10 Things We Learned From Dark Side Of The Ring: TNA (Part 3)
The final part of VICE's TNA doc focuses on Dixie Carter and Hulk Hogan's influence.
Last week's double part look at the formation of TNA and aspects of Jeff Jarrett's life, career and outlook tugged at the heartstrings whilst offering a gripping insight into 'the little company that could'. TNA has kinda stolen that nickname from the original ECW, because (let's face it) it probably shouldn't be here. Scott Steiner laid that out during part 3 when he said the promotion should've died a million times over by now.
Nope, it's still kicking, and that's astounding considering some of the nonsense that's gone on under the TNA/Impact banner. This blowoff episode focused in on more scathing reviews of one Dixie Carter's management style, analysed horror show moments like Victory Road 2011, laid bare what Jarrett, Vince Russo and others really thought about Hulk Hogan's influence on proceedings and more.
VICE went with a happier-than-usual ending for the final few minutes by exploring Jarrett's redemption following scary alcohol problems and his time in AEW. They even caught up with All Elite chief Tony Khan for a few words, so everything ended on a positive note. Things could've easily been grossly different for Jeff.
The sweeping changes to production (the divisive 6-sided ring went under the microscope) and the TNA roster in 2010 were examined, and so was the ridiculous decision to try go head to head with WWE Raw every Monday. That was never going to end well.
Here's everything learned from the final chapter in 'Dark Side Of The Ring: TNA'. This has been a wonderful start to the new season.
10. The Roster’s Reaction To Dixie’s Speech
Shortly before Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff walked through TNA’s doors, Dixie Carter held a meeting with talent and pretty much said they could “find another place to work” if they didn’t like where the company was heading. This...interesting way of handling an uncertain creative future went down like a lead balloon.
Awesome Kong noted on 'Dark Side' that the wrestlers hated what Carter had to say, because “we’ve been working our asses off for you, and we’re not asking for anything we have not earned - and you want to reprimand us for that”. It's true that approaching things this way seemed despotic from Dixie at the time, and it looks even worse in hindsight.
D’Lo Brown, who was working backstage in the promotion at the time, said you could practically feel respect evaporating out of the room, and Jeff Jarrett says it was all about “her ego”. Dixie took an absolute verbal kicking during the first 2 parts of VICE's look at TNA, and things were no different during the third episode.
Pause the documentary at the right moment and you'll be treated to some seriously ticked off looking pro wrestlers. The likes of AJ Styles, Victoria/Tara, Christopher Daniels, Rhyno and Bobby Roode (amongst others) can all be seen looking baffled as their boss pretty much tells them 'like it or lump it'.
Kong spoke up for all of her peers by saying that it was insulting of Dixie to go about things so clumsily after all the graft they'd put in to make TNA appealing to guys like Hogan in the first place.