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If you our a regular reader of this site then you know for the past few weeks I have been doing a recurring article entitled "By The Numbers". Every time TNA or WWE has a PPV I list the matches and try and help you decide if the PPV is worth your time and money. In past renditions of this column I would just speak generally on each match. I've decided to change that format and from now on "By The Numbers" will be how it is below.
Each Match will be rated in four different categories. Each category will be worth a total of 1.00 with the exception of "Special" which will be explained below, that will be worth 2.00, thus each match will be worth five dollars total. If at the end of the card it doesn't add up between 35 and 40 dollars for WWE events or 25 and 30 dollars for TNA events, then it isn't worth it for you to order the PPV.
The five categories: "Wrestling" takes into account only what the competitors are physically capable of physically in the squared circle. There is a big difference between Rey Mysterio vs. Shawn Michaels or Mark Henry vs. Kenny Dykstra. Ability to wrestle is the name of the game. "Charisma" takes into account the personalities of the wrestlers involved. How over are they with the crowd? "Angle Depth" is about how big the push was for the match. Was it captivating? Do we want to see this? Was there enough of a build up. And the last category is "Special". This is a very opinionated category sometimes. It carries the weight of everything else that goes into a match. Is there a wrestler returning? Is a championship on the line? Is that championship important? Is there a gimmick to the match that people will want to see and does that gimmick make sense? Finlay vs. Ric Flair in a submission match makes it intriguing. Umaga vs. Big Daddy V in the same stipulation would be a train wreck.
So that's how it works. For our first new edition of PPV by the numbers we look at TNA No Surrender 2007. It seems we are going to get a super dose of the Olympic Champion, Kurt Angle and his wife Karen.
Chris Harris vs. Black Reign
Wrestling: 1.00
Charisma: 1.00
Angle Depth: 1.00
Special: 1.00
Comments: These two are fantastic workers who are stuck in the mid card slot. Rhodes never capitalized on his ability on the mic and in the ring or was never given a chance to. This match is his chance. I see Harris picking up the win in this one.
Total: $4.00
Samoa Joe vs. Christian Cage
Wrestling: 1.00
Charisma: 1.00
Angle Depth: .50
Special: .50
Comments: Samoa Joe is in desperate need of a change. He puts on great bout after great bout. Unfortunately the powers that be at TNA just don't seem to want him to win the big one and carry the company. Christian Cage seems to have his best days behind him yet he is still one of the top 5 performers of the TNA brand. They didn't get this angle off the ground well enough to establish it as a great match. Wrestling wise, this may be the best match of the night, especially with Angle doing three matches and wearing himself out for Abyss at the end. Cage is going over in this one.
Total: $3.00
Kurt Angle and Sting vs. Team Pac Man
Wrestling: .75 cents
Charisma: 1.00
Angle depth: .25 cents
Special: .10 cents
Comments: This match does nothing for me at all. The only reason that the numbers for the first two categories are high is because the personalities and wrestling attributes of Sting and Kurt Angle as well as Killing's are very good. The Angle has been weak at best going into this one and there is no special feel to the event. In the end, Team Pac Man will steel this one some how, and Pac Man Jones won't even be involved physically.
Total: $2.10
Kurt Angle vs. Black Machismo
Wrestling: 1.00
Charisma: 1.00
Angle Depth: .05 cents
Special: 1.00
Comments: This one is intriguing. Machismo is over with the crowd and has a ton of talent. This will more than likely be the first of Angle's three matched in the night and so he should be his most fresh. There really hasn't been much anticipation for this match in its PPV build up unfortunately. In the end Machismo nabs the win.
Total: $3.05
Kurt Angle vs. Abyss
Wrestling: 1.00
Charisma: 1.00
Angle Depth: .85 cents
Special: 1.00
Comments: This should be an outstanding match, as both competitors are rock solid in the ring. Abyss' character never seems to grow stale. I see Abyss winning the match by DQ or strange means. Angle will lose but will retain the heavyweight championship. I also see a run-in by James Mitchell's new boy.
Total: $3.85
Robert Roode vs. Kazarian
Wrestling: .75
Charisma: .80
Angle Depth: .50
Special: .50
Comments: The wrestling should be fair in this one as both are fairly talented. Neither of them strikes me as great in the charisma department. It will be an okay match that comes across well on TV. Kazarian gets the win here.
Total: $2.55
Tag Team Gauntlet match
Wrestling: 1.00
Charisma: 1.00
Angle Depth: .50
Special: 1.00
Comments: This, more than likely, will steal the show. The reason I set the Angle Depth so low is because it has been a mis-mosh of stuff heading into the PPV. It is hard to guess who will win, but being that every week I discuss the tag division in my weekly column "Tag Team Weekly" I guess I should take a shot at it. If I am pressed I say either LAX or XXX wins this match, and if you need me to nail it down I say XXX nabs the #1 contenders spot.
Total: $3.50
ENTIRE PPV TOTAL: 22.50
The Verdict: In looking at this one on paper it does seem that if you have a lot of money then go ahead and treat yourself as it may be better than is expected. On the other hand if you can only afford one or two PPV's a year then this isn't the one to choose. I would guess a lot will be decided in regards to Angle and his titles. We may see 1-3 title changes on the show. My guess is that Angle will still be world champ though when all is said and done. I have a feeling Abyss is going to be laid out by James Mitchell's new guy. We have been told there will be a major announcement, an announcement that will more than likely air first thing that next Thursday on Impact. Plus there is no way to know what it will be. The obvious speculation is that it is TNA moving to two hours. It could be anything. There also have been rumors of a "Former World Champion" being on the show. These days, the term "World Champion" can mean any number of people. For all we know they have secured a wrestler from a 12 man federation in the northern part of Antarctica, not a major player. We will see. I think this PPV will be tying up loose ends and might be worth it to catch on replay if we hear it's good or get on DVD when it is available to rent. No reason to spend the hard earned cash on it this time.
