Tara vs Mickie cage match: was it worth it?

[Deleted]

Yes, the match was good, probably one of the better Knockouts matches in recent memory, but between Tara's injury and what looked like a really awkward landing for Mickie James (anyone know if she seriously hurt her knee on that landing), was it setting the bar too high for what must be done in an effort to get a Knockouts match over?

[Steveweiser]

Think Mickie was a bit banged up, but she worked the next night without any problems.

We'll see in the ratings. I'm thinking a 0.1, possibly 0.2 gain, would hae been more had they held it off to next week's show.

[Trent Valentine]

Best damn match of the card.

Mickie's one tough chick to go through all that. The minute she launched off the cage I was like "holy shit man!" Kudos go to Tara as well for finishing the match with a banged up arm.

The match itself is proof enough that the women are just as bad ass as the men.

[Deleted]

Dec 10, 2010 14:08:33 GMT -5 Trent Valentine said:

The match itself is proof enough that the women are just as bad ass as the men.

No, this match proves that some women are just as bad ass as some men. It says nothing on the average collective talent level of the respective genders.

[Andrew is Good]

No. Mick Foley brought it up. Why should he risk his body for simply a .5 or so increase in a rating. If there is a ratings increase.

Before I went to bed I thought about it and it was frustrating. TNA's ratings usually go like this. Q1 does an ok rating, it either drops or sustains, then peaks at Q5. After that, the show normally takes a nosedive, with the main event normally drawing the lowest rating. So my fear, was the match and Tara's injury may've been for nothing.

I thought they did a good job in building towards it during the show, but Tara's injury shows why I hate how frequent these gimmick matches are. They mean nothing. And the wrestlers are in riskier matches where people won't care what they do. They happen so often, that it's only a matter of time before this or something worse happens.

The goal seems to pop a rating, and I think the match and the build will help it, but they probably could have done a good rating with proper build and a regular match, and hopefully decrease the chances of injury. Like when Gail Kim and Awesome Kong main evented Impact.

[Celgress]

Yes, granted it was the best Women TV Match in North America since Sarita v. Flash on Impact! during 2009. And one of the best Women TV Matches of all time, bar none imho. Still, with the injuries & setting the bar so high & all, I'll wait and see. I want to think it was worth it in the long run, but my gut say no.

[Deleted]

Dec 10, 2010 14:12:17 GMT -5 Andrew is Good said:

I thought they did a good job in building towards it during the show, but Tara's injury shows why I hate how frequent these gimmick matches are. They mean nothing. And the wrestlers are in riskier matches where people won't care what they do. They happen so often, that it's only a matter of time before this or something worse happens.

If they wanted a gimmick match that was a lot safer, a "Last (hu)Man Standing" match would have worked well. Gimmick matches don't all have to be as dangerous as a cage match or a hardcore match. Even a No DQ / No Countout stipulation allows for a heightened increase in perceived violence without a concomitant increase in danger.

[The Ichi]

If it entertained the fans and got them talking, it was worth it. Why is there such a kneejerk reaction to wrestlers doing anything risky these days? I know I know, post-Benoit, but still. Let's calm down.

[Beast Army Ass]

I'd say it was worth it provided they do something with it. You put out a damn good women's match, now build from it.

[Deleted]

Worth what? Entertaining the current fanbase? Sure - I guess. I think they would have been just as entertained with a less dangerous match.

Will it draw in any new fans? I'd bet my screen name that it won't. So in that respect - I'd say "no."

Props to TNA for giving the KO's the main event spot - a feat not seen since Kong vs Kim.

Though - I think TNA vastly over estimates the appeal and star power of Tara and Mickie.

[sunnytaker]

Dec 10, 2010 15:39:20 GMT -5 @personman01 said:

.

Though - I think TNA vastly over estimates the appeal and star power of Tara and Mickie.

another theory could be that they're sick of seeing the knockouts get the better ratings, noticed the downward spiral of the ratings in the second hour (usually) so figured they'd toss a KO match for the main event and hope the downwards trend continues so they can say "see we told you the knockouts were a waste"

[Deleted]

Dec 10, 2010 16:51:48 GMT -5 sunnytaker said:

another theory could be that they're sick of seeing the knockouts get the better ratings...

It has been pretty clearly established that the Knockouts "don't get the better ratings", the 5th Quarter Hour gets the better ratings -- when the Knockouts are in that segment, they get among the highest ratings; outside that, they do not.

[MrBRulzOK]

Well let's see.

It was put on the show with an hour's build at best.

Tara apparently injured herself somehow during the course of the match

I'd have to say no.

[sunnytaker]

Dec 10, 2010 17:04:22 GMT -5 @meanstreetposse said:

Dec 10, 2010 16:51:48 GMT -5 sunnytaker said:

another theory could be that they're sick of seeing the knockouts get the better ratings...

It has been pretty clearly established that the Knockouts "don't get the better ratings", the 5th Quarter Hour gets the better ratings -- when the Knockouts are in that segment, they get among the highest ratings; outside that, they do not.

you know that, i know that but does TNA know that?

[Bram wants to 'urt you]

Dec 10, 2010 15:39:20 GMT -5 @personman01 said:

Worth what? Entertaining the current fanbase? Sure - I guess. I think they would have been just as entertained with a less dangerous match.

I think this sums it up. If you're going to have a match of this type, you really need to promote it for a period in order to draw as many viewers as possible. Building it up at the start of the same show it's going to take place on really isn't good enough.

They had the chance to bring in a lot of casual, curious fans with something like this, and they failed to capitalise on that.

[lildude8218]

If you take out the big spot, hell you could take the match out completely, and the outcome is still going to be exactly the same. Mickie James defeating Madison Rayne for the Knockouts Title. does A or B really have an effect on C?

[Kevin Hamilton]

For a non ppv match, they went way too risky in my view. Yeah the spot looked cool, but for what?

[clashofchampains]

I don't know why TNA is so obsessed to turn their female wrestlers into vulgar, brawling freaks. Putting them in a cage was another step to put the idea in the forefront. What I saw in the match with Tara and Mickie was two girls that were just not ready for a cage match. They almost killed themselves with those jumps.

[dreamer75]

That match, while good, shouldn't have been on free tv, that should have been on ppv

[Big L]

I'd say it was worth it