Above: TNA is hoping to replicate its past success.
(Orlando, FL) -- Total Nonstop Action wrestling today announced the official relaunch
of SEX (Sports Entertainment Xtreme) as a brand extension of its existing franchise.
For the uninitiated, SEX was a heel stable run by former TNA writer Vince Russo
that tried to take over TNA programming. From its inception in December 2002 to its untimely demise almost six months later,
the faction left an indelible mark on wrestling history.
"Everywhere I go -- from our TNA Impact! tapings here in Orlando, to our TNA pay-per-view
specials here in Orlando -- wrestling fans have been asking for SEX," TNA President Dixie Carter said. "Even non-wrestling
fans, people I've never even met before, are coming up to me and asking for SEX; that's how memorable this particular storyline
must have been."
In addition to Russo, SEX plans to bring back several former alumnae, including Elix
Skipper, Christopher Daniels, Senshe, Ron and Don Harris, Sonny Siaki, Mike Sanders
and Glenn Gilberti. Some former members have declined to join the new brand, including Trinity and from the
short-lived SEX Extreme faction, The Sandman and Justin Credible.
In addition, SEX will add some new members to its clique to help distinguish its brand
from TNA, including A.J. Styles, Christian Cage, Rhino, Jeff Jarrett, Samoa Joe, Team
3-D, Jim Cornette and Sting.
Wrestling fans, who on the whole are not normally critical of promotions bringing back
recycled angles, have said that the new SEX will only work if Russo is given complete creative control over the brand and
not if he has to work with a "TNA-ized version of SEX".
"Believe me -- and I'm bein' completely honest wit' ya -- that was one of my major
concernz, too," Russo said. "But all them suitz and bigwigz in the back, they promized to let me have the kind of SEX I want
with some o' the younger, hungrier guyz in the buzinezz."
Russo vowz… er, vows, that his rough, controversial and often confusing visions
of SEX will be maintained, with plentiful "shocking swervez, title changez and run-inz."
To help launch the second brand, TNA will give SEX all of its television clearances
currently being used by its TNA XPlosion program. When contacted by World Wrestling Insanity News, programming officials at
both television stations carrying XPlosion said they "really didn't care" about the development.
"Hell, they can run commercials for Kevin Nash Skin Care™ for all I care,"
one programming manager said. "They're the ones paying for this time."
Carter reports that the new faction has also launched a North American house show tour
for the summer, billed as "TNA Live SEX Shows". All of the shows are already sold out, a TNA first.
"What can I say?" Carter said. "I guess SEX sells."
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Canadian Bulldog is a borderline journalist who writes weekly for World Wrestling Insanity and Online Onslaught and has published his own book of nutty e-mails to wrestlers. See his obscenely expensive Canadian BullBLOG for more details. He welcomes your comments at CanadianBulldog@worldwrestlinginsanity.com
