Reported by Mike Siciliano of WrestleView.com
On Wednesday, April 26, 2006 at 5:20 AM EST

I need to bring up a topic that is bugging me again regarding TNA, and, from what I can assume, their desire to spread their product to the masses in the United States.

First off, the distribution of TNA DVDs to national retailers. I still cannot believe and understand how the biggest market in the world, New York City, gets 3 copies of the newest DVD for TNA Entertainment from Navarre Distribution. Period. 3 copies!?!?! How is TNA going to be able to spread the word of their product with three copies? 10am eastern time when I came in to the Best Buy, right at the opening. Obviously, it turned in to 2 copies when I picked up one at 10:05am.

I've been on this for a while. While searching for the TNA Anthology that finally ended up on ShopTNA.com months after it being released in WalMarts to having to search the virtual globe for Bound For Glory, Genesis, and others, to the point that I had to order TNA DVDs, from, of all places, ROHwrestling.com. I am a hardcore DVD collector, so I can do it, without resistance. But, if TNA wants to get the word out to the casual fan, they shoiuld re-evaluate the distribution process they have for their new product.

While comparing WWE PPV DVDs to TNA PPV DVDs, there is no question. Here's a good example. I spent $25 a pop on Hard Justice, Slammiversary, and No Surrender 2005. The last over $20 spending I did on a WWE DVD was Wrestlemania 21. 3 DVD set from WWE over one DVD for each of the TNA sets. All, EVERY SINGLE one of the TNA PPV DVDs are incredibly entertaining, even if Tenay and West are homers, but the product is entertaining and done very impressively. However, their distribution leaves quite a bit to be desired, and I can probably guess that there are people out there in my neck of the woods looking for Final Resolution 2006 and not finding it.

How's that for a poll? Click here and tell me whether or not you live on Long Island, or somewhere in the New York area, and whether or not you've been fortunate enough to find Final Resolution 2006. I'll post some results from this in my next couple of columns.

I have finalized my idea for column #100. It will be a bunch of countdown lists of my favorites in pro wrestling. My top 20 favorite tag teams, my top 20 favorite singles wrestlers, my top 20 favorite divas, the best 20 experiences I have ever had meeting a pro wrestler, and the top 20 DVDs that I have either seen or purchased from the art of pro wrestling. To avoid the obvious overdrive of column 100, I thought it would be best to begin the countdowns now, and end it at column 100 with either a recap or additions that I may receive between now and then through email or my myspace account.

So, with that in mind, let me begin the celebration to 100 columns of Pro's from the Palace by counting down my 20 favorite divas in pro wrestling. I better do this one now, because for sure, I am gonna get my ass kicked by my wife for talking so much about other women, so I may as well take my medicine now.

20. WENDI RICHTER - I remember her back at Wrestlemania 1 when she took on Moolah, and brought the women's division out of Moolah's iron clad grip. She wasn't a major hit in WWE/F after that feud, but she did make a brief impact on me for that achievement, so she'll make the list.

19. TORRIE WILSON - Yeah, I know she should probably be higher being so involved in the business currently, but truth be told, when I met her, I wasn't that impressed. Yes, she's beautiful, but has she grown in talent as a competitor, not really. I think the biggest detriment to her career is her husband, and that is why she's this far down on my list.

18. TRINITY - Tough as nails. I don't have a lot of experience seeing her compete, but the brief times I have, I have been impressed by her ability to withstand punishment. She has an attitude of rush the world first and ask questions later, and that is never a bad thing in my book.

17. MISS JACKIE - Met her twice at signings, the first time, I was so stunned by her appearance I stuttered like a retard. The second time, I was flabbergasted how good she had transformed herself and how much more fit and beautiful she had become. Not to mention the fact that she was a professional during both occasions, especially for the avenue where she came in to the business. Professional and beautiful gets you on this list, no questions asked.

16. IVORY - Sad that she was released. Her spunk, her ability, and her beauty were definitely a trio of characteristics that WWE women are needing more of. She could go with the best of them, and she could promo her way out of any situation. One of my all time favorite segments of any of my DVDs is the Hardcore Women's title match between Tori and Ivory, because she got vicious, especially when she hit the Green Goddess with a Mirror right in the side of the skull.

15. BELUAH MCGILLICUTTY - First off, If I spelled her name wrong, I am sorry. Second. I don't have much knowledge of her because I didn't follow ECW. But, her performance at the One Night Stand PPV last year, and what I have seen in the past with DVDs tells me I wouldn't mind getting the receiving end of one of those DDTs from Dreamer's woman.

14. FRANCINE - "It's so ungodly hot in this arena, either the silicone is going to melt, or she's going to hit one of those funbags on the barbed wire, and it's going to explode!" Joey Styles at Hardcore Homecoming 2005 when Shane Douglas and Francine came out for the main event. Enough said.

13. LILIAN GARCIA - First, she was a pleasure to meet. Second, anyone who is willing to get dirty with the talent, i.e., her program with Viscera, deserves the kudos from me as a top flight talent in the business. Third, she's hot.

12. TRACI BROOKS - I have limited knowledge of her wrestling ability. But, damn, does she look good.

11. GAIL KIM - Anyone who is as slender as Gail Kim is and can wrestle at her level deserves to be recognized.

10. MARIA KANELLIS - One of the most recent meetings I had was with the Chicago native. She was a treat to meet, and very pretty as well. Her lack of ability in the ring is her detriment at the moment, but she appears to want to learn.

9. MICHELLE MCCOOL - A pleasure to speak with in person, and someone obviously with a lot of determination, because she took the demotion to Deep South without complaining, and has bettered herself as a spokesperson and a competitor since then.

8. MELINA - The shrieking bothers me, but otherwise, she is the future of women's competition.

7. VICTORIA - "Did we meet somewhere before?" She told me that at a signing. I still remember that to this day. What I wanted to say to her at that time I can't repeat, because A) Nemer would fire me, and B) my wife would kill me.

6. SO CAL VAL - The future knockout of TNA. I wish I could hear this angel speak. She has some pictures that would send the average American Male in to orbit. Its sickening that I didn't put her in the first time, but damn, man, she's in for life now.

5. DAWN MARIE - The funniest part about Dawn when we met her is how she ended up being behind in the line progress because of lovely Long Island traffic. Needless to say, she was up front and cordial about the whole mess. It's a shame she was let go because she was pregnant.

4. TRISH STRATUS - Possibly the best in the WWE at this time. She was quieter than I had expected when we met her. Still very cordial, but much quieter than I had thought.

3. CANDICE MICHELLE - Met her twice, she was a gem. Very personable, very down to earth, and hot as a pistol. Surprising, I would think, especially with the publicity Playboy has given her.

2. ASHLEY - Picked her to win the Diva Search the first week. To this day, the best memory of Ashley at the signing where we met her was Jonathan, my youngest, wanting to yell to her to put more clothes back on. She was so animated with the kids, it was refreshing to see.

1. CHRISTY HEMME - I gotta be honest. Nobody stunned me from appearances more than Christy did. When I first saw her, I really thought seriously about, whoops, nevermind. She was, as well, very nice to speak to, but holy guacamole, Batman, was she hot as a firecracker. We needed that too, that day, because she and Shelton Benjamin came to Long Island in a snowstorm. She could've melted the ice herself.

Ok. Work is ending, so I gotta fly.

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Beaucoup cenabling! En route to 100!