411’s PPV Round Table Preview: TNA Lockdown 2007
Posted by Larry Csonka on 04.14.2007
The final road to Lockdown goes through 411…IN A CAGE~!
INTRODUCTION~!
It's time for another PPV Roundtable preview here at 411, the 2nd of 3 this month! This time around is TNA's Lockdown PPV, their annual all cage match PPV. There will be X-Division action with the title on the line in one match, the tag titles are on the line in an electrified cage match and the main event once again will be a Lethal Lockdown match. We have 15 of 411's finest here to break down the show and give their predictions. Let's meet the staff and break down the show!
THE STAFF~!
Impact Crater author Ryan Byers!
From the Column of Honor, and the man that wants to beat down Chris Hero; Ari Berenstein!
The Elijah Burke of 411's New Breed, he is Matt Adamson!
The man that brought back the Evolution Schematic, and one big bastard; Mathew Sforcina!
The Matt striker of 411's New Breed, he is Rob Halden!
The man with the Ominous thoughts, Stuart Carapola!
Truth B. Told it's Bayani Domingo!
I shine the spotlight on Michael Weyer!
The Marcus Cor Von of 411's New Breed, he is Mike Minotti!
The Stevie Richards of 411, Michael Bauer!
The Kevin Thorne of 411's New Breed, he is Matt Short!
Snitsky's biggest fan, Andy Clark!
Master of the High Road, SAT!
From the great 411 sports zone, Neil Borenstein!
And finally the Franchise of 411, Larry Csonka!
TNA LOCKDOWN 2007~!
Christy Hemme's Second Mystery Team vs. VKM
Ryan Byers: Okay, so NOW it's going to be the Bashams, right? At least in my mind, this angle would ideally lead to Hemme pairing up with a team that's already on the TNA payroll full-time so that they don't have to worry about signing a new duo to contracts that they can't afford. If TNA is smart enough to figure that out (and that's not a guarantee), then the Billy & Road Dogg should go over here.
Winners: The New Age Outlaws
Ari Berenstein: Behold the craptacular nature of this match! See, the gimmick is the teams that Christy picks HAVE to be crappier as we go along. Also it helps to be WWE castoffs, because TNA will pick up any scraps from under the table, no matter how rotten. So while the last pick of The Heartthrobs was pretty crappy, we haven't even scratched the surface of just how back this will get. Therefore, the next team for Christy's PMS 2007 unit will be...THE GYMINI! Like it will matter anyway.
Winner: VKM and misogyny
Matt Adamson: No matter who Hemme is going to pull out of her hat, it's not going to be interesting enough to matter or make this match any better. The facts are, without this angle, TNA actually becomes significantly better as would this Pay Per View if this match weren't on it. Too bad they haven't realized it yet. For the want of a nail! Regardless, this is not going to be the big payoff, so VKM will get the win.
Winners: The James Gang
Mathew Sforcina: They say third time's a charm. They say you can never go back. They say women should be seen and not heard. They say you can't teach an old dog new tricks. They say a lot of things. They are stupid, and so is this storyline and match.
Winner: VKM (Hoyt Run-In)
Rob Halden: As much as I love Mystery opponents, TNA always screw them up royally. Plus, they're committed to shoving VKM down the throats of everyone who was sick of them seven years ago, and everyone else who never gave a crap about them in the first place.
Winner: VKM
Stuart Carapola: I don't expect this to be the end of the feud, I think VKM's going to go over and lead to a third, more successful team challenging VKM at the next PPV. Isn't it funny how Christy's supposed to be the baby face, but is instead just coming off as an insane, desperate person on a vendetta?
Winner: VKM
Bayani Domingo: Oh Christy…it's come to this hasn't it? You were soooo much hotter as the chick who didn't say much but didn't bounce around like an idiot and now that you're a women's libber…yikes. Well we already had the Heart Throbs, which is sad because they really could have added something interesting to the Tag Team mix, and now apparently we have another mystery team. Since this team ain't expected to stick around I'll go with the guys who were rumored to be getting' a look anyways. Damn, VKM getting not only TV time, but also a win is just criminal. They're like the Sanjaya Malakar of TNA. But without the sassy pony-hawk and with much less subtle gay overtones.
Winner: VKM beating the Riggs Brothers
Michael Weyer: Oh, man, this again? Did we not just go through this insanity last month? I'm really afraid of who it will be this time but I guess I'll give it to the unknowns just for the mystery factor.
WINNER: Mystery Team.
Mike Minotti: It's kind of bizarre predicting the winner of a match where we don't know who half of the participants will be. Still, it's safe to say this probably won't be the last of Hemme's "Mystery Teams", so I'm expecting VKM to once again go over. Another bold prediction; this match will blow.
Winner: VKM
Michael Bauer: Mr. Russo, all of my responses are honest questions to you. Why oh why do we have to continue to do this? I have got about as much as chance as being wrong as I do of growing a golf course on my head.
Winner: VKM
Matt Short: I watched the hype video for this on the Lockdown page and there's something bizarre about hearing Kip James ramble about having dignity and then ripping off Jeff Jarrett's line about being pissed off. And here I was just thinking how awesome it would be if they got Chuck Palumbo to come back and hit on Kip in a match. The sad part of this all is these types of things usually come in threes, so there's a great chance that we'll have one last mystery tag team match.
Winner: VKM
Andy Clark: Who oh who could it be? It'll be really lame if it's Serotonin. I still think we're two months away from the Bashams so VKM has to win here.
Winners: VKM
Sat: Okay, I picked the mystery team to win last time and it didn't happen. I think that the Bashams will be the third team, so I'll take VKM this time.
Winner: VKM
Neil Borenstein: I know, I know … this time it's going to be Brock Lesnar and Bill Goldberg! Actually, that would be kind of insane if it weren't for the fact that it will never happen. But anyway, this is getting a bit stupid already. TNA had an opportunity to do something important with Christy Hemme, but have instead pissed that away for repetitive angles that keep VKM out of important tag team storylines. It's really pointless to guess at what team she has in store this time – it might be The Basham Brothers, it might not be. Maybe that'll be mystery team No. 57. All I know is I'm not picking against BG and Kip this go around.
Winners: VKM
Larry Csonka: Ok, so let's hope that THIS is the Bashams and that is it better than the abortion that was the Heartbreakers TNA Debut.
Winners: Christy Hemme's Second Mystery Team
"Prince of Darkness" Blindfold Match: Chris Harris vs. James Storm
Ryan Byers: So it's the first match of the feud and you've got a baby face
with a major disadvantage. It sounds like something that Storm should be exploiting
to win, thus extending the rivalry for a couple of more pay per views.
Winner: James Storm
Ari Berenstein: You have to love TNA...they are really showing through this
match that all types of people EVERYWHERE around the world can reach out
for that dream and become a professional wrestler...even the blind. You know, at first, I was offended about this match, but when I heard that Chris Harris has a blind sister and James Storm has parents who are legally blind, then I understood why both agreed to wrestle this match. Sure these types of matches are usually awful, but hey, the fact that this hits close to home is sure to pick up the quality of the match. Storm, Harris, do it for your family!
Winner: Chris Harris and the handicapable
Matt Adamson: Borrowing from the playbook of the old school. I think it's great because if you are going to go old school, may as well do it with guys who understand who the old school worked. While I would much rather this match be a good ol' traditional cage match, I'll settle for this because it will be short and sweet and the big blow off match will be saved for another day. Added to that, this match is really a tribute to blind members of both Harris' and Storm's families, so that in itself makes this match worthwhile. I have to pick a winner don't I? James Storm will come out the winner with help from his rather masculine valet.
Winner: James Storm
Mathew Sforcina: Well now. Call it what you will, it's still a Blindfold match. And as much as I love me a good blindfold match (it's one of my guilty pleasures, as are the 24/7 rule, The Real Tori, Dude Love, Maria, David Flair and Hornswoggle), it sure as hell is NOT the way to maintain any sort of serious feud. These guys were the most dominate tag team of the decade (work with me here), this is the match signed after they broke up... and it's a Blindfold Match? Yes, I understand the logic, but still...IT'S A BLINDFOLD MATCH! Still, could have been worse. Could have been a strap match.
Winner: James Storm (Jackie Run-In)
Rob Halden: Prince of What-ness? Shouldn't Kevin Thorn be in this match? Whatever, I'll mark out huuuuge for a blindfold match and I love seeing these two go at it. But I can't see this feud getting prolonged if Harris gets the duke.
Winner: James Storm
Stuart Carapola: The stipulation would seem to favor Harris, but I can't believe that after how long this angle has taken to play out that they'd really blow it off here by having Harris go over in the first match. I think this is going to continue for a while longer, and so...
Winner: James Storm
Bayani Domingo: So wait, Ron Killings has his own match and it's a Blindfold one? Oh, I kid Ron, but seriously kids, what the hell happened to him. Oh yeah, the match. Um… well don't the heels usually go over first in a long drawn out feud?
Winner: James "perfect depth perception" Storm
Michael Weyer: Apparently, Vince Russo never got the memo that blindfold matches suck. Rule of thumb, no question, they always suck and this is going to be no exception. Which is a shame as a feud like this deserves better than this horrible gimmick. I'll give it to Harris just to push the feud more.
WINNER: Chris Harris.
Mike Minotti: Wow, that's an incredibly dramatic name for a blindfold match. I think I like it. We should apply this logic to all matches. DQ matches should be called "Sacrifice of Angels" matches. TLC matches should be "Tools of Satan" matches. This is so awesome, I want to drown myself! Anyways, first match in what is expected to be a long feud, I'm thinking the heel will go over.
Winner and new Prince of Darkness: James Storm
Michael Bauer: Why oh why do we bring the Prince of Darkness into this crap? The devil needs to be involved as much as we need to see VKM vs. any Hemme mystery team.
Winner: Chris Harris
Matt Short: I really don't mind this stipulation. It actually ties into Harris' injury angle, but this type of match isn't know for amazing wrestling. Doesn't mean that it can't be fun. The main point here is to keep James Storm's heel heat going so I'd expect a lot of cheating as they build these guys toward a one-on-one match. On a slightly unrelated note why the hell is a match involving cowboys subtitled with "Prince of Darkness"?
Winner: James Storm
Andy Clark: The one cage match that doesn't really need a stipulation and they're under blindfolds. Harris needs to get some measure of revenge by winning, but I say he gets laid out afterwards.
Winner: Chris Harris
Sat: The reason for having this match makes sense because Chris Harris is blinded in one eye, but it's a bad idea for this match to be a blindfold match. TNA's definitely going to extend this feud to the next pay per view, so James Storm wins here via shenanigans.
Winner: James Storm
Neil Borenstein: I know people are upset that this match is getting a gimmick. I don't, though. Because in watch should be a hot and lengthy feud between the former AMW teammates, I don't mind the first of what will be many matches swaying away from a straight one-on-one. After all, the match is in a cage to begin, so it's not like it was stipulation-free. The regular one-on-one bout will happen. But while TNA roles with Chris Harris having a vision handicap, I don't think it's a bad thing for the company to pull out a mostly unused blindfold stipulation. As far as who wins is concerned, Harris needs some redemption, but Storm also needs a cheap win. By some form of cheating, I think "The Tennessee Cowboy" takes round one.
Winner: James Storm
Larry Csonka: A lot of people are shitting on this match, but in all actuality it makes perfect sense. Storm blinded his former partner, Harris isn't cleared to wrestle in a normal match so this is the only answer. The crowd likes these guys, which is important because they have to be behind the face for the match to work with the "crowd help spots." It won't be a technical classic, but should be fun. Harris wins and then gets beat down after the match. Also, the reason for the name isn't that TNA was calling, that I saw anyway, but it is a throwback to the name Kevin Sullivan gave the match. It sounds cool.
Winner: Chris Harris
Petey Williams vs. Robert Roode
Ryan Byers: There are a lot of TNA fans going back and forth on whether
Petey is actually meant to be Eric Young's "friend" or whether he's just there to kill time until the actual "friend" shows up. My gut reaction to that debate is "How can you possibly care enough about this feud to waste your time arguing about it?" Anyway, this Young/Roode feud has to end with somebody winning Eric's freedom in a match, and there's no such stipulation in this one, so I'm guessing that Bobby wins.
Winner: Bobby Roode (But the real issue is where the loyalties of Tyson Dux are in this Team Canada rivalry.)
Ari Berenstein: That Petey Williams, always sticking his nose in other people's business...because he cares, because he truly cares. Just the other day Petey helped an old lady cross the street in the face on oncoming traffic, prevented a
bank robbery, found a lost puppy and all with enough time to spare to finish his
paper route. Robert Roode should be ashamed to challenge such an upright
citizen to a bloody, violent and dangerous cage match.
Winner: Petey Williams and good sportsmanship
Matt Adamson: I still long for the days of Team Canada. I don't know if I'm alone in this but I really enjoyed that stable and I'd much rather see these two wrestle as a team than against one another. However, that is not the case at Lockdown. While I'm sure these two are very familiar with each other, sometimes familiarity breeds contempt. Is that how it's said? Petey got in the business of not minding his own, and to save Miss Brooks from the evil client he must be victorious.
Winner: Petey Williams
Mathew Sforcina: Basically, this will play second fiddle to the Love Story between Eric Young and Traci Brooks. And with no offense meant to Petey, that can only be a good thing.
Winner: Petey Williams (Botched Young and/or Brooks Run-In)
Rob Halden: I've tried very, very hard to care about this match. And failed.
Winner: Certainly not the audience. But I'll go with Roode.
Stuart Carapola: Speaking of James Storm, Petey has spent the last three months feuding with him for somebody else, so now that he seems to have been cast out of that feud, the last thing I want to see is him losing to Robert Roode. I'm sure Robert Roode is a really nice guy, but he hasn't shown me anything while Petey has shown me a whole lot.
Winner: Petey Williams
Bayani Domingo: This looks like a serious mismatch on paper. But then again, I didn't see it on paper, so it looks like a mismatch on a computer screen. Petey can't hit the Canadian Destroyer on Roode, I'm calling that right now. So I guess that leaves us with….
Winner: Bobby Roode, via Young accidentally helping him win…duh.
Michael Weyer: Now this can be fun as Williams is a great worker and, given their long history as partners, he and Roode can make something great. I see them finally giving Roode a win to help really push him, which is overdue.
WINNER: Robert Roode
Mike Minotti: I can't remember the last time Petey won a PPV match. I can't even remember the last time he used the Canadian Destroyer, which is always embarrassing when I have friends over for the PPV, proclaim that "THIS GUY HAS AN INSANE FINISHER!", and then he doesn't do it. You're dead to me, Petey!
Winner: Robert Roode
Michael Bauer: Why oh why does Petey Williams have to be wasted away fighting Robert Roode? Let's just have Young face Roode and we can end this crap.
Winner: Robert Roode
Matt Short: It's all about Eric Young and his mystery friend right now. But Petey's filling the position for now while that friend is out of town. These guys could give us a decent match in the battle between Team Canada. But the focus here won't be on Williams, it's all about Eric Young and Robert Roode. Petey's become the feud placeholder hasn't he? First going against Storm before Harris came back and now with Young. They've got to find something else for this guy to do.
Winner: Robert "Bobby" Roode
Andy Clark: Oh joy, more Robert Roode. Yawwwwwwwn.
Winner: Robert Roode
Sat: Tenay and West have been speculating that Petey Williams is Eric Young's friend. I don't think that is the case, so I see Robert Roode getting the win and then forcing Eric Young to help him do a post match beat down on Williams. And this leads to an appearance from Young's friend.
Winner: Robert Roode
Neil Borenstein: Why in the blue hell is Petey Williams always the savior? Williams shouldn't be fighting for Eric Young, whether he is the "friend" or not. Williams should be kicking the living dog crap out of Robert Roode because Roode gets more TV time than he does almost every week on "iMPACT!". I don't want Roode coming anywhere near getting a win here. So I don't know if it has to come with Young's help or Williams can just kick Roode's ass on his own. Whatever the case, Williams better not be in this just to job to Roode.
Winner: Petey Williams
Larry Csonka: Not a lot of love for Mr. Roode. I still think he has a some upside, and we'll find out when he and Eric's friend do battle. Should be a fine bout, Roode wins to keep his momentum going.
Winner: Robert Roode
THE Austin Star vs. Senshi w/ Special Guest Referee Mr. Bob Backlund
Ryan Byers: This could easily be the best match on the card, but they had to gum it up by throwing Backlund in there. Hopefully he stays out of the way for the majority of the contest, allowing Low Ki and Aries to do their own thing. As far as the winner of the match is concerned, it doesn't really matter because neither of them are going to be allowed to move up the card anyway. However, I'll go with Aries just because that would mean the heel overcame the odds of having a referee who was biased against him, and TNA seems to love bass akwards booking of that sort.
Winner: Austin Aries
Ari Berenstein: Backlund already cost Senshi a match with the towel throw, so that finish is out. Somehow I think Starr will get his ass kicked left and right for this match, but will use his Hollywood egomania to eek out a win through cheating or
escape rules.
Winner: Austin Starr and Hollywood sycophants
Matt Adamson: If there were any justice in wrestling this match would be for the X Division title. However, since neither of them hold that title there is no justice, no justice at all. I'm really looking forward to this match as both of these guys are extremely talented and are capable of putting on quite the show. I just hope they put as much effort into this match as they always manage to put in to matches they wrestle for ROH or PWG. I flipped a coin to decide my pick, because I can see it going either way.
Winner: Austin Star
Mathew Sforcina: I smell heel turn! After all, it's the most illogical, bizarre thing to do that makes no-one money and just annoys everyone.
Rob Halden: Mister Robert Backlund Esq. can do no wrong in my eyes, but I sense trouble a-brewin' 'tween him and Senshi. I'm thinking either an accidental screwjob by Backlund, or he'll call for the bell even though Senshi hasn't submitted (much like the towel-throwing incident on !mpact).
Winner: 'THE' Austin Star
Stuart Carapola: I think the key here is obviously going to be Bob Backlund, and I see this ending in one of two ways. Either Backlund's interference leads to Senshi winning or Backlund's interference backfires and inadvertently leads to Austin Starr going over. you know, the Shawn Michaels at Summerslam 97 thing. I think the latter would have a better chance of setting up the eventual Starr vs. Backlund match without making Starr look too weak beforehand.
Winner: Austin Starr
Bayani Domingo: Who won the last match again? Oh, um…I'll go with the other guy. Btw, fun fact: Senshi has the strongest handshake I've ever felt in my life. He's like 5'7" and has hands that could literally crush stones. If I had a lump of coal with me last weekend I could have been a millionaire. Oh yeah, if this ends up with Star/Senshi burying the hatch and being an odd-couple tag team…that would rock.
Winner: Low Shi via Sen Ki interference
Michael Weyer: Just what is Backlund doing in this anyway? Yeah, he can be funny but he's still an odd man out in the X Division. I see him getting involved but Star should take it as part of his push.
WINNER: Austin Star
Mike Minotti: I imagine Austin Star will win this, probably due to Backlund accidentally costing Senshi the match. And then we can look forward to the drama sure to follow. Yay.
Winner: Austin Star
Michael Bauer: Why oh why does Bob Backland have to be involved in TNA anytime and anywhere? That guy stopped being funny the moment he jobbed the WWF Title to Kevin Nash in under a minute. Maybe that's why Nash likes him so much?
Winner: Senshi
Matt Short: Their match at Destination X was quite good, despite the handicap of only being allowed to use the CFCW. Now that handcuff is gone, but they've got Mr. Bob Backlund as the special referee. If Backlund stays out of the way for the most part this could be the show stealer of the night. I have little faith that Backlund will be kept to the background for this though. Too bad.
Winner: Austin Star
Andy Clark: Senshi needs the win to hopefully propel him into a three-way feud with AJ and Jerry Lynn in time for the big fifth anniversary show. Starr will probably go and job to Backlund next month.
Winner: Senshi
Sat: The match at Destination X was won by Senshi and the next match was won by Austin Starr so the series is essentially tied at one. I don't really care at all about this match, so I'm going to flip a coin.
Winner: Senshi
Neil Borenstein: It's refreshing to know that this is the one more good run Bob Backlund thought he still had in him in the wrestling business. Yes, this is clearly better than going into the WWE Hall of Fame. Onto the match, I hope Backlund doesn't play a huge role during the match, even if he does somehow influence the outcome. I hope the match itself is just allowed to happen with Backlund doing something to cost Senshi the match at the very end.
Winner: Austin Starr
Larry Csonka: Lord I find Bob Backlund hilarious, but I agree with many that I would just love to see these two guys have a match with no gimmicks or restrictions. With everything working against them, they have STILL had damn good matches. If they didn't have the booking against them this could rule, and should be headlining the X-Division. Starr wins a PPV bout finally, and I guess it is onto him vs. Bobby at Sacrifice.
Winner: THE Austin Starr
Catfight in the Cage: Gail Kim vs. Jacqueline
Moore
Ryan Byers: For once, it looks like the cage match at Lockdown may actually be the blow off of the feud. No offense to Ms. Jackie, but she's getting on in years, with Kim having a much greater upside. On that alone, Gail should take home the victory.
Winner: Gail Kim
Ari Berenstein: CAT FIGHT! CAT FIGHT! CAT FIGHT! …IN A CAGE!
Winner: Gail Kim and cleavage
Matt Adamson: Can I get a groan anyone? Does anybody actually want to see this match? I for one don't. I am not one of those guys to verbally abuse women's wrestling or T&A on a wrestling show, but if there is going to be women's wrestling, I don't want it to be a catfight. I want to see good old fashioned athletic wrestling like we see on SHIMMER. I think Gail is going to get the win in this one as the baby faces need momentum going into the blow off.
Winner: Gail Kim
Mathew Sforcina: You know, Gail is a pretty hot and good flyer. Jackie's a damn fine brawler and vet. And yet, this feud has me 100% not interested. Can we please end it and move on already?
Winner: Jackie (Storm Run-In)
Rob Halden: I have a man-sized boner for both these chicks. I would much rather watch the girls of TNA than the Divas of WWE (except for Maria, Maria is love). But I haven't been paying attention to anything these ladies have been saying or doing, so I have no idea why they're cat fighting. Other than, y'know "It's freakin' awesome". So...
Winner: Gail Kim
Stuart Carapola: Do I care? Certainly not. But does that matter to Vince Russo? Again, certainly not.
Winner: Gail Kim
Bayani Domingo: I've seen this porno before. It was disappointing till the "go home".
Winner: Gail Kim
Michael Weyer: And for those complaining how bad WWE Diva matches are, I give them this. I admit seeing Gail in a cage is nice but it just doesn't look promising for more than a short train wreck.
WINNER: Gail Kim
Mike Minotti: The match's official name is "Catfight in the Cage"? Really? I bet feminists are going to love this. Not that any of them watch TNA.
Winner: Gail Kim
Losers: Women activists around the world.
Michael Bauer: Why oh why after all of Hemme's bitching, the first women's match in god know how long in TNA happen between these two? Actually, this one happens to be a good thing.
Winner: Gail Kim
Matt Short: I cannot possibly suppress my unbridled joy that this match is going to take place. Really. OK fine, I'm a bad liar.
Winner: Jackie Moore I guess
Andy Clark: This could actually be pretty interesting. Still, I can't really see Jackie winning in 2007.
Winner: Gail Kim
Sat: TNA has really been building this match up during the past few weeks of Impact. I expect this to be a vicious match with the younger of the two winning this match.
Winner: Gail Kim
Neil Borenstein: Well, it's sort of a bummer that Jacqueline Moore is one of the participants in the match, but I do think Gail Kim offers a lot to the company as far as women wrestling is concerned. And if she has to go through Jackie in a cage to continue to show that there is some wrestling ability on the female side of TNA, then so be it. The match doesn't thrill me, but there are worse things … like Robert Roode.
Winner: Gail Kim
Larry Csonka: Not a lot of love for this match here, and once again I will disagree. They have worked their angle well and have worked well in the mixed tag matches they have had. I actually think that they will have a pretty good match, with good heat and in the end I think many will be surprised.
Ryan Byers: For reasons I have yet to figure out, the company seems to have a real hard-on for this, this "Jay Lethal as the Macho Man" thing, so he'll probably take it in a bit of an upset. Meanwhile, Chris Sabin's great work as a heel will continue to go unappreciated, Alex Shelley will get pinned by Shark Boy again, and I will weep silently in to my pillow.
Winner: Jay Lethal
Ari Berenstein: How did Shark Boy become a contender all of a sudden? What, was he done feeding the animals at the Jaws ride and they wanted to give him a reward? Meanwhile, it's funny how far these guys have all come and yet how
little everything has changed. Sabin is still champion, Shelley is still woefully
unappreciated and will not receive his just due, Lethal is the plucky baby face and
Dutt is the strange Indian guy. Either we're in repeats or this was just about the
same match as last year's Lockdown. Wooohoo. Wake me up when it's over.
Winner: Chris Sabin and insomnia
Matt Adamson: This match should not be for the X Division title and none of these guys should be X Division champion except Alex Shelley. However, that is not the case here. With the exception of Shelley, we have a group here of guys who are flashy high flyers but mean basically nothing and just take up time and give the fans some mark out moments. That's all well and good for a match not involving a title, but this one is and the Star vs. Senshi match isn't. Why? If there were any justice, Alex Shelley would walk away as X Division champion after this, but I'm not going to bet on it. My pick goes to Chris Sabin retaining.
Winner: Chris Sabin
Mathew Sforcina: God I hate this gimmick. Not the all cage one, the Xcsape thing. It's just asinine. Let's see, we've got a clearly failing heel champ, a steroid user, a Savage impersonator, a woefully misused talent and Shark Boy. You know what? Screw logic, screw wacky logic, screw Russo logic, screw Anti-Logic, and let's just go with my mark instincts.
Winner, and NEW X Division Champion: Shark F'n Boy (Delirious Run-In, forming Wild Kingdom)
Rob Halden: SHARKY BOY! SCREW YOU PREDICTION CONTEST! SHAAAAAARK BOOOOOOOOY!!
Winner: SHAAAAAARK BOOOOOOOY!
Stuart Carapola: The question that first springs to my mind here is whether or not any of these guys have a chance of making a good X-Division Champion. Except for Alex Shelley, the answer for all the rest would have to be no. Chris Sabin's on a roll, and I don't see it ending here.
Winner: Chris Sabin
Bayani Domingo: You know what's funny? I totally forgot Sabin had the title. I thought Jerry Lynn did for some reason. That's how unimportant the title is to me right now. Since Joe, AJ, and Daniels left the division it's been kind of on a treadmill. I'd like to see it go around the waist of Shelley, Starr, or Senshi and that's it. This match is depressing. It better be balls to the wall entertaining or I think I'll cry. Something tells me Sabin retains…I think it's a given, but I'll still I can't vote for Sabin even though I'm 98% sure he'll retain.
Winner: Alex Shelley and the Mullet of doom
Michael Weyer: Now I like these matches but having one be for the belt is a bit much. It's hard to pick a clear winner but I'd like to see Lethal get it as he's been deserving for a while. But I see Sabin getting it instead to keep him going.
WINNER: Chris Sabin
Mike Minotti: Hey, Shark Boy is back! How awesome would it be if they filled the steel cage with water? You know, like a water tank match. Have they ever had one of those before? I hope someone from TNA is reading this, knowing how they're always looking for the next great gimmick match. Oh, and Sabin retains. This match has received way too little fanfare for a title change to occur. Hopefully.
Winner and still X Division Champion: Chris Sabin.
Michael Bauer: Holy shit we have X-Division people going for the X-Division Title!!! Why oh why haven't we seen this sooner? And where in the hell did Shark Boy come from?
Winner: Chris Sabin
Matt Short: I've got mixed feelings here. There's a lot of talented guys in this match, only it makes no sense at all for any of them to be getting a shot at Sabin. Dutt, Lethal, and Shelley have done nothing except hang out with Kevin Nash and when was the last time Shark Boy was even on TV? Here's hoping they let these guys cut loose because it can be an entertaining spot fest if nothing else. No title changes here, but I'm not putting it past a certain someone to think that a belt switch will "get ratings."
Winner and STILL TNA X Division Champion: Chris Sabin
Andy Clark: Shark Boy's back! As much as I'd like to say Black Machismo wins here, Sabin needs to keep the belt so he can drop it to either Lynn or Senshi next month.
Winner and STILL X-Division Champion: Chris Sabin
Sat: I think it is pretty safe to say that Shark Boy, Alex Shelley, & Sonjay Dutt are not going to win this match. That leaves it down to Jay Lethal and Chris Sabin. TNA seems to be interested in the Jay Lethal character. Add the fact that Chris Sabin has been a boring champion, so it's time for a title change.
Winner: Jay Lethal
Neil Borenstein: Outside of the fact that Shark Boy is included in this match, I don't have a problem with it. I believe any of these guys – again, outside of Shark Boy – could wear the X Division strap for at least a little while. It doesn't seem like the greatest idea in the world to have Chris Sabin lose the title considering he should be the one to eventually drop is to Jerry Lynn, once he's done with his feud with "The Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniels. But, the gold is getting pretty stale around Sabin and I think it's time for a new champ. And I think it's time for this guy to be the new champ …
Winner and NEW X Division Champion: Alex Shelley
Larry Csonka: I have the tag titles switching this month, the NWA Title will change hands at Slammiversary I feel so this title stays with Sabin until next month, where he'll drop it, in a three-way, and not take the pin. VIVA RUSSO~!
Winner: Chris Sabin
Jerry Lynn vs. The "Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniels
Ryan Byers: Booking 101 - If a guy has a new gimmick, you put him over
in his first match. I don't think even the three-headed monster that is
Russo/Jarrett/Mantell could screw that one up.
Winner: Daniels
Ari Berenstein: I still have no idea why Daniels is a bad guy now and why he has a Sting fetish. Did Daniels get brainwashed by the moonies or something? Anyway, this should be a decent match, with a lot of highflying action…OH WAIT, the cage will prevent a lot of that from happening. THANKS TNA.
Winner: Christopher Daniels and the conflicted
Matt Adamson: Another match that I would rather see being a title match than that Xscape match, but it wasn't meant to be. I can see this match being really fun to watch and if Daniels and Lynn have the chemistry that I imagine they have, this will be the match of the night. The important thing that TNA needs to realize is that Daniels is the guy they need to move up the card, and I'm thinking they might actually have the right idea this time. Shocking I know.
Winner: Christopher Daniels
Mathew Sforcina: So, we have an older, established 'name' vs. the newish heel. So simple, even Russo can't mess it up.
Winner: Chris Daniels (Curry Man Run-In)
Rob Halden: My personal favorite match on the card. I hope these two are given enough room to tear the house down. But I think it's obvious that Daniels is going over with his wonderfully vague new gimmick.
Winner: ChriStingofer DanStingiels
Stuart Carapola: This is the match I'm really looking forward to the most. This is also one of those rare matches that I really don't care who wins because I just want to see them go out there and do what they do best. I wish they could do it in a normal match instead of a cage, but I guess you can't have everything.
Winner: Christopher Daniels
Bayani Domingo: I'm interested to see where Daniels' character goes. If it ends up with a feud with Sting and him going over, that would be something. If it ends with him taking over Serotonin…well… I guess I'll just have to hunt and kill Russo my damn self.
Winner: Daniels via the "feud extender".
Michael Weyer: Ah, another good one. Daniels' new look and attitude is giving him back some of his old heat and a match with Lynn will bring out his best. A big win here will go a long way to putting the Fallen Angel back in the main scene, long overdue.
WINNER: The Fallen Angel
Mike Minotti: Well, this is Daniels first match since his monster heel repacking. And Jerry Lynn is old. I'll let you do the math here.
Winner: Christopher Daniels
Michael Bauer: Why oh why did he turn Daniels heel if we have a heel Sabin as champion? And why is hell is this match more predictable than anything the predictable WWE has done lately?
Winner: Christopher Daniels
Matt Short: You know, despite the fact that Daniels' character has zero motivation at this point I'm interested in this match. This can be incredibly entertaining if given enough time. Since he's the one with a new gimmick...
Winner: Christopher Daniels
Andy Clark: I like the new Fallen Angel gimmick even if the tattoo looks dumb. Bottom line, Daniels is in line for a feud with Sting while Lynn is, well, not. Hopefully they can hold off on Daniels-Sting until Slammiversary so I can order it.
Winner: Christopher Daniels
Sat: I see this going two ways. Either, Jerry Lynn wins the match and Christopher Daniels interferes in the Lethal Lockdown or Christopher Daniels win to build some momentum towards his feud with Sting. The second choice seems like the better option, so I'll go with that.
Winner: Christopher Daniels
Neil Borenstein: Great match, predictable ending. These are two incredible talents that should put on a pretty solid match. But, Christopher Daniels can't take a loss here. It would make so little sense since TNA crossed him over into a heel with the hopeful intention of bringing him up in the card, especially into that feud with Sting everyone else on the 411 staff is talking about. He has to get the win here to give him more credibility.
Winner: "The Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniels
Larry Csonka: Oh yeah, this has goodness written all over it! These guys should tear the house down, and this will be a big win for Daniels as he looks to be headed to a feud with Sting.
Ryan Byers: Much like Kim and Moore, this should also be the finish to the
feud. On one hand, Team 3-D has been beaten so much that it doesn't seem to
make any sense to give them the belts out of nowhere. On the other hand, if you
beat them one more time, they start to look like a duo who is really past their prime
and have nothing more to accomplish in the company. Between the two I options, I
strongly favor the second, just because LAX is probably the hottest act in the
com
Winners: LAX
Ari Berenstein: Speaking of repeats, this match is like clockwork. Every month, on the button, 3-D vs. LAX. Like PMS, only much more painful to watch. Wow, an "electrified" cage match…better put that on first so we can kill the crowd reaction for all the other matches left to come. Now, if Team 3-D doesn't get the job done here, they lose their legacy, although how one can lose a legacy befuddles me
since it's in the past and over with. Maybe LAX has a time machine and if they
win they will use it to alter the course of history. Maybe they can also prevent
Vince Russo from becoming booker of TNA and thus stopping the world from
being conquered by large robots that look like Arnold Schwarzenegger. It's okay
though, D-Von is already preparing to lose this one as he is starting a new
legacy—smoothie salesman. He just needs a mobile Ice Cream truck to seal the
deal.
Winner: Team 3-D, new champions… and Big & Tall stores all over the world
Matt Adamson: Did they really need to make it an electrified cage match? They could have gone for a barbed wire cage, or even a fire tables with ladders cage match from hell. Maybe they can do a smoothie on a pole cage match of death. No, we get an electrified cage match. Too bad too. Either way, this is likely going to be the end of this feud and I think TNA is smart enough to realize that Bubba and D-Von don't need the tag titles. LAX are huge right now and need a win here to further solidify their Latino awesomeness.
Winners: LAX
Mathew Sforcina: OK. Suck it up guys. If LAX are to become the superstar face team to replace AMW, they need to lose the belts to a team who can play heel easy, in order to do the double turn and chase. Thus, we have to suffer a bit here. But don't worry, it'll be worth it.
Winners, and NEW TNA Tag Team Champions: Team 3D (Runt Run-In, double turn)
Rob Halden: How is this feud not over yet?! How?! Are they literally going to exhaust every single gimmick match under the sun with these teams? Jesus, I...I just don't care anymore! Promise me this is the end! PROMISE ME, RUSSO!!
Winner: AAAAAARH!...LAX I guess...
Stuart Carapola: Since mindless brawls are pretty much the only thing Team 3D can do with any degree of competence, this has a chance of being halfway decent. I really want to see LAX beat them again and just crush their legacy, but I have a feeling that's not happening.
Winner: Team 3D
Bayani Domingo: I have no clue. You want to say that LAX deserves to win here because they are the hotter team with a brighter future. But at some point you need to up the stakes for them to get even more vicious and then the Dudleyz also need to hold the titles before they become officially TNA titles so they can add that feather to their cap. The problem is that it doesn't make sense to push all the ex-WWE talent at the expense of the in-house guys you've helped make. But you know, maybe this is less complicated than it needs to be. Cuz' this is Russo booking….
Winner: Team 3D
Michael Weyer: After so many "almosts" and swerves and sudden non-title bouts, it's finally time to pull the trigger on Team 3D getting the belts. They're making a big deal with the "legacy" stuff and it's hard to believe even TNA would screw over the fans one more time and deny the former Dudleyz the belts. Isn't it?
WINNER and NEW NWA Tag Team Champions: Team 3D (This time for SURE!)
Mike Minotti: It's electric! Do do do do do do do do doo. Alright, so how many times has Team 3D challenged for the tag titles? And how many times have they lost? Hopefully an electric steel cage will be sufficed to end this feud once and for all.
Winners and still NWA World Tag Team Champions: LAX
Michael Bauer: Why oh why do we have to have a fucking electric cage here? Has Russo been watching too many WSX re-runs? And for god sakes, whose fucking dumb ass idea was it for legacy vs. titles to make sure Team 3D would win?
Winner: Team 3D
Matt Short: This can go either way I think. If LAX wins, they'll do it by completely killing Team 3D in this match and fully cement their spot as TNA's best team. If Team 3D wins you can use LAX's huge crowd support to push them as faces and let them chase Team 3D. I'm thinking the former since it seems way past the time they should have given 3D the belts for it to have mattered.
Winner and STILL TNA Tag Team Champions: LAX
Andy Clark: While this feud has been largely boring and bad, and LAX is the superior team nowadays, it'll be a crime if Team 3D STILL don't get the NWA World Tag Team Titles they should have won their first month in the company.
Winners and NEW NWA World Tag Team Champions: Team 3D
Sat: This match right here will tell the world what TNA thinks of Team 3D. If they don't win the titles here then they will never become the NWA or TNA tag team champion. However, I think that all signs point to Team 3D winning the titles. First, Brother Runt got tazered, so Team 3d has to get revenge. Also, Team 3D need to become the first team to hold the WWE/WCW/ECW/NWA tag team titles.
Winner: Team 3D
Neil Borenstein: You know what, I don't even care anymore how much Team 3D needs to win a match to become tag champs. It hasn't happened yet and I'm not going to believe that TNA finally woke up and decided to move the NWA Titles over to the team that absolutely deserves it. It's getting pathetic at this point that TNA has not placed the belts around Team 3D, and now they need to use an electrified cage to try and keep this feud going? Screw this. I think LAX is a tremendous tag team and is perhaps the best TNA has to offer. But Team 3D has been screwed before and I have no reason to believe it won't happen again. They should win and should be champs, but I doubt it'll happen.
Winners and STILL Champions: LAX
Larry Csonka: This has to be it. This has to be Team 3D's time after all of this build, teases and just everything. If not, I don't know what the fuck they are thinking in TNA-Land.
Winner: Team 3D
Lethal Lockdown Match: TEAM CAGE (Christian Cage, AJ Styles, Scott Steiner, Abyss & Tomko) vs. TEAM ANGLE (Kurt Angle, Samoa Joe, Rhino & Sting & Jeff Jarrett)
Ryan Byers: Of course, the stipulation that determines the winner is that the guy who gets the fall gets the next title shot. Because of that, we can play the process of elimination game. We've got a heel champion, so you can cross off the entire heel team as potential winners. Sting won't get the victory because he's got unfinished business with Abyss. (Yes, still.) Joe just got his title shot, and they haven't been hyping his need for revenge after getting cheated, so he's probably out. I think everybody realizes that the fans will be nauseated if baby face Jarrett wins a title shot his first match back. Rhino has been a JTTS for his entire TNA career. That leaves one man to get the victory.
Winners: Team Angle - Kurt gets the fall
Ari Berenstein: Well, its war games style…and its hard to fuck up this kind of match. BUT…it's TNA, so I'm sure they'll find a way to do it. Maybe Kurt Angle will turn on his team or something. Yeah, that will work. Can't have anyone else but Jeff Jarrett be the hero after all. Oh yeah, it's now officially a month past the time Samoa Joe should have won the title. I'm still keeping track.
Winner: Team ANGLE and Jeff Jarrett's wardrobe manager (Back to getting paid the big buck$)
Matt Adamson: Something major needs to happen at the end of this match for things in TNA to move forward in the main event scene. Lately they have been running every challenger they can at Christian, but where to go now? I'm going to say that Tomko will be the difference maker, which will give TEAM ANGLE the win and Jarrett the pinfall. No matter what the outcome or how overbooked this ends up being, it's going to be fun. How could it be anything buy fun with all that talent locked in a cage together.
Winners: Team Angle
Mathew Sforcina: PLEASE let me be wrong here.
Winners: Team Angle (No Run-Ins, Jarrett makes Christian submit clean with a Figure Four)
Rob Halden: The problem with the Lethal Lockdown match, is the lack of consequences. It pretty much states to your audience that all feuds are on hold until next month's PPV. Also, any match in which Joe is getting lost in the mix, v. bad. But, y'know, Jarrett didn't come back to job out so...
Winner: TEAM JARRETT
Stuart Carapola: Dissension will spell the end for Team Cage. The question now becomes which member of Team Angle gets the win and the title shot next month? Here's a plea: Anyone BUT Jarrett.
Winner: Team Angle
Bayani Domingo: This could either be really good or really bad. Just looking at the match up this could be very evenly matched. I think "Team Cage" is by far the more cohesive at this point and I'm loving the "Christian Coalition" as the best Stable since King Booker's Royal Court. Right now Christian is hot and I hate to say it, but he's probably the best guy to have as a Champion at the moment. Build him up as a huge heel then when the time is right (Slammiversary) have Joe go over him big time. Then you can feud Christian with either Joe or have Angle come after him again down the line, your choice. I hate to admit it, but the building of Christian Cage and the cadre of heels he has in his stable is the best thing that Russo has done…well probably the only good thing Russo has done, since he got hired. Just a note, but has anyone noticed that Angle, Tomko, and Steiner are the only guys in the match to NOT have won the NWA/TNA title yet? If you only look at this match in the context of TNA and not based on any of their previous careers in other Feds, this is actually a pretty huge match up. Imagine if HHH, HBK, Cena, Orton, Benoit, Edge, and Batista were all in a match? Yeah, I guess that just goes to show you the difference in the level of "Star Talent" from the "e" to the "t". Still it's hard to argue that this match doesn't feature the 3 guys in TNA worthy of holding that title. I smell a 3-way down the road.
Winner: The Christian Scientists
Michael Weyer: I know it's hard to imagine this match as anything but awesome with Angle, Joe and AJ. But there's also Tyson, Steiner and Jarrett so there's the possibility it'll fall apart somehow. I see Jarrett deciding a swerve to give Cage's team the win because, after all, it's his world and they think the fans want him back in the main event scene. So, a wild brawl but I think we know how it ends.
WINNER: Team Cage.
Mike Minotti: Adding the whole "whoever gets the pin will be the number one contender" stipulation makes this a bit easier to predict. They're probably not going to have a heel challenge Christian. Besides, Team Angle has more promising NWA Title holder prospects than Team Cage. As for who will get the pin, I'm predicting that we'll see Christian vs. Angle again soon.
Winners: Team Angle (Angle gets the pin)
Michael Bauer: Why oh why is Jeff Jarrett of the face side of things? Yes Cage took the title from him, but it's Jeff Jarrett!! Him as a face is like when Hulk Hogan turned heel, only much worse!
Winner: Team Angle
Matt Short: I don't know what to think about this match. Sure there could be some cool spots and can possibly get really bloody. Most likely there'll be swerves a-plenty as this is in the same spirit as War Games. Know what they could do here though? Have Christian get his ass beat then still get the cover and thus ensuring how he doesn't have to defend the belt. Until they do a reverse battle royal or something.
Winner: Team Cage (Christian gets the pin)
Andy Clark: After three years they finally get it right. Good teams, good storyline, right number of people. I'm actually really looking forward to this. In the end I see Jarrett being the one to get a shot next month, meaning a win for Team Angle.
Winners: Kurt Angle, Samoa Joe, Rhino, Sting, & Jeff Jarrett (Jarrett gets the pin)
Sat: I love the stipulation that the person that gets the pinfall get a title shot because it adds a ton of intrigue to this match. One thing that I am sure about is that Team Cage ain't winning because they all want a title shot. Expect that entire team to explode by breaking up each other pinfalls. So, I'll take all of Team Angle pinning all of the members of Team Cage and all of the members of Team Angle earning a title shot.
Winner: Team Angle
Neil Borenstein: It's almost a definite that Team Angle is going to win this thing at Lockdown. It's really all just a matter of who is getting the fall and who is getting the title shot against Christian Cage. Rhino is not all of a sudden going to jump in as a contender for the NWA Heavyweight Championship, so he's out. Samoa Joe just basically had his title shot and I don't think he's going to get his second shot before some other guys get a shot. Sting would be a nice contender for the belt and I'd love to see another go-around between Cage and Sting, but I don't think it'll happen anytime soon. So, that leaves Kurt Angle and Jeff Jarrett. With Jarrett just coming back, I don't see him getting the title shot right away, despite his Triple H-ing backstage. And that means Angle is picking up the victory for his team.
Winners: Team Angle
Larry Csonka: This is one of those could be matches. It could be pretty good like last year's or be a clusterfuck that sucks. I have hopes that it will be a good match, but we have to discuss the wildcard, good old JJ. I think that they are going to play the, "Can we actually trust him" deal all through the match. This is where I hope JJ uses history and relives a great War Games moment. There was a War Games when Nikita Koloff was on the face team, and no one knew if he could be trusted. Late in the match, he basically takes the bullet for one of the faces, Dusty or Sting, I can't recall and proves himself. I think they do this here, JJ takes the bullet for Sting perhaps and then eats the pin. This will prove him to the fans and guys as a face, and then he backs that up as HE is revealed as Eric Young's friend! And all of that should set up matches for the next PPV, perhaps:
-Cage vs. AJ
-JJ vs. Roode
-Abyss, Steiner and Tomko vs. Rhino, Angle and Joe
-Sting vs. Daniels
Winner: Team Cage (AJ with the pin)
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