Mt. Killamanjaro — TNA Sacrifice Preview — @MikeKillam
Below are my brief thoughts and predictions for tonight’s TNA Sacrifice PPV. Make sure to follow along with Wrestlezone.com for full coverage of the event throughout the night, as well as our Twitter account, @WrestlezoneCom.
TNA World Heavyweight Championship: Ladder Match
Bobby Roode (c) vs. Rob Van Dam
While I don’t think there’s any way Bobby Roode leaves Sacrifice without the title, I’m actually excited to see Rob Van Dam back in a Championship match. If there’s any man who can take Roode to the limit in a Ladder Match, it’s “the whole F’n show”. Unfortunately for RVD, Roode is on a hot streak and will likely carry the belt awhile longer. All that aside, this should be a great wrestling match!
Prediction: Bobby Roode retains
TNA Tag Team Championship Match
Magnus and Samoa Joe (c) vs. Daniels and Kazarian
What did Daniels and Kaz do to earn this shot, win matches? Since when did that become a prerequisite for a Championship match at a PPV? I’m kidding of course — winning had nothing to do with it. They’re simply the only “team” on Impact that isn’t nursing long-term injuries or made up of Eric Young and whatever the hell ODB is… The question is, does the blatantly obvious interference happen here or in the Styles/Angle match? My money is on “yes”…
Prediction: Daniels/Kazarian win, New Champions
TNA Television Championship Match
Devon (c) vs. Robbie E vs. Robbie T
Could this be the beginning of the end for Big Robbie and Little Robbie? Will the thirst for Impact gold be too much for Robbie T to handle, or will he do his job and hook his boss up? Does anyone care….?
Prediction: Devon retains
Knockouts Championship
Gail Kim (c) vs. Brooke Tessmacher
Hold on… Brooke actually became the #1 contender to a Championship belt by beating the Champion in several consecutive matches? Maybe there’s hope for this division after all! Here’s what I care about going into this match: Brooke is hot. She’s like Eve, but with less clothing restrictions (always a good thing). Gail is a better wrestler, and a much more intriguing Champion. Keep the “diva” on television for eye candy, let the Knockout keep her belt and continue being better than “the other company’s girls”.
Prediction: Gail Kim retains
Kurt Angle vs. A.J. Styles
Is Kurt Angle a heel or a face? The answer is: it doesn’t matter. There’s no way this match — and what a hell of a wrestling match it could be — will end cleanly. Kaz & Daniels must get involved in some way to progress their story. I get it, but I’m not really happy about a poorly planned-out, over-stretched story getting in the way of what could be a “match of the year” candidate.
Prediction: Um…Kurt Angle wins?
Jeff Hardy vs. Mr. Anderson
I would have really bought into the clever 4-way gimmick that Hogan ran on Impact this week, if they hadn’t ruined it on the internet and by crappy commentating. “Dot Com” told us these two were going to be fighting before Impact went on the air; Taz told us Roode and RVD were facing off in a ladder match before the man even pulled out a damn ladder. This could still be a great match, but with nothing more than a semi-long-term rivalry to fuel this fight I’m not sure anybody can really invest in the story they’re trying to tell.
Prediction: Jeff Hardy wins, Anderson turns AGAIN?
Austin Aries vs. Bully Ray
Another potentially great match that will likely end in outside involvement. On one hand that’s a terrible thing, because Aries deserves this, his first true shot at a main event level singles match on PPV. On the other hand, TNA is currently doing the ONLY program I’ve ever found remotely intriguing when it comes to Abyss. If he does get involved, if for only a minute at the end, I’ll be happy. For the first time ever I’m actually excited to see where this goes. The lawyer character has been played phenomenally, and with a guy like Bully Ray on the other end of the stick we’re bound to see some good entertainment, if nothing else.
If nothing happens, and we just get a great match between Aries and Bully, I’ll also be happy. Both of these guys “have it”, and they’re two of the few big talents I see shaping the immediate future of TNA’s landscape.
Prediction: Austin Aries wins
In conclusion, this COULD be a great wrestling card. Styles/Angle, RVD/Roode and Anderson/RVD on their own should sell this card for a lot of fans. Aries/Bully is a big factor for me, and the rest all just falls in place as above-average TNA filler. I will say that for the first time in a long time I do feel like the entire card has a driven story and purpose. Hopefully TNA can break the curse of “good TV, bad PPV” they’ve been stuck with this year.
