The Shimmy 5.07.07: The Matt Adamson Show

To those of you expecting part four of the Interpromotional Matches series I apologize. Due to a rather hectic schedule and a severe lack of sleep there will be no regularly scheduled edition of “The Shimmy.” I tip my hat to my fellow colleagues that can pop out columns despite whatever else they’ve got on their plate. Me, I’m not that great at multitasking.

I don’t feel quite so bad in leaving you all without a column this week, though, as we have a healthy dose of Matt Adamson’s super-sized 500 Good Words. Matt does a great job with his puro column “Destiny” and for one week only he’s taking the reigns of this column as well. I hope you all enjoy it and send the man some love. I’ll be back next week with the promised Interpromotional Matches finale. Until then, don’t die. Clark…out. Adamson…in.

-Andy Clark

500 (Plus) Good Words

I hope nobody was anticipating the next part of my Champion vs. Champion series too eagerly as I have decided to take a one week hiatus before busting out part six. I feel as though when there is something major that happens in the world of wrestling, the past can be put aside so we can focus on the future. This week something major happened that will likely change the future of wrestling. Ring of Honor has announced a Pay Per View deal that will begin July 1st with “Respect is Earned” and will feature six pay per views a year. This is huge news, and will potentially have a significant effect on TNA as they will become direct rivals as has already been made perfectly clear when TNA pulled all remaining TNA talent from the ROH Roster. In other shocking new PWG has seemingly been forced to sever ties with TNA as well as TNA gave them the ultimatum of “don’t use our talent or don’t distribute your DVD’s through outside distribution.” What does this mean for ROH, PWG and TNA? Plenty, and I’ll take a look at both situations and offer my opinions on what I think each company will face and what needs to be done.

Ring of Honor, since it’s beginning has been a quality wrestling product designed to draw off the interest fans have in the actual wrestling match rather than on storylines and skits. They sell their product by providing the highest quality in-ring displays possible. TNA knows exactly how good the in-ring product of ROH is and has signed many ROH wrestlers to TNA contracts including Samoa Joe, Alex Shelley, Austin Aries (Star), Jay Lethan, Low Ki (Senshi), Homicide, Christopher Daniels, AJ Styles and a few others. The problem ROH faces now as a result of signing the PPV deal is that while TNA would allow their talent to work ROH shows for the most part from the beginning, they are contractually obligated (no doubt partly as a result of their television and PPV deal) to discontinue that relationship as they have now become direct rivals.

While some may think this is a bad thing for both companies, I actually completely believe it is a great opportunity for both ROH and TNA. ROH has clearly anticipated this for quite some time. They have gone from using many TNA talents as recently as February, when Homicide was also the ROH World Champion, to just using Homicide and Austin Aries. They planned well and will benefit from that, but ROH still maintains a solid roster full of talented wrestlers who they have been able to focus on much better since phasing out the TNA talent. This situation will make ROH appear to be the true alternative to the WWE as they are relying entirely on stars made in the independent scene or (in the case of Brent Albright) wrestlers who were never properly used for the talent they had.

Besides the fact that TNA gains almost exclusive use of guys like Homicide and Aries (who supposedly has asked for his release so he can no doubt jump to ROH) who if they play their cards right can showcase for their immense talent and show that they can go head to toe with ROH. The facts are that TNA is going to have to step up their game if they are going to want to maintain those fans of both ROH and TNA. A little competition in the area of quality in-ring product is just what TNA needs to make it the alternative they claim to be. Hopefully they see that. In the event that I have to choose between TNA and ROH for my PPV dollar, my money is going to ROH without hesitation as I can count on their shows to be must see and they will feed my extensive appetite for puro at the same time. That isn’t to say TNA isn’t capable of stepping it up and taking my dollar away from ROH. They have the talent to do so; they just have to work that much harder.

As far as the PWG (Pro Wrestling Guerilla, for those who have yet to be introduced) issue goes, it’s a bit more complicated. PWG either had to cease using wrestling mega-store Highspots.com for DVD distribution or they would have to cease using TNA talent. PWG weighed the two scenarios, and while it was a lose/lose situation, they were able to make what I believe to be the best decision of the two. Highspots is a great way to get your product out there and keeping that relationship while losing 3 top guys is tough, but manageable. Losing a distribution deal while holding onto only 3 guys is what puts companies under for good. PWG chose to go the route of pushing their own talent, in other words, pushing guys who are known first as PWG wrestlers. The problem with the breaking of ties with TNA is that PWG had several TNA talents booked for future events and those bookings have already been announced, including Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley pairing up as participants in the tag title tournament that many believed they were going to win. They also lost a long time major player in the company as a result of this as Frankie Kazarian is tied to TNA for the time being. My feeling is that when Kazarian’s contract is up that he will benefit much more by going back to the indies where he is a major draw and can avoid tarnishing his place as TNA is making him look weak thus far as a member of Serotonin. In other words, PWG will have to make some changes for the time being but are more than equipped to over come those changes with the roster they have.

Lots of people are talking about TNA being the bad guy in this, but the facts are TNA probably doesn’t have a choice in the matter. They are not an independent company and have obligations to distributors, television networks and PPV companies. If they did have a choice I wouldn’t blame them for making this choice as far as the ROH relationship goes, though the PWG move seems a little odd. TNA just needs to understand that with taking the talent of these two organizations that it is time to start looking at who your competition is and acting on it. TNA has a tremendous talent pool and for them to take talent from other companies and then in turn squander it would be a real shame. This is major stuff people, It’s time for some real competition and the start of a true alternative to the WWE. Roll with it.

Next week I’ll be back to the Champion vs. Champion Series where I’ll look at WCW in the early 90’s when they decided to make some odd choices that led to a fantastic Champion vs. Champion match in mid-1994. Email: [email protected]. Until next time.