The Katz Files – Arnie Katz
My Weekly TNA Notebook
The Kingfish Arnie Katz wrestles with some of the major issues raised by the 10/30 episode of TNA’s weekly TV show.
Embattled AJ
I have complained about TNA’s booking and writing so often that regular readers like Nic Farey and Shelby Vick could probably write a fair imitation if I gave them the first line.
That’s why I’m making a special point of praising the way they’ve set up the three-way title match for Turning Point.with AJ Styles, Daniels and Samoa Joe. The series of interviews that ran on the 10/30 iMPACT established an every-man-for-himself situation, because no one now trusts either of the other two.
That’s a lot better than the usual insta-feud. You know, where two guys who seemingly have never talked suddenly develop a lifelong hatred of each other. (This is the opposite of the insta-buddy angle in which two wrestlers who have no apparent connection suddenly become childhood friends, college roommates and best man at each other’s weddings.).
Going Global
In pro wrestling, things generally happen for a reason. That’s even true for TNA, so the renaming of the Legends Championship deserves close scrutiny.
It looks like TNA is creating a structure similar to what WWE has done with the World Heavyweight and WWE Championship. As in WWE, NA now has two ambiguously named belts, both of which sound like they are the top title.
Two potential uses for the Global and TNA Heavyweight belts:
1. Hulk Hogan could take one of the titles and defend it, mostly on the pay per views. The grandiose name would satisfy his ego, but it would also leave TNA to continue to book meaningful, exciting matches for the otherstrap.
2. Adding it to some other evidence, it could well be the first step in setting up a second TNA show. Each program would have its own “top champion,” like RAW and Smackdown.
If TNA actually maintains a division between the two shows, unlike what WWE has done, iMPACT could continue pretty much as before and the new show would be centered on Hogan. They could even move him back and forth between the shows, as WWE has done with guys like Batista.
That’s all for now. I’ll be back Sunday with a fresh installment of the Internet’s fastest-rising pro wrestling column. I hope you’ll join me then and, please, bring your friends.
— Arnie Katz
Executive Editor
[email protected]
(11/3/09)