The Timewarp 4.03.07: Post-Wrestlemania TNA X-Travaganza
Posted by Vinz Rothenburg on 04.03.2007
Come on inside for a look, you know you want to!
Hello, one and all, and welcome once again to the Timewarp! I would apologize for being so late this week, but seeing how I was ready work and my computer flat-out refused, that would be unfair. So, if you feel like yelling, yell at the computer, okay? I'll warn you in advance that yelling doesn't seem to have much of an effect on that electronic beast, though. I've certainly done my fair share of it over the last few days, but maybe you can do better…
On a totally unrelated but more interesting note, am I the only one who feels that WrestleMania fell strangely flat this year? Don't get me wrong, it was good show with a lot of star power and at least one MOTY candidate, but it seemed to be lacking that x-factor that usually makes WrestleMania the must-see show of the year. Apart from Vince McMahon getting his head shaved, the biggest moment of the night probably was the Undertaker's title victory. It was a nice moment, too. Lots of mark-out opportunities there. But that doesn't change the fact that it was nothing new. Overall, the whole event seemed surprisingly bland to me. It was a nice show, but it didn't scream:" WrestleMania". Then again, I bought into the hype big-time this year and was hugely pumped in advance, so maybe my high expectations just marred the experience for me.
Anyway, seeing how the WrestleMania buzz has led to an overwhelming amount of WWE-related news, columns and features here at 411mania, yours truly has decided to be provide a bit of counter culture and put the focus firmly on TNA. And when I say TNA, I mean all of TNA.
This time, I can't present you with a single moment to encapsulate my vision. The aforementioned avalanche of material focusing on the WWE product triggered it. The reason for this insane amount of coverage, of course, was WrestleMania. It's the same every year. No matter how badly we might have bashed the company over the course of the year, all woes are temporarily forgotten once the granddaddy of them all rolls around. No matter how much we may roll our eyes when the Katie Vicks of the world rear their ugly, rotting heads, WWE still manages to make us salivate at least once every year.
Now, imagine if TNA could entice the same amount of excitement. Hard to do, huh? I don't recall seeing hundreds of special features pop up around here when Bound For Glory approached. Nor do I recall anyone complaining about this. Or even noticing, for that matter. So, is this week's Timewarp going to be a "Pimp My PPV" column? No. That would be aiming to low.
TNA doesn't need to turn their biggest annual show into a carbon copy of the actual biggest show in professional wrestling. It would achieve nothing. What TNA needs to do is excite us in the same way WrestleMania does. I believe that TNA can do that, or at least come very close. In fact, I believe that TNA could realistically come close every single month of the year.
Time Freeze
I can practically see you staring blankly at the screen right now. TNA coming close to replicating the WrestleMania experience, on a monthly basis no less? Boy, I must be quite the TNA mark, huh? Well, yeah. Duh. That doesn't mean I'm stupid, though. I dislike the direction TNA is currently pursuing as much as the next guy, but I feel that the company is capable of infinitely more. They just have to play their cards right. They've done it before, they can do it again. Let's take a look…
Blast From The Past
In 2001, WWE bought out both World Championship Wrestling and Extreme Championship Wrestling within a few short weeks. This move would change not only the company but also the industry as a whole forever. For years, fans and performers alike had enjoyed the possibilities afforded by three competing companies with three distinctive concepts. Now, only one major platform remained. As a result, many performers found themselves on the unemployment line, while the WWE product began to flounder in the absence of strong competitors.
In May 2002, promoter Jerry Jarrett set out to establish a new alternative. Although Jarrett wound up selling his controlling interest to Panda Energy Intl. in October of the same year, he laid the groundwork for TNA, as we know it today. Allying himself with the National Wrestling Alliance to lend credibility to the company Jarrett started the ambitious project known as NWA: Total Non-Stop Action. To keep production costs low, the company refrained from touring, opting to tape their shows exclusively at the Nashville Fairgrounds arena in Tennessee, which would soon be re-dubbed the ‘TNA Asylum'. Since a television deal was not in the cards for the upstart promotion, TNA offered weekly 2-hour PPVs priced at $10, showcasing established names such as Jeff Jarrett, Scott Hall, or Ken Shamrock, as well as a number of talented youngsters. While this unique business model was ridiculed by many and certainly didn't make the TNA rich, it enabled the company to stay afloat while building a fan base. The addition of the syndicated TNA Xplosion program would provide another limited outlet for the company in November 2002.
TNA soon developed a reputation for offering the type of fast-paced high-risk action that was rarely seen on WWE programming, where performers were instructed to work a slower, more ground-based style. Spearheaded by performers like Jerry Lynn, AJ Styles, and Low Ki, TNA's X-Division routinely exploited this gap in the market and soon became a staple of the product. TNA even wound up introducing a six-sided ring just to afford the high-flying X-Division talent more leeway during their matches.
In May 2004, the company achieved a major breakthrough by landing a weekly television deal with the Fox Sports Network, finally putting TNA on unrestricted cable and satellite. Around that time, the company also moved into more accommodating facilities at the Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida. Television tapings from that point on were held at soundstage 21, re-branded the "TNA Impact! Zone".
On June 4, 2002, FSN aired the first edition of TNA Impact!. This format would eventually replace the promotion's weekly PPVs in September of the same year. Having built a fan base over the course of 27 months, TNA management felt that the time was right to transition into a more traditional business model. So, on November 7, 2004, TNA mounted its first monthly 3-hour PPV TNA Victory Road, which was a moderate success. Monthly PPV events have been held ever since.
Since then, TNA has undergone a number of changes. Impact! has moved to Spike TV, where increasing ratings have afforded the show a weekly primetime slot on Thursday nights, with a second hour per week seemingly just around the corner. Big names like Sting, Christian Cage and most recently Kurt Angle have joined the active roster, sending a sign to both fans and performers that TNA Wrestling can be taken seriously as an alternative to the WWE product.
The question is: How can TNA most effectively cast itself as a viable alternative?
Back To The Future
The 10-man main event that concludes the 2007 edition of TNA LockDown is indeed barbaric and sets the stage for months to come, although a few surprises await all involved along the way. Jeff Jarrett sets out to humble NWA Heavyweight Champion Christian Cage, while Kurt Angle and Samoa Joe are forced into an uneasy alliance by Scott Steiner and Tomko, who are determined to redeem themselves after tapping out to Angle and Joe, respectively, at the PPV. Elsewhere, Sting looks to teach the ultra-cocky AJ Styles a lesson about respect, while a freshly reformed Abyss has to concern himself with James Mitchell's new prodigy, ‘The Fallen Angel' Christopher Daniels.
Meanwhile, the X-Division experiences a long overdue rejuvenation. Following the controversial finish of LockDown's X-Cape match, the consensus is that Chris Sabin needs to be dethroned as X-Division Champion. Jim Cornette agrees, but shocks everyone by choosing none other than Lance Hoyt to pit against Sabin instead of relying on established X-Division talent. Tired of being cheated and short-changed, Sonjay Dutt, Petey Williams and Senshi once again put their eyes squarely on the prize and go for it. However, they have to contend with Hoyt, Serotonin's ultra-violent Kazarian, and the self-absorbed Austin Starr, whose LockDown victory over Senshi has only served to bloat his ego further. Jay Lethal, now completely and blissfully wrapped up in his new ‘Macho Man' persona, doesn't seem to care much about anything but his gimmick, which irritates his friend Sonjay to no end at times. The battle for supremacy is heated and doesn't fail to attract the attention of outsiders. When performers from Mexico, Japan and Europe come knocking to stake a claim of their own, competition becomes truly fierce.
Elsewhere, LAX continue to dominate the tag team division after defeating Team 3D in a brutal electrified cage match at LockDown. New competitors are determined to relieve them of the gold, though. The Basham Brothers, brought in and managed by Christy Hemme, are quickly rising through the ranks after all but squashing VKM at LockDown. Serotonin, represented in the tag team division by Martyr and Havoc, have set their sights on the titles, as well. However, the re-united Naturals have declared war on Raven's disciples, eager to avenge the humiliation they endured at the hands of the group.
As the year 2007 draws to a close, all divisions within TNA are at war. A backstage fight between Christian Cage and Jerry Lynn only serves to escalate the situation further, causing serious bad blood between the TNA's heavyweight grapplers and the X-Division... Whatever may become of that, 2008 looks to be a good year indeed…
The Future In Review
With some decent long-term planning, TNA could definitely be much more interesting than it is right now. I don't think anyone in their right mind would deny that. The problem right now is that all attention is being focused on Kurt Angle, Christian Cage and their buddies in the heavyweight division. Meanwhile, the high-flying youngsters that helped make the company and the once superb tag team division are playing second fiddle. Given the amount of talented performers who are just spinning their wheels while the main event feuds unfold, this is nothing short of idiotic.
TNA needs to give all three divisions a fair share of the spotlight. The number of TNA performers with obvious breakout-potential is staggering. TNA just needs to tap into it. If they ever do, I know I could easily be as excited for a TNA PPV as I am every year for WrestleMania.
What about you? Am I insane, or a genius? An insane genius, maybe? I'd like that… In any case, drop me a line and tell me what you think. Also, make sure to mention your personal unappreciated favorites, and I just might make them appreciated favorites right here on the Timewarp. I'm looking forward to hearing from you all!
