Sean Morley gone from TNA-- What should have been done with him?

[Ambiguous Turd]

UPDATE 3/5/10: Just reported today that Morley stated on his Facebook that he is finished with TNA and heading to Mexico. Therefore, change the concept with the pretense of stating what you think TNA should have done with him or how they could have used him differently than he was.

One of the figures of the Attitude Era, and I would go as far as to say one of the key faces of that time period, is NOW in TNA. But my, how times have changed.

Sean Morley, while receiving a warm welcome on his return to television when making his Impact debut on Jan 4th, is now obviously not being embraced in the very least by fans.

I don't think Morley sucks in the ring, rather he may not be as fast as he once was. But I honestly don't think he is really all that bad. So what is the problem?

I suppose traditional TNA loyalists are upset to see new guys coming in and beating the stars they stood behind for a couple years. That's what I feel is at the crux of the matter.

It's pretty clear by his reactions as of late that despite being pushed as a Face, the fans are not accepting this. Despite being grown up from his porn actor past, and now being a porn director, the fans just aren't buying him as a Face.

So my question is, what to do with good ol' Sean Morley. Is it possible to have a porn director as a Heel, and if so, how can you pull it off? What types of scenarios could you place him in to get a negative reaction from the crowd.

Or ... on the converse, maybe I am doing too much assuming. Maybe he can be salvaged as a Face in this role. What would you do in this case with him as a Face Porn Director to get a positive reaction from the audience?

I'd prefer not to have the "Just let his ass go" responses from the posters on here, because he is clearly there for nostalgia and is part of the target market of viewers who left the WWE to bring them back into the fold. Therefore, you should try to make a conscious effort to keep him. He is an average worker, doesn't cause trouble in the back. Will do whatever is asked of him.

Just how can you get Sean Morley over as a Face or a Heel in this particular role?

 

[INDYjon22]

I think this is an uphill battle for Morley. I was a huge can of the man during his tenure in the WWE, but that is the problem. Everyone seems to view him as a WWE guy and if that guy from the Crucial Crew was right at all it is that the TNA faithfuls will not embrace him.

Morley is a very good talent even today, but TNA fans get hung up on the fact that Morley got famous in WWE. It all depends on if TNA fans will take the time to realize he is a good talent and could be useful in TNA if used right.

However, I don't think he will be used properly and will probably be leaving the company sooner then later and heading to Japan. If he wants to stay in TNA he will either have to be put into a big feud or learn some new flippy moves other then the Money Shot. I hope he can make a solid run in TNA but it is bleak at this point.

 

[MoneyMack]

I have zero problem with Morley. I think he's the best out of the WWE guys that have been brought in. Out of the ones that have not been in the WWE for a long period of time, at least.

What if he were to find a tag-team of females to contend for the KO's tag titles? They'd have to be HOT tho- cuz the thought would be that they are, or at least were pornstars. He would be thier manager obviously. He could still wrestle as a singles competitor- cuz the girls could come down to the ring with him also.

Or- what if they just turned him into "that dirty old porn producer" we keep seeing him in the back, tryin to convince all the diffrent KO's to join his "stable of highly paid women". Maybe at the end he convinces TBP to be part of his porn company. Cuz we know TBP are all about being famous.

Maybe they just turn him into "the godfather" of TNA. Everytime he comes down to compete, he has a flock of hoes with him.

Just a couple thoughts that popped into my head.

 

[JackBurton]

This guy is an A+ solid hand and should be used as such - if he was 10 years younger I would say TNA should invest time (which is money in the TV world) In establishing his character - but hes too old to Invest that amount of time (and money) in.

Frankly, If the so called "younger talent" in TNA are not picking this guys brain and trying to learn everything they can from him - they should be shot (or fired - whichever is less harsh)

TNA's originals have 2 choices as far as a I see it;

1. Bitch and moan, see out their contracts and disappear into the indies

or

2. Embrace these "has-beens" become a sponge and soak up everything that can be learned from guys, most of whom have been as far as you can go in pro wrestling, and use that knowledge to become worthy of receiving the proverbial torch.

I get the impression that some of these young guys think they're owed something. If they take advantage of the presence of these veterans and implement everything they learn, then they (or the internet for that matter) can legitimately claim they were not given a "fair shot"

In closing, Sean Morleys mere presence outwith being an on-air talent should be a positive for the company if they feel strongly enough that some of the younger talent have potential to be anything near as good a talent as Morley was

 

[RicSpade]

I disagree the statement that people aren't embracing Morley because he got his name in WWE, because I honest don't believe thats the case if thats the case Angle, and Christian and Team 3D would've been crapped on from day one. Anderson got his reaction because the TNA doesn't have a lot of strong strong heels and that was something he could bring to the table. The problem with Morley is honestly the gimmick. Don't get me wrong giving out puns and stuff is all cute, but the whole we seen it 1000 times thing comes to mind, its the same reason the Nasty's are getting crapped on, not cause there old and sluggish its cause there Nastyville gimmick is lame now. IMO if Morley had gotten over just being Morley and not a TNA representation of the WWE representation of Morley then he'd be more popular with the fans, then maybe put that old gimmick on him like they had done with joe and others.

 

[Syborgg]

Was it not Eric Bischoff who made him "Chief of Staff" on Raw? Maybe they could kind of reprise that character, or something similar. Make him a Bischoff bodygaurd or something of that nature. He could do EB's dirty work, helping him against guys like Foley and Double-J.

Either way the "pornstar" gimmick has ran it's course and not to be too off topic, but why do ex-WWF/E guys always want to play the same character? A new company should mean a fresh start and a great way to reinvent yourself as a performer.

 

[WJDwjdWJDwjd]

Wow. Morley is a terrific guy to have in TNA. I never have complained about his ring work or mic skills. This guy knows how to put on a pretty decent match and can definitely put some guys over. He even has his own unique way of selling moves thats pretty believable. He was used as a company jobber in WWE and got a lot of talent over in the process. Hes a two-time Intercontinental Champion and I believe he even won the Tag Championships a couple times in the E. This was over all a great pick up for TNA and all the fans should quit complaining about this guy. Just because hes not a high flyer or absolutely perfect in the ring doesn't mean hes garbage. Also, this is Pro-Wrestling. If you want technical, no storyline, no entertainment value and where no older guys are, go watch a High School wrestling team.

 

[JBSMan]

I've always liked him, his in-ring work is solid and he's a safe hand. To be honest, at this stage in his career, he could be used as a respected veteran whose main purpose is putting other guys over by giving them clean wins in competitive matches. (Kind of like what Kane does nowadays)

 

[TNA2009Forward]

Meh. Sean Morley is alright I guess. He's talented, but I to be honest, isn't too high on the guy. I can't stand the fact he's still sporting around with the pornstar gimmick which keeps screaming back "WWE jobber" to me, and in turn, makes me frustrated that he was booked to even beat people such as Daniels... And where is Morley now? I know Daniels has been in a dump after a stupid loss thanks to Bischoff/Russo brains.

Also I don't know what is being talked above my statement here by Lord Sidious how some old fans of wrestling that left would actually even be brought back into wrestling via nostalgia by Morley?? Give me a break, how long ago was that and who is Morley really? Morley was/has forever been a sideshow man. I don't care what they do with him if they job him, or make him have sporadic matches because they should not have given him that jocular gimmick back. They should have started him with a fresh new character I could get into that is actually serious for contention.

 

[wazaveli]

I enjoy having Sean in TNA. Like I say, the more the merrier as the company is the place to be for wrestlers today.
His porn director gimmick while not flash hot, doesn't make me want to cut my eyes out watching it as I enjoy it, just not a whole lot.

His wrestling isn't at all bad and as for the people saying he should learn a move other than the money shot, well no. He is that big that doing X-Division moves would seem pointless and unnecessary.

Plus we all know what his finisher is, so he should keep it.

If im not mistaken, he hasn't been on TNA in a few weeks. Hope something eventuates soon for him because he is too talented a guy to waste.

 

[scorpioking1026]

If TNA is going to use the "porn" star gimmick with Morley I think he should create a stable:

1) Recruit the Beautiful People We have already seen him interact with the BP during the strip poker segment. Their gimmick with the "Ugly Stick" fits perfectly.

2) Recruit either Beer Money or Motor City Machine Guns Either one of these teams I feel could fit nicely in a "porn stable". Beer Money cuz of their beer drinking ways plus Roode has always reminded me of "Ravishing" Rick Rude, especially when he was a singles wrestler. MCMG just because they are great playing off the cocky bastard bit. I really enjoyed their work with Foley during the MEM era and wished they expanded it even further.

Together they could form a DX-type group, and to be clear I'm talking about the original DX (HBK, HHH, Chyna, and Rick Rude). Have strip poker games at ringside, constantly mooning the camera (the BP only please) and just causing all out havoc throughout Hogan/Bischoff's TNA. They would also be the complete opposite of WWE's Right to Censor group(which Val Venis was apart of). During that time Stacy "The Kat" Carter (Lawler's wife at the time) was suppose to do a "right to nudity" type thing but it never fully developed before she left the company.

The BP could continue beating the Knockouts up with the ugly stick, determined to make the division like WWE's "Divas" while either Beer Money or MCMG could fully embrace the "porn" star gimmick and constantly remind people how they are the "cream of the crop". A Ravishing Rick Rude type before match segment could work, although probably more so with MCMG then Beer Money.

Highly doubt this would ever happen but its my opinion on what TNA should do with Morley.

 

[Sean Valjean]

While I don't hate Morley or anything, I just don't like watching him in TNA. Mostly because I'd rather watch MCMG, Daniels, and others get his TV time.

I think they've misused Morley big time. The guy is a face with a creepy voice, creepier laugh, and a porn sta-sorry, director gimmick. How he isn't a heel is beyond me. Not only that, but they put start him off by making him feud with one of TNA's golden boys, Christopher Daniels. Did they really think TNA fans would cheer Morley over Daniels? Then for some reason, he beats Daniels on PPV. A guy who hasn't been relevant for ages and spent most of the last decade jobbing in WWE comes and beats the guy who was the number one contender for the world title only the month before? It's like they want Morley to be hated. They may as well just turn him heel and put that heat to use. If they really wanted him to get over as a face, they should've had him come out and beat the crap out of Jesse Neal instead.

However, Sean is a solid worker and he's a good person to have in the back to mentor the younger guys. They should just keep him as a jobber since he's great at making other guys look good. I don't think anyone wants to see Morley get into any feuds or anything significant; just have him put other guys over, and we'll be good.

 

[Big Nick Dudley]

I think he should become a manager. He should work with some of the knockouts, and even a few guys who are viewed as sleazy. He was always great on the mic (good in the ring too, but TNA smarks hate the guy..for no reason) and has great entertainment value. As a manager, he could give us great promos and dialogue, without pissing off every TNA smark walking the planet.

Because God forbid, that an older wrestler who can STILL WRESTLE, be given an oppurtunity. All of you marks out there piss and moan about the guys who have essentially done NOTHING, but this guy busts his ass for for years and years, and he can't be given the same oppurtunity? HE IS 38!!! Years OLD! So how in Gods name is he too OLD to contribute?

So, is his wrestling career going anywhere in TNA? Probably not, because every idiotic, TNA super-mark will piss and moan, and boo him until he is fired. Why? It has nothing to do with him. It has to do with these idiots being bitter that Hogan and Bischoff came in to turn this spot-fest, garbage promotion into something real. But for God sakes, if the guy WERE to become a manager, give him a chance. Don't bitch and complain about a manager, like some of you did with Jimmy Hart. How could him doing something like being a manager ACTUALLY hurt you?

 

[Afro-Ameri-Spawn]

Frankly, If the so called "younger talent" in TNA are not picking this guys brain and trying to learn everything they can from him - they should be shot (or fired - whichever is less harsh)

WTF? Are you serious? Please. Tell me what in the hell someone has to learn from Sean Morley? How to milk a gimmick to death? How to be giving a mic to do promos and still sound just as corny and crappy as you did ten years ago? How to suck dick in hopes that the next time that they do talent cuts that your name won't be on the list? Oh yeah. They have alot to learn from Morley. Fuck, I would have Scott Hall and Jake Roberts give them sobriety seminars before I told them that they had jack shit to learn from Morley.

Face it, Morley's run was pure luck. He hasn't done shit to freshen his gimmick over the last century and there have been so many opportunities for him to do it. He could have taken a stance about 5 years ago and become a serious wrestler. Sure he tried the whole "Sean Morley" gimmick but when it didn't pan out as well as the Val Venis gimmick did, then he went right back to it. When the "Right To Sensor" run ended, did he try something new and innovative? Fuck no. He went right back to the same old Val Venis gimmick, thinking that the Attitude Era would last forever. Thing is, once it ended and WWE took a stance of heading towards PG friendly content, his days were numbered.

And please, don't get me started on how bad Morley is on the mic. I mean how can you hold the stick for ten years and still be just as bad as you were the day you first came into the WWE ring? Well sure there's Scott Steiner, but let's stay on task here. Morley is a one trick pony with his speeches and never evolved to the point where he can be considered to be a serious entity. So I doubt he has that to teach one iota of this to anybody other than Jay Lethal.

Face it people, Morley is not mentor material and he's not, as Good Ole JR would call it, a decent hand. He's barely good enough to help teach divas and knockouts how to wrestle, let alone teaching them how to make it to the top. He can't teach younger guys how to step up their game as he never truly did his own. The only thing that he can teach is how to stay quiet and survive just long enough to pay off ur mortgage. I just hope that TNA has some kind of injury clause in his contract and got him for a steal as he's not going to help out the promotion in anything more than a talent enhancement role. Plain and simple.

 

[650ballinwhiteboy]

he should job to people better then him because it was a SPIT IN THE FACE OF EVERY ORIGINAL TNA FAN WHEN HE WENT OVER DANIELS AT GENESIS

 

[Jack-Hammer]

It's not that I have anything against Morley being from the WWE or anything remotely like that. It's not really even his lame gimmick that's little more than a continuation of what he was doing in the WWF in the late 1990s. For me, it's just that Sean Morley has been completely irrelevant for so long that I don't really see much benefit for TNA in having Morley go over original TNA talent.

The last time I even remotely cared about Morley was around the beginning of his association with Right to Censore in the latter half of 2000. Even then, I didn't think he was all that much to write home about. Personally, I just think Sean Morley's time as a significant player has just come and gone. I think that more could have been done with him in the WWE but we can wonder about what might have been until the stars burn out.

As for what to do with him, just job him out and get the most use out of him that can be gotten. While he's not really all that much of a name now really, he can still be used to give younger talent a rub. Doesn't necessarily have to be TNA Originals, but someone that does potentially have their career in front of them.

 

[neildittmar]

Morley never really struck me as a leader, at least on-screen. He always seemed better when he had a wide range of supporting "cast" helping him along, not necessarily putting him over as "better." So in that regard, having him lead a stable sounds like a bad idea to me. Not only is the potential high for his leadership role to tank, he may just take a few other stars down with him in the process.

Though the porn star/director gimmick screams "Attitude era" (which TNA is going for at least in part), I agree that it has been run into the ground. It may have been a good way for Morely to make his debut on 1/4, but creative needs to do something different with him long term.

As for making him Bischoffs hired muscle, Eric kind of already has that in "the Band." I think Hall and Waltman are very effective in this role and would not suggest changing them out for Morley, or even adding Morley to the group. Truthfully, I don't think he could be an enhancement in this area.

So of course, the question remains what to actually do with him. Perhaps a "no gimmicks needed" type character may be the best fit. His in-ring work is still pretty good and he can talk a bit. He can be honest with the fans, saying he was hoping to recapture his WWF glory from 10-12 years ago with a slight change in "character", but he knows that he failed given their reaction. He now realizes it's not 1997 anymore and this isn't the WWF. Therefore, he's going to focus on what has truly taken Sean Morley to the dance thus far... wrestling. He can directly address the Daniels situation, remarking that if the fans thought his win over him was a fluke or a gift, just wait. He has a pretty grizzly voice... lets put some anger and fortitude behind it.

Short term, TNA should then continue the feud with Daniels since it still seems to be such a hot topic. If it pans out well, a "Best of 7" series or similar should be in order. If it doesn't, perhaps a well rounded wrestling match with another TNA original (where he is on the losing end of a very competitive match) may be the best bet.

 

[Holmesy]

i dont buy into the fact he isnt liked cos people see him as a wwe guy, i have never liked him, from his vignettes that where on before he debuted with the wwe, i just never thought he was any good, but if we must come up with ideas to get him over id have him as a heel and disrespecting women all the time,

come out and interrupt a knockouts match tellin them they should be in the back cleaning or whatever, have him as a sleazy guy, have him sneak into the knockouts changing rooms with a video camera, make him blackmail of the girls, show him taking advantage of a young knockout, but have him make her feel worthless, constantly putting her down, talking bad to her, maybe even have him squeeze her arm so hard it hurts her, just make him into an asshole,

 

[GenMe]

I really don't have any problem with Sean being on TNA. Honestly this guy was a big deal in the Attitude Era. I felt sorry for him when he made his TNA debut, Because most of the fans in the arena didnt knew who he was, And he wasnt getting no crowd reaction.

Sean Morley is kind of slow now but he still has enough fuel in the tank to feud with any one in the roster, and still make a good match out of it. I will like TNA to use him with a Dirty Gimmick- a sexaholic with tons of hoes by his side.

Give the Fallen Angel gimmick back to Daniels and maybe have them feud for a couple of months. Sean Morley with a sexaholic gimmick and Daniels with the Fallen Angel Gimmick, but Sean will be a Heel and Daniels Face. And this will also give them both some TV time.

 

[ncwriter2908]

He should be oni Tv a little more. Its nice to see his character evolve from pornstar to director. That would be a instant connection to old WWE fans. I think you do some promo's of him shooting a few movies with TNA knockouts. Maybe couple a knockout and a young guy. Then Morley shoots her making the guy angry. Remember Ryan Shamrock as Ken Shamrocks sister? The saving Ryans privates video..lol He could carry on some mid card fueds. Which is what wrestling needs just as much as main event fueds

 

[Guilty]

WTF? Are you serious? Please. Tell me what in the hell someone has to learn from Sean Morley? How to milk a gimmick to death? How to be giving a mic to do promos and still sound just as corny and crappy as you did ten years ago? How to suck dick in hopes that the next time that they do talent cuts that your name won't be on the list? Oh yeah. They have alot to learn from Morley. Fuck, I would have Scott Hall and Jake Roberts give them sobriety seminars before I told them that they had jack shit to learn from Morley.

Face it, Morley's run was pure luck. He hasn't done shit to freshen his gimmick over the last century and there have been so many opportunities for him to do it. He could have taken a stance about 5 years ago and become a serious wrestler. Sure he tried the whole "Sean Morley" gimmick but when it didn't pan out as well as the Val Venis gimmick did, then he went right back to it. When the "Right To Sensor" run ended, did he try something new and innovative? Fuck no. He went right back to the same old Val Venis gimmick, thinking that the Attitude Era would last forever. Thing is, once it ended and WWE took a stance of heading towards PG friendly content, his days were numbered.

And please, don't get me started on how bad Morley is on the mic. I mean how can you hold the stick for ten years and still be just as bad as you were the day you first came into the WWE ring? Well sure there's Scott Steiner, but let's stay on task here. Morley is a one trick pony with his speeches and never evolved to the point where he can be considered to be a serious entity. So I doubt he has that to teach one iota of this to anybody other than Jay Lethal.

Face it people, Morley is not mentor material and he's not, as Good Ole JR would call it, a decent hand. He's barely good enough to help teach divas and knockouts how to wrestle, let alone teaching them how to make it to the top. He can't teach younger guys how to step up their game as he never truly did his own. The only thing that he can teach is how to stay quiet and survive just long enough to pay off ur mortgage. I just hope that TNA has some kind of injury clause in his contract and got him for a steal as he's not going to help out the promotion in anything more than a talent enhancement role. Plain and simple.

This post owns.

I agree 100 hundred percent.

You pick Kurt Angle's brain. Not Sean Morleys.

However i dont think he should be "fired" or "shot" as some of you have said. I think Morley has some worth. Some have mentioned manager and i think that would be a good idea. Not the Kip James route and manager TBP or any knockouts. Let him be the mouth for a young guy. If anything hes still a name and recognizable face to job some talent to. I dont think Morley should ever really be in any top main event or upper mid card feuds. If this guy can have his long stay with WWE im sure hes worth being a jobber/low midcard type in TNA

 

[Kenny Powers]

I really think the Val Venis porn gimmick is dead. Maybe a few people at a high school gymnasium will cheer for it, but not in TNA. I don't even think they will cheer for it in WWE either. Morley needs to be a heel in his old role he had on Raw with Bischoff years ago when he was an authority figure.

Bischoff could use him to do his dirty work instead of Hall and Six Pacc. Morley could have Matt Morgan's old TNA gimmick as an ambassador of TNA. He could be Bischoff's chief of staff or something similar. You could team him up with the beautiful people, but we have seen that done before with Kip James and that didn't lead to anything.

Unless TNA could repackage his gimmick, there is no use for a porn character on television anymore. I guess it could get some cheers at house shows, but not on Impact.

 

[GetsHeat]

Honestly, make him a good comedic jobber.. something along the lines of being stuck in the 90s or something... TNA really lacks comedic moments. They need a good comedic jobber on the level of Santino.

 

[JBSMan]

TNA really lacks comedic moments.

Ugh, no. One thing Hogan has done right is saving TNA from all the SHIT comedy sketches. Don't risk it again unless they have someone with a sense of humour there.

 

[gd]

I think Morley is far too creepy to be a face. He tried to cut a promo before his match with Daniels at Genesis, and he came off more as someone that was going to rape all of the women in the arena than as a fan favorite. It was just strange as literally no one in the crowd was behind him.

In order to salvage Morley, I think they have to make him a heel. The crowd already doesn't like him, so if he does some heelish stuff, he'll probably get some pretty decent heat. Sure, he probably won't get anywhere past the midcard, but I'm sure he can have a couple of worthwhile feuds with , uhh, someone. Maybe Kaz?