wrestling / Columns
411 Fact or Fiction 10.16.08: Sting as Champion, Another TNA Title, Kelly Turning Down Playboy and More!
1. TNA made the right call putting the world title on Sting at Bound for Glory.
Csonka: FACT. Listen, I like Joe; but the fact is that his title run wasn’t setting the world on fire, and of they wanted to go ahead with the “new vs. old” angle, Joe had to lose the title. The shitty finish sucked, BUT it did make sense for Joe to get screwed. Now, with the “no re-match” deal, Joe will have to prove himself all over again and likely “run the gauntlet” so to speak to get back to the top. I have some faith in the angle and really hope that it works. Now while Sting leaving as champion for a 3rd year in a row is pissing people off, he has been the catalyst of this angle and it makes sense to get the strap on him, and this time for an extended run.
Cook: FACTION. That’s right, it’s both fact and fiction and I’m gonna tell you why. TNA made the right call because the reign of Samoa Joe as TNA Champion has been a complete and utter disappointment. It just didn’t live up to the hopes and dreams that us Joe fans had when he entered TNA back in June 2005. For years we begged for TNA to give Joe the title and let him carry the company to new heights. Well, they gave him the title, and he seemed content treading water with the fishes instead of soaring with the eagles. Sure, a lot of it had to do with the writing team bungling his character and putting him in situations that didn’t make him look good, but a truly great sports entertainer can overcome bad writing and connect with the audience in a major way. And as much as I hate to admit it, Joe didn’t really do that.
However…TNA also made the wrong call because they put the title on a forty-nine year old man that seems to be their short-term answer for everything at this time of year. Three straight years we’ve seen Sting win the TNA championship in the Bound For Glory main event…this sort of thing worked pretty well with Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania back in the day, but 2008 Sting ain’t 1987 Hulk Hogan. And let’s take a look at these title reigns…in 2006 Sting beat Jeff Jarrett for the title only to lose it to Abyss at TNA’s very next PPV a month later. In 2007, the Stinger took the title away from Kurt Angle, but he couldn’t even hold on to it past TNA’s first set of television tapings two days later! Jeez, Ari can hold on to a girlfriend longer than that. I don’t know where this current Sting title reign is going, but I have the feeling that it’ll be similar to his other reigns, which were transitional in nature.
Dunn: FACT. They really had no idea what to do with Samoa Joe, and Samoa Joe had no idea how to play the character they wanted him to play. It’s similar to the problems I had with CM Punk early on in his title reign. Good characters are ones who do things. Bad characters are ones who have things done to them. Joe was booked as a guy who was constantly being manipulated by Kevin Nash and always responding to that. Sometimes he was a face. Sometimes he was a heel. Sometimes, even he didn’t know what he was supposed to do. Sting offers them an opportunity to reset with a proven commodity. I’m not sure which direction the go in after this. More Jarrett? More Angle? Trying to sign another WWE reject? I really think Matt Morgan could be their version of Batista if they start booking him as a long-term project.
ARI: FICTION. STUPID, STUPID, STUPID, STUPID FREAKING TNA FREAKING GOD ARE YOU STUPID. Listen, its not that Samoa Joe should be champion forever and ever until the end of time. It’s not that Sting shouldn’t be winning the TNA Title in the first place. Its just the when and the how and the why that it happened that manages to piss me off. First of all, placing the stipulation that “there will be no rematch” telegraphs that there will be a title change (especially to a heel). Joe has been champion for six months, but arguably he should be champion for far longer than that given all the time wasted beforehand–he had a lot to make up for the damaged reputation of not being able to win the big one for over a year and a half, and he was a far cry away from doing so. Then there’s the fact that Sting has won the TNA Title the past two (now make it three) years in a row, which says a hell of a lot about the state of TNA in and of itself. Next, this is the Wrestlemania of TNA and you’re putting (in theory but not in practice judging by fan reaction) a heel over the top? No, the faces are supposed to win the big one at the big one. Samoa Joe should have won this match against Sting at Bound For Glory and without a “no rematch” clause they could have done it again in the near future and Sting could have won it then, thus furthering the old school vs. new school angle and strengthening it with more storyline progression. TNA absolutely made the wrong call here, but well, par for the freaking course when it comes to them.
Randle: FICTION. Solely based on the fact that they’re totally screwing up the storyline that they’re going for. I know, I know, they want to do some sort of “New vs. Old” thing, but look at what they’re obviously building towards. I’ll give you a hint, it’s probably not Joe fighting his way through the old guard to regain his hard-won TNA World Title. No, I suspect when the chips are down, the cards are on the table, and the story climaxes, we’re looking at Sting vs. Jeff Jarrett Part Seven Million and Twelve. Oh, but this time Sting is the bad guy and Jarrett is the conquering hero. Except Sting’s not really bad, because he’s not the sort of guy you can have turn evil. Even though he’s a crazy guy in Crow makeup who attacks people with baseball bats from behind. Even though the entire “Crow” phase of Sting’s career started because everyone in WCW thought he was untrustworthy. What I’m trying to say, amidst all the rambling, is that TNA is, once again, doing a big thing badly, and I don’t think they’re going to fix it.
Rutherford: FICTION. This smacks of a dangled carrot in front of Sting to stick around TNA. It’s funny, the more TNA try to be individual the more they look like WCW. Samoa Joe is a strong marketable champion and needed to stay on top. Sting is the type of guy that Joe needs to be almost squashing. Sting did it before when he helped make Vader into a monster and should have done it now. It also puts all the hard work Kurt Angle did in helping put Joe over a complete waste of time.
Score: 2 Fact, 3 Fiction, 1 FACTion
2. Mick Foley will never wrestle a match for TNA.
Csonka: FICTION. I believe that Foley is dead set on making his legacy by helping another company as much as he can, and that will be by being Mick Foley. He’ll cut promos, he’ll continually take sick chair shots and he will wrestle at some point for the company. I also think that a Foley PPV match, and they are building to a Foley vs. Angle match, will do a good buyrate, but nothing that will stay up unfortunately. I will say that I am concerned that there is no guarantee that he will wrestle under this deal. Yes Mick Foley coming in is nice, and some people have really enjoyed it, but I still have concerns with the signing. I still am not sure that Foley wrestling is the best idea, but I will admit that it is not the worst idea. But I have to say that as of now I feel that this is another classic TNA mistake by not having a guarantee in the contract that he will wrestle. If this is true, TNA has no one to blame but themselves. Foley could easily get upset and decide not to wrestle, and then what will he have been worth?
Cook: FICTION. For God’s sake, I hope its fiction! The prospect of Mick Foley never actually wrestling a match in TNA makes less sense than Randle’s last column. Why on God’s green Earth would TNA sign Mick Foley and never have him wrestle? That’s like signing Rembrandt and never having him paint. What the hell would be the purpose? I know TNA’s stupid, but they can’t be that stupid…………….can they?
Dunn: FICTION. Mick Foley has stated that his major goal is to get TNA over as an organization. If he feels he can do that best by stepping into the ring with someone to put them over (Abyss?), then I think it will probably happen. You never say never with Mick Foley. After all, it’s only been 8 1/2 years since his retirement match. Anything inside of a decade is considered weaning.
ARI: FICTION. Mick Foley will wrestle at least once in TNA during this contract, or sign a renewal which includes added matches. Unless he is perfectly willing to do silly and ridiculous bits involving the Fashion Skank Barbies and M&Ms candies for the next six months, which knowing Foley’s proclivity for stripers and his sweet tooth he may be want to do over getting involved in serious angles. Foley vs. Kurt Angle, Sting or Samoa Joe are just three possible and very attractive matches that TNA can market and hope to do a better than mundanely average buyrate. Hell, I have sworn off TNA Pay Per Views ever since Vince Russo was put back on the booking committee and even I would heavily consider buying a PPV with Foley wrestling. I did it for WWE in 2006 when he was involved in a five-way match–a one on one match with one of my favorite wrestlers of all time against a big name opponent? I’m almost there giving TNA my thirty-five bucks. Foley has expressed his interested in helping TNA increase its exposure and succeed, well, getting in the ring for these marquee matches is the way to do it. Then again, Foley wanted to help ROH out when he spent a year there and the closest he got to wrestling a match was an unsanctioned “encounter” against Samoa Joe when they were feuding in February of 2005. I just happen to think he’s already too invested as a part of TNA not to do at least one match. Then again, those M&Ms are delicious…and they don’t nearly hurt Foley’s body as much as taking a barbed wire Christmas tree to the face.
Randle: FICTION. Now, if you’d said “should” never wrestle a match for TNA, then I would have been all for it. Mick has the very problem that he swore in his books he never wanted: he can’t admit that he shouldn’t be out there wrestling any more. He can still bring the emotion, the promos, and the fans, but a guy Mick’s age, weight, and status shouldn’t have to keep coming back and trying to put on yet another “star-making” performance, and yet he keeps trying to. We get it, Mick, you’re always a company guy, you’ll put anybody over that you can. All I want is for you to start doing it with your mouth instead of your body. But no, I really expect that before his six months are up, we’ll see Mick, beaten and bloody, probably lying in a pool of thumbtacks, having “made” another young superstar.
Rutherford: FICTION. The contract itself says he isn’t contractually bound to have a match but that’s not to say he won’t. I know marks are hoping for a Foley/Abyss match and really, if Mick wants to, let him have at it. The man has to sleep with himself every night and if he thinks he needs to get in the ring and prove something ,then let him be. I only ask that if he does wrestle again that he get in shape so he can tear shit up like he did. If he wrestles a weak match all it does is reflect badly on him.
Score: 0 Fact, 6 Fiction
3. TNA should NOT introduce a new title into the mix.
Csonka: FACT. Previously the idea of an X-Division tag title was floated around, but was then axed in favor of bolstering the regular tag team division, which I agreed with. Jarrett feels that the more titles there are, the more they work against the value of titles, and I have to agree here., he is absolutely right. They have four titles and plenty of talent, but unfortunately since day one TNA has NEVER been able to book all of the divisions effectively at the same time. At the beginning it was the X-Division. When Raven came in it was the world title, AMW carried the tag division at different times. Last year we saw the Knockouts run wild for a bit, but never have the effectively been able to work all of the divisions well at the same time. I think right now that they need to focus on what they have and make it work. I don’t want then adding more titles just to have titles. But I will say that “The Legend’s Championship” angle that they are about to do with Booker T has a TON of potential. I am against them adding another regular belt, but this could be played out very well, especially with the “new vs. old” angle. This is the perfect thing to do with a guy like Booker as well, similar to the King run, which was tremendous. The funny thing is that this is getting the old EPIC FAIL treatment from the crowd already. I wonder if they would have shit on the Million Dollar belt as well?
Cook: FACT. If the question was “411mania should NOT introduce a new Rutherford column into the mix.” I would also say FACT. By my count, they already have a Heavyweight Champion. They have a Light Heavyweight Champion (X Division, yeah yeah blah blah blah). There’s a Knockout Championship and there’s a Tag Team Championship. By my count, they’ve got all of their divisions covered. What else is there? Seems to me that they’ve got everything covered, unless you want to introduce a title that says “Hey, this guy isn’t good enough to be the World Champion, so we’re just going to give him this belt to make him happy”. I am totally in Jeff Jarrett’s corner on this argument. Secondary titles are bullshit. If you’re not good enough to be champion in your weight class, why should you be a champion? Nobody can come up with a good answer for that, so fuck ‘em.
Dunn: FACT. Although I think they can just convert the X-Division title now. It used to be built around showcasing athleticism and daring, but it’s become just another storyline tool. If they’re going to go that route with it, it might as well just be a regular secondary title like the U.S. Title or Intercontinental Title. Call it the TNA TV Title or something. Besides, most of the TNA talent that is really good at the X-Division matches are seen as “above” that title, so it’s become a de facto secondary title anyway.
ARI: FACT. Four titles should be more than enough for right now, regardless of the lack of status of the X-Division belt. but Let’s face it, the X-Division title, which was meant to be on the same level or higher as an “intercontinental” title, means less than nothing these days. The problem with doing any sort of mid-card title is that TNA is basically divided into two tiers, the upper card guys like Styles, Christian and Booker who are very comfortable in the main event level and not out of place at all fighting for the TNA Heavyweight Title, and the lower card guys like The Prince Justice Brotherhood and the X-Division wrestlers. Use the upper tier guys for the IC-level belt and you bring those guys down too far down the depth chart and if you use the X-Division guys for the IC title then no one will believe the presence and the legitimacy of the belt. Let me close with this, do you really want to see TNA “Universal Studios” Champion Cute Kip? The return of a Dupp Cup style title with Shark Boy or Curry Man at the helm? NO, NO, A THOUSAND TIMES NO.
Randle: FACT. I thought the whole purpose of the X Division was that it wasn’t about weight limits, it was about no limits. That was the whole reason why a guy like Samoa Joe is considered the most dominant X Division champion in TNA history. How can you, then, say that there are guys on the roster who don’t fit into that division? Is this a tacit admission that you’ve managed to take your one unique title and turn it into a glorified version of the WWE Cruiserweight title? Because that’s what it looks like to me. Face it, they’ve got 4 title belts on a roster that is size equivalent to one brand of WWE. Raw and Smackdown? Why, they have 4 title belts each as well, and everyone on each roster pretty much fits into one of those divisions (plus jobbers). Why does TNA think that they don’t have enough titles? Maybe they should have thought about that back when they decided that the X title no longer means what it used to.
Rutherford: FACT. They can barely make the titles they have now mean anything so why add another to the mix? ROH have their backyard taken care of. Every time a title changes hand it has meaning. Take the recent title change to Sting…it means nothing. If Samoa Joe was champion for 14 months, then we’d be talking.
Score: 6 Fact, 0 Fiction
4. TNA is throwing away money by re-signing Kevin Nash.
ARI: FACT. You know how they could get more for their money with Kevin Nash? JANITOR DUTIES. Clean up the Impact Zone bitch! Mop up that mess Abyss made in the hallway! Sting wants his rafters extra shiny! What does Nash exactly do for TNA that you couldn’t get done with anyone else half his age and ten times his current ability? On screen, he makes jokes, he “gives advice” to wrestlers which results in them getting less over than before, he doesn’t wrestle often and if he does he’s really bad at it. Hey, Nash is great at doing all of those things and more power to him for getting TNA to hand cash over for his “services”–money for nothing and the chicks for free. If I’m signing the checks I don’t sign him to any more contracts. But I’m not surprised, TNA NEVER learns from these situations.
Randle: FACT. But then, they throw away money signing a lot of people, so what are you going to do? Kevin Nash is not drawing ratings, buyrates, or anything else that will improve the state of TNA or its growth. Like Mick Foley, he’s a guy who shouldn’t be in the ring given his history of crippling injuries and lack of mobility, but they seemed determine to get him back in there. He’s coasting on old days of nWo glory, and has been for quite some time now. Sure, he’s a cool guy, but when there’s no money in the budget to re-sign some of those other expiring contracts such as Christian Cage, Robert Roode or Awesome Kong, younger, more talented wrestlers, just because you overspent on Mick Foley, Kevin Nash, and even Sting, do you know what you’re left with? I’ll give you a hint, it went out business seven years ago and Vince owns it now.
Rutherford: FACT. Kevin Nash has only ever been a profitable wrestler for a company once in his life. The rest of the time he’s either not been over or tanking business. TNA wants star power I get it, but when you have talent now starting to go back to the WWE because they are offering more money, you need to be spending more wisely. Or better yet, make your own stars and leave the washed up, has-beens at home.
Csonka: FACT. Fact, so much a fact. I don’t want to hear Nash’s statements of being in great physical shape. I have seen him work recently, and he is still in bad shape and has managed to get creative control concerning the physicality of his matches. He is just about useless, and the one area that he COULD be useful in, commentary, they refuse to use him in. I can’t wait until he is supposed to lose to Joe so that he can have another heart attack or pick up another box of toys and “strain his back” once again.
Cook: FACT. I would also argue that WWE is throwing away money by sending their DVDs to Dunn, but that’s neither here nor there. I’m not a Kevin Nash hater by any stretch of the imagination. I liked Diesel as WWF Champion, I liked Nash as part of the New World Order…hell, I even got a Kevin Nash chain wallet as a present one-year and I kept it around as long as that particular form of fashion was still popular. But in 2008, what value does Kevin Nash have? Honestly, not very much. The guy can’t wrestle….he can talk pretty well, but I’m sure whatever TNA’s paying him to do that, it’s way too much. Kevin Nash has had a great career considering his skill level, but in 2008 he’s pretty much past his expiration date. I’m sorry Big Sexy, you’ve had a hell of a career, but I’m done, done, on to the next one.
Dunn: FACT. Although I think he’d be useful on commentary, I’ll say fact because there’s just no use for him. They wanted him to put Chris Sabin over. Sabin is now the Marty Janetty of a pretty good tag team. They wanted him to get Samoa Joe over as a champion. Nobody has any idea what in the hell was going on there, and it just served to muddy the waters for Joe’s title run. Outside of joining West and Tenay, I don’t see any role they can put him in where he can make money back for them.
Score: 6 Fact, 0 Fiction
5. The suspension of Dolph Ziggler was in no way a surprise to you.
ARI: FICTION. “Hi I’m Dolph Zigler and I’ve tested positive.” Am I shocked that someone got caught thanks to the WWE steroid policy? No. WWE is enforcing their policy at least to some degree these days. Someone was bound to get caught eventually. Am I shocked that it was Dolph Zigler a.k.a. Nick Nemeth, who was getting another shot where no one else on the former Spirit Squad (aside from Ken “Triple H’s in-ring Fonzworth Bentley” Doane) had a real second chance? Oh yes. Suspended for 30 days before he even had a chance to establish just what the hell he was doing in the locker room besides shaking people’s hands. Unbelievably stupid that when you get a second chance you take that kind of risk. He’s going to be shaking hands more frequently with his local proctologist in the near future. Just don’t make fun of the steroid testers due to your bitterness and you should be alright in a month.
Randle: FICTION. Though I suppose it shouldn’t have, the guys looks like he went to the Scott Steiner school of bodybuilding. I guess my real shock, as I said in my report earlier this week, is that he managed to take something that would fail a Wellness suspension without even appearing in a televised match in his new gimmick. Seriously, if your previous claim to fame is one of the four Spirit Squad guys who wasn’t Kenny, and you get another shot at the big time, one would think that it is in your best interest to not f*** it up with something stupid like a Wellness suspension, because if you bring nothing to the table but that, I’m fairly sure WWE will release your ass in five seconds, forget about you in the next five, and bring up another guy to fill your spot in the next five.
Rutherford: FICTION. Who? Oh, that new guy. Don’t care really. Once the WWE starts making me care about their characters I will care if they’re gone.
Csonka: FACT. Seriously, did you even see the guy? “The Natural” my ass.
Cook: FACT. No Wellness-related suspension surprises me. In fact, I just assume that everybody on the roster’s using something. If they’re not, consider me envious of their genetics. Unlike Csonka’s genetics, which nobody is envious of.
Dunn: FACT. After Funaki got busted, all bets are off. Look, it’s all part of supply and demand. You can’t demand a certain look from your athletes and be surprised when they’re taking the only possible steps they can to achieve that look. Sure, some guys are just naturally big, and they work hard to get and maintain a physique, but those are few. I picture a meeting with WWE Talent Relations going much the same way as Katherine Heigl’s meeting with the E! network went in “Knocked Up.”
Score: 3 Fact, 3 Fiction
6. You are disappointed that Kelly Kelly is not posing for Playboy.
ARI: FACT. I just think its a swerve by the by, but if not, I am heartbroken. Hey I’m all for women’s lib (that and my musical tastes has gotten me ragged on by some readers and columnists on occasion), but I’m not blind and I’m not married. Kelly Kelly is a demi-god of Barbie-Doll look-alikes, but I don’t mind that for some reason…hmmm… I wonder why. I would line up on the corner bodega…errr…the corner internet download site If it turned out she does go through with it. I do applaud her for showing some backbone like Trish Stratus before her for not going through with it, but at the same time I am kicking soda cans up and down the block. It turns out that “Sweet girl-next-door” attitude she exudes on television may not be that far from the truth.
Randle: FICTION. Because I’m in a healthy, loving relationship and would like to remain so, and she reads 411. Seriously, though, I’m tired of the annual “Playboy” match at every WrestleMania, featuring at least one Diva who has less wrestling skill than the guy who sets up the ring, who only got there because she was willing to be naked and airbrushed in a mainstream magazine that stopped being relevant nearly ten years ago. How dare I call Playboy irrelevant? Simple, I have Internet access, if I want to see naked twenty-something blonde chicks with no other real talent, I can do that in about three or four seconds, depending on browser lag.
Rutherford: FICTION. While Kelly Kelly is hot by wrestling standards she really is pretty cookie cutter for the general population of hot woman. I think the wrestling fan base would probably prefer Victoria or Mickie James to be in those Playboy pages instead eye candy Kelly. So no, I’m not really disappointed. However, Vince needs to do his own line of adult products. Currently he gets the reflected glow of Playboy who gets the monetary benefits of seeing a WWE diva naked. If Vince did a video that was mainly fashion with about 4 or 5 select shots of certain woman with their tits out, it would sell through the roof. He wants to expand his brand…do it through the tits of your woman wrestlers.
Csonka: FACT. Listen, I HATE the BunnyMania shit. I HATE when the less talented chicks get title shots. And I HATE hearing about Playboy for weeks on end. But I am a man, she’s a hot looking bitch, yeah, I wanted to see her NEKKED~! And no, I wouldn’t have paid for it, I haven’t bought pr0n since I discovered the internet.
Cook: FICTION. For one simple reason…do you really think I’m going to pay for porn? Really? Besides, girls like Kelly Kelly Kelly are a dime a dozen. Sure, she’s cute, but I can find somebody cuter at the bar tomorrow night…that might actually have something interesting to say! Emphasis on might. Besides, it’s not like WWE’s lacking for Divas to put in the magazine. As a matter of fact, I hear that JT has offered to purchase 10,000 copies of Playboy if they feature Mae Young as their annual WWE Diva.
Dunn: FACT. 
Ummm…FACT!
Score: 3 Fact, 3 Fiction
More Trending Stories
- Dana White Reacts to Josh Hokit’s Insulting Remark About Michelle Obama at UFC Freedom 250
- UFC Champion Sean Strickland Climbs Into WWE Ring at UFC Freedom 250, Gets Escorted Out By Security
- JBL Says Danhausen Has Found Lightning In A Bottle
- AJ Styles Reveals What He Appreciated About Vince McMahon, Difference Between Vince & TKO Eras
