What is TNAs Financial Situation?

[spman 0]

I was thinking about this tonight, TNA is coming up on their 4 year anniversary, and while they have accomplished a lot in those 4 years and have had far more success then other would be upstarts like XPW and XWF, they still haven't really been all that successful in the grand scheme of things. They have a late night timeslot on a weeknight when a lot of people are already asleep, they have a small dedicated fanbase, but have had difficulty attracting new fans, and cracking a 1.0 rating on their TV shows have been a near impossibility for them. They do monthly Pay Per Views, but don't get a significant number of buys. My point is, they've gone 4 years now, but will there eventually be a point where TNA is either going to make it, or they aren't? Clearly outside of the main event, they have some of the best in ring product in the world right now, attracting guys from all the world, so clearly that isn't the problem.

 

It almost seems as if their problems are circular, they don't have the large fanbase becasue they don't tour, they don't tour because they don't have the resources, they don't have the resources becasue they don't get the ratings, and they don't get the ratings becasue they don't have the fanbase. Is TNA actually making money right now? Do you think TNA will ever truely be able to compete with WWE, or is it to the point where all it'll take is WWE to sign Samoa Joe and/or AJ Styles and/or Christopher Daniels for the promotion to be done?

[Guest Coffey]

I think a lot of people look at TNA as a joke. The "big" main eventer is Jeff Jarrett. A guy that, for the most part, has been a career midcarder. They have a gimmick six-sided ring which I really do think a lot of American wrestling fans look at as hokey. A lot of their gimmicks seem like "rip-offs" like the people making comparison to Kane & Mankind from Abyss being the glaring example. There's people that are considered "nobodies" by the mainstream yet those same people won't tune in because the named wrestlers are "has beens."

 

Christian isn't the answer. Spike Dudley sure isn't going to do anything. Sting helped but I think a lot of people might put him in the "has been" category. Short of anything outside of The Rock or Steve Austin, I can't see a name making a huge impact. Goldberg or Lesnar might but I don't think Lesnar is a possibility and people would grow tired of watching Goldberg squash X-Division jobbers. They need a drawing angle because they don't look like they're going to get the big drawing name.

 

I think the biggest problem with TNA right now is the fact that they want to compete with WWE. I remember reading Dixie saying it's possible for there to be two healthy, American-based wrestling promotions running at the same time without gunning for each other. If everyone in TNA had those same feelings, I think the product would be better overall. Instead, we have people taking cheap shots at stuff that happened in WWE and constant reminders due to names, etc. about WWE. It makes TNA look second rate. Tier two. They're like "watch us because we're almost as good as WWE!" A lot of people don't watch wrestling JUST for the wrestling. You need the storylines that bring people in and want them to watch week after week. You need the women. TNA doesn't have that. They have "here's Joe in a midcard match." No rhyme or reason. Then another match. Then another match. Now it's a grudge match. Now it's a gimmick match. THEN a storyline is made. There was nothing to draw us in outside of Joe kicking the slop out of people. That works for a lot of guys, especially internet fans. However, why would the common fan care about a sloppy looking samoan? They probably wouldn't tune in again after the first squash match.

 

Will TNA ever compete with WWE? I don't know. I think they have to have a more traditional feel to do so. That means no six-sided ring, no fans trying to act smart, clear cut heels & faces, etc. The luchadores worked in WCW because they were curtain jerkers that gave the crowd something to watch and "ooh & awe" at before the real wrestlers came out. TNA doesn't have any of those real wrestlers, so to speak. The whole promotion, for the most part, consists of people that would be curtain jerkers elsewhere. They look bush league. The music, the commentary, the workers, the lighting, the crowd, the studio. It's like TNA is already coasting when they should still all be busting their asses trying to break out. It seems like a lot of people just hopped on board looking for a free ride. Each week they should be trying to improve from the week before. Instead, every week, for four years now, it's been, pretty much, the EXACT SAME SHOW. Nothing is improving.

 

I didn't even address the financial situation yet. Last I heard, TNA were out of the red but certainly not doing good business. However, they have the financial backing, they just need to get some funds from them to "upgrade" some stuff, like the music. Starting to tour and do house shows is a great step for TNA to take.

[tommytomlin 0]

I'm just taking a stab in the dark here, but based on what I remember reading following the Raven/Jarrett I weekly Pay Per View, it was the first TNA PPV to break even with something like 30,000 buys. Right now, TNA PPV's are in the range of 40-50k, so you'd think they would be making some kind of profit on them at least.

 

Things like the video game deal, the international TV rights, the merchandising and the DVDs would also rake in some cash, but I don't know if it would offset the costs of the weekly TV, or even the monthly wages and production bill.

[spman 0]

How does TNA even make money on their live shows at Universal, isn't admission free?

[Scroby 0]

Yes its free when you buy admission to the park but I would see that as a good thing for TNA since they get a building of their own as long as as they're drawing a crowd.

[Carnival 0]

I love people calling Jarrett a "career midcarder". Funny I bet they don't say the same about Mick Foley.

[nl5xsk1 0]

Christian isn't the answer. Spike Dudley sure isn't going to do anything. Sting helped but I think a lot of people might put him in the "has been" category. Short of anything outside of The Rock or Steve Austin, I can't see a name making a huge impact. Goldberg or Lesnar might but I don't think Lesnar is a possibility and people would grow tired of watching Goldberg squash X-Division jobbers. They need a drawing angle because they don't look like they're going to get the big drawing name.

While I don't necessarily disagree with you, Coffey, I do have to wonder how Steve Austin would be above the 'has been' category. The guy was past his prime 4 years ago, and the rust associated with his neck issues & inactivity would make him even worse. He's the perfect example of a bad decision has been, IMHO. He might draw a one-time pop of a rating, but since he can't get in the ring and help them at all, I don't see any reasons that he'd be a good pick-up at all.

 

Their best bets would be Lesnar & Jericho, and they're not going to get either.

[Guest Coffey]

I love people calling Jarrett a "career midcarder". Funny I bet they don't say the same about Mick Foley.

That's because you're a blind Jarrett mark. Foley held the top belt in the business, on more than one occasion, and has beat Steve Austin & The Rock. Jarrett didn't. Jarrett jobbed to Chyna.

 

As far as Austin being a "has been" is concerned, I'm not disputing that. He's just one of the biggest names in the business and I think he'd put TNA on the map. I thought Hogan was a "has been" before the nWo took off too. Look how much money that shit made.

[claydude14 0]

Yes its free when you buy admission to the park but I would see that as a good thing for TNA since they get a building of their own as long as as they're drawing a crowd.

No, you don't need to buy admission to Universal to get into TNA. It's open to the public. My roomate went over his spring break without having to buy a Universal pass.

[Carnival 0]

Jericho jobbed to Chyna too. flawed logic.

[2GOLD 0]

Jericho jobbed to Chyna too. flawed logic.

 

The whole "so and so jobbed to" is flawed for wrestling anyway. I mean, Austin jobbed to Savio Vega but no one looks back in time and holds it against them. Not to say Jarrett is great cause he makes my head hurt more than normal, but the whole "he jobbed to blank while this guy beat blank" is a wasted argument in a circus.

[Guest Coffey]

Not when they're memorable.

[Carnival 0]

Not when they're memorable.

Jarrett's loss to Chyna is only memorable to smarks reaching for every little reason they can find to support their argument against him.

 

A mid-card loss, in a weapons match no less, is a hardly a valid point 7 years after the fact.

[Guest Human Highlight Reel]

I love people calling Jarrett a "career midcarder". Funny I bet they don't say the same about Mick Foley.

That's because you're a blind Jarrett mark. Foley held the top belt in the business, on more than one occasion, and has beat Steve Austin & The Rock. Jarrett didn't. Jarrett jobbed to Chyna.

Jarrett's a four-time WCW Champion.

[Guest Coffey]

Not when they're memorable.

Jarrett's loss to Chyna is only memorable to smarks reaching for every little reason they can find to support their argument against him.

 

A mid-card loss, in a weapons match no less, is a hardly a valid point 7 years after the fact.

It was Chyna's first major title win and the first major title win for a woman in WWE. I think that's memorable. I actually like Jarrett but I'm not going to act like he's a big main eventer with some massive superstar aura.

 

As far as Jarrett being a four-time WCW champion, that could be debating by bringing down the credibility of the company, however that argument comes down to which side of the fence you started on anyway. No reason to go down that path because it's not going to persuade anyone in one way or another.

[Stephen Joseph 0]

I don't view TNA as a joke, and Coffey you'r certainly far from unbiased.

 

When TNA came to MartinsVille, I got a chance to catchup with some of the wrestlers (Thanks to Jingus and Dames, I actually knew a few, and already knew AJ due to a mutual friendship outside of wrestling. Talking with them, they're pretty upbeat, and the financials are good.

[Magus 0]

You could say that Jarrett is a main eventer, but only because he's been booked that way for years. HOWEVER, the point is that he's not a star and he's not a big name in the business.

 

Whatever main event success JJ had in WWF and WCW can be attributed to him being pals with the head booker, Russo. In WWF, McMahon recognized that Jarrett wasn't going to be anything more than an IC level star, and wouldn't let him get any further up the card. Now, Vince McMahon holds back A LOT of guys, but in Jarrett's case, its justifiable. Everything Jeff's done since then proves it. They tried to get him over in WCW and it didn't work, mostly because of Russo shoving him down the fans' throats in shitty Russo-quality matches and stories. Jeff's success in the indies (WWA, etc.) was built merely on the fact that he was a main eventer of a shitty wrestling show (WCW Nitro) and the fact that McMahon owned EVERYONE else due to buying WCW. And ever since, Jeff's been trying to put himself over to prove that he, or any pro wrestler, doesn't need McMahon's stamp of approval to be a star. I can commend that, as VKM holds far too much sway on the business. However, Jeff's quest to prove his worth hasn't helped anyone but himself, and even with an entire company built around him (and face it, TNA is just that), Jeff still isn't as big a star as a Foley, an Austin, or even a DDP. McMahon was actually right about holding this one back. If there are guys who CAN be stars but can't seem to get there, I'm sure they'd be told "go start your own company if you wanna be the star". Well, Jeff did that, and he's still not a big name no matter how many titles he's held or main events he's worked. Roddy Piper and Scott Hall never held world titles and weren't permanent ME'ers, and yet they're bigger stars than Jeff Jarrett. Point made, rant over.

[claydude14 0]

Jarret would be fine in the main event mix, even as top heel. But not as the centerpiece of the company as which he is presented.

[Si82 0]

When TNA came to MartinsVille, I got a chance to catchup with some of the wrestlers (Thanks to Jingus and Dames, I actually knew a few, and already knew AJ due to a mutual friendship outside of wrestling. Talking with them, they're pretty upbeat, and the financials are good.

You bloody name dropper.

[Adam 0]

Its what he does.

[Bruce Blank 0]

I love people calling Jarrett a "career midcarder". Funny I bet they don't say the same about Mick Foley.

Nope they don't

 

And why? because he was HUGELY over, has charisma and is very, very entertaining and not just the centerpiece of the federation because his daddy runs it.

 

So no, no they don't say that.

[Stephen Joseph 0]

Its what he does.

I do it pretty well too

[Guest AndrewisyourHero]

I love people calling Jarrett a "career midcarder". Funny I bet they don't say the same about Mick Foley.

Nope they don't

 

And why? because he was HUGELY over, has charisma and is very, very entertaining and not just the centerpiece of the federation because his daddy runs it.

 

So no, no they don't say that.

 

Didn't Jerry Jarrett sell his interest the the company a LONG time ago?

[Dangerous A 0]

Yes, Jerry Jarrett has nothing to do with TNA now.

[Guest Human Highlight Reel]

Jeff is partial owner though, if I'm not mistaken.

[Dangerous A 0]

Correct, Jeff still has part ownership, but Jerry is completely out in terms of any ownership.

[Annabelle 0]

tna is a joke. in no way should wwe consider it a serious threat. from its roster downwards, its a pitiful viewing experience. i really wanted to like tna. i really did. i'll start with

 

abyss: c'mon people. he's such a rip off of mankind it isn't even funny. from his outfit, to original madman gimmick. sizewise, he's a cross between kane & mankind. a total bushleague character that could be shown in buttfuck, saskatchewan & would fit in perfectly. horrible.

 

monty brown: absolutely worthless. this "pounce" is like an a.d.d version of goldberg's spear. come on, people are thrown into the turnbuckle harder than that move is often executed. his wrestling moveset lacks the sizzle of an ahmad johnson. so boring. and tyring to copy the rock on interviews? oh man...

 

aj styles: zzzzz....zzzzzzzz. appearence-wise he may be the most bland person in wrestling history. his moves are all unnatural. he has no flow. his styles clash is alright. his entrance makes me turn my tv off. he might be a superstar if he looked like one. he'd fit in on velocity great. to the casual, non-programmed internet fan, he's useless. a nothing.

 

christopher danials: he's great. great character. coulda fit in well anywhere during wrestling's rennaisance in the 90's.

 

samoa joe: even better than daniels. should be world chapion.

 

christien: everything that made him fun in wwe is gone. now he's bland good guy champion. looks worse off now than jerking the curtain as a heel in the wwe. he's like aj styles without the cool moves.

 

rhyno: boring wwe outcast. no wonder they cut him.

 

jeff jarrett: triple h he's not. lacks the presense. would crawl over his senile father to get heat. zzzzz. if he wasn't in management he'd be tag teaming with sonny siaki in puerto rico. the audience tna/spike wants to attract could care less about this man.

 

6 sided ring: for a show thats supposed to be based in tradition they've sure bastardized wrestling's concept with that "hip" and "cutting edge" way to attract fans. whats next? a roller derby elimination match?

 

team 3d: so washed up tna hasn't moved them to a new fued in 6 months. does anyone care about them? i refuse to cheer for anyone who wrestles in jogging pants, mick foley included. no one takes "brother ray" seriously anyone. has he gone on the pill? he's a fat mess. at least dvon is juicin'.

 

so horrible.

 

can't think of anyone more right now. but this company is horrible. needs something to give it a boost. their fans make the wcw hick fanbase seem hip. it looks like i'm watching wrestling in an arcade. someone's gonna get a seizure from their shitshow lighting system.

 

financially? someone will soon realise they've invested in dogshit & shut the joint down. the astronomical costs to produce a glorified indie fuckfest will bankrupt even the donald. give it up, kids. wwe is your future.

[SamoaRowe 0]

I'm not a big Jarrett supporter, but when he has been positioned as a main eventer for the past seven years (in WCW and then later in TNA) he is no longer a career midcarder.

[Annabelle 0]

who the fuck was watching wcw in 2000? what did jarrett do in between 2005 & then? the casual fan doesn't know? he's a nobody. he won the wcw around the same time as davud arquette. no one takes anything that happened in wcw beyond 1999 seriously. you should know that, son.

[Corey_Lazarus 0]

Jarrett's most entertaining runs following his jump to WCW in 1999 were as an upper-midcard heel in The Magnificent Seven in December '00 to March '01, and from TNA's inception through the first Jarrett/Styles encounter (so June '02 to February '03). That's a grand total of one year in the last six and a half. So, of the last 78 months, Jarrett has been entertaining (ie. worth his position) for 12 of them. That's 15.3%. Basically, since he hasn't been worth his position on the card for the rest of that time, he's NOT a true main eventer. At least HHH had a year-long string of showstealing matches, as well as a general ring presence that made people want to watch him. Jarrett...has never had any of that.

 

TNA's big problem has already been touched upon by Coffey: they make themselves look bush league by not having any compelling angles. ECW had less of a budget than TNA does, no corporate backing, and no spot in Universal studios. They were losing money just as fast as they were making it due to necessary expansion and poor TV deals. But outside of the violence they made their mark on wrestling history by having some of THE most emotionally compelling feuds and stories in the last decade. Raven/Dreamer. Raven/Sandman. Foley/Dreamer. Funk's quest for the World title. Taz/Sabu. All of these feuds were so damn engrossing that anybody watching was glued to their seat in anticipation. It's what made the WWF the #1 company again in late '98, and brought them to their most financially successful year to date (2000).

 

TNA: give us a reason to give a shit about anybody other than Sting or Jeff Jarrett. PULL THE FUCKING TRIGGER ALREADY on Monty Brown's dissention within the ranks of Team Jarrett. Make me remember that Christian is the NWA World champion. They had a great feud in SEX/TNA that was based intially off of Russo/Jarrett but grew into something involving the bulk of the roster right before it was abruptly ended. GO BACK TO THAT FORMULA. Give everybody on the roster a reason to be doing what they're doing. Why is Matt Bentley such a prick? Why is Abyss so violent and brutal yet terrified of barbed wire (I know this was actually explained somewhat during the Abyss/Sabu series)? Why does Samoa Joe not care about the "unwritten code of respect" among the X-Division workers? What's with Sonjay Dutt dancing all the time? Why do Elix Skipper and David Young continue to follow orders from Simon Diamond if they've yet to win any noteable match? Why hasn't Raven utterly destroyed Larry Zbysko yet? What the FUCK happened to that guy's head?

 

Answer some basic questions, give everybody a decently in-depth persona. I'm not saying round each and every character out to be some epic hero or villain, but at least give a reason for the matches going on. They do it every now and then by saying "this match's winner will advance in the X-Division rankings," but why not actually DISPLAY the X-Division rankings? Treat the X-Division as if it were something of a real sport where wins/losses are everything (which would explain why Joe, Daniels, and Styles are always near the title). Take singles wrestlers who aren't doing much and put them into tag teams to build a stronger tag team division. Push the teams that are established (AMW, Team 3D, THE NATURALS, Team Canada) as more than just puppets of Jeff Jarrett and whoever he's feuding with at the time.

 

And give me one good fucking reason why Rhino hasn't destroyed everybody around him since it's already been proven thanks to Bound For Glory that he can.