Alberto Del Rio Wants Top Spot

Alberto Del Rio isn't too thrilled about Mistico coming to WWE according to backstage sources the Royal Rumble winner is said to not want any competition for the top Hispanic role in WWE once Rey Mysterio winds down his career.

Possible Change to Alberto Del Rio's Upcoming Match

Source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter

There is talk of having Royal Rumble winner Alberto Del Rio going into WrestleMania 27 as the Intercontinental Champion. If this decision was made then the upcoming match between Del Rio and Kofi Kingston would have to be changed so the I.C. Championship is on the line, currently it is only a non-title bout.

TNA Looking To Focus On Younger Wrestlers

Source: Pro Wrestling Torch

Amongst TNA Wrestling officials, there has been talk of changing the focus from "big name" veteran stars of yesteryear to the younger performers in the organization.

One source stated that the members of Fortune—AJ Styles, James Storm, Robert Roode and Kazarian—would be among the top babyfaces in the company and that "it would be interesting to see" what happens when the contracts of Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair come up. However, the source added that while creative is behind the proposition, plans could easily change.

The source feels that iMPACT!'s ratings in the coming weeks will be the deciding factor in whether the company begins focusing on younger talents.

"The key is the ratings," the source stated. "[Dixie Carter] panics when the ratings dip. If it moves two points, she'll panic."

The source explained that if iMPACT!'s ratings fall one point as they did last week (from a 1.3 to a 1.2), the company's creative direction stays course. However, the feeling is that Carter tends to overreact when the ratings slide down two points.

DVD: The Big Show: A Giant's World

This 3 disc set is due to release in North America on February 11 this year. The set will include a total of 7 hours of matches through out Big Show's career in WCW and WWE and also a documentary to compliment the career and life of "The World's Largest Athelete"

. 
Here is the back cover:

Kevin Nash Talks Kliq Reunion, His Future In WWE & More

Former six-time World Champion & WWE Legend Kevin Nash was one of the featured guests on this week’s live edition (02/07/11) of the award-winning Monday Night Mayhem.

Kevin Nash Responds To Dixie Carter’s Online Comments: Confirms He Was Under TNA Contract Prior To Signing With The WWE, The Moment He Knew He No Longer Saw Himself Returning To TNA, How Likely We Are To Seeing A Kliq Reunion And/Or Him vs. The Big Show At WrestleMania XXVII, Reveals Who May Induct Shawn Michaels Into The WWE Hall Of Fame, Plus What Lies Ahead For His Own Future With World Wrestling Entertainment (Including The Unveiling Of His First Post-Royal Rumble WWE Project).

Here are some highlights of what Nash said about:

His in-ring future with World Wrestling Entertainment & his first post-Royal Rumble project through the WWE:

“I mean, your guess is as good as mine as far as if I’m actively going to wrestle. I know I’ve got some stuff I’m doing with THQ this week for the video games. I just play it day by day.”

His response to Dixie Carter’s online comments about him being under contract with TNA prior to signing with the WWE & the moment he knew when he no longer wanted to return to TNA:

“Yes I was. The angle was Kurt (Angle) was beating Jeff (Jarrett). Fortune came down, put the boots to Kurt, and got heat on them. Abyss came down and had a 2×4 basically nailed to his spinal cord, which maybe just seemed a little strange for me that that would at least be attempted murder. If Abyss was not paralyzed from the neck down the next week, it would kind of seem like a foolish thing to do. Flair screamed back up, and Kurt made a comeback on the entire Fortune group and basically cleared the ring. What reason was I coming in for? If Kurt can beat them on his own, I definitely don’t need to come in there.”

How likely are we to see a Kliq reunion at WrestleMania XXVII or part of WrestleMania weekend in Atlanta:

“I talked to Sean (Waltman), and I’m sure he will be there. Scott’s (Hall) kind of the wild card of it. Of course Paul (Triple H) will induct Shawn, and I will be there. I guess Scott is the wild card. The last time I talked to him, he was thinking about going back into a rehabilitation center, so I don’t if he is going to be available to be there that weekend or not.”

"Anonymous Wrestler" Rants on Professional Wrestling, Shoots on WWE and TNA

Though the identity of the source has not been revealed, and is wide open to speculation, an apparent "anonymous wrestler" has dictated a rant with predictions, opinions, and accusations on the current state of professional wrestling.
While this should be taken with a grain of salt until proof is concrete, there's no doubt that fans and wrestlers alike will be interested to see if anything this poster says plays out.
 
A NEW MOVEMENT STARTS IN PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING
By: Bill W, TheAnonymousWrestler@yahoo.com

Hi, my name is Bill W and I’m an addict. I’m addicted to the professional wrestling industry.

No, my name is not really Bill W, but I choose it as my nom de plume because I wish to remain anonymous. Bill W was one of the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous and I figure it’s appropriate considering all of the friends in wrestling I’ve lost due to drug and alcohol addiction. I’ve been addicted to and part of the pro wrestling industry all of my life. I’ve been a wrestler for over 20 years. I’ve worked on or near the top of the card for every promotion I’ve worked for. WWE/WWF, WCW, TNA. I’ve main evented Madison Square Garden. I’ve worked big matches at WrestleMania and every other major WWE/WWF PPV. I choose to remain anonymous, just because I want to. I’m not afraid to write any of this under my own name – I just dont want to. If you read my column, you will understand that I’m the real deal. So don’t bother trying to figure out my true identity, as I will never reveal myself to you. Just know I will never bullshit you. My only agenda is the truth and trying to enlighten you to things about my industry that very few people can do better than me. I hope you all find my columns insightful as this is only the beginning.  This is a new movement in wrestling and there are much bigger things to come.  Get ready.

Before I go any further, I would like to congratulate The Road Warriors on their coming induction into the WWE Hall of Fame. It hasn’t been announced yet and very few people know. Both Joe & Mike were great to work with and in my opinion, they are the greatest tag team in the history of wrestling. Mike Hegstrand is one of the greatest guys I’ve ever known in or out of wrestling. A real man’s man. Never took shit from anyone, but would give you his last dime at the same time. I miss you very much Mike. I look forward to seeing Joe accept the induction and really hope Paul Ellering is there as well.

I will definitely be watching the Hall of Fame for this and to see the induction of probably the greatest in ring performer of all time, Shawn Michaels. I’ve read rumblings about the entire Clique of Shawn, HHH, Nash, Hall, and Waltman being a part of the Hall of Fame. I wouldn’t hold my breath for that to happen. I know Kevin Nash will be there for sure, but I know 1st hand that Vince was sour on the idea of Hall being there.  And probably Waltman as well. They are worried about Scott showing up to the ceremony and causing a scene. As far as Waltman goes, I can think of a list of reasons they may not want to have him there, considering the PG direction the company has moved towards in the past few years.

Random thoughts on current topics:

There’s been a lot of talk in the industry about Rey Mysterio’s future with WWE. The last time I talked to Rey, he was really feeling the effects of all the years of working the type of style he does. He expressed a lot of frustration with the company and at the time we talked, he was seriously entertaining an offer from AAA in Mexico. Anyone who knows Vince will tell you that Rey does not fit his image of a main eventer. However, numbers dont lie and Rey’s merchandise sales alone, in my opinion, tell Vince that his image of a main eventer does not always represent the “WWE Universe‘s” image of what makes a top guy. Rey played hardball in his last negotiations and we’re not seeing him on any AAA Galavison shows, so I wonder who got what they wanted when that deal was finally ironed out. Obviously the WWE isn’t counting on Rey being around much longer as they have really concentrated on pushing Del Rio lately.

Alberto Del Rio (Dos Caras Jr) has all of the tools, but I find his in ring work to be lacking any explosiveness & intensity. I know Del Rio and have known his father for 20 years. I’ve had the pleasure of working with his father (Dos Caras) who was fantastic and a 1st class guy.

I wonder how Rey feels about the fact that WWE signed Mystico. First of all, WWE already has the original Mystico down at FCW in Tampa working as Unico, who I know for a fact is about to be brought up to one of the main rosters. I wonder if they will change Mystico’s name. Obviously they weren’t worried about capitalizing on Del Rio’s heritage in Mexico, so my money is on them changing his name. The thing about Mystico is that I dont know if he will be able to adjust to the difference in style. I’ve never been a big fan of his anyway, to be honest. He’s going to be in FCW for quite a while trying to lose some of those awful habits in the ring that come with working that lucha libre style.

Also, does anyone else not think that Mystico is a direct rip off of Rey’s gimmick anyway?

I was less than impressed with this year’s actual Rumble match. Ive been in several Royal Rumble matches and they are formula matches that are not that hard to put together. Just not a very good Rumble in my opinion.

I know this isn’t that current of a topic anymore, but after seeing the whole interaction between Taker and Lesnar after Brock’s fight – that he ended up losing badly – I will bet my life they planned to shoot the angle after the fight because everyone stupidly assumed Brock would win. The guy started interviewing Taker, Brock just walked by and Taker actually said to him “You want to do this?” or something like that. Obviously Brock wasnt feeling it after getting beat down in such brutal fashion. Ive known Taker forever and I’ve known Brock since he signed a developmental deal right out of college. I’ve teamed with Brock and worked many a match with Taker. There is no legit heat between them and that was definitely them trying to shoot an angle. Taker vs Brock at Mania would obviously be huge. Not happening now though. I feel bad for Taker as I don’t see a whole lot of options of big time opponents for him to face at this year’s WrestleMania. Wade Barrett is just fine as an opponent for Taker, but I don’t think it’s much of a way to follow last years WM match. Then again, how do you follow last years match he had with Shawn Michaels?

I don’t even want to get started on TNA right now, but I will. They do that terrible angle with Abyss coming out with a ball bat with spikes stuck in his upper back. That was a terrible idea and whoever wrote it should be fired.

Sad to see Flair acting like a child over in Europe and no showing an event over there recently, reportedly over the fact that the agent on duty wouldn’t give Ric a draw (spending money that is deducted from your check). While I think it’s stupid not to give the guys a draw on the road – I had an issue with TNA over the exact same thing – you don’t pitch a fit and refuse to get on the bus. If you act like that and no-show an event, then you don’t deverve to be treated like the legend you are. I know you “can” do it, but it doesn’t mean you should Ric. My God, have you looked in the mirror lately? You haven’t much hair left at all and your body looks like meat on a hanger. Other than that, I love you Ric. You’re the man. I’ve had some great matches with Ric and it was definitely an honor.

How retarded must TNA feel right now after their big angle went to hell with the appearances of Nash & Booker T at the Rumble? No one in that company really feels loyal to them (TNA). They probably would if they weren’t paid like shit and treated the same.

I’m done for now, but I’ll be back.  You can count on it.

Email me at TheAnonymousWrestler@yahoo.com.

Bill W – The Anonymous Wrestling Addict

 

Kevin Nash Talks Leaving TNA, WWE, Sting, The Kliq

Check out this recap of Kevin Nash on Monday Night Mayhem. Thanks to PWInsider and Martin H.

---

Kevin Nash joined Monday Night Mayhem:

Nash's thoughts going forward with WWE: Nash said things were better than expected in terms of the response in Boston. Things went well and got in the ring with Cena and that was a blotch because Cena was supposed to be eliminated before he got in. He said it was a great experience.

Reports of Nash signing a legends contract with WWE. His current status with WWE? Nash said the hosts' guesses are as good as his. As far as whether he'd be wrestling, stuff with THQ video games, Nash just goes day-by-day.

Nash says everything in the news gets spun. Responses to Dixie Carter's reply to fans on tnawrestling.com saying Nash was under contract but was released for reasons she cannot disclose.

Was Nash under contract for the past couple of weeks? Nash said he was! How close was he to going to TNA? Nash said basically up until he saw Kurt being attacked by Jeff Jarrett. Fortune beat Kurt, Abyss came down with a 2x4 nailed to his spinal cord. Abyss said that would be attempted murder and Abyss would be paralyzed from neck down. He mentioned Crimson said They are coming, Flair screamed back, Kurt cleared the ring.

Nash said what reason was he coming in for? Kurt can beat them on his own so he didn't see a reason for him coming in for. He said it was the end of his career. Nash said him coming in the following week, 800 people on Monday. Nash said if it was the last thing he could do, would he do that or go to Boston at the Rumble.

Hosts mention that Nash was trending on Twitter even though he was in the ring for 2-3 minutes. Whether they would see a KLIQ reunion at WrestleMania weekend, Nash said he talked to Waltman. Nash said he'd be there.

Nash's opinion of Wade Barrett? He says what are the odds of Nash bashing Barrett on Twitter and getting eliminated at the rumble.

AJ Styles and Robert Roode. Nash says Roode is a babyface, but plays a good heel. Nash says AJ is a great talent. Nash said it was the right move for him to finish where he started.

Nash says Shawn Michaels was largely responsible for him getting into the WWE to begin with. He wished to have one last match with HBK, but he doubts that will happen. He says "Paul" (Triple H) is in the corporate side. He said WWE is moving with the youth movement and that nothing appears to be changing with that.

A question is asked about Sting and whether Nash talks to him. Nash says he would selfishly love to see Sting in WWE. That would be a great headline match. Nash says Sting has done so much and he would like for him to work for WWE just to see how different it is to be there, to work for the machine. Nash said it's the third time he's with WWE. He says being in a WWE arena is like a Happy Madison movie because of the way Sandler would take care of you during the movies.

He put over the big wrestlers when asked about which were his favorites: Sheamus, Jack Swagger, and a few others and elaborated on it.

The Sting To WWE Rumors Continue & They're FALSE!

There are still a ton of people believing that Sting is coming to WWE on 2/21/11. Here's the deal guys - there have been absolutely zero talks between WWE and Sting. It's that simple. Could things change? Of course but as of this writing there have been absolutely no talks.

The Sting rumors started several weeks ago with a New York Daily News post stating he had signed a one-year deal with the company. We're pretty sure that if that report never came out and we never posted it here, we wouldn't be talking about Sting to WWE at all right now.

Nonetheless, there are MANY fans who continue to believe that Sting is coming to WWE. That is simply not the case right now. Sorry to disappoint you guys.

True Story of WrestleMania Trailer

As we recently revealed here on the site, a new WWE DVD set entitled The WrestleMania Story will be released in 2011.
Now we can confirm it will released on 3-Disc DVD & 2-Disc Blu-ray on March 15th in North America. Here’s the first info:
It is the most anticipated yearly event in Sports Entertainment, an annual pop culture touch point. For more than 25 years, WrestleMania has hosted the biggest matches, the biggest stars, and the biggest celebrities.

Now for the first time ever, the story of WrestleMania is told from its early beginnings through the week-long spectacular it has become, routinely drawing fans from all 50 states and around the world. This documentary feature includes new and insightful interviews from the superstars and creative forces behind the event.       We can also exclusively reveal plans for upcoming WWE Blu-ray/DVD combo packs for March in North America. As of now the two events of Royal Rumble 2011 and Elimination Chamber 2011 will be released on Blu-ray/DVD combo packs. They will get single DVD editions too.
As for the Survivor Series 2010 Blu-ray to be released later this month, it’s on the schedule as a 1-Disc edition for USA/Canada.

DX: One Last Stand DVD - Matches and Details

Silvervision.co.uk have today revealed the full content listing for the WWE DX: One Last Stand DVD & Blu-ray sets.
According to Silvervision they too will be stocking it in April just like for North America (April 5th). Fans in UK/Europe can pre-order it there now
Yesterday the title “One Last Stand” was fully confirmed (previously planned as The Final Conflict). The cover artwork has not yet been released but here’s the full content below…
Disc 1
We Need D-Generation X
Hunting with DX
Triple H Finds Shawn
Raw 10th August, 2009
DX Returns to RAW
Raw 17th August, 2009
DX Hijacks the SummerSlam Open
SummerSlam 23rd August, 2009
DX vs. Legacy
SummerSlam 23rd August, 2009
The Basics of Hunting with DX

DX Throws a Party for Mr. McMahon
Raw 24th August, 2009
DX Hangs with Dusty
Raw 31st August, 2009
The Price is Raw
Raw 7th September, 2009
DX vs. Randy Orton / Chris Masters
Raw 7th September, 2009
Tag Team Hell in a Cell Match
DX vs. Legacy
Hell in a Cell 4th October, 2009
Special Feature
DX Unfiltered
Disc 2
We Need D-Generation X
Not Very Sporting
DX vs. Chris Jericho / Big Show
Raw October 5, 2009
Triple H Calls Shawn
Raw 12th October, 2009
JackSwoggle
Raw 2nd November, 2009
DX with Ozzy
Raw 2nd November, 2009
PedigreeSwoggle
Raw 16th November, 2009
The Growth of DX
DX vs. The Hart Dynasty
Raw 23rd November, 2009
ChristmasSwoggle
Raw 7th December, 2009
TLC Match for the Unified Tag Team Championship
DX vs. Chris Jericho / Big Show
Tables, Ladders & Chairs 13th December, 2009
DX-Snuggle
Raw 14th December, 2009
Unified Tag Team Championship Match
DX vs. Chris Jericho / Big Show
Raw 14th December, 2009

Disc 3
We Need D-Generation X
The Willies
Little People’s Court
Raw 21st December, 2009
The DX Mascot
Raw 21st December, 2009
Tubby Tubberton
Unified Tag Team Championship Match
DX vs. The Hart Dynasty
SmackDown 25th December, 2009
DX Duct Tape Hornswoggle
Raw 28th December, 2009
DX vs. Big Show / Chavo Guerrero
Raw 28th December, 2009
Y2Santino
Raw 4th January, 2010
Unified Tag Team Championship
DX vs. Chris Jericho / Big Show
Raw 4th January, 2010
DX with Iron Mike
Raw 11th January, 2010
DX vs. Mike Tyson / Chris Jericho
Raw 11th January, 2010
My Favorite Boxer
DX with Jon Heder & Don Johnson
Raw 18th January, 2010
DX / Hornswoggle vs. Big Show / The Miz / “The Flame” Jon Heder
Raw 18th January, 2010
Triple Threat Elimination Match for the Unified Tag Team Championship
DX vs. Straight Edge Society vs. Big Show / The Miz
Raw 8th February, 2010
Blubbering Like a Girl
Shawn’s Farewell
Raw 29th March, 2010
Two Final Words
Blu-ray Exclusive Content

Submissions Count Anywhere Match
DX vs. Legacy
Breaking Point 13th September, 2009
The Biggest 8-Man Tag Team Match in SmackDown History
Undertaker / John Cena / DX vs. Randy Orton / CM Punk / Legacy
SmackDown 2nd October, 2009
No Wonder Nobody Likes Us
DX vs. Chris Jericho / Big Show vs. John Cena / Undertaker
Raw 16th November, 2009
Triple Threat Match for the WWE Championship
John Cena vs. Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels
Survivor Series 22nd November, 2009
I’m Batman
Tribute to the Troops
11th December, 2010

Breaking News

I was on the dixie's facebook page just now and she had quetions and answers
about whats going down in tna and the fan aske


''rodneymcneal
@TNADixie < is tna going to get a new world belt so they wont all wear the hardy belt?
Dixie:  Are you kidding, YES!! The sooner the better.''

2.21.11 What in the hell ?!?!?!?!?!

WWE aired a very mysterious promo on RAW tonight. We saw and heard heavy footsteps of a person walking in the rain, they entered an old cabin and the promo concludes with "2/21/11." February 21st, 2011 is the date for WWE RAW in Fresno, California the night after the Elimination Chamber PPV.

Column: DID TNA EVEN STAND A CHANCE?

2.21.11

The mere sequence of numbers has been all the rage on internet wrestling sites, with “reporters” hoping to capitalize on the apparent mania that “2.21.11” has caused.

Of course, by now, there’s a 70% chance that the figure being represented by the mysterious promo video seen on Raw is, in fact, the legendary Sting.

As soon as a reporter from the New York Daily News reported that Sting had signed a one year deal with WWE, all Hell has broken loose. The very idea of the ghostly man in black, bringing his baseball bat with him in pursuit of a challenge he’s never had (feverish fans point to The Undertaker in an attempt to end the WrestleMania streak), has captured the imaginations of fans the world over.

It’s funny though, because I could have sworn that, from 2003 to 2010, Sting was in a little promotion based out of Nashville, and later Orlando, called TNA?

I bring this up because, to hear the fans go crazy the way they have over Sting’s potential arrival in WWE, that the man has been hiding in exile since 2001, when WCW was bought out, and that nobody has seen him since.

After all, the man won three World Titles in TNA, was the head of a heel stable called the Main Event Mafia, feuded with internet darling like Kurt Angle and Samoa Joe, and was the man who, thank God, ended the final World Title reign of Jeff Jarrett in 2006. It’s not like he was merely a stagehand in TNA, handing out production cues.

But the reality, as I see it, is that wrestling fans will forever view TNA as “the enemy”.

Not every fan, mind you. A smart fan would want TNA to be bought out by somebody with half a brain; somebody that wouldn’t take what Hulk Hogan or Eric Bischoff say at face value. You know, somebody who will improve TNA’s production value, instill discipline into the lazy performers, and create thought-provoking storylines that would suit both their hardest working performers, as well as the fans who have supported them for so long.

On the other hand, you also have the fans who, two years ago, got wind that Christian might be headed back to WWE after three years in Orlando, and then these fans turned into a rather interesting little cult; chanting “DO IT DO IT DO IT” until “Captain Charisma” finally re-signed with WWE.

When Christian jumped to TNA in 2005 and added the surname of ‘Cage’, I was delighted. Christian’s one of my favorite wrestlers and I thought, rightly so, that he would get an immediate push, as opposed to languishing in tag team matches against The Mexicools, and feuding with an unmotivated Booker T.

I was one of very few people who felt that way, apparently.

To read the message boards of five and a half years ago, there was an outcry from young fans who felt Christian had BETRAYED WWE. They felt he was a turncoat for making a business decision for himself.

I was stunned.

The funniest part was a number of them being upset that they couldn’t watch Christian on Raw or Smackdown anymore. I made a few posts, suggesting that they could watch TNA Impact (which was FAR better in 2005 than it is now in terms of coherent flow), and they reacted like I’d asked them to sell their children into slavery.

“Watch TNA?!? ARE YOU CRAZY?!? I’d sooner lend Ric Flair $10,000 than watch TNA! You can get gonorrhea from watching TNA, man!!”

Well, it didn’t go EXACTLY like that, but I recall there being this common notion that to watch anything other than WWE would be like cheating on your wife while she was caring for sick children.

Especially if the one you’re two-timing with happens to be TNA.

Don’t believe me? Find any IWC message board that’s currently discussing Christopher Daniels’ return to TNA. Daniels, of course, is one of the most respected wrestlers not currently in WWE, due to the dignified way in which he carries himself, and his articulate and immaculate wrestling style that he’s spent years honing. Simply put, if you don’t like Daniels, at least as a person, then I’m not sure what to tell you.

He’s so beloved as a person, that when the story broke that he’d re-signed with TNA days ago, here was the general consensus from the internet.

“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

*deep breath*

“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

If only “The Fallen Angel” had listened to the internet. They could have warned him. Now his skin is going to fall off in chunks, and he’s going to get raped by Abyss’ spiky board “Janice”.

So the internet would have you believe, anyway.

Look, I’m not going to defend TNA for half the garbage that they peddle. It’s very clear that they’ve had ample opportunity to make headway for themselves, but have squandered it time and time again with production woes, needlessly complex booking, old guys looking out for themselves, and general ineptitude. But to act unhappy and angry when they do something to try and improve their product just because you don’t personally like them is absurd.

Think back to 2006, when Kurt Angle left WWE under the pretense of needing a long rehabilitation stay, and then snuck into TNA a month later. THAT was big news, right? I mean, it was the biggest jump from WWE to TNA in the four years that Total Nonstop Action was alive.

What was the common reaction from non-TNA fans?

“Kurt Angle is going to die in a TNA ring.”

Or

“TNA is taking advantage of an injured man; they don’t care about his well-being!”

Fast forward to last year, when Angle was asked in an interview if he’d ever go back to WWE, and he said “Never say never”. What was the reaction then?

In short: “YEEEEAHHH! COME BACK KURT! F—K TNA!!!!!”

That sentence can only be written by medical experts with telepathy, since they can tell you that Angle’s spine, which was crap in 2006, is all better in 2010.

And given that most medical experts wouldn’t troll the internet with F-bombs, I’m beginning to doubt the merit of their analysis.

All of this pro WWE/anti TNA rhetoric has come to a head this week, with the arrivals of Booker T, Kevin Nash, (possibly) Sting, and (maybe not too far down the line) Ric Flair.

When Booker showed up in TNA in 2007, after ending a six year WWE run, he may as well have fallen off the face of the earth, because he was barely talked about again. As for Nash, he’d been with TNA since 2004, and was written off as the same old man that staggered through a 2003 run in WWE. Flair, we’ll ignore for now, since his problems stem from more than a subjective “he’s washed up” viewpoint, and Sting we covered earlier.

So, examining Booker and Nash, what was the consensus on Sunday night at the Royal Rumble when these two men arrived?

Booker got an epic reaction, did the Spinarooni to a louder cheer, and delighted the fans who were happy to see him back.

Nash got the biggest pop he’s gotten in probably well over a decade (his 2003 WWE run was VERY lukewarm), and for as slow as he moved at the Royal Rumble, there was still a massive “DIESEL” chant echoing through TD Garden.

What this tells me is that TNA should just roll over and die now.

It’s not easy for me to say, because I loved TNA early on. Back in the “Fairgrounds” days of 2002-04, they managed to put on quite a nifty weekly program that I was more than happy to split a $10 cost over with my brother. The TV was episodic, the wrestlers were unique (many of them obscure indy talents with something to prove), and it was just….different than WWE.

Now, I’ll concede that, since Russo came back to the company in 2006, TNA has done everything imaginable to try and be just LIKE WWE, except with far worse production and acting. But still, it feels good to have two separate promotions (with plenty of room for a third if somebody’s willing to buy into the wrestling world).

I look back on the Monday Night Wars of WWF vs. WCW, with ECW airing locally, and I wonder “Why can’t we have that?” Why can’t we have two big companies trying to outdo each other, with a big indy promotion raising the bar of risqué, because then we’d all win?

It seems like less and less people share that sentiment.

Sadly, it seems as if though fans today want WWE to be the only game in town. They’re happy when companies like WCW and ECW get swallowed up by the McMachine.

Ironically enough, these are the same fans that buy ECW and WCW DVD’s that WWE produces, and then they talk about how they wish these companies were still alive. Of course, if they actually WATCHED those products when they were new, and bought their PPV’s and merchandise, they might still be here.

As for TNA, I hate to say it, but unless they turn a profit regularly, then I think the game is over.

When three of your biggest stars of the last few years show up in WWE, and WWE fans act like they haven’t seen these guys since they LAST left WWE (or, in Sting’s case, 2001 when WCW died), that means you have a group of fans who will never watch your shows, even if you were producing better television than all thirty six seasons of Saturday Night Live combined.

There is a born-in bias against TNA, just because it’s not WWE. They can’t win when they produce their own unique product, nor can they win when they emulate WWE. They can’t win when they push homegrown talent, and they can’t win when they take top WWE guys and push them instead.

Kurt Angle, Christian, the Dudley Boyz, Rob Van Dam, Mick Foley, Booker T, Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, Sting, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, Jeff Hardy, Matt Hardy, Eric Bischoff, Mickie James, X-Pac, the New Age Outlaws, Jeff Jarrett, and Mr. Kennedy have all showed in TNA after their WWE runs. Not one of them bumped ratings up with their arrivals.

So if it’s not about names and it’s not about product, then why isn’t TNA gaining new ground?

If TNA has, in fact, hit their ceiling, then it’s a shame. It’s a shame that wrestling fans either feel a loyalty to one promotion, or are so set in their viewing habits (I wouldn’t rule this out; Smackdown ratings have plunged since going to Fridays) that a second wrestling company can’t gain traction.

On a final note, I’ll point out this interesting tidbit. Thirteen months ago, when TNA made the move to have a Monday special head to head with Raw (January 4, 2010), the decision was made to have Hogan debut for the company, as well as hints being dropped that Flair, the Wolfpack, and others would be there.

WWE immediately countered by scheduling Bret Hart for the same night on Raw.

WWE could put Hart on any other night, but happened to select the one in which TNA was bringing their A-game. Not that I blame WWE; you don’t take the chance of a rival opening up a cut on you.

However, I think it’s rather telling that Vince McMahon saw TNA as more of a threat than the fans do.

One year later, after taking away three talents that TNA would have likely used for the Main Event Mafia resurrection, and watching them get a bigger reaction than they would have ever gotten in TNA during their entire tenures there combined….I think Vince no longer has reason to fear for TNA.

And, if you’re a wrestling fan like me, that’s bad news for us both.

When TNA dies (and I sincerely hope that it doesn’t), I predict there will be two causes of death: one is their own stupidity, and the other is a lack of oxygen.

Because the majority of us wouldn’t give them any.