Bound for Glory 2011: Why TNA Wrestling Has a Chance to Shine This Week

When TNA does its last show tonight to promote the Bound for Glory PPV this weekend, it will be the opportunity the wrestling community has waited for.

With the hype of two major matches that could shake the brand and the company—Bobby Roode challenging Kurt Angle for the TNA World Title and Sting facing Hulk Hogan for control of the company—there are major changes on the horizon, no matter what the outcome is Sunday night.

Impact wrestling and its writers have put itself on a roller coaster this year, giving us some great matches and programming, only to fall flat on its face the following week on television and at PPV events. While the storylines have gotten better, the Knockouts Division has improved and the X-Division has become a staple of success, you cannot help but feel this has to be the event that puts TNA over the top; otherwise, it could fall flat on its face.

And I for one, as a fan and a hero of the older wrestling establishment, do not wish to see that happen.

Bobby Roode represents the best chance for change in the old guard in quite a while, since a young AJ Styles began his rise up the TNA ladder. Roode also represents the idea that TNA will make changes to characters, stables and feuds in an effort to grow and develop.

It is odd to me that the man who helped plan the greatest act in wrestling history (the establishment of the NWO) has such an odd track record with success. Eric Bischoff should be doing things better than Vince McMahon, proven by the fact he kicked Vince's ass for over 80 weeks when the Monday Night War went on.

So why is he floundering so badly with the amount of talent he has on Impact?

If the changes on the horizon mean more ratings and more competition and maybe new wrestlers coming into the fold, then great for TNA. But if those changes do involve the old guard and the established wrestlers like Sting, Angle and Hogan having a major stake in what goes on, then we can say goodbye to the success of the franchise.

This brand needs a healthy Jeff Hardy, a heel in James Storm, a continued effort from AJ Styles, and more progress from Gunner, Crimson, Matt Morgan and Samoa Joe.

We need to get rid of the fat in Jeff Jarrett, Hulk Hogan, Sting, Scott Steiner and, unfortunately, Ric Flair.

The battle lines need to be firmly drawn in the ring like they are beginning to be on Raw. And to do this, change, although it may not be liked, needs to be made in the next week. This is the time for this promotion to shine in the spotlight, not dim because it cannot see the path to success is right in front of them.