The Katz Files – Arnie Katz
My Turning Point Preview & Predictions!
The Kingfish Arnie Katz breaks out the crystal ball to get you ready for TNA’s November pay per view, Turning Point.
Turning Point, coming in the wake of Bound for Glory and a week before WWE’s Survivor Series, is not going to be a major show. That’s especially true this year, with Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff waiting in the wings to assume (apparently) creative control as of the next set of tapings.
The knowledge that change is coming actually adds a little life to this show. TNA probably expects to break continuity when the new guys take over, so they could do about anything.
And you have to wonder how a couple of seemingly marked men, Vince Russo and Ed Ferrara, will choose to book what might be their last major TNA event.
Let’s look at the card, match by match, and see what we can expect at Turning Point….
Team 3D & Rhino vs. Matt Morgan, Hernandez & D’Angelo Dinero
The Story: Rhino claims there’s a conspiracy and now, suddenly, Team 3D is buying it. This match pits Ray, Devon and the War Machine against three of TNA’s rising stars.
My Prediction: This match is something of a mystery. It is unclear why Dinero is aligned with the two babyfaces and why TNA gas set up this mini-cluster schmazz. The young guys need to win, or at least not lose. One possible way is that Rhino could go nuts and get his team disqualified. The virtually promised that The Pope would not turn traitor. One viable scenario would be to have Ray pull Rhino off someone for using excessive force, only to leave himself open for a pin, which Dinero would execute. This, in turn, would cause friction between Dinero and the two faces,
Predicted Grade: B
Bobby Lashley vs. Scott Steiner
The Story: Scott Steiner has conceived a mad, delusional lust for Lashley’s wife Crystal. They both plan to take out their mutual hatred in the ring.
My Prediction: Bobby Lashley won’t win this match. That may seem incredible, but consider this: the feud ends when Lashley wins. It would be wasteful to do that, so Lashley must look like he could win after dominating the match, but a distraction involving Crystal will either get him pinned or cause him to be disqualified. The only real alternative I see is the referee disqualifying Steiner when he lays hands on Crystal. That’s still not what I would call a real, convincing win, though.
Predicted Grade: B-
British Invasion vs. Beer Money Inc. vs. The Motor City Machine Guns
TNA World Tag Title Championship
Triple Threat Match
The Story: The re-emergent Machine Guns, having veered to the babyface, have taken dead aim at the TNS tag team title. Beer Money wants the belts, too, and earned their way into this match with a non-title victory over the British Invasion on iMPACT.
My Prediction: The Guns sorely need a title run and this could be the time they get it. They would then battle the British Invasion and, as the true tweeners they are, could also fight Beer Money. (Or Beer Money could try to revert to heels.)
Predicted Grade: A-
Tara vs. Awesome Kong
Six Sides of Steel Cage Match
The Story: Whether they were teamed or opposing each other, Tara and Awesome Kong have never gotten along very well. Both women have designs on ODB’s Knockout Championship, which has only intensified the rivalry. Recently, Kong has crashed Tara’s matches, treating Tara and sometimes even her opponent most rudely. They’re inside the cage, one against one.
My Prediction: There are so many possibilities, a lot of them pretty bad. For instance, having Tara worry about what Raisha Saeed or Alissa Flash or Someone Else is doing with that spider outside the cage and lose the match is totally unacceptable. Awesome Kong needs a quality win and this match should provide it.
Predicted Grade: B+
Amazing Red vs. Homicide
X-Division Championship
The Story: Homicide has harassed Amazing Red since the sensational flyer won the belt from Samoa Joe. The time for hit-and-run attacks and gang-style beatdowns is past. Now, two of the most athletic, acrobatic wrestlers will settle the core inside the ring.
My Prediction: This could be the show’s most exciting match. Amazing Red will have to overcome some interference from World Elite, but he is likely to go back to the dressing room with the strap. A DQ victory in which Bashir and Kioshi join Homicide is possible, but I think they’ll give Red a clean win in a hard=fought match..
Predicted Grade: A
ODB & Taylor Wilde & Sarita vs. The Beautiful People
All Knockout Titles on the Line Match
The Story: Taylor Wilde and Sarita have successfully defended their recently won tag team title against The Beautiful People, but this time TNA’s bad girls will get to demonstrate their group’s full ability. Of course, the tag champs have an ally, too, in the Knockout Champion, ODB. The unique feature of the match is that the titles are all up for grabs. A title-holder who gets pinned will no longer have the gold.
My Prediction: Once this stip is in place, there’s got to be some expectation that someone will lose a title. Of course, as veteran wrestling fans know, that can be a signal that everybody will keep their titles. My prediction is that The Beautiful People will emerge with the tag team championship. There are many possible scenarios, but I believe it will be something like ODB gets sprayed in the face and Sarita tries to go to her aid. This leaves the Latina open to attack and she gets pinned.
Predicted Grade: B-
Kurt Angle vs. Desmond Wolfe
The Story: Wolfe, a newcomer to TNA, as vowed to replace Kurt Angle. And if that means putting him out of commission, the Howler is not afraid to do that, too. The Former Olympian says he won’t let anyone make a reputation at his expense. That’s sure to be a volatile combination!
My Prediction: This is an intriguing match-up, because it doesn’t seem like either man can take a loss. Wolfe is new and Angle’s status would suffer if he took a loss to someone who just got to TNA. That points to an inconclusive result. A Double Count-Out would work well, since it would also set up the next match in the series.
Predicted Grade: B+
AJ Styles vs. Samoa Joe vs. Daniels
TNA World Championship Match
The Story: Samoa Joe has cleverly undermined the friendship between Styles and Daniels. His attempt to set them against each other has, at the very least, sown the seeds of mistrust. That means they won’t be ganging up on Joe, whose size and power could be a decisive advantage in this free for all for TNA’s top title.
My Prediction: Samoa Joe will prevent Daniels from winning the title, but the Fallen Angel and Styles will be set for a program. The Phenomenal One will retain the championship.
Predicted Grade: A
Predicted Grade for Turning Point: B
That’s all for today! I’ll be back on Monday with my recap and analysis of Turning Point on Monday. Hope you’ll join me then – and, please, bring your friends.
— Arnie Katz
Executive Editor
Crossfire4@cox.net
(11/15/09)