Don’t like the idea of splitting up MCMG as the one area which TNA batters the WWE is tag team action. MCMG are the most dynamic tag team on the roster and the longer they are together, the better it can be for TNA. If WWE though came out and did something massive with the tag teams then things may change.

…and you should never try again.

I mean, yes, it’s flash paper. POOF! Big pyrotechnics. But it’s still fire. Burns hair, skin and reportedly hurts.

Makes the alter-ego Desmond Wolfe logical. As well as Kong wanting to beat his face in.

Why couldn’t you have Awesome Kong come out and say she has a love child with Desmond Wolfe. And then have her reveal that his REAL NAME is Nigel McGuinness.

And then start a blood feud between Kong and Nigel.

It wouldn’t be any worse than what Russo has already subjected us to. The TNA faithful might actually respond with Pavlovian joy.

And it might garner some new viewers when the slower ROHbots figure out that McGuinness is actually on TNA. And has been for a while.

Have Angle intervene in the Kong/Nigel feud, by professing his love for her and then BAM!

We’re back to Angle/Nigel, as it should’ve been.

Heck, Russo could do all that IN ONE SHOW!

How can we mere mortals compete?

And if there’s any question, I jest.

One of the big problems with TNA is that the established guys really AREN’T getting the new guys over.

Angle could (and should have) made a star with Samoa Joe.

Sting could have made stars out of Styles, Daniels or both.

Whether or not Foley, Hogan, Nash and Sting put asses in seats is secondary to them not getting the young guys to the point where they can. At least at this point in TNA’s lifecycle.

Look at how new stars have been established historically. Not by having Styles and Daniels on the same PPV as a Sting vs. Hogan match. Historically, new stars have been established by stepping toe-to-toe with existing stars. And being shown to be of a comparable skill level. Reference Kofi Kingston vs. Randy Orton from last Monday’s Raw for just the latest in a very long history of building stars through good booking.

Foley became a star by fighting the Undertaker, not Doink the Clown. Cena became a star fighting HHH, not Shelton Benjamin. DiBiase became a star (initially) by fighting Dory Funk Jr. and Jack Brisco. Then again with a feud against Hacksaw Duggan. Lawler became a star by feuding with Jackie Fargo, the top face in Memphis for over a decade.

But TNA continually thinks that they can make Joe, Styles and Daniels stars by having them wrestle each other and get buried by the established guys. Or by not giving them clean wins.

History doesn’t bear this out.

TNA needs to break its dependency on stars made *outside* of TNA. And start focusing on establishing its brand with stars from inside their organization.

Michael seems to be wanting to do that, so thumbs up for him.

Also, changing Nigel McGuinness’ name was seriously dropping the ball. Anyone tuning in to TNA to see Samoa Joe has likely heard of Nigel McGuinness — even if they might not recognize him on sight.

Anyway you can build an angle to change it back?

I’d prefer a format comparable to a trimmed down version of the “Sting interview”.

Remember, back in the day, promoters/bookers would just tell a wrestler the setup for the promo and how much time they had.

No need to type them word-for-word.

The two finishes I might change are the Rhino match (Rhino wins after 3D-terference, who come out after a few near-falls are a bit too close for comfort) and the AJ/Joe match. AJ should still go-over, but maybe with a schoolboy or small package rather than the clash. I might save the clash finish for either a squash later on or the PPV.

Just my own goofy arm-chair suggestions, but nice article nonetheless. Looking forward to seeing where it goes.