Where does TNA rank

[shattered dreams]

Where does TNA rank on your all-time favorite wrestling companies list? I am not that interested in the input of the people that dislike the product as much as the people that love the product (or at least like it). Has TNA become your favorite company ever? Or is that honor reserved for another. If TNA is in second (or wherever) right now, how close are they to or what would it take for them to get the top spot? For the purposes of this discussion let us consider WWE and WWF different entities. Take note this is simply your personal favorites, so it has nothing to do with business success, or anything beyond your opinion of the enjoyment each company has provided you.

edit: Remember just making a list does not cut it in the non-spam sections. Either talk about why you ranked as such, make some points about what this means about the state of wrestling, answer one of the questions I provided or really anything else of interest.

 

[Reddannihilation]

Of all time:
1.) WCW during the mid 90's
2.) WWF 80's and 90's
3.) Various NWA promotions during the 80's
4.) TNA
5.) ROH
6.) WWE post-04

In terms of the wrestling on offer today, TNA's my favourite company. They give me what I want in a product. No other company does that right now. The others give me something, TNA gives me most of everything.

 

[16mikeytot]

All Time
1. WWF Attitude Era. This is when I began watching wrestling 1998 or 99.
2. WWE
3. WCW The reason I put WCW here is because I never saw it until I began watching youtube videos.
4. TNA.
5. ECW.

 

[Tougie]

Today
1. ROH
2. TNA
3. WWE
4. Evolve
5. DGUSA

All Time
1. WWF - The best wrestling product ever known.
2. WWE - Prior to mid 2008 still competely addicting to watch
3. TNA - Reason listed below
4. ROH - Favorite company now as i listed above. A truly entertaining product right now.
5. WCW - The Cruiserweights, only reason. Benoit, Eddie, Dean, Rey, etc made WCW what it was.

TNA will always be high on my list. It isnt what it use to be right now but neither is WWE. TNA really introduced me to the new style of wrestling showcased in the X Division and they have had some really amazing matches. If they can turn around their current product, fire who they dont need, hire some good indy talent to boost the X Division again (Jack Evans being signed would be awesome), then who knows what TNA will do.

 

[Next Jericho]

Okay my favourite company off all time would be the WWE for plain and simple there the first one I watched and kept me interested in wrestling for a long time. I will explain why I like the companies in the order they are

1. WWE because there the first company I liked and they most off the time entertain me with charters like the Miz and Chris Jericho always making me watch WWE countless times.

2. TNA because well I love there no sense storyline's, good wrestling and different matches all that stuff most of the internet hates that but I rather watch Samoa Joe get kidnapped by masked men than watch John Morrison in the ring or on the mic I hate him, he is no Shawn Michaels the Miz is.

These are my favourite two companies in Wrestling as far as I can remember so these are my picks.

 

[hatehabsforever]

Where does TNA rank on your all-time favorite wrestling companies list? I am not that interested in the input of the people that dislike the product as much as the people that love the product (or at least like it). Has TNA become your favorite company ever? Or is that honor reserved for another. If TNA is in second (or wherever) right now, how close are they to or what would it take for them to get the top spot? For the purposes of this discussion let us consider WWE and WWF different entities. Take note this is simply your personal favorites, so it has nothing to do with business success, or anything beyond your opinion of the enjoyment each company has provided you.

This was actually a surprisingly easy ranking system to post.

1. WWF. I'm still a sucker for the Attitude Era. While I realize those days are here and gone, and so they should be, the days of SCSA, the Rock, DX, and all of these other guys, especially with my age at the time factored in, made this my easy first choice.

2. WWE. A relatively close second. I'm still a big fan of the WWE and probably always will be as long as I'm following professional wrestling. More bang for your buck than anything else being offered today.

3. WCW. Their opposition to the WWF during the Monday Night Wars was enjoyable. It's too bad there's nothing remotely close nowadays to rivalling WWE the way that WCW did back then.

4. TNA. The little engine that could, but still hasn't and probably won't anytime soon. Despite my negativity about TNA, I occasionally do sort of enjoy aspects of it every now and then. They do have their own little niche and their loyal fans, but they're simply not in the same league as either of the three mentioned above.

5. ECW. Miles behind the other four. I hardly ever watched it and didn't really enjoy it when I did. That's why I'm not enjoying it now in 2010, all over again. The only thing worse than ECW is seeing the same guys doing the same things, only 10-15 years and multiple injuries later.

6. ROH. I wasn't even going to put them on the list because I have never ever watched it, not once. For me, a distant last place. Makes TNA look high budget, and that's saying something.

You may not like to hear it, Shattered Dreams, but TNA is nowhere close to being in the top spot. Amongst current options, they're barely a blip on the radar of WWE. I think they're miles behind an average day for the WWE, and I really and truly don't believe there's anything whatsoever they can do to change this. They have tried a lot, and are still trying, and I respect them for this, but they're not making any in-roads whatsoever. At best they're standing still, and at times, seem to be going backwards. And this is not only from a business or ratings perspective. It's from a in-ring perspective, character development/interest level, storyline (logic and progression), production value, mainstream appeal, viability outside of North America, whatever way you want to analyze it.

 

[Remy LaCroix]

I've only watched wrestling for about 5 years or so, so I never got to witness WCW or ECW or any of those other southern wrestling promotions. Here's my list of what I watch on a weekly/monthly basis (I don't include promotions that have events every month or two or three cuz I watch 'em late):

1. TNA
2. ROH
3. AAA
4. WWE
5. CZW

I rank CZW the lowest because I've watched plenty of footage and, though I am a fan of hardcore wrestling, it gets redundant with all the fluorescent lights since they're, well...they seem VERY fake. The non-hardcore matches are usually okay.

I rank WWE low because I don't usually get any good wrestling from it and the only saving grace are the few young stars that I have hope for. And Chris Jericho. Without those saving graces, I pass up WWE most of the time.

AAA is above WWE on my list, but I find the main event dull for some reason -- prolly cuz it involves a lot of guys above 35 years of age. Something about it fascinates me, maybe cuz I'm half Mexican and one day hope of working south of the border in said promotion. I don't watch CMLL so I can't add it to my list, but I'm sure it'd be below this.

ROH is second cuz I sure do love wrestling, but I don't have access to it on tv so I'm limited, but I enjoy it. A lot. A LOT. A. Lot.

TNA gives me wrestling and maybe one storyline I dig. Also because it's the only other wrestling promotion on mainstream TV (don't know if the station AAA is on counts as "mainstream") and I'm a supporter for anything other than the WWEmpire.

 

[shattered dreams]

You may not like to hear it, Shattered Dreams, but TNA is nowhere close to being in the top spot. Amongst current options, they're barely a blip on the radar of WWE. I think they're miles behind an average day for the WWE, and I really and truly don't believe there's anything whatsoever they can do to change this. They have tried a lot, and are still trying, and I respect them for this, but they're not making any in-roads whatsoever. At best they're standing still, and at times, seem to be going backwards. And this is not only from a business or ratings perspective. It's from a in-ring perspective, character development/interest level, storyline (logic and progression), production value, mainstream appeal, viability outside of North America, whatever way you want to analyze it.

Not sure what this has to do with anything. This is people's personal opinions and I would not make any argument that TNA has surpassed WWF/WWE or WCW to the casual fan. If you think the point of this thread was to get people to say how TNA was about to be the greatest ever then you are extremely mistaken. If anything I expect there to be some questions raised about why exactly some people are called TNA marks. I was curious how high some of the more fervent supporters were willing to push the company and if there was anything that could happen to eventually eclipse the nostalgia factor. On the off-topic stuff I am not going to derail the thread to discuss but if you think the viability outside of north america is slipping then you are crazy.

 

[Papa Pillman]

I can't believe no one who has responded has ranked ECW highly... that is absolutely shocking to me.

I don't know about making a whole list; but to me, it's ECW #1 and any other wrestling product a very, very distant 2nd.

As for TNA, if they were to focus consistently on the level of the in-ring product, then they could easily become 2nd on the list. "The Whole F'n Show" Impact special was the best non-ppv televised wrestling event i have witnessed since ECW folded. If TNA could focus on delivering MATCHES the quality of the ones that aired on that show, and forget the other bullshit, than they have the roster and potential to be a legendary product in the industry.

 

[It's Damn Real!]

1. WCW
2. WWF Attitude Era
3. TNA
4. WWF Golden Era
5. WWF New Generation
6. ROH
7. WWE 2002-2006
8. ECW
9. WWE PG Era

So on and so forth...

Quite simply put, World Championship Wrestling was the be-all-end-all of pro-wreslting to me. It was the company that came inches from putting Vince McMahon out of business, and that's no short feat by any measure. WCW gave us a number of names, even if it wasn't responsible for "creating" them from their start, including "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, Scott Steiner, Sting, Ric Flair, Lex Luger, Arn Anderson, Booker T, Vader, Randy Savage, Bill Goldberg, Diamond Dallas Page and more. They were also responsible for birthing the single greatest stable of all time — the New World Order (nWo).

WCW owns my childhood, and are essentially the reason I became a professional wrestling fan in the first place, or at least remained one.

TNA has climbed the ranks over the years and came very, very close to usurping the WWF Attitude Era as my second favorite ever, but if not for the Attitude Era's history of having given me guys like Austin and the Rock, it might have, but as of this moment it just hasn't been at that same level long enough (yet), though there's certainly room to grow.

I don't doubt they'll eventually take that spot, especially as a new glut of future superstars grows from within their ranks – Styles, Shelley, Pope, etc.

 

[billm75]

1. WWF (80's/early 90's)
2. WWE current product (I tuned out for the wcw and attitude era years)
3. TNA by default, I don't watch any of the indy scene.

I'd enjoy TNA more if they would just get their product organized, and quit going for blood just about every single show. I'm not against some blood and adult content, but it's not something I can enjoy with my kids either. The adult content is fine for ME, as far as storylines and language, but their production values for the televised show need to come up some. I still feel like I'm watching a second rate, fly-by-night company. Much like the old NWA used to feel when watching it on TV. Great performers by and large, but the lack of good production values really seems to cheapen the product.

 

[Tougie]

1.TNA
2.WCW
3.NWA
4.JCW
5.PWG

WWE AND ROH DON't COME CLOSE LOVE IT HATE IT THOSE ARE THE FACTS

ROH and WWE dont compare...really? ROH has the best in ring talent right now, if you dont think so watch Death Before Dishonor from this year and Glory by Honor 9 on saturday. WWE is the ultimate obviously. Sorry but TNA is shit right now. Not that WWE is much better. ROH if they get a national tv deal will take off big time. IMO TNA doesnt compare

 

[dokeshi]

1. WWE
2. ROH
3. TNA
4. DGUSA

i wasn't around for wcw or ecw so they are not on my list.

wwe is my top because it was the company that got me into wrestling even though the wrestling all of times is subpar there are the occaisonally times when it is really good maybe once a year other than that its really just because iv watched for years i know the product even though i dont agree with where it is right now i know it can be better if it wants to.

ROH is second for me just because of the wrestling i dont get it on tv so i have to watch it on the internet the wrestling is some of the best out their even though the prodution values are low and the stories are simple the wrestling is so much better

Tna is third for me because of how it has been reacently if this was a few years ago i would rank it second but the product lately just hasn't been good apart from the whole f'n show they had i started watching it in 04 and the x divison blew me away it was the best wrestling i had ever seen guys like joe aj daniels red sabin shelly kaz petey homicde but lately it has not been good

DGUSA is fourth mainly because even though the wrestling is good the fact that most of the talent dosen't speak english all that well it makes storylines and fueds sometimes hard to follow.

 

[pjIXOYE]

Well, I've been a lifelong wrestling fan, and I'm 30 now...
I was very fortunate to grow up in the Dallas area so we were blessed with WCCW for many years emanating out of the Sportatorium.

That was my first true taste of wrestling. I've seen a huge metamorphosis of what wrestling WAS to what it IS today. I've been a fan of the independents for years, but in all honesty, they do not hold a candle to some of the majors that once were and still ARE.

1. WWE
2. WCW
3. WWF
4. ECW
5. WCCW
6. ROH
7. NWA
8. TNA
9. PWG
10.DGUSA

Sure, there are many of them out there, but these are the top ranking ones in my opinion. Feel free to discuss...I'm open ears.

The biggest problem with TNA right now is that they keep saying the EXACT same things week in and week out. Tonight (not having a show) might actually be a blessing for them. Make people crave it and WANT to see it next week. I hope they do well, it will always make the competition step up.

 

[shattered dreams]

Feel free to discuss...I'm open ears.

Fair enough. Care to elaborate on what makes you enjoy WWE more than either WWF or WCW? I only ask because most people tend to flip them the other way and curious what causes you to buck the trend. I could maybe see it if you did not care that much for attitude era but then you ranked ECW highly.

 

[machodonkeywrestler]

Juggalo Championchip Wrestling, really? Really? And the fact that it is ahead of WWE and ROH just shows me you have no understanding of either the wrestling facet of the business, nor the financial aspect. That is a Homer's opinion. BTW how was the "Gathering of the Juggalos"?

 

[Mustang Sally]

I am not that interested in the input of the people that dislike the product as much as the people that love the product (or at least like it).

It's an interesting topic but I don't care for your stated premise. I think the input of people who dislike TNA is just as valuable as that of those who do.


That said:

1. WWE.....They're the standard for the sports entertainment world and I've gotten more enjoyment from the things they've done than everyone else combined.

2. WCW.....Money makes the world go 'round and the big bucks they spent on performers and production made them a great watch, at least for a while.

3. ECW.....Innovative and wild. So many great wrestlers went from there to the big two. The shows were like watching a riot in someone's basement. Totally unpredictable & fun.

4. Smoky Mountain.....They advertised it as "wrestling as it used to be...and the way you like it" and they were right. They had only one camera on the ring and tiny crowds but the action was hot and they never stopped trying. I loved watching Tammy Fytch as manager of Brian Lee.

5. TNA..... Their saving grace is the talent and the enthusiastic crowd. They can be enjoyable when they're concentrating on what they do and not focusing on what WWE does.

6. WCCW..... In the Dallas Sportatorium, they had some of the best wrestlers ever assembled and featured the hottest TV shows west of WWE. Guys like Rick Rude, Mick Foley and Warrior springboarded from there to the big time. Some of their interview segments were as entertaining as the matches.

 

[Jack-Hammer]

1. WWF/WWE
2. Jim Crockett Promotions/Mid-Atlantic
3. WCCW
4. WCW
5. CWA
6. SMW
7. TNA

I basically picked both WWF and WWE as a tie as I do like and have generally liked the company overall. I grew up with the WWF in the 80s and 90s. The Attitude Era was fun and portrayed wrestling in a different light. The PG Era is somewhat of a return to earlier days, it's not as edgy as the Attitude Era but I think the general wrestling content is of a higher quality.

Jim Crockett Promotions and Mid-Atlantic could be coupled in with WCW but I simply loved it more before Ted Turner and the corporate machine came in. As with WWF, I grew up with Crockett Promotions, they had great wrestling matches and interesting characters.

World Class Championship Wrestling was among the last really good NWA territories. It really came on as the Territory System itself was dying out. Had Fritz Von Erich not been so short sighted, who knows what could have happened.

WCW in general kind of turned me off, but there was some good stuff going on. The first half of the 90s, for me, was just a bad time for WCW. Nitro did change things and did shake things up. The nWo was something definitely different, the Cruiserweights were usually really fun and typically had the best matches.

If asked this question a little over a year ago, TNA probably would have been tied in general with WCW.

 

[hatehabsforever]

Not sure what this has to do with anything.

This is people's personal opinions and I would not make any argument that TNA has surpassed WWF/WWE or WCW to the casual fan. If you think the point of this thread was to get people to say how TNA was about to be the greatest ever then you are extremely mistaken. If anything I expect there to be some questions raised about why exactly some people are called TNA marks. I was curious how high some of the more fervent supporters were willing to push the company and if there was anything that could happen to eventually eclipse the nostalgia factor. On the off-topic stuff I am not going to derail the thread to discuss but if you think the viability outside of north america is slipping then you are crazy.

With respect to the sentence in bold above, didn't you ask if TNA was in second place, or third place, or whatever, how close are they to being in first place, as well as what they had to do to make a push toward becoming first place? I'm pretty sure you posed these questions in your original post, and I was merely answering your questions. You really shouldn't criticize the legitimacy of someone's anwer just because you don't agree with it. If you don't like the answer, don't ask the question.

I'm also not sure shat you mean about "off-topic stuff." There's no attempt to de-rail this thread, it's actually an interesting question. You stated that you didn't want discussions to focus upon ratings, or business considerations, and things like that, so I expanded the parameters beyond such considerations, exactly as you requested.

I ranked TNA fourth amongst the six organizations I chose to list, granted there are others as some guys have mentioned. And I ranked them as such not because of their ratings (or lack thereof), but simply, by evaluating the respective rosters, storylines, whatever. And I never suggested viability outside of North America is "slipping," because to slip, you have to have had some sort of a foothold and then lost it. As I see it, TNA has yet to even establish themselves to any significant degree outside of North America. Outside of a small cult following, consistently largely of IWC marks, TNA has no presence beyond the confines of North America.

 

[geist inc]

1. ECW before WWE got hold of it, I loved the basic approach to everything. And the company made Vince turn his head.
2. TNA - I can't place it but I find it's a good show, the wrestling is there they just need to continue a story to the end.
3. 90's WWF - The Attitude era was by far the best Vince ever made the company.
4. New Japan - Great action to watch, like poetry in motion.
5. WCW/NWO - Much like the attitude era, but two sides rather than four stables.

 

[K4P-Unleashed]

1.) WCW

I have never liked a promotion more than WCW. It was my childhood. I loved watching it because it wasn't as RAW as WWF's product (pardon the pun) and it was the kinda thing a kid my age could really get into. I remember guys like Glacier and Mortis; I'd cut their pictures out of the WCW magazine and hang them behind my bedroom door. Ah, those were the days!

2. WWF/E

I'm not ranking by eras here, or the "e" wouldn't be in the equation. When I started to get more into wrestling with age, I got into the WWF. Guys like SCSA and The Rock were immortal to me not to mention I began to enjoy the edginess of the product. I guess that's why I hate WWE now; It's lost it's edge. WWE is slowly fading away from this spot though.

3.) TNA

Here is where I rank TNA. I think it's a good place for them to be right now, seeing as though they haven't passed up the Attitude Era or the Monday Night Wars as a whole. Anyone who ranks TNA at the very top must not have watched either. Now that I can digest wrestling and make my own opinions about it, I enjoy TNA much more. It's the kind of wrestling that I have grown to enjoy and, dare I say it, brings back memories.

 

[harrythem]

For me it's:
WWF 97-00 (not the whole attitude era, a lot of that annoyed me)
WCW 96-98 (had some serious great shit then)
ECW 95-97 (the pure peak of creativity from Heyman
WWF 85-93 (What started me watching wrestling. Still love the stuff)
WCW 89-92 (rather enjoyed the Black Scoprion malarky. And it was on ITV as well)
WWE 08-present (I can watch it with my son and my bird. Still enjoy it)
TNA (Cant pick out a particular time for TNA that stands out to me. Enjoyed parts throughout)

After that it's a toss up between other WWF/E, WCW and ECW years I haven't mentioned.

I know it looks like TNA's bottom of my list but it really isn't just, to me personally, the other times I've listed above have had more of an emotionally invested time from me then TNA has. Although if "they" lives up to the intrigue, I could see TNA actually getting a specific date section from me

 

[Maikeru_1979]

1. WCW
2. WWF Attitude Era
3. TNA
4. WWF Golden Era
5. WWF New Generation
6. ROH
7. WWE 2002-2006
8. ECW
9. WWE PG Era

So on and so forth...

Quite simply put, World Championship Wrestling was the be-all-end-all of pro-wreslting to me. It was the company that came inches from putting Vince McMahon out of business, and that's no short feat by any measure. WCW gave us a number of names, even if it wasn't responsible for "creating" them from their start, including "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, Scott Steiner, Sting, Ric Flair, Lex Luger, Arn Anderson, Booker T, Vader, Randy Savage, Bill Goldberg, Diamond Dallas Page and more. They were also responsible for birthing the single greatest stable of all time — the New World Order (nWo).

WCW owns my childhood, and are essentially the reason I became a professional wrestling fan in the first place, or at least remained one.

TNA has climbed the ranks over the years and came very, very close to usurping the WWF Attitude Era as my second favorite ever, but if not for the Attitude Era's history of having given me guys like Austin and the Rock, it might have, but as of this moment it just hasn't been at that same level long enough (yet), though there's certainly room to grow.

I don't doubt they'll eventually take that spot, especially as a new glut of future superstars grows from within their ranks – Styles, Shelley, Pope, etc.

i agree completely with your particular list. for a few reasons. WCW was the company that got me into pro wrestling. first match I ever saw was one of Stings US title matches back in either the late 80s or early 90s. I didn't start watching WWe/F until about 1995. The Attitude Era of WWF was awsome though I usually still watched mainly WCW. And TNA has all the right people to become as big as WCW was it just needs the right storyline;like WCWs NWO angle: to make them blow up.

 

[red ass skull muhfukkah]

1. WWE/WWF- I put them together because I like both aspects. There are promotions with better matches, better promos, better storylines. But none of them have been able to combine all three as smoothly and consistently as WWE/WWF has and does.

2. AJPW- I remember being very little and staying at my grandmother's house. My grandma is full Japanese and the only VHS's she had to watch were My Neighbor Totoro and AJPW matches. So I fell in love at a young age. Nothing will beat Misawa, Giant Baba, Jumbo Tsuruta, Toshiaki Kawada, Tiger Mask, Jun Akiyama, and Kenta Kobashi at their best in my opinion.

3. WCW- Im a product of the 90's and I loved WCW growing up. No matter how shitty it got in the end, I always switched between Nitro and Raw every week. Best time to be a wrestling fan. If you didn't want to watch Hogan wrestle you could turn to Raw and watch Stone Cold piss of Vince. If you were sick of the hardcore championship, you could switch to Nitro and watch the Cruiserweights go at it.

4. NJPW- Although they currently have a better product then AJPW. I don't have as much nostalgia with the King of Sports as I do with AJPW. But they're always putting on high class matches and feuds.

5. NOAH- I originally started watching this because I loved Misawa growing up. Great wrestling matches that are treated as a sport. Morishima, KENTA, Go Shiozaki, Davey Richard. Always quality wrestlers.

6. Chikara- This is honestly my favorite Indy Promotion. It never takes itself seriously and it is so refreshing to watch. The matches add comedy to quality matches and entertaining feuds.

7. TNA- I really do like TNA and hope one day they can provide real competition to the WWE powerhouse as it would benefit all wrestling fans. They have solid matches every week. The storylines are sometimes head scratchers but are entertaining for the most part.

8. ROH- I love ROH but I feel it has been lacking the last year or two and is starting to lose my attention. The best thing has been the Steen/Generico feud but even that is losing steam as it has been drawn out for too long/ Maybe Black leaving will be a good thing too because it will allow Davey Richards or Roderick Strong to truly step-up to the Championship scene. The past was great, the future is bright, but the present is lacking.

I didn't put ECW up there becase I didn't watch the original ECW. I knew of it but never got it on T.V. until it was on TNN and even then I barely watched it. Also no NWA or Jim Crockett because I wasn't alive for their true glory days.

 

[goldbergiswrestling]

I can't believe no one who has responded has ranked ECW highly... that is absolutely shocking to me.

I don't know about making a whole list; but to me, it's ECW #1 and any other wrestling product a very, very distant 2nd.

As for TNA, if they were to focus consistently on the level of the in-ring product, then they could easily become 2nd on the list. "The Whole F'n Show" Impact special was the best non-ppv televised wrestling event i have witnessed since ECW folded. If TNA could focus on delivering MATCHES the quality of the ones that aired on that show, and forget the other bullshit, than they have the roster and potential to be a legendary product in the industry.

thats because all ur favorite ECW guys have ruined their legacy by showing up in every promotion they can saying " Im extreme and I was kewl once! please love me again!"

but anyways to the OP

my order is this

1)WCW I became a fan in 97 watching WCW and I was hooked
2) WWF Attitude Era the anti WCW that was cutting edge and controversial
3) TNA The first promotion since WCW to make me believe they might have a chance of eventually competing with WWE
4) WWE post 2004