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TNA Lockdown Reax #1: "I'm not an MMA fan, but they did a great job of putting together a MMA/pro wrestling hybrid." Apr 13, 2008 - 11:53:06 PM
Michael Moore of Casper, Wy. (8.0). Best Match: Joe vs. Angle. Worst Match: Kip James vs. B.G. James. Wow, what an exciting show from start to finish. If people would stop worrying so much about calling matches "spotfests," complaining about a lack of psychology, or groaning about what a match did or didn't accomplish, they'd enjoy wrestling a lot more. Aside from the Old Age Outlaws snoozefest, this was a great show. Joe vs. Angle was incredible. I'm not an MMA fan, but they did a great job of putting together a MMA/pro wrestling hybrid. It felt like something special because very few wrestlers could pull it off. Frank Trigg was a huge upgrade on commentary; he came across as both insightful and a heel, which is an unusual combination. The Xscape match was a lot of fun, as were both women's matches. The handcuff match was clunky, but had enough action by Kaz and LAX to make it entertaining. The Super Eric gimmick is silly, but the fans love him. Booker-Roode is the feud that won't die and should. Whatever "it" is, Robert Roode is lacking. The Lethal Lockdown match was a great, exciting brawl. Overall, great effort by TNA with only one bad match (Kip vs. B.G.).
Romana: Outstanding PPV. No, every match was not stellar, but the main event made this a PPV worth ordering. The biggest disappointment of the night had to be Rhino getting the "w." However, thinking Angle would win and retain the title, I was absolutely blown away by the match itself. I was wondering whether TNA would ever figure how to use Joe properly; now they have their chance. Thanks for a great show.
Donnie of New York (4.0): Best Match: Kurt Angle vs. Samoa Joe. Worst Match: Queen of the Cage Match. Overall, I thought this was a very weak effort by TNA. A lot of what happened tonight was predictable (i.e. Kip turning on B.G., Super Eric returning to get the big win, Machine Guns getting jobbed out real quick.) I am a wrestling and MMA fan, and think that Angle vs. Joe was quite disappointing. I don't feel the mix is all that great, because I still know its wrestling, and I want to see wrestling. If wanted MMA, I would watch UFC. But anyway, hopefully TNA will give Joe the ball to run with for a long time, as he definitely deserves it.
Johnny B of Clifton, N.J. (2.0): Best Match: Kurt Angle vs. Samoa Joe (by default). Worst Match: Kip James vs. B.G. James. I am so f'ing disappointed with this show. The opening Xscape match had six people in the match; it was only given 11 minutes or so and had decent action. The X-division guys deserve more time, but they didn't get it. The second match, "Queen of the Cage," had eight Knockouts during the first part of the match. The second half had decent action from Angelina Love and Roxxi Leveaux, but again, not enough time. Kip vs. B.G. James was a terrible TV match. I actually was expecting these guys to have a good match - a bloody brawl - sort of like how Chris Harris and James Storm put one together at Sacrifice last year, but we got a stinker instead. The fourth match, "Cuffed to the Cage" involved twelve wrestlers. A few minutes of some decent action and entertaining stuff from Super Eric doesn't make a good match, another stinker. The fifth match had four Knockouts competing, Awesome Kong & Raisha Saeed vs. Gail Kim & ODB. Not a bad match at all, but Raisha looked ridiculous with the berka on during the match. The sixth match had four competitors, Booker T & Sharmell vs. Robert Roode & Peyton Banks, decent action, but this was something that belonged on Impact, not a PPV. Also, when will this fued end? Sharmell wins with a roll-up? I thought this was a heated feud, so if I were fighting my worst enemy I wouldn't roll him up, I would try to beat the daylight's out of him. "Lethal Lockdown" had ten guys in the match, so the first seven matches had 46 wrestlers. TNA's attempt's to get everyone on the show to get a PPV payday ruins a lot of PPVs because of pointless multi-person matches that take time away from people who deserve to put on longer PPV matches. Anyway, "Lethal Lockdown" was the worst of the "Lethal Lockdowns" so far. And what's with Rhino getting the winning pinfall? Up to this point, I was disappointed with the show, but I really only bought the show to see Joe win the title in a classic 25-30 minute match, so I was still holding out hope. Joe won the title but in a bullsh--, fake MMA match. I always thought Kurt Angle was entertaining in interviews; he did have some good ideas; clean finishes, fewer ref bumps, serious matches and storylines, and a credible title and champion, I'm fine with all of that. The thing I am not fine with is Kurt Angle wearing MMA shorts, taping his ankles, and trying to play MMA in a TNA ring. Hey, Kurt, if you want to be an MMA fighter so badly, have a shoot with a real fighter, get your ass kicked in the first round, and then finally shut your mouth! I loved the Goldberg-esqe walks backstage, but everything after that was a huge letdown. I don't mind seeing some aspects of MMA integrated into pro wrestling, but I do not want to see fake MMA matches. Kurt Angle and his obsession with MMA ruined what should have been a historic moment for Samoa Joe, TNA, and the fans. I'm sure some people will love the main event, but I didn't. I'm so utterly disappointed right now. I was looking forward to this match and Joe finally winning the title for a long time now and I'm left with a bad taste in my mouth.
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