Michrome

I concede the Special K thing, I don't really understand that decision. However, Joe has added a lot to the title since taking it.

Have they ever tried to get the Briscoes?

You are so hyper defensive about TNA that it's almost not worth posting anything that you dislike about the product on this board. There's a month till the big show, yet I still see no big TV ads, no hype, nothing. They haven't even picked a venue yet. The Tiger Mask IV thing has me excited, and if they insist on taking the title off Styles, maybe they could pair Styles and Tiger Mask up. If Hogan is in this for truly altruistic reasons, then he should put some money behind the ads, because he sure has enough. In 2004, no promotion with Hogan as the focus is going to be profitable for longer than a month. Hogan has the nostalgia kick, but that always fades away really fast. My hope, above all other things, is that they shock the hell out of me and keep the title on Styles this Wednesday. This way, they could keep the young guys like Styles in the world title picture, and make Hogan the semi-main event, so it doesn't seem like he is the center of the whole promotion. I think the chances of this happening are slim and none, with slim on permanent vacation, but there's always hope. You remind me of one of the people that was firmly in denial during the 1999-2000 period in WCW. Whenever anyone said that the company should change direction, it was always, "you're too negative", or "Hogan can draw more than Chris Benoit any day". In the end, WCW died, and the endless defenders seemed to have moved to TNA's defense.

I'd like to think that's true, but for example, just throwing guys in an Ultimate X match isn't going to help anyone, it's just going to look like a bunch of spots. If the show is based entirely around Hogan, and it looks like it will be, I don't see how it will accomplish anything.

I was actually responding to a post made in this thread. Does that matter?

See, it's so sad that people actually think that building a promotion around Hulk Hogan and Sting can actually be succesful today. It worked in 97, it's not going to work again. If they don't let guys like CM Punk work their magic, (and he is freaking awesome when given a chance) they will never grow at all. Hogan will probably pop one buyrate, but past that, what else? Hogan has repeatedly been the "one show" draw over the last few years, what makes this any different?

Haha, the best worker not in TNA. You've gotta be shitting me.

Of course I can, heh. It's a promotion in its first year that is showing nothing but good signs, with higher attendance and better revenue as the months go on. Eventually, you have to make money, and if that doesn't start for TNA, or any of the others, they are going to disappear. That is the harsh reality of it all. Being on TV really prematurely is hurting the companies you mention more than helping, because many of them are not ready. Hell, WCW was on TV during the dying days, it didn't change the fact that they were losing shitloads of money. The fact that TNA even is resorting to Hogan shows how little momentum the product has gained since the beginning.

My source for better ticket sales is Meltzer. The shows are still hugely papered, some anecdotal story isn't going to change that. With Hogan coming in, they might sell out though. People seem to forget that there's another key to becoming a big national fed, and that's quality of product. TNA has flashes of a good product, but it's nothing mind-blowing, or even in the same league as an RoH show. The fact that they don't let Punk have a big talking role magnifies how assbackwards the booking has been there. As for the PPV thing, it's my contention that if RoH had that same weekly deal, they'd probably pull in more viewers than TNA. However, I think RF is pulling in a lot of money off of the video thing, and as long as it's that profitable he doesn't want to change it. RoH has a lot over TNA: * Better feuds * Way better wrestling * A championship that means something As far as MLW being the next #3, there's no chance in hell. The product is just nowhere near good enough, it's a piece of shit. I give MLW a year or so before it dies out. Anyways, people keep making the assumption that TNA is the #2 promotion, just because they have the PPV deal. There's no garauntee that Panda isn't going to decide to cut losses (which are huge), at which point TNA will be fucked. I hope this Hogan thing works out, but we're six weeks away now, and outside of the internet I haven't seen one ad for the big show. I hope they have a big advertising plan ready.

I guess the test will be on 11/1 with their big return to rexplex, but try watching the show and see if it looks like a bunch of fat chicks in the stands. Also, there are definitely some girl screams when Hardy comes out, but they are quickly overshadowed by MASSIVE booing and some mean-spirited chants that I didn't think were necessary. I don't know how much RoH papers the shows, but they are selling more tickets to their shows than TNA is, and I don't really know how much Rob is bringing in on the videos. You can tell though by the improvements in production, lighting, etc that there has been money pumped into it. The point is that for RoH their shows everywhere have been growing in attendance almost every time. This trend doesn't exist for TNA. Drawing 500 or 600 paid for their first time in Maryland against the Boston-Yankees game is fantastic. Also, it seems like a common myth that RoH is just pure wrestling with no storylines. There are definitely factions, and the CM Punk-Raven feud in RoH has blown away any feud I've seen in ages. Man, if TNA would just let CM Punk talk and give him a decent push, they would draw a bunch of fans just for him.

Err, TNA does *not* draw 1,000 to 1,500 fans each week, the shows are *heavily* papered, to a huge extent. For the Jeff Hardy thing, from the accounts of everyone who was there, there is no way that there were hundreds of girls there to see him. The overwhelming majority of the crowd booed the shit out of him. TNA doesn't leave Nashville, RoH is expanding into different places and building a fanbase. In order for TNA to break even weekly, they need 25,000 or so buys. Right now, they are getting what? 10,000? I'm sorry, but in terms of gaining a fanbase on the east coast and actually making money, RoH is far ahead of TNA. RoH is indeed profitable, as all they need to do is sell about 300 or 400 tickets to break even, and then everything else afterwards is profit. Almost everywhere for RoH, the attendance has been getting better. Initial reports are something like 500-700 (depending on the report) for Maryland, a new market, going up against the most watched baseball game in eternity, which surely hurt walkup ticket sales. 11/1 is RoH's return to the rexplex, they won't have Jeff Hardy who brought in like 50-100 max, and I bet they will break the 1,000 mark with Dragon-Styles and Ki-Homicide headlining, along with a badass 4-way.

Yes.

I hate it because the X division matches never get the time to be real wrestling matches, and usually just involve 6 guys doing every spot they can in 10 minutes.

**, It was an ok match, made a lot better by a hot crowd.

This cracks me up. Who was the writer, Bob Ryder? God, if Ring Of Honor had the weekly PPV gig that TNA has, they would be getting way more buys. Same goes for IWA Mid South and other indies that blow TNA out of the water. Borash is on crack.

I don't know about you, but I'd love to see RVD leave the WWE, if only to see him have some matches in ROH and TNA. Styles-Van Dam could be loads of fun.

I am confused. Marty and Shawn had a cage match? When? Or is this the famed Raw title switch?

Joe is the perfect champ. He kicks ass, can have great matches, does good promos, and is seen as virtually unbeatable. There are many money matches down the line with him, against Ki, Styles, Dragon, Punk, Daniels, etc. The guy will likely be champ for a long time.

This actually looks like a good show, and it makes me want to see next week's show. I think they're going to add Raven vs. Vampiro to the card, and hell, next week's card may be more enticing than the PPV. Styles and Jarrett can do ***+ if given time, and the 3-way will likely end in Daniels winning to face Tiger Mask IV. Of course, I'm sticking to that prediction only because it would be logical. One more thing about Mantell: I haven't bought a TNA show in ages, but I think I will pick up next week's. I love Doring and Roadkill, the Styles-Jarrett match should be good, I think next week we'll see Raven get some revenge, and there will be a good X title match. Not to mention the hype for Hogan possibly being on the show next week, and you've got a hell of a show.

I didn't order the show, but I bet Daniels is going to win the title tonight with Tiger Mask IV coming in. They've had matches with each other before, and it seems likely that they'll have a match at 11/30.

This card assumes they pull the double turn with Jarrett and Styles a few weeks from now. World Heavyweight Title AJ Styles vs. Christopher Daniels Hulk Hogan vs. Jeff Jarrett Low Ki vs. Sting Falls Count Anywhere Brawl Raven vs. CM Punk Juventud Guerrera vs. Teddy Hart Jerry Lynn vs. Abyss Tag Team Titles America's Most Wanted vs. Simon/Swinger Ultimate X Title Match Chris Sabin vs. Frankie Kazarian vs. Michael Shane Reasoning: Despite bringing in Hogan for the big match with Jarrett, no promotion centered around Hogan is going to make it in the long run. The title has to be established as a belt for young, athletic performers that put on amazing matches. Daniels and Styles can do just that, I've seen them put on an awesome match in Ring Of Honor. This way, the title hunt focus remains on 2 young, charismatic guys that can definitely carry a good feud. Low Ki and Sting could really be an awesome way to get Ki over as the killing machine that he is. Putting Sting out permanently with a vicious series of kicks would definitely do the trick, and would establish him as a world title contender in a hurry. This card mixes great wrestling matches with what could be some very enticing stories.