Everything else aside, I really like (wrestling) tournaments with points. I worked out the possibly scenarios for TNA’s World X Cup this weekend: they’ve got a singles match (2 outcomes) and a battle royal where the runner up gets points as well (16 outcomes – so a total of 32.) The full break down by scenario is after the break, but here’s what to look for
– With only 2 exceptions, the winner of the gauntlet match clinches at least part of the overall win.
Team USA can steal the overall win if they get a second place finish in the guantlet, and the team that loses the singles match (Japan or Canada) wins the gauntlet. The standings would look like this
USA 7 (2 tag + 3 singles + 2 2nd place)
gauntlet winner 5 (5 1st place)
singles winner 3 (3 singles)
Mexico 2 (2 tag)
– If you’re betting on a overall tie finish (and that’s where my money would be), you’ve got 6 chances out of the 32. Regardless of the singles match outcome (since they’re both at 0, there’s a lot of echoing), there’s 1 chance for a three way tie and 2 chances for a two way tie.
If Petey Williams beats Jushin Liger, those ties are Japan-USA-Mexico, Japan-USA, USA-Mexico.
If Jushin Liger beats Petey Williams, those ties are Canada-USA-Japan, Canada-USA, USA-Mexico.
Of those, Canada-USA seems the obvious pick (though apparently everyone’s working the next taping, so they’re not limited by availability). Mexico would end up 3rd with 4 and Japan last with 3.
– USA can not finish worse than second.