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TNA 2009 ROSTER (Year in Review)
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03-12-2009 12:32am#1So how has the roster changed since this time last year?
In 2009 TNA have lost :
In 2009 TNA have gained :Christian Cage
Sonjay Dutt
Petey Williams
Gail Kim
Don West as an announcer
Jeff Jarrett (although he'll most likely return at some point)
Newly gone is Sting and Booker T. (I imagine Sting will be back for another stint down the line)
Jimmy Rave/Lance Hoyt
Johnny Devine
No World X Cup this year - No Limit came in for 2 months. Tanahashi wasn't around.
Judas Mesias
Tomko (although he re-signed very recently)
BG James
Cute Kip (James)
Rellik
Black Reign
Payton Banks
"Kaz"
Shark Boy is very, very rarely used
Curry Man
Rhakka Khan
Raisha Saeed possibly
Roxxi Laveaux
Salinas
Jacqueline
Angelina Love (for the moment, anyway)
LAX have split up (thought I'd mention it)
WOW! It seems that TNA have really cut the budget! They've released a lot of their midcard or lower acts and replaced them pretty well, or used their own talent (3D/Rhino/Morgan etc) better. The people I'm really angry about is Cage, Dutt, Petey Williams, Gail Kim and Angelina Love. All have PLENTY to add to the product and TNA really dropped the ball by not keeping them on the payroll and using them correctly. I personally also loved Curry Man.Nigel McGuinness (Desmond Wolfe)
Mick Foley started wrestling (signed in late 2008)
Bobby Lashley
Tazz (commentary booth)
Jenna Morasca (for about 2 months, sporadically)
Amazing Red
Don West as Amazing Red's manager.
Christopher Daniels
The Pope (Elijah Burke)
Brutus Magnus
Doug Williams (being used on a regular basis)
"Suicide" (who finally appeared at December 2008's Final Resolution)
Kiyoshi
Raven (he's just back)
Shane Sewell (for a couple of months)
(I'm not including Hogan and his cronies aren't coming until 2010)
TNA KO Tag Titles
Madison Rayne
Tara (Victoria)
Sarita
Hamada
Lacey von Erich
On the up-side, TNA have added some much-needed talent to the KO Division (I'd like to see Sara Del Rey and MsChif too), hired the endlessly talented Nigel McGuinness, also Elijah Burke, and really pushed Matt Morgan. Bringing Kaz back under the mask was (initally) a great idea (I love the Suicide gimmick, although it's stale now) and Daniels has escaped his initial purgatory to be in the main event scene at the end of 2009. Honestly I prefer the 2008 roster but TNA misused so many of them, it's great to see TNA use some people correctly. Maybe we'll see some of the 'lost and damned' ex-TNA roster re-appear sometime down the road...
So how have individual wrestlers done this year?
Main Event Mafia
Having the lion's share of TV time, segments have wildly varied in quality. Their prominence lasted about 2/3 of the whole year.
Kurt Angle
Judging by screen-time, this has been Kurt Angle's year. TNA = Kurt Angle. Even without holding the world title, Angle was the face and the voice of the Main Event Mafia. Averaging about 9 backstage segments every iMPACT, he's been the most heavily featured talent. Usually seen squabbling with Sting over leadership of the Mafia, Angle's heel antics or Sting's obvious non-heel turn. Despite the horrible schmoz that was the Jarrett/Karen Angle affair, the DUI, and the Trisha Biggars' stalking claims, he's barely missed any screen-time. (which also speaks volumes about TNA) In-ring wise, it's been maybe his worst year, as he's had to face Sting and Foley, and not do much in multiple-man matches.All that changed at Bound For Glory, as his faced Matt Morgan, bringing him to his best match ever. Followed that up by a superb (and my personal match of the year) match at Turning Point against Desmond Wolfe. Set to work magic again in a 2/3 falls re-match at Final Resolution. For a guy who's personal life, and physical condition outside the ring are both in shambles, he's still a wrestling God. Hopefully 2010 is the year TNA use him to put over new talent, and 2010 isn't the year his body gives out.
Booker T : Lazy wrestler who can be comical. Started using funny voices (King of Africa etc) so Hollywood could "see his range". Has been tremendously unhelpful and uninterested in his matches, which is a real shame (he was so happy to be there in 2007). Started being difficult to work with, and ended his poor stint in TNA breaking his 'ass bone' at Bound For Glory. Although having some decent matches with AJ Styles, this year was terrible for the Booker Man.
Scott Steiner : Amazingly terrible on the mic, Steiner has had his best year wrestling since WCW. He was rejuvinated by the MEM angle, and tried his best in his matches. Side-splittingly offensive to Lauren, he deserves a place on the roster in my book. Often breaks out a turnbuckle-aided Frankensteiner on PPVs. Seems to still think the Mafia is together these days...or doesn't have any other clothes.
Nash : Terrible in the ring, but great on the mic. Usually the voice of reason between Angle and Sting, giving some insight into the business. Stole wBw's gimmick that he's all about the money, and has name-dropped Hulk Hogan on several occasions since Hogan's signing.
Sting : Refused to fully turn heel with the Mafia, and was the source of much animosity with Kurt Angle. Phoning in every performance, himself and Foley are the reasons why TNA main-events generally sucked this year. Carried by AJ at Bound For Glory to a passable match (great emotion-wise), Sting has finally gone for the time being.
Female Valets : Sharmell hung around Booker for the most part. Jenna Morasca was brought in for some reason (maybe they wanted to -but didn't- promote "End Game" film starring Kurt Angle, Morasca and Nash) who had the worst match in at least a decade against Sharmell at Victory Road...while looking like a diseased tramp..."KnockOut Law" Traci Brooks hung around Nash for a while, even helping him win matches, despite Kevin Nash starting an angle looking for a new valet (which was also dropped). Is that enough female valets!
AJ Styles
Lead the TNA Originals/TNA Frontline, which disintegrated very quickly. Russo abandoned pushing the faces and so they fueded with the MEM in an uphill struggle. Fueded with Booker T for a few months, popping up in the main event in multiple-man title matches. Then disgracefully jobbed to Nash, but eventually won the Legends Championship. In September, without any momentum, he stole the world title from Kurt Angle in a 4-way, where Sting "let him" win the title, using his amazing 450 splash from the middle of the top rope (it's a shame he broke it out a few weeks beforehand against Morgan). Helped end the MEM, as by the end of Bound for Glory,all MEM members did not carry titles.
Since winning the belt, he brought Sting to his best match this year, in a passionate (but alright) match, started a terrible angle where every week he'd get attacked, looking weak and vunerable - much like Jeff Hardy's title reign. Led TNA to it's Match of the Year at Turning Point (vs Daniels vs Joe) and will face Daniels at Final Resolution. All in all, even though he has been booked rather poorly, TNA have shown that they actually have faith in Styles, and he's finally on the right side of the title defenses.
Samoa Joe
Despite having been TNA world champion from LockDown to Bound For Glory 2008, Joe wasn't over. He hadn't been over for quite some time - He sucked. He was 'injured' by the MEM on Dec 18th 2008 and returned Jan 29th under the ill-fated "Nation of Violence" gimmick. With a buzz-cut, a tribal "penis" on his face, terrible tribal black and leopard-skin pants and about 15 pounds heavier, he really sucked. Despite wanting to be heel, he put in some terrible performances, and looked disgruntled. Apparently tortured Bashir and killed/buried Scott Steiner (an angle that was obviously dropped very quickly!). Battered by Nash at Sacrifice (sigh!) Joined the MEM in Slammiversary's KotM match. Apparently attacking the MEM was all a pre-orchestrated angle by Angle, and Morasca was brought in so Nash could get money from her to hire Joe. (sigh!) Sting didn't approve of Joe in the MEM, and faced Joe at Victory Road. His 'secret advisor' (whom he 'talked to' behind a curtain for months) Taz debuted at Victory Road, where Sting refused to take the muscle buster, but tapped out instead. Joe won the X-Division title from Homicide (Hard Justice) but lost to Amazing Red in October 8th's iMPACT. Faced Bobby Lashley in a rather good submission match at Bound For Glory (Joe jobbed) and competed in TNA's match of the year at Turning Point. Will compete at the Feast of Fired match at Final Resolution but should continue in his AJ/Daniels/Joe fued.
Christopher Daniels
Donned the Suicide mask while Kaz was injured. Returned under his own name (shortened to Daniels) on April 16th iMPACT, having a fantastic match with Angle, fueded with Suicide for a little while and tagged with him against the MMG around April/May/June. Since that match, has barely been featured in anything interesting. Lost his momentum completely as he seemingly lost his character. Jobbed almost always until Hard Justice, where Daniels won the X-D Steel Asylum match, which re-started him into a feud with Samoa Joe. He lost at No Surrender and Bound For Glory, but was pencilled in at Turning Point's main event, competing in TNA's Match of the Year. Now being featured more prominently in a breaking friendship angle with world champion AJ Styles, he will main event again at Final Resolution.
Team 3D/Rhino
3D have shown how useful and relevant they can still be after all these years. Masters of working the crowd, they've managed to make themselves more popular. They were the sole focus at LockDown in their Philadeplhia Street Fight against Beer Money. Original members of the Frontline, they've turned off into feuds with the British Invasion and Beer Money. They've recently turned heel and joined with the rejuvinated (well, better booked, more relevant) Rhino in an anti-youth movement angle. Rhino is still 'The Bore Machine', but his promos are much better, and has been featured much heavier. Finally got a win at Turning Point (he'd been jobbing since he returned). It's likely that 3D/Rhino's faction will grow when Hogan's cronies come in.
Matt Morgan
Morgan has had a great year. Although still learning the ropes and yet to get confortable wrestling (he doesn't wrestle like a big man), he's been booked very well. He started the year with a terrible fued against Abyss, but then against AJ and Angle, has had a run of great matches. Standing up to Kurt Angle, he's taken on different Mafia members, and looks to be groomed for the world title very soon. I imagine Hogan's arrival might impede this, but I firmly believe that Morgan will be a decent champion down the line. He's also the most likely "home-grown" (WWE didn't do anything with him) TNA wrestler likely to beat Hogan, should they wrestle.
Nigel McGuinness/Desmond Wolfe
Has had some really good matches (vs Danielson at ROH Rising Above 2009 is amazing - I'd really recommend checking it out to see how good these guys are and why the internet loves them so much) but was hampered by injuries, tearing his biceps, and wrestling KENTA with a torn biceps and tearing his other one. Then coming back in about 2 months. Absolutely ridiculous bravery/stupidity as he's damaging his long-term shelf-live. But fair dues to him, he's a fantastic wrestler, great on the mic and a really solid gimmick. TNA (although they've hurried his fued with Angle) have really protected this guy, and he looks like a future main-eventer in TNA. I imagine he'll join the World Elite at some stage and head up the British Invasion. He's an amazing talent and I hope his career in TNA is a long and happy one.
World Elite
Eric Young : Stale comedy babyface act (and best mate with Jeff Jarrett) turned heel and then serious heel (as leader of a new heel faction, The World Elite) in a matter of weeks. Despite the quick change, has enjoyed success, as a suit-wearing Chris Jericho knock-off. With a shaven brown head, and dark mustard trunks, he's grown into the role. He's actually quite good, but it took a while to get used to his ascention up the card. Stole the Legends Title from Nash at Bound For Glory.
British Invasion : Brutus Magnus ended his comically bad heel gladiator run, joining with Doug Williams as part of the British Invasion (with useless steroid lummox and Team-3D-Academy-Graduate Rob Terry). Magnus has improved a lot in the ring (and now doesn't botch often) but is the mouth-piece of the British group. Doug Williams serves as the solid wrestling backbone to the group, but has not stood out in any capacity. Doesn't use the Chaos Theory (rolling german suplex) anymore as it'd probably get him over...I guess.
Rob Terry's useless and has no place in TNA...especially with Congress sniffing about pro-wrestling with regards to illegal substances.
Kiyoshi is just there. He's an alright wrestler but he barely wrestles and just makes up numbers for the World Elite.
Tired stereotype Bashir is still saying the same old promos, and still getting air time. Barely passable in the ring, it boggles the mind how he's secured a long-term deal with TNA.
The X-Division
For the most part, the X-Division is just an afterthought for TNA. Every other month there's a curtain-jerker X-Division spot-fest. No World X-Cup this year. Been pushed aside due to there being 2 women's matches on every show. Seen a slight rejuvenation with Joe and Daniels fighting over it, and Amazing Red now heading up the division. He's a talented spot-monkey but he's useless on the mic, and putting together a match. Hopefully he grows into something more. I don't think DW is a good choice as a 'cheerleader' but I do understand why he's there.
Suicide started pretty great with his feud with MMG, and friend/foe Daniels...from there he's had some matches with The Pope, but his star has really fizzled out. At this point TNA need to completely build him back up or just bring Kaz back (I love the Suicide gimmick to I'd prefer the former, I imagine most really want the latter)
Machismo is still doing his Black Machismo gimmick. Has done nothing all year, until in November, started a Legends Invitational match, where he faces old/retired wrestlers. He jobbed clean to Jim Neidhart in it's first match. Suicide started out as a fun diversion involved with MMG and Daniels, even getting the X-Division belt, but has since done nothing, and has been de-pushed so badly Kaz asked for (and was denied) his release. Hopefully TNA do something with him...like Hurricane from his best WWF stint...but I doubt it. Creed has done nothing this year.
Motorcity Machine Guns
Still excellent tag team wrestlers, Shelly and Sabin haven't done much in TNA this year. At the end of 2008 they were doing something with Foley, which was dropped. They also reluctantly joined the Frontline, which was also dropped. They won the IWGP Jr. Tag Titles at NJPW's Wrestle Kingdom III in Tokyo against No Limit (being Americans, and not signed to a contract, this shows incredible faith by NJPW - something TNA have never shown). They had a fantastic match against each other at Genesis (hampered by the finish). Although 3D went around with their Heavyweight IWGP titles from January onwards, MMG were ordered not to wear theirs (until TNA realised they weren't going to release the DVD of WKIII anytime soon) so started wearing them around April. The lost the IWGP Jr Tag Titles in May to Devitt and Taguchi (Apollo 55) in Japan. In TNA, they aimlessly wrestle in either X-Division matches or tag matches with 3D, British Invasion or Beer Money. I'm surprised they re-signed. They've been used very, very poorly this year, and STILL haven't gotten the Tag Titles.
Beer Money
Roode and Storm have finally got the recognition they deserve as an amazing tag team after turning face this year. They're very over and are prominently featured, usually facing either 3D or British Invasion. Beer Money were involved in one of the most aggravatingly stupid finishes in history at Destination X against LAX. Had tag match of the year at Turning Point 2008 against MotorCity Machine Guns and had the best match on the card at LockDown 2009. Beat 3D for the straps at Slammiversary but lost them to Booker/Steiner at Victory Road, and have fought the British Invasion for them since. Despite not holding the titles for very long, Beer Money are very popular and look to have a great 2010. Their eventual split should see both in the main event.
The KnockOut Division
Saw the introduction of women's tag titles at September's No Surrender. Really only made up of two tag teams, The Beautiful People and Taylor Wilde/Sarita. TNA have lost Gail Kim (because they wouldn't come close to WWE's offer) and Angelina Love (who was working under a WWE world visa)...Losing Angelina just showed how talented and needed she is in the ring (see No Surrender). Hired Ex-WWE talent Victoria (Tara), who is still decent, but is past her prime. Awesome Kong worked injured for the majority of the year, has lost her heel heat, and has turned face to no reaction. ODB was crazy over at the start of the year (fans clung to her when Kim left) but only got the title when people cared less. Hired Hamada - a good Japanese wrestler, who looked a lot thinner and hotter 2 years ago, and Sarita, fantastic technical wrestler...but gormless face canadian/mexican wrestler with a codpiece on her tights. Alyssa Flash (highly talented) had an amazing match with Sarita a few months ago on iMPACT that probably slipped most people's radar...The (new) Beautiful People : Gorgeous girls but a drag in the ring. Angelina being gone really exposed how great she was. Daffney is crazy hot (thank God they dropped the awful/insulting Guv'nor gimmick) and takes a lot of unnecessary bumps. A solid wrestler to boot...I hope she sticks around as I love seeing her...just not with useless lummox Abyss, or pot-smoking porter-uniform-clad Stevie Richards...
Since there's two women's belts, there's usually two women's matches on every PPV and TV show. Tara and Kong have feuded for a while now as well.
All in all, it's generally a toss-up between the sluggish-wrestlers (Nash, Foley, Booker etc) and the women's wrestlers for the worst match on the card.
LAX have split, despite their vocal disapproval. Homicide has joined the World Elite, and Hernandez (initially pushed as a main-eventer) is now involved with 3D/Rhino. Same with Morgan. Hopefully will get to move up the card in 2010. Hernandez is awful on the mic, so I don't expect him to get the title. The sky's the limit for Morgan, though. I think Homicide is a decent X-Division wrestler but he hasn't shown any sparkle as a singles heel. He can't speak but he's a good veteran hand to have. I think he'd be of much more use if LAX were still together, and Konnan as a heel mouthpiece (i.e. a few years ago). Hernandez is a cool big guy, but not an amazing wrestler and also can't speak. I don't expect his push to bear any fruit.
Mick Foley : is fantastic on the mic but really terrible in the ring - and has been booked numerous times in the main event or a high-profile match...also booked nonsensically as he's changed from heel to face and back and forth over and over...It's a crying shame.
Anyway, that's my synopsis of (most of) the wrestlers in TNA, hope you enjoyed the read! Apologies that I didn't add every wrestler and had a limit of 15 roster pics lol...Also, I know that this post is far, far too long but it's a few lines on each wrestler...kinda spiralled out of control...Lemme know what you thought, if you think other wrestlers will be pushed and who might shine through despite Hogan's impending arrival and everything that entails!8
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Dare_2_defy wrote: »*awaits response*
+1,000 Jaykhunter, 2 top class write-ups summing up TNA in 2009
Is someone doing something like this for WWE or even RoH??
I am doing the two for the E its going to take ages but it should be fun. Fla would be the best bet for ROH.
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I am doing the two for the E its going to take ages but it should be fun. Fla would be the best bet for ROH.
I'd say michael might be more up on the recent stuff than me to be honest, I've only really seen the highly rated stuff from earlier in the year.
Plus I'm a lazy git, I still have to count up those votes for the awards.:o
Edit: ha, there you go didn't even see the post above!0 -
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Dang, Dare_2_defy, you got there before I could! I'm pretty sure that Beer Money were in the middle feuding with LAX at the time, who (i believe) just got screwed out of their tag-title-match briefcase but didn't get their re-match at the PPV
I also wanna mention that in January, (when Joe was 'injured') he still did the European Tour (Jarrett too) and showed highlights of their matches on iMPACT, despite them being kayfabe injured. D'OH! :rolleyes:
Oh! Also Joe debuted his MEM/Rocky black-and-gold trunks while on European Tour in September. Much better, although not the most awesome. Here's a pic
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