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Wrestling’s 4R’s PPV Edition 4.17.12: TNA Lockdown

April 17, 2012 | Posted by Larry Csonka

How the 4R’s of wRestling Work!
Here is a quick explanation of the 4R’s. The column will run TWO times a week. We will group our feelings on the shows in various categories: The Right, the wRong and the Ridiculous. The Right is stuff that worked very well: a great promo, a great match and so on. PuRgatoRy is a section between the right and wrong. It shows equal traits from both sides that cannot be ignored and needs discussed. It is not a bad place per say, as things can get remedied or go the wrong way the very next week. The wRong is what it sounds like: bad matches, bad or boring promos and so on. The Ridiculous is stuff that had no right on TV: Stupid angles and so on. And there is always a possibility of a 5th R, which is as bad as they come. This is not a “mark” column, nor a “smark” column, our goal is to analyze the show from many different fronts, reward the good and call out the bad. We will not apologize for our opinions, they are as they are, whether positive or negative.

Let’s rock…

TNA LOCKDOWN 2012:

By: LARRY CSONKA

QUICK RESULTS (All Matches in a Cage):
* LETHAL LOCKDOWN: Team Garett defeated Team Eric @ 26:10 via pin [**½]
* TNA TAG TEAM TITLE MATCH: Samoa Joe and Magnus © defeated The Motor City Machine Guns @ 11:18 via pin [**]
* TV TITLE MATCH: Devon © defeated Robbie E @ 3:24 via pin [½*]
* KNOCKOUTS TITLE MATCH: Gail Kim © defeated Velvet Sky @ 7:30 via pin [*]
* Crimson defeated Matt Morgan @ 8:00 via cage escape [*½]
* Jeff Hardy defeated Kurt Angle @ 14:51 via pin [***½]
* KNOCKOUTS TAG TEAM TITLE MATCH: ODB and Eric Young © defeated Rosita and Sarita @ 4:30 via pin [½*]
* TNA WORLD TITLE MATCH: Bobby Roode © defeated James Storm @ 19:00 via cage escape [***½]

THE RIGHT:
MATCH 6 – JEFF HARDY DEFEATED KURT ANGLE: It took until the 6th match of the show, but they finally got something right, in my opinion. This was the first match of the show that actually felt like a PPV level match, and while not as good as last month’s PPV match, it was easily the best thing on the show to this point and actually had the crowd involved. Angle was obviously beat up heading into the match, and couldn’t work the usual “Kurt Angle” style match, but they worked hard, they worked smart, and I really enjoyed it. Simply put they made the most of their time, they had good near falls and finish; Hardy’s swanton from the top of the cage actually meant something as it was the finish. No bull shit after it, that was all. They didn’t do too much, and it wasn’t anything that could save the show at this point, but again I have to say, this was easily the best thing on the show to this point and it was nice to see the dead crowd finally come alive.

PURGATORY:
MATCH 1 – LETHAL LOCKDOWN: As a fan of the Lockdown PPV, I am also a fan of the lethal lockdown match, since it is as close as we will get to a full blown war games match. The first thing I want to say is that in theory, TNA did the right thing before the match started. They had Team Garett backstage, with them discussing who should begin the match. While the veteran stars made their cases, Garett asked if he could begin the match, so that he could take his ass beating, prove himself and gain his teammates respect. In theory it was a fine idea, but the issue is this; whether it is fair or not, Garett has a “stink” on him, because he is Eric’s son, and because most feel his push is not deserved. It is one thing for the “smarky” Impact Zone audience to completely shit on him, but when a fresh crowd is chanting “one more time” when the heels are beating on him, it sends a strong message. As expected, AJ, Daniels, Kaz (with his new shit haircut) Aries and Bully Ray carried the load in the match, which did have its moments. At the end it came down to Eric beating on Garett, who managed to smash a guitar over Eric’s head for the victory. It wasn’t bad, but lacked in comparison to past lethal Lockdown matches. Not a lot of blood, which isn’t a big issue, and no big spot, which again, doesn’t make the match, but they have become trademarks of the bout and you can tell the crowd was waiting for them, but instead got the anti-climatic finish with everyone laying around. It certainly could have been better, but it also could have been a lot worse.

TNA WORLD TITLE MATCH: And then we came to the main event of the show, the world title match that has been built up for months, and the set up the challenger, James Storm, to fight furor the title on his home turf. First things first, I felt that they have a good match, and a match that actually felt like PPV main event. That is something TNA has been lacking as of late. These guys really stepped it up, and up and to the finish, which I will discuss, it was good. They started with the out of the ring brawl, as Storm couldn’t wait to get him hands on Roode, which I loved because it made sense. Roode got the heat and busted open Storm, which worked because there wasn’t blood up and down the show. Storm eventually fought back, the pace picked up, and I was really enjoying things. I did groan with the ref bump, because right then I felt a screwy finish coming, because it would not be a TNA main event without it. But when Storm kicked out of the beer bottle shot, I had hope once again that they were about to do the right thing and make Storm s superhero in font of his people. But now I have to discuss the finish. First of all, the finish continued a trend where the TNA faces look like complete fucking idiots. Last month Sting knocks himself out, on this show Morgan could have won like a minute into the match by walking out the door but refused, and then not only did Storm refuse to climb out when he could have won, but he kicks the man through the cage door, causing himself to lose. In many ways, it is a clever finish, but unfortunately I feel that it was too clever for their own good. Tonight was the night to give Storm the title. The build was very good, they did some fantastic video packages, and the time was right as they were in Nashville. Storm winning the title ends the PPV on a positive note Roode finally gets his, Storm is treated like the conquering hero and they have some great footage to play over and over again to make it seem important. Instead, they felt that Roode winning in a JBL style was the best way to go. And now all I hear about is that, “they have big plans for Storm and Slammiversary,” but I contend that it will be too late for people to really care. Unfortunately I feel that they now think Storm isn’t “the guy, brother,” and they will go with the “rock star” Jeff Hardy. And on top of that, this is the second time in six months that they have built someone up to the point that their paying fans wanted them to win, and their fans didn’t get it. Again, it wasn’t so much that the finish was horrible, but it was the wrong finish, in the wrong night in the wrong town. And when you add that finish onto what I felt was a bad night overall, and there is just no way that I can place this into the right. It’s a shame, because they work was really good.

THE WRONG:
MATCH 2 – TNA TAG TEAM TITLE MATCH: This was a match that I was really looking forward too, and unfortunately, I did not feel that it delivered. The wrestling was generally fine, but between the layout where the Guns didn’t get that much time to really shine and the fact that the crowd was completely DEAD for almost the entire bout, I just didn’t get into it. And at the end of the day, that is a shame, because there was a lot of talent in there, but it felt like a flat TV match without crowd heat. Certainly a shame, and hopefully they get a chance to redeem themselves. While I love the Lockdown PPV generally, this is also a drawback of it ,similar to the WWE gimmick PPVs. This feud just started, and had no business being in a cage, and the crowd responded that way. Also, you cannot say that the crowd was drained from the first match, because they weren’t super into that either.

MATCH 3 – TV TITLE MATCH: I will not lie and say I had high hopes for this match, which was likely for the best, because it was NOT GOOD at all. This was a complete throw away as a PPV match, with no build, no crowd reaction and sub par work for even something that would appear on TV. I mean, to say that this was bad and that the crowd did not care would be an under statement. This match had no redeeming qualities about it, and considering the beat down post match, this feud will likely continue. Hell, the more I talk about the match the more I hate it.

MATCH 4 – KNOCKOUTS TITLE MATCH: And the hits keep on coming. Four matches into the Lockdown PPV, and it is bucking for worst PPV on 2012. This was another match with a dead crowd, and simply put poor work. Bless velvet for trying, but Gail Kim can only do so much in there, and what she did, was simply not good enough. I wish I could use more words to describe “bad match” and “lack of crowd reaction,” but I do not have my thesaurus handy. To add onto it, after Kim wins by holding the tights, Sky was momentarily angry, but then was completely fine, leaving the ring all smiles and giving high fives to the fans, like she didn’t care that she just got screwed out of her quest to win the title.

MATCH 5 – CRIMSON DEFEATED MATT MORGAN: These guys simply do not work well together. This match had a few brawling elements that worked but other than that, it generally was not good, and surprise, the crowd DID NOT CARE about it at all. Not that I blame them, I will admit that I was not looking forward to the match, nor did I think that they would deliver a classic, but I expected more than I got. I guess I have this illusion that guys will step it up on PPV when they are getting a GOD push like Crimson, but apparently I am also wrong. In ways I hope that the feud is over, because they do not work well together, and if they want to make Crimson he needs someone that can call and work the proper match that will work to his strengths. But the “cheap finish,” where Morgan pulled an HBK and got his leg trapped in the ropes as Crimson escaped leads me to believe that we will see more from them. Unfortunately this was just more of the same on a bad night for the promotion.

MATCH 7 – KNOCKOUTS TITLE MATCH: Some will call this harmless fun, and a buffer before the world title match, I call it useless, bad wrestling and another match with a dead crowd. Most last minute PPV additions do not add anything to the show, some matches are exceptions, but this is not one of them. ODB worked the whole match, which was passable, while the heels teased EY with their dancing. ODB drank from her liquid courage, made her own comeback and won to retain the titles. This served no purpose, only to remind fans that a man is one half of the Knockouts Tag Team Champions.

THE RIDICULOUS:
(After Match 4) FLAIR AND HOGAN IN RING PROMO: Following the Knockouts Title match, Ric Flair came to the ring, because TNA thought that this is exactly what the PPV needed. Flair came out, asked who he was to the crowd, mocked then, and actually got one of the biggest reactions of the night, which is not a good thing. Flair was pissed that Bishcoff was gone and blamed Hogan, which of course brought out Hogan. Hogan said Ric Flair was the single greatest wrestler of all-time, but Flair told Hogan he’s had a problem with him for 30 years and he doesn’t like the way he’s running the company and noted that he needed to be in the Lethal Lockdown match. Hogan then said, and I quote, “if we locked up right now, we would blow the roof off of this place.” Flair said he was pissed, Hogan dropped him with one punch, and then left. Flair went ballistic, threw shoes into the crowd, knee dropped his jacket and bitched at Tenay while telling a woman in the crowd that he would have her ride space mountain. This was bad, it made no sense to add to the PPV, and at best was a segment they could have shot on TV, but in all honesty I didn’t need to see it at all. It came off as embarrassing, and it took time away from the PPV matches, you know, the things that sold the PPV in the first place. We hear all the time about how Dixie Carter promises change and that they will focus on the “young guys,” and then we get major angles and segments involving Flair, Hogan and Bischoff.

The 411
I went into TNA Lockdown with high hopes, high hopes due to them shooting some good TV and a hot go home angle. High hopes due to the fact that TNA Lockdown us usually a good PPV. Unfortunately those hopes were too high, and not only did they not live up too them, they didn’t deliver at all. This was a night filled mostly with poor wrestling, a dead crowd and in my opinion, the wrong finish in the main event. In all honesty the PPV was a chore to watch, especially twice. I have heard people say, “the crowd reaction doesn’t mean anything,” and I highly disagree. It is and always has been a part of wrestling and not only did I think that a lot of the wrestling was bad, but I really fell that they missed the chance with Storm. Also at the end of the show, I got the feeling that Garett, Hogan and Flair are more important to the company than 99% of the guys they have.

As for how they have built Roode, yes they have done a good job, but most of it has been on PPV, and I do not know about you, but I would prefer the bulk of the progression on TV, and not having to pay for the PPV with the hopes that something gets resolved on TV.

Bottom line, they built up good will, they had a very hot go home angle, and they had the simplest plan to follow by making Storm the hero in Nashville, they didn’t do that, most of the card was piss poor to average, and I honestly regret spending my money. Bad, bad PPV.

SHOW RATING: 3.0

As a reminder, I will be going by the 411 scale..

0 – 0.9: Torture
1 – 1.9: Extremely Horrendous
2 – 2.9: Very Bad
3 – 3.9: Bad
4 – 4.9: Poor
5 – 5.9: Not So Good
6 – 6.9: Average
7 – 7.9: Good
8 – 8.9: Very Good
9 – 9.9: Amazing
10: Virtually Perfect

YEAR IN REVIEW (PPV) by Csonka:
TOP PPVs:
* DGUSA Open the Ultimate Gate 2012 iPPV – 8.2
* DGUSA Mercury Rising 2012 iPPV – 8.1

* WWE WrestleMania 28 – 7.9
* ROH 10th Anniversary iPPV – 7.5
* ROH Showdown in the Sun: Night One iPPV – 7.4
* EVOLVE 11 iPPV – 7.0

* TNA Victory Road – 6.5
* TNA Against All Odds – 6.5

* TNA Genesis – 5.0
* WWE Royal Rumble – 5.0

* WWE Eliminating Chamber – 4.0

* TNA Lockdown – 3.0

TOP PPV MATCHES:
* From The ROH Showdown in the Sun: Night Two iPPV –ROH Title Match: Davey Richards vs. Michael Elgin [****¾]

* From WWE WrestleMania 28 – Hell in a Cell: The Undertaker vs. Triple H [****½]

* From DGUSA’s Mercury Rising 2012 – Low Ki, BxB Hulk and Akira Tozawa vs. Riccochet, PAC and Mazaaki Mochizuki [****¼]
* From EVOLVE 11 – Fit Finlay vs. Sami Callihan [****¼]

* From EVOLVE 11 – Low Ki vs. El Generico [****]
* From DGUSA’s Mercury Rising 2012 – Open the Freedom Gate Title Match – Johnny Gargano vs. Masato Yoshino [****]
* From DGUSA’s Open the Ultimate Gate 2012 – Open the United Gate Tag Title Match: Chuck Taylor vs. Johnny Gargano vs. Riccochet and Masato Yoshino [****]
* From DGUSA’s Open the Ultimate Gate 2012 – Akira Tozowa vs. Masaaki Mochizuki [****]
* From WWE WrestleMania 28 – WWE Title Match: CM Punk vs. Chris Jericho [****]
* From The ROH Showdown in the Sun: Night One iPPV – Last Man Standing Match – Kevin Steen vs. El Generico [****]

* From TNA Lockdown – Bobby Roode vs. James Storm [***¾]
* From WWE WrestleMania 28 – The Rock vs. John Cena [***¾]
* From The ROH Showdown in the Sun: Night One iPPV – ROH World Title Match: Davey Richards © vs. Roderick Strong vs. Eddie Edwards [***¾]
* From TNA Victory Road – Kurt Angle vs. Jeff Hardy [***¾]
* From TNA Against All Odds – TNA X-Division Title Match: Austin Aries vs. Alex Shelley [***¾]
* From The ROH 10th Anniversary iPPV – Eddie Edwards & Adam Cole vs. Davey Richards & Kyle O’Reilly [***¾]
* From DGUSA’s Mercury Rising 2012 – El Generico vs. Lince Dorado vs. Rich Swann vs. Cima vs. Chuck Taylor vs. Samurai Del Sol [***¾]

* From TNA Lockdown – Kurt Angle vs. Jeff Hardy [***½]
* From EVOLVE 11 – Chuck Taylor vs. Samurai Del Sol vs. Johnny Gargano [***½]
* From DGUSA’s Open the Ultimate Gate 2012 – PAC vs. Low Ki [***½]
* From DGUSA’s Open the Ultimate Gate 2012 – Rich Swann vs. AR Fox [***½]
* From The ROH Showdown in the Sun: Night One iPPV – Lance Storm vs. Mike Bennett [***½]
* From TNA Against All Odds – Kazarian vs. AJ Styles [***½]
* From TNA Genesis – Monster’s Ball Match: Abyss vs. Bully Ray [***½]
* From WWE Elimination Chamber – Raw Elimination Chamber WWE Title Match: CM Punk vs. The Miz vs. Kofi Kingston vs. R Truth vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. Chris Jericho [***½]
* From The ROH 10th Anniversary iPPV – TV Title Match – Jay Lethal vs. Tommaso Ciampa went to a 15-minute time limit draw [***½]
* From The ROH 10th Anniversary iPPV – No DQ Match – Kevin Steen vs. Jimmy Jacobs [***½]