Walkin’ in Memphis: Leap of Faith
By Ben Hatcher
Deep in the woods sits an old, seemingly abandoned cabin. Surrounded by filth, it looks like it contains nothing noteworthy at all. However, this cabin is the epitome of a diamond in the rough, as inside it is a prodigious place, filled with everything you can ever hope for, and it was everything I ever wanted. It was a place I had inadvertently discovered almost a year ago, and had quickly shared with all my friends. Soon, all my friends and myself would be frequenting this cabin often, and enjoying every moment. It was our own secret hang out of sorts, a place whose location was never revealed to anyone not amongst our group. Without question the biggest allure to this cabin was the fact that it provided all of us, especially myself, with the one thing we all wanted, and needed. It provided us an alternative to the monotony of social gatherings that had plagued all of us. The sole reason that we had done the same old things is strictly because we knew of nothing else to do. Slowly but surely, other friends of mine began to catch wind of our cabin. The amount of friends that hung out there grew. It grew to a point where we decided that we should compete with the outside world’s social hotspots. The plan was to have a celebratory party, one of monumental and mythic proportions. It was intended to be a coming out party, a forum to show everyone the incomparable enjoyment that this breathtaking cabin had bestowed on us.
Our cabin was modified to suit the masses better, a move that I voiced my displeasure for. It was a move that refuted the very foundation on which our cabin was founded. It was supposed to be something different, and now it was conforming to the very thing that we loathed so much. New, more recognizable items were brought in to increase the outside world’s approval of our cabin. One of the biggest changes, and the one I hated with the most vigor, was to modify the entranceway into the cabin. We had long been content taking the back way, the long, winding, and narrow trail that led to our holy land of pleasure. However, in an attempt to be more user friendly, an actual walkway was erected to enhance simplicity in finding the cabin. I was so mortified at the thought of a pathway; it tempted me not to go to the party at all.
When the big day finally arrived, I went through a cornucopia of emotions. I was skeptical of how well the party would do, and worried how the core members of the cabin would feel about all the changes that had been implemented. Moreover, I was scared how I would feel about the cabin, as it wasn’t the cabin that I had grown to love so much. Finally, I began to make my way down that old familiar trail, across the bridge; and then I saw it. That hideous pathway that was made for new attendees to our cabin, and one I certainly didn’t need. Disgusted, I went as far away from it as possible, determined to stick to my roots. I knew it my heart that this pathway represented all that was wrong with our cabin. It represented conformity, and it represented the straying from our foundation. I turned away from that awful pathway, and went the way I was accustomed to. As I made my way down that trail, I sense of pride came over me, and I my spirits began to lift up. They were raised even further when I saw the original members of the cabin walking down the same trail. I finally knew that I wasn’t alone in my thinking, and my beliefs. Together, we made our way towards the cabin. As we made our way to the gate to the fence that encompassed the cabin, all five of us stopped. As we conversed about the transformation and evolution of our cabin, it became obvious that none of us were overly excited about continuing to the actual party. Sure, there would be elements that we would enjoy, the core group of things that I had loved so much. I was unsure whether or not I could handle the conformity that we had tried so hard to distance ourselves from, and that had now engulfed us.
We stood there for what seemed like ages, waiting for someone to make a move. Finally, we decided that through all the hardship and the wrongdoings, that it was still our cabin. All of us had decided to go to that party, make the commitment, make the leap faith. A leap of faith based not on what our cabin is, but rather what it was, and what it could be again.
The above is an allegorical representation of the crossroads that I am currently encountering with the wrestling federation known as TNA. When I first discovered this new company on FSN way back when, it was so fresh, so innovative. Over that summer, I became more familiar and more interested in the product. While I was furious and the influx of has been’s in the fall, they were all gone in a matter of months. After that, everything began to positively evolve for TNA. Putting the Heavyweight Title on Raven, the push of Samoa Joe, and the new deal with Spike TV, it all looked so optimistic. In two extremely disputed moves, TNA put the Heavyweight and X Division Titles back on Jeff Jarrett and AJ Styles respectively. It was almost as if they were putting the settings at default for the inaugural episode of Impact on October 1. I would be lying if I didn’t say that my interest waned slightly, even though the moves were understandable.
I first began writing this column on Wednesday evening. However, I was not able to complete it because I wanted to see that night’s episode of Law and Order on NBC. Law and Order, in conjuncture with my computer’s death, made it so where Sunday afternoon became my first opportunity to complete it. On Wednesday night, the entire outlook of this column was pessimistic. I had read spoilers, and was rendered speechless. The rumors were true, Kevin Nash was returning to TNA to face Jeff Jarrett at Bound for Glory. There are no words in the English language that can accurately describe the anger and frustration that I experienced that night. To be honest, I couldn’t have cared less that I was being forced to miss the first Impact. Sure, I would record it and watch it when I returned home, but interest and anticipation were at an all time low.
However, to my own shock, when I finally saw Impact, all those negative feelings subsided. Those core elements that I loved so much were still there. While there were noticeable discrepancies between the old Impact Zone and the new, it was a good thing, not a bad thing. The newer, big time feeling of Impact wasn’t indicative of conformity, rather capitalization of new opportunities that came with a new and bigger network.
Even Kevin Nash’s return didn’t spark the anger and discontent that I had expected. While I am still furious that he is headlining the Superbowl pay per view, it isn’t enough to deter my enjoyment of the product.
TNA is exactly like that cabin that I spoke of earlier. Attempting to contend with society isn’t where the problem lies. The problem lies in the manner in which you attempt to contend. There is no denying where TNA wants to end up, and that is at the top of the wrestling food chain. They want to contend, and eventually overtake WWE. Whether or not they will overtake WWE is irrelevant at the moment as it is too many years away from happening to discuss now. However, if they want to at least contend, they must stay away from conformity. They can’t afford to attempt to be on par with WWE at the same point on the metamorphic line. Instead of inching towards WWE, TNA must be the total opposite; the alternative if you will.
However, they must also have that perfect balance that is so necessary to being a national wrestling mainstay. They must be entertaining enough to have the casual fan tune in. On the flip side to that coin, they must not stray away from what brought them to the dance, providing something different than the monotony of the WWE. The ability, or inability, to establish and maintain this balance will undoubtedly deicide the fate of TNA.
People like Kevin Nash will not build the bridge that connects the two elements in the perfect balance. How he was unable to manipulate his way into the main event of the biggest pay per view is beyond my knowledge. After all the negative things he said after his departure, coinciding with my already pure hatred for Big Sexy, there is no other man in wrestling that I despise more. How long he will stay is unknown, however, one thing is for sure. If TNA establishes a pattern of making decisions similar to this, they will fall. Kevin Nash is a bridge burner, and nothing good can come out of his tenure in TNA take two. While momentary and temporary highs can come to fruition, in the end it will be the downfall of this company. Men like Monty Brown, who contain in them that entertaining feel, are the men that can bridge the gap between casual and smark fans. To a much lesser extent Jeff Hardy, who has an undeniable fanbase, can be a part of a bridge. He is not worthy of a real push, but getting him out there can be the basis of a new TNA fan.
At the end of Impact, Team 3-D, who now will apparently go under the name “The Deadly Boyz”, are the epitome of this bridge. They have everything essential to being what TNA needs most. They have name recognition, actual wrestling talent, and they are entertaining. The core group of people are there for TNA to accomplish what they so desire. AJ Styles, Chris Daniels, Samoa Joe, AMW, Raven, Rhino, Deadly Boyz, the list goes on. The one thing that is uncertain is if they will use this talent properly, if they will let men such as Kevin Nash ruin them. He is the walkway in the cabin allegory that I despise so much.
I don’t know where TNA is going. I don’t know if Kevin Nash will be gone tomorrow, or whether he will be a staple in TNA. I don’t know if what’s to come in the future. After watching Impact, I do know that one thing is certain. Even through all the atrocities that TNA has done, the core elements are there to make me watch week in and week out. I can look past all the wrong, and enjoy the right, enjoy that cabin for what I see in it. Whatever happens and wherever TNA goes, so too will I go, I decided to go ahead and make the Leap of Faith.
-Email: bhatcher20@yahoo.com
-AIM: WalkininMemphis8
Copyright © 2005; TheWrestlingVoice.com & Douglas Nunnally.
All Rights Reserved.
Disclaimer & Privacy Statement
| What Did You Think About WWE Backlash 2008? |
|
|