A video package highlighting the Lethal Lockdown match opens the show and tells us the final mystery partner will for Jeff Jarrett’s team will be revealed tonight. The main event is also hyped as we will find out how Mick Foley will respond to Sting’s actions last week.
The Impact intro hits and we are welcomed to this week’s show as we are told that Jarrett’s mystery opponent will face Kevin Nash in the final Lethal Lockdown Advantage Challenge. AJ Styles’ music hits as he comes down to the ring with a microphone in his hand.
Styles talks about him and Jeff Jarrett having issues a couple of weeks ago but things have since cooled over. Styles then brings up rumors he has been hearing in the back and wants to talk to him to make sure they are on the same page. Jarrett’s music hits and he comes down to the ring as Styles asks what side he is on. Jarrett says he is insulted that he even asked that question and asks where his trust is at. Jarrett tells Styles that he will found out where his loyalty lies when the fourth member is revealed, who happens to be a former TNA champion.
The Main Event Mafia’s music hits as they make their way down to the ring. Kurt Angle tells Jarrett that Kevin Nash cannot wrestle tonight due to his elbow injury and asks Jarrett if he can take his spot. Styles wants Nash to instead forfeit the match but Jarrett steps in and promises the final match. Angle, however, will be the one wrestling due to Nash’s medical condition.
A Suicide video package airs saying that he has climbed from the gutters of parts unknown to the top of the X Division. His next challenge will be the escape match at Lockdown against four competitors – Sheik Abdul Bashir, Jay Lethal, Consequences Creed and Kiyoshi.
Lauren is backstage with Sheik Abdul Bashir and his army. Bashir says Kiyoshi and No Limit joined him because they were tired of playing the victims in the USA and says that they will bring the pain and violence.
Match 1: Chris Sabin vs. Homicide vs. Naito
The match starts and both Sabin and Naito go after Homicide. The two begin to work together but Sabin quickly turns and takes Naito down with a clothesline. Naito goes out to the floor and Homicide dives over the ropes and flies over the guard railing and into the wall in the crowd. With Homicide out, Naito and Sabin go at it in the ring and Sabin picks up a near fall after driving Naito down to the mat with a bulldog.
Homicide comes back into the match and takes both Sabin and Naito down with a missile dropkick. Homicide nearly pins Sabin after a powerbomb but Sabin is able to kick out. Sabin finds himself tossed out to the floor and Homicide lands the 187 on Naito to pick up the pin fall for the victory.
A taxicab arrives in the back as we see Brother Runt and Balls Mahoney come out of the car as we head into a commercial break.
Abyss is in Jim Cornette’s office and is requesting a match for tonight as ODB and Cody Deaner enter as ODB talks about being in a cage match at Lockdown but she hasn’t even wrestled in weeks. Jim Cornette decides to book them in a mixed tag team match tonight to fulfill their match requests. Cody Deaner volunteers to be her partner as ODB wonders why he is still hanging around her.
A pre-taped interview between Mike Tenay and Jeff Jarrett is aired. Jarrett talks about bringing Mick Foley into the company and talks about their past relationship. Jarrett says it was a dream of his to bring him on board but his attitude as of late. As for his relationship with Scott Steiner and says that the wrestling business has driven a wedge between them. When it comes down to it, Jarrett says he has to do what is best for himself and his family.
Jeremy Borash is in the Main Event Mafia locker room and Angle says that he has no idea who his opponent is and he doesn’t care. Angle guarantees victory tonight no matter what.
A video package is aired that shows the Beautiful People’s hair cutting rampage and how Angelina Love has her sights set on winning the TNA Knockouts Championship.
Match 2: Taylor Wilde/Awesome Kong/Raisha Saeed vs. the Beautiful People
The two teams meet on the entrance ramp to get this match started. Awesome Kong and Angelina Love make their way to the ring as Kong hits the Implant Buster to win the match. Kong then grabs the scissors out of their bag but Madison Rayne and Velvet Sky come to the rescue and knock Kong off of her feet.
Kong is able to get up and fight her way back but Angelina sprays perfume into Kong’s eyes and lays her flat with the Knockouts Championhip. Angelina then cuts off some of the braids from Kong’s head as she is held down by Madison and Velvet. We return after a commercial break to see Kong demolishing the backstage area for what the Beautiful People did to her hair.
A TNA Rough Cut segment is aired where Team 3D talks about wrestling in Japan and winning the IWGP Tag Team Championship. For the first time ever the IWGP Tag Team Championships will be defended on US soil and in the hostile arena where they made their name.
We then join Lauren who is standing by with Team 3D who talks about their match where Brother Runt sneaks in along with Balls Mahoney, who says they are they to wish them luck when they go back home this Sunday.
Match 3: ODB & Cody Deaner vs. Abyss & Daffney
The match starts and ODB and Daffney trade chops and fists until Daffney finally tags in Abyss. ODB stares down Abyss and slowly makes it to her corner to tag in her partner who reluctantly tags in. Deaner goes in and smacks Abyss with a couple of rights but it doesn’t have any effect on Abyss. Deaner turns his hat around and Abyss smacks him down before landing the Black Hole Slam to pick up the pin fall.
After the match, Matt Morgan runs out to the ring and attacks Abyss from behind. Abyss begins to fight back but Morgan levels Abyss with the Carbon Footprint before leaving the ring.
Jeremy Borash is backstage with Scott Steiner who wants to know more about what has been going on between him and Jeff Jarrett. Steiner says what they have been talking about is between the two of them and says that Jarrett’s actions will do all of the talking.
Mick Foley’s music hits as he comes down to the ring to interview Cactus Jack. Two chairs are set up in the ring as Foley takes a seat in one of them. Mick Foley introduces Cactus Jack and he immediately goes into his Cactus Jack mode who talks about Jack’s and Foley’s similarities and differences but being in the same body. Jack says he is calling the shots around here as he begins having a conversation with himself and busts himself open with fists as Sting’s music hits.
Sting comes down to the ring with a microphone who says he can’t believe what he just saw. Sting asks Foley if he has lost his mind as Foley begins talking about their history and what it is going to be like locked inside a steel cage with the crowd chanting for Cactus Jack. The MEM’s music hits and Sting turns his attention to the ramp as Foley blindsides him.
Foley then nails Sting with one of the chairs and tells Sting that he runs the show around here and can play any music he wants. Foley calls out for some Curry Man music and then some Shark Boy music. Foley then asks for Sting’s music as he pulls out the barbed wire bat from under the ring. Foley holds the bat up to his face and says he is going to tear him apart at Lockdown. Have a nice day.
After a commercial break we head to the backstage area where Beer Money is beating down Brother Runt and Balls Mahoney. They head out to the arena and into the ring where Robert Roode lays Mahoney with a chair shot. Brother Runt is also nailed with a chair shot from James Storm as they are both busted open. Roode slides a table into the ring and Brother Runt is powerbombed through it. Team 3D finally come out to the ring to help their friends as Beer Money quickly exists and heads up the ramp.
After a commercial break, Team 3D is still in the ring and Brother Ray is calling out Beer Money. Ray asks why they would do that to their friends and Ray calls out for a Philadelphia Street Fight. Mike Tenay explains that the Philadelphia Street Fight is where the cage doors are opened and everyone in the arena will be calling out for Beer Money’s blood. Whatever that means.
Lauren is backstage with AJ Styles and asks him if he has any idea who their mystery partner will be. Styles says he has no idea and says that Jarrett has been acting weird and says that he has to know that Jarrett is on his side at Lockdown. We then see Jarrett walking towards the arena as he is about to announce who the last member of his team is for Lethal Lockdown.
Kurt Angle comes down to the ring for his Lethal Lockdown Advantage Challenge match. Jeff Jarrett then comes down to the ring with a microphone and says that he has given a lot of thought to who he wanted to pick for his final member of Team Jarrett. He said his choice had to show where his loyalties are and says that it is about the Frontline and the TNA fans. Jarrett then announces and welcomes back Christopher Daniels.
Match 4: Kurt Angle vs. Christopher Daniels (Lethal Lockdown Advantage Challenge)
The match starts and the two go back and forth until Daniels knocks Angle down to the floor and follows up with a split legged moonsault onto the floor. Daniels rolls Angle back into the ring and picks up a two count but Angle is able to come back and tosses Daniels over the top rope and onto the floor as we head into a commercial break.
We return to the match to see Angle is still in control and takes Daniels down with a belly-to-belly release overhead suplex. The crowd rallies behind Daniels as the two knock each other down with clotheslines. Daniels begins making a comeback and picks up a couple of near falls but Angle stops his offensive attack with a DDT.
Angle tries for an Angle Slam but Daniels is able to counter and takes Angle down with a fisherman suplex and nearly picks up the victory. Daniels goes for a moonsault but Angle rolls out of the way and follows with a series of German suplexes but it isn’t enough to keep Daniels down. Angle then hits the Angle Slam but Daniels again kicks out in time. Angle then locks in the ankle lock but Daniels kicks out and rolls up Angle for the victory.
After the match, AJ Styles runs out and celebrates the victory with his Lethal Lockdown partner as Angle begins attacking the referees. Jim Cornette comes into the ring and Angle pleads that his shoulder was up. Cornette says that from his vantage point he may have seen something different as Angle wants the decision reversed. Angle begins letting his spit fly freely which gets under Cornette’s skin and says that the referee’s decision stands. Angle again snaps as Angle calls out for Jarrett as we head into a commercial break.
After the break we see the rest of the Main Event Mafia in the ring as Angle is still pleading with Jarrett to come out to the ring. Jarrett’s music hits and he comes to the ring and says that he watched the replay several times and tells the truck to roll the tape. The replay shows that Angle’s shoulder was up before three and Daniels’ shoulders were on the mat. Jarrett says he has to make the right decision and awards the match to Kurt Angle.
The MEM begin celebrating in the ring as Styles, Daniels and Cornette argue with Jarrett. Samoa Joe’s music hits as he points at the Mafia and begins heading to the ring as Impact comes to a close.
Quick Results
- Homicide defeated Naito and Chris Sabin in a triple threat match by pin fall.
- Awesome Kong/Raisha Saeed/Taylor Wilde defeated the Beautiful People by pin fall.
- Abyss & Daffney defeated ODB & Cody Deaner by pin fall.
- Kurt Angle defeated Christopher Daniels by a reverse decision.
Starman’s Thoughts
This week was very light on in-ring action but the hype for Lockdown was stellar and more than made up for it. Lockdown has had a nice build up for it and both of the main events were prominently featured in tonight’s go home show.
The night started out with Jeff Jarrett telling us that he was going to announce the fourth and final member of Team Jarrett later on in the night. Even though Jarrett’s loyalty was in question by AJ Styles, Jarrett delivered on his promise when he announced that the final member was none other than Christopher Daniels. Finally the Fallen Angel is back to his former self, even though he is now sporting a goatee.
In case you missed it, Daniels mouthed the words “I never left,” as he entered the ring tonight – just in case some of the fans didn’t know that it was really him under the masks of Curry Man and as a part-time Suicide.
As far as Jarrett goes, for the past few weeks he has been stuck in the middle of the Frontline and the MEM and they have been teasing a possible turn. This was echoed when Jarrett awarded tonight’s main event to Kurt Angle, thus giving his team the advantage in Lethal Lockdown. Jarrett’s unknown loyalties gives the upcoming match an extra dimension and a little something more to look forward to.
Not to be outdone, Mick Foley came out a cut a tremendous promo with himself interviewing Cactus Jack. I had my doubts about what I was about to witness but Foley was nearly flawless in going back and forth from one persona to the next. It was refreshing to see the passion and fire return to Foley and I enjoyed that his lame comedy act.
Like he has in the past several weeks, Sting was also on top of his game today while talking with Foley. Seeing Foley and Sting battle isn’t something that sounds too great on paper due to their age and limitations but TNA has really sold me on this match.
The appearances of Brother Runt and Balls Mahoney were a nice surprise as well. The beat down the two took from the hands of Beer Money was brutal, but it didn’t sit well with me. For starters, I hated that it took Team 3D seemingly forever to come out and to rescue their fallen buddies. Second, and most importantly, it took away from what the two teams had going for them already.
For weeks the two teams has had each others backs and wanted to make sure they were both at the top of their game for their match up. It has been all about respect and finding out how the top tag team is. Now this element has been added and the match has turned into a street fight. Not a match to see who is better, but a street fight for both of the tag team titles. This feud took one leap back tonight. It was good to see Balls and Spike again.
I’m sure I’m not the only one who thought the 6-woman tag team match tonight was a complete waste of time. The match, and that word can be used loosely, lasted maybe a minute and was more about the post match beat down and hair cutting than anything else. It really irritates me when TNA tries to cleverly mask things like this with a wrestling match. And to think, the Knockout Division was once one of the high points of the promotion. Now it has come to this.
That’s not to say that everything related to the Knockouts is bad. I did enjoy the chemistry between ODB and Cody Deaner in their mixed tag team match. These two could work well together and I am looking forward to seeing what else is in store for the two.
As always, remember to check back this weekend as I will be previewing the Lockdown pay-per-view and giving my predictions.
