Rasslin’ Roundtable — TNA Lockdown 2012 PPV (Jeff Hardy, James Storm, Bobby Roode, Kurt Angle)

Features, Roundtables, Top Story

Well, I guess Roundtable may be a bit of a misnomer today. It’s actually more of a cozy booth. Regardless of size, two of Pulse’s brightest got together to discuss…Lockdown!

Bobby Roode (c) vs. James Storm Steel Cage match for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship

M.C. Brown: I think it’s time for Storm to ascend back on top. The build up continues to be strong for Storm.
Winner(and new Champion): James Storm

Steven Gepp: Okay, it’s not exactly hidden knowledge, but I have been looking forward to this one for months. All I want is for these two to be allowed to get into that ring and just fight. No run-ins, no outside interference, no stupid Hogan/Sting/Bischoff crap, just two guys showing “this is wrestling”. Please. It’s all I want. It’s not too much to ask, is it?
Winner: James Storm

Team Eric (Eric Bischoff (Captain), Gunner, Bully Ray, Christopher Daniels and Kazarian) vs. Team Garett (Garett Bischoff (Captain), A.J. Styles, Austin Aries, Mr. Anderson and Rob Van Dam) Lethal Lockdown match; If Team Eric wins, Garett must leave TNA. If Team Garett wins, Eric must leave TNA and renounce his name.

M.C. Brown: It seems like logically with Eric Bischoff having a new project in the works that he would be taken off TV, which might not be a bad thing, but I think a better way to leave this feud would be for RVD to turn on his team, cost Garett a job(which he’d either have to beg or work for his Dad either as a face or eventual heel to come back to after/as he trains) and then RVD can feud with AJ and other faces where the matches will be more fresh. It might be a bit of a tough sell with RVD as a heel, but if he can get his edge back as the ultra cocky heel, I think it would provide a reason for him to return and a lot better matches moving forward, especially with whoever they pit him against.
Winner: Team Eric(after a RVD turn)

Steven Gepp: Is there a way to have both teams lose so both Bischoffs can just leave? Please? Okay, let’s see, you’ve got AJ Styles, Austin Aries, Christopher Daniels and Kazarian, 4 guys who can go in the ring and put on a great match by themselves. Then you’ve got Bully Ray, who’s in-ring work has surprised me, but he’s still just Buh-Buh. You’ve got a returning RVD, who might even be motivated. You’ve got the over-rated Mr Anderson. You’ve got the not yet improving Gunner. And you have a pair of Bischoffs. 50-50 for good v crap. I have no expectations for this match being anything but a mess all round.
Winner: Eric, because heaven forbid AJ Styles should ever be on a winning position

Jeff Hardy vs. Kurt Angle Steel Cage match

M.C. Brown: I think Jeff gets his revenge here and if Kurt doesn’t take time off, he’s going to be in even rougher shape after this one way or another.
Winner: Jeff Hardy

Steven Gepp: 4 years ago, a match that would have been a good spectacle. 8 years ago, a match that would have stolen the show. Today… it’s a match. It’s just a match. That’s all it feels like. I have no interest in it. Provided both guys turn up in a fit state, it will most likely be entertaining and all that, but it’s still just a match.
Winner: Kurt

Magnus and Samoa Joe (c) vs. The Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin) Steel Cage match for the TNA World Tag Team Championship

M.C. Brown: Too soon for the new champs to just go over, but it could be a great opportunity for the Joe/Magnus team to cement a heel status in the cage.
Winner: Magnus and Joe

Steven Gepp: One of only 2 matches on the card worth seeing, on paper. Do they pull the plug on the Joe/Morgan title run yet? Or does something else come into play? Having broken up Beer Money., here’s what I think is going to happen: This is the start of the long road to MCMG breaking up and doing a series of 1-on-1 matches to determine who the best is. However, at the end of it, they will realise they need each other, MCMG will be stronger and better than before, and THEN they’ll get their next title run.
Winner: Joe Magnus

Gail Kim (c) vs. Velvet Sky Steel Cage match for the TNA Women’s Knockout Championship

M.C. Brown: I think while Velvet could win here, now is also not the time for her to dethrone Gail just yet.
Winner: Gail Kim

Steven Gepp: The Knockouts are quickly devolving into Diva territory. And any match featuring Velvet Sky is only going to further that perception. My God, in Australia alone we have at least half a dozen female wrestlers who look good and could wrestle rings around nearly every woman in TNA (Gail Kim being the only exception). That’s not even looking at Shimmer. Maybe mainstream US wrestling should just a big sign up saying, “We don’t care if you can wrestle or not, just look good in Maxim magazine and be prepared to strip for Playboy. No experience wanted. At least, not wrestling experience.”
Winner: Kim

Matt Morgan vs. Crimson Steel Cage match

M.C. Brown: Crimson can still lose and say he’s never been pinned or submitted, but it makes sense for him to cheat his way to victory here and not have Morgan pinned by escaping the cage.
Winner: Crimson

Steven Gepp: “Yet to improve after how many years in the business” versus “Still green after how many years on TV”. Bleh.
Winner: Crimson

Devon (c) vs. Robbie E Steel Cage match for the TNA Television Championship

M.C. Brown: Sadly a meaningless match and I’m surprised Robbie E. is still being on PPVs in his current persona.
Winner: Devon

Steven Gepp: It’s got Robbie E in it, I don’t care. Devon looks fit, so there’s a positive, but Robbie E’s still Robbie E, and… I don’t care.
Winner: Robbie T (yes, I know what I typed)

Closing Statements

M.C. Brown: From the last time I watched there were some of these match ups lacking the proper build or emotional investment, outside of the Main Event of course which has been given such a great build up from the start. The lower matches will have to work hard to sell their portion to me, but I’m particularly interested in the predictable Bischoff contest. I really hope there is a RVD turn there as TNA is in desperate need of a shocker. If they aren’t going to sign some new fresh talent then there isn’t much more they can do here that they haven’t already done. RVD needs to turn heel.

Steven Gepp: On paper, this looks like a mediocre showing, but should the two matches that could deliver – Storm/Roode and tag titles – deliver, then it’ll be a not bad show. But, really, this is a one match show. The Roode-Storm match *is* Lockdown this year. Unfortunately, the clusterf**k that is the Lethal lockdown is probably going to be the centrepiece, and, well, I have low expectations going into this one. Dammit, TNA! Wrestling matters! Doesn’t it?

Kelly has been with Inside Pulse since 6/2010, beginning with just her 10 Thoughts on WWE Superstars column. Now she brings you her 10 Thoughts on Smackdown weekly, and constructs the Rasslin' Roundtables for PPV's. In her spare time, she works with indy fed, Future Stars of Wrestling - AZ, wrangles children for her day job, and is generally and exceptionally awesome.