TNA Is The Better Choice For The Newer Generation

[ZeroVX]

One complaint that I've heard directed towards TNA lately is that it's WWE-Lite. That they're doing the same things WWE did that made them famous, in an attempt to get that same success.

Well, that's not necessarily a bad thing.

To the older generation, it is a bad thing. They've already seen these things done by the WWE back in the Attitude Era, they already know how things will end, and as such, it's become dull and boring to them. The younger generation, on the other hand, hasn't seen these things before, so they don't know what to expect. As such, it's more interesting to them than to the older generation, and they are more likely to tune in to TNA because of this, eager to see what surprises will happen.

Is it a cheap method to gain attention? Maybe, but if it is, WWE's just as guilty for doing it way back when as TNA is of doing it now.

 

[WWE Manster03]

this would be true if TNA were using exclusively younger talent. They are using older talent that a new generation will either never of heard of(talking to you Nastyz/Jimmy Hart/Wolfpac) or don't understand the significance they have in the business(Hogan/Bischoff/Flair). If it were just Aj vs Pope/Abyss or RVD/Hardy vs Anderson then a younger generation would relate much better. I'm not saying they don't already, but as a 25 yr old if someone comes in that is very much older than me or even the people they are competing against, it becomes harder to believe they will compete, thus making it hard for me to care about a particular fued because I'm not emotionally invested in it. A good example for me was last year's Wrestlemania, with Jericho vs Snuka/Piper/Steamboat. I knew Piper and Snuka stood NO chance to even compete, so it was hard for me to get into the first 6-7 minutes of that match. I was able to become involved emotionally at the end because I say Steamboat working hard and looking GREAT and I legit thought he might get the rub there. I watched with my 13 yr old nephew who had no idea who any of those 3 were, but he started rooting for Steamboat at the end as well. Just my thoughts, but if they were to showcase the X division prominently they would become more of the younger generation's flavor.

 

[Reddannihilation]

What I've always found amusing about the "WWE-lite" comments, aside from the purposefully misspelled buzz word, is that TNA does things WWE doesn't do, e.g. Blood, chair shots, adult storylines, sex appeal and high impact moves/matches. Usually when something is accused of being a lighter version it tends to do less than the supposedly superior product, e.g. Diet Coke. Which is why I've always found that to be one of the dumbest insults WWE marks throw around.

Beyond that, you could be right. TNA does make use of Attitude era-style programming. But even still you state that they're doing what the WWE did to get in the position they're in today. I disagree for several reasons, there are huge differences to TNA today and The Attitude era WWF. For instance, the WWF/E never had a good cruiserweight division. TNA had/has a very solid X-division that highlights high flyers without limiting their competition to high flyers vs high flyers. Secondly TNA's main event scene is far more open than the WWE's ever has been. Even in the Attitude era it was HBK, Stone Cold, The Rock, Undertaker, HHH, etc. TNA doesn't section off their main event so it's easier or young guys to break into the top card. Basically I disagree with your assumptions about TNA, but I do agree with your thread title TNA is the better choice for the new generation because WWE have grown too comfortable resting on their laurels, there's nothing intriguing about WWE programming anymore and that's only going to get worse when guys like Michaels and Taker dissappear.

 

[Jack-Hammer]

What I've always found amusing about the "WWE-lite" comments, aside from the purposefully misspelled buzz word, is that TNA does things WWE doesn't do, e.g. Blood, chair shots, adult storylines, sex appeal and high impact moves/matches.

TNA does have its wrestlers use blood and the WWE doesn't, that's true. However, what's the big obsession with blood anyhow? It's not as if TNA has wrestlers bleed in every match or even on every show. I will admit that blood does make some matches better as it makes them more believable and helps further the story a match is trying to tell. But on the rest of it, it's just more of the same TNA lipservice. The WWE does use chairshots, only not to the skull anymore. If you think that's a bad thing, then you really have no clue what you're talking about. For the past decade in particular, pro wrestlers have been dropping like flies, many of which suffering long term effects of injuries sustained as a result of head trauma. Look at Christ Benoit if you want an idea of the ultimate consequences of not doing a better job ensuring the health of wrestlers that work for you. As for adult storylines, like what? More lame angles involving power struggles over the future of TNA? TNA has had the opportunity to do something controversial, something that pushed the envelope with Orlando Jordan but they didn't do it. They didn't show the incident in which he kissed and groped his male escort ont he way to the ring on television. That would have been adult, that would have been pushing the envelope. The idea of TNA being having more adult storylines is a smokescreen that TNA marks try to toss around in the hopes of it having validity. In truth, when it comes down to the crunch, TNA and Spike haven't done anything more than have wrestlers say a few dirty words every once in a while and have The Beautiful People shake their asses in front of the camera. Those things were cutting edge and pushing the envelope 12 years ago when the WWE already did them. As for having high impact moves and matches, I really don't know what you're talking about it. If you're saying that TNA has more spotfests filled with spotmonkeys that are memorable for 5 or 10 minutes after they take place, tell no story, have no semblance of ring psychology and take place primarily for the purpose of giving the TNA marks an excuse to chant "This is awesome", then you're absolutely right.

 

[Razor]

One complaint that I've heard directed towards TNA lately is that it's WWE-Lite. That they're doing the same things WWE did that made them famous, in an attempt to get that same success.

Yep. Don't forget WCW homeboys also.

Well, that's not necessarily a bad thing.

I would say it is. I'm in the "newer generation" you describe as well.

To the older generation, it is a bad thing. They've already seen these things done by the WWE back in the Attitude Era, they already know how things will end, and as such, it's become dull and boring to them. The younger generation, on the other hand, hasn't seen these things before, so they don't know what to expect. As such, it's more interesting to them than to the older generation, and they are more likely to tune in to TNA because of this, eager to see what surprises will happen.

Wait, what?

Watch TNA recycle old storylines because you don't know how they will end? That's ridiculous. TNA should be gaining new fans based off of new storylines, not rehashing the same old storylines from WCW and WWE's respective heydays. It's lazy writing, and to even imply that we should reward them with our viewership and PPV buys is preposterous.

Is it a cheap method to gain attention? Maybe, but if it is, WWE's just as guilty for doing it way back when as TNA is of doing it now.

So, wait. The WWE using the Attitude Era, full of crazy storylines that they for the most part came up with themselves (when not blatantly stealing from WCW or vice versa), is just as bad as TNA rehashing old storylines from 15 years ago?

You'll have to explain that to me. TNA is boldly and without apology stealing storylines and superstars from that past. The only problem is that they don't execute the ideas half as well and end up with a storyline that ended up worse than the original did.

How the above is any better than the WWE and WCW going to war and coming up with storylines themselves is beyond me.

If anything, the WWE is the better choice for the "newer generation." WWE has had decades of experience, and it shows when they put out terrific PPVs like this past Wrestlemania 26. TNA is so inexperienced they resort to old storylines and the reincarnation of old superstars from wrestling's past that have gone well past their ability to entertain (Nasty Boys, I'm looking at you.). TNA not only reuses old, tired storylines that you seem to think will entertain me because they're stolen; they fuck them up beyond repair. When was the last time you sat through a TNA story arc and understood beyond a shadow of a doubt where you were?

 

[ZeroVX]

Wait, what?

Watch TNA recycle old storylines because you don't know how they will end? That's ridiculous. TNA should be gaining new fans based off of new storylines, not rehashing the same old storylines from WCW and WWE's respective heydays. It's lazy writing, and to even imply that we should reward them with our viewership and PPV buys is preposterous.

When you get right down to it, every wrestling storyline is "two guys hate each other and want to fight". There's only so many unique ways you can do that. Some storylines have been rehashed so many times that they're accepted as commonplace. There's a reason for that, though. It's not because it's lazy, it's because it works. Now, obviously, in some cases, that's not true. But in most cases, there's no issue.

So, wait. The WWE using the Attitude Era, full of crazy storylines that they for the most part came up with themselves (when not blatantly stealing from WCW or vice versa), is just as bad as TNA rehashing old storylines from 15 years ago?

You'll have to explain that to me. TNA is boldly and without apology stealing storylines and superstars from that past. The only problem is that they don't execute the ideas half as well and end up with a storyline that ended up worse than the original did.

You said it yourself. WWE did the same thing in the Attitude Era. Likewise for WCW. They both stole and rehashed storylines from each other all the time. Some cases it worked, others it didn't. Same as what TNA is doing now. How is it a problem now if it wasn't then?

As for the ones WWE originally came up with, don't forget, not every one was gold. Kennel From Hell, after all.

How the above is any better than the WWE and WCW going to war and coming up with storylines themselves is beyond me.

If anything, the WWE is the better choice for the "newer generation." WWE has had decades of experience, and it shows when they put out terrific PPVs like this past Wrestlemania 26. TNA is so inexperienced they resort to old storylines and the reincarnation of old superstars from wrestling's past that have gone well past their ability to entertain (Nasty Boys, I'm looking at you.). TNA not only reuses old, tired storylines that you seem to think will entertain me because they're stolen; they fuck them up beyond repair. When was the last time you sat through a TNA story arc and understood beyond a shadow of a doubt where you were?

Wrestlemania was an excellent PPV, there can be no questioning that. But, it was Wrestlemania. No gimmicks, nothing added on, just an excellent card that delivered. How many other WWE PPVs on the horizon look to do the same? Almost every PPV outside of Summerslam have some sort of gimmick attached to them, and I feel that will cripple the WWE's storylines for the rest of the year. If 2009 was any indication, they'll focus more on the match type itself rather than any feuds going into them. That's much lazier than recreating an old storyline, because that's at least a storyline. What WWE did last year can barely be called that. As for the older wrestlers, it's been said a lot on here already, but TNA brought them in to draw in casual fans. Once they feel they've hooked enough fans, they'll fade them out. It's started already, as the Nasty Boys have apparently been released. I suspect that Hall and Waltman won't be staying much longer either.

All it takes is a little patience. TNA's just started, they'll make themselves known soon enough.