We are less than 24 hours away from the second biggest TNA PPV of the year, so let's get to predicting!
STEEL CAGE, KNOCK OUT*/SUBMISSIONS MATCH, WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP Magnus (c) vs. Samoa Joe
STEEL CAGE LETHAL LOCKDOWN MATCH FOR CONTROL OF TNA WRESTLING OPERATIONS Team Dixie (Roode, Aries & The Bromans) vs. Team MVP (MVP, The Wolves & Jeff Hardy)
STEEL CAGE KNOCKOUTS CHAMPIONSHIP Madison Rayne (c) vs. Gail Kim
STEEL CAGE MATCH, LAST MAN STANDING Gunner vs. "Cowboy" James Storm
STEEL CAGE MATCH Mr. Anderson vs. Samuel Shaw
STEEL CAGE MATCH Bad Influence & Sabin vs. Muta, Sanada** & Nakanoue
STEEL CAGE MATCH Manik vs. the debuting Tigre Uno
--- * Not to be confused with the Knockouts.
** Sanada is the new X Champion. Unlike the Bromans two title changes, Sanada's win has not yet been acknowledged on TV (presumably because they could not figure out how to edit out the footage of Aries as champion from this week's Impact).
You'd think with as few actual PPVs as TNA has anymore, they'd do a better job of building up to them. But, of course, somehow the actual show seems to sneak up and they've only built angles for, like, 3 matches (of course, a lot of the time spent on ECIII vs. Angle is wasted since Angle's too injured to compete).
Magnus vs. Samoa Joe (World Heavyweight Championship) - Magnus as Dixie's chosen champion is still the storyline going forward, plus the stips are totally in Joe's favor and that's never a good sign for a babyface. Joe gets knocked out in screwy fashion, one would presume, because god forbid Magnus get a clean win over anyone.
Team MVP vs. Team Dixie - Team MVP wins. Is Hardy coming in as himself or as Willow here? I know they announced Jeff Hardy, so did they just scrap the Willow thing, or does the taping pre-date the decision to do Willow? Either way, MVP wins both to establish him and to set up Roode's face turn.
Madison Rayne vs. Gail Kim (Knockouts Championship) - Boy, this is a hard one to care about, which is sad, because both women are really talented, but somehow overshadowed by the sudden influx of giantess bodyguards. Gail wins the title back, probably because they haven't given Madison an actual contract (note: I have no idea if this is true, it would just be very TNA to put a belt on an uncontracted wrestler)
Gunner vs Storm (Last Man Standing) - This is actually a decent feud...which is bad, because the first match in it is a LMS match in a steel cage. They put off Storm's heel turn for a while, which was good in some ways, but now they're stuck having a blowoff match after only three weeks or so. Storm's over the top "I hate the military" cheap heat aside, TNA's somehow managed to make Gunner an actual believable upper card babyface, which I never would have imagined. If this is the blowoff, I'd say Gunner, but since it's TNA and they'll surely try to continue the feud nonetheless, I'll say Storm wins here.
Anderson vs. Samuel Shaw - Shaw's gotta win, since it's his first real feud (and Anderson's a useless lump). Speaking of wastes, why isn't Bully Ray on this card? You really couldn't find a feud for the best heel on your roster so he'd have a match at your first PPV in months?
Bad Influence/Sabin vs. Muta's Japanese Contingent - Muta's team wins, because BI and Sabin are pretty much entertaining jobbers to the stars.
Manik vs. Tigre Uno - Is Tigre a known quantity/luchador or did they just slap a mask on Christopher Daniels again? Regardless, Tigre wins, since it's his first match, of course.
"Never piss off a hawk with a blowgun" - Conan O'Brien
STEEL CAGE, KNOCK-OUT/SUBMISSIONS MATCH, WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP Magnus (c) vs. Samoa Joe
This has been a well promoted match. It doesn't quite feel like as big of a deal as the AJ/Magnus match that I thought we would get though. Joe is great at choking in his big matches. I see him getting knocked out somehow. Winner: Magnus
STEEL CAGE LETHAL LOCKDOWN MATCH FOR CONTROL OF TNA WRESTLING OPERATIONS Team Dixie (Roode, Aries & The Bromans) vs. Team MVP (MVP, The Wolves & Jeff Hardy)
I'm excited about this match. My guess is that team Dixie wins after MVP does something foolish like pretending to shoot a basketball rather than go for a win. I got the vibe that MVP's showboating was what made Aries decide to side with Roode. Cockiness does not get one full control of the company. We'll find out on Impact whether Aries gets his 5% of the company or not.
Winner: Team Dixie
STEEL CAGE KNOCKOUTS CHAMPIONSHIP Madison Rayne (c) vs. Gail Kim
I care about this match the least. Kim lost the title too soon. Winner: Madison Rayne
STEEL CAGE MATCH, LAST MAN STANDING Gunner vs. "Cowboy" James Storm
The story behind this match has gotten fun. Storm doesn't seem to be a full heel yet. Storm will use Gunner's anger to steal the win. Winner: Storm
STEEL CAGE MATCH Mr. Anderson vs. Samuel Shaw
Shaw will end Anderson's creepy antics, and will move on to protect his lady love from the menace of evil clown Willow. Bully Ray may also interfere. Winner: Samuel Shaw
STEEL CAGE MATCH Bad Influence & Sabin vs. Muta, Sanada & Nakanoue
Never count on Bad Influence to win a match. Winner: Muta, Sanada, and Nakanoue
STEEL CAGE MATCH Manik vs. the debuting Tigre Uno
I would go with Manik, but who bets against a shapeshifting tiger warrior? Winner: Tigre Uno
Also, I expect ECIII to beat Angle even though that match is no longer advertised. ECIII has a win streak to maintain, and Angle would wrestle even if he was paralyzed.
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Originally posted by thecubsfan
Tigre Uno is ex-AAA luchador Extreme Tiger. If anyone watches Xplosion (???), he's the same guy who popped up there a couple times as Ultimate Tiger.
(edited by thecubsfan on 9.3.14 1453)
Xplosion always struck me as being a mysterious show. I never see recaps up for it on the web.
Well, before we begin, I just want to say that "SmackDown! Here Comes The Pain" is the best SD game in every aspect. I can only hope the next one is even better. That said, it's time for The Great Thomas SmackDown! Report! Angle vs. Jones: