What about TNA?
I’ve received some feedback since starting Ring Posts from people who believe TNA is superior to WWE. I disagree, but everyone certainly is entitled to their opinion. I do think that TNA has markedly improved since its debut as a weekly pay-per-view program five years ago, and the mere fact that the company still exists despite never turning a profit is an accomplishment in itself.
The return of Vince Russo to the creative team last fall, however, nearly caused me to tune out for good — I saw the “genius” of Russo up close when I was at WCW — but the signing of Kurt Angle ultimately kept me from writing off TNA. Although I am concerned about Angle’s health because of the precarious condition of his neck, his presence alone makes watching TNA worthwhile.
Most weeks, I find TNA Impact to be enjoyable. I don’t think it compares to Raw, but occasionally it is as good or better than Smackdown and it consistently is more entertaining than ECW.
As far as Thursday’s TNA Impact is concerned, the highlight for me was the opening segment with the Steiners and Team 3-D. This was one of Scott Steiner’s best promos in years.
Having spent some time around Steiner, I’m betting that he meant everything he was saying about the former Dudleys. Never shy about voicing his opinion, he used to cut intense, profanity-laced promos about people even when the cameras weren’t on — usually about Diamond Dallas Page.
My only complaint about the segment is that it made Team 3-D — especially Brother Ray — look like schmoes, which is an odd way to portray the babyfaces. First Team 3-D asks the crowd to give the Steiners a standing ovation, and then after Steiner verbally abuses them and gets in their faces, Ray responds by basically saying, “We like you. Why don’t you like us?”
The main event of Sting vs. Samoa Joe was fine but really didn't come off as a "dream match" to me. I do think TNA has succeeded in making its world title picture interesting, with those two in the mix along with Angle, Christian Cage and others.
One TNA wrestler who is really making strides on the mic and in the ring is Robert Roode. He has developed into one of the company's better heels and appears to be on the verge of becoming a main-event level performer.
The biggest surprise to me has been Tomko, who is showing a lot more in the ring than he ever did in WWE, and he’s starting to develop some personality as well. If he keeps this up, it won't be long before he gets invited to come back up North.
Comments
I committed myself this past Thursday to watch TNA with an open mind and maybe it was just that particular show but it was very watchable,for a change. Loved the exchange between Team 3D and The Steiners. Big Poppa Pump Scott Steiner a great heel, borderline psycho. Need to keep Kurt Angle in the mix. Waiting for Jeff Jarrett make a major impact. Good business move by TNA to create their own championship belts,great for merchandising potential to sell replicas. Love the new TNA world belt. Tag team and X division belts also have a great look.
Posted by: Jason T. | May 26, 2007 11:28 AM
This is a great idea by the Sun to have a wrestling blog. You are absolutely right that the TNA show is not as good as Raw yet. Let's give it time and hope that it can compete. Wrestling was so much better when there is a good give and take competition
Posted by: buzz g | May 26, 2007 12:19 PM
I'm the guy that's been pushing this debate. And it's not that TNA is great yet. It's that WWE has become unwatchable. Partly due to defections, partly due to horrible booking by creative. You have a main event last pay per view with 2 guys who can't wrestle! What does Raw have that TNA doesn't? Vince boring us for 20 min each week? Ric Flair curtain jerking? Horrible women's wrestling? An 80's wrestling character in Umaga? Vince is recycling junk with has beens (Michaels,Flair) lame monsters(Kane,Umaga,Khali) and mid card scrubs (MVP,Matt Hardy,Jeff Hardy). Where are the great characters to replace Rock,Austin,Jericho,Angle and Lesnar? The most interesting characters are all in TNA:Samoa Joe, Styles,Christian and Angle. The problem of course is Russo has buried Styles and C Daniels and is shoving Rhino and the hapless Sting down our throats. But it's still the only hour of wrestling I can still stomach.
Posted by: eric(reisterstown) | May 26, 2007 11:28 PM
Hey,
I used to listen and call into your radio show back in the day and make fun of the other wrestling radio host at the time. Good memories. Used to be huge wrestling fan, but not so much any more. I'm 20 years younger than you so my favorite memories were watching Sting and Ricky Steamboat when I was real young. After that I always watched but my favorite time was from Bash at the Beach 96 to the end of WCW. I was really a bigger WWF fan in the late 90's, but it was influenced so much by WCW. After Hogan turned heel, WWF started getting good thanks to Bret Hart, Original DX, Austin, The Rock as a heel and of course Evil Vince. Then after WCW went under and the novelty wore off, WWF/E has gotten much worse. I can't say that WWE is unwatchable and I know that wrestling can't be in a constant peak, but it has gone downhill. TNA needs more mainstream names Flair (not realistic), Jericho or RVD would be nice. I can't say TNA is better, but Edge and Shawn Michaels have been carrying the WWE for the last few years. For TNA, you can see the effort, but Rhino in a scaffold match and calling the Dudley Boyz Team 3D shows they got a long way to go. Of course, like you, I could go on and on talking about wrestling even though I don't watch too much. Luckily my dad still watches and lets me know what's going on. He got me into wrestling from a young age and kept tapes of Flair in the 80s around for me to watch. Nowadays he will let me know if there are any horrible storylines or terrible gimmicks that I have to see and laugh at. Or any classic McMahon interviews or occasional quality matches. Anyway, good luck with the blog.
Posted by: Jason | May 28, 2007 10:48 PM
Condolences and prayers go out to Jeff Jarrett and family on the recent passing of his wife, Jill. May God comfort them in their time of sorrow and all wrestling fans keep the Jarrett family in prayer.
Posted by: Jason T. | May 29, 2007 4:20 AM