WWE/TNA: 20 Things That Have to Happen for Success in 2012

There a lot of positive things both TNA and WWE can point to in 2011 and hang their hats on.

Successful PPV events, changes in storylines, expansion of character development and of course, drama that makes most reality television seem like Sesame Street. Both major brands at one point or another over the course of the 12 months could say they were moving forward for the betterment of the business.

While stars stepped up, stars left the business and stars traded brands, the fact is we all thought at one point or another that wrestling is still one of the best forms of entertainment on cable television.

That brings us to 2012 and what will be in store for us as fans and writers. We have been critical at the snail's pace the WWE moved with storylines, the lack of originality TNA had in some of its marketing tools and PPV  concepts. And we all want to see tag team wrestling and the women of both brands grow and develop.

Here are 20 things that need to happen moving forward that will guarantee success in both wrestling brands.

Paul Heyman Needs to Run TNA

Let's start off with a BANG!

Heyman is the kind of mind and motivation needed to take TNA and make it more mainstream than it is.

Many of the TNA stars like Bully Ray, Devon and RVD are familiar with Heyman and how he operates and runs a business.

While Eric Bischoff and Hulk Hogan have their fingers on the pulse of this company, they are feeling a faint rhythm that needs a burst of adrenaline.

Heyman, with his wisdom and his creativity, would give TNA its best shot to succeed in years.

The Divas Have to Wrestle

Forget just looking good (OK, don't forget that).

The women in the WWE have to step up their game. Forget the little vignettes with Teddy Long and Aksana or the little innuendos between Alberto Del Rio and the Bella Twins.

Wrestling is the sign on the marquee and there are few women right now in the WWE who can put four moves together into a win on the mat.

There also needs to be new talent. There needs to be a new force within the division and fans need to see a commitment from the creative team to make the brand even better.

Get Away from the Family Angles in Wrestling

Devon vs. his kids.

Eric vs. Garrett Bischoff.

It is enough to drive us all insane.

The Devon/Pope/Kids angle is one of the worst I have ever seen, and the Bischoff vs. Bischoff angle is a take off of Flair vs. Flair in WCW.

Enough is enough.

Find a Way to Bring Back the Cruiserweight Title

It would be awesome to see the likes of Tyson Kidd, Sin Cara, Hunico, Primo and others compete for the title.

There would be no shortage of high-flying moves, and the fans would certainly be entertained.

WWE could take a page from WCW and develop these talents more and add another dimension to their weekly programs.

Make the Television Title Matter

Robbie E is the holder of the gold right now.

Make it matter more.

I don't care about the Jersey Shore gimmick. I want the Television title to matter like it did when Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard held it.

The second-most important title in TNA needs credibility.

Find a Way to Bring Back the CM Punk/John Cena Feud

It was the highlight of the year, as far as I am concerned.

Punk and Cena sell like no others, they really enjoy being in the ring with each other and the fans want to see this night in and night out.

Wrestling was good when these two faced each other.

Find a Way to Make the X-Division More Lively

Kazarian, Zima Ion, Austin Aries, Kid Kash, Jesse Sorensen, Alex Shelley, Chris Sabin, AJ Styles, Christopher Daniels and Jerry Lynn.

Oh, and potentially John Morrison.

Where is the major competition?

Creative is really missing the boat on this.

Wade Barrett and Sheamus Need to Find Ways to Be Prominent

The tide is shifting on Smackdown.

Randy Orton is good, but not the great one any more.

Wade Barrett is the best in the brand right now.

Sheamus needs to run toward a title and not at Jack Swagger. It is bringing his game down.

Break Up Immortal

The cracks are there, and now the water must flow.

Bully Ray needs a title run. Gunner is too good to be held back. Jeff Jarrett is gone and Kurt Angle seems to have distanced himself from the group.

Abyss is a wild card, mainly because he can flip flop.

But we really don't need a stable if no one else is forming one.

Daniel Bryan Needs a Short Title Run

You have to figure the title will get to Wade Barrett somehow.

Bryan is not a believable champion and how he won it is just like everyone with a MITB contract, but this one seemed more "fake" than others.

If Bryan eventually turns heel while wearing gold, then it is worth it.

Form Another Faction of Faces

AJ Styles, Matt Hardy and Ken Anderson to start with. Maybe add a newly-created Eric Young and, of course, retain James Storm.

That will help to balance the power if Immortal reforms and sticks around.

Rock/Cena at WrestleMania XXVIII Better Bring It

Let's hope the match lives up to the hype.

We have made so much about this that we are almost setting ourselves up for the biggest fall ever in wrestling.

We saw the two wrestle together at Survivor Series, but we were not left stimulated.

There needs to be more.

Retire Scott Steiner

This is one of those slides that really does not need any explanation.

The gimmick just doesn't work anymore.

John Cena Is in the Middle of His Heel Turn

The twitches, the looks, the wearing of black. It all adds up.

Cena is turning before our eyes. And this past Monday when Kane made his presence known, we saw a look on Cena that looked like Skywalker changing to the darkside.

The force is strong in him and it is only a matter of time.

Get Velvet Sky the Strap Again

The biggest travesty of the year may be the one-week reign of Velvet Sky as TNA Knockouts Champion.

Gail Kim is a quality champion and her presence in TNA gives the Knockouts more credibility, but Velvet Sky is a true fan favorite.

Tara, Brooke Tessmacher, Mickie James, ODB and Madison Rayne give the Knockouts diversity as well. But more is needed to keep us interested.

Kane Needs to Meet Undertaker Again

The two "brothers of destruction" need one final stand and one final match—maybe at WrestleMania XXVIII.

They know each other better than anyone.

They are two of the best ever. They are genuine heroes in the WWE and their legacy is forever connected. It needs to happen for history's sake.

Decide How to Make Crimson a Heel Wrestler

The idea of Crimson as a heel is maybe the thing TNA creative can do.

Right now, Crimson is the tag team champion with Matt Morgan. But if you look around at the tag team scene, there really is not a true team to challenge them (British Invasion).

If Crimson turns on his partner, a feud is born and fans will delight in the chance to see the two big men fight it out.

The Miz and CM Punk Need to Headline the 2012 Wrestling Year

These two are the current and future stars of this company.

They will sell out arenas and be bigger than anything else this coming year.

Miz is a rising star and he has showcased his talents like no other wrestler besides Punk this year.

Bobby Roode and James Storm Must Highlight 2012

There is no way of getting around this. Both men are the future of this company.

TNA worked hard to build a storyline since the summer about the tag team fighting for singles gold and then screwed up the ending of Bound for Glory.

Now, Roode has the TNA World Title, Storm is feuding with Kurt Angle and AJ Style and Jeff Hardy are top contenders.

The state of TNA is not as bad as it could be. But it could still be better. Fans want to see this, injuries prevented it and now there needs to be an arc that brings it back full circle.

Vince McMahon Needs to Return to Television Full Time

When McMahon is on television, there is electricity in the air. No one knows the pulse of the crowds and the fanbase like Vincent K. McMahon.

Love him, hate him or just don't care either way, McMahon was on the set to ensure his own ratings increased.

Call it being scared, call it insane, but really, call it great motivation and advertising.