Predictions from the Faculty
TNA Victory Road 2010 Edition
July 11, 2010
Introduction and Closure by: Anthony J. Valvo of Wrestleview.com
Predictions by: WrestleView Columnists and Recappers
Introduction
Welcome to the latest edition of “Predictions from the Faculty”. This weekend, we gathered our thoughts for the upcoming TNA Pay-Per-View, known as Victory Road 2010.
We all remembered the wonderful Victory Road last year, one that got the Worst PPV of the Year and featured the epic Shantelle vs. Jenna match. This year, here is hoping that the 2010 helping will be a satisfying meal. The card features nine matches (eight that is official while one we are waiting for the tag team opponents for AJ and Kazarian).
As for the columnists, David Stephens is destined to maintain his spot as the Dean of WrestleView. However, he cannot afford to rest, as Josh Boutwell, Jose Marrero, and the Students of the Week are right there with him.
In case you are new to reading these predictions, here is the format. Each Pay-Per-View a few of the columnists on WrestleView provide predictions on who they thing will win the matches. We accumulate throughout the end of the Faculty’s year (in this case it will be Royal Rumble 2011).
What makes this entirely different to others is that you, the reader, can provide your picks for a spot to have yours posted in an upcoming PPV. All the readers have to do is either leave me a message on Facebook or e-mail at mistervwv@hotmail.com. The winner among the “WrestleView Students” will win an opportunity to post their picks under the “Student of the Week” tab in the predictions standings. We all thank you for your participation.
Before I show the class our selections, here are the rankings as of WWE’s Fatal 4-Way.
2010-2011 Season (As of WWE’s Fatal 4-Way)
1) David Stephens (That’s a Wrap and RAW Recapper)………….46-28 (2-3)
2) Josh Boutwell (Viva La Raza and TNA Recapper)……………….45-29 (2-3)
3) Jose Marrero (Wrestling Rumblings)……………………………………45-29 (2-3)
4) Students of the Week (The Best from Prev. PPV)………………43-31 (1-4)*
5) Daniel Browne (For Queen and Country)……………………………..42-32 (2-3)
6) Matt O’Brien (Notes From The Nosebleeds)…………………………41-33 (1-4)
7) WrestleView Students (The Loyal Readers)………………………..41-33 (2-3)
8) Anthony Valvo (From the Desk of Mr. V/ROH Recaps)……….41-33 (3-2)
9) Mike Tedesco (Smackdown and NXT Recapper)…………………39-28 (2-3)
10) Doug Lackey (Reality From Ringside)………………………………….39-35 (3-2)
11) Jeff Springer (WWE Superstars Recapper)……………………………31-23 (1-4)
12) Sean Hurley (The Sharpshooter)………………………………………..28-32 (0-0)
13) Joe Baiamonte (Baiamonte’s Casa/2009 WV Champ)………24-20 (0-0)
Luke is the Student of the Week this weekend. He provided a 4-1 record at WWE’s Fatal 4-Way PPV and thus earned the position this week.
Absent from this Week: Daniel Browne (may send them after publication), Mike Tedesco, Sean Hurley, and Joe Baiamonte.
David Stephens’ predictions were detailed on “The Teacher’s Lounge”.
In order to be the Student of the Week, the WrestleView Student must get a better single PPV record than the other WV Students as well as the Student of the Week. If the Student of the Week ties a WV Student, then the Student of the Week will retain.
Without further adieu, here are our predictions.
Mystery Match
The Tag Match in which will not count because there is no opponents named
AJ Styles and Kazarian vs. mystery tag team
Who will be the Mystery team? (optional and will not count)
David S. – N/A.
Josh B. – SAMOA JOE AND AMAZING RED.
Jose M. – N/A.
Luke – JOE AND ROB TERRY.
Matt O. – NASTY BOYS.
Anthony V. – I am going with a face tag team. And since GENERATION ME is on the TNA roster, I think, I say they are going to take on AJ and Kaz.
Doug L. – N/A.
Jeff S. – WORLD’S GREATEST TAG TEAM
Consensus: In a rare occurance, the faculty do not have an idea on who will be the mystery team. However, a couple went with Samoa Joe so go with that.
Who will win? (again, optional and will not count)
David S. – N/A.
Josh B. – STYLES AND KAZ.
Jose M. – THE MYSTERY TEAM.
Luke – Well, what would make a more interesting storyline? If Kaz and Styles made peace and won the match, or if they kept fighting, lost the match, and got chewed out by Flair on the next Impact? I thought so. I’ve got the MYSTERY TEAM winning. As for who it is, since I’m assuming Flair’s picking them they’re going to be tough, not some team played for comedy. Samoa Joe’s not on the card yet, so I think he’ll be one of the two. I’ll say Joe and Rob Terry, since TNA’s always trying to sell Terry to us.
Matt O. – WHAT??
Anthony V. – I think AJ and Kaz are going to cost each other the match. I say the MYSTERY TAG TEAM (in my view Generation Me) will steal a win from the proven guys as one of the Bucks pin Styles.
Doug L. – N/A.
Jeff S. – WGTT.
Consensus: It looks like not many of the members in this faculty are having faith with AJ Styles and Kazarian. It looks like Ric Flair will be yelling on Impact.
MYSTERY TEAM 4-1 in the optional pick.
Triple Threat Match
Brother Ray vs. Brother Devon vs. Jesse Neal
David S. – BROTHER RAY.
Josh B. – RAY.
Jose M. – BROTHER RAY.
Luke – There’s an ECW faction coming to TNA, and I’m thinking Team 3D’s going to be a part of it. In other words, there’s no way this Team 3D split is for real. I mean, the last time they split we got Devon being a preacher and Ray a dancing hardcore fool. Devon taking Neal’s side so far in all this is just a swerve, and Neal’s going to pay for it in this match. Devon and Ray beat down Neal badly, and Devon lets Ray pin Neal as payback for the times Neal pinned Ray. Technically, I’ve got RAY winning the match, but really it’s going to be Team 3D.
Matt O. – JESSE NEAL.
Anthony V. – It is a very bad match to predict because anyone can win this. I don’t think there will be any swerves and I am going to say that JESSE NEAL rolls up Devon for another upset.
Doug L. – JESSE NEAL via ‘As The World Turns’ logic. Holy living f%$k… I care more about Daniel Danielson’s fiber intake than I do this match!
Jeff S. – JESSE NEAL.
Consensus: Those who are in the higher echelon of the standings are going with the hardcore superstar in Brother Ray. However, those in the lower levels in the standings are going with “The Student” Jesse Neal. With four votes each for Neal and Ray, the faculty could not pick a clear winner. Just don’t pick Devon.
Brother Ray 4, Jesse Neal 4, Brother Devon 0.
Steel Cage Match
Matt Morgan vs. Hernandez
David S. – HERNANDEZ.
Josh B. – HERNANDEZ.
Jose M. – HERNANDEZ.
Luke – Lately Morgan’s been playing the odd combination of big man/weasely heel sneaking around getting cheap victories. Normally big men don’t have to go that route. There’s nowhere to run in the cage, so I’ve got HERNANDEZ winning this one and finally getting his revenge on Morgan.
Matt O. – HERNANDEZ.
Anthony V. – I expect this match to be a very quick contest. Hernandez has been craving this opportunity for months and I think we will see revenge in HERNANDEZ’S eyes! I expect Morgan to be destroyed.
Doug L. – MORGAN via… wait… it’s a Steel Cage match now? Oh… HERNANDEZ then…
Jeff S. – HERNANDEZ.
Consensus: With no one going for “The Blueprint”, bank on “Super Mex” winning this match and get some revenge on his former tag team partner.
HERNANDEZ 8-0.
Singles Match
Jay Lethal vs. Ric Flair
David S. – JAY LETHAL.
Josh B. – LETHAL.
Jose M. – JAY LETHAL.
Luke – This is arguably the first high-profile match of Lethal’s career. I look at this match the same way I do other up-and-comers in their first high-profile matches. Matt Morgan awhile back in his first PPV match with Kurt Angle, Sheamus in his first test on the big stage at WrestleMania against Triple H, and so many other examples. What do these matches all have in common? The up-and-comers all lost their first high-profile matches. I think, as a rule, an up-and-comer has to put a few of these high-profile matches under his belt before he learns how to actually start winning them. I’ve got FLAIR winning this one, probably with help from his Fortune sycophants.
Matt O. – LETHAL.
Anthony V. – The only way I can see Flair winning this if he hits below the belt and pull the tights. But I am going with JAY LETHAL here because I just think he being built the right way (I hope).
Doug L. – FLAIR via my greatest of wishes. If Lethal wins, why would Flair need to cut another promo? Why stop the fun?!
Jeff S. – RIC FLAIR.
Consensus: Even though The Nature Boy got a few votes from this faculty, it is Lethal that was predicted to win this contest. If Lethal wins this battle, this could be the biggest win in his career.
LETHAL 5-3.
Singles Match
D’Angelo Dinero vs. Kurt Angle
David S. – KURT ANGLE.
Josh B. – ANGLE.
Jose M. – KURT ANGLE.
Luke – If Kurt Angle’s going to lose a match on his “Quest up the Top Ten” (and I doubt he will), it’ll be against the #1 contender, not #8. I really like Dinero, and there’s no doubt in my mind he’ll be a fixture in the world title scene soon enough, but this is an easy call. ANGLE wins.
Matt O. – ANGLE.
Anthony V. – No doubt about it, it will be KURT ANGLE. Angle is being built to go from 10 to 1 and he is just adding another check to the list. Plus, I don’t go against anyone from Pittsburgh.
Doug L. – ANGLE via… do you really need to know? It’s so blatantly obvious… bigger question should be how long it will take for Angle to actually follow through on his word of retiring…
Jeff S. – KURT ANGLE.
Consensus: In a match that may be the easiest to predict in a long time, the faculty is going with Angle. However, expect Dinero to give his best effort to make this hard-fought.
ANGLE 8-0.
Championship Matches
For the TNA Knockout’s Championship
Title vs. Career
Stipulation: If Love loses, her career is over. If The Beautiful People interfere, Love wins the title.
Madison Rayne (c) vs. Angelina Love
David S. – MADISON RAYNE.
Josh B. – LOVE.
Jose M. – ANGELINA LOVE.
Luke – Please. Do you really think TNA’s going to do to Love what they did to poor Roxxi? No way. LOVE wins the Knockouts title and puts an end to Rayne’s mad career serial killing run. I wouldn’t be surprised if Lacey and Velvet get fed up with Rayne and intentionally cost her the title.
Matt O. – LOVE.
Anthony V. – Madison already got Roxxi and Tara fired. Will Love be the next victim? I think it is highly doubtful. LOVE is either going to win the title or win by DQ, which means she will win the title no matter what.
Doug L. – LOVE via ……………………..
Jeff S. – ANGELINA LOVE.
Consensus: This match was pretty close to a unanimous selection. Madison Rayne’s run at ending TNA careers are over! Expect Angelina Love to win back the Knockout’s Championship.
ANGELINA LOVE 7-1.
For the TNA X Division Championship
Ultimate X/Submission Match
Douglas Williams (c) vs. Brian Kendrick
David S. – DOUGLAS WILLIAMS.
Josh B. – WILLIAMS.
Jose M. – DOUGLAS WILLIAMS.
Luke – I just can’t picture Kendrick with the X-division title. I liked his character in WWE, the super-cocky little guy. But in TNA all he is is a crazy twitchy little weirdo. Besides, Douglas Williams is absolutely golden as X-champ, on the mic and in the ring. Yeah, I know, they’re trying to convince you that he’s scared of heights and won’t win, but that’s just a red herring. Williams will find a way around it. He can still make Kendrick tap out. I’ve got WILLIAMS retaining the X-title due to…skullduggery (the proper term for when a British wrestler uses underhanded tactics to win a match. Look it up.)
Matt O. – WILLIAMS.
Anthony V. – Let’s see, I don’t want Kendrick to win. I just don’t think he deserves it. I think in a way DOUGLAS WILLIAMS will slightly overcome his fear of heights and keep this match on the ground. Williams wins via submission.
Doug L. – WILLIAMS via TNA’s newfound X-Division booking. Which seems more likely to happen… Kendrick behind the mic talking about his latest opponent for the title, or Williams? That’s what I thought…
Jeff S. – BRIAN KENDRICK.
Consensus: Even though Williams is afraid of heights, he will find a way to retain that X Title at any cost over a very game Kendrick.
WILLIAMS 7-1.
For the Vacant TNA World Tag Team Championship
Beer Money, Inc. (Robert Roode and James Storm) vs. Motor City Machineguns (Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin)
David S. – MOTOR CITY MACHINEGUNS.
Josh B. – MACHINE GUNS.
Jose M. – MOTOR CITY MACHINEGUNS.
Luke – Ever since Flair came up with the idea for Fortune all of his henchmen have been on incredible losing streaks. I don’t think anyone’s technically joined the group yet, since you have to win a match to get in. The MCMG deserve a run with the titles more than any team in TNA, but I could easily see Flair’s boys standing behind him with those titles once again. Although, how many times can Beer Money have the titles before it starts getting old? This is the toughest match to call on the card by far. You know what, screw all the psycho babble head games and technical jargon! I really want the MOTOR CITY MACHINEGUNS to win the titles, so that’s who I’m picking.
Matt O. – GUNS.
Anthony V. – I notice every time the Machineguns earn the #1 contender spot they always lose. They are always the bridesmaid, but never the bride (that is how the cliché goes). I say the Guns will again be the bridesmaids again. With that, I am picking BEER MONEY to win those titles they should have won a LONG time ago. Ladies and Gents, your first two men in “Fortune”.
Doug L. – MCMG via ‘just f$%kin’ do it already!’ mentality. Make Row 3 happy… give the Motor City Monkey Gymnasts the titles only so they can be left off of TV for another month.
Jeff S. – MCMG.
Consensus: It seems that we are getting more 7-1 votes here. However, if there is any time to give the Guns their first TNA World Tag Team Championships this will be the time to do it. The faculty predicts the long-awaited title run for the Guns, whether they like it or not.
MOTOR CITY MACHINEGUNS 7-1.
For the TNA World Heavyweight Championship
Fatal 4-Way
Rob Van Dam (c) vs. Abyss vs. Jeff Hardy vs. Mr. Anderson
David S. – ABYSS.
Josh B. – RVD. Really leaning towards Anderson but I gotta go with the Whole F’n Show just because I don’t think it’s time to take the trap off him yet.
Jose M. – RVD.
Luke – I think it’s safe to eliminate Anderson from winning, same with Hardy and his “Creatures of the Night” (the only term in wrestling that’s lamer than WWE Universe). They’re both involved in their own storyline. That leaves Abyss and RVD. I’m soooooo glad Abyss stopped acting like the love child of Kane and Eugene and went back to being the monster he should’ve been all along. I think it’s obvious to everyone that the “they” he keeps mentioning is the growing ECW faction. This all has to do with the direction TNA wants to go in. TNA is desperately trying to capitalize on WWE’s softer PG style by going as violent and hardcore as the network will allow them to be, and also by saying “asshole” 200 times a show like a five-year-old who’s just learned his first dirty word. What better way to showcase this new direction than by putting the title on the company’s original hardcore monster. ABYSS wins the TNA title, probably by interference from the ECW faction. Ironic that they’d cost RVD the title, but they’ll probably say RVD’s gone too corporate and isn’t hardcore enough for them anymore.
Matt O. – RVD.
Anthony V. – Is it just me, or does Abyss’ new weapon remind me of my 7th Grade Wood Shop Project? Anyway, originally (on The Teacher’s Lounge) I feared that Abyss would win the World Title in this PPV, but with 2 PPVs in between this and Bound for Glory I don’t think ROB VAN DAM will lose this title until next month’s PPV. As for Hardy and Anderson, I think this will start a feud between the two. Expect Abyss to win the title next month.
Doug L. – ROB VAN DAM via um… the circumstances of the other three options. The problem is… you can’t say what will happen or what is going to happen with the other three options. I don’t know who’s over or who’s face/heel. I’m just praying for an all-out ECW schmoz to end this atrocity and Abyss yells ‘IT’S THEM!!!’
Jeff S. – MR. ANDERSON.
Consensus: Well, no one picked Jeff Hardy to win the championship so the intelligent WrestleView students will probably not pick them as well. Mr. Anderson got one vote, which may not surprise because he is a wrestler that could pick up a cheap win. Abyss landed a couple votes because of his inner monster once again. But will “they” help him or harm his chances to win the title this month. Rob Van Dam got the most votes by the faculty this month, but it will be a fight for Mr. TNA to retain his gold in this month’s pay-per-view.
ROB VAN DAM 5; Abyss 2; Mr. Anderson 1.
Dismissal
Well, that does it for another round of Predictions from the Faculty for the 2010-2011 season.
And remember students, this is YOUR column too! Please present to me your choices for the winners of any PPV by e-mail at mistervwv@hotmail.com or by sending me an inbox message on Facebook. Winner of each PPV receives a coveted (and NEVER duplicated) Gold Star in my latest column and is named the “Student of the Week” for the next Predictions article.
Well, that does it for us, class. On behalf of my peers on WrestleView I bid you farewell. We will be taking a 6-day recess and will be back with our predictions for WWE’s First-Ever Money in the Bank Pay-Per-View. As always, thank you for reading our predictions. Now go and enjoy the rest of your weekend! You are all………DISMISSED!!
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