Who has the most appreciative fanbase

[Vintage]

So last night I was watching TNA. The Pope's promo and the reception he got for his return got me to thinking.. which Wrestling organization has the most genuine and appreciative fan base? I've seen it happen quite a few times, someone gets hurt or takes time off, returns to the impact zone and the returning wrestler gets all choked up and misty eyed because of all the love the fans show them. Heels actually get the crap booed out of them (except Anderson) and faces get cheered for. The ultimate sign of respect and the reason wrestlers do what they do is for the reaction from the crowd. Before anyone mentions it, I do understand that TNA does the bulk of it's shows from the same arena, but that shouldn't be a factor in this discussion. A number of TNA talents would be more than welcome in the WWE so it's not as if they don't have a better option. We all know working for TNA isn't going to make anyone rich, but I really wonder if they stay there because the fans are so good to them.

Discuss

 

[Jack-Hammer]

Well, there's no real way to tell which company has the most appreciative fans. Both TNA and the WWE have loyal fans, otherwise they wouldn't still be in business.

For me, I'm probably leaning towards the WWE mostly because fans have stuck with them. I think that the WWE product overall is much better in 2010 than it's been in the past several years. I wasn't all that thrilled with most of what I saw from the WWE in 2007, 2008 and the first half of 2009 but fans stayed with them even though things weren't all that hot. I continued to watch the WWE in the hopes that it would improve and, eventually, it did. It took a little while, but it did happen.

In all honesty, I'm not really sure the same can be said about the TNA fanbase. Don't misunderstand me, I'm not slamming TNA or TNA fans. It's just that a lot of TNA fans have stopped watching iMPACT! over the course of this year thus far. A hefty portion of TNA's fanbase is made up of the IWC and the IWC can be extremely fickle at times. They want things exactly the way they want them and the way they should be or they'll stop watching. The overall product in TNA this year definitely hasn't been that much to brag about. They've hit a rough patch and a good sized number of viewers for them no longer watch.

But, there'sno real way to say who has the more appreciative fans. However, the WWE has a history and a legacy so that can count for a lot. In the WWE, fans have been through spells of staleness in the past and the WWE has always emerged from those times.

 

[Mitch Henessey]

I think this can be split right down the middle. TNA fans are definitely passionate about their product, and so are WWE fans.

I'll never forget how the fans were behind Kurt Angle when he delivered a very emotional promo/shoot in the ring when his feud with Mr. Anderson was starting a while back. It was an amazing sight to see. TNA fans feel very strongly about their favorite promotion, and they are truly loyal.

WWE fans are also passionate about their product. There were plenty of tears in the audience when Shawn Michaels gave his farewell speech, and the "One more match!" chants were loud. WWE has a larger fan base, because they've been around longer, and they've gone more mainstream over the years. Still, no matter what, WWE fans stay loyal, and choose to stick it out no matter what.

 

[Davi323]

This is a completely subjective kind of topic, with absolutely nothing that can be used as proof for anything. How does one measure "appreciativeness" exactly? TNA fans will say TNA fans are more appreciative, WWE fans will say WWE fans are more appreciative, and neither side will be able to offer anything but anecdotal evidence to back them up. Who has the most appreciative fans? Whichever company you happen to root for. It's totally within the eye of the beholder.

 

[Leafy]

Hmm. Interesting question. I'm pick TNA's fans.

We've heard of that group of TNA fans that are at like, every show. And also TNA fans have to watch a lot of crap and they still come back to it every week. They wade through Flair's blood, they listen through the censoring bleep, and they find the nuggets of wrestling TNA provides every once in a while.

So even though I don't like TNA as a company, they have found that niche of fans that like them and the things they do.