10 Big Mistakes TNA's New Owners Can't Afford To Make In 2017
1. Interfering
Above all else, Anthem’s executives must adopt a relatively hands-off approach to the wrestling side of the business. Their funds have saved TNA from oblivion, and they’ve every right to be as involved as they want to be, but history suggests this isn’t a good idea.
Look at Jim Herd in WCW. A former TV station manager, he was appointed WCW Executive Vice President in 1988, and his lack of wrestling experience couldn’t have been more apparent. Jim Cornette regards him as one of the most destructive men in wrestling history, and from wanting to rename Ric Flair to “Spartacus” to trying to strap a comedy gimmick on legendary brawler Stan Hansen, Herd’s list of bad ideas is almost endless.
Anthem’s Ed Nordholm is TNA’s new figurehead, and he comes from a similar background. With no direct wrestling experience on his resume, Nordholm would likely do well to leave it to those “in the know,” which is where Jeff Jarrett and Dutch Mantel come into play.
Say what you will about Jarrett, but he brings a wealth of wrestling experience to the table, and has occupied a number of different roles throughout his long career. Mantel, meanwhile, is widely regarded as one of the best minds in the business, and his previous spell as a TNA booker coincided with the company’s best years. Give them the keys, let them steer the ship, and Impact should improve tenfold.
Wrestling has always been plagued by meddling money men, and while there’s every chance that Mr. Nordholm brings a wealth of wrestling knowledge to the table, few understand the ins and outs of this uniquely weird business than Mantel. When it comes to storylines, pushes, and talent relations, TNA’s new owners should leave it to the experts.