LAX the Next NWO?

[TNABaddboi 0]

I came across this article and thought it'd spark some good discussion. Here it is:

 

CALDWELL: The answer to TNA's ratings woes is looking to LAX

Jul 22, 2006, 19:13

 

Over the last several weeks, TNA has offered a decent-to-strong TV product. The July 13 video vignettes on Joe, Steiner, Christian, and Sting prior to the Victory Road PPV were top notch. The Sting/Christian-Jarrett/Steiner main event July 6 was a good match in terms of putting star power in the ring together on TV. It also allowed Samoa Joe to continue developing his beef with Steiner.

 

This week, LAX was involved in a memorable segment with A.J. Styles and Christopher Daniels, setting up their tag title feud. Jay Lethal was elevated through his domination of Jeff Jarrett and display of great energy in the NWA Title match. They began to rebuild Bobby Roode outside of Team Canada. Kevin Nash and Alex Shelley had another entertaining video segment.

 

There was plenty to like about TNA's first edition of Impact following the Turning Point PPV. There was only one problem. The casual viewers didn't tune in.

 

TNA settled to their pre-Thursday night TV rating of 0.8. The reason is simple and it's not something new. In fact, it has been the case for two years. The product isn't consistent from week-to-week. In addition, TNA has yet to take a major chance to try something new and shake things up. LAX could force TNA's hand to do so.

 

LAX is a fresh team with a hot gimmick, a cool entrance video, a good talker, a power wrestler, and a young star ready to break out. They were arguably the best part of the Victory Road PPV, which was a show so basic; neither good nor bad; neither groundbreaking nor boring that TNA showed little interest in stepping out of their booking comfort zone.

 

As an organization, October 22 is the best thing to happen to TNA when they take PPV outside of Orlando. The show will push the reaches of their creativity and challenge them to work hard in front of a new audience.

 

Creatively, the LAX group is TNA's most promising creative development from a company that is often stuck in its ways of booking the same formula matches with the same formula endings each month on PPV.

 

What LAX can provide is more than just a hot angle that can fill five minutes of TV before senselessly switching to a backstage segment with Larry Zbyszko and Slick Johnson. LAX can be more than just an individual piece of the puzzle. It can be the largest piece of the puzzle with viewers tuning in each week to see what LAX will do next.

 

Looking at Impact next week, LAX won't be in front of the live audience. That's a mistake. It goes to the heart of TNA trying to push a ridiculous amount of wrestlers on TV every two weeks. TNA has made a conscious decision to look out for the individuals that make up the company rather than focusing on how the entire organization can benefit by focusing on the collective best interest of everyone.

 

Like the NWO when WCW took off in the mid-'90s, LAX should be the focus of TV. Viewers should be tuning in each week to see what LAX does next. Will they interrupt a throwaway squash match? Will they interrupt a meaningless backstage segment with Zbyszko and Slick? Will they attack A.J. and Daniels backstage then grab Shark Boy and lawn dart him into the side of the production truck?

 

Right now, viewers aren't sure what will be on TV from week-to-week. The individual shows are fine and cater to the hardcore viewing audience, but unless there is a consistent approach over a period of weeks and months, the casual fans won't turn out.

 

TNA hasn't established its brand - what it's known for - in the wrestling marketplace. The X Division has slid so far under the radar since the Trio of X moved on that it's borderline comparable to WWE's tag division.

 

The comparisons between TNA and ECW TV ratings are skewed, especially when WWE has two decades of a head start on TNA to establish its brand presence, but there is a viable comparison available between the consistencies of each product.

 

In six weeks, ECW has settled in to offer a consistent product. The shows aren't going to draw a strong "thumbs up", but the ratings indicate that fans are interested enough to tune in each week. With ECW, you're going to get a top-notch main event each week. You're going to get Paul Heyman interacting with wrestlers. As much as Kelly might not be the best performer in the world, she adds to the show's consistency because viewers can look forward to a weekly striptease. It may not be much, but it's memorable.

 

One month ago, WWE made a conscious decision to push the collective over the individual. More than half of the ECW wrestlers have been taken off TV. It was a cost-saving measure and a creative decision to limit the focus of the one-hour TV show to a specific group of wrestlers. Wrestlers like Justin Credible and Al Snow have been used sparingly as enhancement talent for the regular talent such as Sabu. Other wrestlers have been introduced or featured in 30-second vignettes backstage to keep their names on TV.

 

If TNA desires consistent ratings, TNA has to make a decision to put the collective over the individual. That will require some wrestlers to be taken off TV. Others can be better utilized in 30-second TV vignettes rather wrestling unmemorable five-minute TV matches that take up valuable time. When the monthly PPV comes around, those wrestlers will have an opportunity to force TNA's hand for more TV time by wrestling competitive matches on PPV.

 

Kazarian is a good talent. He's a solid wrestler. However, he didn't force TNA's hand to give him five minutes on TV this week. That was a blatant misuse of TV time when a 30-second vignette on Kazarian and Matt Bentley would have sufficed to re-establish the tag team. Sticking them in the ring with no back-story, no character development, and no purpose was five minutes wasted.

 

LAX is fresh. They were the freshest, most excitable part of last Sunday's TNA PPV. They've forced TNA's hand to give them the weight of the company on their shoulder. It's time to stop looking out for the individuals that make up the company and start looking to wrestlers who can carry the entire company to strong ratings, better business, and more casual fan interest.

 

LAX has the capacity to make the entire promotion better. The short-sighed vision is that the individuals might lose a payday every other Monday at TV because LAX will be taking more TV time. The long-term vision is that everyone in the company wins with more eyeballs viewing TV and more PPVs sold. It will also inspire wrestlers to better use TV time, rather than sleepwalking through the same formula matches because they know TNA wants to get everyone on TV.

 

Casual viewers need something concrete to look forward to each week-to-week. The "60-minute adrenaline rush" is a generic marketing slogan that doesn't identify exactly what is being offered.

 

LAX can provide that destination storyline, promo, or feud each week, but only if TNA will let them. There can be more money to go around for all individuals if TNA will look to the collective interest of the entire company. The answer isn't inundating viewers with a massive collection of matches, storylines, and backstage promos. It's delivering a consistent product.

 

LAX may not be the perfect solution, but there's enough TNA can do creatively with LAX to keep TV fresh each week. It's a chance that may work out or may not work. However, it's the type of chance that TNA has been unwilling to take. It would certainly answer TNA's glaring question of what to look forward to from week-to-week.

credit: PWTorch

 

Thoughts?

[Jericho2000Mark 0]

What a retard. 99.999% of wrestling articles are glorified fantasy booking garbage.

[GODSON 0]

What a retard. 99.999% of wrestling articles are glorified fantasy booking garbage.

 

He's kinda right? Where was Monty Brown(in a middle of a big push),Killings,Senshi(X champion) and Abyss this week? TNA is saving them for next week which means LAX,Naturals,etc. will probably be off tv.

[razazteca 0]

If its the way to bring in new wrestlers from Mexico then why not just keep the K-Dawg on a leash. I don't think Impact needs K-Dawg yelling out incoherent proverbs about lil critters and snacky cakes every week. LAX can be the new Team Canada if you will, get a group of nobodys together to build up for the future.

 

K-Dawg > Scotty D'More

[TNABaddboi 0]

I agree with the guy that they stole the show at Victory Road, but I don't know if they're going to be the centerpiece of the promotion. I could see them getting a nice run with the tag belt, since they've managed to get over. TNA got lucky with the whole immigration debate, because it gave the group a reason to exist. Otherwise, they would have been the Nation of Dominance pre-Rock. They weren't over at all during their first few months.

[Scroby 0]

Instead of saying LAX is the next nWO....wouldn't LAX be LWO dose?

[Bruce Blank 0]

They stole the show on a PPV that the writer himself admitted wasn't that flashy and didn't have that many highlights? so they stole a ho-hum show.

 

Maybe if they stole the show on a GOOD PPV I'd consider it.

[luke-o 0]

Ive been saying since there conception that they should be pushed. They have the talent to do so.

 

The problem with them being the NWO is that people will eventually get sick of it, just like they did with the NWO. If they are to push LAX, keep it a small group.

[razazteca 0]

LAX/LWO needs Shocker and Juvi!

[cabbageboy 0]

Konnan lost an arm wrestling match to Bullet Bob Armstrong. I am supposed to take his lame heel faction seriously? Homicide and Hernandez may well be talented guys, but seriously....it's Konnan in the year 2006.

[Bruce Blank 0]

On the subject of Konnan

 

I was watching Impact one night on EuroSport and my wife passes by, sees Konnan (it was the cage arm wrestling match with Bullet Bob) and her comment is

 

"Is that guy green?"

 

And when I looked at him again I had to agree he looked like his skin was turning this dirtygreen color I don't know if it was the lighting or what but Konnan has a decidedly green tinge to him on TV, maybe he's getting mouldy?

 

"Mouldy" Konnan is not someone you take serious as a wrestler - as a manager for Homicide & Hernandez yeah maybe but not in the ring.

[razazteca 0]

You don't want to get him angry he might throw a shoe at you!

[cd213 0]

I'm happy that they are pushing Hernandez and Homicide. Konnan I can do without. Homicide is the most underrated wrestler in the business. I have been watching his matches for about 4-5 years now. He has a kickass finisher, knows how to talk, knows how to wrestle and trained many of the wrestlers in the New York/New Jersey area. In fact he trained Lo-ki/Senshi. Only about two years ago or so was he finally added to the PWI 500. He's been around for 12 years and is better then most people in the WWE. I'm glad he is finally allowed to prove how good he is.

 

Now that they are working with people that have talent (AJ/Daniels), Hernandez and Homicide can prove how talented they really are.

[razazteca 0]

I have a bad feeling about Konnan using Pieroth's gimmick I'm surprised that he isn't wearing camofladge pants or smoking cigars.

[luke-o 0]

From wrestlingexposed.com:

 

A new member is expected be added to the Latin American Exchange. Puerto Rican wrestler Ricky Banderas is expected to join LAX. Banderas was the original choice for the group, not Hernandez. However, due to politics in Puerto Rico involving Dutch Mantel (who was aligned in a war with WWC), and Banderas being under contract to IWA, that kept him from joining the group a few months ago.

 

Is this a good thing?

[AlaskanHero 0]

If he was Konnan's original choice, then I'll say yeah. I mean, I've never seen Ricky Banderas wrestle before, so I really have no idea about his skills or really anything about him, I'm just going off the fact that Konnan is good when it comes to finding talent. He might not be a great in-ring worker anymore, but Konnan has shown that he's a pretty good talent scout.

[The Ghost of bps21 0]

I have seen Bandares wrestle before on the old IWA show that used to follow Xplosion on my local sports afiiliate.

 

From what I recall...he's a solid hand and was one of their top guys...but the problem is that the IWA shows always took place in stadiums...so the wrestling style was slower and bigger. Abyss was able to translate well from that same show style to the much more fast paced TV style of TNA...so we'll see.

[Zack Malibu 0]

Banderas was bound for TNA years back in the role Vampiro got as Raven's foe, but everyone felt it'd be a let down once the mask came off Raven's attacker. He's been someone TNA has been aiming at getting for a good three years now.

[Lt. Al Giardello 0]

When will an African American star joing the LAX? I remember they invited Monty Brown and Ron Killings to join, so why not make Elix Skipper or Jay Lethal apart of the LAX?

[Prime Time Andrew Doyle 0]

If they were to add a black guy and a white guy that would probably help as it would force them to change their name from a ethnic based faction.

[Lt. Al Giardello 0]

If they were to add a black guy and a white guy that would probably help as it would force them to change their name from a ethnic based faction.

 

A white guy wouldn't really work, since their whole gimmick is that TNA ain't giving minorty's respect.

[razazteca 0]

Would'nt the logical thing be to add Senshi into the group? Homicide and Lowki were a tag team before so why not have them unite in TNA? Senshi can claim anything and could get away with it sense it is hard to tell what his racial background is. Senshi can claim ever since he has became the X Division champion all of the attention has been focused on Nash and the Canadians. Instant LAX vs Paparazzi feud!

[cd213 0]

Would'nt the logical thing be to add Senshi into the group? Homicide and Lowki were a tag team before so why not have them unite in TNA? Senshi can claim anything and could get away with it sense it is hard to tell what his racial background is. Senshi can claim ever since he has became the X Division champion all of the attention has been focused on Nash and the Canadians. Instant LAX vs Paparazzi feud!

 

Low-Ki is spanish, I believe Purto Rican. He is the cousin of one of the former members of Da Hit Squad, I don't remember if it's Mafia or Monsta Mac. I know this because I used to attend indy shows in Queens where Jow-Ki, Da Hit Squad and Homicide, The S.A.T. and Red used to wrestle. I got to know them. They are all from the same area in Brooklyn.

 

I would love to see Homicide/Senshi vs Devine/Shelly. That would be an amazing feud. I'd pay just to see that one match on any TNA PPV.

[Guest Bammey]

Yeah, I've seen Banderas from IWA: Puerto Rico. Konnan worked there so I can see why he got him. He's a pretty big name there. The style they work at seems very similar to the WWE style. Whether he'll be a neat transition to TNA who knows. Even Apollo looked solid in IWA: Puerto Rico but didn't quite cut it in TNA.

 

I think Konnan plays a great role as a leader and its good to see him away from the same thing hes been doin on the mic the last 8 years. Konnan seems as legit a leader for LAX as anyone. Do I think they'll be the nWo? No, but their actions on TV as of late have been similar to what the old nWo beat downs looked like. Which is good cause it keeps you watching.

[The Ghost of bps21 0]

"Even Apollo looked solid in IWA: Puerto Rico but didn't quite cut it in TNA."

 

Fantastic point.

 

Very true.

 

And yes...Konnan is perfect in this role. LAX can be the new hip thin in wrestling. If TNA lets it happen.

 

...

 

They are that damn good.

 

With Samoa Joe and LAX...I think TNA is sitting on freaking GOLDMINES. If they can get out of their way long enough...this is THE BEST THING GOING TODAY. BAR NOTHING.

[razazteca 0]

LAX could turn Jeff Jarrett face.

[Rendclaw 0]

Jay Lethal is getting a pretty solid push right now, so it would make no sense to place him in LAX, though Elix would make an interesting addition. Is it me, or is the Diamonds in the Rough going nowhere right now?

[Lt. Al Giardello 0]

Would'nt the logical thing be to add Senshi into the group? Homicide and Lowki were a tag team before so why not have them unite in TNA? Senshi can claim anything and could get away with it sense it is hard to tell what his racial background is. Senshi can claim ever since he has became the X Division champion all of the attention has been focused on Nash and the Canadians. Instant LAX vs Paparazzi feud!

 

Low-Ki is spanish, I believe Purto Rican. He is the cousin of one of the former members of Da Hit Squad, I don't remember if it's Mafia or Monsta Mac. I know this because I used to attend indy shows in Queens where Jow-Ki, Da Hit Squad and Homicide, The S.A.T. and Red used to wrestle. I got to know them. They are all from the same area in Brooklyn.

 

I would love to see Homicide/Senshi vs Devine/Shelly. That would be an amazing feud. I'd pay just to see that one match on any TNA PPV.

 

Senshi is half puerto rican, and half italian.

[Star Ocean 3 0]

Senshi is Japanese, obviously.

[Lt. Al Giardello 0]

Senshi is Japanese, obviously.

 

Are you serious? Or is it your attempt a lame joke?