Lockdown Preview and Predictions
April 18th is the night when the all steel cage PPV returns to TNA as the company rolls into St. Louis with high expectations and leaves in a puddle of their own blood. This Lockdown is a completely different experience from those in the past. For the first time, a new steel cage will be used (which I really like). Lockdown has traditionally been one of the strongest TNA PPVs of the year and despite the poor buildup, it could be again this year.
CAGE MATCH: LETHAL LOCKDOWN ADVANTAGE
Rob Van Dam vs. James Storm of Beer Money
As a buildup to the “Harbinger of Hell,” a member of both Team Hogan and Team Flair will battle it out for the advantage. This all stems from a match a few weeks ago that resulted in Storm smashing a beer bottle on the head of RVD. The intelligent decision would have Storm somehow win to give Team Flair the advantage forcing Team Hogan to fight against the odds, and that is what I am going with.
CAGE MATCH
The Motor City Machine Guns vs Brian Kendrick & Homicide
Why the hell is this match even on the card. Traditionally Lockdown would feature an Xscape Match pitting multiple X Division guys against each other. I see no storyline reason this match is even on here. The Machine Guns has no history with either Kendrick or Homicide and what makes it worse is that the Notorious 187 has been mostly featured on Xplosion. The only thing I can see here is TNA continue to build up the Machine Guns while teasing more of a Matt Morgan feud with the boys from Detroit or maybe continue something with Homicide.
CAGE MATCH: ALL TITLES ON THE LINE
The Beautiful People vs Angelina Love and Tara
Those who witnessed the debacle known as the Lockbox Showdown saw the burial of the Knockouts Title. While TNA is taking the company in a more PG 14 direction, there is a possibility that the Knockouts Title would still be worth it afterwards. TNA’s long term money match is Tara vs Angelina Love for the title with Tara vs Daffney and Angelina Love vs Velvet Sky finishing up first. I see Love and Tara winning the Knockouts Tag Titles to put a bookmark in their rivalry, all while allowing the other two feuds to finish up.
CAGE MATCH
Team 3D vs Scott Hall & Syxx-Pac
I don’t hate Team 3D! They aren’t necessarily the most entertaining team but they have helped TNA so that gives them a good role. I loathe Syxx Pac and Scott Hall. While their match this past week was enjoyable, I don’t see them able to rely on weaponry this time around. I don’t care who wins as long as this thing is short.
STEEL CAGE: X CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Kazarian vs. Shannon Moore vs. champion Douglas Williams
I am enjoying Douglas Williams vs the acrobats of the X Division. Unfortunately right now I don’t see a great face to counter the great heel. Kazarian lacks mic skills while Shannon Moore isn’t a good fit for that role. I think this match will be very good and I am looking forward to it. I predict Williams retains the belt.
STEEL CAGE
Kevin Nash vs. Eric Young
Another match I don’t expect to be great but at least I enjoy Eric Young and Nash enough to sit through it. Young needs to win here to look credible following his naivety of Destination X where The Band made him look like an idiot.
STEEL CAGE
Kurt Angle vs. Mr. Anderson
These two have had solid matches for the past few months. This one is unique in that you win by escaping through the door. Mr. Anderson is the one with the key so I don’t know how this will work. This feud has been pretty fun but it does need to end. Anderson with the win to end this thing while giving Angle some much needed time off.
STEEL CAGE: LETHAL LOCKDOWN
Team Hogan Abyss (captain), Jeff Jarrett, Jeff Hardy and Rob Van Dam vs. Team Flair: Sting (captain), Desmond Wolfe, Beer Money (James Storm & Robert Roode)
The buildup to this match has actually been pretty good. I don’t like that so much focus is on Hogan and Flair but that is neither here nor there. Lethal Lockdown has usually been very good and with the players in this one, I see it happening again. Because of how I see the main event going, I am going to predict a win for Team Flair to set up a Four Horsemen like group.
STEEL CAGE: TNA WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
“The Pope” D’Angelo Dinero vs champion “The Phenomenal” AJ Styles
This has been underhyped and underwhelming. Since Against All Odds, TNA should have been building towards this match and they have instead focused on Pope vs Desmond Wolfe and AJ Styles vs Abyss. This will be a good match and I will go out on a limb here and say Pope shocks the world and wins the World Title. I see him having the potential another electrifying superstar had. There needs to be a few changes and Pope could be the face of those changes.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Pope vs AJ should be good as well as Lethal Lockdown. I expect the rest to be solid to bad. The low-point of this show will be the Band vs Team 3D and maybe Nash vs EY. I would say order this PPV because it usually delivers. Here’s hoping it does!
Nice job with the preview. How’d your predictions do? I didn’t bother looking at the results.
I was 0 for 9 on this show. It was a very enjoyable show which I will comment more on my Review of it.
The results really threw me off