The TNA Thread

[JenksIX]

Use this thread to post everything and anything TNA/Impact Wrestling. News, Rumors, opinions, etc. etc.

Firstly, I'd like to address some of my dislikes and concerns about the current and future of the product. TNA is signing young(or new) guys who tend to be small and either have bad mic skills and/or in-ring ability. If your small in stature and can't wrestle the X Division style, then you better have a personality and mic skills that'd make Steve Austin look like The Great Khali. A couple of current guys who fall under this category are Garrett Bischoff, Alex Silva and to a lesser extent, Robbie E. I happen to not mind Robbie E, but when guys like this start piling up as they are and you have a non-existent X-Division, then you have a problem.

I didn't like the whole thing with Alex Silva and I wouldn't have signed him and I saw a lot of people say "he's young, give him a chance to improve etc" but the problem is the roster is starting to have too many guys who need to improve at the same time and there doesn't look to be any end to it anytime soon. TNA will also eventually be debuting Big Brother reality star Jesse Godderz. The guy is 5'8 and isn't a good wrestler, but he's built out of granite and was hated by 10+ million americans on 2 seasons of Big brother.
They also just signed Muhammad Lawal to a long term deal who is just beginning training for pro-wrestling and will be training MMA at the same time, for Bellator (I'm an MMA fan, don't miss a UFC show, and I've yet to watch an episode of Bellator.) Now these guys aren't signed to be jobbers and I don't think they are being paid like jobbers either. They want to bank on Godderz reality infamy, Lawal's MMA life (I think they are planning on doing something like HBO's 24/7 for Lawal) and they give Garrett spotlight because he's Bischoff's son.

Now perhaps some of this gets the show a bigger audience, but I don't see it making the product better. There is a trend happening here and I don't think I like it. You know all those garbage shows on true tv that are all fake, Bischoff/Hervey make a lot of those (Lizard Lick Towing.) Another show by Bischoff/Hervey that I happen to like is The Devil's Ride. Anyway, you have Bischofff making all these phony reality shows and now TNA has Gutcheck, an American Idol/Tough Enough type thing, we're hearing rumors that Hogan wants fans to papparazzi wrestlers on the street, and you've signed a guy whose use to being taped 24/7 (Godderz) and an MMA fighter your planning to chronicle ala HBO's 24/7.

I didn't mean to go off in a tangent, I just find it ironic. I've always felt that the reason wrestling's ratings dropped was due to the boom of reality tv (Survivor, Joe Millionaire, The Bachelor, American Idol etc.) and how wrestling kind of was like the first, live reality show - since reality shows are all fake as hell anyway.

Going to cut this short for now. Didn't even mention how I think OVW is crap.

 

[JenksIX]

Alright, about OVW. The wrestler's down there seem to be more of the same (Alex Silva.) They are small guys, not many with great physiques or looks and they wrestle like big men or average wrestlers.

There's a guy named Chris Silvio who has an interesting look, but he's about Jack Evans size and can't go like Evans. He kind of reminds me of a miniature Macho Man in style.

To sum it up I think TNA's developmental needs less unassuming looking, High School drop outs and more bodybuilder/college athlete/wanna a be actors that they can develop over a few years the way WWE did with Alex Riley, Sheamus, Wade Barrett etc. And they also need to pick up the proven indy talent like the Briscoes, Steen, etc. Also, when will TNA ever see the dividends from their working agreement with AAA?

 

[TheNickster]

You make some very excellent points. I think the X-Division was getting dropped down because it was very crowded some time last year and they didn't get to show-case many of the X-Division wrestlers. Well, now they've released so many that we're stuck with the same people every week. There are about 11 X-Division Wrestlers (Counting Kazarian and Daniels) However, that number gets smaller when you figure out how many of theme actually compete now. 4 of them wrestle in the Tag-Team Division (MCMG and Kazarian and Daniels), 1 is injured (Jesse Sorenson), and 5 have disappeared from TV (Mark Haskins, Douglas Williams, Shannon Moore, Kid Kash, and Anthony Neese). That leaves 2 wrestlers. TWO.

Zema Ion and Austin Aries. Now, Alex Shelly does occasionally wrestle in these matches, but not much. I could be wrong, so correct me if so.

 

[JenksIX]

How does everyone else feel about James Storm's current position in the company? I like Storm, but I don't necessarily like his current gimmick/push. I think with Storm, less is more - the same could be said for someone like The Undertaker, so it's not a knock. I'm just not sure if he's really cut out to be the face of the company and to be featured as much as he has been and I think he's basically a tag team specialist and there really shouldn't be anything wrong with that. If the Roode/Storm angle were to be done over I see it more on the level of them fighting over the TV title and once Storm wins it, Roode would of then gone on to the World title, cause I do like Roode in the World title picture.

I use to like Storm better then Roode, but I think everyone has their role to play and it also depends on whether your a face or a heel, like I don't think Roode would of made a good or interesting face World Champion.

The guy I can compare Storm too right now is Eric Young. I liked Eric Young from when I first started watching TNA and I've always been an EY fan except for his time with World Elite and with The BAND. I hated EY when he wanted to be taken seriously, face or heel. The guy is naturally funny and as long as he is this wacky character, I'll want him in TNA. A guy who I use to think had great potential but I now find corny and stale atm, is Alex Shelley.

In a perfect world, Eric Young, Alex Shelley, and James Storm's characters would still be something like this. And if not a tag partner for Storm, maybe a manager/valet at least.

[YOUTUBE]U-2LxTxNr84[/YOUTUBE]

 

[JenksIX]

For those interested, X Pac is now tweeting about TNA. Haven't read it all but here are a few quotes from Sean Waltman, he's mostly tweeting too Dixie.

Sean Waltman ‏@TheRealXPac
Mark my words TNA will be a part of WWE's video catalog before the decade is up.

Sean Waltman ‏@TheRealXPac
@TNADixie BTW Congrats on hiring Bruce Pritchard. Perfect fit . Oine of the biggest lowlifes in the business. Treats ppl like shit if he can

 

[Gelgarin]

James Storm is an unbelievable talent, and one of the most naturally charismatic performers of him generation. He's up there with my favourite things in TNA right now, and has been ever since the Beer Money split. I'm still keeping everything crossed for him to be the next world champion. He's probably a guy better suited to chasing the belt than holding it, but it's been a fantastic chance this far.

 

[The Dragon Saga]

For those interested, X Pac is now tweeting about TNA. Haven't read it all but here are a few quotes from Sean Waltman, he's mostly tweeting too Dixie.

Since when did Sean Waltman gain the courage to deem others "lowlifes"?

 

[TheNickster]

Sean Waltman ‏@TheRealXPac
Mark my words TNA will be a part of WWE's video catalog before the decade is up.

Sounds interesting. Knowing how Sean/Pac works behind-the-scenes with the WWE, I actually cannot wait for this to come out. However, I think it will be TNA before it was actually TNA. When it was the NWA. Who knows.

 

[Big Nick Dudley]

It's a work. Pac's making a huge return, where he'll challenge Storm for the strap (after he wins it, of course, don't be goofy). Pac promised he wouldn't be drunk, either.

 

[shattered dreams]

I am a pretty big fan of Storm. I certainly see more than tag team specialist in him. He is too good at bringing his character/situation to life to need a partner. I do think there could be some reasonable questions about him as the face of the company but I don't think companies have only one face anymore anyway. I don't think CM Punk will ever be the face of a mainstream company but that doesn't matter much anymore in this era where heel/face and card "spots" are much less rigid. CM Punk has his niche audience and is good enough to at least interest the rest of the crowd. I don't see any reason Storm couldn't do a similar thing, just to a slightly different niche.

 

[Big Nick Dudley]

I am a pretty big fan of Storm. I certainly see more than tag team specialist in him. He is too good at bringing his character/situation to life to need a partner. I do think there could be some reasonable questions about him as the face of the company but I don't think companies have only one face anymore anyway. I don't think CM Punk will ever be the face of a mainstream company but that doesn't matter much anymore in this era where heel/face and card "spots" are much less rigid. CM Punk has his niche audience and is good enough to at least interest the rest of the crowd. I don't see any reason Storm couldn't do a similar thing, just to a slightly different niche.

If he's isn't #1, who is? Obvious choice is Hardy, but what about AJ?

 

[shattered dreams]

Any issue I would have with Storm doesn't have anything to do with talent, merely realistic perceptions of southerners in the mainstream. If you are looking for mainstream mass appeal it is Hardy by a mile but my point was there is nothing stopping them both (or even all three) from being a top face. I think AJ is a little bit too much of a mark for the "Indy way" to ever reach that next level but I am holding out some hope this recent story could be a sign he is over that rebel against "mainstream" ideas phase.

 

[Cenation™]

I THINK CENA SHOULD GO OVER TO TNA AND STF ALL THE SONS OF BITCHES AND UNLEASH ONE HELL OF AN AA ON THAT BITCH DIXIE CARTER THE NO GOOD HOESKI

 

[Hollywood Naitch]

Any issue I would have with Storm doesn't have anything to do with talent, merely realistic perceptions of southerners in the mainstream. If you are looking for mainstream mass appeal it is Hardy by a mile but my point was there is nothing stopping them both (or even all three) from being a top face.

My initial thought over Storm is that as good as he has become, he will never be the face of the company as the beer-drinking southern redneck character would never have mass appeal to the whole country.

Then I remembered a certain beer drinking redneck from Texas named Steve Austin....

 

[Big Nick Dudley]

Then I remembered a certain beer drinking redneck from Texas named Steve Austin....

He wasn't nearly as southern as Storm. He was just an asshole.

 

[Crush1]

Good thread. I'll voice my opinion on the good and bad of what I see is going on in Impact Wrestling.

I really like the TNA Heavyweight Champion Bobby Roode. In fact he is one of the reasons why I started watching Impact in the first place. I always heard crap being talked about TNA when I didn't even know what they were all about. So after a while I started to take a look at the other side. I didn't find anything that was really telling me to be invested in their product, untill I saw Bobby Roode. I thought to myself this guy is Legit. His oozing charisma kept me from tuning out and started to help me tune in every week just to see this guy.

He reminded me so much of Triple H and I was amazed that it was his first title reign. His wrestling ability is really good and I enjoyed many of his matches against Sting, Storm and Hardy. His mic skills were great too. And I would LOVE to see this guy jump ship to the WWE. He's 35 but I don't see why that has to be a problem unlike some other people. Batista and DDP were also old when they got pushed and Stone Cold got his first title when he was like 34? But anyway this guy is a DRAW. He's very talented and I hope they keep the belt on him for a long time.

 

[JenksIX]

I agree 100% about the company not needing one face of the company as that's something I hate. I like to think everyone's on a fair playing field (despite what they're being paid or reputation) and that a hot young upstart on a roll won't be held back because so and so is the face of the company(or a veteran) even though they've been stale or under performing for years. I like when things can happen organically and while planning ahead is good, I don't like things being set in stone too far ahead.

As for being a beer drinking southerner, I think any gimmick can get over depending on the execution. To me, the Hardy Boys are hillbillies, but they don't portray themselves as such on tv. The Briscoe Brothers are pretty hillbilly as well(some may call them southern) but they are from Delaware. AJ Styles is some form of southern, hillbilly, country, redneck, trailer park living (meager beginnings) etc.

The point is I think it all just comes down to the person. Steve Austin likes to hunt, drink beer, and is a Texan and people call him a southerner. Shawn Michaels also likes to hunt (even wears cowboy hats on occasion,) has definitely drank beer in his day, is a Texan but you never really herd of him being a southerner or a cowboy or a redneck. Part of that probably has to do with Austin being booked as the bionic redneck, the point is that I think you can appeal to the mainstream no matter where you're from.

He wasn't nearly as southern as Storm. He was just an asshole.

Funny you should say that, Nick. Speaking of assholes, Ken Anderson is compared too Austin a lot and he's (apparently) a non beer drinker from the north, but like Austin, he can be a bit of an asshole. Which is why I think it all just comes down to execution, how convincing you are etc.

One thing Storm does that I don't think Austin did is Storm puts on a mean face. When I think of Austin, he always seemed to have a pissed off look, sometimes with a smirk, and you believed it. Something else it might be is that Storm looks a little bloated(and sometimes he wears unflattering clothes) and I think shaving/trimming his beard might give his character some youth and vibrance.

Anyway, I do like Storm(not as much as others though) I just don't know if featuring him so much (the music video, promos in and out of the arena, top of the card) will be beneficial to the show, especially how he's being portrayed right now. Then again, I found Bobby Roode getting boring leading up too BFG(when he was rising as a face) the more they were featuring him, giving you a look into his life and his family and how he basically said the same thing every promo.

Btw, if not apart of a tag team, could anyone else see Storm with a valet/girlfriend kind of like a Faith Hill. Some little country girl who comes running out in daisy dukes and cowboy boots ... that'd be hot as hell lol. *Just realized Mickie James does wear that. May be pair those two up. Hardcore Country meets Long necks and red necks. I'm not sure if TNA has shown Storm's wife or what the deal is, just I think his character would do well with a country girl by his side.

 

[JenksIX]

Anthony Nese removed from the roster and Alex Silva added to the roster, is that a good trade?

 

[Gelgarin]

Sod knows. I was Tony Nese's biggest fan on the forum for a little while. Then they put him on TV. Turns out he was shit. Glad he's gone.

 

[The Dragon Saga]

I was Tony Nese's biggest fan on the forum for a little while.

You were just slightly behind me. TNA's mishandling. That isn't pointing a finger at them either, it is just a mistake. I don't see how he can compete for Evolve, never has a poor match, gets a write-up in PWI about how great he is, signs with TNA, is put on television about a total of six times and then can be labeled surplus to requirements.

He also has got good promos in him, but when you're being handed nothing to work with like he was being in TNA, you can't come to expect every word that flows from his mouth to be laced in gold.

 

[Gelgarin]

He got to speak once and he was fucking atrocious. Take all of the, usually groundless, stereotypes people have about indy guys ability to talk, roll them into a ball and you get Tony Nese.

His ring work turned out to be shit as well. When he first showed up he worked a power style that was refreshingly different for an X-Division guy and won me over to his cause. Every time he was on TV after his début he regressed to performing like a typical flippy indy guy, of which TNA already has more than enough.

I've moved over to the Jesse Sorenson cause.

 

[JenksIX]

It's goin live, baby!

TNA’S IMPACT WRESTLING CELEBRATES SUMMER 2012 BY GOING LIVE!

SPIKE TV TAKES HIGHLY RATED SHOW LIVE AND TO 8:00PM/ET BEGINNING THURSDAY, MAY 31st

NASHVILLE, TN - (May 17, 2012) -- TNA IMPACT WRESTLING President Dixie Carter and SPIKE TV President Kevin Kay announce today that the highly-rated “IMPACT WRESTLING” will be going Live! from Universal Studios beginning May 31st and continue through the summer. This announcement coincides with the recently announced new, one-hour earlier time slot change of 8:00-10:00pm/ET every Thursday night beginning May 31st.

“We are excited to take IMPACT WRESTLING Live! all summer long, and have our first Live! summer show launch our new 8:00pm/ET time slot,” says TNA President Dixie Carter. “Summer of 2012 is going to be remembered as the most momentous time in our company's history-to-date. Stay tuned.

I've seen IDR has posted this in the non-spam section already so let em' know how ya feel up there. I already know most of you are probably excited as I am. I don't think there is any doubt that this will help gain viewers and if the product remains to be good.

WWE: "I have an army."

TNA: "We have Austin Aries."

 

[The Dragon Saga]

He got to speak once and he was fucking atrocious. Take all of the, usually groundless, stereotypes people have about indy guys ability to talk, roll them into a ball and you get Tony Nese.

His ring work turned out to be shit as well. When he first showed up he worked a power style that was refreshingly different for an X-Division guy and won me over to his cause. Every time he was on TV after his début he regressed to performing like a typical flippy indy guy, of which TNA already has more than enough.

I've moved over to the Jesse Sorenson cause.

You don't seriously believe he willingly decided to change his style, ever think TNA implored him to compete like the other guys within the X-Division? Plus again, he speaks well in Evolve, it is enough for me to support him.

And Sorensen? The biggest highlight of his career so far is breaking his neck, hardly something to be cheery about.

 

[JenksIX]

I noticed someone complaining that we'd have three weeks of spoilers in september(as well as BFG was scheduled for IZone,) but now I guess this means the whole schedule has been scrapped. I'm sure BFG will be in a different arena, would be nuts if it weren't.

Another interesting thing is that TNA usually tapes mon-wed's so it'll be different for them travel wise and such as they will need to be there each thursday and one sunday a month when ppvs are held there.

Personally, I didn't like the switch too 8 PM, but if it helps gain viewers I'm for it. I hope the 8 and 9 timeslots don't make TNA too conservative in their language/violence/content etc as I see they've been tending to cut it back already as of late.

As for the timeslot, I always liked wrestling finishing up after 11 PM. When I was a kid they use to replay Nitro from 11-2 am and I thought that was kind of cool. Also TNA started out back in 05' or so at like 11 PM on Spike where I'm from and TNA with Reaction use to go till Midnight, but whatever I guess. Just glad they're finally going Live and hope it sticks.

 

[JenksIX]

A number of posters are saying that TNA can not sustain keeping the show Live due to monetary reasons, which reminded me of something interesting. When UFC was bought by FOX, Dana White was being interviewed and White was being asked if UFC could be challenged by other MMA organizations and White said something along the lines of "People think we're a monopoly, they need to look up the definition of monopoly. We're more like the mom and pops now compared to Viacom. Viacom just bought Bellator and Viacom is sitting on 5 Billion in cash. We ain't sitting on 5 Billion in cash, I can tell you that. We're the mom and pops now." I'll post the video link at the bottom if you want to check it out.

I find this interesting first because Spike is owned by Viacom and Spike/Viacom seem to be focusing a lot of effort on the success of Bellator and apparently they have the dough to do so. Also Spike/Viacom seem to be using TNA to help them make Bellator a successful company with their MMA Insider show on right after Impact and Muhammad Lawal being signed to work for both companies. I think it is because of this relationship that TNA is in a good position to have Spike help out with their production costs(which has been reported) I just wonder in how good of a position they are in. I don't think it's a coincidence Lawal was signed last week and TNA announces it is going LIVE this week("You scratch our back, we'll stratch your's".)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxJgElOEEss&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PL2833DECABB396783