TNA Wrestling: What's right, what's wrong, and what needs to be done
Eric Schomburg
December 12, 2005
TNA is probably the one wrestling company that gives good wrestling, not Hollywood ripoff’s like WWE does. While I do like TNA, they are making some cardinal mistakes concerning things like faces and heels, who is the number 1 contender, and storylines.
Since I am an avid fan of TNA and professional wrestling, and the fact that Dixie Carter herself reads American Chronicle, it’s my duty to inform those within TNA what’s right, what’s wrong, and what needs to be done.
Let’s start out with what is right in TNA.
Obviously, the matches. I watched TNA’s Turning Point, and let me say this, it was better than WrestleMania. I’m not trying to be a mark, but come on, a barbed wire match between Sabu and Abyss? Not only that, but an OPENING match is a BARBED WIRE match?! That’s great! Even Mr. Tito had to like that one.
While a lot of fans, especially the internet, believe that Abyss is just another bad rip off of Kane or Mankind, I disagree. Abyss may daunt a mask, have long hair, and is over six feet, but he doesn’t shoot fire, he doesn’t have a brother named after a funeral director, and he wasn’t “burnt” when he was a child. Abyss’ story does have a mysterious aura. Where did he come from? Why does he wear a mask? Why is he afraid of barbed wire? It’s a mystery that needs to stay a mystery.
Abyss and Sabu’s barbed wire match, whether you’re a fan of TNA or not, is one of the BEST matches I have seen since ECW’s barbed wire match between Sabu and Terry Funk. Sabu, always a favorite, had his face, yes FACE, cut by the barbed wire, while Abyss’ arms was literally ripped to shreds. What was so sick about the whole match is if you look really close you can see pieces of skin hanging off of Abyss’ arms. It was sick, and I loved every minute of it. That match alone was worth the price.
Dixie, if you’re reading this, give Sabu and Abyss a push to the title, because they both deserve it.
What else is right in TNA is this angle that a Mr. Alex Shelley is portraying. I watched the tag match between Alex Shelley and Roderick Strong vs. Matt Bentley and Austin Aries. Once again, a great X division styled match; however, I see potential in a feud.
If I was a writer for TNA I would pit Alex Shelley in an on going feud with Matt Bentley. Both of these guys have great potential, and can cut it in the ring. However, in the realm of professional wrestling there has to be a catalyst or motivation to get a feud or storyline going. I would “pounce,” no pun intended, on the idea that Alex Shelley has a video camera. Combine that with Matt Bentley having his valet, Traci Brooks, and you have a recipe for a great feud between Matt Bentley and Alex Shelley.
Alex could work a voyeuristic angle and begin to secretly film Traci, and each week the fans will see an amateur film of Traci, eating, shopping, and even undressing. Kind of like the GD TV that the WWE put on only more elaborate. Filming Matt Bentley’s girlfriend can start a heated feud between the two and give them both exposure, wrestling time, and may make them instant stars.
TNA, obviously, doesn’t have to take this idea, but if they do, then that’s cool with me. It’s just an idea to get a good feud going, and to keep the wrestling fans interested. While it may seem simplistic, it would work.
What else is right is the triple feud between AJ Styles, Samoa Joe, and Christopher Daniels. These three are all fan favorites, despite that Samoa Joe is a heel, and they all have great chemistry. It was a good idea to have AJ lose to Samoa Joe, because AJ Styles is TNA’s golden boy, and if he loses to Samoa Joe, a man who is undefeated and unstoppable, who can stop him? On top of that, Christopher Daniels comes back from an injury that Samoa Joe pursued, in which the fans at Turning Point went nuts over, and you have a great triple threat feud.
Let’s continue with what is wrong with TNA.
I have been watching TNA since it debuted on Spike, and in the process I am seeing some critical mistakes.
First, TNA has too many guys going for the title. I understand that Jeff Jarrett is THE top heel and can work the title, but in the process TNA isn’t building any new heat for a guy like Monty Brown, or a Christian Cage, or even a Rhino, to take Jeff Jarrett out and win the title. Yes, Christian would be my choice to be the number 1 contender; however, what happened to Monty Brown’s title shot? Did Monty Brown put his number 1 contender spot on the line when he faced Christian Cage? If so, tell the fans he did, that way the fans won’t be as confused as they are.
Another problem that I believe TNA has is, the discern between faces and heels. When you think of Monty Brown, do you think of a face or a heel? You’re confused, aren’t you? That’s because, NO ONE KNOWS! Monty Brown would obviously be a heel, considering he gets booed by fans, he tells the fans to shut up, and he double crosses other wrestlers so he can get a shot at the title.
What bothers me about Monty Brown, is TNA is either waiting patiently for Monty’s push, or they are screwing around with this guy. Monty Brown needs to be champion, or feud with someone who can build him up. Obviously, it was Christian who built him up, but Monty Brown lost, and lost CLEAN. What does that say about Monty’s character? He’s unstoppable, just as long as Christian Cage doesn’t get in the ring with him?
I understand that TNA is trying to step away from the “Goldberg” thing with Monty, but Monty has great potential in being champion and TNA isn’t following suit in giving Monty that push to the title. Maybe they are, and we just haven’t seen it yet, maybe we will this Saturday.
One final problem is, “what motivation do these two wrestlers have in wrestling each other?” A major problem with TNA is the storylines and the motivation for two wrestlers to wrestle in a match.
Besides a strap of gold, or a big sum of money, what purpose do some wrestlers have? TNA isn’t that stupid, because with obvious motivations like Raven’s pride vs. Zbysko’s desire to get rid of Raven, or, Jarrett’s title vs. Rhino’s redemption from the WWE, or even, Christian Cage’s opportunity vs. Monty Brown’s pride in being the next big thing. However, there is one feud that, in my opinion, didn’t have a lick of sense on what the motivation was. Sabu vs. Abyss.
What was their motivation in mauling their bodies in a barbed wire match? Sabu’s reputation as a hardcore legend vs. Abyss’ fear of barbed wire? Maybe. But, does it really have a need to have a match over?
The barbed wire match did redeem the confusion, but TNA needs to really grasp on the motivation of why matches are made, and not just have a face vs. a heel with no build up.
Finally, what needs to be done in TNA.
Continue with the feuds, because they are working. 3 Live crew and Konnan, is working. AJ, Daniels, and Joe, is working. Christian and Monty, is working, but needs more elaboration. Jeff Jarrett being champ, is working. Trust me, EVERYONE HATES JARRETT, and by keeping him champ fans will tune in to see who will give Jarrett the royal ass whipping he deserves.
A lot of fans say to me, “TNA needs a two hour show.” I do agree to this; however, TNA’s money is in the pay-per-views; therefore, as for now, it would be a better idea to have a better time slot rather than a two hour show first.
What fans forget is TNA is still a young company, and honestly a small company. I doubt TNA has the revenue to book a two hour show that doesn’t concern with a pay-per-view. TNA should really try and strive for a better time slot other than 11pm est. Maybe an 8pm est, or a 9pm est.
Once TNA establishes themselves as a force to be reckon with, then they can evolve into a two hour show, but it is still way too early for two hours of Impact. It would be nice, but if TNA would do this, then TNA would fall fast.
So far, TNA is redeeming themselves from past mistakes. All the answers needed was at Turning Point; however, one more element that has made TNA an interesting company to watch is....
The arrival of Sting.
As a wrestling fan, I am excited for TNA in bringing Sting back, but what will they do with him? How will they use him? Let’s be honest, Sting was the top guy in WCW, and the second guy to NEVER go to WWE and establish himself as a trademarked name in professional wrestling.
If you want to learn more about TNA, please go to tnawrestling.com
On a personal note, I’m happy to say the Wrestling Epicenter is back online. It’s great to see the website back up and running with James Walsh taking full control of the site.
You can listen to James and the “Queen of Extreme” Francine on the Blaze 1260 AM, or you can go to www.wrestlingepicenter.com. You can even download the interviews that James and Francine have inducted with the likes of Hulk Hogan, Shawn Michaels, Batista, and TNA’s AJ Styles, Chris Sabin, and more.
TNA’s replay of Turning Point will be on December 13th at 8pm est in case you missed possibly the greatest wrestling pay-per-view of all time.
Since I am an avid fan of TNA and professional wrestling, and the fact that Dixie Carter herself reads American Chronicle, it’s my duty to inform those within TNA what’s right, what’s wrong, and what needs to be done.
Let’s start out with what is right in TNA.
Obviously, the matches. I watched TNA’s Turning Point, and let me say this, it was better than WrestleMania. I’m not trying to be a mark, but come on, a barbed wire match between Sabu and Abyss? Not only that, but an OPENING match is a BARBED WIRE match?! That’s great! Even Mr. Tito had to like that one.
While a lot of fans, especially the internet, believe that Abyss is just another bad rip off of Kane or Mankind, I disagree. Abyss may daunt a mask, have long hair, and is over six feet, but he doesn’t shoot fire, he doesn’t have a brother named after a funeral director, and he wasn’t “burnt” when he was a child. Abyss’ story does have a mysterious aura. Where did he come from? Why does he wear a mask? Why is he afraid of barbed wire? It’s a mystery that needs to stay a mystery.
Abyss and Sabu’s barbed wire match, whether you’re a fan of TNA or not, is one of the BEST matches I have seen since ECW’s barbed wire match between Sabu and Terry Funk. Sabu, always a favorite, had his face, yes FACE, cut by the barbed wire, while Abyss’ arms was literally ripped to shreds. What was so sick about the whole match is if you look really close you can see pieces of skin hanging off of Abyss’ arms. It was sick, and I loved every minute of it. That match alone was worth the price.
Dixie, if you’re reading this, give Sabu and Abyss a push to the title, because they both deserve it.
What else is right in TNA is this angle that a Mr. Alex Shelley is portraying. I watched the tag match between Alex Shelley and Roderick Strong vs. Matt Bentley and Austin Aries. Once again, a great X division styled match; however, I see potential in a feud.
If I was a writer for TNA I would pit Alex Shelley in an on going feud with Matt Bentley. Both of these guys have great potential, and can cut it in the ring. However, in the realm of professional wrestling there has to be a catalyst or motivation to get a feud or storyline going. I would “pounce,” no pun intended, on the idea that Alex Shelley has a video camera. Combine that with Matt Bentley having his valet, Traci Brooks, and you have a recipe for a great feud between Matt Bentley and Alex Shelley.
Alex could work a voyeuristic angle and begin to secretly film Traci, and each week the fans will see an amateur film of Traci, eating, shopping, and even undressing. Kind of like the GD TV that the WWE put on only more elaborate. Filming Matt Bentley’s girlfriend can start a heated feud between the two and give them both exposure, wrestling time, and may make them instant stars.
TNA, obviously, doesn’t have to take this idea, but if they do, then that’s cool with me. It’s just an idea to get a good feud going, and to keep the wrestling fans interested. While it may seem simplistic, it would work.
What else is right is the triple feud between AJ Styles, Samoa Joe, and Christopher Daniels. These three are all fan favorites, despite that Samoa Joe is a heel, and they all have great chemistry. It was a good idea to have AJ lose to Samoa Joe, because AJ Styles is TNA’s golden boy, and if he loses to Samoa Joe, a man who is undefeated and unstoppable, who can stop him? On top of that, Christopher Daniels comes back from an injury that Samoa Joe pursued, in which the fans at Turning Point went nuts over, and you have a great triple threat feud.
Let’s continue with what is wrong with TNA.
I have been watching TNA since it debuted on Spike, and in the process I am seeing some critical mistakes.
First, TNA has too many guys going for the title. I understand that Jeff Jarrett is THE top heel and can work the title, but in the process TNA isn’t building any new heat for a guy like Monty Brown, or a Christian Cage, or even a Rhino, to take Jeff Jarrett out and win the title. Yes, Christian would be my choice to be the number 1 contender; however, what happened to Monty Brown’s title shot? Did Monty Brown put his number 1 contender spot on the line when he faced Christian Cage? If so, tell the fans he did, that way the fans won’t be as confused as they are.
Another problem that I believe TNA has is, the discern between faces and heels. When you think of Monty Brown, do you think of a face or a heel? You’re confused, aren’t you? That’s because, NO ONE KNOWS! Monty Brown would obviously be a heel, considering he gets booed by fans, he tells the fans to shut up, and he double crosses other wrestlers so he can get a shot at the title.
What bothers me about Monty Brown, is TNA is either waiting patiently for Monty’s push, or they are screwing around with this guy. Monty Brown needs to be champion, or feud with someone who can build him up. Obviously, it was Christian who built him up, but Monty Brown lost, and lost CLEAN. What does that say about Monty’s character? He’s unstoppable, just as long as Christian Cage doesn’t get in the ring with him?
I understand that TNA is trying to step away from the “Goldberg” thing with Monty, but Monty has great potential in being champion and TNA isn’t following suit in giving Monty that push to the title. Maybe they are, and we just haven’t seen it yet, maybe we will this Saturday.
One final problem is, “what motivation do these two wrestlers have in wrestling each other?” A major problem with TNA is the storylines and the motivation for two wrestlers to wrestle in a match.
Besides a strap of gold, or a big sum of money, what purpose do some wrestlers have? TNA isn’t that stupid, because with obvious motivations like Raven’s pride vs. Zbysko’s desire to get rid of Raven, or, Jarrett’s title vs. Rhino’s redemption from the WWE, or even, Christian Cage’s opportunity vs. Monty Brown’s pride in being the next big thing. However, there is one feud that, in my opinion, didn’t have a lick of sense on what the motivation was. Sabu vs. Abyss.
What was their motivation in mauling their bodies in a barbed wire match? Sabu’s reputation as a hardcore legend vs. Abyss’ fear of barbed wire? Maybe. But, does it really have a need to have a match over?
The barbed wire match did redeem the confusion, but TNA needs to really grasp on the motivation of why matches are made, and not just have a face vs. a heel with no build up.
Finally, what needs to be done in TNA.
Continue with the feuds, because they are working. 3 Live crew and Konnan, is working. AJ, Daniels, and Joe, is working. Christian and Monty, is working, but needs more elaboration. Jeff Jarrett being champ, is working. Trust me, EVERYONE HATES JARRETT, and by keeping him champ fans will tune in to see who will give Jarrett the royal ass whipping he deserves.
A lot of fans say to me, “TNA needs a two hour show.” I do agree to this; however, TNA’s money is in the pay-per-views; therefore, as for now, it would be a better idea to have a better time slot rather than a two hour show first.
What fans forget is TNA is still a young company, and honestly a small company. I doubt TNA has the revenue to book a two hour show that doesn’t concern with a pay-per-view. TNA should really try and strive for a better time slot other than 11pm est. Maybe an 8pm est, or a 9pm est.
Once TNA establishes themselves as a force to be reckon with, then they can evolve into a two hour show, but it is still way too early for two hours of Impact. It would be nice, but if TNA would do this, then TNA would fall fast.
So far, TNA is redeeming themselves from past mistakes. All the answers needed was at Turning Point; however, one more element that has made TNA an interesting company to watch is....
The arrival of Sting.
As a wrestling fan, I am excited for TNA in bringing Sting back, but what will they do with him? How will they use him? Let’s be honest, Sting was the top guy in WCW, and the second guy to NEVER go to WWE and establish himself as a trademarked name in professional wrestling.
If you want to learn more about TNA, please go to tnawrestling.com
On a personal note, I’m happy to say the Wrestling Epicenter is back online. It’s great to see the website back up and running with James Walsh taking full control of the site.
You can listen to James and the “Queen of Extreme” Francine on the Blaze 1260 AM, or you can go to www.wrestlingepicenter.com. You can even download the interviews that James and Francine have inducted with the likes of Hulk Hogan, Shawn Michaels, Batista, and TNA’s AJ Styles, Chris Sabin, and more.
TNA’s replay of Turning Point will be on December 13th at 8pm est in case you missed possibly the greatest wrestling pay-per-view of all time.
Print
Email
