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CALDWELL FLASHBACK: TNA Year-End Review 2005 - Must-read flashback to when TNA became a choice for wrestlers in an era very, very similar to 2009
Oct 29, 2009 - 9:54:07 AM |
Caldwell Intro: Hulk Hogan claimed on Jimmy Fallon's show that he is providing a choice for wrestlers by hitching his wagon to TNA. Hogan is positioning himself to take the credit for helping create a second alternative if TNA's ratings and business dramatically increase with him aligned with the company. The following year-end review of TNA in 2005 shows when TNA actually became a choice for wrestlers.
You also read how TNA's business, management decisions, and ongoing struggles seem eerily similar to their current growing pains in 2009. Read about what went into the Spike TV deal four years ago, who the major players were that are still around, the past head-butting between TNA president Dixie Carter and TNA founder Jeff Jarrett, and the sputtering youth movement. It makes you wonder: "What happened the last four years?"
An excerpt from the column that rings true today with Hogan's name replacing Sting: TNA spent the majority of 2005 signing big name stars from previous eras to bring fans to the product. With Sting being labeled the "face of 2006," that appears to be the plan again. There's always the initial curiosity when a former star shows up on television again. However, what will TNA do to keep fans coming back for more? As A.J. Styles said in December, the fans will stay tuned to see an innovative product. Will Sting overshadow the X Division or enhance the acceptability of wrestling's current and future stars?
The Perspective with James Caldwell
TNA's 2005 Year-End Review
By James Caldwell, Torch columnist
Originally Published: January 14, 2006
Torch Newsletter #895
Two-thousand-and-five began innocently enough in TNA. Magic marker connoisseur Jeff Hardy made a New Year's resolution to show up on time for TNA PPV and TV tapings. By the end of the year, Hardy decided not to offer his services on the pre-game show at Turning Point on December 11. It wasn't the first time Hardy missed an appearance in Orlando.
Hardy's flighty behavior reflects a similar story for TNA as a whole in 2005. There were promises of great events such as TNA's debut on Spike TV in October. There was turmoil centered on the revolving door booking position. There was the unexpected of Samoa Joe tearing the house down on a monthly basis. TNA capitalized on its share of opportunities such as signing Christian Cage and building the monthly PPV series. However, TNA repeatedly failed to seize the moment by not focusing on the X Division as the centerpiece of the promotion. Instead, TNA relied on the short-term formula of bringing in former stars to fill main event slots. The result was stagnant ratings, buyrates, and company growth.
However, the main story from TNA's 2005 campaign involves the emergence of one wrestler as the embodiment of one concept. Samoa Joe came onto the scene in June and defeated Sonjay Dutt at the Slammiversary PPV. That victory was the beginning of an impressive unbeaten streak that continues into 2006.
Joe's debut came on the same night former TNA booker Dusty Rhodes was officially ushered out of TNA and Jeff Jarrett pulled himself from a PPV title match because he wasn't scheduled to win the belt. The former was the end of empty promises after Dusty pledged character development and television time to the X Division wrestlers. The latter was Jeff Jarrett stomping his feet until he got his way.
REDEFINING THE X DIVISION
Samoa Joe walked onto the scene in June 2005 as the future of TNA. He embodies the pure and unadulterated nature of the X Division. By the end of the year, Joe established himself as the most consistent performer in the company. "It's not about weight limits," Mike Tenay often says on TV. "It's about no limits."
However, the X Division devolved in October 2005 when TNA debuted on Spike TV. Instead of continuing to develop the idea that the X Division is more than just highspots and high-flyers, TNA fell back on the predisposition that X Division wrestlers are trapeze artists who fly around the ring without a true purpose.
When Spike TV looked at the X Division prior to TNA's debut on October 1, network executives insisted upon more high-flying acrobatics rather than hard-hitting mat-based wrestling. More highspots! More multiple-person tag matches moving at high rates of speed! The network's influence meant a compromise. The reinvented X Division - Joe's X Division - became a watered down product. The experienced wrestlers became nameless acrobats. As A.J. Styles said in an interview in late December, the fans already know what Christian and Sting can offer. It would be beneficial to the product if the characters of "Chris Sabin, Sonjay Dutt, and Alex Shelley" were expanded and given more promo time.
Instead of focusing on characters, TNA focused on moves and spots. What was more important, based on TV presentation, wasn't the wrestler behind the move, but rather the move performed by the wrestler. The video promos that aired during Raw prior to Impact's debut on Spike accentuated that criticism. The videos contained move after move without focusing on the wrestlers behind the moves. Fans were introduced to moves and spots, but not wrestlers and their characters. Only recently has TNA begun focusing on the characteristics of the wrestlers in the X Division. That wasn't the case in 2005.
MATCH OF THE YEAR
The story of the X Division in 2005 wouldn't be complete without mentioning widespread success. Samoa Joe, A.J. Styles, and Christopher Daniels were regularly involved in match-of-the-year contenders on PPV. Most notable was Joe, Styles, and Daniels stealing the main event spotlight from Jeff Jarrett and his latest anti-TNA management parade at the Sept. 11 Unbreakable PPV. The action was intense. The wrestling was superb. The crowd was left breathless. It was reaffirmation of the X Division's capability if given an opportunity to carry the TNA brand. Certainly, TNA capitalized on Styles and Daniels as marketable stars by releasing several DVDs with the X Division's two mainstays on the cover.
A.J. Styles and Christopher Daniels, who put their differences aside at the end of 2005, had quite possibly the most dramatic feud of the year in TNA. The epic Iron Man match at "Against All Odds" in February had all the elements of a great wrestling contest. Intense drama. Hard-hitting action. A cliffhanger finish. One gritty babyface champion displaying his skill on a high level. The match represented the essence of the X Division.
BECOMING AN OPTION
The X Division emerged on a national scale because of a determined group of wrestlers and management taking the time to listen to its fans. However, that story was overshadowed by the influx of former WWE, WCW, and ECW era wrestlers. Some wrestlers panned out. Many wrestlers fizzled out. However, by the end of 2005, TNA became a viable option for wrestlers in the industry.
Samoa Joe shunned WWE's lowball developmental contract offer for a lowball contract in TNA, but with the promise of immediate television exposure and an honest chance to be who he is and do what he does (something WWE isn't so good at). The contracts of Brother Ray and Brother Devon expired. After long negotiations, WWE said they were withdrawing any offers. They ended up in TNA by the end of the year. Kevin Nash wrestled on-and-off again after making his return to television following an injury-riddled stint in WWE during 2003.
More important than those three categories of incoming wrestlers was the realization of a fourth category. Christian Cage declined a contract renewal offer from WWE in September and opted to join TNA. Much to Vince McMahon's chagrin, TNA became a true option for WWE wrestlers. This wasn't Kip James losing his job in WWE. This wasn't Diamond Dallas Page trying to recreate his glory days in WCW. This wasn't Alex Shelley looking for TV exposure. This was a prominent WWE wrestler considering his options and choosing TNA over WWE. Sure, Mick Foley, Matt Hardy, James Gibson, and Brian Kendrick chose WWE over TNA. However, one instance of a WWE wrestler turning down WWE money for part-time work in TNA set a standard. TNA officially became an alternative.
NOT A COMPETITION
TNA proudly waved the banner of the "new wrestling alternative" in 2005. TNA is simply that - an alternative - but not a competitor at WWE's level. TNA cannot compete with WWE nor should the company try at this point. WWE sells out 10,000 seat arenas on a weekly basis; TNA operates in a sound studio at a theme park. WWE is a publicly traded company; TNA is a subsidiary of a privately funded energy company. TNA was regularly on the chopping block and rumored for sale in 2005 based on who had management's ear at the time (Remember Dave Nelson and his non-existent ESPN deal? How about Morphoplex?); WWE is headed by the McMahons and will be for a long time.
WWE has deep brand penetration in strategic markets; TNA is still trying to secure prominent shelf space for its line of DVDs at Wal-Mart. WWE travels the country and world; TNA never ventured outside of Orlando in 2005, based on a rational fear of losing money if they ventured elsewhere.
ECW grew into a cultural phenomenon during the mid-'90s as an alternative to the cookie-cutter wrestling programming found on WWE and WCW TV. In 2005, TNA found success as an alternative rather than trying to compete against WWE. When TNA focused on the X Division and innovative wrestling, success followed. When TNA allowed its performers to develop personalities, entertaining segments ensued.
When TNA tried to re-create previous eras, the product suffered. The Kings of Wrestling faction - Jeff Jarrett, Scott Hall, and Kevin Nash - had the shelf life of a Scott Hall recovery period early in 2005. TNA even used its first edition of Impact on Spike TV on Oct. 1 to announce Nash's return to the promotion. Nash experienced health problems in late 2005 and missed his re-match with Jeff Jarrett at the October "Bound for Glory" PPV. The opportunity to recreate the infamous "smoke and mirrors" match at the February "Against All Odds" PPV was forever lost. So was an opportunity to use the first edition of Impact on Spike to establish a true alternative in pro wrestling.
Instead of presenting the lasting image of fresh ideas, innovative concepts, and new stars on the national scene, the show resembled a retirement home for the stars of the '90s. After all, Konnan, B.G. James, Jeff Jarrett, Raven, Team 3D, and Kevin Nash made appearances in the final segment of the show.
MARKETING AND CONTACT FOULS
Maybe it was the marketing ideas more than the disillusioned re-creation of previous eras that caused TNA to flounder at times. Of course, there was Jeff Hammond and his six points of impact. (One point was TNA deciding the best way to use Frankie Kazarian was for him to put over Hammond at the February PPV.) Maybe you recall that guy from the McDonald's commercial. Shocker wrestled several PPV matches in the middle of the card, but he didn't connect with the Impact audience. Kevin Nash's inclusion on the first Impact on Spike was based on a marketing survey conducted in a suburban mall. Nash scored high on the "yeah, I recognize him" scale. Naturally, TNA offered him a lucrative contract.
Speaking of lucrative contracts and the product suffering when management took its eye off the ball, TNA offered its fair share of head-scratching deals to wrestlers. Most recently, TNA signed Sting to a one-year, half-million dollar (or thereabouts) deal to make him the "face of TNA in 2006." Sure, the pick may pan out. Sting may draw new viewers to the product in 2006. However, TNA could have saved thousands of dollars and developed a long-term solution to the product rather than looking for the next band-aid.
Before Sting, Diamond Dallas Page had a cup of coffee with TNA. He left the company after he and management couldn't reach a contract agreement following his short-term run in the main event spotlight. Dustin Rhodes used his father's on-and-off position as head booker to work several uninspiring dates. Management decided to sign Billy Gunn, who was subsequently called Monty Sopp, The Outlaw, and Kip James in 2005. Kip's main contribution - other than towering over TNA's marketable wrestlers - was playing "money in the middle" in the never-ending 3 Live Kru break-up storyline. He has yet to wrestle an inspiring singles match that would back up his case that he was underutilized in WWE as a singles wrestler.
Rhino, who was fresh off of an uninspiring run in WWE, signed on in July and has since wrestled a series of one-dimensional matches. The Dudleys have commanded top dollar, missed several weeks of Impact tapings, and injured James Storm on PPV. Not exactly a productive run. Meanwhile, Samoa Joe had to fight to get a bump in pay after six months of diligent, consistent, and outstanding service.
BACK TO SQUARE ONE
The theme of the contracts offered to former television stars of previous eras involves one man. Jeff Jarrett. Kevin Nash lost to Jarrett on PPV in February. Dallas Page lost to Jarrett on PPV in March. Jarrett lost to Rhino on PPV in October so he could win the belt back in front of a larger audience on Impact's first prime time special in November. Kip James was initially brought in as Jarrett's henchman. Same with Scott Hall. The Dudleys feuded with AMW, who turned heel and joined Jarrett in September. Jarrett found himself in a program with the strongly hyped former tag champs in WWE and ECW. Currently, Sting is being brought in to face Jarrett throughout 2006.
Jarrett managed to last a full year - minus two months in the spring - on top of the promotion despite concern from wrestlers and the constant stream of "go away" heat from the Impact fans. When Impact was on Fox Sports Net at 4:00 p.m. on Friday afternoons from January until June, the fans eagerly voiced their displeasure with Jarrett just as they do now on Spike TV. The chants were standard in the beginning. "Jarrett sucks" was the motto in February. "Drop the title" became the rallying cry in March. Then, TNA fans used creativity. "Get your hat, your coat, and leave" was one of the more infamous chants during a lengthy Jarrett promo in April.
The vocal expression of disdain turned into a silent, but noticeable rejection of Jarrett on top of the promotion in the fall. Prior to the main event match featuring Jarrett and America's Most Wanted against Rhino & Team 3D at the November Genesis PPV, fans began collecting their belongings to leave. A wide-shot of the arena showed fans walking up the aisles to make a fast exit out of the arena. More than the recent chants of "boring" and "drop the title," the negative response was amplified as fans spoke with their feet.
It became an accepted fact that any wrestler who debuted, returned, or had any television exposure in the '90s or early '00s went through Jeff Jarrett. It was Jarrett's way of equating himself with former TV stars. TNA President Dixie Carter caught onto Jarrett's game in the spring. It appeared Jarrett's gig was up. However, the brief reprimand after Jarrett opted not to participate in his King of the Mountain match at the June "Slammiversary" PPV barely lasted one month. Jarrett was back on camera for his "me vs. management" parade for the July "No Surrender" PPV.
Since then, Jarrett has slowly crept back into political control. He was not included in the original booking committee formed in the summer after Dusty Rhodes's departure. However, Jarrett formed an alliance with head booker Scott D'Amore. The on-camera relationship between Jarrett and D'Amore became a reflection of their working partnership behind the scenes. Jarrett was back in control by the end of the year. Should it be any surprise his programs received more television exposure than any other storylines on Spike TV in 2005? Considering the first half of the year started with Jarrett dominating Impact as part of the Kings of Wrestling, it's only fitting 2005 ended in similar fashion.
EVALUATING THE YEAR
TNA is made up of four major categories - Television, PPV, Title Picture, and Management. Considering 2006 will revolve around Sting and trying to generate the highest return on management's investment in him, the future will depend on TNA incorporating Sting into a long-term plan for the company. That means Sting working with X Division stars. To predict how successful that will be, it is imperative to examine 2005.
TELEVISION
TNA began the year on Fox Sports Net in the Friday afternoon timeslot shacked up in between Poker and Max Kellerman's "I Max" show. It was obvious TNA had to find a better time lost. As the 52-week FSN contract neared expiration in June, TNA began negotiating with WGN for a Monday night timeslot. WGN didn't know wrestling. TNA is a regional promotion based out of Nashville. However, both sides neared an agreement in the summer. The deal fell through, which was for the better in hindsight, when WGN saw turmoil in management thanks to Dave Nelson's meddling tactics and TNA co-owner Jerry Jarrett's willingness to play mindgames to disrupt anything that didn't fit his agenda that month.
When the FSN deal expired in June and the WGN deal fell off the table, TNA turned to the Internet to air Impact. The first episode was a disaster when TNA underestimated the demand to download the first episode on June 24. However, TNA fixed the downloading issues and kept Impact online for the next three months. Meanwhile, TNA struck a deal with Spike TV to begin airing on October 1.
The Spike TV deal called for a one-hour broadcast at 11 p.m. ET on Saturday nights. It wasn't exactly prime time, but it was satisfactory compared to TNA's television situation at the beginning of the year. TNA even made headway on Monday nights. No, Spike wasn't ready to put the not-ready-for-prime-time players head-to-head against its former tenant, WWE Raw. However, Monday night is wrestling night and TNA's midnight replay of Impact was the first step toward establishing a name brand on the national scene.
By the end of 2006, this column space might be used to analyze Impact head-to-head against Raw on Monday nights. However, TNA proved in 2005 that its television presentation still lacks essential elements to oppose Raw. Remember, TNA isn't competing with WWE. TNA is an alternative - a second option for viewers seeking wrestling on television. TNA's product - at its best - is unique and all together not what viewers see on Raw and Smackdown. Yet, TNA continually failed to establish an alternative identity in 2005.
TNA relied on the WCW Nitro tricks far too often. Constant interference. Dulling squash matches. Incompetent officiating. Ludicrously short X Division matches. Considering Jeff Jarrett's glory days on the national scene came during the dying days of WCW, it's no wonder TNA relied on what they know rather than what they have failed to discover.
One of the glaring weaknesses in TNA's television presentation is the speed. Juxtaposed against Impact on Spike TV, Impact on FSN resembles The Undertaker's ring entrance. However, TNA struggled through the FSN days - just as today on Spike - trying to package too much content into too little time. TNA consistently threw segments, matches, and videos against the wall in hopes of something sticking. When TNA moved to Spike TV, the issue became more pronounced.
Television ratings reflected a stagnant audience. Impact on Spike never broke the 1.0 barrier on Saturday nights. The first Thursday night special reached the low-end of the acceptable scale. Certainly, TNA catered to a specific and dedicated fan base that tuned in to each show. However, TNA failed to attract more viewers. If something better was on television - such as a good late-night college football game - fans skipped Impact. Yet, based on the correlation between Saturday and Monday, the dedicated fan base tuned into the Monday night replay to see what they missed.
2006 Outlook: If October through December was the trial period on Spike TV, TNA succeeded at the bare minimum. Ratings held constant on Saturday nights. An ample number of fans tuned in to the Monday night replay. The eventual goal is to put Impact on Monday nights against Raw. However, TNA isn't ready yet. The product still lacks an identity. Is it the "Jeff Jarrett and friends" show? Is it a showcase of the future in the form of the X Division? Impact lacks consistency. An upstart wrestling show must be consistent with its vision to succeed in the long-run.
TNA spent the majority of 2005 signing big name stars from previous eras to bring fans to the product. With Sting being labeled the "face of 2006," that appears to be the plan again. There's always the initial curiosity when a former star shows up on television again. However, what will TNA do to keep fans coming back for more? As A.J. Styles said in December, the fans will stay tuned to see an innovative product. Will Sting overshadow the X Division or enhance the acceptability of wrestling's current and future stars?
PAY-PER-VIEW
In late 2004, TNA changed its PPV offerings from a weekly Wednesday series to a monthly Sunday series. In 2005, TNA developed the concept to mixed results. However, there was one thing PPV buyers could also count on: at least one great wrestling match. Early in the year, it was A.J. Styles and Christopher Daniels. Samoa Joe was added to the mix during the second half of the year. Before TNA went to the well once too often, the Ultimate X gimmick concept was a sure-bet.
The tag division featured a series of outstanding and dramatic matches involving a combination of Team Canada, America's Most Wanted, and The Naturals. Despite the decrepit state of tag team wrestling in this era of wrestling, AMW vs. Team Canada from the January "Final Resolution" PPV was a match of the year contender. The same can't be said for Team 3D's tag matches late in 2005.
Overall, TNA PPV's suffered from the complete opposite of a single-brand WWE PPV. TNA regularly booked too many matches on PPV. Matches felt rushed. Not enough time was given to the matches that could have become epic thrillers. Wrestlers who had no business on PPV - Dustin Rhodes comes to mind - were booked prominently on the card. TNA believes in giving everyone on the roster a PPV payday. That became a costly policy. PPV cards were littered with sub par matches to bring down the overall quality of a given show. Instead of allowing fans to soak in a match, reflect on the outcome, and take a much-needed breath, TNA moved right into the next important segment. It became overkill.
2006 Outlook: No matter how poor the undercard is, a TNA PPV will always deliver at least one outstanding match. Always. Maybe it's a state-of-the-art X Division match. Maybe it's a hardcore match that contains the right elements to be a standout thriller. TNA has added more wrestlers to the roster, which indicates PPVs won't feature fewer matches to allow for breathing room on the card. Instead, expect an greater hectic feeling as TNA tries to pack too much into three hours every month.
Considering Jeff Jarrett is expected to keep his position on top of the card thanks to Sting signing a one-year deal, viewers will likely receive more main event matches featuring the formula Jeff Jarrett match. It's an unmistakable event. Brawling. Referee bumps. Outside interference. Blood. Visual three counts. More outside interference. More brawling. A cheap victory for Jarrett. For long-time viewers, the formula is played out and ineffective for getting a rise out of a jaded audience. However, there's always a solid X Division match for balance.
TITLE PICTURE
Jeff Jarrett dominated the heavyweight title picture for ten out of the twelve months. In those two months, A.J. Styles had a cup of coffee from May 15 until June 19 as the "anyone-but-Jarrett" champion. It happened to be during the time TNA wasn't on television. Raven took over for three months while Jarrett slowly crept his way back into the title picture. Eventually, Jarrett regained the title in Canada one week before TNA's debut on Spike TV. Rhino had a brief stint as champion from October 23 to November 3. Rhino should thank Kevin Nash, who went down with chest problems prior to the "Bound for Glory" PPV. TNA felt the need to send everyone home happy with a title switch. Rhino happened to be in the right place at the right time.
The X Division Title - thanks to Jarrett's two "status quo" reigns - became the most important title in the company. Petey Williams began the year as champion, but A.J. Styles won the belt on January 16 in the first Ultimate X match of the year. Styles took the belt and elevated the division. His series of matches with Christopher Daniels carried TNA PPVs in the first quarter of the year. Christopher Daniels won the belt at "Destination X" in March and carried the belt admirably. However, his title run lacked the great elements of an A.J. Styles reign. Samoa Joe's presence was the answer.
When Joe became the valuable third wheel in the Styles-Daniels feud, the X Division took over. Styles won the belt from Daniels on Sept. 11 at the "Unbreakable" PPV when Styles, Daniels, and Joe tore the house down. It was the X Division's crowning moment.
Styles became the top babyface in the promotion when he recaptured the belt just in time for the Spike TV debut. However, Samoa Joe replaced Styles as the centerpiece of the division when he won the belt on Dec. 11. From Petey to Joe, 2005 was the year the X Division broke through on the national scene.
Team Canada was regularly involved in the tag title picture in 2005. However, a combination of Scott D'Amore's wrestlers reclaimed the belts after losing to America's Most Wanted on January 16. America's Most Wanted ended the year as champions after The Naturals had a brief run in the spring, spurred by Chris Candido's death.
2006 Outlook: Sting is expected to challenge Jeff Jarrett for the NWA Title at some point during the first quarter of 2006. However, there are several other contenders for the NWA Title. Monty Brown, Christian, and Raven - depending on the outcome of his Final Resolution match - are the top three. At the end of 2005, TNA briefly teased Jarrett-Samoa Joe.
Depending on TNA's marketing strategy for the X Division, Samoa Joe might move into the heavyweight division to contend for the title. Considering Joe doesn't fit the mold of a traditional X Division wrestler and Spike TV hankers for high-flying acrobatics, Joe could be NWA Champion at some point in 2006. If Joe changes divisions and drops the X Division Title, other wrestlers - Chris Sabin, Austin Aries, Roderick Strong, Alex Shelley, or Sonjay Dutt - will be clamoring for a chance to join A.J. Styles and Christopher Daniels on top.
Considering Team 3D dropped their All Japan booking dates in favor of TNA, Team 3D is expected to be rewarded with a title reign. That could possibly come as early as Sunday night at Final Resolution when they challenge AMW. Certainly, the new tables of Konnan, Homicide, and Apolo will be contenders. Team Canada, the Kip & B.G. James, and The Naturals will also be involved. A.J. Styles and Christopher Daniels challenged for the belts on the first show of 2006. I wouldn't be surprised to see them hold the belts at some point in 2006.
MANAGEMENT
On camera, the year began with Dusty Rhodes as "Director of Authority." He was also in charge of booking the shows behind the scenes. Dusty promised character development and television exposure to the X Division wrestlers. That barely materialized as Dusty surrounded himself on television with Traci Brooks and Trinity to establish his "desirability" factor. Dusty's role in the company fizzled out in May and he was replaced by Scott D'Amore, after which booking committee was formed. On camera, Larry Zbyszko became the thankless authority figure with his own problems with Raven. Behind the scenes, promises of character development for X Division wrestlers continued to be strictly lip service.
Management - Dixie Carter, Bob Carter, Jerry Jarrett, Jeff Jarrett, and Frank Dickerson - had its fair share of difficulties. Former CEO Frank Dickerson helped TNA negotiate the Spike TV deal. He was promptly dismissed by Bob Carter late in the year despite going to bat for the Carter and Jarrett family on numerous occasions. Jerry Jarrett decided he would take his non-existent political influence to WWE. Jarrett showed up on WWE.com with a "hot prospect" while management was busy preparing for the Spike TV debut. He also quietly backed Dave Nelson's ludicrous, hapless offers to buy TNA. Jerry decided that if he wasn't going to have control, he wasn't going to be a company man.
One of Dixie Carter's most remembered public statements in 2005 was claiming there is no drug problem in the TNA locker room. Whatever she learned about wrestling in 2005 didn't apparently include learning what's really going on during wrestlers' off-time. A highpoint of the year for Dixie was standing up to Jeff Jarrett in June when he chose not to wrestle in "his match" if he wasn't going to win. Of course, Jarrett was back with the company one month later occupying essential PPV time. Now, though, he's back as the NWA Champion and wields the most political power off camera and the top spot on camera.
Management should be praised for inking a national television deal. However, management's decisions related to talent, marketing, and pay were questionable. Samoa Joe was grossly underpaid for the service he provided. Incoming stars - Nash, Team 3D, Dallas Page - were overpaid based on previous television exposure despite their inability to actually help the product. Management's passive-aggressive nature led to misguided priorities. Instead of presenting the best possible product on TV and PPV, management regularly chose to make everyone happy by making sure everyone received a paycheck.
2006 Outlook: Management needs to hurt feelings. That entails not booking a specific mid-card wrestler one month because a wasted PPV match would not benefit the wrestler's long-term future. It's the nature of the beast. Wrestling isn't a nice or fair business. However, TNA should develop a contingency plan to ensure wrestlers have an opportunity to earn consistent pay from month-to-month even if they aren't asked to wrestle on every PPV or TV show. If TNA does not use Elix Skipper on PPV one month, he should be featured weekly on television to build up his character. Skipper would still receive four weeks of television pay to make up for not receiving a PPV pay-off. In addition, he would then have four consecutive weeks to be a featured player on TV and get his character over which would benefit him in the long-term.
Once management decides it's time to play to win and not to lose, the product will benefit. Whether that actually happens remains to be seen. Most of all, it will depend on Jeff Jarrett's role in the company at the end of 2006. It will also depend on Sting. He has an opportunity - with management's guiding hand - to fall into the "status quo" nature of the locker room or break out of his comfort zone by working with the younger generation of wrestling stars. That means wrestling a physical style he's never engaged in before. If he makes TNA's young wrestlers adjust to his style because of his seniority and experience, he is doomed to be an expensive failed experiment.
TNA established itself as an alternative in 2005. The best way to succeed in 2006 is to learn from previous mistakes and push forward with innovation and fresh entertainment. TNA can have a breakout year in 2006 by adjusting the presentation of its assets. The pieces are there, the presentation hasn't been.
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