Pro Wrestling D-Day II 2010

Today marks the beginning of the “second world war” in modern professional wrestling.  Tonight, as it’s being hyped up, is when TNA Wrestling has chosen to “fire the first shot” at WWE, signaling the start of the newest Monday Night War!

The landmark moment that started this train a-rollin’ was the signing of Hulk Hogan to TNA.  It wasn’t simply the signing of him, but in the manner that TNA, Dixie Carter, and Spike TV did it.  They held a press conference in Madison Square Garden, which most wrestling fans realize, is WWE Chairman, Vince McMahon‘s, “home away from home” when it comes to wrestling events.  However, that isn’t the end of it.  Madison Square Garden is also the home of Vince’s father, Vincent J. McMahon, and grandfather, Jess McMahon‘s former promotion efforts in the wrestling, boxing, and concert realms.  It wasn’t just a cheap shot at Vince, but at his family’s legacy in that building.

One thought that comes to my mind when I think of what is going down tonight is seen in this commercial:

If you didn’t get what I’m thinking by watching some of that video think about this… In the past, WWE has never really looked as TNA as a threat to their business, and while that might be true, WWE should at least look at them as that pesky fly buzzing around the room.  You know it’s there, but unless it comes right for your face, you’re not going to swat at it (or, in the case of the video, rip it’s arm off).  However, behind the frosty facade, WWE took to some “precautionary measures” of their own.  Over the past few weeks they hinted and tonight, we will see the WWE return of “The Hitman” Bret Hart as a guest host on Monday Night RAW.  This is likely to spark just as many fans to tune into their TV program out of nostalgia, just like what TNA is trying to do with The Hulkster.  WWE isn’t going to change their product or their philosophy, but the idea of bringing back Bret Hart considering his relationship with Vince McMahon and top star, Shawn Michaels, is what makes this signing so interesting.  People have been clamoring to see what would happen if The Hitman got his hands on HBK or McMahon after what happened in Montreal at Survivor Series November 1997.

In order to really understand what is going on, we must look to the past.  WWE back in the late 1990s and early 2000s competed with Ted Turner‘s WCW.  Over the time span, many talented wrestlers were gainfully employed, and some were even lured away from the competition to weaken the enemy, the biggest detractors being Scott Hall & Kevin Nash.  The wrestling business was booming.  Both companies Monday night shows were doing amazing ratings.  WWE took an early lead with their RAW show, which in it’s early stages was taped, and eventually they were overtaken by WCW’s Monday Nitro, which was live and used some backhanded techniques to gain their edge.  Eventually what caused the demise of WCW was their overblown, overpaid, egoistical booking and management skills.  The heel stable, the NWO, had too many people of importance, and they constantly went over the other wrestlers, simply because their main members were the booking team!  Shockingly, or maybe not, these same people are in play with this new war.  Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash, and former WCW President, Eric Bischoff are all now working for TNA and are a big part of what is going to go down tonight!

So what does TNA need to do this time around to make sure they do not fall the same way that WCW did?  First, my thoughts continue to dwell on Hogan, Nash, and Bischoff.  Do NOT let them book the entire program.  If you do, you’re likely to have them play favorites with wrestlers and even bring in some of their washed up friends who do not deserve to take roster spots from some of the young studs in TNA.  Secondly, if you’re going to have surprise guests, please make sure that they’re “relevant big names” like Mr. Kennedy or Rob Van Dam.  People I’ve talked to on different wrestling forums are clamoring for matches between RVD and talent the likes of AJ Styles, Daniels & Samoa Joe.  Thirdly, TNA cannot neglect the young talent on their roster.  If that means you have to create a secondary television show to put that talent on display, do it!  There’s too much talent for them to be sitting on the sidelines week in and out.  Guys like Jay Lethal, Chris Sabin & Alex Shelly can steal the show every time they enter the arena.  Fourthly, continue to be different from WWE.  If there’s one person who knows what it takes, that’s Eric Bischoff.  Back in the WCW days, at first they didn’t have the roster, or the budget to compete with WWE… with the same agenda, so they changed things up and tried doing different things to catch people’s attention.  TNA right now is different than WWE and if they continue on this path, they can coexist, but if they “cross the line” to the same entertainment product that WWE does and get away from pro wrestling, THEY WILL FAIL.

One other thing I want to touch on is the casualties of war.  In the original Monday Night War, the big casualty was a little company known as ECW, run by the genius of Paul Heyman.  They found themselves stuck right in the middle of the two big dogs, and their talent rosters were raided by both WWE and WCW.  They at one point in time had names the likes of Steve Austin, Rey Mysterio, Eddie Guerrero, Mick Foley, and the aforementioned Rob Van Dam.  Present day, there is one company who is already in the cross hairs of both WWE and TNA’s recruiting offices, Ring of Honor (ROH).  Both sides have already courted multiple wrestlers in attempts to bulk up their rosters and prevent the other company from growing stronger.  As of right now, ROH hasn’t really shown any ill-effects, but we’ll see how things go along as the war progresses.  They could go the way of the dinosaur (and the original ECW) if the war escalates to the likes of the previous one, which would be terrible considering I’m a huge fan of ROH’s old school wrestling product.

So what happens tonight, does it really mean anything?  My friend and current indy wrestler, Ryan Von Kool said the other day, “The invention of the DVR will prevent a REAL ‘Monday Night WAR’ from ever taking place again…”  I can’t help but agree with him to an extent.  Yes, DVR’s will help people like he and myself watch both products if we so choose, and DVR views do count along side of the live viewing of shows in the Nielsen ratings.  However, there are some fans that have not embraced both products.  Some people are strictly for WWE, and have never even watched TNA wrestling.  Others really want to see TNA shock the world and knock WWE off it’s perch.  The ratings war that was the measuring stick between WWE and WCW will NOT be the same for the war between WWE and TNA.  It will be more of a war on demographics.  WWE has a more kid friendly product and cater to the family dynamic.  TNA is still struggling to find it’s identity, but probably should shoot for the over 18 audience and the true wrestling fans who appreciate wrestling for what it is, engaging and sometimes a little gimmicky, but tells a story, not just through words, but through, as their name suggests, non-stop action. They can coexist for a time, but eventually the war on demographics will start to cross over and things will start to become more hostile between the companies.

In the short run, this new version of a Monday Night War could breathe new life in the wrestling industry.  In the long run, it could go one way or another.  My advice to the fans, sit back and enjoy the ride!  Competition brings out the best in people, so I’m hoping that we’ll see better wrestling and a more entertaining product from both companies.  There’s only one thing to say, let the battle begin!