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Final Thoughts:
As with the WWE, there are some good things and some bad things. Topping the good are names like Bobby Roode, Austin Aries, James Storm, Kurt Angle, Sting, Bully Ray, and the Knockouts Division in general. Also, that Hulk Hogan was only on screen once the entire month.
Topping the bad is their production style (which I got used to, but still don't like), Garrett Bischoff, some of their booking, and Jeff Hardy. Hardy isn't being terrible or anything, but I just find it so ridiculous that he RUINED a main event PPV match, screwing everybody over.... and he comes back and is rewarded by being put right back in as a main event guy and being presented by the commentators as being an inspiring role model.
Now, let us examine how they did in creating hype for their PPV. Let's take a look at...
VICTORY ROAD
Television Champion Robbie E issues an Open Challenge
VERDICT: Pretty much no hype or buildup. Their Television champ was barely on TV, and when he was did nothing but annoy me with his gimmick. I don't know who is going to answer his challenge... and I really don't care. Especially if it turns out to be Garrett Bischoff. Or Rob Van Dam.
Knockouts Championship: Gail Kim(c) vs. Madison Rayne
VERDICT: Looking forward to this one. Don't know the backstory, but at the beginning of the month they seemed like BFFs. Throughout the month their competitiveness and one-upswomanship cost them the Tag Titles, and now they must fight each other. Even though this one is heel vs. heel, I am much interested in it. Certainly more than I have for a WWE Woman's match in years and years.
X-Division Championship: Austin Aries(c) vs. Zema Ion
VERDICT: Zema seems like he is not even on Aries' level. In fact, none of the X-Division people that I have seen seem to be on his level. A heel vs. heel match, but Aries I guess is not "as heel" or something for this "feud". They fought two weeks ago for free and Zema won by DQ. It should be an OK match if Aries doesn't get crippled, but in the end they just seem on different levels and an Aries win is inevitable.
Tag Team Championship: Samoa Joe & Magnus(c) vs. Crimson & Matt Morgan
VERDICT: From the build up, it should be a fun brawling type match... which we already saw in Week 2 for free. But here they are with another rematch.... which really just feels like a stage for the inevitable Crimson/Morgan breakup and brawl. So another match where the victor is pretty much guaranteed unless they want to reeeeeally milk out the breakup and give them the titles again.
AJ Styles & Mr Anderson vs. Christopher Daniels & Frankie Kazarian
VERDICT: I like all of these guys ok (somewhat less in Anderson's case), but this whole angle... I dunno. It just feels like a holding pattern for all of these guys. I don't know who is going to win this one for sure, but it seems like it won't really matter or solve anything.
Kurt Angle vs. Jeff Hardy
VERDICT: Pretty much the most basic buildup/feud you could possibly have. I have already explained my viewpoint of Jeff Hardy.... but I also have a blind love for anything Kurt Angle does. So this one kind of evens out.
James Storm vs. Bully Ray
VERDICT: Should be a good match, but the booking of it was all WRONG. We saw it in Week 1 for the #1 contendership and Storm won. Bully then continues to go after him and promises he won't make it to Lockdown. So all in all... this match is less important and critical then the one they had on TV, because win, lose, or draw, Storm still goes onto Lockdown. They really should have either had the #1 Contendership match on the PPV, or at least officially put it on the line again.
No Holds Barred: Bobby Roode vs. Sting
VERDICT: Actually pretty hyped for this and want to see it.
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