A ramble on enjoying TNA's current product

jaykhunter

I feel i must say that with regards to iMPACT, TNA seem like they're never going to change (in terms of storyline twists, plot developments, swerves, amount of wrestling per show, pace of the show, building towards TV and not PPV) so we should just accept it for what it is or just not watch it.

I get sick of banging my drum about what TNA does wrong and what it needs to succeed but maybe it's just not for us? WWE do so many things right, and TNA doesn't want to emulate what WWE does right, but just take their talent. TNA is it's own identity (aforementioned above) and they're determined to do things their way. It seems very alien that TNA doesn't want to succeed (i.e. do what WWE does right, and improve on their problems = give the fans what they want) but that's their perogative.



Maybe it's just a case of Russo can only have one type of show. I think on paper iMPACT looks so much stronger, because there are good matches on display and about 8 running storylines (i.e. everyone has one)...problem is in practise, it's too much to fit into on episode, and everything becomes not important; as there's no time to let it settle, we're swept off to the next storyline.

We'd criticise WWE for only have 2 (3 max) storylines per show but the focus is always clear. But they always recap on what we've just seen so we get the point, and have a breather. It was so relieving to see the start of RAW after watching iMPACT, as Taker and Michaels had a one-on-one confrontation, and took their sweet time. With TNA, it's like they think their storylines aren't good enough so they just throw more and more at you to make you forget.



As a life-long WWF/E fan, I have "what makes a good show" subconsciously engrained into my brain. So naturally, whenever I'm watching other-than-WWE shows, I compare it to WWE. Should that be, though? I don't watch NJPW, ROH or DGUSA and expect amazing plots or characters, I just expect/want awesome wrestling. Should TNA be treated differently? (The answer being no, because it's so similar in many ways to WWE, or yes, because it's not WWE by a long shot)...

I realise that nit-picking (i.e. going back over the show) really decreases the enjoyment/satisfaction I initially felt after watching a show. And that's a really big thing - talking wrestling is great, and over the net is the easiest way to reach so many people, but if it negatively impacts your enjoyment, then it has to be considered bad. We should try to enjoy as much as possible. Accept the faults, or at least expect huge faults so it doesn't annoy you as much.



I did enjoy Sting's heel turn, but wow, they could've built that for a while. But that's par for the course for TNA, maybe we should accept that that is how they do things, they don't build "properly" the WWE way. It's just a flurry of stories; a set of things that happen on every show; not like a cohesive and well-presented story...

It's TNA's perogative to build towards TV and not PPVs - they've almost given up on PPVs (although build for this PPV has been better than the usual nothing!) and so we should stop bringing up "hey, goddammit, build towards the PPV, otherwise why would I buy?" But with as low as 8,000 people buying a PPV, should they really care? I get the feeling they only do PPVs because 1) WWE are doing 12 and 2) if they reduced/cancelled them, it would be a huge sign of weakness, and not because it's the right thing financially to do...



It's like going to a Michael Bay film and expecting fantastic dialogue and plot; and being angry at Michael Bay for repeatedly producing mind-numbing (but awesome) special effects and sequences. Sooner or later ya just gotta accept what Michael Bay brings to the table -and enjoy it-, or just don't go see it....this can be applied to TNA.

Of course sensibly booked storylines, interesting characters and engaging, well-paced plot progression would be great (i.e. what we're used to in WWE), but TNA don't look like they're ever going to change. If you tune in each week (even just to give out) then TNA are doing a 'satisfactory' job. They only look at ratings, anyway. So if you're displeased you shouldn't contribute to their ratings.

So in short, TNA is a incompetetant, enjoyable mess, and we should take it (or leave it) for what it is

Gerard.C

Good read I must say now. As long as Russo is in charge, people will have to accept it for what it is. I could see it changing big time if he left. Although, if he leaves, Hogan and Bischoff will still be there. Thats kinda a lose-lose situation when ya think about it though

rossie1977

i think bryan alvarez summed up tna best as anyone could this week from 10mins to about 40mins, 30 min tna rant :eek: its free to listen to http://www.f4wonline.com/content/view/12590/

waltersobchak

Russo has proved himself time and time again to be a wrestling one hit wonder, its been said so many times before that the only reason Russo was even successful in the first place was because Vince McMahon was there to weed through all his BS. But obviously Russo is caught in a time warp thinking its still 1998/1999. And doesnt give a fu*k what wrestling fans in 2010 want, which is great wrestling and simple effective storylines.

The reason the attitude era worked for WWF was because they had the greatest charismatic performers in the history of wrestling all together at the same time, so no matter what sh*t they could have been given it would have gotten over, simple as that. TNA dont have that luxury, so when AJ Styles and co are given any kind of storyline, it seems cheesy or sh*t because they dont have the charisma or talent to get it over its also that simple.

TNA and Dixie Carter shouldnt be throwing their millions at Hogan, and Bischoff and Flair, but the only man who has the intelligence to known what fans want, and the talent to bring them forward, Paul Heyman imho, Because he'll make the talent get over without making people look like sh*t

campo

I have to be honest I prefer TNA to WWE, Yes the constant turn from heel to face and visa versa can be crazy and the matches are not long enought but what are they doing right

1.The X-Division when a match is done right they do a show like no others can

2.PPV Quality matches on Impact some people think this is a bad thing but imagine if WWE did this we might actually be able to afford that holiday this year

3.Samoa Joe & AJ Styles. When used right these two could be future HOF

4.Not PG We can see chair shots and blood on Impact

They dont need much shaking up get rid of Russo, The Band and a few others and get in Heyman and a couple of ROH stars and they would be well on there way there

Bubs101

campo wrote: »

2.PPV Quality matches on Impact some people think this is a bad thing but imagine if WWE did this we might actually be able to afford that holiday this year

WWE has much better matches on TV. Smackdown nearly always has a great one once every two weeks, ECW had Christian and Regal with 15 minutes for ages a couple of months ago, Superstars is just a wrestling show for the smaller guys and Raw had the best TV match in recent memory, the 60 minute HBK Cena match from London

rossie1977

campo wrote: »

2.PPV Quality matches on Impact some people think this is a bad thing but imagine if WWE did this we might actually be able to afford that holiday this year

the last good tv match on impact was jan 4th, since then we have had something like 8-10mins of in-ring action every week prior to this week, like bubs said SD and the wweecw had just as many good if not better tv matches in 2009 than impact did, e.g. morrison and mysterio on sd was not only tv match of the year imo was one of the best matches of 2009 full-stop

3.Samoa Joe & AJ Styles. When used right these two could be future HOF

When used right joe has been used horribly last 2 years and styles is now coming to the ring dressed as ric flair remember styles and joe are orton and cenas age, been in tna as long as orton and cena, compare how tna push their top talent and how wwe push theirs

4.Not PG We can see chair shots and blood on Impact

yeah we don't see chair shots no more on wwe tv, oh wait didn't they have a ppv in december called tables ladders and chairs didn't orton beat the crap out of cena with a chair in october on ppv

bitch is censored on tna tv, crowds chanting s*it is censored, but at least we have fake barbwire bats and 60 year old men blading themselves and bleeding every 5 seconds

campo

on point 4 is seems to be a sore topic but I was watching superstars the other night and Chavo got cut and they had to stop the match and wipe away the blood that did it for me and I just switched over then and there.

And yes there is a couple of chair shot but not over the head and not stiff now of course I dont want to see anyone get injured but when I see a chair shot I want to think man that looked like it hurt

jaykhunter

rossie1977 wrote: »

compare how tna push their top talent and how wwe push theirs

WWE do this, TNA do that : This is exactly the point of this thread - We should stop comparing and holding up TNA to the same standard/ideals as WWE, and accept (or reject) TNA for what it is. Instead of complaining about what TNA should do, over and over and over and over and over and over....realise that TNA aren't going to change, accept it, and expect more of the product they've been giving us.

If you don't like it, don't watch it. Everyone here can name a dozen legitimate, valid reasons why TNA doesn't prosper and what they could do to better themselves. But we aren't running TNA, and we never will run TNA - Bob, Dixie et al run TNA.

TNA produce an entertainment of a poorer standard than what WWE fans expect/are accustomed to. You can't create a monster and while when it stomps on a few buildings, that's what monsters do. You know how Russo writes, and Russo writes TNA's shows, and so you have to expect a Russo product... this isn't the greatest wrestling company in the world (WWE)...it's Vince Russo.

Hearing so many pessimistic comments, and legitimate reasons and suggestions...(this isn't directed at boards; just the IWC in general) it really bores a hole in me.

It's all about maximizing one's enjoyment of as many wrestling shows as possible. We accept ROH and NJPW for what they do, why not TNA?

DM_7

jaykhunter wrote: »

WWE do this, TNA do that : This is exactly the point of this thread - We should stop comparing and holding up TNA to the same standard/ideals as WWE, and accept (or reject) TNA for what it is. Instead of complaining about what TNA should do, over and over and over and over and over and over....realise that TNA aren't going to change, accept it, and expect more of the product they've been giving us.

If you don't like it, don't watch it. Everyone here can name a dozen legitimate, valid reasons why TNA doesn't prosper and what they could do to better themselves. But we aren't running TNA, and we never will run TNA - Bob, Dixie et al run TNA.

Hearing so many pessimistic comments, and legitimate reasons and suggestions...(this isn't directed at boards; just the IWC in general) it really bores a hole in me.

Why should FANS stop doing anything. If a FAN of any sport, team or TV show sees things they don't like it is 100% their right to complain and suggest alternatives among peers. They complain because they care. No complaints usually mean your going out of business as the fans base don't care.

A big factor in the TNA debate is TNA are the ones selling themselves as WWE competiton. Well if they are the competition people have to compare them to WWE.

As soon as TNA started talking themselves up then they are asking for themselves to be:
held up to wwe's standards
or
create their own standards that WWE should be living up too.

Thay have failed to live up to wwe standard or create new ones.

For the record I have stopped watching TNA every week as it was taking away form my enjoyment of wrestling. I haven't stopped following it or wishing it would do better.

If you find peoples response to TNA on the internet is wearing on you perhaps you should avoid reading the threads where complaints are made.

jaykhunter wrote: »

.

It's all about maximizing one's enjoyment of as many wrestling shows as possible. We accept ROH and NJPW for what they do, why not TNA?

ROH and NJPW don't have the mass appeal WWE and to a lesser degree TNA have on this board. Thats why you hear so many complaints about WWE and TNA as both have a big vocal fan base. I'm sure many fans of ROH would complain about things they don't like.

jaykhunter

What you're saying makes total sense, I do agree.

I agree that TNA's marketing strategy of "hey WWE fans! We're just like WWE!" is a very short-sighted promotional tool, because they're inferior to WWE in practically every way, and those gaping differences are flaunted for all to see. But should we not expect the crap that Russo puts out (and be less annoyed by it = enjoy it more)? It's frustrating to see TNA pretending to want to emulate WWE, while they don't take aboard WWE's ideals. By that thinking, it's pretty obvious that TNA don't want to be WWE (if they did, they'd adopt WWE-type storylines, pacing etc)

I went through a phase of just refusing to watch iMPACT last year, I've been mostly watching it this year, with a different attitude towards it. Expect less = enjoy more.

I dunno, we say the same things to each other about what TNA should do for so many years, before you think 'what's the point'? All of this is falling on deaf ears (i.e. TNA's ears). Maybe it's that I'm sick of pointing out TNA's flaws because TNA don't listen, and they'll never change. In order to enjoy TNA's product (something I want to do) my mindset/expectations have to change. It's unreasonable to expect anything different.

gonnaplayrugby

course sensibly booked storylines, interesting characters and engaging, well-paced plot progression would be great (i.e. what we're used to in WWE), but TNA don't look like they're ever going to change.

this should have been posted at the start so that i could stop reading.

DM_7

I think I enjoyed TNA far more when they were the underdgogs trying to be themsleves with their own wrestlers in a one hour show.

But now they are trying to wcw in a two hour fit as much as possible into two hours I really don't like the show. Its not even the comparison to wwe that makes me dislike TNA, its seeing Hogan Flair and all the other old guys I got bored off in the 90's getting in the way of Styles, Joe, Daniels, Beer Money etc.

There was a time the x division looked like it was the next evolution of wrestling but now its just filler between hogan segments. No matter what I do, that will annoy me when watching TNA.

jaykhunter

gonnaplayrugby wrote: »

this should have been posted at the start so that i could stop reading.

Em, thanks? I did say it was a ramble!

waltersobchak

jaykhunter wrote: »

What you're saying makes total sense, I do agree.

I agree that TNA's marketing strategy of "hey WWE fans! We're just like WWE!" is a very short-sighted promotional tool, because they're inferior to WWE in practically every way, and those gaping differences are flaunted for all to see. But should we not expect the crap that Russo puts out (and be less annoyed by it = enjoy it more)? It's frustrating to see TNA pretending to want to emulate WWE, while they don't take aboard WWE's ideals. By that thinking, it's pretty obvious that TNA don't want to be WWE (if they did, they'd adopt WWE-type storylines, pacing etc)

I went through a phase of just refusing to watch iMPACT last year, I've been mostly watching it this year, with a different attitude towards it. Expect less = enjoy more.

I dunno, we say the same things to each other about what TNA should do for so many years, before you think 'what's the point'? All of this is falling on deaf ears (i.e. TNA's ears). Maybe it's that I'm sick of pointing out TNA's flaws because TNA don't listen, and they'll never change. In order to enjoy TNA's product (something I want to do) my mindset/expectations have to change. It's unreasonable to expect anything different.

Maybe TNA isnt the problem, it could very well be Spike TV who are asking TNA for the mini WWE style product, cause back in the day when TNA was on FOX Sports they didnt have the cheesy storylines, and had decent competitive matches, and viewed them as legitimate sporting contest's with each match having time limits etc

Vince135792003

DM-ICE wrote: »

Why should FANS stop doing anything. If a FAN of any sport, team or TV show sees things they don't like it is 100% their right to complain and suggest alternatives among peers. They complain because they care. No complaints usually mean your going out of business as the fans base don't care.

I 100% agree.

For all the thing I've said about them, I now care about TNA (I had stopped for pretty much all of 2009 as I felt there was no hope). I want WWE to have proper competition and for TNA to succeed.

They have alot of pieces of the puzzle and that's why it's frustrating.

rossie1977

jaykhunter wrote: »

WWE do this, TNA do that : This is exactly the point of this thread - We should stop comparing and holding up TNA to the same standard/ideals as WWE, and accept (or reject) TNA for what it is. Instead of complaining about what TNA should do, over and over and over and over and over and over....realise that TNA aren't going to change, accept it, and expect more of the product they've been giving us.

not sure why you quoted that part of my post. i don't care if tna are never like wwe, fact remains they book their top stars like crap, you book your top stars like crap what do you expect the watching public to think, its pretty simple when wcw stopped booking goldberg like a monster they lost ratings and people stopped caring

here are the four main guys tna have developed since day 1, styles, daniels, joe, abyss. styles is coming to the ring dressed as ric flair, daniels is barely ever seen on tv these days and often jobs to guys like amazing red, joe is again rarely on tv and jobbed to val venis and abyss is now a retard getting superhuman power from hogans hof ring, nobody takes any of those guys seriously, if any one of those stepped into the ring with triple h, undertaker, batista or whoever in their current state would any fan buy them being booked to win??

when randy orton was been booked horribly at the end of 2008/early 2009 against shane mcmahon, fans complained and rightly so, if cena starting wearing around bret harts jacket and glasses from the 1990s then people would consider that a joke

why should fans just accept tna programming?? tna have a fantastic roster of talent, they have all the tools available to them to be real alternative to wwe but so far they are failing in everything they do