A month or so back I had an opportunity to check out a TNA Pay Per View with some of the Pulse Wrestling staff. Our tag line is that we have writers from the most cynical smarks to guys who remain New World Order for life. Well, it’s more than tag line. In that room we ranged from guys who religiously watch all wrestling every week to guys who’ve rarely seen TNA, and, in my case, someone who is entirely centered on the indies and gave up on televised wrestling as hopeless. Well, a certain media mogul among us kept saying that when he owned TNA guys certain guys were gone and some would be pushed. While I didn’t agree with all of these statements, it was at least food for thought from a different perspective.
Fast forward to the present and your faithful leader and mine, Matthew Michaels asked me to compile a list of 10 TNA guys who should be pushed more in the two hour time frame and some others who should be given less time than they’ve been soaking up. Well, since the wheels were churning from back at that Pay Per View and you are here reading this now, I, of course, agreed. TNA promised a lot of wrestlers more time once they expanded to two hours. Here’s the 10 that should get that extra time, but first, ten who need to be seen less. For the most part, I’ll be keeping tag teams together.
Ten in TNA Who Need Less Television Time
10. Fatu
Fatu, the former Rikishi, is not a bad wrestler or a worthless talent. I need to get that out of the way, because pretty soon on this list, we’ll get to some of those. Fatu, however, is being terribly over pushed in TNA currently. During the first two weeks of the two hour Impact, Fatu has been in the main event. He is not now and never has been a main event talent. He’s a solid wrestler who can get the crowd behind him and remain entertaining without having to be overly pushed. When you overly push him, as we saw in the WWE several times, he loses his appeal very quickly.
Fatu is also one of the few wrestlers who manages to carry the stink of a failed push with him forever. His “I did it for The Rock!†promo about running over Steve Austin reminds us of an absolutely monster push that he managed to do nothing with but turn fans off. When you’re working with two of the most over wrestlers ever in a main event program and the fans reject you, it might be time to realize that this man is simply not worthy of a main event push.
By all means, TNA should use Fatu. He’s a fun midcarder they can throw in nonsense angles that the fans will watch and pop for. He is currently terribly miscast in even the weak TNA main event scene and all he does there is expose TNA as the place where guys who blow their WWE push go to shine. This is someone with actual value in the proper role, but as usual, TNA has shown it has no idea what that role is.
9. Bobby Roode
Roode is, according to most reports within the business, destined for stardom. The time for that, however, is simply not now. He’s got a great look and a solid character, but the man is currently a charisma black hole and cannot work an above average match on television to save his life. He, simply put, needs a lot more seasoning before he’s ready to contribute at the level TNA currently expects him to succeed at.
The solution here is simple: indy dates. A man with Roode’s potential should not be wasted and let go. He also simply cannot be allowed to remain on television and draw fan apathy until he’s ready unless they want him to be taken as a joke for good. The WWE could get away from this with their giant marketing base, but perceptions of TNA wrestlers are much more difficult to change due to the smaller market and insider fan base. Simply renting him out to indies on the cheap would allow him to improve rapidly until a point where he is ready to work at the level TNA expects.
TNA really needs to establish a standard of wrestler they will put on television. Allowing any green worker to learn on camera is a luxury WWE can afford, but TNA needs to be putting themselves forward as a viable alternative, where the wrestlers can have crisp, quality matches. Bobby Roode hurts that image and because of this should simply no longer be on television for the company.
8. Samoa Joe
This is the last of the good wrestlers on the list and Joe is surely a lot more than a merely good wrestler. There was a time when the company should have been built around Joe. He was the most over wrestler on the roster who consistently put on the absolute best matches. He made his opponents look great, even when he destroyed them (see Sabin, Chris). There was no one in TNA who was better booked and placed to lead the company as their head man.
All of that has changed. Since being defeated fairly regularly by Kurt Angle (in Joe’s only victory Kurt hit himself with a chair), Joe looks second rate. Since the Karen Angle swerve, Joe looks like an idiot. These are not the traits you want from your number one or number two babyface. To make matters worse, Joe has had one great TNA match all year (against Christian) and the angle that was running with it was immediately dropped. Since then he has become more and more unmotivated in the ring, looking like there are a million places he’d rather be. Gone is the intensity that made him a star and unless NOAH and Mitsuharu Misawa relight that fire under Joe, then gone is the need to treat Joe like anything special.
To make matters worse, the fans have noticed. Even the fans in the Impact Zone, those notorious TNA marks who eat whatever the company feeds them, have begun to cheer Joe less. He was underpushed but still supported. Then he was made to look like a joke and stopped giving to opponents, having great matches, and caring. This is not easy to write as a ROHbot. I absolutely love ROH and early TNA Joe. This simply is not that Joe. What’s left to make him deserve to be on television and pushed as hard as he is?
Joe needs to be depushed and on TV less. Let him work in the X-Division until he earns his place up the card and if his mystique can be recaptured, then he can be pushed as he once deserved. As of now, the absolute best he can hope for is a Raven or Rhyno-esque transition title run. The fans simply won’t accept him as champion right now full time, nor does he warrant it.
7. Team 3-D
Team 3-D has entirely outlived its usefulness. They were a great act for years, who could be in hot angles with fun characters who were loved or hated with vigor by the fans and supported being either face or heel with great promos. Now, well, the promos are still pretty good, but everything else is gone.
Team 3-D apparently thinks it should be pushed to the moon and is regularly the featured team in the TNA tag division. Its feuds have been terrible, whether against the Steiners, which is drawing waves of apathy from fans, or against LAX, who was TNA’s hottest act, yet Team 3-D still went over and killed them. The matches were barely acceptable against LAX and downright bad against everyone else.
All acts have a natural shelf life. Team 3-D had a great run, but the fans no longer care about its act. Bubba and D-Von have lost all skill in the ring and apparently all motivation to stay in shape. Perhaps they could be used as a big gaijin team in Japan, but besides putting someone over on their way out, they have no use. That still puts them above the rest of the list, who are entirely without use, but still, their use is in getting beat and going away. The good promos by a fat guy who can’t go in the ring anymore quota is carried by Raven, and he’s a far better promo and can actually get other people over. Let Team 3-D go.
6. Black Reign
Dustin Rhodes has always been underrated. He is a simple worker who can have a good match with almost anyone without creating anything overly complicated or needing a huge push. He’s also a talented enough performer that whatever push he is given is almost always successful. I know this and never forgot it, so when Dustin was brought into TNA, I was hopeful.
Let’s be clear on this: Dustin, if kept in this role, is done. His new gimmick is absolutely terrible and even he can’t save it. He wore Goldust like a second skin and embraced its absurdity. Black Reign feels awkward and Dustin looks like an uncomfortable man doing the best he can at a job he hates. There is no joy in the absurdity of the character and when the character comes off as a chore, you know you have a problem.
Dustin might be able to make another gimmick work. He’s really very talented and what he does in the ring doesn’t demand a lot of him physically. He’s similar to his father in that in the right role, he can wrestle to quite an advanced age and still be effective. The problem is, the role is so wrong that he’s seemingly falling apart at the seams. The absurdity of this gimmick isn’t a joy, its pure torture.
5. Eric Young
Eric Young is a one note joke. He’s a good comedy character to run around the background, but the crowd’s laughter at him has lead to a serious, sustained push that’s really run its course. You can only hear the same joke so many times before it ceases to be funny and Eric Young has long since ceased to be funny.
Young takes up a lot of TV time every week for no readily apparent reason. Funny when he would come out for a quick segment or show up mid-promo, the more time he’s gotten the less reaction he’s managed to draw. Management seems to have not noticed this as he is put in major angle after major angle, with each receiving more and more television time. Major angles, unfortunately here, also mean more matches. While he has good comedic timing outside of matches, in ring his antics simply aren’t funny. He’s like a less amusing Colt Cabana with a fraction of the wrestling ability, and if you recall how much I dislike Colt, you’ll realize just how damning that comment truly is. He’d be lower were he not funny at one point.
4. Mr. Backlund
Bob Backlund was a damn great wrestler. He was among the best of the 1970s and remained quite good in the 1980s and 1990s. It’s now 2007 and enough is enough. The man was great in his era, but he was never Ric Flair to begin with and he’s absolutely ancient. He has no holdover appeal because very few fans that watched wrestling at his peak still do now. He’s remembered more for his role against Bret Hart in the 1990s, when he was already as old or older as anyone we should ever see in the ring. Anyone who still was watching from his glory days would merely be disgusted at the silly comedy character this legend now plays and it was a terrible idea to bring him in to use him in this manner to begin with. Only making matters worse is that even though he is an old, comedy character, he is treated seriously, beating wrestlers who have real talent and potential like Chris Sabin. I’m not even sure he’s still in TNA, but since he’s on the roster page and was such a bad idea in the first place, I included him here anyway.
3. The Steiners
The Steiners need to go away 5 years ago. Scott was a roided up freak who couldn’t put on a good match with Triple H back then. Now he’s a roided up freak who’s already been jobbed out to the up and comers of the business and retains no actual value. He was once the best performer of his generation with as much potential to be a superstar as anyone. He gave that up due to way too much steroids, then continued to let roid rage sap him of any sympathetic value he might retain. He’s a bad person, a bad wrestler, actually dangerous, bad for the business because of his drug issues and obviously enhanced physique, he’s dangerous with a live mic, and has absolutely no positive value to him.
Rick Steiner is another case entirely. He was never that good in the ring and was actually dangerous for opponents in his prime. He’s well past that now, but still uses the same sloppy, dangerous style and seems to take no more care with opponents. Add in that he isn’t over and looks like my 80 year old grandfather without his shirt, and you have one of the worst acts to be allowed on television on years.
The Steiner Brothers were once one of the best tag teams ever thanks mostly to Scott’s brilliance and Rick playing to his role. Even the memory of that is tarnished by the abomination they’ve become. Scott is not recognizable as the same star from back then and Rick really shouldn’t have been around for at least a decade now. Let sleeping dog-faced-gremlins lie and get them off my television.
2. VKM of Kip and Jesse James
VKM were once the New Age Outlaws. They were over due to catch phrases and an association with the hot property that was Degeneration X. Well, back then they sucked in the ring and were a one trick pony? Guess what happened when they got older? Their one trick got stale and they got even worse in the ring.
Lord knows why these two are on television. They attempt to provoke response from Vince McMahon by using his initials, but if it hasn’t worked by now, it isn’t going to. They aren’t funny or effective at anything. They can’t build future talent even if their egos would allow it because they really don’t have anything to give. The one note joke was played out at the turn of the millennium and I have no conception of why TNA would continue to devote so much air time to an act that does absolutely nothing well and has no value whatsoever.
1. Pacman Jones
At a time when wrestling is under an unprecedented amount of scrutiny, who the hell thought it was a good idea to bring this guy in? He’s a terrible human being and almost impossible to root for. This isn’t a guy who made a mistake. This is a guy who’s been in more legal trouble than seems possible, coming out in the worst light every single time. He alone is reason enough to not watch TNA.
10 in TNA Who Deserve More Television Time
10. Petey Williams
Petey is a good worker who gets a bad rap. He’s a bit spotty, but certainly very fast and entertaining. He alone makes TNA seem like an alternative to the WWE. Imagine flipping channels and catching the Canadian Destroyer if you’re only familiar with WWE? It would be a complete culture shock and the viewer would at least stick around to see what’s going on.
The move is not only visually impressive, but keeps Petey over with the fans. They want to see it and pop for it every time. Keeping the crowd involved and himself cared about so simply, while needing so little time makes him exactly the type of wrestler who should be a regular in the X-Division.
9. Rhino
Rhino is the best brawler on the TNA roster, tells great stories, and cuts very good promos. The fans have been absolutely willing to buy him as a main eventer at several points and although he jobs regularly now, don’t seem to have any inclination to stop cheering him. He, along with Abyss, is used to elevate the next man to challenge for the world title, but unlike Abyss, Rhino hasn’t been damaged by this role yet. Instead of continually wasting Rhino with pointless feuds that he invariably loses, he could easily be built as a midcard title holder who could in time put his belt against the World Title. He’s good enough to carry the undercard with great matches and his finisher is over enough to make sure the crowd is always pleased and goes home happy when he wins. Since Jarrett and Angle, heels, seem to have a stranglehold on the world belt, Rhino should be used as a regular, pushed member to keep the audience happy.
8. Jimmy Rave
Jimmy Rave is the perfect heel. He oozes charisma and arrogance, living his character. For a long time an anti-X-Division wrestler has been called for who could ground the high fliers and slow things down while making the crowd hate him. Jimmy Rave is absolutely perfect for that role. Let him get in the ring with high fliers, then make sure they don’t fly anymore with his Heel Hook submission. The man is made to hate, let him be anti-X and give the fans a reason to boo Jimmy Rave, the perfect heel. Click here for why Jimmy is such a great asset to a wrestling company. If you want people to care about X-Division stars, he’s your man.
7. LAX
LAX, a classic heel team of Homicide and Hernandez, was the most over act in the company. Since then they were crushed by Team 3-D, turned face, and lost their mouthpiece, Konnan. They still manage to remain over thanks to being a classic formula team.
In their team Homicide is the ring general. The smaller, speedier wrestler of the two, ‘Cide is one of the best wrestlers around when he wants to be and carries the in-ring portion of LAX’s matches. He also has a unique charisma where the crowd always seems to care about him and carries smark credibility due to being a ROH icon. He fills the Bret Hart role on his team.
Hernandez is a giant power wrestler with surprising agility. He isn’t good in the ring, but is improving. He’s over due to his impressive moveset and physique and surprising high spots. The monster of LAX manages to hold up his end of the bargain, cleaning house and keeping the team intimidating. He plays the Anvil role of the team.
LAX, as a unit, are a nearly perfect team. As heels they play the tag formula as well as anyone could and because of that can have great matches with almost anyone. Their personalities lend themselves to heelish tactics and they can win without killing the opposing team’s momentum or credibility and still remain over, as we’ve seen despite their disastrous recent run. They go with the classic formula for a reason: the classics became classics because of just how well they work.
6. James Storm
TNA is, due to WWE’s northern dominance, the hick promotion. It’s not the ideal place to be since population is more concentrated in the north, but if it’s the case, it should be played up. James Storm is an evil, drunk redneck. It’s an archetype to be sure, but James is particularly good at playing it, both inside and out of the ring. His actions make him truly despicable, but he isn’t so serious that he can’t work in a comedic role from time to time or up and down the card. He’s good enough in ring to draw heat and make the fans sympathetic to the babyface. He’s a jackknife heel, perfect for all situations on the card, whether the upper midcard where he can make a babyface credible and sympathetic before a major event or the midcard where he’d terrorize random faces who needed to get over. He could even be a credible Honkey Tonk Man style champion and is so hated the fans would certainly pay to see him beaten. James Storm is as useful a heel as there is in wrestling today (with Edge out).
5. Senshi
Low Ki is among the most intense individuals around inside a wrestling ring. He’s probably the best current wrestler on the TNA roster to boot. He’s capable of having a great brawl, speed, or technical match with a variety of opponents and merely needs to be turned loose. The monster midget is over because of how intense and hard-hitting he is, and his matches improve exponentially with how hard he is pushed, so why not let him be a monster? He’s certainly good enough. TNA shouldn’t let his sometimes abrasive personality stop them from making money with Low Ki, who can put on must-see matches and bring fans back to the company.
4. The Motor City Machine Guns
ROH Booker Gabe Sapolsky has what he calls “state of the art wrestling.†This is to say a fast style that the crowd loves where the storytelling is more advanced for the hardcore fan, but the action is so great that the fans can’t help but love it. The Motor City Machine Guns and the Briscoes are the poster-children for this type of wrestling and this type of team. Selling is de-emphasized, just as it usually is in TNA anyway in this style, but the level of action that the mat technician Shelley and the aerial specialist Sabin could bring with their moves and double teams is unmatched on the TNA roster.
A great match on every card is promised if the MCMG are given the time and freedom to pursue their art. With a push, the sky is the limit and tag team wrestling wouldn’t just be back, it’d be prominent and talked about in TNA again. The WWE won’t let tag teams run wild, so if TNA wants to be an alternative, then all they need to do is let the MCMG do their thing.
3. Kaz
If ROH wants to build its own stars, Kaz is the way to go. He has the look and the skill to accomplish anything in the business. He’s also not a ROH guy, so TNA could easily claim full credit for his success. Kaz is a great worker who in his recent feud with Raven showed a lot of personality and the ability to adapt and have a great match in different styles in the ring. A hardcore flier is a unique gimmick and Kaz has the talent to make it work like no one else if he is allowed. If anyone on the roster deserves a sustained, slow push up the card, it’s the best wrestler no one talks about: Kaz.
2. Matt Morgan
Matt Morgan is the best giant to come along since Brock. Not only is he legitimately 7′ tall, he can actually wrestle. He’s a good looking, well-built giant, who is seen as a legitimate tough guy from his time as Cornette’s bodyguard. Move Cornette from Commissioner to Manager so that he can get some passion back and have him use Matt Morgan as his weapon against a world (TNA) that he’s angry at. Make Matt a star; his talent is begging to be let out.
The big argument I hear about this is how big Morgan is. I say “good!†His size and skill will only make him all the more impressive. If one man can carry TNA on his back, it’s Morgan as the star. TNA is highly unlikely to realize this, so he isn’t number one, but they should and Morgan can be the man.
1. AJ Styles
AJ Styles is Mr. TNA. He has never been given a long term chance to carry the company, however. He was given the title and a push when the audience was a fraction of what it is now, so much of the fanbase never got to witness first-hand the dynamic style that AJ brings.
AJ is a world class worker so long as he is motivated. He can fall into formula, but so many greats do so that’s hardly a flaw. He’s also bad at selling leg work, but that, too, is easy to work around. AJ is currently a cowardly heel, but that’s easy to get past as a managerial mandate. Make AJ burst free as the face of the nonstop action TNA should stand for, for the fans, and against the management that the fanbase is growing to hate. Push AJ, as a face, on TV, constantly! He’s the one man you built properly over years. Showcase him!
