Crimson... the "Red Herring"?

[Prince Punk]

Of course it was planned all along. TNA was hinting an AJ Styles face turn for about a month now. Fourtune has ALWAYS been about Fourtune. Flair has ALWAYS hated Hogan (assuming Flair turns face too).

I've been saying this a lot - the M.E.M thing was simply a DECOY. Think of this: if TNA can sign Steiner a week before "they" are revealed, what was stopping them from signing Nash and Booker? Can they not reform the MEM without Nash and Booker? nWo was re-formed in WWE without Steiner, Buff Bagwell and all the other useless guys. Why? They were not important.

Fourtune was the plan ALL along and I'm certain of it. The whole M.E.M thing was all speculation by the IWC and the endless stream of dirt-sheets trying to stir the shit between TNA and WWE with the recent signings of Booker and Nash. Nash went to WWE for the money, Booker didn't even think of coming back to TNA. If he did, he would've already. Period.

Remember, this episode of iMPACT was booked on the very next day after the Royal Rumble and this was booked way to coherently to be mustered up in a matter of hours.

WWWOOOOOOOOWWWWWW!!!!!! This man is THE TNA mark of the year!!!!
the MEM was built out of Angle, Sting, Nash, Booker, and Steiner now out of these 5... The only useless person in this lot is someone you actually named in your post as useless and that's Steiner..

And even Steiner is not without merit. So to say you could still bring them back without all the members (or at least people to take their spots) would just be a watered down version...

Also WWE brought back the original NWO (Hogan, Hall, and Nash) aka they brought in the version fans wanted to remember instead of the ******ed (another vince Russeo fuck up!!) half the roster is NWO bullshit...

Your comparison there made no sense. It's called TNA would have turned fortune but this soon and the way they did it screamed "our ship is sinking we are doing all we can to preserve the cargo" As a month maybe two of serious tension is not a slow build 4-6 months on an angle is a slow build but the A.D.D that TNA has can't allow for them to come up with creative angles (they this they that...) and they also can never seem to follow through...

 

[mikevenom00]

mem was definately the plan all along and it was gunna be fuckin awsume best angle in tna for years until nash n booker showed up at the rumble i for one reckon russo shoulda stuck wit the mem angle just swap a few things around kurt as the boss steiner as the underboss crisom as the hitmen throw rvd in coz hes got the fued wit jeff jarret maybe matt morgan would be hard to find a reason for him to be in there considering he wants to be champ but anyway start wit that n they try bring in lashley or sting in there a few weeks down the track i tottally think that angle would of got over immortal vs fortune is way to early...... ohhh tna i love ya but fuck you screw up bad sumtimes......

 

[Mr_Ratings]

WWWOOOOOOOOWWWWWW!!!!!! This man is THE TNA mark of the year!!!!
the MEM was built out of Angle, Sting, Nash, Booker, and Steiner now out of these 5... The only useless person in this lot is someone you actually named in your post as useless and that's Steiner..

And even Steiner is not without merit. So to say you could still bring them back without all the members (or at least people to take their spots) would just be a watered down version...

Also WWE brought back the original NWO (Hogan, Hall, and Nash) aka they brought in the version fans wanted to remember instead of the ******ed (another vince Russeo fuck up!!) half the roster is NWO bullshit...

Your comparison there made no sense. It's called TNA would have turned fortune but this soon and the way they did it screamed "our ship is sinking we are doing all we can to preserve the cargo" As a month maybe two of serious tension is not a slow build 4-6 months on an angle is a slow build but the A.D.D that TNA has can't allow for them to come up with creative angles (they this they that...) and they also can never seem to follow through...

And a little green midget kicking everybody ass in the Royal Rumble screams thank god for the Justin Bieber/ John Cena fans that keep this company a float.

Hence why theyre negotating with Bieber to be a part of Wrestlemania. Face it if this WWE was around 13 years ago they wouldve been bringing on the Backstreet Boys lmao.

Which wouldve turned out well for WCW

Bring back 3 Count! They could be a major success story in WWE now lmao.

 

[Mr_Ratings]

Trust me I rather watch a company do a quick save face/makeover than a company that has a midget throwing around 200 pound men or a Unibrowed Italian almost winning the rumble or a 62 year old man becoming the number 1 contender to the WWE title.

WWE marks... Do us real wrestling fans a favor and draw a line on the bullshit somewhere!

 

[Zeven_Zion]

http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/TNA_News_1/article_47427.shtml

According to an interview Kurt Angle gave on radio.thescore.com, here is what Angle had to say regarding his potential future and on the subject of Kevin Nash & Booker T:

"My contract's up in August. I'm going to keep the option open," Angle told Mauro Ranallo on the Fight Show satellite radio show on Thursday. "I like TNA. I like being there. I like that the company has built the last four-and-a-half years since I've been there. I don't have any plans of leaving, but I don't think Kevin Nash and Booker T had plans of jumping either."

He further went on to say in regards to Nash & Booker:

"They were actually, until a couple days before the Rumble, signed with TNA. In essence, they asked for their release at the last second and TNA gave them their wish. I'm going to do what's best for Kurt Angle and they've treated me well here."

Compare that with Dixie Carter's comments on a Fan Questions & Answer segment that she posted last Thursday:

"Booker was not available for any MEM angle. "Kevin Nash was under contract with TNA and was just recently released for reasons I will not disclose."

So what we've got here are two conflicting stories, which means either Kurt Angle or Dixie Carter is shoveling some bullshit. I'm more inclined to go with Dixie Carter as it woudln't be the first time she's shaded the truth. After all, Kurt Angle has absolutely no reason to lie about it does he? It's not like he has any hard feelings towards TNA or Dixie Carter and would purposely say something to embarass. So, why would he say that Booker T was with the company if he actually wasn't? As for Kevin Nash, Dixie said that she wouldn't discuss the reasons why he was released from his contract.

So, yeah I'm not just gonna automatically believe that the MEM was never returning. I will grant that there's always that the MEM wasn't intended to be "They" all along because we'll never be 100% sure either way. But we've got two very prominent people with TNA giving conflicting stories.

So I was wrong about this whole thing then? Fair enough. But to me it seems like TNA's not the bad guy in this case, it's basically Booker T and Kevin Nash leaving TNA when TNA had plans for them. The IWC contantly harps on the fact that TNA made plans for them without signing them - well there you go, they were signed, they left and they screwed TNA over.

I take my words back about the whole it wasn't "MEM" thing, it seemed hard to believe that any sane management would plan something without employing the people first and it wasn't the case.

Then again, it turned out better than I think it would've if Nash and Booker had stayed. I'm just glad that it's essentially going to be younger/established guys versus younger/established guys. The only "old" wrestle in this is Double J and he's pure gold.

Blessings in disguise for TNA left and right. Anderson's injury, AJ's injury (I thought it was sweet to see him do the Styles Clash yesterday, I thought he was injured, didn't think he could, does this mean he's ready to wrestle now?), and now Nash and Booker abandonning TNA.

 

[klunderbunker]

So let me get this straight.

Crimson comes out looking like the MEM used to look, he makes a Mafia reference (offer he couldn't refuse), Steiner comes back, and THEY are coming.

Then Booker and Nash leave for WWE and Fourtune is revealed as THEY. Not to mention that all of the Mafia related stuff was filmed before Nash and Booker were at the Rumble.

And I'm supposed to believe that the Mafia angle wasn't scrapped at the very last second because two people are suddenly saying "Oh well we had this all planned and we just happened to release two of the most prominent people in this coming storyline a week before the payoff to it." That doesn't strike anyone else as either A, strange or B, really freaking stupid?

Think about this for a second. The Mafia stuff was filmed what, 2-3 weeks ago? Angle said Booker and Nash were under contract until just before the Rumble and were then released. In other words, TNA had the 1/27 episode filmed while they were under contract (filmed weeks ago, TNA had Booker and Nash until "a few days before the Rumble"). They're presumably released between the airing of last week's show and the taping of this week's show, which suddenly takes a big curve with Fourtune being revealed.

In other words, we're supposed to believe that TNA had two prominent Mafia members under contract, made Mafia references, established that some powerful group was coming, brought in a former Mafia member, and that it was Fourtune all along? Not to mention doesn't it seem odd that Dixie and Angle were both out at just the appropriate time to have these stories ready to back up their versions of the story?

I'll buy that Booker and Nash were under contract and TNA released them for whatever reasons, but I'm not buying that the Mafia was never supposed to happen. Not for a second. TNA can imply it was all a work, but if they did then I have no idea what the point of it was.

 

[hatehabsforever]

That's definitely correct, and I don't fault TNA for it whatsoever. It is extremely obvious that the second version of "they" was supposed to be a reincarnated MEM. No doubt about it. The seeds were set, the angle was unfolding, the typical teases were there, and then unexpectedly, Nash and Booker changed their minds and decided to leave, which I guess is their prerogative, although I personally think it's pretty shitty on their part to sign a contract (if in fact they actually did) and then change their minds and back out at the last moment and leave, defusing the storyline entirely.

Combine this with the speculated Sting jump to WWE on 2/21/11, and you can be potentially even more certain that things are changing on the fly. If the 2/21/11 vignette is in fact Sting (which I personally am still skeptical about), you can be sure he was an integral part of a new MEM storyline as well. The loss of Sting, combined with Nash and Booker, ended the storyline before it really got started.

If it is truly a fallback angle with Fourtune, rather than the double swerve that some would suggest, I would suggest that it is a blessing in disguise. It expedited the overdue AJ Styles face turn. It turned Fourtune face, where they should have been anyway, letting the fans cheer for them like I think they want to. It removed some older talent from TNA which may give some of their younger guys some opportunities they may not have otherwise seen. I think the new, ad lib angle will ultimately be better than the anticipated MEM 2 angle.

The other question is, how much longer before Kurt Angle follows his buddies north? Because you can count on the fact that he will end his professional career in WWE.

 

[onewayleeway69]

You guys need to realise that all tna did was try to bring a gd story to tna for the fans and failed. So theres no need to shit all over them for trying to make there product better. Im guessn they said "hey why not bring the mafia back it would be a cool story for the old rulers against the new rulers of tna" and obviously they would have realised there might have been a chance nash booker and sting didnt wanna come back. So they woulda said "just incase we need a back up plan" the back up plan was fourtune. Thats why they planted the seeds a couple of weeks ago with flair and aj in bitch'offs office. thats the way i see it, booker nash and sting didnt want to come back so tna went with plan b.

 

[TellMeWhy]

I think TNA just lucked up. For weeks they were teasing tension and a rift between AJ and Bischoff and they were able to use that storyline as payoff once Nash & Booker went back to WWE. In all, I think TNA did a good job with the swerve. I can imagine fans who tune into TNA and not being smarks were shocked out of their mind when they found out it was Fortune. My only question is where Flair will fit and which side he will be on. I also question what will happen with the 3 pseudo style stable of Steiner, Angle, and Crimson.

 

[joesgoingtoeatu]

Everybody, including the experts, have said MEM is coming back as "They". Well, they did not. Instead we got fortune as the TNA saviors in a drawn out double-turn. This has been planned from the beginning and a few things lead me to that conclusive.

Going back a few weeks, Bischoff was pretty hard on AJ for losing before the "They" storyline started. Then they book fortune to win 2 of the belts (after so much talk about belts = power, fortune had them).
Nash says to have pulled out of his contract back in January.

This has all the signs of a Bischoff taking everyone on a ride one way (playing the internet community) and leading us off the cliff because we were wrong. In fact, he reached back for TNA fans that have been following for a few years and teased a return of a previous faction of beloved over-the-hill megastars. I can even understand the suits for Kurt and Steiner - after all they are the "elder statesmen" of Pre-Hogan TNA. They should be called Mr. Steiner and Mr. Angle. And Crimson -well he got a great offer he couldnt refuse and joined as new-blood (ironic because Nash got an offer he couldnt refuse and returned as old-blood).

I enjoyed the Fortune turn tonight. And am glad its something that has got me interested in the storyline again.

Come on really ? You have no idea, this is just a theory. Im not saying it couldnt have happened that way but to act like Bischoff knew 100% all along what they were doing is ridculous.

The angle came off good on TV, and if this was the only other thing they could do. So lets just let the thing play out and not act like TNA pulled the greatest swerve since Hogan at Bash at the Beach !!!

 

[Rulk25]

Sorry I dont buy Booker being under contract unless TNA re complete idiots. The guy has been gone from the company for over a year and then suddenly he resigns and just days later asks for a release??
No I think there was talks with Booker they assumed he was abroad but were operating only on a handshake. Thats the most logical idea

 

[ramblinroy682]

Either way, I think its pretty interesting that we don't really know. For all we know, maybe TNA signed Nash to make us think MEM and then released him because his signing accomplished what it was set out to do. Maybe it was a swerve. Either way, with the AJ/Flair/Bishoff thing a few weeks ago and the Bischoff/AJ developing storyline then you could see the Fortune turn as the plan. Or maybe they were trying to get Nash, Sting, and Booker and it didn't turn out. We'll never really know....and that is one of the things that I like about it.

 

[Rampage Bentley]

Trust me I rather watch a company do a quick save face/makeover than a company that has a midget throwing around 200 pound men or a Unibrowed Italian almost winning the rumble or a 62 year old man becoming the number 1 contender to the WWE title.

WWE marks... Do us real wrestling fans a favor and draw a line on the bullshit somewhere!

Drw the line on the bullshit? At least WWE has consistency in the story telling. I can see your gripe with the Hornswaggle thing, but it was kind of entertaining, and it's not like Santino was legitimately last one tossed.

And if it was TNA that 62 year old man would be champion

 

[VinnieSunshine]

So let me get this straight.

Crimson comes out looking like the MEM used to look, he makes a Mafia reference (offer he couldn't refuse), Steiner comes back, and THEY are coming.

Then Booker and Nash leave for WWE and Fourtune is revealed as THEY. Not to mention that all of the Mafia related stuff was filmed before Nash and Booker were at the Rumble.

And I'm supposed to believe that the Mafia angle wasn't scrapped at the very last second because two people are suddenly saying "Oh well we had this all planned and we just happened to release two of the most prominent people in this coming storyline a week before the payoff to it." That doesn't strike anyone else as either A, strange or B, really freaking stupid?

Think about this for a second. The Mafia stuff was filmed what, 2-3 weeks ago? Angle said Booker and Nash were under contract until just before the Rumble and were then released. In other words, TNA had the 1/27 episode filmed while they were under contract (filmed weeks ago, TNA had Booker and Nash until "a few days before the Rumble"). They're presumably released between the airing of last week's show and the taping of this week's show, which suddenly takes a big curve with Fourtune being revealed.

In other words, we're supposed to believe that TNA had two prominent Mafia members under contract, made Mafia references, established that some powerful group was coming, brought in a former Mafia member, and that it was Fourtune all along? Not to mention doesn't it seem odd that Dixie and Angle were both out at just the appropriate time to have these stories ready to back up their versions of the story?

I'll buy that Booker and Nash were under contract and TNA released them for whatever reasons, but I'm not buying that the Mafia was never supposed to happen. Not for a second. TNA can imply it was all a work, but if they did then I have no idea what the point of it was.

TNA never released Nash or Booker. Nash has stated that he was supposed to go back and had a verbal agreement to sign again. He backed out after watching where the product was going and wasn't happy with it. As far as Booker...I never heard where he was with a contract with TNA.

http://www.wrestlezone.com/news/article/kevin-nash-talks-barrett-not-selling-leaving-tna-more-122917

I believe that MEM was supposed to be back and when Booker and Nash "defected" to WWE, since TNA's shows are taped in advance, they had to change things on the fly. Stiener and Angle even came walking out with suits on in the end last night. My question would be "how would Crimson fit into MEM?" Unless he was supposed to be some type of messenger or wannabe made-man.

Im not a big TNA fan by any means...but Im actually kinda glad Booker and Nash screwed them because it forces TNA do do a storyline where they can use their original talent. Truth be told I have viewed TNA in the last few years as a sleep-away camp type promotion for WWE wrestlers. When wrestlers feel burnt out from the long schedule or need a refresher...they go to TNA until they are satisfied then go back to WWE.

Its good to see TNA (hopefully) revert back to its old pre WWE days and not hold back the guys that helped build that company. The 6-sided ring, as goofy as it may have been, was still a game changer and some of the things TNA had done were better than WWE in some aspects. But all that changed in the last few years.

 

[Mr_Ratings]

So let me get this straight.

Crimson comes out looking like the MEM used to look, he makes a Mafia reference (offer he couldn't refuse), Steiner comes back, and THEY are coming.

Then Booker and Nash leave for WWE and Fourtune is revealed as THEY. Not to mention that all of the Mafia related stuff was filmed before Nash and Booker were at the Rumble.

And I'm supposed to believe that the Mafia angle wasn't scrapped at the very last second because two people are suddenly saying "Oh well we had this all planned and we just happened to release two of the most prominent people in this coming storyline a week before the payoff to it." That doesn't strike anyone else as either A, strange or B, really freaking stupid?

Think about this for a second. The Mafia stuff was filmed what, 2-3 weeks ago? Angle said Booker and Nash were under contract until just before the Rumble and were then released. In other words, TNA had the 1/27 episode filmed while they were under contract (filmed weeks ago, TNA had Booker and Nash until "a few days before the Rumble"). They're presumably released between the airing of last week's show and the taping of this week's show, which suddenly takes a big curve with Fourtune being revealed.

In other words, we're supposed to believe that TNA had two prominent Mafia members under contract, made Mafia references, established that some powerful group was coming, brought in a former Mafia member, and that it was Fourtune all along? Not to mention doesn't it seem odd that Dixie and Angle were both out at just the appropriate time to have these stories ready to back up their versions of the story?

I'll buy that Booker and Nash were under contract and TNA released them for whatever reasons, but I'm not buying that the Mafia was never supposed to happen. Not for a second. TNA can imply it was all a work, but if they did then I have no idea what the point of it was.

Look TNA did what it had to do... And it made a good recovery cause its not like they totally scrapped the whole mafia thing. For all we know Crimson, Steiner and and Angle could have their own mafia-esque type of thing. Cause they did join fourtune in the ring with their suits on if you recall.

Remember the Vince/Warrior shit in 1991? A Jake Roberts/ Warrior feud was set. But then Warrior pulled that crap about money. So Vince scrapped it and put Jake in a feud with Savage.

This type of shit happens from time to time in wrestling. Its about how well you recover after something like this happens. And I thought TNA creative recovered it beautifully.

 

[EStreet]

For everyone who wants to say TNA Marks are eating up this crap and that TNA really botched the angle by not having the right guys under contract, I'll say this....regardless of whether or not Fortune was the original "They" - this, for one night so far, has played out extremely well. Actually think that this turn was far more exciting that the Hardy/Hogan turn and clusterFcuk that took place the next night w/ combining Imortal/Fortune.

**I said one night so far, now I hope it continues.

 

[AntiChristDeicide]

There is something people seem to forget. HBK is going to the WWE hall of fame this year, and Nash is one of his best friends. So knowing that TNA couldn't really expect to have Nash in the MEM right? So they could have planned the fortune turn in advance. As for Booker-T, he wasn't in TNA for at least 2 years why would he sing now with them and suddently say "oh well i;m going to wwe"? i don't know him but it wouldn't be professional on his part to do this, and i don't think he is the type to pull shit like that.

 

[Sicc Nick]

I think it was going to be Fourtune all along. Angle, etc. kept treating "they" as a mystery thing, but yet kept showing us way too many "It's MEM. It's MEM. It's MEM."

On Reaction back in November, AJ Styles said he doesn't give too damn's about Immortal. That right there could have meant they were thinking about making Fourtune turn.

Only thing I don't understand is AJ Styles being choked out by Abyss.

 

[Big Nick Dudley]

I see Zeven is working overtime to make sure TNA doesn't look bad. Are you on the payroll???

Anyway, yes, the OP is giving Russo too much credit. But, that doesn't mean this is going to turn out badly.

The MEM was "THEY." The smarks can spin it however they want, but Nash and Dixie (yes, DIXIE) have made it quite clear that the MEM returning was the plan, probably all the way up until Sunday evening.

However, I have to give Russo/whoever fixed this mess some credit. They took a negative, and turned it into somewhat of a positive. TNA's creative team could have gone in a number of frightening directions, like bringing back EV2. But splitting Immortal and Fourtune was really their only plausible option.

Do I think this is going to play out well? I'm skeptical. Immortal doesn't really have the guys anymore to pose a major threat to anyone, especially the new Fourtune Alliance. This stupid "court proceeding" sub-plot is still going on, when it clearly should have ended on February 3rd (ya know, when it was advertised to end. This particular carry-over reminds me a lot of how Starrcade 1997 ended. And by ended, I mean it didn't end at all, when it should have).

I do believe A.J. and Fourtune were eventually going to split from Immortal as many of you do. But there is no doubt it was rushed at the very last second because TNA counted their eggs before they hatched. They thought they had all their ducks in a row, and actually didn't.

So while I'm not happy about TNA jumping the gun, and all but actually telling us the MEM was coming back, I'm not as unhappy with Fourtune leaving Immortal as I would have been with a MEM/Immortal feud. A.J. cut what might have been the promo of his career, and he's back toward the top of TNA, where he belongs. Also, I have a feeling that A.J. wasn't only going off of a script, it may very well be exactly how he really feels.

 

[It's Damn Real!]

Kurt Angle on Nash & Booker T Jumping Ship via an interview with Mauro Ranallo on The Fight Show satellite radio show from Thursday:

"They were actually, until a couple days before the (Royal) Rumble, signed with TNA. In essence, they asked for their release at the last second and TNA gave them their wish.

If this isn't clear-cut proof that MEM was intended to return (regardless of whether Fourtune was set to turn at some point in the near/later future or not), I don't know what is.

 

[Tripleb2k1]

If they were signed with TNA till a few days until Rumble and TNA taped the monday night after Rumble...its not really TNAs fault is it?

This sort of thing could happen to the WWE...granted Vince would probably sue the wrestler or the agent in charge of contracts...

if WWE was on the other end of this, we'd be waiting till april for the wrestlers to be seen on tv again. WWE has the 90 day no compete clause in their release contracts

...to be honest, I think Dixie is lying and had them make the youtube video to cover up the colossal screw up

 

[Prince Punk]

Trust me I rather watch a company do a quick save face/makeover than a company that has a midget throwing around 200 pound men or a Unibrowed Italian almost winning the rumble or a 62 year old man becoming the number 1 contender to the WWE title.

WWE marks... Do us real wrestling fans a favor and draw a line on the bullshit somewhere!

And here is the man coming in at #2 for the Marks of TNA! Considering he is calling TNA the place for "real" wrestling fans.. The company that had Hulk Hogan getting the most face time (if it was ric flair I would not bitch at all that man can still wrestle and is THE MAN) not to mention has ran the worst tv product since the last few weeks of WCW...

Though to mention WWE.if the Midget can throw a 200 Ib man then give him some credit for being able to lift that much as I doubt you can... And the Unibrowed Italian gets major pops and him "almost" winning the rumble is to bring him out of the full on comedy and start to make him more serious (he is a talented wrestler) And as for The King being the #1 contender It's simply to push storylines and all the big talent will be facing off in a chamber match.

It's called storytelling I know you spend a lot of time watching TNA and would not understand that but it's a pretty big art form in the world of wrestling...