How are the Knockouts getting the highest ratings?

[Aaron E. Dangerously]

The knockouts have regulary seen their matches be the highest rated segment on the whole show. Now, with Gail, Roxxi, and Kong, it's easy to see why. They put on really good matches.

But when a sub-par (IMO) Bolt/Hemme match gets the highest ratings, I sometimes go "WTF?"

What is it about these matches that gets people to tune in?

[Mayonnaise]

A combo of ta-tas for the casuals and good wrestling for the hardcore fans.

[Lair of the Shadow MaDaBa]

I tuned into the Hemme/Bolt match solely because I happened to remember that TNA was on at that moment in time.

So, for gits and shiggles, I voted "Luck".

[Lancers]

Hey, it's not called TNA because they show how crayons are made.

[Cyno]

Guys like seeing women wrestle, and when you had Christy Hemme look as hot as she did on last week's Impact, it's no wonder why.

[Michael Coello]

Dec 14, 2008 21:45:45 GMT -5 Lancers said:

Hey, it's not called TNA because they show how crayons are made.

[bob]

Dec 14, 2008 21:33:56 GMT -5 Mayonnaise said:

A combo of ta-tas for the casuals and good wrestling for the hardcore fans.

this

[Red Impact]

boobs, decent matches for woman's wrestling (Compared to normal diva matches, that match was good), and the fact that they don't seem to short-end them like they do every other match.

[chairshotshurthead]

People are mistaking it for a Skinemax program.

[Andrew is Good]

Boobs always draws. And I love them by the way, they are very nice. It also shows that putting on lingere pillow fights aren't the only thing that draws ratings. The women can be used properly to get the most out of an audience. So yeah, guys like hot women. But, the women aren't being objectified, so other women could watch them and enjoy them, without thinking that they are a bunch of random bimbos.

[donners]

Because people turn off in disgust after their match, and therefore the rating cannot go any higher?

[Lancers]

Dec 14, 2008 22:05:47 GMT -5 Michael Coello said:

Dec 14, 2008 21:45:45 GMT -5 Lancers said:

Hey, it's not called TNA because they show how crayons are made.

Yeah. I totally fudged up the point I was trying to make. It wound up making zero sense. I wish I could say it was because I'm drinking, but I'm not.

Just pretend I wasn't here.

[Mozenrath]

Dec 15, 2008 0:11:13 GMT -5 Lancers said:

Dec 14, 2008 22:05:47 GMT -5 Michael Coello said:

Yeah. I totally fudged up the point I was trying to make. It wound up making zero sense. I wish I could say it was because I'm drinking, but I'm not.

Just pretend I wasn't here.

I think it's a testament to how much I'm used to people making jokes about how Steiner and Mongo talk or did commentary in that I didn't even notice what you said doesn't make sense. It just came across as perfectly reasonable.

I think it's a combo of attractive women, good wrestlers, and the fact the Knockout division has a lot less storyline to keep up with, so you can pretty much just tune in and enjoy whenever, instead of sitting through a bunch of promos and repeats. Casual fans are likely less inclined to "do the homework" so to speak, for their wrestling fix.

[chairshotshurthead]

Who exactly in the Knockouts division has been having good matches lately anyway?

I know Roxxi's pretty good and obviously the division's pretty much built around Kong, but serious question, who's been having these great matches? It just seems to me, personally, that the Knockouts division has lost a ton from losing Gail Kim.

[Professor Chaos]

Because Hemme and Velvet are hot as hell and will draw ratings. Now if we're talking Kong vs. ODB here, then I couldn't tell ya.

[jfpierce]

I know this isn't saying much, but for a Christy Hemme match, it was really good.

[Mozenrath]

Dec 15, 2008 2:03:02 GMT -5 chairshotshurthead said:

Who exactly in the Knockouts division has been having good matches lately anyway?

I know Roxxi's pretty good and obviously the division's pretty much built around Kong, but serious question, who's been having these great matches? It just seems to me, personally, that the Knockouts division has lost a ton from losing Gail Kim.

I've been wondering that, myself.

It always seems like whenever someone wants to sell me on how the Knockouts are "much better than WWE women's wrestling", they don't seem to be able to find something that shows the Beautiful People being any better than Vince's Devils was, or Wilde being any better than Mickie, Melina, or even Candace.

Don't get me wrong, I like the Knockouts, but I'm not sold on them being really that much better. It's more or less the same to me.

Too bad Mickie Knuckles is out of action, her and Roxxi doing the hardcore stuff was pretty fun.

[elmstreetkid]

Dec 14, 2008 22:49:58 GMT -5 Andrew is Good said:

Boobs always draws. And I love them by the way, they are very nice. It also shows that putting on lingere pillow fights aren't the only thing that draws ratings. The women can be used properly to get the most out of an audience. So yeah, guys like hot women. But, the women aren't being objectified, so other women could watch them and enjoy them, without thinking that they are a bunch of random bimbos.

I'd say this is closest to the truth. It's a well-marketed and booked division, and one that hits the right combination of attractive women and solid, enjoyable, competitive matches (even the NAME of the division conveys this). Also, TNA treats it in a more consistent manner than the WWE treats its women's divisions. You'll notice the only gimmick matches they do are established wrestling gimmick matches, like ladder or hardcore matches - this puts them on an equal level to the male divisions. The focus is on the wrestling, and the hotness is a bonus.

The most important factor here, I think, is that all of the established Knockouts have definite characters or gimmicks, which makes them distinct from one another and gives them their own motivations. There are always at least a couple of storylines running, which tend to actually be the most consistent and logical feuds in TNA, and a lot of that's because most of the Knockouts have well-built characters. Their personalities drive the plot, so there's something for fans to care about. It's pretty old-school wrestling booking, but it's straightforward and accessible and it works. In comparison to how overbooked the rest of TNA usually is, I'm not surprised the Knockouts division is so popular.

That being said, though, the division could use a bit of a shakeup. Gail's departure hurt, and Taylor was a bust as a champ. They need a strong face for the fans to get behind. I think they could actually make a go of it with Christy, because she's got charisma and doesn't need to carry the division - Kong and the BP can do the heavy lifting of any feud they're in - but she needs stronger wins. Not roll-ups or fluke victories. A finisher that actually hits and looks strong would be necessary.

[Mozenrath]

Dec 15, 2008 5:06:56 GMT -5 elmstreetkid said:

Dec 14, 2008 22:49:58 GMT -5 Andrew is Good said:

Boobs always draws. And I love them by the way, they are very nice. It also shows that putting on lingere pillow fights aren't the only thing that draws ratings. The women can be used properly to get the most out of an audience. So yeah, guys like hot women. But, the women aren't being objectified, so other women could watch them and enjoy them, without thinking that they are a bunch of random bimbos.

I'd say this is closest to the truth. It's a well-marketed and booked division, and one that hits the right combination of attractive women and solid, enjoyable, competitive matches (even the NAME of the division conveys this). Also, TNA treats it in a more consistent manner than the WWE treats its women's divisions. You'll notice the only gimmick matches they do are established wrestling gimmick matches, like ladder or hardcore matches - this puts them on an equal level to the male divisions. The focus is on the wrestling, and the hotness is a bonus.

The most important factor here, I think, is that all of the established Knockouts have definite characters or gimmicks, which makes them distinct from one another and gives them their own motivations. There are always at least a couple of storylines running, which tend to actually be the most consistent and logical feuds in TNA, and a lot of that's because most of the Knockouts have well-built characters. Their personalities drive the plot, so there's something for fans to care about. It's pretty old-school wrestling booking, but it's straightforward and accessible and it works. In comparison to how overbooked the rest of TNA usually is, I'm not surprised the Knockouts division is so popular.

That being said, though, the division could use a bit of a shakeup. Gail's departure hurt, and Taylor was a bust as a champ. They need a strong face for the fans to get behind. I think they could actually make a go of it with Christy, because she's got charisma and doesn't need to carry the division - Kong and the BP can do the heavy lifting of any feud they're in - but she needs stronger wins. Not roll-ups or fluke victories. A finisher that actually hits and looks strong would be necessary.

Her current finisher has a terrible name, I think. Impossible to take seriously because of it, and serious leg injuries just waiting to happen, she needs to retire that damn move.

[Cap'n Crud]

Dec 14, 2008 21:33:56 GMT -5 Mayonnaise said:

A combo of ta-tas for the casuals and good wrestling for the hardcore fans.

That's pretty much it.