I have the debut show of Impact! on Spike and I threw it on earlier just to take a look seeing as how I had nothing to do for a couple of hours. And I was shocked at what I saw. I have said for a while that the X-Division doesnt look as hard-hitting as when I first began watching and my suspicions were cemented by the video. The thing is, its not the actual wrestlers, its the production team. When it first started on Spike they had kept the original format they had used since their inception, which was cameras from ringside (like in ROH) zooming in and getting really personal with the wrestlers so that you can see the hits up-close. Since then they have gone to the main camera from the stands detailing most of the action.
I thought about this and realised that TNA changed it to increase the production values of the show. But in doing that, and abandoning the rough-looking, wobbly cameras in the hands of the ringside guys they have taken away from the integrity of the product. It looks a lot more fake now then it did before, and purely because of the fact that watching on TV you cant see the impact of the moves. I know it was an indy feel with the ringside cameras covering almost all the action but it looked better and it looked realer.
But moving along... TNA should definately let the X-Division speak for itself. And seriously GET RID OF STING already. I mean I loved seeing him in TNA and loved the fact that I got to see one of my favourites of all time again, but its getting old. He is holding back the young guys, but even moreso along with Jarrett, he is holding back the TNA product. TNA needs to become more like ROH and stop treating the smaller guys like the smaller guys. There is a shitload of talent in the X-Division that should get elevated to the Heavyweight Division, and there are a shitload of talents that are ready to step up and take the post in the X-Division should that happen.
I mean move Senshi, Daniels, Styles and Joe up to the heavyweights and have Sabin, Petey, Lethal and Dutt lead the X-Division into a new era. And then you can have guys like Elix Skipper (a guy who was at one time an X-Division mainevent player) back in the picture. Throw in Matt Bentley, Franky Kazarian, Alex Shelley, Johnny Devine, Aries, bring in Roderick Strong, bring in Bryan Danielson, bring in Jack Evans, bring in Matt Sydal, Davey Richards (how impressive has this kid been in such a small amount of time with ROH - I saw a little of him in PWG a couple of years ago and he has really come along nice).
There are so many young talents just waiting out there. And TNA has every chance to split these guys between the two divisions. Why should they be limited to the X-Division just because they are technically sound - its an absolute joke. Get rid of Sting, tell Jarrett to take a hiatus, (if Steiner is gonna keep losing clean to everyone in TNA he can stay - that is what everyone in Steiner's case should be doing, building the future) and start elevating all these amazing young athletes they have.
Especially with Kurt now - give the man the title and have him make people's careers. Put him in a series with Joe, and Joe will become a made man in the eyes of the casual fan. Put him with AJ, Daniels (what a four way), Senshi (what a five way, lol). There is now more than ever before such an opportunity for TNA.
Another thing, they need to kill all the bullshit funny business. This Jackass thing was stupid - I know they were trying to go for a DX feel - but TNA fans dont wanna see that shit. They need to stop trying to be WWE version 2. TNA needs to go in a complete opposite direction. They are rewriting the course of wrestling history - they need to ignore the other guy and change everything about the game. They can change pro-wrestling and what pro-wrestling means forever. They are in a position that gives them the power to be able to slowly do that. They need to tell people, "that isnt wrestling, come here and we'll show you what wrestling should be."
