Over the weekend Impact Wrestling held what some are calling an extremely successful PPV called Redemption. Looking at this show with fresh eyes it does seem like the company is going for a new start and finally could be headed in a new direction. It is clear that the new owners have needed time to work through a lot of the past issues that have plagued this company, and even though they have "relaunched" multiple time at this point if this show is an indication it does seem like the company is on the right foot. However, one thing that is sticking out about this past weekends event is a somewhat surprising debut of a new female talent for the company. 

Now most fans know that the WWE never seems to be content as far as talent is concerned and is always on the look out for a new star even if their roster is filled to the brim. In many ways that was the case now with rumors all over about the WWE's interest in second generation star Tessa Blanchard. For those who don't know Tessa was a stand out member of the Mae Young Classic last year and has been on the companies radar since the tournament last year. As you could probably guess at this point though Tessa hasn't signed with the WWE and has instead signed with Impact Wrestling debuting with the company over the weekend. 

One thing that has now come into question what this means for her possible move to the WWE joining boyfriend Ricochet. If I had to guess I would think that at least for now this means Tessa will remain on the companies radar and will instead enjoy her first taste of national exposure with Impact Wrestling instead of WWE. For years I have wanted Impact to build their own stars from the ground up like they did when the company first began and this is a perfect example of exactly what I've always wanted them to do. 

At one point Impact Wrestling would have one PPV a month and the company even had their own big four events. One of their big four events was Lockdown which was a specialty show where they held every match inside the Six Sides of Steel. Though at this point the company formerly known as TNA may not have monthly PPV's anymore and have One Night Only events tapped months ahead of time. The reason to pull this event out of the archives is because this became the most bought TNA Wrestling Pay-Per View event in history. 

​The main event of the show was one of the best built up matches in not just TNA history, but in the last decade. At the time the company built the match up using a non wrestling approach and taking a more UFC approach to building the match. Honestly, I hated this concept due to the overuse of a gimmick match that could sell tickets if not used too often. This card does seemingly look like a one match card and in many cases it was, but Lethal Lockdown was a great concept that never really disappointed. Overall, this PPV was the peak of the old regime and how high the TNA potential was at this point and time. 

Lockdown 2008 

​Jay Lethal (c) def. Consequences Creed, Curry Man, Johnny Devine, Shark Boy, Sonjay Dutt10:25Six Sides of Steel: Xscape (6-way)TNA X-Division Title
Roxxi Laveaux def. Angelina Love, Christy Hemme, Jacqueline, Rhaka Khan, Salinas, Traci Brooks, Velvet Sky Queen of the Cage (8-way)
B. G. James def. (pin) Kip James Six Sides of Steel
Kaz & Super Eric def. Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin, Hernandez & Homicide, Petey Williams & Scott Steiner, Jimmy Rave & Lance Hoyt, Black Reign & Rellik "Cuffed in the Cage" (6-way tag)
Gail Kim & O. D. B. def. (pin) Awesome Kong & Raisha Saeed
Booker T. & Sharmell def. (pin) Payton Banks & Robert Roode
Christian Cage & Kevin Nash & Matt Morgan & Rhino & Sting def. (pin) A.J. Styles & Brother Devon & Brother Ray & James Storm & Tomko "Lethal Lockdown" 
Samoa Joe def. (pin) Kurt Angle (c) Six Sides of Steel TNA World Heavyweight