I agree with Ped...it's definitely a retread of the New Blood angle. Just as poorly executed, too. They started with it just being the "Originals" against the Mafia, which (retread or not) could have actually worked if they had booked it right...

Don't have the Mafia talk smack about how worthless the guys are...as Mick Foley said in one of his books, it makes the company and the angle look weak if you build a feud by telling people how bad one side is, because then no matter who comes out on top, the whole thing comes off as a joke. Whether guys like Joe and AJ really can step up to the Mafia's level isn't important; you simply don't say that shit as part of the angle. It makes them look weak, so if you beat them, so what...and if they beat you, then you got beat by a bunch of scrubs.

And for crying out loud, use some of the talent you have lying around. They had to change from "Originals" to "Frontline" because they started involving guys like Rhyno and Team 3D, who were obviously well-known stars elsewhere prior to coming to TNA. But they actually do have talent to use - if they'd just use it, instead of resorting to strengthening the group with WWE castoffs. There is absolutely no reason why Matt Morgan and Abyss aren't involved in this angle, and they absolutely should bring back Christopher Daniels (Curry Man has run its course) to join Joe and AJ at the front of the group. Kill the stupid "Motor City Machine Guns aren't committed to the cause" angle too, because it just distracts from the main storyline and makes their group look weaker. (And the Guns were crazy over as faces anyway, so I don't understand why TNA insists on trying to turn them heel.) Drop Consequences Creed (he's not over AT ALL) and ODB (she just doesn't fit in this angle).

Bottom line: A unified group of AJ, Joe, Daniels, Morgan, Abyss, the Guns, Lethal and Eric Young could be a solid opposition for the Mafia if booked right. The talent is there, so with more constructive Mafia promos and the continued motivational involvement of Foley, it could work despite being a retread of an old WCW angle. Unfortunately, they've already had too many missteps to really save it.