TNA Lockdown: Redemption Inside the Steel Cage 

This PPV had an enormous amount of hype and attention surrounding it. No matter how things played out, it felt like a major win for TNA Wrestling.  

First match was a dark match even before the free countdown pre-show. We had Joe Alonzo vs. The Hometown Man with Alonzo defending his AAW Heavyweight Championship. This match was created during the week on social media by Santino Marella. The stipulation was if Alonzo wins the match, he will be given a TNA contract.  

Alonzo won by removing Hometown Man mask and got the heel win to capture his TNA contract and defend his AAW title.  

The Righteous vs. BDE & Rich Swann 

The build up to this match has been interesting and I feel there will be more to this after this match. The size difference between were obvious and a big advantage for Vincent and Dutch. It did not take long for The Righteous to use that physical advantage. The pace eventually slowed and all four men gave everything they could to exaggerate the crowd and eventually Swann received the hot tag, but Righteous were able to win. 

Special Agent 0 vs. Trey Miguel 

The final pre-show match saw technical high-flyer vs. Tall Powerhouse. The perfect combo match-up. Miguel Spiderman attire was awesome to see as a Marvel nerd fan. During this match, I did notice the TNA ring was smaller than WWEs and after noticing I could not stop noticing. I did notice in the 2 matches that the crowd was lacklustre. Special Agent 0 put in some offence, but Miguel ended up scoring the win with a similar victory roll pin. 

A.J Francis vs. Elijah  

The cage made its way down and here we go! 

AJ got the first shot in with a jumping knee. Elijah recovered enough to have a full big offence attack on Francis. Elijah made a mistake and Francis recovered from the attacks by throwing Elijah into the cage. This match then began starting back and forth with both men hitting some big impactful moves. Elijah was about to capture the win until Expressions interfered and saved Francis. Elijah took his eyes off the ball and that allowed Francis to hit his finisher for the win. The standout moment for me in this match were Elijah hitting the powerbomb while AJ was on top rope.  

Allie & Kiera Hogan vs. The Elegance Brand 

The build up to this match was getting interesting until confirmation that Rosemary was out of the match due to injury. Allie had to find a new tag team partner to defend the Knockout tag team championships. The mystery partner was the newly resigned knockout, Kiera Hogan. Remember Hogan is a former Knockout tag champion also. This match was normal tag rules which was confusing as the main event is tornado rules.  

Allie had full control right away but after a brief exchange she allowed Kiera Hogan into the ring to allow that star to shine. The newly defeated Mr. Elegance distracted the champions by climbing on the outside of the cage so Heather and M can capitalise. This match had remarkably high energy and you can tell all four wanted to give it a great showing. A crazy moment was Heather being small enough to crawl through the cage and collect some handcuffs that she used to keep Allie handcuffed onto the cage wall. Hogan managed to collect the pinfall and help Allie retain the championships. This match was fun but as many fans stated online, this match would have been the same cage or not. Still a fun great match and what will happen to Rosemary and Allie?? 

Moose vs. Frankie Kazarian  

The next match was an Escape the Cage only between two big egos in TNA. Start off the bat, Kaz tried to escape the cage numerous times, but Moose kept bringing him back in as Moose wanted to give out some punishment. Moose had a chance earlier on to escape the cage through the door, but he chose to lock it. This match-up began to go all in favour of Moose and it looked very one-sided. Moose began escaping when Kaz gave him the bird twice and that made Moose angry enough to come back and that is when it all turned around.  

I enjoyed this storyline and a lot of fans criticised it by saying the feud did not have the intensity this should have had. The match had some good moments, but the flow was obvious that it did not go well. However, the last few mins were where the fire began, and both found their feet. Both men had close calls, but it was Kaz that collected the win when Moose knocked him through the door for the win. This match had some good points but thankfully this was on PPV as I heard Moose use a hell lot of F-bombs (I do not mind it). 

Xia Brookside vs. Elayna Black 

The Knockout championship was on the line with this Heel vs. Heel match. However, with it being in Chicago, the hometown girl Elayna Black was defiantly the big babyface. Xia has talked numerous heel posts on social media and Xia was giving it full barrels before the match up to the crowd and Black. The pace was terribly slow than expected as both women seized each other out. Both women went back and forth slowly but once Black were busted open, Brookside started punishing her by using a belt buckle to dig into the wound on her head. It made things more brutal, and it was brilliant. Seeing knockouts bleeding made it nostalgia from previous Knockout matches in the past. The blood made it violent, and both women clearly wanted this match to be a memorable encounter and they succeeded. Brookside got the pin, but both women put on a great battle, and I would love to a rematch. Black had a Skye Blue moment, and I hope she carries this on.  

Jason Hotch vs. Mustafa Ali 

This match could not be more personal than it was. Hotch put his International Championship on the line for his first defence. Hotch wasted no time in attacking the man who made his kids and wife life a living hell for the past few weeks. Ali tried to avoid him, but he ended catching his feet in the cage and that allowed Hotch whoop his ass with multiple superkicks.  

Straight off the bat this match became the most exciting so far. Hotch and Ali brought the aggression and intensity. It took time but Ali eventually hit an offence in a DDT and turn the match into his favour. Agent 0 took the key from the referee and opened the door for his boss; however, Tasha Steelz closed it in his face. Hotch gave us a moment of the year with a crossbody off the top of the cage onto Ali through the announcers table. After this spot, Hotch looked like he was bleeding from the mouth after this. Ali decided to be the biggest A-hole in the building by taking a toy from Hotch’s daughter at ringside and try to set it on fire before Hotch interfered and stop Ali. Ali eventually won the match to reclaim his international title, but his actions may have a lot of consequences in the upcoming TNA iMPACT shows. 

Cedric Alexander vs. Leon Slater 

Everyone knew this match would be a show stealer, but the stipulation is still the weirdest and unusual. The X Division Championship was on the line and so was Leon Slater record breaking X Division Championship reign. As the bell rang, both men started trading shots and that continued for quite a long time. Slater gained control with a couple of running kicks and a beautiful hurricanrana. 

Slater began bleeding from the head after a while, and it really stood out against Alexander all out white gear. As the match was a Last Man Standing match in the cage, they never attempted with pinfalls. This match was difficult to follow the previous match of Hotch vs. Ali but both men gave it an amazing shot. Two talented wrestlers and could be future world champions. Slater stole Alexander’s finisher and hit three-time Lumbar Checks in a row before hitting his 450 Swanton finisher for Alexander to be unable to answer the ten-count. Slater finally gets his X-Division championship back but there is more to the story later.  

Avery Styles has signed with TNA Wrestling. He annouced the news in front of the crowd by entrance way with being interviewed by Gia Miller. Kaz appeared and said Styles can trust him. Avery had a lot of eyes on him since the GCW dues situation. Already with the announcement, many heel wrestlers went to social media to use the “pay his dues” content. Avery will be a massive asset for TNA, and I cannot wait to see how he gets on. 

The System vs. Aichner, Navarro, Sosa & Stone  

A chaotic eight-person Lethal Lockdown match was a standout on this PPV. New competitor enters the ring every two minutes and once everyone is inside, weapons become available to use. You cannot win until everyone enters the ring. Think Wargames with the dial turned up. The System had the advantage with the entries and as the heels usually does, they had multiple opportunities in their advantage. When everyone was in the ring you could tell how small the ring was and it felt overcrowded. Both teams made beneficial use of the weapons and blood was on the menu in this match. The match had good moments but the finish with Eddie Edwards hitting a Package Piledriver on to the numerous chairs for the win. It is always fun to watch to a Lethal Lockdown, and this match matched it with its violent showdown.  

The Hardys vs. The Nemeths 

Nic & Ryan Nemeth tried to escape the cage even though that is not the path of winning in these rules. All four men gave a great showing of their ability and produced a fun match. Weapons were brought into the match, and it took an exceptionally long time for them to be used such as a table. Matt Hardy did a flying elbow onto Ryan Nemeth to put him through the table from the cage wall. However, that did not get the win for The Hardys. The TNA World Champion manage to hit his finisher on Matt Hardy for the win and at this moment the crowd went silence and many were heard saying WTF. This match made many with a foul taste in many fans mouth. I do believe it was more shock and unexpected win for The Nemeth's. This win means Nic is now a double champion for the first time in 20 years in TNA Wrestling.  

After the match, Slater came out and said his legacy has been cemented, and he has one more goal. He has challenged Nic Nemeth to a World Title match at Bound for Glory by using the Option C choice that he has with being the X Division Champion. Slater handed the belt to Carlos Silva and looks like it is confirmed.  

The Lockdown PPV for me was redemption for TNA since revamping many divisions. Some of the matches were a little hit and miss but everyone on this card gave it their all and as a fan you can see it. The future of TNA looks promising and with Bound for Glory in the upcoming distance, I believe there will be shocks, turns, and blood. Great showing by TNA and I give it an A- Rating.