The History (and/or Future) of TNA's "Feast or Fired" Match

[UFOcalling]

After a quick search of WZ Forums, I couldn't find any threads that dealt specifically with this topic. I think I placed this thread in the correct section, please forgive me if it needs to be moved.

Earlier today, TNA's "Feast or Fired" match popped into my head. After a quick google search, the last match of this kind (that I could find) happened on December 20th, 2009 at TNA's "Final Resolution" PPV (this was shortly before Hogan & Bischoff arrived, in early 2010). Do I have that right? There hasn't been another "Feast or Fired" match since that one in 2009, correct?

I apologize, as I don't remember when the first "Feast or Fired" match took place. At the time this match was first introduced, I wasn't watching (or following) Impact on a regular enough basis - at least at the time - to know the complete history of the "Feast or Fired" match.

I haven't heard any mention of a previous Feast or Fired match (or talk of another one happening) on TNA television since the arrival of Hogan & Bischoff. As I remember, this match used to happen once a year. TNA did not have a Feast or Fired match in 2010, right? Was this match-type phased out of TNA quietly, or did I miss something?

I guess that the FoF briefcases were mentioned in early 2010 after all, because I remember Kevin Nash cashing in his case (containing the "Tag-Team Title Shot") after Bischoff & Hogan arrived. If I remember correctly, Kevin Nash & Scott Hall won the Tag Titles when the briefcase was "cashed in". I think TNA's plan was to have "The Band" as the tag-champs -- with Scott Hall, Kevin Nash and Eric Young using "Freebird rules" (whatever it's called) to defend the titles. I can't remember exactly when they lost the tag titles, but obviously "The Band" fell apart shortly after this. Even though it seems that TNA wasn't planning on having another FoF match in the future, they still had to let the holders of the FoF cases use them (to tie up all the loose ends) before phasing out the match completely.

We all know that the "Feast or Fired" match was TNA's answer to WWE's "Money in the Bank" ladder match. Some might even say that "Feast or Fired" was a lame rip-off of WWE's original concept. This was TNA's way of doing something similar to MitB, but TNA had four cases up for grabs; unlike WWE's one briefcase (containing a World Title shot).

The Feast or Fired briefcases worked like this: the most important case was the one that held a contract for a match against the World Heavyweight Champion (with the title on the line), the second case held a shot at the Tag-Titles, the third had a contract for a shot at the X-Division title, and the holder of the fourth case was "fired". The contents of these cases were unknown, until they were later opened (and the results were revealed).

The three cases containing title shots could be "cashed in" at any time, exactly like the WWE's "Money in the Bank" case. The fourth case (the "You're Fired" case) was usually TNA's way of getting rid of someone on the roster who was leaving anyway (IE: Sheik Abdul Bashir, in 2009). In other instances, the "fired" individual would leave television for a while, then come back after a few months (I think something like this happened with Christopher Daniels, but I can't remember for sure).

I guess the real question is whether or not TNA/IW will ever bring the Feast or Fired concept back to PPV. Personally, I believe that the FoF match is dead & buried. IMHO, the Feast or Fired concept will most likely never be reintroduced. The Feast or Fired match represents "the old TNA" (at least in the minds of some), even though it was a fairly new concept that was only used for a few years before it finally disappeared. It seems that TNA is now using the Bound for Glory Tournament as a potential way of getting a "fresh face" into the main event scene. If this tournament becomes an annual event, there's even less of a reason for FoF to return.

Does anyone remember the last time a Feast or Fired match was mentioned on TNA television? Did Eric or Hulk ever mention it on-screen? I'm guessing that when the ring was changed from six-sides to a more traditional "squared-circle", the FoF match was also laid to rest. I'd have to assume that since Hogan & Bischoff were "changing TNA" during the first half of 2010, the FoF match was phased out of TNA's schedule without telling the fans directly. This makes sense, there's no point in telling the fans that they're not going to do the match again...just don't mention it again, and the fans might not even remember.

Some questions/topics to spark discussion:

Would you want a TNA "Feast or Fired" match to happen in the future, or should the concept remain at rest?

Should the same "classic" format be used? IE: four cases - three of them contain title shots, one has a "pink-slip".

If you think the concept should change, how would you book the match differently?

Was Feast or Fired simply a blatant rip-off of WWE's "Money in the Bank" ladder match? If so, how could TNA have booked a similar concept without it being labeled a "rip-off"?

TNA booked the Feast or Fired match at several different PPVs over the years, if I'm not mistaken...at which PPV should the match take place (or should it happen on an episode of Impact instead)?

Does the FoF match truly represent "the old TNA" (pre-Bischoff/Hogan)?

Was there ever really a "shock-factor" when these cases were cashed in, since Impact is a taped show (and fans can read spoilers ahead of time)?

Do you feel that the current BFG Tournament is a better way (at least better than FoF was) to introduce a potential new "superstar" to the main event?

 

[NotoriousMEAT]

I also thought of Feast or Fired earlier today. More specifically while watching a replay of the Hardcore Justice PPV. And the thing that made me think of it.. was Bully Ray. While re-organizing my top 10 wrestlers for my favorite wrestling companies earlier this week, I was surprised when Bully Ray cracked the top 10, taking the final spot. I had to go over the roster again to make sure this was true. And sure enough my results were final. I had to really think about it, and facing the facts, Ray's just at the top of his game. He's more entertaining now then he was in his initial singles run back in WWE during the brand extension. The OVER the top New York accent that he's suddenly developed, the attitude, and the obvious way he's been busting his ass has made me a fan of his once more. Something I thought I'd never say after the break up of Team 3D. He's in the best shape of his LIFE. Watching him on the Spin Cycle this weekend, I watched him flex, and what I saw.. was MUSCLE. Muscle on a Dudley. Yeah I know. He's associated with Immortal. And no matter how much I hate them, an association with Hogan is definitely a big step up. He seems to be their go to guy at the moment. And when he said on this past weeks impact that when Hogan and Bischoff aren't around, that he's in charge, no body said a damn thing. Not even a disagreeing face. He's successfully separated himself from Devon and the image of their tag team. Something I thought that was impossible. He's re-established himself, and his new character.

What does all this Bully Ray love have to do with the topic. Well let's talk about where all of Bully's hard work is going to take him. I honestly think, that if he were to continue down this road, Ray could really line himself to become the World Heavyweight Champion. He had his fead with AJ, which he came out on top of. He succeeded in defeating Mr. Anderson as well. That's two World Champions down at the hands of Bully Ray. While that's definitely a good start, I'm not so sure they could really build him up to become a believable World Champion. But imagine if they still had the Feast or Fired match? Bully could win that briefcase, and do what no one else has ever done. Use it to become the World Heavyweight Champion. An accomplishment alone he could brag about before actually doing it, then use as a feather in his cap throughout the reign. While I said it'd be hard to build him traditionally having him defeat the Kurt Angles, Stings, RVDs, and Samoa Joes on the roster on a consistent basis.. I think they've done a good enough job, and could do even more between his case victory and title victory, to prevent me from shitting everywhere if he actually won. I'd buy it. I'd actually be damn interested in it. And it'd do a great job in portraying what TNA has liked to say since it's Jim Cornette days. And that's with hard work, anyone can break through the glass ceiling of TNA.

If TNA really wanted to use Feast or Fired as their way of incorporating MITB into their company, then they should use it for it's intended purpose. Getting new guys to the next level. No one's career thus far has benefited from Feast or Fired in an exponential way, 'cept maybe the character of Curry Man. And that may be a reason for it being scrapped. But I definitely love the idea, I love the match, and don't just see it as a MITB ripoff, as they spread it throughout the company.

Should it come back? Absolutely.
Now someone just make a thread about the King of the Mountain match. Cuz I'd love to forward that response of mine to TNA myself.

 

[Headman]

I hate the name. It sounds like a Cheeseburger and fries should be in one of the cases. With that said, I don't mind TNA doing a similar concept. After all, Ladder matches even though first appearing In Canada in the early 80's were thought to be a WWF concept. WCW or ECW rarely used the gimmick (Syxx vs Eddie and Sandman vs Sabu are among the few that come to mind), so unless they straight up steal the Royal Rumble it doesn't really bother me. What bothers me about this match is the way the results are announced. The action in the ring seems absolutely pointless until the unvailing of the results. Unlike MITB where the crowd is on their edge of their seats every time someone heads up that ladder, in FoF matches they are just popping for the spots. And you can pretty much tell who is and who isn't getting the Fired case. If they're going to re-use this concept I'd rather see the match end once the first case is grabbed and have the results of which title contract the wrestler has be kept a secret from everyone but the wrestler until the time he chooses to cash it in. That way no champion or fans for that matter know which title he has a contract for. In situations where they grab the "fired" case I guess you'd just have them get uber pissed when opening the case after the match. And if you think about it, this could be a pretty neat swerve to play on the fans. You could have Robert Roode grab a case... Open it up and flip out as if he was fired. Then keep him off tv for a few weeks until BOOM...his music hits and he cashes it in on the TNA champion after making everyone think he was fired. I could go for something like that.

 

[UFOcalling]

I thought I'd chime in with my opinions on the Feast or Fired match, since I didn't get into that in my original post...hard to believe, considering how long that post is. Good God, do you think I was thorough enough? LOL!

I liked the FoF concept, and I also do NOT think that the match was a complete "rip-off" of WWE's "Money in the Bank" (although it is similar). The major problem I had with the match was already mentioned by Headman: since the audience doesn't know which case holds which contract (until much later), it lets a whole lot of air out of the whole thing.

From what I remember, the audience wasn't aware of what the cases contained until the next episode of Impact. In other words, at the end of the FoF match all you knew was that four guys had cases (but you didn't know which title-shot they had, or if they were going to be "fired"). If I remember correctly, TNA devoted an entire segment to the opening of these cases. That segment usually happened on the episode of Impact immediately following the PPV (when the cases were won).

All the excitement of the match (at least to me) happens when those cases are opened. Watching the PPV almost seems like a waste, because you won't know the results for three or four days (or...one or two, if you read the spoilers online before watching the show). There-in lies the major problem with the match.

Maybe TNA could do it like this instead: get rid of the "fired" case all together (I know, you'd have to change the title of the match...but the title is irrelevant for this idea). Have the match with three cases up for grabs, but have the cases be completely empty. The idea that I've got is to have the contracts outside the ring. Stay with me here, I swear I'm going somewhere with this.

The contracts would be the same three as the "classic" FoF title shots (World Heavyweight Championship, X-Division, and Tag-Titles). The first wrestler to grab a case would be given a choice as to which contract he wants. Obviously, the first case-holder would almost HAVE to pick the World Title shot (he'd be stupid not to, but he would still have a choice to pick whichever one he wants). The wrestler to grab the second case would get a choice out of the remaining two contracts, and the wrestler who got case #3 would be stuck with the final contract.

After a case is taken, the case-holder will leave the ring. The match will continue, with the remaining competitors fighting for the remaining case(s). The wrestler (who won the case) would choose their contract immediately after they left the ring, allowing the rest of the competitors to finish the match (and fight for the remaining cases/case). The wrestler's decision would be announced on the mic, letting the wrestlers (and the audience) know which contract has been taken...and which contracts/contract are/is still up for grabs.

In my opinion, cases 2 & 3 would almost be more entertaining storyline-wise (if this how the match is booked). For example, let's say that Alex Shelley gets case #2. Would he pick the X-Division title shot, or a chance at the Tag-Titles with his partner Chris Sabin? The aftermath of that decision could be stretched out over an entire month, if TNA booked it correctly. Another example is that a prominent singles wrestler is stuck with the Tag-Title shot...let's use Mr. Anderson for this example. Who does Anderson choose as his partner, and when do they cash in their case?

They could even have the match include four cases, with a contract for the TV Title thrown in there (the only reason I didn't include it, is because the TV Title has seemed like a joke lately). I think doing the match this way would make everything a LOT more exciting, and provide a lot of fodder for storylines. If the wrestlers would have to decide which contracts they want, but they're still able to "cash" these contracts in whenever they choose to, it would be a win-win. The match itself would instantly become more entertaining, and there would still be that anticipation of "when are they going to cash in?". That anticipation, coupled with the aftermath of which contract each wrestler has chosen, would make for great television (at least in my opinion).

Obviously I don't work for TNA or anything, this is just the way that I would book a match like this (to make it more exciting for the fans). There have got to be some flaws in my logic that I'm not seeing, but I think this "tweak" (er...these tweaks?) to the original FoF concept would make it 100% more exciting.

 

[Jack-Hammer]

The Feast or Fired angle in it's entirty is a clusterfuck really and, generally speaking, it just doesn't fit in well with the current format that's going on in TNA.

Right now, the BFG Series is going on to ultimately determine the #1 contender for the TNA WHC for BFG. It's been the first genuinely interesting tournament that TNA has had in a very long time. FOF just seems to mindlessly chaotic at times and, really, none of the title scenes in TNA are all that strong at this time.

Angle has the TNA WHC but it's going to be in a holding pattern until BFG. Depending upon what happens at BFG and who wins the BFG Series to challenge the champ at the ppv, the whole thing could be one huge waste of time. Besides, the title has changed hands almost on a monthly basis throughout the year of 2011. Adding the FOF aspect to it is adding gimmicky chaos when stability is needed right now.

The X Division, while there's more emphasis on it, still has a lot of work to do. At this point in time, Alex Shelley & Austin Aries are really the only credible guys in the X Division and Aries is someone that just signed with the company. Not enough depth in the X Division to warrant FOF.

The Television Championship is...well...it exists..I guess. But it's irreperably tarnished. It was never much at any point during its entire existence but now it makes the WWE Hardcore Championship look coveted and prestigious by comparison. There's just no polishing this turd and would just be a waste of FOF.

As far as the tag team scene goes, it's weak right now. TNA's tag team picture is made up of Beer Money, Mexican America and The British Invasion. Mexican America is awful both on the mic and in the ring while TBI aren't even remotely relevant at this point. I can count the number of times I've seen them on TNA television since reforming the team on one hand and have a lot of fingers left over.

I think FOF is better left dead. If they ever to decide to resurrect it, it should be after they've built the title pictures to a stronger position.

 

[disturbedbob]

Yo Idioteque555 I kinda like your methods for change but think it may be a bit of a clusterfuck. Think you hit gold on one point, which was 3 empty cases. How about 3 empty cases and only one containing a world or X div title match. This way, keeping it off the ppv and revealing the winner on Impact will have more intrigue attached. Imagine if say AJ, Joe, RVD and Anderson all gained cases and then we find out on Impact who the contender is. Or even use it to build a new superstar like Gunner, Crimson etc. You could also do it for the X division at times so maybe Shelley, Aries, Sabin, Ion. Its an opportunity to push a superstar or a great feud. They would have to change the name though, maybe to the 4 cornered clusterfuck...

 

[UFOcalling]

disturbedbob, I completely understand why you think my idea is too convoluted. Trust me, I confused myself several times while trying to type it out! Haha! In my head, the match I described would work beautifully...the problem is that the match I described just sounds complicated, when it's really not (at least, not too much more complicated than the original FoF concept). I also probably did a piss-poor job of explaining it (or I might have OVER-explained it).

I was just trying to add some much-needed suspense to the original FoF concept. If the first guy to earn a case (let's call it case #1) is pretty much guaranteed a shot at the World Heavyweight Champion, then the entire match means so much more (at least in my eyes). I thought the more interesting part would be what would happen with the holders of case #2 & case #3. I thought that these two cases would add some depth (at least storyline-wise) to TNA's mid-card. Again, you're right...it's too much of a "clusterfuck", with the way I described it.

The original FoF concept isn't as complicated as the match I described, but the original concept is just so boring to me. It would be so much more exciting if you immediately knew what each wrestler actually won (the minute they got the case).

If the first winner (first person to get a case) would have the best choice of all the possible contracts, then it would make the match more of a "race". I know that all ladder matches are races, essentially (first one up the ladder wins the prize). But the difference is that this match would have three winners...and instead of everything being random, it would be more structured. This would also give the wrestlers more of an incentive (at least in a kayfabe sense) to get the cases as fast as they could. Does that make any sense at all? I'm confusing myself again!

I kind of like your idea, having four cases total - but only have one that means anything. This doesn't seem like a PPV match to me though, it seems more like a match that would happen on Impact. I guess having a shot at the WHC definitely means something, but it just seems so lame to have to wait to find out what's in the case (or not in the case, as in your description). I'd rather find out immediately, hence my idea for making the wrestlers choose which contract they want (immediately after winning the case).

I know that my description seemed really complicated (and probably confusing as FUCK to read), but I know that if you saw the match I described in person (or on TV) you'd instantly get it.

 

[King Patrick Star]

Some questions/topics to spark discussion:

Would you want a TNA "Feast or Fired" match to happen in the future, or should the concept remain at rest?

Should the same "classic" format be used? IE: four cases - three of them contain title shots, one has a "pink-slip".

If you think the concept should change, how would you book the match differently?

Was Feast or Fired simply a blatant rip-off of WWE's "Money in the Bank" ladder match? If so, how could TNA have booked a similar concept without it being labeled a "rip-off"?

TNA booked the Feast or Fired match at several different PPVs over the years, if I'm not mistaken...at which PPV should the match take place (or should it happen on an episode of Impact instead)?

Does the FoF match truly represent "the old TNA" (pre-Bischoff/Hogan)?

Was there ever really a "shock-factor" when these cases were cashed in, since Impact is a taped show (and fans can read spoilers ahead of time)?

Do you feel that the current BFG Tournament is a better way (at least better than FoF was) to introduce a potential new "superstar" to the main event?

I want the TNA Feast Of Fired match back. I think it’s a great concept that could help TNA across the board.

I think they should add one more case for the Television Title. I’d hang a 5th case in the center along with the 4 cases on the corners.

The concept itself should not change.

It is a blatant rip-off, but who cares, I like TNA’s version better, only because there’s more to it that just grabbing one briefcase.

I don’t know which PPV it should be held at, but one thing is for sure, it should not be held a TNA PPV called “Feast Or Fired”. HAHA!! Sorry WWE, but naming the PPVs after a match type is lazy!!

No, the FOF match does not represent the old TNA, it just happened to disappear after the arrival of the Old World Order.

Yes, there was a “shock-factor” as far as who got which case to a certain extent. Spoilers don’t affect me as much as they do others.

I don’t think the BFG Series is a better way. I think it could complement each other. I’d have the Feast Or Fired match take place after Bound For Glory.

 

[Skairipa Matrix]

i always liked the feast or fired match but to be honest i think it has already died in TNA/IW as it hasnt been done as long as hogan and bishoff have been there unless i just missed it all together but i wouldnt mind the match coming back i always enjoyed it and i think it would be good if it came back at bound for glory or later this year but i cant see it coming back

 

[killer425]

I don't really care for these matches why don't they just all the cases down and pass them out I mean there wrestling for nothing

they should have this where its 10 guys like money in the bank and have 9 cases first one be a world title shot, 2nd a tv title shot, a few a couple gags, and like musical chairs the last man is fired