Post by Dr. Wrestling on Aug 28, 2008 21:11:24 GMT -5
This week for That's My Story and I'm Sticking To It, I'll be telling you what I think of Mick Foley possibly going to TNA after his WWE contract expires next week.
First of all, it should be noted that all "reports" of Foley signing with TNA should be considered strictly rumors at this point because we all know that internet reports, especially when it comes to wrestling aren't always accurate. I had read just a few days ago that Mick Foley has indeed agreed to sign with TNA but as I said, everything should be considered just speculation at this point. There's a few different aspects of this situation to consider here and each aspect could have a different effect on Foley's run in TNA. Before all of TNA's die hard, smart mark "this is awesome" fans claim that TNA will become a competitive alternate to the WWE because Foley is signed with TNA, they need to realize that it won't. As has been proven time and time again with TNA, one big name signing will NOT turn the company around and it seems like TNA has had the "when we sign wrestler X it will put TNA on the map" but despite those signings TNA still has a 1.0 rating, which is what they have had since they debuted on Spike TV a few years ago. When Christain signed with TNA, Dixie Carter and TNA pushed him as being the "savoir" so to speak for an other wise lack luster product but still nearly three years later, TNA is still struggling with the same booking mishaps. Sting was given $500,000 and a limited schedule in hopes of bringing TNA better buy rates but instead TNA has "prostituted" Sting's name vaule and star power to the point that it really doesn't make that much of a difference when he actually appears. That being said, I'm not sure what TNA is trying to do with Sting because he has randomly "returned" to TNA with no real purpose more times then anyone can count and the current storyline Sting is involved in makes no sense at all, which seems to be a trademark of Vince Russo's creative "skills" or lack thereof. TNA's next choice to save the company came in late 2006 with the shocking signing of Kurt Angle, who left the WWE just six weeks prior and this would seem like a valuable acquisition for TNA but TNA made major mistake before Angle had ever entered the Impact zone. They announced Angle's signing with the company at the end of a PPV but Angle didn't actually have a match until over a month later and at TNA's premiere PPV of the year, Bound For Glory Angle was a special guest ref, which had him be more of a background figure then a featured star. Angle not appearing live at the announcement of his signing and him not wrestling at Bound For Glory were TNA's mistakes. Kurt made a mistake himself when he didn't just retire from wrestling after leaving the WWE because as I've said many times in the past, Angle's run in TNA has in many respects tarnished his legacy. Don't get me wrong here, I've been a fan of Kurt Angle since before he debuted in the WWE but the statements he's made in interviews, the lame storyline with Karen Angle, and the injuries he had since joining TNA makes Angle look like a wrestler past his prime trying to hang onto the glory instead of the accomplished champion he is. I apologize for rambling but the point is, TNA doesn't have the best track record when signing former WWE stars. How will this effect Mick Foley if he chooses to sign with TNA?
In the past, Foley has been accused of making short returns to the ring for no other reason then a fast pay day, which is okay in my book because Foley is one of my all time favorites so I don't mind seeing the hardcore legend back in the ring but even I have to say that most of the time when Foley returns to the ring it's obvious that he is just there to job in an attempt to push a younger star, which in some ways can make Foley seem like he is only trying to collect a payday based on his past legacy instead of trying to add to it. A match with Carlito at Taboo Tuesday a few years ago would be an example of this as it seemed like Foley was no where near prepared to be in the ring. The mad scientist, Paul Heyman once called Foley a prostitute in an interview because of how Foley would return to the ring just for a pay day and in some ways he may be right. The combination of Foley's tendency to return just for money instead of adding to his legacy and TNA's willingness to exploit star power without a meaningful storyline could be damaging to Foley's career in terms of how it's viewed in pro wrestling history. Don't get me wrong here, I don't blame Foley at all for wanting to make a buck but when he returns for no real reason other then a pay check, it does in many ways make him look like a has been. He was in a four way match for the WWE title last year but we all know he wasn't going to win it because he was not wrestling full time so why have him in the match? What did he add to the match other then "hey Mick Foley is in the match?" If Foley would go to TNA, he would have to make a mark there in order to truly justify him signing with the company but would he be willing to take the risk in the ring to do so? The reason I ask this question is because you have to wonder at this point in he career, does Foley want to be wrestling with barbed wire, thumb tacks, and chair for a considerably smaller audience? One thing is for sure, as great and as legendary as Foley is, he won't turn TNA around. In fact, one star isn't going to turn ANY company around and pro wrestling history has proved that it takes many different things to make a company successful. Now, the question is will Foley actually sign with TNA?
I'd say it's definitely possible but I'm not sure if it will actually happen. Just as a guess I will say Foley probably will sign with TNA. Foley has already said in an interview that he is indeed leaving the WWE after his contract expires on September 1st and it's been reported that Foley was unhappy with Vince Mcmahon's criticism of his commentary in his head set during Smackdown tapings. That could be enough motivation for Foley to "jump ship" and sign with TNA in spite of Mcmahon. Foley signing with TNA could be his way of showing McMahon that he could go elsewhere and be treated like the legend that he is or Foley might not want to burn a bridge with the WWE and remain loyal to the company by not signing with TNA.
Until next week
That's My Story and I'm Sticking to It
Dr. Wrestling
If you have comments or questions e mail me drwrestlingallpro@yahoo.com
First of all, it should be noted that all "reports" of Foley signing with TNA should be considered strictly rumors at this point because we all know that internet reports, especially when it comes to wrestling aren't always accurate. I had read just a few days ago that Mick Foley has indeed agreed to sign with TNA but as I said, everything should be considered just speculation at this point. There's a few different aspects of this situation to consider here and each aspect could have a different effect on Foley's run in TNA. Before all of TNA's die hard, smart mark "this is awesome" fans claim that TNA will become a competitive alternate to the WWE because Foley is signed with TNA, they need to realize that it won't. As has been proven time and time again with TNA, one big name signing will NOT turn the company around and it seems like TNA has had the "when we sign wrestler X it will put TNA on the map" but despite those signings TNA still has a 1.0 rating, which is what they have had since they debuted on Spike TV a few years ago. When Christain signed with TNA, Dixie Carter and TNA pushed him as being the "savoir" so to speak for an other wise lack luster product but still nearly three years later, TNA is still struggling with the same booking mishaps. Sting was given $500,000 and a limited schedule in hopes of bringing TNA better buy rates but instead TNA has "prostituted" Sting's name vaule and star power to the point that it really doesn't make that much of a difference when he actually appears. That being said, I'm not sure what TNA is trying to do with Sting because he has randomly "returned" to TNA with no real purpose more times then anyone can count and the current storyline Sting is involved in makes no sense at all, which seems to be a trademark of Vince Russo's creative "skills" or lack thereof. TNA's next choice to save the company came in late 2006 with the shocking signing of Kurt Angle, who left the WWE just six weeks prior and this would seem like a valuable acquisition for TNA but TNA made major mistake before Angle had ever entered the Impact zone. They announced Angle's signing with the company at the end of a PPV but Angle didn't actually have a match until over a month later and at TNA's premiere PPV of the year, Bound For Glory Angle was a special guest ref, which had him be more of a background figure then a featured star. Angle not appearing live at the announcement of his signing and him not wrestling at Bound For Glory were TNA's mistakes. Kurt made a mistake himself when he didn't just retire from wrestling after leaving the WWE because as I've said many times in the past, Angle's run in TNA has in many respects tarnished his legacy. Don't get me wrong here, I've been a fan of Kurt Angle since before he debuted in the WWE but the statements he's made in interviews, the lame storyline with Karen Angle, and the injuries he had since joining TNA makes Angle look like a wrestler past his prime trying to hang onto the glory instead of the accomplished champion he is. I apologize for rambling but the point is, TNA doesn't have the best track record when signing former WWE stars. How will this effect Mick Foley if he chooses to sign with TNA?
In the past, Foley has been accused of making short returns to the ring for no other reason then a fast pay day, which is okay in my book because Foley is one of my all time favorites so I don't mind seeing the hardcore legend back in the ring but even I have to say that most of the time when Foley returns to the ring it's obvious that he is just there to job in an attempt to push a younger star, which in some ways can make Foley seem like he is only trying to collect a payday based on his past legacy instead of trying to add to it. A match with Carlito at Taboo Tuesday a few years ago would be an example of this as it seemed like Foley was no where near prepared to be in the ring. The mad scientist, Paul Heyman once called Foley a prostitute in an interview because of how Foley would return to the ring just for a pay day and in some ways he may be right. The combination of Foley's tendency to return just for money instead of adding to his legacy and TNA's willingness to exploit star power without a meaningful storyline could be damaging to Foley's career in terms of how it's viewed in pro wrestling history. Don't get me wrong here, I don't blame Foley at all for wanting to make a buck but when he returns for no real reason other then a pay check, it does in many ways make him look like a has been. He was in a four way match for the WWE title last year but we all know he wasn't going to win it because he was not wrestling full time so why have him in the match? What did he add to the match other then "hey Mick Foley is in the match?" If Foley would go to TNA, he would have to make a mark there in order to truly justify him signing with the company but would he be willing to take the risk in the ring to do so? The reason I ask this question is because you have to wonder at this point in he career, does Foley want to be wrestling with barbed wire, thumb tacks, and chair for a considerably smaller audience? One thing is for sure, as great and as legendary as Foley is, he won't turn TNA around. In fact, one star isn't going to turn ANY company around and pro wrestling history has proved that it takes many different things to make a company successful. Now, the question is will Foley actually sign with TNA?
I'd say it's definitely possible but I'm not sure if it will actually happen. Just as a guess I will say Foley probably will sign with TNA. Foley has already said in an interview that he is indeed leaving the WWE after his contract expires on September 1st and it's been reported that Foley was unhappy with Vince Mcmahon's criticism of his commentary in his head set during Smackdown tapings. That could be enough motivation for Foley to "jump ship" and sign with TNA in spite of Mcmahon. Foley signing with TNA could be his way of showing McMahon that he could go elsewhere and be treated like the legend that he is or Foley might not want to burn a bridge with the WWE and remain loyal to the company by not signing with TNA.
Until next week
That's My Story and I'm Sticking to It
Dr. Wrestling
If you have comments or questions e mail me drwrestlingallpro@yahoo.com
