TNA: Creative Missed a Golden Opportunity Last Night at Against All Odds

The "Against All Odds" PPV event was a bit above average last night. Nothing spectacular. A lot of what we expected, with a few surprises.

But in all sincerity, the creative team and management of TNA and Impact Wrestling missed a golden opportunity last night to crown a new champion.  In doing so, it looks like Thursday night will be another chance for "free" television to outshine a Sunday night where fans plunked down $34.95 to watch another cable headliner.

Yes, it's about build up and yes, it's about ratings and continuing storylines and such. But this could have been a great opportunity to see Bully Ray or Jeff Hardy to take the strap and start a new run as the TNA World Champion. It also means a great many things in the future of Impact Wrestling.

Again, those who watched Sunday suffered because nothing changed but fans will rejoice and have the thrill of seeing the possibility of a match between Jeff Hardy and Bobby Roode.

When Sting smacked Hardy's head with the world title belt instead of Roode, it meant there would be changes. Would there be a battle between Roode and Sting? Would Hardy get in Sting's face? What happens to both Bully Ray and James Storm?

And more importantly, what happens to the state of the world title, because frankly this is the best it has been in some time.

The more there is speculation, the better the odds are that Roode holds on to the strap for some time and TNA decides to run with him as the lead dog in this company for some time.

Because for months, the title seemed more like a curse than a benefit.

If management and the creative team can continue to tweak the championship build up and have four or five strong "players" competing on a weekly basis, then there is that old-school, NWA feel to the title chase. If not, it seems more like a lost soul of causes.

Either way, there is drama.

And in this case, the drama is good, as long as it is not taking away from PPV events and allowing regularly scheduled wrestling shows to overtake their popularity.