Slammiversary XI Thoughts

By Chad Smart

@chadsmart & @my123cents on Twitter

On Friday, I wrote a blog detailing some of the “issues” I felt TNA needs to address to improve the company. After watching Slammiversary XI, I am still concerned most of those issues will continue to be problems going forward. Because of these issues, I have decided to hold off on purchasing tickets for Bound For Glory as I want to see how TNA proceeds before throwing down a chunk of change for a show that might possibly be equally parts entertaining wrestling and annoying booking. With that said here are my thoughts on what went down in Boston.

I mentioned in the blog on Friday how I have little interest in Aces and Eights because they do nothing but lose. Instead of having a solid showing at Slammiversary, they turned out to be the “pu***es in leather” Hulk Hogan referred to them as early in the show. Garrett Bischoff/Wes Brisco/Mr. Anderson lost a six-man tag match to Magnus/Samoa Joe and Jeff Hardy. D-Von lost the TV title to Abyss. Bully Ray retained the World Title only after Bischoff, Doc, D-Von and Brisco ran in and got beat down by Sting allowing Mr. Anderson to hand Bully a hammer which he used to hit Sting in the head knocking Sting out for an easy three count.

Bully Ray wins with Aces & Eights
Photo by Impact Wrestling

Again I ask, am I really supposed to care about Aces and Eights? If so, what have they done to make me interested? I’m not asking for complete dominance. That would be too extreme in the opposite direction. But is it too much to ask that any member of Aces and Eights get a victory that means something? 

If Aces and Eights really want to win a match, I recommend they take at least a couple of months off from wrestling. In Friday’s blog, I talked about how wrestlers disappear for months at a time. Usually it’s mid-card wrestlers who fans forget all about, then when they reappear fans are in a stunned silence trying to figure out who is in the ring. When a popular wrestler disappears and reappears the TNA playbook is to have the wrestler get the big win.

Chris Sabin wins gold
Photo by Impact Wrestling

At Slammiversary, Chris Sabin won the X-Division title after returning in the past month from being on the injured list for almost a year. Abyss’s return to TV was capped off by winning the TV title. James Storm hasn’t been gone but his tag-team partner last night, Gunner, hadn’t been seen in God knows how long. In their first title match StormGunners won the Tag Team Titles. I don’t know what long term plans TNA has in place so I may be being typical internet wrestling fan nitpicking for the sake of complaining, but none of these title changes seemed necessary. 

Being X-Division champion allows Chris Sabin to challenge for the World Title at some point over the summer. I can see why TNA would rather have a Sabin/Bully Ray match instead of a Kenny King/Bully Ray match but it still feels like Sabin’s victory was done simply because he returned from a serious injury. Abyss’ win was bad storytelling. Abyss replaced his brother Joseph Park after Park was attacked backstage by Aces and Eights. Joseph had been counted out so the match was over. The D-Von/Abyss match never should have happened. Trying to remember why James Storm was inserted into tag match since from what I recall he had been calling out AJ Styles and dealing with Aces and Eights. Putting the tag straps on a new makeshift team instead of an established makeshift team seems shortsighted. We’ll see where it goes.

Taryn vs. Gail Kim
Photo by Impact Wrestling

Since I’ve been negative so far let me dish out some praise. The match of the night and surprise of the night had to be the Gail Kim/Taryn Terrell Last Knockout Standing Match. Anyone who’s followed Gail Kim’s career knows she can bring it when allowed to actually showcase her wrestling talent but who knew Taryn was as good as she is before this match? Either she greatly improved since joining TNA or WWE really doesn’t know how to utilize Divas. This was a more brutal and entertaining match than expected and it was given the right amount of time to tell the story.  If you didn’t see Slammiversary, I highly recommend you track down this match.

Soon-to-be-Hall of Famer Kurt Angle with Kevin & Chad
Photo by My 1-2-3 Cents

Kurt Angle was announced as this year’s TNA Hall of Fame inductee. I am of the belief active wrestlers shouldn’t be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Last year when Sting was announced, I questioned the reasoning. After the Hall of Fame ceremony was over it made sense why TNA inducted him and doing so on the tenth anniversary of the company was meaningful. I understand the significance of Kurt Angle leaving WWE for TNA however I don’t t feel this is the right time for his induction. Not only because Kurt is still wrestling but also in terms of historical importance I feel Jeff and/or Jerry Jarrett should be inducted before anyone else. Kurt going in now also looks like another example of TNA putting ex-WWE/WCW guys over their homegrown talent. AJ Styles, James Storm, Christopher Daniels and even Abyss have been in TNA longer than Angle. Why is Angle being inducted before guys who helped found the company?

I briefly touched on the main event when talking about Aces and Eights. Sting losing means he can never challenge for the World Title again. I don’t know how much longer Sting will be wrestling. I do know this stipulation is a good thing as now TNA might push some new contenders into the World Title scene. If memory serves right, Sting has challenged for the World Title at either Bound For Glory or Slammiversary every year since 2006. Time to mix it up. Now I ask TNA to layout a world title match that doesn’t involve ref bumps and run-ins. I won’t hold my breath.

After reading this you might be thinking Slammiversary wasn’t a good show. To be honest, Slammiversary was a perfectly fine wrestling show hindered only by TNA’s standard booking practices. I am not disappointed I paid for the show. I’m only sad that after 11 years, TNA continues to make the same decisions over and over and over. The TNA locker room is full of talent. If TNA wants to grow they have to stop being TNA.  I forgot to mention this earlier so I’m going to briefly throw it in here. Jay Bradley won a spot in the Bound For Glory series. I’m not saying he should win the series but he should be in the final four. This is a chance to build a new star. Will TNA seize the opportunity or will Jay be the Jobber To The Stars in the tournament? Time will tell. 

Things I'd Like to See Addressed in TNA

By Chad Smart

@chadsmart & @my123cents

I had planned on making this a 5-part series, but 1) who really wants to read 5 blogs and 2) I’m lazy so getting one blog is challenging enough these days. As I’ve said over the past year, I really feel TNA is on the right path to being a solid company and worthy competitor to WWE. That being said, there’s still a lot of work to be done before TNA can get lazy and rest on any laurels of success. The following is a list of things I’d like to see addressed before Bound For Glory.

Hernandez & Chavo
Photo courtesy: TNA

The Tag Team Division: For the past few months there have been three tag teams battling over the titles. Chavo/Hernandez, Roode/Aries and Daniels/Kaz have been playing hot potato with the number one contendership and the tag belts. Am I to believe there are no other tag teams in TNA that could at least act as a buffer to prolong another match between the previously named trio of teams? Aces and Eights have two potential teams in their ranks. Why haven’t Bischoff/Brisco or Doc/Knox attempted to bring the tag gold to the clubhouse? Why were Robbie E and Robbie T split up? Why did Joey Ryan and Matt Morgan never do anything as a tag team after putting them together at Bound For Glory 2012?  Sure the tag team title matches have all been good this year but the division is far from ideal.

Wrestlers Disappear for Months at a Time: Speaking of tag teams, at Slammiversary, James Storm got to pick his partner for a Four Way Tag Title Match.  His partner was the returning, Gunner. I don’t remember the last time Gunner was on TV and pretty sure the last time he was on Impact he was a heel teaming with Kid Kash.  So Gunner shows up and the crowd let out a collective, “who’s that?” 

Right before Lockdown, Sting brought back Eric Young to be on his team for the Lethal Lockdown match. EY had appeared sporadically over the past year due to shooting his reality fishing show. I don’t think EY has been seen since Lockdown. There may be a storyline reason for his absence that I don’t recall, but the point is wrestlers being brought in and used once or twice then disappearing is more the norm than the exception in TNA. Look at how guys are brought in for X-Division matches and once they lose are rarely seen again until a spot has to be filled in an X-Division match.

One of my big complaints with WWE and TNA is the same wrestlers are on every show, and usually interacting with the same wrestlers week after week. I wish one company would learn how to effectively rotate the roster so shows feel fresh.

Why is the Knockout Tag Title Still Around? It was bad enough when Eric Young and ODB won the Knockout tag titles but now that they’ve been champions for over a year while Eric is rarely around and ODB has been named the Knockout division referee, can the titles be forgotten? Most fans probably have forgotten they exist anyway. I’m including this here because EY/ODB are still listed as champions on the Impact Wrestling website.

Aces & Eights

Why Should I Care About Aces and Eights? Have Aces and Eights ever won a match they didn’t rig?  I think the nWo B-team won more matches than Aces and Eights have won. Why bring in Doc and Knox and have them be nothing more than punching bags for Sting and Kurt Angle? They’re close to the point where they should swamp out D-Lo Brown with Al Snow and change the name of the group to The Job Squad.

For the love of God, do not have Hogan vs. Bully Ray at Bound for Glory: I may be putting the horse before the cart for this one. However, given the storyline with Hogan wanting revenge for Bully Ray tricking him into giving Bully the title shot at Lockdown and for Bully marrying Brooke Hogan.  Add in Hogan’s recent comments about wrestling again and wanting to be TNA Champion, I’m going to address this possible scenario.

Hogan & Bully Ray
Photo courtesy: TNA

Yes Hulk Hogan gets one of the loudest cheers from live audiences. Why? Hulk Hogan is a legend in the sport of wrestling and had a hall of fame career. If Magic Johnson stepped foot at center court of the Staples Center, he’d most likely get a loud ovation as well. Same thing would happen if Wayne Gretzky, Ozzie Smith and Dan Marino took the field in their respective hometown arenas. Does this mean they should suit up and play another game? No. It means fans are appreciative of the athlete’s careers and are giving them the reaction earned from years of playing.  Hulk Hogan is the biggest name on the TNA roster, of course he’s going to get cheered. In no way though should the Hulkster consider another match, especially a match for the TNA title.

A big reason why wrestling is stagnant at the moment is the lack of new stars being made. Putting the biggest name in the business, who’s been around for over 30-years in a match with a guy who’s been around for nearly 20-years isn’t going to do anything for the long term success of TNA. It will give the appearance that TNA doesn’t know how to build new stars and relies on past stars to sell their shows.

Since TNA has four months to build up to Bound For Glory, hopefully they’ll use that time to take whoever they see has a potential face of the company and build that person up as a credible challenger for the title. Now that I’ve typed that, unless Hogan is entered into the Bound For Glory series, there should be no logical way he challenges for the title at BFG. Stranger things have happened though. TNA could always rehash the ending of Wrestlemania 9.

So there are just five areas I’d like to see addressed by TNA and improved upon before their biggest show of the year. Since Bound For Glory is being held in San Diego, I am planning on making the two-hour trip down Interstate 5 to see the show for the second consecutive year. Last year’s show was a better experience than being at Wrestlemania 28. We’ll see if the same holds true this year.

Do you have any suggestions for TNA? Share them on our Facebook page. Not that TNA will read them. Just curious to hear what other fans think. 

Bound for Glory: A Fan's Perspective

Jeff Hardy: New TNA Champion
Bound for Glory '12
Photo by My 1-2-3 Cents

By Chad Smart
@chadsmart & @my123cents on Twitter

After the experiences on Saturday at the Fan Fest and Hall of Fame dinner, I was eagerly anticipating Bound For Glory. I thought the card was a decent line up. Granted I would have preferred to see a Knockout 4-Way with Madison Rayne and Gail Kim added to the match instead of a straight rematch from No Surrender with Tara vs. Miss Tessmacher, That match notwithstanding, there wasn’t any match I saw as a “bathroom break” match. My biggest concern, as I wrote about last week, was whether or not there would be any significant story development with the Aces and Eights angle.

Inside the arena
By My 1-2-3 Cents

I got into the Arena around 4:30. I was somewhat disappointed there was no dark match or anything to hype up the live crowd prior to the show. Around 4:50, Jeremy Borash and Hulk Hogan appeared on the video screen and talked about Aces and Eights. Shortly after that Austin Aries came out to cut a heel-esque promo on the crowd saying he knew his name so he didn’t need the crowd to chant. I don’t know if TNA expected such a vocal supportive crowd for A Double and his promo was done to try and get them to cheer Jeff Hardy or not, but even with Aries heeling the crowd, the majority of the crowd stayed supportive of the TNA World Champion.

I’m not going to do a match-by-match review as there are enough of those floating around the web and since this review is getting posted two days after the fact, I doubt anyone reading doesn’t know what happened. Instead I’m going to offer up my personal Pros and Cons about the show.

CONS

Since I have more positive to say and want to end the blog on a high note, I’ll start with the things I didn’t like.

When I got to my seat, I had fourth row on the floor, three seats from the ramp. As I took my seat this guy came over and stood in front of me. At first I was thinking maybe he was a my123cents fan and I was going to have my first fan interaction. Instead he said his girlfriend was sitting next to me. They had bought their tickets separately and he was in the same row eight seats down. He asked if I would be willing to change seats so he and his girl could be together. I was hesitant to switch due to how good the seat was but decided it wasn’t like he was sitting in the cheap seats. I was only moving about 10 feet. It wouldn’t be that big of a move so I agreed. While the new seat was still a great view there were two issues I had to deal with throughout the show that I wouldn’t have had to deal with in my original seat.

First up was the group of four guys sitting in the third row.  They were the type of fans who got excited over every little move and would stand for the slightest punch or kick and would remain standing for a good 30-45 seconds. That wouldn’t have been so bad except for the fact the guy directly in front of me was about 6’4” and 350 pounds.  Definitely made a better door than window. I hate to nit pick on their standing because I’m all for fans enjoying themselves and having excitable fans makes for good television. However, I also think fans should be aware of their surrounding and realize when no one else is standing, be courteous try to not obscure other’s view.  Plus, they were in the third row. It isn’t like they were getting a better view by standing than they were by sitting.

Samoa Joe wins!
Photo by My 1-2-3 Cents

The second nit pick is the loud female fan behind him. Again, I’m all for cheering and expressing your support or who you want to win the match. I only ask that if you’re going to be yelling throughout the entire match, please have more than one cheer.  This girl would just repeat the name of whomever she was cheering for. Hearing, “lets go Joe” at the beginning of a match is fine. Hearing “lets go Joe” every 15 seconds for 10 minutes straight is torture. Maybe I’m getting old and cranky. Or maybe I’m used to Chikara crowds who are creative with their cheers and taunts.

Speaking of Chikara, one of the events of the night reminded why I enjoy Chikara (and Chikara fans) as much as I do. During the Aces and Eights match, one of the masked wrestlers maybe perhaps was Luke Gallows. Because he has been rumored to be part of the group and the crowd was a “smart” crowd, the fans around me were chanting “Luke Gallows” and “Festus” over and over. Contrast that with Chikara where Archibald Peck has resurfaced under a mask as the Mysterious and Handsome Stranger. When the M&HS comes to the ring the fans don’t chant for Archie, instead they play into the story and chant “we don’t know you,” or “who are you.”  Again, a small thing that means nothing in the grand scheme of things but at the same time helps to sell the story being told in the ring. OK, that’s it for small complaints. Onto the actual things I think could have been done differently.

My biggest complaint of the show is how underused the video screen was used. There were several times when I turned to look at the screen to get a better visual of what was happening in the ring and would be greeted with the Bound For Glory graphic. Only during selects moments when the action spilled out onto the floor did the director feel obligated to put the action up on the screen. Yes it was a small venue and there weren’t any “bad” seats so the crowd didn’t need to watch the action on a giant monitor for 95% of the show. It still would have been nice to have the monitor available to see what the audience at home was seeing.

New tag team champions
Hernandez & Chavo Guerrero
Photo by My 1-2-3 Cents

The outcome of half of the matches were outcomes I mentioned on From the Rafter’s Radio as being the least productive outcomes for future stories.  Rob Van Dam, Chavo/Hernandez, Tara and Jeff Hardy all winning not only cut the legs out from rising TNA stars. With the exception of Hernandez, all are former WWE talents and their wins, to the cynical fan, re-enforces the belief TNA wrestlers are inferior to anyone who’s wrestled in WWE. 

Rob Van Dam is and will be super over with crowd based on his history. Zema Ion is a rising star that hasn’t been featured on a regular basis since winning the X-Division title. This match could have been used to give Ion a major victory and some momentum in the X-Division. Speaking of the X-Division, where’s Kenny King, Sonjay Dutt, Rubix or any other potential rising star?

Chavo Guerrero has only been in TNA for about three months and is now one half of the Tag-Team Champions. Much like when Gail Kim returned to TNA, after a couple years of doing nothing in WWE, and quickly won both the Knockouts and Knockout Tag-Team titles, the impression being sent is if a wrestler jumps ship to TNA they will be rewarded with a championship. I like the team of Chavo and Hernandez, I just don’t see a reason for switching the tag-titles at this point in time.

Tara & Mr. Pectacular
Photo by My 1-2-3 Cents

Tara winning the title from Miss Tessmacher felt like less of a situation built around a title and more about giving Tara a stage to introduce some ex-reality star that most of the crowd didn’t know. I have been impressed by Miss Tessmacher this year and believe she could be a cornerstone for the Knockout division. Not discrediting Tara, as she’s a very talented wrestler in her own right. Simply stating the title change felt overshadowed. A quick note about Jessie (I think that’s his name), Tara’s Hollywood boyfriend, after he came out, I texted a friend and asked if Tara called him her “boo” so when the crowd booed him Mike Tenay and Taz could claim the crowd was actually cheering for him. I was saying boo-urns.

Jeff Hardy winning the World Title made sense from a storyline perspective. The year of redemption paid off for the Charismatic Enigma. I’m guessing no one in TNA expected Austin Aries to have the breakout year he’s had either. Otherwise why put the title on Aries only to quickly move it to Hardy?  

The video screen and the results are really the only negatives I had with the show.

Bonus Miss Tessmacher pic because Kevin's a fan...
Photo by My 1-2-3 Cents

PROS

During the Fan Fest, I spoke with a TNA employee who expressed concern with the crowd since Phoenix wasn’t a major television market for the company. At 5:05pm those concerns were put to rest. This was probably one of the loudest, rowdiest crowds I’ve witnessed live. They really didn’t get quiet for anything. Even the cool down matches had a frenzied crowd cheering almost every move. I’m guessing TNA wishes every crowd was like the Phoenix crowd.

Even though I don’t agree with the outcomes of most of the matches, that didn’t stop me from enjoying the show. As a wrestling fan first and sports entertainment fan second, I was pleased with the action on the show. All the wrestlers went out there and gave 100%. The matches weren’t cookie cutter matches going through the motions working in the wrestler’s signature spots. On the biggest show of the year, everyone delivered.

Joey Ryan gets Head
Photo by My 1-2-3 Cents

The stories being told were logical.  It’s a little thing, but in wrestling logic is seen about as often as Billy Kidman actually getting power bombed. Yes, I just made a reference from 1998. At first I was disappointed in the Joey Ryan/Al Snow match because I felt Joey should have came in and dominated Al proving Joey belonged in TNA. Then I took a step back and looked at the story being told. Joey took a beating, making Al believe Joey wasn’t that good of a wrestler. Then when Al figured he had Joey ripe for the pickings, Joey had Matt Morgan ready to run in and destroy Al. At least I hope that’s the story TNA was telling. I think the pairing of Joey and Matt could be interesting and hope there’s a plan in place for the duo.

Devon revealed!
Photo by My 1-2-3 Cents

My questions about Aces and Eights were answered in a way I didn’t expect. I don’t know if it was because I was expecting Bully Ray to turn on Sting, or because of all the names I’ve heard rumored to be a members of the gang, whatever the reason, the reveal of Devon was a shocking surprise. Not only was it a surprise, it made sense. Here’s one half of the most decorated tag team in wrestling history who has watched his partner become one of the most popular guys on the roster. A guy who was Television Champion when his contract expired and who the company said “don’t let the door hit you on the way out” instead of offering a raise. Why wouldn’t he want to cause havoc and seek revenge? The reveal was a shot of energy into a story I felt was spinning its wheels for the past month. I am curious to watch Impact this week and see what the fallout will be from Devon’s involvement and how TNA handles Aces and Eights being allowed access to the Impact Zone.

Storm vs. Roode
Photo by My 1-2-3 Cents

What can I say about the Bobby Roode/James Storm match that wouldn’t sound like exaggerated hyperbole?  The blow off match to a yearlong feud was just as brutal and intense as one could have hoped for. Two of TNA’s originals went out and bled for the company they helped put on the map. One thing I really liked was how little King Mo was involved in the match. Usually when there’s a special enforcer or referee the person ends up having some effect on the outcome of the match. Other than protecting Earl Hebner from Bobby Roode at one point in the match, King Mo was kept more as a bystander. With Mo coming into wrestle in TNA, the match gave him a front row seat to let him know if he expects to make it big he better be willing to bust his ass.

A Double vs. Jeff Hardy
Super Hurricarana
Photo by My 1-2-3 Cents

Overall, I had a great time at Bound for Glory.  TNA has made some serious improvements over the past 4-5 months. It seems like they have plans for the next 6-12 months. Hopefully they will stick to the plan and continue to build on the entertaining and intriguing product they have going.  In doing so hopefully they forge their own identity. Also, hopefully they will quickly get the Knockout Tag Title off of Eric Young and put them on an actual Knockout Tag Team or get rid of the titles all together. Thanks to everyone at TNA for a great weekend of wrestling and for treating fans like they mean more than just money in your pocket.

Do you like the direction TNA is headed? What would you like to see them do differently? Share your thoughts on our Facebook page.

Aces & Eights: Is The Dead Man's Hand Already Dead?

Aces & Eights
Photo by TNA

By Chad Smart
@chadsmart & @my123cents on Twitter

One of the most intriguing stories going on in TNA for the past few months has been the presence of the biker gang, Aces and Eights. Named for the famed “dead man’s hand,” the group has been showing up in the Impact Zone both in person and on the Dixie-tron to issues warnings of attacks. At first there was intrigue as to who was leading the group and how they were able to get into the stage. Now though, I think too much time has passed with little advancement in the story and it’s led to fans losing interest in caring to find out who’s under the bandanas.

Aces and Eights debuted at the beginning of June. In four months, there has been no reveals as to members of the group or who’s leading them into battle. The group has not had any in ring altercations with members of the TNA roster since the No Surrender pay per view on September 9. Instead they have only been seen via video. At Bound For Glory, two members will face Sting and Bully Ray. If Aces and Eights are successful they will be allowed to join the TNA roster.

I have to say while I enjoyed the Aces and Eights storyline at the beginning because while it was reminiscent of the nWo story line, I liked that Aces and Eights weren’t dominating the show and every episode of Impact didn’t end with A&8s standing tall in the ring. After four months of essentially nothing happening, I am ready for this angle to die and something new to come along.

The way the story has played out also has me less than interested in the reveal. I don’t understand how Aces and Eights’ videos keep getting played during Impact. If Dixie Carter, Hulk Hogan and Sting are so interested in who’s behind the group, wouldn’t the logical (I know, that’s a made up word in the wrestling universe) step be to go to the control truck and ask the Director where the feed is coming from and why he keeps putting it on the screen? Or ask the audio guy who mic’ed the people in the hangout? Wouldn’t it also require the hideout to be nearby so the A&8s could get to and from the Impact Zone quickly. Actually, didn’t Hogan and Sting go to the hideout at one point? Why not take the entire TNA roster over there and beat up all the members of the gang to find out the group’s identity? I’m just going to move on to the next paragraph because if I keep trying to make sense of this angle, I’m going to give myself a headache.

As mentioned earlier, at Bound For Glory, two members of Aces and Eights will face Sting and Bully Ray. Maybe it’s because I’ve read too much speculation on what will happen during the match, or maybe it’s because I’ve been following Sting’s career for almost thirty years and know his history with tag team partners. Whatever the case, I fully expect Bully Ray to turn on Sting and be revealed as a member of Aces and Eights. Part of that assumption is how Bully Ray has been the most vocal wrestler claiming other TNA roster wrestlers are part of Aces and Eights. Also, Sting doesn’t choose tag-team partners wisely.

Whatever the outcome, something big involving Aces and Eights has to happen at Bound For Glory. If we go another show without a reveal, it would probably be best to scrap the entire group and bring whoever was supposed to be part of the gang into the company a different way.

I applaud TNA for going with a slow build with Aces and Eights. In today's wrestling environment it wouldn’t have been crazy to think Aces and Eights would have already been unmasked, beaten and sent out of the company by this time. While the patience has been commendable, TNA has been almost too patient. If there had been a reveal or some type of major action fans might still be interested in the group. When the same thing happens week after week, the segments get boring and trite.

I will be in attendance in Phoenix on Sunday. I am expecting a solid show from a wrestling standpoint. I think TNA has turned a corner the last few months and has the best national promotion of the three major companies. However, I will be waiting for the ending of the tag-team match to see if we get advancement or if TNA sticks spinning their wheels for another month.

What do you think of the Aces and Eights story? Share your thoughts on our Facebook or Twitter pages.

Bully Ray Will Stay

Bully Ray has signed a two year deal with TNA
Photo courtesy: TNA

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

I recently speculated on the future of Bully Ray and Devon and their futures with TNA Impact Wrestling.  Rumors on the web hinted that both might be leaving the company which of course fueled speculation that they were heading to the WWE.

Thanks to Greg DeMarco from the Bleacher Report for posting earlier today that Bully Ray has resigned with Impact for what appears to be a two year deal.  Devon still claim via social media that he's no longer with TNA, despite being the company's TV champion.

Personally, I think Bully Ray has made the right decision.  I think it's fair to say he's becoming a big fish in a small pond.  Going back to the WWE and pairing with Devon again would be a great boost for the tag team division.  But I think it's a move that would have benefited the WWE more so than Bully Ray himself.  He's clearly in the best shape of his career, I enjoy his character now, and I think he'd lose  a lot of that heading back north.

The Dudleys & Stacy
Courtesy: WWE

Obviously I don't know what motivated the decision to stay, and six months ago I probably wouldn't have said this (as I was very critical of many TNA decisions) but I'm glad he is staying.  I look forward to seeing the development of his character and actually wouldn't mind seeing him win the Bound for Glory series.

As for Devon, I'm not sure what's next for him.  I'm afraid if he heads to the WWE he'll end up lost in the shuffle.  One thing that has been reported is that he and Bully will continue running their wrestling school in Florida.

Get the Table

The Dudleys
Photo from WWE

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

Regular readers know that we don't like to write blogs based on rumors and things unconfirmed on the Internet.  But recently I've seen a lot of talk about Devon and Bully Ray both being near the end of their contracts with Impact Wrestling.  And whenever rumors like that are posted, people jump the gun and make the assumption that they'll head back to the WWE.

So this begs the question, IF the two are finished with TNA, and IF they sign with WWE again, should they reunite as the Dudley Boyz or continue to pursue separate careers as singles stars.

IF (and I'm going to keep emphasizing that) the two are indeed leaving, I think bringing them back in as a tag team would be an ideal situation for the company.  After reading online (again, not necessarily a viable resource) Triple H is interested in revamping the tag team division.  In the last few weeks there have been indicators to support those claims.  Boom Truth (I don't know if that's their official name, but it's what we've dubbed them here at My 1-2-3 Cents), The Usos, The Prime Time Players, and now Justin Gabriel and Tyson Kidd are back too.

1987 Survivor Series
Tag team mania
Courtesy: WWE

Granted four teams (all mostly newly established) aren't nearly enough to have a solid division, it's a start.  They're getting more screen time, which will hopefully lead to the future development of some long term tag teams.  Remember, I grew up in an era where the first two Survivor Series events featured 5 on 5 tag team elimination matches.  These weren't just fly-by-night teams either, they were all legit tag teams.

Signing Devon and Bubba Ray as the Dudley Boyz again would bring a lot of legitimacy to the division.  Typically I don't to see older guys come back and get pushed to the moon, but I think Bully Ray and Devon are in the best shapes of their career.  TNA was the right decision for them years ago, and now I think the younger teams in WWE could benefit from the rub of working with such a good duo.

Bully Ray vs. Devon
Photo from Impact Wrestling

So IF the rumors are true and IF the Dudley's are looking for something in their future, I would support a reunion.  It could help get the momentum moving for a solid tag team division.  As of this writing on September 1, both Devon and Bully Ray are listed on the Impact Wrestling roster.  Devon in fact is still the company's TV champion.