Which company will survive?
May 4, 2007 12:57:50 GMT -5
Post by Hegemony on May 4, 2007 12:57:50 GMT -5
In light of the recent announcement that ROH will start presenting select shows on PPV, and the subsequent removal of all TNA talent from their roster, it seems the wrestling landscape is in a complete state of fluctuation.
My question is, in the coming year, which company will still be around at this time next year. Commonsense seems to suggest that both will continue in their current roles, with TNA gaining modest amounts of new viewers on Spike. But what about the backlash from independent wrestling fans in light of this new development? And the fact that the company continues to bleed money is definitely something to consider.
ROH is embarking on their newest and arguably riskiest venture to date. I don't feel the move to PPV is risky at all since the company will simply send PPV providers an edited copy of a pre-taped show, so there is little economic burden facing the promotion. However, the move has opened the eyes of TNA (and arguably WWE) and made the small promotion a bigger target to those who currently hold the power in the wrestling industry. Will the small promotion be able to survive under the scrutiny of larger audiences and more mainstream wrestling promoters?
My personal belief is that ROH, under their current business model, will be fine in the years to come. TNA, on the other hand, I cannot see lasting too much longer. The reported malaise in the locker room is increasing by the week, and the prohibition of talent working for promotions such as PWG and ROH has certainly hurt these men's wallets. By forcing these men to work smaller feds rather than the more established promotions negatively impacts the amount of money they can earn, as well as puts these men at greater risk of injury by working with less-experienced talent. And as we saw with Ron Killings, TNA will not cover the medical expenses of their talent working for independents that they in fact set up for them. This is further compounded by the anger many wrestlers in TNA have for the current booking team, as well as their prohibition from working for feds they admittedly admire - see Aries, Homicide, and Joe's comments regarding their being forced to leave ROH.
In all, I think we shall all be saying good riddance to TNA in the near future, as things seem to be building to a boiling point.
My question is, in the coming year, which company will still be around at this time next year. Commonsense seems to suggest that both will continue in their current roles, with TNA gaining modest amounts of new viewers on Spike. But what about the backlash from independent wrestling fans in light of this new development? And the fact that the company continues to bleed money is definitely something to consider.
ROH is embarking on their newest and arguably riskiest venture to date. I don't feel the move to PPV is risky at all since the company will simply send PPV providers an edited copy of a pre-taped show, so there is little economic burden facing the promotion. However, the move has opened the eyes of TNA (and arguably WWE) and made the small promotion a bigger target to those who currently hold the power in the wrestling industry. Will the small promotion be able to survive under the scrutiny of larger audiences and more mainstream wrestling promoters?
My personal belief is that ROH, under their current business model, will be fine in the years to come. TNA, on the other hand, I cannot see lasting too much longer. The reported malaise in the locker room is increasing by the week, and the prohibition of talent working for promotions such as PWG and ROH has certainly hurt these men's wallets. By forcing these men to work smaller feds rather than the more established promotions negatively impacts the amount of money they can earn, as well as puts these men at greater risk of injury by working with less-experienced talent. And as we saw with Ron Killings, TNA will not cover the medical expenses of their talent working for independents that they in fact set up for them. This is further compounded by the anger many wrestlers in TNA have for the current booking team, as well as their prohibition from working for feds they admittedly admire - see Aries, Homicide, and Joe's comments regarding their being forced to leave ROH.
In all, I think we shall all be saying good riddance to TNA in the near future, as things seem to be building to a boiling point.
