In its 9 years of existence TNA may still have yet to reach its potential, but over the past couple of months there have been some very positive signs of improvement. One of TNA’s problems has been that at times it has suffered from an inferiority complex – inferiority both towards the WWE and (I would argue) the former WCW. One only need to look at the Main Event Mafia faction and more recently Immortal to know that emulating the success of the NWO has been high on TNA’s agenda. Since Hogan and Bischoff joined the company in January 2010 the promotion has failed to fire on all cylinders and arguably the company took a backwards step in entertaining both men’s narcissistic egos. This is no better epitomised than when TNA’s failed attempt to compete with Raw on Monday evenings resulted in them moving back to Thursday nights on Spike TV. However, TNA have a new look, a new name ‘Impact Wrestling’ and a new mantra – “wrestling matters”. This may only be the most superficial change the company has made just recently, but it is an extremely effective one. The intro graphics have been changed, the titentron and the ring cables. Blue has become the new colour of choice and I must say that it is a very welcome change. The look and feel of the show is far more professional and very eye catching. However it is the emphasis on wrestling – both in the name of the show and in the tag line that has created some sort of psychological shift. It is not a new paradigm – TNA is a wrestling company; but with the WWE’s focus now shifting towards entertainment (a very obvious shift given the semantics of the company’s marketing and self promotion) it finally feels as if TNA know who and what they are.
Impact Wrestling is definitely not a PG show. The storylines are edgier, the promos are more adult in their language and most importantly the wrestling is less restricted. TNA certainly aren’t trying to corner the family demographic that WWE seem so intent on conquering. For me this is the direction TNA needed to take. I can only hope these are the true convictions of the company and not just a trend to try and attract higher ratings. However my scepticism has been assuaged by the revival of the X-Division and the new Bound for Glory series. Once again wrestling is taking centre stage of the company. TNA’s most recent PPV Destination X was a celebration of everything X-Division. Brian Kendrick became the new X-Division champion – the first legitimately X-Division wrestler to hold the title in a while; there was an Ultimate X match to decide the No.1 contender, a match that defines the high risk, high reward nature of the style as well as a main event between two of the greatest ever X-Division champions AJ Styles and Christopher Daniels. If that wasn’t enough Austin Aries a former X2 ROH world champion, an extremely gifted wrestler won a contract and is now officially on the TNA roster. With his presence within the company I can only see good things for the future of the X-Division.
The Bound for Glory series is a new concept and one that I think TNA have done well to introduce. Bound for Glory is the company’s flagship PPV; it is for all intents and purposes their answer to WrestleMania. The PPV takes place in October but its importance and prestige has needed to be emphasised more in the company’s past. WWE have successfully done this for decades now with the Royal Rumble PPV. The Bound for Glory series is a tournament to determine the No.1 contender for the TNA world heavyweight title at BFG. The tournament takes place as a league table with each participant earning 7 points for a pinfall victory or 10 points for a submission victory. This system encourages progressive as well as traditional wrestling styles and adds an important element of realism into an industry that has been categorically overshadowed by the rise of the UFC, both in popularity and marketing. Currently the two top ranking wrestlers on the leader board are two new recruits to the TNA roster. Over the past few years the world title scene has been monopolised by either former WCW or WWE champions. Now it seems as if the company are building the champions of tomorrow; an extremely wise and important investment for the future of the company.
Lastly I have been impressed with the new gimmick of Sting. Sting has always been one of my all time favourite wrestlers, however for the last couple of years I have felt that his character has grown stale and I had begun to doubt whether he had anything left to offer the business. Sting was a huge marquee signing for TNA back in 2005, the ‘biggest star never to have worked in the WWE’. Sting’s new persona has morphed from the dark Crow gimmick to an entertaining yet disturbing Joker gimmick, inspired by the performance of Heath Ledger in the Dark Knight. Sting seems somewhat of a method actor as he has totally embraced the new role, changing his mannerisms as well as his face paint. For a wrestler who is in the twilight of his career he has proven it’s never too late to teach an old dog new tricks. His current storyline with Hogan, while nothing original at the moment has been made so compelling because of his new character. Sting has managed to breathe new life not only into his character but also into his very tired and well worn rivalry with Hogan.
WWE
The WWE are without a doubt the capitalist giant of the wrestling industry. Even TNA are still only the David to WWE’s Goliath. CEO Vince McMahon’s onscreen ruthless corporate boss character I suspect is just a caricature of his real life ambitious entrepreneurialism. The WWE juggernaut is a truly global, multi-media company but unfortunately it seems the fans are taken for granted. The quality of Raw and SmackDown has been mediocre for most of 2011, with the exception of the return of the Undertaker and HHH at WrestleMania 27 and Christian and Orton’s feud post Extreme Rules. However, one wrestler stands head and shoulders above the rest in terms of charisma and talent: CM Punk.
If there were only one reason to watch WWE it is CM Punk. CM Punk has proven without shadow of a doubt he is one of the greatest performers of this generation. His promo a couple of weeks ago, described as a ‘worked shoot’ voiced a lot of the discontent that not only CM Punk has surely felt but also fans too. CM Punk has become the anti-hero that many wrestling fans needed with a PG, family friendly and tame product. CM Punk’s main event against John Cena for the WWE world title at the Money in the Bank PPV later this month is probably the most eagerly anticipated match this year. WWE do deserve credit for allowing Punk the creative freedom and artistic licence to really show his potential and no matter what the outcome at the MITB PPV the aftermath will be the most talked about event in WWE this year. The WWE are on the verge of a historic angle here, depending on whether or not CM Punk stays with the company contractually and wins the WWE title. Many fans are hoping for another Summer of Punk, a storyline reminiscent of his departure from ROH. Whether this transpires is up to the graces of Vince McMahon. Speculation is rife as to whether CM Punk is going to take a break from wrestling, whether he will go to ROH or possibly Japan or whether he will stay in the WWE. The many variables of this angle make it the most compelling feud and storyline of the WWE this year.
There have been signs post-Mania that WWE has been relaxing its PG status. The emotional victory for Christian to win his first ever WWE world heavyweight title and his subsequent wrenching loss the same week to Randy Orton has proven to be the rivalry of 2011 and produced some of the best wrestling both on SmackDown and at PPV. However their rivalry could potentially be eclipsed if CM Punk wins at MITB and leaves the WWE as champion. A John Cena heel turn from butter wouldn’t melt poster boy to corporate champion would perhaps be the biggest character change in WWE in recent memory and has the potential to be as controversial and successful as Hulk Hogan joining the NWO in WCW and becoming Hollywood Hogan. Time will tell how far WWE are prepared to take this current rivalry with CM Punk.
Overall the second half of 2011 could turn out to be a great period in 21st century professional wrestling. Both TNA and the WWE have struggled throughout the first decade of the 21st century to really recapture the brilliance that was the Monday Night Wars of the 1990s. Much of the decline in the popularity of professional wrestling has come from the success of the UFC and the innovative combat sport of MMA (mixed martial arts). But the decline of wrestling is also partially due to poor match making (booking) and a lack of creativity and originality. However 2011 could turn out to be a very significant year in the fortunes of wrestling and if both TNA and WWE continue this creative ascent then 2012 could see a return to the glory days of the 80s and 90s. TNA are doing enough innovative things that as long as there is consistency will continue to grow and prosper. WWE likewise could pull the trigger anytime they like on many great wrestlers they have on their roster. Time will tell but for now the future is looking bright.
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