dastardly

Probably because, despite his awesomeness, we know that at 42 and with the likes of Roode and Aries in the company he's unlikely to ever get a lengthy run.

And now it seems, even when the moon and the stars and the planets are all perfectly aligned, they still can't bear to do it.

I mean, I just don't get it. Even if they found out about Hardy that morning, who thinks "Have Aces and 8s beat him up and put him in hospital, then we can have 4 weeks (and a major tour) without a champ. Then we can use a kayfabe injury to fob off fan complaints about his legit non-appearance!" is a good idea?

As opposed to, "Daniels beats Hardy, Roode and Aries join in a beat down and put Hardy in hospital. Lots of heat for our big heels and one of the best mic-workers in the business can carry the slack until we get back. Then Hardy gets a super-Cena push back to the belt and, as we now have a revenge angle, we can run all the Hardy/Roode/Aries matches all over again because we have a fresh impetus! Hardy gets sympathy, the heels get heat, everyone's a winner. Plus we've covered the gap by rewarding one of our hardest workers and without damaging our main, younger heels with a short run."

If you're TNA it seems you go for the former.

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Amber B

So you want a paper champion to show up on 4 episodes just because? That makes as much sense as putting the title on someone that can't leave the country. Then when he loses the title on the Orlando sound stage, everyone will bitch because "it was too short".

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My dad and uncle were one of the greatest wrestlers!- The Thespian Wes Briscoe

mb1025

OK let me set the record straight for everyone.

This isn't something TNA just decided to do. Jeff Hardy had to apply for a visa in the UK/England. Since he has an issue with his background there is a process he has to go through to get it approved. He obviously didn't get approved.

However TNA shouldn't do hot shot booking just because their champion can't make it across the pond.

Jeff Hardy Hater

I actually would prefer Daniels to win and then Bully or AJ to get it after that, but it's better than having a champion who doesn't show up to the shows. Do you have any clue how that affects public image? Do you even get how bad it is that the champion is not there, at all? Does that really seem like it's not a big deal?

There is no reason that Jeff should remain champion if he cannot show up to the events.

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The IWC; we're faggots!

Because no straight grown men actually take time to analyze staged combat between two half-naked men.

WRESTLINGMASTER23

I agree with your statement, Christopher Daniels got a title shot he deserved, but is not long term material as a champion. 4 weeks makes no difference because they can now build up the next contender for the title, while they tape in the UK. I would do an 8 man tournament over the 4 shows and have a final inside a Steel Cage at the final show in London, to name the new Number One Contender.

Just think of all the bitchiness if Jeff Hardy was stripped of the title and then the title was then given to Sting.

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Jeff Hardy Hater

Uh, actually, yes they should.

A new champion crowned on Impact would help gain at least a short-term ratings spike, and we could actually have the champion appear on TV. Weird concept, huh? The guy billed as the top stat of the company, and who has gone clean over everybody, not appearing on their biggest tour of the year is a GOOD idea? No. That is a bad idea. It makes Jeff look bigger than the company, and it makes the whole company look bad when the champion wears some gay ass belt instead of the real one, and doesn't even show up. That's worse than anything The Rock could do, and Hardy is not a mega-draw like Rock.

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The IWC; we're faggots!

Because no straight grown men actually take time to analyze staged combat between two half-naked men.

dastardly

True, from what I've heard (rumours, rumours....) the issue is at the UK end not letting him in, rather than the US not letting him out. And it wouldn't be surprising if they were trying to get it sorted out until the last minute.

But the route they've taken just seems ridiculous. Even forgetting Daniels and the belt etc, what do they think they're doing blaming his non-appearance on a storyline injury? Don't they think that might just piss people who have spent a lot of money on tickets (maybe up to 9 months ago) even more?

Either be honest with the fans OR, if they're going to go the storyline route, make sure Jeff gets sympathy and bit of a push as he seeks revenge AND get the heels some heat.

As it is he'll just be cutting some inner monologue promos from his hospital bed with the belt on his shoulder, before we all get back to the IZ and everything carries on as before.

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Amber B

You're talking about a company who hired him when he was indicted, gave him the title twice while he was on trial, pushed him when he was convicted, and gave him the title after he served his sentence and knew the details of his probation and what he can and cannot do. Yeah, right now is the first time they have ever thought about their public image when it concerns Jeff Hardy.

Don't be silly and think that their sponsors, advertisers and talent did not know what the plan was from jump street. Us dweebs on the Internet who know about Hardy's legal shit are the only ones who know why he isn't showing up. The other dweebs not on the Internet who know nothing about Hardy's legal shit see it as an injury angle and the small, impressionable minority will think it's legit.

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Quote:

My dad and uncle were one of the greatest wrestlers!- The Thespian Wes Briscoe

WRESTLINGMASTER23

TNA has always made mistakes. It not Jeff Hardy's fault he can't come to the UK. Blame the UK authorities who decided not to let him in.

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dastardly

And don't get me wrong - I feel sorry for Jeff. It's a shame that something from his past is still hanging over him now.

But TNA have handled this in a really shoddy way. While I don't think they've deliberately mis-sold the event to the fans, it really wouldn't surprise me if someone rang the US State Dept to see if Hardy could leave the US but forgot to ring the UK Home office to see if it would be okay for him to enter. I mean the guy isn't a caterer or a lighting rig guy. He's the world champion! How can they not know his travel status?

Then to say to people who may have spent hundreds of quid on taking their family to their once a year treat to see their favourite wrestlers with the excuse that "He's not coming because he got hit with a rubber hammer," is just adding insult to injury.

And then, once again, it's up to the roster (in this case Sting) to cover up for the management's general ineptitude by presumably having to alter his plans and do a load of shows he hadn't planned to do just because they couldn't organise a piss-up in a brewery.

I swear, TNA don't deserve the roster they've got.

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