Myth. WWE does have competition, the OP and others covered concepts like UFC/Mainstream sports, and for those that want to cite MMA as a pro wrestling killer. I disagree, boxing and wrestling have co-existed for years, I feel MMA and wrestling can do the same.
There are also other television programs (cable and broadcast television is so much more than it was in previous eras of the wrestling business on top of it all) and genres within those programs as well that have been addressed, but I'd like to get onto the subject of wrestling specifically. Even if it’s not on a WCW level (But let’s be honest it has and always will be above an ECW level and more likely than not ROH but time will tell on that.)TNA is a competitor.
Albeit a small one, it’s the RC Cola to WWE’s Coca-Cola (You could put Pepsi in there because they’re pretty big too obviously, and I like them more but to be objective, I’m going to have to go with Coke as WWE’s analogue in this analogy.). And there’s no sin in saying that you like both either. Hell, I’ve stocked my fridge with both products in the past, and still will from time to time. Also, WWE even said themselves that they want to vie against other television programs on several occasions. The OP pointed this out rather well, but I do want to touch back on the subject of TNA as an alternative when it comes to WWE's wrestling ventures.
Some might and have said, "Why bother, TNA? You guys are just WWE-lite and have no shot in hell of ever being anything!", well when you look at how folks like Jimmy Hart couldn't keep a promotion of their own going for more than a few months, I'd say that TNA has done a lot better than other reputed names in the business at giving us an alternative to WWE's wrestling side of things. That's not to excuse or justify what I think at times is sub-par programming from TNA, but I still give credit where it's due and in the post-Monday Night War era, a company that can say they've been around for 10 years deserves some credit. That's still not to say that TNA is a booming venture (or that they are a mind blowing wrestling product from an entertainment standpoint either) because they could very well be having financial problems we don't know about, but either way, as a private enterprise no one here is privy to what TNA is making in the way of money or not making. If you say you're privy and don't have the proof, then you're full of shit. Which most of us posters on here typically are.
Then of course people laugh at the Carter Family/Panda Energy for helping to support Jeff Jarrett in his venture. Why fault a business group who wanted to help keep a promotion alive when alternatives like WCW and ECW were absorbed by Vince McMahon? It seems many smarks/fanboys will overlook the flubs that the WWF/E has made in the past, such as the World Bodybuilding Federation and the XFL. Of course, I can't put the WWE Films venture in that category because that has actually managed to last more than a year unlike the previous two ventures outside of Vince McMahon's comfort zone. Although one could argue that the steroid scandal of the early 90s didn't help the WBF's case, just the same it failed and failed miserably. If we're not going to cut the Carter family and Jeff Jarrett any slack, then why should we cut any for Vince McMahon when he's had some rather large embarrassments on his resume? However, I would like to expand a bit on the WWE films venture if I so may. While their movie ventures aren't a blockbuster enterprise, one can say that this film division is a marginal success in some ways. Even if Vince were to pull out of the movie business tomorrow, you can reckon that it wasn't a complete bust. Again a more successful venture in comparison to the XFL and the WBF at least.
However, I can guarantee a WWE fanboy would get red in the face and ********* if you in any way, shape or form criticized and trashed Vince's film division in the same way they would rip apart TNA's programming. I've seen turkeys like No Holds Barred and The Marine, and even as a kid despite being a Hogan mark, I thought No Holds Barred was Grade Z trash, it doesn't even deserve the distinction of a B film, because some B films are ACTUALLY good. Don't even get me started on The Marine, I am so glad that Al Pacino never got signed for the project like the rumor mill was stating, it'd have been a waste of his talents. Although I am disappointed to have seen as entertaining an actor like Robert Patrick do a film like this. So no matter what happens to TNA, the Carter family can say they've done a better job at promoting and sustaining a wrestling promotion than Vince ever did at crossing over into football or bodybuilding. As a staunch supporter of the World Wrestling Federation from the mid-1980s until the early 2000's, it's with a heavy hand that I would openly criticize an organization that brought me several awesome memories as a wrestling fan such as The Undertaker's Debut, Bret Hart's out of nowhere title win over Ric Flair in Saskatoon, Randy Savage's "Danger Zone" rants, Hulkamania, Rick Rude's IC Title win, and so on. But, I'm all about objectivity and I have to call it like I see it. WWE is a far from perfect enterprise, whether the fanboys want to admit it or not.
What makes me laugh and cringe at the same time with people who are unabashed haters of a product such as TNA's is when it comes to "future endeavored" talent or talent that decides to leave on their own accord when their contracts expire. They expect these so called WWE "rejects" to just give up on something that they've worked their whole lives to be. Granted, I've been known to put my foot in my mouth sometimes but call me out on it and I'll hold myself accountable, and own up to it. It's just a bad habit of mine and one I'll probably never break but I'm honest with myself about it. Most folks aren't, at least in my view.
But anyway, when it comes to this idea of former WWE talent in TNA, here's a newsflash to the keyboard warrior trolls out there in their parents' basement who are still sucking on mama's proverbial and figurative tit (Sidenote: For all I know there could be some literal occurrences of that, but if that's still going on at the age most of you morons are at, then I don't even want to get into the Oedipal implications of such a thing, that's another thread for another day.) not all these guys want to work for Ring Of Honor (which despite being some good wrestling is not in TNA's league, sorry to break it you "workrate" snobs) or go to Japan. While a lucrative prospect, you ever stop to think that some of these guys just don't want to uproot to the Orient and leave behind their Occidental culture? So if TNA is an option for them, why not take it? Several of these veterans like Sting, Kurt Angle, and Kevin Nash have been known to enjoy the lighter schedule and less necessity to travel. So if they want the TNA option, they'll take it. Also WWE has been known to pull their legends out of Indy shows at the last minute, while several TNA veteran talent have been known to still be able to make Indy dates when they commit to them. Therefore, I'm grateful that companies like TNA exist and allow their talent to not be so TIED up to them, that they can't accomodate their fans at meet and greets, and other events. And why fault veterans for such a thing? Before I'd criticize former WWE talent for going to TNA and in the case of legends shirking WWE Legends deals, I'd stop and think what it would be like if I was in their shoes as a professional wrestler, fuck using the term sports entertainer. The closest I'll ever get to using that term is wrestling superstar, you will never get me to abandon the word wrestling or any derivative of it. Those who are so quick to criticize these individuals, feel free to do so, you have an opinion and you're entitled to it, but if you're just a "fan" like I am, own up to that first and don't act like someone who knows the business and can relate to why these people choose the options they choose in the first place.
TNA's not the most original in the way of storylines, I admit that, but then again getting back to WWE's film projects, well let's just say they aren't exactly in the same league as Gone With The Wind or American Beauty either! WWE says they want to be a legitimate player in Hollywood, but when you really stop and think about it, I truly feel TNA is doing a better job at being a player in the wrestling business than WWE does at being a member of Tinseltown. Laugh at Spike TV all you want, but while WWE films have a two-day limited engagement in select cinemas with a one way trip to exclusivity on Wal-Mart store shelves (and then eventually the five dollar bins where they will collect dust and mildew), that's not exactly lighting Hollywood on fire. But again, things aren't built overnight either, people berate TNA fans and TNA performers when they make that statement about the organization. But I'm sure if you called out a WWE fanboy on the WWE films venture, they'd find a way to spin it but knowing how most are, they'd still fall flat on their hypocritical backside trying to.
TNA is on major cable systems EVERY WEEK. The numbers are nowhere near what Monday Night RAW does, but hey again like I said, after ten years not a bad run thus far. When the then-WWF got REALLY big, it was an ESTABLISHED business that Vince inherited from his father. While TNA has basically started from nothing. WWE has had time to cultivate a larger cable presence due to buying out competitors like WCW (who had a long standing history of their own by being established by previous owners like the Crockett family, much like Vince Sr, being (W)WWF/E's previous owner), expanding their programming and predating TNA by 40 plus years. That's not to take anything away from what Vince McMahon has accomplished because despite my dislike for several of WWE's recent years of programming, I have still enjoyed certain facets of their product.
I mean it's very possible that TNA will have some growth but still never be on part with WWE, despite the grandiose statements of those in the company such as Hulk Hogan, I mean let's face it by now we all know the guy makes outlandish statements, but in my opinion the joke's on all of us collectively in the IWC. I love the guy's character to death, but he's the ultimate troll in my opinion, and if my suspicions are correct that he's indeed trolling, then he's doing his job beautifully by saying the stupid shit he does. After all, a lot of the IWC love to dignify things he says, if you really are tired of the guy and the things he says just ignore him, don't go out and post things in response to what he says. Realistically, I think veterans like Hogan know that TNA can't do what companies like WCW did (by going right after WWF) because WCW was established and had over a half a century of existence (going back to the 1930s as Jim Crockett Promotions - WCW was not this new kid on the block when Hogan got there despite how much he did do for the place upon his debut), but being the over the top and eccentric person he is, he's going to say stupid shit. Granted, even I tire of it at times, but I know never to take it seriously.
Anyway back on point, TNA might take years to get to a WWE level or they might never get there at all. They might just remain a mere alternative but have a successful and comfortable place in the wrestling business. Again, I stand by my RC Cola analogy on this one, and at the end of the day there's nothing wrong with that. The only time a discussion like this really becomes a matter of contention or a big deal is when the marks blindly kiss the figurative ass of WWE and make them sound like they can do no wrong and that TNA or any other attempt at an alternative is pure shit. Because that's a very debatable matter. Bottom line there is still competition to WWE, it's a subjective term as others have pointed out but just the same it exists.
