Gunner and Storm

[ramblinroy682]

So, what do you think of the new pairing of Gunner and James Storm?

Personally, I like Gunner. I think he has a good look. I think he's not bad when it comes to in ring work, especially for a "muscle guy". He's light years ahead of a guy like Rob Terry. But, He's not great on the microphone. He had one decent promo in TNA, I believe with Anderson. I think the Tag Team Division is the perfect place for a guy like him. Especially if you pair him with a guy who is good on the mic.

But, is James Storm the right guy for him. Well, it does give Storm a purpose. Realistically, Storm should be in the title hunt. He should be around the main event. So should Aires and Roode. But, this isn't bad, short term. But, Gunner needs a long term partner. So, I'm not sure Storm is the right fit.

I'd rather see Gunner team with a guy like Crimson who they can really build around for a long term solution for the tag division. They both have military back grounds and could work together. They would need help in promos. They would need a manager. Imagine a guy like Paul Heyman putting the two of them over. TNA doesn't have a guy like that, so who could they use? Maybe Eric Young could channel the World Elite Version of himself. Daniels would be a great Modern Day Version of Precious Paul Ellering and Crimson and Gunner could be TNA's (very poor man's) version of the Road Warriors. However, that is clearly not an option.

So, the question, ultimately is, can James Storm help Gunner get over. I hope so. TNA needs some guys to continue to break out and get over. It's been 11 years of guys like AJ, Daniels, Eric Young, Hernandez, Joe, Roode, Storm, Bully, Sting, Devon, and Sabin. Sure we've seen a few guys come in...Anderson, Morgan, Magnus, Hogan (boo!!!) but none have seem like a big acquisition. Christian, Angle, and Aries are arguably the biggest and best "free agents" to debut. So, if this pairing can establish Gunner as a viable option in the company, great. TNA needs a next wave of Stars. Gunner, Crimson, Kenny King and Magnus appear to be some of the options. I hope they work out.

 

[New Hot Fed]

The match up is intriguing me. I always thought Gunner was underrated-as Crimson BTW- but they were both pushed down people' throat too soon too quickly before either of them had found their place, their role as wrestler. Gunner being inserted into this match puts him into a role that is needed: Storm is a badass but one that is sort of a lost soul at this point and I think the pairing fits and may help Storm find his mojo again. Let's face it, these two have a similar way to approach to things, they have a similar style. And if it works well, they'll be kicking ass and taking names sooner than later. And I feel a cowboy theme joining them in their new futur partnership. I would call them The Gunslingers.

 

[Ovaltine]

I would have preferred shark boy! Gunner has a good look, but he has no mic skills. Like they guy above said teaming him with someone like Crimson would have been a better idea. As for James Storm... what are they going to make him into a 12 time tag champion? That's more reigns as tag champion than TNA has been in existence! In that regard it's just too many reigns in such a short time for me to take seriously. I remember how big it was when the Rock N Roll express were 4 time champions. I stand by the belief that less over a long period of time is more. I roll my eyes at Team 3-Ds 25 time world champion garbage and that John Cena's a 12 time world champion. It worked for Flair cause he was the only one who got that billing and that was because his career spaned 4 decades! When you get up to 4 decades it's okay. Guys like Hogan and Sting (who is actually a 15 time world champion) can be billed like that and it isn't laughable because of the time that they spent in the sport.

 

[It's Damn Real!]

I've been high on both Gunner and Crimson for a while now. I wanted both thrown into a military-style tag-team playing off both their prior history in it, so I'm all in for getting Gunner back on television. I get he can't talk all that well, but based on the character he's playing, I'm not sure he has to. Just go to the ring and crush it. That's his job. Be 'Mr. Intensity' and give Storm a solid partner to pair with.

As to the partnership itself, I actually think it'll work out well. Storm will do the majority of the talking, but based on their styles I actually think they'll compliment one another well.

 

[PLATINUM PAT]

I think gunnar and storm paired together have potential. I want gunner to succeed and also tna badly needs a good babyface tag team. The best teams right now are bad influence and the dirty heels and both teams consistently cheat and are extremely arrogant so a good babyface team is essential (chavo and hernandez just haven't meshed well as a team)

 

[owenmandias]

I think that Storm won't be fit for the PPV and them bringing in Gunner means that they have a way to bring Crimson back as well as I think that Gunner will get to choose a new partner and he will choose Crimson.

 

[STFU Donnie]

I have no doubt that I'm in the minority and this is some big old speculation, but I see this as a big bait and switch...and maybe my faith in TNA is just a bridge too far here.

So I'm going back to when Storm got jumped and the blame was spread between Roode/Aries/Daniels/Kaz. I think this was a set up...and so is Gunner. The focus has been on AJ joining A&8's, so I think they are all about adding a member...and it's going to be Storm.

During the opening hour, Gunner is going to be found laid out in the back...with the suggestion that Roode/Aries/Daniels/Kaz are to blame. Storm enters the tag match alone. After 15 minutes or so of Storm being the valiant babyface, there will be a big schmoz and the ref gets bumped, everybody is hurt except Storm and Roode, and that's when A&8's come out. They surround the ring and for a second, it's Beer Money reunited, back to back ready to fight. That's when Anderson tosses Storm the hammer and he lays out Roode for the win. A&8's has a brand new member, the tag titles, and the freebird rule in place to defend the titles should they want it or maybe Storm tabs Anderson as his partner.

Now what you do with the other guys is up in the air...but I turn Roode/Aries face (allowing both to become candidates to take down Bully Ray), Daniels/Kaz are heel tweeners in the sense that they mess with everybody, but they're still heels, and Chavo and Hernandez are pissed because Storm duped them (maybe you have them take it easy on Storm in the match, giving him time to recover after they get a tag when he's down).

What I think this accomplishes with Storm is to give him his edge back, which he lost with the "family man" angle versus Roode and his horrible theme song...and you've positioned him a candidate to be the one who turns on A&8's and take down Bully Ray for the title. I believe TNA is trying to create several candidates to take off and grab that top babyface spot and beat Bully Ray. Positioning somebody within A&8's makes sense, so why not Storm?

 

[FitFinlay4Life]

Having seen the TNA Joker's Wild PPV and seen how long term the company has been in recent times, I believe this will be a short to medium length tag team with the ultimate aim to being a Gunner/ Crimson team.

Short term, I see Storm and Gunner operating in a similar vein to what Sting and Lex Luger once did with James overlooking Gunner's heelish ways because they are tag champs. However, somewhere down the line Gunner will turn on the Cowboy to side with Crimson and Storm will require someone to join forces with him to avenge the treachery (possibly EY) but they'll come up short, in the process putting over the new team.

Dixie Carter has just came out in an interview with British grap mag FSM to say that they do quite a bit of long term planning in TNA presently and I see this as one of those ideas... this is the youtube link to Joker's Wild - Crimson and Gunner work the first match (against Storm and Christian Yark) and perform a pretty good promo at the 39:38 mark that could become interesting if this was to materialize.

[YOUTUBE]Q3ABMqjsFd4[/YOUTUBE]​

EDIT: Sorry folks, I forgot last nights Impact.
The person I believe would be the Cowboy's backup against Gunner and Crimson is Chris Sabin who had a segment last night were he offered to be James' backup and Storm thanked him for watching his back (that long term booking principle again).

 

[IT Factor]

I have never seen anything special in Gunner. He is boring as a character and his ring work isn't too good either. James Storm is a great singles wrestler who paid dues for years to become a big name in his own right. Some people are good together as a tag team and some are not. Storm & Gunner seems too random and just put together out of nothing else to do for either guy. If TNA just has to bring Gunner back, maybe they could use him to add another contender for the TV title or even to restart the tag division. Either way, I don't really see anything about the guy that screams future world champion.

 

[Dave_duncan]

So, what do you think of the new pairing of Gunner and James Storm?

Personally, I like Gunner. I think he has a good look. I think he's not bad when it comes to in ring work, especially for a "muscle guy". He's light years ahead of a guy like Rob Terry. But, He's not great on the microphone. He had one decent promo in TNA, I believe with Anderson. I think the Tag Team Division is the perfect place for a guy like him. Especially if you pair him with a guy who is good on the mic.

But, is James Storm the right guy for him. Well, it does give Storm a purpose. Realistically, Storm should be in the title hunt. He should be around the main event. So should Aires and Roode. But, this isn't bad, short term. But, Gunner needs a long term partner. So, I'm not sure Storm is the right fit.

I'd rather see Gunner team with a guy like Crimson who they can really build around for a long term solution for the tag division. They both have military back grounds and could work together. They would need help in promos. They would need a manager. Imagine a guy like Paul Heyman putting the two of them over. TNA doesn't have a guy like that, so who could they use? Maybe Eric Young could channel the World Elite Version of himself. Daniels would be a great Modern Day Version of Precious Paul Ellering and Crimson and Gunner could be TNA's (very poor man's) version of the Road Warriors. However, that is clearly not an option.

So, the question, ultimately is, can James Storm help Gunner get over. I hope so. TNA needs some guys to continue to break out and get over. It's been 11 years of guys like AJ, Daniels, Eric Young, Hernandez, Joe, Roode, Storm, Bully, Sting, Devon, and Sabin. Sure we've seen a few guys come in...Anderson, Morgan, Magnus, Hogan (boo!!!) but none have seem like a big acquisition. Christian, Angle, and Aries are arguably the biggest and best "free agents" to debut. So, if this pairing can establish Gunner as a viable option in the company, great. TNA needs a next wave of Stars. Gunner, Crimson, Kenny King and Magnus appear to be some of the options. I hope they work out.

Personally I am intrigued no more. I was hoping for the return of someone like RVD or at a push Raven. Both could inject a new look back into the tag team, Raven in particular. Then again I was expecting Hardy to be his partner and sharkboy coming out was a nice supprise. I did not want to see crimson come back with storm but that's because I think it would be better if storm was about to win the tag titles then cromson blimdsides him!


Posted from Wrestlezone.com App for Android

 

[New Hot Fed]

I have never seen anything special in Gunner. He is boring as a character and his ring work isn't too good either. James Storm is a great singles wrestler who paid dues for years to become a big name in his own right. Some people are good together as a tag team and some are not. Storm & Gunner seems too random and just put together out of nothing else to do for either guy. If TNA just has to bring Gunner back, maybe they could use him to add another contender for the TV title or even to restart the tag division. Either way, I don't really see anything about the guy that screams future world champion.

Nobody is talking World Champion for Gunner. Just that Storm and Gunner fits together. They come off like two gunslingers and cause Gunner is always "on" and intense it may give Storm his edge back.

 

[scottyshowman82]

I share the sentiments of many looking forward to the Team of Gunner and Crimson. In 2011 these two guys were on fire and dominating the Bound For Glory tournament but have recently lost so much momentum unfortunately. Gunner is a beast. He has a fantastic look. The new beard he's sporting actually makes him look a lot like Storm. I was hoping that Wildcat Chris Harris was going to come back and reform AMW. I mean if you can't have Beer Money why not AMW, especially around Slammiversary time. I too wouldn't mind if Gunner ended up with Crimson after the pay per view, but who knows Gunner and Storm could be a big hit. I'm gonna be checking out Slammiversary for sure.

 

[HBsam31]

I have never been a real fan of Gunner, but I like this. I think he will fair well partnering with Storm. TNA threw us a bit of a curve and I think it will work out well. GUnner has been gone for a while, and I am sure he got a chance to train and get better. I would rather see this than Chris Harris back in horrible shape trying to bring back AMW. I think this will turn out good for both guys, and glad they did something different.

 

[Lowdown]

There's potential in Gunner, yet I'm not sure how pairing him with Storm will pan out. I do agree that he should be paired with Crimson considering their backgrounds. Hell they could make a pretty monster team if treated properly. But I think right now TNA is just trying to keep guys like Storm, Aries, and Roode busy until the BFG series begins, if there is one. But I'm looking forward to seeing Gunner back in action.

 

[IT Factor]

Nobody is talking World Champion for Gunner. Just that Storm and Gunner fits together. They come off like two gunslingers and cause Gunner is always "on" and intense it may give Storm his edge back.

I was pointing out the Gunner as world champ thing because some people here seem to think he has potential. Maybe he does, but if he does I haven't seen it yet. The gunslingers thing was more like AMW and not Gunner. Gunner looks like a carbon copy of Matt Morgan with longer hair. Storm can get his edge back by turning heel. Because they book him too weakly as a face.

 

[Jack-Hammer]

I've never seen anything special about Gunner. As far as a character or persona goes, the guy's always struck me as just plain flat. All the "Mr. Intensity" garbage is just that. His intensity has always amounted to making weird facial expressions while slapping himself. AS far as his in-ring stuff goes, completely average.

That being said, the idea of partnering him with Storm MIGHT prove to be something that's beneficial in a number of different ways. For one thing, Gunner is just another face on the roster and has been since he arrived in TNA. Partnering him with Storm could be a means of elevating him into something more not only now, but later on down the line. Storm is still pretty over with the TNA audience, even though he's lost a great deal of steam. If he can't help get Gunner over, there aren't many on the roster who can. At this time last year, James Storm was probably the strongest babyface on the roster but has really just been floating around mid-card limbo since his feud with Roode over the TNA WHC ended. As part of a team, at least he's being used for something that has some relevance. It might not be the main event, but it's something. If teaming him with Gunner can add some life to the tag team picture in TNA then, again, it seems like a good use of both of them.

But yeah, I'm not jumping on the Gunner bandwagon whatsoever just yet. I do think TNA ultimately got things started off in a good direction for him by teaming him with Storm. However, I'm personally going to have to see much, much more progression before I'm just not seeing anything resembling potential from him.

 

[New Hot Fed]

I was pointing out the Gunner as world champ thing because some people here seem to think he has potential. Maybe he does, but if he does I haven't seen it yet. The gunslingers thing was more like AMW and not Gunner. Gunner looks like a carbon copy of Matt Morgan with longer hair. Storm can get his edge back by turning heel. Because they book him too weakly as a face.

The only thing Gunner and Matt Morgan have in common is the beard. Gunner is a much better wrestler.

 

[IT Factor]

The only thing Gunner and Matt Morgan have in common is the beard. Gunner is a much better wrestler.

Sorry, I just don't see it. Gunner is boring and bland. At least Morgan can talk and decently wrestle. Gunner cannot talk and his feigned intensity thing does not work at all. People can buy into Matt Morgan and that is something Gunner has not shown yet, which definitely sets the two apart. Just not the way you are thinking in terms of it being in Gunner's favor.

 

[New Hot Fed]

Sorry, I just don't see it. Gunner is boring and bland. At least Morgan can talk and decently wrestle. Gunner cannot talk and his feigned intensity thing does not work at all. People can buy into Matt Morgan and that is something Gunner has not shown yet, which definitely sets the two apart. Just not the way you are thinking in terms of it being in Gunner's favor.

I don't care really who's better between Morgan and Gunner. But you implied they were one and the same. Morgan is a 6 foot 8 or 10, who can barely move in the ring. Gunner is smaller and can actually have a wrestling match. Sure he's bland but he's not the same. Hell Morgan has more in common with former WWE monster Snitzky than Gunner.

 

[scottyshowman82]

I gotta say how awesome did Gunner look after last night Impact. This dude is in shape. He looked terrifying and menacing and when TNA greats like Bobby Roode and Austin Aries were reluctant to get in the ring with him, you believed it. He's holding his own with them and has to be one of the most intimadating looking guys on the roster. I was watching that match and thinking this guy is tailor made for the WWE and a Royal Rumble style match. TNA has something special with this guy.

 

[RawIsJericho]

I don't care really who's better between Morgan and Gunner. But you implied they were one and the same. Morgan is a 6 foot 8 or 10, who can barely move in the ring. Gunner is smaller and can actually have a wrestling match. Sure he's bland but he's not the same. Hell Morgan has more in common with former WWE monster Snitzky than Gunner.

Saying Morgan can barely move seems pretty harsh. I think he's actually pretty mobile for a guy his size. Obviously he's not going to fly around the place, he's a "big man" and he's going to wrestle in a "big man" fashion, but I think he gets around pretty well for such a big guy.