TNA Stuck In The Preseason

I sometimes make comparisons between the WWE diva division and football. The centerpiece is like the quarterback, you sometimes have to have a backup step in, and so on. What about TNA's KO division? Following the football analogy, what would I say about their women's division?

To me, TNA's women's division is stuck in the preseason. The NFL has this preseason where all the teams get a few weeks to play other teams in games where nothing is really on the line. This is the time to shake off some rust, decide who the starters are going to be, decide who will fill other positions in the depth chart, and decide who will get cut. A lot of players get an opportunity on the field in the preseason that may not even be on the team when the regular season starts. At the end of the day, the coaches have to decide what they want and run with that.

TNA rotates the centerpiece of their women's division. Velvet Sky is currently in that position. What happened to Tara, the former centerpiece? What is going to happen to Taryn, who is being developed right now and may eventually win the title? And Gail Kim? Brooke Tessmacher? Mickie James? Some people might say that it is good to pass the ball around like this, but this system is not leading to growth. It is not even leading to the maintenance of high-quality results. I would even go as far as to say they are losing ground. People deserve opportunities, but I don't think everyone should be treated like they can all bring the same results. It's just not true.

A head coach cannot act like a poor quarterback is just as good as an elite quarterback. He has to pick the best individuals for the proper positions. TNA is not doing that with their KO division. They are giving everyone opportunities like this is the preseason and they don't have to be pushing their best to get the job done. Not only that, but the storylines are dry and boring. They need something big. Brooke Hogan should not be the one getting it. This is comparable to a head coach not committing to who is starting quarterback is going to be and coming up with strategies that are mediocre at best and not working. A guy like that should be fired.

A lot of people are talking once again about Mickie James turning heel. She said in a recent interview that it is not really her teasing a heel turn, but actually being frustrated with how she is used. I don't blame her. A heel turn will fix nothing. Even if they do turn her heel and let her beat Velvet for the title, unless they change their game plan, they will eventually rotate her back out. And her heel run will be at the mercy of TNA's booking. I don't think they will do it right. The last top heel was Tara, who had Jesse with her. Before that, Madison Rayne had Earl Hebner. Gail Kim had Madison Rayne as a sidekick. Winter had Angelina Love. Madison Rayne had Tara. TNA likes to give their heels sidekick or someone to help them win. I don't think they should try that with a heel Mickie. I would have loved for Mickie to have a sidekick, or even lead a stable, but when that is the norm, I don't want it. Mickie James is good enough to play a heel without that. But I don't have confidence that they will let her be that kind of heel.