A message to TNA

[Hard Hit Prince]

If they brought in a pro wrestler they'd have had to pay him. With a mixed martial artist they can have Spike/Bellator help with the bill.

But how does one expect to actually be profitable in the future, when you are not building guys that can actually work in your company? Those guys are there to hype their fight in Bellator, that's a given. Maybe some MMA fans will actually know what's happening in TNA, but most likely they won't watch it. Wrestling fans in general will certainly not watch it with more MMA guys there, it's not like I'm a purist of any sorts but TNA hasn't giving me anything worth watching, or anyone to actually root for to go to the top.

Chris Sabin was a surprise, he got a push outta nowhere and that's why he isn't clicking as their supposed world heavyweight champion. Why would they push him to the freaking moon? In just five weeks he went from a solid midcarder to the world championship picture. Nobody asked for that, nobody saw main event material in Chris Sabin before his push. It's like they don't even have respect for their own company. I'm not enjoying the shows whatsoever and it's not the talents fault, TNA has some of the best guys in the world, but the creative direction, the lack of potential stars, the same old thing mentality isn't really helping them. Having a bad rep isn't helping them in any way.

TNA should not try to compete with WWE, so they should find a different niche and not try to acquire the casual viewers, because casual viewers will not watch TNA just because Tito Ortiz is there. How many times are you going to spend money on a ticket to see the same guys over and over? For almost five years that we all read about: AJ Styles, Anderson, Kurt Angle, Samoa Joe, Jeff Hardy, Team 3D, Money Inc, Sting, Hulk Hogan... and they had all sorts of combinations with them but is starting to run out.

TNA had guys like Matt Morgan, Crimson, Joey Ryan as part of their real active roster. Those three guys are talented young man, but used like crap. I don't even know why Morgan failed to go to the main event scene and somehow Chris Sabin "isn't failing". Invest in professional wrestlers should be the most important thing for a company! A guy like Sting did all he had to do in TNA, he gave it all, so let him go... WWE can pay his salary and TNA can hire two or three guys with the money left. Just a pitch... but what do we know right? We are just the ol' wrestling fans..

 

[The Butcher]

As always, Sheiky Baby has the best perspective on all of this:

 

[Gelgarin]

I saw a lot of this sort of thing on twitter

All I'm going to say is, I know about as much about MMA as I know about professional sailing which is to say about three of the rules and a few of the people. I've heard of Tito Ortiz, and would in fact consider talking to someone who was an MMA fan about it.

He's probably been given a lot of money, and he's obviously not Mile Tyson, but he certainly has more name power to the casual fan than anyone who has debuted since Jeff Hardy probably.

See I really don't think that he is - it wouldn't surprise me massively to discover that TNA aren't paying him or Rampage at all. They're on TV not to try and bring attention to TNA (though that is a happy side effect) but to bring attention from TNA onto Bellator (which only pulls one third of TNA's audience, despite being on the same network).

I would imagine that SPIKE or Bellator is footing the majority of the bill for these guys appearances.

As for name recognition, yeah, I'm pretty much the same as you. I could probably name a little over half a dozen MMA guys, Ortiz and Jackson are two of them. Jackson is a tier higher since I could actually recognize him if I saw a picture.

 

[savage29]

Clearly they knew Tito was not a bankable name as they went with the whole mysterious angle.

If he were actually a big deal they would have been pimping his name big time.

They had to know this probably would be met with lackluster reactions since they worked the viral videos instead of trading off his name.

 

[Tastycles]

Clearly they knew Tito was not a bankable name as they went with the whole mysterious angle.

Clearly.

 

[Dirk]

Fucking Mintberry Fucking Crunch...

 

[The Butcher]

Clearly.

You're sort of comparing Se7en to a Scooby Doo mystery.

This August 1st deal was all IWC-hype. The thing just started a week ago, never made TV, and never stood a chance of being a worthwhile pro wrestler. I don't find Tito to be any more or any less disappointing than the other possibilities, honestly. I just found that whole scenario hilarious-- from Tito's Mr. Clean look/pose, to Anderson's unimpressed reaction, to the deafening silence of the live audience.

Here's hoping it plays out well, though. Worst part about it is that it kinda overshadows a really solid edition of Impact.

 

[Tastycles]

Most the people on the IWC know who Tito Ortiz is. Most of the people in the audience wouldn't have seen the hype. If you accept that the angle was worth running in the first place, then they have achieved their goal - here is someone most of the angle's audience knows but few of them suspected.

"It's definitely Bob Holly"

 

[Poop Master Flex]

I don't think its a huge issue having Tito there. I mean if it makes the station that keeps you in business happy what's the issue of having him there.

My biggest and really only thing I noticed is that I honestly had no idea that was Tito Ortiz until Tenay said "its MMA legend Tito Ortiz" and I wouldn't be surprised if the majority of the audience didn't react because of that fact. All I'm saying is if you are having a big reveal make sure the people in the audience actually KNOW who the guy is.

TNA has brought in Pacman Jones, Toby Keith, AJ Perzeinski (or whatever his last name is), Rampage among other non wrestlers. It never hurt them before so why would it now? Its not like they're losing any of their audience and I doubt TNA is paying Tito so there ya go.

 

[Danger Burger]

I don't think a week long build is anything for us here to get upset about not paying off. Like Dr. said above, this is a scooby doo reveal at the end of an episode. And Tito Ortiz is a UFC hall of Famer, people know who he is. The issue is more that the people who know he is also know that he's over the hill and have no interest in watching fake fights.

I think theres only two problems with it:

1) It's likely the guy won't be wrestling much. Its the same problem with the Morgan/Hogan angle. Hogan won't be wrestling. It doesn't go anywhere, not for TNA at least. I was hoping for Holly cause the guy can wrestle, will wrestle and loves the business.

2) Spike TV have a lot of say as to what goes on in TNA. I think thats obvious. This cross-promotion is for bellators benefit. UFC is bigger than WWE (correct me if I'm wrong) and I'd imagine spike TV expects bellator to be a huge draw.

Two good things people should realise:

1) TNA don't need saving. They don't need a big reveal to pop ratings. Spike TV are happy with what they draw.

2) TNA can get people talking, and get people to tune in. Sure, a bunch that may have tuned in this week wont be back next week because its Tito, but if there was anyone that could have generated a more positive result, I'd bet they would. We just have to wait for that.

This was a positive disappointment.

 

[Lee]

My message is this:

Dear TNA

I don't watch your TV show. There is no way I can bitch about anything on it.

Lots of love

Lee, former G-Mod, WZForums

 

[Барбоса]

It actually being Tito Ortiz was fine by me.

The reveal however... after a nice series of promos building some interest, we had that absolute garbage at the end of Impact which needed Mike Tenay to explain what was going on.

Surely after such a build that had piqued some interest there should have been a bit more of a climactic feel to the arrival of the August Warning? An extended darkness followed by another promo on the tron declaring something like "you've had your warning. Now your time is up." Have the announcers wonder who it was and then Ortiz comes out onto the stage to the shock of those in the ring.

Instead, it all looked like an after thought.

 

[justinsayne]

It actually being Tito Ortiz was fine by me.

The reveal however... after a nice series of promos building some interest, we had that absolute garbage at the end of Impact which needed Mike Tenay to explain what was going on.

Surely after such a build that had piqued some interest there should have been a bit more of a climactic feel to the arrival of the August Warning? An extended darkness followed by another promo on the tron declaring something like "you've had your warning. Now your time is up." Have the announcers wonder who it was and then Ortiz comes out onto the stage to the shock of those in the ring.

Instead, it all looked like an after thought.

I agree with this, it felt very rushed, almost as if the people in back were looking at the time & said "Shit we're almost out of time quick shove him out there!!" and then we just got him standing on the ramp smiling like a doofus for the last 30 second while MEM & A&8s starred at him like they had just shit themselves.

 

[BrianFNPillman]

The reveal however... after a nice series of promos building some interest, we had that absolute garbage at the end of Impact which needed Mike Tenay to explain what was going on.

This is the problem, TNA figuratively "sells its soul" every so often at the feet of "promotion, promotion, promotion" that sometimes it forgets its own fanbase. And I'm not talking about TNA Loyalists, I mean actual pro wrestling fans. Sure people know who Tito is, but instead of winning fights for the past few years all he's done is analise Jenna Jameson. Fine. His name value is...debatable at best.

They've forgotten the obvious though; real MMA Loyalists, the core MMA audience. They don't give a shit about pro wrestling. So how does this help TNA? A bit of publicity here and there? Nothing really fundamental though. Nothing that can change anything. He won't push storylines or sell PPV's. It seems pointless, especially when they could get Spike to piss their money down the drain on something more fruitful of they wanted to.

MMA fans won't tune in to TNA to see Tito and Rampage have a pretend scrap here and there, or a stare down. They won't believe an Aces & Eiths beat down because it's a "fake" sport. It makes no sense.

They could've just as easilly broadcast some old MMA footage of the two, or some exclusive interviews or something. This, a company that promotes the slogan "where wrestling matters" bases an angle around someone who won't likely ever wrestle a match.

Fuck, it should've just been Sting. At least we've get a half decent match.

Or a bald Matt Hardy.

Or Bob Holly.

At least a wrestler could y'know...wrestle.

 

[Danger Burger]

I got myself all hyped up for Bob Holly. Fuck.

 

[Coco]

He won't push storylines or sell PPV's.

You think this is a real priority any more?

 

[BrianFNPillman]

You think this is a real priority any more?

This is a fair point, but still as a company TNA should always look to sell a few more.

 

[ABMorales787]

This is the problem, TNA figuratively "sells its soul" every so often at the feet of "promotion, promotion, promotion" that sometimes it forgets its own fanbase. And I'm not talking about TNA Loyalists, I mean actual pro wrestling fans. Sure people know who Tito is, but instead of winning fights for the past few years all he's done is analise Jenna Jameson. Fine. His name value is...debatable at best.

They've forgotten the obvious though; real MMA Loyalists, the core MMA audience. They don't give a shit about pro wrestling. So how does this help TNA? A bit of publicity here and there? Nothing really fundamental though. Nothing that can change anything. He won't push storylines or sell PPV's. It seems pointless, especially when they could get Spike to piss their money down the drain on something more fruitful of they wanted to.

MMA fans won't tune in to TNA to see Tito and Rampage have a pretend scrap here and there, or a stare down. They won't believe an Aces & Eiths beat down because it's a "fake" sport. It makes no sense.

They could've just as easilly broadcast some old MMA footage of the two, or some exclusive interviews or something. This, a company that promotes the slogan "where wrestling matters" bases an angle around someone who won't likely ever wrestle a match.

Fuck, it should've just been Sting. At least we've get a half decent match.

Or a bald Matt Hardy.

Or Bob Holly.

At least a wrestler could y'know...wrestle.

In which case you'd all be complaining about TNA hiring and hyping hasbeens.

 

[Coco]

This is a fair point, but still as a company TNA should always look to sell a few more.

And do you think every action they take needs to be directed towards achieving that goal?

Because if you do, you're a moron.

And if you're not a moron, you realize this Ortiz thing isn't that big of a deal.

So, are you a moron?

 

[Pay Per Ghost]

Fuck Bob Holly, I'm glad it wasn't Holly.

I'd take Zack Gowen with a bum knee over Holly "debuting". Wait has Gowan had a TNA stint? Why do I have this feeling that he has...

 

[BrianFNPillman]

And do you think every action they take needs to be directed towards achieving that goal?

Because if you do, you're a moron.

And if you're not a moron, you realize this Ortiz thing isn't that big of a deal.

So, are you a moron?

CANNOT COMPUTE.

Seriously though, I understand not everything needs to build towards a PPV, but it can't help to have a solid foundation? Can it?

In which case you'd all be complaining about TNA hiring and hyping hasbeens.

I assure you good sire, I would not. If Matt Hardy could get back on track he'd be brilliant. And as for Bob "Harcdcore" Holly, I have been a fan of his since he mocked the near extermination of my people with his finishing move in the late 90's.

 

[Coco]

CANNOT COMPUTE.

Seriously though, I understand not everything needs to build towards a PPV, but it can't help to have a solid foundation? Can it?

The presence of Ortiz in no way prevents this.

Moron.

 

[BrianFNPillman]

Motherfucker.

Seriously though, we're going around in circles here. Ortiz is no good to the company, that's the be and end all.

 

[ABMorales787]

Fuck Bob Holly, I'm glad it wasn't Holly.

I'd take Zack Gowen with a bum knee over Holly "debuting". Wait has Gowan had a TNA stint? Why do I have this feeling that he has...

He did.

Motherfucker.

Seriously though, we're going around in circles here. Ortiz is no good to the company, that's the be and end all.

Pointless would be more accurate. He's there because Bellator needs TNA's help.

 

[Pay Per Ghost]

Pointless would be more accurate. He's there because Bellator needs TNA's help.

And vice versa?