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Twilling's Blog
What is TNA doing? My trip to Los Angeles and the humor in everyone thinking they are an actor
By Rich Twilling Sep 1, 2008 - 12:27 PM |
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Monday, SEPTEMBER 1 – 12:27 P.M.
-First and foremost, I spent the last part of the week and weekend in Los Angeles. Besides falling down the stairs while carrying a box speaker because I thought I was already on the bottom step but actually had one to go, I had a nice time. I cannot straighten my arm and my leg is killing me, but oh well. I did find it humorous that every bartender and bar regular at TGI Friday's thought he or she was an actor or an agent. Reach for the sky! Actually, those of you I ran into should probably find something to fall back on.
-With the wave of injuries in World Wrestling Entertainment, I definitely wanted to address the issue; however, I am going to watch Raw tonight first. For those of you who have not read the spoilers, well, let's just say WWE has some scrambling (no pun intended) to do for the pay-per-view.
-Instead, I want to focus on TNA and their inability to look at the future. While the situation regarding Tomko seems to be up in the air, it still looks as though he is leaving the company. The woman who put the Knockout division on the map, Gail Kim, could be on her way back to WWE. The contract status of Christian Cage and Team 3D is up in the air.
In the past, I have expressed bewilderment over Sting and what exactly about him makes him so special. I have seen and followed Sting for his entire career and while he is a star, I see him as an upper mid-carder at best. Let's call a spade a spade here; TNA is still in its development stages and they need to establish an identity.
When the X-Division was flourishing, TNA had something that WWE did not have. However, they have slowly become a bad version of WWE programming. For some reason, they continue to bring in Sting, pay him a lot of money, and see nothing in return. By letting Gail Kim and Tomko go, they are sending a message that they are not sure what they are doing. Young talent with upside should be held onto.
In Cage's case, I find him to be the most entertaining person in TNA. He is a veteran but still young enough to carry the ball for years to come. If they let him go, they are essentially pulling apart the glue that helps hold TNA together. Team 3D is on the backend of their career, but they still work hard, give good promos, and have a lot to offer. If TNA is going to keep older talent, Team 3D should be on that list.
We all know that Mick Foley is headed to TNA. I love Foley and I think he will do some positive things for the company, but is this a good hire? TNA has landed a lot of WWE castoffs and a few of them were big names, such as the aforementioned Christian Cage, Kurt Angle, and Booker T. However, after the initial buzz, these men did not do anything for television viewership or pay-per-view buys.
I am not sure what Foley can bring to the TNA table at this point in his career. Sure, he is a great talker and if given the chance, would be a welcome addition to the announce booth. He has the ability to be a part time in ring talent who can elevate the right guy or guys if given a platform in which to shine. However, he may end up being another Sting to the company and that is the last thing TNA needs right now. That being said, I am curious to see Foley in TNA and wish him the best, but once the bloom is off of the rose, will it turn out to be a good signing?
Vince McMahon has flipped the script a little bit and is pushing either homegrown or former ROH talent. It has always been said that TNA should not try to be "Diet WWE." They have the talent and ability to be a distinct company, like ROH or the old ECW, and they should really think about moving in that direction. They will stay in business, but until things change, they will not make much of an impact (some pun intended).
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