TNA Impact Spoilers for the next two weeks

[KingofOldSchool]

**SPOILERS** TNA iMPACT! Tapings (2 Weeks)

These are the 100% complete live spoilers from the TNA IMPACT Tapings. By the end of this evening we will know the fate of World X Division champion & new TNA World Tag Team champion Samoa Joe. Only during the first hour did we see any backstage interviews.
Hour one notes:

Jeremy Borash was sent by Jim Cornette to find World champion Kurt Angle. But he found Angle in a tanning bed and he refused to go see Cornette. Angle also accused Borash of “checking out his package.” Angle felt Samoa Joe was going to surrender the tag titles after was screwed over on Sunday.

(1) XXX (“PrimeTime” Elix Skipper, “Fallen Angel” Christopher Daniels & Senshi) defeated Serotonin (Raven, Havok & Martyr)

That’s right the multi-time former World Tag Team champions reunited last Sunday when Daniels became #1 contender to the World X Division title. XXX wasted no time in their trickery as Skipper went to lockup with Havok and Daniels jumped him from behind. The XXX advantage ended when raven hit Daniels in the back with the Singapore cane. That allowed Serotonin to take over Daniels in their corner of the ring. Martyr had Daniels in a front facelock when Skipper hit a slingshot move that let Daniels free so he could tag in Senshi. The end came for Havok who got hit with a Skipper legdrop, Daniels’ BME and Senshi’s Warrior’s Way.

After the match Frankie “the Future” Kazarian attacked Serotonin and left before he could suffer any real damage. Jeremy Borash came back to Angle’s tanning bed to find Angle tanning his buttocks. He told Angle that Cornette would fine him $10,000 if he didn’t come to the office. Angle got out of the tanning bed to find all of his clothes and two title belts missing. So he left the room in his bikini briefs. Mike Tenay & Don West were addressing the home audience when Team 3D crashed the party. They said they knew the Steiner Brothers were not in the building but were watching at home. Ray said they cost Team 3D their World Tag Team titles and wanted to repay them face to face next week. Devon didn’t like something Tenay said and he choked him as Ray grabbed the timekeeper’s hammer threatening to hit Tenay. Kurt Angle began his search for his clothing and he questioned the TNA locker room. He accused Shark Boy of smiling like it was a joke, so he attacked him. Maybe Angle wasn’t wearing his glasses broke by Serotonin last Sunday or he just didn’t realize Shark wears a mask.

(2) Voodoo Kin Mafia member Kip James (w/BG James & Roxxi Laveaux) defeated Lance Hoyt (w/Christy Hemme).

Both Kip and Hoyt fought a power match in the early moments until Kip sent Hoyt to the floor where he followed and laid in some punches. Hoyt tried to avoid the punches and Laveaux as best he could and the tide turned when Kip focused on Hemme instead of Hoyt. Hoyt attacked and took the match back to the ring. Kip fought back with a Thesz press and avoided a Hoyt boot to hit “the One and Only” to win. After the match Hemme tried to crotch shot Kip but got stopped and Laveaux came in to hit a Styles Clash-like move sending Hemme to the locker room in Hoyt’s arms.

Kurt Angle met with the TNA production crew trying to find his lost items. He told everyone he would count to ten and they could return his stuff. Poor David Sahadi had to endure Angle’s package being near his face as the countdown occurred. A cameraman decided to leave but Angle attacked him thinking he was the thief.

(3) “Instant Classic” Christian Cage & “Tennessee Cowboy” James Storm (w/Jacqueline Moore, a six pack of longnecks & Tomko) defeated “War Machine” Rhino & “Wildcat” Chris Harris.

These four men met in singles matches on Sunday night so Jim Cornette decided to let them settle their differences. Harris jumped Cage at the opening bell and went to work with the punches before tagging in Rhino. However Rhino took his focus off Cage for too long and looking for Storm cost him. Cage hit Rhino with a clothesline off the ring apron. Cage & Storm kept Rhino isolated from his corner for several minutes. Harris tried to aid Rhino but it only did harm as Cage kept the referee busy, Storm hit a running boot to the face. Somehow Cage ended up on Storm’s shoulders as Rhino was on the top buckle and Rhino raked Storm’s eyes. Rhino hit Cage with a clothesline and tagged into a fired up Harris. Rhino had Storm set for the GORE but Cage pulled him to the floor. Storm went for the Superkick but Harris blocked it and hit the Catatonic but Tomko pulled referee Rudy Charles to the floor. Harris looked for the referee and Dustin Rhodes hit him in the back with a chair. Storm crawled over and covered Harris to win. After the match the real fun began as Rhino attacked anyone that moved including Moore but Rhino picked her up for a powerslam. He made the mistake of losing sight of Tomko, who kicked Rhino in the face making Moore fall onto Rhino. When you thought things were done Abyss came looking for revenge on Cage. Cage hightailed it but backed into Sting and the baseball bat. Sting tossed Cage into Abyss for some retribution.

A nicely robed Kurt Angle came into the Impact Zone. Angle said he had a sense of humor and enjoyed being ribbed but the joking was over. He even accused the fans of stealing his stuff and putting it on E-Bay. That brought out Samoa Joe who came with his three title belts and Angle’s wardrobe plus the World title belt. Joe decided to make his announcement. He wanted to bury the hatchet with Angle so he gave Angle back his two title belts and clothing. Joe said like Angle he wants to find out who is the best in the world. Joe said at Hard Justice he wanted Angle one more time where the winner takes all the gold. Angle accepted and Joe headbutted him right in the forehead. Joe laid out Angle and then went for a table. But Angle escaped Joe’s clutches and drove Joe into the table, locking the Ankle Lock on Joe. Afterwards Jeremy Borash filmed some stuff for TNA Today.

Hour two notes:

(1) NO DQ match, Sting defeated Robert Roode (w/Ms. Brooks).

Not too sure what happened between these two to make it a no DQ match. Roode jumped Sting at the bell and the violence began. Sting fought back introducing Roode’s head to the top turnbuckles and followed him to the floor. Ting tossed Roode into the guardrails and the stairs as Brooks objected. Roode fought back but his piledriver but Sting backdropped Roode on the rampway. Brooks kept Sting busy as Roode got a chair and hit Sting in the back. Roode came back into the ring with a top rope clothesline for two as Eric Young came out painted like Sting. Roode ignored Young and hit Sting with a top rope knee for two before locking in a bear hug. Sting tried to escape so Roode backed him to a corner but his chest chops had zero effect. Sting was 100% fired up and took it out on Roode & Brooks. Roode avoided the Stinger Splash and fought off the Scorpion Deathlock, hitting Sting with a spinebuster for two. Brooks gave Roode a chair but Young took it and Sting won via the Scorpion Death Drop.

(2) Latin American Xchange (“Notorious 187” Homicide & Hotstuff Hernandez) defeated Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & “the Future” Chris Sabin).

At the bell the Gun dropkicked Hernandez to the floor so they could double team Homicide for several minutes. The Notorious One fought back and tagged in Hernandez who tossed around the Guns. But the Guns fought back with a series of kicks to the head of Hernandez. LAX double teamed Shelley and sent him to the floor with a hurt back. Sabin escaped the Cop Killer but couldn’t avoid a LAX double team from the top rope.

The LAX celebration was interrupted by Team 3D who told them to hit the bricks; they only wanted the Steiner Brothers in the ring. LAX reluctantly stepped out of the ring as the show went to commercial. 3D egged on the fans waiting for the Steiner’s. The fans made fun of 3D member Devon who owns a smoothie shop in Florida. 3D got their wish and the Steiner Brothers hit the ring. Scott said no one calls out the Steiner’s they do the calling out. Scott said the Latin Nation were his favorite people after his injury during a TNA Event in Puerto Rico. Scott said he was upset he missed Slammiversary due to a trachea injury that nearly killed him. To the shock of everyone in the thank you to the PR medical team that saved him, Scott also thanked the fans for the well wishes he received. Ray said that Scott got injured by a second rate PR wrestler and Team 3D could take him out, even going as far as doubting the actuality of any injury. Scott showed off his scar on the right side of his chest. Ray said that injury was nothing compared to the ones in the ECW locker room. The arguing was not over as the Voodoo Kin Mafia came out to join the former World Tag Team reunion saying they were the best team in wrestling history. Scott said yeah the VKM was on top, on top of a heap of crap a everyone was watching WCW for 84 weeks in a row. Scott said he wasn’t medically cleared for a match but he could kick their asses with no permission needed. During the fighting Devon spit on a LAX flag and that brought out LAX to defend their flags and it looked liked the Steiner’s.

(3) No DQ match, “the Phenomenal” AJ Styles defeated Abyss.

This rivalry goes back to the weekly PPV days in Nashville where they tore down the Asylum even as they held the NWA World Tag Team championships. This was probably the bloodiest match in their rivalry. Styles hit a slingshot shoulder tackle and we were off and brawling. Abyss fought back with a running butt to the face in the corner. Abyss went to press slam Styles too the fans but Styles slid off only to be see Styles go over the ropes to the floor. Styles hit Abyss in the head wit ha chair and climbed into the fans, hitting a sort of springboard forearm from the seats. Abyss went back to the ring as Abyss tossed a chair in for some fun as he put the chair in between the buckles. Styles countered out of Shock Treatment but even after moves couldn’t avoid the chair in the corner. Abyss hit Shock Treatment for two and signaled for Doomsday. But Styles countered out of the Black Hole Slam and hit the Pele’. Styles went for a springboard move but Abyss caught him and hit the chokeslam for two as Tomko came out to ringside. Abyss hit the Black Hole Slam but Tomko broke up the pin. But the lights went down and up with Sting in the ring attacking Tomko. Abyss went under the ring and when he went for the bag of goodies he was dragged under ring. This left Sting alone to be attacked by Styles, Tomko and Robert Roode who joined the festivities. Abyss finally came out from under the ring a bloody mess. Christian Cage and his black shirt security appeared on the rampway and Cage grabbed the bag of broken glass, spreading it in the ring. But instead of Abyss, Tomko chokeslammed Sting into the glass. Styles got another bag from under the ring and it was thumb tacks spread on top of the glass. Tomko hit Abyss with the double chokeslam and Styles won via pinfall. Jeremy Borash came out to film more TNA Today stuff talking to Styles, Cage, Tomko and Roode. The TNA medical trainer had to come out and check on Sting & Abyss before he would let them go to the locker room for treatment.

Matches filmed for TNA Xplosion and TNA Today on the internet:

(1) Jerry Lynn defeated Basham via countout.

(2) Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & “the Future” Chris Sabin) defeated “the Guru” Sonjay Dutt & Petey Williams when Sabin countered out of the Canadian Destroyer, allowing Shelley to hit a top rope boot to Williams’ head setting up the Cradle Shock.

(3) “Black Machismo” Jay Lethal & “Showtime” Eric Young defeated Serotonin members Havok & Martyr when Young hit both men with a DVD and Lethal hit his Macho Man elbow drop.

Guesses and Official Matches for Hard Justice 2007:

(official) In a “winner takes all” match, TNA World/IWGP Heavyweight champion vs. World X Division/World Tag Team champion Samoa Joe

(Guess) Team 3D (Ray & Devon) vs Rick & Scott Steiner vs. Voodoo Kin Mafia (Kip & BG James w/Roxxie Laveaux) vs. Latin American Xchange (“Notorious 187” Homicide & Hotstuff Hernandez) or an 8 man match of some kind

(Guess) “Wildcat” Chris Harris vs. Dustin Rhodes

(Guess) Abyss vs. “Instant Classic” Christian Cage
------------------

So uhhhhh what the fuck is up with the 3D, Steiners, LAX angle?

Are Team 3D heels now? Are the Steiners faces now? What about LAX?

[chrisat928]

Ow, ow, ow, ow, my head.

[Innovator]

3d is turning heel after the PPV, they blamed the fans for their loss

Steiners, dunno

LAX...well they're just awesome

[Xero]

So basically ONE person is going to hold every fucking title in the company come next month.

Yeah, that makes a shitload of sense.

[Innovator]

So much for building up to Joe vs. Angle at BFG

[mrslackalack]

By the end of the year Team 3D will be faces again I bet.

[Xero]

Originally Posted by mrslackalack By the end of the year month Team 3D will be faces again I bet.

[mrslackalack]

lol

[Shaggy]

Originally Posted by Xero Limit 126 So basically ONE person is going to hold every fucking title in the company come next month. Yeah, that makes a shitload of sense.

and that will cause me to stop watching TNA...

[Mercury Bullet]

Originally Posted by KingofOldSchool (official) In a “winner takes all” match, TNA World/IWGP Heavyweight champion vs. World X Division/World Tag Team champion Samoa Joe

Holy shit.

[chrisat928]

Um, I think TNA is going out of business and maybe my head will stop hurting...


These stupid matches are getting out of hand. One man with all the titles? So, Samoa Joe isn't getting a tag team partner? Is he just going to steamroll tag teams?



AH THE PAIN!!!!

[Mr. Nerfect]

Doesn't sound too bad to me. I mean, a lot of people just shit on TNA becaue they can, I think.

Team 3D turning heel is the smart move. They have been getting jeered for a while now, and they pulled some heelish shenanigans in the Victory Road main event. The Steiners are also less horrible these days. The LAX turning face makes sense, as Team 3D are turning heel. It's one of my pet peeves in wrestling when rivalries are suddenly dropped because wrestlers change their alignment. The Voodoo Kin Mafia are just shit, so they'll be much better as heels. I'm hoping for an eight-man tag, with The LAX and Steiners going over, as they are less horrible, and actually have a good tag team in their forces.

I also don't get why people are shitting on Kurt Angle vs. Samoa Joe. It's the logical match progession, and I think anyone with common sense saw it coming. Maybe not for the X-Division Title, and the World Tag Team Titles, but for the TNA World Heavyweight Title, certainly. Throwing in the IWGP World Heavyweight Title makes the match mean more, as well. I'm still hoping that Christopher Daniels wins the X-Division Title before the event, and Samoa Joe and Kurt Angle are named Champions, but Kurt Angle turns on Joe, and The Murder City Machines Guns, or someone, wins the tag belts.

Here is how Hard Justice should really go:

TNA World Heavyweight Championship/IWGP World Heavyweight Championship
Kurt Angle vs. Samoa Joe

TNA X-Division Championship
Christopher Daniels vs. Jay Lethal

TNA World Tag Team Championship
The Murder City Machine Guns vs. Triple X vs. Basham & Damaja

Christian Cage vs. Abyss

Sting & Eric Young vs. AJ Styles & Tomko

Gimmick Match
Rhino vs. James Storm

Team 3D & Voodoo Kin Mafia vs. The Steiners & The LAX

Dustin Rhodes vs. Chris Harris

Raven vs. Frankie Kazarian

And it'd be a damn good PPV, too. Better than any of the WWE's recent shit.

[chrisat928]

If it was that, it'd be good, but...

It's not going to be that.

[Bad Company]

Yup, that'd be hot, but there's no way it's gonna be that.

[SammyG]

Remember when Lance Storm held like 4 titles.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Yeah, what I listed was just a way they could go from here. It won't be the exact way, but I think people are jumping on TNA just a bit early. Wait until after they officially fuck things up completely before you blame them for fucking things up completely.

[Xero]

Originally Posted by Alienoid06 I also don't get why people are shitting on Kurt Angle vs. Samoa Joe. It's the logical match progession, and I think anyone with common sense saw it coming. Maybe not for the X-Division Title, and the World Tag Team Titles, but for the TNA World Heavyweight Title, certainly. Throwing in the IWGP World Heavyweight Title makes the match mean more, as well. I'm still hoping that Christopher Daniels wins the X-Division Title before the event, and Samoa Joe and Kurt Angle are named Champions, but Kurt Angle turns on Joe, and The Murder City Machines Guns, or someone, wins the tag belts.

Of course Joe/Angle was obvious, and I'm not complaining about the match itself. I'm complaining about the fact that NO ONE but the TWO main eventers holds every title in the company, completely detracting from the X Division and the tag division. Essentially they're following WWE's lead in the "the main event is all that matters" booking philosophy.

[mrslackalack]

I remember back in 02 the awful angle where the WHC was the only singles title on RAW, as the Hardcore, Euro, and I-C titles were combined with it.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Originally Posted by Xero Limit 126 Of course Joe/Angle was obvious, and I'm not complaining about the match itself. I'm complaining about the fact that NO ONE but the TWO main eventers holds every title in the company, completely detracting from the X Division and the tag division. Essentially they're following WWE's lead in the "the main event is all that matters" booking philosophy.

That's fair enough, and perfectly reasonable. I'm still thinking that Christopher Daniels will win the X-Division Title before they get to the PPV, though. Daniels was named #1 Contender, so he should get the shot before Angle.

I'd be more worried about the Tag Titles, as Joe was meant to choose a partner but he never did. The obvious thing would have been for Joe to choose Angle, so he could play mind games with the TNA World Heavyweight Champion, and then have Angle deliberately throw a match so that Angle and Joe wouldn't have the belts heading into their main event. That has a much smaller chance of happening now that we've passed the first set of tapings.

I think Angle holding both World Titles is fair enough, though. If Angle ends up with all four, you are right and it is a pretty silly move.

[Mooияakeя™]

Angle will hold it all. It wouldn't make sense him losing but keeping the IWGP belt, unless IWGP allow the title to change hands within a TNA ring.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Originally Posted by Mooияakeя™ Angle will hold it all. It wouldn't make sense him losing but keeping the IWGP belt, unless IWGP allow the title to change hands within a TNA ring.

I'm not sure what is going on with that IWGP World Heavyweight Championship thing. The belt Angle holds isn't even the official one. Yuji Nagata is currently the "real" IWGP World Champ, if I recall. Angle won his belt from Brock Lesnar is Antonio Inoki's new fed. But I agree that Joe won't win another company's World Title in a match that isn't even prominently advertised as such.

Smart money is on Angle going over at Hard Justice, unless they want to try and convince Samoa Joe to sign with them, and Antonio Inoki wants to murky up the IWGP legacy as much as possible before All Japan start playing hard ball. Actually, I'd say that's a pretty likely scenario. I'm still going to go with Angle because he's more likely to be with TNA in a few months, though. Plus he's the ex-WWE guy.

[What Would Kevin Do?]

Kurt Angle isn't the IWGP champion. End of discussion. In fact, I'm pretty sure I could steal the belt from him, call myself the IWGP champion, and have just as much right to it.

[Mooияakeя™]

Angle did an interview with the Daily Star over here, I ripped it out of the paper from work, he comes off really cocky in it tbh. It's not a company / worked interview just his reflectiosn on a few things and why he is in TNA etc. I should post it really. Write it up etc. But he basically comes off saying that's he's the man in TNA where as in WWE he wasn't the only "top guy" and he didn't like that.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Originally Posted by What Would Kevin Do? Kurt Angle isn't the IWGP champion. End of discussion. In fact, I'm pretty sure I could steal the belt from him, call myself the IWGP champion, and have just as much right to it.

That'd actually be awesome. You could get your name written as your own World Champion on Wikipedia, or something. WWKD World Heavyweight Champion has a pretty good ring to it. The rules are you are Champion, and if anyone tries to take the belt off you, they're going to get shot in the chest.

You also gave me an idea for All Japan. It might be a little bit off from their original style of booking, but I've always been under the impression that they are the more "sports entertainmenty" of the three major Japanese promotions. I'm probably wrong, though. Just have one of their lower card acts come out as "TNA World Heavyweight Champion," and claim that he won the belt in America by defeating former TNA World Champion "K-Kwik," who claimed to still be Champion. It'd almost mirror what TNA did, and it would earn them some American fans for just having a sense of humour.

[Mr. Nerfect]

The thing is, I thought TNA and All Japan had a bit of a working relationship. I mean, nothing has been set in stone, but The Great Muta appeared on one of their PPVs recently, and thre were rumours about it. Apparently Scott Steiner is going to work one of their shows, and Chris Sabin won their big Junior Heavyweight tournament.

I'm thinking AJPW might be letting TNA use the "IWGP" name as kind of a sign of goodwill, even though he's not the official Champion. You'd think TNA would have the courtesy to return the belt to All Japan if they were serious with working with them, though. It's kind of an interesting situation, just to see where this All Japan/TNA thing goes.

[What Would Kevin Do?]

AJPW isn't where the IWGP belt comes from, it's NJPW.

NJPW did have a slight working relationship with TNA, but like you mentioned, now TNA seems to be working with AJPW.

[What Would Kevin Do?]

Also, the NJPW/TNA relationship seemed to end well before the whole IWGP fiasco. It could still be a work, but who knows. I really want to see Nagata/Angle... I'd be interesting to see if Nagata would just kick Angle's head off in the end, regardless of the finish, pin him, and take the belt....

[What Would Kevin Do?]

Originally Posted by Alienoid06 That'd actually be awesome. You could get your name written as your own World Champion on Wikipedia, or something. WWKD World Heavyweight Champion has a pretty good ring to it. The rules are you are Champion, and if anyone tries to take the belt off you, they're going to get shot in the chest. You also gave me an idea for All Japan. It might be a little bit off from their original style of booking, but I've always been under the impression that they are the more "sports entertainmenty" of the three major Japanese promotions. I'm probably wrong, though. Just have one of their lower card acts come out as "TNA World Heavyweight Champion," and claim that he won the belt in America by defeating former TNA World Champion "K-Kwik," who claimed to still be Champion. It'd almost mirror what TNA did, and it would earn them some American fans for just having a sense of humour.

That's tempting.. I'm sure I could steal the belt from Angle... If push come to shove, I could take him in a fight... Really..... (by take in a fight, I mean have someone waiting to shoot him if he gets close to me while I'm running.)

[Mr. Nerfect]

Originally Posted by What Would Kevin Do? AJPW isn't where the IWGP belt comes from, it's NJPW. NJPW did have a slight working relationship with TNA, but like you mentioned, now TNA seems to be working with AJPW.

Yeah, I know, I just realised that. Boy, there's egg on my face.

Now everything makes a little more sense to me. TNA have kind of a working agreement with both IGF and All Japan, whereas New Japan is the one they are screwing over. I was thinknig it was odd All Japan would give Sabin the big Jr. Heavyweight tournament win if TNA were making a mockery of their belt.

Haha, I'm getting there.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Originally Posted by What Would Kevin Do? That's tempting.. I'm sure I could steal the belt from Angle... If push come to shove, I could take him in a fight... Really..... (by take in a fight, I mean have someone waiting to shoot him if he gets close to me while I'm running.)

Haha, that's what I was picturing you doing. I mean, if it were a No Holds Barred Match, shooting Angle would technically be legal, so you'd be going over him clean, as well.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Originally Posted by What Would Kevin Do? Also, the NJPW/TNA relationship seemed to end well before the whole IWGP fiasco. It could still be a work, but who knows. I really want to see Nagata/Angle... I'd be interesting to see if Nagata would just kick Angle's head off in the end, regardless of the finish, pin him, and take the belt....

Yeah, I'm begging to actually realise what's going on. I've always known that New Japan as the IWGP and All Japan has the Triple Crown, but for some reason when picturing this whole TNA/IGF/IWGP fiasco, I lost my place.

But yeah, TNA seems to have something going on with both All Japan and IGF at the moment, which is interesting, to say the least. New Japan probably wants nothing to do with TNA after they've taken Inoki's side, and I don't blame them. If I were Tomko, I'd be sending NJPW flowers so I might have a shot at keeping my IWGP World Tag Team belt.

Part of me is wondering if the reason Kurt Angle is probably going to have all these belts on him after Hard Justice is so he can then win the AJPW Triple Crown from Minoru Suzuki and come out with a total of eight belts, representing five different Championships.

[What Would Kevin Do?]

Angle beating Suzuki, now that's rich...

On the other hand, I could see Suzuki beating Angle. It fits Suzuki so much better to have all the belts.

In fact, he should hold every belt in wrestling. And then his entrance should be them laying the belts in the aisle, and him walking across them like stones.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Originally Posted by What Would Kevin Do? Angle beating Suzuki, now that's rich... On the other hand, I could see Suzuki beating Angle. It fits Suzuki so much better to have all the belts. In fact, he should hold every belt in wrestling. And then his entrance should be them laying the belts in the aisle, and him walking across them like stones.

Well, Kurt Angle is Kurt Angle, we can't forget about that. I guess it depends how much Japan loves the guy, and how much All Japan wants to bend over backwards for TNA. I don't think it's likely, or anything, but Kurt Angle is Kurt fucking Angle, as forgettable as he makes that sometimes, these days.

[What Would Kevin Do?]

True, but Suzuki is essentially THE heel in AJPW right now. He's ran through everyone they've put in front of him, he has a legit MMA background, and he's 13 shades of awesome. I highly doube AJPW would put Angle over him. Maybe in a tag match, but never for the Triple Crown.

[What Would Kevin Do?]

Plus, I'm pretty sure Suzuki is still a freelancer.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Originally Posted by What Would Kevin Do? True, but Suzuki is essentially THE heel in AJPW right now. He's ran through everyone they've put in front of him, he has a legit MMA background, and he's 13 shades of awesome. I highly doube AJPW would put Angle over him. Maybe in a tag match, but never for the Triple Crown.

That's a good point. I've only really researched him, but his current storyline is that he represents some kind of change for AJPW, doesn't he? "Change" probably isn't the right word, but they're trying to book him like the Triple Crown needs to be "saved" from him, aren't they? Kurt Angle going over Suzuki in this sense wouldn't make much sense, as the logical thing to do would be to put over an up-and-comer as the new top babyface of the promotion.

A title defence against Kurt Angle would be pretty sweet shit, though.

[What Would Kevin Do?]

Basically Suzuki just constantly rips into the company. He talks about how he's the highest pillar of All Japan, how he's destroyed all his competition, which now includes "errand boy" Muto, how he' beaten all Japan completely, etc. He did an interview begging Chris Sabin to bring him a real challenger from North America, and he didn't care if it was Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, or Mil Masscarras.

The best way to sum up Suzuki is that after winning the Triple Crown, he tossed it on the ground and stood on the belts.

Also, I love his slapping. Especially his "Run to the corner uber fucking fast, leap, land right in front of his opponent, smirk, and slap them."

I dunno, there's something about him. He works.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Originally Posted by What Would Kevin Do? Basically Suzuki just constantly rips into the company. He talks about how he's the highest pillar of All Japan, how he's destroyed all his competition, which now includes "errand boy" Muto, how he' beaten all Japan completely, etc. He did an interview begging Chris Sabin to bring him a real challenger from North America, and he didn't care if it was Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, or Mil Masscarras. The best way to sum up Suzuki is that after winning the Triple Crown, he tossed it on the ground and stood on the belts. Also, I love his slapping. Especially his "Run to the corner uber fucking fast, leap, land right in front of his opponent, smirk, and slap them." I dunno, there's something about him. He works.

This isn't realistic, because I'm thinking with an outside perspective, but things would work out nice and dandy if TNA just granted Alex Shelley his release from the company (I've got an inkling he was one of the guys who asked for a release, but is locked down until 2009), and have Chris Sabin become Kurt Angle's new lackey (maybe even have Angle call him "Pig Pen" as an inside joke). Sabin helps Angle defeat Samoa Joe at Hard Justice, and as a reward, Angle names Sabin his partner and co-TNA World Tag Team Champion, as well as handing over duties as TNA X-Division Champion to Chris Sabin.

Sabin then arranges a match between Minoru Suzuki and Kurt Angle in Japan for the Triple Crown, which Suzuki wins. Sabin gets his shot at Katsuhiko Nakajima for the AJPW Junior Heavyweight Championship, and loses. Angle and Sabin think of it as just being a missed opportunity for them, but they are followed back to the States by Suzuki and Nakajima, who want shots at TNA's Championships.

That would just be my dream, though, with All Japan and TNA working out a talent exchange, and even joint PPVs. I am dreaming, though.