Our Take On 1.01.07: The 2006 TNA Wrestling Awards Spectacular

Introduction:
On behalf of my esteemed colleague Steve Cook I would like to welcome one and all to The 2006 TNA Wrestling Awards Spectacular! For the 3rd year the band is back together, the 411 Impact Players Steve Cook and myself are here to give you what we feel are the best and worst of TNA Wrestling. It has been a crazy year in TNA land. Christian had a long run as champion, Jeff Jarrett is gone (kayfabe), Sting won the title from him and then lost it in controversial fashion to Abyss. Kurt Angle jumped to TNA and ended the streak of Samoa Joe, and then Joe got his win back. LAX rose to dominance and after 4-years, AMW is no more. Team Canada is gone after Jim Cornette joined TNA; and as TNA moved to 9pm, Vince Russo returned to the promotion. Finally, TNA took a PPV outside of Orlando, their biggest and one of the best of the year and had a successful event. But in the end what was the best and worst of TNA in the year 2006? Let’s find out.

Steve Cook – Winner: The Voodoo Kin Mafia: Now, I don’t hate the VKM as much as everybody else on this website seems to, but you do have to ask the “What are they thinking?” question while watching them appear on your television set. I’m not a big fan of Vince Russo’s tendency to write angles based on the competition…WWE doesn’t need any help promoting their shows. TNA needs to focus on TNA, and the VKM showcases the reasons why they shouldn’t be focusing on WWE. The funniest thing about it is that Dixie Carter actually expected WWE to accept the million-dollar challenge and work out a match for it. Tremendous.

Larry Csonka – Winner: Bringing Back Vince Russo: If you have read my 3R’s column, you know that I have had many issues with Mr. Russo’s booking. I feel that it has not helped the product, and even though the “old” booking team had gotten stale, I think they did a better job in most respects. The worst part is that I gave him a chance. I wanted him, and TNA through proxy to succeed. I figured, well, TNA has done some great stuff with some guys like Steiner and all, maybe, just maybe Russo has changed his booking philosophy a bit and will be a little less crash TV and be a fresh voice, even in his third tenure. But I was wrong, and even created a new “R” in his honor, which has been used most weeks. Yeah, I am not happy at all about it, especially when you have Cornette, Raven, Shane Douglas and Konnan on staff that could have been given a chance with the book, Cornette especially due to the fact that he has a TON of experience booking and running successful one hour TV shows.

Larry Csonka – Winner: Scott Steiner: While Finlay is probably the comeback wrestler of the year in everyone’s opinion, and I really do not disagree, I think that Scott Steiner deserves some respect for his comeback he made in TNA this year. I was very skeptical at first, like many, but reserved judgment until I saw what he would do and I am so glad I did. While he only spent about half of the year in TNA, Scott Steiner made a good impact, pardon the pun in the promotion. First of all, he delivered on the mic in his crazy style, but it worked. Secondly he came off not only as a superstar, but also as a true heel, something TNA seemed to lack at the time. Thirdly, he had a revival in the ring. Sure he didn’t have any “classic” matches, but in many ways Scott Steiner made up for his lackluster WWE run with solid to very good performances in TNA, including his match with Joe. Finally, he never refused to do the job. A man in Steiner’s position could have refused to job, and job cleanly on several occasions, but he was a team player and it helped TNA. In the end I am glad Scott Steiner got the run he did in TNA and he deserves the mention and award here.

Steve Cook – Winner: Eric Young: 2006 was a huge year for the man who had always been stuck in the shadow of Petey Williams & Bobby Roode in Team Canada. Eric Young was finally allowed to showcase his personality in backstage segments with Jeff Jarrett & other TNA heels, and he got over as a paranoid fellow who was always worried about getting fired. Eventually he became a baby face and everybody was able to see eye to eye with him. He’s cooled off since peaking earlier in the year, but Showtime is still far ahead of where he was before the year began.

Steve Cook – Winner: Slick Johnson: It’s not that Slick’s a bad referee…he does pretty well at his job there. I can’t complain about him blowing a lot of finishes or counts or anything like that. But do we really need to see him in countless backstage segments that could be featuring more useful people? Does he need to wear shorts and sometimes a goofy soccer style referee shirt? Probably not. Let Slick be a referee, but don’t have him running around backstage like an idiot kissing up to whoever’s in charge this week.

Larry Csonka – Winner: The Voodoo Kin Mafia: While my partner has a great selection in Slick, I will have to go with a personal nemesis of mine, the Voodoo Kin Mafia. Once again, if you have followed my 3R’s column you will know that I do not think that this angle is a good ideal in any way because:
-It makes no sense.
-It is a waste of precious TV and PPV time.
-It has no payoff.
-It will make no money.

I wish that they would drop the crap and focus on their own program and promotion. If they did, maybe they would improve. Instead, this is another instance of one step forward, and two steps back. In this case, opposites do NOT attract.

Larry Csonka – Winner: The Gringo Killa: As I talked to Steve before we began these awards, I knew we would agree on certain things and as you will see this is one of those things. Joining the Canadian Destroyer and Muscle Buster/Kokina Clutch Combo from past years, the Gringo Killa takes this year’s “Finisher of the Year” award. Homicide brings his brutal version of the Vertabraker to TNA. Known in Independent promotions as “The Cop Killa” the name was switched for “tasteful” and gimmick reasons. When applied the move is devastating, and always results in victory. The move looks beyond deadly and IS a very dangerous move to hit. AJ Styles looked like he in fact did die when taking this move on numerous occasions. Homicide is definitely a man to deal with when he has something as deadly in his arsenal as the Gringo Killa.

Steve Cook – Winner: The Gringo Killa: Homicide’s version of the Vertabreaker has resulted in victory for him and the Latin American Xchange every time he’s used it, and it’s easy to see why. The Gringo Killa, while somewhat difficult to apply, results in the opponent being dropped right onto his head and neck, making you wonder how the hell the guy isn’t paralyzed after receiving it. Homicide has had much success using the move in independent promotions all across the world, and it has helped him become one half of the NWA World Tag Team Champions. You know, I expected more people to be pissed about TNA changing the name of this move, but I guess people realize that a televised wrestling company can’t be featuring move names that glorify murdering police officers. That usually doesn’t go over well with mainstream America.

Steve Cook – Winner: Kurt Angle comes to TNA: Could it possibly be anything else? TNA had a lot of shocking moments in 2006, but this has to be considered one of the most shocking moments in their entire history. Kurt Angle, though he may bring a lot of baggage with him, brings TNA something they still need in the eyes of most general wrestling fans…credibility. OK, you can question his mental credibility, but very few will question that he’s been one of the very best pro wrestlers in the world over the past several years. His list of accomplishments is as long as Bill Clinton’s autobiography. Angle carries a certain gravitas that not too many other guys in TNA can claim to have…unlike so many of the other people that have come into TNA from the WWE, you can’t really classify him as a “reject”. Like him or hate him, you have to admit that Kurt Angle gets people talking about him. TNA’s going to need people like that to get to the next level.

Larry Csonka – Winner: Kurt Angle signs with TNA: I wholeheartedly agree with Steve, what else could it be? Sure the move to 9pm is great, Sting coming in was a good move, Abyss winning the NWA title finally was a surprise and Jeff Jarrett actually off TNA TV would all have been good choices any other year, but not in 2006. Steve really nails all the facts here, he brings credibility to TNA, he is not a reject, he may have questionable mental and physical problems but he got people talking and garnered TNA their biggest buy rate to date with his involvement. That says it all, and if TNA gets to the next level, Kurt Angle will have a large part in them getting there.

Larry Csonka – Winner: Alex Shelley: Alex Shelley has so much potential it is ridiculous. He has a young Chris Jericho vibe about him that is really undeniable. He has been great so far in TNA with great matches, and a great presence in backstage segments with Nash. That is another thing that he has that a lot of the guys don’t is that personality and charisma that seems to come so naturally to him. He has all of the tools to get to the next level and carry the X-Division into 2007 and beyond, and I think he will get that chance.

Steve Cook – Winner: Jay Lethal: The sickest thing about this kid is that he’s exactly that, a kid. For heaven’s sake, he’s twenty years old! He can’t even legally go out and drink with the rest of the roster! Lethal’s got a hell of a lot of potential, and the thing that really bodes well for his future in TNA is the fact that he can have really good matches with Jeff Jarrett. As long as he doesn’t piss anybody off, Lethal should have a very bright future in TNA. The fans like him, and he works really well as the young, plucky baby face that never says die. Plus, he can do a mean push-up.

Steve Cook – Winner: LAX: Without a doubt, the Latin American Exchange has to be considered one of the major success stories of 2006. Formed out of the ashes of the 3 Live Kru, it took awhile for LAX to establish themselves as a force to be reckoned with. They spent the first couple months of 2006 feuding with the James Gang and Bullet Bob Armstrong, and coming out on the losing end. There seemed like there was something missing with the group…Konnan had the mike skills, Homicide was very good in the ring, but their partners weren’t a good fit with them. Apolo & Machete did not fit the bill, but once they got Hernandez by their side and started to exploit the immigration reform issue by refusing to work due to discrimination, they got more and more over. With the technical skill of Homicide & the strength of Hernandez combined with the mouth of Konnan, LAX is a triple threat in every sense of the word. They have been the hottest act in TNA in 2006, and they could easily continue to be exactly that in 2007.

Larry Csonka – Winner: LAX: While they had a slow start to the year with Apolo & Machete, and I was skeptical and panned them early on, LAX (Homicide, Hernandez y Konnan) turned the corner and quickly became the hottest act in wrestling. Konnan, with his injuries, had to be transitioned to the mouthpiece of the group and that was really a blessing in disguise. While it doesn’t allow Homicide to say much, he has been able to showcase his in ring talents and that is great to see. Hernandez really stepped up and played the power man perfectly, and also has shown the agility he possesses, which for a big man he moves really well. Everything clicked and clicked well, including the “rebellious” entrance and rouge announce table with “the border.” They won the NWA Tag Team Titles two times this year, and as of this writing are still the champions. They went through AJ and Daniels, and they are no more and won a match that caused AMW to break up forever. That’s a long way from arm wrestling cage matches and whippings afterwards.

-Some notable PPV matches they had from the year are: