First and foremost, WWE is THE top wrestling organization on the planet, hands down, period!
That's a no brainer, a fool would be the only one to argue with this assessment, now don't get me wrong before you take this as a TNA loving reply, I'm Switzerland on this one, the wrestling business in its current form has disenfranchised me greatly. Just because WWE is the top wrestling company and still has their foothold on the business doesn't mean what's coming out these days is good. Again, not preaching greatness from TNA here, but just calling it like I see it, the fact that there's even an alternative to WWE, even if the company is substandard to some people on here, we should be grateful.
It's hard to compete with WWE's production quality, rank and file pecking order and Vincent K. McMahon's....Muuunnnaaaayy! WWE is a well oiled machine. The orders come from the Captain (Vince), to his top Lieutenants (Laurinitis, HHH, Steph, writers), who guide the soldiers (wrestlers) onto the battlefeild (the ring, films, make-a-wish etc.)
Pretty much a dead on statement here, however I'd give anything for WWE to just jettison the film division or rebrand it into something that does not carry the WWE name, but what are you gonna do? You can't win them all.
With all the above said...TNA used to be innovative, the X Division, six sided ring, Ultimate X match etc.
Austin Aries, a non-WWE branded star, I might add had a very memorable run with the X Division title, I wouldn't say that was too shabby. Plus the six sided ring was something that was brought back for Destination X last year, I am assuming it's possible that we will see it back for this year's incarnation? Also, if memory serves me right, I could have sworn they had an Ultimate X match at that same event. I mean would you prefer that they have the Ultimate X match ad nauseum like WWE does with its Hell and The Cell and Money In The Bank matches? Again, no offense to WWE on that and I personally find nothing wrong with themed PPVs but when you have 2 MITB or 3 Hell In A Cell matches on a given pay per view, I would say the word for that is redundant. But considering that WWE does have a successful track record with their foothold on the wrestling business, they are still at that point where they can get away with it.
Just the same though, TNA is still offering these things you speak of. Period.
Now Tna has turned itself into WCW 2.0! I find they are making the same mistakes that WCW made before their own demise. Nobody knows who's in charge backstage, Hogan has some stroke and that's not always a good thing. Most of their top stars prove to be unreliable (Flair, RVD, Jeff Hardy), with their no show antics the last couple of years.
This one never gets old to me, you say that TNA is WCW 2.0, you say that nobody know who's in charge backstage, who really knows? But just the same, I am sure you are citing the internet as your true source for knowing what's going down in the business. Yes, I am sure that some stuff we hear about comes from a hint of truth from time to time, but honestly TNA shares parallels with WCW in the respect that they have similar personnel and what not. They don't have the Ted Turner ownership where you had a revolving door of big wigs who knew nothing about wrestling allowing for ridiculous guarantee contracts for many wrestlers who did not deserve them. Despite some familiar faces working in TNA, they are by no means at least in my view a WCW 2.0.
TNA has become a rest haven for WWE's wellness policy's worst offenders (Anderson, Hardy, RVD, Angle). The company puts faith in these guys and they embarrass themselves with their substance abuse issues.
Anderson was released according to WWE for matters not involving the wellness policy (sure he violated but so has Randy Orton and other established WWE acts), and RVD yes he indeed violated the policy too but he fulfilled his contractual obligations. Big whoop on TNA signing them. Both men should just starve on the indy scene or uproot to Japan to wrestle full-time? It's very likely that these veterans of the business would prefer to stay state side and work a looser schedule. I don't think they are doing anything to hurt TNA or anyone else. Last I hear myriads of wrestlers in WWF/E have died from substance abuse issues, several of them under contract I might add. Sure, WWE might be doing something by instituting the wellness policy but it only took a bunch of wrestlers dying to do it. Please, spare me the holier than thou nonsense.
Hogan and Flair get on TV and bragg and make reference to HOF rings they received in WWE.
Yeah, and Ric Flair brought the Big Gold Belt with him to WWF, sure he was owed a deposit from what he had stated in the past. But something tells that despite that, him bringing the belt to WWF trumps what TNA is doing with the HOF ring angle they had. After all, I remember they had to stop showing the Big Gold Belt rather abruptly and instead had to use a tag team title to double for it, when they did the Real World's Champion angle.
Why does TNA allow this? It's almost as if your admitting to being a second rate company by allowing these things to go on. TNA has great talent that gets overshadowed every time a WWE castaway gets future endeavored! Anderson, RVD, Christian, Angle all won the TNA title months upon entering the company. AJ gets pushed back and put in dumb storylines, Overrated Vince Russo comes and goes.....
I would check the current champions roll call of TNA, Bobby Roode is the World Champion, Austin Aries WAS the X Divison Champion, and yes I know Devon was in WWF/E at one time, but just the same he's a TNA guy at this point since he's been there for over 7 years. Daniels and Kazarian World Tag Team Champions, both pretty well identified TNA guys. Miss Tessmacher the KO Champion, and yes while I cringe at Eric Young and ODB being KO Tag Champs. Let us no forget that Harvey Whippleman was a former WWF Women's Champion.
While you are right about Angle and Anderson getting released, Christian and RVD both refused to renew contracts with WWE. A MAJOR difference from future endeavor status. Again, I suppose you have a means of helping to financially support these men who want to continue plying their given art form. It's obvious you're adverse to these men continuing their lives as professional wrestlers in other organizations since they either did not want to or could not stay with WWE.
Suppose I lose my job or decide to part ways with the current technology company I work for, what should I do if a competitor offers me a job. Say no and decide to flip burgers? Give me a break. These men have every right to pursue an opportunity elsewhere and if TNA wants to give it to them, so be it. I mean yeah Ring Of Honor is a great organization that showcases some great talent and wrestling clinics and organizations like New Japan and All Japan I greatly respect and admire for their appreciation of the art form, however like I said earlier not EVERY individual in the wrestling business wants to go the route of a Stan Hansen or Big Van Vader and uproot their own families and themselves to perform overseas, even if the money can be and usually is good.
Is it just me? Help me out guys....restore my faith in TNA because the last Three years have been a big debacle!
Call me a prick, but a lot of this opinion you're stating is just you. You are not wrong in my view on all counts, but there are some points you make that I just have to scoff at. Would a better rated TNA product help the business, you damn bet. Is there room for improvement with TNA, damn right there is.
However, considering the myriad of stupidity and nonsense I've seen on WWE's part over the years, and Vince McMahon in particular (i.e. WBF and XFL), TNA does alright for itself, even if it's not to your own personal liking. Again, I can side with some of your points, but I'll tell you this much at the end of the day the people that have ran TNA thus far are a hell of a lot better at promoting wrestling, than Vince McMahon ever was at promoting bodybuilding or football. Say what you will about the company but ten years and still going as a company, that isn't too bad. Until the day we actually hear for certain that they are to shut down operations as a wrestling promotion, then we can talk a bit more about a thread like this.
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