It's Damn Real!
The undisputed, undefeated TNA &
I caught a quick interview through a WZ link the other day of Austin Aries on some wrestling talk show (I can't remember which at the moment) where he was asked a rather specific question about what he thinks TNA should or can do about the damage the brand has received over years of poor decision-making.
While I'm sure some may argue TNA/IW as a brand hasn't been damaged (probably by pointing to a relatively stable ratings market), I think you'd be naïve to believe that based on the types of comments and opinions shared about TNA/IW as a product in nearly every possible avenue where it's discussed (Twitter, Facebook, forums, comments sections, etc). That's dangerously close to assigning an opinion to the "IWC", I know, but I'm speaking in generalities here for the sake of the thread. There's no point in trying to have an objective discussion about brand damage if we can't operate from the presumption that the brand is in fact damaged, after all. So in operating from this position, the question really is, how can it be repaired? Or maybe more importantly, can it be repaired? If it's too far gone, so be it, but if it isn't, what measures can be taken to allow the product to bounce back?
If you ask me, part of the solution is what I believe we've witnessed since the start of the NYC tapings this past summer, which is TNA essentially putting their head down and plowing through the noise with a solid week-to-week wrestling product, but the ratings haven't bounced back in the way you'd hope they would by giving the audience a more direct, straight-lined product. Is the timing just not right yet? Does there need to be a longer charge made with a more consistent head-down, plow-through approach, or is there another avenue, or multiple avenues that would help to serve the brand in a positive manner?
While I'm sure some may argue TNA/IW as a brand hasn't been damaged (probably by pointing to a relatively stable ratings market), I think you'd be naïve to believe that based on the types of comments and opinions shared about TNA/IW as a product in nearly every possible avenue where it's discussed (Twitter, Facebook, forums, comments sections, etc). That's dangerously close to assigning an opinion to the "IWC", I know, but I'm speaking in generalities here for the sake of the thread. There's no point in trying to have an objective discussion about brand damage if we can't operate from the presumption that the brand is in fact damaged, after all. So in operating from this position, the question really is, how can it be repaired? Or maybe more importantly, can it be repaired? If it's too far gone, so be it, but if it isn't, what measures can be taken to allow the product to bounce back?
If you ask me, part of the solution is what I believe we've witnessed since the start of the NYC tapings this past summer, which is TNA essentially putting their head down and plowing through the noise with a solid week-to-week wrestling product, but the ratings haven't bounced back in the way you'd hope they would by giving the audience a more direct, straight-lined product. Is the timing just not right yet? Does there need to be a longer charge made with a more consistent head-down, plow-through approach, or is there another avenue, or multiple avenues that would help to serve the brand in a positive manner?