TNA's first house this March?

[TNABaddboi 0]

I moved from Nashville to North Florida middle of last year; that said, if they went back and did a show there...I'd go up for that. The building CAN have a good live atmosphere.

 

I know that building can have a good atmosphere...I drove up there from Atlanta the night Hardy debuted (I'm no Hardy mark....I'd planned the trip before he was leaked as a surprise) and the atmosphere that night was electric, especially for that match and the Truth/Jarrett match. In fact, when I saw the show on TV later, I couldn't believe how dead the crowd sounded, having been there live. I think they didn't mic that crowd well at all. But with that said, because they kicked the freebies out for the post-show anniversary party, I know that 2/3 of that crowd was comped. I was just thinking that TNA might remember that when they pick markets, though with the current format of sold shows, if they can find a Nashville promoter, I'm sure they'd go back.

[claydude14 0]

I never went to an ECW show in Buffalo, as I was too young (and they even did stop on Rochester a few times as well, which is where I live), but since I've been of driving age at least I've seen a few RAWs in Buffalo as well as Fully Loaded 99 and the GAB 05, so I would without a doubt drive to Buffalo for a TNA house show. However, I'm worried about the fan bevhavior Buffalo apparently had last time ROH was in town. It was fucking embarassing.

[TNABaddboi 0]

Well tickets are going on sale tomorrow, so TNA's great experiment will officially begin. Here's what PWI reported:

 

Tickets will go on sale tomorrow morning for the TNA house show on 3/17 with seats listed for $50, $25, $20, $15, and $10.

 

I can't believe they are putting tickets on sale without announcing Christian, Team 3D, Hardy or Sting. I know they are banking on the hometown hero Rhino's title shot to draw in Detroit, but they signed those other guys to be draws, and they'll need them here more than ever. They should also be announced as appearing. Just my two cents....

[Guest Coffey]

Hey, anything that gets them away from those fucking Orlando fans is a good thing. TNA needs less "Abyss...WHOA!" and "Bentley Bounce."

[TNABaddboi 0]

WWE scheduled the first Saturday Night's Main Event for the day after this show, in Detriot. We knew TNA would be going head-to-head with them on TV, but I didn't think they'd be going head to head in the market. Here's what Mike Johnson wrote:

 

My old friend Georgiann Makropoulos is reporting over at WrestlingFigs.com that WWE's Saturday Night Main Event is scheduled for March 18 at Detroit's Cobo Hall.

 

For those who noted the "coincidence" that TNA debuts in the Detroit market with a house show on March 17, well, let's just say you aren't alone. I find it hard to believe that WWE just picked going to Detroit, on that date, out of a hat. On the flip side, at least TNA knows that WWE sees them as competition.

[RedJed 0]

Hmmm, so does this mean SNME is obviously going to be live, or at worst, on a brief few hour tape delay that night? Hell, I just figured we'd see them tape that as a double shot with Raw that same week. Maybe that was the plan before TNA jumped on a house show idea here.

[Carnival 0]

Violent J talks about the TNA house show on ICP.com. Nothing special.....

 

Being the major wrestling fans that we all are here at Psychopathic Records, we've recently decided to embark on yet another brand new wrestling adventure. This time we're bringing to Detroit, the best wrestling promotion out there today. I'm talking about TNA Wrestling. I know y'all seen the show on Spike TV, don't front. And I know you seen how fuckin' dope that shit is too. TNA has been steadily growing, non-stop, since they started about four years ago. When Shaggy and myself wrestled for TNA early last year, they showed us mad love and we had a fuckin' great time. TNA was even kind enough to participate in our JCW vs. TNA "3 Day War" at last year's Gathering. Anyhoot, they are friends of ours and we're honored to be the ones promoting TNA's very first house show event, and we're fuckin' flattered that they respect our company enough to let us be the first. It's a fresh partnership. And it's a fresh gamble for both of our companies, which makes it a fresh brand new adventure.

 

The show is on March 17th at the big-ass Compuware Sports Arena in Plymouth, Michigan. Tickets are available everywhere tickets are sold. Even in your mother's BUTT. Also, charter buses to the event will be leaving from Chicago and Pittsburgh, so check our website in the days to come for those upcoming details.

 

The show features everybody fresh like Rhyno, Jeff Jarrett, Sabu, Abyss, AMW, Team Canada, Samoa Joe, The Naturals, Monty Brown, Chris Sabin, Shark Boy, AJ Styles, Ron "The Truth" Killings and many more TNA stars. Even though this ain't a JCW show, Shaggy and myself are also gonna be slappin' on the spandex and wrestling that night. We're gonna give y'all a lil' preview of our new 2006 skills. See, we get better every year. I know Shaggy's wrestling skills school mine, but this time, I got some new moves besides the standard hip tosses and clotheslines, for ya. And also on this extra special night, Twiztid will even be in the house. Twiztid will be joining us ringside as they will be watching our backs as our fresh official managers.

......

Your big homie, Violent J

out like Peter Jennings

[TNABaddboi 0]

I ran across the poster for the event on the official TNA board. Here it is if anyone's interested:

 

[Carnival 0]

I wonder if they could have found older pics of ICP. Those are at least 6 or 7 years old.

[Placebo Effect 0]

A1 sure is pissed at Shaggy 2 Dope.

[TNABaddboi 0]

I've seen reports on other msg boards and rumor sites that all the floor seats for this show have been purchased already, which, if true, would put tickets sales at least over 1,000 and have to thrill everybody involved. PWI reported on the sales today, but didn't not give a number. Here's what Mike Johnson wrote:

 

TNA is said to be happy with how tickets are moving for their Detroit, Michigan area house show on 3/17, although sources wouldn't state how many tickets have moved thus far.

[dubq 0]

This thing is gonna be full of Juggalos if ICP is on the card. Good thing it's a house show.

 

On the other hand I could use a Violent J NWA World Title run.....

ICP need to be guest announcers on iMPACT!

 

Hmm, how about no? The less those two chumpstains have to do with wrestling, the better.

 

Stranglemania (and all its spawn) is a million times more entertaining than anything Vince has been shoving down peoples thoats for years.

 

I don't watch wrestling for comedy.

[Dangerous A 0]

Update on tickets for the TNA house show from the Observer site....

 

 

TNA tickets for Plymouth, MI have $50 ringside all sold out and $10 tickets have sold well. Lots of mid-priced tickets are left. (thanks to Mike Kulyk)

[TNABaddboi 0]

Another update, this one from PWI:

 

There will be several signings this weekend to promote the TNA house show in Michigan. AJ Styles will be signing at the Gibraltar Trade Center (15525 Racho Road) in Taylor, Michigan from 12 Noon to 2 PM for $10. Team Canada's A-1 and Scott D'Amore will be signing free autographs at the OHL Plymouth Whalers Hockey Game at the Compuware Sports Arena in Plymouth, Michigan on 1/28 to promote TNA's initial house show there.

[Guest Dumb Monkey]

WWE scheduled the first Saturday Night's Main Event for the day after this show, in Detriot. We knew TNA would be going head-to-head with them on TV, but I didn't think they'd be going head to head in the market. Here's what Mike Johnson wrote:

 

My old friend Georgiann Makropoulos is reporting over at WrestlingFigs.com that WWE's Saturday Night Main Event is scheduled for March 18 at Detroit's Cobo Hall.

 

For those who noted the "coincidence" that TNA debuts in the Detroit market with a house show on March 17, well, let's just say you aren't alone. I find it hard to believe that WWE just picked going to Detroit, on that date, out of a hat. On the flip side, at least TNA knows that WWE sees them as competition.

 

SNME's location has been determined for at least several months. TNA's show for a couple of weeks at most.

[TNABaddboi 0]

Had to see this coming, but I'd say it's a good development nonetheless:

 

NWA champion Christian Cage has been added to TNA’s 3/17 Detroit house show. The show also is slated to feature:

 

*Jeff Jarrett vs. Rhino

 

*NWA Tag Team champions America’s Most Wanted vs. The Naturals

 

*X-Division champion Samoa Joe vs. AJ Styles

 

*Sabu vs. Abyss

 

*Bobby Roode vs. Ron Killings

 

*Eric Young vs. Jerry Lynn,

 

*Monty Brown vs. Chris Sabin

credit: PWInsider.com

 

I wonder who he'll be facing. Or maybe they convinced him to go by promising him he'd only have to cut a promo. Either way, the show will be better off with Christian on it, especially now that he's champ. It should draw better too. Now if they can just get Sting to show up...

[The Ghost of bps21 0]

"As we noted earlier today, NWA champion Christian Cage will be appearing on the TNA house show on 3/17 in the Detroit, Michigan market. The local promoters intend to announce his opponent next week."

 

-PWInsider.com

 

So he will be wrestling on the show.

[Rendclaw 0]

This sucks... Compuware is in my delivery area, only about a 15 minute drive from my apartment, and I am going to be in Chicago that night... I only hope they come back, as I haven't been to a house show since ECW did one in Orlando back in 99. *sighs*

 

But this is a good small step for TNA. Smaller shows, creating a buzz through word of mouth, if the house shows do well, look out.

[BUTT 0]

I bet Daniels is the opponent.

[TNABaddboi 0]

Slam Sports did an article on this show. Among the newsworthy notes in it is that ticket sales have topped 2,000. TNA has got to be estatic about that, and drawing such a decent number will probably land Detroit the first non-Orlando PPV. Anyway, here's the article:

 

Time right for TNA Detroit house show

Promotion ventures north for March 17 event

By MATT MACKINDER - For SLAM! Wrestling

Scott D'Amore and A1 sign TNA posters at a Plymouth Whalers OHL game on January 28.

- photo by Matt Mackinder

 

DETROIT -- Total Nonstop Action Wrestling has never had a show outside of their Orlando studio or Nashville, but on March 17, that all changes with the St. Patrick's Day Massacre.

 

On that night, TNA invades the Compuware Sports Arena in the suburban Detroit town of Plymouth with Jeff Jarrett and Rhino headlining the card. It's an event that has been in the making for quite some time, but only recently came to fruition.

 

"To be honest, I was a little concerned at first," Compuware Sports Arena general manager Matt Blasy said. "Anytime you bring in an event like professional wrestling, you have concerns for your building. I have lost touch with the wrestling world throughout the years and did not know much about TNA. I have been contacted by several wrestling groups in the past and have been a little skeptical on whether or not the event will be successful. Because I did not know much about TNA, I thought this may be a similar situation."

 

Back on January 20, the day tickets went on sale, more than 1,000 tickets were sold at the Compuware box office and online. And as of a week ago, in excess of 2,000 had been purchased for the event that looks to hold around 4,500 fans. By contrast, most TNA shows in Orlando's Universal Studio hold approximately 900.

 

"The time is right for TNA to venture out," said promoter Rudy Hill, formerly Rude Boy in TNA, of Bizzar Tours. "Compuware is a great venue. It's not a bingo hall. I think, too, it should be stressed that TNA is a family-oriented company. You're not going to get some sleazy, bullshit live sex show or profanity. You're going to get straight up wrestling. And we're bringing our own refs and (broadcaster) Mike Tenay and (ring announcer) Jeremy Borash, too.

 

"I think it's strange, too, that the day we announced TNA was coming here, suddenly the WWE announces that Saturday Night's Main Event will be at Cobo Arena [in Detroit] the next night. I mean, come on. The competition between us and the WWE is a lot closer than some might think."

 

 

 

Bizzar Tours is also the official promoter of the Detroit-based Insane Clown Posse rap contingent. Both Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope will be on the St. Patrick's Day card, but haven't revealed in what capacity. The rappers have worked for WWE, WCW and TNA over the years and make their home in the Detroit suburbs where their roots are.

 

It'll also be a showcase for several TNA stars that are from the area. Rhino is from Dearborn, Sabu is a Detroit native, Chris Sabin hails from Pinckney (near Lansing) and Monty Brown is from Saginaw. Scott D'Amore (Windsor), Petey Williams (Windsor) and A-1 (La Salle) grew up just across the border in Canada.

 

"It's actually sort of a homecoming for several of us," said A-1, who will face Shark Boy. "I'm pumped and excited for this. What better place is there for this event? We're going to tear the house down...and Team Canada will come out victorious."

 

To promote the event, TNA wrestlers have been in the Plymouth and surrounding communities doing autograph signings and such. Back on January 28, A-1 and D'Amore were at the Plymouth Whalers-Saginaw Spirit Ontario Hockey League game and on February 15, Brown, Sabin, Alex Shelley and Team Canada's Eric Young joined Whalers players Jared Boll, Mike Letizia, Gino Pisellini and Steve Ward as well as Tarick Salmaci from TV's The Contender at the Livonia Mall a few miles outside of Plymouth.

 

The St. Patrick's Day show should also bring together people that wouldn't normally get to see TNA stars on a personal level.

 

"At most indy events, you don't really get a type of show your friends and family can come to," said D'Amore. "But here, it's a local show with a lot of guys from this area. Guys like Sabu and Rhino and Sabin, this is home for them. But I really feel this first show will give TNA the leverage to branch out and become more of a national product."

 

The home rink of the Whalers will need to undergo serious alterations to accommodate TNA. And those changes will also come down immediately after the event as the Whalers have a game against the Saginaw Spirit the next night.

 

"We will have to take the glass out and put flooring down over the ice," explained Blasy. "Then, TNA will come in and put their ring in as well as additional lighting and sound. We will also put 1,000 seats on the floor. For this first show, we are trying to keep the production as simple as possible."

 

But why Compuware? And why not Joe Louis Arena, Cobo, or even the Palace of Auburn Hills? It's simple -- WWE has exclusive rights to those buildings. Even so, TNA believes it can pack Compuware and lay the groundwork for future shows in the 10-year-old building.

 

"Coming to Compuware is a smart decision from a business standpoint," Hill added. "But believe me, the building doesn't come cheap. But that night, we'll get all the profits from concessions, souvenirs, everything. And you look at who's all on the card and it's a pay-per-view lineup."

 

"We have already discussed establishing a long term relationship with TNA," Blasy said. "Our main goal is to make this first show a success and build it from there. We are always trying to bring more events to Compuware Sports Arena and it would be great to have wrestling added to the list.

 

"I have been impressed with what I have seen and feel it is a good fit for our facility. It has been emphasized that the show will be for the entire family and we are hoping to attract the same people for this event that come to Plymouth Whalers games. We have been cross-promoting the events because we feel it is a perfect fit. In looking into it further, I realized that TNA is an established organization and is quickly gaining a very large following."

 

TNA president Dixie Carter also has high expectations for the Plymouth show.

 

"So far, all indications are great," she said. "I think that they've exceeded all of our expectations and we're thrilled. I think the word is starting to get out there. It's one thing to see these guys on Spike television; it's another thing to see these guys in action in real life."

 

Plans are also being made to bring TNA to other big U.S. cities such as Chicago, Cleveland, Pittsburgh and even Canada. And talk of a summer show at Compuware is also being mentioned, but not confirmed. But for the present, the St. Patrick's Day Massacre has the potential to set a new precedent with TNA and give Vince McMahon some hefty competition.

 

ST. PATRICK'S DAY MASSACRE (Matches announced as of Feb. 15)

 

* Rhino vs. Jeff Jarrett (advertised as NWA World Title match, may change with Christian now champ)

* "The Phenomenal" A.J. Styles vs. Samoa Joe

* "The Alpha Male" Monty Brown vs. "The Future" Chris Sabin

* Sabu vs. Abyss

* Shark Boy vs. Team Canada's A-1

* Ron "The Truth" Killings vs. Team Canada's Bobby Roode

* The Naturals vs. America's Most Wanted

Tickets are available at Ticketmaster outlets or online, at the Compuware Sports Arena box office or by calling Compuware at (734) 453-6400.

 

- with files from Greg Oliver

[BUTT 0]

"I think, too, it should be stressed that TNA is a family-oriented company. You're not going to get some sleazy, bullshit live sex show or profanity."

[Guest new jack 4 prez]

A few changes i would make would be make rhino vs jarret a 3-way dance with christian for the belt also make killings vs bobby roode. ron killings and team 3d vs. bobby roode petey williams and eric young. the last match i would make would be homicide and konnan vs. the icp.

[Guest new jack 4 prez]

i want to change some things that i wrote earlier.

 

first change ron killings vs. bobby roode to team 3d, the james gang, ronkillings, and lance hoyt vs. team canada, and the l.a.x. my reason of wanting this match up is just to a crazy insane fun macth. plus i want to see if lance hoyt would get a hoyt chant outside of orlando

 

the sencond change is have the icp vs. austin aries and roddrick strong. if they want to punish aries and strong why not punish them by jobbing to the icp in the first match.

[Hawk 34 0]

i want to change some things that i wrote earlier.

 

first change ron killings vs. bobby roode to team 3d, the james gang, ronkillings, and lance hoyt vs. team canada, and the l.a.x. my reason of wanting this match up is just to a crazy insane fun macth. plus i want to see if lance hoyt would get a hoyt chant outside of orlando

 

the sencond change is have the icp vs. austin aries and roddrick strong. if they want to punish aries and strong why not punish them by jobbing to the icp in the first match.

 

Unless they aren't getting paid to job to ICP, it's not really a punishment. It's on a house-show, only that crowd will see it and they aren't egomanaics who would refuse a job.

[TNABaddboi 0]

A few changes i would make would be make rhino vs jarret a 3-way dance with christian for the belt

 

I have a feeling that what's they do. Since Monty's already booked, and Abyss, there's not much to do with Christian otherwise. And you know they want Rhino in the mix to play up the hometown angle. I'm just glad they got Christian on the show. They need to work Team 3D in there too...they need whatever draws they have to make this thing work.

[The Ghost of bps21 0]

I decided that I'm gonna go to this show.

 

It's only a 5 hour drive if I cut through Canada.

 

And it certainly isn't every day that TNA is that close to home.

[TNABaddboi 0]

I decided that I'm gonna go to this show.

 

It's only a 5 hour drive if I cut through Canada.

 

And it certainly isn't every day that TNA is that close to home.

 

Just because it's going to be historic, I'd really like to be there, but I'm not going to take the trip. Only because A) I've already seen TNA live, having driven from Atlanta to Nashville for the 2nd anniversary show and B) I now live about 1 an hour from the Georgia/Florida border, so the Impact Zone would be much easier to get to.

[Guest Princess Leena]

It will be the most boring drive of your life. Just letting you know.

[TNABaddboi 0]

PWI has confirmed that TNA has shaken up the house show line-up after the title change. Here's the revised line-up:

 

The Michigan Indy Wrestling Central website is reporting the following updated lineup for TNA's first house show in the Detroit market on 3/17:

 

*NWA champion Christian Cage vs. Jeff Jarrett

 

*Rhino vs. Sabu vs. Abyss

 

*TNA X-Division Champion Samoa Joe vs. AJ Styles

 

*NWA Tag Team Champions America's Most Wanted vs. The Naturals

 

*Monty Brown vs. Chris Sabin

 

*Ron Killings vs. Bobby Roode

 

*Alex Shelley vs. Petey Williams

 

*Eric Young vs. Jerry Lynn

 

*Sharkboy vs A-1

 

The Insane Clown Posse, Scott D'Amore, Konnan, and more also scheduled.

 

The two top matches now make more sense within TNA's storylines, and I think it's great that they've added Christian to the show, like I said before. The only thing on here I don't get is Shelly facing Williams. Aren't they both heels, and big parts of Jarrett's group?

[TNABaddboi 0]

Meltz says Christian vs Jarrett was planned all along for this show...here's what he posted:

 

As was actually planned all along, the TNA house show on 3/17 in Plymouth, MI will feature Christian Cage vs. Jeff Jarrett for the NWA title. The announced Jarrett vs. Rhino was a red herring since Cage hadn't won the title. Rhino will be in a three-way with Sabu and Abyss.