From: Frank
*Would the ’80s style of wrestling succeeed in today’s market given proper financial backing and TV support?
Good question. I believe that what’s old always becomes new again. But while recreating, say, Mid-South Wrestling might seem a good alternative to WWE and TNA showbiz, you’re not just competing with them. You’re also competing with MMA. MMA has real fights, and they’re starting to mine the benefits of a little showbiz with the introduction of Kimbo Slice to UFC. Purists might enjoy seeing something like that. But are there enough of us? I’m not sure. It would be worth a try, and it’s something TNA should consider because their current path clearly isn’t working. Mid-South redux = fake real fights. MMA = real fights. It’s a mismatch. You’d have to create extremely compelling personas.
*Could Eric Bischoff do for TNA what he did for WCW?
Sure…if he had a bottomless pit of money again.
*Would Sting (as the Crow) against the Undertaker draw money?
Absolutely, if Sting was allowed to seize an immediate, decisive advantage and Undertaker has to battle back to conquer a character presented as more twisted and hell-born than himself, which is similar to how Sting was presented in WCW when he debuted his silent "Crow" gimmick. But ‘Taker would never allow that. Vulnerability is not currently in his repertoire. It’s a moot point; Sting has little desire to work at all anymore, let alone withstand WWE’s demanding schedule.
Mark Madden can be reached at wzmarkmadden@hotmail.com.
