By Curtis Shanks, Torch specialist

The wrestling world is alive, as there is an excitement that hasn't been seen for years. For the first time in almost a decade, there were two different companies gunning for glory and our television viewing time Monday night.

In the '90s it may have seemed like a choice between sirloin and rib-eye, while now it's a choice between asparagus and cauliflower. But even if TNA falters, they showed that competition is good for the business as Raw was inclined to produce more than the lackluster show we've become accustomed to.

With the invention of the DVR, it is no longer a two-option choice for a Monday Night War. Now the option is there to watch both shows, with the only debate being which one you'll see live. A new Monday night battle might see less channel-changing and more hype and Internet rumors to get people to tune in and choose not one, but both shows. I'll state right now, Impact will be my choice each Monday night if I have to pick one.

This isn't a WWE vs. TNA debate, but a Raw vs. Impact choice. A Monday night choice, not an overall product choice. While I do enjoy Impact more than the general consensus of the Internet community, I am a realist and can recognize their flaws. There are plenty of times when I love Raw and hate Impact, but here are fifty reasons why I'll still choose Impact in future battles.

(1) Impact is not TV-PG. The TV-PG approach may benefit WWE financially and hook some young viewers, but I personally am an adult and wish to be treated like one.

(2) The prominence of the women's division. Most of the Knockouts are treated as more than eye candy, as they're used in competitive matches and intriguing storylines in the same fashion as the males.

(3) The non-household names the company is building around. I'm extremely excited to see how much guys like Styles, Daniels, Wolfe, Morgan, Hernandez, Dinero, and Joe develop in the coming years.

(4) The Knockouts take bumps. Hamada moonsaulting through tables, hardcore matches, Saeed going through the stage...you don't see this stuff from the females on Raw.

(5) The crowd chants. The crowd is more lively on Impact, and the dueling chants for two different competitors is just awesome to listen to.

(6) The dual entrance tunnel. I love the logic of separating two feuding wrestlers and having them come out through separate entrances.

(7) There's no invisible camera. In the battle for logic, this is why Impact will always edge out Raw and instill more realism.

(8) Interviewers with personalities. JB, Lauren, Val, and Hemme all get personalities and even stand up for themselves. You won't see Josh Matthews getting his own storyline on Raw.

(9) Blood is allowed. Blading should be rare, and is never actually needed. But in the right situation, it can be great imagery and really sell an angle.

(10) Everybody gets mic time. Not everyone is as great as Desmond Wolfe, but each guy gets a chance. I have a hard time even remembering what Evan Bourne or Primo sound like.

(11) They acknowledge departures. The one that comes to mind is Christian Cage. They explained Lauren's departure too, and now that is also likely with Lashley. People just disappear from Raw with no mention.

(12) The X Division. Sure it's not what it could be or what it once was, but they still do moves that you have a snowball's chance in hell of seeing on Raw. WWE doesn't let their guys do some of those spots, plain and simple.

(13) They follow through on storyline firings. Kaz and Daniels are the perfect example of this for Impact. How many times has Jericho been banished from Raw, only to return the next week.

(14) They recognize other companies. No, I'm not talking about WWE, WCW, or ECW. I love the recognition of promotions in Mexico and Japan. WWE treats the wrestling world like they are the only promotion in existence.

(15) A.J. Styles. With all the monikers in wrestling (War Machine, The Animal), Styles "Phenomenal" tag is the only one that is actually true. He doesn't rely solely on his athletic moves, but when he busts them out they are simply phenomenal.

(16) Scott Steiner is hilarious. Santino used to reign here, but is now forcing his comedy. Steiner is the funniest unintentional comedy character out there.

(17) Jeff Hardy. Whether or not TNA blows this signing is yet to be seen, but the potential with Hardy on the TNA roster is hard to calculate. The sky is the limit.

(18) There's a more human nature with the wrestlers. Past Rough Cuts segments and the Before the Bell stuff we saw last week makes their characters seem less over-the-top and more human.

(19) The tag team division. With team like Beer Money, The Brits, 3D, The Guns and the Young Bucks, Impact is far and away the best here.

(20) The boss is easier to relate to. Dixie Carter seems a million times more human and sincere than Vince McMahon. Can you imagine Vince posting optimistic comments on a social networking site?

(21) They appease the Internet fans. Yes, I know this does nothing but hurt the overall product. But I am a smart fan, and I still think it's a bit cool when they throw out an insider reference on TV.

(22) Match innovation. Although we've only seen a few in Impact's history, the Ultimate X is the most creative concept out there. Most gimmick matches just add violence and brutality, but TNA actually has one that adds innovation and athletic showmanship.

(23) Submission holds. WIth Wolfe and Angle taking pages from the MMA and European skill sets, there are matches on Impact that are a sheer joy to watch.

(24) The announcers. I like the banter between the duo of Tenay and Tazz. Overall, they are leaps and bounds ahead of the Lawler/Cole combo on Raw.

(25) Battle Royal rules. In TNA, the final two left have a standard match to determine a winner. I hate watching the final two participants try nothing more than hoisting each other over a top rope on Raw.

(26) The Knockouts don't dress up every week. It's happened on a few rare instances on Impact, but it's a routine occurrence on Raw.

(27) There are more swerves. Sometimes there can be too many, but I hate the predictability of Raw. I may roll my eyes at something on Impact, but at least I didn't see it coming.

(28) The room for growth. Raw may never lose it's number one spot, but Impact will have more growth, evolution and development in the foreseeable future.

(29) Wrestlers joining commentary are not a surprise. On Raw, Lawler and Cole sell shock when they are joined at the desk, despite an empty chair and headset set up right beside them. I hate that.

(30) The crane camera shot above the ring. When a wrestler goes up to the top rope and we get the brid's-eye view shot, it's cool to see the wrestling craft from a different angle.

(31) Non-TNA talents are welcome. I loved the X Cup stuff on Impact, because it gave fans a chance to see what some foreign promotions have to offer.

(32) The unobstructed cage match view. TNA has holes cut into the side of their cages to allow a camera to film inside the cage without actually interfering. Great concept.

(33) All the new faces. I'm not excited about some, but it's cool watching Impact wondering who's going to show up next.

(34) Bleeps. They've been overused in the past, but I like that they are there. In that type of environment, it's hard to believe not one person would swear in two hours.

(35) Velvet Sky. Enough said.

(36) The Beautiful People ring entrance. Enough said.

(37) World title contenders. On Raw it's Cena and...nobody. On Impact it's Daniels, Joe, Wolfe, and Angle. Even Lashley has a title shot stored up.

(38) The embarrassment factor. If my family or non-wrestling friends walked in on me watching TV on Monday night, I would be less embarrassed about Impact on my screen than Raw.

(39) Shades of gray booking. Some are fans of the old-school heel or face only concept, but I like a few select storylines where there is no clear line and I am allowed to decide who to cheer or boo.

(40) Finishing moves. The main guys on Raw have the Attitude Adjustment, Pedigree, RKO, and the Big Show Punch. Impact has the Styles Clash, Tower of London, Muscle Buster, and Angel's Wings.

(41) Less green wrestlers. I know Rob Terry and Lacey aren't great in the ring, but WWE has always had more guys in there that can only do the basic moves.

(42) Cody Deaner. Just the fact that I no longer have to worry about seeing him on my TV when I watch Impact is enjoyable.

(43) I don't use the mute button. I'm talking specifically about the muting of Jillian Hall on Raw. That's not heel heat, but change the channel heat.

(44) No guest hosts. Some on Raw have been great, but others have been abysmal. I still prefer one or two authority figures making matches and decisions on a weekly basis.

(45) The refs get authority. This system is still flawed and can make for lazy booking, but at least their trying. It's nice to see refs with personalities and actual names on Impact.

(46) IWGP. 3D dropped their tag belts, but I like that TNA can acknowledge their guys going to other companies and winning titles.

(47) Eric Bischoff. I always loved Bischoff in the GM role on Raw, and he could be great as an on-air authority figure. Nobody plays heel GM like Bischoff.

(48) One word - fans. I am a fan, not a member of a "Universe."

(49) More upset wins. Raw's matches are much easier to predict than Impact's. Just look at Dinero vs. Wolfe from this past Impact.

(50) TNA actually uses unheard of terms like "wrestling" or "wrestler."

Torch specialist Curtis Shanks covers TNA Impact weekly "Under the Microscope." Feedback is welcome! Send comments to curtisshanks.torch@gmail.com.

[Torch photo credit Wade Keller (c) PWTorch.com]

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