Would You Be More Interested in TNA if This Happens...

[Matt7584]

So basically the knockouts are hot. We as fans love watching them but mostly for the wrong reasons. What if they gave us the right reasons. How bout similar matches the WWE used in the late 90's. Mud wrestling, oil, pillow matches. Although these are gimmicks and might send female wrestling backwards. This would attract more men to watching spike and TNA. It would also make men sit and watch and hope that the women do more than wrestle.

So do you think that sexy gimmick matches would help TNA and the knockouts division?

 

[Calderownz]

So basically the knockouts are hot. We as fans love watching them but mostly for the wrong reasons. What if they gave us the right reasons. How bout similar matches the WWE used in the late 90's. Mud wrestling, oil, pillow matches. Although these are gimmicks and might send female wrestling backwards. This would attract more men to watching spike and TNA. It would also make men sit and watch and hope that the women do more than wrestle.

So do you think that sexy gimmick matches would help TNA and the knockouts division?

It's a quick fix, maybe, but certainly not something that would work in the long run.

I don't mind women getting next-to-naked and wrestling around, but what will likely happen is that men would hear about this match and watch it on youtube or a replay that only showcases that spot.

What TNA needs to do is not copy what WWE is done or has done and simply find it's groove. I'm not going to sit here and say I know what that groove is. But, I don't think it's mud wrestling bitches.

 

[Jason Scene]

So basically the knockouts are hot. We as fans love watching them but mostly for the wrong reasons. What if they gave us the right reasons. How bout similar matches the WWE used in the late 90's. Mud wrestling, oil, pillow matches. Although these are gimmicks and might send female wrestling backwards. This would attract more men to watching spike and TNA. It would also make men sit and watch and hope that the women do more than wrestle.

So do you think that sexy gimmick matches would help TNA and the knockouts division?

If I wanted that I'd watch porn. When I watch wrestling, yeah the hotter then women the better but you're not going to draw much ratings from women in oil wrestling contests. Hence why matches like that get no exposure whatsoever and how matches like Mickie James Vs Tara a while back in the steel cage did.

 

[Rasha]

So basically the knockouts are hot. We as fans love watching them but mostly for the wrong reasons. What if they gave us the right reasons.

Huh? So watching them looking for some decent wrestling and hopefully a compelling storyline is "wrong" now? Hoping to pop a boner is the new objective? What middle school library did you post this from?

How bout similar matches the WWE used in the late 90's. Mud wrestling, oil, pillow matches. Although these are gimmicks and might send female wrestling backwards.

Way to counter your own argument. TNA fans take pride when the Knockouts are NOT like the Divas or just there for the cheap sex sell. The Mickie/Tara cage match a few weeks ago was the best female match I can remember. Trade that for a Bra & Panties match? Guess I'm not still in puberty.

This would attract more men to watching spike and TNA. It would also make men sit and watch and hope that the women do more than wrestle.

Would it really? Ever heard of the Internet? The days of attracting the male audience with sexual innuendo are over. I can watch TV shows after 10pm that show much more explicit content than what you'd get from wrestling. Hell, I can have ACTUAL PORN on my computer with just a few clicks! Your strategy would cost TNA fans as purists would disapprove of the change and some parents would stop letting their kids watch.

BOOOOOO!

 

[Slapjack3k]

I can see what you're getting at. However, as others have said I feel TNA are at least trying to get some legit competition out of the knockouts and the more cynical nerd in me asks if guys wanted to see some actual TNA, wouldn't they just check out porn? I mean does Tara and Madison's really forced, tepid lesbian kiss do anything for you when you can watch much more explicit stuff online?

I dunno, I think I'm a little soured on stuff like the mud wrestling match after the stacey keibler/miscarriage thing in WCW.

 

[ramblinroy682]

If I get to see Velvet in thongs, mud, and bra and panty matches then I am all for it, but honestly no I don't think that is the way to go...I don't think focusing on women in any capacity will draw in ratings for the long haul.

 

[Rayne]

This worked in the '90s and before, when if you wanted to see titty (assuming, like most wrestling fans in the '90s, that you didn't have a girl around) you had to buy a magazine or call up the cable company and open your wallet.

Now, however, I can be watching a girl who looks way younger then 18 deepthroat an eggplant in about five mouse clicks. Porn is the refuge for men who are bored by what they're watching. All titty on TNA would do is what they're already doing- remind me that someone else is doing what TNA is doing and they're doing it better.

 

[MSAnon505]

In keeping with the title of this topic-

Would you be more interested in TNA IF...

...Vince Russo, Eric Bischoff and Hulk Hogan were given their walking papers, the Carter family took more of an interest in how their money is being spent and dared to invest in a younger, less seasoned but passionate writing staff and turned the focus from the latest WWE releases, instead looking toward the independent circuit to find stars they can build themselves?

...Jeff Hardy were to be forced into rehab as a condition of his continued employment with the company and the belt put on someone who's not going to be hauled away in handcuffs anytime in the future?

...the Knockouts division became more about actual wrestling and less about selling the sex (even though the prevailing opinion seems to be that the sex is the reason why most people even watch the KOs anyway)

... Dixie Carter spent less time on her Twitter and more time actually learning how to properly market and promote TNA, including getting the show out of Orlando and taking it on the road, going live each week to prevent the IWC from reading the spoilers and facepalming at the epic fail before deciding to watch something else on Thursday night?

In my opinion at least, the answer to this one is a resounding... ABSO-FREAKING-LUTELY.

 

[Iced]

Haha! Great Question! I think it could be a ratings boost, especially if they hyped up one of the specialty matches you've suggested and promoted it as something special. I see nothing wrong with having an oil wrestling stipulation thrown in there once in awhile. Hell, the name of their organization is a double entendre for fuck's sake! Now that I think about it, technically with a name such as TNA they should have some TNfuckinA once in awhile. I mean don't overdo it like the WWF did (frequency wise), but if your target audience is above 14 it'd probably be a good idea. I remember seeing tits and thongs on TNA once upon a time when they were ppv-exclusive.

 

[Sparky]

It's already been done before and it never payed off. They should just focus on having the knock outs actually wrestle. as somebody already said, how could it benefit the ratings when they could just wait until afterwards and youtube that one section.

 

[Kitten Cutter]

Rather than simply saying "hell no" to the thread, I'll try an alternative. I got nothing to gain or lose...

I'm definitely against mud wrestling and oil wrestling because it is demeaning. I doubt every Knockout would go for that. Maybe some of the ones who've done the hardcore risque shoots, but not all of them. (...and if I'm wrong I'd be shocked...) Therefore, why shouldn't TNA create an R-rated film studios, and shoot a bunch of B-rated Cinemax-style softcore porn movies with the Knockouts playing starring or at least high character roles? This way, it'd be late night so it wouldn't be geared toward kids (and they watch that's on their parents), they could sell the sex of the Knockouts without bringing Impact down (it wouldn't increase ratings but it would increase DVD sales and revenue), and the Knockouts would get a chance to do movies and showcase their acting ability (if they have any and wish to do more than just wrestle) and show off their "assets," and men would get finally see several Knockouts naked.

Who here wouldn't pay money to see Velvet Sky starring in Intimate Passion 6? Or Madison Rayne in Passionate Intimacy 4?

 

[Hollywood Naitch]

I dont think it would be a good strategy in the long term, as it would really take the focus away from the Knockouts who can actually wrestle, and wrestle well. I personally do not see TNA doing much wrong with the actual wrestling in their womens division. Yes, some of the storylines suck, but the actual in-ring action is fine. They have some really talented girls.

If the mud-wrestling, or bikini contest, or lingerie pillow fight stipulation was used very occasionally, I do not think it would be much of a problem and probably would increase the ratings slightly as men WOULD want to see girls like Madison, Velvet, Tara, Angelina etc in their underwear getting all wet, but it shouldnt be a regular occurance.

Man, did I just actually say that getting Tara in a hot gimmick match would be a bad idea ??? Fuck lol. I would love to see that but on a serious note for TNA...I don't think they should go down this route, as it would make the WWE womens division look better than TNA's, which it isnt.

 

[Jack-Hammer]

When you look a a little of the stuff that TNA did last year, such as the segment featuring a Lacey Von Erich "striptease", it just doesn't work anymore.

In 1999, when we could switch over to Raw and watch women wrestle in as little as they possibly could by law, such things were considered risque. Girls rolling around in thongs that leave absolutely nothing to the imagination in mud or hitting each other with pillows was something that was pretty controversial for prime time television.

It's amazing how things can change in little more than a decade. With the easy access and availability of pornography due to the internet, it makes the stuff we saw WWF do back in the late 90s downright quaint and tame by comparison.

While it's true that the Knockout Division is barely a shadow of what it once was, it'll be truly dead if TNA ever decided to take it down this road. TNA already gets tons of criticism for using ideas that WWE used 10-12 years ago and for, sometimes, sacrificing aspects of their product that makes them unique in an attempt to further their audience size. Reducing the Knockouts to nothing more than the tits & ass segments that the Divas were during the Attitude Era would just destroy whatever credibility the Knockouts have left.

 

[It's Damn Real!]

Hell no, and why should I? That kind of shit is useless filler to appeal to a very niche audience of married men who are looking for a thrill but don't have the savy to own their own collection of internet pornography without being caught, so they have to watch it on television during a program labeled as professional wrestling (so not only does the wife not watch with him, but if she did walk in, he could claim he has no control over what they show).

As homoerotic as this is going to sound, I watch wrestling to see the men compete, not the women, so why would seeing them compete in even sloppier (no pun intended) mud matches change that any? If I wanted to watch porn, it's at my finger tips at a moments notice — www dot bangbros dot...

 

[LitasRevenge79]

I agree with the person who said this would be a short term solution to a long term problem. Its not a matter of gimmicks, and making the girls demoralize themselves, its about taking the time to actually find out from fans what works and what doesn't. You'd think that with the fact that they have Hogan/Bischoff/Russo, that they'd have possibly learned some lessons with "What Not To Do" after their time with WCW.

I mean, all the girls are talented in different ways, and each of them have the ability to put on quality matches. The problem is that the same 3-4 girls keep getting showcased in the same repetitive matches week after week no matter how they package it. "Tag Team" "Strap Match" "Dreams on a Pole" etc...etc. There would not be a need to go down the road of mud wrestling, jello fights, bikini contests if the trainers and creative would take the time to review everything with the talent and also review to see what each talent can do/has done before. Maybe even do a full blown intense boot camp to re-evaluate who is and who isn't cutting it in terms of talent, and maybe in terms of being up to par with trying to create a good product that is delivered even backstage. I think its not just the wrestlers' fault, but some of the blame should also get put on the people behind the curtain. Bear in mind, Daffney, excellent wrestler, but yet, week after week, we see only the blond, busty, cookie cutter type divas. Way back after she was injured, she made one brief appearance, and she was the only KO getting ALL the applause and attention. That should tell you something right there.

Its supposed to be a symbiotic relationship and that is only what can save the ratings. When the talent and backstage/producers are able to work together or be harmonious. I, for one, wouldn't feel like it was a harmonious environment if I wasn't getting any time during prime time because I wasn't blond hair, blue eyed, or fit the typical mold for what was seen as 'typical prototype' of a KO. I think its a matter of getting the ideas and communication flowing more openly among the talent and writerr, and getting a plan of action together.

 

[CerebralViper96]

Although I would love to see some stipulation Knockout matches, I would be more interested if they started pushing the TNA-bred guys. But that's off-topic. The one thing I will give to TNA is the Knockouts division. They put the female wrestlers in storylines and plus,they let Mickie James and Tara main-event Impact one time. In a steel cage! That match was cool.