The fact Russo's stuff hasn't been filling the show the last 3 months is the reason it's been so good! I've only come back in the past weeks personally, which is why going from way less Russo stuff then to no Russo stuff at all in future now can only be a great thing for me!

Definitely agree. I hope they aren't thinking of scaling back the X Division as some were worried about ages ago. I seem to recall reports coming out that Bischoff didn't care for it, only for them then to say they were re-hiring people not long after.

It does seem strange if Eric wasn't into them seeing as it was Eric that put all the exciting cruiserweights on WCW all that time ago. I just hope the division being so low right now isn't a bad sign.

Also what has happened to Anderson? I only realised the other day he has been missing ages now. I'll be glad to see him back actually. Not so much on Abyss as he's a good monster character but they ruined him for me when he started talking. He's gone from monster to some weak big guy with emotions and feelings and all that and it doesn't work. Really hoping John Morrison comes in as he was my favourite part of WWE for ages when I used to watch it (given up now, it's a joke) I'd love to see him pushed in TNA as the guy can do some awesome stuff.

While I don't share your love for Russo, I have to agree.

Impact has been strong recently IMO, but it's also been very, very safe. Booking 101. You can only do that for so long; it's been down to the sheer talent of Roode as a champion, and Sting excelling as an authority figure, that has kept me tuning in. Oh, and A-Double, of course

see thats the thing

people make themselves love TNA now that russo isnt writing,its funny you didnt post how much you loved whilst russo was head writer isnt it?

its because of that sort of bias that im not gonna talka bout the subject again

It makes no difference to me, I wouldn't make myself love it or not love it. I either do or don't. The fact of the matter is I loved TNA before Russo came back in late 06, hated it all the time Russo was around and then have come back and am enjoying it again now. I just don't like Russo booking. I wouldn't cut my nose off to spite my face by not watching just because Russo were there if the product were good. Why would I do that?! It's pretty silly to think I'd miss something good because I have a personal vendetta against someone I don't even know. I just happen to hate his booking.

Maybe the only way forward is to go back to basics.

Things got so increasingly convoluted, peaking in 2010, that it was difficult to follow who was siding with whom. Tweeners worked in the Attitude era, but wrestling has mostly been built around a clear babyface/heel divide. Was also proving difficult to make new stars, for example: The Pope was being built as a big star, the next he's jobbing to Orlando Jordan clean in a couple of minutes. Same went for Jay Lethal, Matt Morgan, Desmond Wolfe etc.

Now the roster is steady with a regular cast and its clear whom is face and whom is heel. As a result they've been able to make Roode and Storm into bonafide headliners.

Bully Ray is so damn good:

@ MEN ARENA last month

Brill heel, and so deserving of a world title. Best heel in tna and wwe. Easily.

(Points at old lady in crowd)

"Let me tell you something Granny, i could beat the hell out of you..."

hes alright,nowhere near best heel,plays bully character well though

when he can cut a promo without screeching and saying samething over and over we can talka bout best heel

Hourses for courses, my friend. I love him.

"GOD BLESS STEVEN GERRARD AND GOD BLESS LIVERPOOL!"

I'm a bit concerned about this talk of John Morrison coming to TNA, has there been anything from an official source yet?

Whilst I think he's a good performer I think it would be a mistake for TNA to sign him when there are guys like Anthony Nese waiting in the wings who would be a lot cheaper and don't have any of the associated 'ex WWE wrestler' baggage.

People often talk about the lack of homegrown talent to replace AJ, Kaz & Daniels but the only real way to cultivate future stars is to give them a chance - something that looked like Jesse Sorrenson was heading for until recently (although I hope in 12 months time his recovery is followed up on).

I am concerned for the future of the X division though, I didnt think the weigh limit thing was a good idea and Eric Bischoff doesn't have a great record with cruiserweights but maybe I shouldn't be worried, maybe Garrett is destined for X Division champoinship...

they would be silly to pass up JM imo

a bonafide star going for x title? they need it, bar shelly and aries the x division is a bunch of no names

TNA needs to protray it's talent on the level or better than WWE stars.

Morrison is a good upper midcard talent. They should bring him in and try to use him to build homegrown stars by putting them over Morrison.

or they could just make morrison a superstar,he has a better look than 99% of tna wrestlers after all.

Look at Christian - mid-card talent in the WWE when he went to TNA and he was immediately placed at the top of the card and had a number of world title runs.

He went back to the WWE and look what happened - right back to the mid-card again.

So it's more than possible Morrison could come in as a potential World Title contender I suppose.

christian became a world champ when we went back to wwe

eventually .. he's been stuck around the mid-card most of the time though.

but then when a company runs two "world" titles, it's hardly meaningful IMO.

I wouldn't be surprised if Morrison re-signed with WWE. He's still getting mentioned in Zack Ryder's youtube show, which I imagine WWE would have banned if he was expected to go to TNA.

Problem being is that it continues the issue that WWE guys are better than TNA guys.

Only if you choose to look at it from that point-of-view.

Steve Austin and Chris Jericho were both cast-offs from wCw who WWE turned into big stars.

i know what you mean but nash and hall kicking wcw roster ass seemed to work,it can be a positive thing sometimes

Well TNA have done a few things in the past where they pretty much intimated that they were no.2. People know that they are no.2 to WWE, you just don't tell them.

As for Austin and Jericho, they were main event talent guys who were kept down in WCW. I don't think Morrison has the level of talent including mic ability to be a Main Event guy.

In the long run it was awful. WCW being protrayed as 2nd rate and uncool. So much so they had to have nWo vs nWo.

Listen to Nash on the nWo Legends roundtable.

From 10.40

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s41Iz-f3xa0

During promo for TNA in the UK, Hogan was telling everyone TNA was the No. 1 wrestling company in the world, and the IWC were crucifying him for it.

You can't win. If you say you're No. 1, people laugh, and if you say you're No. 2, it's practically admitting defeat. The best thing for TNA to do is to style themselves as the plucky underdogs, ECW style. I remember hearing TNA chants at One Night Stand 2005; you don't get that sort of thing anymore. TNA have tried to copy WWE from top to bottom, a ludicrous and impossible task given the huge advantages of exposure and budget that WWE has. They'd be better regaining that hardcore, ECW style following and rebuilding slowly from there.

Oh, and on Impact this week, another boring show. Only highlights were Aries eating his popcorn (the man only needs to sit at ringside to be a highlight!), and Sting going buck-mad again at the end. It almost makes me miss the madness of Russo's writing as the whole show is so safe at the minute, although I am confident that in the next set of TV tapings we will really begin to see things taking shape.

interesting

but at end of day nWo will always be the crowning achievement of wcw in my eyes,TNA will be lucky if they ever get anywhere close to that

thanks for the link btw,im hooked,gonna watch some more of these round table discussions!

Wow this thread takes so long for people to post in doesn't it.

I'd just like to reiterate how much I've fallen in love with Mickie James tits.