Impact Support Club House

[X]

I dug Flair in TNA, particularly his feud and work with Jay Lethal which I thought was the best thing he'd done since his "retirement" match with HBK. Sting vs. Hogan at BFG, however, was terrible. The nostalgia factor was nice, but the work itself was borderline abysmal.

I love Sting but frankly it almost never seemed like he truly, really cared after his return to regular action in 06. His work was usually mediocre and I'd be hard pressed to name more than a few singles matches of his in TNA that were actually good. Jesus did he even take his t-shirt off for 90% of his matches? I felt like he was sleepwalking through most of his TNA run and the Sting we saw in WWE, trying to bust his ass to keep up with Seth Rollins, was an actually motivated Sting. I rarely felt he was motivated in TNA. Still, a huge part of that company's history, their first real big signing and helped them land the Spike deal.

 

[It's Damn Real!]

Oh, the match itself was garbage. But what they were actually able to pull off and what the match represented on the show and how well it was received live were all positive.

Sting the figure was always a lot better than Sting the wrestler with TNA, I admit, but no less important to their history. Probably the second biggest get they ever got behind Angle. Especially with how long they convinced him to stay, year-after-year. I mean, the running gag with Bram is the business about is new multi-year contracts, but Sting managed to sign like every year, without fail.

 

[X]

Oh, the match itself was garbage. But what they were actually able to pull off and what the match represented on the show and how well it was received live were all positive.

Sting the figure was always a lot better than Sting the wrestler with TNA, I admit, but no less important to their history. Probably the second biggest get they ever got behind Angle. Especially with how long they convinced him to stay, year-after-year. I mean, the running gag with Bram is the business about is new multi-year contracts, but Sting managed to sign like every year, without fail.

I mean I'll gladly admit I enjoyed the sheer spectacle of seeing those two wrestle again. I enjoyed everything about it except for, you know, the actual wrestling. And I totally understand why they booked it. But it was slightly sad seeing these two so far from their prime. Then again their first match in 97, Hogan was already a total mess who wasn't willing to work even an average match.

That said I don't like to think about the Hogan/Bischoff years because it was the impetus which turned TNA from probably my favorite wrestling promotion to one I simply laughed at. I was such a huge mark for TNA in the fall of 09, their string of shows from September to December that fall were outstanding and inspired an old school mark passion in me. Then Hogan and Bischoff showed up and we had the fucking Nasty Boys as tag champs and Val Venis pinning Nigel McGunness clean two months after a bloody and hard fought feud with Angle. I cannot express how badly those two damaged that company in the eyes of fans and Spike TV. I know you said you dug AJ as Flair's protege but I thought it was pretty awful, it didn't fit AJ at all, felt totally forced, and totally derailed all of his momentum from several months of outstanding title defenses against the likes of Joe and Daniels. That's the point for me where the company truly turned for the worse, into their current period of "Wow, how the fuck is this company still alive?" television.

I agree with the Angle statement though, while I think Sting was the bigger get because of his name value from WCW, Angle actually delivered and continued to deliver at a high level for years. There's no way Vince didn't take notice and think "Damn, we let him go way too early".

 

[It's Damn Real!]

I mostly dug AJ with Flair, but I cared less and less as they added more and more Flair as the weeks went on.

But I do agree that all the air went out of the balloon despite the hype. That fall of '09 was just incredible, and it was a slow steady leak from that point on, even though there were some nice moments here and there over that time.

The craziest thing about Angle is they got him at 38. All those incredible matches and all that amazing work he was doing were in his early 40's. Kinda nuts.

 

[ABMorales787]

According to PWInsider.com, Bobby Roode and Eric Young have reportedly finished with TNA at tonight’s Impact Wrestling tapings in Orlando.


The report notes that both former TNA World Champions requested their release from the company. Young was in the process of negotiating a new TNA deal, but decided to ask for his release instead.


Neither contract carries a no-compete clause, so both men are free agents as of tomorrow.

Yup.

 

[Starkist]

Shit sucks. Hopefully they come back sooner rather than later.

 

[It's Damn Real!]

EY/Roode news sucks, but TNA will survive their losses. Legacy is what hurts more than the actual impact of losing either IMO. Especially given how much both have flirted with leaving over the last year and a half (GFW).

 

[Papa Pillman]

EY/Roode news sucks, but TNA will survive their losses. Legacy is what hurts more than the actual impact of losing either IMO. Especially given how much both have flirted with leaving over the last year and a half (GFW).

Quick question Prez...

If Roode and EY show up in NXT, also taking into account the upcoming debut of Aries and the very really chance that Joe picks up the title in Dallas, will you consider making a more focused attempt at following the NXT product?


Also I'm loving the new replacement sig. If you'd be interested in crafting me a Trevor Lee version to replace my former Low Ki cut, I'd gladly use it.

 

[It's Damn Real!]

Maybe, yeah. The last time I watched NXT I did enjoy the in-ring product. But the crowd took me completely out of it, as did the commentary. It reminded me of that "Crucial Crew" bullshit TNA had to fend off years ago — the fuckin' idiot marks sitting front row who made it all about themselves with their silly chants, turning their backs on the camera, etc.

The commentary was also too "WWE" for me. I get that WWE is never going to mention TNA by name, but the way they sweep the accolades of guys who cut their fucking teeth in TNA, and made themselves valuable to NXT/WWE in the first place through TNA is absurd.

 

[Papa Pillman]

Maybe, yeah. The last time I watched NXT I did enjoy the in-ring product. But the crowd took me completely out of it, as did the commentary. It reminded me of that "Crucial Crew" bullshit TNA had to fend off years ago — the fuckin' idiot marks sitting front row who made it all about themselves with their silly chants, turning their backs on the camera, etc.

The commentary was also too "WWE" for me. I get that WWE is never going to mention TNA by name, but the way they sweep the accolades of guys who cut their fucking teeth in TNA, and made themselves valuable to NXT/WWE in the first place through TNA is absurd.

The crowd is just as chant-y and "part of the product" as ever, but at least they're clever.

As for NXT's commentary, it has actually been quite good since they seem to have found an apparently permanent team at the desk, with Phillips returning to play-by-play after they brought in Mauro for Smackdown, and Graves taking over as full time color with guys like Albert and Riley working in their other roles away from the booth. The duo have really been stellar and they added a lot to the Joe/Sami 2/3 falls main event a couple episodes back.

 

[It's Damn Real!]

Also:

 

[Skairipa Matrix]

I was surprised to see Roode and EY leave TNA but what I don't get is from what I can tell from the tapings...

Spoiler

Beer Money remained champs having successfully defended the belts vs The Bromans, Decay and EY/Bram. If Roode is leaving why the hell wouldn't you let Decay beat them for the belts?!

Also I can't see EY going to NXT, Roode I could though.

 

[Sai the Uganda Guy]

I was surprised to see Roode and EY leave TNA but what I don't get is from what I can tell from the tapings...

Spoiler

Beer Money remained champs having successfully defended the belts vs The Bromans, Decay and EY/Bram. If Roode is leaving why the hell wouldn't you let Decay beat them for the belts?!

Also I can't see EY going to NXT, Roode I could though.

Spoiler

The Decay (Abyss and Steve) win the belts from Beer Money on a show to air in April, while EY drops the KOTM title to Bram.

 

[Skairipa Matrix]

Spoiler

The Decay (Abyss and Steve) win the belts from Beer Money on a show to air in April, while EY drops the KOTM title to Bram.

Spoiler

Just saw that, love the title change and hope they get a long run. I think the group has been killing it since they formed. Easily the best work Crazzy Steve has ever done and Abyss is interesting for the first time in years.

 

[Starkist]

The Decay is very interesting for sure. Lot of good things happen on TNA TV even with the loss of Ey and Roode.

 

[Alex]

Still wish TNA would sign Jonny Havoc and put him with Decay and kick Abyss out

 

[ABMorales787]

Still wish TNA would sign Jonny Havoc and put him with Decay and kick Abyss out

Jimmy. And he's signed. And hurt.

 

[Alex]

Jimmy. And he's signed. And hurt.

Meant Jimmy. Cool he's signed, sucks he's hurt

 

[It's Damn Real!]

There's a few guys still hurt who are part of the future for TNA. Andrew Everett is another.

 

[Skairipa Matrix]

Honestly I won't even miss EY. He was a good hand and all but his act got old a long time ago.

 

[Starkist]

I really want to see TNA push Eddie Edwards up the card solo while Richards is hurt. He could add some depth to the X Division which is needed in my eyes. Trevor Lee cannot do it on his own.

 

[Sai the Uganda Guy]

Backstage news on why EY and Roode left TNA

 

[Dirk]

Honestly I won't even miss EY. He was a good hand and all but his act got old a long time ago.

Youuuuu shut your ****e mouth! Go back to your home on ****e Island.

;-)

 

[SHAGAMANIA 3:16]

No!! EY left! He was my favorite.

 

[Alex]

Backstage news on why EY and Roode left TNA

Being pay related doesn't sound good (again).Seems odd they can pay Storm a guaranteed contract but can't give Roode and EY a pay rise