Could A WWE vs. TNA Angle Work In The Future?

[Jack-Hammer]

I know that people have discussed this idea at various times at length. It seems to be an internet dream for WWE and TNA to join forces in a cross promotional angle. After all, there are a ton of potential dream matches to be had with such an angle.

The usual response is that it can't happen right now, which I agree with, due in no small part to the fact that WWE seems to have little or nothing to gain from it. TNA's audience is a fraction of WWE's audience in terms of live events, television ratings and ppv buys. One can argue, with legitimacy, that WWE would be the draw of such an event due to having a much larger audience. What I'm wondering, however, is could something like this happen at some point in the future? Now there's a lot of assuming that would have to take place in this thread, so just bear with me.

It's just a matter of time before Triple H ultimately takes the reigns of WWE from Vince McMahon. Based on what numerous reports I've read, Triple H is someone who have much more of an "old school" mind set when it comes to many aspects of pro wrestling. A lot of this mentality is seen right now in WWE's developmental system, which Triple H has gotten rave reviews for. He seems to be someone that has no problem whatsoever with the perception of WWE as being a wrestling company, unlike Vince. For instance, I've never heard Triple H refer to WWE as "sports entertainment". I might be wrong but if he has, I certainly can't remember it. Trips is said to be someone that, allegedly, trusts people he puts in certain positions to do their jobs without second guessing them every step of the way. During tapings, it's said that he hasn't been all up in the commentator's ass if they say something or miss something they were supposed to say. In a nutshell, Triple H sounds like someone who doesn't see a need to micromanage everything like Vince does.

It makes me wonder if his overall mentality is different. Vince has this thing in which, it seems, no other wrestling exists apart from WWE. I'm not saying that Triple H would be putting over other companies on WWE's time left & right, but it has me wondering if Triple H is someone who would be willing to, at least consider, working with TNA.

When Trips takes over WWE, he's obviously going to do things to set himself apart from both Vince & Vince, Sr. The "old school" mentality seems like one of those changes. Another would be doing something that Vince never did, or even seemed willing to do: an cross promotional angle with the other biggest company in the states, namely TNA. While such a notion sounds really intriguing, the arguments against doing it in the first place still have validity. WWE is still a far bigger draw and far bigger name than TNA. One has to wonder if TNA could ultimately contribute to the bottom line in such an angle. There's also a possibility of TNA, generally speaking, being the only one to gain from such a working relationship. After all, their wrestlers would be promoted on WWE's television time and in front of WWE's audience. Thereby, maybe TNA's audience ultimately increases significantly while WWE ultimately gains nothing except a stronger competitor. You also have to consider all the various cooks who will be in this fire. Egos are a massive aspect of pro wrestling behind the scenes. I'd say Trips has a healthy ego, I know that Hogan & Bischoff do and Dixie Carter goes along with what they want most of the time.

As someone whose purely an outsider, I do wonder, however, if such a venture could lead to an increase in WWE's audience as well. Another wrestling wars scenario has the potential to draw people back to wrestling who may have stopped watching it in years past for one reason or another. I do think that it'd be a gamble on WWE's part. Maybe they could benefit from this, for we know that TNA would, or maybe it's something that would gain them little or nothing in the long run. After all though, it's not as though Vince McMahon is someone who hasn't gambled with WWE. The first WrestleMania itself had the potential to flush WWE down the toilet if it hadn't paid off.

As I said, there are a LOT of assumptions one would have to make as to such a venture. Also, please, if you respond to this, actually keep it on topic and avoid all the "WWE SUX" or "TNA is garbage" stuff.

Do you think it's at all possible?
Do you think it's at all possible once Triple H takes over?
Would you really want to see it happen?
Do you think it would be worth the gamble to WWE?

 

[MrMojoRisin]

Never.

You used to see cross promotions back in the day, but that was before viewership of a particular company went national, and back in a day when you could get away with draws and not having one guy go over another.

It's an entirely different animal now. Where before a company might not mind lending their talent to another company for a night, because no one would ever know who went over... today an event like that would be on PPV with hundreds of thousands of people watching, and reports for everyone else all over the Internet. That causes the big problem, because neither WWE or TNA would want their talent losing. You couldn't run draws because fans won't stand for it anymore. You could do screwjob finishes (not the Montreal kind), but then you have to do a rematch, and in the end, either someone goes over clean, or the fans get pissed, which is the last thing you want to do with a promotion like this. You could do a one off supercard where it's agreed that some of your talent will go over, and some of their talent will go over... but you're running the risk of killing off your talent that doesn't go over because it's such a highly visible one off... and at the end of the day whomever goes over in the main event matters the most...and how do you agree which company gets that honor?

As fun as it would be to see (and that is why the original NWO angle actually worked... because this is an idea that's been around for years)... logistically, it just doesn't make sense for at least one of the companies in the long run.

 

[Spinebreaker]

Do you think it's at all possible?

Yes. It's remote. It's unlikely, but who knows. If WWE find their ratings slipping they'll try new stuff.

Do you think it's at all possible once Triple H takes over?

Probably more likely, but still a remote, remote possibility.

Would you really want to see it happen?

Yeah. Who on here wouldn't tune in?

Do you think it would be worth the gamble to WWE?

During the Monday Night Wars both WCW and WWE were putting out some of their best product, both creatively and in the ring. The competition pushed the wrestlers to better themselves, and the fact people were moving from one promotion to the other occasionally made that era incredible entertainment. That ended up boosting ratings, boosting opinion of the product. I think something like this, while bolstering TNA as a rival, would also benefit WWE tremendously.

If they were to do a Supercard deal, then who goes over wouldn't have to be an issue.


7 matches or so, you could have a couple of decisive clean wins for each company, a couple of cheap wins too, then as a main event have a cross promotional match, so 'both companies win'

Taker & Sting vs CM Punk & AJ Styles
Shield & Team 3D vs Team Hell No, Joe Magnus & Storm
Matt Morgan & Lesnar Vs Angle & Ryback

Something along those lines.

It would be amazing... But there's a lot of nonsense to get through first.

Then again, they said an Avengers movie could never happen... Too many creators, licensing issues, timing... Marvel wanted to do it enough, and it happened...

 

[Mustang Sally]

When WCW was in it's oh-so-brief heyday, Eric Bischoff went on air, challenging Vince McMahon to some kind of martial arts fight on a WCW PPV. When McMahon was asked if he'd participate, he said: "Why would I do something that would improve the buy rate of a competitor?"

That was that.....as it should have been. Presumably, seeing Vince McMahon on a WCW PPV would send their buys through the ceiling. Yes, if WWE could simultaneously air the thing on their own carrier, it would benefit them, too. Still, why would one company do something to strengthen it's main competition?

In a WWE/TNA angle, the contrast is even stronger. With WWE and WCW, both were already mega-companies, but TNA is strictly minor leagues in comparison to WWE and airing a joint effort would benefit the smaller company far more than the larger. Helping the smaller company would legitimize TNA in the eyes of the public in a way they haven't been able to do themselves. If WWE is going to do that, they might as well buy them, no?

While it would be interesting to see what the two Creative departments could come up with, I can't see why WWE would ever want to do this. Yes, they might get some extra buys in the short term.....but the long term effect would be to make TNA even more viable and give it increased exposure, which would be a ridiculous thing for WWE to do.

 

[FlairFan2003]

No. TNA struggles to do half the ratings and PPV buys WCW & WWE were each doing separately during the lull in business in the mid 90s. They are not nearly as big a national presence as WWE, and the most well known and marketable stars they have or ex WWE & WCW guys (Kurt Angle, Sting, Hardy). I can see interest in WWE signing Sting or maybe mending fences with Angle but as a company vs company angle no, most wrestling fans couldnt name 5 guys on TNA's roster even if you gave them Sting & Angle.

I can see WWE buying them out if the price was right to get access to their video library. It wouldnt be worth as much as previously aquired libraries of the AWA, World Class, or ECW are but it would give them acccess to work done outside WWE & WCW by Kevin Nash, Mick Foley, Angle, Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, and of course Sting, all of which could be used as part of various DVD releases (they've never done a Kevin Nash set, or Angle, and could add some TNA material to the vast footage from WCW & WWE to build a 3rd Flair set, not too mention a comprehensive Sting collection).

If WWE did buy them out it would likely follow the same business model they used with WCW where the aquire all the video rights and event names trademarks but do not buy talent contracts. TNA talent would be left on their own to negotiate releases, back pay, etc with what remains of TNA, then enter into negotiations for new deals with WWE. That way they could cherry pick who they want to add and at what price. Outside of Angle & Sting, I cant see anyone currently on the TNA roster who would command a high salary because they arent well known to the majority of wrestling fans and with TNA gone their wouldnt be any domestic competition, they would have to go overseas to find work, so their US market value to WWE would be low.

If WWE did that, maybe they would cherry pick enough TNA guys to start an Invasion type angle, although Im not sure they view TNA's audience recognition as high enough to justify it. In any event, do I see any sort of co promotional work between them...No. Do I think we could get a WCW Invasion-type Storyline if WWE bought them out...maybe.

 

[xyqdnl]

It wouldn't work because WWE wouldn't benefit at all. Most of WWE's audience has no idea who AJ Styles is and have only heard of Sting through DVD releases. They might think it's cool to see Jeff Hardy again, and somebody like Christopher Daniels (his recent incarnation) may translate well, but other that it would be flat. Even if WWE bought TNA, which I could see them doing down the road if for no other reason than to own their video library and pick up any remaining contracts to send to developmental, I don't think they would run an "invasion" angle or anything. It would likely be a blip on the radar of WWE history, and that's really an indictment of the lack of progression TNA has had in 10+ years, even with the baby steps they've taken.

 

[MCMG]

I think that this would benefit TNA more than the WWE. This means it will never happen. Although it would be great entertainment I just can't see the ways in which the WWE benefit. Maybe doing something similar for charity.

I think the matches would be great. It would be good to see some dream matches with the likes of Angle, Styles, Joe and Sting but beyond that it is just WWE rejects and Jeff Hardy. Do they really want to be involved with this?

Moreover, I think that TNA are far far to pretentious for this to happen. They feel they are superior and I don't think they would ever work with the WWE.

 

[IT Factor]

This could work, if done correctly. You'd have to have both companies wanting to help each other and not sabotaging the storyline by being superior. In other words, WWE would have to be willing to let TNA look good. I've often wondered why neither company has wanted to do this idea since wrestling is in the toilet these days, as far as comparison to how ratings used to be. I'd like to see an Impact invasion of WWE as I believe both companies could benefit from this. Impact would become more well known and WWE wouldn't be quite as stale and this would be something innovative to watch take place.

I doubt WWE will ever let this happen, though.