The Katz Files – Arnie Katz
The March TNA Report Card
The Kingfish Arnie Katz presents his February promotion report card for the good folks at the Impact Zone.
TNA has expanded it’s show to two hours and is preparing for the first live iMPACT on 3/27.
Here’s how I rate the promotion’s performance in key areas:
Talent Pool
There have been both additions and subtractions. Abyss is history, but it looks like Sting is about to rejoin the roster.
Grade: B
In-Ring Action
There’s almost always a good match to follow when the bell rings in the Impact Zone. They are still running too many matches with too many participants and not enough X Division contests, but iMPACT seldom runs a match that rates less than a C+.
Kevin Nash has made a strong effort to work despite physical limitations, but he isn’t exactly Undertaker out there.
Shark Boy now is permitted to wrestle more effectively, leading to better matches, and his sometimes partner Curryman is almost a guarantee of a good match when he gets in the ring
Grade: A-
Booking & Dramatics
The “Abyss-is-Mitchell’s-son” plot has ended and we have apparently seen the last of the drinking contests. Those are huge plusses. Unfortunately, the Super Eric plot is equally absurd and the company gets no points for the inept handling of the Team3D “weight problem” angle.
One especially painful aspects of Super Eric is that the bookers are using essentially the same gimmick twice. Neither Dustin Rhodes nor Eric Young know about their alter egos. I foresee them going to Chucky Cheese in their ordinary personas, getting amped up while playing the games and erupting into their contentious alter egos.
The Karen Angle story has been on hold for a couple of weeks and either needs to die or get some new direction. The big announcement of the separation – and I think we were here before, weren’t we? – fell flat.
The “Rough Cut” series about BG James and Kip James has been decent, but the Black Machismo-SoCal Val courtship videos have not done much for the plot or those involved in it.
TNA booking let the Team 3D story unravel by ignoring the much-reiterated retirement stipulation.
If this promotion ever gets books and writers worthy of its in-ring action, TNA will truly be ready to jump to the next level of success.
Grade: C-
Announcing
It is starting to look like Scott Hudson will not have any continuing role on iMPACT<, which could use a third man at the announce table.
Jeremy Borash continues to do a fine job, no matter whether they put him in dramatic scenes or ask him to introduce matches at center-ring.
Crystal showed improvement during this month. She doesn’t crowd the performers for face-time, but she has done a better job of being more than just a microphone stand. She has exchanged some banter, which is a good sign.
Grade: B
Star Power
Star-making is still a huge problem for TNA. All those six-man matches have a leveling effect that keeps fans from seeing TNA’s top talent as part of a main event elite.
Grade: C+
Overall
TNA is a paradox. The shows are great as long as you don’t think too much about what you are seeing. The bookers come up with a lot of ideas; maybe they need to have a resident may-sayer or something. Not every idea is a good idea and knowing when not to do something is just as important as knowing when to do something.
Grade: B-
That’s it for today. I’ll be back tomorrow with another installment of the Internet’s fastest-rising daily wrestling column.
– Arnie Katz
Crossfire4@cox.net
(3/25/08)
This is column number 9 in a row in the current daily series.
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