Keith Watanabe * NET 2.0

TNA had a huge 2006. With 2007 coming up, one would think this would be the major break out year. And there are many indications of positive elements to come. Some predictions from me: - 2 hour broadcast. There's no doubt this will occur sometime this year. The only question is when. I doubt that TNA's ratings will improve that much, perhaps peaking between 1.4-1.5. That said, a second hour of wrestling would occur perhaps in April or May. But before that happens, TNA will need to expand its audience base to supplement the projected increase in ratings. - More house shows and PPVs. I did recall one PPV set to be scheduled in Louisiana. TNA should additionally take on old WCW venues/locations such as Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia to name a few. I wouldn't be surprised to see a major show in Tennessee when/if Jeff Jarrett returns for his rumored babyface run. Either way, TNA needs to run in additional locations outside of Florida to continue building their audience. Two to three more major acquisitions. Quite honestly, TNA doesn't need anyone else in the main event scene. They have a nice upper tier group consisting of Kurt Angle, Samoa Joe, Rhyno, Sting, AJ Styles, Ron Killings and Jeff Jarrett. However, as mentioned, for them to increase their visibility and acceptance of mainstream crowds, they need to pull a major feat and grab two to three mainstay players from WWE. My three choices would be Chris Benoit, RVD, and Chris Jericho. Jericho would be tough based on his current situation and the fact that he'd be full of ring rust. However, he's still at a good age and would fit in well in TNA. Benoit and RVD would be natural people to enter. Benoit would be good for a main event title run that he never really got in WWE while training youngsters while RVD ought to go since WWE doesn't fit his character. Realistically, if RVD's contract ended in 2007, I wouldn't be surprised if he would be the first guy to show up in TNA. Benoit is less likely but logistically the company would match nicely. Russo will be pushed downward. I think Russo ought to take care of the undercard and some midcard areas. He's the type that I think would be decent at giving colorless, gimmick-less people some personality. However, for TNA to become viable, he should not handle the main event and upper tier people. The main event people are what sells so those areas are extremely sensitive in the way they need to be booked. I think someone like Jim Cornette should handle the booking at that level. This structure might provide a good balance and prevent burnout from occurring. Sting. I really think his main job should be to get over a few guys like Abyss and Christian. Although he can still wrestle to a degree, he's more like Ric Flair at this stage. I think he'll stick around for another year, but he'll be off and on as guys like Kurt Angle, Samoa Joe and Christian Cage completely take over the main event scene (if they haven't). Scott Steiner's return. This guy showed something that got people talking. He was booked smart and to his strengths, which made him work. He's got a few matches in him still and I think a few good uses would be the return match with Samoa Joe, a tag team with Kurt Angle (as well as a match or two), and a couple of other matches with guys like Rhino, Abyss, and AJ Styles. He should never be positioned less than 2nd from the top of the card though, but still his job would be to continue getting talent over. Christopher Daniels move beyond the X-Division. We saw a bit of it with him in the tag division. I'd personally like to see this guy in feuds with wrestlers like Kurt Angle, Rhino, and Christian Cage. He doesn't need a title to be over, but he needs progress in his career. Alex Shelley as the MAN in the X-Division. He's done so many jobs but his work with Kevin Nash and having tons of color in and out of the ring make him the possible next big thing in the X-division. He needs a hot run as the X-division champion for 6 months, and eventually needs to challenge guys like Christopher Daniels and AJ Styles down the road to prove his capable of moving up in the future. Kevin Nash as a permanent color commentator. Wrestling-wise his career pretty much is over. But I think everyone knew from the beginning how much he adds everytime he gets near a mic. If JBL can give Jesse Ventura a run for his money, Kevin Nash is in line to be the next Bobby Heenan. The commentary just improves drastically with him playing side-by-side Don West and Mike Tenay; he has the capability of making the ratings improve because of his humor. This is a must in the line of business for TNA in 2007! Hernandez moving to singles. If Konnan is taking a hiatus do to his health, I could see LAX splitting up with Homicide moving to the X-Division (making an incredible heel and hopefully a killer tag team with Senshi) while Hernandez goes to the X-Division. Hernandez doesn't have the whole Samoa Joe singles streak going for him, but he does stuff that make people take notice. Hernandez could potentially have some good singles matches with Rhino, AJ Styles, Christian Cage, Kurt Angle and Samoa Joe. He doesn't have to win all the time, but he's gotta and going to make a major impact. And hopefully he keeps improving and stays injury free! Bobby Roode leaving TNA. as much as TNA wants to promote him, I can't see much happening for Roode. For everything people say about him, there's a huge barrier in front of him and he would need to take such a tremendous step forward in what he has to demonstrate he's capable of the next level. With guys like Samoa Joe, Kurt Angle, Christian, etc. there, I don't see that happening. However, I do think he'd fit quite well and would receive a nice midcard push in the WWE should he leave.