10 Worrying Signs From TNA Impact Wrestling's Reboot Episode

TNA have spent the bulk of their existence trying to replicate WWE’s success through direct imitation. They’ve always had exceptions (like the X Division), but for the most part, Impact Wrestling has usually felt like “Raw Lite.” The show is rife with the same sports entertaining trappings as WWE’s flagship, and while TNA have always professed their desire to provide a true alternative, they have rarely done so.

Last week presented the opportunity to wipe the slate clean, and end the WWE-isms once and for all. As is usually the case with this company, however, Impact Wrestling decided to fly in the complete opposite direction of logic and reason. There were more direct WWE references on last week’s show than ever before: Impact’s personalities could barely keep Vince McMahon’s company’s name out of their mouths, and if you kept a running count throughout the episode, you’d likely find more “WWE” mentions than “Impact” itself.

From Josh Mathews bragging about the time he commentated at WrestleMania to Dutch Mantell talking about “playing Zeb Colter in an alternate universe,” Impact was full of namedrops. In directly referencing a company that produce an infinitely superior product several times a week, TNA are placing themselves in a shadow they’ll never escape. They’ll always come-off as second-rate for as long as this continues, and it’s incredibly disappointing that TNA’s infatuation with WWE has survived another regime change.