How Would You Repair the Damage to TNA/IW as a Brand?

[It's Damn Real!]

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?

 

[three count bout]

Normally the first thing that would come to my mind would be a "rebranding" initiative but technically TNA has already done this with the "Wrestling Matters" campaign. When TNA debuts on a new channel I don't think they should tout that it's a new beginning or anything I think they should let the product do that for them.

Jim Ross has blogged about the quality of TNA recently, people in the IWC have done the same thing since the NYC tapings. Tna should just ride the good sentiment they're getting and focus on why these last few months have been more enjoyable than the ones prior.

That brings me to the biggest red mark with the company, Dixie. Dixie at this point is almost an avatar of what's wrong with the companies past, present and future to a lot of people. I realize she has pumped a good amount of money into TNA, I believe in her heart she has good intentions, and I certainly don't think she is to blame for all the woes in it's history. Despite all this, she carries a negative stigma I don't think the company will ever grow from. Hence, although it won't happen I believe if she sold the company tomorrow it would go a long way to repairing the image of the company. It might not mean ratings would increase, hell it may even hurt financially without her but in terms of public image she carries a bad connotation of ineptitude and failure.

 

[Fabulous Freebirds]

TNA should not change anything to their brand. It is not broken. Since the beginning of June, TNA has put on the best wrestling product. If that cannot capture more people to watch the product, than nothing will.

I know people will continue to beat the stale drum of marketing themselves more, but you cannot force people to watch.

I just think there is no demand for more wrestling. Other new companies like GFW and Lucha Underground will probably see this as well.

I am enjoying the current TNA product. I have not said that since 2012. TNA right now is doing everything right. I just think wrestling in general is in a deadzone.

 

[das1234]

TNA should not change anything to their brand. It is not broken. Since the beginning of June, TNA has put on the best wrestling product. If that cannot capture more people to watch the product, than nothing will.

I know people will continue to beat the stale drum of marketing themselves more, but you cannot force people to watch.

I just think there is no demand for more wrestling. Other new companies like GFW and Lucha Underground will probably see this as well.

I am enjoying the current TNA product. I have not said that since 2012. TNA right now is doing everything right. I just think wrestling in general is in a deadzone.

I dont think you get it, the problem is that they can make the best tv but people wont watch it because its TNA. because they already tried literally everything and failed, people have watched TNA fail for 10+ years. they have seen the Nasty boys in 2010. they have seen sting title reigns, barbed wire christmas trees, S.E.X., knockout tag champ EY, monday night wars 2, going to Wednesdays, the face of TNA jobbing to whoever came in from WWE that week clean, PPV screwjob finishes.
this may be the most damaged brand in wrestling history, maybe even over WCW. Just look at PPV numbers. ROH outdraws them by leaps and bounds when you compare the audience size to the PPV buy numbers. so obviously noone trusts the TNA brand enough to be worth any money to them.

i dont think you can fix it easily except maybe through hard work and a great tv show for several years straight. weve seen them fail at that too unfortunately. A simple renaming isnt enough, people can see through the fact that the same guys are doing the same still with a new paintjob.

 

[Fabulous Freebirds]

I dont think you get it, the problem is that they can make the best tv but people wont watch it because its TNA. because they already tried literally everything and failed, people have watched TNA fail for 10+ years. they have seen the Nasty boys in 2010. they have seen sting title reigns, barbed wire christmas trees, S.E.X., knockout tag champ EY, monday night wars 2, going to Wednesdays, the face of TNA jobbing to whoever came in from WWE that week clean, PPV screwjob finishes.
this may be the most damaged brand in wrestling history, maybe even over WCW. Just look at PPV numbers. ROH outdraws them by leaps and bounds when you compare the audience size to the PPV buy numbers. so obviously noone trusts the TNA brand enough to be worth any money to them.

i dont think you can fix it easily except maybe through hard work and a great tv show for several years straight. weve seen them fail at that too unfortunately. A simple renaming isnt enough, people can see through the fact that the same guys are doing the same still with a new paintjob.

1 - TNA is not the most damaged brand. I guess you were not around for WCW in 2000 and 2001? THAT was a damaged brand.

2 - As I said in my first post, they are fixing their image by providing the best wrestling product around. Since June of this year, TNA Impact Wrestling has been the best show of the big two.

3- ROH's first real ppv back in June only did 1,000 buys. That is not "leaps and bounds" over the basic TNA ppv.

 

[Rayne]

Brand rehabilitation is probably the hardest task out there in business. Once people form a concrete opinion of you, it's insanely difficult to get them to change their minds. If you completely revamp your product, you're viewed as chintzy and desperate. If you stick to the game plan you've had, you're doomed to a slow bleed of audience. It's similar to the restaurant industry, in that once a restaurant starts going downhill, it's done; there is a whole industry of 'restaurant consultants' whose job is essentially to go in and suck the last two years of income out of a failing business before the owners close up shop.

Fortunately, TNA is in a hype and pomp based industry. End-of-story, there is absolutely no way TNA could reinvigorate their product without spending shitloads of money, which I'm not sure they're prepared to do. They need stars and huge signings, and I don't mean Kurt Angle's "sure my back still works tour"; you'd be looking to poach people from the WWE, and not their C-list performers either. You'd need a CM Punk type figure (really, a few of them), and you aren't going to convince people to give up the big, long-term money of the WWE without pouring absolute shitloads of money at them in the short-term.

Which, honestly, isn't a practical business decision. You'd need to find a sucker, and the Carter money is tapped out. The smart money, if the Carter's insist on holding onto their company, would be to wind down operations on a low-budget show for a couple of years, reducing expenditures to the point where the base audience that they have would generate a profit. (Again, not even sure that's possible in the high-expense world of professional wrestling television production.) The smart path if TNA's looking to grow would be to sell the money to one of the many dreamers that have always wanted to own a professional wrestling company, let them be the money mark, and restart the cycle again.

 

[George Steele's Barber]

Nothing realistic that can really be done. I think the simple solutions are there but nothing that will really push the needle. Simple things like going to six sides are a small but positive move.

I would start with completely separating Dixie from any contact with the public. She has no business being associated with the brand to the fans. Even/especially the Twitter account. Find someone with a recognizable name to be the figurehead of the company. Someone who doesn't have a reputation as a hot head or show boater (aka not Vince Russo or Cornette). Someone who no one expects to wrestle. Someone to just make announcements, not an authority figure, just a figurehead. A modern day Jack Tunney.

Have this figurehead make a story out of TNA's history and future. Their solvency as a company is the most interesting thing about them. I would rather read one of Rayne's posts on TNA'S business than watch a match. There has to be some way to bring that "reality" in to the show. Be sure to make it heartfelt without coming off as disingenuous.

Maybe go as far as using TNA's financial problems as fodder for feuds. No reason to ignore the elephant. Have heels unfairly blame faces for TNA's failures. Have heels generate heat by blaming fans.

I also think there is something to pinning TNA's limited fan bases against each other. NY vs. ORLANDO vs. NASHVILLE. Give fans more reason to show up and get invested. Have guys represent each fan base or bring in new talent as just a fan turned wrestler representing their town for bragging rights. A place like NY may actually embrace being the heel audience. Baseball is boring but going to a game to root on your local team and have a few beers is fun.

That is all I got. Nothing is going to fix things or help TNA blow up over night but these are simple ideas that might help TNA improve.

 

[Rayne]

Nothing realistic that can really be done. I think the simple solutions are there but nothing that will really push the needle. Simple things like going to six sides are a small but positive move.

I would start with completely separating Dixie from any contact with the public. She has no business being associated with the brand to the fans. Even/especially the Twitter account. Find someone with a recognizable name to be the figurehead of the company. Someone who doesn't have a reputation as a hot head or show boater (aka not Vince Russo or Cornette). Someone who no one expects to wrestle. Someone to just make announcements, not an authority figure, just a figurehead. A modern day Jack Tunney.

Have this figurehead make a story out of TNA's history and future. Their solvency as a company is the most interesting thing about them. I would rather read one of Rayne's posts on TNA'S business than watch a match. There has to be some way to bring that "reality" in to the show. Be sure to make it heartfelt without coming off as disingenuous.

Maybe go as far as using TNA's financial problems as fodder for feuds. No reason to ignore the elephant. Have heels unfairly blame faces for TNA's failures. Have heels generate heat by blaming fans.

I also think there is something to pinning TNA's limited fan bases against each other. NY vs. ORLANDO vs. NASHVILLE. Give fans more reason to show up and get invested. Have guys represent each fan base or bring in new talent as just a fan turned wrestler representing their town for bragging rights. A place like NY may actually embrace being the heel audience.

That is all I got. Nothing is going to fix things or help TNA blow up over night but these are simple ideas that might help TNA improve.

I hate that there are only about eight people on this board worth repping. But you bring up an excellent point; it's not like people don't know that TNA's going through a bit of a brand issue. Why ignore that? When was the last 'big moment' that TNA's had? Not 'good professional wrestling matches', but a moment which says "I absolutely have to tune in next week to see the follow-up"?

The WWE specializes in the 'big moment'; that doesn't mean there's a big moment every week (else it wouldn't be a 'big moment'), but the occasional "Holy Shit" moment, like The Nexus tearing down the set, CM Punk dropping his 'pipe bomb', or Brock Lesnar destroying John Cena/The Undertaker. Say what you will about where those angles ended up; the moment itself kept people tuning into the program to see where those angles would go.

If you want to be successful, emulate the people that are successful.

Send out your long-term performers to ride down company management. Basically, this means Samoa Joe, most of the others have had their contracts allowed to lapse. Have him win your belt, then ride down the company in Shane Douglas/NWA fashion. Have him walk out and appear at Cubs games while he's 'out-of-contract'. Play to that internet audience- there's no such thing as the 'television exclusive' audience any more, we all have the web, and if you're interested enough to watch professional wrestling, you're probably reading the news sites or visiting the forums. (This doesn't mean 'due what the interwebz say', since people love to reduce things to the point of absurdity here- it means talk where people are watching.) Have your other stars come out and follow suit. Eventually you're going to end up with some Samoa Joe Professional Wrestling vs. TNA angle, which, God help me, I'm advocating a faction war- but one that TNA doesn't win. Eventually the insurgent group wins, bickers over internal differences, splits up with a series of matches, and you move on, but the goal is to provide the 'big moments' that keep people tuning in.

Yes, it's basically the nWo all over again, but so long as you aren't having them go out in black and white and give each other the Wolfpac sign, most people won't be saavy enough to catch on. Will it work? Eh, maybe? But what they're doing now clearly isn't. This could be one way to provide fresh life to a stagnant company.

 

[MC_Live]

TNA basically has no marketable brand in the US. Sure there's roughly a million viewers each week, but where has it gotten them? Ticket sales were really dragging for a lot of events. Go ask people, outside of the weekly viewers and die hard wrestling fans living among the IWC, who knows about TNA? Has TNA made a single star? Sure, AJ, Joe, Daniels, Aries, Roode, and Storm, among a few others have been made names. But they're only known among the small portion of wrestling fans that either watch TNA or pay attention to the Indy scene where being on national TV gets you some standing. Sure, they're minor stars. But most people don't know TNA stars. The only people who have been under contract to TNA that people would know have been made stars elsewhere. Mostly in the WWE. I like TNA now. The last few months have provided a solid wrestling program. But the TNA Brand isn't a big brand.

I've thought about this quite a lot. I would rebrand the company. I would switch the name from TNA to IWI. Impact Wrestling International. Maybe oversees, where TNA has a little bit more name recognition, I would bill it as "TNA Presents: Impact Wrestling International" but I would hope over time I could just leave it at IWI. TNA's strong suit is a straight forward wrestling program. It can't be sports entertainment like WWE, and it should't try to be. If I was in charge of TNA, once they got on to a new network, I would switch it to IWI. I would revamp the whole company. Vacate the titles and rebrand them. Or maybe just retire the titles and begin anew. One of the two. I would immediately look to sign Michael Elgin and Chris Hero. I'd also bring the Young Bucks back in. And keep them as being The Young Bucks this time, no Gen Me. I'd also look to some other top tier talent and sign them as soon as they were free to do so. I'd look for guys like Matt Sydal, Drew Galloway, The Briscoes, and Adam Cole. I would also love a new commentary team. I think Colt Cabana and Matt Striker would make a great team. With a new brand and a new roster, I would look to build it as the best Wrestling Product on the planet. Wrestling. Not sports entertainment. From there, it would just be advertising. No house shows, only TV and PPV's. And promote the crap out of the company. Hopefully to a point that it could grow. For me, that's just phase one.

 

[rbv13]

This is truly a thought provoking thread. It seems as if the masses have written Total Non-Stop Action Wrestling off as a legit form of entertainment in the realm of professional wrestling thus creating some serious up hills battles for the company. However there is still a very strong foundation of fans that see the current upside, the tremendous potential and truly want to support the company in terms of future success.

As the company currently stands there are a lot of questions marks concerning the financial aspects and the stability of any long term planning. It is extremely difficult to develop an aggressive strategic battle plan for the future when they are left with so many question marks today.

For the sake of my opinion I will continue under the assumption that a new television deal will be announced within the next few weeks. This new deal likely will not be a financial blockbuster propelling Total Non-Stop Action Wrestling to a breakout movement but it should provide a very stable foundation for the company moving forward.

Moving forward Total Non-Stop Action Wrestling should embrace any “rebranding” in a positive light. They should not see it as fixing damaged goods but more of an evolution for the company. Over the course of the company existence they have faced numerous trials and tribulations. Be it a positive time in the company or a negative they have always managed to pull through. In 2014 they may be facing their greatest challenge but like in the past they can pull through. They just need to make wise decisions in guiding the next evolution of the company.

A few ideas from this fans POV……

It is time to make the leap from TNA to Impact Wrestling. The world of professional wrestling, even society, was a much different place in 2002 when the company was founded. The call letters T. N. A. perhaps provoked a bit of a chuckle and caught a few eyes back in the day but acronym now is a bit sophomoric and dated.

The company currently presents tremendous in-ring performances. They also present unique backstage segments with a sense of raw reality to them. They do however need a drastic overhaul when it comes to how they present the in arena content. The lighting scheme, set designs and audios are absolutely dreadful. I base this opinion on having watched the telecast and as being their first hand for events. It is imperative they find ways to pump monies into post production and runs shows in venues suited to highlight their current fans base. It is better to have a sold out house with fans eventually clamoring to grab up tickets than trying to hide a half empty arena with shoddy camera/lighting tricks.

It would be nice to see them reinvigorate their digital marketing strategies. I do not want to go overboard here with details but right now it seems they lack serious direction and come off as campy rather than effective. One idea would involve an open working relationship with some of the dirt sheets. While not giving everything away it would certainly bring the company into a spotlight they usual only get the edge of. I would also suggest a grass roots campaign where talents are advertised for Independent shows. This lets fans know that while the company itself is not actively doing house show tours there is a chance to see the talents in action while advertising the company. A real bonus to this grass roots campaign is the low investment.

Currently they are facing major issues signing talent to any sort of long term contracts. Many talents, some major names, have already seen their deals expire and only appear on television because of prerecorded shows while other are working on a pay per deal. When the TV deal is announced and they know how much they have to work with they will need to spend wisely. Invest in a solid foundation, evolve those characters and build exciting programs for them to work in.

 

[das1234]

1 - TNA is not the most damaged brand. I guess you were not around for WCW in 2000 and 2001? THAT was a damaged brand.

2 - As I said in my first post, they are fixing their image by providing the best wrestling product around. Since June of this year, TNA Impact Wrestling has been the best show of the big two.

3- ROH's first real ppv back in June only did 1,000 buys. That is not "leaps and bounds" over the basic TNA ppv.

1. i wasnt, but WCW died. in the end, the brand and everything associated with it prevented people from spending money. also their network axed them which hilariously is what happens to TNA atm.

2. again, that doesnt matter. the tv show may be good right now, but the brand is totally tainted by a decade of failure. just like WWEs tv show is hideously bad, while their brand is very strong. you think wrestling, you think WWE.

3. maybe i didnt express myself clearly enough, i meant PPV buys when compared to total viewer numbers of the show. Thus expressing how your TV show, which is essentially a PPV commercial, is succeeding in converting viewers to money through buys. Also the PPV "best in the world" actually did around 10.000 buyers, and i dont think ROH has a 1 million audience plus international. first link i could find: http://www.wrestlezone.com/news/491635-update-on-best-in-the-world-ppv-buys

 

[ABMorales787]

TNA is a hell of an oddball. It's gone through ups and down. People change. The look changes. One thing does not change. The damn ratings. Every week it's the same exact number. Around a million. Some odd up or down, but nothing significant to say it goes truly up or down. So clearly, the product on TV isn't all that bad. Because TV audience stays through thick and thin. But you hear show attendance. And that shows real problems. Their first tapings in Bethlehem, PA did well enough. Second ones? Piss poor apparently. Why was that? Well, TNA decided to hold those shows at the last minute. Advertising is a major issue for them. On TV, they barely got mentioned outside their timeslot. Out of TV, they aren't advertised on the local market. Maybe if they go out of the US, but you certainly don't hear about a TNA start at a radio show talking about an upcoming show.

You want money, you need to sell tickets. You wanna sell tickets? You gotta get people to buy them. How do you get them to buy? You get the world out. Advertising. TNA really needs it.

 

[Morris The Grey]

The brand was already repaired when Dixie, Hogan, da Band, and Bischoff all left.

With their departure along with Kurt, AJ, and Sting away from the main event you saw people like Samoa Joe and Roode take the spotlight. Joe even beat Roode cleanly, which is what Joe needed and show that Roode is still human.

At one time, TNA had the best womens division with Hamada and A. Kong as Tag Champs. Hogan came in and that was out the window. Since Hogan left all I see is solid matches with Lashley beating Young, Roode, Aries, Hardy, and Joe without burying them.

I hear a lot that its not so much brand image as it is brand awareness.
I remember hearing a WWE ad on the radio and my coworker walking around, laid back, making a giant 3 bean salad, and asking me if I watch WWE.
I replied, "No. I watch another one." After he ask which one, I told him TNA. While walking and working he asks,"Who's in there?".
The first thing that popped in my head and came out was "Kurt Angle."
Dude literally stop in his tracks. "Kurt Angle is in there?" Yeah and probably longer than hes been in WWE. He ask who else was in there and I thought of some ex WWE guy,"Mr Kennedy except he goes by his real name."
He finally asked," Who's the champion?" and I replied instantly without even thinking if it was a ex WWE guy he might know. "Oh! Uhh... Jeff Hardy." I replied. "Jeff Hardy is in there too?' he asked while stopping again and looking like he saw a ghost. Makes sense he probably thought those guys didn't even exist anymore. So he finally asked when and where it came on and I told him.

Mick Foley told a similar story when fans would ask him if he was still in wrestling during his time in TNA. All of wrestling is in a slump and has trouble competing against MMA and NFL in a cable/satellite market which itself is fighting against Netflix, Hulu, and other on demand media. Its one the reasons there's a WWE network. That being said, Russo and the previous post agree that advertisements for TNA is almost non existent. People don't know that TNA is there.

 

[George Steele's Barber]

By mentioning Shane Douglas, Range reminds me of another idea I've thrown out before. Have someone win the belt and throw it away for some new branding. But taking the NWO thing further makes sense. Instead of dragging it out like the NWO, put together a faction that actually does take over and changes everything.

TNA is a failed name. Take advantage of that create a story to build something new. People will figure out how to reprogram the show on their DVRs.

 

[SpecialFNK]

I think the biggest problem in TNA is Dixie Carter. TNA would probably be better if it were sold to someone else. there are a lot of people that just do not like Dixie. she has done her share of damage to TNA, from promising big announcements that never deliver to sending away certain talent like AJ/Daniels/Kazarian/ect. I've only watched TNA since 2010, but I think it's been the entire time there always people talking crap about Dixie and how she shouldn't be running a wrestling company.

one of the recent examples of how TNA is damaged or clearly didn't do something right is in the attendance for the Impact tapings in Pennsylvania. I think it was either 2 shows or 3 shows where the crowd attendance was in the 200's. that's why on a couple of the recent TV shows you saw the crowd lights so dark, so that you couldn't tell the lack of people in the crowd. the main event tag team series was taped on a different night with attendance in the 700's and you could see more lights were on the crowd that night.

I personally don't think the product has been that bad lately, but the brand name for TNA is on the decline for whatever reason.

 

[Rayne]

You want money, you need to sell tickets. You wanna sell tickets? You gotta get people to buy them. How do you get them to buy? You get the world out. Advertising. TNA really needs it.

I hear a lot that its not so much brand image as it is brand awareness.

....

That being said, Russo and the previous post agree that advertisements for TNA is almost non existent. People don't know that TNA is there.

Two problems here:

1) No, the problem isn't that people don't know that TNA exists, it's that they don't know why they should watch (and so don't). Professional wrestling fans look at the internet these days, like everyone else in the world. Look at the most recent topics in this particular forum (there are no hotbeds of TNA activity out there in the pro wrestling wilderness)- one thread asking people when they stopped watching TNA, this thread about what you'd do to repair TNA, and another by IDR gamely trying to start conversation about the next Major Announcement.

Advertising can make you aware of a product; it can't make you like the product. You need a brand community for that. The answer isn't so simple as "TNA needs to advertise!!!", that's lazy man's thinking to a complex problem.

2) Even presupposing that you could solve all of TNA's problems with a media buy- whose money gets spent? Selling advertising on television networks is how television networks make money. Each fifteen-second segment you use to promote one of your network's shows is fifteen seconds you don't sell to an advertiser. People would complain about Spike's lack of advertising, but why would they have bothered? There's a point at which the money you're losing by not selling those blocks isn't being made up by the increased advertising revenue you're receiving from new viewers. A television network isn't interested in growing TNA for the sake of growing TNA, they're interested in making money from the viewers that TNA brings in. If spending money to advertise TNA doesn't bring in new viewers (people are fast to forget the big media buys of 2010-11, where it didn't bring in new viewers), then it's wasted money.

If the problem was as simple as 'spend more money on advertising', it would have been solved long, long ago.

 

[FromGlasgow]

I thinks its all about personal choice I don't think the TNA reputation is completely damaged and I will probably continue to watch it and will do as long as I'm still personally enjoying it regardless of how bad the so called IWC are calling it, I agree it could be better and a lot of improvements could be made but same can be said for the WWE.
A better example to me of a damaged brand would more likely to be Ring of Honor, I watched Ring of Honor reguarly untill the owner of ROH Rob Feinstein was caught attempting to abuse children, I can honestly say I have not watched ROH since not even on free places like youtube I know it has apparently changed owners now but it felt too little too late and at the time and felt like it was being swept under the carpet and kept quiet for too long within ROH and I have no interest in it same as with his shoot interview company which he still runs, Maybe its just me who feels like this but I would almost feel like I would be condoning child abuse to watch anything this person owns and I have heard rumours that he is still involved in ROH as part owner and I know TNA cancelled the working agreement with them when it happened so that to me is more of a damaged reputation.

 

[Fabulous Freebirds]

1. i wasnt, but WCW died. in the end, the brand and everything associated with it prevented people from spending money. also their network axed them which hilariously is what happens to TNA atm.

2. again, that doesnt matter. the tv show may be good right now, but the brand is totally tainted by a decade of failure. just like WWEs tv show is hideously bad, while their brand is very strong. you think wrestling, you think WWE.

3. maybe i didnt express myself clearly enough, i meant PPV buys when compared to total viewer numbers of the show. Thus expressing how your TV show, which is essentially a PPV commercial, is succeeding in converting viewers to money through buys. Also the PPV "best in the world" actually did around 10.000 buyers, and i dont think ROH has a 1 million audience plus international. first link i could find: http://www.wrestlezone.com/news/491635-update-on-best-in-the-world-ppv-buys

1 - Since you were not around then, you would realize just how damaged the WCW brand was. Even WWE could not save it. Second, WCW was not cancelled, they were brought out by WWE.

2 - You are contradicting yourself. Being on the air for 12 years and counting and being seen by over 120 international markets is considered failure? You need to reestablish the difference between success and failure.

3 - I was off by an extra 0. Still less than the basic TNA ppv.

This is not related to you but I am so tired of Dixie being blamed for this. What you want her to do? She has tried to hire what she thought were the best people to help run TNA. It just every one of them (Hogan, Russo, Bischoff) had their own agenda.

 

[Rayne]

2 - As I said in my first post, they are fixing their image by providing the best wrestling product around. Since June of this year, TNA Impact Wrestling has been the best show of the big two.

1 - Since you were not around then, you would realize just how damaged the WCW brand was. Even WWE could not save it. Second, WCW was not cancelled, they were brought out by WWE.

2 - You are contradicting yourself. Being on the air for 12 years and counting and being seen by over 120 international markets is considered failure? You need to reestablish the difference between success and failure.

3 - I was off by an extra 0. Still less than the basic TNA ppv.

This is not related to you but I am so tired of Dixie being blamed for this. What you want her to do? She has tried to hire what she thought were the best people to help run TNA. It just every one of them (Hogan, Russo, Bischoff) had their own agenda.

On point 2- that doesn't matter if you aren't making enough money to fund your operations. Over the past year and a half, you would have to be willfully blind (which, some posters do make it a point to be) to see that TNA has been in financial trouble. The goal of professional wrestling isn't to make entertaining television, the goal of professional wrestling is to get people to watch so that they can sell merchandise and advertising.

By any metric that means anything, the WWE has always put on better television than TNA has. Even if the WWE has a magic brainwashing machine that forces people to watch against their better judgement- why doesn't TNA have one of those?

On point 4- The only important job of an owner beyond providing base funding (excluding the small business owner/operator case) is to hire the people that will execute your business plan. She tried to do that? She failed. There are no 'good effort' ribbons in the real world, you either get shit done or you don't. So yes, the blame lies exactly at the feet of Dixie Carter, for being the latest person in the professional wrestling world to get hustled by Eric Bischoff's con game. (Admittedly, he is really, really good at his con game. That's not an insult, I admire how someone has built a lucrative career on the basis of two unsustainable years of success with WCW.)

As far as the 'there's just no market for professional wrestling anymore' argument, save it. That's the latest trope hauled out by the diehards, who want to do anything but look at the reasons why TNA's put themselves in the hole that they're in. It's no mystery why TNA has had a steadily slipping audience this past year (that 1.0 last year is now holding steady between a 0.8-0.9)- they spent stupid sums of money on the basis that people would want to tune in to watch a 60+ fading star, his buddies and their kids. They kept throwing good money after bad, until there was no more money coming down the Carter pipeline and they couldn't pay their employees.

Your personal enjoyment of a product is completely irrelevant to a business situation, unless your personal enjoyment is joined by enough personal enjoyment of other people to increase the payment TNA receives to produce their show. Have they put on great professional wrestling performances lately? Absolutely. Has that mattered for a damn thing? Not one bit.

 

[Jack-Hammer]

I think GSB and Rayne have interesting ideas. Of course, we've no way of knowing if they'd work, but it had the potential to make some interesting storylines and matches. As GSB pointed out, TNA is having financial troubles and has been for well over a year, their TV deal with Spike likely won't be renewed, there's no indication one way or another whether or they're going to be able to secure a new one; so why not use some of these issues as fodder for storylines and feuds? I don't see what it can possibly hurt because everybody involved in pro wrestling to any degree, either as an insider or a fan, knows that TNA's going through a very rough time. Also, use these issues to blur reality a little, again, I don't see how it can hurt.

If such angles are successful, use them as a springboard to rebrand the company and it's image in which it goes back to its roots in terms of format. When I say rebrand, I actually mean rebrand with more than a "Wrestling Matters" sticker. If TNA so desperately wants to emulate someone, emulate some of what happens in NXT because, in my opinion, it's put out a more stable and consistent overall product in 2014 than either TNA or WWE.

 

[JJYanks121]

I want to try and combine some of the ideas here into something tangible and I'm going to add something important. That important thing is THE star. This is extremely important as I think the new brand identity has to be with the performers, not the show itself. No one has ever chanted "WWE" during a big match, they chant for the wrestlers. In TNA, Austin Aries does a crazy move and immediately the chants are for the company? They are performing the move? It's weird. So we need to get away from that. So how do we do it?

I'm pulling from some other ideas I read and I think sort of a Batman Begins type storyline might be apropos. New "investor" comes in wanting to destroy TNA and recreate it in his/her image. We accept some of this to get away from the TNA name but this person tries to go too far so we need a hero to rise above it, to rebel against leadership for the greater good. Whoever that performer may be, we go all out with him. Every interview, promotion, etc has his face. We need a face of the company. WWE has a.ways had that and it has always been successful. The only time they struggled mightily was when it was more unclear. 1996-1998 Michaels was "the guy" but he wasn't likeable and was pretty messed up. Then 2002-2005 the "guy" was Triple H but he was a bad guy on screen. It wasn't until Batista and really Cena in 05 where they built up some steam and had "the guy".

So who can TNAs guy be? My gut says someone new that hasn't had that opportunity yet and they need to commit to him. With this new guy being the thing we market instead of the brand, we have something real people can latch on to.

Then do some goodwill with this guy like charity in the name of the company. Making the company look like it cares about stuff looks good too. Do these things and we might get somewhere.

 

[mlp420]

A brand can't be damaged if many haven't heard of it.

TNA is only really damaged with the smark crowd. Most wrestling fans aren't even aware of TNA. When you get out of the smark bubble and interact with wrestling fans that don't have Wrestlezone accounts you'll see it pretty quickly. Again, the problem is marketing and promotion. People criticize the folks that run TNA over this but the truth is it takes millions of dollars to effectively do it. ECW blew WWF out of the water in 95-96 and it didn't matter. WCW blew WWF out of the water in 95-96 and almost put them out of business. That's because they not only had better "booking", they also had a major league operation across the board. From the production values to the marketing and promoting.

 

[mlp420]

If such angles are successful, use them as a springboard to rebrand the company and it's image in which it goes back to its roots in terms of format. When I say rebrand, I actually mean rebrand with more than a "Wrestling Matters" sticker. If TNA so desperately wants to emulate someone, emulate some of what happens in NXT because, in my opinion, it's put out a more stable and consistent overall product in 2014 than either TNA or WWE.

You mean exactly what they've been doing since June? If you haven't watched in a while fine, but that's exactly what TNA's product is today. We can go match-for-match comparing TNA to NXT. TNA has clearly become the wrestling centric product people called for. Thing is the ratings have stayed the same and people don't want to admit that they really don't know what draws and want to keep pretending they have all the answers to TNA's problems.

 

[Rayne]

A brand can't be damaged if many haven't heard of it.

TNA is only really damaged with the smark crowd. Most wrestling fans aren't even aware of TNA. When you get out of the smark bubble and interact with wrestling fans that don't have Wrestlezone accounts you'll see it pretty quickly. Again, the problem is marketing and promotion. People criticize the folks that run TNA over this but the truth is it takes millions of dollars to effectively do it. ECW blew WWF out of the water in 95-96 and it didn't matter. WCW blew WWF out of the water in 95-96 and almost put them out of business. That's because they not only had better "booking", they also had a major league operation across the board. From the production values to the marketing and promoting.

Do you drink? I don't mean the casual beer amongst friends, I mean well past the point of excess. No? Maybe smoke methamphetamine? Was your mother in wrestling school while you were in the womb?

I was actually alive during 95-96 and old enough to remember it. "ECW blew WWF out of the water in 95-96"? One promotion was running shows out of bingo halls, the other was running them out of arenas. (ECW was the one in bingo halls, since I'm going to guess you were likely a gleam in your parents' eyes outside of the port-o-potties at a Green Day concert back then.) WCW blew the WWF out of the water in that time frame- and they did it by having expenditures which were drastically above the revenue they were making, until they were losing eight figures a year. Hardly a model TNA wants to emulate. WCW never had an engine of production that could outpace the WWF's- they spent an absolute shitload of money, in ways that were often completely irresponsible, in the hopes that an absolute shitload of money would come back. It didn't. Eric Bishcoff didn't get replaced by an accountant because WCW was in awesome shape and they needed someone to help count the huge stacks of money that were being delivered to Atlanta. (Maybe TNA does want to emulate that model. Hrm.) Meanwhile, the WWF reorganized, ran an IPO, built up the money to continue operations, and ended up buying both ECW and WCW. One of those three companies had a successful business model.

No, TNA is not this big mystery to people who aren't watching it and don't use the internet. The internet reaches into every home these days, and there's this awesome thing called Google where people can look up the things they're interested in. People are well aware that TNA has existed- if there's any mystery surrounding TNA to viewers these days, it's whether or not they're still on the air, since they haven't tuned in to watch it in a few years. But ANYONE who doesn't hang out in the smark bubble and interacts in the real world sees that pretty quickly. (See? Justifying your points by pretending you're better than the rest of the internet can work both ways!)

If there's one good thing TNA has going for it, it does have a loyal base community of small-minded idiots (not you IDR, you're awesome) which will support TNA no matter what they do and insist others have a duty to do the same, who will ignore every mistake that TNA's made, and will construct ridiculous rationalizations for why TNA's in the financial situation they're in. It's just a damned shame that said loyal base of small-minded idiots isn't large enough to be a market for a self-sustaining professional wrestling program.

 

[87wcw87]

I think TNA is easily fixable. Few adjustments here and there.
Alot of wrong decisions. I'm a fan of wrestling. Fan of tna.
This is my opinion. I think they made the wring move taking
It on the road too soon which they lost so much money swinging
For the fence. I honestly think they should have taken there ppv
Only on the road. Not impact. Just untill they gain comfortable
Revenue before taking impact on the road. I think the smart move
Now would be to base impact in the UK. With 12 ppv a year in
UK, usa, Japan till they expose the brand more. They panic
And rush too much. Regarding tv tapings, it's starting to get old
Like www tv tapings. Same thing every week. Too much talking in ring segments. Short matches. But I admit the triple threat tag team
Battles have been exciting. They need to concentrate more on character
Development and telling stories during matches. They did very well with Sam Shaw. Ethan carter too. But they dropped the ball with willow which could have been great. John Klinger is a phenomenal wrestler and they had him job to Samoa Joe. James storms new roll doesn't work. Austin Aries i feel sorry for is being wasted. Id get new titles because they
Look fake and plastic, especially the knockouts title. They do have great talent
But are used the wrong way. Id get a new mid card title and have it regularly defended on tv. Id call it the universal championship. Tv/global/ sound boring.
My tna roster I was incharge id upgrade the roster slightly. And work much harder on characters. They're all good workers. I miss bad influence. But this would be my roster

GM:MVP assistants: Devon, Rockstar spud & the blossom twins

Ring announcers: Christy hemme & Brian gulish

Commentators: Jim ross/joey styles/taz/joseph park

Interviewers: Eric young/colt cabana/shaul Guerrero/joey ryan

Heavyweight

Bobby roode
Bobby lashley
Willow
Aj styles
Alvarez lopez (Alberto del Rio)
Lito colon(carlito)
Silver back George(brodya clay/tyrus)
Uhaa nation
Bully ray
Chris hero
James storm

Universal(mid card)

Ethan carter
Sam Shaw
Bram
John Klinger
Rex terry(rob terry)
Christopher boa(Chris masters)
Gunner
Knux
Michael Elgin
Andre tyson

X divison

Austin Aries
Joey gargano
Teddy hart
Ricochet
John hennigan
Rich swan
Tj Perkins
Zema ion
Low ki
Jigsaw
Go shiozake

Tag team

The wolves
The briscoes
Bad influence
The bromance
Christian York & Tyler rex
Young bucks

Knockouts

Havok
Beth phoenix
Gail kim
Brooke
Velvet sky
Reby sky
Ivelisse velez
Brittany
Jennifer blake