Lance Storm: Boycotting TNA, or Compensating his anger for Vince Russo?
Eric Schomburg
February 06, 2007
Lance Storm has always been one of those wrestlers that I have always loved to watch wrestle. Storm was athletic, proficient, and had a great look; however, the one thing he lacked in was charisma, and charisma is an attribute that lasts far greater than skills.
I have always respected Lance Storm as a wrestler and deep down inside I wish he had a more lucrative run in the WWE than what was given to him, but even the WWE can’t get blood from a turnip.
This article is not designed to besmirch Lance Storm, because I still think/thought he is/was a tremendous athlete and a very deft wrestler. However, it seems that Lance Storm has turned into the stereotypical “Oppressed Wrestling Has-Been.” In other words, another old wrestler that is fulminating against the business that made him what he is today.
Lance Storm, like myself, has ranted and raved about wrestling promotions. Lance has ranted and raved about TNA and the direction it’s going towards. Some of Storm’s comments I agree with. For example, the LAX portion of the show in which it appeared that Homicide was literally going to stab a cook’s hand. Wrestling is already the bastard child of the entertainment business it doesn’t need any more bad impressions, especially from TNA, considering how some believe TNA is “family-friendly.”
I know that a lot of people have labeled me a “TNA-mark.” Okay, I can accept that since the majority of my articles are anti-WWE. So, let’s backtrack just a little.
First, I want to say..again..I’m not a WWE hater, nor am I a TNA mark. I’m a wrestling mark. I love wrestling. Do I think WWE has and has had good ideas lately? Yes, I do. ECW’s influx of Monty Brown has spurred my interest. The Royal Rumble was probably the most interesting and less predictable Royal Rumble in the past 5 years. Edge and Shawn Michaels showcased a tremendous match. The Undertaker’s surprising appearance on RAW was a mark out moment for me since Matt Hardy’s music hit at Edge and Lita’s “wedding.” Finally, the fact that WWE has struck my attention more than TNA is saying something. I admit, WWE seems to be doing better than TNA, but how long will that last? Time will tell.
TNA, in my opinion, HAS been doing lousily with storylines, angles, etc. First of all, the “consultant” for Christian Cage is repulsive. Everyone could tell who the consultant is and without the usage of spoilers. Tomko’s “Pump” shirt and his goatee should give the audience the answer to whom the consultant is. I won’t give away the answer, but I will say this, the guy has NOTHING in common with Angle and his past, and he certainly doesn’t have the drawing power of a Goldberg, nor is he athletic and deft in ring prowess like a Brock Lesnar and TNA was trying to hype this guy to being either equal or bigger than both of them. I don’t think so!
Lance is right that TNA’s direction is going nowhere and with it comes the debacle of the company as a whole. However, I think Lance tends to nitpick everything. For example, Chris Sabin is a tremendous wrestler, but there was nothing to him when he was just your typical X-Division wrestler. I’m guessing Russo decided to give him a character; therefore, they made him out to be a degenerated young punk with no respect for the tradition of this business. Thus, Sabin vs. Jerry Lynn. It’s a classic wrestling storyline in which Lance Storm himself castigates due to the fact that Chris Sabin was “mocking” Jerry Lynn. Hey, at least Sabin is actually getting over, unlike some wrestlers I knew.
Lance asks in his querulous tirade “Why would Jerry be mad at Sabin for making himself look like an idiot?” I’ll answer your question, Mr. Storm. It’s because if you were paying attention to the storyline Jerry Lynn is trying to be a mentor to the X-Division stars; therefore, he’s more disappointed in Sabin being a callow craven rather than a precocious champion of pride and dignity. Ever had someone who you wanted to see succeed so badly, but they only go so far due to their degenerating attitude bringing them down? This is no different. Was it really that hard to follow the storyline?
Storm mentions Ron Killings and his SNL skits. This one I will have to agree. Ron Killings needs to stop believing that he’s still over in TNA, because the only thing over in Ron Killings is his over-the-top boring segments.
Storm continues with his tirade, “Are we to believe that Sting has magical powers, since he disappeared out of the back of an ambulance leaving only his “trade marked” baseball bat in the ambulance?”
Lance, where the hell have you been? Sting has had that gimmick since 1996. Not to mention there are other wrestlers that seem to have that “supernatural” gimmick. Does the Undertaker ring a bell? No pun intended. When was the last time a grown man shot lightning bolts from his fingertips? How about Kane? When was the last time a grown man could shoot fire from the ringposts with just a mere wave of a hand? Storm is criticizing Sting because of the same successful gimmick he’s had since the influx of the nWo? How bitter is this guy?
I agree with Storm about only having three matches and all of them ending in either a DQ or outside interference. However, would Storm rather have another Rosie vs. Donald? I think I’ll take the actual wrestling match with actual wrestlers.
Lance seems to want TNA to succeed, or so he says, but there is one thing I’m noticing. Lance says, “I’m boycotting TNA until they get rid of Vince Russo.”
This is what bothers me about Lance Storm and his tirade about TNA. If Storm never said the word boycott I would have never thought anything of his comments, but he in fact did say boycott and it has made him a hypocrite.
Lance Storm isn’t angry with TNA, or the direction it’s going (despite the direction does suck right now), but he’s angry at the fact that Vince Russo is the writer.
Storm is compensating his anger for Russo and taking it out on TNA. Voicing your opinion is one thing, but nitpicking every little detail and wanting to boycott it is deducing the idea that Lance Storm may be another “Oppressed Wrestling Has-Been.”
I have to ask, “Why boycott TNA ONLY because of Vince Russo?” Has Lance Storm not seen WWE in the past couple of years?
Triple H fornicating a corpse.
Vince McMahon disgracing the name of ECW.
Rosie vs. Donald impersonators.
K-Fed beating the Champion.
Kiss my ass club.
Jim Ross’ surgery.
Triple H and Candice Michelle’s “hummers.”
Melina and Johnny Nitro’s looooong and booooring speech about K-Fed.
Batista vs. Big Show
Live Sex Act
Vince vs God.
Kelly Kelly
Where’s Lance’s boycott for these?
Is it only different because Lance is still receiving royalty checks from Vince McMahon?
Can someone say, sycophant?
As I said I value Mr. Storm’s opinion, because let’s be honest I have a strong opinion as well; however, how many times have I said “boycott this” and “boycott that”? None. I have never encouraged boycotting wrestling whether it’s WWE, TNA, WSX, or ROH, no matter how bad it is. I may have an opinion, but I'm not going to chastize anyone for their taste in entertainment, wrestling, wrestlers, etc.
Lance Storm doesn’t want TNA to succeed, because if he wanted it to succeed he wouldn’t boycott it. My opinion is Lance Storm wants TNA to fail miserably. The reason why he wants TNA to fail is because if TNA failed then Lance can come back and say “See, I told you Russo would screw it up.”
Lance Storm never mentions how well done the pay-per-views have been in TNA. Storm even ignores the fact that TNA brought the surprise factor back to wrestling when TNA signed Kurt Angle without anyone in TNA, the internet, or any other person affiliated with TNA knowing about it. Storm ignores the fact that TNA brought Sting’s popularity back up. Storm ignores how the fans have been chanting TNA at ECW and WWE venues. Finally, Storm ignores the fact that under Vince Russo's creative control TNA's ratings rose slightly. Obviously, not a dramatic rise, but a rise nontheless. Why didn't Storm talk about these? Apparently, they weren't important.
I find it extremely ironic that Lance Storm is angry at the same man that gave him probably the best and only major push in his entire career, Vince Russo. Russo was made head writer in 1999 for WCW. Lance Storm came to WCW in 2000 and won the US, Hardcore, and Television championship in rapid succession. Who do you think made Lance Storm those champions? I’ll give you a hint he used to be known as Vic Venom.
It’s one thing voicing your opinion, but wanting a product to fail miserably ONLY because they hired someone you don’t like is equivalent to racism and sexism.
Saying that you want TNA to succeed is a cop out!
Saying that you don’t pick on WWE more than TNA is because TNA is more frustrating is a cop out!
Saying that WWE is only better because they are making more money is a cop out!
There’s an old saying Lance Storm always said. “Don’t blame Canada, blame yourself.”
Well, Lance Storm. Don’t blame Russo or TNA, blame yourself.
Now, if you will excuse me I’m going back to watch the rest of WCW’s New Blood Rising.
I have always respected Lance Storm as a wrestler and deep down inside I wish he had a more lucrative run in the WWE than what was given to him, but even the WWE can’t get blood from a turnip.
This article is not designed to besmirch Lance Storm, because I still think/thought he is/was a tremendous athlete and a very deft wrestler. However, it seems that Lance Storm has turned into the stereotypical “Oppressed Wrestling Has-Been.” In other words, another old wrestler that is fulminating against the business that made him what he is today.
Lance Storm, like myself, has ranted and raved about wrestling promotions. Lance has ranted and raved about TNA and the direction it’s going towards. Some of Storm’s comments I agree with. For example, the LAX portion of the show in which it appeared that Homicide was literally going to stab a cook’s hand. Wrestling is already the bastard child of the entertainment business it doesn’t need any more bad impressions, especially from TNA, considering how some believe TNA is “family-friendly.”
I know that a lot of people have labeled me a “TNA-mark.” Okay, I can accept that since the majority of my articles are anti-WWE. So, let’s backtrack just a little.
First, I want to say..again..I’m not a WWE hater, nor am I a TNA mark. I’m a wrestling mark. I love wrestling. Do I think WWE has and has had good ideas lately? Yes, I do. ECW’s influx of Monty Brown has spurred my interest. The Royal Rumble was probably the most interesting and less predictable Royal Rumble in the past 5 years. Edge and Shawn Michaels showcased a tremendous match. The Undertaker’s surprising appearance on RAW was a mark out moment for me since Matt Hardy’s music hit at Edge and Lita’s “wedding.” Finally, the fact that WWE has struck my attention more than TNA is saying something. I admit, WWE seems to be doing better than TNA, but how long will that last? Time will tell.
TNA, in my opinion, HAS been doing lousily with storylines, angles, etc. First of all, the “consultant” for Christian Cage is repulsive. Everyone could tell who the consultant is and without the usage of spoilers. Tomko’s “Pump” shirt and his goatee should give the audience the answer to whom the consultant is. I won’t give away the answer, but I will say this, the guy has NOTHING in common with Angle and his past, and he certainly doesn’t have the drawing power of a Goldberg, nor is he athletic and deft in ring prowess like a Brock Lesnar and TNA was trying to hype this guy to being either equal or bigger than both of them. I don’t think so!
Lance is right that TNA’s direction is going nowhere and with it comes the debacle of the company as a whole. However, I think Lance tends to nitpick everything. For example, Chris Sabin is a tremendous wrestler, but there was nothing to him when he was just your typical X-Division wrestler. I’m guessing Russo decided to give him a character; therefore, they made him out to be a degenerated young punk with no respect for the tradition of this business. Thus, Sabin vs. Jerry Lynn. It’s a classic wrestling storyline in which Lance Storm himself castigates due to the fact that Chris Sabin was “mocking” Jerry Lynn. Hey, at least Sabin is actually getting over, unlike some wrestlers I knew.
Lance asks in his querulous tirade “Why would Jerry be mad at Sabin for making himself look like an idiot?” I’ll answer your question, Mr. Storm. It’s because if you were paying attention to the storyline Jerry Lynn is trying to be a mentor to the X-Division stars; therefore, he’s more disappointed in Sabin being a callow craven rather than a precocious champion of pride and dignity. Ever had someone who you wanted to see succeed so badly, but they only go so far due to their degenerating attitude bringing them down? This is no different. Was it really that hard to follow the storyline?
Storm mentions Ron Killings and his SNL skits. This one I will have to agree. Ron Killings needs to stop believing that he’s still over in TNA, because the only thing over in Ron Killings is his over-the-top boring segments.
Storm continues with his tirade, “Are we to believe that Sting has magical powers, since he disappeared out of the back of an ambulance leaving only his “trade marked” baseball bat in the ambulance?”
Lance, where the hell have you been? Sting has had that gimmick since 1996. Not to mention there are other wrestlers that seem to have that “supernatural” gimmick. Does the Undertaker ring a bell? No pun intended. When was the last time a grown man shot lightning bolts from his fingertips? How about Kane? When was the last time a grown man could shoot fire from the ringposts with just a mere wave of a hand? Storm is criticizing Sting because of the same successful gimmick he’s had since the influx of the nWo? How bitter is this guy?
I agree with Storm about only having three matches and all of them ending in either a DQ or outside interference. However, would Storm rather have another Rosie vs. Donald? I think I’ll take the actual wrestling match with actual wrestlers.
Lance seems to want TNA to succeed, or so he says, but there is one thing I’m noticing. Lance says, “I’m boycotting TNA until they get rid of Vince Russo.”
This is what bothers me about Lance Storm and his tirade about TNA. If Storm never said the word boycott I would have never thought anything of his comments, but he in fact did say boycott and it has made him a hypocrite.
Lance Storm isn’t angry with TNA, or the direction it’s going (despite the direction does suck right now), but he’s angry at the fact that Vince Russo is the writer.
Storm is compensating his anger for Russo and taking it out on TNA. Voicing your opinion is one thing, but nitpicking every little detail and wanting to boycott it is deducing the idea that Lance Storm may be another “Oppressed Wrestling Has-Been.”
I have to ask, “Why boycott TNA ONLY because of Vince Russo?” Has Lance Storm not seen WWE in the past couple of years?
Triple H fornicating a corpse.
Vince McMahon disgracing the name of ECW.
Rosie vs. Donald impersonators.
K-Fed beating the Champion.
Kiss my ass club.
Jim Ross’ surgery.
Triple H and Candice Michelle’s “hummers.”
Melina and Johnny Nitro’s looooong and booooring speech about K-Fed.
Batista vs. Big Show
Live Sex Act
Vince vs God.
Kelly Kelly
Where’s Lance’s boycott for these?
Is it only different because Lance is still receiving royalty checks from Vince McMahon?
Can someone say, sycophant?
As I said I value Mr. Storm’s opinion, because let’s be honest I have a strong opinion as well; however, how many times have I said “boycott this” and “boycott that”? None. I have never encouraged boycotting wrestling whether it’s WWE, TNA, WSX, or ROH, no matter how bad it is. I may have an opinion, but I'm not going to chastize anyone for their taste in entertainment, wrestling, wrestlers, etc.
Lance Storm doesn’t want TNA to succeed, because if he wanted it to succeed he wouldn’t boycott it. My opinion is Lance Storm wants TNA to fail miserably. The reason why he wants TNA to fail is because if TNA failed then Lance can come back and say “See, I told you Russo would screw it up.”
Lance Storm never mentions how well done the pay-per-views have been in TNA. Storm even ignores the fact that TNA brought the surprise factor back to wrestling when TNA signed Kurt Angle without anyone in TNA, the internet, or any other person affiliated with TNA knowing about it. Storm ignores the fact that TNA brought Sting’s popularity back up. Storm ignores how the fans have been chanting TNA at ECW and WWE venues. Finally, Storm ignores the fact that under Vince Russo's creative control TNA's ratings rose slightly. Obviously, not a dramatic rise, but a rise nontheless. Why didn't Storm talk about these? Apparently, they weren't important.
I find it extremely ironic that Lance Storm is angry at the same man that gave him probably the best and only major push in his entire career, Vince Russo. Russo was made head writer in 1999 for WCW. Lance Storm came to WCW in 2000 and won the US, Hardcore, and Television championship in rapid succession. Who do you think made Lance Storm those champions? I’ll give you a hint he used to be known as Vic Venom.
It’s one thing voicing your opinion, but wanting a product to fail miserably ONLY because they hired someone you don’t like is equivalent to racism and sexism.
Saying that you want TNA to succeed is a cop out!
Saying that you don’t pick on WWE more than TNA is because TNA is more frustrating is a cop out!
Saying that WWE is only better because they are making more money is a cop out!
There’s an old saying Lance Storm always said. “Don’t blame Canada, blame yourself.”
Well, Lance Storm. Don’t blame Russo or TNA, blame yourself.
Now, if you will excuse me I’m going back to watch the rest of WCW’s New Blood Rising.
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