WWE Or TNA: Who Has Better Matches? By David Damage
One thing I hate most about WWE is the "wrestling" (In fairness I
hate the promos and storylines too, but I'll discuss them on another
day) and the main reason for this is not because no one in the company
can work. A few, like Cena and Mark Henry can't, but that's not true for
everyone in the company. The reason for it is that hollywood writers
who have never stepped in the ring before, who were never wrestling fans
in their lives write what happens in each match for the wrestlers to
follow move for move.
This results in bad matches. I tell people this over and over and I
often get a few people arguing that the wrestling in WWE is as good as
in TNA. Some delusional fans say that the wrestling is better than in
TNA.
Rather than just giving you my opinion, I'm instead going to give
you facts and you can make your own decisions based on those facts.
I'm going to compare the main event on Impact with the main event on
Smack Down. Bear in mind, the exact same difference can be found in any
WWE / TNA match comparisons, except very rarely - when you compare the
worst TNA guys against the best WWE guys. But here is what you'll find
if you take a fair look at the action...
To be fair to WWE, I'm going to include 2 matches from Smack Down
because Mark Henry was in the main event and we all know he's immobile
and can't work.
All matches feature "unclean" finishes....
Randy Orton Vs Cody Rhodes
Orton Kicks, throws Cody outside the ring and into the padded
barrier at ringside and then throws him back into the ring. Cody kicks
and punches Orton. Orton punches Cody in the corner and kicks him.
Cody kicks Orton to change the tide of the match and then starts kicking his leg.
Orton fires back with Punches. Cody returns fire with another kick and punches and wraps Orton's leg around the turnbuckle post.
Cody hits Orton with his mask, Orton kicks out of a pin attempt.
Orton catches a kick and hits Cody with his own mask. Orton gets DQ'd.
Orton hits Cody with the thin plastic mask a few times after the match and then does his rope-assited DDT....
Or:
Mark Henry Vs Christian
WWE Comedy World Champion Mark Henry looks like he's exhausted
walking down the ramp, by the time he gets in the ring, it looks like he
needs to sit down and take a rest.
Mark Henry misses the most comical stomp ever on Christian, slams him and then sits in a nerve hold.
Mark Henry catches Christian in a bearhug.
Christian Punches Henry to no effect, hits a dropkick from the ropes to no effect, but a second one sends him down.
Mark Henry takes ages to get back up, but he's not selling, he's really trying to get up....
Mark Henry tries to sit on Christian but Christian slides to the outside.
The lumberjacks attack Mark Henry outside the ring, but he knocks them all down.
Sheamus sends Christian into the ring, Mark Henry slams him and pins him.
Orton comes to the ring and punches Mark Henry, hits a dropkick to his chest and Mark Henry rolls to the outside....
Compare that to:
Kurt Angle Vs James Storm
Double leg takedown by Storm, Angle rolls out and takes Storm’s back
with a gut wrench hold. Storm reaches the ropes to break the hold.
Angle goes for a boot to the midsection which is caught by Storm, he
nails Kurt with a couple of punches, a couple of textbook arm drags and
slaps on a headlock. Angle gets out of the headlock, Storm hits a
shoulder block off the ropes and catches Angle in another headlock.
Angle stands up and steps on Storm’s leg to get out of the headlock,
reverses it to a headlock of his own and then an uppercut forearm.
Angle charges at Storm but is backdropped over the top rope. Storm rams
Angle into the steel railing outside. Angle blocks his head from going
into the steel steps and slams Storm’s head into the steps instead.
Angle breaks the count in the ring, slides back to the outside and does a
perfect belly-to-belly suplex on James Storm on the ramp outside the
ring.
Angle throws Storm back in the ring and slaps on a standing chin
lock, forcing his knee into the back of Storm. Storm powers out of the
move with elbows, but is caught coming off the ropes with a knee to his
mid-section.
Kurt Angle gets a reverse gut wrench on James Storm, but Storm
powers out again, rebounding off the ropes, James ducks the clothesline
and both men go for a cross body and collide in the middle of the ring.
Both men reach their feet and Storm blocks a punch from Angle and
nails a couple of his own, he hits an inverted atomic drop and a couple
of clotheslines on Angle. Angle reverses an Irish Whip, but James Storm
reverses that and hit’s a Backstabber on Angle for a 2 count.
James Storm punches and chops Angle in the corner and Irish whips
him across the ring, Angle stops a charging Storm with his boots to his
face and hits another beautiful Belly-To-Belly Suplex for a 2 count.
Kurt goes for an Angle slam, but it’s reversed, James Storm looks
like he’s going for a Powerbomb, but Angle reverses it into the ankle
lock. James Storm tries to kick out of the move, but Angle relentlessly
holds onto it and Storm looks like he’s going to tap, but finally
reverses it into a pin for a near fall.
Kurt charges at James Storm in the corner, but ends up going
shoulder-first into the ring post. Quick roll up by James Storm only
gets a 2 count.
James Storm slams Kurt Angle in the middle of the ring and signals
for the Last Call Superkick, which is blocked by Angle. Angle hit three
big textbook German Suplexes by on James Storm.
Angle goes for the cover and gets a 2 count.
Kurt goes to the top rope and for a big moonsault, but James Storm
moves out of the way, just in time. While Angle is recovering in the
ring, James Storm goes to the top rope, but Angle runs up the
turnbuckles to go for his big Belly-To-Belly Suplex from the top rope,
James Storm blocks it and punches Angle back down into the ring.
James Storm lands the big elbow drop from the top rope on Angle for a 2 count.
Both guys exchange right hands, James Storm gets Angle up for Eye Of
The Storm, but Angle gets out of the move.. Gunner comes to the ring
and distracts James Storm,. Angle nails Storm with the Angle Slam, but
Storm kicks out on 2.
Angle slaps James Storm and face palms him.
James Storm fires back with the super kick, but Angle moves out of
the way and Storm nails the referee instead. Storm reverses an Angle
slam attempt by Angle with an arm drag and finally hits the Super Kick
on Angle and goes for the pin, but the referee is down and can’t count
the 3 count.
Gunner jumps into the ring and attacks James Storm, but Robert Roode
comes down and clears Gunner from the ring. He picks up the World Title
and holds it in the air before laying it at Angle’s feet.
Angle picks up the Title and leaves the ring, looking concerned that he might lose it to Robert Roode at Bound For Glory.