Lockdown 2012: A Deep Cage Card Built Around Roode-Storm and Hardy-Angle

Team Garett (A.J. Styles, Austin Aries, Garett Bischoff, Mr. Anderson and Rob Van Dam) defeated Team Eric (Bully Ray, Christopher Daniels, Eric Bischoff, Gunner and Kazarian). This is match 1 of 8 at Lockdown 2012, a lethal lockdown match since team garett won, eric had to leave tna and renounce his name had team eric won, garett would have had to leave tna that runs 25:59. Opening with Lethal Lockdown is an aggressive structural choice, but the nearly twenty-six-minute team match has the scale, stipulation and storyline consequence to justify that placement. This is a major strength of the card, with the time, placement and consequence expected from a featured pay-per-view attraction. The placement also matters: an early bout should create momentum, while a later one has to justify the attention the card has saved for it. Here, the result, stakes and time allocation combine into a 8.5 score. That grade reflects what the match contributes to this specific event rather than an outside star rating or reputation.

Samoa Joe and Magnus defended the TNA World Tag Team Championship against Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin inside Lockdown steel cage. The Motor City Machine Guns gained early momentum through quick tags and double-team kicks, then found themselves isolated when Magnus caught Sabin and threw him against Shelley with a fallaway slam. Joe and Magnus trapped Sabin away from his partner until Sabin countered Joe into a tornado DDT and finally tagged Shelley. The Guns hit Sliced Bread on Magnus and nearly won the match, but Joe broke the cover before the referee could count three.

Late in the contest Joe trapped Sabin in the Coquina Clutch while Shelley attacked Magnus, forcing Joe to abandon the hold and interrupt another pin. Magnus blocked a final Sliced Bread attempt and dropped Shelley with a Michinoku Driver. Joe then used a snapmare to put Sabin in place for Magnus top-rope elbow drop, producing the deciding fall and keeping both championships with Joe and Magnus. The B+ (8.0) credits intricate tag positioning and counters rather than a generic cage spectacle. It was a pinfall defense inside the cage, not an escape win.

Devon defended the Television Championship against Robbie E in the steel cage, while Robbie T supported his ally from ringside. Robbie T's early interference let the challenger control a portion of a very short match. Devon regained his footing when Robbie E tried to climb the turnbuckle; the champion shook the rope and forced Robbie to adjust. A shoulder block and clothesline brought the champion back into control.

Devon hit a spinebuster to pin Robbie E in 3:23 and retain. Robbie T attacked Devon afterward, an angle occurring after the official decision rather than another contest outcome. C- (5.8) reflects a complete but abbreviated defense whose finish was earned without much opportunity to exploit the cage stipulation.

Gail Kim defended the Knockouts Championship against Velvet Sky in the cage, with Madison Rayne nearby. Kim used a high knee and missile dropkick to counter Sky's early rollups, then slowed the challenger with a backbreaker hold. Sky recovered with a headscissors, bulldog and a sunset flip from the corner, forcing the champion to reach the bottom rope to prevent the count.

Madison distracted Sky late in the match. Sky attempted another rollup, but Kim reversed it and held the tights for a three count at 7:24. The champion retained through a controversial cover, not a victory by cage escape. C+ (6.6) credits the near falls and title stakes while recognizing that the outside distraction prevented a decisive finish on merit.

Crimson faced Matt Morgan inside the cage with his unbeaten streak intact. Morgan dominated early and could have won by walking through the open door, but returned to the ring to continue the dispute with his former partner. Crimson recovered with a spinebuster and attempted to escape as Morgan pursued him. A second opportunity for Morgan was lost when he failed to land a corner boot.

Morgan became entangled in the ropes during an attempted counter and slipped while following Crimson near the top of the cage. Crimson climbed down the outside and won by escape at 7:58. The C (6.2) captures a short but coherent conclusion driven by Morgan's choice to seek revenge instead of taking the win. There was no pinfall.

Jeff Hardy faced Kurt Angle inside the cage in a highly competitive singles rematch. Angle controlled the first phase by sending Hardy toward the fencing; Hardy fought back with Whisper in the Wind. Angle countered an attempted climb with an Angle Slam from the ropes. They exchanged ankle-lock attempts before Hardy tried the Twist of Fate and consecutive Swanton Bombs, neither of which ended the contest.

After Angle survived the earlier attempts, Hardy climbed to the very top of the cage and delivered a final Swanton Bomb from above the ring. He pinned Angle at 14:50. The A- (8.7) credits an escalating series of near falls, an unambiguous pinfall and a high-risk closing sequence. Hardy did not leave the cage to win; the finish was the final dive and cover.

Eric Young and ODB defended the Knockouts Tag Team Championship against Sarita and Rosita in a short steel-cage contest that emphasized the champions strange partnership. ODB took control of the opening exchanges and backed Sarita into the corner. Rosita jumped onto her back, but Sarita accidentally struck her own partner while attempting a clothesline. Eric Young spent part of his ring time pretending to officiate instead of focusing on the opposing team, adding comedy to a bout where the cage and title were supposed to create urgency.

Sarita and Rosita gained a temporary two-on-one opening against ODB and tried to distract Young, but the champions regrouped. ODB drank from her flask, charged back into the challengers and secured the winning fall for her team. The result was a successful defense, not a title change or a singles match; Young and ODB were the champions entering and leaving. The C- (5.8) suits a brief match whose odd comedy and hurried finish overshadowed the wrestling. A skim is sufficient to understand how the champion team retained.

Bobby Roode defended the TNA World Heavyweight Championship against former Beer Money partner James Storm inside the steel cage in Nashville, with Storm entering to a crowd eager to see him take the title. Their fight began outside the cage before the bell and included steel steps, a collision with the cage wall and a battered, bleeding Storm. Inside, Roode targeted Storm while the challenger fought back and repeatedly prevented the champion from crawling toward the open door. Storm hit the Last Call superkick but accidentally struck referee Earl Hebner during the scramble, interrupting a potential finish.

Roode used a beer bottle against Storm, yet the challenger kicked out and hit another superkick. The final strike landed cleanly enough to knock Roode backward and through the open cage door onto the floor. Under cage escape rules, Roode touching down outside first made him the winner and allowed him to retain, even though Storm had delivered the decisive blow. The A- (8.5) recognizes the personal rivalry and tragic irony of Storm helping his former partner escape. It was not a normal pinfall victory or a voluntary walkout.