By Jason Powell

Join me for live coverage of the TNA Lockdown pay-per-view beginning at 7:00 p.m. CT. Dot Net Members will be listening to the exclusive audio review that Chris Shore and I will be recording later tonight. Join us on the ad-free version of the website by signing up for membership now via Dot Net Members' Signup Page.

First, a moment of silence for the TNA Against All Odds pay-per-view that normally would have been held in February. I'll never forget that historic moment during that one Against All Odds show when, um, never mind.

TNA had an extra month to build up to Lockdown thanks to the company scaling back to four annual live pay-per-view events. As good of a move as this is for the company, unfortunately, they failed to make Lockdown feel even the slightest bit more special. I am looking forward to the top two matches, but too much of this card looks like filler rather than the product of extra television time that gave creative time to tell compelling stories for every match on the show.

Jeff Hardy vs. Bully Ray for the TNA Title: This has to be the night. The long wait for Bully Ray to reveal that he's the Aces & 8's president finally plays out tonight and peaks with him capturing his first world title. If so, I really hope they have a good explanation for why Ray has fought Aces & 8's members in the past. I don't mind a lengthy storyline, but I also want to feel like it was logical and thus a worthy time investment, not something that conflicts with past storylines. I'm also hoping that Ray, Matt Morgan, DOC, and Knox beat the holy hell out of the other Aces & 8's members and whittle this group down to a group of strong players rather than the waterlogged mess that it is now. Hey, I can dream. The idea of two guys who are supposed to be babyfaces facing off inside a cage feels ass backwards, but I do expect a strong match and I really do believe this is the night we finally get the big Ray turn.

Prediction: Bully Ray wins the TNA Title.

Sting, Magnus, Samoa Joe, James Storm, and Eric Young vs. Devon, Mr. Anderson, DOC, Garett Bischoff, and Knox in a Lethal Lockdown match: If Ray does win the title, then I'm hopeful that this will be an Empire Strikes Back type of show designed to put heat on the heels. Lord knows the sad ass Aces & 8's group needs the win. The Aces seemed to hint that Sting may have a team member he can't trust. I may have been a psychological tactic. After all, it's not like Aces & 8's needs more members. If someone does turn then my guess is that it's Young. I'm hopeful that no one will turn, though, and that the person who loses the match for Aces & 8's will find himself out of the club.

Prediction: Team TNA wins.

Kurt Angle vs. Wes Brisco: Could this be more whittling? Perhaps Angle wins the match and Brisco is punished by being tossed out of the group. I doubt that's the case. My guess is that Angle is hellbent on getting a memorable cage match out of Brisco and elevating him in the process. I don't have a strong feeling about the outcome, but Angle winning clean just seems too obvious.

Prediction: Wes Brisco wins after angle misses a moonsault off the cage.

Bobby Roode and Austin Aries vs. Daniels and Kazarian vs. Hernandez and Chavo Guerrero in a three-way for the TNA Tag Titles: Roode's contract mess has been resolved. He and Aries just captured the tag straps during the England taping, so one can only assume they won't drop the belts here. This looks like a fun match on paper, though I must admit that I am looking forward to the straight up Roode and Aries vs. Bad Influence match more.

Prediction: Aries and Roode retain the tag titles.

Velvet Sky vs. Gail Kim for the TNA Knockouts Title: The build for this match was more about Kim's issues with referee Taryn Terrell than it was about Kim having issues with Sky. Kim and Terrell are headed toward a match and they don't need the title belt.

Prediction: Velvet Sky retains the TNA Knockouts Title.

Kenny King vs. Zema Ion vs. Christian York for the X Division Title: There was a time when TNA pay-per-views would open with all of the X Division wrestlers crammed into a silly gimmick match. These days, the division is so light on bodies that the "get all the X guys on the show" gimmick match is nothing more than a three-way. Okay, so Rob Van Dam is technically an X Division guy even though he never felt like one. Still, it's time for that annual speech from a high ranking TNA official assuring fans that the company is placing a renewed emphasis on the division. Ion is the best thing going in the division, but King is good and just won the strap, so I doubt we'll see a title change.

Prediction: Kenny King retains the X Division Title.

Joseph Park vs. Joey Ryan: This match does not jump off the page as Park and Ryan doesn't really have an issue to fight over. It could actually be a lot of fun as Park is a riot and the silliness of Ryan's fun character should complement Park well. Barring a Matt Morgan run-in, Park gets the win.

Prediction: Joseph Park wins.

Robbie E vs. Robbie T: Another comedy match. I am curious to see whether Robbie T's undercard popularity exists beyond England and the Impact Zone. Robbie E plays his part very well and continues to be a good undercard act. I may be over thinking this but I can't rule out a Robbie E win since I suspect this feud is just getting started. However, I'll go with T getting the win and E getting his heat back with either a post match attack or an attack on Impact.

Prediction: Robbie T wins.

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