WALKING THE AISLE: HOPING FOR CHANGE

During this political primary season the most overused word seems to be “ Chan ge”.  It’s been used different ways by different candidates in different situations, but it’s the mantra of the Presidential hopefuls regardless of party.  Well, in my first Walking the Aisle of 2008, I’d like to talk about change.  So, below I’m going to list five things from both TNA and WWE that I’d like to see changed in this calendar year.  I hope you enjoy my vision of change within the sports-entertainment world.  Reminder:  The changes are in no way numbered by level of importance

TNA:  Total Nonstop Action

1)      The Reconstruction Of AJ Styles:  Yeah, he’s funny.  Yes, I enjoy his backstage stuff at times.  But, enough is enough.  When I began watching TNA a couple of years back, AJ Styles was one of the main reasons.  He’s one of the most athletically gifted wrestlers that has ever been seen and his flair for the phenomenal earned him that very nickname.  So, instead of banking on his abilities in the ring, TNA has made him the butt of jokes, naïve, and most of all, just plain stupid.  I hereby call for the reconstruction of AJ Styles.  He was once the Heavyweight Champion of this company!  He doesn’t need to be a lackey for anyone anywhere.  His character within the next two months needs to transform back into the AJ of old.  It needs to be explained to the people at home that Styles went along with all of this Coalition/Alliance nonsense simply because he was setting up Angle to get a title shot.  One final thing to remember when he does indeed “come back home”…let the man wrestle! 

2)      Put Them Out To Pasture:  Why is Abyss stuck back in the Days of Our Lives storylines?  Why does 3D still have the X-Division Title?  What’s with the Roode’ stalker fan/Brooks situation?  When will the Feast or Fired matches begin?  Will Storm and Youn g d o anything other than drink?  I can go on, but you get the point.  TNA needs to stop dragging stories along forever.  Lon g d rawn out storylines are great things, if they’re done correctly.  They have to stay fresh.  They have to cause people to emote.  They have to make sense.  M ost of all, they need to come to a crescendo and end logically.  After watching Storm and Youn g d rink for the past three months, I get it already.  Great, they’re drunks.  Can we get on with it?  M ost of the recent TNA stories have become stagnant and boring.

3)      If You Go Fresh, Stay Fresh:  You know, two or three months ago I was interested in the rise of Kaz within the TNA framework.  Then, two months later?  Ho-hum.  Instead of continuing the upward progression of a younger stud in the ring, TNA decided to go back to focusing on 3D and Kevin Nash.  It’s time to sustain the pushes of younger talent at the top instead of the “pumping the brakes” booking mentality that kills fan interest and any hope of new blood being infused.  Is there any reason to have the Angle’s involved in six segments, while not giving a guy like Kaz at least one?  While we’re at it, can you give LAX and the M C M G some TV time that doesn’t include older guys that no one wants to watch?

4)      Where’s The Love For The X-Division?  Really, there shouldn’t be much said about this change that already hasn’t.  First, get the belt away from 3D.  It was an interesting concept to have them hold the belt “hostage”, but that quickly fizzled out and now I’m bored with it.  Plus, it really doesn’t make sense any longer.  Secondly, showcase the talent every week on Impact!  This division and title is the number one thing that TNA has that represents the antithesis of the WWE.  However, TNA has instead “fired” Daniels, let Senshi walk away, and made guys like Dutt second bit (if that) players.  Give these guys time, character development, and a solid story or two and watch the rebirth!

5)      Give Joe His Due:  Samoa Joe is the guy that many, if not most, TNA fans want to see involved at the top.  From his outstanding three-way versus Daniels and Styles to his epic battles with Kurt Angle, Samoa Joe has plain out gotten it done in the ring.  Oh yeah, he’s also damn good on the mike.  But once again, every time Joe is on the brink of glory in TNA you hear the screeching of brakes.  Joe should be given his shot at being the man in this company, instead of whining at and wrestling against Kevin Nash.  The time has come.  Build him back up (it wouldn’t take much) and give him his run.

WWE:  World Wrestling Entertainment

1)      Finish The Deal:  I wrote about my disdain for a couple of the finishes at the Armageddon Pay Per View and how I believed it left something to be desired when watching the show.  In 2008, I’d love to see WWE change their propensity of screw job finishes on pay-per-views.  I pay my money every month, or almost every month, to see creative, decisive, and/or clean finishes.  The DQ and count-out finish is BS on pay events, plain and simple.  It infuriates fans and gives them no interest in paying for the next show.  This is one BIG reason why WWE buyrates are down.

2)      Follow-Up:  You ever watch a WWE show and say, “Damn, that was a great segment, I wonder what’s going to happen next week?”  Then, that next week comes and you get nothing.  Want me to refresh your memory?  How about Ric Flair?  The WWE has a very good idea going with the best ever and it seems that every other week they just don’t do anything with him.  Throwing Flair in the Raw open doesn’t do it.  After an epic battle with his best friend the week prior, we don’t hear anything from him?  How about just a simple sit down with Flair explaining his thoughts on the match and the finish?  Oh yeah, and while I’m talking about that finish, what the hell happened to Regal?  You have a shot to make him credible and really hurt those chances by having HHH leave him in a bloody heap in one week’s time.  Why couldn’t Hunter bust him open in the hallway during that skit in the back?  M c M ahon could’ve then screwed Hunter by setting up a first blood match that pit HHH against a big-time foe (Big Daddy V, etc)?  Regal than comes back the next week and jumps Hunter in the back, setting up a match at the Rumble.  Eh, I digress. 

3)      What’s M y Line?  If I ran the WWE, which I obviously don’t and have no chance of ever doing, I’d relax on so much scripted dialogue for people who I knew could “handle it”.  Unscripted interviews lead to great moments, especially between two guys who know what to do (ahem, Rock’s this is your life).  When watching WWE TV there’s times when I’m left saying to myself, “I’d never say that and neither would any other living breathing human being.”  This happened a few months back with John Cena, when his lines sounded so scripted and Hollywood like, it made him sound like a 2007 Clint Eastwood knockoff.  M ost successful wrestling characters have stemmed from that person’s real life character, but turned way up.  Stone Cold didn’t become Stone Cold because he was given lines that sounded like they were ripped from the latest summertime action blockbuster.  He became Stone Cold because he took himself and turned it up ten or so notches.  Even Cena originally broke through due to rhymes that he personally wrote.  It was only when Cena was put into the script world that some grew tired of him.  Let some of these guys speak for themselves.

4)      Follow Smackdown!  It’s in my opinion that Smackdown has produced the best weekly wrestling television show for several months.  Logical storytelling, giving television time to more than the same six guys, and showcasing more wrestling than any other product, has made me an unabashed fan of M ichael Hayes’ direction.  That is why I’d take a bit from Smackdown and apply it to Raw, changing the “flagship show’s” philosophy some.  In other words, Raw should have less silly skits and talking and more wrestling.  I’m not saying WWE should turn Raw into Smackdown, because I like the live entertainment aspect of the show and it’s mostly worked for Raw during the past fifteen years.  We just don’t need Hornswoggle running through walls, Diva pillow fights, etc., more than intriguing stories and lengthy competitive matches.  Instill some of Smackdown in Raw and I think you’d find almost the perfect concoction.  

5)      New Titleholders:  I don’t want to see new main event talent just for the sake of new main event talent.  Rather, I’d like to see more “Hardy-like” pushes in 2008.  I’m writing of guys that have the talent and fandom to warrant such a push.  Soon WWE will be getting back Lashley, but he’s already been a champion and will no doubt be one again.  In 2008 I’d change the main event landscape by adding guys who haven’t had a shot yet for a myriad of legitimate and not so legitimate reasons.  I’m thinking of M att Hardy, Kennedy, M VP, and Shelton Benjamin.  I see all these guys, barring injury, worthy of a title run by mid-2008.  It’s time WWE starts giving these guys the ball to see if they can run with it affectively.  If WWE does it right, they’d have a tremendous talent roster with both young studs and talented veterans able and worthy to carry the strap at any moment.  Talk about great television!

So, that’s it.  Ten changes between TNA and WWE that I think would help the industry improve.  I hope at least a few of these actually come to fruition, but I wouldn’t bank on it.  Everyone enjoy 2008 and let’s be optimistic about the wrestling product, maybe we’ll have some worthwhile change.

-Nick Cattles

You can contact Nick at nacfresh@hotmail.com