TNA Lockdown PPV Evaluation 4/15
By Nathan Kyght, PWTorch PPV specialist

BEST MATCH – JEFF HARDY VS. KURT ANGLE

Between this match and the main event of James Storm and Bobby Roode, TNA had two very strong matches on the show. Between the two, I thought Angle and Hardy had the better match, and a contest that wasn’t marred by a ridiculous ending. When Jeff Hardy is motivated and in the ring with a good partner, he can still turn in great performances, and I thought this was one of them. Even a banged-up Kurt Angle is better than most wrestlers in the ring, and the two guys have great chemistry.

Also hats off to the finish, which was Hardy pinning Angle after delivering a Swanton from the cage. Now that’s smart. Too often in TNA, there will be half-a-dozen such moves in a match and they all seem to cancel one another out. This match built to a big high spot, delivered, and then the match ended. That had way more impact.

WORST MATCH – VELVET SKY VS. GAIL KIM

Unfortunately, this pay-per-view had no shortage of bad matches, between a strangely subdued Lethal Lockdown match and then about an hour-and-a-half of underwhelming performances in front of a library-quiet Nashville crowd. But, this? Oof. Gail Kim is certainly a good wrestler, but someone needs to talk to Velvet Sky. I’m sure she’s a nice girl, but it's a disaster in the ring. She seems lost as to what to next, and it made this match unwatchable. Also, side note: after Velvet lost the match, within seconds she was laughing and joking with the fans and slapping high-fives. Good to know none of it mattered, then.

BIGGEST SURPRISE – JAMES STORM LOSES

Granted, I’m not privy to where this storyline is going in its (really) long run, but this came across as a really odd decision. TNA built to the company’s “Biggest Show Of The Year” back at Bound for Glory 2011 through the BFG Series, where Robert Roode beat every top-tier talent in the company, and...Roode lost. So, they go through another six-month build with Storm on the title chase (I’m pretending they didn’t give away a Storm-Roode match for free on Impact a while back), go to the babyface’s HOMETOWN, and… Storm lost. What’s the payoff? A build to Bound for Glory 2012? And, what’s the incentive for the fans to care? Mind-boggling, but I guess we’ll see.

BIGGEST LETDOWN – LETHAL LOCKDOWN

The annual Lethal Lockdown match tends to have some nice sideplots woven through the match, some big spots, and is generally (while perhaps not a technical classic) a fun match. This year’s edition never got out of third gear, let alone second. Curiously chosen to open the show, it just seemed to be a mess with none of the wrestlers seeming to know what to do, and a crowd that basically sat on its hands. Then, Eric Bischoff got pinned, and now apparently has to change his name. Which as stipulations go, is enough to make your head hurt.

BEST QUOTE – KURT ANGLE

“I hate Jeff Hardy. He looks more like a woman than a man.”

Delivered wrong, this would have been lousy. But, “Crazy Kurt” is such a great character, and Angle knows just the amount of "nod and wink" to add to his promos. I laughed.

BEST MOVE – SWANTON

In a match that went on sixth, and the first match to garner any crowd interest, the move of the night was definitely Hardy’s Swanton. And, then an IMMEDIATE cover for the win. Well done.

BEST MATCH FINISH – JEFF HARDY VS. KURT ANGLE

For reasons detailed above, this was perfectly booked. My other nominee is “Not Roode vs. Storm.”

OTHER THOUGHTS

-I don’t ever want to have to see Eric Young/ODB again. Their bonus match was dreadful, and is one of the examples of times when if someone asks, “You watch this stuff?!” I will calmly look the person in the eye, and say, “Nope."

-I’m sorry, TNA, but Garett Bischoff is not getting over. Also, for the record, the quickest way to get a crowd to not applaud is to say “applaud this man!” Just saying.

-Storm and Roode were having a great match until the finish, which saw Storm kick Roode out of the cage, accidentally causing Roode to retain the TNA Title. It was a terrible finish for the main event of a show people paid for, and completely sucked whatever little energy had been garnered out of the building. Never go off the air with an anti-climax.

-Are they setting up Hogan vs. Flair? They can’t be, right?

WHAT IT’LL BE REMEMBERED FOR

Nothing, really. Angle and Hardy were great, but they’ll be great again before year’s end. Other than that? A nothing undercard and a main event that served to annoy people. Fingers crossed for Sacrifice.

UPDATED 2012 PPV EVALUATION RANKINGS

1 - WWE WRESTLEMANIA XVIII (2012-04-01)
2 - WWE ELIMINATION CHAMBER (2012-02-19)
3 - WWE ROYAL RUMBLE (2012-1-29)
4 - TNA VICTORY ROAD (2012-03-18)
5 - TNA LOCKDOWN (2012-04-15)
6 - TNA GENESIS (2012-01-08)
6 – TNA AGAINST ALL ODDS (2012-02-12)

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