Counterfeit Pennies: Prime Time TNA + Genesis PPV = The Beginning of an Ultimate Fight

Columns

When Shane McMahon showed up at the final taping of WCW Nitro, I honestly thought that Vince McMahon had put the final nail in the coffin regarding the destruction of his competition for the mainstream professional wrestling audience. Yet here we are a few years later, and we are now being given an alternative to WWE’s strategy of “Schlock & Awe”. That alternative comes to us in the form of the formerly struggling and now blossoming non-WWE brand as TNA, and I couldn’t be happier for this landmark week that is finally upon us.

It all begins this Thursday night at 9:00 pm on Spike TV, when TNA makes its foray into Prime Time with a two-hour premiere. We have already been promised Kurt Angle’s in-ring debut versus Abyss, as well as the Six Sides of Steel Barbed Wire main event pitting Christian Cage against Rhyno, where each superstar has two items in their arsenal: Rhyno with a straightjacket and a key to unlock the cage, and Christian with wire cutters and (of course) a steel chair. There will undoubtedly be plenty of promotion for Sunday’s Genesis PPV, and I do expect there to be several surprises during the premiere.

However, what truly has set TNA apart from WWE pretty much since TNA’s inception is this: While TNA has undeniably had some hard-to-stomach moments (see: X Division wrestlers shamelessly promoting Jackass #2), there is much more of a focus on, dare I say it, logical, unhurried storylines and wrestling. There is nothing more fun to watch than A.J. Styles at the top of his game, and there is not one finishing move as cool as Petey Williams’ Canadian Destroyer. In addition, while the Christian-Rhyno feud is definitely one from the old WWE (or ECW) playbook, the one big difference here is that the buildup to this climactic potential storyline-ending match has been a few months in the making with careful consideration, rather than one or two weeks of rushed vignettes and strained spots.

And while Prime Time TNA will serve as the appetizer, it’s obvious that Genesis will be the main course that we will all hopefully be proud to feast on come Sunday night. As I said two weeks ago, the best feud between any of the four commercial brands (Raw, SD, ECW, and TNA) belongs to TNA in the form of Kurt Angle vs. Samoa Joe. I have not been this excited for one match since Hogan-Rock at WrestleMania, and that was more for nostalgia’s sake than anything else. While Hogan-Rock represented the very best of sports entertainment — and I did mark out completely for that match — Samoa Joe-Angle looks to be the real deal in terms of wrestling while also looking to be a top draw with fans like me who have been dying for some real competition.

The only problem I have currently with TNA is that their World Title is currently around the waist of Sting. I understand the value and credibility that Sting brings to the table, but him being the Champ would be the WWE equivalent of The Undertaker getting another title run even though it is highly unnecessary due his already cemented status as a fan favorite and legend.

But alas, that’s a problem for next week. This week, let’s just sit back and enjoy the waves that TNA is making as it tries to make a serious impact on WWE’s turf…

CB is an Editor for Pulse Wrestling and an original member of the Inside Pulse writing team covering the spectrum of pop culture including pro wrestling, sports, movies, music, radio and television.