WWE Without TNA

[Mat Awesome]

How would it affect the wrestling world if TNA was not on air anymore. We all know WWE would rule over the wrestling world again without opposition, but how would it affect the product?

Between the time that WCW died and when TNA was barely on the map, what did you think of WWE's product? Me? I hated it, in fact, I stopped watching for a while. The product got repetitive, boring and stale.

What are your thoughts?

 

[Rated RJC]

To be perfectly honest I don't see a difference in WWE programming since TNA came on strongly these past few months/years.

TNA hasn't been on the level yet to compete with the WWE and Vince & Co know that so they aren't putting all they can into the shows. It's like when WCW first bursted onto the scene, WWE wanted some competition. Same with ECW, Vince could have smashed them in the earlier stages, but some competition is good. It just so happens that TNA hasn't truly given serious competition as of now.

 

[noumenon]

WWE doesn't even acknowledge TNA so it really wouldn't make any difference to how they present their product on a weekly basis. The only difference I could see would be obviously that there would be quite a few different people in WWE.

 

[LadyHotrod]

As said, I doubt it would be any different. TNA isn't a threat. It's almost as if they don't even exist right now, anyways.

If they were to become WCW level and start getting Vince a little worried, sure, I think the WWE would try a little harder to be less gay, but, since that wont be happening......

 

[Klide]

I honestly thought WWE product before TNA was on the map better that the product now tbh.

 

[Doomsday]

TNA will need more on air programming, such as Xplosion, in order to compete with WWE.

 

[He who knows more than Nation]

^^^ It's not about quantity, it's about quality. If Dixie Carter wasn't half as stupid as she is, she'd realize the people in charge of the creative depot. of her promotion haven't had a money making idea between them in over 11 years and are better on-air talents than creative talents, that would be a start. I've said it before and I'll say it again, give Mick Foley the book, he worked his ass off to get himself over, has sold a lot of books in different genres, so he knows how to appeal to people. And is anything but a megalomaniac, he'd put the business first before any of "his boys", but I doubt he is full of himself enough to have "boys" instead of a nice working relationship with everyone. That's what TNA needs.

When you loose 25% of your already meager audience to the WWE in the last segment of the night, than the product is being booked to overexpose someone whom is thought to bring in the ratings, but obviously is turning away viewers in droves. And sadly the people in charge of TNA are too egotistical to accept this, Foley wouldn't be like that, let alone that he wouldn't even book himself in a role of prominence. And believe me, if they loose 25% of their audience and Raw's rating increased by approximately that much, it isn't coincidence, those people went to the other offering.

And that is why the E will never have to worry about TNA hurting them, especially if they are benefiting from TNA's existence on Monday nights.

 

[xFrenchKissx]

Enzo, if you were booking for TNA, what are two angles that you would concentrate on to compete with WWE?

 

[Great One]

Enzo should book/work for TNA.

 

[xFrenchKissx]

Enzo should book/work for TNA.

I'll reserve judgment, in case he actually responds to me.

I replied to your post. Go answer back.

 

[Great One]

Too lazy. I just wanted to see what you said, not respond back. =p

 

[He who knows more than Nation]

Enzo, if you were booking for TNA, what are two angles that you would concentrate on to compete with WWE?

I'd concentrate on two things: 1. establish a top, homegrown talent to call my own. I'd use Joe for two reasons: One he had the best rapport with the fans over any of the homegrowns TNA has had, 2. when he is on, he is the best wrestler on the roster. Better than AJ because he has the facials and can work different styles. AJ is nice but is in general a spot monkey. And AJ can't talk to save his life, Joe can. I'd have Joe squashing and choking out every single has been washup in sight and getting whatever draw value out of them to cement and legitimize Joe as a bona fide star. Once you have that, you can start building around him. Worked for Lesnar, can work for Joe.

2. Establish a top heel. And it would be Angle. He can talk, work and has credibility of not being washed up. Maybe have him start a faction to help get younger guys over, Beer Money and AJ would be my choices. Have them feud with up and coming guys like Hernandez and the MCMGs as their primary rivals. Angle would be in a top program with Joe (yeah, again) over the strap and over time have the stable dominate over the promotion for some time until Joe and Angle is big enough to sell tickets. I know Angle's headed like tow factions already, but I'd do it right, more like the Horsemen than the nWo and a slight break up similar to Evolution instead of it just fading away. At the time that AJ's stock is rising, he'll be ready to challenge Joe after Joe snuffs Angle, then AJ-Angle, giving the company the default no.2 face, then maybe plug in a Desmond Wolfe to be Angle's lieutenant and you keep the stable going and you've created depth to the main event scene. Starting with Joe and Angle, you add AJ and after AJ and Angle feud you do Wolfe-AJ and Wolfe gets a rub. So you have 4 dudes from a basic heel stable-faces feud.

But it goes deeper than which angles and programs I would run, it's about simplifying the show, trimming the fat and gaining a unique identity. I'd put huge focus on the X division and tag teams, especially since I'd have Beer Money running the tag division using the help of their stable and that dynamic would rub off in the division it would in the main event scene. The stable idea, if done properly, can feed alot of the workers on the roster and serve everyone instead of just one person.

I'd have every washup and WWE refuse putting over the young talent to try and get them over and legitimize them, the only one I'd keep in the main event scene is Hardy, he is still relevant enough and little girls need their 'ginies tickled and merchandise needs to be sold. I would have LIVE WEEKLY tv from DIFFERENT arenas. I'd change almost everything in TNA. Give the fans wrestling that they don't get on WWE and you wouldn't have to pay for it they way TNA is making you now. There's alot of shit I'd do, and I'm thinking I might write a column...

 

[xFrenchKissx]

*APPLAUSE*

You are my effin hero, bro. Seriously.

You should totally write a column, you are perhaps the most spot on of anyone on this forum.

I need to make some other threads, because I really want to debate and get your thoughts on things like the run of The Horseman, NWO, stables, cruiserweight/X division and tag team wrestling.

 

[He who knows more than Nation]

^^^^
The Horseman are the greatest stable ever. Period. Nothing even comes close.

The nWo was a great angle, set off the Monday Night Wars and ignited the wrestling boom of the late 90's. But it became over exposed and played out within two years to the point where nWo reunions were just bad jokes.

The best cruiserweight division in the US was WCW's from 96-99 by far. Every Nitro there was anywhere from 1 to 3 very solid cruiser matches and the roster was literally a whos who of juniors. Rey, Dean, Eddy, Ultimo, the Luchas, and Jericho is just the best juniors roster ever assembled outside of Japan and Mexico. The X division was good from 02-04 and for that brief period that Joe, AJ and Chris Daniels breathed life into it. It's a damn shame what's become of it, but even in it's best it can't touch what WCW had. Not by a mile.

Tag team wrestling is a lost art. Once a staple of many promotions and a launch pad for promising stars, it's been shot to hell in the E since 2001, and while TNA has some real teams, they don't know what to do with them. When used properly tag matches can and used to be headline matches at major shows. Now they are used as filler or just not booked properly. And this too is a damn shame as tags add diversity to a card.

 

[Charismatic Edge]

TNA's niche on the market until recently was just to exist. I really loved having a solid alternative to WWE. In 2001 wrestling sucked a fat one with cheese. Really until 2005 there wasn't much to be exited about and then TNA got a tv deal some big names and they were off.

I still think it's mistake to compete head to head. The last thing we need is for Vince to buy them out too. Although that would make the video library even better.