FATP: PPV Special

We’re well into another week, which means that the latest FATP is probably overdue! I’ve been struggling to find something exciting to write about, so I thought I’d combine TNA and WWE for this week only! I’ll give my brief thoughts on TNA Turning Point, which was only shown in the UK last night, before previewing Survivor Series, which is live this Sunday. Sound good? Cool, let’s get to it.

TNA Turning Point Review

I’m not gonna give a blow-by-blow account of what happened because, to be honest, it’d take too long and I’m not really good when it comes to doing a play-by-play review! Haha.. Like I said above, we only saw Turning Point in the UK last night because it’s broadcast on delay, so I did my best to avoid Twitter because it’s a nightmare when you’re watching a PPV after the rest of the world has seen it.

TNA TV Title Match: Samoa Joe (c) vs Magnus

This was the perfect way to kick off the PPV. I love watching these guys wrestle. Their chemistry with each other is great and I think TNA are using this feud to see if Magnus can deliver in the ring with someone of Joe’s calibre. It’s fair to say that my fellow Brit never fails to deliver. He’s developing into a tremendous long-term prospect and it’s only a matter of time before he’s a huge star. The right man won on this night, but Magnus is getting closer.

Tara & Jesse vs ODB & Eric Young

Man was it awesome to see EY again. I’ve missed him, although clearly not as much as ODB. Damn! If this was EY’s last match on PPV for TNA, then it was right for him to go over. It was a pretty formulaic tag-match. I don’t get this Jesse dude. He’s just a jacked-up guy with very little talent as far as I can see. He might even end up being aligned with Robbie E & Robbie T down the line. Anyway, it was a fun match and it did what it was supposed to without being special.

TNA X-Division Title Match: RVD (c) vs Joey Ryan

I predicted that Joey Ryan would win this match due to interference from Matt Morgan, only to find out Hogan banned Morgan from Impact the week before the PPV. It goes to show how little attention I pay to whatever Hogan has to say brother! RVD won, but that’s more to do with the fact that TNA have no clue what to do with RVD rather than Ryan being outclassed.

Joseph Park vs DOC/Festus/Luke Gallows

Big Joe Park is quality. I love the character. For a guy who knows how to wrestle, he makes you believe that he hasn’t got a clue about what he’s doing. For what it’s worth, Festus did well, although I’d have marked out if he’d wandered out to “Biscuits and Gravy!” It served its purpose, progressing the Aces & 8’s storyline, so I was fine with it.

TNA World Tag-Team Title Match: Chavo & Hernandez (c) vs Daniels & Kazarian

I’m a big fan of three of these guys. Chavo’s never really done it for me. The guy’s talented enough, but there’s nothing that draws me to him. Hernandez is one of the biggest underachievers in TNA. I’d have thought he’d have been TNA World Champion by now, but it hasn’t happened. Daniels and Kazarian are one of the best tag-teams I’ve seen in years. From their chemistry together, to their teamwork and their dynamic, they’re amazing. I didn’t think the belts would change hands here because Chavo & Hernandez only won them last month, so it was a predictable outcome, but a great match.

#1 Contender’s Match: Bobby Roode vs James Storm vs AJ Styles

In the predictions column that I took part in last week, I predicted Storm would pin Roode to become the #1 contender. I was 50% right. After the year that AJ Styles has had, particularly with that God-awful Claire Lynch storyline in the summer, I didn’t think he’d get pinned, but he did. That part of the match shocked me. The rest didn’t. All three guys are great wrestlers and I loved the Beer Money tease just before the end. This was up there as a potential match of the night candidate.

Devon vs Kurt Angle

This is the one outcome of the night that I completely disagreed with. Angle is a machine, we all know that, and he’s one of the best wrestlers ever, but if TNA are building Aces & 8’s as this dominant force, Devon should’ve gone over here, either by pinfall or DQ. I’ve never really thought much of Devon as a singles star, but he was pretty solid in this match and he was able to hang with Angle, which is no mean feat.

Ladder Match for the TNA World Title: Jeff Hardy (c) vs Austin Aries

I’ve made my thoughts clear on Jeff Hardy in the past. I don’t think he should have a job in TNA, never mind be their champion. I thought that Jeff did a poor job of selling Aries’ offense at BFG, but that’s just my view as a fan. I can’t really criticise anything that happens in the ring. Anyway, this match was full of great psychology, but some of the bumps they took were hard to watch. I loved the spot where Hardy climbed to get the belts, but Aries used the control to move them higher! Genius from A-Double! I might not have agreed with the outcome, but I understand why TNA went that way.

Overall Thoughts on Turning Point

It continued TNA’s recent run of putting on better overall PPV’s than WWE. Top to bottom, the card was complete and you went into every match with any wrestler looking like they could win. There was no obvious “squash” match and everyone looked credible. It wasn’t their best PPV of the year, but it was solid and continued their momentum.

OK, so now that I’ve given a quick review of Turning Point, it’s time to turn my attention to the media juggernaut that is WWE, who give us their 2nd PPV offering in 3 weeks with Survivor Series on Sunday.

Survivor Series Preview

You-Tube Pre-Show: Santino Marella and Zack Ryder vs Heath Slater and Jinder Mahal

It’s there to fill time, but I don’t know how many people will want to buy the PPV because of this match. Before I get into it, I want to send my condolences to my fellow Scotsman Drew McIntyre and his family. Drew’s mother passed away recently and my heart goes out to Drew and his family. Marella and Ryder, despite being squashed by everyone, are still ridiculously over and I’m intrigued to see where the 3MB are gonna go. As far as a winner, the babyfaces should go over.

Winners: Santino Marella and Zack Ryder

Before I preview the whole show, something pissed me off watching the last couple of WWE PPV’s. In my opinion, the champion should be the last one out in a title match. Please WWE, for the love of God, make sure that happens going forward. Thanks.

WWE United States Title Match: Antonio Cesaro (c) vs R-Truth

I’ve been a fan of Cesaro’s for years, back to his ROH days. The dude can get it done in the ring, plain and simple. The fact he’s on his own without Aksana is slightly disappointing (she’s HOT!), but it lets the fans get invested in Cesaro. Truth is a credible opponent for Cesaro, but he won’t win. He doesn’t need to. It looks like WWE are building Cesaro as a major star, so the champ retains here.

Winner: Antonio Cesaro

WWE Divas Title Match: Eve (c) vs Kaitlyn

Is it just me, or has Eve got sexier since she turned heel? I love the way WWE have developed her character and she’s not bad to watch in the ring. On the other hand, Kaitlyn has got a long way to go before she’s holding the championship. I’d rather have had Natalya in this match, because at least then she could carry Eve and have a decent match. With things the way they are, this could follow the recent form book and be the toilet-break match. Champ retains again.

Winner: Eve Torres

World Heavyweight Title Match: Big Show (c) vs Sheamus

The thing that surprised me about Hell in a Cell was the fact that the Show/Sheamus match was the best of the night. Just a physical, gruelling match between two big lads. I’ll be honest and say that I never saw Show winning. WWE were building Sheamo as a dominant champ, so Show winning clean shocked me. As far as Sunday goes, I can see Regal getting involved and perhaps costing Show the title. Either that or Regal turns heel and aligns himself with Show, but I think it’s more likely Sheamus gets the win.

Winner: Sheamus

Team Foley (Miz, Kofi, Kryan and Randy Orton) vs Team Ziggler (Ziggler, Rhodes Scholars, ADR and Wade Barrett)

For those of you wondering, Kryan are Team Hell No. I refuse to use that name because it’s shit. Anyway, this is the most confusing match on the card. What do Foley and Ziggler have to feud about? Does it matter who wins? Have WWE made an arse of it? Nothing, no and probably. Logically, only one of two men should win this match: Miz or Ziggler. Miz to continue this slow babyface turn, or Ziggler to make him look like someone credible as a potential World Champion. I wish this match had happened a couple of years ago, that way, Orton could punt ADR and get him off my screen. As far as a prediction, it’s really the toss of a coin.

Winners: Team Ziggler

Triple Threat Match for the WWE Title: CM Punk (c) vs Ryback vs John Cena

How many multi-man matches has Punk had for the WWE Title? TLC 2011, Elimination Chamber 2012, No Way Out 2012, Summerslam 2012 and now this PPV. That’s 5 times in 11 title defences that Punk has “had the odds stacked against him”. Who was the last champ booked that way? Anyway, that’s a story for another time. In this match, Ryback could Shellshock Cena and he’d probably just bounce straight back up. Cena’s sold the “AJ Scandal” storyline better than he’s sold any wrestling move in the last 7/8 years. I can see Punk pinning Cena to retain, possibly after a Shellshock or interference from Brad Maddox.

Winner: CM Punk

Overall Predictions

I’ve gone for Santino Marella & Zack Ryder, Antonio Cesaro, Eve Torres, Sheamus, Team Ziggler and CM Punk to win at Survivor Series. There’ll probably be another match added to the card, like Mysterio & Sin Cara vs Prime-Time Players, but that’s pretty much it.

So, what do you think? What were your thoughts on Turning Point and who’s going to come out on top at Survivor Series? As usual, feel free to get in touch with me on Twitter @george_sltd or leave a comment below!

As always, thanks for reading and stay classy!

Peace out,

George