Tonight, TNA officially moves to Monday nights – reintroducing the Monday Night Wars.  Of course, it’s not much of a “war” if you’re a die-hard WWE fan that knows nothing about the competition.  Steven R. Slam here, reporting for TNA Introduction duty!

Tonight’s TNA Main Event features Hulk Hogan and Abyss vs AJ Styles and Ric Flair.  For those not familiar with the TNA roster, here’s a little introduction to the major players and the current angles.

Champions:

AJ Styles: Current TNA World Champion. He has been in the promotion for numerous years, playing both heel and face roles many times over. He has held the TNA World, Tag Team and X-Division championships.  In fact, he was the first X-Division Champion. He is currently being managed by Ric Flair and is playing a “Nature Boy” character.  Styles is feuding with D’Angelo Dinero, Abyss and Hulk Hogan.  Yeah, all at once.  Here’s a thought – if your promotion asks you to carry three feuds at once, ya’ think they might be high on you?  You should be high on AJ as well.

Rob Terry: Current Global Champion. Was part of the British Invasion, before the group disbanded. He recently turned face and is feuding with former British Invasion members Doug Williams and Brutus Magnus. Wouldn’t it be cool if in the Olympics, you get pissed off at your teammates and decide to feud with them whenever possible?  Sorta like a Bode Miller kinda move.

Doug Williams: Recently captured the X-Division championship. Doug, a heel,  is an international wrestler from the UK.  He is a former tag team champion with his British Invasion teammates. He is feuding with Rob Terry.

Matt Morgan and Hernandez:  The TNA Tag Team champions.  Hernandez is a popular wrestler with the fans.  His tag team partner is Matt Morgan.  Previously, Henandez was a member of the LAX with Homicide before Homicide turned heel.  The promotion is slowly building a Hernandez/Morgan feud with Morgan playing the cocky babyface that will likely turn heel.

Tara: Current TNA Knockout (Women’s) champion. Tara should look familiar to WWE fans, as she played the role of Victoria for years.

Other Notables You Should Know:

Abyss: Former TNA World champion. Abyss was once portrayed as a monster, but now is portrayed more as a over the top cartoon character. He is currently a face and was recently given Hulk Hogan’s Half of Fame ring. Abyss is feuding with Ric Flair and AJ Styles, with support from Hogan.  And he does not look like Mankind. Seriously. So just stop thinking that. Thanks.

Amazing Red: Former X-Division champion. He recently lost the title to Doug Williams.  Will these Brits ever lay off? 233 years of independence and counting and they’re still robbing us blind.  Also, he’s not been used much since Hogan came into power.

Angelina Love: Recently returned to TNA after some Visa issues. She returned as a face, feuding with her former “Beautiful People” teammates.

Awesome Kong: One of the most popular women in the company. Current news has her possibly being released from TNA due to a legit backstage fight with Bubba the Love Sponge over some comments he made on Twitter and his radio show about Haiti. As a result, she has not been used much lately. She recently posted on her Twitter that she had been “future endeavored,” but is still listed on the TNA roster page.  IF TNA has any smarts, they will quell the legit issue between Bubba and Kong backstage and spin this into an angle.  Reality = ratings!

The Band: Scott Hall and X-Pac. Of course you all remember these two. They are currently heels feuding with former friend Kevin Nash and his partner Eric Young. According to storyline, they are not part of TNA.  They also don’t like to be called the nWo.  Or, TNA doesn’t like them being called the nWo.  Or, their lawyers don’t like them being called nWo.  They’re “The Band,” got it?  Good. Abyss doesn’t look like Mankind either.

Beer Money: James Storm and Robert Roode make up Beer Money. They are the number one contenders for the Tag Team championship. Former tag champs themselves. Previously heels, but after receiving a number of cheers are now babyfaces.

Brutus Magnus: Part of the British Invasion with Doug Williams. Feuding with Rob Terry.

Christy Hemme: Backstage interviewer. Former WWE Diva. Current hot piece of ass.

D’Angelo Dinero: Formerly Elijah Burke in the WWE.  He is one of the most popular wrestlers in the company and is the number one contender to AJ  Styles’ World championship. He will face Styles at the next PPV.

Daniels: Former TNA Tag Team champion and X-Division champion. He has been with the company since its debut. He is one of the best wrestlers in the world, recently feuding with former partner AJ Styles over the world title.  Daniels is currently a heel and has not been used much since Hogan came into power. Sensing a theme? Sadly, me too.

Desmond Wolfe: Former ROH Champion Nigel McGuiness.  He debuted with the company in 2009 and was given a huge push feuding with Kurt Angle.  Since Hogan came into power his push seems to have faded.  He is a heel. And likely angry that Hogan won’t use him.

Dr. Stevie: Former WWE and ECW wrestler Stevie Richards.

Eric Bischoff: Former head of WCW and WWE on air talent. Bischoff came into the promotion with Hulk Hogan. Is playing a tweener role, but is currently feuding with babyfaces Mick Foley and Jeff Jarrett.

Eric Young: Eric is most famous for playing a goofy character in TNA. In 2009 he turned heel, ditching the goofy character for a serious character. Think Chris Jericho. While he hasn’t turned face, he is teaming with Kevin Nash in their feud with Scott Hall and X-Pac.

Generation Me: Max and Jeremy Buck. Recently joined TNA. They made a big name for themselves in ROH in 2009. They are best known for their high-flying, action-packed double team moves.  Alright, just stop it, you perverts.

Homicide: Former tag team and X-Division champion. Has not been used much since Hogan joined the company. He is a heel.

Hulk Hogan: Joined the company on Jan 4th. His character is that of a babyface Vince McMahon. He is feuding with Ric Flair and AJ Styles.  And reportedly keeping a lot of young talent down to push his buddies.  Can you say WCW?

Jeff Jarrett: The man who started it all. He is a multiple time TNA World champion. Eric Bishoff, according to storyline, is trying to make his life hell, making him work his way up from the bottom of the ladder and putting him in matches he can’t win.

Jimmy Hart: Manager of the Nasty Boys.  Yes, those Nasty Boys. I know. I know.

Kazarian: Former X-Division champion. He has played the Suicide character for the last year, but is now back to being himself (with no explanation given).

Kevin Nash: Feuding with former partners Scott Hall and X-Pac. Nash has been with the company for a few years now and rarely wrestles. He currently teams with Eric Young.

Kurt Angle: Kurt Angle is a former WWE and TNA World champion. He is currently feuding with Mr. Anderson. Angle is a face, and as badass as ever.

Lacey Von Erich and Madison Rayne:  Lacey (pictured above) is the daughter of the late Kerry von Erich. Two members of  the  Beautiful People and are feuding with Angelina Love.

Mick Foley: Former WWE Champion and TNA World champion. He came into the promotion as the “Executive Shareholder.” However, that angle has been dropped. He is currently a face, feuding with Eric Bischoff who is trying to make his life miserable.  Bischoff recently made him wear a suit and take etiquette lessons.

Mike Tenay: The play by play announcer. Previously worked for WCW.

Motor City Machine Guns: Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin make up the Motor City Machine Guns. Both are former X-Division Champions. They are considered two of the best workers in the promotion. The Machine Guns have wrestled in numerous independent promotions and are typically viewed as cocky fan favorites.

Mr. Anderson: The former Mr. Kennedy in the WWE.  Mr. Anderson debuted in the company in January. He is playing  a heel and is feuding with Kurt Angle.

Nasty Boys: Former WWE and WCW tag team champions. They are heels and are feuding with Team 3D.  Remember that whole thing about Hogan keeping certain people down and pushing his buddies. Right.

ODB: Former TNA Knockouts Champion. Plays a tweener redneck character.  Mikey would probably love her, considering his obsession with the West Texas Rednecks.

Orlando Jordan: Recently joined TNA. He had a brief run in the WWE. He plays a heel and it is believed he will play a bisexual character (which he is in real life).

Raven: Has been used on and off in TNA. He is a former TNA World Champion. He is currently not involved in any angles.

Rhino: Former TNA World Champion. He has not been used much since Hogan joined.

Ric Flair: He joined the company in 2010. He will be wrestling his first match in North America in two years tonight. He is a heel and currently manages/mentors AJ Styles. He is feuding with Hulk Hogan

Samoa Joe: Former TNA World champion and X-Division Champion. Joe recently played a heel character but has been a face since Hogan came in. Recently was jumped and kidnapped by a bunch of masked men. According to storyline he has been missing ever since.

Sting: Former TNA and WCW World champion. Every year Sting seems to retire and then gets talked into coming back. He played a heel in late 2008/early 2009 but has been a babyface since mid 2009. He is currently not involved in any angles as he has not wrestled since October.

Taylor Wilde: Former TNA knockouts champion. Not a porn star, despite her name (that we know of, anyhow).

Taz: Color commentator.  The former “Human Suplex Machine” in ECW.

Team 3d: Former WWE, ECW, and TNA world tag team champions. Known as the Dudley Boys in WWE.  They are currently babyfaces and feuding with the Nasty Boys.

Velvet Sky: Part of the Beautiful People. She is feuding with former partner Angelina Love.

Got it, everyone? At least when you watch the show tonight you won’t be completely clueless.  Will you give TNA a shot tonight, or stick with Raw?  Or neither?  Get at me, let’s talk.