TNA Slammiversary – Previews/Predictions

Today marks the eighth anniversary of TNA Wrestling and they’re planning on celebrating it with a huge PPV party known as Slammiversary.  There are nine scheduled matches for tonight’s card, so let’s get right into the previews and predictions:

TNA X-Division Title Match
Doug Williams (Champion) vs. Brian Kendrick
SHOULD: Williams WILL: Williams

• After regaining the title he NEVER lost, Doug Williams is out to reeducate the X-Division on what real wrestling is about.  Brian Kendrick was basically thrown a freebie opportunity to get a title shot.  I think that because they almost instantly put the title back on Williams after it was stripped from him, I think that he might be in line for a long run with the belt.  I have a strong feeling he’s just going to mow down the X-Division one by one till he gets to a certain person… I leave it there, and let your mind wander…

Brother Ray vs. Jesse Neal
SHOULD: Ray WILL: Neal

• For some reason as of late, Brother Ray of Team 3D has a bug up his ass about Jesse Neal and his practically non-existent ego.  They’ve bitched over it for the past few weeks and finally at Slammiversary the teacher will face the student one on one.  Personally, I think that Ray should win as a way to uphold the respect of the business.  However, I have this feeling that TNA will have Neal upset him and then post match Ray will beat the piss out of him.  That will lead to Brother Devon coming out, and a possible falling out between the long time tag team partners.

Monster’s Ball Match
Desmond Wolfe vs. Abyss with Chelsea
SHOULD: Abyss WILL: Abyss

• At Sacrifice Abyss defeated Wolfe and won the services of his girl, Chelsea.  Now after being with Abyss for a month, Chelsea and Desmond are no longer perfectly on the same page.  In this anything goes match, Wolfe will probably go crazy trying to destroy Abyss so that he can regain his girlfriend.  I have a feeling like we’re going to see Chelsea being used as a human shield and see a little emotion coming from the big man.  In the grand scheme of things, Abyss is the bigger name right now, so I think that they’ll give him the nod.  Wolfe may pull out every dirty trick, but I think he’ll be the one broken tonight.

Mr. Anderson & Jeff Hardy vs. Beer Money Inc.
SHOULD: Beer Money WILL: Beer Money

• Anderson and Hardy were rivals for a little bit, but then something happened where Anderson “saw the light,” and started respecting Hardy.  It took Hardy some time to trust Anderson, but now they’re on the same page and are joining forces to take on the former tag team champions, Beer Money.  One thing Beer Money said the other day, “A tag team is like being brothers.  It’s about trusting your partner.” (Something to that extent)  My gut tells me that Beer Money will try their underhanded tricks, but it will be the relationship between Hardy & Anderson that will be the telling sign of the match up.  Personally, I feel like we may see a small fracture and Beer Money taking advantage of it.

Knockout’s Title Match
Roxxi vs. Madison Rayne (Champion)
SHOULD: Roxxi WILL: Roxxi

• After coming back from a foot/ankle injury, Roxxi has taken it to Madison Rayne in non-title action, and earned her title shot rather quickly.  While I don’t know how entertaining this match might be since they really haven’t hyped it so much, I do have a feeling that the newest knockout on the roster, Rosey Lotta Love will make an appearance and cost Madison the title.  Yes, I believe that we’ll have a NEW Knockout’s Champion, Roxxi.

Matt Morgan vs. Hernandez
SHOULD: Morgan WILL: Morgan

• Matt Morgan and Hernandez used to be tag team partners.  That is until Matt Morgan smashed Hernandez’s head between his boot and the steel post a few months ago.  Now Hernandez is back with a vengeance, and this past week he embarrassed Morgan on Impact.  If TNA follows the stereotypical plan of wrestling rivalries, Matt Morgan should and will win tonight and get some sort of revenge.

#10 Spot in Top 10 Rankings
Kurt Angle vs. Kazarian (#10)
SHOULD: Angle WILL: Angle

• Kurt Angle came back from his vacation to the #2 spot in the Top 10 Rankings.  He then took himself out of the running and said he wanted to earn his spot.  So a battle royal was had, and Kazarian earned the #10 spot.  Unfortunately for him, that means he has to face Kurt Angle first.  I think that this could be one of the nominees for match of the night.  It will be a sight to see if Kaz can hang with Angle’s wrestling prowess, and if Kurt can hang with Kaz’s high flying abilities.  This is going to have a big fight feel, and part of me expects to see Angle get a little crazy with maybe a moonsault or two.  Quite simply, you can’t put an end to Kurt’s run for the gold before it even starts.  Angle wins this match.

AJ Styles vs. Jay Lethal
SHOULD: Styles WILL: Lethal

• Recently, Jay Lethal has become a thorn in the side of Ric Flair.  The Nature Boy has tried a few times now to take out Lethal for impersonating him on national television.  He’s tried to get AJ to take him out, but so far he’s been unsuccessful in doing so.  Never in my wildest dreams would I have ever thought I’d be saying this, but I think Jay Lethal is going to beat AJ Styles tonight.  This is going to be the biggest match of Lethal’s career and will be competing for match of the night honors.  In the scheme of the wrestling world, AJ should probably win, but I think Lethal has a rocket attached to his back, and the fuse is lit.  I think Lethal is destined to be one of TNA’s next big stars.

TNA World Title Match
Sting vs. Rob Van Dam (Champion)
SHOULD: RVD WILL: Sting

• Rob Van Dam’s title run hasn’t been the most epic, but he’s trying to be a fighting champion.  Sting is still hell bent on making TNA aware of what’s going on in his head, and for him the keyword is “deception.”  Sting vows to win the World Title, and then unveil what’s really going on.  Personally, I don’t like the idea of Sting having the title.  It’s not really believable to me.  RVD should probably win this match up and carry on his title reign.  However, I think that Sting will do what he’s intending, and win the World Title.  He’ll then cast a dark shadow on all of TNA now that he’s the “King of the Mountain.”

One thing that needs to be addressed is my not so subtle hint of King of the Mountain.  That match is usually a staple of Slammiversary PPVs, and for some reason, this year it’s been stopped.  I’m disappointed that TNA is going away from this match, because it’s an exciting stipulation, and it involves a bunch of top stars competing for the top prize.  We’ll see how TNA does without it.

The Slammiversary PPV starts at 5pm on the west coast, and 8pm on the east coast.  I’ll be back tomorrow with all the results and my reactions to the outcomes.  Till then…