By Charles Curcio, Sports Editor
Thursday, January 8, 2009 — The spirit of competition is what drives America, and any democracy, for that matter.
As much as we would or would not like to admit it, we are all competitive.
I personally have been known to throw a controller down to the ground after something bad happens on Madden ‘06.
The problems in our economy make the competition out there for our entertainment dollars even more fierce.
Attendance is down for many teams, but one brand of sports entertainment never stops doing good business: wrestling.
No matter what you might think about it, professional wrestling still brings in huge dollars.
The problem with wrestling for the last few years, in my opinion, has been the lack of competition in the wrestling game when WWE absorbed WCW and ECW.
When anyone controls that much product and there is no one to compete against but yourself, most of us have a tendency to not work as hard.
But now there is a new brand of sports entertainment on the scene that is poised to threaten the monopoly created by Vince McMahon and World Wrestling Entertainment.
TNA wrestling, founded seven years ago by Jeff Jarrett, uses a six-sided ring and some phenomenal renegade athletes who take incredible bumps in the ring.
I had a chance this week to speak with James Storm, one-half of the TNA tag-team champions, Beer Money, Inc., about the company he has worked for since day one.
Storm said that “TNA has a real family feeling to me. I’ve seen the bad times and the good times. Everything has gotten better here, from production to the in-ring work. Now, we are taking the show overseas, which is huge.”
The former state-championship wrestler from Tennessee in the 152-pound class, Storm talked about the commitment it takes to be a wrestler.
“You have to be a special breed of person to want to beat yourself up day in and day out for the fan’s pleasure,” Storm said.
Storm talked about the talent in TNA as opposed to WWE, saying that “We have a better talent roster. Our guys are not just in it for the money; it’s about the fans in TNA. Jeff Jarrett and Dixie Carter really care about their guys and this product.”
TNA continues to succeeed, despite the economic downturn, which Storm says “no matter what, people will pay their hard-earned money to watch wrestling. Fans know that they will get their money’s worth when they order a TNA pay-per-view.”
Sunday’s big PPV in Charlotte will feature Storm’s tag-team in a three-way dance for the titles.
I will be in the crowd on Sunday to see for myself what TNA is all about.
Contact Charles Curcio at (704) 982-2121 ext. 12 or email at charles@stanlynewspress .com.
