Another catch-up: TNA

Now that Impact has a regular timeslot on Spike TV, I can catch up on the federation.

(I see the old stuff thanks to ESPN Classics Canada. The reruns just got up to the introduction of Johnny Fairplay. I haven't seen him wrestle yet - something many criticize - but he at least has an interesting look... overall, I do get the feeling the fed threw everything they could at a wall to see what stuck. As a result, the roster was in a constant state of flux.)

I've seen many things in the fed I want to comment on:

Konnan still sucks

In another federation, through several angles, and after years he still says the exact same crap! It's as if he has no skill whatsoever on a mic.

Ring-wise, he also does the exact same things. Outside of his tumbling clothesline (Rob Van Dam does the REAL 'rolling thunder' Tenay) he does little more than punch and kick. Ron Killings is the only member of 4 Live Kru with talent....

Rhino is no longer my most loathed!

He's here as well now, and longtime readers will remember how underwhelmed I've been with him... but a) he has improved and b) I've found someone WORSE: Monty Brown.

Brown looks spastic in the ring, and is worse on the mic... but he's being pushed as a potential star. No thank you!

X-Division: needs work, but great spot-fest

Some of the guys are improving their characters, but still have desperate need to learn how to tell a story in their matches. Currently the division has too much of an indy feel: spots everywhere to pop the crowd, but with no rhyme or reason.

A few of them are more skilled at this mix: Petey Williams finisher (the Canadian Destroyer) is amazing to see, and he works logic into his matches.

WWE should learn something here: these guys do exciting stuff and don't get hurt. This should illustrate how the whole "take it slow" philosophy is a bust.

TNA still needs work, but it's improving

In the past 2 months, the fed has been working on building characters and storylines for their workers, and with WWE releasing talented people at the rate of one out of 3, they could become real competition. Christian (Cage) is a big loss for WWE (morons) as were The Dudleys (Team 3-D). They may also soon have Charlie Haas, and if McMahon doesn't have Chris Benoit win the next 3 "Best of 7" matches against Booker T, his contract is done and he may soon come here. Already they have some fantastic tag teams (the Naturals and America's Most Wanted), some potential breakout stars in the X Division (the above-mentioned Petey Williams, Samoa Joe and Chris Sabin)... the fed is on the cusp of great things.

Tags: WWE, TNA