Let me start off by saying that I’ve been a TNA fan since the company’s inception. Back when The Wrestling Channel was in commission on Sky, I watched it pretty much 24/7 and TNA was a regularly featured promotion. There is a particular period in the history of TNA that has a rosy tint in my eyes. When AJ Styles, Samoa Joe and Christopher Daniels were creating spectacular matches for the X-Division title, I couldn’t help but be in awe of the acrobatic, no limits style.
Of course, in order to grow as a company TNA couldn’t JUST be the company with the daredevil cruiserweights. They needed direction, storylines and some money-making stars. They roped in Hulk Hogan (arguably the biggest wrestler of all time), Eric Bischoff, Jeff Hardy, Rob Van Dam, Mr Anderson, Team 3D, Ric Flair, Mick Foley and Kurt Angle. All of the aforementioned are established stars, yet, ratings never fluctuated for anything more than a week or so. Maybe it’s because fans are tired of seeing the old faces prevent the ‘TNA Originals’ from grasping the spotlight or perhaps its the way the booking works in TNA. The lack of consistency in the booking of TNA is astounding. Angles will start and be forgotten about, heel/face turns will happen every week and characters have no time to establish themselves as a result of disappearing from Television for weeks. It was for all these reasons in addition to the Jeff Hardy/Matt Hardy debacle last year that I stopped being a TNA fan and joined the majority of the wrestling community in bashing TNA left right and centre.
However, after a period of around 6 months I sat down and decided to watch Impact. I was happy with almost everything I saw. The ‘TNA originals’ were getting the majority of the limelight and there was a renewed focus on the X-Division. Sure, there were a few minor decisions here and there (Hi Garrett Bischoff) that made me want to scratch my eyes out, but overall ‘Impact Wrestling’ is a much improved product on last year and I’m now a weekly viewer once again. If you’ve fallen out with the TNA brand or if you’ve never watched the show because of misguided opinion, here are five reasons you should give TNA a chance.
James Storm
Formerly one half of one of the best tag teams in recent memory, James Storm is now enjoying a singles run as one of the top faces on the roster. Storm’s laid back, southern, beer drinking attitude is as cool as you like. He’s no slouch in the ring either and has proved that he can have entertaining matches with just about anybody. Honestly, I think people have the tendency to underrate Storm when compared to his former tag team partner. I believe Storm could become a huge star for TNA if his character is tweaked slightly, as he’s a bit of a stereotype at the minute. He’s already been given some mainstream exposure through his interactions with New York Giant running back Brandon Jacobs in recent weeks and his (awesome, might I add) theme song is getting its own music video. As Storm is a ‘TNA original’ I couldn’t be happier that he’s at the top of the card. He’s most certainly one of the most entertaining aspects of Impact.
Bobby Roode
The ‘Money’ to James Storm’s ‘Beer.’ Bobby Roode has worked out tremendously as a heel champion. After Hulk Hogan dismissed Roode, publicly might I add, as ‘not ready,’ Roode has certainly proved him wrong. Everything about his current persona from his pompous entrance music to his ‘leader of the selfish generation’ tagline is working wonders in establishing him as a main event heel. Roode has been World Heavyweight champion for four months now and in that time has used heel tactics to overcome the biggest stars in TNA including AJ Styles, Jeff Hardy and James Storm. As Roode’s stock continues to rise, his upcoming match at Victory Road against Sting will be a good indication of how far the company wants to take a heel Bobby Roode.
Bully Ray
Yep. If you haven’t been watching Impact lately then you’re truly missing out. The former Bubba Ray Dudley is making waves as a top heel in TNA right now. Bully Ray is a great heel in such an obvious and simple way… being a bully. In matches he shouts and yells at the referee. In backstage interviews he demeans and embarrasses Christy Hemme or Jeremy Borash. During the ‘big match’ in-ring introductions that TNA utilise for their main events, Bully Ray takes the mic from Jeremy Borash and announces his own name. Rather than giving the mic back to JB he throws it on the floor, forcing Borash to bend down and pick it up. He’s also rather fond of his calves. It’s the little nuances that make Bully so hateable and unlike any other heel in mainstream wrestling at the minute. As Sting says ‘no one does Bully, like Bully.’
Austin Aries
Austin Aries was one of my favourite guys in Ring of Honor and the Indies and he fits the bill as a perfect X-Division champion. His in-ring style is mesmerising to watch as he mixes both the spot-fest X-Division style with some great technical work. Infact, his movement in the ring is so crisp and so clean that he makes every move look like art. The ‘greatest man alive’ has charisma oozing from his pores and it certainly comes across in his promo work. A Double is just plain fun to watch and I expect he’ll be involved in the main event as some point in 2012.
Eric Young and ODB
Yeah, I said it. Wanna fight about it? TNA’s ‘odd couple’ are more geared towards the ‘sports entertainment’ aspect of your average weekly episode of Impact but they’re damn good at it. Eric Young, the sweet natured, whacked out goofball who doesn’t know where he is half of the time coupled with the trailer trash, titty slapping, and canteen sipping ODB. Cue cheesy hilarity. Honestly, the two really had nothing better to do and they’ve made something out of nothing. The pairing just click and have that entertaining and endearing chemistry that is fun to watch. From the initial ‘wildcard tournament’ combination, to the awkward realisation of love and now the marriage proposal. Everything about it screams 90’s. I don’t know if that’s what makes it fun or not but the Impact zone crowd was really into the proposal angle on this week’s show. When it works, it works.
So there we have it, five good reasons why you should give Impact a chance. Honourable mentions go to Magnus/Samoa Joe, Jeff Hardy who has managed to turn his life around and as usual AJ Styles and Christopher Daniels. Honestly, TNA has improved so much over the past few months despite what the online bashing would have you believe. The fact that Vince Russo has left the creative team means things can only get better.
Just FYI, this week’s episode of Impact was not as good as it has been recently, that’s not to discourage you from tuning in… just don’t expect the work of the gods this week. I hope this piece has encouraged you tune in or at the very least check out some of the promo’s and matches from the past few months and tune in next week.
Remember Impact is on Challenge tonight at 9pm. Freeview channel 46.
Thanks for reading.
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