It's Damn Real!
The undisputed, undefeated TNA &
Amazing interview. Well worth the entire listen. I'm not a huge fan of Jericho's 'cast, simply because I feel he doesn't always really let the guest dictate the pace and discussion as much as he does (a lot of confirmation bias type stuff), not to mention I find him a little annoying, but this one was out of the park.
For the sake of this thread I'm going to drop in a few of the key moments/talking points so we've got points of reference to really dive into, but holy shit, this is Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins talking wrestling in every sense of the saying. That is to say, this is one of rock's most genius song-writers, performers, and creative minds applying that same mental process to something brand new. Not all his ideas are home runs, but he speaks quite positively and confidently about a number of creative avenues he's exploring already including:
All-in-all this is probably the best interview Jericho has ever done, and is probably the best TNA-exclusive/TNA-focused interview I've heard as a fan, even if you still need to chalk it up to a lot of promise-talk (seeing as Corgan has still only just started).
I know not everyone will do so, but I'd strongly recommend you actually listen to the whole interview before jumping in here, because the passion Corgan has might be all you need as someone who isn't currently watching TNA to give it another shot.
For the sake of this thread I'm going to drop in a few of the key moments/talking points so we've got points of reference to really dive into, but holy shit, this is Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins talking wrestling in every sense of the saying. That is to say, this is one of rock's most genius song-writers, performers, and creative minds applying that same mental process to something brand new. Not all his ideas are home runs, but he speaks quite positively and confidently about a number of creative avenues he's exploring already including:
• TNA's need for a developmental — something Billy feels they need and that he's already "fighting" for, but says that the word fighting probably isn't the right term because the company is already responding positively here.
• TNA's need to create TNA stars — not necessarily retreads from other companies. However, this can also mean simply presenting another company's creation in a way they weren't prior. He mentions Lashley specifically here, talking about how his run in TNA thus far and what he's been booked to be has been so much more successful than his WWE days. He also mentions having "six to eight" new talents he thinks will make an impact, all pun intended, on TNA television, but cites Bram, ECIII and Rockstar Spud as three "Holy TNA" household names in the making. He mentions that if TNA can take guys from nothing and turn them into a TNA-something, that they've succeeded in creating their own products.
• Along with creating new stars, he cites talent development as a critical aspect of his job, and says he is extremely excited to be working there. Says being able to break through to that "other level" by being able to build up a talent so high that you can get them on Conan or Kimmel is key focus of his. It becomes "TNA's story", not someone else's. Says "I want TNA talent branded for TNA to the glory of TNA — if I can't do that, I'm not doing my job that Dixie hired me to do".
• Speaks to TNA's need to not "fight the monolith by being monolith light", rather offering a "TNA solution" — being TNA, not being WWE-lite. Not being ROH-lite. Not being anything else other than what they are, what they offer, and allowing that creative avenue to bring fans in who are genuinely excited by what the company is offering.
• Thinks TNA needs to key in on fan engagement and reaction, and should have a focus on youth culture, whether it's through story telling, social media engagement or otherwise.
• Says he'll be working on the same level as Lagana and Conway, below Dixie and Gaburick, but that both Dixie and Gaburick have given him substantial power to make changes in the company — changes that would still need a green light, meaning he doesn't have autonomy, but changes they would be receptive to if they think what he's selling will actually sell
• TNA's need to create TNA stars — not necessarily retreads from other companies. However, this can also mean simply presenting another company's creation in a way they weren't prior. He mentions Lashley specifically here, talking about how his run in TNA thus far and what he's been booked to be has been so much more successful than his WWE days. He also mentions having "six to eight" new talents he thinks will make an impact, all pun intended, on TNA television, but cites Bram, ECIII and Rockstar Spud as three "Holy TNA" household names in the making. He mentions that if TNA can take guys from nothing and turn them into a TNA-something, that they've succeeded in creating their own products.
• Along with creating new stars, he cites talent development as a critical aspect of his job, and says he is extremely excited to be working there. Says being able to break through to that "other level" by being able to build up a talent so high that you can get them on Conan or Kimmel is key focus of his. It becomes "TNA's story", not someone else's. Says "I want TNA talent branded for TNA to the glory of TNA — if I can't do that, I'm not doing my job that Dixie hired me to do".
• Speaks to TNA's need to not "fight the monolith by being monolith light", rather offering a "TNA solution" — being TNA, not being WWE-lite. Not being ROH-lite. Not being anything else other than what they are, what they offer, and allowing that creative avenue to bring fans in who are genuinely excited by what the company is offering.
• Thinks TNA needs to key in on fan engagement and reaction, and should have a focus on youth culture, whether it's through story telling, social media engagement or otherwise.
• Says he'll be working on the same level as Lagana and Conway, below Dixie and Gaburick, but that both Dixie and Gaburick have given him substantial power to make changes in the company — changes that would still need a green light, meaning he doesn't have autonomy, but changes they would be receptive to if they think what he's selling will actually sell
All-in-all this is probably the best interview Jericho has ever done, and is probably the best TNA-exclusive/TNA-focused interview I've heard as a fan, even if you still need to chalk it up to a lot of promise-talk (seeing as Corgan has still only just started).
I know not everyone will do so, but I'd strongly recommend you actually listen to the whole interview before jumping in here, because the passion Corgan has might be all you need as someone who isn't currently watching TNA to give it another shot.