TNA Providing Extra Opportunities with Open Door Policy

With the recent addition of Aron Rex (formerly Damien Sandow in the WWE) TNA has provided former stars in different promotions an opportunity to succeed with them.

There is an old adage that when one door closes another one opens. In the case of Total Nonstop Wrestling, they have provided a new opportunity to a number of wrestlers who had careers in other major promotions such as WWE and Ring of Honor. Whether this was by the athlete’s choice or because they were released by their former employer, TNA has given these men and women a fresh start and allowed their characters to develop.

Recently, Aaron Stevens, who competed as Damien Sandown in WWE, debuted for TNA under the name Aron Rex. What is interesting is that he has been able to use the same music that he used in the WWE. The music isn’t the creative property of the WWE, as it is the ever-popular ‘Halleujah’ which was written and composed by Handel in the 18th century.

He isn’t the first former WWE employee to resurface with TNA, but he will have an opportunity to thrive with the company. While he did tease of animosity for his former employer that won’t be the focus of his character moving forward. Like Kurt Angle, Drew Galloway, Bobby Lashley, Matt and Jeff Hardy before him, there is a legitimate chance for him to contend for a championship. At the very least, Rex will work programs with some of the elite in TNA.

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While TNA should receive some praise for bringing in this, former talent they have also received criticism for doing just that. Some comments have ranged from either petty to flat out silly, like ‘TNA: where failed WWE stars go to shine.’ Those that have gone to TNA aren’t weaker or failed in the least. Those that were released from the WWE were just being underutilized. When we consider any line of work where an employee is unhappy because of their position and their chances of moving are minimal at best, we’d understand why they would want to leave. Why shouldn’t professional wrestlers be given the same courtesy? In fact, in some instances, wrestlers that have moved from the WWE to TNA have grown.

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That couldn’t be any truer than when Ethan Carter III had burst on the scene in TNA. In the WWE’s developmental system, both in Florida Championship Wrestling and later NXT, he was known as Michael Hutter and Derrick Bateman. He was used sparingly and although he had many great attributes, he was released and never fully capitalized on. While he has been with TNA, Carter has captured the TNA World Heavyweight championship on multiple occasions.

Recently, Matt Hardy has evolved his character into an outlandish persona that has resonated with fans of TNA, and many other wrestling fans online. The hashtag “#BrokenMattHardy” has appeared to push the creative envelope for him and his feud with his brother Jeff. There may be freedom that the talent is given that they don’t get in WWE, and indeed they really should be given those chances to progress and develop.

Some have gone as far as to question the type of network that TNA is on as well, but ultimately what should be considered is that a deal was reached to help TNA help and their product.

Former WWE talent isn’t the only people have opened their doors to. Maria Kanellis (a former WWE Diva), ‘The Miracle’ Mike Bennett and Moose are all former Ring of Honor stars that have joined TNA in the company’s effort to evolve and grow. Those that hasn’t seen Bennett and Moose compete in ROH have certainly missed out. They had the chance to make names for themselves and have now parlayed that into greater exposure. Each of these performers has been put in scenarios that may not have had otherwise happened in their previous companies. It really should be applauded that TNA has created an environment where they can grow.

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Despite the challenges the company has had as a business, the influx of known talent brought in, and the potential for great matches and innovative storytelling is there. They have been consistent with attempting to grow into another option for wrestling fans, and this open door policy appears to reflect that.