Thoughts & Predictions:
Turning Point usually turns out to be one of TNA's better PPVs every year (2007 being the only miss), but unfortunately, this year the show looks pretty lackluster. There just isn't a whole lot of intrigue attached to this show & the main event in particular is very weak.
KNOCKOUTS GRUDGE MATCH
Mickie James Vs. Tara
- I actually like this match. Its a good match between two talented females and it doesn't even need a title to be a good addition to the show. I like that they didn't rush Mickie to the title her first PPV match in and have at least put her on a path to the title, making it seem like she has to work her way up the rankings. I'll be surprised if Tara wins. Its Mickie's PPV debut, and like I said, she's the most likely to wind up facing Madison Rayne in the near future. Mickie James is my pick.
X DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP
Jay Lethal (c) Vs. Robbie E w/Cookie
- I hate the Jersey Shore gimmick. OK, I don't hate the idea of a Jersey Shore gimmick, because that's what Zach Ryder basically is, and he's fine. The execution here is way off as it feels like a poor imitator you'd see in Disaster Movie or the like. I also hated that they did a street fight between the two on Impact BEFORE the PPV match. I also have a terrible feeling that unlike Mickie James, Robbie E will be rushed to the title and will walk out with the gold here.
FAN LUMBERJACK MATCH
"The Pope" D'Angelo Dinero Vs. "The Monster" Abyss
- They couldn't really decided on a gimmick for these two, could they? I thought it'd be a Casket Match based on what they were doing on Impact, but then it got changed to this. Oh well. I can't say I'm overly interested in this rivalry, largely because of the silly backstage segments these two had together. Given the gimmick, I'll say that The Pope will get the victory. I can't imagine somebody losing a match where a group of people who like him are surrounding the ring. I mean I know they are just fans, but logically, it's basically 16 on 1, isn't it?
FRIENDS COLLIDE
"Mr. Pay Per View" Rob Van Dam Vs. "The Innovator of Violence" Tommy Dreamer
- I just don't care. I don't know what else to say. Dreamer is just a boring & uninteresting presence at this point. Rob Van Dam goes over, and I'll be stunned if that isn't the case.
JOE'S REVENGE
"The Samoan Submission Machine" Samoa Joe Vs. "The King of the Mountain" Jeff Jarrett
- I'm actually fine with this match. Its a carry over from the last PPV, and on TV, they managed to set it up so that Joe didn't get a chance to truly get any kind of real vengeance on Jarrett. So you'll probably see Joe demolish Jarrett in a match that will either end in Samoa Joe victory or him getting himself DQ'd for being too much of a brute. I'll go ahead and pick Samoa Joe to win, but that DQ finish is a possibility.
TNA TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP: RETIREMENT MATCH FOR TEAM 3D
The Motor City Machine Guns (c) Vs. Team 3D
- I would like to say that this is the best match on the show. I mean The Guns have been major successes in TNA over the last few months & have consistently been one of if not the best part of the show, & the added attraction of this being Team 3D's final match will make it feel special. Also, the promise of a Guns victory here is pretty cool. But I have some concerns. I have this horrible feeling that Bischoff stooges in EV2.0 is going to be Team 3D. They'll turn heel, win the titles, and join up with Immortal. That would be horrible, and would induce a state of eye rolling that would render me blind within hours. I'll stick with my original pick of The Guns to retain their titles & then we get the classy ending of 3D's retirement, but I can see that awful swerve taking place, so don't be surprised if that's what happens.
LOSING FACTION LOSES A MEMBER
EV2.0 (Richards, Raven, Rhino, Sabu, & Kendrick) Vs. Fourtune (Styles, Kazarian, Williams, & Beer Money)
- Wasn't BFG supposed to be the end of this rivalry? Oh well, at least one member of EV2.0 is going to be gone after this PPV. Yep! Fourtune is going to win this match. I can't see it any other way. Sadly, the one leaving will probably be Rhino. My problem with EV2.0 is more the idea behind the faction, which is reliving the glory days of a company that died in 2001. If anything, it set some of those talents back years, namely Rhino who by 2006, I had come to think of as a TNA guy rather than a Former ECW/WWE talent. I don't really have a problem with Rhino or Richards (who looks to be in fantastic shape) as talents, and if anybody from EV2.0 is going to go, I'd want it to be Raven (who looks like shit) or Sabu (sorry, but bald Sabu don't cut it).
TNA WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Jeff Hardy (c) Vs. "The Blueprint" Matt Morgan
- Almost all the problems I have with this match revolve around the fact that it was set up poorly. I understand that Anderson went down and they needed to go to Plan B, but Morgan's face turn & push into this spot is extremely rushed. I also have my doubts whether or not Hardy can work a match as a heel. The promos have been good, but can he do it in the ring? Well, this match might not even be a good indicator given the poor build up. One thing I am sure of though is that this is probably the easiest call of the night. Jeff Hardy will almost certainly retain the title. I say "almost" because it seems like every time I say "Oh, there is NO WAY the title changing hands here" the TITLE FUCKING CHANGES HANDS!!! (Sheamus-Cena, Flair-Carlito, Foley-Sting, etc), so who knows?