The Official TNA / Impact / GFW Discussion Thread

[Stennick]

I agree with Slag, now after saying that excuse me while I go bathe I feel dirty just uttering those words <img alt="" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/biggrin.png.929299b4c121f473b0026f3d6e74d189.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" />

[juggaloninjalee]

Did anyone watch Finding Hulk Hogan? I flipped back and forth between that and the Ultimate Fighter last night. Looked like an interesting behind the scenes look at Hogan. Not as good as Bret Harts Wrestling with Shadows but at least a little bit interesting.

[Slagaholic]

Interesting tidbit but take it with a grain of salt as I only found it on the flagship of responsible reporting tnawrestlingnews.com

 

According to backstage sources, there has been some cost cutting measures within TNA over the last month or so. TNA management and the top decision makers are coming to terms with the fact that some of the top names who are the highest paid talents are not doing anything for the company's ratings.

 

According to the source, several big changes are planned for the early part of next year. It's possible some of the higher paid talents will be asked to take pay cuts which likely won't go over well.

 

It should be noted that Dixie Carter's mother (Janice) is one person in particular who is putting her foot down and demanding cost cutting measures.

[Stennick]

If this is true then they are learning the exact same thing I have (and others two) said for a year now.

 

Their already in television markets all across the world and they were in most of these places before they even made the Hogan deal.

 

I know Hyde had suggested that having Hogan on board helps with international appeal but if their already in those markets having Hogan shouldn't matter nearly as much as the television's shows success.

 

At any rate Sting, Nash, Foley, Team 3D, They all do nothing for television ratings and just cutting those names alone would free up a good sized amount of cash. I know 3D aren't going anywhere but a guy can dream.

[The Bus]

I.e. old guys like Nash and Foley would be great assets for TNA, but surely not as wrestlers. Doing commentary, managing younger guys or being authority figures would be great roles for them in addition to creative and agent work. I can't understand why they don't get these great assets to work in the way best for the company. Of course the money paid in current contracts would be hard to take them out of the ring and in to the backstage, but Nash doesn't have a contract so he could come back with a new role and a different contract.

[Hyde Hill]

Middle East Deal, South East Asia deal and new France deal. All made post Hogan signing. But yeah as soon as all international deals are done and TNA has somewhat full coverage its time to phase the nostalgia guys out. If they don't do it then they never will. They are getting too much relevant screen time as is already.

[juggaloninjalee]

This week was the 1st week I haven't watched by choice in a few months. Not because I read the spoilers or anything but I just felt that I had other things to take care of. I went grocery shopping instead in case you are wondering.

 

I think if TNA wants to get over with the mainstream they need to CREATE SUPERSTARS with who they have. All of Fortune, MCMG, Gen Me, Ink Inc., Samoa Joe, and then their current main event of RVD, Jeff Hardy, Mr. Anderson, Abyss(I say this loosely), Angle, Pope, and Matt Morgan. Every week TNA should ask what have we done to get this guy over referring to these guys. Whether it is a storyline that makes you love or love to hate these guys.

 

No more tired filler matches!

[maskedpropaganda]

I agree with Bus and UK Wrestling Fan mostly. Alot of these nostalgia acts have a place though some do not. An example of this is one of my favs of all time Foley. He has no place in the company right now and shouldn't be given any backstage role simply due to being able to get another to do the same job for much cheaper. Another is Jeff Jarrett. How much air time TV&PPV's has this dude been given in the span of the last couple months? And he is winning, constantly. Not putting over anybody or giving anyone a rub by being in a program with them that aren't already more over than he (Angle, Joe).

 

Others like Hardy, Angle, RVD, Anderson, Pope, Sting, Taz, Hogan, Bischoff, Flair etc. are solid in their current positions and should be kept as such IMO.

 

Dreamer is a guy I would keep and shove into a backstage guru type (Head Agent something..)

 

Joe, Styles, MCMG, Beer Money, Abyss, Wolfe, Generation Me, Ink Inc., Jay Lethal, Morgan these are the guys who I would keep and push.

 

I would lose Red, Kendrick (whom I like), Kaz, Kiyoshi, Magnus, Orlando Jordan, Rhino, Rob Terry, Shark Boy, Richards, Team 3D (though I would establish even more of a relationship with their school to the point where it is an FCW-very light)

 

And for the love of God stop the Rob Eckos experiment.

[juggaloninjalee]

I agree with Bus and UK Wrestling Fan mostly. Alot of these nostalgia acts have a place though some do not. An example of this is one of my favs of all time Foley. He has no place in the company right now and shouldn't be given any backstage role simply due to being able to get another to do the same job for much cheaper. Another is Jeff Jarrett. How much air time TV&PPV's has this dude been given in the span of the last couple months? And he is winning, constantly. Not putting over anybody or giving anyone a rub by being in a program with them that aren't already more over than he (Angle, Joe).

 

Others like Hardy, Angle, RVD, Anderson, Pope, Sting, Taz, Hogan, Bischoff, Flair etc. are solid in their current positions and should be kept as such IMO.

 

Dreamer is a guy I would keep and shove into a backstage guru type (Head Agent something..)

 

Joe, Styles, MCMG, Beer Money, Abyss, Wolfe, Generation Me, Ink Inc., Jay Lethal, Morgan these are the guys who I would keep and push.

 

I would lose Red, Kendrick (whom I like), Kaz, Kiyoshi, Magnus, Orlando Jordan, Rhino, Rob Terry, Shark Boy, Richards, Team 3D (though I would establish even more of a relationship with their school to the point where it is an FCW-very light)

 

And for the love of God stop the Rob Eckos experiment.

 

I disagree with some of this. Jarrett could be a gateway to the main event kind of guy. Only he needs to lose some matches against guys. Flair has been too much of a focus for air time. He overshadows Fortune a lot and it bugs me. He shouldn't be the main focus of the group.

 

Also I wouldn't get rid of all those guys. Amazing Red, Brian Kendrick (whom I DISlike), Magnus, Rhino, Shark Boy, and Stevie Richards I would keep. Red, Kendrick, and Shark Boy all could be in a good X-Division with Rob Eckos as Rob Eckos... not Robbie E. Doug Williams could also have a place here.

 

Stevie Richards and Rhino both have a place. Stevie Richards is the gateway to the midcard, and Rhino is a gateway to the upper midcard. Both of these guys should be used like Jarrett in their positions on the card though.

 

Obviously this is only my opinion but I would like to see 2 X-Division matches a week. I think wrestling should take up about 75% of the show of Impact as well. Total time of X-Division matches could be kept under 25 minutes per week too so they could have other matches too.

[PeterHilton]

At any rate Sting, Nash, Foley, Team 3D, They all do nothing for television ratings and just cutting those names alone would free up a good sized amount of cash. I know 3D aren't going anywhere but a guy can dream.

 

I.e. old guys like Nash and Foley would be great assets for TNA, but surely not as wrestlers. Doing commentary, managing younger guys or being authority figures would be great roles for them in addition to creative and agent work. I can't understand why they don't get these great assets to work in the way best for the company. Of course the money paid in current contracts would be hard to take them out of the ring and in to the backstage, but Nash doesn't have a contract so he could come back with a new role and a different contract.

 

I agree with Bus and UK Wrestling Fan mostly. Alot of these nostalgia acts have a place though some do not. An example of this is one of my favs of all time Foley. He has no place in the company right now and shouldn't be given any backstage role simply due to being able to get another to do the same job for much cheaper. Another is Jeff Jarrett. How much air time TV&PPV's has this dude been given in the span of the last couple months? And he is winning, constantly. Not putting over anybody or giving anyone a rub by being in a program with them that aren't already more over than he (Angle, Joe).

 

 

I disagree with some of this. Jarrett could be a gateway to the main event kind of guy. Only he needs to lose some matches against guys. Flair has been too much of a focus for air time. He overshadows Fortune a lot and it bugs me. He shouldn't be the main focus of the group.

 

Also I wouldn't get rid of all those guys. Amazing Red, Brian Kendrick (whom I DISlike), Magnus, Rhino, Shark Boy, and Stevie Richards I would keep. Red, Kendrick, and Shark Boy all could be in a good X-Division with Rob Eckos as Rob Eckos... not Robbie E. Doug Williams could also have a place here.

 

Stevie Richards and Rhino both have a place. Stevie Richards is the gateway to the midcard, and Rhino is a gateway to the upper midcard. Both of these guys should be used like Jarrett in their positions on the card though.

 

I'm not going to debate any specific list, because a "Who Would You Cut?" type deal is always more of an opinion than anything (I will say I seriously have no idea how Rhino, Magnus, Or Stevie are any more useful than Kaz or Kiyoshi)

 

But the over-all idea that they need to cut some dead weight is something I totally agree with. And the nostalgia acts..they need to go. I'm not delusional enough to think Jarrett will ever be let go, even though I'd LOVE that. TNA could definitely stop throwing him in the main event and making him the focus of 3-4 segments a show, but people have been saying that for years.....er, since TNA opened it's doors.

 

But Nash, Foley, 3D, EV2...Sting...I'm so tired of hearing how they can be "gateways to the main event" or how they'd work great "in a different role." TNA needs ratings. That's it. If those guys aren't drawing viewers - which is what they're paid to do - they should be gone. No one with a name value like Nash or Foley is going to take a smaller contract to be a road agent. And look at TNA's booking..since when has there ever been a planned out structure so that a guy is a "gateway" to anything?

 

Cut them loose. All of them. Even ting has worn out his welcome because his appearances/returns/retirements are no longer really that special because he's done them so often.

 

If they can't draw, and they aren't reliable workers, then they shouldn't have a job. TNA has enough 'established names' and talented younger workers that the nostalgia deal is totally unnecessary.

[Self]

Interesting tidbit but take it with a grain of salt as I only found it on the flagship of responsible reporting tnawrestlingnews.com

 

I love how "Dixie's Mom" is the one telling her to tighten up the purse strings. How quaint is that? It's like a spoiled teenager getting out of hand buying shoes and dresses and being told off. How old is Dixie Carter? Can't she handle her own finances?

[Blackman]

Middle East Deal, South East Asia deal and new France deal. All made post Hogan signing. But yeah as soon as all international deals are done and TNA has somewhat full coverage its time to phase the nostalgia guys out. If they don't do it then they never will. They are getting too much relevant screen time as is already.

 

Hogan as an asset in a non-wrestling role is different then a bunch of other ex-WWE people in an active wrestler role. In that role they are all has-beens. Hogan has the aura and the credibility and the mic skills (though limited)

[Bigpapa42]

I love how "Dixie's Mom" is the one telling her to tighten up the purse strings. How quaint is that? It's like a spoiled teenager getting out of hand buying shoes and dresses and being told off. How old is Dixie Carter? Can't she handle her own finances?

 

That was my exact thought. Especially amusing since Dixie isn't exactly a teenager...

[Hyde Hill]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Blackman" data-cite="Blackman" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25170" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Hogan as an asset in a non-wrestling role is different then a bunch of other ex-WWE people in an active wrestler role. In that role they are all has-beens. Hogan has the aura and the credibility and the mic skills (though limited)</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> Yep but he and other nostalgia acts are still too much a focal point in general and as it comes to on screen airtime. It's Hogan's Immortals and Flair's Fortune. Instead of Hardy's Immortal's and AJ's Fortune. This is similar as if for instance in Evolution Flair was the head guy instead of HHH.</p><p> </p><p> I wouldn't be as radical as to cut them all but I would definitely reduce their roles heavily at least until international distribution and other such sectors where their name power can be useful have been near maxed out. Say for instance the Middle East deal. They now have it, after 1 year of having the relevant talent being the stars of the show and the nostalgia acts the garnish the relevant talent will be over enough so as to make a longer deal without future use of the nostalgia guys. Once this is completed in all relevant markets then totally cut them out.</p>

[Hyde Hill]

<p>Great piece on TNA about halfway threw here. JP Prag and his Hamilton Avenue Journal will be missed.</p><p> </p><p>

<a href="http://www.411mania.com/wrestling/columns/162598/News-from-Prags-Place-11.18.10:-Second-and-Final-Edition.htm" rel="external nofollow">http://www.411mania.com/wrestling/columns/162598/News-from-Prags-Place-11.18.10:-Second-and-Final-Edition.htm</a></p>

[Hashasheen]

Who saw the Reaction fight between the Gen-Me and the MCMG? That **** was just balls out crazy.

[Self]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Hashasheen" data-cite="Hashasheen" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25170" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Who saw the Reaction fight between the Gen-Me and the MCMG? That **** was just balls out crazy.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> Just watched it. Really liked it. Taz's commentary was incredibly annoying, but the actual action was a thumbs up. Awesome ending.</p>

[alden]

the reaction FIGHT between the guns and gen me was GREAT!!!!!! the funny part is that not everyone would get to see such great segment/fight/match. The four guys put there body's through hell and not many people are going to see it. If they put that on a show or a ppv it would be talked about for a very long time. The unprotected kicks at the end were sick. The only bad part is now how do you top that with a "match". It took everything each team had and they both kept getting up for more. anything else now is going to be somewhat anti-climatic in my opinion.

[brashleyholland]

Especially amusing since Dixie isn't exactly a teenager...

 

If only she was...or I was 20 years older...or $20mil richer :-p

[juggaloninjalee]

the reaction FIGHT between the guns and gen me was GREAT!!!!!! the funny part is that not everyone would get to see such great segment/fight/match. The four guys put there body's through hell and not many people are going to see it. If they put that on a show or a ppv it would be talked about for a very long time. The unprotected kicks at the end were sick. The only bad part is now how do you top that with a "match". It took everything each team had and they both kept getting up for more. anything else now is going to be somewhat anti-climatic in my opinion.

 

Honestly I think if they show this on Impact this week it would be great. It shows the hatred these two teams have for each other. This in turn makes me want to see more. Before that I really didn't want to see a Gen Me vs MCMG match.

[Hyde Hill]

This should be interesting if I can get my hands on it.

 

[crownsy]

This should be interesting if I can get my hands on it.

 

 

That looks really intersting, I love stuff like that.

 

Let me know if you find it anywhere Hyde, I'd be interested in giving it a look.

[Hyde Hill]

Will do. Combine that with the Dixie shoot and you should get a good view of TNA inner workings at least pre Hogan/Bisch.

[maskedpropaganda]

I hope mama Carter stops the useless expenses such as paying 18,000 for an ugly purple belt that will only be used for a few months on tv (which is actually like 12 days of work if ya think about it with two Impacts shot in each day usually). Gotta spend money to make money but spend it wisely myjebus.

[juggaloninjalee]

I hope mama Carter stops the useless expenses such as paying 18,000 for an ugly purple belt that will only be used for a few months on tv (which is actually like 12 days of work if ya think about it with two Impacts shot in each day usually). Gotta spend money to make money but spend it wisely myjebus.

 

It didn't cost them that much. Go check out the website of the company that made it and see what the price is for a completely custom belt. http://www.topropebelts.com