TNA/Spike TV Conference call recap

[Hunter's Torn Quad 0]

- Jeff was asked about his departure from the WWE in 1999, and whether he held Vince McMahon to ransom on his way out when he faced Chyna. Jeff briefly said that there was no hold up and that it was a business deal.

 

- He put over that Thursday’s primetime debut on Spike TV is the first time in over four years that a company other than WWE have a primetime spot.

 

- Jarrett said that TNA do have a drugs policy that they watch everybody and that if there is a problem at work, they deal with it swiftly.

 

- He said TNA would consider going head-to-head with Monday Night RAW. He said they try to be smart with their plans, and that they wouldn’t go against RAW just for the sake of trying to outdo them, and that although it could happen down the line, TNA may find that Thursday nights are their home.

 

- On Goldberg or Ultimate Warrior coming into TNA, “never say never.” He said neither had a long shelf life and both rose to the top quickly, but every time Warrior has returned he has made a splash and is a brand name.

 

- Jarrett was asked why Vince Russo was re-hired given his track record. Jarrett said everybody has an opinion on Russo, and that first of all he was re-hired by the company because he’s a changed man, and also to focus on his strengths developed during his time with WWF and WCW.

 

- Question was asked on Jim Cornette’s status with TNA. Jarrett said he and Cornette go back a long way and that Cornette has a lot of wisdom and adds a lot to the company. Jeff said that it’s an “interesting dynamic” when Cornette and Russo are in the same room.

 

- When asked if Angle-Joe this Sunday is the most important match in TNA history. Jarrett said it is, and that they are trying to prove themselves and that they have to continue to do that. Jarrett said nobody is expecting anything short of spectacular from this match on Sunday.

 

- On future markets to run in around the United States, Jarrett said he’s looking at both Nielsen ratings and word of mouth to see where would be the next markets to move into. Chicago was mentioned, as was running in the North East. He added they’re looking to run in Canada in 2007.

 

- When asked if whether iMPACT moving to primetime will see the pace of shows slowed down to let viewers digest what they’ve seen better, Jarrett said they’re “Total Non Stop,” and that on a week-to-week basis they have 42 minutes of TV and have to go at a break-neck speed. He said they realise at times they need to let things breathe but that TV time is precious to TNA and makes it tough to balance it out.

 

- Said talks have taken place to allow several wrestlers to work in projects outside of TNA but that the focus is on making TNA the best wrestling organisation possible.

 

- Jarrett said the promo he cut recently on TV was from the heart and that the place for him to be right now isn’t in the ring. He said he’s taking things day by day and has no set return date.

 

- Was asked for his thoughts on TNA’s cancelled house show this past weekend. Jarrett said he wasn’t there but that he’s never heard of a show being cancelled on the day of the show in two different buildings. He said he found it odd and fishy.

 

- Jarrett said he intends to do business overseas in a completely different way to how it traditionally has been done by other companies.

 

- Said “stay tuned” when asked if there’s more to come from BG and Kip James making comments about Vince McMahon and WWE.

 

- Was asked about reports of WWE wrestlers wanting to jump ship. Jarrett said it’s business and that Kurt Angle likely won’t be the last to leave WWE and join TNA. He said “things are getting interesting.”

 

- Jeff was asked about the projected ratings figures for primetime on Spike TV. He said during November and December you’ve got to account for holidays, and that January to March will be interesting to watch. He said 1.1 to 1.3 is realistic but that TNA want to aim higher and that nothing happens overnight. He mentioned how Monday Night RAW debuting in 1993 took years to take off in the ratings.

 

- The question of whether TNA can become #1 came up. Jarrett said he only wants people working in TNA who want to be #1. He spoke of WWE’s global reach and success and how big the company was. As #2, Jarrett said they’ve been successful and that will continue, but he wants to be #1.

 

- Jarrett said the business has always been about capturing the viewers imagination and suspending their belief, and that TNA are looking to do that, and always will.

 

- Jarrett said TNA have severed relationships with Monty Brown.

 

- Asked which was the most memorable match of his career. Said he and Lawler had fun working with The Moondogs, and he enjoyed working with Shawn Michaels and Scott Hall during his first WWF run, then working with Owen Hart. In TNA, he put over working with AJ Styles in the early days of the promotion.

 

- Was asked about rumours of WWE playing a part in TNA’s house show being cancelled at the weekend. Jeff said an investigation is ongoing and again said he had no doubts that somebody didn’t want them to run the show.

 

- Was asked about what it took to get over as a heel. Jarrett said you need to be smart and know what you’re doing in the ring.

 

- Jarrett was asked if any of the house shows will be released on DVD. Jarrett said there was a chance it could happen, and put over several upcoming DVD releases. All house shows have been filmed and that footage will be made available in some fashion in the future.

 

- Said would love to have Chris Jericho join TNA when he’s ready to return to wrestling.

 

- Was asked if the next goal is to get a two-hour show on primetime. Jarrett said the difference between a one and two hour show is huge, and that they can do a lot more with it, but admitted ratings and content would dictate whether or not that happened.

 

- On this Sunday’s Kurt Angle-Samoa Joe match, Jarrett said the pressure is on Joe but that the match would deliver.

 

- Was asked where the word ‘Slapnutz’ came from while in WCW. Jarrett said his mother had done everything in this industry apart from wrestle, and that she used to call people “slappies,” and he took it from there.

 

- Said he can remember TNA’s debut in 2002 very well and that it’s very gratifying to see how far the company has come in four years. He said that in four years they’ve signed a primetime deal and are aired in over 100 countries, and that overseas business will increase in 2007, as will PPV buys. Put over TNA’s production team for their work also.

 

- Jarrett again put over Angle and Joe and their match this Sunday at the Genesis PPV.

 

- Was asked how much attention TNA pay to the quarter hour ratings for a one hour show. Jarrett said they look at ratings on a weekly basis, and that the expectations from this Thursday are inititally to improve on the programming they are replacing in the primetime slot on Spike TV.

 

- Said that the smart move right now would be to take the PPVs on the road outside of Orlando, and that it could happen with TV at some point. He talked about how quickly the success of Nitro and then Thunder happened in WCW and that the business moves fast.

 

- Was asked what the next step for TNA was. He said they’re developing new action figures and that a music CD is out later this week. PPVs, TV and live events is “an evolution” that will be happening over the next 12-36 months. He also said that globally they have some things in the pipeline that are “very, very big,” but that his focus right now was making primetime a success.

 

- Was asked for his opinion on Internet fans who have been overly critical of him. He said everybody is entitled to their opinion and that he knows he’s judged differently to any other wrestler on the roster. He said the business is made easier and unique by the passion of fans, and as long as people are talking about a product, you can’t buy that kind of advertising.

 

- Jarrett said he had no doubts that iMPACT would benefit from being broadcast live like it’s PPVs. It’s something TNA would love to do if primetime is going well.

 

- Was asked about whether TNA would consider bring in Mistico from CMLL or having any other Mexican talent appearing in the promotion. Jarrett said TNA have a working relationship with AAA right now and that TNA through Mike Tenay are always looking at overseas promotions to who they can work with and bring in.

 

- Was asked if an increase in fanbase would come from current WWE fans or WWE fans who have tuned out. Jarrett said during the Monday Night Wars there was a low cross over of fans and that you either liked one or the other. Jeff put over the six-sided ring and TNA as being more innovative, and said that after WCW went out of business, a lot of fans gradually tuned out altogether.

 

- Was asked about how TNA will handle Joe vs Angle creatively to make both guys coming out of the PPV looking strong. Jarrett said that’s a big reason to order Sunday’s show. He put over Angle’s intensity but said that Joe is going to try and tear Kurt’s head off, saying that the ego, intensity, pride and pressure is there for both guys. He said Kurt puts more pressure on himself than anybody he’s ever come across in the business. Kurt’s headbutt on Joe was brought up, with Jarrett comparing it to pouring gasoline on a fire.

 

- Was asked about whether TNA would sign Lita once she leaves WWE later this year. Jarrett put over her ability and said he wasn’t sure whether her health was great and that he wasn’t sure how she was feeling right now. He said women in wrestling is a tough situation at times but that it can be entertaining.

 

- Jarrett was asked about whether Daniel Puder would be coming into TNA. He said they’d talked in the past, and that’s about it.

 

- Was asked where he saw TNA in five years time. Jarrett said he saw them being “incredibly strong, globally.”

 

- Jarrett was asked about Scott Steiner’s status with TNA. Jarrett said that primetime with TNA would be the perfect stage for Steiner.

 

- Jarrett praised Dixie Carter’s passion for the business, and put over the Carter family, saying that it had been an incredible learning experience for them.

 

- Was asked about Sting’s future since his contract is nearly up. Jarrett said he didn’t want to go into detail but that talks were ongoing about a new deal.

 

- Was also asked about TNA’s decision to run with Joe vs Angle so soon. Jarrett said that with the move to primetime, “why not come with your best foot forward?” He said he was aware of those who are saying it’s too soon to do the match, but said that aside from that match, they have a lot of great stuff going on at this Sunday’s show.

 

- Was asked if it was time for TNA to run a developmental program rather than picking up guys from the indy circuit, and responded by saying it would be tough while they’re not even at the stage of live TV. He said a wrestling school would be the first step before considering a developmental camp.

 

- Was asked what he would say to the disgruntled wrestling fan who has tuned out to make them tune in this Thursday. Jarrett said he’d tell them to remember when they first tuned into the business and got hooked on wrestling, and to tune in this Thursday on Spike TV and they’ll get hooked again.

 

- The program with Hulk Hogan that never got started in TNA got brought up. Jarrett said Hogan had personal health issues that prevented him from working in TNA. He said his understanding was that Hogan had signed a twenty-year deal with WWE.

 

- They wrapped it up with Jarrett saying he’d love to run in New York and that TNA would get an incredible reception as New York fans let you know what they’re thinking.

 

Wrestlemag

[bob_barron 0]

Monty Brown sure went from next big thing to out of the company quickly

[dubq 0]

Honestly, I'm glad to see Monty Brown gone. I couldn't stand that guy.

[Dobbs 3K 0]

Do I detect that Jarrett realizes he doesn't need to be a main eventer in the company anymore, or am I overly hopeful?

[Hasbeen1 0]

I'd have liked Brown better, if he never talked. Or at least sounded tough and mean instead of corny, lol.

[Guest Coffey]

His gimmick and finish were the shits. He had a decent look though.

[luke-o 0]

I for one have never heard such good news that Monty Brown has gone from TNA. I never liked him, as a face or a heel. He just plain sucked. Now lets bring on SAPP!

[Dobbs 3K 0]

I for one have never heard such good news that Monty Brown has gone from TNA. I never liked him, as a face or a heel. He just plain sucked. Now lets bring on SAPP!

 

I always felt like TNA was kind of forcing a push of Brown because he was "their guy," not because the crowd was really into him.

[Guest Coffey]

So explain the Lance Hoyt push? I still think the crowd were just trying to be funny and sarcastic by cheering for him.

[Hunter's Torn Quad 0]

Hoyt was pushed because TNA thought he was over, when the only reason he was getting cheered was because he drank with the fans at the bar after the show.

[Dobbs 3K 0]

Hoyt was pushed because TNA thought he was over, when the only reason he was getting cheered was because he drank with the fans at the bar after the show.

 

You'd never know it, since he was basically portrayed as a completely personality-less vanilla big man. They should've done some videos of him hanging out with the crowd and partying. At least it would've been something different.

[luke-o 0]

And theres me thinkin the crowd were actually into Hoyt.

[GODSON 0]

I for one have never heard such good news that Monty Brown has gone from TNA. I never liked him, as a face or a heel. He just plain sucked. Now lets bring on SAPP!

 

I always felt like TNA was kind of forcing a push of Brown because he was "their guy," not because the crowd was really into him.

 

You guys is crazy, the crowd love Brown. They accepted him and his style. Just watch Final Resolution 2005. Brown was one of the few TNA guys who can get over as a face and heel(the fans actually boo him as a heel). He was getting better and better each time,just watch his last TNA match and he outshine Joe and Rhino in their triple threat match.

 

Sapp is a water down version of Brown and without the Japs, he's a 6'5" guy who will have problems getting over. The fans would not take him seriously. Brown had a natural charisma that made him likeable.

 

You'd never know it, since he was basically portrayed as a completely personality-less vanilla big man. They should've done some videos of him hanging out with the crowd and partying. At least it would've been something different.

 

They should of did that with Phi Delta Slam. Funny looking fat white guys who think they cool by partying with college students.

[UseTheSledgehammerUh 0]

Monty Brown never recovered from losing to Jarrett on free TV back when Brown was mega-over, I believe shortly before a PPV, involving lots of guitar shots.

[Guest Coffey]

"without the Japs." That'll go over well...

 

Then you talk about Brown having "natural charisma" but say Sapp will "have a hard time getting over."

 

You're just a dumb fuck. Stop posting.

[luke-o 0]

Agreed, although Brown may have been mega over when he started in TNA, he certainly wanst when he left. The crowd became very bored with him very quickly.

 

He was getting better and better each time,just watch his last TNA match and he outshine Joe and Rhino in their triple threat match.

 

And you are joking arent you? Although it was the only match I've every enjoyed watching Brown in, he hardly outshined Joe and Rhino.

 

And of we are going to mention that match, lest we forget that marvelous promo he did outside the building while they were sorting out the fire.....

[pgi86 0]

Monty Brown never recovered from losing to Jarrett on free TV back when Brown was mega-over, I believe shortly before a PPV, involving lots of guitar shots.

 

Nah, he was still pretty over after that match. He also had a similar match against Jarrett on PPV later on and still stayed over. It was the heel turn and the follow up to the turn that killed his heat. God, that turn made no sense and the follow up (sticking him as Billy Gunn`s tag partner in a boring fued against 3LK) didn`t exactly do Monty any favours.