Tossing Salt Presents:
NWA Hard Times 2
Thoughts & Predictions
December 3, 2021
DougMaynard.com

Later tonight, live on PPV and FITE.TV, airing from Atlanta, GA, will be the National Wrestling Alliance’s return to PPV with Hard Times 2. It’s a stacked show with an appearance by Mick Foley and an In-Ring Tribute to Jazz, among other things. Of course, that means predictions. Are you ready? Let’s do this.

NWA Champion Trevor Murdoch vs. former WWE star Mike Knox.

I very much love seeing Trevor Murdoch as the NWA Champion, but it’s cool to see Mike Knox back in action again and getting a crack at the title. Knox is far better than he was allowed to show in WWE and he’s definitely talented enough to be a big star for the NWA. But the World Champion? If the match had more build and if Knox’s heyday with the NWA hadn’t been so long ago, maybe, but as things are now? Not likely at all. Look for a good match, far better than anyone is expecting, and in the end, the 10 pounds of gold stays right where it is.

Winner and STILL NWA World Champion: Trevor Murdoch

NWA Women’s Champion Kamille vs. Melina.

Part of me wants to see Melina defy the odds and capture the belt here, but Kamille is pretty damn good and makes a good champion. She has all the advantages and should retain. She should, but what the hell. My gut wants to see Melina win so…

Winner and NEW NWA Women’s Champion: Melina

NWA TV Champion Tyrus with Austin Idol vs. Cyon – No DQ, No Times Limit with special referee Pope Elijah Burke.

I can’t remember if there is any heat with Tyrus and Burke, but I do believe that there is and that should put the advantage with Cyon. But it’s No DQ so that means that Austin Idol can negate that advantage and give Tyrus a helping hand if needed. My money is on Greg Gutfield’s massive sidekick. Having that title on Fox News every night is too much publicity for the NWA to give up.

Winner and STILL NWA TV Champion: Tyrus

ROH Tag Team Champions Matt Taven & Mike Bennett vs. Aron Stevens & JR Kratos.

It’s just a few days left before ROH closes shop to restructure and decide what comes next. Taven & Bennett have done a great job as champions and I can’t see the belts being taken away this close to the end and then reboot. Look for the champs to retain.

Winners and STILL ROH Tag Team Champions: Matt Taven & Mike Bennett

NWA Tag Team Champions Bestia 666 and Mecha Wolf 450 vs. The End.

For The End, it will be the end. Look for Bestia 666 and Mecha Wolf 450 to retain. With names like those, how can they lose?

Winners and STILL NWA World Tag Team Champions: Bestia 666 & Mecha Wolf

Impact Wrestling Knockouts Champion Mickie James vs. AEW’s Kiera Hogan

Kiera Hogan is good, but this is Mickie’s time and she still has a lot of gas in the tank. I don’t see the belt changing hands here.

Winner and STILL Impact Wrestling Knockouts Champion: Mickie James

Nick Aldis vs. Thom Lattimer – If anyone is DQ’d, they are suspended for two months; with no seconds at ringside.

Lattimer is a tough guy and damn good wrestler, but Aldis represented the NWA as the champ for far too long and I think he’ll be back in the title picture again sooner rather than later. A loss here would sideline him on his path back to the title.

Winner: Nick Aldis

NWA National Heavyweight Champion Chris Adonis vs. Judais with Jim Mitchell.

This should be a masterpiece of a match and the title will stay right where it belongs. I like Jim Mitchell and he’s a fantastic character who belongs in WWE or AEW. Judais is a good character too, but the Masterlock is better.

Winner and STILL NWA National Champion: Chris Adonis

NWA Women’s Tag Team Champions The Hex vs. Kylie Rae & Tootie Lynn vs. TBA & Natalia Markova.

I’m not really familiar with any of these ladies, but I have seen Kylie Rae once or twice. And how can a person not root for someone named Tootie? So I’ll go with Kylie and Tootie to win the belts here. I smell title change.

Winners and NEW NWA Women’s Tag Team Champions: Kylie Rae & Tootie Lynn

Doug Williams vs. Colby Corino.

Doug Williams is NOT traveling from the UK to lose. It’s just that simple. Colby Corino will give a good match and give Williams a run for the money, but the end result is pretty easy to predict.

Winner: Doug Williams

Austin Aries vs. Rhett Titus in an NWA Junior Heavyweight Championship Qualifying match.

Are they even trying here to make these matches unpredictable? Austin Aries will not be doing the j-o-b. We all know that.

Winner: Austin Aries

12 Man Gauntlet Match: Kerry Morton vs. Ariya Daivari vs. Darius Lockhart vs. Sal Rinauro vs. Alex Taylor vs. Jamie Stanley vs. CW Anderson vs. Homicide vs. Luke Hawx vs. PJ Hawx vs. Victor Benjamin vs. Jeremiah Plunkett – Winner becomes finalist in NWA Junior Heavyweight Championship Tournament.

I only recognize about five names in this match so obviously, I’ll pick one of them to win. So Kerry Morton, Darius Lockhard, Sal Rinauro, Alex Taylor, Jamie Stanley, Victor Benjamin, and Jeremiah Plunkett, all of you are eliminated and will not win. See ya! Let’s take out Luke Hawx and PJ Hawx too. While I love hearing Rob Feinstein rip on Luke, I don’t think either he or his son is ready for prime time and the big matches in the NWA. CW Anderson is awesome, but I thought he had retired. No win for him either. So that leaves either Ariya Daivari or Homicide. Homicide should win, but I’ll go for the swerve. We used to be friends on MySpace.

Winner: Ariya Daivari

And there you go. Am I right? Am I wrong? We’ll find out late tonight as the NWA makes the return to prime time and pay=per-view. It’s going to be a good show. What are your predictions? Let me know in the comment box or in a message, along with any thoughts, predictions, or questions you may have. Until next we meet, take care and stay safe. I’ll see you at the matches.

Ubuntu!