My TNA Live Experience...

[Gotahn]

Look this is my first TNA Live experience and I must say this was the best Wrestling Experience I have ever been to. Before I ever decided to go to a TNA show I went to WWE Summerslam. I thought all shows were like this.. i.e. getting herded in like cattle in a big area and wait for the people to let us in the arena, grab out seats, watch the show and then leave. This was different, We actually Did a Meet and Greet with all the TNA wrestlers who signed autographs and everything. Somoa Joe, Mr. Anderson, and Devon actually gave my son a High five!. During intermission, The people who bought the $175.00 Guitar could go backstage and meet the wrestlers again. I was not paying that money, I don't know how to play the guitar anyway. So I went to the door and asked if Kurt Angle could sign my Militay ID card. I was willing to wait by the door and have him come out really quick. The guy looked at me and let me and my son come backstage with an Elite pass and we spent 45 minutes talkign to The Pope, Mr Anderson, Madison Rayne, Devon and Ink Inc. To top it all off, Kurt Angle actually signed my ID Card which is a treasure I will never forget. I mean it's Kurt Freaking Angle!!!

Bottom line if TNA shows are like this I hope they always come back here to Grand Forks, ND. Sorry WWE, but for Live events TNA has you beat.

Does anyone else feel this way? Or is it just me?

 

[Cena's #1 In My Heart]

I hear a lot of good about TNA shows.

TNA is what wrestling should be.

 

[AntiChristDeicide]

I hear a lot of good about TNA shows.

TNA is what wrestling should be.

Yeah me too, and yes TNA is what wrestling should be. I wish they would come to Montreal at least once a year, so i could go and see TNA live.

 

[blackmetalbuick]

Sounds like fun!

You can't really blame the WWE. They are way too huge and have way too many fans. How could they possibly allow people backstage? Heck they could charge $500 for a backstage pass and there would still be a TON of people willing to shell out that money. They're a bigger company, with bigger production, and more shows. They need to get in and out and hit the road, they don't do 5 house shows a month and have time to hang out and meet people.

It's great that TNA is doing this while they are still a growing company and don't travel for each and every show they put on. This is the best time for them to build that close relationship with fans, because they have the time to do it. But you can bet if they ever got nearly as big as the WWE, they also wouldn't have time or the ability to keep doing these types of things for the fans. So it's no so much "TNA does a great job and WWE sucks for not offering the same at their big arena shows", the two companies are simply in very different positions and WWE can't really do the same things. The WWE does have signing events where they send their superstars to stores and you can meet them and get an autograph. It may not be the same as hanging out backstage for 45 minutes, but it's not like the WWE stars just run to and from their limos after the shows and you can NEVER approach them. WWE does things for the fans as well.

Great that you enjoyed your experience, but to turn it into a comparison between TNA and WWE isn't really fair.

 

[Zeven_Zion]

I constantly hear how good TNA's Live Events are and I guess the OP is one more satisfied wrestling fan. It's good to know that at least one of the two mainstream wrestling companies gives a damn about its fans and treats them like people.

 

[An Angry Blonde]

Look this is my first TNA Live experience and I must say this was the best Wrestling Experience I have ever been to. Before I ever decided to go to a TNA show I went to WWE Summerslam. I thought all shows were like this.. i.e. getting herded in like cattle in a big area and wait for the people to let us in the arena, grab out seats, watch the show and then leave. This was different, We actually Did a Meet and Greet with all the TNA wrestlers who signed autographs and everything. Somoa Joe, Mr. Anderson, and Devon actually gave my son a High five!. During intermission, The people who bought the $175.00 Guitar could go backstage and meet the wrestlers again. I was not paying that money, I don't know how to play the guitar anyway. So I went to the door and asked if Kurt Angle could sign my Militay ID card. I was willing to wait by the door and have him come out really quick. The guy looked at me and let me and my son come backstage with an Elite pass and we spent 45 minutes talkign to The Pope, Mr Anderson, Madison Rayne, Devon and Ink Inc. To top it all off, Kurt Angle actually signed my ID Card which is a treasure I will never forget. I mean it's Kurt Freaking Angle!!!

Bottom line if TNA shows are like this I hope they always come back here to Grand Forks, ND. Sorry WWE, but for Live events TNA has you beat.

Does anyone else feel this way? Or is it just me?

I want to start out with that I've never been to a live enent before, but isn't a bit....unfair to compare a PPV and a live event? I mean you have to figure that they are guarnteed to be two different expiernces. Maybe you should go to a WWE live event before comparing the expiernces....just a suggestion though.

 

[Murphy]

I have never been to a TNA Event, but with your description of the show and other people I've heard praising their shows, I won't hesitate about driving up to Dublin next time their in Ireland.

 

[MizFitAwesome]

I want to start out with that I've never been to a live enent before, but isn't a bit....unfair to compare a PPV and a live event? I mean you have to figure that they are guarnteed to be two different expiernces. Maybe you should go to a WWE live event before comparing the expiernces....just a suggestion though.

I agree, isn't it unfair to compare a house show to a PPV? Was this before or After Kurt got the DUI?

 

[Jason Scene]

ND? North Dakota?

I guess you got an autograph of Angle the night he got pulled over for DUI. Pretty nice.

 

[VinnieSunshine]

I went to the original FIRST show TNA did on the road here in Plymouth, MI a few years ago and I gotta say TNA did NOTHING like this. Maybe because it was their first show, but all we did was just take our seats, watch the show, then go home. We didn't meet anyone or go backstage.

It really isn't fair to compare TNA to WWE...thats comparing apples and oranges, you cant do that. The OP didn't say WHEN he went to this show...but Im sure after the debacle that was the Sting/Hardy PPV ME, they had to do SOMETHING.

 

[Rockyfolifebo!!!]

HAHa, dude you don't even know the half of it!

They came here (Florence,SC) on 10/2/10, 8 days shy of the biggest screwup in tna history with immortal. But back to the topic, i paid 50 bucks for a front row seat, and meet and greet. I got like 10 autographs (i was slightly disappointed because i didn't get Ric's, because he was just there to managa AJ). Anyway, all of the wrestlers were nice especiallly Brutus Magnus! Except one, Rhyno!! OMG, he was skipping people in line, he didn't have any enthusiasm what so ever, and he looked bored or something. It's a shame because i really wanted to meet him too. In the ME, it Jeff vs AJ w/ Flair. Now when Jeff came out, HE GOT A MASSIVE POP!! because he had never been to our city throughout his whole career! But, he beat AJ, and after that i paid 20 bucks to get IN THE RING and meet him! He didn't seem high, or anything. Plus, he was cool AF!!! It was a very good show!

 

[Da Big Champ]

I have been to both TNA and WWE, i went to WWE house show in the UK in 2007 and the show was good but there was nothing before or after the show but the actual show was good. I went to see TNA in 2008 in Orlando, it was the iMPACT that Jeff Jarret returned to TNA and the whole show was amazing, JB kept the crowd happy and there was a lot of interaction and the fans had the chance to get pictures taken with former TNA star/referee Shane Sewell. Over all I would rather go to a TNA event where they care about the fans and try to keep them intrested.

 

[blackmetalbuick]

The OP didn't say WHEN he went to this show...but Im sure after the debacle that was the Sting/Hardy PPV ME, they had to do SOMETHING.

Nah it's not just because of the Hardy mess, TNA's live events have featured extra stuff like this for a while now. Of course it usually costs more money. Then don't just say "hey TNA family, feel free to climb in the ring after the show!".

 

[Gotahn]

Well I guess some of you are right. It really isn't fair to compare the two. TNA was just such a great time and they interacted with us so well. I would always go to a TNA Live Event.

 

[xGotTheEdgex]

I want to start out with that I've never been to a live enent before, but isn't a bit....unfair to compare a PPV and a live event? I mean you have to figure that they are guarnteed to be two different expiernces. Maybe you should go to a WWE live event before comparing the expiernces....just a suggestion though.

Maybe the OP has only been to a WWE PPV, but I've been to a number of shows in my life and since I live in Boise, Idaho...wrestling doesn't come out here that much, but I feel qualified to compare the experiences. I've been to a couple WCW live events, WCW Nitro, WWE Smackdown, countless WWE live events, and a TNA live event. And from the description the OP posted about his experience at the WWE show he went to, is pretty accurate. Every WWE show I've been to, whether it was Smackdown or the WWE live events I've been to have all been the same. Stand in line, find your seats, watch the show, leave. TNA Live events on the other hand are a completely different experience. When they came here, I was pretty excited, but I had no how awesome the night was gonna end up being.

TNA takes the time to make sure their fans get their money worth. The wrestlers meet with you, sign autographs, take pictures, TNA gives out backstage passes. It really is a great experience. When TNA came here, they were filming for MTV's Made and it was AJs birthday. Despite MTV cameras being there, TNA still did their thing. And despite it being AJs birthday, he still took time to meet with his fans and sign autographs. My little brother even got an autograph from him.

TNA Live events > WWE Events (except for maybe 'Mania).
Period.

To the OP, glad you were able to experience how great TNA live events are!

 

[Shakin' Abe]

ouch! Kick 'em when he's down.
Angle makes another mistake. It's too bad. I hope he and TNA don't use it in their storyline with Double J and Karen.
Living in California, we get a TNA show once every blue moon. I didn't go the last time they were here but I know I'll go the next time.

 

[Iversen]

Look this is my first TNA Live experience and I must say this was the best Wrestling Experience I have ever been to. Before I ever decided to go to a TNA show I went to WWE Summerslam. I thought all shows were like this.. i.e. getting herded in like cattle in a big area and wait for the people to let us in the arena, grab out seats, watch the show and then leave. This was different, We actually Did a Meet and Greet with all the TNA wrestlers who signed autographs and everything. Somoa Joe, Mr. Anderson, and Devon actually gave my son a High five!. During intermission, The people who bought the $175.00 Guitar could go backstage and meet the wrestlers again. I was not paying that money, I don't know how to play the guitar anyway. So I went to the door and asked if Kurt Angle could sign my Militay ID card. I was willing to wait by the door and have him come out really quick. The guy looked at me and let me and my son come backstage with an Elite pass and we spent 45 minutes talkign to The Pope, Mr Anderson, Madison Rayne, Devon and Ink Inc. To top it all off, Kurt Angle actually signed my ID Card which is a treasure I will never forget. I mean it's Kurt Freaking Angle!!!

Bottom line if TNA shows are like this I hope they always come back here to Grand Forks, ND. Sorry WWE, but for Live events TNA has you beat.

Does anyone else feel this way? Or is it just me?

TNA seem to get very good reports for their live shows in terms of their meet and greet etc.

However like a few hours have said it's a bit unfair to compare a house show to a PPV. At a PPV it's all buisness the wrestlers don't really have time to come and meet people etc because they have to be a lot more focused on there matches. At a House Show the wrestlers are able to loosen up and have a laugh basically because the cameras aren't on.

Plus, and this isn't intended as a dig at TNA before someone jumps down my throat, it's a lot easier in a smaller arena with a smaller company to do things like that. It's the same experience of going to a gig. If you go see AC/DC in a arena you know you aren't going to meet he band unless you somehow have backstage access. If you go to see a band like Black Spiders (look them up they rock) their generally playing in a place where there isn't much of a backstage and theres a lot less fans so coming out and chatting to them etc is easy to do.

 

[yur_momma]

tna will be here in my city on the 7th....unfortunately after almost 10 years as a die hard fan, tna completely soured for me back in august and it has been a disastrous abomination of a company ever since. i refuse to give them a dime. i would like to go, support their wrestlers and just enjoy a show but i cant. every ticket they sell makes them think they are doing something right....

 

[EastCoastFan]

I've been to a few TNA live shows in the last 5 years.

The first one was in 2006 at the former ECW Arena. It was one of their first shows after Kurt Angle joined the company - and MAYBE 150 people showed up. They let everyone move up closer to the ring and even with the lousy turnout, they still put on a great show. Samoa Joe and Rhyno had the match of the night.

I went to another one in November 2009. This time, about 600 people in attendance. Again, a great show, especially the AJ-Joe-Daniels main event. They did the meet and greet after the show and a great time was had by all. Gorgeous George and Billy Corgan were among those in attendance that night.

Most recently was a house show they did the night before Victory Road. Jeff Hardy had a really good match against AJ Styles that night, and it shocked me when I found out about his condition at Victory Road. I guess one day can make a BIG difference.

TNA is smaller and can be a more fan-friendly experience, especially to fans who have gotten sick of WWE focusing on "entertainment" over "wrestling".

 

[cultsteele]

It's True I've been to TNA shows since the 1st one they had in ny state and its awesome you can meet all the wrestlers there even at the last one in elmira ny except bully ray because he has a character to play its fun and cool i got to talk to foley dreamer hardy angelina and ink inc there all nice and bound for glory best weekend ever 10 10 10 i wish i got tatted on me cool experience met everyone who was all there i talked and hung out with them and stayed in the hotel flair was funny and me and samoa joe were shootin the shit great experience if an immortal swerve happened nobody seen it coming.

 

[ctln4rko]

I hear a lot of good about TNA shows.

TNA is what wrestling should be.

WOAH. Sorry, man. I don't mean to be mean, but you have got to be kidding me
Yes, TNA live events have a good reputation and live up to it.
But it is NOT, N-O-T, NOT what wrestling should be.
A> Entrusting Jeff Hardy, one of the biggest wrestling drug addicts in the past decade, with their company basically. Putting him in the passenger seat ( next to Hogan/ Bischoff) in their "big storyline" what they thought would save them. And it did boost ratings somewhat, at least.
B> A branch of example A, throwing a Jeff Hardy that was UI ( under the influence) into the main event of a PPV when theyu knew he was incapable of performing
C> Their storylines- Having Ric Flair still wrestle, clinging to Samoa Joe vs Pope and Angle vs Jarrett for months etc, all I can think of in my exhausted state

 

[MizFitAwesome]

It's easy to accommodate a couple of hundred people as opposed to a couple of thousand or tens of thousands and they charge for pitures. Gee thanks, I can pay $10 to get a picture of Jeff Hardy before his arraignment...

 

[midsouthmaniac]

TNA is great. I was a fan from day 1 at the Asylum in Nashville. My only beef is with the guys trying to change TNA into WCW. The original TNA guys like AJ, Jeff, Ron Killings, Sonny Siaki, Raven, David Young, Konnan, and countless others put so much hard work into something so special, it would be a insult to let it continue this way. Please AJ and Jeff, WAKE UP!!! Don't let them change you. TNA gave chances to guys like CM Punk and look at him now. Stars jumping to TNA need to pay it foward instead of trying to get over when they are over in the first place. That is why they brought you here. They could build great stars like AJ but the new "OLD" players are being selfish but they could do so much for the younger and less exposed talent so that TNA would grow into the company it should be. Thank you

 

[RatedLSM]

Ive been to 4 Tna Shows and yeah they're always a surprisingly better time than u r expecting. Yup, I was even pleasantly surprised during my 4th exp, which was in rahway, nj the night b4 victory road. Great Card but Jeff Hardy was noticeably sloppy during several instances in the main event, to which the crowd got all over him for each time. sry kinda off topic, but it did make aj beating him cleanly that much sweeter for me.
One thing bad abt thr live exp (imo the only thing bad, that's still in their control) is with the booking. The past 3 shows ive been to since November last year, have each been abt 50% similar or the same to the other 2 i was at. Id say they get a little lazy with the match combinations on ther live show cards, but that is realy being nitpicky when you consider how much funn ther is to have at any given one of their shows, reguardless. (LOTTS!)
This holds especially true on there ppvs/weekly programming anyway so i guess i should be happy thr live show isnt (booked lazily) more-so.
Top matches/programms on the "Road to Lockdown," (thats really what they're calling the build up to their April ppv, clever{not clever}):
Jarret/Angle (still)
Morgan/Hernandez (still)
Pope/Samoa Joe (still)
And their ppv buys arent getting better, really?
Ok now Im super off topic and i do apologise. And I swear Im actually a big advocate for TNA(atleast its roster).
Finally to respond to i dont know, someone who posted earlier.. It sounds like signing this tread-starters military id was probably one of the last things kurt did (well that and drinking a little too much, and driving) b4 getting his Motor Vehicle Intoxication Offense later that night. U may notice as I did that this thread was about a North Dakota show.
At the risk of speculating, I do know Kurt was arrested some time after leaving a ND show. But yes, I am still assuming that TNA didn't spend a week and a half runnning shows in ND. Get on me.

 

[He's Phenomenal]

C> Their storylines- Having Ric Flair still wrestle, clinging to Samoa Joe vs Pope and Angle vs Jarrett for months etc, all I can think of in my exhausted state

Ric Flair is a wrestling God! And can do whatever the hell he wants. If he wants to wrestle (and I guarantee the guy he’s wrestling wants to wrestle Ric Flair) then seeing as he is a wrestling God, he can wrestle. How come I could get tickets last year when TNA came to England, and this year I couldn’t? I would think that had a lot to do with the fact Ric Flair (wrestling) was headlining the tour.

On to the topic: When I went to see TNA live, I didn’t do the meet and greet stuff (you had to buy a separate ticket for that), but it was still a fantastic night. I did get to shake Devon’s hand after Team 3D’s match with Beer Money though. And the wrestling on show was top class. The Ultimate X match and AJ Styles vs Kurt Angle were good enough for any PPV. And the atmosphere inside the arena was immense. I thought my ear drums were going to burst when Kurt Angle stepped through the curtain. I really wish TNA would film an iMPACT! over here. 10,000 fans going nuts would come across well for them, when it would be shown in the States.

TNA’s live events certainly do live up to the hype, IMO. In fact, I enjoyed it a hell of a lot more than I was expecting. Even the train journey home, with half the carriage shouting BEER and the other half shouting MONEY was pretty cool.