10 Worrying Signs From TNA Impact Wrestling's Reboot Episode

1. It Felt Like A Vince Russo Show

Josh Mathews Jeremy Borash
www.ewrestlingnews.com

A nasty little rumour regarding Vince Russo’s return to Impact Wrestling hit the internet last week. Russo himself claimed that Jeff Jarrett had reached-out to him (presumably about returning to the company), and this led to speculation that once again, Russo had returned to the company.

It’s easy to dismiss these rumours. Russo’s secret return was the reason TNA lost their Spike TV deal in the first place, and for him to make a second covert comeback would be nothing short of insanity from Anthem. Furthermore, Russo has pretty much been blackballed from the mainstream wrestling business since leaving TNA the last time around, and recruiting him would represent a huge PR blow for the new regime.

Despite all this, Impact was full of Russo’s old booking techniques. From the screwy main event finish to the catty way in which Knockouts Angelina Love and Laurel Van Ness were booked, this show had the former WCW man’s fingerprints all over it. This doesn’t guarantee that he has returned, of course, but it certainly doesn’t look good.

Scan the next few weeks’ worth of tapings and you’ll find many more Russo-isms across the board. If he has indeed returned, then it’s time to start writing the obituary. For whatever reason, Impact just can’t escape the mistakes of the past. Last week’s show was a perfect microcosm of all the individual mistakes that brought them to this lowly position in the first place, and there’s little reason to believe they’ll turn it around.

Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.