TNA World Heavyweight Championship Match
Jeff Hardy (c) vs. Bobby Roode
Supposedly Jeff Hardy is good for TNA business, and so I understand his place as World Champion. I also understand rumors that TNA is still trying to get him to re-sign on the dotted line; while I don’t think Hardy has ever been the type of guy to quit because he’s not World Champ, I’m also guessing having the belt around his waist might sway the decision in favor of TNA. And beyond all that, Jeff Hardy is a top tier performer in the industry, and is one of the few talents to make the Impact Zone come alive.
That being said, I find with Hardy holding onto the belt, I have to find interest in the rest of the card because his title reigns just don’t do anything for me. He’s the kind of guy I want to see chase the belt, and finally winning is a great story. I enjoyed the main event of Bound for Glory, and considering his opponent was Austin Aries, I definitely think the right man walked away victorious. Had Bobby Roode been on the other end of that equation, I would have thought differently. But since winning the title Hardy hasn’t done a single thing to impress me. He’s always been a decent wrestler that draws a good reaction, but because he’s extremely limited on the mic, the heel has to carry him through an angle.
Look for Jeff Hardy to retain here tonight. They’ll go into 2013 strong with Jeff Hardy as the World Champion, and shift the title off to Roode at Genesis so he can carry the company again into Lockdown. He’ll continue to fund the Aces & Eights, and short of fully revealing their leader, that’s the single best choice they can make. With two months of build to Lockdown, they simply can’t afford Jeff Hardy to carry the ball. So Jeff will retain tonight, and then Roode will get his proper build towards a title victory over the next four weeks. I fully expect a rematch with some sort of gimmick and stipulation attached during TNA’s first 2013 pay-per-view.
Prediction: Jeff Hardy retains
FINAL THOUGHTS
I’ve brought up a lot of negative points in this pay-per-view preview piece, and I’m sorry if you feel like I’m unfairly biased against TNA. If you know me at all, you’d understand I’m the biggest “TNA mark” this website has, hands down. But they’ve made mistakes, and let the ship coast by in the past few months. I’m calling that nonsense out, and I’m begging them to right the course and head off towards 2013 as strong as possible. It’s more a call to arms than anything else.
TNA has a ton of potential, something they both realized and worked with earlier this year. Bobby Roode’s time as champion was some of the best pro wrestling I’ve watched in years, and maybe that’s something they need to look at when examining their main event scene going into Genesis.
The Aces & Eights has been stale, but I can feel business is about to pick up. They can’t cut their losses because the story is involved in the weekly product to such a heavy extent that that option escaped them several months ago. It’s time to see it through, and to make some bold moves to build a strong product to welcome the fans into the new year.
TNA: Do not let 2012 end on a low note. You’re the superior wrestling product right now, or at least you have all the potential to be. Final Resolution can blow TLC out of the water, if they stick to the basics and deliver. I’ll see you all at 8/7c tonight on Twitter!
