*Editors Note: Apologies for the delay in posting this column. It was produced prior to Raw this past Monday so “future tense” references to the show should be ignored. 2009 - A very quick review
2009 was the year that I finally turned off watching WWE PPV’s month by month and after Mania I only read online reports on Raw/SD and TNA Impact etc. As the year unfolded I realised that the WWE are really trying to get as much money out of the fans as possible, why else would they bring back DX at SummerSlam?
Since Michaels and Taker's match of the year at Mania I firmly believe the WWE hasn't put on a better match or a better story line. It's a shame, but enough of the past, to the future!
2010 - Starts with Monday Night Wars and will continue as Hogan attempts to take TNA to the top of the "Sports Entertainment" industry rankings.
WWE Raw on Monday was built around the return of Bret "The Hitman" Hart as Raw's special guest host and his two promos, one with Michaels and one with Vince McMahon to attempt to bury the hatchet over the Montreal situation 12 years ago. Bret started the night well by "becoming friends" with HBK Shawn Michaels. After Raw had it's main event tag match with DX ridding Raw of Jericho as they beat Jericho and Big Show, and it's single match main event of Kofi Kingston vs Randy Orton it was time for Vince and Bret to face off. As a result Bret and Vince made peace with Vince even calling Bret "the best there ever will be" but it didn't last long as Vince ended the telly-cast with a low blow to Bret and opened a new chapter in this feud. Anyone expecting a Street Fight at Mania?
I thought Raw was a poor attempt considering how much TNA has put into their latest 3-hour epic Impact. TNA claims to have received it's highest ratings ever this past Monday and with Hogan, Bischoff, Nash, Hall, Sean Waltman, Sting, Ric Flair, Jeff Jarrett and Jeff Hardy all making their returns to TNA TV there is no surprise that many in the business see this as a sign of change.
Hogan seems to be an on screen face for the board at TNA as Hogan says he wants to take TNA to number 1 which in terms of money and ratings WWE has owned since WCW went out of business year's ago. As a result I suspect the ratings will come in for TNA and with Hogan shunning a possible nWo reformation (when Nash, Hall and X-Pac were with Bischoff and Hogan in the ring) and saying "there needs to be a change" as they moved Genius' main event to that very night as AJ retaining the title against Kurt Angle in one of the best TV matches in recent memory. (It certainly showed a great difference to what Raw put on with Orton beating Kofi Kingston and a cheap promo with Bret and Vince). Suddenly it seems TNA is going back to focusing of the product, the wrestling not the story. Hopefully it will continue and it'll be interesting to see how the WWE reacts.
This coming Monday WWE goes head to head with UFC and as a result have brought in "Iron" Mike Tyson as guest host. With Cena coming back also I’m sure Vince and co will do their best to bring the spotlight back to the WWE.
With TNA now having Sting, Flair and Hogan will they go for a mixture of Old and New talent at PPV's or will these old legends act as managers for TNA's younger talent like Daniels, Joe and AJ Styles?
Let's wait and see but hopefully it's only going to be good for Wresting fans in the respect that TNA will finally attempt to challenge WWE for it's spot but it could also just be a lot of talk.
Keep Smashin'
AL
Source: http://www.smashwrestling.com/
