10 Thoughts on… TNA Impact on Pop TV 02.23.2016 (LockDown All Cage Show, EC3 vs. Matt Hardy, Beer Money, Knockout Lethal Lockdown)

10 Thoughts, Top Story

ImpactPopTV

10 Thoughts on TNA

I am back with week 3 of my 2016 TNA experiment! This is one of TNA’s former PPVs now promoted a monthtly special edition of Impact. It’s time for LOCKDOWN.

1. The all cage format is at least unique, and while it hasn’t been as memorable over the years as it could be, it’s still something that TNA is known for and it’s a fun concept.

2. The opening tag match between Beer Money and the team of Eric Young and Bram was a really strong brawl with some comedy spots but also some sick bumps. The finish was a double team powerbomb and Beer Money looked strong. Overall a really good segment.

3. Rockstar Spud has an absolutely incredible neon rainbow paint splashed black suit.

rockstarspud

4. Trevor Lee is an interesting new type of X division wrestler with less high flying. The match against Tigre Uno was also really strong and included a crazy dive from the top of the cage by Uno.

5. The Knockouts Lethal Lockdown was also a success – Gail is a great worker and kept the match together and there were some great spots without looking overly choreographed.

knockoutslethallockdown

6. Jimmy Havoc and Decay both cut backstage promos/segments. It’s definitely something different but it has an indie feel so far.

7. Kurt Angle came out for a promo and was interrupted by Bobby Lashley. After all these years, Lashley still seems like he has no inflection in his voice whatsoever, leading to these bland, flat promos without emotional or charisma.

8. I was rooting for my man E-Li Drake against the horrendous Odarg but alas it was not to be. The reveal of Odarg as Grado was pretty funny though.

9. Despite having a Lockdown show, they had two pretty big matches to promote for next week – Kurt Angle vs. Bobby Roode and Drew Galloway vs. Mike Bennett. There are so many downsides to taping many weeks in a row, but one upside is that everything feels more planned and promoted.

ec3matthardy

10. The main event was a good WWE style main event with some wacky storyline stuff. EC3 handcuffed Tyrus to the cage, but ultimately Rockstar Spud turned heel on EC3 to cost him the title. It definitely felt like a main event.

Overall a big thumbs up to this show. It flew by for two hours and all the in ring action was good. It still feels like TNA in a bad way but otherwise there isn’t much to complain about.

Jonathan Widro is the owner and founder of Inside Pulse. Over a decade ago he burst onto the scene with a pro-WCW reporting style that earned him the nickname WCWidro. Check him out on Twitter for mostly inane non sequiturs