The Contentious Ten 05.30.11: Best TNA Acquisitions

He hasn’t been with the company long enough to justify a higher position, but in his year and a half long run, Mr. Anderson has provided TNA fans with certain things to be positive about, even during these almost universally panned times. Whether it’s his “asshole” gimmick or his fantastic series of matches with Kurt Angle, Anderson has proved to be a solid pickup for TNA. Sure, he hasn’t necessarily brought in terms of ratings or buyrates, but his presence has often times made a segment that had “awful” written all over it at least pretty entertaining. In WWE, he was always a guy many saw future main-event-potential in, but he was constantly derailed or sidetracked with some sort of injury. Now in TNA, his potential is actually starting to kick in and materialize; we are watching him at his most comfortable. That has to be worth something.

Yes, I know, Hulk Hogan. Here is the single reason I feel he deserves a mention in this list: TNA signing Hogan got wrestling fans truly excited about the landscape of professional wrestling again, even if for a short time. On January 4, 2010, for the first time in a long time, we had two wrestling shows going head-to-head on a Monday night on major networks, and people were watching. Hogan’s Impact debut helped TNA receive a record-high 1.5 rating. It was a very exciting night for all wrestling fans, being able to switch back and forth between two shows, and much of the credit has to go to Hogan. The signing turned up Spike TV’s confidence and they weren’t shy to spend money advertising the big night. It also made WWE step up their game, putting together a show featuring the long-awaited return of Bret Hart. Again, even if it only lasted a short while, the acquisition of Hogan gave us a sense of real anticipation; whether it was curiosity, the want to watch him and TNA succeed or even the want to watch him and TNA fail, people were waiting with excitement.

Kevin Nash’s TNA run is often underrated. He joined the company just in time for their first major three-hour Pay-Per-View event, Victory Road 2004. From there, he eventually feuded with Jeff Jarrett over the NWA World Heavyweight Championship before being put on the shelf for the majority of 2005. That alone was rather forgettable, but he really began to shine upon his return in 2006, feuding with a Chris Sabin-led X Division. What resulted was Nash’s partnership with Alex Shelley and Johnny Devine in Paparazzi Productions which became one of the most entertaining parts of Impact during the second half of 2006. Soon enough, he was on a mission to help all X Division wrestlers develop a personality; a mission that was presented in absolutely hilarious weekly video segments. Nash’s presence during that time really spotlighted the X Division and gave them something meaningful to do after the Styles/Daniels/Joe period had passed. Nash would then go on to have a memorable partnership/rivalry with Samoa Joe. It was during this time that Nash looked the most motivated to me- you could tell he really wanted to help elevate the Samoan Submission Machine.

Team 3D was exactly what TNA’s tag team division needed heading into the Fall of 2005. The company was about to debut on Spike TV, and while they had a strong tag team division as it was- led by America’s Most Wanted, Team Canada and The Naturals- they were missing that veteran team that even casual fans would immediately recognize. Their debut set up a number of intriguing feuds that fans at the time were curious to see, none more talked about than a program with AMW. In fact, AMW was the first team they feuded with, and it helped to increase the legitimacy of Chris Harris and James Storm as a team. AMW looked strong right out of the gate, leaving Team 3D a bloody mess in the middle of the ring. From that point forward, new fans who had never heard of TNA before knew that AMW was a team to be reckoned with. After that, Team 3D had a number of memorable battles with the Latin American Xchange, and followed in Kevin Nash’s footsteps with a lengthy feud against the X Division. Team 3D would go on to have another AMW-type feud with Beer Money in 2009, ending with Beer Money getting the final and decisive victory at Slammiversary. They eventually disbanded, but not before giving yet another team- the Motor City Machine Guns- a huge win to add to their resume.

While highly publicized incidents during his time with TNA do lower his spot on this list, we cannot overlook the impact Jeff Hardy made in the company. Right from the very beginning in 2004, he was deemed “wrestling’s hottest free agent” by TNA. They made a huge deal out of the acquisition, complete with a contract signing on one of their weekly PPV shows. He was immediately presented as a main event star and soon awarded an NWA World Heavyweight Championship match with Jeff Jarrett. He never won the championship, and was eventually pushed down the card for the remainder of 2005, ending with him no-showing the Turning Point PPV. After TNA severed ties with him, he re-signed with WWE and became one of the biggest stars in the industry for a period of about two years. Hardy’s career in TNA wasn’t over though, as he- almost unbelievably- returned in 2010 with a huge wave of momentum behind him. His second (and current) run was much more memorable, including a heel turn that made many fans look at him in a different light. Say what you want about the man, but he did a great job with a heel character that was completely new to him. Really though, the Hardy acquisition was most beneficial for TNA in one regard: merchandise. Whether it was fans purchasing Jeff Hardy t-shirts and armbands, or paying $20 a pop for a picture with him in the ring after a TNA Live Event, Hardy brought in money. In short, there is a reason his stuff is usually found under the “Best Sellers” list on ShopTNA.

Christian, like Mr. Anderson, is another guy who was really able to get into a groove and realize his potential in TNA as opposed to WWE. In WWE, people always complained about how he was always being held back and not being used properly. To say TNA got the most out of what Christian had to offer would be a very fair statement- they presented him as a superstar. He was quickly crowned the NWA World Heavyweight Champion, dethroning Jeff Jarrett. From there, we were treated to Christian’s many different character variations. Whether it was the courageous babyface defending his championship or the awesomely cool loudmouth heel in charge of the Christian Coalition, we got to see how well Christian was able to handle himself in the spotlight, no matter the role. In TNA, he was given opportunities he was never- until just recently- granted in the WWE. Christian was also the first “big” acquisition for TNA, as it was the first to be advertised for PPV during the Spike TV era. Adding to that, he was really the first to jump ship from WWE, choosing TNA.

Samoa Joe’s signing during the summer of 2005 made some of the greatest matches in TNA history possible. To this day, many consider his battles with AJ Styles and Christopher Daniels in 2005-2006 among the best moments and time periods in TNA’s nine-year existence. Not to mention, Joe’s early run was probably some of the best booking TNA can be credited with. He was made to look like an absolute monster and was undefeated in his first 18 months or so. It was the closest we had seen to the recreation of Goldberg, and everyone knew that the moment someone finally beat Joe, that person would be elevated. So special, that his first PPV match against a recently debuted Kurt Angle at Genesis 2006 garnered TNA one of its biggest buyrates at a reported 60,000. He did eventually get a run with the TNA World Heavyweight Championship, and while it can be argued that it came just a little too late, nothing can erase the magic they created with his character upon arriving.

If Christian was the first big acquisition of the Spike TV era, Raven was the first big acquisition, period. Let’s face it, the signing of Raven was a huge factor in TNA staying afloat during the weekly PPV days. His program with Jeff Jarrett was the first great- I’d even go as far as to say classic- rivalry they had crafted up to that point. Jarrett had started to become stale as the NWA World Heavyweight Champion, and the two just played so incredibly well off of one another. Fans desperately wanted to watch Raven take the championship away from him, and gathered in huge numbers at the Asylum to watch the first highly hyped Raven vs. Jarrett encounter. Not only that, but the fans watching at home ordered the PPV in larger numbers than ever before. The acquisition of Raven was one of the first real successes TNA stumbled across, and he would go on to become a mainstay with the company for several years. Even today, diehard TNA fans welcome him back, remembering how fundamental his character was to the company’s early days.

Sting brought TNA credibility. He was a guy that made it big without ever having to step foot inside a WWF/E ring. He managed to reach legendary status, despite staying loyal to a company that was often looked down upon. When Sting signed with TNA, they finally had a commodity WWE wanted for quite a long time. They had a big, recognizable name to market themselves with. Sting had a positive hand in helping to expand TNA’s fanbase, even if it doesn’t look that way now. From all accounts, his debut on PPV got them a very good number by TNA standards, and his first in-ring appearance on Impact got them their highest rating up to that point with a 1.1. Not only that, but he has used his status in wrestling to elevate a select group of people. He hand-picked Abyss as a possible opponent to start a program with, and they ran with it for a number of months. Another guy off the top of my head is AJ Styles, who defeated Sting at Bound for Glory to retain his TNA World Heavyweight Championship. I also appreciate the fact that Sting really wants to watch TNA grow. He could have retired a long time ago, but he doesn’t want to go until he feels he has taken TNA past a certain point; a task like that is certainly commendable.

Yeah, it’s Kurt Angle. The man, despite countless injuries and scares, continues to be one of TNA’s most consistent and reliable hands. At the time, TNA’s acquisition of Angle was a major deal, and it was made even more special because of the fact that nobody saw it coming. I distinctly remember watching No Surrender 2006 on my living room couch and literally jumping out of my seat when I saw the silhouette of a man holding an American flag inside a TNA ring. First of all, I couldn’t believe TNA had managed to sign Angle. Second, it was the first time I felt TNA had a chance to become some real competition for WWE. I know I wasn’t the only one, and his debut on PPV, as mentioned earlier, gave TNA one of their biggest buyrates at an estimated 60,000- a number that still stands above most, if not all, TNA PPVs to this day. Then you take into account the huge number of fantastic matches he has put on with a wide range of opponents. From big guys like Abyss and Matt Morgan to high fliers like AJ Styles and Jay Lethal, Angle has been able to adapt and change his style to accommodate any opponent. To me, Kurt Angle is without a doubt TNA’s greatest acquisition.