Mark Madden Talks Monday Night Wars

Monday Night Wars II? Don’t make me laugh.

A small part of me admires TNA for being brash enough to challenge WWE on its most storied turf, just like WCW did in 1995. But the differences are many, and that’s not good for TNA.

WCW had one of the biggest cable broadcasting conglomerates in North America on its side. TNA has Spike TV. The differences in promotion, perception and exposure are gargantuan.

WCW had a commitment from somebody with an impressive resume of broadcasting and business savvy. TNA has Dixie Carter. Ted Turner had a passionate commitment to wrestling. Dixie’s a mark. (The difference may be narrower than I’m letting on.)

WCW had Hulk Hogan then. TNA has Hulk Hogan now. WCW had Ric Flair then. TNA has Ric Flair now. WWE had Vince Russo then. TNA has Vince Russo now.

WCW had a core of up-and-coming young wrestlers that had not been overexposed. TNA doesn’t. A.J. Styles is 31, Robert Roode 33, Hernandez 37, Samoa Joe 30, D’Angelo Dinero 31 and the woefully underutilized James Storm 32. America’s wrestling audience has seen all of them for a long time, not always in a favorable light.

WCW provided more action than WWE. TNA has no intention of attempting to do that. In 1996, WCW stumbled upon a concept that worked: The WWE invasion of WCW, with ex-WWE stars entering the promotion in the most transparent of guises, the nWo. If TNA has an influential concept in mind, I’ve neither seen nor heard any evidence thereof.

So, tell me where any legitimate comparison exists beyond both promotions happening to air TV on Monday nights?

The comparison mostly exists in the delusional minds of TNA power brokers who illogically expect lightning to strike twice...More?

source: wrestlezone.com