So After Watching Impact....

[ramblinroy682]

As an old fart and someone who has watched wrestling his entire life, wrestling seems to ebb and flow like everything else. We're in a down cycle. I hope that it will bounce back and be exciting again. I think the best way to do that is to have a company challenge WWE. TNA is not to that point. They're no where close. However, they've been putting on a product that for the most part has been more entertaining to me for a long time.

I grew up in the South and watched the 4 Horsemen in their prime. I was NWA through and through. Attending Starrcade and any event that made it's way through Greensboro. So, the alternative to WWE has always been more appealing to me. As a Kid, I watched both and still do. WWE always has always been more about creating characters that are larger than life and sometimes cartoonish. Think Honky Tonk Man, Brutus the Barber, Koko B. Ware, Hillbilly Jim, Hercules, Akeem The Dream, Big Bossman, The Undertaker, Kane, Mankind, Deisel, Razor Ramon, and many others. While back in the day, WCW was more about letting the guys be themselves. Characters had real names and just were being their own personalities turned up a notch. Think, Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, Tully Blanchard, Dusty Rhodes, Ricky Steamboat, Lex Luger, Barry Windham, Brian Pillman, Scott Hall, Kevin Nash.

Then we had the Monday Night Wars. WWE made a switch. Characters got more real. Steve Austin, Rock, Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, Triple H. WWE took the machine and exploded and eventually won the war. But, during this time, for the first time, I became a fan of WWE because I wasn't having to suspend disbelief that a Barber and a Clown were fighting. It was two guys with real names going at it.

Now, today, while the names are not silly like they used to be, WWE feels like they are forcing "characters" in our faces, again. John Cena feels like he is being forced to be MR. PG, instead of the smack talking guy who got us to like him in the first place. Mr. Irish, Sheamus. Prime Time Players don't feel like they are worth "Millions of Dollars." 3MB, seriously, a guy in a Turban playing air guitar. That feels real. Even a guy like Daniel Bryan, who is doing the best he can and making it work, has turned into a character. Damien Sandow, the genius. Ryback. Brodus Clay. Santino. Tensai. All these guys are playing a character, not being themselves or at least not in my eyes.

In TNA, we have guys who are just being themselves with the volume turned up. I can take one guy who wears a mask and calls himself a monster, but not a roster full. For me, this is why I prefer TNA. It's what I grew up on in NWA. Cause let's face it, both companies have crappy storylines sometimes. Both companies have flaws. But, for me, the more realistic personalities that are in TNA make me like it more.

[KNPKH2ster]

I feel it's not a WWE vs TNA issue, but it's more of the pro wrestling product being over saturated for us fans. Ever since Raw went 3 hours, Main Event debuted, I feel that there is too much wrestling during the week. Impact is good, but for those who watch both products are likely burned out by the end of the week. I used to watch SmackDown on a regular basis but ever since Raw went 3 hours, I hardly watch it mostly because I got my wrestling fix on Monday nights for 3 hours.

In the end, this issue needs to be fixed.

[ArsonDaly]

Maybe the fake heart attack angle is a sign that things are gonna be more raunchy. THANK GOD! I was a child during the attitude era. Vince didn't give a damn about my young sensibilities then.

TNA is producing a better show. It's just more fun to watch. They're FINALLY making good decisions!

[stonecoldstv86]

I been watching WWE for a long time. Which yes right now WWE's product isnt great. I think that WWE is actually at the point that it's over produced. They are the main company, no one is compeating with them. So they are just getting lazy. Now they are just sitting back and not coming up with any great storylines. When they come up with something that seems like it will be good it usally just falls apart and dosnt go anywhere. Heck they are not even coming up with their own ideas now. The whole AJ scandule, then now they are having a vocie over lead in to the shows. WWE needs to stop taking stuff from TNA, just throwin money at the product and especting it to make it good. Vince threw a bunch of money at Linda's last 2 campains and how did that work out?

As for TNA, I started to try to watch their show a few years ago. Then seen Sharkboy rippin off Stone Cold and I was like well that is enough of that. Then last year I started watching again. The product has gotten better. The stories are better and as people have said seem more personal. The product is not as predictable. Now they are not perfect but they are getting better.

[Pink Hole Slam]

I watch both companies and for me it boils down to one thing: I am not a little kid anymore. That seems to be the direction and audience the WWE caters to. Its the same reason I don't really buy Nintendo products anymore. Are there a few things about both companies that cater to older fans? Yeah but for the most part its geared toward a very strict family experience.

I am not looking for spot fests, death matches, or anything of that nature. I am looking for real drama, legitimate move sets, and a product that isn't heavily influenced by politics or public perception. TNA doesn't always deliver with this but lately they've been more consistent then the WWE in my opinion.