Predictions from the Faculty (TNA Genesis Edition)
January 17, 2010
Written by: Anthony J. Valvo of WrestleView.com
Picks provided by: WrestleView columnists, recappers, and students
Hello students! After a very long recess, we are back with another exciting edition of Prediction from the Faculty. This is whenever the brightest columnists in professional wrestling spend a few minutes e-mailing and explaining why they made particular selections. We may do well, we may fail every now and then. But we always enjoy this friendly competition.
This weekend, we are going to witness ?change? in all its glory in TNA’s Genesis. The first time we will see Hulk Hogan on a TNA Pay-Per-View should interest some, but not all. The card currently features eight matches; however we are not going to count one of the matches since we don?t know who will face Amazing Red. Sure, the card does look a little rushed, but it should be a solid effort for all involved.
As for how we, the faculty, are doing? Well, this will be our twelfth month making predictions. And for the first time, we have a three way tie for the chair as ?Dean of WrestleView?. Jose Marrero had sole possession of the Dean’s Chair before the last predictions column (which was TNA’s Final Resolution). Usually a 4-3 mark does the trick, but in this case we ended up with two professors yearning for that #1 spot! Joe Baiamonte wants the seat back, something that he held for the majority of this year-long season. And now Josh Boutwell is in the mix as well! Thanks to being perfect in his predictions last time, he also shares a spot on the chair. However unlike Marrero and Baiamonte, Boutwell has yet to claim sole possession on the WrestleView throne. Also, the Students are attempting at pulling off a severe upset. So, even though we only have two more PPVs to pick in this season, the excitement continues to be with us all.
Before we get to the predictions, here are the current standings as of TNA’s Final Resolution 2009:
1) Joe Baiamonte (Baiamonte’s Casa)?????????……..108-74 (6-1)
2) Jose Marrero (Wrestling Rumblings)?????????..??108-75 (4-3)
3) Josh Boutwell (Viva La Raza and TNA Recapper)…???108-75 (7-0)
4) WrestleView Students (The Loyal Readers)???????..103-80 (5-2)
5) David Stephens (That’s a Wrap and ECW Recapper)??102-81 (6-1)
6) Anthony Valvo (From the Desk of Mr. V/ROH Recaps)?98-85 (6-1)
7) Josh Piedra (The Shoot)???????????????????97-66 (5-2)
8) Mike Siciliano (Pro’s From the Palace)???????????93-84 (4-3) **
9) Matt O?Brien (Notes From The Nosebleeds)????????88-64 (7-0)
10) Chris Kelly (King of All Wrestling Media)?????????80-53 (6-1)
11) Doug Lackey (Reality From Ringside)???????????.70-78 (3-4)
12) Sean Hurley (The Sharpshooter)??????????????.66-44 (INC)
13) Phil Chroniger (On Second Thought..)??????????..64-62 (INC)
14) Mike Tedesco (Smackdown and Superstars Recapper)?.38-28 (4-3)
15) Mike Klubnik (Stylin? and Profilin?)?????????????..20-14 (INC)
16) Ryan Droste (Ask WV)?????????????????????.4-4 (INC)
** To see Mike Siciliano’s in-depth analysis on his selections, please read his latest column (Pro’s From the Palace) or listen to the Pro Wrestling Rewind.
Absent as of the press time, but may appear later are: Joe Baiamonte, David Stephens, Sean Hurley, Phil Chroniger, Mike Klubnik, and Ryan Droste.
It all comes down (realistically) to two more pay-per-views to determine our first annual winner! For the rest of us, it is just for pride. These are the picks provided by the WrestleView Faculty as of press time. If I get any after the column is posted, then I will place the picks under the ?comments? tab on WrestleView (which will be at the bottom of the column).
Non-Championship Matches
Sean Morley vs. Daniels
Jose M. – For the life of me I don’t understand how Daniels could go from working with AJ Styles and main eventing the last two PPV’s to all of a sudden working Sean Morley who hasn’t been relevant in years. If TNA is really dedicated to giving the upstarts (I won’t call Daniels a young guy) they will give the win to DANIELS here.
Josh B. – DANIELS.
Anthony V. – The last time I picked a ‘short-term? guy over Daniels was when he faced my favorite wrestler of all-time in Shane Douglas. Is Sean Morley ?The Franchise?? Absolutely not! I would not be surprised if Morley wins it, but I am going safe and picking DANIELS in a very disappointing match.
Josh P. – DANIELS.
Mike S. – DANIELS.
Matt O. – SEAN MORELY.
Chris K. – DANIELS.
Doug L. – MORLEY via… um… I’ll think of something. If there is ever a time where I’m truly confident in getting the 0-fer, it is this one! “Change” has come to TNA… sort of… and when there’s change, there’s an absence of logic. Wait… TNA had logic?
Mike T. – MORLEY – I?d like to see him win.
Consensus: DANIELS 6; Sean Morley 3.
Bobby Lashley vs. Abyss
Jose M. – This is the most retarded storyline of the year. Lashley quits and then comes back on the show because he still wants to talk to Hulk Hogan despite the fact that he quit and then gets booked in a PPV match to boot. They haven?t been doing much with Abyss lately while Lashley if they are honoring past storylines still has a title shot to look forward to down the road. I am going to go with LASHLEY here.
Josh B. – LASHLEY.
Anthony V. – Is it just me, or is Bobby Lashley being portrayed as someone who is whipped? I can?t take Lashley seriously, he is not that good. However, since he is an MMA fighter as well I think he gets the win here over Abyss, who is nothing more than a big man jobber nowadays. BOBBY LASHLEY in a laugher.
Josh P. – BOBBY LASHLEY.
Mike S. – LASHLEY.
Matt O. – BOBBY LASHLEY.
Chris K. – BOBBY LASHLEY.
Doug L. – LASHLEY via Bobby being too good for this. Lashley has now become ‘The People’s Opinion”… TNA sucks and here’s Lashley to fight for what you have believed in for the past 7 years.
Mike T. – BOBBY LASHLEY.
Consensus: BOBBY LASHLEY 9; Abyss 0.
Desmond Wolfe vs. D?Angelo Dinero
Jose M. – Both of these guys should be pushed but not against each other. Desmond Wolfe for all the praise that people have given him has yet to go over on PPV. I suspect we will change that after some interference from Orlando Jordan. I am going with DESMOND WOLFE here.
Josh B. – WOLFE.
Anthony V. – There is not a whole lot of build-up in this match, but I like it. I think out of all the non-titles, this is by far and away the best one. However, as ?The King? in our predictions stated on the Rewind, a wrestler in this match has a LOT to lose if he loses. So with that, I am going to pick DESMOND WOLFE because he needs this win more than Dinero does. Don?t be surprised if Orlando Jordan interferes in this match to cost one of ?The Pope?.
Josh P. – DESMOND WOLFE.
Mike S. – DINERO.
Matt O. – DESMOND WOLFE.
Chris K. – THE POPE.
Doug L. – WOLFE via ‘why should Dinero win?’ I’m trying to figure out why this match is going on…. oh well… better to plead ignorance…
Mike T. – DESMOND WOLFE.
Consensus: DESMOND WOLFE 7; D?Angelo Dinero 2.
Beer Money, Inc. (Robert Roode and James Storm) vs. Scott Hall and Kevin Nash
Jose M. – I don’t really know what the deal is with this match other than the fact that if you want to push “The Band” you have to give them a win…unless you give them a loss by DQ, so I am going with BEER MONEY by DQ.
Josh B. – BEER MONEY.
Anthony V. – This match to me oozes Souled Out PPVs back in the NWO/WCW days. Usually Hall and Nash (w/Hogan’s pull) end up beating the up-and-comers or more proven talent. Look, I like Beer Money but because we need to satisfy Easy E and Hogan I am going with HALL AND NASH and it pains me to say it. Hopefully, someone outside Orlando bribes Hall with Jack and he no-shows. You know Scott Hall will do anything for Jack Daniels.
Josh P. – BEER MONEY, INC.
Mike S. – HALL AND NASH.
Matt O. – BEER MONEY INC?..please!
Chris K. – THE BAND (HALL AND NASH).
Doug L. – HALL & NASH via ‘Change’.
Mike T. – HALL AND NASH.
Consensus: SCOTT HALL and KEVIN NASH 5; Beer Money, Inc. 4.
Who will be the Mystery Big Name in TNA?
**Does not count in the rankings**
Jose M. – I couldn’t say for sure but I don’t think it will be Ken Anderson or RVD or any other name you are hearing. If I had to fantasize I would say BILL GOLDBERG.
Josh B. – N/A.
Anthony V. – Wouldn?t be funny if it was Brutus Beefcake? No? Oh well, I am going to say it is KEN ANDERSON, who will then get injured when he enters the ring and replace Jeremy Borash as a TNA interviewer.
Josh P. – ROB VAN DAM.
Mike S. – KEN ANDERSON.
Matt O. – BRUTUS BEEFCAKE!
Chris K. – KEN KENNEDY.
Doug L. – KEN ANDERSON.
Mike T. – KEN ANDERSON.
Consensus: KEN ANDERSON received five votes, making him the most logical choice as the BIG signing. One vote each for Bill Goldberg, Rob Van Dam, and Brutus Beefcake.
Championship Matches
**For the TNA Knockout’s Division Championship**
2 out of 3 falls match
ODB (c) vs. Tara
Jose M. – Another feud I am already tired of, I don’t see them switching the Knockout title back after switching it so much already ODB retains.
Josh B. – TARA.
Anthony V. – If ODB has a bottle of whiskey in her hand, you know it will be used in the third fall. Mr. V thinks that the match will go three rounds, so I think the students know who I am going with here. Tara wins first match via Widow’s Peak. ODB wins second fall and shows more Tara buttcrack. In a spirited third fall, ODB uses the whiskey bottle and smashes it on Tara’s head. Winner: ODB.
Josh P. – ODB.
Mike S. – ODB.
Matt O. – ODB.
Chris K. – ODB.
Doug L. – TARA via… seriously… how long do we figure this one to last?
Mike T. – ODB.
Consensus: ODB 7; Tara 2.
**For the TNA World Tag Team Championship**
The British Invasion (Brutus Magnus and Doug Williams) (c’s) vs. Matt Morgan and Hernandez
Jose M. – I have barely seen the British Invasion the past few weeks on TV but I have seen Morgan and Hernandez all over so I am going to go with the hot hand and pick MORGAN and HERNANDEZ here.
Josh B. – BRITS.
Anthony V. – Remember how both Morgan and Hernandez were built to be the next great talents in TNA? I did, and now they are relegated to being a tag team and challenging for some gold together. I think this has potential to be a decent match, but I think the technical wrestling of Doug Williams helps the BRITISH INVASION retain the gold for another month.
Josh P. – MORGAN/HERNANDEZ.
Mike S. – THE BRITISH INVASION.
Matt O. – MORGAN AND HERNANDEZ.
Chris K. – SUPER PRINT/BLUE MEX (MORGAN AND HERNANDEZ).
Doug L. – MORGAN & HERNANDEZ via… um… your guess is as good as mine…
Mike T. – MORGAN AND HERNANDEZ.
Consensus: MORGAN/HERNANDEZ 6; British Invasion 3.
**For the TNA X Division Championship**
Faculty Note: Earlier this week I let them decide if we should count this match or not because of a ?mystery? opponent. The majority of the faculty decided to NOT count this contest. However, some of the professors still made a pick on who the opponent could be and how it will end. So, this is a ?free? pick.
Amazing Red (c) vs. Mystery Opponent
Jose M. – I see the MYSTERY GUY winning the match. Mystery Man will be BRIAN KENDRICK!
Josh B. – RED. Mystery opponent will be JEFF HARDY, but I think Homicide will cost him the match.
Anthony V. – The mystery opponent for Red’s Title will be JEFF HARDY because Jeff would rather want a secondary title than a World Title in the WWE. Also, I say the outcome will be a successful title defense by Red because Homicide will attack Hardy in the middle of the match. MY OH MY have the X Division fallin!! So my pick will be MYSTERY OPPONENT by DQ.
Josh P. – AMAZING RED.
Mike S. – AMAZING RED. The Mystery contender is either Jeff Hardy or Homicide, but I will go with JEFF.
Matt O. – JEFF HARDY. (Matt picked JEFF HARDY as mystery opponent).
Chris K. – JEFF HARDY is mystery opponent and he wins.
Doug L. – WHO THE F$%K KNOWS via obligatory multi-man, cluster. ending where the South Korean judges give Tower of Doom #43 a 8.5… keeping it from a solid 9. Mystery Opponent Pick is KERRI STRUG putting all the other gymnasts to shame.
Mike T. – N/A.
Consensus: 4 say MYSTERY OPPONENT; 3 pick Red; 1 for N/A.; and 1 for Who the f$%k knows. As for the Mystery Opponent?The Faculty leans toward JEFF HARDY.
**For the TNA World Heavyweight Championship**
AJ Styles (c) vs. Kurt Angle
Jose M. – I still feel that the new regime has plans for AJ Styles and I don’t think taking the title off of him right now is one of them I am going with AJ STYLES over Kurt Angle here.
Josh B. – STYLES.
Anthony V. – **laughs** After almost a year of doing predictions, I rarely go against a Pittsburgh wrestler. I say since Styles won the match on Impact, I say KURT ANGLE wins the match on PPV. Seems like a trend with Angle. He got destroyed by Wolfe on Impact, then beats Wolfe on PPV. That is my logic in this match. Again since this is TNA, don?t be surprised to see Flair distract someone (as well as Tomko).
Josh P. – AJ STYLES.
Mike S. – AJ STYLES.
Matt O. – KURT ANGLE.
Chris K. – KURT ANGLE.
Doug L. – ANGLE via Ric Flair staring at the ring causing Styles to bend like a spoon.
Mike T. – KURT ANGLE!
Consensus: KURT ANGLE 5; AJ Styles 4.
Well, you heard from the Faculty. We have indeed spoken when it comes to this PPV. Now it is YOUR turn, students. Make your predictions by e-mailing me at mistervwv@hotmail.com or by sending me a message on Facebook (I will be checking later today). The winning ‘student? will earn a Gold Star in my upcoming column this Thursday only on WrestleView.com. We will not enjoy a 2 week recess, so until WWE’s Royal Rumble (and last PPV until we get a clean slate for 2010) we bid you all farewell once more.
We will see you again at the Rumble, class. You are all?.DISMISSED!!
As always, all WrestleView faculty members thank you for reading our predictions. Best of luck to all of you!
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