TNA Being Unpredictable vs What the Fans Want?

[ヒュー　G.　レックション]

Alright I'm sure you're miffed by the title so allow me to explain. I've noticed this about TNA for a while now. What I and I'm sure many others enjoy about TNA over the past couple of years is that they have been booking long term with deeper storylines.

Fans being fans, we'll always tend to predict what happens, how TNA are going to go forward in their storylines. And it always seems that TNA leads us into thinking one thing will happen, and then changing direction. In some cases I think it has worked out for the better, in others not so much. I'm going to go ahead and cite the past couple of Bound For Glory storylines.

2011: What the consensus thought

Bobby Roode would win the BFG Series, defeat Kurt Angle and become the face of the comapny, and go on to feud with James Storm since we all knew a Beer Money split would be inevitable.

2011: What really happened

Roode would lose to Angle via a rollup with tights with Roode's arm under the ropes while Angle simultaneously held the ropes (can you think of an even screwier finish?). Storm would win the title from Angle in an upset, and Roode would be the one to turn heel and gain the belt in a great turn. And he would go on to be the longest reigning TNA champ.

So here I think TNA was much better off having Angle beat Roode, I can remember it being despised as awful booking at the time but it was the catalyst for Roode's "selfish generation" persona and we ended up having IMO TNA's greatest champion.

So let's move onto 2012

2012: What the consensus thought

After Roode defeating allcomers, James Storm would win the BFG Series and finally get his revenge on Roode a year prior and win the world title back in the process.

2012: What really happened

Roode would lose the title to Austin Aries at Destination X. Jeff Hardy of all people would win the BFG Series. Aries turned heel and lost to Hardy. Roode and Storm had a non-title street fight instead to end their feud.

Now this one I'm mixed on, while Aries dethroning Roode would be in the top TNA moments of all time, what followed wasn't all that great. Aries couldn't defend his belt since the Series was ongoing, and Hardy was pretty lackluster as the following world champion. Storm sadly would never venture into the main events again.

Now let's head to the present day.

2013: What the consensus thinks

AJ Styles, being banned from challenging for the world title until BFG 13 has undergone a complete gimmick change. Momentum is riding high with him and many think he will be the one to bring an end to Bully Ray and the Aces & Eights for good, at the exact time his stipulation runs out.

2013: What will really happen?

A lot of possibilities out there, most prevalent;could Bully drop the belt at Destination X? That would free him up to fight Hogan, IF Hogan will wrestle again that is.

So the question is would you rather have TNA be entertaining and give the fans what they want but be very predictable OR would you rather TNA try to be unpredictable, but risk not giving the fans exactly what they want? But with the possibility of maybe something even better?

 

[newwaveknight]

I would say take the gamble and be unpredictable. They've tried giving the fans just what they want, and all the TNA die-hards wanted was the same matches with the same TNA Originals. This jaded the casual TNA fan to the product (and believe me, there are a LOT more of them), but with a more unpredictable show the casual fan will have to tune in every week. If they don't, they could miss a lot.

And as for the Bully Ray belt drop? That's not happening anytime soon. TNA has invested WAY too much time into this Aces & Eights angle, so they'll need to ride it out for a while. The longer Bully Ray holds the title, the more prolific our "a challenger appears" moment is when somebody finally does away with the Aces & Eights.

 

[Zeven_Zion]

Since when do we know what we want?

Look, wrestling fans are a pain in the ass when it comes to our favorite thing in the whole world, aside from a tight vagina and Justin Bieber getting something broken. We know a lot of things about it that we really shouldn't and we have a strong, personal connection with it since we grew up with it and now some of us are still clinging on to it in an "us against the world" type of deal, where everyone thinks we're losers for liking it and we still think it's the shizznit.

Therefore, I think we often perceive it as OUR product. We truly believe that (based on the knowledge I mentioned) we may have a better way of approaching something that happened on TV. We're really different from other kinds of fans out there. You see a lot of, let's say, Harry Potter fans, but they're just fans. Yeah, they write fan fiction but at the end of the day they are consumers and they bow down to what they're offered as a product - the movie.

We (the IWC), on the other hand, are denying our role as consumers and often think we can theoretically produce better content and that wrestling companies are always getting it wrong because they could've done it sooo much better if they only did it kind of like we would've liked them to.

So, in a way, we look like overly critical assholes who are never satisfied. Fact is - we truly are overly critical assholes who are never satisfied, BUT, there's a reason.

Look, if something was TRULY and UNIVERSALLY good, we wouldn't have much to bitch about. Yes, I know, you can't please everybody but you can please most people. You can't have a perfect product, but you can have a product good enough to make us go "You know what? I wouldn't have done it this way, but I like what you did and I respect it". We're not idiots, we're not slow, we can distinguish between good television, bad television and mediocre television.

Personally, I adore Game of Thrones. I love BBC's Sherlock. I love The Walking Dead and I also love midget porn. However, these shows are THAT type of good. Do I wish I died as a child after watching The Red Wedding (Game of Thrones)? Fuck yeah I do, that thing scarred me for life. But hey, it was still damn good television, it was still fantastic writing, it was still amazing.

That's something wrestling can't accomplish anymore. They can't do something so well that it basically makes us shut the hell up. They can't produce content so good that even when it goes entirely against what our IDEAL version of it was, it disturbs us and pisses us off, we still respect them and can see why they did it because it was damn good. They do good stuff now and then, but not that GOOOOOD stuff you see all around TV these days. I'll go back to my Red Wedding example. I won't spoil anything, but a lot of shit hits a lot of fans during that episode and NONE of it is good. Things happen that bring girls to tears and guys to bite their fists in terror. It's really messed up but still we all enjoyed the holy hell out of (after a few days of sitting in a dark corner. Alone. All Alone). Wrestling cannot possibly do that! They can't pull off a bad move in such a good way that we let is slide and respect them for it because ANYONE can see good writing and good action. Wrestling used to be like that, so it's not like it's impossible.

So that's where I think this dissonance comes from. We're like a guy who is moderately satisfied with his girl. Stick with me, I'm going somewhere with this. I think.

Yeah, she looks alright and the sex is fine, nothing to break up with her over, but we really wish she'd gag and swallow 'cause then she'd be GOLDEN.

So, what I'm trying to say is ... WWE, TNA, we want to see some mascara runnin', you know what I'm saying. There ain't nothing wrong with a little spit chain. Go the extra mile, you fools! Then we'd still have our own ideas that would bury your company, but at least we'll respect YOUR way as well.

As far as whether I'd like TNA to be predictable and cater to the fans or be unpredictable, well - they can't do what the fans want since we all want something different. Whatever it is they do we'll find a hole in it, nit-pick and offer a better version. Thus, we go back to what I initially said. It's never good enough to REALLY earn our respect and makes us do a slow clap.

Personally, I just want TNA to do their thing and not do anything insanely stupid. I trust them with the content, my job is to sit on my ass, watch it and then like or dislike it. So far so good. Half the time they do it right, half the time they really make me scratch my head and it's never a slow clap moment. I haven't had one of those ever since Jericho won the Undisputed Championship. That was a big day for me.

 

[LegendKiller716]

I don't think Styles needs the win. He's always gonna be over. Have someone (Non-A&8, MEM, or Bad Influence) cost him the series... Matt Morgan? And give him his own feud going into BFG.

Honestly, I'd love to see AJ vs Sabin for the World Title at BFG, but I don't see it happening.

You want unpredictable? Build a star, let Magnus sit atop the BFG leader board for the duration of the tournament and win the title off Bully.

 

[Jaffa]

I think you missed a big one from 2010 here

What fans expected: Mr. Anderson or Kurt Angle to win the TNA world title at BFG and turn heel and join the new stable featuring Abyss, Jeff Jarrett and we assumed Eric Bischoff

What actually happened: Hulk Hogan breaks his crutches over Anderson and Angle to give Jeff Hardy the win and his heel turn. The dominance of Immortal and Fortune stables until February 2011 when Fortune turns face.

Which result was better: Hard to say I think Immortal lost a lot of steam after the Victory Road 2011 debacle which turned the event into a farce as well as Jeff Hardy.

I still think that the long term booking was for AJ to win the title he lost at Turning Point last year meaning he can't get a title shot til Bound for Glory this year. I think if they don't go with AJ winning the belt I think they would probably give it to Magnus as he has been given quite the push recently and due to the fact he is only 26 they could be setting him up for quite a big future in the company.

 

[Wald]

With the first two examples I would use them of times they were unpredictable AND gave the fans what they wanted (to a point).

Roode seemed destined for the title against Angle, that much is true, but people did prefer the James Storm character and everyone thought there was more money in him. What they did was a perfect way of breaking Money Inc up, keeping Storm away from the title whilst giving Roode his chance to shine as the Heavyweight Champ, which he did and I'd agree with you that he has been their greatest ever champion.

Where TNA screwed up was by not having Storm defeat Roode in the title cage match in his hometown. Perfect way to place Storm at the very top of the TNA mountain but they screwed it up and Storm now looks like he's midcard for life. Mostly because of the second angle.

We all thought Roode vs Storm was nailed on for after the BFG series, in my mind it was too late for Storm though and he had cooled off slightly. Austin Aries came out of nowhere and they turned him perfectly with the excellent angle of him cashing in his X Division title for a shot at Roode. The fans really wanted Aries to go over and win the belt but I don't think many of us thought it was actually going to happen, due to the belief in the Roode vs Storm program, but it happened.

 

[Jack-Hammer]

What TNA has to do, what any business has to do for that matter, is to ultimately do what they think will give them the best results. Sometimes, that might mean taking a different route than most people are expecting or would rather see. Sure, giving people exactly what they want, or at least giving the majority what it seems to want, is also the way to go but it doesn't always equal out to long term success.

Predictability and unpredictability both have their pros & cons, especially if they're used to a extreme. For instance, there was a lot of predictability at WM this year and while most of the matches were good, the event was too predictable, as a whole, and it was detriment to the show. On the other hand, doing something that most people don't without any real reason or plan other than simply being able to say "I bet you didn't see that coming" doesn't work either.

As of right now, I think it's fair to say that most people have a few scenarios they'd like to see happen as it pertains to the BFG Series:

1. AJ Styles wins the BFG Series, goes to BFG and defeats Bully Ray for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship.

2. Magnus wins the BFG Series, goes to BFG and defeats Bully Ray for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship.

3.Magnus' stock is extremely elevated during the BFG Series, prompting main event pushes and possible title run in the near future.

Based on a lotta stuff I've read & heard people talk about, I think most would be happy if any of those scenarios ultimately takes place. I think a lot of people are also expecting one of those to happen. However, if none of them happen, then I'm sure there'll be a lot of complaints no matter how unpredictable it is. For instance, TNA could try to go with what the think could be the safe route and have Jeff Hardy win the series. He's popular and is probably the biggest money maker on the roster right now. Because of that history, maybe TNA officials will think that Hardy vs. Ray will outdraw Styles vs. Ray or Magnus vs. Ray. Maybe it will, but detractors will still give TNA the "same old shit" routine by criticizing them for not putting someone fresh up against Ray.

At the end of the day, TNA has to do what they think is best in the long run rather than try to cater to the often momentary whims of the fans, especially internet fans.

 

[Cereal Killer]

To an extent, I'd have to go with unpredictable on this one. If several fans are demanding a certain thing, (like fans wanting Bobby Roode to beat Kurt Angle in 2011 for the TNA World heavyweight championship) then go for it.

It's called a swerve, and people like it. Even if it is minor, like Taz joining the Aces and Eights. Everyone was surprised, and nobody expected it (you're bullshitting if you say you did). Back to the Bobby Roode example, the "It Factor" came of it. The main plan was for him to win, and everyone thought a James Storm Heel turn was on the horizon, but James Storm was the guy who pinned Kurt Angle to become the new TNA world champion. Then Bobby Roode, one of the best Heels today beat him, and a star was born. Even The Rock "digs his work." Would you rather have the leader of the Selfish generation, the It Factor Bobby Roode, or a cocky Cowboy James Storm as your World champion Heel? I think most will go with Roode. That character is more interesting, and when they were both Heels in their tag-team Beer Money, it was Roode who was arguably the played the better Heel.

However, the main issue is that they might mess it up. What if the supposed winner of this years Bound For Glory series AJ Styles doesn't win? What if Bully Ray does lose to Austin Aries? What if Hulk Hogan faces Bully Ray at this years Bound For Glory? While all this may(term used extremely lightly) turn out to be a huge payoff, what if we don't like it? What if AJ Styles never wins the TNA World Championship again? What if Aries' doesn't end Bully's reign in the way it should? What if the Bully and Hogan match turns out to be a total flop?

Either way, it can create a boom, or go bust. Jeff Hardy joining Immortal was good, as it was a swerve, and we got to see his darker side which he played well, as it went with his main gimmick. Bobby Roode turning Heel was great, as he became one of the best Heels in TNA. Austin Aries ending Roode's reign was awesome, as Austin Aries finally got his big break, and the fans were happy as his popularity reached the top of the ladder. Although, Hardy messed up at Victory Road 2012, the solid built Roode and Storm match didn't involve a world title, and that many didn't like Hardy's reign afterwards, it still payed off. On the plus side, we got great Hardy and Bully matches too, when Bully Ray became the President of the Aces and Eights.

As said before, go with it if it swerves, and if it works. It can be a difficult thing to pull off. It's a risky thing to do, but it can go to plan. Many are thinking Styles will beat Bully at BFG, but what if Magnus does it? Think about how popular he would become. Think about how Bobby Roode and Austin Aries were made. Using swerves. That's why being unpredictable is a great thing to do. Doing something absolutely stupid like having Mr. Anderson win, turning Face and regaining his momentum or any of that, will bore people, and may not work. This is where they need to think about what they're doing. Being unpredictable not only shocks, but can also be giving fans what they want.

 

[newwaveknight]

On the other hand, doing something that most people don't without any real reason or plan other than simply being able to say "I bet you didn't see that coming" doesn't work either.

To me, that's what made the Attitude era suck (ironically enough, they got so obsessed with stuffing it so full of sex and profanity that it got really predictable.) Hell, if doing things just for the sake of "I bet you didn't see that coming" worked, Vince Russo wouldn't be credited by some as the man who ruined wrestling.

 

[Adam X]

Magnus is a fine choice to win the BFG series or even a surprise Joe win.

The point is Aces and Eights needs to fall to a CONVINCING face and not just somebody who will be in throwaway feud weeks later.

Dear god no Mr. Anderson swerves please.

 

[willross]

I think what may actually happen is that Mr. Anderson turns out to be a mole in the Aces&Eights and will win the BFG series and defeat Bully Ray for the World Title.

Jeff Hardy vs AJ Styles to determine the #1 contender for Genesis. AJ wins.

At Genesis, Bully Ray helps AJ win the title. AJ drops Bully (what Austin could do to Vince at WM17 if he could go back).

Sets up for AJ vs Anderson vs Bully at Lockdown for the title.

BAM

 

[New Hot Fed]

I could go political and say A-I think it should be a great balance of what we want and doing something unexpected or B-At the end of the day all we fans want is seeing something compelling.

But I actually think it's the company's fault sometime to give the fans the "expected road" cause it creates "good feel" expecations and then the company realises too late that the script is too obvious, so they do something else and it pisses people off. Cause in point:

1. TNA chose Bobby Roode as their next guy. They had him win the BFG series, they gave him this great celebration with all his friends of Fourtune in the ring. TNA push him Roode hard as Hell, even having to beat his friends to get there. And the end game was for him to beat Legendary Kurt Angle for the title and make Bobby Roode. It was expected by everybody but Hogan said it was a bad idea brother cause he thought Roode should be pushed as a heel. So Roode lost in a bad finish, fans everywhere gets mad. I've had friends who stopped watching TNA right there.

2. Roode turns heel and become champion by screwing his friend James Storm. Roode becomes the longest reigning TNA champion ever while Storm go home to brood. Storm returns, delivers stellar promos. Everything is set for Lockdown where Storm would be "made" so to speak. But he loses. Now it was quite a heartbreak from fans. But I think from there, fans imagined Storm winning the BFG series and finally beating Roode for the belt at BFG. Everyone knew TNA planned to do that. But when Aries suddenly got super-over when he turned face, TNA blew their load and decides that his current popularity was too attractive to pass up and they had Roode lose to him. Killing the Storm-Roode epic storyline.

3. AJ Styles lose a match that means he won't be ale to wrestle for the World title for a year. After countless heartbreaks, he leaves and return as a brooding character. Meanwhile the A/8 storyline continues and then Bully joins the group in a big match against Jeff Hardy. Big group with a shocking turn and a company's golden boy returns as a darker character, it writes itself up, people are thinking Sting vs nWo take 2.

In the three examples, it's the company that almost gave us the blueprint of what they wanted to do. It was too obvious! And then they went out of their way to disappoint the fans. Remember the screwy finish between Hogan and Sting? There's a reason why some people call it the beginning of the end for WCW. There had the perfect script, so what if it was predictable? You can suprise fans all year long, you don't have to shock them for the big match too, let it play out.

The lesson is this, if you want to surprise fans, I think you should not give them such a clear plan of what you want to do. Secondly, DON'T DISAPPOINT YOUR FANS! For example, take Roode vs Storm. It's one thing to not resolve it at Lockdown by Storm winning. They had Aries beat Roode to surprise people. That's because the predictable outcome would have been: Storm win the BFG series and defeat Roode for the title at BFG. But why not go with the Storm-Roode for the title anyway but without making it so obvious? For one thing, don't put Storm in the BFG series. He's just returned in TNA, he's just beat Undefeated Crimson in a clean match. Let occupy him at doing something else. Case in point, a group just appeared from nowhere and took out Sting. Let Storm be the leader of TNA in this war against these invading men. And when Destination X occurs, have Storm help Roode win against Aries(cause he wants Roode for himself). During the next PPVs, you have Aries vs Storm in a mini-feud cause Storm cost Aries. Then at the end of the BFG series, you have a Final Four but this Final Four this year is a Four Corner Texas Tornado Match and Aces & 8s comes in and destroy the four finalists. No BFG series winner. On Impact they do a Battle Royale, Storm wins, he faces the World champ Roode at BFG.

A similar thing with Roode vs Kurt Angle. People were mad that Roode lose but more importantly they were mad at having paid for such a sickening turn of events. A short match, the wrong guy lose, done in a lame manner etc...Never screw with you customer! What they should have done is this, match happens, Roode doesn't show up. Then he appears all beat-up by Immortal. He does the match but the guy just cannot continue, ref stops the match. Angle smiles, he is awarded the match. People boo. But then Dixie Carter appears, she says that won't go down and there's gonna be another World title match tonight and Angle is gonna face James Storm. Storm comes in, face Angle and wins the title. See, it almost accomplishes what they've done post BFG but you don't cheat your paying customers. After that on Impact you do the celebration, exactly like it happened. With Roode turning later on on Storm.

Now as far as AJ Styles, people wants the big finish, they could do that but throw a monkey wrench into it to not showing their cards too much. They could have a representive of A/8 like Bully in the World title match at BFG and a representative of MEM with Joe(or Magnus) + AJ in a three-way.

OR have MEM promises a spot on their roster to AJ but AJ turns on them. Then you have Bully vs AJ for all the marbles but Sting is the ref, and you don't know wich sides he's on, does he hate Bully more than AJ? During the match you could have AJ knock Sting out, lay him out. So a new ref comes in. And that means when A/8 comes in to help Bully, NO ONE from MEM come to help AJ. But AJ finds a way to win anyway.