There are things which can be just so TNA, just like the TNA injury report, organically over talent, awkward timing, and Ryan Nemeth clotheslining the living daylights out of Mara Sade.
Okay, intergender wrestling itself just isn’t unique to TNA. Compare an episode of “iMPACT” to an episode of, say, “WWE Raw” or “AEW Dynamite,” nevertheless, and the prevalence of intergender wrestling on TNA programming is certainly one of the numerous things that set TNA apart. Within the Western wrestling scene, TNA is a trailblazer for intergender wrestling. Such was made clear on Thursday’s episode of “iMPACT,” where 4 intergender storylines were showcased throughout its two-hour broadcast. In fact, the segments weren’t perfect, however the Love is in the idea: we’d like more intergender wrestling on mainstream wrestling outlets.
Wrestling promotions love a romance story, and two of “iMPACT’s” 4 intergender segments featured lovers’ quarrels. Truthfully, these were probably the least inspired of the night: each Alisha Edwards and Arianna Grace quarreled with their male partners, Eddie Edwards and Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo, respectively. The draw, nevertheless, is in the amount. A fallout between a fiancée and her betrothed may be a typical in-ring storyline, but two similar, but unrelated, segments on a single broadcast is something unusual (especially when each end with the girl standing firm in her convictions). It isn’t probably the most girlboss storyline variant on this planet, however it goes to indicate that TNA is sort of comfortable booking intergender storylines.
I’m more taken with the storylines that pit female and male talent against one another. Jada Stone and Elijah are on their way there with their blossoming alliance against Order 4, but Stone’s initial argument with Order 4 leader Mustafa Ali gives me some hope that this feud will see an intergender lockup — one, hopefully, as intense because the one between Nemeth and Sade early Thursday. After I saw Nemeth unapologetically lay his hands on Sade, I knew I used to be watching TNA. No other major wrestling broadcast in the current day will so openly show a person laying his hands on a girl, aside from TNA. I hated how Nemeth talked to Sade, but he’s a slimy heel, so I’ll let it slide (for now).
We talk rather a lot about equality within the ring. We dream that someday, female wrestlers will likely be taken just as seriously as their male counterparts. I genuinely think intergender wrestling is one method to handle that problem. If you happen to show those who ladies and men can fight one another — with no prejudice, just skill — then we would make some big strides towards equality within the ring. If the storyline is sweet and the tensions are there, we should always absolutely be letting men and ladies fight.
Written by Angeline Phu