Keller column on TNA

[JoeDirt 0]

This show convinced me that 90 percent of what TNA does well has been done by sheer accident. I cannot fathom (and if there were stronger words I could come up with, I'd use them) how they looked at the booking of this show on paper and thought it was acceptable. Three major problems come to mind (along with a dozen smaller things).

 

-Finishing both main events with inconclusive finishes is absolutely inexcusable. Wrestling bookers often forget that while their main goal is to keep storylines flowing and give them something to work with on future programs, their first goal should be to satisfy fans this time - and fans are looking for a satisfying conclusion for their ten bucks. TNA's booking of two non-finishes is like a fine restaurant serving half of the meal ordered, and then letting their diners know that while they don't get the rest of what they paid for, here's an advanced copy of tomorrow's specials and a discount coupon for their next visit.

 

-The main event ending with the focus on Vince Russo instead of Ron Killings. Could less have been done to establish any semblance of a bond between the fans and Killings. Their top babyface challenger on their second anniversary show gets what? A promo to talk about his path to this title shot? A music video showing off why he is in a top position in the company and a major reason you should order TNA events? Nope. But there was time for a D-Lo Brown promo which shifted focus away from Killings and toward him regarding the World Title picture. There was time for three music videos that made no sense. And, worst of all, there was time once again for all of the World Title focus to be on Jeff Jarrett and Vince Russo. I'll chip in for a personal trainer and some steroids for Russo if it'll get him in the ring so he and Jarrett can wrestle twenty straight weeks against each other until TNA has no customers left just so I don't have to see, once again, Russo steal the thunder of the babyface wrestler. Why does TNA management think continually pushing Russo, who shows nothing as a character to justify his push nor does he have any star power to make up for that, over actual babyface wrestlers is justifiable?

 

-Having Scott D'Amore last 15 minutes with Jerry Lynn. D'Amore may be an underappreciated world class worker who was held back from a national contract because he didn't have "the look" that Vince McMahon forces down fans' throats. Okay, that may be. But a TNA PPV isn't the place for D'Amore to try to show the world how good of a worker he is if the match was set up as a chance for the babyface wrestler to kick the BUTT of the overweight, out of shape, loudmouth manager. Instead, without any over-the-top cheating or interference to explain Lynn's haplessness, we got D'Amore looking like he should be right next to Lynn in the top five rankings for X Title matches. D'Amore doesn't look the part. He doesn't act the part (he even played his physique for laughs before the bell rang). He is supposed to be a chickensh-- heel, so who conceived the notion that it was the least bit appropriate for him to last more than two minutes against Lynn in a fair-and-square match? At least they should have had Team Canada obliterate Lynn before the match backstage, but have Lynn vow that wouldn't stop him and despite his dislocated shoulder, concussion, broken fibula, and wide gaping hole straight through his abdomen, he was still willing to wrestle D'Amore because he wanted to kick his ass so badly. And then he still should have won quicker than he did in reality.

 

Jeff Hardy was a nice surprise, but if he wasn't willing to do a job for Styles, or TNA management was too star-struck to ask him to, they shouldn't have bothered. Hardy, as the announcers pointed out, hadn't been wrestling recently. They talked about his ring-rust. He wasn't a World Title level wrestler in WWE. Styles is pushed as a World Title/X Title caliber wrestler in TNA. Styles should have been able to beat him clean in ten minutes Then Hardy should have grabbed the mic, said it was an honor to wrestle someone of Style's reputation and stature, and said he hopes to have a rematch some day when he has a few weeks to get himself into prime ring shape. There would be no shame for Hardy in that situation, and it would put Styles over as having a reputation for being a true world class wrestler. Instead, we got an even-steven match-up between Styles in his prime and Hardy straight out of mini-retirement with a run-in finish.

 

This show was the biggest abomination in TNA of the year, and perhaps one of the worst four shows they've ever produced. Every match was under two stars except for the main event, which was just two stars. With all the talent in this promotion, that's what they come up with for their Second Anniversary Show. At least the went for symbolism.

 

I've never had less faith in the brain trust of this promotion than I do now after what I saw last night. This tape should be saved for any college classes on Pro Wrestling Booking as a series of perfect examples of what not to do if you wish to stay in business.

[JoeDirt 0]

This was from PWtorch.com if you didn't already know that from the title.

[The Ghost of bps21 0]

Valid points all around...

 

Although...I didn't hate that D'Amore and Lynn went that long.

[Guest JacK]

He has a point about Hardy . . . and pretty much everything else . But it's not Russo's fault, I didn't think he had much control over storyline direction. They're aren't enough swerves for Russo to be in charge. Nowhere near enough.

[Guest The Last Free Voice]

I agree with his points, but calling the show an abomination is overdoing it. The actuall wrestling was above average/good for the most part, and that's what I care about more than anything. But he's right on alot of things, but that doesn't mean that TNA is falling apart or anything, like the article made it sound.

[TNABaddboi 0]

Maybe its because I was there live, but I thoroughly enjoyed the show. The atmosphere for Hardy/Styles was incredible and the DQ didn't piss me off because they almost had to keep them both strong if Hardy is going to be around any longer. And it didnt' hurt that I had that pegged as the finish from the Kash interview earlier in the night. And the ME was very good IMO too. Everyone was on there feet the whole time and I didn't feel cheated by the finish at all. And if anyone had a right to demand a clean finish, it would be me, consider I drove 200 miles and back in one night to see the damn show. But honestly, I wasn't pissed at the ending at all. I just wanted to watch Impact to see where they were going with it. I know it's a totally different perspective in the arena, especially considering my excitement at it being my first TNA show, but I gave the show a thumbs up. Great crowd, good action. My only complaint immediately after the show was the sorry Raven segment, but I understand now that he was sick. Was it the best TNA show ever? No. Was it horrible? No. Did it make me want to see what was going to happen next? Yes.

[Guest Donners]

This is nowhere near even the the worst four shows of the last 12 months. They were turning out some terrible shows late last year, and to have two good debuts in a show plus some pretty solid matches is not what I would consider a particularly bad show.

[Guest JacK]

It depends on your attitude going in I guess. He's clearly gone in with an attitude something like 'this is going to suck, I'm going to pull out every negetive I can.'

People like that annoy me, in that they derive they're enjoyment from ruining (or at least tarnishing) that of others.

[Guest The Last Free Voice]

yea! Knights Represent!

[Guest MikeSC]

It depends on your attitude going in I guess. He's clearly gone in with an attitude something like 'this is going to suck, I'm going to pull out every negetive I can.'

People like that annoy me, in that they derive they're enjoyment from ruining (or at least tarnishing) that of others.

Maybe he didn't like the show. I've seen exceptionally mixed reviews of the show. His points, though, are dead-on:

 

Jeff Hardy SHOULD HAVE jobbed cleanly. You stick a guy who has barely wrestled over the past year and your TOP X Division guy and former repeat World Champ can't beat him CLEAN? Hell, EVERYBODY in the WWE was able to beat him before he left. That just looks REAL bad that AJ couldn't pin him clean.

 

And Lynn v D'Amore should have NEVER gone 15 minutes. I don't care if D'Amore is a good worker or not --- he IS A CHICKENSHIT HEEL MANAGER. That's his ENTIRE gimmick. He's a pudgy coward. Lynn SHOULD have wiped the mat with him --- but I suppose Russo didn't learn that lesson with the Vampiro v Oklahoma debacle at Starrcade '99.

 

And Russo v JJ DOESN'T work. Russo DOES NOT connect with the fans as a babyface to any great degree --- but Jarrett, for reasons I can't explain, won't let a dog of an angle go.

-=Mike

[TheBigSwigg 0]

It depends on your attitude going in I guess. He's clearly gone in with an attitude something like 'this is going to suck, I'm going to pull out every negetive I can.'

People like that annoy me, in that they derive they're enjoyment from ruining (or at least tarnishing) that of others.

Maybe he didn't like the show. I've seen exceptionally mixed reviews of the show. His points, though, are dead-on:

 

Jeff Hardy SHOULD HAVE jobbed cleanly. You stick a guy who has barely wrestled over the past year and your TOP X Division guy and former repeat World Champ can't beat him CLEAN? Hell, EVERYBODY in the WWE was able to beat him before he left. That just looks REAL bad that AJ couldn't pin him clean.

 

And Lynn v D'Amore should have NEVER gone 15 minutes. I don't care if D'Amore is a good worker or not --- he IS A CHICKENSHIT HEEL MANAGER. That's his ENTIRE gimmick. He's a pudgy coward. Lynn SHOULD have wiped the mat with him --- but I suppose Russo didn't learn that lesson with the Vampiro v Oklahoma debacle at Starrcade '99.

 

And Russo v JJ DOESN'T work. Russo DOES NOT connect with the fans as a babyface to any great degree --- but Jarrett, for reasons I can't explain, won't let a dog of an angle go.

-=Mike

Why are we agreeing so much lately?

[Guest whitemilesdavis]

Why are we agreeing so much lately?

 

Yeah, frightening, huh?

 

What if Mike turns out not to be a troll afterall, but ends up being......(gulp) right.

[Guest MikeSC]

Why are we agreeing so much lately?

 

Yeah, frightening, huh?

 

What if Mike turns out not to be a troll afterall, but ends up being......(gulp) right.

I have been known to surprise people.

-=Mike

...Will TNA PLEASE give Shark Boy at least a brief X Title run? He deserves one.

[Styles 0]

I have to agree with Wade on all points. Lynn/D'amore went way too long, its extra time should have been given to Styles/Hardy where Styles wins clean and then they can do the same Kash run in angle after the match. Russo/Jarrett does nothing for me and frankly I'm getting sick of it.

I didn't think it was a BAD show though. I liked the opening tag and Hardy/AJ was fun for while it lasted, and the main event was pretty good byt the ending is unacceptable.

[Magus 0]

*stands and applauds*

 

all points valid. great article, and i'm happy to see that i'm not alone in my outrage. seriously, AS2 ranks with some of the worst shows TNA has ever run.

 

i would like to mention a technicality on Keller's column. Russo has no say in the creative process, so its Jeff that keeps pushing this fued between himself and Vince, probably because he sees it as another great historic fued like Austin/McMahon was. Jeff's going to run his company into the ground trying to force what isn't really there. if we get lucky, one day, MAYBE, Jeff will come to his senses. if VKM can come out and admit when he's doing things wrong (years ago, of course), maybe Jeff can too.