It has been reported that Dutch Mandell is only working with the TNA knockouts. This has also come from the mouth of Glenn Gilbertti. So pump the breaks on that old inaccurate news about Russo only being a script writer.
Of course Dixie Carter is in charge and Jarrett has final say but Vince Russo is running creative!
Dixie Carter herself said Russo was scriptwriting. And, what report EVER said that Dutch was ONLY working with the Knockouts?
I've been watching wrestling a lot longer than 5 years. Unlike the average Joe Wrestling fan this game didnt start with me during the attitude era. Vince Russo used coffins in WCW when they did the Goldberg funeral. Coffins are one of his trademarks in writing.
What history does Dutch Mandell have with coffins in wrestling?
TNA reported that it was Dutch Mandell because they wanted to save Russo's neck. He had major heat from fans. "FIRE RUSSO CHANTS" were at an all time high at that time.
Dutch Mantell booked similar angles in his time in Puerto Rico.
Hogans, Pipers, Flairs, Austins, and Rocks set up matches with promotion but they cashed checks by being able to entertain in the ring. You can not have good promotions and have bad matches. Fans will stop paying for the ppv's if they dont deliver.
Yes, but you don't even get fans to pay attention the first time if you don't say the right thing. ROH and their 36 buys in Canada are proof of that.
Proof is in WWE right now. Their matches suck. That's why their support is going down. They are half of what they once were. Promotion is there but matches arent.
If their matches suck (which they don't, but let's play along), then you are only proving MY point at 205-2007 did some of the best PPV revenue the WWE has seen in a LONG time.
FACT: WCW cruiserweights (including Dean Malenko) were very popular when WCW was in its prime.
Fact: The cruiserweights didn't draw for WCW, the nWo, Sting and Luger did.
FACT: TNA's X-Division is what brought the MAJORITY of TNA's fans to the company.
Question: What the hell are you talking about? When the X-Division was the focus of the show, TNA was running weekly PPV deals because they weren't big enough to get a TV show.
Dispute the popularity of these guys:
WCW Cruiserweights
1. Chris Jericho
2. Rey Mysterio Jr.
3. La Parka
4. Eddie Guerrero
5. Juvi
Only one of those guys you named is a proven draw and that's Mysterio. And that only happened after he bulked up tremendously, and slowed down his style.
And, are you going to tell me that Jericho and Eddie aren't tremendous promo workers?
TNA X-Division
1. AJ Styles
2. Jay Lethal
3. Petey Williams
4. Christopher Daniels
5. Chris Sabin
Every single one of those guys were POPULAR because of what they did in the ring and not on the mic.
And not one of them is a significant draw, with the possible exception of AJ, who has shown himself to be a comedic and promo god.
For every Dean Malenko of yesterday you pull out I can throw out a John Cena of today to prove that fans are wanting more than just a mouth piece.
FACT: you hear .. "FIRE RUSSO" chants when creative angles get crazy.
FACT: you NEVER hear .. "FIRE THE BOOKER" chants if there is next to no storyline setup for a match.
So, all of a sudden, the 5% of the IWC is to be taken as an indication of what ALL fans every where want? When did that happen?
FACT: you hear .. "WE WANT WRESTLING" chants when wrestling gets too soap opera like.
That's only during boring promos and interviews.
How many times did you hear "We want wrestling" during a Rock interview? How about a Steve Austin promo?
FACT: you NEVER hear .. "WE WANT PROMOS" chants when there is more action than promos.
No, you just see a bored crowd.
FACT: you hear .. "YOU CANT WRESTLE" chant for guys like Cena that cant wrestle.
Cena is a tremendous wrestler, and the fact people say that Cena cannot shows how little those fans need to be catered too. I mean, those same fans who chant you can't wrestle to Cena are the ones who were kissing RVD's ass at One Night Stand.
So what do they really know?
FACT: you NEVER hear ... "YOU CANT PROMO" chants for guys that are weak on the mic.
You also don't see them selling PPVs, now do you?
So, what do fans really want?
They want entertaining characters, who are larger than life. It's been proven time and again. Hell, you yourself just said you think Cena can't wrestle (which is flat wrong, but again, let's just do it for argument's sake). If Cena can't wrestle, then why is he the biggest draw in the world right now?
Vince Russo creative ideas are too played out. All he is doing is putting over old WWE talent then the young TNA talent. Also he makes characters turn heel and face every week. The match build ups are terrible. Every week you see security break up a brawl to climax a story. He needs to try somthing new.
The current booking team does a WHOLE lot more for the younger talent than the booking team of 2006 ever did.
Basically Russo gets ratings but not quality, we have to accept the two are usually not connected. WWE has high ratings and is mostly garbage, ROH is not in any way popular but puts on good shows, TNA was good but did poor ratings and now they arent stellar but have increased but at the expense of the product.
No offense, but that's an incredibly stupid statement. I mean, you just said that ratings are inversely proportional to quality.
Why would more people watch if quality goes down? That's ridiculous, and WCW from 1999-2001 is enough proof that if quality is terrible, than ratings go down. WWF from 1997-1999 is proof that is quality is good, ratings go up.
To say that ratings are inversely proportional to quality is ridiculous.
We all just need to accept these companies are businesses and care more about getting viewers than putting on a good show. Quite honestly you're an idiot if you think doing the opposite is sensible for your business.
The fact they are getting more people to watch means they are putting on a better show.
And the IWC wonders why wrestling companies care so little for their opinions.
