Former WWE star to debut in TNA tonight? SPOILERS

[dpg]

They never said rikishi was the former world champ, they never even said they definitely had a world champ coming in, just talks going on.

[dpg]

hollywood said:

Rikishi's a solid worker, very good for a big man. I liked him in Too Cool (hell, I loved Too Cool, I'm not even going to deny it). I don't understand people saying he sucked and/or wasn't over. It's just not true. He's a great aquisition.

The thing is...TNA's roster is already over-crowded! TNApologists can defend TNA's latest string of "acquisitions" all they want, the fact is TNA has generated the image of a WWE Retirement Home. Hiring Rikishi several years after his prime--which was in the WWE--isn't going to help them change that image.

Then again, maybe they're not out to change that image.

What signings? They fired test, morgan isn't old and is very talented, Rave is ROH, besides that they haven't really signed anyone for a while.

[hollywood]

dpg said:

hollywood said:

Rikishi's a solid worker, very good for a big man. I liked him in Too Cool (hell, I loved Too Cool, I'm not even going to deny it). I don't understand people saying he sucked and/or wasn't over. It's just not true. He's a great aquisition.

The thing is...TNA's roster is already over-crowded! TNApologists can defend TNA's latest string of "acquisitions" all they want, the fact is TNA has generated the image of a WWE Retirement Home. Hiring Rikishi several years after his prime--which was in the WWE--isn't going to help them change that image.

Then again, maybe they're not out to change that image.

What signings? They fired test, morgan isn't old and is very talented, Rave is ROH, besides that they haven't really signed anyone for a while.

Christian Cage
Kurt Angle
VKM
Team 3-D w/ Brother Runt
Rhino
Raven
Dustin "Black Reign" Rhodes
Rikishi

[poi zen rana]

hollywood said:

Rikishi's a solid worker, very good for a big man. I liked him in Too Cool (hell, I loved Too Cool, I'm not even going to deny it). I don't understand people saying he sucked and/or wasn't over. It's just not true. He's a great aquisition.

The thing is...TNA's roster is already over-crowded! TNApologists can defend TNA's latest string of "acquisitions" all they want, the fact is TNA has generated the image of a WWE Retirement Home. Hiring Rikishi several years after his prime--which was in the WWE--isn't going to help them change that image.

Then again, maybe they're not out to change that image.

there is the off chance we need to keep in mind that he could be just brought in for a short stint. test only had one match, but that from what i hear could be blamed on how he got along backstage as well. i think it fits in perfectly to bring him in now after christian attacked a samoa joe family member. it works to bring in a samoan wrestler to throw in as an opponent for christian. i think this could easily be a short time or one time deal. however if it isn't and he does stay around, i just hope they can make use of talent without having an erratic pace when they double there time.

[dpg]

You said latest string of acquisitions, most of these have been around years:

Christian Cage-been there a long time, left voluntarily
Kurt Angle-ditto
VKM-been there a long time
Team 3-D w/ Brother Runt-ditto
Rhino-been there years
Raven-4 years, and he left voluntarily
Dustin "Black Reign" Rhodes-thats 1
Rikishi-thats 2

[Joekishi]

He holds the AAA World Heavyweight Title, and he was the WSX champion.

Judas Mecias that is...

[hollywood]

dpg said:

You said latest string of acquisitions, most of these have been around years:

Christian Cage-been there a long time, left voluntarily
Kurt Angle-ditto
VKM-been there a long time
Team 3-D w/ Brother Runt-ditto
Rhino-been there years
Raven-4 years, and he left voluntarily
Dustin "Black Reign" Rhodes-thats 1
Rikishi-thats 2

Incorrect. "Latest" is a subjective, self-defining term. In this case, I used it to include several years. Hence, all of the above are valid. But that's really beside the point.

Bottom line is this, TNA is viewed as a WWE Retirement Home, whether you like it or not. Trying to defend each and every aquisition as a good idea, or as having been there for two years or more isn't going to change that impression. People have viewed TNA this way for several years already.

If TNA could produce their own stars, people wouldn't see them that way. But they either can't or won't. So far, they've only managed to "borrow" other promotions' stars. All of their main eventers have made names for themselves in other promotions.

[poi zen rana]

basicboogeynomix said:

He holds the AAA World Heavyweight Title, and he was the WSX champion.

Judas Mecias that is...

i had forgotten when i spoke about his AAA stuff. i just simply meant the wsx title was not a world title and wasn't claimed to be one. i botched though and yes he has held a world title.

[ddt]

basicboogeynomix said:

ddt said:

I hope TNA doesn't sign Rikishi. I never saw anything in him, and he could only get over when he danced with a couple of hip-hop twits and shoved his butt in people's faces -- which is just pathetic.

I don't get how it was pathetic when II Cool and rikishi were one of the most over acts of the Attitude Era.

The only thing that matters was that he was over. Him also being one of the best big men of all time also you know plays into that.

If someone can get over solely on dancing or having a huge butt or some other foolish one-trick pony gag, then maybe that person should try out for SNL or Mad TV. It's as silly as having a wrestling clown, a wrestling garbage man, a wrestling hockey player and a wrestling plumber.

As for being "one of the best big men of all time," personally I don't see it. Bam Bam Bigelow or Bruiser Brody were among the best big men -- to me, Rikishi doesn't compare.

He won't add anything to the TNA product.