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TNA Disaster

AnubisPosted on 08/14/06 at 05:37:05

Well, TNA usually puts on the best PPVs, but not only did this one have one disaster after another (injuries, fire), it also had pretty bad booking in the main event.

I'm all for Christian Cage turning, but it should have been after the match, with Sting winning the belt, so that Christian Cage could take on Sting at the next PPV.  It would have been better booking for sure, because while Jarrett doesn't suck, he's a weak Champion compared to what Sting would be.

Wow, never thought I'd be able to say that a TNA PPV totally bombed.  Given the hour-long loss of coverage, I hope TNA is planning to refund money to people who bought the PPV; it's only fair, seeing as they didn't get the product they paid for.  I'm just glad I didn't buy the PPV!  Heck, it's not even worth downloading!
HugeRockStar760Posted on 08/14/06 at 06:28:45

From what I heard TNA did an absolutely amazing job of dealing with the distraction and put on more than a decent show. The main event was predictable, but it was the only option unless TNA got creative and turned Sting heel. Of course, considering Sting has creative control, that wasn't going to happen. It's not like Christian is Jeff Jarrett's friend now.

I disagree with your opinion about Sting making a better champion at this point than Jeff Jarrett. If you want Samoa Joe to go over the right way, it would have to be against Jeff Jarrett. Otherwise, the fans are going to be split between cheering Sting and Samoa Joe.

I thought LAX should've gone over though. If you're going to give them a push, might as well make it even better by giving them the titles over TNA's cornerstones in AJ Styles and Christopher Daniels. You could even add The Naturals in the mix once they win the number one contendership.
Rick GarrardPosted on 08/14/06 at 06:50:36

I just read the rundown of results for the PPV, and to say the least, they had WAY too many promo segments (the fire notwithstanding) for a PPV. Isn't the purpose of your weekly show to build the PPV matches? The PPV shouldn't have as much talking as they did, especially after the fire, when they should have just "shut up and wrestled". They really need to have a character show up and just start beating up guys in the middle of interviews, thusly challenging them to "shut up and wrestle". If they were smart, they'd run this week's tapings live on PPV, and then tape the following night for the next 3 weeks of TV, to make up for this debacle of a show.  

And who would become the NWA World Champion if Jeff Jarrett were to get hurt to the point where he would have to retire?  He's become the Lawler of Orlando.
HugeRockStar760Posted on 08/14/06 at 07:36:35

A lot of TNA's wrestlers, especially the Heavyweight division, just aren't very interesting from a wrestling perspective. It's probably why Monty Brown is so overzealous in his interviews because he's not the greatest in the ring. I must admit I mark out when he busts out lines like "It seems like Rhino has fallen" after Rhino was yelling about falls count anywhere.

It'd be different to see post match interviews instead of tons of interviews and segments hyping a match. You're right, the weekly shows are supposed to drive the pay per view buys. More than likely, a pay per view buyer has already seen those Sting/Jarrett promos since they probably watched Impact. Even if they didn't, just the fact they bought the pay per view should be enough of a reason not to run tons of promos because that buyer was already interested enough to pay to watch the show.
AnubisPosted on 08/14/06 at 07:46:41

On 08/14/06 at 06:50:36, Rick Garrard wrote:If they were smart, they'd run this week's tapings live on PPV, and then tape the following night for the next 3 weeks of TV, to make up for this debacle of a show.
There is nothing smart about taping three weeks worth of shows in a single night.  They need to stop that nonsense, because all the show spoilers all over the internet make it so we know everything up until the next PPV before it even airs.  I'm positive that usually hurts the number of viewers.

If it were me, I'd go to either a live weekly show or taping once per week.
HugeRockStar760Posted on 08/14/06 at 07:51:18

On 08/14/06 at 07:46:41, Anubis wrote:

There is nothing smart about taping three weeks worth of shows in a single night.  They need to stop that nonsense, because all the show spoilers all over the internet make it so we know everything up until the next PPV before it even airs.  I'm positive that usually hurts the number of viewers.

If it were me, I'd go to either a live weekly show or taping once per week.
It's not as easy as that. Maybe when you win a $100 million lottery and start your promotion you could do that.

It's economical to tape multiple shows. Considering the Orlando crowd cheers everything, the shows come off nicely on television. Yes, everyone knows the results but the same is true about Smackdown too, even if that is weekly. I'd disagree that a taped show takes away potential viewers. If a show is marketed correctly, it'll get viewers. Look at network dramas. There are spoilers for those because those shows are taped. It hasn't exactly hurt CSI's ratings has it.

Considering TNA isn't at the level of the WWE, it would be foolish if they started to run live shows and compete with the WWE in that area of production. I agree with TNA's slow expansion. Otherwise, it's just going to be another WCW where they are losing money left and right.
rey619Posted on 08/14/06 at 09:20:45

It's also a lot cheaper to fly in wrestler only twice a month, than four times a month. If they start doing that, the wrestlers need to cut down on their other bookings, which means TNA will have to pay them more.

As of now, this would be silly for TNA's economy. THe ratings are rising, aren't they?
wizardneedsfoodPosted on 08/14/06 at 17:20:14

From everything I've heard other people saying about the PPV, most thought it was really good. And after reading the recap, I'm definately interested in catching a replay. Especially with how amazing the three way and tag titles match are supposed to be.
PulsarPosted on 08/15/06 at 03:59:03

Um...what fire? What exactly happened? I don't read the cheat sheets, you guys usually cover that stuff for me.
Snabbit888Posted on 08/15/06 at 04:02:58

A fire broke out in the Impact Zone last night above the ring.  A sack of some sort caught fire.  They tried putting it out discretely but they couldn't so apparently they sprayed it with fire extinguishers.  The match finished in the ring and then the building was evacuated by the fire marshall to make sure there was no scrutural damage.  They got the all clear, filed the fans and wrestlers back in, and the show continued.
Rick GarrardPosted on 08/15/06 at 04:05:46

Sting's home (the sack in the rafters) caught fire.  Now Sting must find a new place to live.  Wonder if Jarrett has anything available?  ;)
AnubisPosted on 08/18/06 at 05:23:34

I still think that this disaster of a PPV was the beginning of the end for TNA.  Now while I don't have any problem with Jeff Jarrett, he seems to get X-Pac heat all around; I can't figure it out, really, as he has an excellent grasp of psychology and makes a good heel (even if he isn't "great", he's still at least good at what he does), but I can't change the fact that Jarrett is one of the least over guys in TNA.

Now we're gonna have a predictable rematch with these two at Bound For Glory.  Why is it predictable?  Well, seeing as Sting probably isn't gonna re-sign, there's no way he's gonna win.  This is just bad business.  Heck, this is as bad as anything Vince McMahon has done this year.  No, it's worse, because this could bring down the entire company.

Very bad booking.  I usually say this about McMahon, but now I say it about TNA: I could do better in my sleep.  Jarrett needs to be removed from the company; he is a cancer.  Dixie Carter isn't much better, since she's dumb enough to put someone like Jarrett in charge of the booking.  These two need to be gone or TNA is finished.  Unlike WWE, TNA can't afford to make mistakes, especially not mistakes this big.

Samoa Joe was the obvious draw for Bound For Glory, and now his time in TNA seems to be completely screwed over because of this asinine booking.  Sting and Jarrett just will not be able to draw at Bound For Glory, plain and simple.
Rick GarrardPosted on 08/18/06 at 05:43:44

Only one problem with that argument Anubis, Jeff Jarrett and his father Jerry are still owners of TNA, with Carter Energy being their money mark.  There's no chance in hell (pun intended) that Dubba J is gonna fire himself from his own company.  And Jarrett's booking skill is truly what he learned from watching the Dundee/Lawler/Dutch Mantell debacle in Memphis while Jarrett was honing his craft.
AnubisPosted on 08/18/06 at 09:14:30

Yeah, but if Carter Energy bought them out, we might be able to get somewhere, so long as someone besides Dixie Carter is in charge of bringing in the next head booker.
HugeRockStar760Posted on 08/18/06 at 16:54:36

On 08/18/06 at 05:23:34, Anubis wrote:I still think that this disaster of a PPV was the beginning of the end for TNA.
That's funny considering people like you were saying that when TNA had no television deal and only the internet to broadcast their shows. Yet look what happened. They got a deal with Spike TV and it seems the network is actually behind the show and wants it to do well.

Now while I don't have any problem with Jeff Jarrett, he seems to get X-Pac heat all around; I can't figure it out, really, as he has an excellent grasp of psychology and makes a good heel (even if he isn't "great", he's still at least good at what he does), but I can't change the fact that Jarrett is one of the least over guys in TNA.
X-Pac heat is overused and its a cliche used by people who think they understand crowd dynamics. Jeff Jarrett is over as a heel. Deal with it. The Orlando crowd in general have no idea how stupid they come off cheering for everyone.

Now we're gonna have a predictable rematch with these two at Bound For Glory. Why is it predictable? Well, seeing as Sting probably isn't gonna re-sign, there's no way he's gonna win.
How do you know he's not going to resign? There have been no indication that he wouldn't consider it. This isn't like when Goldberg signed with the WWE and they proceeded to book him poorly throughout most of his stay there.

This is just bad business. Heck, this is as bad as anything Vince McMahon has done this year. No, it's worse, because this could bring down the entire company.
Let's see, they have a television deal with Spike TV and the network is impressed at how they've kept a lot of viewers despite not having the UFC lead ins lately. If they have a television deal, strong production like they do, a good website to get the message out to the fans, they are in much better shape than you'd think. Just because the booking doesn't follow your opinions doesn't mean a company is doomed. Probably the opposite.

Very bad booking. I usually say this about McMahon, but now I say it about TNA: I could do better in my sleep.
Why don't you go win $100 million in the lottery and start a wrestling promotion. We've all seen your booking and I have to say, I prefer TNA.

Jarrett needs to be removed from the company; he is a cancer.
LOL, what a mark. Take away Jeff Jarrett and who can take over as a believable top heel for TNA right now? No one, especially as long as they continue to book shows in Orlando.

Dixie Carter isn't much better, since she's dumb enough to put someone like Jarrett in charge of the booking.
You have no clue what you're talking about. You probably don't even know who she is beyond reading her name in wrestling news sites. Dixie Carter putting someone with many years in the wrestling business in charge of booking? That's a bad thing? Compare that to what the WWE does, hiring wannabe sitcom writers to run creative, and I'll gladly take Jeff Jarrett running the show.

These two need to be gone or TNA is finished. Unlike WWE, TNA can't afford to make mistakes, especially not mistakes this big.
These two have been with TNA for awhile and ever since Panda took over the company it has been increasing in popularity.

Samoa Joe was the obvious draw for Bound For Glory, and now his time in TNA seems to be completely screwed over because of this asinine booking.
Samoa Joe is undefeated. What else do you want TNA to do at this point? If he were in the WWE, he'd be DAAAA Saaaaaaamoan Bulldozer...ha ha ha my NAME IS ARMANDO....ALEJANDROOOOO....EEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRSTRADA! Ooops, I went on a tangent there.

I was hoping Samoa Joe would be challenging for the title at Bound for Glory, but thinking about it now, it seems too rushed at this point to do just that. Too predictable as well. Samoa Joe is already over without the title. TNA might as well save Samoa Joe's first NWA World Title victory for when they have more publicity and exposure with a better timeslot. Why waste Samoa Joe's first title victory when TNA is still not getting many pay per views to begin with.

Sting and Jarrett just will not be able to draw at Bound For Glory, plain and simple.
That's funny considering the Compuware Arena is basically close to, if not already sold out. There's a story behind Sting and Jeff Jarrett. There is none between Jeff Jarrett and Samoa Joe. Besides, booking could still change but I doubt it.
AnubisPosted on 08/18/06 at 22:37:49

On 08/18/06 at 16:54:36, HugeRockStar760 wrote:X-Pac heat is overused and its a cliche used by people who think they understand crowd dynamics. Jeff Jarrett is over as a heel. Deal with it. The Orlando crowd in general have no idea how stupid they come off cheering for everyone.
Wow are you really this stupid?  Sorry, dumb question.  I even said that I don't mind Jeff Jarrett at all, that I think he does a good job!  It's just, well, everyone else disagrees with that.  I think you're the first person besides me to ever defend the guy, at least that I've seen.  I think he does a good job, but facts are facts: Jarrett isn't over, people are sick of him.  I can't explain why, it's just how it is.

On 08/18/06 at 16:54:36, HugeRockStar760 wrote:How do you know he's not going to resign? There have been no indication that he wouldn't consider it. This isn't like when Goldberg signed with the WWE and they proceeded to book him poorly throughout most of his stay there.
Well consensus is that he probably isn't gonna sign.  I would love nothing more than to see Sting win the belt from Jarrett, seeing as I'm a huge Sting fan.  Alas, I don't really see it happening.

On 08/18/06 at 16:54:36, HugeRockStar760 wrote:Let's see, they have a television deal with Spike TV and the network is impressed at how they've kept a lot of viewers despite not having the UFC lead ins lately. If they have a television deal, strong production like they do, a good website to get the message out to the fans, they are in much better shape than you'd think. Just because the booking doesn't follow your opinions doesn't mean a company is doomed. Probably the opposite.
Funny, their ratings have been on the decline recently.  Heck, just a couple weeks ago, they had dropped down to a dismal 0.7, which is like almost a 50% drop.

On 08/18/06 at 16:54:36, HugeRockStar760 wrote:Why don't you go win $100 million in the lottery and start a wrestling promotion. We've all seen your booking and I have to say, I prefer TNA.
Actually, no one has seen my booking.  My actual booking would be to have storylines, but focus primarily on the in-ring action.  As such, my TNM cards come across as bland because, well, sims just don't do a good job of visualizing the action.  It's very hard to push my style of product because I would focus on something I can't show you guys.

On 08/18/06 at 16:54:36, HugeRockStar760 wrote:LOL, what a mark. Take away Jeff Jarrett and who can take over as a believable top heel for TNA right now? No one, especially as long as they continue to book shows in Orlando.
Samoa Joe.

On 08/18/06 at 16:54:36, HugeRockStar760 wrote:That's funny considering the Compuware Arena is basically close to, if not already sold out. There's a story behind Sting and Jeff Jarrett. There is none between Jeff Jarrett and Samoa Joe. Besides, booking could still change but I doubt it.
I seriously doubt the tickets sold because of the Jarrett/Sting rematch.  Actually, I need to change what I said.  It's not Jarrett and Sting that can't draw, it's only Jarrett who can't draw.  Sting, he's still pretty damn good at it.
HugeRockStar760Posted on 08/18/06 at 23:22:33

Samoa Joe isn't a heel. He's best when booked as a badass tweener who doesn't care if he's cheered or not. And considering the kind of crowds TNA gets, to even attempt to book Samoa Joe as a heel would be foolish because even if he was a heel, the fans would cheer and chant for him like they do for Abyss.

TNA has a lousy time slot, and even if the rating goes down to .7, that is still better than anything else another Spike TV show could do at that timeslot.

I'd just like to know why you think Jeff Jarrett has "X-Pac" heat. Just wondering. Are we going to say Triple H also had X-Pac heat just because he was so dominant over the competition a few years ago?
AllPowerfulGARTHPosted on 08/19/06 at 17:16:19

Triple H WAS getting some "Boo! Get off the stage!" reactions a few years back when he was squashing all the talent people cared about so he could feud with the likes of Scott Steiner, Kevin Nash and Goldberg. People were sick of him. But, then he started putting a lot of push-worthy people over (Chris Benoit, Shelton Benjamin, Randy Orton, Batista, maybe Tajiri? Did Tajiri beat him at some point by countout or something?) and everyone liked him again.

I don't watch TNA, so I can't say one way or the other whether Jeff Jarrett gets X-Pac Heat. But as the Triple H example shows, if he IS getting the wrong kind of heat, that doesn't mean TNA needs to get rid of him; it just means he needs to step out of the spotlight for a little while, let some other people feud at the top of the card and spend some time putting over people who deserve pushes.

On a side note, it's ironic to see X-Pac Heat referenced here just because of whom it's being directed at. Wasn't Jeff Jarrett getting X-Pac Heat in his WWF days before X-Pac even was?
91Posted on 08/19/06 at 18:01:53

On 08/19/06 at 17:16:19, AllPowerfulGARTH wrote:Wasn't Jeff Jarrett getting X-Pac Heat in his WWF days before X-Pac even was?
Simply put - no. He might not have been getting "boo, stick this guy in the main event so The Rock can destroy him for us" heat but he was over well enough.
HugeRockStar760Posted on 08/19/06 at 19:02:47

If we're going to say Triple H was getting "X-Pac" heat as well as Jeff Jarrett now because it's "BOO go away" then that could apply to just about most of the heels in the WWE currently.
pszPosted on 08/20/06 at 06:28:14

That would be most great heels EVER.

Ted DiBiase was getting "Boo! We hate this guy!" heat for years. Damn well may have been the best never-champ (4 seconds doesn't count ;->) heel of the 80's.

Shane Douglas in ECW was a getting cursed out of the building after the "Gary Wolfe Incident", and if he happened to show up on ECW in Hammerstein or The Arena next week with Benoit and Malenko, the crowd wouldn't shut up for the entire show.

I think Jarret is wanting the Uber Heel Heat. If that means some "X-Pac Heat" then so be it. He's the Heel. The fans are SUPPOSED to hate his guts to the point of never wanting to see him. That's what makes him a real Heel.
Snabbit888Posted on 08/20/06 at 06:52:57

But the difference lies in that with something like Shane Douglas after the Pitbull #2 thing, it was because he did something very dastardly.  People don't boo someone like Jarrett because he does mean things.  He gets booed because they hate him as a performer, not a character.
pszPosted on 08/20/06 at 06:55:39

Or they're just tired of *HIM* being champ (re: HHH, Hogan, Douglas, etc).

If he could bring himself to mid-card for a bit, and get others over, he just might find himself getting slightly better reactions.
Rick GarrardPosted on 08/20/06 at 07:27:34

what would reinvigorate Jarrett's tired worn out Honky Tonk Man imitating Billy Joe Travis impersonation with the El Kabong guitar gimmick, is for Jarrett to turn face, something Jeff hasn't done or been for a LONG time.
Snabbit888Posted on 08/20/06 at 07:29:26

On 08/20/06 at 06:55:39, psz wrote:Or they're just tired of *HIM* being champ (re: HHH, Hogan, Douglas, etc).

If he could bring himself to mid-card for a bit, and get others over, he just might find himself getting slightly better reactions.
I don't deny that.  I'm just saying as of this moment right now, most of his response isn't because he's evil; it's because they're tired of him.
91Posted on 08/20/06 at 14:25:40

On 08/20/06 at 07:27:34, Rick Garrard wrote:what would reinvigorate Jarrett's tired worn out Honky Tonk Man imitating Billy Joe Travis impersonation with the El Kabong guitar gimmick, is for Jarrett to turn face, something Jeff hasn't done or been for a LONG time.
Funny, I've never seen that suggested but it's not a bad idea at all. Have Jarrett drop the title to whomever they perceive as their long term face champion, be it Sting or Joe (Jarrett has been on top for so long right now, he may as well keep the belt until they're ready for him to put them over big) and have him ride things out as a face in the upper mid-card. Won't happen, but oh well.
AllPowerfulGARTHPosted on 08/20/06 at 22:33:14

I could swear Jeff Jarrett was getting some "Boo! Get off the stage!" heat shortly after his WWF return in 1998, but I think it ended when his character was reworked a bit after he got his forced haircut at the hands of (in a twist of tremendous irony) X-Pac.

Be that as it may, psz has a point -- if in fact Jarrett is getting X-Pac Heat in TNA (which, I must reiterate, I don't know for sure because I don't watch TNA), it could be beneficial for him given TNA's fan base. It's the same principle that was applied to Big Show, Mike Knox and Test in the new ECW -- it's tough to get the fans to boo anyone, so sometimes it's necessary to send out someone they'll want to boo off the stage in order to give that performer a place to build. Really, at this point, how many heels are there in TNA that get universally booed? I hear even Abyss gets cheers nowadays and he's never been a face.
91Posted on 08/20/06 at 23:18:28

On 08/20/06 at 22:33:14, AllPowerfulGARTH wrote:I could swear Jeff Jarrett was getting some "Boo! Get off the stage!" heat shortly after his WWF return in 1998, but I think it ended when his character was reworked a bit after he got his forced haircut at the hands of (in a twist of tremendous irony) X-Pac.
Frankly he was bordering on the lines of not getting much heat at all. Name me one thing he did in 1998 before Summerslam without having to think about it. Whilst he was quite entertaining as he was, he was feuding with Steve Blackman for the most part. The only times I can remember him doing anything that garnered any sort of reaction was the Sawyer Brown bit and jumping Owen at the Rumble, and the latter didn't do much for him as there was no angle going into it and nothing came of it. But no, no X-Pac heat to note of.
pszPosted on 08/21/06 at 03:18:19

I think that's it: He hasn't really *DONE* anything other than be a belt hog.

No major STORIES. No out of this world uber matches. No complete overhaul of character (Sorry, Aztec God doesn't count :-P). He's just been... "The guy with the belt who hits opponents with a guitar".

Hell, I doubt MOST TNA fans remember WHY he uses a guitar. (Or that he had long curly hair and big blinking glasses).

When Douglas got stale, he did something MAJOR (Wolfe). When Flair got stale, he did something MAJOR (Jumped to WWF, Funk feud, Horsemen reshuffle, you name it... Ok, by that point he's done so much he's never BEEN stale ;->). When Hart started going down, he went heel for the first time in 15 years AND Anti-American (And got cheers everywhere ELSE).

Dreamer was a baby face turned hardcore.

Richards went from complete goof to "serious"

Al Snow went from Rockers Wannabe to talking to a head.

Jarret's... Still the same character he's been for years. He needs SOMEthing to change.
91Posted on 08/21/06 at 19:52:44

That's a good point - he's gone from "I'm the worlds greatest singer and wrestler" to "I'm the worlds greatest wrestler". Although he's evolved a little in that time, and though he's won several world titles, the only major incident he's really been involved in was laying down for Hogan at Bash at the Beach and that was more about Hogan and Russo than Jeff. The peak of heatness was probably the woman beater angle which ironically was probably the most (and perhaps only, unless you're a big Howard Finkel fan) dastardly thing he's done.

But I still think he's a decent wrestler and a good talker.
pszPosted on 08/22/06 at 01:20:24

Who are you to doubt The Fink?