Im a Pittsburgh guy, and Kurt Angle is something of a folk hero around here. Between winning the gold medal in 1996 to all of his accomplishments in professional wrestling to his modest film career to his food line, any Angle appearance is generally a big deal. Friends call friends who call 2nd relatives who tell their wives(also their second cousins) when Kurt Angle is signing at a mall or a Giant Eagle grocery store. These appearances by Angle rival any other wrestler when he's in town, including a Randy Orton or a John Cena.
So it surprised me pleasantly this week when I heard so many people talking about Kurt's championship match this Sunday, with the belief that he should lose the title? Why? Because people are frustrated and tired of hearing about their hometown hero getting popped for drunk driving, or carrying contraband. Most of the people Ive talked to have mentioned that their biggest concern is for Angle's wellbeing, as it is mine. Im surprised the backlash surrounding him within the IWC isn't more then it is.
I want to buy the notion that TNA will handle discipline from top to bottom on a level playing field. With the recent release of Matt Hardy for his first DWI within the the past month, the logical step of "level playing field" in terms of discipline would be to have Angle drop the title here. But it won't happen.
However, I will say this about TNA. They take Bound For Glory seriously as their big PPV of the year, so they will want the best match possible for the main event. Mr. Anderson and Sting simply aren't capable of delivering a main event match at their biggest PPV of the year. Kurt ANgle is fully capable of delivering said match, so I expect him to win here. With the BFG series likely to be won by a newcomer to the main event scene(likely Storm or Roode), it will tie in nicely with Angle's threat to tear the young talent apart one by one. It wouldn't be a TNA PPV without Immortal interferring, so Angle will retain with help.
Prediction: Kurt Angle will retain the World Heavyweight Championship