What If The Rock went to TNA?

[Miko]

Okay so this thread is a bit out there, so if the mods feel its a bit stupid and decide to delete it then I shall have to live with my failure.

I got thinking about all the talk recently of wrestling moving in cycles and it reminded me of a situation a few years ago when you had a faltering WWE and a very shaky WCW, in the WWE you had stupid gimmicks and a failing kids TV style of product and in WCW you had a promotion that just didnt click. In my opinion almost exactly the same situation as you have now.

Now while Austin could be responsible for the attitude era I think it's safe to say that The Rock surpassed him, in fact I have even seen people say things like "if The Rock was still wrestling he could've even surpassed Hogan". Hopefully now you can see where I am going.

Could The Rock have a Hogan-esque effect on TNA and wrestling in general if he were to somehow sign with them?
Is there any chance of The Rock quitting Hollywood to get back in the ring as he said he would do one day (after losing to Goldberg)?
Would TNA be too smarky to sign him because he doesnt "wrestle" well enough?
Is there anybody else that could have this effect?
Should this thread just be deleted?

 

[Tim]

Yes, this thread should be deleted.

Just joking. Anyway, give me one good reason why The Rock would go to TNA in the first place? He doesn't need the money, and if he wanted to get back in the wrestling business, it would be with the WWE, not TNA. There is no reason why he would join TNA. And if the opportunity arises and The Rock says he will sign with TNA if they want him, and TNA refuses, it would be the stupidest business mistake ever. I don't think TNA are that stupid.

I think that The Rock could help lift TNA into actual competition with WWE, but TNA would need more than one star to keep up that competition. So only for a limited time would The Rock be able to send TNA ratings sk high, but he couldn't keep them that way just going on himself and himself alone. I also think that The Rock won't quit the movie industry to come back to wrestling. It would make no sense, The Rock has basically shunned the wrestling world and he doesn't seem to want to go back.

As for anyone else who could have that effect, you sort of answered it in your own post. That person would be Hogan. You even used it without meaning to, when you said "Hogan-esque". He would definately help out TNA, and it could even start something like the Monday Night Wars again. But the problem is, now WWE has three televised programs, while TNA has only one, it is almost impossible for TNA to be a direct threat to WWE, even considering scenarios where The Rock or Hogan signs to TNA. WWE is just too big a wrestling company.

 

[Marty2Hotty]

Im not sure if it will make a significant impact. I mean TNA acquiried Mick freakin Foley, Sting, Kurt Angle, Booker T, Christian, 3D, Rhino, VKM. they have a lot of recognizable names on the roster

Even if Rock and Austin were regulars, I'm not sure if it will shake the ratings unless people start talking about the actual product. I think the "buzz" needs to be around the controversy, "did u see that stuff last night" talk.. i'm not sure a straight wrestling shwo can do that nowadays

You need to do a product that gets people talking. If a rock and foley can be thrown into a great product, the better. I dont think straightw restling is going to turn heads

 

[Miko]

Im not sure if it will make a significant impact. I mean TNA acquiried Mick freakin Foley, Sting, Kurt Angle, Booker T, Christian, 3D, Rhino, VKM. they have a lot of recognizable names on the roster

Those are impressive names no doubt about it. But while all these guys are "popular" The Rock is a megastar, the only person who came to TNA that should've attracted a real boom with fans was Sting but somehow that didnt work out. Foley might have done but I think he appeared on WWE TV too much and the novelty wore off.

Still neither would have the impact of The Rock regardless.

Even if Rock and Austin were regulars, I'm not sure if it will shake the ratings unless people start talking about the actual product. I think the "buzz" needs to be around the controversy, "did u see that stuff last night" talk.. i'm not sure a straight wrestling shwo can do that nowadays

I think that wrestling has nearly always been dependent on what one man can bring to the table, be it Hogan in the 80's or Hogan and Austin in the attitude era. No doubt the programs were good enough to keep veiwers but its because of the people that they gained them, this is what I think The Rock could do.

You need to do a product that gets people talking. If a rock and foley can be thrown into a great product, the better. I dont think straightw restling is going to turn heads

Agreed but in order to do that people need to be watching in the first place, dont get me wrong TNA has veiwers but so did WCW before the arrival of Hulk Hogan and no one really talked about that.

 

[SpiralHands]

Okies obviosuly The Rock going to TNA is about 1% chance, but in this business you never say never! I think if The Rock was to ever go there, than TNA would be huge, everyone would tune in just to see The Rock wrestling again, possibly the same ffect it would have if TNA hired Hogan. But yeah if The Rock went there then the skys the limit to be honest!