TNA True Impact No. 2: Will Lockdown Be A Letdown?

Since last Sunday, the Internet Wrestling Community, including our home right here at B/R, has been abuzz with chatter and opinions about the letdown that was WWE's Wrestlemania XXV.

Aside from the Shawn Michaels vs. Undertaker match, the entire card seemed to let people down. But if you've so much as clicked on this site since Sunday, you've no doubt seen at least 25 postings about that.

So let's get on to the real question: Will TNA be able to capitalize on the essential failure that was the 25th anniversary at the so-called "Grandest Stage of All," or will Lockdown fall into the letdown category as well?

To begin, let's take a look at what's confirmed so far (not including spoilers from recent tapings yet to air).

Eric Young vs. Danny Bonaduce

The match-up between TNA's resident comedy act and the loud-mouthed comedian has been moved to a dark match position. TNA officials reportedly believe it wouldn't fit with the serious tone of the rest of the show.

However, I would have loved to see this match. I may not have paid for the pay-per-view to solely watch this, but I thought it had potential to provide some entertainment.

At least the live crowd in Philadelphia will get to see it. And hey, I'd rather see something like this be made into a dark match than a tag team title unification match the company had been hyping for about two months, but I digress.

TNA World Heavyweight Championship Match: Sting (c) vs. Mick Foley

This match has potential. Many people may look at this match-up and see two guys beyond their prime fighting for the title, but hey, as I mentioned before Taker and HBK stole Wrestlemania, and they're both well beyond their prime.

The build-up of this match has been phenomenal, to say the least. Foley has unleashed a more psychotic side in TNA, and he and Sting have both provided some amazing promos hyping the bout. 

TNA has been teasing company founder Jeff Jarrett possibly siding with the Main Event Mafia, and it would be a possibility. It would set up for a Jarrett vs. Foley feud that could be fought more in the front office than the ring.

But I just don't see it happening. I think the TNA fans are more excited to see Jarrett continue his blood feud with Kurt Angle to than go after Mick Foley.

I expect to see Sting retain the title here. Foley doesn't seem like he wants to be in the ring enough at this point to carry the gold, which is perfectly fine as long as he carries on the amazing work he's done outside the ring since coming to TNA.

One fear with the build-up of this match could be that it won't live up to the hype (a la HHH vs. Randy Orton at WM 25). But rest assured, both these men will pull out all the stops to put on a great match.

TNA World Tag Team and IWGP World Tag Team Championships Match: Team 3D (IWGP champs) vs. Beer Money Inc. (TNA champs)

This match could be the show stealer. It has a boatload of potential, and the build-up has been pretty good with Beer Money beginning to show respect to Team 3D.

Both teams will work hard to make this a memorable match, especially Team 3D because of the show being in Philly, home of the original ECW.

There are two equally possible outcomes of this match, in my opinion.

One has Team 3D walking away with both championships. The Philly crowd will go completely insane if this happens, and it would be a truly remarkable site to see. Team 3D (likely joined by several ECW originals) hoisting the belts high as the crowd chants "E-C-W! E-C-W!"

The other option is some kind of oddball finish that sees both teams retain their respective titles, or possibly even switch them. Both teams could go for the pin at the exact same time and both earn three-counts.

James Storm and Robert Roode have been great champions and should continue to hold the belts, but Team 3D deserves to be recognized in Philly. I say let them both shine, but I'm not sure things will play out that way. 

Some of the actions of late hint at a possible Beer Money face turn, which makes sense because they are arguably the most over tag team with the fans, but TNA needs the cheating, cocky heels to stick around and keep the gold.

Lethal Lockdown: Team Angle (Kurt Angle, Scott Steiner, Booker T, and Kevin Nash) vs. Team Jarrett (Jeff Jarrett, Samoa Joe, A.J. Styles and TBA)

This is the only hint of spoilers you'll find here: The fourth member of Jarrett's team will be an awesome addition and will have the fans excited. But that's all I'm saying about that.

Jarrett and Angle have been engaged in an on-going, heated rivalry that's been drawn out rather than spilling all the beans at once. It has had tremendous build, and the Lethal Lockdown might start the next chapter.

Samoa Joe and his new "Nation of Violence" routine has attacked Steiner and Sharmell, Booker's wife, in recent weeks. Putting the three of those guys in the ring should be good, as they're all good with in-ring storytelling.

Styles also stripped Booker of his Legends Title, which helps promote in-ring action between those two.

Kevin Nash really seems to be the odd man out, aside from his role as a member of the Main Event Mafia. Jarrett's other teammate will fit into the overall storyline nicely, and it will be interesting to see how it plays out.

This match will be solid, but it likely won't be a match of the night winner.

Xscape Match for the X-Division Title: Suicide (c) vs. Jay Lethal vs. Consequences Creed vs. Sheik Abdul Bashir vs. Kiyoshi

Expect this match to be filled with high spots and fast-paced action.

Lethal and Consequences, who often act as the tag team of Lethal Consequences, have the obvious advantage of being partners. However, I don't expect either of them to walk out with the gold.

This match is going to Suicide, who will retain his title. As said before, expect a lot of excitement in this match.

Doomsday Chamber of Blood Match: Abyss vs. Matt Morgan

With a match name like that, we can only hope this will be the end of the Abyss and Morgan feud.

The duo started as an oddball tag team, before Morgan turned into the narcissistic heel and attacked his partner.

Now, Abyss is visiting with his "therapist" Dr. Stevie (Richards). This feud has run its course, and this should be the capstone match, putting the final nail in the coffin.

Morgan has a huge future ahead of him. He needs the win in this match, and the feud, to carry him on to bigger things. Therefore, I see Morgan walking out of this match the winner, beating Abyss despite interference from Richards. 

After this, Morgan should be elevated to a more prominent opponent (nothing against Abyss, his status in the company rankings just isn't very high right now). Maybe a feud with A.J. Styles could be in the works.

Expect Morgan to win and the feud to come to a merciful end.

TNA Knockouts Title Match: Awesome Kong (c) vs. Angelina Love vs. Taylor Wilde

Awesome Kong's babyface turn could be the key to determining how this match will play out.

TNA may decide to keep the belt on her and have her as the babyface champion. Kong wouldn't fit the role of the face chasing the belt well, but she could be the fan-supported dominant face.

In a future column, I'll write more about Kong's face turn.

The other option would be to have Raisha Saeed turn on Kong during the match and cost her the title. They could then have a short fued before Kong decimates Saeed in a "Loser Leaves the USA" match, where the loser has to return to Japan (or wherever they say they trained and/or lived).

This would allow Saeed to become Cheerleader Melissa and pretend Saeed never existed, much to the pleasure of many TNA fans.

I'm really mixed on this one, and this would be a good place for TNA to throw a curveball at the fans. Taylor has a pretty stale run as champ, Kong needs to be developed as a fan and Love has been regaining some lost stock in recent weeks.

No predictions here. Anything is possible with TNA, and especially the Knockouts.

Queen of the Cage: ODB vs. Daffney vs. Madison Rayne vs. Sojourner Bolt

Of the four competitors in this match, Rayne and Daffney have been getting the biggest pushes lately. Rayne aligned herself with the Beautiful People and Daffney revealed herself after being saddled with the lame Gov. Sarah Palin gimmick.

ODB has been partnered up with Cody Deaner, which puts her in less of a serious title contender role. And Bolt hasn't connected with the crowd or done anything surprisingly wonderful.

Bottom line, expect either Rayne or Daffney to win. Right now, I would put my money on Rayne earning the honor and cutting Daffney's hair after the match.

I really hope this whole hair cutting routine will help set up for a second Makeover Battle Royale at Sacrifice in May.

On an interesting side note, when I interviewed ODB in October, I asked about the knockouts stepping up and competing in cage matches and ladder matches. She said she's not a huge fan of these type matches, as the women are meant to be the "T and A" of TNA.

IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Title Match: Motor City Machineguns (Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin) (c) vs. LAX (Homicide and Hernandez) vs. No Limit (Naito and Yujiro)

LAX seems out of place in this match, if you ask me.

MCMG and No Limit should be duking it out over the belts by themselves. Sabin and Shelley won the belts in Japan, and they will now be defending on their home turf.

A feud between these two teams should develop more before No Limit takes back the gold that belongs to them. Hopefully, though, they will get a bit of a rub from being in the ring with two of the most popular teams in TNA.

Expect the Guns to retain in a match featuring some amazing spots.

Will Lockdown be a Letdown?

With this much of a stellar line-up, it's hard to imagine Lockdown will fail to impress and please the fans.

TNA has declared Lockdown as one of its primary pay-per-views of the year, and therefore, expect them to pull out the stops.

You'd also better believe TNA officials know how letdown fans were with Wrestlemania and recognize their ability to capitalize by putting on an amazing Lockdown.

Expect greatness when TNA's top stars enter the six sides of steel April 19.