Before I get started, let me remind my readers of a few things. First, I (like the rest of the internet wrestling community) am a mark for professional wrestling – specifically, TNA Wrestling. I bring this up because I want you to understand the point of view from which I write this column. I love watching TNA Wrestling. Second, I’m one of the rare folks who owns and operates a professional wrestling website who actually is a highly paid professional in his “real world” job. In addition to that, I teach at two different universities and am bombarded with poorly written bullshit from my students which I am forced to grade. In other words, I can clearly see right through the uneducated crap that some of these dirt sheet writers put out there for the internet’s consumption.
And finally, I find TNA Wrestling extremely entertaining. I really do! So with that feel free to sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride.
Random Thoughts:
– TNA iMPACT! has become more and more entertaining each week and it is quickly becoming one of my favorite shows to watch each week (especially now that 24 and LOST are off the air). As a guy who reads the dirt sheets on the internet (more on that point below), I have to go against the grain of those idiot writers and offer a HUGE “thank you” to Eric Bischoff and Hulk Hogan for making iMPACT! one of the most entertaining shows out there and definitely the most entertaining professional wrestling show on television.
– I am absolutely amazed at how inaccurate the traditional dirt sheets are about the state of TNA Wrestling and what is going on “backstage.” For example, there was a rumor started by a major dirt sheet a few weeks ago that suggested a bunch of TNA employees were going to be let go due to budget cuts. This was completely false and was nothing more than a conjured up assumption created by one of the wrestling world’s biggest rumor mongers. In fact, I can tell you why this rumor monger created this particular rumor. First, he figured that since this time of the year is typically when WWE dumps a bunch of talent that you – the readers – would subconsciously agree with the notion that it would be normal for TNA to dump talent during this time of the year, too. Second, he figured that since it’s obvious that TNA is paying a lot of money for some of their new talent acquisitions (Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, RVD, Jeff Hardy, Mr. Anderson, etc.) that, again, you as the readers would subconsciously assume that the company was running out of money.
Talk about conjecture! What a moron! It’s blatantly clear to me – as a working professional who manages tens of millions of dollars on a daily basis – that this particular dirt sheet writer should be glad that he has his little newsletter because he would be destroyed out there in the real business world. If you take anything from this rant, please let it be that you’ll read true news for true news and someone’s opinion for what it is – someone’s opinion (like this column!).
– The same dirt sheet writer was stirring the pot with respect to Eric Bischoff possibly leaving TNA Wrestling. Get this straight, folks – Eric Bischoff is not leaving this organization today or tomorrow. As far as anyone can tell, he has the same year-long deal that Hulk Hogan has and that means that we as wrestling fans are fortunate enough to have his talents in TNA for at least the next 5 months. And thank goodness for that! Quite frankly, I don’t think that either of these men are leaving TNA even once their current contracts expire. I’d expect to see some type of 2 – 3 year extension offered to both of these guys.
– Didn’t Orlando Jordan have a deck of playing cards a few weeks ago that he spread over someone after he beat them? And didn’t he say that he was TNA’s “wild card” when he did that? So, then doesn’t it seem silly that there is a new storyline about people getting laid out in the backstage area with playing cards being left on them by their assailant? Isn’t it Orlando Jordan? In fact, can’t it only be Orlando Jordan if the writers want this to make any sense? Or is this another GTV type of episode coming our way?
– I’m sorry, but I can’t get over the fact that TNA tapes essentially all of their shows on that sound stage in Orlando, Florida. No matter how many great changes that Eric Bischoff and his team make (and yes, Mr. Bischoff, we notice the differences – no opening, much less Hogan, much less you, a few minutes of an overrun reflected in the actual time slot of the show – we see what’s going on), the show still looks like a second rate production. Fifteen years ago, that “look” worked for the original ECW because the show was hardcore and shown on the Madison Square Garden Network at 2 o’clock in the morning. Plus – it was fifteen years ago. TNA needs to tape at least one iMPACT! each month on the road. They need to put a few thousand people in an arena (no more than 3,000 or 4,000 is necessary) so they can generate some real fan reaction for their shows.
– As an aside to the previous point, with TNA gaining in popularity in the United Kingdom by leaps and bounds, why not schedule some tapings during the Maximum Impact tour set for next January? Hell, if you’re out there and you can get a few thousand TNA fans in one location since the product is hot overseas, then why not take the opportunity to take one show while you’re out there where you can actually have a true crowd reaction to each of the spots and the wrestlers? Imagine the pop that “The Freak” Rob Terry would get out there!
– I’m so done with the “we” gimmick that Matt Morgan is doing. He may as well start stuttering again like Vince had him doing up north. I want to see this guy (and my fellow Monmouth University alumnus) run roughshod on the TNA talent roster like he should have been doing for the last two years.
– There is potential in this TNA World Championship Ranking System, but when a guy like Sting is elevated to the #1 spot… Well, let’s just say that it makes the fans wonder why they waste their time voting for a Desmond Wolfe or a Jeff Hardy.
– Rob Van Dam’s entrance music kicks ass.
– Why is Ric Flair getting on AJ Styles‘ case? Please don’t let these two turn on each other already. It’s too early in their relationship for a feud and it’s not going to go over well at all. Why ruin the good thing that these two could develop over the next 2 – 3 years? The same thing with Chelsea falling for Abyss – we all see it coming and we don’t want to see it anymore. Put Chelsea back with Desmond Wolfe and let Flair be Styles’ mouthpiece like he was doing so well before they introduced Kazarian into this storyline. We don’t always need a swerve or a double cross!
There you have it – my random thoughts column. I’d be glad to take in some your random thoughts and possibly respond to them in a future missive on TNAStars.com. Feel free to use the link below to contact me via our web-based contact form or if you’d rather use my e-mail address, I’m sure you can figure out what it is from the text below. Enjoy!
– Joe
joe1897 [at] gmail [dot] com
If you’d like to contact Joe, please consider using our Feedback Form.
Visit the Major Impact Archive.
