I was tempted to do something tacky here. Taking the classic “’Twas the Night Before Christmas” melody, I was going to write a “’Twas the Night Before the War” in reference to TNA going head to head with WWE tomorrow night.
But I really am not trying to attempt anything other than express myself. I’m not a gimmicky writer, other than being tremendously arrogant in my expression. So instead I’ll just write what I think about the January 4th.
I’m excited. I didn’t really care until this morning. I really have almost no respect for TNA in general. I used to enjoy the weekly PPV format, and they’ve had some good talents and good matches and good events since changing to a standard monthly PPV with weekly TV show format, but it feels like such a shitty copy of the WWE that it doesn’t ever keep me interested. Honestly, I’ve been letdown more in the 7 and half years by TNA than the WWE has in the last 25. I am not a fan of their product at all.
But every once in a while, TNA seems to do something that makes me want to tune in and give them another shot. Hulk Hogan is not one of these decisions. However, Eric Bischoff is.
The idea that TNA is letting someone new take a chance at the general management of the show is interesting. Just getting an ew voice in the mix is a great twist. I don’t know who is to blame for the past mistakes I feel TNA have made, but the remedy could be the simple addition of another member to the creative department. Make that someone who has shown success in leading a wrestling company to the #1 spot, and you’ve got my attention.
I didn’t really think anything much of it when it was originally announced. TNA’s failures have that effect on me. Even the few times I’ve turned in to watch a terrific show, like the Turning Point PPV in November, I’ve never been drawn to continue tuning in. For every solid move they make, they make a record amount of disastrous maneuvers to ruin any momentum TNA has in keeping me tuned in.
But I look over the 2009 year, and I see enough beneficial moments to cause me to look into watching my first ever Impact. I’ve never watched an entire episode of the Thursday night TNA program, but I think I’ll give Monday’s show a shot. I won’t watch it Monday night. Monday’s I always tune into WWE Raw through a live stream since I have eliminated all cable/satellite television from my home. But Tuesday evening, I’ll put a torrent search out to find the TNA Impact from Monday night, and I’ll view that. I’ll probably watch Tuesday’s ECW program first. Sorry TNA, you just can’t beat out the best hour of wrestling every week headlined by Captain Charisma, another guy you didn’t seem to know how to use.
But I’ll eventually watch the TNA program. I’ll look forward to watching Tara, Desmond Wolfe, Kurt Angle, the Motor City Machine Guns, The Pope, and Daffney… while everyone else will have a high echelon to reach in terms of proving why they are employed. No one else on the TNA seems to draw any interest from me.
But maybe having Hogan and Bischoff add to the creative meetings will find a new way to present the rest of the roster in a way I find more appealing. There are some talented guys, but they don’t seem like full performers to me. Too many spot monkeys, not enough charisma. I hope I’m proven wrong. In a truly ground breaking statement, a better TNA product means better wrestling for all wrestling fans.
But enough about TNA. The WWE is the reason I watch any wrestling. While not perfect, they seem to entertain me consistently. And this Monday night, they have Bret Hart returning. As a Canadian, and
Not really. I’m curious, but not excited. Hitman can’t put on classic matches anymore. He never gave classic promos. So what will he bring to the table tomorrow night? I’m intrigued. I hope there’s a good storyline in the works. But honestly, I’m more interested in the build up to the Royal Rumble. Give me a next chapter of the Sheamus WWE Title reign. Will the Unified Tag Title return to Jerishow? Will DX continue to leave me wanting a Shawn Michaels singles push?
All in all, both companies have major work to do. For TNA, they need to establish themselves as a true alternative. I don’t mean they need to be a threat the way WCW was. But they need to be viable to take away a few fans from the WWE. Even if their ratings go up half a point, it will be a good start.
The WWE needs to kick it into high gear with only 3 months until Wrestlemania, during a month where boxing, UFC and TNA will all be fighting for big money buyrates. I said yesterday how the WWE needs Cena vs Undertaker to headline the show. Any other option is pathetic in comparison. And after last year’s 25th Anniversary disaster, the WWE might have a hard time garnering interest from casual fans. In all media businesses, a sequel is largely affected by the original’s success. New Moon did better money than Twilight did because of how well Twilight was received. Before reviewers could tell the fans how poor the sequel was, everyone lined up to see New Moon anyways. The same works in reverse. Wrestlemania has always been a gold standard in the WWE Pay Per View year. But last year lots of fans were disappointed with the show. How many of those fans will be doubtful to buy the WWE’s March PPV because of the memory of feeling screwed in 2009? Especially if the names on the marquee are Sheamus vs HHH?
I’ll watch Wrestlemania no matter what they put out. Either I’m that stupid, or I wasn’t as disappointed as others last year. But they still need to keep Arizona in mind as they book their shows towards the “Road to Wrestlemania” Tomorrow night seems to be the first step on that Road. Will Bret Hart be the 2010 version of what Mike Tyson brought to the Road to Wrestlemania in 1998? I am curious. I am intrigued. But I’m not excited. Especially since I already know that the best star on Monday Nights will not be there.
Now that I think about it, maybe this is TNA’s big chance.
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