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TNA Has Locker Room Problems and RVD is Full of Himself

Robvandam2_mediumTNA has shown that they can put on an  entertaining product. Even with the roster they have, they've put on a good show or two. They chugged right along for quite a while just doing their thing. They got the idea that they wanted to compete with Vince and they brought in  a few big names to see if they could get TNA over. They failed miserably when they tried to move to Monday night's directly opposite Raw and now word comes down that they've got a ton of problems in the back. The Wrestling Observer via Wrestling Inc:

There is said to be a lot of divisiveness within the TNA locker room between talent who have been there for years and those new to the roster. One exception is Ric Flair who has been described as getting along with just about everyone on both sides. Hulk Hogan is not overly disliked, but many feel they brought him in with high hopes, hasn't improved business and isn't very dedicated to TNA.

Not even a little bit surprising. Everyone loves Flair and doesn't like Hogan. That's only because he isn't actively wrestling because if he was, he would have buried the whole roster by now. He came in and kept talking about change and how it was the young guys time now and all that so I guess they don't hate him too much. The rest of it sounds like typical pro wrestling attitude. The guys who've put time in at TNA think that they've paid their dues and they should be the top guys and the new guys coming in, no matter how big they've been anywhere else, need to pay their dues before they get a big push. This of course, totally ignores what makes the most money which is the whole reason to do all this anyway. That's always been the problem with pro wrestling.

As to all this talk RVD had some choice things to say about it:

"I'd imagine a lot of the old TNA guys are feeling like they're taking a back seat. The thing is..you can't argue with numbers. Last week TNA broke new all-time records for ratings! TNA needed a change. The 6-sided ring and the great technical wrestlers–that nobody knew–wasn't working. TNA brought in two rock stars, and look at the company now! Dixie often points out how hiring Jeff Hardy and RVD started a whole new era, why do some of the wrestlers not see it? Too young, too green, too selfish to have the correct perspective. Whereas some of the TNA `stars' are lucky to get recognized walking around the studios, Jeff and myself live like actual celebrities, signing autographs and taking pictures EVERYWHERE we go. Without experiencing this, it's probably hard to imagine. In fact, very few wrestlers stick out in people's minds the way that Jeff and I do. WE love our fans and we love their love. TNA is blowing up. Good things will come our way and I see it all happening now. This is a very exciting time. More people watching TNA means more people exposed to the other wrestlers on the card too...as long as they're good enough to hang around with the rising standards."

That's golden right there. He completely buries everybody on the roster while calling himself and Jeff Hardy rock stars. Admittedly enough, RVD and Hardy are more popular than AJ Styles for instance but that does not in any way qualify them as rock stars. If you are being lax with your standards then maybe you could give that distinction to Hardy but there is no way you can do the same for Van Dam. He seems to have the idea that the ratings have gone through the roof and it's all because of him and Jeff. He couldn't be more wrong. The ratings have been at a standstill and show no signs of improving.

The other issue with him saying these things is the timing. He gets put out of action for a while in an injury angle and now he says all this. The same guys that he is burying are the guys that are going to be putting him over when he gets back. How will that work out? I guess we'll see when he returns. These are the same kind of problems we always heard about with WCW. Eventually the whole stack of cards comes tumbling down. 

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Where is that RVD quote from?

http://www.instrength.com

by Tim Burke on Aug 23, 2010 4:36 PM EDT reply actions  

From his blog.

This quite rich given how much he cried and cried about HHH.

by rovert on Aug 23, 2010 4:41 PM EDT up reply actions  

Interesting. That sounds much more like his heel character than the actual RVD. I mean, I know he’s a dick (a lot of wrestlers have sounded off about not getting along with him), but it just comes off more like a promo. Who calls themself a rock star? Like Andrew said below…what a tool.

http://www.instrength.com

by Tim Burke on Aug 23, 2010 4:45 PM EDT up reply actions  

Pretty much.

He loves the laid back stoner persona that he’s gotten the reputation for with the larger fanbase but that’s not exactly how he really is.

Forget it Donny, you're out of your element.
CagesideSeats.com

by Geno Mrosko on Aug 23, 2010 4:50 PM EDT up reply actions  

If he does came back heel it will be so funny and TNA if there is mention of Abyss commiting grievous bodily harm,

by rovert on Aug 23, 2010 5:02 PM EDT up reply actions  

Wow what a tool…

Columbus til I die, Columbus til I die. I know I am, I swear I am, Columbus til I die!
"Turner, at midcourt...inside it, at the buzzer, GOT IT!!!!"
We're the Big Ten, who the F@*# are YOU??!?!?!

by Andrew Tolliver on Aug 23, 2010 4:43 PM EDT reply actions  

My sentiments exactly....

All the ingredients are there…Russo, Hogan, Bischoff, stupid angles that will “change the course of TNA forever”, locker room divided by who can, who did and who can’t draw money when none of them realize the whole company can’t draw flies to crap.

The final ingredient is Dixie Carter who has no idea what she’s doing and Panda Energy plays the role of Turner Broadcasting. Its only a matter of time now. TNA doesn’t even realize they are dead. Short of Paul Heyman coming in AND bringing Cena or Orton or Lesnar with him, which is damn near impossible, TNA is DEAD.

Freedom is a road seldom traveled by the multitudes...

by Major on Aug 23, 2010 5:09 PM EDT up reply actions  

I miss the days of Shooters in pro wrestling

A legit submission or pinning manoeuvre and you get yourself over. Of course, it’ll also get you fired by the promoter who like in MMA owns the belts today.

by KJ Gould on Aug 23, 2010 5:23 PM EDT reply actions  

Totally agree.

Forget it Donny, you're out of your element.
CagesideSeats.com

by Geno Mrosko on Aug 23, 2010 6:35 PM EDT up reply actions  

Sounds like RVD needs a puff of that canned oxygen.

I agree that it almost doesn’t sound like him. He always seems to come off a lot more humble in other interviews. Weird. Work/shoot perhaps?

The sad thing is that some of the ex-WWE’ers were coming off very popular streaks when they came into TNA. Once they stepped into a TNA ring, their WWE buzz instantly fizzled.

Jeff Hardy was definitely one of the top three workers when he left the WWE and TNA couldn’t capitalize on that. Kurt Angle, Mr. Anderson and Ric Flair are all household names that can drive any promotion into relevance but for some reason TNA has no idea how to turn their strengths into anything positive.

TNA is the Los Angeles Clippers of pro wrestling promotions. Any all-star who puts on a Clippers Jersey will take a step backward, decrease his production and do nothing to help them win. WWE took 7 ‘rookies’ and turned them into bigger wrestling stars than 95% of the TNA roster with smart booking, a good storyline and superb promotion. Hopefully, TNA can turn things around so wrestling fans have a legitimate alternative to Vinceville.

by FighterHayabusa on Aug 23, 2010 5:43 PM EDT reply actions   2 recs

I recall reading in either the Observer or Torch that RVD had the reputation in WWE of being the guy who wanted to get all his spots in a match and if it didn’t happen he’d pout. I think he also turned down a heel turn because WWE didn’t want him using flashy offense as a heel because he’d still get cheered.

Freedom is a road seldom traveled by the multitudes...

by Major on Aug 23, 2010 5:57 PM EDT up reply actions  

That's interesting and thanks for the info.

I’m pretty disappointed to hear this about RVD. He seems to run in the same circles as a lot of the ex-WWE’ers so perhaps birds of the same feather…

The odd thing is that CM Punk is still able to be a heel and use most of his highflying moveset (not that his arsenal is anywhere close to being as flashy as RVD’s).

by FighterHayabusa on Aug 23, 2010 7:13 PM EDT up reply actions  

True Punk does have a really good move set but what makes Punk a heel is his ability to cut amazing promos and generate legit heel heat. RVD cannot.

Freedom is a road seldom traveled by the multitudes...

by Major on Aug 23, 2010 7:59 PM EDT up reply actions  

TNA is the perfect template of how not to compete with the WWE.

A creep from the cradle, but a hero's what I want to be

by Smoboy41 on Aug 23, 2010 6:16 PM EDT reply actions   1 recs

Exactly.

How long until the inevitable fall?

Forget it Donny, you're out of your element.
CagesideSeats.com

by Geno Mrosko on Aug 23, 2010 6:35 PM EDT up reply actions  

Wouldn’t that have involved them climbing in the first place?

http://www.instrength.com

by Tim Burke on Aug 23, 2010 6:55 PM EDT up reply actions   2 recs

Well played.

Forget it Donny, you're out of your element.
CagesideSeats.com

by Geno Mrosko on Aug 23, 2010 8:00 PM EDT up reply actions  

Rec’d

Freedom is a road seldom traveled by the multitudes...

by Major on Aug 23, 2010 8:06 PM EDT up reply actions  

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