Having not watched the TNA iMPACT Wrestling tapings for a few months, I was finally able to see the first episode on Destination America, TNA’s new home after Spike TV refused to ink a new deal with the organization.Although I’ve heard about the Manhattan Center being only 70% full for the tapings, I was intrigued about TNA’s current situation, and how they’d revamp their organization as – you could either see a more WWE – esque approach that TNA took under the Hogan – Bischoff regime, or you’d hopefully, see them going back to their roots – the formula that gave TNA their fanbase in the first place.TNA has only been around for 13 years now, and even a global juggernaut in sports entertainment genre such as the WWE needed at least 30 years to spread themselves in North America.TNA, in its initial years did tremendously well to cater to the wrestling fans all around the world, and although they tried to shy away from their niche under Hulk Hogan – a huge mistake as they’ve since realized, they finally returned to what made them famous, with their patented 6 sided ring. Before sitting through the delayed episode, I read about how the dark atmosphere among the fans made TNA look like a smaller league organization, and I tried my best to be objective.TNA’s first episode wasn’t better than Wrestle Kingdom 9, but their product was way more enjoyable than what WWE has been subjecting us to. In this article, we give you five reasons why TNA will only get better as the year rolls on.
#1 Getting back to their roots
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The first positive sign of TNA on Destination America was how they heard the fans, and embraced the professional wrestling aspect of the business. Occasionally, we’ve seen TNA emphasizing more on the entertainment aspect, but things were different during the very first episode of 2015. TNA’s product is undeniably better than RAW’s, and it finally looks like TNA has found its comfort zone when it comes to the talent.
When Eric Bischoff and Hulk Hogan came to TNA and talked about shaking things up, I like many fans feared the worst. I don’t intend to blemish the career of Hulk Hogan or question the tactics of the only person to have challenged the great Vincent Kennedy McMahon – Eric Bischoff, but it was evident that neither one of them had evolved with time.
For Hogan and Eric, things were the same as 1996, and when Hogan declared that they would go head to head with WWE on Mondays, including bringing the traditional 4 sided ring, the fans believed it would cost TNA in the long run, and that is exactly what happened.
With TNA once again going back to their roots, it will be very interesting to see where they find themselves by the end of the year.
#2 A breath of fresh air in the main event scene
Anyone who has followed the careers of James Storm and Bobby Roode know that they have worked their tails off for more than a decade to earn their “spot” on the roster. One of the best things in TNA right now is their faith in their talent.
A company like the WWE would rather want to produce a top face – a product of the WWE machine, rather than take chances with the fan favorites. TNA have previously taken chances with the likes of AJ Styles and Austin Aries, and they’ve been doing the same with Bobby Roode.
The “It Factor” has a bright future ahead of him, and putting him in the main event of the show against Bobby Lashley was the right thing to do. Lashley – Roode trilogy has also brought in a lot of interest, and the way the first episode ended, will undoubtedly bring a lot of interest to the main event scene.
#3 One of the best tag team divisions in the world
TNA to its credit always had one of the best tag divisions in the world. From the likes of Team Canada, The Naturals and America’s Most Wanted exactly a decade ago to The Wolves, The Hardyz and till some time ago, Team 3D ruled the tag team division in TNA. The credibility lies in competing as a team for years, instead of creating make – shift teams like the WWE does.
In late 2014, Team 3D, The Hardyz and The Wolves were involved in some phenomenal tag team matches, and with the birth of the new tag team champions, The Revolution, 2015 promises to only get better in the division. TNA’s strength has always lied in the X – Division as well as its tag team division and all signs point to the division getting better this year.
#4 The return of Awesome Kong
The first episode of the new year also featured the return of the most dominant women’s wrestler in the world today, Awesome Kong, also known to the WWE Universe as Kharma. TNA now boasts the best talent in the females’ division in the world, with the likes of Gail Kim, Havok, Taryn and Brooke to name a few.
Unlike the WWE, where the organization tries to put forward a more insignificant role to the divas, giving them more or less 2 minutes for the in – ring action, as well as holding back the likes of Emma and Natalya, TNA has always focused on the knockouts competing and putting on great matches, with the likes of Gail Kim, Kong, Madison Rayne and Taryn Terrell putting on some phenomenal matches in the past.
With the return of Kong, things will only get better, as TNA is hyping a confrontation between Havok and Kong – arguably the two most dominant forces in the world today, as they’ve been hyping the confrontation similar to Hogan – Bundy in the past, as the irresistible force meets the immovable object.
#5 Refreshing product with lesser expectations
Let’s be honest, when TNA initially started doing shows over a decade ago, the fans gave maybe a year or two for the Jarretts to shut down the company. Every year, TNA has defied the critics, and although they had to move away from Spike TV, the new deal with Destination America gives them a new set of audience (although not as much reach as Spike), and the new deal also lessens the expectations, which can only be good for a growing company.
Again, WWE took more than three decades to truly spread themselves in North America, and TNA now offers a different product to what WWE delivers every week. TNA has seen the darker days in the past few years and has survived, and if anything, it will teach them how to stand the test of time.
And unlike Vince McMahon, who usually doesn’t budge from his initial plans, Dixie Carter listens to the fans – something every promoter should be open to.
If anything, the fans expecting considerably less from TNA than the previous years will work in their favor, and I for one want to wait and see where the company goes this year, which is extremely pivotal for their survival.
