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What everyone fails to realize in analyzing the wrestling feud of Samoa Joe vs. Kurt Angle is that TNA is using Kurt Angle to draw people to their product. I'll admit that it worked for me. I purchased Bound for Glory last Sunday and was glad I did. I previously purchased TNA pay per views and watched their product before the "Old Timers" or WCW Classic wrestlers invaded TNA. Sting, Scott Steiner, Bagwell, Luger etc.. is what made me turn off their product. I thought to myself "Make up your mind TNA. Are you a future wrestling stars company or a WCW rehash with rematches using their classic stars?" Turns out it was neither. While one half of the boat was being rowed in one direction, the other half was being rowed in the exact opposite direction. Sure, there were great matches on television as I continued to sample their product but a Jeff Jarrett-led wrestling company kept me from watching an entire hour of Impact.
That all changed this past Sunday when I ordered Bound for Glory. Much like Vader vs. Sting in WCW, Angle vs. Samoa Joe could be the magnet TNA is looking for, if Kurt Angle's body can withstand the punishment that a Samoa Joe will give it. TNA is NOT putting together this match too soon because BFG brought them new fans. Those fans of Angle will go anywhere (figuratively speaking) that their favorite wrestler is wrestling to see his matches. That is why he was sent to Friday Smack Down when Batista got hurt. It is also why ECW was built around him. As one of his fans I ordered Bound for Glory and and found myself pulled into a fresh story. The story of Samoa Joe vs. Kurt Angle isn't a rehash of old WCW, ECW, or WWE stars but something entirely new. A story someone can catch from the beginning. The last time this happened was when Ric Flair left WCW and made his debut for the WWF. Now that Ric Flair was wrestling in fresh water, I could see unique match ups that months earlier I could only dream about. Even though I still watched wrestling on Saturday nights, now I was tuning in to wrestling shows I hadn't watched before. I even attended my first and only MSG house show. That house show had several names I recognized and respected from The NWA including the Legion of Doom aka Road Warriors, Big Boss Man aka Bubba Rogers, IRS aka Mike Rotunda and Flair vs. Hogan. The parallels to Flair's WWF run and Kurt Angle debuting at Bound for Glory are interesting.
When I tried to decide if was going to order Bound for Glory. I saw many names I recognized Team 3D aka The Dudleys, AMW, Christian Cage, Lo Ki aka Senshi ,Christopher Daniels, AJ Styles, Chris Sabin and a curiosity factor with Sting vs. Jarrett in the main event plus a debuting Kurt Angle. So there was a magnet pulling me towards the TNA product.
I find it interesting that three title changes happened on one show. It was as if TNA management was saying here's three starting points for wrestling fans who are watching the TNA product for the first time. They used this ppv to not only start the Angle vs. Joe feud but to establish yourselves as a great WRESTLING company. You are giving fans many things the competition has denied us and for a cheaper price. So it makes perfect sense to bring on the Angle vs. Joe feud because along the way a lot of disgusted wrestling fans can be introduced to a true alternative with many great wrestlers and three different title reigns to follow from the beginning.
TNA didn't stop there. Last Thursday on Impact TNA aired an interview with Jeff Jarrett that showed a different side of the former heavyweight champion. For the first time I can recall Double J kept my attention while he talked. He didn't scream about wanting a title rematch or possibly keep the title due to the controversial ending instead he said he was leaving TNA. A face turn for Jarrett by TNA makes little sense now considering the history of the double JJ character it does take him off television while new viewers are brought to the TNA product for the reasons I stated above.
One more thing I would suggest TNA management doing to complete their make over or rebuilding of their company. Keep the wrestling or brawling in the ring with straight title matches. Nothing kills a heavyweight title reign more than booking gimmick or stipulation matches for the title. The title should mean something to whoever holds it. It shouldn't come off as something Sting won on a technicality or a fluke. Learn from past mistakes. Christian Cage won the title but defended it in gimmick matches until Jarrett won it back. The gimmick or stipulation matches should be used only after two combatants have wrestled in traditional matches. Maybe than TNA will be considered a true alternative to that other wrestling company. Kurt Angle has brought TNA credibility as a wrestling fans alternative wrestling company only if the title reign the company is built upon is credible too.
You can write Joe at vzenulhr@verizon.net.
