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Post by myview on Dec 13, 2005 10:55:45 GMT -5
I'm formerly known as Dennis H. and I've returned to the Filsinger Board. Now onto the Main Event, which is TNA Wrestling... Most of you know that I'm now a die-hard fan of TNA Wrestling, and I've been a long time CotG Promoter. Well MY VIEW on TNA is of the positive side of things, don't get me wrong TNA has area's that need work but those comments can be delt with else where and by other's if they want to. Well with that out of the way, Sunday's Turning Point was a Solid show. I'm going to have some spoilers ahead for those who plan to watch the replay that don't know the results... Jeff Jarrett winning the match over Rhino was forseen, but with Sting coming to TNA I see why Jarrett won and it's a good thing. Samoa Joe winning the X Division Title was sweet, and with Daniels back this will be a great war. Konnan turning on his former 3LKmates kicked arse, those chair shots rocked! Overall I was very pleased with the PPV and even the Baseball Brawl Match was very good. I know some fans are sick of what TNA dish out, but I find it a fresh and exciting production and TNA has my viewership and support 110%, and 2006 will be a great year for TNA Wrestling.
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Post by ringsyde on Dec 13, 2005 11:15:46 GMT -5
I hate that people are knocking TNA for production values, timeslots and neilsen ratings; all of which didn't mean crap when wrestling fans were wrestling fans.
The infamous Monday Night Wars were great for a lot of reasons, but they caused a lot of problems too. Chief among them is the inability of the wrestling fan to enjoy wrestling. The internet hasn't helped much either (as it relates to fans being fans).
That said, as a fan of wrestling, I loved Turning Point, and I'm enjoying TNA. I don't agree with spending time and money putting all the focus on a near-fifty Sting (I would prefer to see some of the great talent that's been there since the beginning finally take center stage), but I like the buzz that he's creating. I also think Samoa Joe, Rhyno and Christian Cane are galvanizing that roster and bringing real wrestling (as opposed to the monster spot-a-minute style) to the forefront.
I think TNA is very enjoyable right now, and if you can avoid seeing them as a rival to the WWE (they are an alternative, not a rival - yet) that lacks the finances of the McMahon machine, you might find yourself enjoying this product more than RAW or Smackdown. I see a fed very remeniscent of the early-to-mid eighties NWA. No, they don't have Flair, Dusty or the Road Warriors, but they do have a lot of guys who are starting to put on entertaining matches in spite of the fact that they don't look as polished as the guys up north.
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Post by myview on Dec 13, 2005 13:09:36 GMT -5
Testify RingsYde... I LOVE to watch TNA becuase I'm a WRESTLING fan. I want TNA to do well in all area's of the Wrestling World, but they need to continue to blend both entertainment and WRESTLING, the ladder first. I don't consider TNA a competitor to the WWE, they in MY VIEW TNA is my choice of promotions to watch. Those who hate Jeff Jarrett, well he is the great heal that makes you want a hero to step-up and dethrown him and that will happen. I'm pleased to call myself once again a WRESTLING FAN and mainly a TNA FAN.
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Post by Big Bri on Dec 14, 2005 0:12:04 GMT -5
When I was young I enjoyed NWA and World Class/USWA much more than WWF, and it had nothing to do with production values or a "slick and polished" product (he-ll, I was on the school TV crew in the 7th grade and WE had better production values than World Class). It was the in-ring action and storytelling that attracted me to it. TNA is still in a growing stage, but overall, it's an enjoyable product IMO.
One has to ask, if ROH or some other fed similar in size to TNA had as much exposure as TNA, would it get bashed in comparison to WWE as well? TNA has a big target on it because it's the only "little guy" out there with national exposure, and it's easy to bash the "little guy". Perhaps if things were how they were 15 years ago, with many feds having national exposure, people wouldn't bash TNA so much.
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Post by pikemojo on Dec 14, 2005 1:24:19 GMT -5
I am going to respond to the spot-a-minute style comment a littlle differently than I have in the past. This is not intended to be a rip on RingsYde or anything of that sort. I just used his way of describing TNAs style because that is how it has been said before. I think that TNA is viewed that way currently because of some wrestlers that are on the roster. As has been stated plenty of times there are some phenomenal (no pun intended) wrestlers on the roster. If you put those great wrestlers against someone with less experience and less ability to really work a match then the outcome will be way under what that wrestler could do with someone of their level. So AJ Styles against The Amazing Red or Sonjay Dutt is a much lower more spot-festy type match than AJ verses Samoa Joe or Chris Daniels. Tell me if that explanation didn't make sense or I didn't explain it well enough. It seems obvious but I feel it is kinda overlooked in TNAs case.
As for ROH, I am a fan but I am sure that they would get as much if not more flack for their events. They very rarely have non-finishes for matches so that is a definite plus but they have a lot of wrestlers that would be considered spot fest wrestlers. I would say that they have a very good upper card but below that is kinda shaky.
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Post by MikeMcKinney on Dec 14, 2005 13:26:54 GMT -5
Right on Dennis(My View).
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Post by kaz on Dec 14, 2005 16:37:26 GMT -5
I watched my first TNA show last night (taped from Monday night) and I liked the wrestling, it made my stomach turn to see Jarrett again... but aside from that, that six sided ring needs to go. it's a novel idea, but it looks like it confuses the wrestlers more than anything. Also, the ropes are WAY too tight. No one can seem to get a good bounce off of them and it looks cheezy. I don't think the production was too bad, of course I loved the old Global Wrestling Federation that was on ESPN years ago. I perfer the "Beer and Smoke" arena look. I don't need fireworks and explosions when a wrestler comes out. just my opinion.
A side note, I was SHOCKED when they got the ropes down and barbwire up in about 8-10 seconds. I believe my words were HOLY CRAP! This was the Sabu/Abyss showdown before the Turning Point PPV.
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Post by Big Bri on Dec 15, 2005 1:40:15 GMT -5
I don't think the production was too bad, of course I loved the old Global Wrestling Federation that was on ESPN years ago. Yeah, from the "GlobalDome" in Dallas (Sportatorium what?), LOL! Whatever happened to Boni Blackstone? I dug Global too. Too bad it didn't last long. |
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Post by jsanudo on Dec 15, 2005 17:55:59 GMT -5
Here is my take on TNA:
The positives.
I really love most of their product. The production values seem fine to me. Camera work, backstage skits, video montages seem to be equal to, if not better than the current WWE product. While most of the wrestlers on TNA are clearly smaller that most on the WWE roster (Hoyt looks like a freckin giant in TNA and he would be just above average in the WWE), it does not take away from the product. TNA has done an above average job of getting alot of relative unknown talent over (see Styles, Joe, Daneils, Team Canada). The work rate on TV (outside most of the Main Event matches) is light years ahead of the WWE. Now, dont take me wrong. I dont think TNA has better wrestlers than the WWE, its just that the wrestlers are able to showcase it better. And that is because of alot of factors. The WWE wants to get away from the more "spotfest" style. Also, the wrestlers wrestle 4-5 nights a week, unlike 2-3 times a month that TNA does.
Here are the negatives:
TNA seems to need to go to the past when they have the future in their hands. Instead of pushing guys like Styles, Monty Brown, Daniels, Elix Skipper, Bobby Roode, and Joe to the main events, they seem to bring in someone "new" every month to go after the World Title. While some of these names I have put out would more than likely sink in Main Events, how would you know without trying. Try to get your own talent over before paying millions and millions to bring someone in.
That leads me to my next negative. Think of yourself as a casual fan (which TNA is trying to attract). If I saw the roster, the first thing I would think is "dang, all these guys seem like WWE leftovers." You bring in guys like Hall, Nash, Jeff Hardy, the Dudleys, Christian, Kip James, Raven, Rhino, BG James, and Sean Waltman (among others) and push them like they are the next Savior of wrestling. All, with the exception of Christian, were either released or would not resign because 1. the WWE didnt want them or 2. the WWE did not want to pay the talent what they thought they were worth. TNA trys to play it off like its 1997 and they "stole" the talent from the WWE. Thats the farthest thing from the truth. And while I am a big Christian fan, I think it makes your product look inferior to push him right to the top after he has been jobbing to guys like Hardcore Holly and Eugene for the better part of 3 years.
And the last negative I will talk about before I get off my soap box is the "WCW mentality" the higher ups in TNA have. It seems to me that they feel that if they throw around enough money and bring in some "big name" from a decade ago, that it will equal big returns. Sorry, but this isn't so. Lets look at the Kings of Wrestling debacle. They bring in Nash and Hall (who has gained 40 pountds) to go hang out with Jarrett (the World Champion, I know, a shocker). The biggest thing they did was a promo where they drive around in a pink cadillac wearing greased up wigs to look like Elvis and talk, in their best Elvis voice of course, about how bad the roster is in TNA. Seriously! If that isn't WrestleCrap, I dont know what is. Then, they have a six man match to headline a PPV. Before I get to ahead of myself, one of their opponents was Randy Savage. Yes, another "icon" from 10 years ago. Well, on Impact the week before the PPV, the show ends with a limo going head on at Randy Savage. Well, the PPV starts and low and behold, Randy Savage is ok. How did he get away from the limo that was going 60 mph right at him? How knows, because they never told us! Anyways, during the PPV, Hall, Nash and Jarrett attack Savage in the back in stuff him in a trunk of a car and they get someone to drive the car away. Hmmm...seems like I have seen that before. Anyways, the match goes on as a handicapt match. Nash, Hall and Jarrett are, of course, going over until, MIRACULOUSLY, Savage makes his way back to the ring. How did he get out of a trunk of a car driving down the interstate? Good question. Nope, no answer again. Anyways, Savage makes his way back to the ring and, without even taking his jacket off to show the world what happens when you get off the juice after using it for 15 years, he helps the good guys beat the bad guys. Whats the logical next thing for the bookers to do. Right, put Savage against Jarrett for the World Title. WRONG! Savage, for whatever reason, desides to leave TNA. Maybe even Savage thought the storyline was rediculous. Then they bring in DDP and Jeff Hardy (where are they now) as the next big contenders. Now that those two guys flopped, you think that maybe they would let one of their guys actually shine with the World Title (yes, Styles won it, but held it for a month and wanted even big in the storylines that month), they go back to Nash to highlight a PPV with Jarrett. However, the weekend before the PPV, Nash has health problems (I dont want to make light of someones health problems, but the good thing out of that was I wouldnt have to watch a Nash-Jarrett "classic"). So, what does TNA, they find another WWE castoff, Rhino to come in. Rhino wins the title (thank God its off of Jarrett) only to lose it at the next taping to who? Thats right, Jarrett. So, the way I see it, TNA is telling the fans "hey, you dont need to buy the PPV, because no matter what happens, Jarrett will have the title by the next PPV." Not only this, but then we are suppossed to feel bad for Rhino because he did drugs and beat up his ex wife (if you dont believe me, watch his video segments). Next, they bring in Christian. Like I said before, I am a huge Christian fan, but the first thing they do is throw him in the title picture. However, before they give him a title match, they put him in a VERY quick angle and match with Monty Brown. I thought, as a booker, your job was to put your wrestlers in good situations to make you more money. No matter what happened in that match, it made both guys look bad. If Christian doesnt look good in this match, then how are you going to push him all the way? And Monty Brown lossing this match made him look inferior to the ex WWE guy. And believe me, casual fans (who TNA is supposed to be going after, remember?) does not see Christian and a TNA wrestler, they see him as an ex WWE wrestler. So, it makes it look like ex WWE guy beats up one of the best TNA guy. Doesnt seem like good booking to me. Last and not least, they dont even give Christian a title match before they bring in freakin Sting! Now, I loved Sting...in 1993. This guy brings NOTHING to TNA. TNA has a 1 hour show and they cant even get most of their roster over and now they are going to bring in Sting? Sting is going to take up 15-20 min each week. How are people supposed to get over with no TV time? You think X-Divison guys have no character now, just wait 2 months. You will be lucky to get X-Division matches to that doesnt have Joe, Daniels or Styles in it.
In conclusion, TNA seems like WCW circa 1998. Great undercard matches and alot of talent in those positions, but we are forced to watch shows being dominated by Main Eventers from a decade ago. The only thing that kept WCW afloat in the era was a great gimmic (nWo). TNA doesnt even have that. I truly do hope TNA stays around. They have a solid base, but I fear the roof is going to collapse.
Just My Thoughts,
J.
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Post by swarm on Dec 17, 2005 16:26:13 GMT -5
Dang, I said this same thing and got blasted for it. Everyone knows it's true, it's nice to see someone else say it.
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Post by bauermann on Dec 18, 2005 10:05:42 GMT -5
Dang, I said this same thing and got blasted for it. Everyone knows it's true, it's nice to see someone else say it. He just said his opinion about TNA. My point was, that imo, TNA fans are mostly WWE haters, and not really fans of TNA because TNA is a great wrestling program, because, imo, it isn't. Insulting the product is OK (it is your opinion), but don`t insult the fans who watch it. |
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Post by swarm on Dec 18, 2005 10:20:27 GMT -5
Dang, I said this same thing and got blasted for it. Everyone knows it's true, it's nice to see someone else say it. He just said his opinion about TNA. My point was, that imo, TNA fans are mostly WWE haters, and not really fans of TNA because TNA is a great wrestling program, because, imo, it isn't. Insulting the product is OK (it is your opinion), but don`t insult the fans who watch it. hey I still stand by that statement. I thought last nights TNA show was horrible...to the point of embaressment... the ending was such a joke it really came off like a good Sunday Night Heat ending... The promos are weak and generic all the while Shane Douglas makes the worst "concerned look" face in the world... Coach and Todd Grisham, who suck pretty bad, are 10 times better than Tenay and the other guy nobody cares about... they continue to wet themselves over any and every wrestler that ever stepped foot in a WWF or WCW ring, no matter how old, how stale, how crappy, and how boring they are... From what I have seen, heard, and people I've talked to, no real WWE fans like or enjoy TNA, as thier audience is made up of admitted ex-WCW fans, and long-time WWF/WWE haters. much of the fan base is a bunch of people who hate Vince so much they are willing to hold onto a glorified indy show and think that that will help TNA some day dethrone, or compete with the WWE... not going to happen. if that insults you, so be it. |
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Post by myview on Dec 18, 2005 11:52:49 GMT -5
It's funny, I've watched everything from the AWA, UWF, WCCW, Mexican Wrestling to the WWF and everything inbetween god knows what... and I've been put into a section of WWE Haters, NOT! I like what Vince McMahon has done in the past and some of the stuff he continues to do today. I'm not going to battle it out about WWE versus TNA, I have several fans who are die-hard WWE fans that still love the WWE and now love TNA. Lastnights show was very solid, and is it a crime to like TNA over WWE... NO! I don't see TNA over taking the WWE, and in MY VIEW they will not do that. Anyway, thats MY VIEW!
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Post by Chewey on Dec 18, 2005 14:52:56 GMT -5
From what I have seen, heard, and people I've talked to, no real WWE fans like or enjoy TNA, as thier audience is made up of admitted ex-WCW fans, and long-time WWF/WWE haters. much of the fan base is a bunch of people who hate Vince so much they are willing to hold onto a glorified indy show and think that that will help TNA some day dethrone, or compete with the WWE... I don't hate WWE, but I don't possess any amount of manlove for Vincent K that will encourage me to defend him either. Watching Vince talk about his "grapefruits" and getting it on with every WWE Diva backstage doesn't make me a "WWE Hater," it just means I don't put up with his self-aggrandizing crap, unlike some WWE Faithful out there. Some people refused to watch WCW and the nWo just because it wasn't the McMahon product they grew up with, and some of those same people refuse to say a good thing about TNA now. And some people actually find the Boogeyman entertaining. Different strokes for different folks, dude. I'll take good wrestling whether it's Shawn Michaels vs. Shelton Benjamin or AJ Styles vs. Samoa Joe. -A real WWE fan who also likes and enjoys TNA |
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Post by leafar on Dec 18, 2005 14:55:21 GMT -5
TNA can actually attract some big names from the WWE when their contracts expire. The main reason is the lack of touring around the world. It was a no brainer for Christian to come to TNA. He lives in Florida and he can drive to Orlando to work.
A lot of wrestlers in the WWE would take less money if they didn't have to be on the road all the time. That may change in the future if TNA actually starts to make money. But for now, Vince had better watch out. When does Batista's WWE contract expire? Or Shane Michael's? etc...
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Post by Joe on Dec 18, 2005 18:47:42 GMT -5
TNA can actually attract some big names from the WWE when their contracts expire. The main reason is the lack of touring around the world. It was a no brainer for Christian to come to TNA. He lives in Florida and he can drive to Orlando to work. A lot of wrestlers in the WWE would take less money if they didn't have to be on the road all the time. That may change in the future if TNA actually starts to make money. But for now, Vince had better watch out. When does Batista's WWE contract expire? Or Shane Michael's? etc... It will be a cold day in Hell before Shawn Michaels' leaves WWE to sign with TNA. Over time, TNA may be able to steal a guy or two, but HBK won't ever be one of them. I'm certain Batista won't be either. |
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Post by gwffantrav on Dec 18, 2005 22:01:05 GMT -5
I could never see Michaels or Batista leaving. I can see a Kane maybe or someone like that.
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Post by pikemojo on Dec 19, 2005 2:47:10 GMT -5
Yeah I really don't see TNA getting many people from WWE unless they have been released. At least not for quite a while. Quite frankly I don't care to either. TNA has so many great performers that they should focus on them and bring them up through the ranks so that they don't look second rate to WWE.
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Post by Chewey on Dec 19, 2005 12:59:24 GMT -5
Last I heard, the only top WWE people TNA has a chance at getting are Chris Benoit (more likely he'll either re-sign with WWE or go to New Japan) and Edge (who wanted to go there with Christian, but is locked in a multi-year contract.) Chris Jericho won't go over to TNA even though he can if he wants to right now.
And I would personally not worry about Shawn Michaels, Kane, or Batista. Sorry, but that sort of speculation makes Swarm's rants about TNA fans sound like they're true.
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Post by pikemojo on Dec 19, 2005 13:13:33 GMT -5
What in the world would Kane do in TNA anyways. He is Kane and WWE owns that name.
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