Tim's Take 11.11.08: The Main Event Mafia
Posted by Tim Livingston on 11.11.2008
A group that invokes the Millionaire's Club and the Magnificant Seven also invokes the thoughts of a dying breed. Will the MEM be a precursor to a death that would be too soon?
There is a certain expectation that comes from long time wrestling fans. It's the idea that if you do the same things over and over again, people become complacent towards it. Then, they get numb. Then, they become restless when it just doesn't stop.
TNA, here's looking at you, kid.
As a wrestling fan for 20 years, I sit and look at TNA not as an alternative like people claim them to be. Rather, I look at TNA as any old wrestling company. People forget that back in the 1980s, when territories were running wild before they all got bought up, multiple companies with top stars was not only expected, but necessary. The Texas territories had the Von Erichs and the Freebirds. Memphis had Jerry Lawler. Mid-South guys had Ted DiBiase, Steve Williams, Jim Duggan and many more. The majority of territories were under the National Wrestling Alliance banner, and some wrestlers made their rounds around the majority of those territories, but in the end, while there were national draws, it was the local draws that were the lifeblood of those companies.
Now, it's all about national draws. It's about people that can be seen all across the United States and bring people to the arenas and stadiums. Sure, you have your hometown draws, like Rey Mysterio in San Diego, for instance, but the majority of draws are those who can sell out any night of the week, anywhere in the country.
TNA is full of wrestlers who think they could do that, but really can't.
The roster is, as been mentioned time and time before, the grounds for older wrestlers to keep holding on to what they earned in the past. The problem is that while WWE has been opportunistic with their draws, going with the ebb and flow with their crowd reactions, it's TNA's thought process that they will stick to their guns with the veterans that got them there at the expense of their younger wrestlers, regardless of their experience of getting over.
Wrong thing to do.
If the death of WCW told us anything, it's that if you push who you think needs to get pushed as opposed to those who should get pushed, you miss out on the most important thing: connecting with your audience. It's now how you do it or why you do it, it's that you do it.
I look at the Main Event Mafia as one of two things: the beginning of the end of TNA or the beginning of the end of what TNA has become. For more than six years, TNA has been Jeff Jarrett's pet, catering to established wrestlers while having some of the better wrestlers in the world right under their noses, and not seeing what they could become.
So what happens is that Jarrett gets desperate, and he goes out and brings people in who he thinks will help, when in the mean time, the people who end up there are only doing it as a means to an end. It's a self-fulfilling prophecy, this idea that putting a bunch of former stars together will only help things.
In reality, not one of the wrestlers in TNA is a star on the level of someone like anyone that WWE has at the top of their card. There are no Triple H's (like him or hate him) or Shawn Michaels' or Undertakers lying around. What they have is a group of people together that are basically trying to prove their greatness, this somewhat legendary status.
Main Event Mafia, indeed.
When WCW did the Millionaire's Club against The New Blood, there was this sense that it would hold down the young guys. That in the long run, all it would do would keep the young guys at the level of the veterans for a little bit, only to fall in the end because of how much the veterans value their spot.
The problem was that WCW was nearing its end, and that it didn't matter that the old guys and new guys were feuding. WCW was looking for an entirely new look in the first place. They got to that spot because they weren't smart enough to put the young guys over enough to warrant their spot over a long period of time. The New World Order angle had drained them of new, younger talent to put over, and thanks to the politicking of many wrestlers, it allowed them to hold true to their spots, never wanting to put over anyone.
From there, it was as simple as the young guys threatening to pull the carpet out from under the veterans all together. WCW crumbled, and their vain attempt to build up the young guys was at least three years too late. They never went in the direction that they should have.
The MEM is off to an auspicious start. They went over the way a heel stable should get over, taking the short road to benefit in the long run, but TNA has no idea about the long run. Guys like Vince Russo have never decided to look further down the line to see how their current decisions would impact the future.
Now, Christian Cage, a can't-miss prospect, a hard worker who could talk your ear off and was plenty over, is heading back to WWE for the same reason he left it to come to TNA in the first place: less than desirable booking.
For TNA, this should not be looked at as a blip on the radar. Gail Kim, who was the focal point of the Knockouts division that actually brought in viewers to the show, is already waiting for her debut on WWE TV, and there's only so much TNA can do that doesn't undermine their young talent. For someone like Cage, who had established himself already and was a big coup for TNA, to go back to WWE after only a couple of years, it screams out to the rest of the roster that perhaps their best interests aren't being kept.
Remember that when this all started in WCW, it's that Vince Russo shot on live pay-per-view that they were going to head in a new direction...only to see the company fold a year later. The old guys have to remember that while it's all good that they're still at the top of the card, they have to make sure that the new guys get over and that they do it because of the work the veterans put in, not in spite of that work.
Otherwise, you might see a similar road being paved to the end of TNA, just like WCW did when they couldn't find the mark. Kurt Angle realizes it, and he's been vocal about it, but it's one thing to be vocal, and another thing entirely to go out and do it.
The Main Event Mafia, Jeff Jarrett and Vince Russo just have to do it.
Hey Man, While I agree with the WCW similarities, TNA has so much more going for it. They have some of the best pure wrestlers on the planet like Joe, Angle, Styles, LAX, MCMG, etc. I have to imagine as a wrestling fan and a historian that TNA has learned the lessons of the past and will have the Young Generation come out on top here. Looking at this as an angle purely it is great with the heels going over first as it should be. Also, all reports are Gail left TNA on friendly terms for more money, not booking reasons. That is why I heard Christian was leaving as well. Good article overall though, I hope you are wrong as I am really getting into TNA now.
Posted By: Dan Torkel (Registered) on November 11, 2008 at 03:33 PM
Thank you for writing the truth.
Posted By: seandroid (Guest) on November 11, 2008 at 03:39 PM
MEM is just a reheated NWO leftovers.
Posted By: FUZEY (Guest) on November 11, 2008 at 03:48 PM
I think Vince Russo is unfairly bagged on. He is a true creative genius
Posted By: WWE Fn Scks (Guest) on November 11, 2008 at 04:08 PM
"So what happens is that Jarrett gets desperate, and he goes out and brings people in who he thinks will help..."
Wait, wasn't JJ against TNA singing Sting, or at least TNA resigning Sting the last time his contract was up?
Posted By: Guest#3697 (Guest) on November 11, 2008 at 04:19 PM
I disagree with some of the content of this article.
First Gail Kim and possibly Christian Cage leaving has more to do with the big money WWE can offer than how they were booked in TNA.
Second TNA has attempted to further establish their younger wrestlers.
This past Summer AJ Styles won most of his matches with Kurt Angle on pay per view and TV.
And Samoa Joe is just coming off of a 6 month World Title reign.
TNA is making the moves in the right direction, people just need to be patient and give things a chance to play out.
Posted By: Mike (Guest) on November 11, 2008 at 04:19 PM
Interesting take... I don't agree, and I will tell you why: TNA is not booking this angle out of desperation, but rather out of a desire to get the younger "future stars" on the level of your Angles, and Bookers, and Stings, before it is to late to do so.
The way TNA was being booked, you had the occasional member of MEM working with the younger guys, but as a whole, most of the young guys were working with other young guys with the same, or even less experience... Which in turn meant that Angle, Booker, Sting Cage, and Nash would be mostly working with each other because they are at the top of the card.
By going the route of this story, you are essentially making sure that the young guys can get the experience of working with the vets, and whether you like them or not, there is no denying that there is something to be learned from each and every member of the mafia.
The younger guys of TNA are all tremendous talents, no doubt, but getting them involved in a big company engulfing angle, you give them the opportunity to find whatever missing ingredient they need to, and working with veterans the caliber of the MEM, you are perhaps pushing the youngsters to 'up their game' just so they don't feel as if they are not pulling their weight in the angle.
Now all that being said, TNA needs to be extremely careful of where they go with this story, as they could just as easily book themselves into a corner as they could book themselves into a viable #2 promotion.
Posted By: Toddo (Guest) on November 11, 2008 at 04:22 PM
Well, this article is filled to the rim with nothing but rumors and half-assed truths/assumptions. And you know what they say about people who assume, eh?
Cage hasn't even left TNA yet and everyone knows that Gail Kim left for a bigger payday.
And as far as your under rating of the MEM, saying they don't have any "Legends"... ha, I dare you to try and explain why you think Angle or Sting don't qualify as legends. Or hell, Scott Steiner for that matter. Anyone remember the Steiner Brothers?
Guess not...
Posted By: Umm... (Guest) on November 11, 2008 at 04:26 PM
Interesting take... I don't agree, and I will tell you why: TNA is not booking this angle out of desperation, but rather out of a desire to get the younger "future stars" on the level of your Angles, and Bookers, and Stings, before it is to late to do so.
The way TNA was being booked, you had the occasional member of MEM working with the younger guys, but as a whole, most of the young guys were working with other young guys with the same, or even less experience... Which in turn meant that Angle, Booker, Sting Cage, and Nash would be mostly working with each other because they are at the top of the card.
By going the route of this story, you are essentially making sure that the young guys can get the experience of working with the vets, and whether you like them or not, there is no denying that there is something to be learned from each and every member of the mafia.
The younger guys of TNA are all tremendous talents, no doubt, but getting them involved in a big company engulfing angle, you give them the opportunity to find whatever missing ingredient they need to, and working with veterans the caliber of the MEM, you are perhaps pushing the youngsters to 'up their game' just so they don't feel as if they are not pulling their weight in the angle.
Now all that being said, TNA needs to be extremely careful of where they go with this story, as they could just as easily book themselves into a corner as they could book themselves into a viable #2 promotion.
Posted By: Toddo (Guest) on November 11, 2008 at 04:22 PM
Very well said.
Posted By: Huzzah! (Guest) on November 11, 2008 at 04:42 PM
don't listen to tim's nonsense.he is just another brainwashed wwe lover.this is where i hope tna goes with this red hot angle.tna originals:joe,aj, daniels,kaz,petey,abyss,lethel,and low ki.mem:sting,angle booker,nash,stiener,bubba,devon,morgan,london.joe wins the title back from sting at lockdown.angle turns on sting,then beating joe at king of mountain.then aj wins title from joe and angle at bfg.mcmg wins tag titles from 3d.london has great matches in x division vs lethel and company.
Posted By: dam (Guest) on November 11, 2008 at 05:25 PM
This article is a joke.
Posted By: Guest#6389 (Guest) on November 11, 2008 at 05:55 PM
Wait, wasn't JJ against TNA singing Sting, or at least TNA resigning Sting the last time his contract was up
if this were so realestate steve would still be sitting at home he owns the fucking company
Posted By: slapnuts (Guest) on November 11, 2008 at 08:24 PM
Let the cool aid drinkers think what they want but this article hits the nail on the head.
Posted By: Tugman (Guest) on November 11, 2008 at 08:44 PM
"Now, Christian Cage, a can't-miss prospect, a hard worker who could talk your ear off and was plenty over, is heading back to WWE for the same reason he left it to come to TNA in the first place: less than desirable booking."
"Less than desirable booking"? Except for that aborted attempt at tagging with Rhino, it seems to me he's been pretty big in the main event scene (and just below it - face it, can't keep everyone at the top 100% of the time: people have to take turns) for most of his TNA time and was due to be absolutely central to the current big storyline. Add in a pair of championship runs, avoiding most of the more gimmicky matches, and seeming to never being booked to look weak in defeat, I'd say he's been booked pretty damn well.
And, as for the constant whining I seem to hear in comments (including those for this article) about how Young vs Old angle's already been done, well, wrestling's always been that way, as those of us with memories going back before Rock & Wrestling/Hulkamania: gimmicks and angles have always been recycled and always will be...
Posted By: The Ogre (Guest) on November 11, 2008 at 09:05 PM
Although TNA fans hate to admit it...Christian going to the WWE is a great career move. He comes in with a refreshed character (hasn't been seen in wwe in a few years), he has an instant feud with Edge (the top heel on smackdown), he'll make more money, and he'll be seen by a larger audience. If the rumors are true...Christian has made a smart move to leave TNA.
At the present moment...holing a top spot in TNA doesn't mean much...
Posted By: Kevin (Guest) on November 11, 2008 at 10:22 PM
I appreciate the read but I TOTALLY DISAGREE with you here. TNA's episodes has been doing GREAT with the MEM and you can't compare this with WCW because the booking for this has been better and you can obviously see that the young guys are gonna go over here. You brought up the roster but the roster has more younger guys than legends also. You say that they don't have stars like triple h, hbk, ut. I say that angle and sting is just as big as anyone of those stars plus if you're going to compare that then how about compare the overall wrestling skills overall from tna's roster to wwe's roster, can't speak for anyone else but that's what matters more for me. I'm just saying this, tna has been more intriguing as of late and everyone's just waiting on something new and intriguing to happen in wwe. Hopefully when christian and edge return it'll spark something up.
Posted By: cj (Guest) on November 11, 2008 at 10:48 PM
Everybody loving that TNA kool aid I see? Everything is going according to plan now..............
Posted By: Double J (Guest) on November 12, 2008 at 02:11 AM
Let the cool aid drinkers think what they want but this article hits the nail on the head.
Posted By: Tugman (Guest) on November 11, 2008 at 08:44 PM
You'd know all about drinking cool aid wouldn't you? You've been drinking Vince's for years.
Posted By: Guest#1841 (Guest) on November 12, 2008 at 02:31 AM
Why is it that you wrestling geeks online hate TNA so much? Seriously. Go ahead and watch WWE then. Watch how a midget is their Cruiserweight Champion. Watch HHH win the title for the 40th time. Watch The Undertaker act like he is an MMA superstar. Watch Shawn Michaels reform DX for the next 2 decades.
Articles like this is the reason why I stay away from wrestling websites. About a month ago, I decided to read some opinions online and now I remember what drove me away in the first place.
Posted By: Mike Dino (Guest) on November 12, 2008 at 04:55 AM
Why is it that you wrestling geeks online hate TNA so much? Seriously. Go ahead and watch WWE then. Watch how a midget is their Cruiserweight Champion. Watch HHH win the title for the 40th time. Watch The Undertaker act like he is an MMA superstar. Watch Shawn Michaels reform DX for the next 2 decades.
---------------------------------------
Okay i can get the Hornswaggle Hate, I can get the Anti DX, I can get HHH hate.
but being against the Undertaker's use of submission moves is just plain looking for a fight. I thought you anti WWE indy marks liked when wrestlers tried to mix it up and do cool new moves. that Gogoplata looks aweomely painful.
Posted By: Takerfan (Guest) on November 12, 2008 at 08:48 AM
I like grape Koolaid the very best of them all. If I can be serious for a minute, most of the guys in the MEM have done a fairly decent job of putting over the TNA talent. Their main problem has just been the shitty booking and pointless 10,000 interview segments a show.
Posted By: Jake Fury (Guest) on November 12, 2008 at 10:12 AM
Tim, I see where you're coming from, but you are selling guys like Scott Steiner and Sting short when you say they can't be compared to legends like HBK and HHH, or even UT. Just because Sting wasn't hyped to the moon each and every week like those other guys doesn't diminish his status in the wrestling world.
That said, I don't believe this will end up the same way the Millionaire's Club angle ended in WCW. I think the whole purpose of the MEM is so that the young guys can be built up to defeat them so their stock can be raised.
As much as I love TNA, I do recognize that the WWE is the top wrestling promotion in the world, and since Gail Kim/Christian have accomplished all they can in TNA, why not go back and see if they can do the same thing in the WWE?
I'm taking the wait and see approach to what could be a new era in TNA. Regardless, I'm excited that they may finally get it right and keep it that way.
Posted By: Ryder (Guest) on November 12, 2008 at 12:01 PM
@Guys like Vince Russo have never decided to look further down the line to see how their current decisions would impact the future
!Really and you know this how ?
Tim Livingston your article is that of a wrestling mark and fanboy caught up in the fakeness of camera and behind the curtain rumors !
This is no where a true take on the MEM or TNA's direction - you shoudl never be allowed to write a wrestling article again cause you can't be bias when you a smark and have the mentailty of a 12 yr old !
MEM is a rehashed nWo or a Millionaires Club ! They are Veterans/LEGENDS that not only wrestled everywhere in the biz but made the biz and are all X Champions of those said Wrestling company's !
Their theme isn't to destroy the company( like the nWo ) or keep a Top tier status (like the Millionaires Club) they formed out of the disrespect the younger generation was giving them and craping on the "LEGENDS that paved the business for them !
You such a mark it's a story you idiot not real! TNA knows what it's doing ! Come the next PPV when the TNA Originals when over the MEM and than have a big blow up for a best 2 out of 3 following the next few PPV's this will elevate the TNA originals than much more !
Angle and has done a clean job to JO already and Black Machessmo and to AJ Styles!
Steiner did a clean job to Joe on 2 occasions on ppv !
Sting has lost to Abyss !
And Christin has been catered too since he arrived to the TNA so for him to leave now when the spotlight is no longer "FULLY" on him is just him being a spoiled whiner ! So who needs his ass if he wants to run back to WWE!
Gail was nothing until TNA got a hold of her! For 2 yrs all she was was jarrets valet ! and ran with AMW doing run ins !!
marks like you scream for real talent and or when stars leave WWE (under whatever the situation may be) you all want them to head to TNA !
Do you honestly think they are going to destroy their fans and legacey by being jobbed to TNA originals without being established their or have some footing in having a few good grudge matches ?
of course not ! It would be career suicide - for a booker T or Angle to lose right off the bat to an Aj styles or Samoa Joe if there is no formal stoylines and or battles !
i'm sick of marks who don't see the picture ! You are like the morons who said TNA wouldn't last 6 months ( scratch that you weren't even watching TNA back than ! )
go flick the channel on WWE and tell me what they have done to elevate the business since it's bee going down hill in the last 6 yrs in wake of MMA popularity in the household ?
Diddly squat ! Cause John Cena runs and now back to Triple H Show is not cutting it ! How come there was no back lash on WWE when they are gunning for TNA talent and now again ?
Hippocrates !
Posted By: The real Scoop ! (Guest) on November 12, 2008 at 12:10 PM
I believe you havent been watching tna lately because whatever you have said is totally crap. First of all although Mem dominated the recent ppv, most of the wins were due to outside interference and the youngsters really look great. And unlike the hogans, angle and crew are actually making an effort to put the youngsters over, they are not berrying the young talent except maybe steiner's promo last week. This is really entertaining for me after the hbk vs y2j feud admit it Raw is booring and impact really looks good and after a very looking I am looking forward for this angle, am waiting for Impact and it twist. Christian was almost always booked well way better than what e would have done anywas and even if he left e after the initial buzz he would be nowhere just like how jericho was after the feud with Orton, he was stuck before getting into that awesome angle with Hbk. Whats wrong with you guys is you thinks it cool to bash tna and just go on where as you make no sense what so ever, I am not a tna mark or so , I know they are not perfect but admit it they are runing great with this angle atleast
Posted By: Nash_t (Guest) on November 12, 2008 at 12:22 PM
Tna Tna Tna Tna Tna Tna Tna Tna Tna Tna
Posted By: Ahm (Guest) on November 12, 2008 at 12:36 PM
While I have been actually watching TNA more lately and not just fast forwarding my DVR, is has not been enought for the ratings. I look forward to seeing what they will do with Christian when/if he returns to WWE. TNA you got used to make Christian more valuable.
Posted By: T-Mac (Guest) on November 12, 2008 at 03:03 PM
Screw TNA and screw all you WWE haters. In ten years, mark my words, Angle, Nash, Sting, Booker and everyone else in TNA just like WCW will be employed by who else then Vince McMahon!
Posted By: Batman 23 (Guest) on November 12, 2008 at 04:02 PM
WCW never pushed their own young guys even if they had to.
I remember when the Radicalz jumped ship and WCW responded with putting the title on Nash the Sid then Nash,etc..
TNA pushed AJ as a top guy like since week 3.
Abyss has always being a key player and joe was seen as threat after a year in the company.
Roode,Storm,Kaz have all been near the mainevent or involved in some.
They also pushed Monte and Harris before they grew vaginas and had Wrestlemania wet dreams.
Please WCW was the real Main Event Mafia.
TNA pushes new guys slowly and they try to use most people in an effective way.
Young guys that dont get strong have poor personality (devine) dont connect with the casual audience(Daniels)or backstage attitudes(shelly).
Sting,Foley,Angle,Cage,Booker,Nash and Steiner,Team 3D,Rhino,etc..all these guys are used to keep casual fans watching without them TNA wouldnt even be on SPIKE TV.
Casual fans could give a fuck about the Motory City Machine Gunns.
Even if ratings and buyrates jump theyll sting have to bring in stars because in wrestling...you can never have enough.
Posted By: MacDollarz. (Guest) on November 12, 2008 at 09:08 PM
If what this guy says is true than I'll be waiting for Christian's "totally awesomeness" comeback and see him either joining or fighting with Edge. (who looks like grizzly adams now if you ask me...) And another thing, when TNA spins gold, look at what WWE does: Both Edge and Cena have the belts. Hmmm.....didn't see that one coming....
Posted By: Will (Guest) on November 28, 2008 at 02:02 AM
While you're thoughts are well managed and fairly insightful. I disagree totally with the comparisons you draw with WCW. WCW was a great company, but to draw a parallel between them and TNA is a gross misjudgment by you.
TNA has a similar roster talent i agree with many wrestlers from ECW, WCW and WWE joining their ranks. But to say the MEM could lead to a downward spiral for the company is a bit much. And drawing comparisons with that rubbish gimmick New Blood and Millionaires Club is even worse.
The MEM has the potential to help TNA truly turn the corner to be known as a reputable world wide brand like WWE. But they have to smart in how they develop their story lines and who they pick as arch rivals of MEM. Yep. Joe and AJ should definately get a push, but it is a shame that Christian isd leaving, he has put in so much for the company, and then they just cut him loose like that? Bad call, i think. If anything Christian's wrestling ability and mic skills have just improved tremendously since his stint in TNA. He will be missed from the TNA roster, because lets face it, they have talent better then WWE i think, but they need to be wise as far as who else to push. Matt Morgan i think i one such diamond in the rough and i think that it is high time that he gets the go ahead so he may also become a household name. Abyss, is also one of those too, he's got the potential to be one of the best big men the sport has ever seen. Lets hope Russo, and Jarrett show some long term brains and push the young gund like those mentioned.
Posted By: Alex (Guest) on December 01, 2008 at 04:31 AM
