10 Signings That Could Have Saved TNA

1. Paul Heyman

This is one of the all-time "What could have been?" signings that still keeps me up at night.

In 2010, Paul Heyman was in negotiations with TNA to come on board to head up creative and play a Dana White ambassador figure for the company. At one point, Dixie Carter seemed certain that he was joining, and even teased him as a "big surprise." Well, to her surprise, it never happened. It was frustratingly close, though.

Heyman went so far as to lay out some ideas for what he was planning on doing had he taken over creative. He was going to chop the "f****ing head off" anyone over 40. He was going to bring in Daniel Bryan (who had been fired from WWE over the necktie choking incident), and push him with a lengthy undefeated streak, as if he was the most badass guy in the business.

It all sounded so amazing, but Dixie is a terrible business woman. She could not agree to let Heyman hire and fire who he wanted, as she remained swayed by those over-40 dinosaurs that were killing her company. Heyman eventually walked away from negotiations.

Ross, Heyman, Bryan and CM Punk alone could have likely doubled the highest ratings TNA ever had at their peak had they been brought in, and perhaps built a foundation that could someday battle WWE for wrestling supremacy. Unfortunately, all of those men, and so many more, were simply looked over. And each one delivered a vicious blow to TNA.

The days of any true competition to WWE are now long gone, and we just have to accept that Vince McMahon’s vision of sports entertainment will likely reign supreme for decades to come.