TNA Lockdown preview

Read on for how I'd book tonight's Lockdown event.
On the pre-show, announce that one of the main referees has the flu or something and they're using a replacement ref tonight (hiring someone from a local indie promotion to fill the role).

Also on the pre-show, have interviews from the major players (Sting, Devon, Bully, Hardy, Angle) to sell the show. Sting and Devon put over their teams as serious contenders (keeping in mind that there are likely people in attendance who aren't familiar with some of the TNA Originals).

Tara and Jesse come out on the pre-show and berate Texas, saying that they're Hollywood stars and this is a flyover state, etc.. This brings out Miss Tessmacher, who gets the win over Tara to warm the crowd up. This match would be the time to introduce the new ref (having him officiate this match).

Hogan comes out to end the pre-show by putting over the matches on the card.

As for the actual show, the first match is Joey Ryan vs. Joseph Park. Park comes to the ring and does the whole "how are you guys tonight?" shtick and how it's good to be in San Antonio, etc.. Ryan comes out to shut him up. This match is basically the Hulk Hogan formula of Ryan beating Park down, then Park rallying and winning via Black Hole Slam.

Robbie T beats Robbie E. T is basically Ryback in this match, hitting big clotheslines that turn E inside out and not being affected by some of E's offense. After he wins the match, he goes to the outside of the ring to be interviewed by Christy Hemme. She asks something to the tune of "Robbie T, how did it feel to beat Robbie E?" to which T replies that he's no longer "Robbie T", but Rob Terry. Robbie E then smashes "the list" over his head, knocking him out cold. Feud continues.

Velvet and Gail get to show what the Knockouts Division is all about, i.e. they're not just eye-candy. Velvet wins a solid match that the announcers put over.

Bad Influence and the team of Chavo and Hernandez give Aries and Roode a run for their money in the tag team title match. It looks like either team has a chance to take the gold, but Aries and Roode outsmart them and walk away with the titles.

Similar to the Knockouts Title match, King, Ion, and York get a chance to show what the X-Division is made of. King wins. The point is to win people over to watching the X-Division (since these three guys aren't especially well-known and there's likely a good part of the live audience who has never seen them).

Brisco vs. Angle is treated as a major grudge match. This match also features the new ref. Angle and Brisco stare each other down in opposite corners before they lock up. Brisco tries to get in Angle's head, spitting at him and hiding in the ropes so the ref has to back Angle off, etc.. I'd even have him do some of Kurt's signature German suplexes. Eventually he puts Angle in the ankle lock. Angle grabs the ropes and the referee backs Wes off. Angle gets up upset and charges Wes. Wes throws the referee towards Angle, who inadvertently tackles him. As Angle checks on the ref, an Aces and Eights member slips Wes a hammer, which he uses to KO Angle and win the match.

Lethal Lockdown also features the new ref. We have a war between the two sides. Eventually, someone from Aces and Eights has a pinfall on someone and the new ref counts a quick count. Tenay questions this as Aces and Eights celebrate. D'Lo comes down to the ring with a wad of cash to hand to the ref, exposing the con. Tenay is livid and Taz is ecstatic.

The main event (which doesn't feature the new ref) is about two guys who really respect each other. They give each other credit for almost having the match won, etc.. (Example, Hardy catches Ray with a roll-up out of nowhere for two, and once Ray gets up he claps for Hardy). Hardy wins a hard-fought match, and shakes hands with Bully Ray. Aces and Eights appear at the top of the ramp and declare that now that they've beaten Sting's team, they're going after the TNA Title. They eventually kidnap Brooke Hogan (Brooke Ray?) to get in Hardy and Ray's heads (Hardy and Ray stand side-by-side against them).

More wrestling tomorrow.