TNA Impact Wrestling
Orlando, Florida (Impact Zone)
April 12, 2012
Commentators: Mike Tenay & Taz
Report by: Josh Boutwell of Wrestleview.com
Impact Wrestling opens up with highlights from last week and then we cut to the arena where Eric Bischoff makes his way out to the ring. A huge “you suck” chant starts and Bischoff points out a fan and calls him a piece of crap and then asks if he ate his way into the arena. He says he has some business to take care of and he’s going to take care of it right now. He says that Hogan & Garett are feeling real good about themselves right now because they think they’re in control. A big “we don’t care” chant starts and TNA made no attempt to quiet it down. Bischoff says they don’t understand that the Eric Bischoff name will live on long after everyone there is dead and gone. He says that he will be a legacy in this business and his name will live on. He talks about Hogan questioning Bischoff’s leadership ability and he says to prove Hogan wrong he put together a punishing team and then introduces Team Eric Bischoff: Bully Ray, Gunner, Kazarian, and Christopher Daniels. All 4 men come down to the ring and shake hands with Eric.
Ray asks the fans if they know who Eric is and then and the fans boo him LOUDLY. He says he’s proud to stand next to Eric and proud to go to war for him, but as great as a man as Eric is he’s made one mistake. He says that mistake is his bastard son, Garett. Eric says he knows Bully will take care of that mistake for him at Lockdown and he knows the challenge that’s in front of them tonight because of the Best of 3 Series to determine which team gets the man advantage at Lockdown. He points to Gunner and says he knows he’s ready to lead the charge for him and it’s time to get it on! Garett’s music hits and he walks out onto the stage.
Garett says it looks like his dad has been really hard at work getting his team on lined up and it looks like they’re all ready to go. He says he hopes he chose his team wisely because he’s going to need it. He says his team is waiting in the back and they are all chomping at the bit to get to them. He says one of those guys is chomping at the bit so bad he’s foaming at that mouth and he’s so ready they might as well get this thing started right now! Mr. Anderson’s music hits and he walks out onto the stage!
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Lethal Lockdown Best of 3 Series Match #1
Mr. Anderson vs. Gunner
Back from the break Anderson is beating on Gunner in the corner. He attempts to whip Gunner into the opposite corner but Gunner reverses it and then charges at Anderson. Anderson floats up and over the charging Gunner and then beats Gunner down in the corner. Gunner grabs Anderson by the tights and slams him into the turnbuckles and then hits him with a headbutt. Gunner rakes the eyes of Anderson and then beats on Anderson on the mat with right hands. Anderson rolls out to the floor but Gunner follows him out and rakes his back and then attempts to slam him on the floor, but Anderson blocks it and shoves him into the ring post! Anderson slams Gunner into the guardrail repeatedly and then they both roll back into the ring. Anderson hits Gunner with a Running Back Elbow and then goes for the Green Bay Plunge, but Gunner blocks it and rolls Anderson up! 1…2…NO Anderson kicks out! Gunner goes for a clothesline but Anderson ducks and hits one of his own! He follows up with a series of several Elbow Drops! Anderson kicks Gunner in the gut but Gunner comes back with a poke to the eyes followed by a Running Clothesline. Gunner chokes Anderson on the mat and then slams him into the corner. Gunner follows up with a headbutt and then we get a shot Anderson’s head busted open again (same place as last week). Gunner goes for a Scoop Slam but Anderson blocks it only to have Gunner counters into another rollup! 1…2…NO Anderson kicked out despite Gunner pulling the tights. Anderson gets to his feet and nails Gunner with a big right hand! The two start exchanging right hands in the center of the ring but Gunner knees Anderson in the gut and then whips him into the corner. Gunner charges at Anderson but he moves out of the way and Gunner slams into the ring post! Anderson slams Gunner into the ring post again and then starts beating on him in the corner. Anderson chokes Gunner with his boot and refuses to stop as the referee keeps screaming at him to stop and counting at him. He finally DQs Anderson.
Winner: Gunner via DQ
Anderson continues to stomp on Gunner and beat on him after the match before finally leaving. He’s truly an asshole.
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Eric Young is getting ready for the wedding backstage wearing a Carolina Blue tux when Joseph Park approaches him. He says Young looks very “snazzy” and then Park asks EY if he’s thought about a prenuptial agreement. The halfwit thinks he’s talking about a dog. Park then asks if he’s seen Abyss and EY tells him that he should start by looking at Immortal. Park tells EY if he needs anything else to give him a call.
In the ring the Motor City Machine Guns are there with a microphone. Sabin says that if there is one thing he’s learned while in this business it’s that it’s not the size of the man that matters, it’s the size of his heart. Sabin says injury after injury has plagued the Guns for too long but that’s in the past and they are looking to the future and he’s talking directly to Joe & Magnus. Shelley says the Guns have been teaming together for the better part of the decade while Joe & Magnus have been teaming for 6 months and that’s a fact. He says Joe & Magnus beat the “dynamic team” of Morgan & Crimson whose best double team move was rubbing each other with baby oil before their matches (OUCH). He says that’s some real “tag team continuity” right there. He says the Machine Guns have teamed together all over the world and they’ve beaten Beer Money and they retired Team 3D and they’ve beaten those teams multiple times. Shelley says this Sunday at Lockdown they aren’t wrestling Curry Man & Shark Boy, they’re facing one of the best Tag Teams ever and they WILL be the next Tag Team Champions! Samoa Joe’s music cuts hem off and the tag champs walk out!
Joe gets right into the Guns faces and then Magnus says the Guns are without a shadow of a doubt one of the most impressive teams ever and they MAY be one of the best teams ever, and for them to come back from their injuries takes serious guts and they have his respect. Magnus says it’s not about who’s the best team ever, it’s about who’s the best team on the planet right now and they’re looking at them (Joe & Magnus). He says the two tag teams on the planet will go head to head at Lockdown to see who is the best of the best and who really deserves to wear those belts. Magnus says they look ready and he and Joe are ALWAYS ready so if they don’t want to wait they can go right now! All 4 men get ready to go but then Mexican America’s music interrupts them.
Anarquia and Hernandez walk down to the ring and Anarquia says for 6 months he and Hernandez were the Tag Team Champions and they want to leave them out now. He says they could come out and run their mouths but they only got one thing to say and then they jump the Guns & Joe/Magnus! The Guns toss Anarquia out to the floor and then Joe hits Mex with an Atomic Drop followed by a Running Mafia Kick from Magnus and then a Backsplash Senton from Joe! Anarquia comes back in and the Guns hit Skull & Bones on him! The two teams stare each other down.
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Lethal Lockdown Best of 3 Series Match #2
“Fallen Angel” Christopher Daniels vs. “A-Double” Austin Aries
Aries is the longest reigning X-Division Champion of all time and Daniels is the man who DID hold that record. Aries and Daniels lockup and Aries gets Daniels in a side headlock but Daniels counters into a wristlock. Daniels twists on Aries arm but Aries rolls through and counters right back into the side headlock. Daniels attempts to counter with a Back Suplex but Aries lands on his feet and goes right back to the side headlock. Daniels forces Aries into the ropes and goes for a clothesline but Aries ducks and then he goes for a backdrop, but Aries cartwheels over him! Aries then hits a double chop to the sides of Daniels’ head and goes right back to the side headlock. Daniels forces Aries into the corner and then hits him with a series of shoulder blocks followed by a side headlock of his own. Aries shoves Daniels into the ropes and then he drops down in front of Daniels, but Daniels cartwheels over HIM now. Daniels then hits Aries with a jab to the face and then hits the ropes but Aries catches him with an Armdrag! Aries holds onto Daniels arm with an Armlock but Daniels counters with a Headscissors. Aries is able to get out of it by doing a headstand and then transitioning into a dropkick to the seated Daniels! Aries mocks Daniels by laying across the top rope. Daniels charges at Aries but Aries avoids him by dropping down to the apron. Aries then springboards back into the ring and into a Back Elbow on Daniels in the corner. Aries then attempts to whip Daniels into the opposite corner but Daniels reverses it and then charges at Aries, but Aries catches him with a back elbow and then climbs up top. Daniels crotches Aries on the top by hitting the top rope and then he nails Aries with a big uppercut! Daniels whips Aries into the opposite corner hard and then puts the boots to him. Daniels follows up with a Vertical Suplex, 1…2…NO Aries kicks out and Aries goes right into a modified headlock. Aries attempts to get to his feet but Daniels snatches his back down into a Backbreaker! Daniels holds Aries body in place over his knee in a Half Straight Jacket Choke while also stretching Aries over his knee. Aries fights out of it with knees to the head but then Daniels tosses Aries out to the floor. Daniels then goes for a Split Legged Moonsault off the top onto Aries on the floor, but Aries moves out of the way! Aries then rolls back in and hits the Heat Seeking Missile onto Daniels on the floor! The timing on that sequence was PERFECT. Aries rolls Daniels back into the ring and then from the apron he actually slams Daniels head-first into two of the turnbuckles (while Aries was still on the apron). Aries hits Daniels with a series of elbows and then he slingshots himself back into the ring over Daniels and then he nails Daniels with the Roaring Elbow! Aries follows up with a Handspring off the ropes into an Elbow Drop! 1…2…NO Daniels kicks out! Aries grabs Daniels but Daniels runs Aries into the corner as the fans chant “this is wrestling.” Daniels then sets up to charge at Aries but Aries uses the turnbuckles to lift himself up into the air and into a rollup on Daniels! 1…2…NO Daniels kicks out and then rolls up Aries himself and holds onto the trunks! 1…2…NO the referee sees Daniels pulling on the trunks which allows Aries to roll Daniels up! 1…2…NO the referee notices that Aries is ALSO pulling Daniels’ trunks! Daniels hits Aries in the back as he argues with the referee and then hits a Standing Rock Bottom followed by an attempt at the BME! Aries rolls out of the way but Daniels lands on his feet! Aries retreats to the corner and Daniels charges after him but Aries gets his boots up! Aries then climbs up top and dives off with a Missile Dropkick! Aries then hits the IED in the corner followed by the Brainbuster! 1…2…3!
Winner: Aries via pinfall (Brainbuster)
As the steel cage is being set up for EY & ODB’s wedding Jeff Hardy makes his way down to the ring. Hardy will face Kurt Angle at Lockdown inside the Steel Cage Sunday night. Hardy thanks the fans for the ovation and then says this whole thing between he and Kurt started when Kurt cost him the World Title and it will end inside the Steel Cage. He says there will be no where for Kurt to run and it will be just he and Kurt and they will make history. He says they will hurt each other and it’s inevitable and he loves it. He tells his “creatures of the night” to “mount up” and then drops the microphone.
James Storm is shown after Impact last week cutting a promo, he says he’s sick of Roode’s bullsh*t. He says he brought his friends Montgomery Gentry to Impact to have a good time and he pulls something like he did spitting in their faces. He says at Lockdown Roode will find out why Nashville is his town. Montgomery Gentry says is a candy ass and Storm is going to kick his ass.
EY is shown again getting ready for the wedding when Rosita & Sarita walk in wearing robes. EY looks nervous and they say they’re just there to wish him luck. EY says EY could walk away with anyone… or “any two” but when he puts on the ring he’s stuck. They show EY what’s under their robes and asks him if he’s “looked around.” EY freaks out and says he loves ODB and runs away. They laugh and wish him good luck mockingly.
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The Halfwit Steel Cage Wedding
Next up is the “wedding” between Eric Young and ODB inside a Steel Cage. My head already hurts. The podium for the preacher in the ring is camouflage, naturally. EY makes his way out first and Taz thinks EY actually washed his hair for the occasion (but obviously not the beard). “Here Comes the Bride” starts but quickly stops and ODB’s theme hits. ODB is actually wearing a camo wedding dress (I kid you not, two girls at my Senior Prom in High School wore camo prom dresses, got to love the south). The preacher starts the ceremony and apparently EY’s middle name is “Cornelius.” The preacher says the Steel Cage is symbolic to the strength needed to last in a wedding. EY cringed at the “till death do you part” and then a video montage is shown to represent their “love for each other.” They have prepared their own vows, good lord. EY’s is pretty simple saying he will care for ODB always… even when she farts. EY promises to “allow” her to rub his feet whenever she wants because he knows she’s into that.
ODB promises not to take EY’s last name but to take his ring music. She promises to slap his ass when necessary because she knows HE’S into that. She also promises to give him a “buffet of BAM” anytime he wants. The preacher asks of anyone feels that they should not be together to speak now or forever hold their peace. Taz tells Tenay to sit down and then Mexican America’s music hits. Sarita & Rosita (still wearing their robes) make their way out. Sarita says THEY object and they tried to show him backstage what a real woman is made of but he ran away like a little boy. A “slut” chant starts and Sarita calls ODB a beast and asks if he would rather spend the rest of his life with ODB or with them. Rosita takes her robe off revealing her lingerie and immediately this segment has gotten 10 times better. EY is shown starring at her. Rosita says she doesn’t think he quite grasps his opportunity and then Sarita takes her rob off, good lord have mercy. El caliente doesn’t quite describe it. ODB says she knows she doesn’t have what those girls have but then she takes her dress off and says they don’t have what she has. She takes a swig of whiskey while grabbing her chest. EY looks at Sarita & Rosita and then back at ODB. Taz with the line of the night: “Eric, climb over the cage…RUN!” EY grabs ODB’s hands and then says she’s perfect for him. He says he’s been dreaming about this since he was a little boy and he now knows the missing ingredient to make this wedding perfect. ODB then takes his clothes off and he’s wearing a damn speedo again and yes it’s a camo speedo.
ODB tells the preacher to take his clothes off to because they’re going to do this right and this fool agrees to do it. When the preacher asks EY if he takes ODB as his wife he says “abso-freakin’lutely.” He pronounces them man and wife and then ODB jumps EY and they start making out.
Ric Flair tries to pump Bully up backstage and says it doesn’t matter who they send at him because they need him.
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In the back Bobby Roode says he has no problem facing Storm face to face tonight because at Lockdown it will be personal, he has no problem with personal.
Lethal Lockdown Best of 3 Series Match #3
Bully Ray w/Kazarian, Daniels, Eric Bischoff, Gunner, & Ric Flair vs. “The Phenomenal” AJ Styles w/Garett Bischoff, Mr. Anderson, & Austin Aries
Ray doesn’t look too happy when AJ’s music hits. These two had a short but really fun feud against each other last year. AJ shoots in for a lockup but Ray retreats to the ropes to stall. They circle each other again and this time lockup with Ray forcing AJ into the corner. Ray tries to swing at AJ but he ducks and hits a big right of his own. They lockup again and this time Ray gets AJ in a Waistlock but AJ is able to get to the ropes. Ray swings again and AJ ducks again and hits a right hand. Ray showing some frustration with the much quicker AJ. Ray looks for another lockup but this time AJ hits him with a roundhouse kick to the ribs and then he locks Ray in a side headlock. AJ attempts a side headlock takeover but Ray blocks it and then he lifts AJ up into the air with a Back Suplex! Ray hits AJ with an elbow to the back of the head and then he hits the ropes but AJ leapfrogs him and then hits the Phenomenal Dropkick! AJ attempts to clothesline Ray over the top rope but Ray doesn’t budge. AJ then hits the ropes and charges at Ray but he backdrops AJ over the top! AJ lands on the apron and then eats every bit of a Big Boot from Ray sending AJ into the guardrail at ringside! Team Eric & Team Garett come face-to-face at ringside with AJ between them. AJ staggers back to the apron and Ray tosses him back into the ring with a Hip Toss over the top rope! A big “AJ” chant starts up but Ray locks him in a Bearhug. AJ fights the hold with elbows to the top of the head and then chops to the sides of the head! AJ hits the ropes but Ray catches him with a backdrop lifting The Phenomenal One high up into the lights! Ray attempts a Splash but AJ rolls out of the way! Both men are down now! AJ gets back to his feet and hits a roundhouse kick but Ray answers with a chop! They start exchanging strikes now but AJ is able to get the advantage as he blocks a big right hand from Ray and connects with a series of rights of his own! AJ comes off the ropes with a clothesline and then Ray retreats to the corner and AJ follows with a Flying Clothesline! AJ climbs to the top and attempts a Tornado DDT but Ray blocks it and hits a Samoan Drop! 1…2…NO AJ kicks out! Ray climbs up to the middle rope and sets up for something but AJ suddenly nips up to his feet and punches Ray in the gut! AJ climbs up with Ray and hits a Frankensteiner of the top! 1…2…NO Ray kicks out! AJ hits the ropes and Kazarian trips him as the referee was looking down at Ray! Team Garett jumps them and the brawl is on! In the ring Ray swings at AJ but he ducks and hits the Pele! The referee is distracted by the fight but finally turns around! 1…2…NO Ray kicks out! AJ hits a sliding dropkick under the ropes onto Kazarian! Eric Bischoff slides Ray the chain as AJ gets back up on the apron. AJ springboards off the top with the Springboard Flying Forearm but Ray catches him in midair with the chain! The referee turns around, 1…2…3!
Winner: Ray via pinfall giving Team Eric the man advantage at Lethal Lockdown
After the match Hulk Hogan’s music hits and TNA GM makes his way out. Hogan congratulates Bischoff on the victory and how he did it was very predictable but he has some news for him. It won’t be 4-on-4 at Lethal Lockdown, it will be 5-on-5! He says that he’s going to give Eric 3 minutes to tell him who the 5th man is.
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Back from the break Hogan tells him that his time is up and Flair looks to be trying to get into the ring to get at Hogan. Bischoff says everyone knows that Hogan is going to put himself in as the 5th man for Team Garett and he knows Ric can take him out but he wants to be there in the ring when his team takes Hogan out so he can stand over Hogan’s prone body. Bischoff says he’ll be the 5th man! Hogan laughs and says Bischoff is so predictable and once again it’s all ego with him. Hogan says he’s taking his GM position very seriously so you don’t have to worry about Hulkamania in the match but he did give Garett a heads up a few days ago and he let him know so he could get a 5th partner. The fans chant for Sting but then Garett points at himself like RVD as RVD’s music hits!
RVD makes his return and walks out to the ring! Eric Bischoff is freaking out at ringside.
Another great Roode-Storm video package airs with Roode saying that Storm always knew Roode was the better man. He says that at Lockdown in Storm’s home state Storm thinks he has Roode where he wants him. Roode says he was the guy that carried Storm to all of those tag team championships and he made Storm who he is. Roode says he is the World Heavyweight Champion and if he thinks that beer bottle shot 4 months ago hurt, that will be nothing compared to what he does to Storm at Lockdown. He says there is nothing he won’t do to keep the World Title in his possession. Roode says he will prove to Storm why he is the World Champion and at Lockdown this between them will be over.
Storm says it’s taken 10 years to build a company and 4 years to build a friendship with Roode, but only took 1 bottle to destroy it all. He says in 3 days the bullsh*t stops (they actually didn’t censor that either). These videos have been terrific.
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Main Event
Gail Kim & Madison Rayne vs. Velvet Sky & “Hardcore Country” Mickie James
Gail and Velvet will face off at Lockdown inside the cage for the KO belt. Mickie and Madison kick the match off and lockup with each other. Madison gets Mickie in a wristlock but Mickie counters out with a cartwheel but Madison then slams her to the mat by her hair! Mickie responds with a dropkick! Mickie gets distracted by Gail and eats a kick from Madison. Madison then kicks Mickie in the face with a running boot and covers her for a nearfall. Gail tags in but Mickie catches her with a Flapjack! Mickie tags in Velvet but Gail runs away and tags in Madison. Madison comes in and Velvet rolls her up for a nearfall. Velvet hits Madison with chops and then attempts to whip her into the ropes but Madison reverses it and then goes for a backdrop, but Velvet stops and kicks her as Mickie blind tags herself in. Velvet then hits a Snapmare Takeover and Mickie comes in with a Sliding Dropkick on Madison! Gail comes in and hits Mickie from behind and Madison rolls over for a nearfall. Madison tosses Mickie into the heel corner and tags Gail back in. Gail hits Mickie with a European Uppercut and then she chokes Mickie on the middle rope. Gail follows up with a Clothesline off the ropes for a nearfall. Madison tags back in and the heels whip Mickie into the corner. Gail then whips Madison into a Running Hip Attack and then Madison whips Gail into an attempt a Flying Body Splash, but Mickie moves out of the way and Gail slams into the turnbuckles and through the ropes to the floor! Mickie tags in Velvet and she stops Gail from tagging out and she lights her up with a series of clotheslines and shoulder blocks and then a Spinning Head Scissors Takeover! Velvet follows up with a Bulldog! 1…2…NO Madison breaks it up! Madison grabs Velvet by the hair but eats a DDT from Velvet! Mickie stops Gail from leaving the ring and tosses her back in the ring where Velvet sets up for the In Yo Face! Gail shoves Velvet into the corner and then goes for Eat Defeat, but Velvet blocks it and hits In Yo Face!
Winners: Mickie & Velvet via pinfall (In Yo Face)
Lockdown Showdown
James Storm makes his way down to the ring followed shortly after by the World Champ. Storm says the last few weeks they’ve been doing a lot of yelling at each other and asks what happened to those days when they were boys and they just talked. Storm asks Roode if he remembers the time they were on the plane together for 15 hours on the way to Japan and talked about how great it would be if one of them could wrestle for the World Heavyweight Championship and then they both just laughed because they didn’t think it would ever happen. Storm says “here we are” 4-time World Tag Team Champions and the longest reigning Tag Team Champions in the history of TNA. While Storm is talking about Beer Money highlights of their time together are shown. Storm says they’ve traveled the world together two or three times over and have entertained millions of people, kicked a lot of butt, and drank a lot of beer.
Roode says he’s not going to come out and pretend like Beer Money never existing. He says they had a lot of success and a lot of good times together. He says Beer Money was one of the greatest tag teams ever and being a part of that team was one of the proudest things in his life. A “you sold out” chant starts and Roode says there is another proud moment in his career and it was just last year when they put their tag team aspirations to the side and joined the BFG Series to try and get a shot at the belt. He says they both made it to the Final-4 and made it to the Semifinals. Ray says he beat Gunner while Storm LOST to Bully Ray and then Roode beat Ray in the Finals defeating the man that defeated Storm. Roode talks about Main Eventing at BFG against Angle while Storm sat in the back and twiddled his thumbs and did nothing.
Storm says he does remember that and he remembers watching the match and he remembers Roode losing. Storm asks Roode if he remembers that the next week he beat the guy that beat Roode in record time for the belt. That doesn’t sit too well with Roode. Roode says that is coming back to him because Storm’s title reign is so short it’s hard to remember. He says he remembers beating Storm for the belt like it was yesterday and not only did he beat Storm he became the it factor of wrestling. Clips of that match are shown as they are talking. A “you suck” chant starts and Storm says he does remember that and he says that’s the night Roode hit him with the head with a beer bottle. Storm getting a little fired up now. He says that’s the night Roode destroyed the Beer Money legacy and destroyed a friendship.
Roode gets pissed and says that’s “bullsh*t” because they were never really friends. Roode says 10 years ago when they met they hated each other and the only reason that Beer Money was successful was because of their passion for the business. Roode says all those stories about traveling together and drinking beers is crap because they despised each other. Roode says Storm made a living and supported his family off of Roode’s talent from day one. He says that Storm has been jealous of him since day one. Storm gets in Roode’s face and screams at him asking him what he has to be jealous of Roode for. Storm says where he comes from family and friends still mean something. He says you don’t sell your friends out for the love of money and that’s what Roode did because he’s selfish. Storm says he does this for the love of the sport and for all of the fans. Storm says his “Superkick leg” is getting a little tired of going down memory lane so they should just skip the history class. Storm says in 3 days they will beat the living sh*t out of each other and they’re going to do it in HIS town in Nashville in front of his family. Roode says he doesn’t give a damn about Nashville or about Storm’s “hillbilly wife and redneck kids.”
That one touched a nerve as both men start taking their jackets off. Roode says if Storm wants this to get real then they’re going to get real. Roode says Storm walks around like he’s some big shot or some star but then Storm cuts him off and gets back in his face. Storm says Roode isn’t going to need any luck against him, he’s going to need a damn miracle to get out of the cage! Roode laughs and says Storm loves to walk around say his stupid little saying (Sorry bout your damn luck) and he’s sick of hearing it because in 3 days Storm is going to need all of the luck he can get. Roode says considering Storm’s history with his 2 dead brothers and his dead father he has NO LUCK. Storm gets right in Roode’s face and the two stare each other down and scream at each other as Impact goes off the air!
FINAL THOUGHTS
WOW what a ending. That’s was an excellent conclusion to the build for Roode and Storm’s showdown. They really built it up starting off calm and slow with a trip down memory lane and slowly building up the tension and intensity between the two before it finally exploded with Roode talking about Storm’s “luck” turning around his catchphrase. Absolutely excellent. The video package was great again this week and have been this last month building to the match. I can’t wait to see these two kick the sh*t out of each other on Sunday night.
Daniels/Aries put on an excellent match against each other and I believe that was their first time in the ring together in TNA (at least during this Aries run) and given more time that could have been really great. That might something we want to look at down the future.
AJ/Ray have good chemistry together and it shone again tonight. They had a great match until the screwy finish.
Putting Eric Bischoff into the match makes sense and RVD will get a nice reaction from the crowd and will likely pull something crazy out during the match. Giving the heels the man advantage is a no brainer in Wargames/Lethal Lockdown matches.
Jeff Hardy’s promo tonight was short and sweet and that match should be a pretty fun one as well at Lockdown.
I just knew I was going to be crapping all over the ODB/EY wedding but I’ll be damn if that wasn’t actually funny and entertaining. It was a little too long but pretty funny regardless, and thank god they did it on Impact rather than at Lockdown.
Great promo from the Guns and Magnus/Joe to put over their match and Mexican America getting involved was just food for both teams to one up each other. Sucks to see by boy Hernandez get that treatment though.
KO tag match was okay and Velvet looks strong going into the PPV.
My biggest complaint going into Lockdown is that the X-Division really has no place on the card other than Aries being in Lethal Lockdown while the TV Title is taking up a wasted space on the card. I’m still holding out hope for a last minute X-Division Xscape addition but it’s looking unlikely.
QUICK RESULTS
1) Lethal Lockdown Best of 3 Series Match #1: Gunner (Team Eric) def. Mr. Anderson (Team Garett)
2) Lethal Lockdown Best of 3 Series Match #2: Austin Aries (Team Garett) def. Christopher Daniels (Team Eric)
3) Lethal Lockdown Best of 3 Series Match #3: Bully Ray (Team Eric) def. AJ Styles (Team Garett) to give Team Eric the man advantage at Lockdown
4) Velvet Sky & Mickie James def. Madison Rayne & Gail Kim
– Promo/Segment of the Night: Lockdown Showdown (Roode/Storm)
– Match of the Night: Aries vs. Daniels (***1/2)
– Overall Grade: B+
Lockdown Lineup:
– TNA World Title Steel Cage Match: Bobby Roode (c) vs. James Storm
– Lethal Lockdown Steel Cage Match: Team Garett (Garett Bischoff, AJ Styles, Mr. Anderson, Rob Van Dam, & Austin Aries) vs. Team Eric (Gunner, Christopher Daniels, Bully Ray, Kazarian, & Eric Bischoff)
– Steel Cage Match: Jeff Hardy vs. Kurt Angle
– TNA Tag Team Titles Steel Cage Match: Samoa Joe & Magnus (c) vs. Motor City Machine Guns
– TNA Knockouts Title Steel Cage Match: Gail Kim (c) vs. Velvet Sky
– TNA TV Title Steel Cage Match: Devon (c) vs. Robbie E.
– Steel Cage Match: Crimson vs. Matt Morgan