Well it has happened. Some said it was inevitable and some said it would never happen but Kurt Angle has signed for TNA. This was the last night's big announcement at the PPV last night (I'll post my thoughts on the show later).
Many thought (and Kurt hinted) he'd be doing some MMA (this is still possible as his TNA contract in non-exclusive) but he's sticking to what he knows at least at the moment. This could be the first sign of the end or at least the revision of WWE's drug testing policy. They had a policy back in the nineties but guys like Scott Hall failed on numerous occasions and eventually found themselves employment in WCW. The same situation could develop here with a number of undercard guys getting caught but getting a job with TNA where drug testing doesn't exist.
The ethical implications of TNA show this buisness for what it really is. TNA have gone out and hired a man whose drug problems have been documented and known by everybody out there. Angle refused to go into rehab and got fired. Without rehab the likelihood is he is still a heavy user of pain medication. TNA know this and have willingly employed the former WWE Champion.
On the flip side TNA could well be the best move for Kurt Angle. With the tapings currently as they are Angle could well work only 3 shows per month (two tapings where he'd probably only wrestle once and a PPV match) and still make a decent amount of money. It will be nowhere near the amount in WWE ($1m guaranteed) but when travel expenses, car rental and hotel costs are taken into account along with his health, as long as Angle wants to wrestle, TNA could be his best option.
Angle's impact could be negligable for TNA. Ever since debuting on Spike they've kept the same audience encouraging nobody new to watch the show. Angle, despite being awesome, is not a mainstream star and may not be a guy who is going to increase the viewership of Impact. The one thing this deal has done is put Kurt Angle and TNA as a major focal point in the wrestling business; something TNA has failed to do thus far. What it will do for the all important PPV buy is a different story.
Where Angle fits on the roster is another question. TNA's habit of having a huge main event scene, a huge mid-card and a huge undercard means that Kurt Angle could be another face in a crowd of people they're trying to get over this nobody gets over. Hopefully not. Hopefully Angle will make them realise that they need stars and not everybody can be a star. I will certainly be watching Angle in TNA but Jarrett and his chums could easily drop the ball with their biggest aquistion to date.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment