Alternate Reality by Vin Tastic

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Both sides of the coin.

PLUS: IP’s TNA Bound For Glory Rasslin Roundtable Results

For the last four years, many wrestling pundits have claimed Total Nonstop Action Wrestling is nothing more than a glorified indy fed and an ego-vehicle for Jeff Jarrett. What is it about TNA that some fans believe prevents the company from being a true player in the US major-league pro wrestling landscape? Considering their recent acquisition of Kurt Angle, one of the best there’s ever been, their move to prime time on Spike TV November 16th, and the possibility of Chris Jericho joining, it’s a good time to take a look at what TNA is all about.

TODAY’S ISSUE: Yin and Yang of TNA

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling has polarized fans and “insiders”; some love it, some hate it, very few are anywhere in between. With Bound For Glory, the show TNA considers their WrestleMania in the books, let’s investigate the good and bad of TNA’s current product.

Big Stars. I’ve seen the argument that TNA is filled with no-names. However, Sting is one of the most recognizable characters from the modern era, and Kevin Nash was a world champ in both WCW and WWF and a founding member of the nWo, one of the most successful stables of all time. Christian Cage is an impact player. I seem to recall many fans drooling during his title feud with John Cena in WWE, believing it was his time to carry the banner as world champion.

While he’s not signed yet, the prospect of the man who unified the WCW and WWE titles, Chris Jericho, coming to TNA is quite exciting. Oh, and have you heard? Kurt Angle is now on the roster. Angle’s a huge acquisition for TNA, and is likely to bring in some new viewers. Team 3D are highly decorated all over the industry, and recognizable to most fans. The same can be said for the James Gang. Konnan is well known for his run in the nWo Wolfpac. Rhino was the last true ECW champion. Raven had big runs in WCW, WWF and of course ECW.

Scott Steiner is another very well known wrestler and former world champ who had a long stint in TNA, and still appears on their online roster. Speaking of which, many other popular wrestlers have appeared on TNA programming in the past, including Lex Luger, Buff Bagwell, Scott Hall, Diamond Dallas Page, Dusty and Dustin Rhodes, Jeff Hardy, and more.

On the other hand, most of the big names listed above are well past their prime, and have thus far failed to deliver on the promise of using their waning celebrity to “put over” the younger guys on the roster. I’m certain I recall reading about how Nash was there to give the rub to Sabin and the X Division, but I haven’t seen evidence of that yet. Sting should be programmed with and lose to somebody like Christian Cage or even dark horse Christopher Daniels. Team 3D should be sacrificed to LAX or another hungry, young team.

Solid WRESTLING. There are few performers on any of WWE’s three rosters who can hang between the ropes with guys like AJ Styles, Christopher Daniels, Chris Sabin, Petey Williams, Austin Starr, Elix Skipper, Sonjay Dutt, Alex Shelley, and other TNA mainstays. Simply put, the wrestling action is consistently more exciting, more fast paced, more innovative, and more fun to watch on iMPACT! than on WWE’s many weekly programs.

On the other hand, there are no lumbering giants who inspire analogies from the commentators about typewriters, frying pans, tree limbs and bowling balls. Many fans like to see larger-than-life monsters in the ring. My favorites in the X Division are smaller, normal looking men, who wouldn’t attract a crowd in public. Nobody would claim you have to see somebody like Showtime Eric Young in order to believe him.

Alternative to WWE. Ultimate X. King of the Mountain. The six-sided ring. More action and less talk. A focus on the athleticism and action rather than size and bluster. A true, developed tag team division. Younger wrestlers being given an opportunity to excel.

On the other hand, ironically, I believe these differences contribute to some fans’ low opinion of TNA. If you’re simply looking for another hour of WWE-esque programming each week, then I’m forced to wonder how the 5 original hours of RAW, SmackDown! and ECW aren’t enough for you.

Some have said by staying in the same arena week after week, TNA demonstrates how “little league” they are right now. WCW performed at the Disney/MGM Studios in Orlando, Florida for years, and although that era sucked, that sucking wasn’t caused by location. Still, certain people believe iMPACT! needs to spread its wings. I’ll endorse that concept when they can afford to do so financially. Perhaps the move to prime time will increase their fan base a bit, and travel will become more of an option. Promoting Bound For Glory in Detroit, Michigan was a step in the right direction.

Serious Network Support. Spike TV treats TNA like an important commodity, and will move the company to a prime time slot on Thursday nights starting November 16th. All that’s left for TNA to hope for at this point is the expansion to two hours, which I’m sure will happen if they can keep their viewership strong in the earlier time slot.

On the other hand, Spike TV is not one of the biggest networks around. However, WWE did produce RAW there for five years, and the original ECW show aired on TNN, which became Spike TV in 2003. So there is a considerable history of wrestling on that network. Conversely, ECWWE’s new home on Sci Fi isn’t exactly a perfect synergy between programming and station at this point.

Underdog on the rise. Don’t you find it fun sometimes to support the little guy, the underdog, the long shot who’s chasing the mighty, bloated, lazy, bored tyrant of the business? If for no other reason than to light a fire under Vince McMahon’s ass, I hope to see TNA nipping at WWE’s heels more consistently, and becoming much more of a threat.

On the other hand, some people only buy Nike shoes, only watch Oscar-nominated movies, and only eat at chain restaurants. Hell, when I lived in Europe, I knew a guy who looked for the Golden Arches in every foreign city he visited. The wrestling fans among these people will always believe that there’s one name in pro wrestling, and it’s WWE. I’ll watch an independent film from time to time, and try a hole-in-the-wall establishment once in a while. It’s the uniqueness that makes something special to me. TNA has that special quality that WWE programming has been lacking since they won the Monday Night War.

I realize one big knock on TNA has been Jeff Jarrett’s hogging of the spotlight and the NWA Heavyweight Championship. While I agree with that sentiment, and would like to see him shunted to the mid-card, certainly WWE is just as guilty. Have you watched RAW the past few months? I can’t stand to see Vince and his inner circle (I’m looking at you, HHH) all over Monday nights. And how many pushes does this one make for the Big Show, anyway? At least Jarrett dropped the strap at the biggest show of the year last night. Let’s see if he de-pushes himself now.

It’s difficult for me to be objective in a comparison between TNA and WWE, because I’m growing more and more tired of Vince’s one-ring circus by the week. In the meantime, TNA keeps overcoming odds, bringing their game to the next level, and impressing me with new acquisitions, strong feuds, and solid matches. As long as TNA is on television, and as long as Vince Russo doesn’t screw the whole thing up, I’ll support TNA and hope for their continued success.

Speaking of TNA, the annual Bound For Glory ppv was last night. As always, we IP Staffers made our traditional Rasslin Roundtable predictions before the event. Compare our picks to the Live Coverage, then look below to see how we fared.

IP Staff Rasslin Roundtable Results

Joel Geraghty Roundtable Champion!
TNA Bound For Glory (22 Oct 06): 7-2
Total: 17-7

Danny Wallace
TNA Bound For Glory (22 Oct 06): 6-3
Total: 21-13

Vinny Truncellito
TNA Bound For Glory (22 Oct 06): 6-3
Total: 23-14

Steve Murray
TNA Bound For Glory (22 Oct 06): 6-3
Total: 12-10

David Brashear
TNA Bound For Glory (22 Oct 06): 6-3
Total: 6-3

Iain Burnside
TNA Bound For Glory (22 Oct 06): 4-5
Total: 13-18

Jeremy Botter
TNA Bound For Glory (22 Oct 06): 3-6
Total: 6-9

Eric Szulczewski
TNA Bound For Glory (22 Oct 06): 3-6
Total: 16-21

BLATT
TNA Bound For Glory (22 Oct 06): 3-6
Total: 4-11

We now return you to your regularly scheduled reality.

p.s. — Thoughts to ponder: Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die.

Master Sergeant, United States Air Force