Guest ShooterJay Report post Posted July 14, 2002 It seems to me that NWATNA is experimenting with a direction that no other American promotion has ever attempted. Making the cruiserweights, rather than the heavyweights, the main attraction. AJ Styles and Jerry Lynn are in the hottest feud in the company, a feud that appears at the moment to also be the focus of the show. Low-Ki and Chris Daniels are hyped as superstars. The X title and the heavyweight title are portrayed on equal footing. The X match was the main event compared to the heavyweight title match last week. Compared to Style and Lynn, heavy champ Shamrock hasn't gotten much camera time lately. Many smarks have argued that workrate alone can act as a viable draw for a promotion, and that cruiserweights can be major draws. NWATNA is betting their existence on this argument. The outcome will also affect WWE. If NWATNA survives for a decent length of time (8-10) months on PPV and/or secures a TV deal, Vince may cut the cord on the cruisers and push them more. If NWA fails, don't count on seeing decent cruiser action outside of Japan and Mexico for a VERY long time. On a related note, does anyone have the buyrate statistics for the shows? Other than the optimistic high buyrate reports of the first show two weeks ago, I haven't heard anything. Even the first show figure is being disputed, apparently. Any info would be appreciated. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest bps "The Truth" 21 Report post Posted July 14, 2002 I think the cruiser push has an advantage that it wouldn't have had last year at this time... The general wrestling public is obviously sick of the same old same old from the WWE. That doesn't mean that little men will draw...but it does mean the opportunity to claim alot of dissatisfied viewers is there. IF they had a tv deal...I would give them the edge. It's easier for people to turn on free tv and see a card headlined by cruisers. but I can see where paying for it might be a problem. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest GenerationNever Report post Posted July 14, 2002 NWA TNA should just get rid of the heavyweights. Since Jerry is the boss he can give Jeff an office job. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest RobJohnstone Report post Posted July 14, 2002 ??? As much as I would like to comment on the last response I just can't. NWa is doing great thus far, getting better every show. Their shows have been more entertaining than the wwe equivelant the past 3 weeks, why change it up? Exactly. Anyway obviiously the NWA is trying to represent what it has always tried to represent, WRESTLING. It is sterring away from your basic sports entertainment and giving us simple storylines and great wrestling. Personally my favorite wrestling to watch is old mid-south, and old nwa. Myabe I am biased toward liking what they have out out so far but no question it has been better than their compitition. I think the only thing they need is a TV deal. BTW, Nothings better on a wrestling show than wrestling, the japanese use promos as filler to the matches, the WWE uses matches as the filler for the promos. I think the NWA is going for a more old school/japanese approach to the company, and that's a good thing --Rob --Rob Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest the 1inch punch Report post Posted July 15, 2002 Personally, and please dont get me wrong as I'm in Ireland and would kill to see them , I personally think its all a con job on the NWA side, they push Jarrett/Hall/Scam-Rock as the stars, then do the XDivision Is this the way? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest bps "The Truth" 21 Report post Posted July 15, 2002 Not really. Hall is in an angle with Christopher and K-Krush (and eventually JJ) for the forseeable future. JJ is involved with MAlice so the winner faces Shamrock... but if you look at what they have done with the X division: Week 2: The X title match wsa the main event and was given plenty of time Week 4: The X division contender rankings match was the main event and given plenty of time. This week there are 2 X division matches. What makes it interesting is that Shamrock fought on the undercard of the X title match last week...and isn't even on the card the weeks the X title is defended. They are treating the X title and the World title as equals thus far...at least they aren't making the X title seem secondary...and the X guys get more time. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest the 1inch punch Report post Posted July 16, 2002 Ok, it never occured to me that the titles were being defended on alternate weeks Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
