Thursday, April 22, 2010

Draft Guesses... and other news.

4/22 - WWE released a few wrestlers from their rosters. That includes Shelton Benjamin and Mickie James. Both are kind of shocking that they are no longer on the roster. I have always been a big fan of Shelton but due to his lack of good Mic skills, it was always a matter of time. He had some great matches, especially against Shawn Michaels and Triple H. Others released include Slam Master J (Jesse, of Jesse and Festus) and Kung Fu Naki (Funaki)

This monday the WWE will have its annual Draft. I have not read any spoilers who might go where. Here are some guesses from me though. I think John Morrison, Finlay, Shad, and Edge will wind up going to Monday Night Raw. Going to Smackdown I see Primo, MVP, Ted Diabese, and Randy Orton. I also think that since it was never made official... Batista will join Raw and Jack Swagger to Smackdown.

Congratulations to the new TNA Champion, Rob Van Dam.

Thursday, April 15, 2010

If I ran TNA....

It's a well known fact that I am not a huge fan of TNA. I'm not saying they dont have talent on their roster. But unfortunately those running TNA don't seem to know how to use them.

1) Stop pushing the "dinosaurs". I was a huge fan of Kevin Nash and Scott Hall in the early to mid 1990's. But it's 2010 now. Hall is out of shape. Nash looks more and more like the first persona he had in the 1990's The Wizard. When was the last time they gave TNA even a 4 star match? They are old and slow. It's one thing to use them in a mentor role or an occasional match. But they aren't the dominant wrestlers they used to be. And dont get me started on Sean Waltman.

1b) Don't hire guys on name value. This is not going to be an Anti-"Band" rant. They aren't the only ones. Hulk Hogan and Mick Foley are perfect examples as well. Using them as figure heads are one thing. But they have slowed down in the ring.

2) Stop using recycled storylines from other wrestling organizations. Hogan giving Abyss his WWE hall of fame. Sting in the rafters. If you want to be taken seriously, then be original. No more Shark Boy doing Stone Cold Steve Austin rip offs. Jay Lethal shouldn't be a rip off of Randy Savage. Jay Lethal is a great in ring wrestler. The match he had against Kurt Angle on Impact several years ago when he almost won the TNA title proved he doesn't need recycled gimmicks to be taken seriously. AJ Styles is not Ric Flair. Stop dressing him like that. Being managed by Ric Flair is one thing, but to try to make him into the next Nature Boy is insulting to the previous Nature Boy and to AJ Styles himself. Even the ramp leading right up to the ring is a rip off of WCW! And do I have to remind you WCW failed.

3) Divas vs knockouts. When TNA started their knockout division, they said they weren't divas. They wanted to be taken seriously. We aren't no barbie dolls, I believe was a slogan I heard. But the last 2 weeks, they have had striping and leather/lace matches. Since they went to monday nights, they have teased kisses with the Beautiful People. That goes against everything that was started with the Knockout division.

4) Consistancy. It seems certain wrestlers go from heel to face based on one story line to the next. Jesse Neal, perfect example. So far in the 9 months (if even that) he has been in TNA has gone face to heel back to face. The Dudley Boys seem to flip every other show as well. Give a reason to hate the heels for an extended period. They actually did it right with Beer Money. But let's see what happens when this story line ends

5) Stop using celebrities. You picked someone from Survivor that unless you watched the show, you have no idea who Jenna Melasca was. Not everyone knows who Bubba The Love Sponge is. You will not get ratings boosts from non famous celebrities.

6) Go back to the six sided ring. That was something that set you apart from the WWE. It allowed you to be different. And different isn't always bad.