Sting and TNA: Red and Black Regurgitation

Sting. "The Icon” made his TNA return on the Aug. 5 edition of IMPACT, as he helped Kevin Nash attack Jeff Jarrett, Eric Bischoff, and Hulk Hogan.

Sting appeared for the first time in a TNA ring wearing the red and black nWo Wolfpack colors on his face.

I’m beginning to have serious flashbacks.

Having never tried any form of illegal narcotic, it’s impossible for me to be suffering from any sort of mind-altered delusion.

So, this bizarre condition, which is leading to agonizing pain and suffering for me, is obviously being caused by some external force.

TNA will be hearing from my attorney.

Seriously, hasn’t this whole nostalgia trip gone on for too long?

As I have stated before in a previous column, fans should not fault pro wrestlers for moving on to different companies.

After all, if a guy who was just released from WWE, still wants to work, and TNA or ROH is calling, then why not go?

Just because a wrestler made his name in one promotion, does that mean he’s not allowed to continue his career somewhere else?

Imagine if you left your job, where you had been a good employee and made some good money, only to sit at home because your friends would be upset if you went to earn a living somewhere else. Ridiculous.

So, that is not my argument here. If Sting, Kevin Nash, Ric Flair, and several other guys, still want to mix it up, and be a part of the business, then have at it. I have no problem with that.

What I am having an issue here with is the fact that TNA seems intent on putting all of these same faces together in their major storylines.

Case in point: ECW.

Yes, may of us have made our voices heard on this site as to why we feel this is either a good or a bad idea.

It’s been heavily debated and discussed since the group formerly known in WWE circles as “ECW Originals” were re-dubbed “EV 2.0” in TNA. There’s no need to rehash it now. Just trying to make a point.

Instead of bringing in Tommy Dreamer as an on-air personality, to perhaps introduce a new hardcore division of the company, complete with a TNA Hardcore Title, the promotion instead decided to bring back as many ECW wrestlers as possible.

The concept? Hardcore Justice, an ECW-laced pay per view, which is supposedly one last ride for the company that died in 2001.

And the song remains the same.

It’s all been done before, of course, but that is not stopping TNA in their effort at getting ratings and fan support. But is it working?

Do fans want to see another ECW revival, or the apparent reformation of nWo Wolfpack?

Just because Sting, Kevin Nash, Jeff Jarrett, Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff all work for TNA, does that mean that they should all be thrown together, or even associated with each other in a storyline?

It seems like a crazy question, considering all the history that exists between these five guys.

It seems like yesterday that the nWo were running roughshod in WCW, laying out wrestlers every week and emptying a can of black spray paint in the process.

These guys weren’t just a part of that era, they WERE that era. They were the face of that company, and their paths crossed at virtually every turn.

So, it’s impossible for them to not be destined to hook up now, with all of that history and proven ratings power behind them. Right?

Then again, there is a locker room full of TNA talent that have no connection to those days, a collection of guys who would love to get the rub from these established names.

And Ric Flair gets heat for not staying out of the ring. Ask Jay Lethal what he thinks about that.

Hogan made the statement to Nash that they were all taking a step back, giving the younger talent the opportunity to carry the business forward.

Then the whole thing breaks down into a melee with Sting sliding in wearing the red and black.

Seems to me like these guys are just putting each other over.

The truth is, I like Sting. I always have. He will go down as one of the best in the business.

One day, after he’s long retired from TNA, hopefully Vince McMahon will do the right thing and induct Sting into the Hall of Fame.

My argument is not with Sting. My beef is with TNA creative, two words that seemingly have nothing to do with each other. I will continue to watch, because I love the business and I want all the programming I can get from it.

At the end of the day, I suppose I am just your typical pro wrestling fan who can’t be satisfied. I guess I should just keep my mouth shut, and be happy with every recycled storyline that TNA regurgitates.

But I am a fan. I am one of the people that TNA and the WWE are trying to make happy. If I have an opinion, I’m going to state it. If no one agrees, that is fine with me.

I love the business and I want the best these promotions can give me. And what I’m seeing now just isn’t doing it for me.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to lie down. A mental image of David Arquette hoisting the TNA World Title above his head just popped into my mind. These flashbacks are beginning to get really weird.