CubbyBr 0 Report post Posted December 2, 2005 Credit: Wrestlingobserver.com --TNA has gotten a lot of publicity already off the as yet not-aired angle involving A.J. Pierzynski and coach Dale Torborg of the Chicago White Sox, Bobby Heenan, Chris Sabin, A.J. Styles, Sonjay Dutt and others that airs a week from tonight in TNA's second prime time special. It's already gotten play on CNN Headline News today as well as the ABC news in Chicago, the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times and for the first time in its history, Sports Illustrated has actually called TNA for a story. There will also be a TNA guest due to it shortly on ESPN 2's Cold Pizza. This wasn't an angle designed for wrestling fans, but designed for media exposure. Pierzynski, Heenan and Torborg are also appearing on the PPV show on 12/11. If they put on a hot show for the prime time special, hopefully they'll bring in some new fans. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steviekick 0 Report post Posted December 2, 2005 Kudos to the TNA crew for actually involving a mainstream sports figure and actually getting some decent coverage for it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steviekick 0 Report post Posted December 2, 2005 double post Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
2GOLD 0 Report post Posted December 2, 2005 Well son of a bitch, it actually worked. I underestimated the importance of AJ Pierzynski. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest [censored] Report post Posted December 2, 2005 well I thought it was a bad idea at the time and was pretty harsh. Well it looks like I was wrong and TNA is showing why they are running a wrestling company and I'm typing on a message board. I'll withhold my final judgement until I see it for myself. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Bulwark Report post Posted December 2, 2005 Nice. Here's hoping it's not too embarrassing... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Eric the Eagle Report post Posted December 2, 2005 I underestimated the importance of AJ Pierzynski. There's a line I thought I'd never see... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest OSIcon Report post Posted December 2, 2005 None of that really surprises me outside of Sports Illustrated calling TNA for a story. It was going to get play in the Chicago media no matter what. That was a given. I am sure a clip of it will air on Sportscenter in some form of that the special airs. TNA does deserve some credit for good timing. The WWE's problem with getting crossovers to work is that their timing is usually off. They will use a guy that was in the spotlight maybe 6 months or a year or earlier. Even worse, they will use a guy that was never really in the national spotlight (like Dimitri Young). With Pierzynski it was perfect timing. The World Series has been over for a month but there is still a buzz there and there is the need for offseason baseball stories other than transactions. Plus Pierzynski actually had a big role in the playoffs given his part in a few "controversial" plays. That's why AJ Pierzynski will probably end up giving them more media attention then Johnny Fairplay or any other "celeberity" ever gave them. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Astro101 0 Report post Posted December 2, 2005 See, TNA got what they wanted. Which was media coverage. People thought it was stupid, but he's not wrestling and he's not Johnny Fairplay. The SI thing is really big. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mole 0 Report post Posted December 2, 2005 Wow and some people said this wouldn't work. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest SavageRulz Report post Posted December 2, 2005 I also give props to TNA for not alienating fans by sticking it in the main card and actually giving wrestling fans a bone by including Bobby Heenen in the mix of things. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CBright7831 0 Report post Posted December 2, 2005 What is Heenan going to do? Manage? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
swan 0 Report post Posted December 2, 2005 I'm surprised and as a White Sox and TNA fan wasn't really too interested. Maybe they are setting up to run a house show, TV tapeing, or PPV from Chicago in the near future. I'd take a trip from out here in the burbs into the city to see that. And after doing a google news search I see even more media outlest are picking up on this and that A.J. Pierzynski is actually a big long time wrestling fan. That's cool. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest SavageRulz Report post Posted December 2, 2005 What is Heenan going to do? Manage? No, he will join the announce team for the match. I hope he is up to it, he sounded terrible the last time I heard him speak. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest JMA Report post Posted December 3, 2005 See, TNA got what they wanted. Which was media coverage. People thought it was stupid, but he's not wrestling and he's not Johnny Fairplay. The SI thing is really big. Whatever happened to Johnny Fairplay? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Bulwark Report post Posted December 3, 2005 See, TNA got what they wanted. Which was media coverage. People thought it was stupid, but he's not wrestling and he's not Johnny Fairplay. The SI thing is really big. Whatever happened to Johnny Fairplay? He's co-hosting Xplosion with Jeremy Borash. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest JMA Report post Posted December 3, 2005 What is Heenan going to do? Manage? No, he will join the announce team for the match. I hope he is up to it, he sounded terrible the last time I heard him speak. I'd like to see Shane Douglas on the announce team. They could give Konnan his old job. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
2GOLD 0 Report post Posted December 3, 2005 See, TNA got what they wanted. Which was media coverage. People thought it was stupid, but he's not wrestling and he's not Johnny Fairplay. The SI thing is really big. Whatever happened to Johnny Fairplay? Hopefully he's in a box, bound and gagged at the bottom of the ocean and can never get free. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Bulwark Report post Posted December 3, 2005 See, TNA got what they wanted. Which was media coverage. People thought it was stupid, but he's not wrestling and he's not Johnny Fairplay. The SI thing is really big. Whatever happened to Johnny Fairplay? Hopefully he's in a box, bound and gagged at the bottom of the ocean and can never get free. He wasn't THAT bad... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest SavageRulz Report post Posted December 3, 2005 What is Heenan going to do? Manage? No, he will join the announce team for the match. I hope he is up to it, he sounded terrible the last time I heard him speak. I'd like to see Shane Douglas on the announce team. They could give Konnan his old job. Get Douglas on the announce team and give Don West the boot is what i would want from Santa for x-mas. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hunter's Torn Quad 0 Report post Posted December 4, 2005 Before people start saying how the angle worked, wait until it we see if it does anything to increase business. If it doesn't do that, then all the media it got means nothing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Placebo Effect 0 Report post Posted December 4, 2005 Before people start saying how the angle worked, wait until it we see if it does anything to increase business. If it doesn't do that, then all the media it got means nothing. At this point, unless the appearance is costing them a lot of money (I doubt it is), the publicity is worth it. Just the fact that there are segments about TNA being aired on news outlets gets the name out there. Now if WWE did this and it didn't increase business, then yeah, it wouldn't be worth it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChrisMWaters 0 Report post Posted December 4, 2005 (edited) I probably am exaggurating this here, but could the White Sox AJ be to TNA what Mike Tyson was to WWF back in 1998? The celeb that helped them get some newer viewers? Like, this AJ being here could boost TNA in outsiders' eyes like WWF was in 98 when Tyson was around? Edited December 4, 2005 by ChrisMWaters Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hawk 34 0 Report post Posted December 4, 2005 Not at all. AJ isn't remotely near the level of Mike Tyson. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hunter's Torn Quad 0 Report post Posted December 4, 2005 Before people start saying how the angle worked, wait until it we see if it does anything to increase business. If it doesn't do that, then all the media it got means nothing. At this point, unless the appearance is costing them a lot of money (I doubt it is), the publicity is worth it. Just the fact that there are segments about TNA being aired on news outlets gets the name out there. Now if WWE did this and it didn't increase business, then yeah, it wouldn't be worth it. It's not about the publicity being worth it or not. It's about if that publicity does anything for business. If this angle doesn't do anything for business, then it didn't work, no matter what publicity it got. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TNABaddboi 0 Report post Posted December 12, 2005 Well TNA got what they wanted....the match was on Sportscenter's Top 10 plays..with "TNA Wrestling," "Turning Point" and the announcer calling AJ P whacking Simon Diamond with the plate. Couldn't have been much better for TNA, I'd say. There was no downgrading of AJ for participating or TNA for being bush leaugue. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hyperchord24 0 Report post Posted December 13, 2005 Well TNA got what they wanted....the match was on Sportscenter's Top 10 plays..with "TNA Wrestling," "Turning Point" and the announcer calling AJ P whacking Simon Diamond with the plate. Couldn't have been much better for TNA, I'd say. There was no downgrading of AJ for participating or TNA for being bush leaugue. Yeah, I caught that sportscenter too. I was surprised Patrick didn't make the whole thing look bush league. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Astro101 0 Report post Posted December 13, 2005 I think just getting the name TNA Wrestling out there is good enough for them. Top 10 is just icing on the cake. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
