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-Eric Young beat Danny Bonaduce during the pre-PPV show. For details, check out James Caldwell's report. It was clunky looking with Bonaduce having just enough training to look like a bad wrestler instead of merely a pretend wrestler.
-Also during the pre-game show, Jeremy Borash interviewed TNA president Dixie Carter, who enthusiastically thanked for the fans for their increased viewership lately. It's Carter's first on-camera appearance for TNA.
-The PPV itself opened with A.J. Styles and Christopher Daniels arriving, but there was no sign of Jeff Jarrett or Samoa Joe. Then they showed Main Event Mafia arriving as a group together.
-Team 3D were sown walking up the famous steps from "Rocky" in Philadelphia. They talked about fighting in their favorite city.
-A video feature previewed the show to the Smashing Pumpkins "Rat in a Cage" song.
1 -- SUICIDE vs. "BLACK MACHISMO" JAY LETHAL vs. CONSEQUENCES CREED vs. KIYOSHI vs. SHEIK ABDUL BASHIR - X Division Title match - Ultimate Xscape Match
Kiyoshi was the first to be eliminated at 3:15 a few minutes after Mike Tenay touted him as emulating but not imitating The Great Muta. Tenay and West declared Lethal Consequences the favorites since they could work together, but next to be eliminated was Creed. Bashir battled Lethal as Suicide recovered on the sideline. Suicide re-entered the picture and battled Lethal for a minute. He escaped a roll up and then fired back with a running clothesline. Lethal flipped completely over with a nice looking bump. It led to a near fall. Bashir snuck back into the mix just as Suicide had Bashir down, and he covered Bashir for the win. Not sure it made any difference whether Bashir watched Suicide pin Bashir or he scored the pin on Bashir himself. Bashir and Suicide battled for a few minutes. Bashir slidekicked the side of the cage, knocking the big door open, destroying any sense that anyone is "stuck" inside the cage once the doors are locked. He would have won if he slid to the floor, but he stopped short. The two climbed to the top of the cage and battled. Kiyoshi ran back and tried to get at them, but security pulled him down. Not sure what we're supposed to think his motivation was for that, but it was done so there was an excuse for several security members to be on the floor for the next spot. Bashir tried to climb out of the door, but Suicide stood on top of the cage, the crowd popped, and he dove onto security below. When he landed on the floor, he was declared the winner.
WINNER: Suicide in 11:00 to retain the X Title.
STAR RATING: **1/2 -- Lots of athleticism and big spots. Solid opener, par for the TNA course of having the X Division wrestlers open the show.
-Backstage Lauren interviewed Styles and Daniels. She asked if they were concerned that Jarrett and Joe weren't with them. Styles said he and Daniels are on the same page at least. Lauren asked Daniels about returning to TNA and how it came about. He said that's between he and Jarrett.
2 -- MADISON RAYNE vs. ODB (w/Cody Deaner) vs. SOJO BOLT vs. DAFFNEY -- Queen of the Cage match.
Sojo is sporting blond hair. Some early chaos led to some early two counts. ODB went on an flurry against the other three briefly, but was soon beat down by Wilde and Bolt. Tenay asked West if Rayne has been admitted into the Beautiful People. West said he had a talk with Angelina Love long into the night. Tenay was skeptical. West said "we" decided if Rayne wins, she might be admitted. ODB went on another flurry late. She gave Sojo a released overhead suplex. Cody gave ODB her flask. West said she should share. Tenay awkwardly turned that into a shot at West for drinking on the air. ODB spit the flask's contents into the face of Sojo and then powerslammed her for the win. Cody tried to pick up ODB in celebration afterward, but favored his back. ODB then rubbed his face in her chest. Cody smiled wide.
WINNER: ODB in 6:00.
STAR RATING: *1/4
-They showed Tenay and West at ringside as they hyped the rest of the PPV line-up.
-They showed Jarrett arriving at the arena. The worst dresser in pro wrestling history has had some fashion help lately. His bizarre outfits, his weirdly colored shirts, and most importantly his tight white jeans all appear to be history.
3 -- MOTOR CITY MACHINE GUNS vs. NO LIMIT vs. LAX
Six-way action throughout with some isolated centerpiece spots between Sabin and Hernandez. The Guns showed off some of their big spots. No Limit then got in some showcase spots. Finally, Hernandez set up Yujiro on the top rope and Homicide dropkicked him to the floor. Sabin went for a sunset flip. Hernandez blocked it, then overhead tossed Sabin into the cage. Sabin took a nasty bump into the cage and to the mat, getting a rise out of the crowd. Hernandez then gave Shelley a running Border Toss into the cage. The Guns had Yujiro down and covered after a double flip splash, but Hernandez broke up the pin attempt. The Guns lay low for a while, but then went on the offensive including a big double team sliced bread/powerbomb, titled "Made in Detroit," on Naito for the win.
WINNERS: The Gunns in 12:00.
STAR RATING: **1/2 -- Similar to the opener with a lot of cool spots that differentiates TNA from WWE.
-Lauren interviewed Abyss. She said she's concerned for him. He called her the best girlfriend and said tonight is about survival. He said he's going to take everything Matt Morgan has to dish out, then when there's nothing left of him to give, he'll take everything from the inside and let it out on Morgan. Lauren tried to talk him into taking a different approach. The Abyss-Lauren dynamic remains kinda fun
4 -- MATT MORGAN vs. ABYSS
The rules are that not until someone bleeds can be they pinned or submit. Abyss went on early offense, battering Morgan and then smashing him with a butt splash against the ropes. Morgan picked up a chair, but hesitated as he thought about whether to use it or not. Morgan kicked the chair into his face. West said that's why they couldn't remain a team, because Morgan couldn't trust that Abyss would be there when he needed him. Morgan threw it out of the ring. Abyss bled from his face after Morgan threw him into the cage wall. The crowd booed. Morgan poured broken glass out of a black bag at 5:00. He tried to shove Abyss's face into the glass. The camera zoomed in on blood just pouring out of his head like a faucet. Morgan held up a piece of glass and raised his hand and swung it toward Abyss's forehead. Abyss blocked it. Abyss went for a pin before Morgan was bleeding, so it didn't count. At 10:00 Abyss made Morgan bleed with glass. He hit a Black Hole Slam at 11:00, but the ref was down due to taking a flying bodyblock by Morgan a couple minutes earlier. A second ref came out to help, but Morgan kicked out. Abyss then left the cage and looked for the chair. He picked it up. Then Dr. Stevie made his first appearance. Tenay said: "I just saw his face as he went past the broadcast table. That's Stevie Richards!" Dr. Stevie yanked the chair away from Abyss. Abyss was distracted, so Morgan blindsided him with a Carbon Footprint. Abyss kicked out at two. The Philly fans chanted, "ECW! ECW!" Abyss left the cage again to beg Dr. Stevie to give him the chair. Stevie told him no more weapons. Abyss poured a bag of tacks onto the mat. Stevie got in the cage and confronted Abyss. He slapped him repeatedly. Morgan then hit Abyss from behind with a low-blow, then powerbombed him onto the tacks. Morgan draped his arm over Abyss and got the three count.
WINNER: Morgan in 13:00.
STAR RATING: 3/4*
-Borash interviewed Jarrett backstage. He asked him about his disappointment lately with Mick Foley and his friendship with Scott Steiner going way back. He asked which side of Jarrett we'll see. Jarrett said everyone needs to worry about themselves, not him. He talked about himself in the third person incessantly. He said Jeff Jarrett needs to think about Jeff Jarrett more now than he's used to. Jarrett said he's going to do what he's always done, and that's the right thing. As he walked out of the room, Joe was standing there. He said no tricks.
5 -- AWESOME KONG (w/Raisha Saeed) vs. TAYLOR WILDE vs. ANGELINA LOVE (w/Velvet Sky) -- TNA Knockouts Title match
Love tried to climb out of the cage right away as the bell rang. Kong yanked her down and pounded on her. Taylor and Kong worked together against Love early. A minute later Wilde and Love worked together briefly with opposite-side dropkicks. Then they argued and battled each other for leverage pin attempts. Kong recovered and began tossing Love around with power moves including a big swing. Kong stood on Love's hair and yanked her up. Kong went for a somersault splash, but Love moved and then elbow dropped her. Wilde broke up the pin attempt, but landed on Kong. Wilde apologized to Kong. Love knocked Wilde down, then with Sky's help at ringside they tied Kong's braids to the cage. They get points for originality there. Wilde leaped of the top rope and landed on Love and scored a two count. Things slowed down as it appeared she was legit hurt. The ref conferenced with her briefly. Wilde gingerly put her in a sleeper. Kong kicked Wilde down hard, despite being tied by the hair to the cage, and Love rolled on to of her for the win. She still appeared groggy, but mustered a smile as she was handed the belt. West said he thought she was out cold.
WINNER: Love in 7:00 to capture the Knockout Champion.
STAR RATING: *
-They went to the concourse where Team 3D were drinking beers with chanting fans behind them. Brother Devon said they are back home. He said before they got into wrestling, they were nobodies. He said Philly fans have always treated them with respect. He said when they're finished with Beer Money, they'll have more cracks in their heads than the Liberty Bell. Brother Ray yelled that Beer Money are in the jungle and they're going to die. Well, that sets the bar pretty high.
6 -- TEAM 3D vs. BEER MONEY INC. -- TNA Tag Titles and IWGP Tag Titles match
Team 3D came to the ring through the crowd. They brawled at the bell and worked their way out of the cage and into the crowd right, up the stairs, and into a luxury box. They worked their way back to ringside at 6:00. Storm spit beer in Devon's face, then whipped him into the steel guardrail. Storm then flung the cage door into Ray's face. Beer Money double suplexed Devon onto a table at ringside. Ray bled from the forehead at this point. Ray showed some life with a clothesline of both Storm and Roode out of nowhere. Ray climbed to the top rope. James Storm met him there as Roode lay flat on his back in the ring. Ray put Roode in a full nelson and gave him a Super Bubba Bomb off the top rope to the mat. Tenay begged for a replay. They replayed it twice, but in the process totally missed the pin attempt. Inexcusable. West called it anyway. Storm slammed Ray to the mat for a near fall at 10:00. Ray and Devon double-teamed Roode and scored a near fall. Storm mounted Devon in the corner as the crowd chanted, "We Want Tables!" Devon fought back. Ray lifted Storm onto his shoulders. Devon leaped at Storm with a clothesline for a two count. Ray slammed Roode. Devon climbed to the top rope. Ray held Roode's legs apart and Devon hit the What's Up headbutt. Ray led the crowd in a very loud "Get the tables!" chant. A loud chant of "Tables! Tables!" followed. Devon pulled out a table. West said it took way too much time. Beer Money recovered an back suplexed Ray, then threw Devon into the cage. Beer Money gave Devon a double-team neckbreaker off the top rope for a near three count. Roode and Storm climbed to the top rope on opposite sides of the ring. Ray avoided both dives. Roode, though, gave Ray a spinebuster. Storm swing the cage door thinking it'd hit Ray, but instead Devon reversed Storm into it. They delivered 3D onto Roode through a table for the win.
WINNERS: Team 3D IN 16:00 to capture the TNA Tag Team Titles.
STAR RATING: ***1/2 -- Great crowd heat throughout and good match.
-Borash interviewed the Main Event Mafia backstage. He asked Kurt Angle if they have an air of confidence because of everything going on with Jarrett. Angle said the confidence in the air is about Booker T seeking revenge on Styles, welcoming Sting back into the Mafia, Scott Steiner proving wrong his critics who say he's too injured to continue, and Kevin Nash coming back from near death with a staph infection. He said people wonder if he injures his neck again or Nash blows out his knee again. He said he's tired of the "what if?" questions. He said the young punks are holding out their hope on them falling apart. He said the legends of the game always remain because they win with their brains, not their hearts.
7 -- MAIN EVENT MAFIA (Kurt Angle & Booker T & Kevin Nash & Scott Steiner) vs. JEFF JARRETT & CHRISTOPHER DANIELS & A.J. STYLES & SAMOA JOE -- Lethal Lockdown Match
They opened with Kurt Angle vs. Christopher Daniels. Some nice back and forth action in the opening five minutes, showing that there's a good one-in-one match with those two if TNA books it. Daniels applied a Koji clutch submission as the five minute period ended. Booker T was the third entrant. Angle and Booker double-teamed Daniels for two minutes. Styles came out next and went on a flurry of offense. Steiner entered fifth, giving his team the one-man advantage again. Steiner gave Styles a huracanrana off the top rope. Steiner and Booker showed off with push-ups just as Samoa Joe's music began to play signaling his entrance. They showed a split screen of him talking to someone through a curtain. West and Tenay wondered if he was receiving last-second instructions from someone. Joe then came out and threw all three heels into the side of the cage. Next out was Kevin Nash. As he was about to enter the cage, Joe kicked him. West said he was supposed to let him into the cage. Nash, though, fired back at ringside with his signature kneelift and then threw Joe into the ringpost. In the ring Nash hit a chokeslam on Styles and a sideslam on Daniels. Joe entered the cage and went after Nash. Nash's right elbow was heavily wrapped and ladded. Daniels hit Nash with the BME (Best Moonsault Ever). The heels, though, began hitting some moves as the countdown hit zero and out walked Jarrett. No guitar. Just a robe. As his pryo blasted, he entered he ring and went to work on the heels to no pop from the Philly fans. You wouldn't peg Philly as a Jeff Jarrett Town. The Lethal Lockdown officially began at this point as the cage roof lowered onto the top of the cage. Tenay listed the apparatus hanging from the roof that could be used as weapons.
They broke into a cable news-style screen with six different boxes showing different camera views. Angle broke through the roof of the cage and climbed to the top. Styles joined him on top where they came to blows. Angle got the advantage on Styles, then dropped to the mat. Styles slowly stood up and hen dove through a hole in the cage roof. He hit the cage roof as he fell and had to adjust mid-flight to save himself from a crippling landing. He didn't hit anyone he intended, but apparently was okay. The crowd chanted, "That was awesome!" Steiner gave Daniels a belly-to-belly. Joe gave Steiner a MuscleBuster. Booker did the Spinarooni center-ring. Styles stood and punched Booker. Booker kneed Styles in the gut. Jarrett swung a char at Booker, but Booker ducked and it hit Styles. West said Jarrett intended to hit Styles. Joe got in Jarrett's face. Angle gave Joe an Angle Slam from behind for a two count, broken up by Daniels. Daniels gave Angle a double underhook suplex for a near fall. Steiner DDT'd Daniels onto a chair. Jarrett held up his guitar as Styles held Booker in place. West was convinced Jarrett was going to hit Styles, but instead he hit Booker. Styles scored the pin. West said he didn't see that coming. For some reason, Jarrett's music then played despite Styles scoring the pin.
WINNERS: Jarrett & Joe & Styles & Daniels at 23:00.
STAR RATING: ***
-The lights went down as the babyfaces celebrated, and then out walked Bobby Lashley onto the stage. Angle smiled. Tenay touted him as a multi-time national amateur champion, a martial arts fighter, and former world heavyweight champion. TNA needed another strong central babyface, so with all of Lashley's shortcomings (especially promos), he's an intriguing addition to the TNA roster. Perhaps Vince Russo can produce him better than WWE did behind the mic. I like that they put his debut on PPV, making Lockdown more newsworthy. West and Tenay wondered if Lashley and Angle have a relationship due to their common wrestling background.
-Lauren interviewed Sting backstage. He said he's learned you have to expect the unexpected. He said much has changed over the years, but Mick Foley hasn't - he's as whacked out now as he ever was. He said he has too many miles on his body to roll over and die now. He said he won't roll over and die because the belt means too much to him. He said if the belt ends up in the wrong hands, it'll be doomsday for TNA. He said he won't let that happen tonight. He said they're in Philadelphia and anything goes.
-Borash interviewed Foley. Foley turned around and said Mick couldn't be there because he was at a corporate shindig. As Cactus Jack, he cut a promo. He said he doesn't need the barbed wire baseball bat. He said their fans don't pay to watch someone climb out a door, so it'll be locked.
8 -- STING vs. CACTUS JACK -- TNA World Hvt. Title match
Borash did his big-match ring intro. After all of that, he introduced Mick Foley as "Mick Foley" instead of "Cactus Jack." Cactus punched himself in the face to open his wound on his face, so he bled before Sting executed even one move. They fought to the top rope at 3:00. Sting yanked Cactus to the mat. A minute later Sting threw Cactus off balance and twisted his leg around the top turnbuckle. Tenay said it was grotesque how his ankle was contorted. Sting went on methodical offense for a minute. Cactus made a comeback at 7:00. He gave Sting a neckbreaker and scored a near fall. Cactus gingerly tried to climb the ropes, but he decided he couldn't put that kind of stress on his leg. He instead gave Sting a DDT. A minute later he demanded that they open the door. He shoved the ref. West said because he can't climb the cage, he wants to be able to win by leaving thorugh the cage door. He basement dropkicked the cameraman who had the camera stuck through the small filming hole. He tried to escape through that hole. Sting recovered and yanked Cactus back into the ring.
Sting applied the Scorpion Deathlock. Cactus reached for his barbed wire bat. The cameraman handed it to him, then tried to take it away. West said the cameraman gave it to him out of fear. It was just awkward. Sting backed up at the sight of the barbed wire. Cactus swung it at Sting. Sting ducked three times. Sting punched Foley to the mat, then began to climb the cage wall. Cactus hit Sting with the bar in the leg. He hit him a second time, which dropped Sting to the mat. Sting used a drop toe hold to send Cactus face-first into his own barbed wire bat. Sting picked up the bat and used it against Cactus several times. Cactus mule kicked Sting to stop Sting from raking the barbed wire against his face. Cactus dropped down onto Sting with the bat. Sting came up bleeding. Foley pulled out his sock. He then wrapped barbed wire around the sock and punched Sting with it. Tenay called it one of the most violent and brutal World Heavyweight Title matches they've ever seen. Foley then climbed to the top of the cage. Sting climbed another corner. Foley dropped down to win.
WINNER: Cactus Jack in 16:00 to capture the TNA World Hvt. Title.
STAR RATING: 3/4* -- There were some good moments, but mostly a dismal performance by Foley, er Cactus, er Foley who had no business being the no. 1 contender, much less adding what is a meaningless title to his resume in this fashion. The crowd didn't know what to make of Foley which took any emotion - positive or negative - away from his win.
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