There have also been some interesting rumours
circulating. First, that the WWE Hall of Fame building is going to be built at
or near Universal Studios in Orlando. Second, that Sting is interested in a
move to WWE, like really interested and he seriously means it this time so
don't you doubt him thank you so very much.
For the purposes of this post I'm not interested in the
prospect of Sting joining WWE. I'm more interested in what the rumour, if true,
indicates about TNA's current financial affairs. Obviously it's not a positive
sign. 'The Stinger' has been the only major name of yesteryear who has continually
backed TNA and attempted to use his (diminishing) star power to help them
compete with WWE. It hasn't worked but it's the thought that counts.
If Sting is considering a move there will likely be
several factors at play. Age is one. Now in his mid-fifties Sting must realise
he's going to have to finish his career soon. He, like every other major
wrestling name, would almost certainly love to do so in WWE, where he'd also
benefit creatively by having a roster full of fresh opponents.
It also hints at TNA not being able to afford him and
encouraging him to make the jump. The reason Crimson and company (there's a
kids' TV show waiting to happen) have been let go is apparently part of a drive
to streamline the roster and save cash. That in turn is said to be linked to
the extra costs TNA's been racking up since they started taping Impact from
different locations and putting on more house shows.
Paying Sting to work only a handful of an increasing
number of events wouldn't make sense. TNA has clearly been in a position where
they need to save money for some time. Encouraging Sting to move on would be an
efficient way of doing just that.
The five confirmed releases (Sting leaving is still a
rumour remember) further illustrates that TNA is in trouble. Most companies
when planning an expanded schedule would seek more talent in order to not overwork their existing roster.
Releasing those guys and girls isn't a good move. They may not be draws
(Christian York) or even especially wonderful wrestlers (Crimson) but they fill
out the roster and perform a clear function as mid-carders and-or enhancers for
bigger names (or at least they would have done if they’d been on TV).
The ones who should have been released are Hulk Hogan and
Eric Bischoff, who perform no clear function on-screen and have demonstrated
during their three and a half years with the league that they don't have any
idea how to make it successful, either creatively or financially. I'm as bored
of writing that as you are of reading it. They've dodged a bullet again.
This is, of course, terribly bad news for those who have
been released. They've lost regular sources of income. In Joey Ryan's case, and
to a lesser extent Christian York's, regular televisual exposure has been lost
too. That's important to wrestlers who rely on secondary indy bookings to keep
their incomes healthy.
Why did they release this guy...?
On the plus side Crimson seems like the sort of guy who
might get picked up for NXT. Ryan could wind up there too, but ROH and assorted
indies seem like a safer bet for him. York will probably return to whatever he
did for money before TNA plucked him from wrestling obscurity. Taeler Hendrix
will similarly saunter back to the women's indy leagues. And Madison Rayne is engaged
with a baby on the way. Her release is a bit of a low blow, but it's
understandable to an extent coming as it does from a company that's strapped
for cash.
Meanwhile the news that WWE's Hall of Fame might be built
at Universal Studios, TNA's home since June 2004, is very interesting. If true
it could mean that WWE has indirectly killed TNA by forcing them to spend more
money than they can afford on touring Impact around the country. It could
either be a big coincidence or an incredibly calculated move to finally put an
end to TNA. Conspiracy theorists will favour the latter but why would WWE go to
such elaborate bother if their goal was the obliteration of TNA? It would be
far more straightforward to offer wrestlers large sums of money whenever they
became available.
The alleged Hall of Fame construction site would be much
like Vince's territory invasions of the eighties. Only this time a little more
literal.
Any feelings that TNA's about to immediately go under can
be quelled, for now, by the re-signing of Taz. If TNA was about to go under then
securing the services of a spectacularly average colour commentator would not
be top of their list of priorities. That they’ve just re-signed him indicates
they feel they’ve got a future beyond the next few weeks. The company's in very
real trouble, but they're not on their last legs yet.
