Kurt Angle's GM Role Important for TNA's Distinctiveness?

[Anti-IWC-Marks]

As most wrestling fans and followers would probably agree, TNA needs to look into offering things that sets them apart from the WWE.

In the Manhatten Center in New York, we saw the return of the 6-sided ring, certainly a big step in establishing a difference in asthetics and methodology.

However, when Kurt Angle took the reins from MVP as Director of Operations, it also was a big step towards differing themselves.

How?

The WWE is now employing "the authority", which is of course a rehash of Vince McMahon's corporation gimmick, albeit much much more tackier and controlling. When MVP made his heel turn and became a power-hungry Director, all I could do is roll my eyes and think "Here we go, another heel director of operations.. another dictator abusing their power"..

Kurt Angle gives the wrestling fan the opposite reality within a wrestling organization. As long as Stephanie and Trips are stroking their egos and putting themselves ahead of the talent, TNA needs to keep an honorable, face director of operations.

It's certainly what's "best for business".. but really.

 

[UFOcalling]

I agree, to a degree. When iMPACT was being ran by Dixie, everyone was comparing her to Stephanie. When iMPACT was being ran by MVP & Co, everyone was calling them the "Black Evolution" (I even saw "Black Authority" thrown around once or twice). With Kurt "in charge", at least there's nothing currently happening in the WWE that's similar.

Kurt's recovering from surgery/injury (as far as I know), and having Kurt on-screen in an authoritative role is a good way to keep him on screen. I hope they stick with Kurt for a while, because they've already jerked the audience around too many times with who's in charge of TNA.

We'll probably see another power struggle between Kurt & Dixie(land), but hopefully they can do it in a different way than they have in the past. I don't know why they keep bringing Dixie back, to be 100% honest. She's the kind of figure in the wrestling world that will always get "X-Pac heat" no matter whether she's heel or face (at least they finally pulled the trigger on making her a heel, no one ever really wanted to cheer her). I know she's got a feud happening with Bully, but that needs to end soon. I, for one, am sick of Bully talking about putting her through tables, blah blah blah. Hopefully once Bully finally does put her through a table, she'll stay off of TV for at least a few months.

If & when Dixie is taken off of TV (provided that Kurt is still TNA's GM at that time), I imagine we'll see Kurt turn heel again. It's something TNA has done in the past, and I'm sure it's something they'll do again. IMHO, TNA needs to stay the course for longer than they've been doing recently; by keeping the same GM for six months (or more, hopefully) and also keeping their GM either heel or face (I don't care which, just pick one). So far in 2014, it's like the TNA Creative team can't make up their minds. Please, please pick a horse and bet on it. I don't even care if you bring back Curry Man to be your horse (that would be amazing, btw), just leave the GM role on someone for longer than three or four months.

Kurt could be good in this role if he continues for a while, but I have a feeling that Samoa Joe's promo this week (or maybe last week?) was a bit of foreshadowing. Joe said that once Kurt's leg heals, he'll go into business for himself (kayfabe, of course). Logically, that is something that a wrestler would do (à la MVP, most recently). I understand that "absolute power corrupts absolutely", but it's something that we've seen too many times. I think TNA should "swerve" the audience this time by keeping Kurt as a babyface GM until Dixie (or some other heel) finds a way to seize his power. At least that would be something different for once.

 

[Slash-LN]

Kurt is a smart move for GM or whatever you'd like to call it.
He had that run as GM on Smackdown forever ago and I think he was heel and it was more comedic.

I and some others I've seen would like a neutral GM. If there wasn't the shitty power struggle going on then I think Kurt would be really believable as a neutral GM.

I'm not sure how long he's out for with his injury but it would be nice to have him around for awhile. He's entertaining enough on the mic.

 

[ABMorales787]

He's been a breath of fresh air after the ridiculous string of "evil overlords" both TNA and WWE employ. Angle comes off as an actual general manager by talking to wrestlers personally, encouraging them and actually doing his best to keep the show under control. And of course my favorite touch has been him welcoming us to each broadcast and introducing us to the card for the night.

That's long since dead in modern U.S. wrestling while other companies will introduce you to highlights of the show. Sometimes you need encouragement to watch and Angle's intro's are the best way TNA can do it. So highlights would be nice though since it's no secret TNA is pre-recorded.

 

[Lowdown]

It made since to put Angle on charge being he's still in the shelf with his injury. At times it seems TNA doesn't know what direction they want to go in with authority figures. Thing is once Kurt is cleared to compete who's gonna take the reigns as director? Dixie again? Spud? You'd think they'd consider a non-wrestler, yet I can't think of anyone who would fit the bill outside of Christy Hemme. For now though TNA is performing well, so I hope they stick with this formula.

 

[Slash-LN]

It made since to put Angle on charge being he's still in the shelf with his injury. At times it seems TNA doesn't know what direction they want to go in with authority figures. Thing is once Kurt is cleared to compete who's gonna take the reigns as director? Dixie again? Spud? You'd think they'd consider a non-wrestler, yet I can't think of anyone who would fit the bill outside of Christy Hemme. For now though TNA is performing well, so I hope they stick with this formula.

Not going to lie. If they put Spud in charge I'd mark out for it.
I'm sure there would be people who would hate it but I think it would be pretty funny. The guy is already entertaining as it is.

I guess at some point it would stop being funny but I'd still probably enjoy it.

 

[The Dark Warlords]

I do agree with the posters here that having him in that role is a great thing. It keeps his name out there, and his face on the shows giving it credibility. Also, it gives him something to do while his knee still heals from the surgery. I agree that he should stay face or at least neutral. We have had enough heel control figures, and this is an refreshing sight to see.

 

[Anti-IWC-Marks]

I've gotta say, it's NICE to have a good guy Director out there.

When is the last time it's happened?

Between Vickie Guerrero, The Authority, AJ Lee.. the WWE has had a similar power-play leader for the past few years. It gets stale. I get that Triple H and Steph love the cameras, and McMahons love to inject themselves in everything, but boy did they need a face director for half of a year before the authority came around.

Meanwhile, TNA has been no better... I started thinking this way when MVP first came around, that it was a breath of fresh air in all of mainstream professional wrestling, and then BAM, it's right back to the norm with Lashley and King.

Speaking of people who are gloryhounds for the cameras and need to go away.. Dixie Carter...

Although, I will say this, the more I see Spud, the more I am amused. There's something about that guy - he has a very comedic charisma appeal.

 

[Zeven_Zion]

I'm so burned out on "GM roles", it's not even funny. We've had this stupid concept since Eric Bischoff debuted on RAW and it's been the same boring tirade ever since. I cannot remember a single GM that I ever enjoyed even slightly. To me, the whole concept is absolutely useless. Why can't you just announce who's going to fight who? How hard is that? Do a quick preview at the beginning of the show, or do it like it used to be done - have some guy call out another guy, they say they'll face each other, they have some words and then they do it. Why do we need a third party to come in and announce it?

If I could have a wrestling company where there was no on-screen owner and no on-screen management I would be SO happy, it would be SUCH a breath of fresh air.

To answer the question, no, Kurt's role is not differentiating TNA from anybody. Kurt is not the first good guy GM. WWE's had it before, TNA's had it before. As long as there actually is a GM, that whole thing won't make TNA more distinctive. In fact, a good guy GM is actually really, really boring. All Kurt does is announce matches. He's not involved in anything, and he's not that exciting on the mic.

If you're going to have a good guy GM, then give that position to someone who can be exciting on the stick. Like Sting was. Sting got people fired up. Other people we can mention are Chris Jericho. Jericho would be the shit in that role. Or Stone Cold. Theoretically, of course.

Or, if you want to put effort in it, hire some actor or someone to only play the GM role. But make him fun, give him a gimmick, make him as much of a character as any of the wrestlers. It's always one of two things. Either a good GM who abides by the rules and eventually snaps and becomes evil, or a bad GM who abuses his power and helps himself or his buddies get title shots and easy wins. THAT'S IT! It's been like that for over ten years. No variations. It's always a guy in a suit, and it's always the same storyline, regardless of who's actually the GM. It's so damn boring ...

Sadly, we all know why it was given to Kurt, so that's fair enough, but he could've been a manager or been given any other role except for the stupid GM shit. I'm done with it, it's just not entertaining and it's absolutely pointless.

Actually, I'll correct myself, there was a period I enjoyed. Ric Flair and McMahon being partners. That was fun. But it was only fun because they were both characters and the dynamic between the cooky Ric Flair and the control freak Vince McMahon was ... fucking adorable. From the moment Ric Flair announced they were going to be partners you knew how this was going to play out, and you looked forward to it. It was awesome seeing Vince have to share his control with someone else, knowing how obsessive he is. That was smart, that was timely, that was entertaining. Everything else that followed was hot garbage.

Strive for that effect, if not dump the whole role in the trash it's not helping anybody.

 

[Notorious718]

It's nice to see TNA FINALLY step away from those goddamn power struggle storylines that we've been seeing for literally YEARS. Kurt Angle taking over the Director of Wrestling Operations has been such a breath of fresh air because, unlike previous authority figures, he isn't being made the focal point of the show. He goes out, takes care of business, says what needs to be said, and done. It saves up SO much time especially in opening segments when the authority figure will come out and spend nearly twenty minutes talking our ears off and leaving less time for the rest of the show. Nowadays, we can actually see the wrestlers making their entrances!

So yeah. Loving Kurt Angle as the new authority figure. Two thumbs up from me.

Although, I will say this, the more I see Spud, the more I am amused. There's something about that guy - he has a very comedic charisma appeal.

On an unrelated note, THIS very much. I didn't care much for Spud when I first saw him but ever since he got paired up with EC3, he's been nothing short of comedy gold for me.