[Lockdown] Sting (C) v. Mr. Anderson v. RVD [TNA World Heavyweight Championship]

[UFOcalling]

After seeing Impact last night, almost everyone's suspicions were confirmed...it's going to be a triple-threat at Lockdown for the heavyweight title. There has also been a lot of speculation (on many different threads here on WZ) about whether or not Anderson will turn heel at Lockdown, joining Immortal.

When I was watching Impact last night, it started to look more and more like RVD would be the one to join Immortal at Lockdown (if someone from this match were to turn full-fledged heel). This is just my opinion, I might be way off here.

I guess the seeds for a RVD heel-turn were subconsciously planted in my head last week when RVD was talking about how much he respects Hogan's opinion(s)...Didn't RVD say that the reason he finally signed with TNA was because of the phone call from Hogan? Seeing RVD say all that last week didn't really make me think he would turn, but after Impact yesterday it seems like that might have been a clue.

Don't get me wrong, I don't want to see anyone turn at Lockdown...but like a lot of people are thinking that someone will (and most are thinking it will be Anderson). The main reason why I can see someone aligning themselves with Immortal (if anyone does) is because this whole match is becoming waaaaay too similar to the build TNA did for BFG 2010 (when Jeff Hardy was revealed to be part of "they"). The only main difference is there isn't a "they" this time (no promises that something nutty will happen at Lockdown).

Obviously Immortal needs a Main-Eventer in the group to go after the World Title, and Jeff Hardy's gonna be out for a while (if not out for good). I don't know how much faith Hulk & Eric have in Bully Ray or Matt Hardy to fill that role, either. I could see them turning someone involved in the match, and if it were to happen I would see it being RVD (more so than Sting or Anderson).

It seems like Anderson would be too obvious of a choice to turn heel, but it feels like Impact has been trying to make us think that over the past month or so. Many people have pointed out that Anderson is acting more like a heel lately, etc.

If the past is anything to go on, we know that Russo, Hogan & Bischoff love to "swerve" the internet smarks. It just seems likely to me that this is what they would do. If this is BFG all over again, RVD would be the most "shocking" character to turn...just like Jeff Hardy, he's been a face for so long that it might rock the wrestling world! Lol! The irony, or catch22 of it is that since RVD seems like the most UNlikely to turn heel -- he seems the most likely to turn heel...basically a carbon-copy of the main event from BFG 2010. Does that make sense? ...just another way for them to copy the Bash at the Beach storyline when Hogan joined the nWo. Remember that they did something similar when they had Bret Hart join nWo2000, and Goldberg join "New Blood" (or whatever it was called) in WCW. Obviously they love to have the most unlikely guy turn heel.

I might be way off, and like I mentioned before...I hope that no one turns at all. It's far too early for Immortal to pull a swerve like this again, after they did it with Jeff six months ago at BFG. Maybe TNA creative realizes that the fans are sniffing a heel turn during the main event at Lockdown, so they won't have it happen at all (I hope that's what happens).

A lot of people could argue that RVD was carved up by Abyss to lose the title in the first place, so why would he join Immortal? TNA creative could easily say that all of that was a huge "work" (or something lame like that), and RVD as Immortal's main guy was the plan all along. Like RVD said last week, Hogan was the guy who convinced RVD to come to TNA, blah blah blah. It would be super-lame, but it seems more likely than an Anderson-turn.

There's always the possibility that Sting could turn, and that is pretty unlikely too...so TNA might turn him for the "shock" factor. That one seems a lot more unlikely, since Sting was so anti-Hogan from the moment Hogan & Eric arrived. You also have to remember when Sting stole the belt from RVD last summer, and wrote "Deception" on it. Now Sting (back then) had heelish qualities to his character when he was feuding with RVD, but it turned out that Sting knew all along (about Hogan & Bischoff's plan)...just seems another way that Hogan, Russo & Bischoff was trying to swerve us. At the very least, the whole "Deception" thing seems to point out that TNA creative was at least considering RVD to be the one to join Immortal in the first place at BFG 2010 (instead of Jeff Hardy).

Again, it's another catch22...that since Sting is so unlikely to join Immortal, creative might turn him. I just don't see this happening, since it's obvious that Sting doesn't like being a heel. Plus, there's the history that Sting has with Hogan & Flair, etc. Then again, TNA creative could be saying "who would see that coming"?

Now...TNA isn't the type of company to actually tie these storylines together, in fact it's almost insulting sometimes when TNA creative thinks that it's fans have such a short memory for stuff like this. Then again, they actually did do quite a build with Abyss (with the HoF rings, being aligned with Hogan from the start, etc). I dunno, I'm just seeing more and more signs pointing to an RVD heel-turn...at least it seems the most likely, if someone were to turn. I'd still rather see Sting retain, and keep the belt through a couple more PPVs.

I know it's been said time & time again, but a "shock" that the wrestling fans don't see coming doesn't automatically constitute a good storyline. As many others have pointed out, it seems to be the favorite angle for the guys in charge. Hopefully they won't do it again, this storyline loses it's appeal when it's done over & over again. Plus the fans see it coming from a mile away, so it really isn't shocking anymore. I know I've used the word "catch22" waaaaay past the legal-limit in this post, but that's the only thing that can really describe it.

Sorry for the long-ass post, hopefully it's coherent enough to read the whole way through (if you have the patience to do so! lol!).

 

[Tiger Chaos Theory]

I hope Anderson wins the title with a little help from Immortal then turns on them to close the show.

Sadly, what I see happening is Sting retaining only to take on Anderson one-on-one at Sacrifice where he'll retain yet again, continuing to "feud" with Sting till maybe Slammiversary. And if you're wondering, no, I want Anderson to win at LD and for Sting to go back to actually fighting what he claimed he came back to TNA to fight; Hogan.

If the Immortal story is going to last till BFG then Anderson will turn eventually, the only real question (one that is so silly it shouldn't be asked) is if RVD will turn at LD or not. He shouldn't, but he might and that....Well, I guess LD will be BFG 2010 all over again. Only 6 months later.

 

[He's Phenomenal]

What’s with the posts about the Title needing a long reign to restore credibility? In the last couple of years: AJ held it for about 8 months, then Van Dam for about 4 months, then Jeff Hardy for another 4 months. It’s only in the last couple of months that the Title has switched hands between Hardy, Anderson and Sting. I make that 5 Title changes in nearly 2 years.

Anyway, I see the Stinger retaining the gold here. And then moving on to a one on one feud with Mr Anderson. I’m a big RVD fan, so I’m glad he’s in the World Title match. I just don’t see him winning. And I don’t see what direction he goes in if he doesn’t win the World Title at Lockdown (a random ladder match with AJ Styles would be awesome). Mr Anderson is huge right now, but I’d like to see him wait another month or two before getting the World Title back. And beating Sting one on one for the gold, could be a defining moment for the Asshole.

I think it’s obvious to anyone who regularly watches iMPACT! That Mr Anderson is the star of that show and it’s only a matter of time before he gets that World Title back. I just don’t see it being at Lockdown. Unless, as mentioned above, he joins Immortal. I’m hoping that doesn’t happen, as Mr Anderson is a one man show and doesn’t need a faction behind him.

 

[UFOcalling]

Originally Posted by He's Phenomenal
What’s with the posts about the Title needing a long reign to restore credibility?

I think most people are thinking that the belt lost it's credibility when Jeff came out high for the main event at Victory Road. That shouldn't really matter much, since Jeff wasn't the champ at the time anyway. I think it was more about the length of the match. I also feel that most of the pissed of TNA fans (and non fans, for that matter) felt like the entire Heavyweight Division of TNA was shit on by Hardy. I hardly think that would have been the first pro-wrestling match that a performer worked high, but I'm glad Sting ended it early anyway...getting off topic, let me get back to the point:

Another reason why some might feel the belt lost credibility is when they changed the design to the purple Hardy belt. I don't really think it lost as much cred as people are making it out to seem. The belt definitely seemed out of place on Anderson & Sting, but the actual title (Heavyweight Champion) always felt the same. Now that the belt has been redesigned, it feels as prestigious as it ever was.

For me, the reason why I'd like to see Sting have a lengthy reign (and retain at Lockdown) is because this might be Sting's last run with the belt. I hope that he would have enough gas in the tank (I think I touched on this in an earlier post) for at least one more title-run before he retires, but this might be it. A long reign, with a suitable opponent for Sting to "pass the torch" to would be great. You may be right, Anderson might be the best guy for Sting to lose the title to, eventually. At least that's my take on it, and the main reason why I want to see the Stinger hold the belt for at least a few more PPVs.

You are right though, TNA has done a good job of keeping the belt on it's champ for a decent amount of time. There's no reason for the belt to be passed around like a hot potato, and I'm glad they've had some decent reigns (besides Hardy's last run, and Anderson's).

 

[Nate DaMac]

Yay. Another Triple Threat match with heel turn implications.... Sound familiar? The only thing I feel is a certainty is that RVD will not leave victorious. This going to come down to Anderson and Sting, the guys that have been the focal point of the program.

I think Anderson has a good shot at winning this and for my sanity, I really hope he does just so maybe he will shut the fuck up. They're trying very hard to make him into an Austin-ish tweener character, but Christ they are just failing on all cylinders. I hope he wins so maybe I don't have to tolerate his fucking atrocious promos anymore.

Sting is the likely winner, so that almost immediately means he'll lose it by TNA booking rules. He hasn't held the strap long and has yet to fulfill his purpose of defeating Immortal. Losing the belt to someone who isn't even a part of the faction just doesn't seem likely.

As for the actual match, meh. I don't know. RVD and Anderson have absolutely no chemistry together, while Sting has had limited interaction with either. Honestly, it could be good or fail horribly, I just don't know.

 

[#hamler]

This match might actually be damn solid. The build is actually a decent build. RVD not actually ever losing his title and Mr. Anderson not ever getting a rematch for his loss to Jeff Hardy a few months back. There has been alot teasing as of late that one of the match participants turning heel and possibly joining Hulk Hogan and Immortal. There is no doubt that there is a huge hole to fill since Jeff Hardy went home or whatever, with Mr. Anderson teasing a join with Immortal and Hogan has been fucking with RVD as of late. With that said, the logical choice here is Sting. Hahaha, I'm serious. With TNA's record of strange swerves, I could definitely see Sting walking out as TNA Champion with Immortal. And I actually wouldn't mind seeing that tonight.

Hamler's Prediction- Sting

 

[Dagger Dias]

Best match of the night. I did want Anderson to win, but they made the right choice by keeping the belt on Sting. He JUST got the belt back recently and it would be pointless to take it off him so soon. Once Sting's held it a little longer, I'd like to see a rematch with Anderson winning. It was a really good 3 way match and all three guys did great. I'd take a rematch of this, heck throw Morgan in too and make it a 4 way. Anyways, it was the best match of the show. I came in with low expectations since TNA has consistently disappointed lately, but it was alright. I think TNA can do way better but this match was at the very least a step in the right direction, and they need more matches like this one due to how good it made each contender look.

 

[Coco]

Wow, that sucked. The crowd was just not into this. Until Hogan came out, the people knew they were just biding their time. Some of the action was solid enough, but it means nothing if the people don't give a fuck and they didn't here. On one hand, I'm happy it was mercifully short given people's reception to it. On the other hand, I feel like world title matches should be able to get people to give a shit for at least ten minutes. Very disheartening but that should come as a surprise to nobody.

I really wanted to like this. Now I just want Van Dam to go back to fighting the likes of Matt Hardy and Rhino so he doesn't have to exist in the cool shade created by Hulk Hogan's ego.