Raymond Daley
2010-07-17 14:55:48 UTC
I've been doing some research on which TNA employees were ECW Alumni. Going
by people who I've either seen on tv recently or know for sure haven't been
recently fired my list of names goes as follows:- As Active in-ring
wrestlers - Brother Ray, Mick Foley, Brother Devon & Rob Van Dam. I've
included Foley here as we all know his "firing" was kayfabe as he'd signed
up to do a certain number of appearances on tv & had already well surpassed
that number so TNA Creative addressed it with the kayfabe firing.
In a non-wrestling capacity - Taz, Al Snow, Scott D'Amore & Pat Kenney.
Status unknown - Tommy Dreamer, Raven, Rhino & Stevie Richards.
I have no idea if Dreamer has actually signed any kind of contract with TNA
hence his "unknown" status. Raven has always been a pay to play employee in
recent times, the main reason for that being TNA haven't always trusted his
reliabilty to be clean & to turn up. As far as Rhino & Stevie go I can't
recall either of them getting fired but they have both been off tv a fair
while so they may now be on the same deal as Raven.
TNA have previously employed other ECW alums such as Spike Dudley, Sabu,
Balls Mahoney, Jerry Lynn, Justin Credible, Cyrus, James Mitchel, Shane
Douglas, CM Punk, New Jack, Sandman & Johnny Swinger, some longer than
others & obviously 2 of them didnt wrestle.
Most people are still debating over if Paul Heyman will come in during this
angle, talks have taken place with him and that seems as much as the
Internet news appears to know. Alledgedly Tommy Dreamer has been given the
job of booking the Hard Justice PPV & the claims are it'll be all the former
ECW guys and none of the current TNA talent.
The only problem there is they only have 2 weeks of tv to set anything up,
and they only really have at most 11 guys who could potentially work there,
thats not really enough people to fill a PPV card. The best solution for the
whole company is a current TNA versus ECW Alums PPV.
Team 3D were obviously heading for a breakup by their current storyline so
why not have Brother Ray, Rhino & Stevie vs Devon & Ink Inc. Theres an
obvious rematch between Foley & Abyss (possibly even throwing in Raven for a
3 way dance as a Clockwork Orange House Of Fun match) but the one guy I have
no clue how to use is the Inovator of Violence, Tommy Dreamer.
My best match for him would be against Jeff Hardy, a hardcore TLC match.
This would still leave a lot of PPV unfilled so put on at least 1 Knockouts
match, maybe for #1 contender which also allows you to reveal who the
mystery woman is AND resolve the breakup of Sarita & Wilde possibly even
making a new tag team of Rayne & Tara who in case you didnt know IS the
mystery woman. I think the Legends title has lost its interest and needs to
be scrapped, whoever wins it next should retire the belt as its pretty much
pointless. It'd be nice to see someone who actually cares about the X
Division title winning it, why not put it back on Jay Lethal? I guess we
also need the main TNA title to be contested so have RVD meet whoever is #1
contender when the PPV airs. Try & make someone decent or just have him face
Kurt Angle.
So the PPV card would potentially run as follows but not necessarily in this
match order:-
TNA versus ECW Alums Hard Justice PPV.
3 way dance Clockwork Orange House Of Fun match - Mick Foley vs Abyss vs
Raven
Brother Ray, Rhino & Stevie vs Devon & Ink Inc - Special Guest Ref Brother
Runt.
X Division title Jay Lethal vs Doug Williams
Hardcore TLC match - Tommy Dreamer vs Jeff Hardy.
Legends title Kevin Nash vs Rob Terry vs Jeff Jarrett (whoever wins retires
the belt)
#1 contender Knockouts Gauntlet match (features ALL Knockouts except
Angelina Love)
Ric Flair Fortune 5 Minute Challenge - Ric Flair vs Kazarian, Ric Flair vs
AJ Styles, Ric Flair vs Desmond Wolfe (stipulation is opponant MUST pin
Flair within 5 minute time limit)
TNA Heavyweight Title RVD vs Kurt Angle - Special Guest ref Bill Alphonso.
So there you go, my thoughts on the current state of play.
by people who I've either seen on tv recently or know for sure haven't been
recently fired my list of names goes as follows:- As Active in-ring
wrestlers - Brother Ray, Mick Foley, Brother Devon & Rob Van Dam. I've
included Foley here as we all know his "firing" was kayfabe as he'd signed
up to do a certain number of appearances on tv & had already well surpassed
that number so TNA Creative addressed it with the kayfabe firing.
In a non-wrestling capacity - Taz, Al Snow, Scott D'Amore & Pat Kenney.
Status unknown - Tommy Dreamer, Raven, Rhino & Stevie Richards.
I have no idea if Dreamer has actually signed any kind of contract with TNA
hence his "unknown" status. Raven has always been a pay to play employee in
recent times, the main reason for that being TNA haven't always trusted his
reliabilty to be clean & to turn up. As far as Rhino & Stevie go I can't
recall either of them getting fired but they have both been off tv a fair
while so they may now be on the same deal as Raven.
TNA have previously employed other ECW alums such as Spike Dudley, Sabu,
Balls Mahoney, Jerry Lynn, Justin Credible, Cyrus, James Mitchel, Shane
Douglas, CM Punk, New Jack, Sandman & Johnny Swinger, some longer than
others & obviously 2 of them didnt wrestle.
Most people are still debating over if Paul Heyman will come in during this
angle, talks have taken place with him and that seems as much as the
Internet news appears to know. Alledgedly Tommy Dreamer has been given the
job of booking the Hard Justice PPV & the claims are it'll be all the former
ECW guys and none of the current TNA talent.
The only problem there is they only have 2 weeks of tv to set anything up,
and they only really have at most 11 guys who could potentially work there,
thats not really enough people to fill a PPV card. The best solution for the
whole company is a current TNA versus ECW Alums PPV.
Team 3D were obviously heading for a breakup by their current storyline so
why not have Brother Ray, Rhino & Stevie vs Devon & Ink Inc. Theres an
obvious rematch between Foley & Abyss (possibly even throwing in Raven for a
3 way dance as a Clockwork Orange House Of Fun match) but the one guy I have
no clue how to use is the Inovator of Violence, Tommy Dreamer.
My best match for him would be against Jeff Hardy, a hardcore TLC match.
This would still leave a lot of PPV unfilled so put on at least 1 Knockouts
match, maybe for #1 contender which also allows you to reveal who the
mystery woman is AND resolve the breakup of Sarita & Wilde possibly even
making a new tag team of Rayne & Tara who in case you didnt know IS the
mystery woman. I think the Legends title has lost its interest and needs to
be scrapped, whoever wins it next should retire the belt as its pretty much
pointless. It'd be nice to see someone who actually cares about the X
Division title winning it, why not put it back on Jay Lethal? I guess we
also need the main TNA title to be contested so have RVD meet whoever is #1
contender when the PPV airs. Try & make someone decent or just have him face
Kurt Angle.
So the PPV card would potentially run as follows but not necessarily in this
match order:-
TNA versus ECW Alums Hard Justice PPV.
3 way dance Clockwork Orange House Of Fun match - Mick Foley vs Abyss vs
Raven
Brother Ray, Rhino & Stevie vs Devon & Ink Inc - Special Guest Ref Brother
Runt.
X Division title Jay Lethal vs Doug Williams
Hardcore TLC match - Tommy Dreamer vs Jeff Hardy.
Legends title Kevin Nash vs Rob Terry vs Jeff Jarrett (whoever wins retires
the belt)
#1 contender Knockouts Gauntlet match (features ALL Knockouts except
Angelina Love)
Ric Flair Fortune 5 Minute Challenge - Ric Flair vs Kazarian, Ric Flair vs
AJ Styles, Ric Flair vs Desmond Wolfe (stipulation is opponant MUST pin
Flair within 5 minute time limit)
TNA Heavyweight Title RVD vs Kurt Angle - Special Guest ref Bill Alphonso.
So there you go, my thoughts on the current state of play.