WU Online | www.WrestlingUpdateONLINE.com

October 19, 2005

Sorry it’s been so long. For a while there I was afraid that I had lost my passion for wrestling. I’m certain that most of you know what I’m talking about. You’re in a relationship, you start taking each other for granted, and before you know it, you feel like you’re in a rut.

Or, you feel that you’ve grown apart. Things just aren’t the same and you’re certain that things are going to come to an end.

Then, before you know it, something strikes that spark and you’re hooked all over again.

Welcome aboard, TNA!

I had a chance to catch their inaugural show on Spike TV a couple of weeks ago. I must admit, the 6 sided ring seemed a bit odd, but I can get used to that. And JJ as the champ? Well, OK. I guess. I’m not a huge JJ mark, but fine.

However, that out of the way, TNA is supposed to stand for Total Nonstop Action! And I must admit, it took me back to some of the glory days of ECW. Ok, let me rephrase that. Like the days of ECW only minus all the “international objects” and so forth.

The show seemed fresh, exciting and generally moved well. I was like a kid again, watching my favorites in action.

In a world where WWE seems to be stagnant and seemingly rudderless. Where the talent seems to be a bunch of strangers, TNA appears to be the new kid in school who may not appear like much, but in the end, dates the prom queen.

I will admit that I haven’t watched WWE with any sort of regularity since WCW died and Vince got all their talent, then split them between RAW and Smackdown. I am a firm believer that the glory days of the old WWF (now WWE) was when it was head to head against WCW. It forced creativity.

A word to the wise with TNA. If you don’t already have an association with Vince, DON’T! Vince needs the challenge, and I really think that you may be able to provide it. Vince may think he’s the Borg (“Resistance is futile”), but you don’t have to allow yourself to be swallowed up.

ECW was a victim, but I see some familiar faces in TNA. (Sabu astonishes me. He’s juiced so many times his forehead is a giant scar. He reminds me of Abdullah the Butcher in that regard.) Sabu continues to give everything he has (much like Jimmy Snuka did) and I respect him for that. I’d hate to see him fall into the meat grinder that is WWE.

TNA, I really wish you all the best! To continue the Star Trek reference one step further, TNA, Live Long and Prosper.