Source: Jason Powell at ProWrestling.NET
A variety of internet wrestling sites are copying and pasting a report that originated with Jason Powell at ProWrestling.NET which suggests Paul Heyman is absolutely done with any current or future negotiations with TNA Wrestling. Part of this copied and pasted report indicates that Heyman wanted to make about $1 million in talent roster cuts and, instead, spend about $200,000 to bring in new talent from the independent scene. We have no way of verifying this information so take it for what you will.
Also, the interwebs are copying and pasting that Heyman wanted to bring in former WWE Smackdown! booker Dave Lagana to write the shows. In addition, he wanted to bring in Dragon Gate USA booker Gabe Sapolsky to serve on the creative team. While I’m not familiar with Sapolsky’s work, I was so-so on Lagana’s work with WWE.
Again, none of this information is easily verifiable and TNAStars.com cautions you to be wary of believing websites that are simply copying and pasting this story.
Gabe Sapolsky has booked/written some very interesting and innovative angles for Ring of Honor and DragonGate USA.
That being said, I haven’t necessarily seen anything out of him to suggest he could write something that could garner mainstream acceptance, that’s not to say he couldn’t.
People often say they want new and innovative, but in reality if something hasn’t been done before there is a great chance it will fail. From a business perspective I’m not sure it would be in TNA’s advantage to change styles completely. If that is what these sources are suggesting Heyman was considering with the inclusion of Sapolsky.
Sapolsky has a huge internet following but if his booking equaled greater audiences and DVD sales I am sure Ring of Honor would not have dismissed him.
This is not a bash at Sapolsky there is definitely an audience for his work, and I’m not saying that viewers=quality either. I’ve seen some crap by WCW and WWE draw big numbers. But as a business you are more considered with the bottom line numbers than critical acclaim.
I think you’re right, William. I still think that TNA is, more or less, on the right track with their current team.
Personally I think a few big (and supposedly expensive) names can be cut. However I love that the older guys are working with the younger talents. Ric Flair is over a group of probably the most talented wrestlers on TV today. I was disappointed in roster cuts a while back with names like ODB, Roxxi, and Kong getting the boot. And I was hoping Kiyoshi would have been used more.
It does seem like lately TNA has been snatching up more former WWE talent while WWE has been signing indy/ROH guys. But TNA is using the names they’ve signed, for the most part, effectivly. Where as in WWE I see the same regulars like Cena, Edge, Big Show, Kane, ect playing the same characters they have for years with no innovation, and tons of no-names that we’re told are suppose to be important from day one of their debut. I love how TNA has built up Pope to be important, built up Anderson, built up the MCMG, their now building Generation Me, The Shore is getting mic time and publicity for the interation with J-Woww. I see WWE and see young guys like Rhodes & McIntyre as tag champs, getting a push…only to be squashed in another Cena win and lose their titles. Who needed tag gold more? It’s a prime example of why I WATCH TNA but glance at WWE.
Flair is quite possibly the hardest working and best veteran on the roster. He has worked really hard to get Fourtune over and his opponents and I think he has succeeded. Hogan, Nash, Sting and the others should take note. I’m not saying they haven’t tried to get the talent over I’m just saying that Flair has been the most successful. Of course Flair has made a career out of getting people over without worrying that he looked weak.