TNA Impact Wrestling: Final Deletion; Art or Affront?

The wrestling world once again takes an introspective look at itself after The Final Deletion.

What is wrestling? Not too far removed from the Ricochet vs. Will Ospreay match that set the wrestling world ablaze, fans are again forced to ask the question once more. Last Tuesday night’s edition of Impact featured the conclusion of the newest and most bizarre chapter in the Matt Hardy vs. Jeff Hardy saga.

In the main event “match” (some may be hesitant to even refer to it as such), Matt Hardy defeated his younger brother once again, as he had done at the 25th Anniversary of Wrestlemania back in 2009 with WWE. However, the buzz for the match was largely due to its completely off-the-rails bonkers storyline. While we’ve known the elder Hardy has had a long-standing, deep-seated hatred and jealousy for his younger sibling (storyline anyway) as it was first revealed in the build-up towards their brother vs brother Wrestlemania match, TNA’s take on the rivalry completely eschews everything we thought we knew about the wrestling format.

Matt wants to kill his brother Jeff. Simple enough and nothing new; Matt DID try hit a sickening Twist of Hate with Jeff’s head trapped inside a steel chair at Wrestlemania, but not before he burned Jeff’s house down and killed his dog, or tried to catch Jeff in his own pyro. WWE’s presentation of Matt vs. Jeff was very by-the-book traditional standards and practices pro-wrestling.

Much like a different writer handling a popular comic book superhero, TNA’s direction with the brothers Hardy is strikingly different and unlike anything we’ve ever seen before. It included musical instruments, personal gardeners, made-up accents, tribal tattoo crop circles, and drones. Completely left field from the wrestling rulebook, sure, but a perfect fit for the A.D.D.-minded; surrealist nonsensical humor; post-Family Guy 18-35 demographic that comprises the fanbase today.

Final Deletion was essentially a big-budget backyard wrestling match

At face value, Final Deletion was essentially a big-budget (relatively speaking) backyard wrestling match. The Final Deletion is art. No, it is not as grandiose or larger than life as any of WWE’s products, but it doesn’t have to be. It stands on its own, as wobbly or disoriented as it may be, it managed to carve itself a respectable niche for itself in a world where practically everything has been done, and done to death.

Pro-wrestling is sport. Pro-wrestling is also art. Pro-wrestling can be both art and sport or it can be one or the other

Pro-wrestling is sport. Pro-wrestling is also art. Pro-wrestling can be both art and sport or it can be one or the other. The Final Deletion was art. You’re not going to find the amazing feats of athleticism or the technical in-ring prowess of the Ricochet vs. Ospreay match here; rather, what you get is one of wrestling’s most captivating storylines, for better or worse, in recent memory.

Likewise, you’re not going to find that level of storytelling outside leading up to the Ricochet vs. Ospreay match due to the format; there was no need for a storyline because it was a tournament, and the two happened to be pitted against one another. The storyline was basic competition at its purest and the plot was the acrobatics and insane moves they put on display. Regardless, at the end of the day, both matches are acceptable forms of wrestling, no matter what you feel about it.

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Pro-wrestling is built on whimsical, fantastical characters, many of which look downright ridiculous (Mantaur anybody?) and storylines ranging from epic to non-existent. So why should we be taken back a bit by something as insane as Final Deletion? The wrestling world has had to sit through ridiculous Vince Russo-produced segments in both WWE and WCW. We’ve seen an elderly woman give birth to a hand and we’ve seen a “viagra on a pole” match. We’ve seen rock musicians partake in backyard wrestling. TNA uses a six-sided ring and one of their staple matches, Ultimate X, incorporates steel trusses and crossing cables to allow its competitors to essentially chicken-fight joust a la American Gladiator. WWE surrounds its ring with literal fire for its inferno match. ROH introduced honor to a bloodsport where, historically, competitors solved their issues, whatever they may be, and storylines were resolved by beating each other up. CHIKARA features cartoony lucha libre characters. Lucha Underground features immortal characters. Dean Ambrose took a skillsaw to the head in a CZW death match. The list goes on and on and on. At the end of the day, all of it, is still wrestling. You don’t have to like everything, but at the very least, you can accept it and respect it.

They say that “imitation is the sincerest form of flattery”. This past Monday night, WWE aired their own off-site fight between the New Day and the Wyatt Family at the Wyatt Compound. Although it was in a much more serious tone, it was readily obvious that it was in homage to the Final Deletion. Not surprising, as the New Day is known to reference outside promotions while in WWE; for example, the Young Bucks. For a company like TNA trying to keep its head above water these days with rumors of financial hardships and a talent exodus the likes we haven’t seen in almost twenty years, the fact that the biggest, most well-known wrestling organization in the world recognized TNA’s beautiful disaster in the Final Deletion is rather comforting, as bittersweet as it may sound.

It’s awfully difficult to make some noise in the wrestling business if you’re not under the umbrella of the WWE and TNA managed to get itself some notoriety by making some buzz. WWE may be in the business of pro-wrestling, but the product they’re selling, at the end of the day, is art. It’s no secret why Ricochet vs. Ospreay is having a trickle down effect on the hype and anticipation of WWE’s Cruiserweight Classic. It’s no secret why the Final Deletion directly influenced the New Day vs Wyatt Family storyline.

Final Deletion was more of a moment in time than a match

The Final Deletion was more of a moment in time than a match, in the same vein the Brock Lesnar vs. Undertaker match at Wrestlemania XXX was a watershed moment. The match itself wasn’t anything spectacular, however, the ramifications of said match was the real selling point. Upfront, the Final Deletion looks like any backyard wrestling match you’ve seen. However, in regards to storyline and presentation and what we thought was allowed and possible and sensical may have been forever changed for the better thanks to TNA’s efforts.

Next: Is WWE Copying TNA's 'Final Deletion' Hardyz Storyline?

Undertaker and Kane featured supernatural elements in their legendary feud between 1997 and 1998 with Undertaker summoning thunder and lightning and Kane setting people on fire. It led to the Inferno Match. Nearly twenty years later, Matt Hardy attacks Jeff Hardy in the privacy and sanctity of his own home with an army of assault drones leading up to Final Deletion. It’s pro-wrestling, people. It doesn’t have to make sense to be good.

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