By Eric Gall, Torch specialist

Hi, I'm Eric Gall, welcome to "On the Contrary," where I take a look at a generally believed concept in the wrestling each week. I then offer an alternative take on the matter, the "flip side," if you will, stating what I feel are reasons that the accepted consensus may need re-examining. Reader response is absolutely encouraged, so send in your feedback through the comments section below or email me at ericgall@optimum.net.

Last week's column about Shane McMahon had good, heart-felt responses, and this week, I'm looking at another issue that a lot of people seem to have made their minds up on.

The prevailing thought: TNA is an inferior product to WWE. "Fire Russo." Every match is a gimmick match. Illogical booking. All of these are just some of the reasons I've read online why "TNA sucks." TNA has become the whipping boy of many internet wrestling fans. TNA has been guilty of having one of its bookers, Jeff Jarrett, in the championship spotlight way too much. It has been portrayed as a "Southern 'rasslin'" company, including frequent on-air appearances by racecar drivers. Certain angles, like last year's awful Super Eric and the Prince Justice Brotherhood bit, had been pushed far too hard. Some say TNA just doesn't get it.

On the contrary: TNA is a viable wrestling promotion that stresses a whole roster focused on wrestling over a handful of main-eventers portraying "sports entertainment" and has created an identity separate from WWE. One of the biggest reasons a fan can find TNA entertaining is Mick Foley. Mick has been something of a lightning rod since he recently won the TNA Championship. Though he is probably not in the kind of shape to wrestle full-time and hold the belt for an extended reign, Mick has been allowed to cut fresh and entertaining promos, the likes of which you will not see on current WWE programming. Foley is a unique individual who manages to blend goofy, obscure humor with often-bloody violence. Last week, he showed both sides well with the "Furley" skit early in the show with Jeremy Borash, and then his attack on Jarrett showed his hardcore aspect. When it comes to portraying an engaging, unstable, articulate character, there is no one like Mick Foley.

The X-Division is another reason why TNA has merit as a strong wrestling promotion. True, a lot of the wind that has been taken out of the sails of the X-Division, but there is more of a showcase on cruiserweight talent than in the WWE. As long as the Motor City Machine Guns have a match on Impact, and it's just as likely that Sabin and Shelly will have more than one match and/or segment, athleticism and innovation will be on display, the likes of which just isn't emphasized on Raw or Smackdown.

For that matter, TNA also stresses the importance of tag team wrestling. Including the MCMG, Beer Money has established itself as another bankable team that just wouldn't be given a push, let alone an extended one, in WWE. Even the Dudleys, or Team 3-D as they're called these days, offer viewers a kind of wrestler that's not given much screen time currently in WWE. There's always a tag team match on Impact, with actual tag teams, and usually not thrown together singles stars with the purpose of advancing an angle.

TNA's Knockout Division has not only been a strength of the company, but it also has influenced WWE booking. TNA has been giving more focus on women's wrestling than has been customary in the last few years, and this strategy has paid off. Knockout segments, particularly those with the Beautiful People and/or Awesome Kong, have consistently been the highest rated segments on Impact. By placing two women's matches on each show and portraying the women as more than eye-candy, TNA's Knockouts have set themselves apart. Since this development, WWE has created the Divas' Title, which could be seen as a concession that there is more interest in women's wrestling than it had previously been providing on its programming.

My take: TNA provides an entertaining alternative to WWE's programming, especially Monday Night Raw. There is enough diversity on the show to provide wrestling fans with at least something they want. In terms of old faces, they can stick around to see Sting, Kurt Angle, and the rest of the Main Event Mafia. Comedy fans can tune in for Foley's promos and Don West's always improving heel wisecracks. Fans of women's wrestling get double their dose of anything that WWE puts out on a given show. Tag team wrestling fans always get a match. Even with the focus on most Impacts being Foley, Angle, the MEM or Jarrett, there's always a sense that everyone on the roster is give adequate camera time.

TNA manages to provide a "three ring circus" atmosphere to its programming, where, if you don't like the clowns, stick around for the guy who gets shot out of the cannon. Unlike WWE programming, which focuses on the main event talents to the detriment of the rest of the roster, TNA provides a variety of featured characters. That alone makes TNA a wrestling company worth watching. It's certainly not a perfect promotion, but most weeks, I find myself enjoying Impact more than Raw.

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