View
Against All Odds is scheduled to happen on Sunday. The main event will feature Christian Cage against Kurt Angle for the TNA World Title. Samoa Joe will serve as Special Guset Referee in that match. In addition, the X-Division’s status is on the line in what promises to be a brutal 6-man street fight. TNA will also present a vicious family feud as a son fights both his father and half-brother in an unforgiving Barbed Wire Challenge. Let’s take a look at the matches and I’ll do my best predicting for this one.
Ms. (Tracy) Brooks vs. Ms. (Payton) Banks–Knockouts Grudge Match
The Backstory:
Robert Roode fired Tracy as his assistant. He then hired Payton, who had been stalking Robert for several weeks. The two women have had a few catfights, but security or wrestlers always broke them apart before it got too good.
My Prediction:
Payton will get a tainted win over Tracy. A decisive win by either side would destroy the momentum of this blossoming feud. I would expect Roode to somehow cause the loss.
Predicted Winner: Payton Banks
Robert Roode vs. Booker T–Grudge Match
Backstory:
Roode accidently struck Sharmell at the last PPV. According to the storyline, Sharmell ended up with a shattered jaw. Booker has been stewing about this situation for several weeks. Booker needs to avenge his wife’s honor in this match.
Prediction:
I see three possible endings for this match.
1. The most likely is that Roode will take the fight to Booker for awhile, but eventually run from the ring to protect himself from Booker’s wrath. Booker wins by count-out. This could set up future matches between the two.
2. Another possibility is a decisive win by Booker T. He would just whip Roode like a government mule to bring honor back to the T family name.
3. My only other thought is that Sharmell shows up and turns on her hubby for not protecting her from Roode. Booker would end up losing to a (semi) clean pin by Roode.
Predicted Winner: Booker T (most likely)
Team 3D and Johnny Devine vs The Motor City Machine Guns and Jay Lethal–Hardcore Street Fight
This war has been going on for months. Johnny Devine was an X-Division star that turned traitor to align himself with Team 3D in their war against the X-Division. The newest version of Team 3D (Devine taking Spike/Runt’s spot on the team) has done their best to destroy any and all X-Division stars in the company. This match is expected to be the final chapter in the feud. The stipulations for this match are a bit complex:
If Team 3D/Devine win, the X-Division will be disbanded.
If the Guns and Lethal win, then Team 3D have to keep their weights under 275 lbs to keep their jobs.
The Guns and Lethal have taken a lot of beatings, lately, from the “new” Team 3D. Ray and Devon actually helped “Brother Devine” win the X-Division title from Jay Lethal.
Prediction:
There is no way that TNA is going to get rid of the X-Division. They need a secondary title to be successful. Smackdown has the US Title. Raw has the Intercontinental title. A successful program needs an A-Level title and a B-Level title. Devine will likely end up pinned by Lethal.
Predicted Winners: Jay Lethal, Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley
Eric Young vs. “Cowboy” James Storm–Drinking World Championship Match
Backstory:
James Storm’s character has been based, largely, on his drinking prowess. He’s used beer adn beer bottles as weapons against men like Chris Harris and Rhino. A few months back, Storm found out that Eric Young could keep up with, if not out-drink, him. Storm created the Drinking World Championship. This moronic storyline has seen Eric humiliate Storm, and himself, in a serious of drinking contests. This Sunday’s match should be just about as pathetic as the rest.
Prediction:
My first reaction is Who cares?. This is a total waste of TV time. If I had to pick a winner, I guess I’ll give it to Eric. The crowd loves the Eugene-wannabe and it would be logical to go with the crowd’s choice.
Predicted WInner: Eric Young
A.J. Styles and (Travis) Tomko vs. B.G. James (Armstrong) and “Bullet” Bob Armstrong–NWA World Tag Team Title Match
Backstory:
A few weeks back, B.G. won a tag team title shot in the Feast or Fired fiasco that TNA put on. Instead of choosing his regular partner, Kip James, B.G. decided to go with his father, 67-year old “Bullet” Bob Armstrong. Styles and Tomko are not exactly getting along, right now, due to the whole Angle/Cage situation.
Prediction:
With the chaos in the Styles/Tomko camp, it might seem logical that the Armstrong clan would claim the gold. I don’t think it will happen. What I see as the most likely ending of this match is that Kip James will, somehow, cost the Armstrongs the win. Jealously will be the motivator. A feud between Kip and B.G. will be ignited and Styles and Tomko would have to try and get their act together to stay the champs.
Predicted Winners: Styles and Tomko
Abyss vs “Father” James Mitchell and Judas Mesias–Barbed Wire Massacre 2 Match
Backstory:
Vince Russo looked at the Undertaker’s wrestling life story for this one. Abyss was managed by his (story-line) father, James Mitchell. Abyss turned on his father to become a good guy. Mitchell brought in his other “son”, Judas Mesias, to battle the wayward Chris Parks-Mitchell aka Abyss. Mitchell revealed his paternal ties to Abyss three weeks ago and claimed that Judas and Abyss were half-brothers. Sounds rather familiar, doesn’t it? Abyss, humiliated by his family’s actions, decided to challenge his father and brother to the ultimate in brutality matches, Barbed Wire Massacre. Much like the ECW match between Sabu and Terry Funk that Paul Heyman used once and swore never to use again, the ropes are removed and the ring is strung with miles of barbed wire. The object of the match is to simply shred your opponent until they simply can’t continue. This one is going to be Monkey-Butt Ugly.
Prediction:
Abyss will be able to come out on top, but not before being sliced and diced. Mitchell is going to take the biggest beating in this match. No matter what color jacket he starts the match in, it will be crimson by night’s end. This match will steal the show.
Predicted Winner: A extremely bloody Abyss
Awesome Kong vs ODB–TNA Women’s Championship Match
Backstory:
Kong recently used two Powerbombs and an Awesome Bomb to take the TNA Women’s title from Gail Kim. ODB earned the number one contender’s spot through a series of matches. This is Kong’s first title defense. It is also ODB’s first shot at the title. ODB has taunted Kong for several weeks, so the ginormous Japanese warrior is itching for a fight.
Prediction:
I know the crowd loves ODB. Heck, she’s one of my favorites in the ring. I just can’t see Kong losing to ODB so soon after winning the title. Kong needs to establish her dominance. I expect a hard fought battle. ODB may start out playing up to the crowd, but she’ll get down to business, double quick, once Kong starts getting vicious. It will take more than one Awesome Bomb to stop the “Trailer Park Princess” but Kong will win.
Predicted Winner: Awesome Kong
Petey Williams vs Scott Steiner–Case vs Case Match
Backstory:
At the ill-fated Feast or Fired match, both Petey Williams and Scott Steiner won cases. On the following edition of Impact, Scott was given three choices on his case:
1. Keep his case.
2. Trade his case with some one else.
3. Take a cash “buy-out” for his case.
Scott chose to switch cases with Petey Williams. By doing so, Scott traded away a TNA World Title shot for an X-Division Title shot. Scott has been cranky, ever since. Scott has tried re-switching cases. Scott has stolen Petey’s case. Scott has basically been a big baby about the loss of the TNA World Title shot. A tag team match where Petey and Scott were partners collapsed when Scott stole Petey’s case, bashed him in the head with it, and walked away. Jim Cornette ordered the two men to fight in a Winner Takes All match for both cases.
Predictions:
Petey is slowing morphing into the “new” Scott Steiner. His “Maple Leaf Muscle” persona so mirrors that of the nWo-era Scott. Williams is in the middle of a huge push, right now, so having him lose would be counter-productive. I just can’t see Williams nailing the Canadian Destroyer on Steiner, but I do think Petey will get the duke.
Predicted Winner: Petey Williams
Kurt Angle vs Christian Cage–TNA World Title Match–Samoa Joe as Special Guest Referee
Backstory:
A.J. Styles and (Travis) Tomko were solid members of Cage’s Christian Coalition. Angle drove a wedge into that clique by using his wife, Karen, to seduce Styles away from Cage. Styles is now a member of the Angle Alliance. Tomko seems to be aligned with Cage, but their relationship is rocky, at best.
Samoa Joe is being courted by Jim Cornette and TNA Management to sign a new 5-year contract. He will be making more money than Angle, if he ever actually signs the contract. Originally, Joe wanted this title match at Against All Odds, but Cornette convinced Joe to take the Guest Ref spot. Joe will get the winner of this match at the next PPV.
Prediction:
This match is going to be a serious mess. There are way too many players in this game. Cage has problems with Angle. Joe has issues with Angle. Joe has issues with Cage. Styles has issues with Cage. Tomko has issues with Styles, Angle, Cage, and just about everyone else in the company. Styles and Tomko are sure to get involved in this one. Karen is going to get involved. Kevin Nash will likely get involved. Matt Morgan, who has issues with Nash and Joe, will stick his nose in this match, most likely. This match, which could be a Match of the Year contender match, will most likely end up a chaotic run-in where no clear winner will be determined. Joe will likely be the determining factor. He wants to take the TNA Title from Angle, so he will likely do something to keep the title on Angle.
Predicted Winner: Kurt Angle
In Conclusion:
Against All Odds, on paper, should be a great Pay Per View. Sadly, it probably won’t turn out that way. TNA will play it safe. The X-Division will be saved by Sabin, Shelley and Lethal. Joe will probably cost Cage the championship, so that he can challenge Angle for it. Kong will dominate ODB. The VKM/James Gang/New Age Outlaws will likely implode. Nothing will get resolved and no titles will likely change hands. I hope I’m wrong.
– Jay Shannon
Boxworld@SBCGlobal.net
(2/9/08)
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