Impact Wrestling: 10 Things to Do to Save the Company

There has been a lot of talk in the IWC lately about Impact potentially going under and coming into the possession of Mr. McMahon. I am not in favor of this, as I believe in a couple principles.

For one, Vince McMahon has said repeatedly he roots for Impact to be successful as he is in favor of competition for WWE. Second, Impact has too much talent that would be buried on WWE shows.

The only guy I would almost be somewhat certain would not get buried on WWE shows is AJ Styles; McMahon has loved this man and has wanted him ever since Jeff Jarrett discovered him. Impact has a full-talent roster and can run a great show so long as they can save themselves before they go too far under and become WCW 2.0. Here is what they must do. 

10. Rid Itself of All Old WCW Personnel

Mainly Russo and Bischoff, those guys plainly are to blame for driving a multi-million dollar company (WCW) under and out.

Dixie Carter only can explain association with these men by brain cramps because no one would in their right mind would bring in power hungry men who kill everything they touch. Hopefully there is time before she has to hand over to Mr. McMahon.

9. Push the X-Division Again

In the early days AJ Styles was a member of the X Division; Samoa Joe was a super heavyweight guy for the X Division, but he made his mark there first.

TNA became a marketable wrestling company on two principles: Jeff Jarrett and the X Division.  Thankfully for himself, Jarrett became a huge enough name in WCW that people would come to buildings to see him. That enabled guys like AJ, and Chris Sabin to be seen.

Today Impact has a group that features Brian Kendrick, Austin Aeries and Kaz, and it must push them again. 

8. Emphasize Originals

The first piece I did about Impact, in 11 things Impact Wrestling can do to go big. I said how they could do great to sign Dave Batista, but I am convinced now that they have the homegrown talent to go huge.

I love Crimson, Bobby Rude, and Joe push these guys alongside AJ and Impact has a main event scene potentially deeper than WWE right now. The Ultimate X match is also an Impact original, and it's awesome. 

7. Break from Bischoff's Murderous Patterns

How, you ask, did Bischoff shoot WCW down? Refuse to take the belt from Hogan until too late.

Bischoff is a guy of patterns when he is in power and kills whatever he is in. First he picks a guy, then he makes his guy keep his title for months and upwards to 18-24 months on end with an occasional month off, then the people tire and stop buying tickets. And in WCW's case, by the time Hogan went off, it was too late for Booker T and Scott Steiner to get business back up.

When he was GM of Raw, Dave Batista said Raw was all about Triple H, and then Raw ended up with its lowest ratings in a long while during that Evolution stretch.

Raw had guys like Kevin Nash, Scott Steiner and Bill Goldberg, three proven guys who could hold a show down as champion. (Not enough pattern for you?? After Batista emerged and went to SmackDown, John Cena had the belt for nine months.) When he came to Impact and formed Immortal with Hogan, he nearly drove Jeff Hardy into the toilet. 

6. Youth and More Youth

On simple basis of young bodies, Impact may have as much or more depth that is ready for their company's main event right up with WWE. R Truth would be an excellent piece also, as I'd bet Dixie and the rest of them would love to still have him.

With Crimson, Bobby Rude and Joe all built around centerpiece AJ Styles, Impact has an excellent home grown group and Kurt and Jeff Hardy are excellent pieces to develop the young guys, but not to be leaders. 

5. Follow WWE's Business Patterns, Not Story Lines

There is nothing wrong with building a show and having a face to your company. John Cena is always in championship picture no matter how much the IWC hates on him, because he is marketable and he sells seats.

For Impact, they have a guy look that who can be the lead man and face of the company. Enter AJ Styles, a homegrown talent and the best Jeff Jarrett ever found by a wide margin. Besides him, they have a group around him that they can build a similarly successful show.  Now that does not mean continue to copy the shorelines and everything else Bischoff and Hogan tried copying.

4. Build Knockouts Division Around Velvet Sky

I have spoken of this lady a couple times in previous articles because I am convinced she is the best female in any wrestling promotion since Trish Stratus. Obviously first look at the image; she comes out as a member of the now broken group called the beautiful people. But her wrestling and mic skills are not that bad either.

Madison Rayne and Angelina Love are also excellent pieces for a ladies division.

3. Make Samoa Joe Your Undertaker Type Character

This man I've heard is very close to jumping ship to WWE because  he is so mishandled. His current character the last nine months reminds me of the Macho Man Randy Savage; he never could keep his head on straight enough be be consistent in the main event.

The role of the conscience of Impact and man all main eventers must watch over the shoulder for suits Joe to a tee. An occasional main event championship appearance would work to make this man a centerpiece of a big wrestling show. Similar also to what Sting was in WCW. 

2. Break Up All the Stables Except One Heel Stable

I'm a fan of fortune and all the men in there. Immortal has become a revolving door as Hogan and Bischoff just got to the point of wanting whoever was world champion to be with them.

In the past, Impact has done stables like Team Canada, which was a total joke with Scott DaMore. Jeff Jarrett did a couple stables in the early days with Nash and Hall and others. Jarrett would be ideal to lead a heel stable (most probably Immortal) after Hogan and Bischoff are gone. Fortune, which has become a group of baby faces, must disband, and all others should go down to just tag teams. 

1. Get Movie Roles for Samoa Joe and AJ

One of the best things WWE does for their business is market superstars in Hollywood. That is one of the controversies between Cena and Rock right now over in WWE. The difference for them is that Rock took long absences away from the people to do his movies, hence why he brings it via satellite.

The better way to market superstars is the way Cena and Triple H do movies. Keep them front and center on screen and then push the movies with them on TV. AJ Styles can do any movie role he would have come to him, and Samoa Joe would just be amazing in a menace mean monster in the dark role. 

Comment and ENJOY!

Let us hope Bischoff and Hogan haven't killed this program beyond repair. I'm really hoping that Hogan does go ahead and retire this Thursday, Hogan is Bischoff's lifeline, I believe, so hopefully he will be gone really soon too. In have an amazing idea for a new face of management: Do what I mentioned in this show and get Impact to the big time. Enter...

SHAQUILLE O'NEAL!

He has always wanted to be part of a wrestling show, and think of how awesome a job could he do!