TNA iMPACT rating drops to 0.6

[NoCalMike]

Saturday Night is one hell of a shit timeslot. Trust me, if it wasn't for TIVO, I probably wouldn't even be watching TNA. Not because I don't want to, but it is a tough time to be sitting in front of the TV.

 

I think you could move it to Monday Night, buy ad time during Raw to tell people to change the channel, and you would easily arouse more interest and exposure, due to advertising DIRECTLY TO WRESTLING FANS.

[Guest Zarock]

I'm very suprised by this. If this had been the what rating for the first show was, I could chalk it up to a very bad timeslot. However, because the show's gotten dropping ratings, I'm really not sure what the cause of it is. The show was good (needed more X-Division goodness, but whatever) and should have done fairly good numbers. They really need to move the show to primetime on a week-day, like Wednesday (When there's NOTHING on except Cheap Seats and Good Eats) or Tuesday (When there's NOTHING on period).

[MrRant]

Just do the tapings where you have good wrestling crowds like NY, Philly (though it depends) or somewhere along those lines.

[BUTT]

TNA isn't going to succeed just being a wrestling company. I know they're all about the in-ring product, but they really need to come up with some compelling story arcs. I mean they really should hire some soap opera writers and just let them run wild, and not force them to come up with lame comedy like WWE does. TNA really shouldn't be using WWE as a model for their shows. They should be using Desperate Housewives. I'm really fucking serious. I know this may lead to flaming or a mention in "TSM Brings the Idiocy" but I don't care. Unless they start really doing blow-away matches on free TV on a regular basis or doing really good storylines, I, and most other wrestling fans, have no reason to watch Impact.

[Hunter's Torn Quad]

For that to work it needs TNA getting quality soap opera writers, and I don't see anyone like that willing to work for a wrestling promotion. Part of the reason Mike Goldberg turned down signing with WWE was because of the stigma attached to wrestling, and how it would look to 'real' businesses. While that stigma is still in place, quality writers, announcers, or whatever, from any genre, are highly unlikely to work in wrestling.

[BUTT]

Well, no matter who is doing the writing, it's a philosophy I think TNA would be wise to follow. Get the writing team to rack their fucking brains and come up with something interesting. Or at least watch popular TV dramas and copy storylines. Either way they need to get out of the wrestling bubble.

[Hunter's Torn Quad]

They also need to extend Impact to ninety minutes. Until they do, they'll be stuck with either focusing on too few storylines, or trying to rush so much into 45 minutes of television that nothing will really get over.

[Guest [censored]]

They DO NOT need soap opera writers so they can copy the WWE. Christ that would be awful. ECW didn't use soap opera writers, the NWA with Ric Flair, The 4 Horsemen didn't need them either, The NWO and the dynamic WCW mid and undercard? Nope. It's not that hard to come with good wrestling angles and as far as I am concerned TNA actually does a good job when do focus on that. The problem is two things A) a main event spot that has become stagnant and not enough time to focus on all the lower and mid card guys. Until they get more time and a better slot they would probably be better off decreasing their roster some and focus on building thier best guys.

 

Soap opera writers? Soap operas suck. WCW became a soap opera and it sucked and died.

 

Wrestling has and always will be about 1 thing. A strong and seemingly unbeatable heel that the fans love to hate. Flair/4 Horsemen check, the NWO check, McMahon check. Once you have that its a matter of creating the perfect (usually opposite) protagonist.

 

Its really not that hard all it takes is taking a look on TV, Movies, Music and asking what sells.

[razazteca]

The problem is not the writers itself the problem is the people involved in the angles. The talent that is being push in the angles don't exactly have the "IT" factor, charisma, or any type of personality. How am I, as a fan suppose to care about Wrestler A fighting Wrestler B when both of them are emotionless people with zero acting ability? Bringing in writers from 7th Heaven or some underground comic is not the solution to the problem but just a mere bandaid on severed limb.

[RedJed]

The problem is not the writers itself the problem is the people involved in the angles.  The talent that is being push in the angles don't exactly have the "IT" factor, charisma, or any type of personality.  How am I, as a fan suppose to care about Wrestler A fighting Wrestler B when both of them are emotionless people with zero acting ability?  Bringing in writers from 7th Heaven or some underground comic is not the solution to the problem but just a mere bandaid on severed limb.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

The thing is, though, is that what you are talking about IS the fault of the writing. They need to create some more substance, personality, etc, to all of their workers. I think a big part of this is being limited to one hour a week to try to create some character development, which is hard, but admittedly, the bottom line issue is that the main event material is pretty sour right now with Rhino/Jarrett continuing and that is not going to appeal to any broad audience. So I would blame that right there for the fall in ratings the last few weeks. With that said its not too far gone to build upon and fix easily and the first thing is to get the belt off Jarrett ASAP and probably even consider having him take a hiatus much like HHH did this year. The pairing of him and AMW is already stale after only a few months too. Started out strong and it kept going alright with that funeral angle, but since then its been pretty null and void.

 

Oh yah and ixnay any thought of bringing in soap opera writers. There are plenty of good wrestling minds in and outside of the business that nothing needs to be resorted to trying to duplicate what is an already trite formula with WWE writing. In fact I dont even see a need to change the booking as it is right now, as until they get more time each week to write a show (at LEAST 90 to 120 minutes a week) it's kind of hard to say what and what not the team can really do.

[razazteca]

Since TNA does not have the talent to deliver emotional angles, so the company would be better off having matches go 10-15 minutes to build up the monthly PPV. It's time for the company to live up to its name of TOTAL NONSTOP ACTION!

 

Rhyno vs Jarrett you say?!?!?!?! How the hell did that happen did Larry Zybrisko book that match by calling Gail Kim on the cell phone? What exactly is the build up to that match? From the past iMPACT all I know is that Joe & AJ are fighting over the honor code and Christian & Monty are fighting over who is the better metrosexual....

[Guest Bulwark]

Rhyno vs Jarrett you say?!?!?!?!  How the hell did that happen did Larry Zybrisko book that match by calling Gail Kim on the cell phone?  What exactly is the build up to that match?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Rhyno(and all champs I guess) have guarenteed rematch stipulations in their contracts... Pretty sure I heard someone say that on Impact.

[Guest [censored]]

how does the Jarrett v Rhino match not make sense? Rhino beat Jarrett, then lost in a controversial match. That story is fine as is.

 

I think it some ways people have become accustomed to the WWE way of over telling stories for PPV matches. Every match doesn't need some elaborate story behind it. This isn't high school with fights at lunch time, it's wrestling, they wrestle therefore there are going to be wrestling matches.

 

In my mind the problem doesn't have anything to do with the booking. The booking is fine and already much better than the WWE's stupid action adventure show.

 

The problem is that A) for wrestling to really take off it needs to be cool. TNA doesn't have anyone who is just cool. By cool I mean, guys want to be him and girls want be with him. The NWO, cool. Stone Cold Steve Austin, rebelous cool. The Rock, cool, even someone like Bret hart had this I'm the best coolness about him. And of course there was Ric Flair.

 

Who in TNA has that?

 

 

These things weren't about writing, it was about having wrestling who thought about who their characters were, things like how do they dress when not wrestling, what do they believe in, why do they wrestle the way they do, are they upper, middle or lower class, do they drink, if so what? All these little things make up who the character is. This isn't about soap opera writing, its about TNA sitting down with wrestlers and working on these things.

 

A simple exercise that TNA could do is take each wrestler and ask the following the question. If this character was in High School what type of person would he be? It's something everyone can relate and has plenty of stereotype's to use. Would he play sports? Would he do well in classes? Would he be popular? etc. Think about all of the different types of roles that a typical highschool has and how it fits with wrestling. It doesnt seem to me that TNA has done this type of work.

 

Additionally TNA like WCW before it is not putting enough thought, effort and money into the wrestler's entrances. These basically act as a repeating first impressions and go a long ways in describing who a wrestler is. They need to get rid of the lasar lights pronto and put some resources into entrance music. Imagine how much more exciting TNA would seem if for example they were using real music like ECW did. I know this requires licensing but I'd rather see them spend money on something like that which would be used every night instead of a wrestler like Shannon Moore who while good in his own right doesn't really bring anything to the table that they don't already have in several other guys.

[razazteca]

Rhyno vs Jarrett you say?!?!?!?!  How the hell did that happen did Larry Zybrisko book that match by calling Gail Kim on the cell phone?  What exactly is the build up to that match?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Rhyno(and all champs I guess) have guarenteed rematch stipulations in their contracts... Pretty sure I heard someone say that on Impact.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It is common sense but I don't remember Rhyno doing anything on iMPACT in response to losing the belt or requesting a rematch. So far it has been Jarrett banging on janitor closet's looking for Larry Zybrisko and missing phone calls. It has been a one sided story so far. Maybe if Rhyno had Monty's spot and was on tv every week telling the fans how he feels than maybe I would give a damn about the rematch but right now its the same ol same ol predictable BS.

[Guest Zarock]

What're the chances of Heyman jumping ship and joining as a writer/booker?

[Guest Bulwark]

Rhyno vs Jarrett you say?!?!?!?!  How the hell did that happen did Larry Zybrisko book that match by calling Gail Kim on the cell phone?  What exactly is the build up to that match?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Rhyno(and all champs I guess) have guarenteed rematch stipulations in their contracts... Pretty sure I heard someone say that on Impact.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It is common sense but I don't remember Rhyno doing anything on iMPACT in response to losing the belt or requesting a rematch. So far it has been Jarrett banging on janitor closet's looking for Larry Zybrisko and missing phone calls. It has been a one sided story so far.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Jarrett was banging on Zbyszko's door to find out who he'd be facing facing at TP. When he found out it was Rhino, he suggested that either Monty Brown or Christian get the shot instead... Jarrett is scared of Rhino. There are two more shows till TP, i'm sure Rhino will get some airtime on them.

 

What're the chances of Heyman jumping ship and joining as a writer/booker?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I'd say the chances are very good.

[Guest [censored]]

I disagree. I don't think there is any evidence that Heyman would be interested in being a writer/booker for TNA or that TNA would want Heyman. And I think there is ample evidence that neither Heyman or Spike TV would want to work together.

[RedJed]

,Nov 24 2005, 11:47 PM]I disagree.  I don't think there is any evidence that Heyman would be interested in being a writer/booker for TNA or that TNA would want Heyman.  And I think there is ample evidence that neither Heyman or Spike TV would want to work together.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Well considering the guys who are getting pushes right now are some ECW alumni, I would be willing to bet that not only would TNA love to have him onboard but Heyman might enjoy it too, as he wouldnt have to worry about the financial end of the business at all.

 

Spike TV does not = Nashville Network, though. That company/network has, as a whole, gone through so many changes throughout the years that the guy running Spike now (he also runs or did run Comedy Central) isn't the same southern guy who had it when it was TNN (Summer Redstone I think his name was), for starters.

[Hunter's Torn Quad]

TNA want Heyman. They'd be fools not to want somebody with Heyman's mind. Stephanie wants Heyman out of WWE, but Vince will try to re-sign him anyway, just to keep Heyman away from TNA.

[eirejmcmahon]

I've been disappointed with the wrestling content of Impact since moving to Spike - the one thing TNA can offer over WWE is top class in-ring action yet we're barely getting any of that on the weekly shows.

[cabbageboy]

Impact for the most part is a missable show. I think you could go in cold to a PPV and just watch it and enjoy the show without doing hardly any following of the angles beforehand. That's why I just tape it and watch OVW on Saturdays at 11:00. OVW is a much more urgent show and there's no PPVs to build to, so that's pretty much it.