It was tough for this show to follow the RAW's Ric Flair retirement, which was really a once-in-a-lifetime thing. Of course, if Ric Flair was in TNA he would have had the ceremony halfway through the show, and then he would have done a run-in during the main event. "I CAN'T BELIEVE IT! RIC FLAIR IS BACK!!!" Tenay and West would shout, while hi-fiving each other.
Jim Cornette was at a doctor's appointment and Matt Morgan let Team Tomko have a fifth man for Lockdown! It's James Storm! Team Cage wants a fifth man, too! Morgan's all, "sure, if you can find one!"
Kurt Angle is here. Jeremy Borash asks him if he really has to be in a sparring contest against Kurt -- he brought his singlet (oh god) -- luckily, Kurt lets him off the hook.
The Monsters of Rock (Rellik, Black Reign, and the Rock n' Rave Infection) vs. Motorcity Machine Guns & LAX: MMG start with a bunch of super-quick doubleteam moves on Jimmy Rave -- sweet. Poor Rave really takes a beating this match -- whenever he and Hernandez meet, Rave really racks up the frequent flyer miles. Hernandez ("SuperMex"?) kills Rave with the Border Toss and casually pins him for three. Some fun stuff here; Reign's participation was minimal.
After the match, there's a brawl and Kaz is out to help the good guys -- and here's Super Eric to vanquish villains -- well, at least they waited until after the match.
Mike Tenay sits down with Awesome Kong and Raisha Saeed. He asks them if there's anyone who can challenge Kong. They look at each other; Kong shakes her head. Saeed: "No." Okay!
Consequences Creed video package! I'm really looking forward to his re-debut, in which I assume he qualifies for the X-Scape match.
Crystal is in back with James Storm and Jackie Moore. Storm mentions being "at home" with Jackie, which I think may be the first time they've made reference to Storm & Moore being a "couple." Anyone?
Tomko and AJ Styles vs. Christian Cage and Rhino: Most of this match is Cage getting worked over by Stomko. At one point Rhino gets a tag but Andrew Thomas, the ref, doesn't see it -- Rhino goes back out. Business as usual, but then it happens AGAIN -- I found this pretty amusing, but Rhino doesn't, and he GORES the ref! Unprettier to Tomko! GORE to Styles! Cornette is out and throws the match out!
Cornette is plenty steamed at Morgan, who is going to personally referee the Sting vs. James Storm match.
Jay Lethal and SoCal Val are relaxing in a hotel jacuzzi. Sonjay Dutt, in snorkel gear, arises from the water and hits on Val.
Elix Skipper vs. Shark Boy: Shark Boy, unfortunately, qualifies for the X-Scape match by catching Skipper with the Chummer.
Traci Brooks vs. Payton Banks: Traci is wearing a sporty top which makes her appear to be a better wrestler. Banks uses the backstabber, which James Storm also uses -- nice touch. Brooks doesn't look too bad here, hitting a double jawbreaker where she drops down to one knee and then switches to the other -- fun. She puts Banks away with a facebuster off the ropes.
After the match, Velvet Sky and Angelina Love come out to beat down Brooks -- and out come Salinas, Moore, Roxxi Laveaux, Christy Hemme -- and SHARMELL, with a leather strap that she's not afraid to use! Booker T is out, too, a little peeved that Sharmell's endangering herself like this.
Okay, Robbie McAllister's dumb-ass decisions are his own, but Tenay crowing about the trouble he's in is totally douchey.
Nice Samoa Joe training video and taped promo. Kurt's Gold medal doesn't mean sh!t!
Kurt Angle is in the ring, cutting an anti-Joe promo, but he's interrupted by Scott Steiner, who announces that he's using his Feast or Fired title shot at Sacrifice (May 11 on PPV!), giving the Lockdown winner one month to prepare.
James Storm vs. Sting: Storm unfortunately looks like no big deal here -- he has Sting on the ropes after a low blow, and then goes after Sting with his own bat, but Matt Morgan (the special referee, remember?) takes it away and tosses it -- to Sting. Morgan pointedly looks away while Sting nails Storm with the bat and then Scorpion Death Drops him for the pin.
After the match, Morgan reveals that underneath the ref shirt is a TEAM CAGE shirt! Wow, I had been assuming that the fifth member would be either Jeff Jarrett or Joel Anderson (from Survivor) -- I think I prefer this outcome.
Pretty good show this week.
--K
(edited by Karlos the Jackal on 4.4.08 0147) Last 5 movies seen: Alvin and the Chipmunks **1/2 - Persuasion (2007) **1/2 - The Mist ***1/2 - Wristcutters: A Love Story *** - Southland Tales wtf
Originally posted by Peter The HegemonYeah...they didn't mention him by name, but they promised info about it if you subscribe to the Scheme Gene Spam Your Cellphone thing.
Fixed your post for you.
"I could drown the pain, and drink upon commuter trains, and here you stand in eastern standard time" - Mike Doughty
Definitely funny that a company who was just hit with a racial discrimination lawsuit that's booked by a guy who said "I don't give a shit about a Japanese guy" is writing hilarious racist comedy for a fake Jap.
Originally posted by JustinShapiroDefinitely funny that a company who was just hit with a racial discrimination lawsuit that's booked by a guy who said "I don't give a shit about a Japanese guy" is writing hilarious racist comedy for a fake Jap.
Originally posted by JustinShapiroDefinitely funny that a company who was just hit with a racial discrimination lawsuit that's booked by a guy who said "I don't give a shit about a Japanese guy" is writing hilarious racist comedy for a fake Jap.
I've heard conflicting reports as to whether Christopher Daniels is portraying Curry Man. Now, I know he created the character, but I recall reading that it's not HIM that's actually wrestling, as he's recovering from some injuries.
Originally posted by OliverI've heard conflicting reports as to whether Christopher Daniels is portraying Curry Man. Now, I know he created the character, but I recall reading that it's not HIM that's actually wrestling, as he's recovering from some injuries.
Confirm or deny, anyone?
I'm pretty sure it's him. It even looks like him wrestling and just walking around.
Originally posted by JustinShapiroDefinitely funny that a company who was just hit with a racial discrimination lawsuit that's booked by a guy who said "I don't give a shit about a Japanese guy" is writing hilarious racist comedy for a fake Jap.
Um, "fake Jap" is not the preferred nomenclature.
I'm pretty sure it's "phony Jap"
Last 5 movies seen: Alvin and the Chipmunks **1/2 - Persuasion (2007) **1/2 - The Mist ***1/2 - Wristcutters: A Love Story *** - Southland Tales wtf
Ladies and gentlemen, the following public service message is brought to you by your friends from D-Generation X, who would like to remind each and every one of you that if you're not down with that, we've got two words for you...
Originally posted by Karlos the JackalI had been assuming that the fifth member would be either Jeff Jarrett or Joel Anderson (from Survivor) -- I think I prefer this outcome.
It probably was going to be Joel, but I imagine that the TNA people finally realized that no one would buy him in a match where he could potentially win a world title shot (assuming that Steiner cashing in for Sacrifice doesn't put the kibosh on *that* stipulation). As for Jeff, every dirt sheet in the business has said that he's happy with his behind-the-scenes role and isn't looking to go back in front of the camera anytime soon - which is a shame, because he was really effective in his short run as a babyface prior to Jill's death. So Matt Morgan it is.
The thing I *do* like about Steiner cashing it in for Sacrifice is that it adds some intrigue to the (Lethal Lockdown) match. Before that, it was pretty obvious Team Tomko would win, with AJ probably being the one to get the pin and the first crack at Joe after he (finally) beats Angle. Though now that I think about it, in all likelihood Team Tomko will still win because there's only one person on Team Cage that would be a good fit for a title match against Joe on Impact, and that's Rhino. (They have to burn it on Impact since Steiner gets the shot at Sacrifice and then it's King of the Mountain time the month after that at Slammiversary.)
smark/net attack Advisory System Status is: Elevated (Holds; June 18, 2006) While the switch from Cena to RVD should alleviate some complaints, the inevitability of the belt's return to Cena (note where Summerslam is this year) and the poor initial showing by the new ECW are enough to keep the indicator where it is for now. The pieces are in place, though, especially on RAW, for improvements to be made to the IWC's psyche in the near future.
Welcome home, men of the 2nd Bn, 127th Inf, 32d "Red Arrow" Brigade, WI Army Nat'l Guard! Good luck to those down south.
First Impact I've seen in awhile...pretty solid show.
The Jay Lethal/SoCalVal skit was shot WAAAYYY too up-close. You barely got any of Val in the 2shot (and I use the term loosely.)
On the other hand, the Samoa Joe promo was TIGHT. Joe training with UFC guys seems much more legit than friggin' Undertaker using a triangle choke on guys (see Lance Storm rant.)
Nice to see they're doing a PPV way up in Boston, though. Gives 'em more legitimacy when they travel outside Orlando.
Originally posted by JustinShapiroDefinitely funny that a company who was just hit with a racial discrimination lawsuit that's booked by a guy who said "I don't give a shit about a Japanese guy" is writing hilarious racist comedy for a fake Jap.
I hadn't heard about this, who is suing them?
I wouldn't mind Jarrett coming back again as long as he didn't mount up another posse with over half the roster.
Originally posted by JustinShapiroDefinitely funny that a company who was just hit with a racial discrimination lawsuit that's booked by a guy who said "I don't give a shit about a Japanese guy" is writing hilarious racist comedy for a fake Jap.
I hadn't heard about this, who is suing them?
I wouldn't mind Jarrett coming back again as long as he didn't mount up another posse with over half the roster.
I had completely forgotten about Morgan's suplex-to-uranage finisher. Man, is that a nice looking move. Of course, AJ is the one to eat it. If you need a heel to put over your powerhouse move, there's AJ, who also sold the Gore earlier in the show. I wonder if this will imperil his administrative role. I hope not. I enjoy the relative novelty of a main-event angle where management helps the faces.
I do not espouse the break-up of LAX, but Hernandez could be the Next Big Thing if done right. I don't think I've heard him speak a word, and he doesn't need to, Quite Frankly. I'd love to see him work against Tomko and Joe.
Curry Man might be more offensive if Daniels weren't capable of tossing out pidgin Japanese. His promo was funny, and how cool was it to see two masked wrestlers jaw at each other, much less in distinctive and entertaining gimmicks?
Neither Storm nor Sting won me over nor did the video for the long-simmering Gunn/Dogg feud. I simply can't care about this. There's a ton of tag teams already in TNA, and the latter don't have the mic skills or the verve to run with the new guys (unlike Team 3D, who are never not awesome). But as singles guy, they are simply out-dated. Neither guy has the pizazz to stand out in the singles scene. They're time is done, methinks.
(edited by Matt Tracker on 6.4.08 1148) "To be the man, you gotta beat demands." -- The Lovely Mrs. Tracker
It's actually quite frustrating how much I've enjoyed the build up for Kip/BG. They are both pretty much washed up in the ring and Kip has never been able to cut a decent promo but these pseudo shoot interview segments have been tremendous in making the rivalry actually seem important. Barring a miracle everyone knows the eventual match will be terrible but I have to praise TNA for the build up.
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