TNA True Impact No. 6: A Guide to Improving The 'Main Event Scene'

There's a simple solution to improving the main event scene in TNA: Eliminate it.

The seven-year-old company used to pride itself on being an alternative to the WWE. In recent months, much of that focus seems to have been lost.

Tuning into Impact! each week seems like watching another two hours of typical pro wrestling programming. Sure, when you look closer you see a highly superior tag team division and a more wrestling-oriented women's division.

But, as a whole, there's not much difference about the day-in and day-out appearances of the two rival companies. But it wasn't always that way.

There was a time when TNA focused on its X-Division, which blew even the best of cruiserweight divisions out of the water. The company was built around these stars, and it truly offered wrestling fans an alternative.

A feud between A.J. Styles, Samoa Joe and Christopher Daniels easily found its way into the pages of TNA, and arguably pro wrestling, history. These match-ups offered some of the finest moments in TNA's relatively short tenure.

Then the company found itself in a position to begin making major acquisitions from rival companies. Superstars like Kurt Angle, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, Scott Steiner, Sting, Booker T, Rhino, the Dudley Boys, Christian and many others found their way to TNA.

These men brought with them name value, face recognition and the ability to draw new fans to the company. It seemed only logical to thrust them to the top, to push them into the main event scene and have them surrounding the TNA World Heavyweight Championship.

But, as the months continued to pass, these men remained at the top, passing around the world title between them. Sure, Samoa Joe had the belt for a few months, but for a long time it's been in the hands of Angle, Sting and now Mick Foley.

Critics and fans alike have asked when these veterans will pass the torch to the younger stars, and many fully believe the failure will be the eventually downfall of TNA Wrestling, ala World Championship Wrestling.

But here's a new view point, a perspective where these stars can remain in the World Heavyweight title hunt without bringing an entire company down around themselves.

Eliminating perceptions

Wrestling fans everywhere refer to the elusive "Main Event Scene."

Whether talking about how the Main Event Mafia has ruined TNA's "main event scene" or how Triple H and Batista need to drop out of the WWE "main event scene," the phrase is out there.

But what really defines a "main event scene?" Is it the group of wrestlers competing for their respective company's world titles? That appears to be the case.

In reality, the "main event scene" is merely a perception. It's the stained glass window through which fans view sports entertainment.

If TNA truly desires to differentiate itself from WWE, it needs to change the perception of what a "main event scene" is really about.

With outstanding athletes in the X, Knockout and Tag Team divisions, why not allow these performers a chance to shine in the company spotlight?

Making an Impact

Why does every episode of Impact feel the need to end with a match or segment promoting the top championship feud in the company?

Lately, it's been all about the Main Event Mafia, Jeff Jarrett and Mick Foley. Even though Nash, Steiner and Booker T aren't in the title feud, they're all around it.

This week, we saw video of Foley assaulting Jeff Jarrett. The week before, the Main Event Mafia beat Jarrett, Foley, Samoa Joe and Daniels. The week before, Joe and Styles lost to Nash and Booker, Before that, it was Jarrett losing to Steiner.

Notice a trend?

The Impact main event should be a chance to showcase all the elements of the company that make TNA great. Not every show needs to focus around the top storyline in the company.

Why not allow an episode of Impact to focus around a tournament for the X-Division Championship?

Have four matches that showcase that division, and make one of them the main event for the evening. Make it a match featuring the likes of Jay Lethal, Chris Sabin, Alex Shelley, Christopher Daniels, Eric Young—guys with talent who aren't ready for a world title reign.

Just because they're not ready to hold world title gold doesn't mean they're not ready to main event a weekly television program.

Have matches featuring the tag team division headline another episode of Impact. Heck, I'd even go as far as to say I've seen women's matches that could headline a show. Kong vs. Kim produced some Impact main event worthy matches, for sure.

And don't let it end there. Allow other matches to take the top spot at pay-per-views and have the World Heavyweight Title take a backseat for once.

Allow a high-quality X-Division match to headline Destination X. Allow the blow-off of a blood feud between two top tag teams to headline another.

Fresh faces

In addition to mixing up the perceived "main event scene," this will also allow some fresh faces to enter the World Heavyweight title race, something fans and critics have practically been begging to see.

If you have a stellar main event lined up, the world title match can be used as a secondary headliner and allow guys stuck in the traditional midcard to step up and compete on the ground.

Let Team 3D and Beer Money settle it all in a tables match at Hard Justice, while Mick Foley defends against Eric Young in a world title match. If it was Lockdown, Slammiversary or Bound for Glory, I wouldn't expect to see Young challenging for gold, but who knows if he can handle it if he's never given a chance.

The veterans need to work more with the young guys than with each other. That's how the future stars of the company will be built, but a simple structural reorganization could help preserve the company in the short term.

Not every show needs to end with a top belt storyline. These angles need a presence on every show, but it doesn't need to be the dominant factor.

In closing

TNA needs to go back to its roots and promote what it does best - offer an alternative to continuously seeing Triple H, John Cena, Randy Orton and other big guys brawl in the ring.

There's more to wrestling that watching the big mean brawl in one-on-one matches, and that's where TNA can capitalize.

The company has all the assets it needs to survive; it just needs to utilize them better.

Here's to hoping once the Main Event Mafia angle goes away the company will reorganize itself and refocus on providing an alternative for fans everywhere. Big names are one way to draw in new fans, but so is outstanding wrestling, and that's something TNA can truly provide if they choose.