By Ryan Kester

Aces and Eights

What? Really? D-Lo? Wow, the hits keeps coming for Aces and Eights. D-Lo simply hasn't been involved enough with the TNA on-screen product to warrant a place at the top of the heel group, and I don't see what he can offer the group as a whole.

Aces and Eights feels like a joke at this point. I don't mean to be so blunt with the whole thing, but it really seems like TNA is doing their best to undermine the importance of the faction while simultaneously calling it dominant and hoping it will help sell the PPV. I'm at a complete loss to why TNA has taken a faction that's been built up for so many months in this direction. As a fan of the product, it's frustrating to see something get dragged on so long that it loses its value and I am ready to see TNA move on.

Bully Ray and Jeff Hardy

Once again, I am left feeling that Bully Ray must be returning to his heel role at Lockdown. If it comes to pass, it should make for a great moment, but the build for the PPV has been hurt in the process. TNA has laid the respect angle so thick that the match lacks any sort of edge that makes me feel like it's worth my money to see these two men fight.

Things would be considerably different if this match was billed as a showdown between two of TNA's absolute best and if Lockdown was treated like a proper event, but for me, TNA failed on both fronts.

Gut Check
Tapa Lei'D get the nod over Ivelise, but as I wanted TNA to find a way to sign both women on the active roster I can't complain. Lei'D has a lot going for her physically and she impressed me well enough in her Gut Check judging promo.

I do hope Ivelise gets on TNA television sooner rather than later. She could really add a great dynamic to the Knockouts division and I'd be thrilled to see more from her and Tapa down the line.

Overall Show

TNA made some strides last night in their build towards Lockdown, but for me it was too little too late. Aces and Eights till doesn't feel like a threat, and while I see a turn coming from Bully Ray, the babyface vs. babyface build hasn't been hot enough to feel like an event. In fact, that feeling extends to the entirety of the Lockdown build we received and it's the last thing I should be feeling about a show with a company that's down to a four PPV a year model. I hope they start to turn things around when they go on the road.

If you have any questions or comments or just wish to chat with a fellow wrestling fan about whatever, then feel free to email me at ryan.kester@gmail.com or follow me on Twitter.

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