TNA in general

[billy]

I like TNA and am glad they broke from NWA and are in business with New Japan. The problem I have is that they are turning into WWE light. Christian? Booker T? Tomko? I am not knocking them so much( yeah I am) but what about self promoting like the X title needs to come back and the 3d things needs to go it is so lame that the x division is getting wimpy with no belt. Aj could do so much more on his own that with the Angle alliance, Somoa Joe needs to really get a belt. One other thing get rid of Sting! There is so much more i like to say but I will see if anyone agrees with me on what I have jut said so far.

TNA is 2008 I hope keeps up where they are headed!

[dvdmorse]

Well, I'd agree with some of what you say. What they are doing with AJ is a joke, for sure. And some of the guys they have brought in from the WWE are promoted as major stars when I just don't see it, such as Christian and Tomko, as you mentioned. Booker T is different; he really is a major star, and I'm glad to see him there. And Sting is Sting. But I'd be just as happy to see the Dudley Boys leave, as well as some others.

But I don't think the problem is their roster. They have some excellent wrestlers, and having some connection to wrestling history through people like the Steiners and Sting is okay. The problem is what they do with them. A good example (in addition to AJ, who you mentioned) is Jay Lethal. He's a very good wrestler, and the Macho Man impression was funny at first (and it's a good impression), but it's gotten really old. Why turn a good young wrestler into a Macho Man clone?

And tonight they bring back Bob Armstrong. Like we all want to see a 67 year old man wrestle? It's just silly.

And some of the skits they do are just inane, like the Shark Boy thing tonight, though on that count they are no stupider than the WWE (The whole Katie Vick thing? Mae Young's pregnancy?) or for that matter even the stuff WCW did (Cactus Jack lost in Cleveland?).

As I said, they have a lot of really good people: AJ, Lethal, AMW (or they did have them), Sabin, Joe, Kaz, LAX, Petey Williams, and others. People like Sting, Booker T, and Angle give them a connection to wrestling history and some big name draws. And their women's division is by far the best I've seen as far as wrestling ability. The problem is Vince Russo and his rotten matchmaking and storywriting. I still prefer TNA over the WWE, but I am not likely to buy the next pay per view if the main event is Christian vs. Angle again.

[MikeMcKinney]

I also agree with some of what is said in this thread. AJ Styles needs to be on his OWN, he doesn't need anybody! Oh yea and a face turn would be solid. They keep guys like 3D and Scotty but let guys like Senshi and Austin Aries go?? I Still haven't figured that one out yet.

TNA has the talent, but the booking and storylines are getting in the TALENTS way. Joe should have the belt and hold it for quite awhile. There is a lot of room for improvement and I hope they figure that out before it's to late, before we're back to the days of one wrestling promotion running everything on TV.

tkx again, the dice don't lie!

[Joe]

dvdmorse said:

Well, I'd agree with some of what you say. What they are doing with AJ is a joke, for sure. And some of the guys they have brought in from the WWE are promoted as major stars when I just don't see it, such as Christian and Tomko, as you mentioned. Booker T is different; he really is a major star, and I'm glad to see him there. And Sting is Sting. But I'd be just as happy to see the Dudley Boys leave, as well as some others.

But I don't think the problem is their roster. They have some excellent wrestlers, and having some connection to wrestling history through people like the Steiners and Sting is okay. The problem is what they do with them. A good example (in addition to AJ, who you mentioned) is Jay Lethal. He's a very good wrestler, and the Macho Man impression was funny at first (and it's a good impression), but it's gotten really old. Why turn a good young wrestler into a Macho Man clone?

And tonight they bring back Bob Armstrong. Like we all want to see a 67 year old man wrestle? It's just silly.

And some of the skits they do are just inane, like the Shark Boy thing tonight, though on that count they are no stupider than the WWE (The whole Katie Vick thing? Mae Young's pregnancy?) or for that matter even the stuff WCW did (Cactus Jack lost in Cleveland?).

As I said, they have a lot of really good people: AJ, Lethal, AMW (or they did have them), Sabin, Joe, Kaz, LAX, Petey Williams, and others. People like Sting, Booker T, and Angle give them a connection to wrestling history and some big name draws. And their women's division is by far the best I've seen as far as wrestling ability. The problem is Vince Russo and his rotten matchmaking and storywriting. I still prefer TNA over the WWE, but I am not likely to buy the next pay per view if the main event is Christian vs. Angle again.

A few good things I can say about TNA:

--Tomko has become a legitimate top-of-the-card guy. At this point, there are only a few people on TNA's roster I look forward to seeing, and Tomko is one. He has improved in the ring and is defintiely one of the best people they have in terms of mic skills.

-Christian Cage and LAX are the other people that I tune in to see. Christian is Christian, and Homicide and Hernandez are as good as any team in the business. Hopefully, they will get an opportunity to either move back up the card where they should be or jump to WWE and star on Smackdown/ECW in a feud with Miz and Morrison.

-TNA has done a great job of developing the Gail Kim-Kong feud. I'm not one of these raving idiot on the Internet that thinks Kong should be pushed toward the TNA title and a showdown with Kurt Angle, TNA has kind of fell into something good with the womens' feud, and they should probably get as much mileage out of it as possible.

That's about it.

Now, for the bad, or at least as much of it as I feel like talking about it:

--The insistance on following behind WWE. Really, was it necessary to see Stone Cold Sharkboy? Macho Man Jay Lethal is bad enough, but to have one of the most important figures in wrestling history mocked by a ham-and-egger in a shark mask is stupid and pointless. The only remotely clever part about it was Eric Young breaking a glass before Sharkbum went on his tirade. To have two guys imitating all-time greats, rather than one, is dumb and can shoot the little bit of credibility TNA has all to hell.

--The continuous misuse of wrestlers. Why are the Motor City Machine Guns getting their asses kicked by The Dudleyz rather than being put over and challenging AJ and Tomko for the belts. For that matter, why aren't LAX challenging for the belts?

Because Road Dogg and his 68-year-old father are the number one contenders. No disrepect to JJ and Bob, but now would be the perfect time for MCMG or LAX to step up and take the tag belts.

Tomko is arguably the hottest guy in the fed, is wrestling mostly singles matches now, so he needs out of the tag team. Let the Guns get a blow-off win over Team 3D, have LAX dispose of the clowns they're feuding with and set up a triple threat for the tag belts.

In the meantime, build up the tension between Tomko and AJ stemming from the fact that Styles' dumb-ass has finally driven Tomko crazy. During the triple threat, have Tomko finally take all he can, snap and beat the shit out of AJ. In any other promotion, this might lead to a heel turn, but nobody gets booed in TNA, so he won't lose any of his face momentum. One of the little guys, Homicide or either Gun, picks up the pieces to get the title win. This would allow for a rivalry between LAX and the Guns as neither team proved superior to the other, as well as the feud between Styles and Tomko.

Now, TNA is set to have two highly entertaining, upper-card feuds between almost all homegrown talent. Which leads to my next gripe with TNA...

--I'm not going to berate TNA for keeping older guys in top positions, but to have at least one every few months start putting over somebody is not too much to ask. Other than Christian, and perhaps Booker T, who is still better than everybody on their roster, all the people who made their names elsewhere should be building new stars.

--Too many stupid angles. Just because Abyss is a Kane knock-off doesn't mean they need to have him recreate the entire history of the character.

Just because people said AJ Styles didn't have enough personality does not mean he needed to become a bumbling idiot with an IQ of of 60. At this point AJ Styles looks less like the future of a wreslting promotion(as he once hailed) and more like an understudy to Eugene.

[dvdmorse]

joe said:

--The insistance on following behind WWE. Really, was it necessary to see Stone Cold Sharkboy? Macho Man Jay Lethal is bad enough, but to have one of the most important figures in wrestling history mocked by a ham-and-egger in a shark mask is stupid and pointless. The only remotely clever part about it was Eric Young breaking a glass before Sharkbum went on his tirade. To have two guys imitating all-time greats, rather than one, is dumb and can shoot the little bit of credibility TNA has all to hell.

Well, if they carried it on it would be stupid. As it is, I think it was payback after Austin's amazingly stupid "is TNA still in business" line. I never thought I'd see Austin as a mouthpiece for Vince, and he is the one who lost credibility in my eyes, not TNA.

I don't blame TNA for that one jab. If they carry it on, yes, it will be almost as stupid as the Black Machismo thing. The difference is that Jay Lethal can do better. Shark Boy is not good for much more than making jokes anyway, so who cares in his case.

[Joe]

dvdmorse said:

joe said:

--The insistance on following behind WWE. Really, was it necessary to see Stone Cold Sharkboy? Macho Man Jay Lethal is bad enough, but to have one of the most important figures in wrestling history mocked by a ham-and-egger in a shark mask is stupid and pointless. The only remotely clever part about it was Eric Young breaking a glass before Sharkbum went on his tirade. To have two guys imitating all-time greats, rather than one, is dumb and can shoot the little bit of credibility TNA has all to hell.

Well, if they carried it on it would be stupid. As it is, I think it was payback after Austin's amazingly stupid "is TNA still in business" line. I never thought I'd see Austin as a mouthpiece for Vince, and he is the one who lost credibility in my eyes, not TNA.

I don't blame TNA for that one jab. If they carry it on, yes, it will be almost as stupid as the Black Machismo thing. The difference is that Jay Lethal can do better. Shark Boy is not good for much more than making jokes anyway, so who cares in his case.

So by taking the time to have one of their performers practice an imitation of somebody from the competion is a jab? They would be better off developing a legitimate angle that people might pay to see than doing multiple cutaways to a "sharktank" and making everyone involved in the segment look stupid.

As for Austin's comment, he's not saying anything the majority of wrestling fans weren't thinking. I started paying to watch TNA on a weekly basis in 2002, and I'm amazed they're still in business. Especially when you consider that the current product is, for the most part, worse than it was in '02.

Austin wasn't being a mouthpiece for Vince, and there is no way a statement like that from arguably the biggest draw in wrestling history is going hurt his credibility or legacy.

[dvdmorse]

joe said:

So by taking the time to have one of their performers practice an imitation of somebody from the competion is a jab? They would be better off developing a legitimate angle that people might pay to see than doing multiple cutaways to a "sharktank" and making everyone involved in the segment look stupid.

As for Austin's comment, he's not saying anything the majority of wrestling fans weren't thinking. I started paying to watch TNA on a weekly basis in 2002, and I'm amazed they're still in business. Especially when you consider that the current product is, for the most part, worse than it was in '02.

Austin wasn't being a mouthpiece for Vince, and there is no way a statement like that from arguably the biggest draw in wrestling history is going hurt his credibility or legacy.

That was not the context as I read it. Austin was being sarcastic, as if he actually did not know that TNA was still around. It was a jab, not an observation of any value.

Would TNA lose credibility for doing the parody? Well, I seem to remember "Scheme Gene." "the Huckster," and "the Nacho Man" on WWF broadcasts. Hogan is certainly as big a star as Austin, and Vince seems to have survived. So I would not lose any sleep over it if I were TNA.

But my point was not about Austin's wrestling legacy. I'm sure that is safe. But most of the things I had read about him seemed to portray him as a fairly decent guy off camera. This was an example of Austin (the person, the the wrestler) being a jerk and saying what Vince would want him to say, and I lost a lot of respect for him (again, as a person, not as a wrestler). That's my opinion. We obviously do not agree, but then you seem to have a dislike of TNA in general, whereas I don't much like the WWE, so that's not really surprising anyway.

I agree that the Shark Boy bit was stupid, by the way, just not for the same reasons. THe only part I found even remotely funny was the Austin parody (and that was not very funny, but it was at least worth a small smile). I could have done without the whole skit, but I would not criticize TNA for the Austin parody.

[Joe]

dvdmorse said:

joe said:

So by taking the time to have one of their performers practice an imitation of somebody from the competion is a jab? They would be better off developing a legitimate angle that people might pay to see than doing multiple cutaways to a "sharktank" and making everyone involved in the segment look stupid.

As for Austin's comment, he's not saying anything the majority of wrestling fans weren't thinking. I started paying to watch TNA on a weekly basis in 2002, and I'm amazed they're still in business. Especially when you consider that the current product is, for the most part, worse than it was in '02.

Austin wasn't being a mouthpiece for Vince, and there is no way a statement like that from arguably the biggest draw in wrestling history is going hurt his credibility or legacy.

That was not the context as I read it. Austin was being sarcastic, as if he actually did not know that TNA was still around. It was a jab, not an observation of any value.

Would TNA lose credibility for doing the parody? Well, I seem to remember "Scheme Gene." "the Huckster," and "the Nacho Man" on WWF broadcasts. Hogan is certainly as big a star as Austin, and Vince seems to have survived. So I would not lose any sleep over it if I were TNA.

But my point was not about Austin's wrestling legacy. I'm sure that is safe. But most of the things I had read about him seemed to portray him as a fairly decent guy off camera. This was an example of Austin (the person, the the wrestler) being a jerk and saying what Vince would want him to say, and I lost a lot of respect for him (again, as a person, not as a wrestler). That's my opinion. We obviously do not agree, but then you seem to have a dislike of TNA in general, whereas I don't much like the WWE, so that's not really surprising anyway.

I agree that the Shark Boy bit was stupid, by the way, just not for the same reasons. THe only part I found even remotely funny was the Austin parody (and that was not very funny, but it was at least worth a small smile). I could have done without the whole skit, but I would not criticize TNA for the Austin parody.

Actually the only dislike I have of TNA stems from it being a promotion that I started watching from its inception only to see it not grow in quality at all.

[Aquinas]

When Bullet Bob Armstrong came out as a tag team partner, and West and Mike "I USED to be a great announcer" Tenay made it out to be a credible choice.....I had to ask myself why I continue watching TNA.

It's getting harder and harder to do so....

[JED-SE]

I have to say, part of me wants to like this, but if they wanted the family nostalgia pop, they should have gone with his brother.

[Joe]

dvdmorse said:

joe said:

--The insistance on following behind WWE. Really, was it necessary to see Stone Cold Sharkboy? Macho Man Jay Lethal is bad enough, but to have one of the most important figures in wrestling history mocked by a ham-and-egger in a shark mask is stupid and pointless. The only remotely clever part about it was Eric Young breaking a glass before Sharkbum went on his tirade. To have two guys imitating all-time greats, rather than one, is dumb and can shoot the little bit of credibility TNA has all to hell.

Well, if they carried it on it would be stupid. As it is, I think it was payback after Austin's amazingly stupid "is TNA still in business" line. I never thought I'd see Austin as a mouthpiece for Vince, and he is the one who lost credibility in my eyes, not TNA.

I don't blame TNA for that one jab. If they carry it on, yes, it will be almost as stupid as the Black Machismo thing. The difference is that Jay Lethal can do better. Shark Boy is not good for much more than making jokes anyway, so who cares in his case.

Judging by tonight's Impact, not only will Stone Cold Sharkboy become a fixture in TNA, he will getting a push.

Hell, why shouldn't he get a push? Sharky's Austin impersonation resulted in a better promo than 95 percent of those ever cut in TNA.

[dvdmorse]

joe said:

Judging by tonight's Impact, not only will Stone Cold Sharkboy become a fixture in TNA, he will getting a push.

Hell, why shouldn't he get a push? Sharky's Austin impersonation resulted in a better promo than 95 percent of those ever cut in TNA.

Heh. Well, I hope they don't carry this on too long. Watching parodies of other wrestlers is not that much fun.

On the other hand, he does a pretty darn good Austin impression.

And it looked like Lethal was dropping the macho man thing, which would be nice.

[gatekeeper]

Stone Cold Sharkboy?

You've got to be kidding me. This shows why TNA is easily the worst wrestling fed ever.

They have no creativity and everything they do is based on something WWE.

[JED-SE]

I really didn't think Sharkboy's impression was that good. Sure he drank the clam juice like austin drinks beer. Sure he was good at saying the right words,but he didn't sound like him. At least when Lethal did an impersonation, he actually sounded like Randy Savage. I though for a brief second last night that he was going to start impersonating HBK when he said "he lost his smile."

Seriously, the thing I like most about TNA is Robert Roode. This guy is awesome!

[Swarm]

jdiamond said:

I really didn't think Sharkboy's impression was that good.

TNA should change their name to ICF for Indianapolis Colt fans. They are are more worried about bringing attention to the superior company to whom which beats their six-sided-ass rather than their own crappy product.

Sorry BDS.

[Joe]

stf said:

jdiamond said:

I really didn't think Sharkboy's impression was that good.

TNA should change their name to ICF for Indianapolis Colt fans. They are are more worried about bringing attention to the superior company to whom which beats their six-sided-ass rather than their own crappy product.

Sorry BDS.

The funniest part about the Sharkboy angle is definitely the timing.

WWE's Stone Cold career DVD is being released in about three weeks, and TNA will be right in the middle of giving airtime to a guy impersonating him.

Brilliant.

[Wildfire]

I watched TNA for the first time in about 6 weeks.. saw the 'Shark Tank' and shut it off..

much like I did last time, when I saw Awesome Kong eat plastic fruit for no particular reason at the Angle Thanksgiving dinner.


It's good to hear Lethal might drop the Macho Man thing though, its about damn time.

[Big Bri]

TNA is cool to watch as long as you are doing something else while it's going on. I usually fold laundry, do the dishes, or check my e-mail while it's on. That way, if it sucks I don't feel as it was a complete waste of my time.

I thought the Shark Boy stuff was hilarious until the Austin bit.

I like Tomko's attitude but hate hearing him talk.

Matt Morgan is really annoying. Why does he have a job? I hope Nash kills him.

All Cornette does anymore is scream and sound like an idiot.

I mute the TV when Buh Buh Ray starts to talk.

Joe's comments about the tag division are spot on.

[Joe]

bigbri said:

TNA is cool to watch as long as you are doing something else while it's going on. I usually fold laundry, do the dishes, or check my e-mail while it's on. That way, if it sucks I don't feel as it was a complete waste of my time.

I thought the Shark Boy stuff was hilarious until the Austin bit.

I like Tomko's attitude but hate hearing him talk.

Matt Morgan is really annoying. Why does he have a job? I hope Nash kills him.

All Cornette does anymore is scream and sound like an idiot.

I mute the TV when Buh Buh Ray starts to talk.

Joe's comments about the tag division are spot on.

Thanks. I don't usually try to do much posting about how I would book so-and-so, but the tag team triangle leading to a Tomko-AJ feud, potentially over the Heavyweight title, just seems like a no-brainer. Instead, they will continue booking Gail-Kong good and fucking up everything else.

[MikeMcKinney]

Joe is spot on with his Tomko comments.... He could be huge if the bookers allow it to happen.