From the Inside for this week

[The Ghost of bps21 0]

FROM THE INSIDE with Jeremy Borash

October 17th, 2003

 

Greetings once again and welcome to another edition of From the Inside with JB. Like Rush Limbaugh is to Oxycontin, I just can't get enough of Total Nonstop Action. A great mix of strong storytelling and action made for another fun night at the PPV this last Wednesday.

 

Lots of stuff to get to this week... so lets get to it.

 

To say the last two weeks behind the scenes of TNA have been amazing is an understatement. With the NWA World Title match this Wednesday night between Styles and Jarrett, and all of the attention the Hulk Hogan press conference incident is getting, TNA looks be heading into a big swing of momentum as we head into the fall season.

 

A very well respected writer once wrote that the only thing keeping TNA from being the number one wrestling company in the world is exposure. Thankfully it looks as though millions of new eyeballs are watching TNA with every passing week. There have been so many new markets for Xplosion over the past few weeks I can hardly keep up with them. Check out the newly re-designed nwatna.com for details.

 

The line up for this week looks absolutely stellar. It will be a night of champions as all of the titles will be on the line this Wednesday night. Let's look at the line up…

 

Obviously the NWA World Title match will headline this event. Styles defeated Jeff Jarrett four months ago, and since that time, Styles has faced everyone thrown his way, except Jarrett, who has yet to receive a rematch. This one will close out what I believe will likely be one of our best shows to date.

 

The X-Division title will be on the line in a three way between Sabin, Christopher Daniels, and the champion Michael Shane. Look for this one to tear the house down.

 

The NWA World Tag Team Championships will be on the line with Simon & Swinger taking on Doring & Roadkill, after they upset the champions in a non-title bout thanks to a little assistance from AMW.

 

Speaking of AMW, Glenn Gilberti has promised a mystery team he has recruited to take them on this Wednesday night.

 

AJ Styles is the focus point of the latest TNA commercial. We've gotten a lot of feedback from those who have seen it on Xplosion.

 

The new TNA DVDs are selling rapidly. If you can't receive TNA PPVs, this is a must have, and make a great Christmas gift for any wrestling fan. Check out NWATNA.com for DVD line-ups and ordering info.

 

TNA "Bound for Glory" will truly be an international event, with several countries outside of North America on board for the broadcast.

 

I can confirm that Japanese sensation Tiger Mask will be appearing on the November 30th PPV broadcast. Details of location are being held for an announcement soon.

 

TNA is also planning on our first fan convention to coincide with "Bound for Glory" on the Saturday before the PPV. It has been stated elsewhere that there hasn't been a fan friendlier promotion than TNA, and we intend to go all out to thank our fans for their tremendous support since our inception.

 

Congratulations to Don West, who has been hired as the brand new afternoon talk host on Nashville's Sports Talk 560. West is on Monday-Friday from 3pm-6pm, and has one of the best sports shows I've ever heard.

 

Yes, those darts were real two weeks ago when Slash was making a pincushion out of the back of fellow New Church member Sinn. For the past several years, Sinn has been part of a traveling freak show similar to the Jim Rose Sideshow Circus.

 

All four of the combatants in the X-Division tag were very impressive. Hats off to El Fuego, Eric Young, Jarelle Clark, and Sonjay Dutt. Dutt will be back this Wednesday night, and I would be surprised to see all of them back sooner or later.

 

Minnesota native ODB (One Dirty Bi%ch) has relocated to Nashville. She is one of the most muscular chicks I've ever seen, and can go in the ring as well.

 

While I will say being in the wrestling business can be all-consuming at times, it is the little things that keep it interesting. A quick story to give you an example…

 

I don't want to give too many details on this one, but from time to time, we will hear about a name on the indy scene or someone from an overseas promotion and have to try and get in touch with them to bring them in for a look. In wrestling, Kevin Bacon's six degrees of separation is usually dwindled down to one or two, with everyone in the business usually just one or two phone calls away. I was asked by a former employer to book a certain piece of talent that was requested for a segment. He wasn't an indy worker... or a valet from the pages of Swank... nope... that would have been easy. I was told to call Rocky, as far as I could tell, the nation's only performing boxing kangaroo. Yes, it seems that Rocky has entertained the masses by boxing his trainer at county fairs and special events all over the country. I was able to track down Rocky's owner at a county fair in Pennsylvania. After several messages, someone from the fair called me back with the number to the trainer.

 

Of course, your first question has to be why in the world would they want a boxing kangaroo on the show... well, either they were looking for a sideshow comedy act, or Rocky the Kangaroo is one hell of a worker. My first thought upon entering this conversation was how we were going to work out the price... and in comparison to other sideshow acts, what is the going rate for a boxing kangaroo? It's not like he doesn't have a corner on the market. And, what happens if the kangaroo comes in with an attitude and one of the boys decides to crap in his bag? How would a kangaroo react to that? All these questions were in need of answers.

 

After exchanging pleasantries and explaining what the six show deal would entail, the trainer invited me to cut right to the chase and talk turkey. The company was actually going to fly me in to see what Rocky could do in person, but thankfully we never got that far. Yes, I was almost sent to scout a boxing kangaroo. I repeat; I was almost sent to scout a boxing kangaroo. The trainer instead flat out demanded a price of ten thousand dollars per show for the five show deal. I repeat; ten thousand dollars per show, totaling a sum total of 50 thousand dollars for a week's work. I'm no P.Diddy, but I have to believe pulling in fifty grand a week for getting kicked in the chest by a kangaroo is pretty good ching if you can get it. I was a little taken aback by his monetary demand, but figured he was just starting out to see what he could get. I countered with one thousand a show, which I still believe has to be more than he makes at the county fair.

 

Like the time I was goosed by Star Jones, playing hardball with a man and his boxing kangaroo was a traumatic experience I have yet to recover from. After all was said and done, we could not agree to terms, and negotiations with the boxing kangaroo came to a complete halt.

 

That is all for this week… this Wednesday night will be a huge PPV and well worth checking out. Have a great weekend!

 

Jeremy Borash

[Guest j.o.b. squad]

damn that borash lowballing a kangaroo

[Guest Dynamite Kido]

Didn't Vinnie Mac just sign that boxing kangaroo so TNA wouldn't get him?

[Michrome 0]

A very well respected writer once wrote that the only thing keeping TNA from being the number one wrestling company in the world is exposure.

 

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.

[Guest Salacious Crumb]

I'm glad to see that TNA finally brought in Doring and Roadkill. The tag division badly needs some established teams.

[eirejmcmahon 0]

Thankfully it looks as though millions of new eyeballs are watching TNA with every passing week.

Need to turn the old hyperbole bullshit down a tad or two there.

[tommytomlin 0]

A very well respected writer once wrote that the only thing keeping TNA from being the number one wrestling company in the world is exposure.

 

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.

No chance in hell. Neither of those promotions have the star power of TNA. Samoa Joe doesn't get PPV buys. Jeff Jarrett, Dusty Rhodes and Hulk Hogan do.

[Guest MikeSC]

A very well respected writer once wrote that the only thing keeping TNA from being the number one wrestling company in the world is exposure.

 

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.

No chance in hell. Neither of those promotions have the star power of TNA. Samoa Joe doesn't get PPV buys. Jeff Jarrett, Dusty Rhodes and Hulk Hogan do.

TECHNICALLY, if you go by their initial expectations, JJ and Dusty aren't drawing PPV buys, either.

-=Mike

...Who'd kill for TNA DVD's to be available at Best Buy or something

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

A very well respected writer once wrote that the only thing keeping TNA from being the number one wrestling company in the world is exposure.

 

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.

No chance in hell. Neither of those promotions have the star power of TNA. Samoa Joe doesn't get PPV buys. Jeff Jarrett, Dusty Rhodes and Hulk Hogan do.

TECHNICALLY, if you go by their initial expectations, JJ and Dusty aren't drawing PPV buys, either.

-=Mike

...Who'd kill for TNA DVD's to be available at Best Buy or something

Oh Dusty and Sting draw buys, just not as many as they thought.

 

 

Of course if they could make Sting a weekly player, you can bet your bottom dollar he'd be a much better draw.

[Guest dvkorn]

A very well respected writer once wrote that the only thing keeping TNA from being the number one wrestling company in the world is exposure.

 

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.

No way in the world.... Whilst RoH's wrestling is very good... their storylines blow.... the only storylines of recent time in RoH that have been good that i have read about or seen are Raven/Punk and Corino/Homicide...

 

IWA Mid South whilst great storys and matches i don't think have the star power to intially draw more buys... and it would take forever and a day to start out like that and become a large company...

[BoboBrazil 0]

Ring of Honor bores the fuck out of me. I'd take TNA any day over that.

[tpww7 0]

Thats gotta be the funniest statement I've heard since I joined this board.

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

ROH's weakness is simple: It's great athletics, but there's no motivation for the characters. There's no good storytelling to explain WHY they're fighting. (And you can't say "To be the best" that's like the killer in an Agatha Christie novel's motive being Insanity) People care more about UT doing a foward plancha over the rope 3 times a year then all the tope suicidas ROH can muster.

 

Westling sells tickets. Characters sell out arenas.

[Guest Salacious Crumb]

A very well respected writer once wrote that the only thing keeping TNA from being the number one wrestling company in the world is exposure.

 

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.

Oh give me a break. RoH does not have a broad appeal at all. Most casual fans would turn it off after 20 minutes because there are no good storylines to bring everything together.

 

The only other federation that MIGHT survive the PPV gig like TNA has is MLW.

[Guest Basswitch]

ROH would survive in my opinion.

 

They would be like a less extreme ECW though.

 

MLW would do well if they had the same TNA PPV thing going, and CZW would probally do pretty well (if they got their production standards up a little bit)

[Tawren 0]

To all you people saying RoH has no good storylines: name one storyline OTHER than Raven/Mitchell in TNA RIGHT NOW that is any good.

[The Ghost of bps21 0]

Abyss/Kash

Jarrett/Hogan (In one week it's already better than it should be...and in a big time feel way)

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

The Security feud has been booked very well.

[Silence 0]

The Security feud has been booked very well.

Who gives a shit about a security guard feud?

[Styles 0]

The Security feud has been booked very well.

Who gives a shit about a security guard feud?

The fans have been into it.

[Silence 0]

The fans have been into it.

Then some of them must be really stupid. That's like if WWE fans suddenly started getting into the Stephanie/Vince feud that's going on right now.

[tommytomlin 0]

Why? The Security feud involves real wrestlers. It's no different from a feud between two stables, they're just called 'Red Shirt Security' and 'Black Shirt Security'.

 

And the Jarrett/Russo storyline has been one of the best booked long-term angles in recent history.

[Guest Salacious Crumb]

The Jarrett/Hogan feud already blows anything the WWF has done all year out of the water.

[Styles 0]

The fans have been into it.

Then some of them must be really stupid. That's like if WWE fans suddenly started getting into the Stephanie/Vince feud that's going on right now.

What are you talking about? Have you even SEEN it? It's been old school Southern booking with the scrappy babyface team that all the girls scream for gets beat down by the big bad heels, they score a fluke upset win, the heels act like bullies and injure them, they come out with slings and neck collars to generate sympathy and recruit more popular names to help them even the odds. How is this at all comparable to the perverted owner of the company rubbing up against his drama queen daughter in a main event fued, pray tell?

[The Ghost of bps21 0]

All I know is the feud was booked really well.

 

They ARE real wrestlers...not just security guards...so it's not at all like that.

[Silence 0]

What are you talking about? Have you even SEEN it? It's been old school Southern booking with the scrappy babyface team that all the girls scream for gets beat down by the big bad heels, they score a fluke upset win, the heels act like bullies and injure them, they come out with slings and neck collars to generate sympathy and recruit more popular names to help them even the odds. How is this at all comparable to the perverted owner of the company rubbing up against his drama queen daughter in a main event fued, pray tell?

Well, I've seen Northcutt's power moves and he seems to be the only one out of the 4 with potential. The other 3 I haven't seen much out of except the Black Shirts getting their asses kicked throughout most of the matches, and all Ryan Wilson has is a chokeslam.

[The Ghost of bps21 0]

What are you talking about? Have you even SEEN it? It's been old school Southern booking with the scrappy babyface team that all the girls scream for gets beat down by the big bad heels, they score a fluke upset win, the heels act like bullies and injure them, they come out with slings and neck collars to generate sympathy and recruit more popular names to help them even the odds. How is this at all comparable to the perverted owner of the company rubbing up against his drama queen daughter in a main event fued, pray tell?

Well, I've seen Northcutt's power moves and he seems to be the only one out of the 4 with potential. The other 3 I haven't seen much out of except the Black Shirts getting their asses kicked throughout most of the matches, and all Ryan Wilson has is a chokeslam.

That doesn't change the fact that it was booked really well...

 

can we try to be an equal opportunity bitch about?

[The Thread Killer 0]

Never confuse a mark with facts, Bryan.

 

Their minds are already made up.

 

EDIT: I like that quote. So much so, it's going in my sig.

 

Sucka.

 

Edited October 19, 2003 by The Thread Killer

[Corey_Lazarus 0]

-Black Shirts/Red Shirt has been booked VERY well. Bad matches? True, but good booking.

 

-Russo/Jarrett is, as somebody already said, probably the most well-booked long term angle in a long time (dare I say since Raven/Dreamer?).

 

-Raven/New Church is, of course, great.

 

-The X-Division finally has an angle I'm somewhat interested in (for the first time since Kash held the belt all those months ago) with Sabin/Daniels/Shane.

 

-The "New Franchise" schtick seems to be going somewhere, and somewhere good.

 

-The Tag Team division is heating up again, with Gilberti's stable doing their best to keep the Tag belts on Simon and Swinger.

[JustJoe2k5 0]

A very well respected writer once wrote that the only thing keeping TNA from being the number one wrestling company in the world is exposure.

 

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.

If they are so much better than TNA, why don't they already have a PPV gig?