Traci Brooks On Spoilers, Roster and Creative

[ABMorales787]

Former TNA Knockout, Traci Brooks recently did an interview with ClubWWI.com's James Guttman discussing her time in TNA Wrestling. Among the topics were her relationship to Frankie Kazarian, time in WWE, but more importantly , discussing TNA Wrestling. One of the things she's best known for there is for being placed in major roles just for them to be dropped abruptly. From being the "mistress" of the MEM, to the Knockout Law, she had this to saw on the subject:

Brooks had some moments in the company that seemed to stop abruptly. She talks about them including her quick TNA Knockout Law gimmick. James points out that one of TNA's biggest strengths is sometimes a drawback - abundance of talent. With so many stars looking for a place to work, it sometimes seems like there are too many big names for TNA to focus on. Because of this, angles and storylines can get sent to the backburner too soon. The two discuss what can be done about that and as the Club WWI interview continues, Brooks gives a unique view on what they need:

"Yeah. I just wish TNA would get another show. I think, hands down, TNA has some of the best talent. I really do. I love the fact that they're doing the whole 'wrestling matters" thing because it's the exact opposite of the other company and I think it's really neat. They just need more time. I think that's all TNA needs is just another show."

I agree. I've felt the same way. 1 wrestling program is just not enough anymore. Not only is the lack of time to spread the wrestling and stories an issue, but they fall behind easily to WWE. TNA airs one show while WWE airs 4. No matter what they do, WWE will easily top them in terms of discussion among fans. Another show will give way to many things. If ratings are a worry, I feel they shouldn't be. I believe they will be the same as Impacts.

But moving on, another thing she discusses is the "evolution" of wrestling fan's. And in her belief, wrestling fans of today will never be satisfied:

Guttman thinks about it and agrees with this idea. He points out WWE's use of Smackdown and Raw to showcase more talent and it seems that with TNA's huge talent reservoir, they would be able to fill two shows easily and help pace things out better. However, as Traci points out, the viewing habits of wrestling fans have just changed in general and some won't be pleased no matter what. From her days growing up as fan to today, there seems to be too much information and too many fans basing their viewing off of what they read rather than what they see on TV. She explains her point:

"I used to want to sit in front of the TV and be amused and be happy and watch the show and not think. I just don't understand why people don't do that. You should watch it because it makes you happy."

Guttman asks if it has more to do with society today than wrestling. Before the year 2000, you looked forward to wrestling all week. Today, with Youtube and unlimited shows whenever you want, it seems that fans have sometimes watched too much of something before it even airs on TV.

"Yeah. Absolutely. It's spoilers. Because you read the spoilers and think, "I don't want to watch this." Or they fast forward it through Tivo. Yes, I know the Internet is here and we can't do anything about it. But sometimes I wish the dirtsheets would go away - not that I have a problem with the dirtsheets. I'm just saying that sometimes it ruins it. I just want people to turn the show on at 9 o'clock…and just watch it and just watch what happens without knowing the results of the matches. But you can't do anything about it. They can't throw out every person (in the arena) writing it down on a phone or on a laptop. It's here, so we have to deal with it, unfortunately."

She doesn't feel too happy with today's methods. In a way, I can't really blame her. Spoilers do tend to give a bad impression of a show before it airs. And I myself will admit to fast forwarding some parts when I have to download my shows. But is she right? Does that make us bad wrestling fan's? She posed this question towards the end regarding that:

"If you're not a wrestling fan and it doesn't bring you happiness or emotion like it should, why watch it?"

Interesting question. But sadness is also an emotion. And sometimes, internet or not, you feel your company can do more that what it currently does. That feeling is called "hope" and many fans have that feeling in "hopes" of their program becoming better. I know TNA is not in the best of shapes and I know I should just watch and not point fingers because I don't work in the business. But I have hope for TNA and I can feel it can improve while still enjoying what it offers now. I don't believe the internet can hinder that. It may turn skeptics away, but if undetailed spoilers push them away from the product, then they clearly should not watch as that would just give them fuel to criticize and aggravate the people who do enjoy the product. At least that's how I feel.

 

[madrox]

She's totally right.

Here in the UK, we get Impact Wrestling on tuesdays and ppvs the wednesday after it airs live in the States and honestly, I avoid all spoilers until I've seen the show and generally end up really enjoying it.

I've said it the past year in person and online but TNA since I began watching regularly again in late 2009 until this week and beyond has taken me back to my youth when I'd watch WCW Nitro, WCW Thunder and ECW Hardcore TV, enjoy the shows start to finish and then spend the next week really looking forward to tuning in next week to see what happens next.

The thing is that once I've seen a show, I'll check back with the spoiler reports to see if there were any dark matches or anything like that and it makes me glad to not check out what happens beforehand. It's like TNA have a stigma with some "fans" and dirtsheet writers and everything's always so negative.

Someone wrote for PWInsider a while back and the Impact Wrestling taping sounded horrendous going on that but then when I watched it (my only foray into checking spoilers BEFORE viewing a show myself), the show actually was highly enjoyable from beginning to end.

On the other hand, I tune into Raw and Smackdown now and then and hate the show, nothing really happens, no excitement, the matches are way too slow and seem to have no meaning and I don't get why some people are beign pushed and others aren't. Then I check the reports online and see that people actually enjoyed it and said it was awesome.

Entitled to their own opinions of course but I remember the Christian/R-Truth/Miz promo on Raw being absolutely horrible to watch and even the die hard WWE fans I know hated it yet Chris Cash on the WZ front page said he found it one of the funniest things he'd seen in months.

It's almost like the live nature of WWE Raw makes some people love what that company does despite it taking a lot of effort to actually watch start to finish while TNA taping Impact Wrestling in advance allows it to be trashed for no reason when the actual product that airs on tv is amazing.

Spoilers do that as well as perceptions on the company.

I've been saying TNA need to make Xplosion a second show and not just an international syndication for a long time now, even suggesting it to Dixie and Bischoff when I was stupid enough to have Facebook last year but hopefully now an ex-employee said it, they actually give it some thought and consideration.

 

[ABMorales787]

Someone wrote for PWInsider a while back and the Impact Wrestling taping sounded horrendous going on that but then when I watched it (my only foray into checking spoilers BEFORE viewing a show myself), the show actually was highly enjoyable from beginning to end.

On the other hand, I tune into Raw and Smackdown now and then and hate the show, nothing really happens, no excitement, the matches are way too slow and seem to have no meaning and I don't get why some people are beign pushed and others aren't. Then I check the reports online and see that people actually enjoyed it and said it was awesome.

Entitled to their own opinions of course but I remember the Christian/R-Truth/Miz promo on Raw being absolutely horrible to watch and even the die hard WWE fans I know hated it yet Chris Cash on the WZ front page said he found it one of the funniest things he'd seen in months.

Taking this little bit here to say, i felt the same way. I saw that promo and quite frankly, Scott Steiner babbling about Bully Ray and pulling out a Guitar Hero controller saying "he couldn't play it" as well as Bully Ray being an utter hypocrite to then name Ray as Sting opponent on this week's Impact seemed far superior to the Christian/Truth/Miz promo. I felt there was some real feeling into it. They felt far more natural than the three top heels responding to the babyfaces who just beat them.

Spoilers do that as well as perceptions on the company.

I'd agree with this too, but people don't say the same thing about Smackdown as they do for TNA. Ratings do show weakness though, but popularity does not. Either Raw does a great job safeguarding it, or TNA's taping schedule really hinders the program greatly.

I've been saying TNA need to make Xplosion a second show and not just an international syndication for a long time now, even suggesting it to Dixie and Bischoff when I was stupid enough to have Facebook last year but hopefully now an ex-employee said it, they actually give it some thought and consideration.

Lots of people want it. Self included. But sadly, it would seem Spike TV has other interests and TNA agrees with those interests. But this is not something they can run from forever. As time passes the need for expansion play a far larger toll in the company.