The undeserved "WWE Dumping Ground" reputation

[pod_daddy]

So, I have to wonder when folks are going to stop seeing (or trying to make others see) TNA as the WWE's dumping ground.

Yes, some WWE talent (not all) has gone to TNA after their contracts with the WWE expired. Yes, TNA is main-eventing some of the wrestlers who were deemed incapable of even midcard status by VKM. I would prefer to think VKM made stupid decisions (GASP! Perish the thought!), rather than that TNA is making do with the bottom-of-the-barrel scrapings.

Jeff Hardy was an early TNA star who, after his TNA deal expired, signed a contract with WWE; now he's a top talent on Smackdown!

And look at Christian. When his contract with TNA expired, he signed with WWE. Granted, his return was a (much-heralded) debut on ECWWE, but I really don't see him staying there long.

Does this, then, mean we should now see WWE as TNA's dumping grounds?

My point is, now that (for all intents and purposes) there are only two real games in town, they will be trading wrestlers back and forth like kids trade baseball cards. Except for the core wrestlers (Joe, AJ, et al, for TNA, HHH, Cena, etc. for WWE), we will see wrestlers debuting for and leaving both promotions repeatedly over the next few years, much like we did previously with NWA/WCW and the WWF.

Kurt Angle, Christian, Jeff Hardy, and Booker T were all GREAT acquisitions for TNA at the time. All have done things for the company, all have brought viewers in and put asses in the seats, and all still have something to offer.

 

[Mr. TM]

Well first off your examples are flawed to say the least. Jeff Hardy and Christian were both wrestler who were in WWE before they were in TNA, and each accomplished a lot in WWE before they left.

Jeff came back and him being a fan favourite caused him to shoot up the WWE. After a couple years, he got his title shot, and a year later even won the title.

Christian may never reach this level, we would like to think he will, but he is on ECW right now. He may come back and be a great talent, who knows.

But all in all, all those talent that left the WWE left for a reason. Some were fired, like Rhyno, some had disagreements like Booker T, and some left on their own terms like Christian. They for the most part made it big in TNA because they were big talent in the WWE. TNA will not stop in the not so distant future in hiring WWE guys, and will push them because they are well known. Because of this, they will be known as the WWE's dumping ground.

 

[pod_daddy]

You missed the point. I was not trying to say "Look, WWE is hiring TNA talent, so they must be their dumping ground!"

I was saying it's ludicrous, in this two-player game, to accuse either of picking through the other's garbage. If you work for a company making widgets, one of only two widget-makers in the country, and you get sick of working for them, what are you going to do? And if you're the other company, and an experienced widget maker suddenly comes on the job market from your competitor, would you refuse to hire him because he worked for your competition?

Look at the wrestlers TNA has hired after they left the WWE. Look what they've done with them, and what those wrestlers have done while IN TNA. Look at what Christian and Jeff Hardy BOTH did for TNA.

TNA isn't digging through VKM's garbage, they're hiring talented employees that left and were looking for another job.

 

[Cena's Little Helper]

I will both agree and disagree that TNA should not be viewed as a dumping ground for WWE talent. I agree because: a) TNA offers much more than just matches with old WWE talent; b) some of the wrestlers that TNA picked up from WWE were actually smart choices, as they still had something to give to whatever organization hired them after their WWE contracts either expired or were dissolved (e.g., Kurt Angle and Booker T).

However, I disagree because most of the cut wrestlers TNA picks up from WWE have nothing to offer. For example, what do Kevin Nash, Scott Steiner, Christy Hemme, Mick Foley, and the New Age Outlaws really have to offer to TNA? All of the aforementioned examples either have nothing left in the tank or failed to offer anything to WWE in the first place. Moreover, given their previous affiliation with WWE, they are hired at salaries higher than those of most of the talent TNA picks up from ROH and other independent promotions. So, until they stop hiring burnt out or talentless WWE wrestlers, TNA deserves the name of "WWE Dumping Ground."

 

[Mr. TM]

First off, you missed what I said, probably because you only read the first couple of lines. TNA has hired, possibly even snatched some talent from the WWE, that is obvious. But for the most part, the talent isn't even the best. Jeff Jarrett was crap in WWE, and probably not close to being a top guy. Now he was pushed in WCW and his own company of the WWE. But only because at the time WCW was shit, and TNA is a baby in comparison to WWE. Smaller names like Rhyno, Christian and others can leave WWE and make it big in TNA, due to the fact that they aren't that good, but better than TNA guys. They are typically better than TNA because they have had coverage in WWE, which has a way larger market. That is why someone like Mr. Kennedy who at this moment is floating around the mid card in the WWE could probably go to TNA and win the belt tonight if it happened. That doesnt mean that he is a great talent, it just means TNA has lower standards.

 

[The Madrid Slam]

As TM said, both of your examples of Jeff Hardy and Christian were superstars in the WWE.

Jeff was in the company 6 or 7 years already (Including several titles such as the Harcore, Tag team and European/Intercontinental) before he left and eventually signed to TNA.

Christian was already in the WWE also about 7 or 8 years before he left to TNA. He also was highly decorated with 9 Tag team titles(I believe that's tied for 3rd all time along with Kane?), 3 Intercontinental Championships just to name a few.

There are many other wrestlers who had their reasons for leaving WWE and went on to TNA. Most of whom went to TNA and were as big or even bigger than they were on WWE. From the Kurt Angle's and the Mick Foley's to the Dustin Rhode's and Gail Kim's. There are more than a handfull of entertainers who were on WWE first and then left to TNA, but I can't even think of an entertainer who left TNA first to go to the WWE besides CM Punk and Evan Bourne.

 

[Gunther]

Ok TM Punk, you say that TNA guys are less talented then WWE guys? Do i even need to bring up The Great Kali, Festus, or even Jimmy Jack Swagger or whatever his name is? TNA has an amazing roster that they may be misusing right now but that does not take away from their talent. Christian is one of the best talkers in the buisness today so i dont understand how he is untalented and say what you will about Jeff but the man is more over then anyone right now so obviously he is doing something right.

I am so sick of everyone ripping on TNA, which isnt perfect, and making WWE seem flawless, which it is far from. Jesus, its a new company, give it time, let it work out these akward years.

 

[Savage1]

I don't know what the big deal is with companies rotating or trading superstars back and forth. My feeling is that maybe sometime in the future you will have a fued similar to the WWE/WCW fued. I know TNA is not quite there yet but with the right aquisitions they could definately build thier popularity and the strength of thier program. I think about it like this...Im a Celtics fan and if a player from another team was a 6th man and was a free agent and the Celtics signed him and he became a starter for the Celtics and produced I would be happy. Sometimes I think its just a matter of giving someone a true chance to prove themselves in a good roll. I also think people dont give Christian enough credit. He is a very solid talent and his mic work is great. I think he is a main-eventer anywhere. I would love to see HHH step aside and let Edge, Jeff and Matt Hardy and Christian take the reigns along with guys like Kennedy and Punk! I would tune in every week to watch these young guys finally get thier shot.

 

[MisterRob]

You missed the point. I was not trying to say "Look, WWE is hiring TNA talent, so they must be their dumping ground!"

I was saying it's ludicrous, in this two-player game, to accuse either of picking through the other's garbage. If you work for a company making widgets, one of only two widget-makers in the country, and you get sick of working for them, what are you going to do? And if you're the other company, and an experienced widget maker suddenly comes on the job market from your competitor, would you refuse to hire him because he worked for your competition?

Look at the wrestlers TNA has hired after they left the WWE. Look what they've done with them, and what those wrestlers have done while IN TNA. Look at what Christian and Jeff Hardy BOTH did for TNA.

TNA isn't digging through VKM's garbage, they're hiring talented employees that left and were looking for another job.

No, the title of “WWE dumping ground” is not undeserved. TNA’s earned it by picking up every single well known talent the WWE discards. Is it smart to pick up talent that WWE lets go which might have name value and ability to help the company? Of course! It’s a smart business move. Kurt Angle, Christian, even Booker T, were all smart business decisions because they do have talent and more then just name value, but they certainly have that as well. But when you compare all of the talent TNA’s picked up merely because of name value from their WWE days, the majority of the stars were NOT good business decisions and not what TNA should’ve put time and money into. The New Age Outlaws were past their prime and past any time where they could’ve offered something beneficial to TNA. Billy Gunn has done absolutely nothing since coming to TNA. Christy Hemme has nothing to offer and there’s far more worthy women in TNA right now that deserve the spotlight that Hemme is taken, who can do everything better then Hemme whose only being given her place because of her name value in WWE. Kevin Nash, Scott Steiner, even Mick Foley (although I can accept this one as long as Foley isn't being used as a wrestler) bring nothing to the table in TNA. Nash and Steiner are making tons of money when they can’t do anything, and their name value certainly isn’t adding to the ratings or ppv buy rates. Others should and could have their spot and be far better for the development of the company as a whole then these two worn down, past their primes guys. If Kevin Nash was General Manager, or something else behind the scenes like he has been in the past, offering help via things he can offer.. like cutting great promos, then fine. But this guys still stealing the spotlight, still being shoved down our throats, and still being put in matches, taking away from young guys who can do all of those things a lot better and actually be beneficial for the company LONG TERM, as a future star. You can talk about the MEM storyline, but the young stars are being buried in that and in TNA right now. Look at Team 3D, they’re past their prime and sure they still have something to give, but they should not be in main events and receiving the top push as faces while the top heels are all WWE guys, because they are totally undeserving of that spot. What they should be doing is, as a tag team, making the tag teams of the future and putting over talent. Instead they’re still vying for the top spots when they shouldn’t be. And this is exactly why TNA DESERVES the reference to being a dumping ground for WWE, because they’re elevating and putting all the former WWE stars in the spotlight instead of their own young, home grown talent, based solely on the name value of the WWE stars. Because its certainly not because those talents deserve to be gaining the push over younger guys who can be turned into stars for TNA and the company can actually try to do something different and define themselves beyond the WWE.

Jeff Jarrett was crap in WWE, and probably not close to being a top guy. Now he was pushed in WCW and his own company of the WWE. But only because at the time WCW was shit, and TNA is a baby in comparison to WWE.

Jeff Jarrett was pushed down people’s throats in TNA because he owned the company, nothing more.

Ok TM Punk, you say that TNA guys are less talented then WWE guys? Do i even need to bring up The Great Kali, Festus, or even Jimmy Jack Swagger or whatever his name is? TNA has an amazing roster that they may be misusing right now but that does not take away from their talent. Christian is one of the best talkers in the buisness today so i dont understand how he is untalented and say what you will about Jeff but the man is more over then anyone right now so obviously he is doing something right.

I am so sick of everyone ripping on TNA, which isnt perfect, and making WWE seem flawless, which it is far from. Jesus, its a new company, give it time, let it work out these akward years.

Firstly, this has nothing to do with the actual topic of the thread. Whether TNA guys are less talented then WWE guys or not, and whether Great Khali, Festus, or Jimmy Jack Swagger are worse then TNA guys has no valid argument on whether TNA is WWE’s dumping ground or not. Whether you’re sick of people ripping on TNA or not, their complaints are valid… If TNA weren’t doing so many things people didn’t like, they wouldn’t have any reason to complain. They have the right to complain, just as you have the right to praise TNA.

And TNA is not a new company in “awkward” years… they’ve been around for eight years, and they’re past the point of awkward years. They have financial stability, they have a televised show in prim time, and they are not an infant company. So those two things you claimed are no longer valid excuses for TNA being shit.

 

[Gunther]

It does have alot to do with the actual thread because it is defending the talent that people are saying were a waste of TNA's time. And my point was that TNA has had some hits by taking in ex-WWE talent.

The fact that TNA is being constantly call the "dumping ground" proves everyone right about us internet smarks, we are a negative, impossible to please, and demanding of change without allowing any to go by without criticizing it. TNA may not be spectacular right now but it still puts on some great matches and encourages WWE to actually try. Everyone knows wrestling isnt as good as it used to be but how will it change if things arent given a chance. Sure TNA has grabbed some useless talent in the form of Scott Steiner and Co. but its not as bad as everyone says.

Kevin Nash helped bring some of the young X division guys some more recognition with his Paparazzi contest back in the earlier days of TNA. His name value made people who werent knowlagable about the X division guys learn more about them and make bring out the younger guys to the spotlight.

Booker T, Kurt Angle, Christian, 3D, and even BG James have a spot. BG is a great help backstage and has a passion for the buisness and helps younger talent put together matches that make sense. 3D can draw some ECW fans and put on some Hardcore matches that some people crave and PG WWE cant give.

WWE is by now means a new company, is financial successful, has three television shows, and a budget that most films would dream of having and yet they are just as bad as TNA if not worse.

 

[Hacksaw Highway]

I don't see TNA as a dumping ground. Some of their guys weren't used right in WWE (Christian being the most abvious example) so it doesn't mean TNA gives any one the belt, people like Cristian and Rhyno deserved it anyways. If you look at the guys they've hired after WWE, the only one I see as a bad move is Steiner. Christian and Jeff were both very popular guys who had each one several individual and tag titles in WWE, Sting is a legit legend and draw, plus he can still wrestle really damn well, Booker is past his prime but he's in no way bad, he's pretty great on the mic and in the ring, even Kevin Nash is still charismatic and funny as hell when the situation calls for it. Of course then there's Kurt Angle, who may have been the best wrestler in the world at one time (you could probably make an argument for him being the best right now). All in all, I don't see it as TNA accepting every WWE reject, I see it as them utilizing good talent who is already over with the crowd from years spent in WWE, WCW, ECW, ROH, etc.

 

[Greenlight13]

I'm glad someone takes this stance because I think it's ridiculous to call it a graveyard of WWE rejects. There are seemingly very few new talents coming through compared to previous years so if you ran a wrestling company and a recognizable name became available would you ignore them? I wouldn't.

I HATE Scott Steiner, but I acknowledge he has a fanbase that might wonder where he has gotten to and may tune into TNA to see him. It's just smart business to sign a free agent when they become available. If Joe or AJ became available WWE would throw money at them in a heartbeat. They might not put a title on either one, but they know both can wrestle a number of styles and wouldn't pass up on the chance to get a hold of either.

Look at the top level of TNA. Sting has never and possibly will never work for the WWE. Kurt Angle is certainly not washed up, he chose to leave, he was not cut loose because he wasn't good anymore. The same goes for Booker T. Kevin Nash did as much in WCW as he did for the WWE and is used primarily as a mouthpiece, they've never attempted to put him in a one-on-one main event match. Steiner was in the WWE as a maineventer for about 10 minutes. AJ and Joe are TNA grown talents. Rhino had to be let go because of a personal issue, not because he couldn't work, and fans pop for him. Team 3D are the most recognized tag team in wrestling, signing them makes sense, unless you're WWE and hate tag teams.

Take it down a level and you have Abyss, Alex Shelley, Jay Lethal, Consequences Creed, James Storm, Robert Roode, Chris Sabin, Eric Young, Christopher Daniels (in any of his masked personas), Sonjay Dutt, Homicide and Hernandez. All of these men are TNA grown talents (well, most are ROH or some other Indie promotion, but TNA gave them national exposure).

Matt Morgan was never given a real chance by WWE and in my opinion he is a great talent, even if people have started to chant "You Can't Wrestle" (come on, have you seen Khali?)

Kaz should never have left TNA, WWE buried him on Velocity and never gave him a chance either. Would you consider him a WWE reject? If you think this guy doesn't have "it" then you've got a strange take on things.

Daivari was a capable worker but was held in the position of a manger for 99% of his WWE run, should he be punished for that decision? Or should he be allowed to apply his craft?

Stevie Richards... well, he's solid. He put in years of good work in various companies and if he still feels he can go, then I guess I can forgive TNA for wanting to bring him in. If he plays the role well, then more power to him.

There have also been a few who came and went quickly like Rikishi. Well, he was a draw, they gave him a chance, found he just wasn't anything close to what he was years before, and promptly cut him. Black Reign was a failure, I'll concede that one willingly.

Essentially WWE have the advantage of having billions of dollars and decades and decades of history. They're the top promotion and they've been around for a long time. Of course the majority of good workers have been there at some point. TNA has been going like 7 years and when they started up there really weren't a lot of talents available as WWE felt a need to sign EVERYONE, even if they weren't going to use them. They slowly brought in indie wrestlers and developed them and made their own stars. But let's face it, there is minimal national awareness of their product so when a Sting, Booker T or Kurt Angle comes on the market they'd be a fool to not try and bring in a bigger audience using them.

Would you let these talents go free and try and push someone no-one has ever heard of? Or would you bring in an established star while continuing to develop that unknown talent. TNA uses their veterans to try and give their younger guys a rub. Kurt Angle, Booker T, Sting and Kevin Nash all help out these younger guys backstage and want them to improve. Angle wanted Joe to beat him for the belt months before he did, he's desperate for TNA to build new stars like James Storm and Robert Roode. Booker came to TNA with the sole intention of helping out the young guys. If it comes across as bitter old men clinging to the spotlight, well that's just how they're booked.

 

[Spjadoe05]

Well i personally think what most people mean when they make this statement is that TNA has way too much potential to just grab up every free agent with name recognition. And I agree. The "homegrown" TNA talent is way too talented to be constantly placed on the back burner. They have wrestlers who have been there for years that could definitely main event but what do they do? sign every ex WWE or WCW wrestler with any name recognition more lots of money and give them an automatic push. Meanwhile people like the members of frontline (the ones that never worked for WWE/WCW/ECW) get basically screwed. How is Petey Williams for Stevie Richards a good trade? The only reason most of the older stars go to TNA anyway (IMO) is so they can get money, be guaranteed a spot near the top, and not have to travel so much.

 

[Spjadoe05]

Kurt Angle, Booker T, Sting and Kevin Nash all help out these younger guys backstage and want them to improve. Angle wanted Joe to beat him for the belt months before he did, he's desperate for TNA to build new stars like James Storm and Robert Roode. Booker came to TNA with the sole intention of helping out the young guys. If it comes across as bitter old men clinging to the spotlight, well that's just how they're booked.

And here lies the problem that i was talking about. You are defending the wrestlers that went to TNA i don't think most of the people are blaming "Nationally Recognized" stars. TNA chooses to put them in the spotlight put their creations (and others who were there for them when noone else would be) and buries them.

 

[klunderbunker]

TNA has shed a decent amount of the Dumping Ground concept. They were a dumping ground when Test and Rikishi showed up and were thrown into the top storylines. That was nothing but putting guys into spots because of who their previous bosses are. TNA then tried to make an angle out of the proven vs. unproven thing. Of course they were going to sign Angle or Booker if they wanted to come in. It would be stupid not to. However, they've taken it too far, burying their originals in the process. TNA has the right idea, but they've gone way overboard with it.

 

[PlayTheGame]

I agree with KB in the sense that TNA does bury their originals in favor of old WWE guys that are coming in. And, like it or not, TNA does sort of have a history of bring in old WWE guys a little too often. I'm not going flat-out call them a dumping ground though, especially since I don't watch/know about their product that much. But, in their defense, anyone who would call bringing in Booker T & Kurt Angle simply 'picking through the WWE's trash', is just dumb. These two guys, altho slightly past their primes, are still top draws and good workers, especially Angle, who is often heralded as one of the best wrestlers/pure atheletes in the business today (and of all time). However, some of the guys that they brought in from the WWE were poor choices and, if anything, simply furthered the whole "WWE dumping ground" notion (names like Nash, Test, Rikishi, etc come to mind). Recently though it would have seemed that TNA was getting away from this notion (whether it was correct or not), but then they go and sign Stevie Richards. Big mistake. Do they need him, like they really needed any of the other throw-away WWE talent? No, not really. So, I dont know why TNA did this, because, IMO, it furthers the dumping ground idea, but I cant really pick a definitive side on this one due to lack of knowledge, but, if anything at all, TNA is making mistakes and burying their own guys with guys from the WWE that have little to no use left in the business despite nostalgia.

 

[Y 2 Jake]

People arguing against might have been able to say that TNA is not a dumping ground if they hadn't just hired Steven Richards. A wrestlers who's done nothing of note since he was in Right To Censor. That's not to say he won't fulfull the potential he showed, 10 PLUS YEARS AGO. But he might, or more accurately he won't.

People used to get angry when certain wrestlers were called WWE Rejects, when in fact they were just that because WWE rejected them. It's not important if they have value, but most of the people they hire don't.

 

[drondog]

It is definately true. TNA takes almost every WWE star thats cut. They took Stevie Richards who you think Abyss's therapist is? TNA would rather give fat paychecks to worthless stars like Steiner,Nash,Booker T and even Sting, all these guys are past there prime Steiner & Nash can't wrestle, or hardly even move let alone take bumps or talk minus Nash,Steiner is dangerous on a mic. And Booker is a cross between a Compton Crip & and English King, it's pathetic and stupid. Sting is in his last year hopefully, he's starting to act like Hogan & Flair never wanting to step outta the spotlight. TNA does have a talent of perfomers. Joe,AJ, even Morgan if used right could be ausome, but no Russo would rather forget what he preached before he killed WCW,and let the old guys stay on top. Where is Daniels? or Kaz right playing a stupid character from a horrible video game that the company is now in chapter 11. Seems like RUsso bankrupts everything he touches. TNA will take any WWE star, I'm sure Nunzio, that goof from the Queer Squad,Snitcky and every other WWE reject will all find there way to Orlando. Those old guys well some might have 2-3 years left so why not let them HELP BUILD CURRENT TALENT so in 2-3 years can carry the company instead of put it outta busniss. Jarret & Dixie need to step back and realize what there doing is going to kill TNA, the gimmick matches are getting annoying. You dedicate a hole PPV to cage matches why do we need 5 outta 4 matches an Impact to be a gimmick match, Watch next thursday every match is one. TNA Impact gives out FREE TICKETS, thats nice and all but wouldn't you rather have people paying to come see your product than bribing them to waste there boredum in your arena for a bunch of OLD Guys performing, I thought thats what CCW was about. I wish Hogan would've got the Lean Mean Fat Reducing Grilling Machine than an energy drink 20 years ago. Than we'd never have to see him or his disfunctional family again! Vince needs to buy TNA and keep his hold on the wrestling empire, it seems like he's the only one that can put on an entertaining show

 

[SixStrangSmoker]

I honestly don't feel anyone really see's them as such. Both WWE employees and their generis super marks will say it, because they are scared. If it warrents a comment, it must be big enough to be a threat.

 

[Blade]

TNA is not a WWE dumping ground per se, more like a WWE clutching-for-the-spotlight ground because the problem with all the old WWE guys in TNA is how they're being used.
You cannot and should not build a company on 5 or 6 guys who are ridiculously past their prime. They should be used to help out new talent, which is what i assume they're attempting to do with MEM/Frontline thing.

The difference between WWE guys jumping ship to TNA and TNA guys jumping ship to WWE is that when WWE guys arrive in TNA, TNA care about and use their reputation. They count their WWE world title wins. When TNA guys jump to WWE, they're made start over. They're brought in as a mid-card wrestler at best (Christian doesn't count, he is and always has been a WWE guy at heart.)

TNA is using wrestlers who are now terrible simply cause of name value to try get some ratings. It's all gonna go wrong for them at some point.

 

[supergav67]

Its an attitude that cant be helped pal,but I know where youre coming from.
Its the same when it was WWF vs WCW.The general attitude ,,even when Eric was kicking Vinces ratings ass,was that WCW have WWEs rejects (yes.Im including Nash,Bret & Steiner) but WWF sign WCWs,,, STARS. (albiet Eddie,Benoit & Jericho).
Its the same with TNA.Your examples ,Jeff,Christian (& R Truth) basically started with WWF.but its like OOOooh,,,Foley & Booker ,they must be very OLD & past it,,(TNA calling them vets doesnt help much) .While nobodies quite checking recent signings Y2J or Christians birth certificate as much.
I dunno the soloution.While money is tight all round ,TNA dont pay AS much as WWE but will naturally benefit from acquiring stars with WWE TV expirience (like Davari ?!?) Unless TNA fill there roster with Joes & AJs but where shall such a roster be found with no direct NWA connection,FCW of its own, ,Bookers school still to produce somebody & a pay per play policy that can see non WWE talent like Petey Williams disappear overnight?!

 

[mozenwrath]

You missed the point. I was not trying to say "Look, WWE is hiring TNA talent, so they must be their dumping ground!"

I was saying it's ludicrous, in this two-player game, to accuse either of picking through the other's garbage. If you work for a company making widgets, one of only two widget-makers in the country, and you get sick of working for them, what are you going to do? And if you're the other company, and an experienced widget maker suddenly comes on the job market from your competitor, would you refuse to hire him because he worked for your competition?

Look at the wrestlers TNA has hired after they left the WWE. Look what they've done with them, and what those wrestlers have done while IN TNA. Look at what Christian and Jeff Hardy BOTH did for TNA.

TNA isn't digging through VKM's garbage, they're hiring talented employees that left and were looking for another job.

You gotta look at the mindset of people who say that TNA is a dumping ground for WWE. They want everything that's not WWE to be either ROH or some form of Japanese wrestling. So what if they have alot of former WWE/WCW/ECW talent. Where are they supposed to go? Back to wrestling in high school gyms? CZW? Some guy named Ronnie's backyard? Go back to flipping burgers? Whatever. I think people with this stigma need to get over themselves and stop trying to get themselves over.

 

[Cpt Charisma]

Whats with all the Big Poppa Pump hate?

The man is comedic gold every time he gets near a mic. That may not be what he's going for, but my friends and I can't stop laughing. "I know Samoans and he's no half breed he IS a half breed and annahtruesamoansandhesahalf he's a half breed."

I wouldn't even call TNA the WWE's dumping ground. I'd call it the WWE's squandering ground. They're wasting the top talent that they do get with horrible booking. I've been watching since the Spike deal began, and until recently this Main Event Mafia storyline is really the first one where I haven't gone "What the fuck is Vince Russo thinking?" after the end of every episode. Or "Jesus Christ, I'm about to call the parent company of this organization and tell Dixie Carter's dad to get off his ass and force her to hire a new writing team." Of course I still say that Vince Russo is still on Vinny Mac's books and is being paid to keep TNA down the way he was paid to kill WCW. But that's another topic.