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TNA Pay Per View Pick 'Em: Hard Justice '08
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August 8, 2008 - TNA Crew
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Our picks: "Half-assed Justice." |
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So, yeah. TNA's been in a holding pattern for the last six months or so and hasn't really stepped up its game and given us anything interesting or compelling. It's really sad too. When I got into TNA, the promotion really seemed fresh and new and poised to give WWE a run for its money. TNA was set up to test WWE mettle. Well, guess what? The only thing it seems to be testing now is my freakin' patience.
It's not the TNA has gotten "bad" per say. I mean, they're still loads better than WWE, but they aren't giving me any reason to tune in every week. I like the wrestling but it seems to be taking a back seat to stories that take WAY too long to tell and aren't really all that interesting to begin with. The women's division is the most solidly handled thing on Impact, but everything else is just mired in so much "BLAH" that it's hard to give a crap.
And speaking of "hard to give a crap" you'll see that most of our picks this month reflect that ideal. If TNA doesn't seem to want to go that extra mile, why the hell should we? Right?
But I'm getting way too far ahead of myself. Let's see how we did with last month's PPV picks...
Thai's comin' outta the booth! Look at that little asian fella GO! That's right, he got a clean sweep. But really, that's only because I'm giving every one the Joe pick because he retained his belt and some of us really needed the help. With Cory and Thai closing in, Lucky needs to start watching his back... and stop sucking at making picks while he's at it. Like I'M one to talk.
Anyway, with the amount of enthusiasm your friendly neighborhood DML PPV pickers are displaying for this PPV, they probably should have called it "Hardly Care About This PPV... Justice". Might have sold less tickets though. It's supposed to be their "hardcore" show but that really doesn't mean much when most of the PPVs have weapons or cages or fire or vats of shark infested acid or whatever else Russo has in mind.
On with the picks...
Six Sides of Steel Weapons Match - Heavyweight Title
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Samoa Joe vs. Booker T
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| Cory: |
Brad: |
Chris: |
Thai: |
Lucky: |
| Joe |
Joe |
Joe |
Joe |
Joe |
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Cory's Pick:
I'm moving, so no time for teh fun. Joe isn't losing, Sting isn't turning heel, and Kevin Nash is next month's opponent.
Brad's Pick:
Snore. Really, Joe couldn't possibly look less strong or more crazy. He looks like a bipolar woman, mentally speaking. He's gone from the strong, likable bad-ass to the whiney bitch over the short corse of his title run. Way to botch it TNA. That said, he's still not gonna lose.
Chris's Pick:
This feud has been stupid. Thanks for making Joe look like a bitch, TNA.
Thai's Pick:
Samoa Joe
Lucky's Pick:
If Booker doesn't win the title in Houston he can't win in Jersey. Joe's gonna retain. Nash might turn. Sting will help... someone. Apparently even TNA doesn't know. Steel Cage Weapons Match has the potential to be something memorable and actually seems like TNA may be a week or two ahead of WWE's Hell in a Cell/TLC possibility. Given the beating Joe gave Booker last month and how much they pushed brutality and weapons on Impact this week I'm going to be disappointed by anything less than HiaC level here. But with at least 3 other matches that amount to "No DQ" they may burn out before then. We'll see.
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Last Man Standing Match
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Kurt Angle vs. AJ Styles
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| Cory: |
Brad: |
Chris: |
Thai: |
Lucky: |
AJ
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AJ
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Angle
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AJ
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Angle
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Cory's Pick:
AJ got the win two months ago, Angle got it last month, so this is the rubber match. Hmm...AJ needs it more, so give it to AJ. Although I suppose AJ can just do something nuts and not get up. Nah.
Brad's Pick:
Again, just don't care. I know why they're still fighting, but it doesn't seem like THEY do. They're just going through the motions. The match should be anywhere from fine to excellent depending on how Kurt's neck is treating him. Kurt won last month, so AJ takes this one.
Chris's Pick:
I honestly have no clue here. My gut says Kurt.
Thai's Pick:
AJ
Lucky's Pick:
I have no idea. This seems like another feud that has fallen victim to TNA's Slammiversary-BFG corridor. Right around this time TNA seems to fall into a lull. It wants to extend feuds to BFG blowoffs but that often means just dragging them on. My guess is that's what they're doing here and that's why the build the last month has been so forgettable. But when it comes right down to it AJ/Angle has potential for awesomeness as long as Kurt doesn't die. My guess is Trigg involves himself to help Kurt to the win and AJ gets to seek revenge later.
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Tag Team Championship Match
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LAX vs. Beer Money (Inc)
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| Cory: |
Brad: |
Chris: |
Thai: |
Lucky: |
| Beer Money |
Beer Money |
Beer Money |
LAX |
LAX |
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Cory's Pick:
Something needs to change hands. James Storms is funny and makes shirts.
Brad's Pick:
Dear TNA: Is it fucking "Beer Money" or "Beer Money Inc."? Just wondering, because while you might think it's nit-picky, if you want to market this shit to people who'd actually buy stuff with these guys on it (i.e. ME) you might want to get that fucking garbage ironed out fucking AHEAD OF TIME. As a financial guru, Roode should know this. Morons. Lazy lazy morons. Anyway, I like them so Beer & Money International LLC wins this one.
Chris's Pick:
I like this feud a little better. Beer Money needs the titles.
Thai's Pick:
LAX
Lucky's Pick:
The beating they're trying to sell Homicide with has me worried. I like Beer Money but I'm not sure I want them as champs. And I mark more for LAX and I'm expecting their entrance to be what I react to most. So I'm just going with what will make me happy because as much as I love Storm's entrance music I think I'm going to be disappointed if I hear it play after the match. But I think it might.
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Jersey Street Fight
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Christian Cage & Rhino vs. Team 3D
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| Cory: |
Brad: |
Chris: |
Thai: |
Lucky: |
| Cage & Rhino |
Cage & Rhino |
Cage & Rhino |
Team 3D |
Cage & Rhino |
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Cory's Pick:
Team 3D may be gone soon, and Christian has been getting no love lately, so they get the pin. I think a Jersey Street Fight is one where you're just stuck in traffic in a disgusting environment, anyway.
Brad's Pick:
Should be a fun, if not random and confusing, brawl through the crowd. Maybe Rhino will turn on Christian for no reason, but I doubt it. This is the hardcore PPV and it's in 3D's relative stomping ground of New Jersey, so the swerve is that they DON'T win. Oh you sneaky sneak, Russo.
Chris's Pick:
Absolutely no reason for 3D to win.
Thai's Pick:
3D
Lucky's Pick:
Ummm... Cage and Rhino? Team 3D won this week so that's the rule, right? Its not that I'm not interested in this match, because I am. Given Christian's recent effort to kill himself and the 3 ECW alums' track records a street fight has a ton of potential. I just don't have much to say beyond they're going to beat each other up.
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X-Division Championship
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Petey Maple Williams Pump Muscle vs. Consequences Creed
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| Cory: |
Brad: |
Chris: |
Thai: |
Lucky: |
| Petey |
Creed |
Creed |
Petey |
Creed |
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Cory's Pick:
Meh. Consequences isn't doing much for me.
Brad's Pick:
Petey's been hurt and treading water as the X-Champ so it might be time for some new, young blood at the top of the division until a heel Kaz returns to dominate it. Creed wins.
Chris's Pick:
Creed looks like he's getting a push. I'm OK with it.
Thai's Pick:
Petey Williams
Lucky's Pick:
Creed's getting the hard push the last month with wins almost every week and Petey's been a very absent champ. Which isn't uncommon for the X Title unfortunately but I still think it means they don't know what to do with him. Petey's injury followed by Steiner's injury really seemed to kill their momentum so its probably best to just move on. Creed could make an intriguing X Champ and he was who I had picked coming out of Lockdown because it could signal something new for the division. Then Dutt, Petey, Daivari, Doug Williams, and I dunno can chase him.
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Black Tie Brawl N' Chain Match (oh, for fuck's sake)
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Jay Lethal vs. Sonjay Dutt
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| Cory: |
Brad: |
Chris: |
Thai: |
Lucky: |
| Lethal |
Lethal |
Dutt |
Dutt |
Lethal |
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Cory's Pick:
I haven't really been paying attention. It's time to end this feud, though, and I really don't want to see a SoCal heel turn.
Brad's Pick:
Who cares? The PPV prediction Law of Apathetic Opposites states that: "If the predictor is too lazy to come up with a good reason for someone to win, pick the person who lost the match against the same opponent at the last PPV." I've used that a lot this month. Lethal wins.
Chris's Pick:
Bleh.
Thai's Pick:
Sonjay Dutt
Lucky's Pick:
I don't know and I don't care. I care so little about this feud you'd think it included VKM.
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Six-Woman Knockout Tag Team WAR Match.com Match
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Taylor Wilde, Gail Kim & ODB vs. Awesome Kong & The Beautiful People
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| Cory: |
Brad: |
Chris: |
Thai: |
Lucky: |
| Team Kong |
Team Kong |
Team Kong |
Team Kong |
Team Wilde |
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Cory's Pick:
Lucky's girlfriend, ODB, is on the losing team this time. The heels have gotta get some steam back after losing all the PPVs last month.
Brad's Pick:
Two hotties and one troll per team. Seems balanced. Kong might be the edge. I'll go with Team Kong. Why not?
Chris's Pick:
Double bleh.
Thai's Pick:
Kong and the Beauties
Lucky's Pick:
I love the Knockouts. Have I said that? I never imagined a women's division would be this strong and entertaining. I presume we're headed to a Kong/Taylor rematch at BFG which gives them a month of whatever so nothing HAS to happen here. The Beautiful People have been booked strong of late but always work best when they're embarrassed and angry. I say they pull the leash on their new pet too hard and Kong turns on them. After all, she has nothing to gain from this alliance so it shouldn't take much. Then we get some overbooked Gauntlet match next month to crown Kong #1 contender for BFG. I just love these matches and wish they had included Roxxi and Saeed.
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Extra Thoughts
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Cory's Thoughts:
Not much TNA time for me this month, and I had to unplug my cable today so I didn't even watch this week's show. I hope they've got some plans coming soon, because they look to be wrapping up a couple feuds. BYE BYE MARYLANDTISTA!
Brad's Thoughts:
Blah blah blah. Now that my PPV viewing buddy Cory is escaping to North Carolina for "school" (whatever THAT means) my desire and financial tolerance for ordering any wrestling PPVs is quickly waning. Unless BFG knocks my socks off, that'll be all she wrote.
Chris's Thoughts:
Triple bleh.
Thai's Thoughts:
No comments.
Lucky's Thoughts:
I'm gonna be going to my very first TNA event and very first wrestling PPV. I think I'm starting to get excited although the truth is that I'm really doing it listening to Grandmaster Caz, Cold Crush Brothers, and Ice T music. I miss being exposed to groundbreaking rap on the Box as a kid. But when I think about it this makes for a pretty wild PPV. Even if it is kind of time killer until BFG. And even if it does have a lot of wrestling I expect not to see from my seats because it goes in the stands. And even if I do expect to hate Super Eric and be confused when the lights go out and some Sting angle happens. I'm getting myself up for it and with a 5:30 "block party" I think it should be a good time. Even if I suddenly suck at these picks and probably will fall into last place this week.
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| Hard Justice Results |
Cory |
Brad |
Chris |
Thai |
Lucky |
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| TOTAL CORRECT: |
-/- |
-/- |
-/- |
-/- |
-/- |
| % CORRECT: |
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--% |
--% |
--% |
--% |
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Opinions, we all have them. Our's is not the same as yours. Sometimes it is, sometimes it isn't. The point is, if you don't agree fine. If you do agree, even better. Just realize this: everything said on these pages, is an opinion, and should be taken as such. If you are offended by what is said, just don't come back. Please do not resort to childish flaming or spamming of our message board or monk.e.mail address below, but do feel free to drop us a line with any intelligent comments you may have.
Thanks,
Brad & Tim. |
DMLives@gmail.com
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