January 4th Raw Vs TNA

I realise I’m a little late in commenting on this but what the hell I’m going to do it anyway.

When we all first heard that TNA Impact was going up against WWE Raw we all had mixed emotions. The Attitude Era marks saw it as a new Monday Night War and the pessimists saw it as TNA’s demise. Some of us (like me) saw it as both.

If anything I’m just a WWE fan, I barely watch anything but WWE programming, if I watch TNA on Bravo or Virgin 1 (The channels TNA is broadcast on in the United Kingdom) I see one match or the last five minutes and even that doesn’t bother me. So I’m probably not going to see the Impact anyway nor will I care to. TNA doesn’t interest me and the more I hear about it the more I don’t care for it either. However, that’s not to say WWE isn’t starting to annoy and lack appeal to me either.

Anyway, I feel this could be a rushed move for TNA, the company has been around 7 years and yes it needs to start building but this move is too quick. Now, they did play an ace card, they bought in Hulk Hogan which was an amazing move (go see my rant on Bret Hart) but WWE came up trumps (we presume) and bought back Bret Hart (go see my rant on Bret Hart) .

So why is this a bad move. Well, I looked at TNA ratings from the first show to the half way stage of 2009 and some odd ones from November/December. They all are around that 1.0/1.1/1/2 area. Whereas Raw is getting 3s and 4s each time. I mean TNA are only consistently and confidently beating WWE Superstars and that’s the D-show! Add the Hitman to the mix on Mondays and the fact WWE are just not losing the ratings war already and it’s a recipe for disaster.

Now who’s to say TNA could prevail. They’ve launched a load of ad campaigns but in my opinion, they’re fucked.

Bret Hart to WWE?

So according to numerous sources The “Hitman” has resigned with Vince McMahon and the WWE. Of course I am naturally shocked I mean this is the guy who got sold out by the devil’s incarnate and is returning. However, I am also anxious to see what they do with him. Of course if Shawn and Bret don’t cross some sort of path then we will be shocked but is the move to have DX win the Tag Titles the move that they’ve talked Shawn into just working Tuesdays to avoid clashes with Bret or Bret is coming to SmackDown to help his Hart Dynasty brethren.

If I was in the TNA camp right now I would be shitting myself with the debut of Hogan looking now even more doomed than just competition from The Rock (which if Bret is coming back looks doubtful) even though The Rock on Raw looked very dangerous if TNA want to win a war with the giant. As Vince said in “The Monday Night Wars DVD” that was released in 2004 that highlighted WWE’s own battle with the now defunct company WCW “You never want to go toe-to-toe with that giant” which is exactly the problem with TNA. A company struggling to get out of the 1.0 rating zone on a Thursday Night when they are unmatched by any other wrestling promotion. Of course, the master plan was to unveil the most over superstar in Wrestling Hulk Hogan. Which was the greatest idea ever. How could Raw possibly compete with Hogan? I mean non-wrestling fans of now who watched in the 80s would probably tune in just to see the Hulkster strut his stuff. Not to mention the smarks and casual fans. However, WWE have combated any threats and played their ace card Bret. I mean love him or despise him the episode he returns on is bound to be controversial. Hogan someone who most people will get sick of or Bret who is the most controversial topic in Pro-Wrestling. I’d say those 80s marks will have a hard time staying with Hogan when they know on the other channel Hart is ripping into the company.

TNA have perhaps tested Vince’s patience TOO far. They tried to intimidate a man who’s seen the NWA, AWA and WCW come and go. Is TNA just another “Rise and Fall” DVD?