Should Bischoff/Hervey Buy TNA?

[scomvp316]

Oh I almost forgot VKM is the greatest promoter of all time. I love the fact how people don't give EB or Heyman their props but they kiss VKM's ass the guy who has had a career built off of copying everyone else. Lets remeber VKM bought WWF from his father when his father was on his deathbed dying from cancer. TW themselves had mentioned they would not accept any offer that would have WCW on their networks because they were going into a different creative direction. Go to the press releases and TW mentions they wanted nothing to do with wrestling. WCW became a public trading company before WWF was. Anyone that doesn't believe what I am saying just go to public records that Time Warner provides and you find everything you need to know.

The sponsors TNA has aren't near what WWE gets but does save them a little bit of money. A few wrestling insiders on this site has even mentioned they have increased sponsor deals within the last year. If you want to talk about top brass families being involved in the product take a look at the McMahons. VKM had even mentioned to his daughter to get a boob job because no fan wants to see a flat chested girl and other than that just be a file clerk. Numerous former WWE employess and not wrestlers have mentioned discussions of dear ole daddy making his daughter get an enhancement via employment. We can go on and on about why people hate EB but VKM has done a hell of alot worst ethically than EB has ever done

[Rayne]

We're talking about Eric Bischoff, not Vince McMahon. Focus.

And no shit, of course Time Warner wanted out of WCW. It was losing shitloads of money. The only offer they received to 'save' it required them to finance WCW and provide it with guaranteed prime-time television space (a deal that no one gets, especially shows with high production costs that are hemorrhaging viewers.)

But no, it wasn't money. Television executives are moguls of culture, totally uninterested in what will make them a profit, and so they turned down $140+ million for the sake of art. If that wasn't complete bullshit, it'd be a very noble statement.

[scomvp316]

Its not bullshit its fact. Here we have in WCW the first ever wrestling public trading company and you are trying to say WCW was worth only $2.1 mill because thats what VKM bought it for. Like I said before TW had made up their minds they didn't want wrestling on any of their networks. In fact when Turner sold WCW to them they hated the fact of wrestling at all. Just go to public statements TW made when they officially made the sale public. Talent that was working in WCW at the time of the sale have mentioned numerous times that TW just wanted to dump the company and making a profit wasn't an option just getting rid of the company was their only focus.

[Rayne]

Jesus.

First off, WCW was never publicly traded. That's the WWF you're thinking about. Who went public in 1999.

Second, yes. Anything- anything at all- is only worth what someone else is willing to pay for it. That's about as basic of an economic rule as you can find. You might think that the beaten-up dog chewed baseball you have that was once touched by Roger Clemens might be worth $500, but it's only actually worth about 30 cents. Don't get the idea that WCW was worth $150 million, because Eric Bischoff didn't have a workable plan to provide that money. (Unless you're a wrestling fan who really wants to believe he tried to save WCW.)

Third, public statements are not outpourings of truth. They are attempts by a public relations department to shape public opinion in a way most favorable to the company for whom said PR department works for.

Fourth, professional wrestlers have a very vested interest in blaming anyone but WCW for its failings. They have careers after WCW to think about, and no one wanted to be blamed for causing WCW to fail. So, instead, you blame television executives. Everyone wants to read Kevin Nash's shoot interview. No one gives a shit what some television executive they've never heard of has to say.

Fifth, are you fucking seriously saying that large, multinational media companies are uninterested in profit because they are more interested in a cultural standard?????

"The Narrative" from former WCW employees as to why the company went under makes sense only to professional wrestling fans upset that WCW failed. To anyone else, it doesn't make one little bit of sense. It wasn't the fact that the company was bleeding cash that caused it to fail; no, it was a cultural war!

[UrUp]

I'm not sure about Bischoff and Hervey, but I'd be open to seeing someone else own TNA.

Vince McMahon... great promoter. Dana White... great promoter. Dixie Carter... is she even considered a promoter?

I'd also have to agree that Bischoff is a good con-artist, but so is everyone's beloved Paul Heyman. As for promoter, Bischoff like much of the TNA roster seems too "part-timer-ish."

I'd like to see someone come in and be 100% involved with TNA and get the talent to buy in as well. Off the top of my head, Shane McMahon is the type of guy I'd be interested in seeing take over, but that could lead to problems and probably isn't realistic. What I wouldn't want is an old school guy such as Jim Cornette or some one who praises 80's IWA mid-south wrestling, because in this day an age I think you need something fresh, but who appreciates the throw back style.

The bottom line is that I feel TNA needs more dedication as far as ownership and talent goes and while you may think TNA is doing a good job, when I see all the green talent, nepotism, full time mma fighter, reality tv star, and broken down part time stars/legends that TNA is using, it's hard to think that they couldn't be doing better if everyone was completely committed to TNA/being a full time wrestler without all these outside interests.

[californiachef84]

Originally Posted by Rayne

Jesus.

First off, WCW was never publicly traded. That's the WWF you're thinking about. Who went public in 1999.

Second, yes. Anything- anything at all- is only worth what someone else is willing to pay for it. That's about as basic of an economic rule as you can find. You might think that the beaten-up dog chewed baseball you have that was once touched by Roger Clemens might be worth $500, but it's only actually worth about 30 cents. Don't get the idea that WCW was worth $150 million, because Eric Bischoff didn't have a workable plan to provide that money. (Unless you're a wrestling fan who really wants to believe he tried to save WCW.)

Third, public statements are not outpourings of truth. They are attempts by a public relations department to shape public opinion in a way most favorable to the company for whom said PR department works for.

Fourth, professional wrestlers have a very vested interest in blaming anyone but WCW for its failings. They have careers after WCW to think about, and no one wanted to be blamed for causing WCW to fail. So, instead, you blame television executives. Everyone wants to read Kevin Nash's shoot interview. No one gives a shit what some television executive they've never heard of has to say.

Fifth, are you fucking seriously saying that large, multinational media companies are uninterested in profit because they are more interested in a cultural standard?????

"The Narrative" from former WCW employees as to why the company went under makes sense only to professional wrestling fans upset that WCW failed. To anyone else, it doesn't make one little bit of sense. It wasn't the fact that the company was bleeding cash that caused it to fail; no, it was a cultural war!

You just don't have any idea what you are talking about... I have a WCW magazine from March of 2001 where they were advertising their next ppv (Spring Stampede) as a "new beginning" for WCW. Now WCW ended up being sold to WWE for literally peanuts, but Eric Bischoff had Fusient Media in line to buy the company. Jamie Kelner, of TW, decided at the last minute that they didn't want pro wrestling on any of their networks anymore which led Fusient to back out of the deal, and let McMahon walk in and pick up the scraps.

This is FACT!!! This is what happened!!! I even have a 5 figure action set of Sting that was called the "Evolution of Sting" that was released as part of their new rebranding. Eric Bischoff was also on Nitro telling "any former WCW world champion to show up to the last show, and don't be afraid to bring your wrestling boots". Fusient was gonna buy WCW, but TW decided not to let them have any time slots on the network which caused Fusient to back out...

Facts are facts!!!

[Rayne]

Originally Posted by New Battauh

I'd also have to agree that Bischoff is a good con-artist, but so is everyone's beloved Paul Heyman. As for promoter, Bischoff like much of the TNA roster seems too "part-timer-ish."

I don't mean con man with any disrespect. I mean that with a small degree of admiration. Honest people don't survive in professional wrestling. Paul Heyman is a con artist who knows how to associate himself with a good name. Not that great of a businessman, and I still wonder how he got away with owing so many performers so much money without ending up in a river or with his knees broke.

Eric Bischoff is a much better con artist. The smart ones aren't the ones that own the money, they're the guys that manage the money and take a cut.

[Zeven_Zion]

Why would they considering the fact that Dixie Carter has done a splendid job at the helm? She took the company in 2002-ish and turned it into a pretty damn cool wrestling company in 10 years. It ain't the second coming of WCW nor should it be, but TNA's doing good for themselves. No sign of any horrible financial struggles, ratings are maintained, they do new stuff every year, develop their vision, develop their wrestlers, work on the show and put on a product that's quite enjoyable when Eric Bischoff's sperm isn't wobbling in the ring.

Bischoff has been there and done that. The dude is co-running a production company which is flourishing it would seem, TNA is his tie to wrestling which he probably adores, it's more of his hobby than anything else I assume and he's overall enjoying a good life at this point.

The dude is set, for life. He's a successful man. Good for him, I wish we'd all be like that.

So why oh fucking WHY would him and his partner buy TNA and encumbur themselves with all the pressures of running another business, perhaps larger than their production company? So he can go against Vince again? So he can turn TNA around? So he can revive wrestling?

Wrestling's dead and gone. Or at least gone for the foreseeable future. Eric Bischoff did his part in the past and if movie reboots tell us anything - it's never as good as the first time.