A Thread for TNA Fans

[SpicyMcHaggis]

I have been a fan of TNA ever since it's conception well over two years ago. As we all know, TNA arguably had a great first three hour PPV event last Sunday.

What I want to state right now is that TNA did everything wrong with their first PPV. They were hyping it as the new genesis of professional wrestling, yet all I'm seeing lately is big names that really aren't that good anymore. DDP, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, Randy Savage. And apparently Jeff Jarrett said that he wouldn't mind signing all the guys that WWE cut.

If TNA wants to become the fresh new fed, then why not use the talent they have? I mean, they have really good talent. Sure a lot of them are only known for the independent scene (Daniels, Styles, etc.) and some for making better careers through TNA (3 Live Kru, Jeff Jarrett, Raven, etc.) but with the Best Damn Sports Show interviewing some of their guys and having a special around it, they can really build up some publicity for their homegrown talent.

AJ Styles, the perfect man to have as a flagship champion. He brings his A-Game to every match. Styles can face off against both the X-Division and Heavyweight Division stars in main events that would be four stars everytime.

The biggest heels in their fed should be Team Canada. They have all that it takes to be the best heels in professional wrestling.

Tag-teams could use a little work, but they do have good teams to work off of. AMW, Triple X, Team Canada, 3LK, The Naturals, Dallas and Kid Kash, Kazarian and Michael Shane, The NYC, just to name a few.

I don't want TNA to become WCW lite. I want it to become the new genesis of professional wrestling.

<img src=http://home.comcast.net/~rmfallon/RFnetSpicy.jpg>
The Book of Mike (http://www.mikeythemallrat.blogspot.com)

[Se7en]

What I want to state right now is that TNA did everything wrong with their first PPV. They were hyping it as the new genesis of professional wrestling, yet all I'm seeing lately is big names that really aren't that good anymore. DDP, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, Randy Savage. And apparently Jeff Jarrett said that he wouldn't mind signing all the guys that WWE cut.

If TNA wants to become the fresh new fed, then why not use the talent they have?

Because, sadly, TNA has been around for close to two and a half years now, and they really haven't made any of their "home grown" talent stars.

I mean, sure - guys like AJ Styles, AMW, Triple X, Abyss, Monty Brown.....these are guys that are stars to TNA's fan base, but really, if you were ask any casual wrestling fan (if such a thing still exists) who they are, you'd likely get a blank stare in return.

So, TNA is forced to go towards the WWE (and in some cases, WCW) castaways, simply because at least those guys have names which people still remember from when wrestling was still hot and exciting.

I'm not against TNA bringing in SOME of the ex-WWE / WCW guys, but only when they have something to bring to the table. Workers like Rico, and Gail Kim would have something to bring to the table. A case COULD be made that guys like Palumbo, A-Train and Billy Gunn might be useful. Although it sort of pains me to say this, Gunn might be the best one to bring in, from a business perspective, because he was the biggest star released recently by the WWE, and if he can get his personal life together, would be a believable main event level face for them (trust me - if they can push Jeff freakin' Hardy as a main eventer, they can push Gunn).

But a bunch of the others are just worthless or have little to nothing to add: Test. Nidia. Rodney Mack. And I'd include Nash, Hall & Savage to the list.

I mean, they have really good talent. Sure a lot of them are only known for the independent scene (Daniels, Styles, etc.) and some for making better careers through TNA (3 Live Kru, Jeff Jarrett, Raven, etc.) but with the Best Damn Sports Show interviewing some of their guys and having a special around it, they can really build up some publicity for their homegrown talent.

Except that Fox / Comcast does dick in the ratings. I mean, let's be honest - it's great that TNA is getting more exposure, but the highest show on Fox Sports Net / Comcast rates at like a 0.5 - it's hardly enough to build a real following.

Still, it's not all bad for TNA.....Vince obviously is beginning to feel threatened by the company, and I think TNA *might* have a chance to succeed if the monthly PPV business doesn't bankrupt them.

AJ Styles, the perfect man to have as a flagship champion. He brings his A-Game to every match. Styles can face off against both the X-Division and Heavyweight Division stars in main events that would be four stars everytime.

They keep flirting with putting this guy in the main event, then shuffle him down the card to languish in the X-Division when a more "high-profile" worker comes along (see Hardy, Jeff). He should be cemented as a main event star and allowed to carry the company, because he has the ability to do it.

The biggest heels in their fed should be Team Canada. They have all that it takes to be the best heels in professional wrestling.

I have to disagree here. They're solid midcard heels, but I don't think they should be top-tier guys.....yet.

I don't want TNA to become WCW lite. I want it to become the new genesis of professional wrestling.

A great deal needs to happen for that to occur.

Start with culling the creative / booking team, and replacing them with individuals who know how to actually book good feuds and push the right guys.

Hell, give the book back completely to Russo, with maybe Jerry Jarrett to rein in some of Russo's wilder ideas. People give the guy shit, and some of it rightfully so, but the period of time in which he was booking most

[walking joint]

this could become a lonely thread.

<img src="http://hometown.aol.com/satelitecam/images/sig_wk.jpg">
thanks for the sig SatCam...and thanks for bringing it back Furie

[SpicyMcHaggis]

Se7en, that had to be the most indepth response ever. Thanks.

Anyways, you're right, this may become a lonely thread.

Where's RonFezMark when I need him?

<img src=http://home.comcast.net/~rmfallon/RFnetSpicy.jpg>
The Book of Mike (http://www.mikeythemallrat.blogspot.com)

[walking joint]

i think he fell in love

<img src="http://hometown.aol.com/satelitecam/images/sig_wk.jpg">
thanks for the sig SatCam...and thanks for bringing it back Furie

[sleepyeyed_Jynx]

TNA had a buzz going when AJ caught the championship and carried the company to greatness. That's when internet sites hung up on the "Wednesday Night Thunder" jokes and actually began to respect the new programing. But then, they put the belt back on Jarret, and go into "1980s" mode when they tried to set up a Jarret/Hogan match that never lifted off the ground. Then, there's the fact that they never knew who to push and when. I mean, they should've pulled the trigger on Raven about a year ago to fulfill his "destiny" And yes folks, the "destiny" explanation only works for Raven and not Randy Orton.

Also, there's the retarded storylines and "one time only" appearances from everybody under the sun: Randy Savage, Ken Shamrock, Dustin Runnels. WHO CARES?! Oh, and did I mention the failed Hogan/Jarret match that was supposed to happen? Oh I did, well I'm refeshing your memory!If you're going to bring someone in, make them sign a contract so they acutally have to perfrom.

Getting to the storylines, they suck. Guys dressed in ridiculous outfits, people fighting over a briefcase full of cash, Dusty Rhodes actually being cared about?! I'm starting to think it'll be best if I wrote for TNA. At least then things would make sense and they'll have long term storylines that promote the homegrown "talent" instead of advertising a washed up hasbeen that hasn't put on a good match since '86. Oh, and then there's the actual wrestling.

Somebody please, tell me how many TNA matches involve ANY ring psychology? How many aren't sloppy spotfests where a guy moonsaults into a steel guardrail, gets piledriven to the mat, and still, DOESN'T SELL THE MOVE AT ALL. And this isn't only for the X Division guys either, I'm talking about the entire active roster. 85% of them just can't wrestle. It's as if I'm watching Tough Enough Season 2 every friday. I mean, every match looks and feels as if they kept practicing the spots over and over again, and yet they still can't pull it all off crisply. They never can get the crowd into the match, and the referee is always useless. I'd rather watch an Orton/Maven match than this.

So until TNA figure out that they cannot survive much longer doing what they're doing today, things will continue to suck until they finally go bankrupt.

Jesus - The Source of my Strength!
<IMG SRC="http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v256/sleepyeyed_jynx/sig8.jpg">
<marquee>"The Revolution will not be televised!"</marquee>
"The first casualty of War, is Truth!" - James Enthume

[Tazz]

If you're going to bring someone in, make them sign a contract so they acutally have to perfrom.


My thoughts exactly.

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[Se7en]

Somebody please, tell me how many TNA matches involve ANY ring psychology? How many aren't sloppy spotfests where a guy moonsaults into a steel guardrail, gets piledriven to the mat, and still, DOESN'T SELL THE MOVE AT ALL.

This is neither here nor there, but you've inadvertently described part of why I was never really a big ECW fan.

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Nov. 3, 2004 - It's official. Four more years!
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