The Katz Files – Arnie Katz
Against All Odds: Preview & Predictions
The Kingfish Arnie Katz gets you ready for TNA’s February pay per view event!.
Against All Odds is the pay per view at which TNA’s underdogs have their day, at least to some extent. The February pay per view has several of what appear to be slam-dunk matches, but outcomes are likely to be less certain than usual on this show.
A can of the card suggests that not much will be settle at Against All Odds, though the action will be up to TNA’s high standards. Injuries have made it difficult for TNA writers to advance the plot as they probably intended and this is likely to be a “catch up” show, where a lot of things will happen very quickly.
Let’s look at the card match by match…
Scott Steiner vs. Petey Williams
The Story: Once Petey Williams considered Scott Steiner is mentor. That changed when Big Poppa Pump joined the Main Event Mafia. Steiner orchestrated a couple of hideous beatdowns, but now Williams has a chance to get some revenge.
My Prediction: If this is the opening match, fans of Petey Williams will see Maple Leaf Muscle dole out some payback to Steiner. It would go well with the theme of the pay per view. Otherwise, Williams will get in his moves, but Steiner will use despicable tactics to gain the win.
This could well be a good match, but I haven’t liked what I’ve seen of Steiner and Williams squaring off against each other. The similar visual look coupled with the tremendous size difference doesn’t make for pleasant watching.
Predicted Grade: B
Brutus Magnus Open Challenge
The Story: This new addition to TNA from the United Kingdom came out on iMPACT and issued a challenger.
My Prediction: They didn’t start this storyline so that their new heel could lose. The victim will be someone like Shark Boy.
Predicted Grade: C+
Abyss vs. Matt Morgan
The Story: Former partners often turn into enemies in pro wrestling. There’s something about the inevitable friction of working closely with someone over a long period of time that can sunder friendships and estrange brothers. Matt Morgan claimed to be Abyss’ true friend, but he grew impatient with the Masked Man’s unwillingness to embrace his bloody past.
How ironic, then, that Abyss is ready to do just about anything to vanquish The Blueprint.
My Prediction: TNA loves those brutal, bloody big man matches and this will certainly fill the bill for this pay per view. Both combatants will bleed and take a lot of damage. This would be a bad loss for either Abyss or Morgan, so a good outcome might be a Double DQ after a furious battle gets out of hand.
Predicted Grade: B
Booker T vs. Shane Sewell
Legends Championship
The Story: Shane Sewell has drifted into a feud with Booker T as a result of his refusal to accept a bribe to slant his officiating. The gauntlet has been laid down and they will settle their score in the ring.
My Prediction: I wouldn’t have made this match, because Sewell has possibilities and there’s no way he should beat Booker T. My guess is that Booker, with some aid from the Main Event Mafia, will keep the title by walking away from the match and taking a count out loss.
Predicted Grade: B
ODB vs. Awesome Kong
Knockout Championship
Kong-tourage Banned from ringside
The Story: The Trailer Park Princess has not lost faith in her ability to go head-to-head against the TNA Women’s Champion. In recent times, the dreaded Kong-tourage is banned from ringside, so this is ODB’s chance to make her case/
My Prediction: An ODB win would be a “feel good” moment, but it won’t happen, at least not at this pay per view. Since there don’t seem to be any other viable challengers for Kong’s belt, TNA will likely want to preserve ODB for at least one pay per view rematch. The easy way would be to have the Kong-tourage violate the ban, causing Kong to be disqualified. They would administer the required group mugging so that ODB would have a reason to battle each of them on <IiMPACT before taking on Kong at a PPV. It would be a big mistake for TNA to show ODB beating Kong one on one at this stage; the champion’s invincibility is a large part of her appeal.
Predicted Grade: B+
Alex Shelley vs. Eric Young
X Division Championship
The Story: When Eric Young rushed to the ring to help Lethal Consequences against the Machine Guns when Beer Money took out Creed, he made himself a target for the reigning X-Division Champion.
My Prediction: This match should be the springboard to the next pay per view Destination X, which should translate into a disputed and highly controversial finish for this match. What if Chris Sabin interfered and Suicide came to Eric Young’s assistance? That’s my prediction.
Predicted Grade: A-
Beer Money vs. Lethal Consequences
TNA World Tag Team Championship
The Story:
My Prediction:
Predicted Grade:
Brother Ray vs. Brother Devon vs. Sting vs. Kurt Angle</BN
The Story: These two teams have battled in and out of the ring. This time, it’s a war for the coveted World Championship.
My Prediction: Beer Money will win when Jacqueline hands James Storm a bottle, which he will immediately use on Consequences Creed. Robert Roode may do his finisher to seal the deal. The announcers will excuse the loss on the basis of the fierce attack on Creed on iMPACT.
Predicted Grade: B+
Kurt Angle vs. Brother Ray vs. Brother Devon vs. Sting
TNA World Heavyweight Championship
Four-Way Dance
The Story: The struggle between the Frontline and the Main Event Mafia continue in this four-way battle for supremacy. Recently, there has been a lot of heat building up between Sting and Angle and it is far from certain how the two MEM members will behave towards each other once the bell rings.
<y Prediction: Kurt Angle will steal the title from Sting by pinning Devon after The Icon has him ready for the kill. Kevin Nash and Samoa Joe will both get involved in the match and, at first, end fight each other. Then a new member of the Maine vent Mafia will come out to help Nash, which will draw Mick Foley and perhaps AJ Styles into the fight. At that point, Joe will go for Angle to set up a title match at the next pay per view.
Predicted Grade: A
Predicted Grade for Against All Odds: B+
That’s it for today. I’ll be back on Monday with another installment of the Internet’s fastest-rising daily wrestling column. I’ll have the recap and analysis of Against All Odds and you’ll be able to laugh at my predictions.
— Arnie Katz
[email protected]
(2/7/09)