X Marks the Spot

Austin Aries, new TNA Champ
Photo courtesy: Impact Wrestling

By Drew Robbins
@NGPDrew  on Twitter

TNA is never going to be the WWE.

For most of its history, TNA has been a company operating in ignorance of this fact; they’ve aimed their content at the same audience, tried directly competing with the WWE and its flagship program, and, in a move that is inarguably the most notorious of all, hired a consortium of wrestlers that were either well past their prime or were from an entirely different era altogether.  Last night at Destination X, the company’s latest pay-per-view event that annually aims its glance at the roster’s brightest young superstars, TNA fell victim to none of these expected tropes and instead shifted its focus elsewhere:  inward.

In the interest of full disclosure, I’ve never much cared for TNA; if a company can’t envision itself as anything better than a generic-brand clone of its top competitor, then, in my eyes, why should I picture it any other way?  Last night, though, I couldn’t tear myself away from what was suddenly a unique interpretation of the medium that couldn’t be seen anywhere else. 

Destination X was not aimed at the middle of the demographic, didn’t offer itself up as direct competition to the WWE and its brand of wrestling, and the only superstar in the spotlight that was past their prime was Kurt Angle, a grappler who, even after years of wear and tear suffered in the ring, is still better than most on his worst day.  Destination X was instead aimed at crafting a new image of the company that wasn’t a replica of anything else on the market, and, in that vain, it was a rousing success.

Rubix gets some air
Photo courtesy: Impact Wrestling

The event wasn’t perfect by any means thanks to a few hiccups in storytelling and a few matches that felt like ho-hum filler used only to best utilize the three-hour timeslot, but it was an unquantifiable amount of steps in the right direction for a promotion that has spent much of its life walking backwards.  TNA successfully highlighted a burgeoning focus on the independent scene’s most talented members and did so in a way that was unlike the WWE or any other federation across the globe.

At Destination X, TNA defied expectations and became what it was always meant to be:  TNA, a brand defined not by its competition but by its own vision of how wrestling should be. 

Inspiration Needed

Archibald Peck vs. Colt Cabana (Chikara Pro)

By Chad Smart

@chadsmart on Twitter

It’s been a few weeks since I wrote a blog. After doing the Chikara, “High Noon” preview (DVD of the show can be ordered at SmartMarkVideo. It makes a great Christmas or Hanukkah gift.) and the Survivor Series series of blogs I was a bit burnt out on writing. Then when I tried to sit down and write, my fingers couldn’t type any coherent sentences. I was at a loss for topics.

Chikara’s season had ended with the exception of the Joshimania triple shot that happened this past weekend. Therefore there was nothing really to write about regarding Chikara, as I’m not well educated on the Japanese female talent involved in the shows. I could have probably typed up something to give some more promotion to the best promotion going but I think I’m already walking a thin line with my constant Chikara pimping around here. Don’t want to over do it.

I haven’t watched TNA since sitting through Bound For Glory. I feel the Robert Roode/James Storm title switches and turns were the last straw in my supporting of the promotion. Don’t get me wrong. I am a fan of both guys and feel it’s a step in the right direction to start focusing on homegrown TNA talent instead of ex-WWE stars. The unnecessary story line is what turned me off. Add in Christopher Daniels aligning with Immortal after making his return to TNA to battle Immortal and the focus and threat of a feud between Eric Bischoff and his son Garrett, and well, I had had enough. I still read results to keep up with what’s going on in TNA. Most of the time I just shake my head and wonder how bad are the ideas that don’t make it to air. At Sunday’s Final Resolution Pay Per View Jeff Jarrett and Jeff Hardy will battle in a cage with the stipulations being if Jarrett wins Hardy is gone from TNA. If Hardy wins, he’ll receive a title shot. This is the same Jeff Hardy who earlier this year competed in a 90 second title match on PPV. The match ended quickly because Hardy was in no condition to wrestle. Why is he receiving a potential title match again? It doesn’t make sense from a business standpoint.

from WWE.com

Then you have WWE. I feel I’m in a weird place with WWE. There are several guys on the roster whom I enjoy watching and I really like the youth movement going on at the moment. At the same time I feel every episode of Raw is the same. (Be sure to follow us on twitter @my123cents) There’s very little variety. Guess it doesn’t help that I couldn’t care less about the upcoming Rock/John Cena match at Wrestlemania. This is going to a major selling point for the next four months. Even though The Rock will probably not show up for another two months to carry his share of the “feud.”

I don’t watch ROH or NWA Hollywood or follow any other independent promotion enough to write about them either. I did catch up on all the AAPW shows over the past couple weeks. Since Kevin is involved with AAPW, I let him handle writing about them because he can offer more insight and analysis of the company. Pro Wrestling Guerrilla has a show this Saturday I’m debating on attending. I’m not a fan of the venue they run and this is going to be a huge show so I’m a little put off by the prospect of being packed into a building like a proverbial sardine.

Kevin has the ongoing Christmas Wish List series going which has been entertaining. I have a couple series planned for later this month. Right now though, I’m trying to come up with topics to write about.  One of my new standards is to try and not be negative.  I don’t want to constantly be writing about things that annoy me. Who wants to read that? At the same time there’s not a whole lot that’s entertaining me that we haven’t discussed already. 

So what is a wrestling blogger supposed to write about when he has nothing of note to write about?  Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Follow us on Facebook. Tell your friends to follow us. There could be some exciting giveaways and contest coming after the first of the year. You won’t want to miss out.  Don’t forget to buy some Chikara DVDs. 

Even More TNA Fallout

By Chad Smart

@ChadSmart on Twitter

This is being written before Impact airs on 10/20/11. Thoughts are culled from results from the taping being posted online message boards and Twitter. Saved the posting until after Impact aired to avoid posting spoilers.

At TNA’s biggest show of the year, Bound For Glory, Robert Roode failed to capture the TNA World Title from Kurt Angle. At the Impact taping two days later, Roode’s tag team partner James Storm defeated Kurt to become the new TNA Champion. Rumored events surrounding this title change are indicative of some of the major problems surrounding TNA.

Robert Roode won the right to face Kurt Angle at Bound for Glory by winning the BFG Series tournament, a series of matches over the past five months. The BFG Series came down to a final four of Roode, James Storm, Gunner and Bully Ray. After clinching the victory at No Surrender, Roode was built up to be a credible threat to Angle’s championship. The way the story played out with Roode having to face his Fortune stable mates on the path to Angle, along with video packages giving an insight into Roode’s personal life and the sacrifices he’s made to achieve his dream of being a professional wrestler, the logical and most satisfying outcome was for Roode to capture his first World Championship. Anyone who’s been reading this blog for a while knows we rarely use the words “logic” and “TNA” in the same sentence.

Angle pins Roode (Impact Wrestling)

Two days before Bound For Glory, Hulk Hogan made comments in an interview that Roode wasn’t ready to be the next guy and Hogan would have chosen James Storm to be the one to challenge Angle. Allegedly, on the day of the show, Hogan convinced those in power to have Angle retain the title instead of crowning Roode the new champion. Again, this was the main event of TNA’s biggest show of the year and the planned outcome (which had been building for months) was changed a few hours before the show. Also keep in mind Kurt Angle was suffering from a hamstring injury that he admitted would keep him out of the ring for a couple of weeks. I simply don’t understand the reasoning behind cutting the legs out from Roode.

Now Hogan and Eric Bischoff have made comments online about “marks” getting upset and not being able to see the big picture. I would almost agree with them to a point except in typical TNA fashion the story told between Bound for Glory and Impact doesn’t make much sense. If they had planned on James Storm winning the title, why not have Storm win the BFG Series? I mean, he was one of the final four and could have easily won the tournament instead of Robert Roode. Keep the same story in place and have Storm win the title at Bound For Glory. Simple.

Roode in shock (Impact Wrestling)

Even if Storm winning was an audible, there was a better way to have the story play out. As lame as it would have been to do a bait and switch for the biggest show of the year, they could have started BFG with Angle (or Immortal) beating down Roode in the back. After the opening match, Mike Tenay could have announced the doctors were declaring Roode unfit to compete. Cut to an interview with James Storm vowing revenge for his Beer Money partner and petitioning to be able to take Roode’s place. Kurt Angle could at first reject the offer but Storm could eventually goad Angle into accepting. The match happens and Storm wins.  I’m willing to bet that fans initially upset over Roode’s injury would have bought into the finish and left Bound For Glory happy and excited for the new champion. Perhaps it’s because it’s my idea, but sometimes these scenarios seem like they write themselves.

Now, with what happened recapped and re-imagined, allow me to explain why I feel this is another example of TNA shooting themselves in the foot and why they will never grow bigger than their current place in the wrestling world.

Have I mentioned Bound For Glory is, in their words, TNA’s biggest show of the year? So theoretically this should be the show with the most set of eyes on it and the one to entice possible new fans to continue watching Impact and PPVs. Instead, fans that spent money on the show were basically told, “you’re a fool for spending money on our shows. We’re going to give away the big title change on free TV.” 

Storm gets the pin

Given the alleged buy rates of TNA PPVs, I can understand putting major events (title changes, returns, etc.) on Impact. At the same time, failing to capitalize on momentum on the biggest show of the year (I know I’m slipping into wrestling announcer cliché with the constant repeating. Just trying to stress how big of a bad decision the title switch was the way it was done.) makes PPV look trivial. Kevin and I have both stated many times the current PPV landscape is too crowded and both TNA and WWE should scale back the number of PPVs they do each year. Not having Robert Roode win the title coupled with Jeff Hardy’s disastrous performance at Victory Road (btw, Hogan thinks Jeff Hardy should be the next man in TNA) and this hasn’t been too stellar of a year for TNA on pay per view.

Notwithstanding the disappointment of Roode failing to capture the title and Storm winning the title on television, the comments by Hogan and Bischoff infuriate me, as they seem to not understand the role of the fans in keeping a promotion alive. Then again, since TNA tapes Impact in front of non-paying fans maybe they don’t care about alienating any fans. If I’m a fan of TNA and I’m constantly not only having my intelligence insulted by the writing of the show, but the two biggest persons in the company are also writing insulting comments and degrading fans online, why would I want to continue to support the company?

 

Kevin has posted a couple blogs and a video about how Hogan and Bischoff’s comments are insulting to any fan that is simply trying to express disappointment of dissatisfaction with TNA. I’ll agree there are some people online who exist solely to constantly make ignorant comments or be a jackass for the sake of trying to get a rise out of someone famous. If you read enough comments on message boards or youtube videos, it becomes pretty clear which comments can be dismissed as trolling. However there is a portion of the fans that want to see TNA succeed and want it to be an alternative to WWE not just a mere copycat.

I’ve said it before and I’ll repeat it here, I was a fan of TNA from the moment I read the first press release announcing the formation of the company. I bought all the weekly pay per views. When the monthly pay per views started, I bought all them up until January 2007 when I moved to California. Sure I wasn’t excited at the random ex-WWE guys showing up from time to time, but in the early days I got to see fresh new talent. Guys like AJ Styles, America’s Most Wanted, Sonny Siaki, Slim J. and others. In addition to fresh talent, I got to see a company that treated their titles as something worth fighting for and each title was just as prestigious as the next. It wasn’t uncommon to one week see a main event for the World Title, then the next week the main event was for the tag titles. A couple weeks later the X Division title would get the spotlight. Now the titles are seen as little more than props with all the titles besides the World title often treated like an afterthought. When was the last time a X Division wasn’t the first or second match on a pay per view?

I miss the original TNA. I’m kind of getting off track here. That’s fine. I need to rant. I am frustrated by what TNA has become over the last 5 or so years. The Hulkster and Easy E can call me a mark. I don’t care. Sometimes I wish I were a pure mark. Maybe then I could enjoy the piss poor shows TNA and WWE put out more. I wouldn’t care that the attention is on authority figures or people who run the company and who don’t wrestle instead of on the actual wrestlers. I don’t expect every match to be a 30-minute mat based catch as catch can display of technical prowess. I simply want to be entertained and not have my intelligence insulted on a weekly basis.  

Part of me wants to give TNA the “Stone Cold Salute” and walk away from even reading recaps of their shows because I’m tired of constantly being frustrated. But if every fan that felt that way walked away, who would be hurt the most? Hogan has made his money and can always find some new lame product to hock on TV. Bischoff has his production company that can pitch another show to VH1. Scott Baio is 50 and has a Hernia, anyone? Dixie Carter can go back to working for Panda Energy. No, the people hurt the most by TNA failing are the guys who are busting their back trying to make it worth watching. AJ Styles, James Storm, Robert Roode, Austin Aries, Motor City Machine Guns, etc. All the guys on the roster who no matter how many people are in the crowd always give 110%.

I’m trying to think of one other company whose management insults the people who buy their product as much as TNA’s executives insult their fans. If someone posted something online about Microsoft being better than Apple, would Steve Jobs have blasted him or her as stupid Bill Gates fanboys?

I have just one request/question for anyone in TNA. How many complaints will it take before you start to rethink the direction the company is headed? I won’t hold my breath for an answer.

What are your feelings on TNA? Share your thoughts on our Facebook page. I am really curious to hear what you think.  

Does Hogan Know Best?

Does Hogan know best?

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger on Twitter

I've already posted a video on this subject, but I didn't really get all my thoughts on tape.  I hate when I do that, so I'm adding some more thoughts, and summarizing what I said on YouTube.  Lucky you, right?

Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff have been using their social media to make snippy comments towards fans. I find this very annoying for a number of reasons.  One being, just because a wrestling fan has an opinion or expresses dislike toward a particular company's (in this case TNA) storylines, it doesn't make them a hater or a mark.  You can see the pics I've posted from Hogan's Twitter page in regards to the outcome of Bound for Glory.

There's a rumor out there that Bobby Roode was in fact supposed to win the TNA Impact title from Kurt Angle on the night of the pay per view.  Allegedly (because I don't know for sure, it's just been reported on line) Hogan said Roode wasn't ready for a run at the top.  Hogan is referring to what happened at the October 17 Impact tapings.  The show airs on the 20th, and my policy is to not post spoilers for those of you who don't know what's going to happen.  Yes, things have changed, but for how long, we'll have to just wait and see.

Bischoff's words of wisdom

Part of me wonders if these changes were made as a result of the backlash from fans after Bound for Glory ended Sunday night.  Hogan, Bischoff, Vince Russo, and Bruce Pritchard would have had plenty of time to rework the storyline and the tapings.  But maybe I'm wrong and just being a cynical hater.

At Basebrawl with Kurt Angle (and Chad)

Here's the other thing that rubs me the wrong way about Hogan and Bischoff.  They are insulting to fans.  I'm a fan, I have been for 30 years.  Do I have to love everything about the WWE or TNA?  Of course not.  I am a consume of their product.  When I watch a pay per view, I pay for it.  When I attend a house show (Basebrawl in the summer of 2011), I pay for it.  And in may cases, pay dearly.  Being a wrestling fan isn't cheap.  So when I see something that I don't like and offer some constructive criticism, I don't think it's fair to be called a hater or a mark.

Of course I'm probably reading way too much into Hogan and Bischoff's comments.  I know they're not directly talking to me, but they are speaking of other fans who express their opinions just like Chad and I do.  And I realize there are those fans who are truly haters and get down right nasty with the talent in their comments.  I understand that and agree they cross the line when they make those types of comments.

I'm a Hulkamanic (or I was)

My final thoughts are this.  Notice that Vince McMahon, Triple H, Stephanie McMahon (all the power players in the WWE) have no Twitter or Facebook accounts.  They're not insulting the fans.  Sure maybe they feel the same way Hogan and Bischoff do, I don't know, but at least they're not putting it out there.  In the off chance that anyone with any kind of clout in the wrestling in addition to not insulting the fans (who help pay your salary) grow thicker skin.  You're in the public eye, expect to hear from the public from them from time to time.

Bound for Glory or Bound for Mediocrity?

By Chad Smart
@ChadSmart on Twitter

I checked out the theater screening of Impact Wrestling’s Bound for Glory pay per view. I would easily go again to another screening of this type. Fifteen dollars really isn’t a bad value for a three and a half hour show. The video and audio were crystal clear and unlike going to a sport bar to watch a PPV, you could actually hear the commentary. Granted, in today’s wrestling, being able to hear the commentary isn’t necessarily a plus. Hopefully TNA will offer more shows in this manner.  I’d also like to see WWE start to offer theater screenings. So while the viewing experience was fine, how was the show itself?

I don’t get the reasoning behind putting the Tag Team Title match on the preshow, but whatever.  The match was fine for what it was. Nothing special and I wouldn’t be surprised to see a rematch either on Impact or at next month’s PPV.

In typical TNA fashion, the X-Division title match kicked off the show. I’m not sure how many times Austin Aries and Brian Kendrick have fought each other in the last two months, but I’m ready for a new X-Division challenger for A Double. I felt this match was decent but felt very staged. There were several sequences that seemed like guys were going through the motions.  Aries retained the title and as I said, it’s time to move someone else into the title hunt.

RVD vs Jerry Lynn (From Impactwrestling.com)

Speaking of going through the motions, watching Rob Van Dam fight Jerry Lynn was like watching a past their prime rock band that is still touring clinging on to the fans singing along to their one or two hits. There was a scary moment during the match where Lynn went to sunset flip RVD off the apron onto a ladder. When Lynn flipped over RVD, he inadvertently kicked the ladder out of the way and Van Dam seemed to crack the back of his head on the guardrail. My biggest complaint with this match though was the build up had Lynn feeling slighted because RVD was the bigger star even though they were both in the matches from ECW.  This complaint completely overlooked Lynn’s history of helping establishing the X-Division during TNA’s first couple of years. Then after the match was over, Lynn and RVD were hugging and high-fiving like the friends they are in reality. What happened to the big feud? 

Samoa Joe vs. Matt Morgan vs. Crimson was about as good as could be expected. Still don’t understand why Joe is a jobber to the stars, or why Crimson is undefeated.  This was a solid three-way up until the ending. Morgan went for the Carbon Footprint on Joe but wound up hung up in the ropes allowing Crimson to hit a weak looking spear on Joe for the win.

Philly Street Fight (From Impactwrestling.com)

Mr. Anderson is probably the one wrestler who has fallen the furthest in my eyes. I used to think he was good and entertaining. Now I find him borderline unbearable. Bully Ray has stepped up his game and has gone from someone I was hoping would retire to someone I actually enjoy watching. Put the two of them together in a street fight and you have a match that while enjoyable felt like an ECW tribute match. At one point Anderson grabbed a sign from a fan at ringside, hit Bully Ray with it, then peeled away the poster board to reveal a Dead End road sign. Towards the end of the match, Anderson had Ray on a table on the floor. Anderson went to the top rope and tried for a swanton bomb but overshot Ray, only glancing him on his way down.  Perfectly fine match.

Victorious Velvet (from Impactwrestling.com)

Stevie Wonder saw the ending of the Knockouts title match before the bell rang. With Karen Jarrett refusing to count any pin falls by Mickie James or Velvet Sky, and telling Traci Brooks to stay away from ringside unless Karen was in trouble, it was only a matter of time until Karen got “injured’ and Traci would come into to make the three count.  That’s exactly what happened to help Velvet Sky capture the Knockout Title. I’m expecting either Karen stripping Velvet of the title on Impact or stacking the odds against Velvet in a return match against Winter.

Last year AJ Styles had an I Quit match against Tommy Dreamer. This year he gets one against Christopher Daniels. The theme of the night continued with another solid match whose ending would seem to lead to a rematch next month.

He's back... (from Impactwrestling.com)

In a “only in wrestling” segment, Jeff Jarrett who had told Jeff Hardy on Impact to not show up in Philadelphia, waited two hours to call Hardy out to the ring instead of having him removed from the building when Hardy showed up. I am in the apparent minority who doesn’t want to see Jeff Hardy in a wrestling ring. Seeing how he has not made any public apology to the fans for his Victory Road performance, nor seen fit to try to clean up his act, I feel Hardy should straighten out his personal life before getting back to full time wrestling. But that’s just me. Also, it appeared as if Jeff Hardy was wearing a shirt that had his mug shot on it. Or at least it was a picture that was very similar to a mug shot. So if that’s the case, to me, it’s another example of how Hardy and TNA doesn’t see Hardy’s offense as a serious matter.

Hulkamania returns... (from Impactwrestling.com)

Going into the show, I was curious to see how bad Sting vs. Hulk Hogan would end. The match was far from good. It was basically Sting bumping for Hogan and then both being busted open because in today’s wrestling world bleeding equals great. Before the match it was revealed referee Jackson James was Eric Bischoff’s son and was in on a fix to make sure Hogan won. Sting got Hogan in the Scorpion Death Lock and Jackson called for the bell. Immortal came down and started beating up Sting. Then came something I don’t understand. Sting called out to Hogan for help, Hogan looked to the fans, fans cheered, and Hogan and Sting cleaned the ring. So 22 months of Hogan screwing TNA is forgotten in 10 seconds. Why do the fans cheer Hogan? I may write a more in depth blog on that in the future.

Bobby's rude awakening (from Impactwrestling.com)

I saw the main event as a turning point for TNA. Unfortunately TNA thinks Turning Point is next month and thus this month is stats quo month. The build up to the Kurt Angle/Robert Roode match was done near perfectly to set up Roode winning the title and TNA to start down a road of pushing fresh homegrown talent. I don’t know if it was because of a time constraint or what, but the match felt like it skipped the first act.  Instead of building to near falls, the match fell into a pattern of Angle Slam, Cross Face, Angle Slam, Spinebuster, Angle Slam, Fisherman Suplex, Angle Slam.  Then the finish was Angle pinning Roode after an Angle Slam. Roode’s arm was under the rope, and Angle was holding onto the second rope. The referee didn’t see either arm and made the three count. So Roode didn’t win the title but his loss would seem to dictate a rematch is necessary.  The problem is Roode’s momentum is gone. So what if he wins the title next month, TNA blew it by not capitalizing on build up to the biggest show of the year.

Overall Bound for Glory was a perfect example of the pros and cons of TNA. Solid action and lousy booking.  As I said in my last blog, instead of focusing on new shows, TNA needs to look at their current programming and fix the problems. We’ll see what happens at the next round of Impact tapings.

Share your thoughts on Facebook or Twitter. We’re curious to hear what you think. 

Catching Up with TNA

By Chad Smart
@ChadSmart on Twitter
Photos from Impact Wrestling

With TNA IMPACT WRESTLING’s (did they ever clarify if they’re still TNA or officially Impact Wrestling) biggest show of the year happening this weekend, I figure this is as good a time as any to toss out some opinions on the company. I have not watched Impact in at least six weeks. Once it was clear they were going with a Hogan/Sting match, I pretty much wrote off the company. I’ve kept up with the goings on in the company through recaps of the show and wrestling news websites. I have to say, even though I’m going to check out Bound For Glory, I am at wits end trying to figure out this company continues to make decision after decision that doesn’t improve the product they’re trying to sell to fans. Let’s look at some recent events.

HULK HOGAN: It was recently reported that Hogan (and by association, Eric Bischoff) had signed new two-year contracts with TNA. My first question to TNA management is what positives have Hogan and Bischoff brought to the company in the 22 months they’ve been with the company?  We got a bunch of Hogan’s friends in the company at the beginning. Guys who were put in high profile segments and who were gone within four months. Way to build for the future. Second, Hogan is in no shape to wrestle. Well, we’ll see exactly what ring shape Hogan is in when he fights Sting at Bound for Glory. Even though he’s not wrestling, he and Bischoff have been the focus of the company since they came in and that hasn’t been too beneficial for anyone not named Hogan and Bischoff.  The authority figure role in wrestling is beyond played out. The focus of the company needs to shift from the so-called Powers That Be and back to the guys actually busting their butts in the ring. (This applies to WWE as well)

In addition to hogging the spotlight, whenever Hogan makes any public appearances he usually only mentions TNA when asked a direct question about the company. The rest of the time Hogan only promotes one thing, himself. In addition to not promoting the company he’s working for, Hogan made the following statement in an interview on Friday, October 14, just two days before Bound for Glory.

“On Robert Roode: "Nah, he's not ready. He's not the next guy. Ya' know, they might think he is. Dixie Carter might think he is. The whole world might think he is. He's not the next guy. If I had to bet money on anybody and really be serious about betting money on anybody, I'd say Jeff Hardy is the next guy if he keeps his act together”

Robert Roode is challenging for the TNA World Title at Bound for Glory. Robert Roode is in the main event of the biggest show of the year and Hulk Hogan just told everyone who is interested in spending money on the show that the challenger for the “most prestigious” title shouldn’t be in the match. Now, I don’t care if Roode is “greener than gooses**t” (trademark Bill DeMott), if Hogan is going to talk about the match he should be putting Roode over as one of the greatest talents in TNA. The guy in the main event should be treated as a big deal. Instead Hogan chose to put over a guy whose selfish actions led to one of the worst matches in TNA history. Not to mention Hardy has been to the top of the mountain and has secured his place in the eyes of the fans. This reminds me of when I met Jimmy Hart at Wrestlemania 22 and asked him whom he saw as TNA’s breakout star. Jimmy claimed Sting would be the breakout star. Yep, a guy in the business for 20 years, multi-time champion was Jimmy Hart’s pick for a breakout star.  Not promoting young, fresh talent is one of the many problems in wrestling today.

I understand Hulk Hogan has name value, but how much is he really worth to a company when he reluctantly promotes the company and buries the guys who are busting their backs while he hobbles to the ring and rambles on in long winded promos? Do you build the company on the coattails of a past his prime joke, or on the backs of young and hungry talent?

CHANGE IN CREATIVITY?

Kevin touched on this last week, but I wanted to throw in some comments. Apparently TNA has promoted Bruce Prichard to Head of Creative and moved Vince Russo to Head Writer. Long time readers of this blog probably know my thoughts on Russo. For newer readers, you can find my thoughts here.  I am curious to see what this means for the future of Impact, but the cynic in me see this as nothing more than smoke and mirrors. Bruce Prichard is also the Head of Talent Relations. I don’t know what the two jobs detail, but based on titles I wonder if one person can do both jobs competently. That’s not a knock against Bruce; I just think both jobs require a lot of time and energy. 

Even if Bruce is mapping out the direction of storylines and feuds, Vince Russo is still writing the shows and it’s Vince’s writing that isn’t good. I would suggest Vince might be better to suggest who’s going to fight each other and allow a better writer to figure out how to get from Point A to Point B. I’ll save in depth critique for at least 2-3 more months. We’ll see if there’s any discernable difference in the presentation before I get too critical.

NEW TELEVISION VENTURES

On Friday it was announced TNA had hired former WWE writer and IWantWrestling creator, David Lagana to focus on creating new wrestling shows outside of Impact. It was later announced TNA was looking to launch a new promotion in the Indian market that wouldn’t use the TNA name. While I can understand the desire to break into new markets or gain exposure in existing markets, this move confuses me. Why the need to create a new brand, yet not call it TNA, instead of building on the brand that you’ve spent the last 10 years building?

A few months ago, TNA produced a pilot for the Speed Channel called All Wheels Wrestling. Since there hasn’t been any mention of the show since the pilot taping, I’m guessing it wasn’t picked up. One of the concepts of the show was five-minute iron man matches. Just typing that makes my head hurt. It sounds like a typical TNA match design. Anyway, TNA is not WWE. They don’t have all the resources to be branching out with new shows. Also, in my opinion they haven’t established themselves solidly enough for expansion. I don’t want to make it sound like I know what TNA should be doing. I’m just saying it seems like TNA management needs to focus on building a better Impact instead of working on new shows.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

I will be checking out Bound For Glory, more because I’m interested in seeing it in a theater than actually seeing the show. I think this could be a turning point for TNA if they want to build for the future. However, given TNA’s track record, I’m feel I’m going to walk out of the theater shaking my head and wondering how a company can be so clueless. I’m begging you TNA prove me wrong.

You can follow us on Facebook and Twitter.  Will try to provide live thoughts during Bound for Glory. 

Oh Brother (Love)

Brother Love (from WWE)

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger on Twitter

Reportedly, there's a new sheriff in town.  Well, in Impact Wrestling.  And he's not so much a sheriff as he is a writer.  The head writer.  Bruce Prichard has taken over for Vince Russo.  At least that's what's being reported by several wrestling websites.  I doubt Impact Wrestling will directly acknowledge this, as many times bookers and writers aren't talked about much.

For those who don't know Prichard was once in the WWE.  He worked both on air as Brother Love and behind the scenes as a part of creative.  In the late 1980's, Brother Love was one of my favorite characters in wrestling.  He was an obnoxious, televangelist who conducted interviews during Superstars each week.  The character I think was created at the time when Jim Bakker and Jimmy Swaggart were falling from grace.  Prichard played the role beautiful, as he became what I saw as the best replacement for Piper's Pit.  (I never really liked the Body Shop or the Snake Pit.)

This pic is more than 20 years old.  Wow

Love would be responsible for bringing the Undertaker to the WWF.  He managed the big man briefly until Paul Bearer "bought" Taker's contract.  Love would disappear from TV,  after an attack by the Ultimate Warrior.  And I never realized this, but he apparently left the company for a couple of years before returning as a couple of different characters.  Then he went into a backstage role as a producer and writer.   The Brother Love character returned to TV on several occasions and he even "wrestled" in the Gimmick Battle Royal at Wrestlemania 17.

Prichard and the WWE parted ways again in 2008.  In 2010, he was hired by TNA.  He was a producer and helped backstage initially.  Then he became the company's Vice President of Talent Relations.  I'm guessing he's the John Laurinaitis of Impact Wrestling.  Now of course he's seemingly taken over as the head writer for the company too.

That means Vince Russo is out.  Chad has documented his feelings for Russo in a blog about the former WWE and WCW writer's book.  I echo Chad's thoughts.  In Russo's own words he calls wrestling fake. That rubs me the wrong way.  He also questions the fans' passion for the business.  It has amazed me that he was in the position with TNA as long as he was.

So with Russo out, and Prichard seemingly in, what does that mean for Impact Wrestling and its fans?  Will things get better?  I know that Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff have apparently re-signed with the company.  How much influence will they have on Prichard?

TNA's biggest pay per view of the year, Bound for Glory is coming up soon.  Many fans are banking on Robert Roode winning the title from Kurt Angle. If this happens, it could potentially be the spring board for something big for TNA.  Before I pass judgment or make an assumption, I'll wait and see how this PPV goes.  But in all honesty, I've read some unfavorable things about Prichard.  He plays favorites backstage and likes to pit guys against one another.  I hope these are fabrications, because I'd really like to see TNA or Impact Wrestling succeed.  I've always believed that competition makes everyone better, but right now the WWE is still king.

So while I Loooooovvvvvveeeeee the Brother Love character, it's too early to tell if I'll love Bruce Prichard the head honcho.  We'll have to wait and see.  Personally, I think he needs to stay off TV.  I think that's been part of the problem through the years with Bischoff, Russo, and McMahon.  Too much ego.  They're more worried about getting themselves over than the talent.

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