TNA Has Everything They Need To Get Back On Track

[BigBombB]

This may come as a surprise and be completely beyond belief to some considering the amount of cuts going on in TNA today but in certain ways TNA is better today than it has been in years. How can that be, you may be asking yourself, when all of the big name talent is leaving? Even AJ Styles, the poster child for the company, has left! And to that I say: exactly! Out with the old, in with the new, TNA can no longer rely on the same old stuff and that is forcing them to innovate.

01. Ethan Carter III is a great reinvention of a talent that never had a chance to take off in WWE. On top of that, Kurt Angle seems poised to take him to the next level, something that many other talents Angle has worked with have squandered but Carter is likely to run with.
02. Samoa Joe seems to have regained a lot of the momentum he lost over the years and is once again seen as a top threat within the company.
03. Sting lost to Magnus and this time, it seems, Sting is REALLY not coming back! Talk about a boost to the resume of a young wrestler.
04. MVP went from top prospect in WWE, to being the first IWGP Intercontinental champion in Japan, to returning to American television in TNA with a renewed spirit. He isn't a name like Kurt Angle or Sting but he is a talent that has yet to show his full potential to an American audience.
05. The Knockout's Division isn't the greatest it has ever been but some of the veteran Knockouts add credibility and the new talent have looks that will make people stay on the channel.
06. Samuel Shaw is playing his character incredibly well, to the point where Christy Hemme and Ken Anderson (who I once thought were the top two "big name talents" worth cutting) have an actual purpose on the roster. Shaw has a look, he is surprisingly great on the mic, and there is a definite future in this guy.
07. Gunner and Storm are having some good old fashion brawls, even though I still don't buy Gunner as a top talent, the feud certainly won't hurt his future ability to prove he is.
08. Bobby Roode seems like a top guy, not quite a WWE level top guy, but getting there. In the process, Austin Aries is riding the same wave and becoming a legit long term star within the company.
09. This partnership with Wrestle-1 certainly isn't going to hurt the company and may give TNA more international credibility, allowing them to have a more viable possibility of surviving outside of the American market. Keiji Mutoh is a brilliant businessman within the wrestling industry and his new promotion trying to grow may give TNA a good lesson in how to become relevant.
10. This Abyss thing, while everyone saw it coming, is still a great twist on an otherwise cookie cutter monster character.

That isn't to say there aren't problems, such as:

- TNA may have the worst camera (and editing) work in wrestling history, what in the hell happened? I got mental whiplash from watching the most recent episode. Go back to "less is more", emphasize the wrestlers rather than the 'action', and save these quick cuts for Curry Man appearances only.
- The play-by-play guys need training on how to tell a story and so do the wrestlers, if everyone started adding more subtle elements to the storylines already going then many of them could make for legitimately intriguing television.
- There are too many beards! Someone groom some of these guys and get them unique looks. Eric Young, Bobby Roode, and a few others have characters that fit their beards, everyone else needs to differentiate.

With those tweaks and the large amount of forward progress currently going on, TNA could once again be a legitimate number 2 company in the wrestling world. Then, once they get profitable again, bringing back a guy like AJ Styles to try to recapture his place as the face of TNA would only be another big boon to TNA's momentum. (Plus, Styles back in ROH is giving that organization a much needed boost.) They have made a lot out of a little recently and the need to put up or shut up may make this last hurrah the one that sees TNA get onto the track they need to be on.

What else is TNA doing that shows they may be onto something? Let me know what you think in the comments below!

 

[evolutionfan4life]

Agree with the o.p ec3 reminds me of randy Orton back in his early evolution days decent on the mic solid in the ring and a great look can see him becoming the top face of tna when he breaks away from Dixie,,
Joe is looking like a badass again,,
tag team division looking good with the wolves,bad influence and my fave tag the bromans personally think roode is the hhh of the company top heel in tna.
all in all tna is looking good for the future

 

[tnafan23]

there roster looking good. now if they can resign with spike tv. kurt likely leaveing soon. save more money . Kenny king comeing back im really likeing this roster

 

[lil steroid meat]

TNA is definitely looking better than it was a few months ago. Some of the storylines are silly (Shaw, Abyss, Chris Sabin) but it's professional wrestling so it's expected.

I say continue to focus on new talent, and stop using that damn blue color scheme, looks like diet Smackdown. Red is kind of played out too, but really any new color would be appreciated. Orange, Black, Neon Green, Yellow, Purple, etc. Anything other than the played out red or blue.

Also would appreciate the return of the six sided ring.

As far as the newer talent, only thing I wish they did with EC3 is let him go on a Legend Killer streak, taking out AJ Styles, Sting, Angle.

 

[rokuma]

I agree that TNA is in a great position right now. I've been thinking about it and the state of wrestling is similar to 1997-1998. WWE now plays the role of WCW: Enormous company, crazy product exposure, biggest stars in the world, and the best company for years, but is slowly growing stale.

TNA is playing the role of WWF back then: Financial difficulties, choices to make with franchise guys (AJ Styles, Sting) - by the way, AJ Styles would be Bret Hart in this analogy. They let Styles go and all of a sudden, the product has an identity and an interesting one. The shows became interesting, other guys got a chance to step up, new talent was brought in (MVP, the Wolves), the focus is on something other than AJ Styles, Sting, or Hogan. It's truly a new era in TNA and I think they will be better off for it.

The end of 97-98 WCW/WWF battle produced the most popular era in professional wrestling. I don't think we're going to see that, but maybe TNA becomes a respectable threat to the WWE and becomes the alternative that most wrestling fans desire? I don't even watch WWE anymore, only TNA. I've preferred their product for a while. Maybe that mindset will reach a wider audience and we'll have some legitimate competition in wrestling again. Competition, in theory, creates more interesting products all around.

 

[closet_fan]

- The play-by-play guys need training on how to tell a story and so do the wrestlers, if everyone started adding more subtle elements to the storylines already going then many of them could make for legitimately intriguing television.

Maybe some will disagree, but Mike Tenay has worn out his welcome. I can't listen to him anymore. He's very knowledgeable. No doubt about that. But he doesn't have what it takes to make a match much more interesting than it might actually be. Ross and Joey Styles were able to do this fluently.

 

[Cereal Killer]

As far as the newer talent, only thing I wish they did with EC3 is let him go on a Legend Killer streak, taking out AJ Styles, Sting, Angle.

This would not have been a good idea. EC3 arrived at Bound For Glory, the same night AJ Styles became the TNA World Heavyweight Champion. Assuming their plans went ahead the way they had wanted to, Styles was most likely going to be pushed to the moon as the face of the company. Why would a rookie take out a man of such status? Furthermore, at the Bound For Glory event Kurt Angle promised a new side of himself; defeats by a rookie wouldn't really sustain that. Then you have Sting. Sure, he could have taken him out but taking out one individual wouldn't make him a "legend killer." I like the idea of it though, that's three major talents with two of them being 13-time World Champions and TNA Hall Of Famers, but it would have never made sense.

 

[tnafan23]

Ok don't go over board. Tna is not WCW . House shows are poor they are on bad network. I do like what's tna doing . I'm starting watching tna full time I like tna over wwe. Bischoff just got lucky with the now

 

[lil steroid meat]

This would not have been a good idea. EC3 arrived at Bound For Glory, the same night AJ Styles became the TNA World Heavyweight Champion. Assuming their plans went ahead the way they had wanted to, Styles was most likely going to be pushed to the moon as the face of the company. Why would a rookie take out a man of such status? Furthermore, at the Bound For Glory event Kurt Angle promised a new side of himself; defeats by a rookie wouldn't really sustain that. Then you have Sting. Sure, he could have taken him out but taking out one individual wouldn't make him a "legend killer." I like the idea of it though, that's three major talents with two of them being 13-time World Champions and TNA Hall Of Famers, but it would have never made sense.

I'll admit I hadn't been watching pro wrestling from 2012 (the RAW 1000 was really the last thing I remember being interested in) until end of December 2013, so I don't know what empty promises that TNA writers had their wrestlers make in promos prior to that point.

But they wouldn't even had to have him be in long matches or feuds.

For Styles, the night of the infamous Russo-fied Magnus v. AJ World Title Main Event where 15 dudes had to jump him for Magnus to win (is it still infamous or am I the only one who remembers that), I would have had EC3 brutally attack dude backstage before the match. Beat him from backstage to the main arena. Leave him motionless in the ring. Magnus comes out and gets the win.

Same with Sting and his title match.

This would help foreshadow the EC3 vs. Magnus feud because EC3 could say that without him, he's never retained the title. And of course it builds him up as the legend killer. And it keeps the Ghost of Vince Russo off of my television in 2014.

They could have even had him cut promos on the backstage drama that was going on at the time and how the TNA Originals/Legends like Styles, Angle, Sting, Hardy etc. did nothing for the company except hog money and they can't even fill up high school gyms and all that. Make this dude the top heel in the company, spoiled, privileged prick who actually backs up what he says as much as you hate to admit it.

He could do the same with Hardy, have him cut promos on his drug problems. He could have "killed" the Hardy character off (since he's coming back as Willow Wyatt), it would have at least propelled someone, instead of doing the predictable retirement angle.

It seems like they still have time and plan to do an Angle-EC3 feud, and although that Angle rub can be nice for EC3, it would have been so much more important for EC3 if that was the fourth dude he takes out after a long list of legends.

I don't know, I just feel like if these legends are on the way out anyway, why not feed them to a young dude who's going to presumably be around for a long time. It's not like the kayfabe ways Hardy (the character Jeff Hardy), Sting, Styles left were really well executed angles.

 

[whoopin' ass]

I think TNA has a great opportunity now to start making some real progress. While the older stars may have gotten them some attention, they are not enough to justify the costs. Even with AJ - I liked him but he was the TNA guy and that gets boring after a while (think of Cena). Now instead of just dumping AJ into an angle, they can use others. It sucks that some talent seems to be on the way out as I don't think they will get a decent shake at wwe - thinking Angle and Bully Ray - but TNA has already started to bring in more talent and the savings will help them.

 

[Cereal Killer]

But they wouldn't even had to have him be in long matches or feuds.

So he would just do random attacks? If he's in a feud with a top star and is trying to take them out, realistically and for the benefit of that top star's legacy, it's going to take this rookie some time to take out a legend.

For Styles, the night of the infamous Russo-fied Magnus v. AJ World Title Main Event where 15 dudes had to jump him for Magnus to win (is it still infamous or am I the only one who remembers that), I would have had EC3 brutally attack dude backstage before the match. Beat him from backstage to the main arena. Leave him motionless in the ring. Magnus comes out and gets the win.

No. That match was pretty good as it happened. It made Dxixieland look strong and dominant, put Magnus over as a protected heel and gave spotlight to Bobby Roode's new finisher. Besides, how on earth would EC3 beat Styles up in a fight?

This would help foreshadow the EC3 vs. Magnus feud because EC3 could say that without him, he's never retained the title. And of course it builds him up as the legend killer. And it keeps the Ghost of Vince Russo off of my television in 2014.

You can't have a rookie in straight away and beat the World Champion. Also, Magnus isn't a legend so that doesn't set up a "legend killer" storyline. And where did Vince Russo come from?

Make this dude the top heel in the company, spoiled, privileged prick who actually backs up what he says as much as you hate to admit it.

You have that with Austin Aries and also Magnus. Both are heels and can back themselves up. Aries, The Greatest Man that ever lived, is a triple-crown champion and defeated the longest reigning champion. Magnus is the man that drove out Jeff Hardy, Sting and AJ Styles. Want to talk about hating to admit? I'm sure fans hate to admit that Magnus is a World Champion everyone should be; friends with the boss, a company guy, attends the meetings and is a young, 6'3-jacked son of a gun.

He could do the same with Hardy, have him cut promos on his drug problems. He could have "killed" the Hardy character off (since he's coming back as Willow Wyatt), it would have at least propelled someone, instead of doing the predictable retirement angle.

I'll give you Hardy but two still isn't enough.

 

[therock]

what was TNA official Attendance for Lock down 2014?

 

[Trill Co$by]

what was TNA official Attendance for Lock down 2014?

If you think attendance figures matter, then I can list you at least five matches that aren't even from TNA events that happened within the last month that would blow anything WWE's been able to put on out of the water, including Wyatts vs. The Shield [as awesome as they were]. One of them, actually was the first live match to air on WWE Network.

 

[therock]

If you think attendance figures matter, then I can list you at least five matches that aren't even from TNA events that happened within the last month that would blow anything WWE's been able to put on out of the water, including Wyatts vs. The Shield [as awesome as they were]. One of them, actually was the first live match to air on WWE Network.

The best bench mark for business, is to look at their cash flow or Financial statements.
I know the I can't look at TNA company cash flow or Financial statements and so for the only bench mark that can judge how well TNA is going is their Attendance of Main events such as Lockdown.

Yes, just looking at Attendance of Main events such as PPV not good bench mark but only bench mark I can go by.

With WWE, I can look at their Financial statements (maybe limited) and see how the company is Financial standing is today and in to the future ,but with TNA I can't.

 

[tnafan23]

tna is hitting the reset button and start over. I like how they rebuilding there roster.