Long-Term Booking: The Rise, Gold Rush, and Masterful Gimmick Implosion of Eric Young’s "Cleanse" Faction
With Eric Young’s "Cleanse" storyline hitting TNA’s main event scene, the company has a massive opportunity to build a dominant, company-altering faction that elevates the absolute future of the promotion.
Instead of EY operating as a lone wolf, the "Cleanse" should evolve into a powerhouse multi-generational group with a specific "Gold Rush" goal. The true magic of this storyline lies in how the faction masterfully implodes from within using classic TNA gimmick matches.
Here is the complete long-term roadmap from the ultimate takeover to the violent end.
🏆 Phase 1: The Ultimate Gold Rush Takeover
The Cleanse forms under the philosophy that TNA is "poisoned" by corporate puppets. They systematically hunt and capture every piece of championship gold in the company to establish absolute control:
TNA World Heavyweight Title: Leon Slater (Handpicked by EY as the chosen one)
TNA Tag Team Titles: Eric Young & Jason Hotch
International Title: Frankie Kazarian
X-Division Title: KC Navarro
Knockouts Title: Xia Brookside
🐍 Phase 2: "You Have Become the Sickness" (The Betrayal)
After a dominant run where the faction holds all the gold, paranoia and jealousy grip the veterans. EY and Kazarian grow resentful of the spotlight on the 21-year-old World Champion, Leon Slater.
The Turn: EY and Kaz brutally attack Slater post-match. EY cuts a chilling promo declaring that the fame, the fans, and the World Title have corrupted Leon. The verdict? Leon Slater has become the very "sickness" they formed to cleanse. He is violently excommunicated from the group.
🎲 Phase 3: Weaponizing Option C & The Navarro Sacrifice
Desperate to get the World Championship back under their control, EY and Kazarian manipulate X-Division Champion KC Navarro.
The Trap: They convince Navarro that sacrificing his X-Division title via Option C to fight Slater is his destiny for the greater good of the Cleanse.
The Fallout: Navarro pushes Slater to the absolute limit but loses. Showing their utter ruthlessness, EY and Kaz instantly turn on Navarro right after the bell rings for "failing the group." Navarro is beaten out of the faction.
The Pivot: With the X-Division title now vacant, Jason Hotch steps up and wins the championship, securing his spot as the group's loyal young golden boy.
🩸 Phase 4: The Weaponized Steel Cage Bloodbath
The Brutal Switch: Eric Young finally gets his hands on Leon Slater, forcing the young champion into an unforgiving Weaponized Steel Cage Match. With chairs, chains, and tables hanging from the steel cage walls, the group uses overwhelming numbers to leave Slater a bloody mess. EY pins him to win the TNA World Title, shattering Leon's innocence.
The Retaliation: Slater invokes his automatic rematch clause at the next major pay-per-view. In an absolute war, Slater overcomes the odds and wins the World Title back from EY, sending the veteran leader into a psychological tailspin.
💥 Phase 5: The Full Metal Mayhem Implosion
Failing to retain the title causes a massive rift between the two founding veterans. When EY goes to enact his rematch clause against Slater, a frustrated Frankie Kazarian interrupts. Management makes the final main event a Full Metal Mayhem Match (Tables, Ladders, and Chairs).
Instead of working together to take out Slater, Eric Young and Frankie Kazarian's blind hatred and fracturing egos take over. They destroy each other through tables and ladders, allowing a resilient Leon Slater to climb the ladder, retrieve his World Title, and end the Cleanse forever.
The Aftermath: The group disbands. EY and Kazarian feud with each other. Meanwhile, Jason Hotch quietly walks away unscathed as the X-Division Champion, entirely separated from the veteran drama and perfectly positioned as a major solo star for a future World Title run.
What do you guys think of this trajectory? Personally, I think using Option C as a tool of faction manipulation is a twist TNA needs to pull off!