Editorial: What's Wrong And Who's Next?

I was going to begin my first column by introducing myself, my credentials for writing a wrestling column and why I love the business. But then I remember reading so many of those types of columns and being bored senseless. You don't want to know who I am; you just want to know what I think and maybe not even that. All you really need to know is that I am a FAN and so are you.

Instead of becoming too hung up on one story or another that is perpetuating the wrestling world as 2008 comes to a close, I thought I would take a overall look at the industry today and how things are looking for the future.

Now I was going to start with the pure positives that are currently being developed but I feel I need to get the negatives out of the way first. The first is obviously the fact that overall, the wrestling business itself is down. Think '92-'95 down. But this isn't necessarily a bad thing. After every low, there was a boom on the way. Something usually clicks, strikes a cord with a wider audience and suddenly, wrestling is mainstream once again. That's the general feeling that both TNA and the WWE keep trying to press upon us. I'm perfectly fine in believing things are going to begin to turn around, but don't tell your audience its going to happen. As stupid as it may sound, it just sounds like a jinx. If it happens, everyone will benefit but if not, we may be stuck in a rut for a little while longer.

Many people feel that the reason why ratings and attendance is down is because both products are stale. While I do see the relevance of this argument, when has there a successful storyline that has not been a rehash of a story that had either worked or failed in the past? Many people point to the Main Event Mafia as being a straight up copy of the Millionaires' Club. And it's hard not to considering the brainchild behind both stories. But how can you really blame him? Yes the first time it didn't really succeed but you can't blame that on the idea. WCW was bleeding, from the head, and it wasn't going to recover because of one angle. So why not try it again with a company that just will not stop growing. Now you have tremendous talent involved, on BOTH sides, and the time and money involved to make it work. Just stop burying your young guns on every show and you might just have a breakout feud. And stop complaining about storylines not being original enough for your tastes. Every successful feud or storyline was a remodeling of something that had worked at one time or another. The unbeatable Goldberg? The Ultimate Warrior did it 10 years earlier. D-X (version 2 without Shawn Michaels)? Just a '90s "Generation X" version of the Horsemen. And Austin vs. McMahon? I honestly can't remember a single time where there wasn't a conflict between a main eventer and an authority figure. These stories are as old as wrestling itself and no matter how hard you try; they're always going to be there because they work. The difference is the pieces you have to play with. Austin was a phenom. So was the Rock. Hogan returned to gold when he turned heel. These are the types of men you need to make your company work. And while it might be incredible to have a roster full of Evan Bournes and the Motor City Machine Guns, they don't have the presence to carry an organization into the next surge. Joe had a shot. Hardy almost had a shot and blew it. There is only a few men right now who might be able to carry the ball given the right opportunity.

1. Randy Orton: Right now he is holding the spot Jeff Hardy should have held 5 years ago. Orton is just lucky that his antics weren't nearly as damaging as Hardy's. And trust me, Randy has a reputation and every bit of it is true. I hope fatherhood will settle this extraordinary athlete down and we will finally see his true potential. That's saying something considering everything he has already accomplished.

2. Ted DiBiase Jr: This kid just has "it". I really can't explain it but every time his stable has a brutally long group interview, I find myself just waiting for his turn. He's got the look, the talent and the pedigree to be great and reminds me of a young Rock.

3. C.M. Punk, if he leaves the WWE for TNA: The WWE does not know what to do with Punk. They like his ability to connect with fans, his merchandise sales and the fact that he lives a clean lifestyle but they just don't know what to do with him in a wrestling ring. A feud with Kane instead of Jericho? Punk will only make a true impact on this business if he heads south. He'll able to spread his wings and put on the matches we all know he is capable of. But maybe the more important thing is that his fans WILL follow him and that alone would be a huge coup for TNA.

4. Edge: There is no more versatile or over performer in the world today. He is the epitome of the "cool heel". He can be the most hated man on the roster or have legions of girls screaming with just one smile. His mic skills are incomparable and he can consistently have the best match on the card. Even more so than Randy Orton, Edge can lead the business into the next boom period.

5. Mick Foley: Foley has a knowledge and passion for the business that just can't be quenched. He tried to leave and retire quietly to New Jersey but he just kept getting that infamous "itch". The problem right now is that in his current role, on camera he welds all the power, but off he has no more than any other employee on the roster. His outside-the-box thinking needs to be put to use on a weekly basis in order for TNA to get their money worth.

The present is very grim and the future is murky at best. But there is definitely potential there. Both companies' rosters are extremely deep, almost too deep, and have the means available break through into the mainstream once again. We all know competition is best for the business and TNA is well on its way to being a viable contender. They best thing we can do is buckle down, whether the storm and then be ready for the ride.