A Chaotic Theory: The Destruction of TNA part 2
By Chad
When Hogan first came to TNA with Eric Bischoff, we were all a little excited. We thought that with Hogan coming he is going to bring in the bigger names and maybe help launch an already successful federation. Well he did bring in some bigger names, which we all love to see. But with those wonderful stars that came into TNA we also felt some major blows when Hogan began to change the product that is TNA. I know we all have had our opinions about the loss of the six-sided ring. But to have a company come up from nothing and innovate a product like the six-sided ring and be successful with it, is a first hand miracle. But when you take something away from a product it is no longer the same thing, it has now become something different, a new product maybe, but not the same thing. When you took the six-sided ring from TNA, you took a piece of TNA away from the fans. The six-sided ring was one of the reasons we loved TNA so much. The way the wrestlers had the freedom to do so many more moves and the high-flying, air antics that could never have been done in a regular ring. When we lost the ring, a piece of me went with it.
Even though the loss of the six-sided ring was a huge blow to me, it wasn’t enough for me to stop watching. I faithfully tuned in to iMPACT! on Monday nights waiting and watching in excitement for what was going to happen with this federation that is getting so much buzz throughout the nation. And week after week, I was let down. I don’t remember having this many disappointments when iMPACT! was on Thursday nights. I felt like TNA was becoming WCW! We were starting to see old WCW wrestlers popping up in TNA. I’m not saying that these men aren’t talented. But what I am saying is this feels oddly like a bad case of déjà vu. With the arrival of Scott Hall and XPac or Six Pac or whatever we are calling him today, it felt very NWOish. Even with the storyline that had Hogan refusing to sign them until they won a match against their former PIC (Partner In Crime) Kevin Nash and his partner Eric Young. I mean who didn’t see Nash turning on Young in that match? Does this mean the rebirth of the NWO? Well hopefully not, because nobody cares. Why do we want to see something again that we saw happen 10 years ago, that’s what DVDs are for. It’s time to move on, but yet I feel like Hogan’s ego and Bischoff’s pride aren’t going to let us move forward.
What TNA needs to do is make Hogan and Bischoff take a back seat. Stop letting them sop up all the TV time with things that have already been done. Let the original TNA talent do what it’s been doing and that’s entertaining us. If Hogan is truly there to help out TNA, then let him use his name to build the company up and not him. Hulkamania has ran wild for years, we know this, we know him. Now Hogan needs to step up and make decisions that are best for TNA if he wants to succeed. Stop giving the TV time to overdone, overplayed storylines. Use the talent you have. I love seeing Jeff Hardy and RVD back in TNA and I think they are a perfect fit for the federation. But it’s the TNA ‘originals’ that has made this federation what it is, let them shine. The classic wrestlers of the past need to step aside and allow the boys to become men, that’s the only way we are ever going to beat RAW. But then again, that’s just my chaotic theory….
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Hey Chad – glad to have the second part of the article posted! Personally, I didn’t recognize the loss of the six sided ring after the first week with the traditional ring. And as far as the WCW-esque storylines, I feel like too many people on the internet are quick to say that TNA is becoming WCW.
No one seems to consider that everything has been done before – in WWE, WCW, TNA, ROH, ECW, NWA, AWA, NJPW, AJPW, etc. So when people say that what is going on in TNA today is like what happened in WCW, I usually respond with, “What happened in WCW is what happened in Japan.” And then they get confused and I have to explain history and blah blah blah.
In reality, though, I feel like what is going on in TNA is much more like the original ECW. With Flair playing Tommy Rich’s part, Bischoff playing Heyman’s part, Hogan playing Funk’s part, Foley playing…well, Foley’s part. For me, there are more similarities there than with the old WCW.
Another great Chaotic Theory!
Joe,
Thank you for your comments and I always appreciate it when you stop by and read my column. TNA used to remind me of ECW, but when Hogan came, not so much. A lot of people want to get upset when people refer to TNA as a new WCW, but that’s what its become.It is no longer focused on the talent, but rather the overplayed storylines.
I know that every possible story line has been done in every possible way, but things can be updated to represent the current times.
Yeah the loss of the six-sided ring wasn’t the most epic event in wrestling history, but it was a key item that made them different, from other federations. I thought the whole point here is to stand out, present a unique product that can’t be imitated.
Again, thanks for the comments and I appreciate your point of view. I hope you keep reading Chaotic Theory columns and continue sharing your ideas and thoughts.
let’s put it this context…Hogan & Bischoff need to be SUPPORTING players,not the Leads on the show…