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By Jon Mezzera, Torch Specialist

IMPACT HITS

Devine vs. Shelley: This was a fun, fast paced X-Division style match. It is too bad that Alex Shelley is in the dog house with TNA management, because he is much better than Johnny Devine and should be in the X-Scape match at Lockdown. Both guys brought a lot of energy to the match. It was never boring. Of course, if TNA does go to a total MMA style in ring product, both will be looking for work. You don’t get cool spring board moves like Shelley pulled off in this match in MMA.

Samoa Joe: Joe looked good in both his training video and in his interview via satellite. It was good to see him acting low key for much of the interview, then turning up the intensity at the end. If you shout all the time, it becomes meaningless. Here, he shifted the level of intensity to a great effect. I question his doubt. I don’t understand bringing up him questioning his proclamation to quit if he doesn’t win. That seems like a mistake to me. But, on the whole, a good tone from Joe and a well delivered interview.

Frank Trigg: The only good thing about Kurt Angle’s sparring session with AJ Styles and Tomko was the guest commentary by Frank Trigg. TNA could have done a better job of introducing him to wrestling fans who aren’t aware of who he is, but they did a decent job of it. He fit in on commentary very well and actually sounded like he knows what he is talking about (unlike Hermie Sadler who sounds like a buffoon when they bring him in occasionally). He seems to be the only one involved who understands the differences between amateur wrestling, professional wrestling, and MMA. He talked about all three like he was an expert on each, without coming off as a know it all. Whenever he spoke, all I could think was that TNA should fire Don West and hire this guy instead.

Roode vs. Booker T: This was a good, intense match. I question two things. One is why would TNA give away a major Lockdown match for free on Impact? Yes, their match at the PPV will be a mixed-tag, but Sharmell doesn’t want to be in the match, making seeing Booker get his hands finally on Robert Roode the main purpose to the match. But, we just saw him get his hands on Roode, so why pay to see it now? Two is why would the sheep fans vote for First blood like Booker asked, when it was the weakest choice. You can make your opponent bleed in the other two choices, but still inflict more punishment, as opposed to making them bleed then the match being over. Booker could have inflicted more punishment in a Last Man standing match. Unfortunately, these questions marred a good match. Booker and Roode worked hard to put on a fun match to watch. I want to make clear that despite my reservations about having the match, and the type of match the fans voted for, the match itself was definitely a Hit.

Main Event: Again, I question TNA giving away the Lockdown simi-Main Event for free, and I question what Jim Cornette had planned for the Main Event up through half way through Impact when this match was made, but the match itself delivered. It was a good idea to present the match commercial free. That helped in that we actually got to see all 10 minutes of the match, not just 6. The match had good action. The beating of Rhino was a bit long, but really never dragged. The end was very chaotic, but fun to watch as everyone got to do some of their signature moves. It was good to see Sting’s return to the ring treated as a big deal. It is not surprising that he got the fall for his team. The fall was well booked with Christian Cage and Kevin Nash getting back into the ring to fend off Team Tomko from trying to break up the Scorpion Deathlock. Once you add the cage and the weapons, Lethal Lockdown should be different enough from this match to still be a major selling point (unlike Roode vs. Booker). The fireworks after the match were almost Miss worthy in and of themselves. I’m not sure how to feel about the James Storm appearance. I am curious to see where they go with that, but I am worried that the storyline will just get watered down with the addition of a ninth wrestler.

IMPACT MISSES

Opening Segment: This is a marginal Miss as there were good things in the opening segment, but TNA went the typical route of cramming too much into Impact before the first commercial break, so that nothing really stood out as being important. It was too rushed and hectic. I understand the desire to show that their live show (which they hardly ever even called live for some reason) had that “anything can happen” feel to it. But to start the show with a brawl that was already happening didn’t work for me. The brawl was well done and I enjoyed seeing Booker T and Robert Roode go at it, but it was watered down when they cut to the announcers at ring side and then to Jim Cornette. He makes this big announcement about Roode vs. Booker for tonight, then it cuts to AJ Style and Tomko preparing for their sparring session with Kurt Angle. That was a bad scene, but it didn’t matter as it quickly cut to ring side for the opening match. Then, in the middle of the match for no reason it cut to the back where the Knockouts were standing around before cutting to commercial. As usual, there was too much happening early on in the show.

Sit Down With Karen: Karen Angle can be decent in small doses, but not when asked to carry a lengthy interview. She just isn’t very good. TNA wants to focus on Angle vs. Joe at Lockdown, which makes perfect sense. But, that doesn’t work when Karen is putting the focus back on her and Angle’s family. It was poorly scripted (especially the part at the end about seeing someone on the TNA roster - possibly a swerve and not just Styles?), and poorly acted.

Sparring Session: Once again, I have to object to this whole MMA concept. Will Joe vs. Angle have rounds? Will there be judges? Will their be pin falls? If there are no rounds, no judges and pin falls allowed as usual, then how will it be MMA? And if it isn’t MMA, why are they training like it is? Will Angle go for his moonsault? Will he do his signature spot when he throws his opponent off the top turnbuckle? I like those spots in an Angle match, but if we are just going to see action like we saw in his sparring session, then I don’t particularly want to see it. It really wasn’t interesting to watch. The post-match angle with Team Cage was solid, leading to the impromptu Main Event, but the segment on the whole was a big Miss.

Jon Mezzera is PWTorch.com's Hits & Misses Specialist, providing his point of view for Raw, Smackdown, ECW, and TNA Impact each week. Email him at jmezz-torch@sbcglobal.net.

For another view from the original Hitlist author, compare Jason Powell's views to mine by visiting prowrestling.NET's "Hitlist" section here.

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