Talon's Destination X Preview
In just a few short days, IMPACT Wrestling will be bringing the Internet Wrestling Community their wet dream in Destination X. Despite not knowing many of the actual matches on the show, this event has the potential to easily be the PPV of the year for TNA. A new X Division Champion will be crowned, a feud revisited, a war concluded and a World Championship up for grabs.
In just a few short days, IMPACT Wrestling will be bringing the Internet Wrestling Community their wet dream in Destination X. Despite not knowing many of the actual matches on the show, this event has the potential to easily be the PPV of the year for TNA. A new X Division Champion will be crowned, a feud revisited, a war concluded and a World Championship up for grabs.
X DIVISION TOURNAMENT TO CROWN A NEW X DIVISION CHAMPION
Here is what you need to know: In the first match of this series, there will be a Four Way Match between the losers of the qualifying matches of the past two weeks. The winner of the match between Rubix, Lars Only, Mason Andrews and Dakota Darsow will advance to the official X Division Tournament.
At that point it will be the winner of the Last Chance Match along with Kid Kash, Zema Ion, Douglas Williams, Sonjay Dutt, Rashad Cameron, Flip Cassanova and Kenny King facing off in four singles matches. The winners of those matches will finally advance to a Four Way Ultimate X Match to crown the new X Division Champion.
I have heard rumors that a good many of the aforementioned names will be signed by TNA to rejuvenate the division. I expect that our of the 8 men who had qualifying matches, that a good five or six of the names ends up getting signed. The real question is who shone the brightest when the spotlight was on them and who would benefit TNA the most?
While the actual pool isn't as deep as last year (as we had Low Ki, Austin Aries, Jack Evans and many other last year) there are still a good handful of names that could give the X Division some talent. At this point I feel that Zema Ion is the best of the currently contracted talent and would be a great contender for X Division Champion.
Of the new talent, both Sonjay Dutt and Kenny King were the most impressive. Rashad Cameron would be an excellent heel for the division at this point. I am also a fan of Rubix but don't think he will make it. The other guys didn't impress me that much.
In the end, I feel it will come down to Zema Ion, Sonjay Dutt, Kenny King and a fourth name. Ion would be my top choice to have as new X Division Champion as you could build Sonjay Dutt, Kenny King and the others around him. Eventually Jesse Sorensen will be back which gives us an immediate feud between he and Zema.
Nonetheless, you can probably expect a handful of excellent X Division Matches. Destination X will be a good indicator of how the 2012 X Division Class looks.
Here is what you need to know: In the first match of this series, there will be a Four Way Match between the losers of the qualifying matches of the past two weeks. The winner of the match between Rubix, Lars Only, Mason Andrews and Dakota Darsow will advance to the official X Division Tournament.
At that point it will be the winner of the Last Chance Match along with Kid Kash, Zema Ion, Douglas Williams, Sonjay Dutt, Rashad Cameron, Flip Cassanova and Kenny King facing off in four singles matches. The winners of those matches will finally advance to a Four Way Ultimate X Match to crown the new X Division Champion.
I have heard rumors that a good many of the aforementioned names will be signed by TNA to rejuvenate the division. I expect that our of the 8 men who had qualifying matches, that a good five or six of the names ends up getting signed. The real question is who shone the brightest when the spotlight was on them and who would benefit TNA the most?
While the actual pool isn't as deep as last year (as we had Low Ki, Austin Aries, Jack Evans and many other last year) there are still a good handful of names that could give the X Division some talent. At this point I feel that Zema Ion is the best of the currently contracted talent and would be a great contender for X Division Champion.
Of the new talent, both Sonjay Dutt and Kenny King were the most impressive. Rashad Cameron would be an excellent heel for the division at this point. I am also a fan of Rubix but don't think he will make it. The other guys didn't impress me that much.
In the end, I feel it will come down to Zema Ion, Sonjay Dutt, Kenny King and a fourth name. Ion would be my top choice to have as new X Division Champion as you could build Sonjay Dutt, Kenny King and the others around him. Eventually Jesse Sorensen will be back which gives us an immediate feud between he and Zema.
Nonetheless, you can probably expect a handful of excellent X Division Matches. Destination X will be a good indicator of how the 2012 X Division Class looks.
BOUND FOR GLORY SERIES MATCH
Samoa Joe vs Kurt Angle
These two have had classic matches over the years in TNA. One of my favorite moments in TNA history was when Samoa Joe was holding the World Title hostage only to be interrupted by a debuting Kurt Angle. Angle then proceeded with the "headbutt heard 'round the world" to set off their feud. They battled many times, some over the World Title and never failed to disappoint.
They will meet again at Destination X in a Bound For Glory Series Match. Joe has been racking up points with Submission victories while Angle has a submission victory of his own. The meeting between these two on IMPACT a few weeks ago was extremely entertaining and I don't expect anything less here. My prediction is that Angle picks up a victory (by pinfall) to earn 7 points.
Samoa Joe vs Kurt Angle
These two have had classic matches over the years in TNA. One of my favorite moments in TNA history was when Samoa Joe was holding the World Title hostage only to be interrupted by a debuting Kurt Angle. Angle then proceeded with the "headbutt heard 'round the world" to set off their feud. They battled many times, some over the World Title and never failed to disappoint.
They will meet again at Destination X in a Bound For Glory Series Match. Joe has been racking up points with Submission victories while Angle has a submission victory of his own. The meeting between these two on IMPACT a few weeks ago was extremely entertaining and I don't expect anything less here. My prediction is that Angle picks up a victory (by pinfall) to earn 7 points.
LAST MAN STANDING MATCH
Christopher Daniels vs AJ Styles
To think that last year at Destination X, these two main evented the PPV to kick-start their current feud. Over the past year these two have battled numerous times on numerous events and every time, I see something different. These two could fight a hundred times and I probably still wouldn't get bored.
The past few months has seen the focus go to the Claire Lynch/Dixie Carter/AJ Styles drama that only continues to make Daniels look more and more like a villain. I am personally a fan of over-the-top storylines so it has been a treat to see how the whole thing unravels.
This match will be a war between the two. The last Last Man Standing Match I remember was Bully Ray vs AJ Styles from Slammiversary 2011 and that was a Match of the Year Contender. This will likely be one as well.
Whether it be AJ winning or Daniels winning, I expect the storyline involving Claire Lynch to continue. AJ's promo this past week completely focused on Destination X and didn't give Daniels time to show his "proof" that the baby is in fact AJ's.
Christopher Daniels vs AJ Styles
To think that last year at Destination X, these two main evented the PPV to kick-start their current feud. Over the past year these two have battled numerous times on numerous events and every time, I see something different. These two could fight a hundred times and I probably still wouldn't get bored.
The past few months has seen the focus go to the Claire Lynch/Dixie Carter/AJ Styles drama that only continues to make Daniels look more and more like a villain. I am personally a fan of over-the-top storylines so it has been a treat to see how the whole thing unravels.
This match will be a war between the two. The last Last Man Standing Match I remember was Bully Ray vs AJ Styles from Slammiversary 2011 and that was a Match of the Year Contender. This will likely be one as well.
Whether it be AJ winning or Daniels winning, I expect the storyline involving Claire Lynch to continue. AJ's promo this past week completely focused on Destination X and didn't give Daniels time to show his "proof" that the baby is in fact AJ's.
WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Austin Aries vs Bobby Roode
This match is what you get when you consistently build two men over the course of the year and then pit them up against one another. Roode has been an awesome heel champion while Aries has been a great arrogant X Division Champion. The two are very similar in that aspect.
This match is the first step in "Option C" which we may be seeing every year. Option C makes the X Division Title more valuable heading into the Summer months and in some ways is TNA's version of Money in the Bank. I don't know if TNA will have someone the caliber of Austin Aries this time next year but I will be excited to find out.
While I would love to see Austin Aries as World Champion, the big match being built is Bobby Roode vs James Storm for the World Title at Bound For Glory. Giving Aries the belt at the PPV would only devalue the eventual victory of James Storm. Storm's victory needs to be the one that ends Roode's dominant title reign.
It should be an excellent match on Sunday between two excellent competitors. If you are a fan of great wrestling, this is one match and one PPV event that you definitely shouldn't miss.
Austin Aries vs Bobby Roode
This match is what you get when you consistently build two men over the course of the year and then pit them up against one another. Roode has been an awesome heel champion while Aries has been a great arrogant X Division Champion. The two are very similar in that aspect.
This match is the first step in "Option C" which we may be seeing every year. Option C makes the X Division Title more valuable heading into the Summer months and in some ways is TNA's version of Money in the Bank. I don't know if TNA will have someone the caliber of Austin Aries this time next year but I will be excited to find out.
While I would love to see Austin Aries as World Champion, the big match being built is Bobby Roode vs James Storm for the World Title at Bound For Glory. Giving Aries the belt at the PPV would only devalue the eventual victory of James Storm. Storm's victory needs to be the one that ends Roode's dominant title reign.
It should be an excellent match on Sunday between two excellent competitors. If you are a fan of great wrestling, this is one match and one PPV event that you definitely shouldn't miss.
