I don't disagree with the article but I try not to judge any angle/feud until it ends. Who knows what the original purpose of the feud was? Maybe it's to set up Sting's retirement match. Maybe it's to push MCMG when they turn on everyone. Maybe they had an original plan that got derailed by CC leaving. Maybe they never expected Beer Money to become so popular and now they have to turn 3D. Pretty much all wrestling storylines this complex and long are going to be made up as they go along.
I do agree that more should be made of TNA history and the X-division style but I don't have a problem with acknowledging that WWE has been the pinnacle of American wrestling for 30 years.
So far there have been far more good moments than bad moments in the storyline.
The part about 3D telling them that they know what it's like to "be down there" and trying to "get up there" is just so spot on, it makes the TNA originals look like crap. Yeah you've been world champion and headlined major PPV's, but you don't know what it's like to run with the big boys. (Essentially the WWE/WCW/ECW guys)
TNA needs to put over what their guys have done in TNA instead of what other guys have done in other places, this is really one of the things that makes them look so minor league. (They portray accomplishments in other promotions as being more important than accomplishments in TNA)
Very true. AJ Styles has had more success in TNA than Booker T, Nash, and Steiner... combined. He has had as much if not more success than Sting or Angle.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by UNDENTACKERRULES
THEN THE ENTRANCE OF THE THIRTYITH PERSON AND THEY'LL COME OUT OF THE BOTTOM OF THE RING CANVAS AND BE LIEK "AAARRRGGGGHHHHH U ALL GANNA GET THORWD OVAR TEH TOP ROPE LOL"
AJ's had more success in TNA than anybody else in the company's history, hell he's had more title reigns in TNA than the whole MEM combined.
That's what ticks me off about the way the angle is going, instead of mentioning the fact that AJ is 14 time champion in TNA, they would rather name drop WWE 10 times in a show and talk about all the shit Rhino and 3D did in ECW.
Hopefully 3D turns on FL at the PPV and Rhino leaves the group at some point in time. This angle really needs to play out with the younger stars going over the MEM, without being made out as nobodies that need veteran help to defeat a group of other veterans.
*sound of brakes and tires screeching to a halt on tarmac*
...Wait a minute. I think as Internet Smarks we are are over thinking this a bit. Perfectly natural as forums were generally designed with the idea of collectively over thinking in general. With that spirit in mind (and heart) I'm going to go ahead and over think this even more which in theory should feedback on itself and bring me back to the original point, which of course is the truth of all things.
Here goes...
...
...42
Well that didn't go as planned. OK attempt #2:
The Main Event Mafia vs. Frontline storyline is obviously intended to be a long term event with far reaching implications. As so it is going to take a long time to play itself out and even quite a long time to fully unveil and reach its potential and purpose. Let's begin by looking at the heels:
You have TNA World Heavyweight Champion Sting. But wait... He doesn't act like a heel, nor does he get booed like a heel. Big Kev, Big Poppa Pump, Bookah, Sharmell, and their fearless leader, your Olympic Hero, Kurt Angle are all full-blown heels and sometimes even (when fans aren't being total idiots) they even get heat like heels should. Sting by all rights should be the leader after all he is the World Heavyweight Champion. He isn't though, Kurt is obviously the leader even though he pretends like everyone is an equal. Sting seems distant from the group. He doesn't fit in. He doesn't participate in the beatings they give to the Frontline. Often times he doesn't even come out with the rest of the "SUPERGROUP". Why is he with them then?
Sting understands that to take the next step the "young" (AJ is about 30 so young is a relative term here) stars need to learn more about the business. Despite their skill in the ring and achievements they are all still Sophmores at best. If you look up the word "Sophmore" in the dictionary and go back to it's Greek roots, it is actually a combination of 2 words: Sophos which means wise and Moros which means stupid. More loosely translated it means "wise fool". Why did I just bother to explain the origins of this word? because it perfectly describes AJ Styles & Samoa Joe. They are no longer Freshmen, they have some time under their belt and they do know some things, but they know far from everything. They think they understand the wrestling business, but really they have no idea. They think they are "wise" but they are really "fools" for thinking that way. I know this to be true from personal experience because I can remember being a Sophmore and at that time I did indeed believe I knew how things worked when in reality I had no idea. My eyes were just beginning to be opened to the wider reality of the world. I stupidly rejected most attempts to convince me otherwise. The wisest thing I have learned since then is that even to this day I still know very little and need to continue humbly learning everyday. Why am I going off on yet another seemingly fruitless tangent? Because this is the exact same thing AJ & Joe are going through and the barrier Sting has to deal with.
In fact this story begins much, much earlier. Over a year ago actually.
Chapter 1: The Direct Approach
Sting saw a shining star skyrocketing toward the upper echelon of wrestling. But that star had no idea what he was in for or how to go about it. Sting extended the hand of friendship and guidance to ward this star and attempted to steer him in the right direction. Of course the star in question was "Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniels. Daniels did not reject Sting's offer, knowing there was great wisdom he could impart on him, however he misinterpreted the icon's teachings. Sting tried to right his ship, but it all got worse and worse until Daniels paid the ultimate price by getting "fired". Riddled with both guilt and bitter disappointment that penetrated right down to his heart, the once proud, vibrant, colorful superstar now truly resembled his "Crow" persona. A quiet, detached, broken spirit of a man but regret and failure. Sting left the spotlight to search his soul. Many thought he had retired and his career was over.
Many months later The Stinger reemerged from his sabbatical. He saw another star and hoped to reach out to him and maybe he could at least steer this star in the right direction. Alas Samoa Joe had already fallen into Kevin Nash's mental clutches. Sting knew he could not pull Joe away from Kevin's powerful mental trance and even if he could it would do more harm then good. He did however make an effort but was severely disrespected for his effort.
About that time though AJ Styles had escaped Kurt Angle's trap. Sting saw this as a last ditch opportunity. Maybe he could get to TNA's greatest ever star before it was too late? The risk was great, but he had to try. Sting offered the olive branch of peace to AJ and had it promptly shoved back in his face. He tried again and again, but to no avail. Obviously this approach was never going to work...
Chapter 2: Failure?
Having failed in his direct attempts to guide TNA's stars into the true limelight Sting had to make a backup plan. But how could he do it? How do you help someone who doesn't want to be helped? It seemed impossible.
Chapter 3: In The Darkest Hour A Most Sinister Pact
Having seemingly no outs Sting was about to give up all hope and declare this war lost. It was a sad thing to give up on such promising talent, but what could he do? And as the clock neared midnight, late in the 11th hour the solution came from the most unlikely of places. Sting caught wind that Diabolical Mastermind Kurt Angle was scheming to put together a supergroup . A group with such might and ferocity that it would once and for all destroy the core of TNA. HE was going to watch the horror of the late WCW happen all over again. And then it hit him... By god this could actually work! He had to try. It would be sensitive no doubt and he would be hated, loathed, beaten, spat upon. It would all be worth it in the end if he succeeded.
Sting was going to have to join Kurt's supergroup. He was going to be the mole in the group. from within he could manipulate them and use them to teach AJ, Joe and anyone else who resisted the right patch. How? By showing them first hand and up close the horrors of the wrong path. It seemed like a suicide mission. Anakin Skywalker tried this in Star Wars. He would go to the dark side to learn it and then use it's own powers to destroy it then to do good. His miscalculation was however that he couldn't go back once he crossed over. What was to stop Sting from befalling a similar fate? Nothing I guess, but he had to try. Desperate times call for desperate measures.
Chapter 4: To build You Must Destroy
The first step in joining Kurt was to acquire something, a boon if you will to dangle in front of the Olympic Hero. it would have to hold much power. The TNA World Heavyweight Championship... perfect. Joe was a powerful opponent, more powerful than Sting himself and The Icon's aging body didn't allow him to perform like he had in the past. Still his knowledge and cunning was enough to make up for the physical obstacles and Sting was able to defeat The Submission Machine and claim his prized belt.
Chapter 5: The Waiting Game
Once armed with this powerful artifact it was now time for the delicate task of joining this group without attracting attention. Both luckily and unluckily he and an old ally. Kevin Nash had once been a soldier with whom Sting had fought shoulder to shoulder. He would most easily accept Sting, however knowing him better than anyone else, he would also most easily smell out the deception. Too risky to approach him. Best to wait, yes wait. Let Kurt come to him. Sting had the ultimate prize, it was only a matter of time...
Chapter 6: The Wheels In Motion
It didn't take long. Kurt came calling for the belt and offered a "partnership" in the group. Sting knew damn well that this was a ruse and eventually Kurt would try to take the belt for himself, but he played stupid and humbly accepted. Hopefully Kurt would be satisfied with just having the belt in the group to allow Sting to plant his seeds and watch them flourish. if all went well by the time the inner power struggle between himself and Angle would ensue, he would have already done his work.
It was definitely not going to be easy and it would be so cruel for those misguided youths, but it had to be done. They would be beaten, humiliated, dragged through the rocks, stripped down to nothing, and maybe even exterminated, though Sting had to do everything in his power to avoid the last possibility. If only he could make them understand, but telling them would do no good and it would betray his own undercover status.
Chapter 7: Friend Or Foe?
A strange thing happened during the scheme. Unlikely "allies" came to join the young stars. Were they onto him? Were they with him? Were they against him? Maybe these seasoned veterans named Rhino, Bubba, and Devon understood the situation and realized the young ones needed guidance. Maybe they were spies for Kurt and would betray the young group at the worst possible moment. Sting couldn't take the chance to find out. He had to keep his cover and let things play out as they would. This could possibly even make the process better...
[This brings our story to where we are now - In case you couldn't decipher my ramblings, what I'm saying is that Sting is teaching the younger stars through tough love. He tried to simply guide them directly but they misunderstood or plain rejected his teachings. As disrespectful as that was it was all part of the Sophmore mentality and could not be helped. He had to find a different way to get through to these guys. That way is to break them down, take every last thing that they hold dear from them, right down to their dignity. And allow them to experience the misery and despair of absolute rock bottom. He needed a force to help him with this and what better force than the Main Event Mafia? They're brutal, cunning, and efficient. The Mafia could shred the young guys very souls and reduce them to near nothingness. The process would be vicious, but much like a Shaolin Master put his most beloved pupils through inhuman rigors in old cheesy kung fu flicks, the experience, if survived, would produce much wiser and tougher individuals. The price is steep but the reward is greater. Sting doesn't want to be part of the Mafia, he hates them, but he also needs them. Needs them to destroy the young guys utterly so they could be rebuilt. Rebuilt the right way. The addition of veterans such as Rhino and Team 3D into the Frontline camp makes for an interesting dynamic. Maybe they are there to help? Maybe they are there to hurt the young guys? Are they onto Sting? Are they spies for Kurt? Are they masochists that want to experience the pain themselves (?again?). Are they there to stab the young guys in the back? Are they there to help lessen the pain from the brutality that is about to befall Frontline? Only one way to find out...
What does the future hold? Can't be sure but here is one possible preview...]
Chapter 8: An Angel From Hell
"You want to hear the most ironic thing? Do you? It's fucking cold! No really, it's fucking cold in hell!!! Who would have thought. have to admit it's kind of funny though..." The ramblings of a madman or the wisdom of a learned man? After suffering his own personal destruction and falling into a seemingly bottomless pit the name Fallen Angel seemed strangely fitting. Despite dying a thousand deaths he emerged though. He emerged a newly Risen Angel. It was time for him to return to the world he once knew. Those teachings that Sting had once so unsuccessfully impart, they all seemed so clear now. He now understood about respect, balance, inner strength, moderation... He could now control his powers. But what has happened to TNA in his absence. What horrors befell his beloved company? His friends... His comrades... They were falling... both down and apart. He had to help them. Hopefully he could. He now knew and he hoped that they would listen to him and understand... Understand much like he had NOT understood The Icon Sting before....
In case you're wondering - This is the product of insomnia. Pray for me...
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sirdilznik's Random Rhetorical Question Of The Week:
If Hornswoggle turned heel could he hide in Mike Knox's beard?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Frank Zappa
Look here brother, who you jivin' with that cosmik debris?
sirdilznik, that was quite possibly the best break down of a story line that I have ever read. It is so logical, that it's kinda scary. Granted I don't think the creative team thought it out as well as you, but they seem to be following a very similar path. Though, you did miss out on the Christian Cage portion of the story.
With him seemingly leaving for the WWE, that could be a moot point. Though, there could be the possibility that he resigns with TNA, and ****s the Frontline, as it seemed he was destined to do for this war. Nonetheless, it seems Rhino has taken Christian's spot now, and Team 3D are at his side as well.
As for The Fallen Angel, this feud needs him desperately. He could be the voice of reason for the Frontline, a "Young Lion" who has the wisdom of a veteran. He'd preach the error of their ways, explain what Sting meant and how he was in a downward spiral since he overlooked Sting's words of advice. The issue here is how to bring The Fallen Angel back. That could be solved in the easiest of manners; The Feast or Fired match at Final Resolution. Curry Man obtains a briefcase which contains the pink slip, which will easily write off that character.
At Genesis, following a match in which Frontline is getting beaten down by the Main Event Mafia (without Sting), the lights go out. When they re-emerge, all of the Mafia members are laid out, with the Frontline members standing there with puzzled looks on their faces. This leads to internal issues for the Main Event Mafia at the following iMPACT, in which they question Sting's loyalty to the faction. They would ask him where he was, and claim it to be convenient that he was not out there during the beatdown. Sting would deny any and all allegations, but say that maybe the Frontline is getting starting to learn. This will not set well with Kurt.
At the conclusion of the show, the Mafia would once again attack the Frontline, this time with Sting (who does not engage in the beatdown). With all the members of the Frontline down, the lights go out once more. This time, all of the Mafia members are knocked out, apart from Sting. However, he is not the only person standing in the ring. Face to face with Sting is none other than The Fallen Angel. This would be how they close that iMPACT, and in the following weeks, Christopher Daniels would help guide the Frontline in a new direction, empowering them throughout time.
It could create a rift between Team 3D and the younger members of the Frontline, since they could see themselves being overlooked in favor of the returning Daniels. And from there, well things could progress gradually. Ideally (for me), this will all culminate in a War Games sort of match, between the Main Event Mafia and the Frontline.
Sorry about the long winded rant, just something I thought of when I saw this feud start to flourish.
I had a bad feeling it wouldn't take them long to fuck this up. I hate to be anything but optimistic, but it's been lingering in the back of my mind since the IWC jumped the gun & went all ape-shit over the angle in the first place.
TNA’s main angle is getting off track
Re: TNA’s main angle is getting off track
