Keys to Success on Spike

[TNABaddboi 0]

Here's an interesting column from the Torch on the key players for TNA if Impact is going to fare better on Spike than it did on FSN.

 

Saturday, October 1 marks a major opportunity for TNA Wrestling. An opportunity built upon three years of promise, hope, and frustration. When TNA Impact debuts on Spike TV a little over one month from today, a product unlike anything in the mainstream American market will become available once again. (Ok, can you call one company owning the entire market a "market?") Pro wrestling fans who have not been exposed to the TNA product or stopped watching after Impact left FSN will see something different from what WWE is offering. And that's the way it should be.

 

In creating the product's selling points, TNA should not compete with WWE, simply because the industry leader offers a different type of pro wrestling product. WWE is in the business of presenting a male-dominated soap opera with pro wrestling thrown into the formula. What TNA offers is a pro wrestling-centric product that gives fans a dose of competitive pro wrestling action. That is TNA's selling point. That is not WWE's selling point.

 

TNA should not be wrapped up in this illusionary idea of recreating the "Monday Night War" era, as has been suggested by many people, including myself. In previous articles, I have succumbed to the romantic notion of a war between WWE and TNA to re-create the gigantic upswing in pro wrestling's success and popularity that defined the late 1990's. However, the quickest way to end any possibility of TNA waking the sleeping giant that is WWE from its doldrums of inconsistent programming is to compete directly with WWE instead of delivering pro wrestling as it is not currently seen in the mainstream.

 

Creating an individualized product that is far removed from WWE is the best way to solidify the company's television programming as something to be a part of. TNA has 13 weeks of television programming beginning October 1 to sell the company to a public eye that will be keenly watching for similarities or dissimilarities to WWE. What TNA must focus on is delivering positive dissimilarities that separate TNA as a unique form of professional wrestling that caters to the action-starved pro wrestling audience of today.

 

But, how does TNA go about creating this positive dissimilarity? There is no magic formula, but there is the X Division. There is no yellow brick road, but there is a pro wrestling mentality. There is no Vince McMahon, but there is a locker room of dedicated wrestlers. TNA is not burdened by one mindset that perpetuates every ounce of thought within the company. An observer might argue Jeff Jarrett fits the comparison for TNA. Assuredly, we will find out come October 1, but Jarrett does not wield anywhere near the enormity of power exhibited by the McMahon family.

 

The basis for TNA's success or failure is dependent upon the careful integration of characters, storylines, and pro wrestling into a unique product mix. However, TNA can create all the storylines and match-ups they want, but unless they utilize the characters in a way that accentuates the strengths of the product, the project will not have strong legs to stand on. So, who are the wrestlers that are so vitally important? They're four characters who are a step above what is currently seen in WWE.

 

(1) A.J. Styles. I still remember the first time I saw video clips of A.J. Styles in action. Sitting at a local Applebee's restaurant a few years ago, a commercial for TNA's Wednesday Night PPV series came across the television screen as I was standing up to leave my table. I paused. The 30-second commercial, featuring highlights of A.J. Styles in action, represented the entire selling point of the product. The back flip reverse DDT; amazing athletic feats; a fresh name. I paused again. In a natural reaction, I turned to my brother and said, "I have got to see that."

 

On October 1, TNA will have an opportunity to re-create that entire scenario for thousands of viewers who have never witnessed A.J. Styles's athleticism and in-ring ability. The same people who have seen the potential of Shelton Benjamin and the natural in-ring charisma of Shawn Michaels will be exposed to a wrestler that combines both elements into one unbridled performance. Just 10-15 minutes of A.J. Styles in action on that very first one-hour show will give viewers an adequate sample to take out curiosity and replace it with surety.

 

(2) Samoa Joe. For every time WWE's top babyface, John Cena, receives a mixed reaction in a main event WWE Title match, Samoa Joe has the answer. As pro wrestling's reigning tough man, who has earned the respect of fans with the way he carries himself and wrestles, Joe stands out as the epitome of what today's passionate wrestling fan wants. The sick punches and stiff kicks tell the story of someone who wants to take out his aggression on an opponent. In turn, Joe simply asks the pro wrestling fan to release his or her aggression vicariously through his offense. That's how Joe creates an emotional connection with the fans.

 

Want to hurl the copy machine across the office? Want to punch out the customer who won't take "no" for an answer? Want to slam your car through rush hour traffic? Let Joe take care of it by taking out those frustrations and desires on one single opponent. It's better than therapy. It's also something TNA has successfully capitalized on by allowing Joe to just be Joe.

 

(3) Monty Brown. What Brown lacks in wrestling ability, he makes up with natural charisma and entertaining promos. If new fans are looking for one wrestler who has a WWE look that has previously not been through the WWE machine, Monty Brown stands out as having it. It as in the commanding presence of The Rock and ferocity of Kurt Angle. Granted, he has not reached those levels, but he has shown signs of carving his path.

 

Currently, Monty Brown is stuck in no-man's land as TNA bides its time before pushing Monty Brown. TNA does not want to commit to a wrestler who will then turn around and walk into WWE after being given mainstream exposure. However, when Brown and TNA come to a contract agreement, Brown has an opportunity to become the charismatic star of TNA programming who is the "entertainment-value" complement to the awe-inspiring athleticism displayed by the majority of the roster.

 

(4) Abyss. Recently, WWE has created a mindset that big men hovering around the 6'8" height mark are slow, prodding goofs incapable of wrestling at a high level. TNA has an opportunity to shatter that belief by delivering Abyss to the viewing public. Abyss brings agility, tenacity, and the ability to hang with the likes of A.J. Styles, Jeff Hardy, and other mid-sized wrestlers to create a nice blend of power vs. speed match-ups.

 

For viewers who enjoy a strong heavyweight division and who would like to see big men perform at a higher level, TNA has the makings of a modern-day heavyweight division that combines size, power, and athleticism into the perfect complement to the X Division. Abyss, who can be the focal point of a re-defined heavyweight division, offers viewers a glimpse of what WWE is currently incapable of delivering, while capturing the portion of the audience that prefers a big man style to an X Division style.

 

I pretty much agree with everything he says. The only thing I'd say is that Daniels should be featured just as prominently as these guys. I have a strange feeling Jarrett's winning the title at BFG, which is ok, as long as he doesn't go on another 11 month reign. He'd need to eat a Pounce in short order. Thoughts?

[Magus 0]

I agree that Daniels should be included, and I'd throw Raven in there as well (not the guy to build the company around, but a solid ME guy who can give the rub to others.

 

What makes you think that JJ will get the title back at BFG?

[TNABaddboi 0]

What makes you think that JJ will get the title back at BFG?

 

The tension they've been buidling between him Monty Brown makes me think that. With him remembing Jarrett promised him the title shot and never delivered recently and all. It seems to me that JJ/Brown will be the direction they go after JJ/Raven, so though I definitely don't want to see JJ go over Raven at BFG, I wouldn't be surprised at all if he did. I don't think that'd necessarily be a bad thing, as long as he's just as a transitional champ to get it on Monty. He can't go on another long run though. He's already had 3 of those and it hasn't worked since the first one. BFG will be an interesting match though. I hope they really play up the backstory in the build up, unlike what they did when they virtually ignore Jarrett's history with Styles in the Hard Justice build-up.

[Magus 0]

I like that they're rebuilding Monty into a title contender, and I think a fued with Jarrett would give him a good platform. But there's still no reason to put the title on Jarrett. It's been proven time and time again that Jarrett on top is death to TNA. Do they really want to start the Spike TV era by making this mistake AGAIN?

 

Here's what I'd like to see: Raven/Jarrett II goes down at BFG. Jarrett gets Kevin Nash instated as the special guest referee to be "fair and balanced". Although Nash is meant to ensure JJ's victory, he actually calls it straight and Raven comes out on top. Jarrett starts bitching on Impact but is interupted by Monty, kicking off their fued. Jarrett/Monty ends in DQ at the November PPV, but Monty beats him in December in a No DQ match to earn a title shot. Meanwhile Raven has put up good title defenses against Nash in November and then Bubba Ray Dudley in December. In January, Monty challenges Raven and wins the title. I'd probably then move him into fueds with Sabu and Rhino.

 

And the best part: Jarrett never had to be champ.

[TNABaddboi 0]

Here's another column on what TNA has to do to succeed on Spike, this time from the Observer:

 

Can TNA Wake Up The Sleeping Giant?

 

[email protected]

 

Since Vince McMahon bought the remains of WCW in 2001, WWE has had no real competition in the wrestling business. It has been WWE, and then it’s been everyone else. That is about to change. TNA is about to make their debut on national television, taking over the former Velocity timeslot on Saturday nights at 11PM on Spike TV. They air their first show on October 1st, and it’s as important a show as any non-WWE wrestling company has produced in five years.

 

TNA has their first real chance to appeal to a national TV audience, and appeal to fans such as myself that haven’t seen many of their shows over the last several years. I don’t count their little run on Fox Sports Net. It is those fans that TNA must reach if they have any chance of making an impact on national wrestling landscape. The loyal TNA fans will tune in no matter what, but those fans alone will not even be close to enough. They need to tap into a vast resource that is out there right now, and that is the anti-WWE fan.

 

WWE is still the measuring stick as far as being the number one wrestling promotion in the world. But they have put on some very uneven television especially this year. Over the five years since WCW went out of business, they have driven a lot of fans away. All you have to do is look at the TV ratings every week to see that. There are a lot of wrestling fans out there that don’t like WWE’s style of entertainment over wrestling. That style has made Vince McMahon a very wealthy man over the years, but it has also alienated a lot of wrestling fans that actually watch wrestling for the action inside the ring. TNA has the ability to tap into this resource, and they have to if they are ever going to have a hope of competing with WWE.

 

This is where it gets tricky for TNA. As far as in-ring wrestling talent goes, they have some of the best young workers in the world right now. Guys like AJ Styles, Christopher Daniels, Samoa Joe, Petey Williams, Chris Sabin, as well as probably the best tag team in American wrestling today America’s Most Wanted (Chris Harris and James Storm). They have some established former WWE stars like Raven, Rhino, Jeff Hardy, Kip James (Billy Gunn), Sean Waltman, and the recently signed Gail Kim. They also have home grown talent like Abyss, Monty Brown, and former stars like Konnan, BG James, Jerry Lynn, and Elix Skipper among others.

 

It’s expected that The Dudley Boys will be joining TNA in the very near future, albeit under a different name, since WWE is not allowing them to use the Dudleys name, nor anything at all associated with the gimmick. TNA has a good roster of talent. They have put on some very well reviewed PPV’s this year. As I mentioned before, I haven’t seen many of their shows, but from what I have read it seems like they put on a quality wrestling show on a regular basis.

 

I plan on checking out TNA when they debut on Spike. I’m a wrestling fan, and I love watching good wrestling, no matter if it’s WWE, TNA, ROH, or anywhere else. I’m very interested to see what they have in store for their debut on national TV. And yes I know they were on Fox Sports Net before, but I don’t consider that national TV. Spike TV is the big time, and this is TNA’s shot to prove they are a big time promotion, and that they belong is the same breath as WWE. As I already mentioned, their roster is solid right now, so that will be a big plus for them.

 

They have as good a roster of talent as WWE right now, some people would even say better than WWE, although I wouldn’t go that far. It’s hard to put TNA on that same level when you’re referring to guys like Kurt Angle, Chris Benoit, Eddie Guerrero, Shawn Michaels, and others. TNA is right up there in terms of roster depth, but in order to truly compete with WWE, there are some things they have to do in order to attract the fringe fans that are out there right now. Because wrestling alone is not enough.

 

Ben Miller referenced this in his column on the site the other day. Great wrestling alone is not enough. It may work for indy promotions like Ring of Honor, PWG, Jersey All-Pro, IWA-Mid South, and the many others all over the country. Those companies book their show to a particular type of wrestling fan, the hardcore wrestling fan that marks out for a 60-minute time limit draw. That style of booking works for them, but in order to appeal to a broader spectrum of wrestling fans on a national level, you need to give more than just a card full of ***1/2 to **** wrestling matches.

 

That type of show will draw the hardcore wrestling fans on TV, but TNA has visions of doing more than just that. They want to compete, and eventually challenge WWE some day. If they’re going to do that, then they need to come up to WWE’s level in certain areas. Wrestling fans demand, and expect more than just good wrestling matches. There is a lot more to the formula than that.

 

The first thing they need to do is get some more star power. AJ Styles is a great worker, one of the best around these days. But the reality is that the majority of the people out there aren’t going to tune into a wrestling show simply because AJ Styles is on the card. The same is true of a lot of guys on the TNA roster right now. The hardcore wrestling fans will tune in, but like I’ve been saying, TNA needs more than just the hardcore fans to be successful. They need the mainstream, fringe fans out there. The people that stopped watching wrestling when WCW went out of business in 2001, and the people that have quit watching WWE in the last several years because of one reason, or another. Those people are out there, and I know this because I hear from them all the time. These are people disgusted with Vince McMahon’s style of booking. They are looking for a viable alternative, and TNA might just be that alternative.

 

TNA needs to reach out to whatever big name current, or former wrestlers that are out there right now, that aren’t under contract to WWE. They need big names to put on the ads to attract new fans. Jeff Jarrett isn’t going to do it, if anything he causes people to run the other way. TNA doesn’t need that. The Dudleys will help, but how long is their shelf life? Mick Foley would have been a great signing for TNA. He would have brought them the respectability that they are looking for right now. Apparently he really did want to stay with WWE though, because if he really did want to come to TNA, he would have simply signed with them. He wouldn’t have gone back to Vince McMahon with the chance to top TNA’s offer, which Vince did. I don’t fault Mick Foley at all for making the decision he did. Mick has a loyalty to Vince and WWE, and I have nothing but respect for that.

 

However, his signing with TNA would have really helped them out, and it’s a lost opportunity for them. The good thing is Mick Foley isn’t the only big name out there. Bret Hart has expressed an interest in doing business with TNA recently, and I think that is an avenue they really need to pursue. We all know Bret won’t be able to wrestle, but just the mere presence of Bret Hart on a TNA wrestling show will give them an instant credibility among non-TNA wrestling fans. I think they should make a huge push to get Bret involved in some way, whether it’s in a GM type role, or something else.

 

Bret Hart is a known commodity in the wrestling business, and he is exactly the kind of thing TNA needs right now to take that next step. He might be doing a DVD with WWE right now, and he might be getting inducted into their Hall of Fame next year, but he has no desire to work with Vince McMahon on a business level outside of that. So TNA might as well take advantage of that golden opportunity. Chances like that don’t come around very often.

 

It also wouldn’t hurt to talk to Chris Jericho. I know Chris has expressed his desire not do any wrestling right now, and the chances of him doing anything with TNA are very unlikely. But it wouldn’t hurt to try. Jericho is another big name that would help add some of the credibility that TNA is lacking right now. The thing working against that happening is the loyalty factor, same as Mick Foley. Chris has a loyalty to Vince McMahon, and I don’t think he wants to ruin that by signing with Vince’s nearest competitor. Like I said, there is no harm in trying, and I would bet that TNA has already reached out to Jericho and been turned down.

 

Kevin Nash is out there, and he’s a guy I can’t stand. TNA has already used him a lot in the last several years since he left WWE, and I don’t know how much he has left. But he’s undeniably a recognizable name in wrestling right now. I know they have worked a lot with Diamond Dallas Page as well. These are the kind of guys they need to have around, if only in small roles. People might tune in if they hear a name they recognize is going to be on the show, and then while they’re watching they might get into the great wrestling on the show, and you have a new fan. That is how you build loyalty, and build a fan base.

 

They recently signed Jushin Liger to make some appearances, and he will certainly help in the star power department, as well as the match department. More guys like that are needed if TNA is really going to give Vince McMahon and run for his money, and the wrestling purists out there might not like the idea of having guys like Nash, or Bret Hart around. But you have to look at the big picture, instead of your narrow view of what good wrestling is. A successful national wrestling company is one that combines star power with good wrestling, and quality storylines.

 

Another area where TNA need to improve is production. If they are going to ever compete with WWE, then they have to come up to WWE’s level in terms of production value. From what I’ve seen they have done a better job of that in the last year, compared to what the TNA shows used to look like back when they first debuted in June 2002. But they still have a long way to go. If they’re going to try and be a national powerhouse then they have to look like a national powerhouse. They can have all the four star matches they want. But if they look like an indy promotion, then people are going to perceive them that way. They need to ditch the six-sided ring too, in my opinion. It just looks ridiculous, and nobody is going to take them seriously with a ring shaped like a hexagon.

 

TNA needs to take the same track with WWE that Eric Bischoff did with WCW back in 1995. They need to become the edgier, more cool wrestling show to watch. If that involves taking shots at WWE, then so be it. Bischoff did it, and it worked for him. It was a hell of a risk to take, but it ended up paying off for him in spades. WWE did it back to WCW with the DX Invasion, and the other cutting edge things they were doing in 1998-99. TNA needs to tell people why they are better than WWE, and put themselves on the same level as them in people’s minds, even if it’s not true in reality.

 

It can’t hurt. TNA is the underdog right now; WWE is the champion sitting on top of their throne. TNA can’t take on WWE head to head and beat them right now. WWE would crush them. But what they can do is start nipping at WWE’s heels, and start becoming a viable entity that Vince McMahon has no choice but to pay attention to. So far Vince has tried to ignore TNA’s existence, all the while purposely signing talent just to keep them away from TNA. They don’t really have his full attention right now, but they easily can if Vince starts perceiving them as a threat.

 

They can start doing that on Saturday nights starting in October. They need to establish themselves in that timeslot, and develop a core audience on that night. The positive for them is they don’t have too far to go, since WWE Velocity has rarely ever drawn above a 0.6 in that timeslot. I would think that if TNA can at least match those numbers, and improve on them, that Spike would be happy with that. If they can get above a 1.0 that would be huge. It’s going to take a while, but it’s certainly possible. If they become very successful on Saturday nights, I could certainly see a time in the future when they are given a Monday night primetime timeslot to compete with WWE Monday Night Raw. They have a huge mountain to climb before they get to that point. But that should be their goal.

 

The wrestling business is ripe for another national wrestling powerhouse to rise up from the ashes that Vince McMahon has left all over this country from the various promotions he has put out of business over the years. People are tired of WWE having the monopoly on wrestling in this country. Vince McMahon has been coasting along for too long. With no competition he has been able to do the kind of show he wants, and the same core group of fans tune in every week regardless. He hasn’t done anything revolutionary in the wrestling business since 2001. It’s just the same thing week after week, the same people getting pushed for the most part, and the same type of mindless, unintelligent storylines. WWE may be a comfortable number one, but they are definitely not on the sturdiest ground right now. If they do things right, and continue putting on quality wrestling shows, TNA could easily become part of the competition that the wrestling business needs right now.

 

Vince McMahon needs to be challenged again. When he is challenged is when he puts on his best shows. A revitalized WWE and a young, upstart TNA competing on Monday nights isn’t out of the realm of possibility. When WWE and WCW had the legendary Monday Night War from 1995-2001, the real winners were the wrestling fans, because both companies were trying to outdo the other week after week. The fans would be the beneficiaries this time as well, because right now Vince McMahon and WWE are like the proverbial sleeping giant.

 

Does TNA want to wake up the sleeping giant? I think they will, and they have to. The wrestling business needs it, and I personally can’t wait to see it all unfold. When Vince and WWE do wake up though, TNA better be ready to fight back, because Vince usually comes out firing when he feels like he’s being threatened. And that is the best thing that could happen to a wrestling business that has been in a general malaise since 2001.

 

That’s all I have for today. Hope you enjoyed my look at TNA, which is a company I haven’t covered enough here in the past, but that is about to change. I’ll be back next week with a look at WWE Unforgiven. Thanks for reading. See you next week.

 

Please send feedback to: [email protected]

 

Thoughts?

[Magus 0]

I don't agree that TNA should take stupid shots at WWE. It's just childish and makes them look insecure in the quality of their product. People don't want Shock TV anymore. I'm all for doing it in a more subtle way, like saying "You won't see THIS kinda stuff in the other wrestling company". I just don't see the point in blatantly insulting WWE. TNA won't prove itself that way.

 

I do agree that TNA will need more star power. Guys like Page and Nash are good to have around on a limited basis, as they seem more willing these days to put *some* guys over. And if we get a half-decent match out of 'em, that's good too. Sting and Jericho are long shots, but I think TNA should stay in touch and keep trying with those guys. Sting would be the best name to get, as he could work full-time, he can still go when needed, he's got HUGE star power, and he's not above putting others over (ditto to Scott Hall if he could ever get himself together). I doubt we'll ever see Jericho, but still: try. Bret Hart would be a good one-time special attraction, but I'm not sure what could be done with him. Goldberg... probably has too much ego.

 

Besides Sting, the guy I always wanted TNA to sign was Terry Funk. It'd be just as good as signing Mick Foley. Funk could be for TNA what Flair is for RAW right now: a legendary name who entertains and helps get others over. Another crazy idea I've had is to reunite the Steiners in TNA. Sure, Rick's an asshole and Scott can hardly walk, but under the right circumstances, they could be a good one-time deal to wreak havoc on AMW, and physically put them to the ultimate test. It's been YEARS since those two have teamed, so this could garner some interest for TNA. I always wanted to see Scott Hall chase after and win a World Title. If he could ever return, that's what I'd have him do.