It's been a long time since I have actually written anything or given my thoughts on anything wrestling related. Well, this just seemed like the right time since TNA can't seem to do much right and I am just trying to figure out why.

In case it isn't bad enough that TNA has to reuse old WWE gimmicks on wrestlers that have actual talent (i.e.. Shark Boy, Jay Lethal). In case it isn't ridiculous enough to tune into TNA Impact's two hour show each week, only to see 4 actual matches encompassed by the most poorly written and acted Thanksgiving and Christmas footage. In case it isn't mind blowing enough to waste a talent like AJ Styles by making him the clown prince of wrestling. In case it's not pathetic enough to watch Jeremy Borash's man crush on Kurt Angle. In case all that isn't enough, TNA is doing it again.

TNA is making it's debut in NY in February with three shows on three consecutive dates. All of these shows are within an hour of each other and the lineups that have been announced are exactly the same for the three shows. (If that doesn't encourage fans to not attend more than one of the events, what will? Oh, I'll tell ya!)

The originally announced cards were headlined by Kurt Angle vs. Booker T. Considering the hefty ticket price, that main event almost made it seem worth while. (Tickets for the North Fork Theatre at Westbury show are $50. Add the $11.50 service charges and you have an incredible $61.50 price tag. Keep in mind, you can see WWE at Nassau Coliseum for under $25). After all, it's been quite some time since Kurt Angle or Booker T have wrestled in the area, especially on Long Island.

Well, that has since changed. TNA's website now has Christian Cage in the spot Booker T's name once occupied. Now don't get me wrong. Christian is a great performer in his own right. However, it's not the same.

If you look at the entire card, for the most part, it's nothing that hasn't been seen all over the tri-state area before (in fact, many times). Jay Lethal, Sonjay Dutt, and Homicide are area mainstays. For the past 5 years plus any combination of the three could have been seen at nearly any indy event in NY, NJ, or CT. The same can be said for ROH mainstays like Samoa Joe, Jimmy Rave, and Alex Shelley. Hell, even AJ Styles, LAX and The Dudleys have made their fair share of appearances on the indy circuit in this area over the past several years. Christian also made a few appearances on the indys after leaving the WWE (not to mention his run as ECWA champion when his WWE tenure first began).

So what makes this card anything different than any of the other indy cards that run every weekend in the area? Other than the $61 ticket price, absolutely nothing.

How does TNA justify a ticket price that high? The "theatre" in Westbury has never hosted a wrestling event before. I would guess that reason is because the theatre isn't exactly set up for a wrestling event. Anyone who has ever been to the venue knows it has a round, rotating stage with a lighting/sound rig directly above it. Will the six sided ring fit on the stage? If the ring is able to fit, will there actually be any room above the ring to do anything? Was any of this looked into ahead of time or is it all going to be one huge surprise come the day of the show?

I'm not the only person wondering about that. In fact, several people I know are going to the show just because the potential of it being one giant cluster$u%! is huge. Many feel it is worth the money just for the inevitable laughs.

I, for one, am simply boggled by the thought process of those who have authority in TNA. Granted, the tv show is barely watchable. Why Dutch and Vince are allowed to get away with such crap is beyond me. How there is nobody there asking them wtf they are thinking is just amazing to me.

Now, the TNA powers that be decide to make a huge impact (pun intended) in the NY area by not only running the same matched three nights in a row but by giving the NY audience very little as far as new matches or talent. Is that smart business?

Let's break down the announced card thus far ( I mean no disrespect to those wrestlers on the card who are extremely talented and are just being booked poorly. To those wrestlers who are not talented, I mean all the disrespect in the world.)

Olympic Gold Medalist Kurt Angle vs. "The Instant Classic" Christian Cage: The match itself should be decent but how many people around here haven't had the opportunity to see Cage wrestle here already?

The Motor City Machineguns vs. Team 3D: Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin. They've been all over this area, prior to going to TNA. Same goes for the Dudleys. I'm a huge fan of the MCM but does anyone really want to see this match, yet again?

"The Samoan Submission Machine" Samoa Joe vs. "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles: Been there, done that, at least 10 times.

"Black Machismo" Jay Lethal vs "The Guru" Sonjay Dutt: I think every indy promotion in the Northeast has booked these two men at one time or another. No need to see them again.

Eric Young vs. "Cowboy" James Storm: I haven't been a fan of their matches in the past. However, with the exception of a few appearances by AMW in NJ, neither of these men have been in the area to the point that some of the others have. At least it's something a little different.

The Latin American Xchange vs. The Rock N' Rave Infection: Team wise, neither has been here. On and individual basis, Rave and Homicide have been around a hundred times. However, I never get tired of seeing Homicide. It could be fun to watch the LAX beat the hell out of the RnR Infection... But, will it be booked that way? Probably not.

Awesome Kong vs Gail Kim (even though the TNA website spells it JIM) vs Jackie Moore: All three women are outstanding and this is truly the only match on the card that is something we haven't seen in this area before.

Are those matches so different or inspiring or original that anyone should have to pay $61 to see them? Aside from a few exceptions, is there anything there most people haven't already seen at a $25 or less indy show in the area?

I can't help but wonder why TNA chose these members of the roster when there are others like Booker T, The Steiners, Johnny Devine, Kaz, Judas Mesias, Abyss, Angelina Love, Petey Williams, Sting, and Tomko that haven't been here in a long time, if at all. Hell, I'd even take Kevin Nash or James Mitchell or Jim Cornette!!

Yet people wonder why I've all but given up on the sport I once loved. Then again, what do I know... I'm only a fan.

By Brett Schwan

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I just received this email from Dan in NJ. I welcome anyone else to send their feedback.

Just read this article and wanted to let you know I just got back from Ohio and both shows were exactly the same move for move. Also the Main Event was supposed to be Angle vs Booker and they switched it to Angle vs Samoa Joe and Booker vs Roode. Here is a report from theTroy, Show and Youngstown was exactly the same

TNA Wrestling house show
Hobart Arena
Troy, Ohio
1-25-08
Ring Announcer Jeremy Borash
Referees Andrew Thomas & Rudy Charles
Tag Team Match
Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin) over Petey Williams & Elix Skipper pinfall after double superkick
Sharkboy over Cowboy James Storm via pinfall after Jawbreaker
Womens Knockout title Match
Awesome Kong (C) over Jackie Moore with a power bomb to retain title
TNA World Tag Team Title Match
AJ Styles and Tomko (C) over LAX (Homicide and Hernandez) pinfall when AJ pinned Homicide while holding his tights to retain titles
Intermission
TNA X- Division Title Match
HotShot Johnny Devine (C) over Black Machismo Jay Lethal when Lethal's foot on rope and referee did not see it
Booker T over Robert Roode, Roode was going to hit Booker with Chair with ref down but Traci Brroks comes in to make save then scissors kick and pinfall for Booker T
MAIN EVENT
TNA World Heavyweight Title
Kurt Angle (C) over Samoa Joe via pinfall to retain belt after AJ Styles came in to help Angle

Dan

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Well, it seems TNA has done it again. First they screwed up their Ohio house shows by running the same exact show back to back (see above email from Dan). Then, they changed the proposed main event of their NY tour to remove Booker T (not to mention the ton of other ridiculous crap they are pulling on the NY tour (see above column).

Now they are contradicting themselves in their own press release!!

Here is the recent press release from TNA regarding their New York area shows:

"TOTAL NONSTOP ACTION (TNA) WRESTLING FINALLY HITS NEW YORK CITY ON FEBRUARY 21 AT WEBSTER HALL - TICKETS ON SALE NOW! PLUS, SEE TNA LIVE IN WESTBURY AND ELMIRA, NEW YORK! FINAL LINEUP NOW SET!

The superstars of Spike TV’s hit show “TNA “iMPACT!” will debut in the Big Apple at Webster Hall in Manhattan! VIP seating is already sold out - only general admission tickets remain! Get your tickets now before they sell out. The lineup for the Webster Hall show and all New York events is as follows:

Olympic Gold Medalist Kurt Angle vs. "The Instant Classic" Christian Cage
The Motor City Machineguns vs. Team 3D
"The Samoan Submission Machine" Samoa Joe vs. "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles
"Black Machismo" Jay Lethal vs "The Guru" Sonjay Dutt
Eric Young vs. "Cowboy" James Storm
The Latin American Xchange vs. The Rock N' Rave Infection
Awesome Kong vs Gail Kim vs Jackie Moore
CARD SUBJECT TO CHANGE

New York City, New York - The superstars of Total Nonstop Action (TNA) Wrestling will kick off their New York tour by hitting the heart of the city for an unforgettable night of action at Webster Hall in New York City on Thursday, February 21 at 8 p.m.

Appearing live and in person will be Kurt Angle, Booker T, “The Samoan Submission Machine” Samoa Joe, “The Phenomenal” A.J. Styles, Gail Kim, Team 3D, Awesome Kong, Motor City Machineguns, “Black Machismo” Jay Lethal, “The Guru” Sonjay Dutt, “Cowboy” James Storm, Eric Young, The Latin American Xchange, The Rock And Rave Connection with Christy Hemme, and more!

TNA promises to incite New York City wrestling fans, notoriously some of the world’s toughest crowds, with an experience never before seen in the Big Apple.

Tickets are on sale now at www.websterhall.com and the Webster Hall box office.

You can also see TNA Wrestling live in New York on February 22 and 23:

FEBRUARY 22 - WESTBURY, NEW YORK AT THE NORTH FORK THEATER
Tickets on sale now at the North Fork Theater Box Office, online via www.livenation.com and all Ticketmaster locations. Appearing live and in person in Westbury and Elmira will be TNA World Heavyweight Champion Kurt Angle, Booker T, Samoa Joe, AJ Styles, X Champion “Black Machismo” Jay Lethal, Women’s Champion Gail Kim, Team 3D, The Motor City Machineguns, Sonjay Dutt, Awesome Kong, James Storm, Jackie Moore, Eric Young, The Latin American Xchange, Lance Hoyt, Christy Hemme, Jimmy Rave and more!

FEBRUARY 23 - ELMIRA, NEW YORK AT THE FIRST ARENA
Tickets on sale now at Ticketmaster.com , all Ticketmaster outlets or the First Arena box office. Appearing live and in person in Westbury and Elmira will be TNA World Heavyweight Champion Kurt Angle, Booker T, Samoa Joe, AJ Styles, X Champion “Black Machismo” Jay Lethal, Women’s Champion Gail Kim, Team 3D, The Motor City Machineguns, Sonjay Dutt, Awesome Kong, James Storm, Jackie Moore, Eric Young, The Latin American Xchange, Lance Hoyt, Christy Hemme, Jimmy Rave and more!"

I can understand why they would list Christy Hemme as she will probably be in the corner of the Rock N Rave Infection. However, why would TNA claim that Booker T will be appearing, at all three NY area shows, yet not have him listed in any of the actual matches? Why would they have Christian Cage listen in the main event yet not have him listed as one of the wrestlers appearing on the shows??

Are they actually going to bring Booker in just to make an appearance and wave to the crowd? Are they just going to have him do some ridiculous run in? Are they simply false advertising? Or is TNA so inept that when they changed the main event in their press release to Angle vs Christian Cage they forgot to change Booker T's name to Christian Cage's throughout the entire press release?? I've seen better press releases written by backyard wrestling feds! I can't wait to see what the "and more" means.

How can you call yourself a professional wrestling organization when you can't even write up a press release?? TNA should be so proud that they are able to make themselves look more and more ridiculous with each passing day. I can't wait to see what they do tomorrow.

By Brett Schwan

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TNA Offers Coaching Job To Bob Knight

www.tnawrestling.com
Wednesday, 06 February 2008

TOTAL NONSTOP ACTION WRESTLING OFFERS COACHING JOB TO BOB KNIGHT

Total Nonstop Action (TNA) Wrestling is offering its first-ever Head Coaching job to Bob Knight, the all-time winningest Division I men’s basketball coach known as much for his coaching genius as his fiery temper, who resigned Monday in the middle of the season as the Texas Tech coach.

“TNA Wrestling was shocked, like the rest of the sports world, to hear Coach Knight resigned,” said Jeff Jarrett, co-founder of TNA Wrestling, who was a high school and junior college basketball player in Tennessee before becoming a professional wrestler. “Coach Knight is a sports icon and we’d be thrilled and honored to have him join the ranks, to further build TNA Wrestling into a national power, much like he did for Texas Tech.”

Knight, 67, has been a head coach for 42 years at three Division I schools: Army, Indiana and Texas Tech. Knight won three national championships, including his 1976 Indiana team that went undefeated, a feat no team has done since. In 1984, he coached the U.S. Olympic team to a gold medal in Los Angeles.

TNA Wrestling has a lighter schedule than college basketball which should appeal to Coach Knight, Jarrett said, and TNA not only endorses chair-throwing, but has an endless supply of steel chairs.

In addition to Jarrett, the TNA Wrestling roster also features Kevin Nash who, during his high school basketball career in Michigan had an in-home recruiting visit from Knight. Nash, though, ultimately played at the University of Tennessee, then professionally in Germany.

TNA Wrestling delivers a distinct brand of high-risk, athletic entertainment. TNA’s roster includes the biggest names in wrestling today, such as Kurt Angle, Booker T, and Christian Cage, as well as the hottest new stars in the business: AJ Styles, Samoa Joe and the Motor City Machineguns. TNA features the innovative six-sided ring and the high flying X-Division, as well as concept matches such as “Ultimate X,” “King of the Mountain,” “Six Sides of Steel,” “Lethal Lockdown” and “Elevation X,” considered the most dangerous match in professional wrestling.

TNA Entertainment, LLC is a privately held company headquartered in Nashville, TN. For more information, visit www.tnawrestling.com. TNA programming is available in over 100 countries. “TNA impact” airs every Thursday night on Spike TV (9:00 – 11:00 PM, ET/PT). Spike TV is available in 96.1 million homes and is a division of MTV Networks.

You have got to be kidding me!! Is TNA so desperate for publicity that they are stooping to this? Do they think this is going to get them some airtime on ESPN or something? Can the powers that be possibly do anything else to prove that they are trying to be anything but a wrestling organization?? I'm sure Coach Knight was more than touched by this offer. I just hope someone was there to help him up from when he fell on the floor laughing.

(Please notice how at no point in time did I comment on the paragraph regarding "TNA's roster includes the biggest names in wrestling today". Had I pointed it out, I would have also pointed out how TNA may have some big names and, more importantly, some incredible in ring performers but you can have all the talent in the world and it means nothing if you don't know how to use them!)

- Brett
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TNA Invades NorthFork Theatre at Westbury - The Good, The Bad, The Ridiculously Annoying.

TNA made it's Long Island debut in front of an announced sold out crowd at the NorthFork Theatre at Westbury on Friday night, February 22nd.

Sidekick Ron and I made the trek, through the snow and ice filled streets to Westbury. We stopped for dinner at the Jericho Diner which is the first diner I have ever seen a signed, framed, 8 x 10 of Telly Savalas hanging prominently by the cashier. The dinner was less than stellar but what do you expect from the Jericho Diner?

We arrived at the Music Fair (I can't get used to calling the Westbury Music Fair the NorthFork Theatre. It's like trying to convince me that the Meadowlands now has an Izod Arena. The line was already forming by 6 and the doors weren't scheduled to open until 7pm.

For those who are unfamiliar with the Theatre it is a theatre in the round. There is a round stage (which normally rotates for concert events, comedians, etc.) surrounded by stadium seating. The Theatre holds somewhere around 2300.

The ring was indeed able to fit on the round stage. However, there was very little headroom between the top rope and the lighting rig that hangs above the stage.

Doors opened at 7 sharp and the show started off promptly at 8pm. While the show was announced as a sell out, there were scattered empty seats throughout the theatre. However, that could have been due to the less than stellar area that hit the tri state area on Friday.

Luminaries in attendance included the Sure Thing John Shane (who actually has worked at the theatre for years), Bobby Reidel, Lamar Braxton Porter, and Atlas Security. Also in attendance (and I completely had forgotten he worked for TNA) was Lance Simon Diamond.

The show started of with some extremely annoying guy continuously screaming "Westburyyyyyyyyyyyy". I guess this was an attempt to get the crowd hyped. The crowd didn't need it, as they were hot all night. He introduced Jeremy Borash.

Borash then put on the most annoying dog and pony show for the next ten minutes, encouraging fans to cheer and chant while continuously telling us the the loudest TNA fans would get chosen to go into the back. To me it seems very amateurish to have to bribe and bait the fans for applause. The last wrestling event I went to that did this was in some half torn down gymnasium with about 20 fans. For a company claiming to be #2 behind the WWE, this really makes them look more like #10.

We'll ignore the numerous advertised names that weren't in attendance as I'm sure that's what TNA wants us to do :)

The opening match saw LAX defeat the Rock n Rave Infection. Hoyt and Rave are funny in small doses. LAX was over huge and defeated RnR in around 10 minutes.

Borash got back on the mic to hype up the crowd again. Enough already. Is this going to happen after every match? (The answer is yes).

Jay Lethal defended his X Division Championship by defeating Sonjay Dutt with the elbow drop off the top rope. A very good match that the crowd once again loved.

Borash back on the mic threatening fans that they may be taken backstage. Yawn.

The Knockouts Title match was next as Gail Kim took on Awesome Kong. Awesome Kong has to be seen live as she is simply, well, awesome. Gail Kim was over with the crowd and put up a hell of a struggle before Kong hit her with the Implant Buster for the pin.

More Borash looking out into the crowd, pretending to search for the loudest TNA fan. Seriously, is this a professional operation or what?

The Motor City Machine Guns were up next. They faced Team 3D. Team 3D got the biggest pop of the night, most likely since they are locals. Brother Ray got on the mic and put over Westbury while knocking the motor city. He then explained to referee Earl Hebner that the reason most of the fans didn't like him was because he screwed Bret. Brother Ray then convinced Hebner that he would become an instant fan favorite if he okayed this match to be a Long Island Street Fight. He did, he got cheered. (He was booed 2 minutes later). Team 3D ended up powerbombing Shelley through a table for the win. After the match, Brother Ray quieted the crowd down to almost silence. He then said, "See how quiet it is now? That's how it sounds when you watch a Taz match." He then laughed as he shouted "I got him! I got him! I got him!". Bubba, err Brother, then asked Dvon to pull someone from the crowd to take home a piece of the table. Dvon chose a young boy. Bubba had to point out that Dvon chose a black kid when there are plenty of white folk in the crowd. Dvon then chose a 2nd kid to come into the ring. The first boy started crying and left the ring. Bubba told him he was ruining the spot. Dvon chose a 3rd kid and both were given a piece of the broken table. Very good stuff that I actually enjoyed, which amazed me as I am not the biggest Dudley fan in the world.

A 20 minute intermission was next.

More Borash telling us that not enough people have been chosen to go backstage yet. Uh huh, sure.

Samoa Joe defeated AJ Styles in an awesome match. The crowd was split behind both men and chanted their names continuously throughout the match. Joe finally won with the Kokina Clutch.

Need I tell you... Borash banter continued.

Eric Young was up next against James Storm with Jackie Moore in his corner. At one point, Young took the ref shirt of Hebner and put it on. He then let Earl and Storm lock up. Storm left the ring and Hebner locked up with Jackie. Storm then attacked Young from behind and the match began. Lots of comedic spots, which was what the match was about. The finish saw Storm climb to the top rope but Young picked up Jackie and rammed her head into his crotch. He then picked them both up on his shoulders and hit a DVD for the pinfall.

Prior to the main event Borash announced that it was a sell out crowd and that TNA would return. He also announced that after the show many of the stars would be out to sign autographs.

The main event saw Kurt Angle defeat Christian Cage in the best match I have ever seen the two men have. Christian was able to kick out from the Angle Slam on two occasions. Angle kicked out from the Unprettier. Both men busted their asses until Kurt was able to lock on the ankle lock, in the center of the ring, to make Christian finally tap.

After the match, Kurt was available for $20 polaroids in the ring. The line nearly wrapped around the inside of the theatre. Meanwhile, many of the other stars came out to ringside to sign autographs and pose for pictures. The only problem with this was the set up. Since the theatre is in the round, there are only about 6 aisles that reach the ringside area. All those aisles were jam packed with people pushing and shoving trying to get near Joe, AJ, Eric, LAX, Rock N Rave, Jackie, Gail, Team 3d, Sonjay, and Lethal. I wish it had been set up in a slightly more organized fashion (maybe in the lobby near the merchandise table so fans could simply get an autograph as they filed out of the building, or maybe in different areas of the venue). However, it was the first time here and TNA was giving a little extra to the fans for supporting the event and for coming out in the ridiculous weather.

Being the mark I am, I was able to get a Gail Kim autograph. It's amazing how easy it is to get someone's attention, even from 6 or 7 rows back, by calling them by their original gimmick name.

While the matches were exceptional it really wasn't worth the $61.50 price of the ticket. Believe me, the constant nagging between every match, by Borash actually was a detriment and took away a lot of the mystique and fun that once made wrestling what it was. If you can tolerate him (and let me be clear that it isn't Borash that I dislike it was just the constant nonstop effort he took in trying to pump up the crowd between every match. I'm sure he was told to do it. However, if your actual product can't get the crowd hyped up then does all the between match BS really matter?

Overall, a very enjoyable show. Who would have thought that I would have enjoyed a TNA show live? Not me. Will I return when and if the come back? That depends. Will Booker T actually be advertised and booked on the show? Will Jeremy still be a shill between every match? Will the ticket prices be any cheaper?

Once I have all those answers (which I think I already do) then I will know :)

-Brett