Fans at iMPACT! Zone Have to Go

[One Punch Doug Crashin]

See, the problem with TNA IMPACT Zone fans is 99.9% of the time they (Impact Zone) don't know who to cheer for or to boo. Back in the old ECW days they actually knew who to cheer for and who to boo. They also knew who to insult. The TNA Fans in The Zone? Half of the time they change who they cheer for which ruins the impact of the match.

 

[gd]

I actually enjoy the fans, for the most parts. Makes the show much better than if they were to simply sit on their ass the whole time and not do anything. The "This is Wrestling" chant is always a fun, smarky one. The guy with the big beard and shades is my boy.

Sure, they don't really boo anybody and cheer for basically everything, but that's something I really like about hte Impact Zone. It's different, if nothing else. Besides, it's not like you can just tell people they can't come watch the shows. It doesn't work that way.

 

[DangerousDave]

I've just recently become a regular at the Impact Zone and have attended every show since I was a Victory Road VIP. I've gotten to know a few regulars and have observed quite a few others. I would estimate there are about 150 people that are there for every show. One thing TNA is good at is getting the audience amped up for the show by giving away DVD's and promising a trip back stage for the loudest people. The venue only holds 1100 people so it makes it easy for chants to spread to the amped up tourist and occasional attendee. You can tell whether its regulars or tourist chanting just by where they are sitting. The regulars know the system for getting in first and grabbing the best seats. The majority of the regulars, who sit in the seats, don't chant that much. Most of the chants are started by regulars at the railing and the chants are quickly picked up by the tourist in an effort to be loud and get a DVD. The chants may be stupid at times but overall the crowd seems to love them and it keeps the energy level high for the audience and the wrestlers. "This is awesome", true or not, has to have a positive effect on the wrestlers. I think the TNA chants also have a positive effect on the wrestlers, basically its saying the fans love the product and that its not some PG rated WWE bullshit. I've been to hundreds of matches over the years and really enjoy being in the IZ. It reminds me of when I used to go to Eddie Graham Sports Stadium in Orlando for NWA & Florida Championship Wrestling. There isn't a bad seat in the house.

 

[Caitiff]

See, the problem with TNA IMPACT Zone fans is 99.9% of the time they (Impact Zone) don't know who to cheer for or to boo.

Quick! Without looking at your notes. Samoa Joe: Face or Heel? Brian Kendrick? Team 3D? Raven? Kevin Nash? Eric Young? Homicide? Generation Me? Kurt Angle? Magnus?

The simple problem is that TNA very frequently screws up that basic thing. Hell, until recently, I could have added Douglas Williams and Hamada to that list. And, even still, Hamada isn't set in stone. So, in a company with just over 30 people, 12 of them are undecided as to whether or not they're faces or heels.

 

[Reddannihilation]

Quick! Without looking at your notes. Samoa Joe

Tweener

Brian Kendrick?

Tweener

Team 3D?

Face

Raven?

Face

Kevin Nash?

Tweener.

Eric Young?

Comedy heel.

Homicide?

Considering he's not on anymore who cares.

Generation Me?

Face

Kurt Angle?

Face and how you could be confused on that subject is mind-boggling.

Magnus?

Obvious heel.

The simple problem is that TNA very frequently screws up that basic thing.

It's incredibly obvious what alignment each person in TNA serves.

Hell, until recently, I could have added Douglas Williams

Doug Williams has been a heel his entire TNA run, which is over a year. You seriously had trouble working out if a guy who referred to fan favourite wrestlers as circus clowns and insulted everyone he fought, whilst also using underhanded tactics was a face or a heel? The problem isn't TNA, it's you.

So, in a company with just over 30 people, 12 of them are undecided as to whether or not they're faces or heels.

It's quite fucking obvious, the fact that you couldn't work out what side Kurt Angle's on is hilarious.


In regards to the IZ fans, yeah some of them are *****. Quite simple really, the cancer crew, the assholes who dance during AJ's theme. Douchebags, but some of the criticism in the thread is lame, I'll take 2 hours of smarky chants over 2 hours of mild applause. The "This is wrestling" chant came up, but here's the thing that chant made it's first appearance at BFG, not at the iMPACT Zone, this past year the IZ fans have been overusing it no doubt, but last year they were rarely saying it. Wasn't until the Sting vs AJ match that the IZ guys suddenly picked up on it.

As I said, I'll take chanting over nothing. It doesn't take anything away from the product IMO. It just means the audience is into it. No different from the ROH fans who used to cheer Tyler Black and suddenly hated him, or the "Fuck you "blank"" chants. Energetic crowd > crowd sitting down and not doing anything.

 

[JenksIX]

I agree with Caitiff.

Raven
Was with EV2.0, turned on EV2.0 and Dreamer week before Hardcore Justice, had a grueling mach with Dreamer and was biggest heel on HJ, came out the show after HJ too help EV2.0 against Fortune (Wasn't much help lol.)

Team 3D
Split up b/c of Jesse Neal situation. Bubba was the heel. Reunited for the one night Hardcore Justice. Were together on Impact recently as apart of EV2.0. Their split was short lived.

Kurt Angle
Is obviously out for himself at this point. Whether they be Face or heel, he wants to mow down anyone in his way to the title. His promos when it comes to vs'ing other faces such as Amazing Red/The Pope have actually been pretty FACE sounding, but if you watched ReAction (and I suppose that's a whole other monster) Kurt came off as very indifferent with anything not involving him and I'm pretty sure he said he would align himself with Fortune over the EV2.0 guys.

Fortune
All "TNA" guys who have been with the company for years (aside from Williams whose been there almost two?) and who seemed to get over well as faces during the EV2.O beatdown with the Impact Zone crowd. I know they are the heels, but in the minds of the IZ fans and TNA diehards, they are the bright future of TNA.

EV2.0
Old guys who come into TNA (though most aside from Dreamer/Sabu have been there a long time like Team 3D/Rhino/Raven) and get a whole PPV dedicated to themselves, they are the supposed faces but it didn't seem they got the endorsement of other faces like the Machine guns/Angle (on Reaction.) Jeff Hardy was the only one who said he'd join EV2.0 against Fortune.

On side notes, I just wanna point out that while I liked ReAction especially after that Impact, I couldn't understand if the wrestlers were breaking kayfabe and/or were suppose to be. Angle/Anderson both faces saw an issue w/ EV2.0. I guess maybe EV2.0 is a tweener as a stable?

I can definitely see someone having an issue w/ peoples alignments in TNA, especially lately. EV2.0/Fortune story seems like it's going to blur the lines a bit regarding other wrestlers who may get involved.

I feel as though TNA's moral compass is all screwed up. For one, I think TNA believes every face has to be a tweener now a days, the same way WWE seems too as well (I wouldn't even consider Cena a super baby face, but I suppose now a days that's the closest your going to get to one.)

Also, what the hell is up with Dixie Carter standing there clapping while RVD smashes Abyss into chairs, barbwire, glass and thumbtacks? Does she care that little for her employee lol. The same the night before when Dixie was with Dreamer's family during that brutal match. Talk about TNA fans being stupid, but look at Dixie. Helen Hart (British Bulldogs wife, Bret's sister) was visibly very uncomfortable and emotional while watching the two exchange hip tosses, Dixie came off like no one was really getting hurt. I mean, the only way I can explain it is she watches it like a boss who knows it's all fake and she's thinking to herself "they better not mess this up!" "Oh, nice! RVD hit that rail with his face so realistically, this will bring in good ratings!"

Anyway, I can understand someone mentioning characters alignments b/c there has been a lot of flip flopping and foreshadowing. Are Sting and Nash the heels? Or is it Hogan/Bischoff? And if Hogan/Bischoff turn out heels, how long before Nash goes from being the apparent heel (currently) too being revealed as a face all along against Hogan/Bischoff, too turning on someone and becoming a heel again. Nash only has two speeds, tweener and heel.

 

[oldschool123]

I know it is their whole smart mark thing but I thought it was really stupid and could have potentially taken away from the angle when the supposed heel Fortune was destroying the face EV2.0 and the fans were chanting "this is awesome" and cheering/"woo"ing when Flair came came down.

 

[goodlay]

Whatever, complain all you want, but fan interaction and involvement is always good. Yes, i'll admit they do get a bit annoying sometimes, but it makes the iMPACT Zone come off as loud, intense, and a great place for wrestling.

Hell, at least it beats WWE fans sitting on their asses and only chanting "You suck" and "Cena"

 

[CraigThe13th]

I tried on facebook to make a discussion board on this subject only to get slated by a load of thick rednecks who love the impact zone and it's crowd. Glad to see some like minded souls on here though.

I cannot stand that group who sit in front of the camera. They bore the shit out of me week in, week out. TNA needs to can the Impact Zone and take Impact on the road that will stop that bunch of tossers ruining TNA for everyone with their attention seeking antics.

 

[One to Remember]

if all you people here at the TNA sub-forum are soo irratated by the Impact Zone fans why don't you all plan a date go down there and put them in their place? Since you all are the real fans lol. Yeah I'd love to see y'all try to take those "reserved" seats.

 

[Mudd2010]

Okay, let me get this straight. In order for someone to be able to be a wrestling fan, they have to only cheer the good guys, and boo the bad guys and never have any reaction or voice their opinion on anything, or they should be barred from entering the building. Well, I for one, say that is a load of crap. When I go to a wrestling event, I go their to enjoy myself. I will fucking cheer or boo whoever the fuck I want. I will chant whatever I want. If I want to boo Jeff Hardy because he is a loser, and a drug addict I will, or if I want to cheer for a guy like Desmond Wolfe, because he is a good wrestler, I have that right. I don't care what people think I should do at a wrestling event. If you get so upset that you have to leave an event because you don't like what someone is chanting or who someone is cheering or booing, then you should not be going to a wrestling event in the first place. I thought it was very funny that my friends and I made a group of like 8 people get up and leave at a WLW show because we were chanting for the bad guy, because he was a way better wrestler than fucking Stupid Star Steve. So we cheered for the better wrestler, Brian Breaker. I do that every time I go to a wrestling event, cheering for the guys I wanted to, and not who I am "supposed" to.

 

[Nikeo]

Y'know, it's very encouraging to see people who I usually disagree with having the exact same opinion as myself. I haven't read the whole topic so I do apologize if these points have been made already but the main problem with the iMPACT Zone fans is that they have this strange idea that they're just like the original ECW fans.

I'm sorry, you're not.

I've seen people here claiming to be "the tie guy", etc, etc. I'm sorry but I don't pay enough attention to the fools to memorize whatever gimmick they're trying to give themselves. They're the TNA die hard fanbase, yes, but they are NOT the majority of the TNA fans. They are nothing more than a very, very vocal minority who think they're being cool by cheering for the heels because they're such cool rebels.

Someone else mentioned it before but they (the fans) are just too stupid for their own good, cheering "this is awesome" every five minutes (which as was pointed out was much worse in previous years) diminishes the chant to an extent that it becomes meaningless and annoying. It's obvious to anyone that watches Impact that very few things on the show have ever been awesome.

The Impact fans are not something TNA should gauge fan reaction by, they're not an accurate representation of wrestling fans......thank God.

 

[One to Remember]

it doesn't mATTER if they cheer heels or faces i think the issue is chanting entire sentence and catchphrases that only belong in Viking Hall. There is a huge difference between chanting and cheering/booing anyways.. TNA cn move to regulate the audience if they want to.

 

[Dimice121976]

As Nikeo stated; "The Impact fans are not something TNA should gauge fan reaction by, they're not an accurate representation of wrestling fans......thank God."

The sad part is Nikeo, thats exactly who TNA uses to gage reaction by. For over 5 years since they moved out of Nashville, Its the same crowd ever Impact and PPV. They get in for free and yet act like they are an important part of the show and the business. I wonder if they had to actually pay to get in, if they would chant this is awesome at every little thing. The Impact zone crowd is the worse thing TNA has right now. 9/23/10 is a big date for TNA, that is the Hamerstein Ballroom show. You want a real crowd you'll get one then. Just dont be surprised when what TNA thinks is gold gets boo'd out of NYC.

 

[.]

Whatever, complain all you want, but fan interaction and involvement is always good. Yes, i'll admit they do get a bit annoying sometimes, but it makes the iMPACT Zone come off as loud, intense, and a great place for wrestling.

Hell, at least it beats WWE fans sitting on their asses and only chanting "You suck" and "Cena"

Are you fucking kidding me? The chanting gets a bit annoying? Try irritating. These idiots in the crowd think they are part of the show with their moronic chants such as "Fire Russo" or "Uncle Scotty". TNA fans are like the proverbial 4 year old child always seeking attention and want to be noticed.Maybe the WWE fans chant "You suck" and "Cena" more than most chants but at least the chants are offensive and stupid and at least the crowd doesn't try to be part of the show and upstage the actual talent.

 

[eezy1]

Hasnt anyone heard them start chanting dumb shit during key points in matches?? it totally fcuks up the moment. Noone heard the stupid fcuking chant when deamer and raven were cutting their last promo before the ppv match? they even started when taz cut the opening promo on the ppv and he told them to stfu basically. They have done it countless times and its always the same fuckers doin it. They need talking to cuz imo it makes a big enough difference(negative) to the show.

 

[xXxMiPiSexxyB*tchxXx]

YESS!! Certain chants can wreck a show and possible for people watching at home too xDIt ruins the atmosphere of the match; and leaves u sitting there awkwardly!!* i HATE that!!* And it doesnt really help that the studio has very sensitive audio; and so the camera picks it up and is transferred very easy...Another thing that can be really embarassing too is that if any of the wrestlers are doing a promo, any audience member can shout anything out--i just feel badd for the guy thats speaking =\
oh and not to mention--i might just send a letter to TNA to tell them nicely to kick out that moroon who always sits in the front row,with the white sunnies at every iMPACT and dances like a complete tool everytime samoa joes music hits!!--NOW THATS EMBARRASING!

 

[Perfected123]

I hate the idiots when someone is on the mic and the always a moron shouting "boring" for no god damn reason, it's so frustrating. It seems the crowd has gone worse, i youst to like the atmosphere, especially after a sick move and the crowd chant THIS IS AWESOME!

 

[GetsHeat]

Bischoff said in his book that the crowd is one of the most important elements of wrestling. They are there to confirm the TV viewers opinion and the product itself. When you have heels being cheered, faces being boo'd, crowd chanting irrelevant shit during matches, it really hurts the product.

Though it's gotten significantly better from the days where they were chanting "Thank you Kurt" to him spitting on Hogan it's still there and it's still there, it's just annoying that they try to put themselves over the product.

That being said, they have so many other things to worry about then a crowd booing a face and cheering a heel. Especially when it comes to Fortune and EV2, I mean here is a group of has beens clinging onto their only legacy and here are a group of guys that helped build the company they came to see.

 

[DangerousDave]

I attend every live taping at the Impact Zone and agree that most of the chants are stupid. BTW my standard disclaimer: I sit in the seats, and don't chant. This thread was started a long time ago and since the threads beginning the crowd has improved. The chants aren't as frequent as they once were. Still, the cancer crew needs to be "wised up" or be banned. Its the guys on the rail that start the chants, and they catch on quickly with the tourist (non-wrestling fans) because there are promises of DVD's to the loudest fans. BTW the guy with the white glasses actually works for TNA and I don't know why management hasn't made him clean up his act.

 

[Zeven_Zion]

You know, I'm perfectly fine with them chanting "Jizz in my pants" if they wanted to. I'd rather have a crowd that chants than a dead ass crowd.

What I'm more embarassed by are the single shouts of terror which split a silent moment in two and bring a wrestler's rant to an awkward, screeching halt. Always some douchebag adding something to a wrestler's promo. Goes like this..

Abyss : Ten.....TEN!!!...

Random Fan : TWENTY!!!

Or, here's another real situation. Pope is about to speak and he's thrown off his rhytm by a

34 years old virgin : I LOVE YOU POPE!!!

That's what makes me feel so shitty. If TNA ever come out as a glorified indy company, it's when those idiots shout random shit. WWE fans do it too, but the arena's huge and you can't hear it. The iMPACT Zone is basically Dixie's garage and you can hear them stupid bastards breathing.

Let the fans chant whatever they want, but chant it TOGETHER.

 

[Soonago]

This thread made me feel a little bit better. I have tried to watch TNA so many times, and the crowd really is the biggest reason I can never get into it. It just makes me feel uncomfortable and really bad for the wrestlers when they do attention-****ing chants and disrupt promos. It makes the company look really bootleg and distracts otherwise interested and curious fans like myself to the point where I can't appreciate the actual product.

 

[Eyebrows]

Having a crowd that's up for it makes me more invested in the show and gets me more excited during the matches. They're not trying to get themselves over, they're just enjoying the product. You can't censor fans. That's just ridiculous, like when some TNA guy said they should be cast members.

I'd much rather have a lively TNA crowd than the dead silence that sometimes happens during WWE events. If it's not Cena, Orton, 'Taker or another top guy the crowd are often silent. That's not always been the case. Back in 2000 the WWF crowds were hot and would pop or give heat to anyone.

 

[RD_21]

Having a crowd that's up for it makes me more invested in the show and gets me more excited during the matches. They're not trying to get themselves over, they're just enjoying the product. You can't censor fans. That's just ridiculous, like when some TNA guy said they should be cast members.

I'd much rather have a lively TNA crowd than the dead silence that sometimes happens during WWE events. If it's not Cena, Orton, 'Taker or another top guy the crowd are often silent. That's not always been the case. Back in 2000 the WWF crowds were hot and would pop or give heat to anyone.

A couple of weeks ago Angle was facing Styles, they were doing arm drags and people were chanting "this is awesome". So the chant are not good when it makes your fanbase look like they know nothing about wrestling, I was embarassed in my living room.

They seem to have reduced it lately but there's still the girl who always scream and the fat nerd who like to pretend he's a biker. you can't always spot the same person in the same seat all the time as it detract from your product. I often catch myself looking at them instead of the match and it's annoying.

 

[Mr Jones]

I'm more embarrassed for the Impact Zone, if anything.

That place is like the Surreal Life. If you ever wonder what happened to a wrestler who used to be in the WWE years ago, look no further than the Impact Zone. TNA has in recent memory been headlined by everyone EXCEPT homegrown TNA guys. Matt Morgan might be an exception, because I feel like he's more TNA than he was WWE. But the rest of 'em? Samoa Joe- stuck in a 3-man tag match. AJ Styles- way the fuck in the background thanks to a humiliating title loss and is now holding a title that may or may not be worth anything in the long run. Abyss-Once a Hulkamaniac, now in the midst of a heel turn that was 3 months too late. All those dudes are pushed to the back, and everybody near the top are dudes who've been in the spotlight for over 10 years through their association with other companies, save for Anderson. I'm not saying TNA hasn't allowed their talent to be seen and exposed, but look at all the main people that it's been centered around over the last 4 years- all of them are people who've been known from the WWE or WCW, and even worse, some of them are way past their prime.

Never mind the fact that that place tries too hard to be the ECW Arena.