Guest glennsoe Report post Posted April 27, 2004 Credit; pwinsider.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Hey; AJPW on tna tv makes me a happy Norwegian tna fan..... ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ With NWA-TNA closing in on the TV deal with the Fox Sports Network, sources close to the situation have been stating that the company is currently in talks with both Kevin Nash and Randy Savage. The idea would be for Nash and Savage to come in and work programs with Jeff Jarrett, which would help familiarize new viewers with big name talent that they may have heard of before. D-Lo Brown has worked as a negotiation tool between TNA officials and All Japan Pro Wrestling, as he helped set up an appearance by Turmeric Storm (Tomoaki Honma and Kazushi Miyamoto) at the next NWA-TNA X Cup. Keiji Muto of All Japan has also announced that several wrestlers from AJPW will be appearing on NWA-TNA in the coming weeks. As of right now CM Punk and Julio Dinero are still under contract with TNA, but at this point the company has no plans of bringing them back. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Styles 0 Report post Posted April 27, 2004 Eh, Savage might be fun for a little while, especially since he hasn't been on TV in almost 6 years. Nash is so beyond done though... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Ghost of bps21 0 Report post Posted April 27, 2004 These go in the pile with every other "name" they've tried to bring in. It's meaningless until you see them...and therefore not worth my time to complain about...yet. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zack Malibu 0 Report post Posted April 27, 2004 Eh, Savage might be fun for a little while, especially since he hasn't been on TV in almost 6 years. Nash is so beyond done though... Actually, it's only been about four. He came out on Thunder during the New Blood/Millionaire's Club angle in spring 2000. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Decemberists 0 Report post Posted April 27, 2004 For what it's worth, Savage would actually make me order the show, something Luger didn't manage, so it could be a decent deal as I can't be the only Savage mark left Nash is just a joke now though, surely. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Banders Kennany Report post Posted April 27, 2004 Are Punk and Dinero on bad terms with TNA or just not needed? I haven't watched in a long time.....whatever happened to them as Raven's Gathering? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zack Malibu 0 Report post Posted April 27, 2004 Are Punk and Dinero on bad terms with TNA or just not needed? I haven't watched in a long time.....whatever happened to them as Raven's Gathering? Punk caught heat for stirring up shit with Teddy Hart a few months back. There's also been murmurs of him not fully supporting TNA as much as he has ROH, Zero One, etc. Dinero I've no clue, they probably are just searching for a role for him. Also, the last time they were on, they were feuding with Raven, as they'd turned on him and joined up with Father Mitchell. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Ghost of bps21 0 Report post Posted April 27, 2004 Punk and TNA had a falling out after the Teddy Hart incident. After that they pulled all of their contracted talent from RoH. Punk is the only person with a contract still in RoH...which tells you what kind of terms he and TNA are on. Julio just got screwed over as a result. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Dynamite Kido Report post Posted April 27, 2004 This is just another thing that would contribute to them going out of business. Keep in mind that Savage and Nash are both men of extraordinary ego. There is no way they would even step in the ring unless the pay is to their liking, and realistically the amout they would want wouldn't even be warranted. Could these guys wrestle every week? No. Even if they could, would the core fans want to watch it anymore? I highly doubt that it would be a positive for them. Now, I guarantee that the first show they are advertised to be on would do a solid buyrate. But that would die the next show they do because it's not a good product. PERIOD. This is how much those two guys could hurt the TNA product(which can be questionable at times the way it is now). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest What_ever Report post Posted April 27, 2004 If TNA signs Big Sluggo, I will seriously never watch their product again. ~I's be yo' mamma. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OldSchoolWrestling 0 Report post Posted April 27, 2004 I don't see them doing any more than Sting does. Come in every few months, get a big paycheck and a high profile match with JJJ and then leave again until rent is due. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Astro101 0 Report post Posted April 27, 2004 Maybe Macho Man can get Slim Jim to promote on the show, and TNA uses that advertising money to pay for his salary! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Donners Report post Posted April 28, 2004 D-Lo Brown has worked as a negotiation tool between TNA officials and All Japan Pro Wrestling, as he helped set up an appearance by Turmeric Storm (Tomoaki Honma and Kazushi Miyamoto) at the next NWA-TNA X Cup. The connections of a wrestler are an underrated attribute... Where do Honma and Miyamoto fit into the X-Cup? They're not part of Team Japan (and IIRC certainly don't work the X style). Is there going to be a seperate tag match for them? Incidentally, it's interesting to note Teddy Hart has been removed from the Canada team, presumably because he's about to sign with WWE. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest MikeSC Report post Posted April 28, 2004 D-Lo Brown has worked as a negotiation tool between TNA officials and All Japan Pro Wrestling, as he helped set up an appearance by Turmeric Storm (Tomoaki Honma and Kazushi Miyamoto) at the next NWA-TNA X Cup. The connections of a wrestler are an underrated attribute... Where do Honma and Miyamoto fit into the X-Cup? They're not part of Team Japan (and IIRC certainly don't work the X style). Is there going to be a seperate tag match for them? Incidentally, it's interesting to note Teddy Hart has been removed from the Canada team, presumably because he's about to sign with WWE. I'm not sure why you'd assume Teddy is about to sign with the WWE, considering that they initially canned him due to his obnoxious personality and little seems to have changed. -=Mike Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BoboBrazil 0 Report post Posted April 28, 2004 Teddy was removed due to commitments in Japan. He thought he could make it in time, but he couldn't. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Donners Report post Posted April 28, 2004 I'm not sure why you'd assume Teddy is about to sign with the WWE, considering that they initially canned him due to his obnoxious personality and little seems to have changed. -=Mike A mention on his site that this should be a "very interesting week and month" combined with WWE's recent push to appease Bret Hart and their hiring of Brian Lawler are all quite influential factors when combined with his pulling out of this show. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Donners Report post Posted April 28, 2004 Now, I guarantee that the first show they are advertised to be on would do a solid buyrate. But that would die the next show they do because it's not a good product. PERIOD. This is how much those two guys could hurt the TNA product(which can be questionable at times the way it is now). Unless you think they're going to get the entire show to themselves, I don't understand what you're basing that on. Even when Scott Hall (who was getting more money than Nash is reportedly requesting) was on the show, he only had maybe 15 minutes of the two hours. The X-Division still put on great matches, and the shows were still often entertaining. Hell, having Hall there was preferable to a lot of other stuff on the show (albeit midgets and the Dupp Cup). I simply fail to see how one or two "big-name" people who can't wrestle that well anymore could suddenly make the show "not a bad product" and kill the buy-rate after one appearance. Even if they bomb, whicih is by no means certain, there should be plenty more on the rest of the show to make up for it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Dynamite Kido Report post Posted April 28, 2004 Unless you think they're going to get the entire show to themselves, I don't understand what you're basing that on. Even when Scott Hall (who was getting more money than Nash is reportedly requesting) was on the show, he only had maybe 15 minutes of the two hours. The X-Division still put on great matches, and the shows were still often entertaining. Hell, having Hall there was preferable to a lot of other stuff on the show (albeit midgets and the Dupp Cup). I simply fail to see how one or two "big-name" people who can't wrestle that well anymore could suddenly make the show "not a bad product" and kill the buy-rate after one appearance. Even if they bomb, whicih is by no means certain, there should be plenty more on the rest of the show to make up for it. Apparently you don't realize that the majority of TNA PPV viewership is "smarks". "Smarks" generally won't order something they feel is inferior. If Nash and Savage were to sign and they were announced for a show, people will check it out. If it fails and Nash and Savage were advertised again, the people who order the PPV would be inclined NOT to order it simply because the product isn't "up to par" with what it was before they came in. Also, the only reason why I feel like these two showing up could ruin the product is because they will(of course) be added to the main event picture. If you can't see how Nash and Savage would hurt the show being in the ME picture, then I guess there is nothing I can say to have you understand my point. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest duck420 Report post Posted April 28, 2004 i saw sting on tna. he sucked and was fat. it made me not want to watch tna because i was afraid he was going to take up the show. bringing old stars in for name recognition is only good for a hyped up match or commissioner/announcer role. non smarks do realize that a 50 year old man cannot beat a 20 year old man in a fight. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
swan 0 Report post Posted April 28, 2004 Are Punk and Dinero on bad terms with TNA or just not needed? I haven't watched in a long time.....whatever happened to them as Raven's Gathering? Punk runs the ROH training school. Made the move east from Chicago. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Buzz 0 Report post Posted April 29, 2004 "i saw sting on tna. he sucked and was fat. it made me not want to watch tna because i was afraid he was going to take up the show. bringing old stars in for name recognition is only good for a hyped up match or commissioner/announcer role. non smarks do realize that a 50 year old man cannot beat a 20 year old man in a fight. " Someone needs some glasses. I don't care if you thought the match sucked. But the man wasn't what I'd call fat. *raises eyebrow* Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Donners Report post Posted April 29, 2004 Apparently you don't realize that the majority of TNA PPV viewership is "smarks". "Smarks" generally won't order something they feel is inferior. I don't think anybody would order something they find "inferior", smark or mark. I don't really think you can judge the potential reaction of "smarks" as a group, as that's a pretty ill-defined term, much less the percentage of them as fans of TNA. Besides, even going with your term, clearly the current levels of "smark" fans ordering the show are insufficient to ensure the company's future. I think they've done a good job of booking some things that should be well received, such as pushing TNA-grown talent like Chris Harris as well as bringing other talented lesser lights to the title picture like Abyss and Killings and increasing the time given to matches, but that hasn't improved buy rates. Hell, it's hasn't improved the attitude of smarks either. If Harris wins the title, he's not ready. If Jarrett retains, he's holding people down. If Styles wins, he hasn't had enough build-up. You can never please "smarks" in general. If Nash and Savage were to sign and they were announced for a show, people will check it out. If it fails and Nash and Savage were advertised again, the people who order the PPV would be inclined NOT to order it simply because the product isn't "up to par" with what it was before they came in. "If it fails." Again, even if those two bomb, the rest of the show could be very good - just as good, if not better, than shows without those two. TNA have had overall good shows with some crap thrown in. Also, the only reason why I feel like these two showing up could ruin the product is because they will(of course) be added to the main event picture. Undoubtedly they will, unless given a Piper-style role. It would be foolish to pay people big money and hire them for the purposes of getting attention if they aren't given a high-profile spot on the card. If you can't see how Nash and Savage would hurt the show being in the ME picture, then I guess there is nothing I can say to have you understand my point. Depends on how it's handled. You're going instantly for the "glass half empty" approach. If Nash comes in and squashes AJ in three minutes, then yeah, that hurts the show. If Nash and Jarrett put on a ** main event and the rest of the show features some high-quality wrestling, then I don't think that hurts the show. If Styles or Harris face Nash and get in plenty of offence, then that could actually help the show. I don't think it's possible to immediately judge something to be a failure before it happens. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest duck420 Report post Posted April 29, 2004 "i saw sting on tna. he sucked and was fat. it made me not want to watch tna because i was afraid he was going to take up the show. bringing old stars in for name recognition is only good for a hyped up match or commissioner/announcer role. non smarks do realize that a 50 year old man cannot beat a 20 year old man in a fight. " Someone needs some glasses. I don't care if you thought the match sucked. But the man wasn't what I'd call fat. *raises eyebrow* dude he was fat and out of shape and obviously not the sting of old. i only saw one match because after that crap i quit buying tna(now i know judging something on an xpac match is a bad idea but im poor). sting if over forty people can admit hes fat its not like it will hurt his career Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zack Malibu 0 Report post Posted April 29, 2004 non smarks do realize that a 50 year old man cannot beat a 20 year old man in a fight. Says who? 50 year old men can kick the asses of 20 year old men in real life, so why is it not believeable on wrestling? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest duck420 Report post Posted April 29, 2004 macho man cant beat anyone up Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Dynamite Kido Report post Posted April 29, 2004 I don't think anybody would order something they find "inferior", smark or mark. I don't really think you can judge the potential reaction of "smarks" as a group, as that's a pretty ill-defined term, much less the percentage of them as fans of TNA. Besides, even going with your term, clearly the current levels of "smark" fans ordering the show are insufficient to ensure the company's future. I think they've done a good job of booking some things that should be well received, such as pushing TNA-grown talent like Chris Harris as well as bringing other talented lesser lights to the title picture like Abyss and Killings and increasing the time given to matches, but that hasn't improved buy rates. Hell, it's hasn't improved the attitude of smarks either. If Harris wins the title, he's not ready. If Jarrett retains, he's holding people down. If Styles wins, he hasn't had enough build-up. You can never please "smarks" in general. So you think by bringing in washed up guys that have no work ethic, no more athletic skill, or anything to bring to the table except for the fact that they "are names". They brought in Sting, Luger, Vader, etc. Did it help? NOT AT ALL. They never made money, and the way they are going with this, they will continue that way of business. "If it fails." Again, even if those two bomb, the rest of the show could be very good - just as good, if not better, than shows without those two. TNA have had overall good shows with some crap thrown in. So it's ok to strive for "everything else is good so who cares if the main event sucks", sorry skippy not in my mind. Undoubtedly they will, unless given a Piper-style role. It would be foolish to pay people big money and hire them for the purposes of getting attention if they aren't given a high-profile spot on the card. Also it's foolish to pay people big money and hire them to wrestle when THEY CAN'T..... Depends on how it's handled. You're going instantly for the "glass half empty" approach. If Nash comes in and squashes AJ in three minutes, then yeah, that hurts the show. If Nash and Jarrett put on a ** main event and the rest of the show features some high-quality wrestling, then I don't think that hurts the show. If Styles or Harris face Nash and get in plenty of offence, then that could actually help the show. I don't think it's possible to immediately judge something to be a failure before it happens If anything in the Main Event picture is bad, it hurts the show regardless of how great the rest of the card is. That is the idea behind a main event, as it's the biggest, best, most important match on the card. So if the main event(which is suppost to be the most important part of the show) is bad, then it automatically makes the company look worse. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Donners Report post Posted April 29, 2004 Main eventing is not always about great wrestling, though. Sure, it's great if you can have somebody putting on **** matches, but going back through the history of wrestling, many of the most notable main eventers never really did a great job in the ring. I was listening to a radio show earlier this week where a bunch of Australian wrestlers were responding to callers. One in particular criticised the push of Bradshaw, but the wrestlers unanimously disagreed. Their point was that main eventing was about getting a reaction out of the crowd, not necessarily **** matches. If Nash and/or Savage can get a great response from the crowd, one which can keep going through their match regardless of its quality, then I think it will be a good match overall. If they get increased buys, so much the better. Without actual figures on the buys available weekly, it's hard to say whether Sting, Vader and Luger helped at all. I'd say Savage is arguably a bigger name than at least two of those, and Nash was main eventing for WWE just last year. Hell, if they've been losing money with their current approach of focusing on their regulars, then why not take a chance and try something different. Nash and Savage are the two biggest names available who could realistically go to TNA, so they may as well give them a shot. If it fails, so be it. It's better to actually take a chance of stopping the rot than just let the company slowly sink under. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Dynamite Kido Report post Posted May 1, 2004 Main eventing is not always about great wrestling, though. Sure, it's great if you can have somebody putting on **** matches, but going back through the history of wrestling, many of the most notable main eventers never really did a great job in the ring. I never said anything about the main event being "all about the wrestling". I simply stated the main event should be the "most important" part of the show. Thus, if guys like Nash and Savage come in and don't wrestle every week or dog it in the ring it makes the whole main event picture "less important" as they would be insulting the fans intelligence with their horrible performance. I was listening to a radio show earlier this week where a bunch of Australian wrestlers were responding to callers. One in particular criticised the push of Bradshaw, but the wrestlers unanimously disagreed. Their point was that main eventing was about getting a reaction out of the crowd, not necessarily **** matches. Keep in mind that is a bad comparison, especially since the WWE has be weary as of late about the Bradshaw push too. Actually in TNA, what the crowd thinks really isn't all that important. What really matters is that MORE people are buying their shows, and honestly I doubt that Nash or Savage(neither of which were significant draws in their career) would really boost that, and the facts that they didn't help WCW that much in the ratings department(post nWo) futher proves my point. If Nash and/or Savage can get a great response from the crowd, one which can keep going through their match regardless of its quality, then I think it will be a good match overall. If they get increased buys, so much the better. So you rate matches on how the crowd reacts? Without actual figures on the buys available weekly, it's hard to say whether Sting, Vader and Luger helped at all. I'd say Savage is arguably a bigger name than at least two of those, and Nash was main eventing for WWE just last year. Hell, if they've been losing money with their current approach of focusing on their regulars, then why not take a chance and try something different. Nash and Savage are the two biggest names available who could realistically go to TNA, so they may as well give them a shot. But that is the problem, they haven't focused enough on the regulars. They have finally been able to get a division surounding the NWA Title instead of just having a couple of people in the mix. So honestly, Savage and Nash would do nothing but bring morale down in the locker room. If it fails, so be it. It's better to actually take a chance of stopping the rot than just let the company slowly sink under. Or if they just tried and established their fanbase on workrate and being better than the WWE at "wrestling" then they will be fine. If you disagree with fans because of ringwork then look at ROH. You won't find bigger fanboys anywhere, hell the ROH fans are the ones that keep the organization alive. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest dvkorn Report post Posted May 1, 2004 Mainstream American wrestling (which is what TNA is trying to become) will never be based on workrate as much as some of us would love it to be. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest duck420 Report post Posted May 1, 2004 Mainstream American wrestling (which is what TNA is trying to become) will never be based on workrate as much as some of us would love it to be. the truth hurts Share this post Link to post Share on other sites