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| War Games |
Matt Barnes |
Does TNA really have what it takes to beat WWE at its own game?
If you’ve been a fan of wrestling on any kind of deep level over the last four or five years, you’ll at least have heard of Total Non-stop Action Wrestling, the Orlando-based group that has periodically crowed extremely loudly about being the young pretender to WWE’s throne. You’ll also have noted how most wrestling critics have an opinion on this topic. Some, it would seem, believe that TNA will never make the leap from challenger to contender because of a constant array of crazy booking decisions; others think it won’t make it because its talent is largely ex-WWE stock with rapidly diminishing workrate and name value. Some just don’t like the group at all. One thing is consistent, though: most doubt TNA’s ability to make the leap at all.
That said, FSM’s voice has never been amongst these critics. A consistent supporter of the core values espoused by the group, we’ve been even in our critiques and honest about what we think of TNA’s chances. One regular theme discussed at roundtable meetings at FSM Towers, in fact, has been what it will take to enable TNA to make that great leap. The answer several of us drew consistently was a prime-time slot opposite Raw, but the harsh reality was that we all thought that this was never going to happen.
The fact is that as much as many writers love to liken TNA to WCW, the TNA doesn’t have exactly what WCW had – and, to an extent, vice-versa. Yes, TNA certainly has a very similarly-structured talent pool, which benefits the overall product by enabling the writers to contrasts thrilling, fast-paced opening matches with storyline-led bouts between legends and tag teams higher up the card. And, yes, TNA is able to pull the very best out of certain disenchanted WWE outcasts in the exact same way that WCW did. But, the fact of the matter is that TNA is an independent company backed by The Carters, a wealthy oil family, whereas WCW was a going concern of a network television company...
For the rest of this feature, check out issue 50 of FSM - available at WH Smith and all good retailers. (For US readers we are now carried at Borders and Barnes & Noble, so check for local availability or click here to subscribe.)
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