TNA's "Big Announcement" (Spoilers)

**Andy Mancini** · 09-21-2006, 04:38 PM

“In the course of history, there are defining moments that change the fabric of a company forever. These are moments that are spoken about for years, not days, and serve as benchmarks in the annals of a company’s growth. And on occasion, those moments transcend the individual company and re-write the history of an industry. This Sunday at the NO SURRENDER PPV, an announcement will be made that will do just that. You will not want to miss the NO SURRENDER PPV."

And the big announcement is:

Spoiler:

This is backed up by...

Spoiler:

Comments?

**Wonderwall** · 09-21-2006, 04:48 PM

Well its not exactly as big as they made it out to be, but it is better than announcing a 2nd hour. Still it wouldve been cool if they responded to ROH's robot arm with their own robot LEG! Id pay top dollar then.

**BlackoutCreature** · 09-21-2006, 05:05 PM

Well this surprise will definately be having people talking for years to come. Usually that talk will be following the sentence "hey, whatever happened to TNA?"

**VCXZX** · 09-21-2006, 06:01 PM

I would say TNA is right about dead. I guess this announcement means Samoa Joe will turn heel and Christian will turn face and heel 5 times next month. And that Johnny Knoxville and Steve-O become the new TNA tag champs.

**Punisher** · 09-21-2006, 06:40 PM

Yeah, I was hoping for the "big announcement" to be something, well, bigger. Like two hours, though I know that was wishful thinking considering their awful ratings. But this, it's just...dissapointing.

**PTurkey** · 09-21-2006, 06:45 PM

This is certainly a surprise. A shocking, horrid, TNA-is-a-dead-man-walking kind of surprise, but I don't think it's The surprise, considering Jim Cornette just recently became the kayfabe head of TNA, so there's no place for that guy kayfabe-wise. Backstage shake-ups are not the kind of things you announce at PPVs. I was hoping for (and still think the real announcement'll be) 2-hour iMPACT!, but with that guy at the helm, urgh.

**James Bester** · 09-21-2006, 06:50 PM

This is the huge groundbreaking announcement that will shake the foundation of professional wrestling? I wouldn't call acquiring the guy who was partially responsible for destroying WCW a good announcement. TNA has so much potential, but all of this WCW nostalgia and Jeff Jarrett are really taking their toll.

**Tapout** · 09-21-2006, 07:00 PM

He can't be any worse than Jarrett.

**Djm912** · 09-21-2006, 07:16 PM

My honest opinion is that this is TNA equivalent of Yoshimitsu's Suicide Attack in Tekken. They just impaled themselves in a shot at taking out "The E" in one fell swoop.

More news at it breaks:

Spoiler:

Vince Russo officially started yesterday as part of the new TNA creative team in Nashville, TN. The decision to make the change in the creative end had been coming for some time with the feeling that the previous team had hit a wall and things needed to be shaken up. The creative team was informed on Tuesday of this week.
The new creative team will be positioned as Vince Russo and Dutch Mantel, although Jeff Jarrett will remain in his previous role as something of an editor with a lot of power as well. In recent weeks, Dixie Carter has not been as hands on with the creative end and I believe that will continue in order to give this new regime a chance to get their feet wet.
Mike Tenay and Scott D'Amore are officially off creative with Tenay retaining his commentary duties. D'Amore is remaining with the company as well, although it's unclear what his new role will be since he pulled himself off television to devote more time to booking. He may be getting new backstage duties, but I haven't confirmed that. Jeremy Borash's new role in the team is unclear, but I've heard one source claim he'll be devoting more time to production and his on camera role and less to the day to day of creative. Borash remains close with Jeff Jarrett so I believe whether he is officially on the team or not, he'll still have a forum to pitch ideas.
Those who are no longer on the creative team are still expected to be called upon as consultants of the creative process as the shows are put together.
It's interesting to note that at no point has any source close to TNA actually indicated that the creative team change was the "surprise" promoted on the TNA website by President Dixie Carter, as had been floated in reports online. It's conceivable that was the surprise, but it's also possible that the surprise is a completely separate issue altogether. If this is the planned surprise, TNA has done themselves a great diservice. My hope is that it's an entirely different situation. I guess this will be be made clear one way or another this Sunday.

**Andy Mancini** · 09-21-2006, 07:30 PM

Originally Posted by Dirtbag

He can't be any worse than Jarrett.

Or Dusty Rhodes. Or even post-Lockdown D'Amore, for that matter.

Honestly, I have no idea why Internet Wrestling Community is going all "doom and gloom" here. The IWC has been whining that Scott D'Amore and company are ruining TNA. They (or we, depending on your point of view) wanted something different. Well, like it or not, Russo is something different. I just think that the fans should give him the benefit of the doubt.

Still, in light of the news, I think the following quote is appropriate:

"To me and to 90% of the Internet (which happens to be the only concrete feedback we have available) Russo represents EVIL on a scale that makes Jim Mitchell's evil appear to be a misdemeanor." - Jerry Jarrett

Oh... and I suggest you listen to the two-part interview RD Reynolds did with him in March. It might actually make some of you feel better about this move.

**VCXZX** · 09-21-2006, 07:38 PM

1 of the Big 3 wrestlin news sites is saying that the "big surprise" is NOT the surprise, and that it won't be a letdown when its announced this Sunday. I tend to not trust this source that much.

There's another sick rumor going around which I pray isn't true but probably is. I'm sure you'll find it eventually.

**Punisher** · 09-21-2006, 07:40 PM

You know, even if Russo isn't the big announcement, TNA did a good job of making it seem like it was, to get people talking. This has been the longest TNA thread in a month.

**Andy Mancini** · 09-21-2006, 07:52 PM

Originally Posted by VCXZX

There's another sick rumor going around which I pray isn't true but probably is. I'm sure you'll find it eventually.

I saw "that rumor" as well. I get the feeling that isn't going to happen. I don't know why exactly; I just do.

**BlackoutCreature** · 09-21-2006, 07:56 PM

Well, despite his non-existant attention span, inability to tell his good ideas from his bad and desire to make everything a surprise whether it makes sense or not, Russo can be a decent idea man. He just needs someone to keep him in-line. Under ideal circumstances, he could shake up TNA's booking and give us some interesting ideas. Several problems with this though -

1. The way there announcing it. If Russo truly is the big surprise, then TNA is overplaying there hand worse then when WCW said they had a surprise so big even Vince McMahon couldnt stop it, and it wound up being a Goldberg heel turn that lasted about 3 weeks. This will alienate way more viewers then his appearance will bring in.

2. The fact that theyre hyping his return at all says he's gonna have an on-air role. Does TNA need another on-air non-wrestling authority figure to eat up there one hour a week of TV time with talk? And if it comes down to Russo or Cornette id take Cornette any day of the week.

3. Jarrett and Russo r friends, as long as Jarrett gets to have his title, he isnt gonna stop Russo from going gung ho crazy with the rest of the show. Mantel is seen as a puppet of Jarrett. You dont have Vince McMahon and Jim Ross here watching Russo like a hawk.

**PTurkey** · 09-21-2006, 08:45 PM

Originally Posted by Andy Mancini

Oh... and I suggest you listen to the two-part interview RD Reynolds did with him in March. It might actually make some of you feel better about this move.

Well what do you know. It did. Thanks for that. Though his history still raises some concerns in my head. In that interview Russo says Jim Cornette has beef with him. I wonder if that'll have any effect on Cornette's relationship with TNA.

Originally Posted by BlackoutCreature

2. The fact that theyre hyping his return at all says he's gonna have an on-air role. Does TNA need another on-air non-wrestling authority figure to eat up there one hour a week of TV time with talk? And if it comes down to Russo or Cornette id take Cornette any day of the week.

It's a dirtsheet hyping this, not necessarily TNA hyping this. We'll have to wait 'til No Surrender to know for sure. I don't think this fear is justified just yet.

**Sigma** · 09-22-2006, 12:53 AM

I have no idea why everyone is looking at Russo back in TNA as a bad thing. Last time he was with TNA we got some of the best angles and matches in the companies history. My only concern is Russo being a born again Christian, how that will effect the way he books shows.

As for Cornette, chances are he will stay with the company, but there will be changes backstage because Cornette doesn't like Russo too much.

**Robin2099** · 09-22-2006, 01:35 AM

Originally Posted by Sigma

I have no idea why everyone is looking at Russo back in TNA as a bad thing. Last time he was with TNA we got some of the best angles and matches in the companies history. My only concern is Russo being a born again Christian, how that will effect the way he books shows.

Lick The Dupps, Rod and Dick Johnson, and puppets masturbating in trash cans. The one thing that Russo has going for him is that he can write a great first chapter, it's his inability to follow up on that with out having an editor like Vince McMahon to reel him in. The only plus side in this might be that Russo will give everyone a chance to shine on the roster, and maybe help get guys like Samoa Joe, Rhyno, Christian and others some of the hear that they lost because TNA seems to be desperate to recreate WCW in 2000. Paul Heyman said it best when he said that the reason TNA isn't succeding is because they have done nothing to set themselves apart besides have a 6 sided ring. Maybe(key emphasis on maybe) Russso could change that for the better.