Truths & Lies: TNA/Destination America Problems, Elimination Chamber & More

TRUTH: Elimination Chamber was worth bringing back as a WWE Network exclusive.

I wrote this before Sunday night, which just confirms how confident I am in WWE bringing back Elimination Chamber. Especially as a WWE Network exclusive. Whether the show is awesome or terrible remains to be seen. However, just the fact that it happened and was actually hyped up pretty well on television in less than two weeks is a positive. It ties in nicely with the King of the Ring tournament returning as a WWE Network exclusive, as well as their other recent additions.

Just those small, tiny selling points go a long way to entice fans to put down $9.99 for the WWE Network. If it is not the monthly pay-per-view, it is the NXT program. If it is not the NXT program, it is the original Jerry Springer clip show. If it is not that, it is the Chamber returning. If it is not that exclusive, it is the awesome WWE 24/7 specials. If it is not that, it is the Stone Cold interviews. So many different selling points where if one thing may not interest you, another definitely will. While the financials behind the WWE Network are still a work in progress, the quality and overall programming is well worth the price tag each and every month.

My prediction: The next WWE Network exclusive, following the King of the Ring tournament and Elimination Chamber, will be a special called “Iron Man Match.” That is my guess. WWE will find two talented guys on the roster and either as a one match show or part of a two/three hour event, an Iron Man Match will be the selling point. Seth Rollins vs. Dean Ambrose? Sheamus vs. Dolph Ziggler? Works for me.

LIE: Damien Sandow was the star of his feud with The Miz

Real quickly, I wrote about this in recent months throughout my Jay’s Ways column but felt it was worth repeating again now that Damien Sandow is playing dress up with Curtis Axel. The general consensus is that the Damien Sandow/The Miz feud was a fairly moderate success, minus the horrible few weeks with Summer Rae getting involved. It was a fun ride for six months, and the live crowd really ate it up with a spoon.

The problem? Most of the credit went to Sandow and NOT to Miz, which is a shame. I hate to break it to everybody, but the star of the feud all along was The Miz. He was the cocky heel. He was the man not tagging in “Mizdow” during their bouts together. He was the more established wrestler of the two. He was the one setting up all the great moments on Raw/Smackdown each week. He was the one working all the magic…it was just designed to make it seem like Damien Sandow was the star and not Miz. Well, that may have been the intention but credit where credit is due – that feud worked because of The Miz. Not Damien Sandow.

LIE: Samoa Joe Made A Mistake Heading To WWE/NXT

For years, I have written about TNA Impact Wrestling talent taking that next leap forward and going to WWE. Take a chance on yourself. Booker T has spoken about his own journey multiple times. He could have sat at home and collected a fat paycheck in 2001 when WCW closed down, like many other legends did. There was no real reason for him to sign with WWE then (likely at a lower price too); his deal was already guaranteed from WCW for awhile.

However, he ripped up his guaranteed WCW contract, took that next step forward in his career, and signed with WWE.

Why?

Because he believed in himself.

He was confident in his abilities and trusted he could perform on a grander stage. He was not worried like Sting about creative control or whatever insecurity and built in excuse. He was not resting on his laurels from the past like *insert many WCW names here* in 2001. Booker T knew he could hang with the main eventers in the biggest wrestling company in the world and risked it all on his confidence. He bet on himself…and is now in the WWE Hall of Fame.

His gamble paid off.

How many times have I mentioned this about TNA wrestlers? The talent there is great, no denying that…but these folks deserve to be in WWE. They deserve to be seen in front of 4-5 million viewers every week. They deserve to be competing at a WrestleMania event. They deserve to be in front of huge stadiums and arenas. They deserve success and so much more than what they have now.

Not wasting their prime years in TNA. Bobby Roode…James Storm…man, how do you not wonder ‘What if?’ After a decade of getting yanked around by TNA’s nonsense, they are STILL there and no closer to the much deserved WWE run.

If you don’t believe me, just ask them:

UNCLE!!!!!!!!

— Bobby Roode (@REALBobbyRoode) May 27, 2015

Well then there's that….

— James Storm (@JamesStormBrand) May 27, 2015

Unfortunate for them.

Fortunate for Samoa Joe.

Back to my point, he no longer has to wonder ‘What if?” Joe made his move earlier this year, finally escaping TNA and took a chance on himself. Instead of being worried about his gimmick, concerned about creative control, and all this other garbage that makes people doubt themselves, the man left a guaranteed payday in TNA (I assume) and went for higher ground. He found it at NXT Takeover: Unstoppable and is already being featured all over different WWE media outlets. I am not even a big Samoa Joe fan or anything even closely resembling one, but you had to feel happy for him last week. AJ Styles is reportedly next in line for this opportunity – good luck sir.

Hopefully, this is a wake up call to TNA and other independent wrestlers out there.

Believe in your ability and take a chance on yourself.

TRUTH: I ‘called it’ six months ago concerning the entire TNA-Destination America relationship deteriorating.

Oh, TNA. Why must you continue to prove me right?

In November 2014, I wrote a column about TNA signing with Destination America. Nearly two months before the show even aired its’ first episode on its’ new network, I wrote the following:

“Just been dumped by Spike TV, you are automatically going to fall in love with whoever the new partner is regardless of the blatant demotion. Think of it using the shiny toy analogy. First day you get that new toy, you play with it for hours on end. You jump up and down. You are smiling. You are taking pictures. You are showing your friends and family all the cool features. It is just amazing – heaven on earth. Greatest toy ever!

Then a week goes by…then another…then another. Still cool. Still fun, but it is now sitting in the corner when it used to sit on the shelf to keep it clean. Then one day, you do not play with it at all . Maybe you forgot about it. Maybe you were busy. Then it does not get played with for a few days. Before you know it, a new shiny toy has arrived, and the former shiny toy is in a bin buried under your bed collecting dust. That is TNA going to Destination America right now.”

Ding! Ding! Ding! As I continued…remember, this was back in November of last year…

“YAY! They will be the top priority! MORE programming! A BIG push from social media! AWESOME! Screw you Spike TV, we never liked you anyways! Destination America is the greatest!” WOOOOO!!!”

“Riiiiight. Press releases make me laugh (from all companies to be fair). Always rainbows and sunshine with the underlying scent of BS all over the place. So funny to read sometimes. I am making a 2015 BOLD prediction right now: After a few months of toiling away on Destination America, TNA is going to truly realize how good they had it at Spike TV all these years. Fans too. Laugh now but Spike is going to look like the freakin’ Taj Mahal compared to the Destination America motel. Remember the saying – you do not know what you have until it is gone. Well, I give a few months before folks truly grasp that.”

A few months have gone, and here we sit.

Where is all that extra programming? Canceled or tossed to a 3am time slot. Or you know, handed over to Ring of Honor before AND after your show. What happened to making Friday this amazing night of television? Oops. Moved nights already for 45,837th time in TNA’s history. How is being the top priority on Destination America? That went well, for about a week. Hey, those positive and upbeat press releases sure are amazing for TNA, huh? Yeah, just the usual PR spin from network executives – it means nothing.

Remember though, I am just a “hater” and don’t have a clue.

*sigh*

Eventually, people learn. Eventually.

One more quote:

“Is Destination America going to boost the non-existent TNA pay-per-view business? Spoiler alert: No. Is Destination America going to fill up those empty arenas for TNA live events? Spoiler alert: No. Is Destination America going to bump television ratings? Spoiler alert: No. Numbers are expected to be cut in HALF! Across the board, Destination America is a big step down from Spike TV and (another spoiler alert!) is not going to do anything for live events, PPV buys, etc.”

All from November 2014 – months before the show even premiered…and ironically, months before the *rumored* news of Destination America wanting to end their TNA TV deal early.

No explanation needed.

What’s Next For Me?

The boss wants “broad appeal columns on hot topics regarding mainstream wrestling” from yours truly, so that is what I will do. If any of you have some suggestions going forward, please let me know! Title of the column, format, interview guests, etc. Just let me know. I am always open to ideas, as long as they are presented in a respectful manner and not at all insulting. Reminder: I will write a ‘reader feedback’ section next week containing YOUR messages in the comment section below…

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