By Shane McKinley, Torch specialist

"I crawled the earth, but now I'm higher
2010, watch it go to fire
It's evolution, baby!"
-"Do The Evolution" by Pearl Jam

-What are looking forward to more on Jan. 4 - Raw or Impact?

The Jan. 4 Raw is more like a soap opera featuring a long-lost character that left the "family" on bad terms. Forget the hollow "what will Jarrett say to Dixie Carter?" drivel, I MUST be in front of my television screen to see what Bret Hart does. The Jan. 4 Impact is more like new bosses coming in. They might bring in cool guys; they might bring in duds. Things might just run the same; things might become worse. (Scott Hall becomes tag champion, really?)

Right now, I trust the fellas over in WWEland more than I trust guys who decided that airing the "Shark Boy in a coma" skits was a great idea.



-Do you think Vince fears Hulk Hogan in TNA?

If Hogan couldn't get the job done back with WCW, I don't think Vince really has anything to fear.

-Come off it. Hogan could turn TNA around.

As well he could. I apologize, but I am jaded a bit. If TNA wants to make some real money and make their product truly a "TNA product," then I'm on board. Bring back the X Division. Give me characters and feuds that I care about. Stop being a quirky "WWE lite" show and make TNA a faster, sleeker version of wrestling for those looking to escape the WWE Universe.

I will be convinced if TNA gives me one full month of commendable build-up and a great payoff at a PPV. TNA PPVs lately are becoming more credible, but the TV product needs a serious overhaul.

-Do you think there will be TNA-WWE beefing like during the first Monday Night Wars?

Childish bickering? Maybe.



-Dude, I so want WWE to go back to the Attitude era. I want blood! Blood!

Yeah, the late Brian Pillman house invasion was a great piece of work. Think of how much heat "Shotgun Sheamus" could get. Let's not forget great bits like Team 3D finding a jar of "Ass Cream" in Jericho and Christian's bag.

-What's the best thing Hogan can do for you?

Put A.J. Styles over or another TNA hot young talent at a PPV.

-What's the worst thing Hogan can do for you?

Living in the past. Look, most of us are plenty sick of the NWO. Bringing back the "Wolfpack" does nothing for me. And come on, we just came off the MEM tour.

-Which "surprise wrestlers" are you most looking forward in the Jan. 4 Impact? Which ones are you sour on?

Ric Flair would be the top choice, but what can Flair do in TNA that really hasn't been done before? Flair is still a draw, but in no way do I want him feuding with Mick Foley while A.J. Styles wastes away. RVD has been thrown out, and his wrestling style is definitely unique. Plus think of the pothead demographic RVD brings in.

I'm sour on Mr. Kennedy. I like his realistic style in the ring, but the knock on him is that he injured John Cena and he nearly injured Randy Orton. The Young Bucks wouldn't be welcomed in WWE (hell, we're lucky just to get a Jimmy Wang Yang match), but they are welcomed in TNA. Motor City Machineguns vs. The Young Bucks? Groovy. These guys getting erased from existence the next month after their four-star PPV match? Not so groovy.

I think the guy I'm most looking forward to is a short, fat balding man named Paul Heyman (I have a crush more for Heyman than Kelly Kelly). Heyman in creative would be TNA's secret weapon and would hopefully signal a change for a better TV product, and no longer "1.0 ratings mediocrity" for the last two years. I also believe that the Nigel McGuiness signing was a killer pick-up, as I love his wrestling style.

-So how will Hulkpact go down?

If they trot out stars and give a hell of a show, that's good. If it's the same old mess with just a Wolfpack reunion, that's bad.

-Has Abyss been set on fire today?

After he finishes his corn flakes.

Email is mckinley.torch@gmail.com

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