Personally, I think the next TV champ is someone that can ultimately benefit from being the champion.
Devon has the title now but, let's face it, Devon isn't rising any higher up the singles ranks than he currently is. He can't compete in the X Division, he's more than 220 pounds, and he just doesn't have the mojo to be TNA World Heavyweight Champion. I could see him as someone that makes a very occassional step into the main event picture to challenge for the title in some sort of threeway or fourway format, but that's it.
I think the next champ should be someone that at least has some chance to move further up in the ranks. The Pope has been in TNA forever it seems and, for the most part, he's just been spinning his wheels. Maybe it's time for TNA to have him shit or get off the pot. He's in his mid 30s and hasn't really accomplished squat in his entire career. Making him TV champ could finally give him some much needed direction and could lay the foundation for, maybe, something bigger down the line.
Magnus is another guy that seems to have been in TNA forever. Outside of his time as part of The British Invasion, he's someone else that's mostly just kind of languished. He's a young guy, has a good look, is solid in the ring and seems to have pretty decent promo abilities. As with Pope, the TV title could give Magnus some stability and a foundation upon which to maybe build his career going forward.
I could also see guys like RVD, AJ Styles or Jeff Hardy doing some good with the title. It might seem like a demotion for them but, in some ways, it's really not when you think on it. I don't think RVD has really been a viable contender for the TNA WHC since he lost the title. He's had a few matches for the title here and there but, in the end, RVD's star power isn't really on the level in which being put into the TV title picture is beneath him. It'd give RVD something to do as well. The same goes with AJ Styles. I know a lot of fans love the guy and think he should be the face of the company, but it's just not going to happen. Styles doesn't have the charisma, personality or star power to really be THE top guy of TNA. He's had his opportunity, multiple times in fact, but it's just never come to pass. Styles is someone that can bring a level of TNA star power to the title that it doesn't have, can be built back up before dropping the title to someone else before making another pilgrimage into main event land. Jeff Hardy could also lend some star power to the TV title. While Hardy is said to have made a complete turn around in terms of his behavior and drug issues, I find it hard to believe that TNA will still trust him with the top spot again anytime soon. Hardy is another guy that doesn't really have the personality or promo skills to be THE top guy, at least not for long stretches, so he could work well here as well. Give the title some prestige with his name being on it, plus getting the benefit of having something relevant to do while he's out of the main event picture.
Unfortunately, I have a feeling that Garret Bischoff has a strong chance of being the next TV champ. It's true that he's no longer being shoved down our throats as he once was, thankfully, but that's something that can turn around at anytime. All Big Daddy Bischoff has to do is flex a little administrative muscle & make a few phone calls and the fruit of his loins will be carrying a title.
