Armchair Booker: TNA
by Rich on Feb.04, 2010, under TNA, Wrestling
When TNA first started, I knew they were a special organization. They had a unique and innovative product that introduced us to guys like AJ Styles, Christopher Daniels, CM Punk, Abyss, Beer Money, Triple X, Amazing Red and countless other bright young talents. Over time TNA evolved from a niche company to an established brand. They went from weekly PPV’s to TNA Impact on Spike TV and have been growing ever since. Over the course of this growth, we have seen some great veteran talent come through TNA’s doors. Superstars like Raven, Sabu, D-Lo Brown, Kid Kash, Christian Cage and of course, their best acquisition was Olympic gold medalist Kurt Angle. Most of these veterans came in and helped the organization as well as helped make stars out of TNA’s young talent.
Recently though, something happened that has made TNA standout to a larger audience - that being the involvement of Hulk Hogan & Eric Bischoff. While I appreciated the fact that Hogan was involved in growing a new promotion and even adding some mainstream media exposure to the brand, I was concerned about the appearances of some less than desirable wrestlers that would jeopardize the growth of TNA’s home grown talent. Hogan succeeded in bringing in some new blood, but, mixed in with the old were Hogan flunkies and older wrestlers that frankly have no place in the promotion. Over the last few weeks, TNA has become a mish mosh of 1990 WWE Attitude Era + WCW/NWO, which has turned me off from the product a bit. Now, often times I hear wrestlers say that “marks” know nothing about the business and should stop trying to know everything. Sadly in some cases they have a point. Nonetheless, I wanted to take the chance to do a little armchair booking and give my own take on how I’d change TNA. Enjoy.
- Keep Hogan as an on-air, non-wrestling talent but keep the TV time minimal.
- Eric Bischoff is best suited to work behind the scenes and help grow the product without hogging the spotlight.
- Kevin Nash should be involved with Hogan in a GM-type role.
- Mick Foley should work backstage with the talent and help them improve. His TV appearances should be few and far between.
- Ric Flair should continue with AJ Styles as I see that partnership having potential.
- Christopher Daniels needs to be in the main event scene and even hold the title at some point.
- Samoa Joe should be in the title picture often, as his matches with AJ & Daniels are without-a-doubt classics.
- Pope D’Angelo Dinero is ready for the main event - let’s move him up a few pegs.
- There should be a TV Title to free up space in the X-Division.
- Build your X-Division around Amazing Red, Homicide, Doug Williams, Syxx Pac (If he’s going to stay clean) and Suicide.
- I would not have released Petey Williams.
- Maintain the serious edge in the Knockout’s division. Avoid going into WWE territory with gimmick matches.
- No Scott Hall – Huge fan but he adds nothing to the product.
- Raven needs to be in TNA for his great mic work and also for those extreme matches with Abyss & Rhino.
- Don’t lose sight of your Tag Division and make the best in the world. That means no Nasty Boys!!!
- Why is Orlando Jordan there? Boot him.
- Sign Rob Van Dam to add some spice to the X-Division and World Title scene.
- Establish a working relationship with foreign promotions and showcase their talent against TNA talent. Great way to learn things
- Keep the 6-sided ring to differentiate yourselves from the competition.
- Create a developmental program to help current talent improve and younger talent become better.
- Macho Man should manage Jay Lethal. Makes for a compelling storyline but it needs to have a solid payoff to elevate Jay.
If I continue this post will be way too long. Nonetheless, these things are but small steps toward making TNA a legit threat to WWE.
What do you folks think?
Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.
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February 4th, 2010 on 12:12 PM
I agree with you 1,000,000 percent.
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February 5th, 2010 on 9:42 AM
I agree with most of the stuff you talk about here but I’d like to run through this list quick and modify them with my 2 cents:
- In general, all old wrestlers should NOT be on TV. If they have to be, they should not be involved in any story lines involving younger, newer talent. They distract the viewers and take away much need exposure from the rising stars. Example, Flair managing Styles is, I believe, a ploy on Flair’s part just to stay in the public eye. He is a spotlight whore and will take attention away from AJ just to feed his already MASSIVE ego. Hogan, Flair, and the rest of the ancients can mentor the younger talent from behind the scenes without having to be on TV. Their time is done. It’s time for the young stars to carry TNA into the future because they are the future.
–Eric Bischoff should NOT be involved with any key roles or have any authority to make any key decisions in regards to TNA and it’s future. There is a reason why he is working for TNA and not running WCW. Ted Turner gave him the ball to run with for TNA and ‚though it had a decent run, EB’s ego and obsession with destroying the WWE was WCW’s undoing. I like TNA and it’s potential to be a serious threat to WWE but, if you keep EB at the helm, at some point it’s going to go downhill and I know it”ll be because of him. Keep his role in TNA small like promoter (he’s got the gift of gab I’ll give him that) or maybe even booker but nothing big. I don’t want to end up seeing WWE’s logo next to a TNA.
- Kevin Nash is awesome and I think it would be a good idea to have him as a GM type. Just keep Pac and Hall away from him.
- Chris Daniels is a good wrestler but his mic skillz suck. Keep his mic time short and his matches long.
- The Pope is awesome and should get his big push to main event status. It’s too bad the WWE lost him. While they were groom John Cena to be Big Bird of the WWE, they could’ve taken the time to work with guys like him and see that he is able to do big things. Oh well.
- I think the titles that around in TNA are enough. We don’t want to have too many titles floating about (the world monday champ, the world tuesday champ,ect.) People will get lost in the chaos that are the story lines of championship hunts.
- I love the knockout division in TNA. Not only are most of them super hot but they can ACTUALLY WRESTLE!! Every time I see a women’s match in WWE, I cringe. There is no skill or coordination. Too many mistakes are made in those matches and I’m afraid one day one of them will be seriously hurt because of it. Knockouts are doing big things for TNA. Let’s see if they can keep it up.
- Raven’s mic work second to none. I think he’s a decent wrestler but I think his talents would better suited for teaching the young and new talent how to work the mic. I’m not against him wrestling but, to me, a lot wrestlers in TNA have sub par mic skillz. Let’s get Raven in there to fix that. Quote the Raven, nevermore.
–When you mentioned RVD, I almost jumped out of my seat. RVD IS ONE OF MY WRESTLERS OF ALL TIME!!1!1!!1! Although I also feel he should wrestle TNA which would more than likely bring the old ECW cult fanbase to TNA and give WWE something to worry about. If anybody deserves a ridiculous size contract it’s the whole FUCKING show, Mr. PPV, R-V-D!!
- Your idea for a development program for young stars is genius. I think that’s where the old wrestlers should be. They should be mentors, not active wrestlers or TV personalities.
- John Cena sux! (I know that has nothing to do with TNA but he’s just that bad)
TNA is doing big things and has the potential to go to the mattresses with WWE. As long as the ancient wrestlers don’t hog the spotlight and EB doesn’t screw things up AGAIN, TNA will be a force in the future.
John Cena sux. That is all.
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February 5th, 2010 on 11:35 AM
Thanks for the comment. I can see where your hate for John Cena stems from. While I can’t say I am a fan of his at the present moment I feel that his Prototype & Brubaker characters were his best. His early freestyling days were good as well. This new cookie cutter shit isn’t cutting it for me.
I am glad you enjoyed the article. Look forward to hearing your thoughts on other wrestling articles in the near future.
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February 5th, 2010 on 3:51 PM
Yeah I didn’t always hate the guy. His early freestyle rapper day were pretty good. To his credit, he is pretty good at that shit. This guy is being groomed to be the next Hulk Hogan and just think that Vince spends to much time catering to the family and is forgetting the real traditional, hardcore wrestling fans who don’t wanna watch Monday Night Romp-A-Room or Friday Night Sesame Street.
Your show is awesome. You say the exact same things I think about. You make 2 hours out of 8 hour work day easier to deal with. Keep doing your thing. BTW, the time it took me to type out this reply, John Cena still sux. Later!
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February 5th, 2010 on 10:58 AM
Jay — I KNEW you’d bring up the Cena hatred LMAO!
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