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| Courtesy: impactwrestling.com |
Around this time last year, yours truly expounded on what was a very good Bound For Glory, with a payoff that surely looked like a new era for TNA Wrestling (Bound For Glory Could Mark A New Era In TNA Wrestling). Of course, that potential came to a screeching halt after a mess of a pay-per-view event in the 2011 version of Victory Road (An Emphatic, "What Is This?" TNA Victory Road A Dead End). However, the past recent months have really begun to have this fan fall in love all over again with the Impact Wrestling product.
From the re-branding, re-focus, and infusion of young talent in the X-Division, an interesting (but not perfect yet) concept of the Bound For Glory Series, a string of strong Impacts, and the focus on some new talent (or so we thought), Impact Wrestling seemed to have finally gotten out of it's own way. Something it hasn't been able to do in the past three or four years.
Heck, I'd even been enjoying Hogan's work the past couple months.
With a great card on paper for it's biggest show of the year, and the opportunity to have your next big star, everything was in place for Impact Wrestling to mark a new era. Instead, Bound For Glory exemplified a company that took a step backwards.
Going into the 2011 edition of Bound For Glory, I had high hopes for the event. Great talent and great matches up and down the card. I did have concerns about the amount of time, which indeed became an issue, but I did expect a great show.
While it wasn't terrible, Bound For Glory was slightly above average. Many of the matches delivered, and some left me wanting much more (Styles vs. Daniels), but overall it was decent.
However, my issue with Bound For Glory is what every wrestling fan is discussing today - the ending of the main event between Kurt Angle and Bobby Roode. I will admit I am a huge fan of Roode much like all of the original TNA talent. Despite my personal bias, any fan of the TNA product would tell you that last night should have been Bobby Roode's night. It was his time to carry the company, and most importantly, it was time for Impact Wrestling to give the torch to one of their own, and not a free agent or industry legend.
I understand the loss to Angle will create more of a fan base for Roode as everyone is now that much more invested in his chase for the title. However, is this not your biggest show of the year? I hate always coming back to this, but when the shoe fits, the shoe fits, and the WWE would never send fans home, or away from a television disappointed after Wrestlemania.
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| Yes Bobby, we're extremely frustrated too... |
And quite honestly, I was very disappointed.
What irked me even more is the one BFG moment synonymous with last night's event is the Hulk Hogan/Sting match. Now it is no secret to you DP devotees about my feelings for Hogan here at the DP. Despite those feelings, I did thoroughly enjoy the match. The nostalgia definitely added to the show in what was a very entertaining match. Yet, looking back on BFG, the mere fact that two legends well passed their prime stole the show is very, very scary for TNA and Impact Wrestling. Heck, the company revived Jerry Lynn vs. Rob Van Dam for this show. And while it was entertaining, guys like James Storm were left off of the card to make room for it.
In a nut shell, TNA is losing it's identity.
In a nut shell, TNA is losing it's identity.
And as BFG went of the air, I sat there wearing my TNA t-shirt staring in disbelief. This wrestling company that I believe in so much has done it to me again.
Just when you think this company is ready to do what it is meant to be, they take the safe road.
Ugh...
Ugh...
As TNA heads in a new creative direction with a new creative team, I hope the TNA I fell in love with nine years ago somehow returns. Heck, for all we know, Bobby Roode will eventually win the title on Impact. And while I still prefer the big win on the big stage, I understand the business and creative advantage behind such a decision. Nonetheless, I can only hope and wish the guys that helped build this company are thrown into the spotlight, and the wrestling that made the company unique, returns.
TNA is coming up on ten years as a company in the professional wrestling industry. The time has come to quit revisiting history, and begin making it's own impact (pun intended) on the wrestling world.