What’s the key to helping TNA survive? Arenas? New Talent? We take a look at some ideas that might help.
TNA is in a real state of flux at the moment. They have no money to call their own and are relying on a loan from The Harris Brothers or a company that the Harris Brothers work for. They look to be saved by a company that was behind Segway (anyone else hoping for wrestling on hoverboards when they heard this?) or a television conglomerate or A.N Other and it is all a big mess and no one really knows what is next for the humble little promotion out of Nashville. We all want to see TNA survive. But what if someone comes in, saves and then bankrolls TNA with Dixie Carter left in the minority ownership?
What should be the companies first steps to make TNA into a viable television wrestling company? Well I am no wrestling genius (I’ll allow you a few seconds to let this sink in) but I think I have a few ideas, five to be exact – as I find the best ways to help TNA survive, and how they can turn it around.
Get out of Orlando (sort of) and move to Chicago and Las Vegas
One of the biggest problems for TNA is that they have been at the damn Universal Studios for so long, reacting to such a casual audience because most of them are there for the theme park. They tried a few times to travel (which eventually they could not afford) but if they want to get out to a fresh new audience and have new arenas, why not do their tapings bi weekly out of two different areas? One where there is a rabid wrestling audience, a busy populous and a bustling tourist industry. So, my idea would be do two weeks of tapings in Chicago, then two weeks in Orlando, following a big supershow on Pop at the end of each month out of Las Vegas (a place which was mooted for a TNA move many years ago).
Chicago has a big rabid wrestling audience (AAW and any WWE crowd show that) and an international airport in O’Hare. I looked at the Sears Centre, 11,800 seater venue (after taping off for entrance and stuff you can get a good 8,000 in there) and even if you only get 5,000 in there for a double taping – it’s better than the Impact Zone every week. I’d then keep the Universal shows because they have a good relationship there and it would be foolish to break that up. Then, once a month – take advantage of the recent boom in tourism in Las Vegas and do a monthly live or taped (ideally live, but you are at the master of your TV) maybe look at the Orleans Arena or Cox Pavillion and do a Clash Of The Champions style thing. It gets your name out to a wider audience, you get to give your show a different feel every few weeks by being in a different arena and the audience will never seem stale or bored.
A bit of a higher cost, but now you have new owners – they’ll have to spend money to make money.
Base your show around EC3, Mike Bennett, Rockstar Spud, Trevor Lee and Drew Galloway
Every good company needs a backbone of talent to base itself on. Hell, every good team needs a spine to base itself on and TNA already have five world class talents to build the company upon. The future of their main event should be based around Ethan Carter the Third, Mike Bennett and Drew Galloway. EC3 is a TNA-made superstar, and is their franchise right now. Heel or face, he should never leave the main event. Mike Bennett’s debut was weak. I am sorry, but they just brought him in and did not showcase him in his best light. He is a superb cocky heel; a leather jacket wearing smug S.O.B that knows he is the business. There is your heel. Drew Galloway is your workhorse, the man has showed he is box office since he was released by the WWE. He will lead TNA into the future.
Now, Trevor Lee and Rockstar Spud. First off, Spud is one of the most versatile wrestlers in the world. He can go from goofy heel to beloved underdog to hated little man with little to no effort, and tremendous charisma. He is also a superb wrestler. A wrestler who can work with the main-eventers and also be a star in the X Division. Speaking of the X Division – Trevor Lee should be the centre point of the X Division title. He is a superb high flying, high impact athlete with a unique look. He is everything the X Division stands for, and should be seen as such. He works so well under Shane Helms, but I can’t wait for him to break out and perhaps even face Helms down the line. You keep him high, as he is young and will only get better and better.
Ditch Jeff, but keep Matt
He may have his detractors, but I still think there is money in Matt Hardy yet. His ‘Icon’ gimmick in Ring of Honor was gold, a delusional heel who believes he is the greatest thing to ever happen to wrestling, and he took tremendous joy in trolling all the fans that hate him. He has a few years putting over guys in the main event, before settling into an attraction slot in the card. He is getting older, but by god he can make you hate him.
Jeff on the other hand, has none of this. He is played out, still can’t talk on the mic and there is only so many times he can dive off of things. Eventually, he is going to jump once too often. It’s not worth it. He’s been on this pedestal in TNA for a long time and I think it’s time for him to step aside, as there are better, younger wrestlers around that can do much more than he can.
Bring in some more young, decent indie talent
They have started to do this, with the signings of Pepper Parks, Cherry Bomb and Allysin Kay – but let’s keep the ball rolling. They are going to bring in Caleb Konley it seems, but there is a few more CZW young lions that they could get as well like David Starr, Drew Gulak and teams like Team Tremendous and The Beaver Boys.
Also, they do like to look to British wrestling as well, I would go straight in and start bringing in Big Damo, Joe Coffey, Trent Seven, Sha Samuels and Mikey Whiplash. With that group of guys alongside Bram and Tyrus, they could make the K.O.T.M title into a ‘strong style’ type belt (I would suggest turning into a hardcore/brass knuckles title, but that would make this into six ways and I am not a liar).
Make TNA a viable alternative for guys, they could sway a few that aren’t on NXT’s radar.
Be happy with being the alternative, not the competitor
This one is the biggest of all. Unless they are pumping billions into TNA, you will not compete with Vince. He has the market share, the history and the experience. Too many people have rocked up to Nashville and told everyone that they can ‘turn the tide and get them to match those guys up north brother’ and then uttered something offensive about minorities. That just isn’t true. Be the alternative, or perhaps even the side dish for the wrestling fan. Watched Raw and still want some wrestling? Come watch Impact with a hot crowd in Chicago, hungry young wrestlers fighting a different style and with a more grown up feel. There is a market of older fans that want a stiffer, more grown up show. I am not talking about attitude era. Look at PROGRESS, PCW and ICW in the UK and PWG in Los Angeles. Those are your templates, but do it on a bigger stage because you have been around for so long. The people are there.
It is doable, it’s going to take time – but it is doable. It’s easy to make TNA survive, as long as they can get money and get on the right track, they could do well with the booking they have now. And the best part? With two companies putting on kick ass shows, the fans win.
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