Did anybody even watch?
From my perspective credit has to be given where credit is due. Somehow in spite of my recent apathy towards wrestling, I got word of Mick Foley making a huge announcement that would change the wrestling landscape. Based on this and of course my own ignorance towards lessons I should have learned by now; I tuned in. So way to go TNA!
At this point I have no idea what the ratings were like and it’s not all that relevant. I got to say this was a defining moment as they promised it would be. To me this signaled the end of my affiliation with the wrestling world. For years I have invested time and later on money towards a form of entertainment that sustained if for nothing more then a few hours on Monday nights. I was ok with this investment up until fairly recently.
The WWE has been a stale product for some time. My hope for it to figure itself out or Vince to figure it out has held my attention to the “entertainment” for some time now. That all ended with the retirement of Ric Flair. This isn’t because I hold Flair in some sort of lofty esteem, it’s just the story of his retirement seemed to be the last good story they could muster. While I enjoyed the feud between Jericho and Michaels it was not enough to really get me to tune in or retain my interest besides any segment that involved those two and recently I just stopped tuning it at all. I could on with my reasons why, but really who has that kind of time (maybe I do on Monday nights now)?
I was aware Foley left as I had watched the buildup to Hell in the Cell that involved him leaving the company. I was also aware that he had joined TNA because I read your web site news. So I was somewhat interested in how this would play out but mostly through how you viewed this as there is a lot of junk on TNA to sift through to get to the stuff with Foley and I can think of many things I would rather do then watch the Dudley Boys. However I help out hope that somehow he could at least inject some energy into the company even if it was purely through promos. This didn’t seem to be happening. Then came word of his big announcement. I figured this would be a let down but I guess I wanted to see if wrestling was really dead which is where my mind was with wrestling over the last little while.
I sat with some anticipation of what he would say, and right away he let the cat out of the bag by talking about his money. First of all, whether he is an owner or not, how does this translate into anything that will benefit the fans. He likes us, he has some idea how to build a story line but unless he is really the majority owner or given control over everything there, this announcement has no impact (no pun intended) on the product. I have not even bothered to check whether this is kayfabe or not because in the end, my faith in the idea that improved booking is the answer to all problems is nil.
Why is this then the tolling bell? Because, this is what passes as earth shattering. On top of that it is yet another disappointment for the fans and really an assault on our idea of what is entertaining. Yes, there will always be a base that stays with the business because folks are loyal, and folks want to believe that their time has been invested into something that gives back to them. I don’t feel sorry for them and I do hope that something or someone really figures out that without these folks there will be nothing for them to do or make money off of. These folks deserve something better then they get. Maybe “mainstream” wrestling (I really should make that distinction, there is several niches and pockets where the local product will thrive on a cult following) will rise again someday but right now it’s as dead as can be. Last night proved it. They have nothing, ideas are not coming forward and the product sucks.
Thanks god there is MMA and The Wrestling Observer. At least you have expanded your outlook to deal with an evolving entertainment world. I’d bury my wrestling magazines from the old days but I think there in the dump already. Bye wrestling, it’s been good.
Donnie Garrow
Ottawa ON
Hey Dave,
I just got done taking in TNA’s HD debut from Las Vegas, and I didn't think it was that bad of a show. I wouldn't necessarily call it good, but it wasn't the worst show the company has ever put on. Aside from the show appearing to be shot in the King Tut's hideout from an old episode of the 1970's Batman show, the production actually looked slicker than anything TNA has ever done outside of Orlando. The company came off as more major league than normal, which is a step in the right direction.
The old timers heel stable is ok for what it is. I am not crazy about the name, and I wish Sting would lose the face paint when he wrestles, because it would make the heel turn easier to buy and freshen up his character. Kevin Nash looks ancient, and Booker T bush leagues the product by doing a low rent knockoff of his WWE gimmick, but the group seemed to work ok.
I liked pretty much all of the women's stuff, even when it was rough, and I thought Christian Cage cut one of his better promos as of late. The Lil Jon thing was so ridiculous that even Booker was laughing. Good stuff by Cage, but he seriously needs a stylist of some sort. In fact, pretty much the entire roster needs a stylist aside from the MCMG and the women. It would be a few thousand bucks well spent as every time Samoa Joe walks out in jean shorts and a ratty t-shirt or Don West appears in camera looking like a valet parker at an Indian casino or they let Kevin Nash on television looking like he just rolled out of bed, it bush leagues the entire company.
On paper, the legends vs. the young guns of AJ Styles and Samoa Joe was off to an ok start, but I still fear it is heading towards Jeff Jarrett pretending to be one of the kids and ruining the dynamic. On top of that, they keep referencing Low Ki and Chris Daniels. Don't get me wrong, it would be cool as hell to have both of them return to join the faction, but I don't know if I see it happening and the fact that the MCMG's weren't even used on the show (which there could be a very good reason for) doesn't make me hopeful they will get the spot they deserve in the group either.
All in all, the show made me realize how powerful the WWE brand is, because I really don't think anyone could join the TNA product in the current form and make any kind of a difference. Mick Foley seems like just another guy. The TNA vehicle just isn’t a star making platform in its current form.
The Abyss/Matt Morgan promo had me rolling on the ground. I haven't watched every week, but I have no idea how they became BEST FRIENDS FOREVER. Seeing Morgan, a guy who looks like an All American and a star, calling this low rent goof in a mask his best friend and delivering an emotional, motherly lecture was hilarious in all of the wrong ways, as was Abyss (with no visible signs of being lit on fire) complaining about “burns on ten percent of his upper body and torso”. Every second Abyss is on screen he bush leagues TNA, and everyone I was watching with (non wrestling fans) agreed.
Overall, it wasn't a bad show compared to what I am used to. I think the live aspect and out of town aspect made it considerably better, and I think if they did it weekly I would be way more prone to watch. Of course, they are running the next few PPVs in Orlando and I would imagine not doing an out of town television taping anytime in the foreseeable future, so it is back to Nickelodeon studios for a while. As usual, it was a few glimmers of hope sandbagged by a whole lot of problems, but kudos on the production and some decent stuff.
J.A. Bawon
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