Could TNA Become THE Wrestling Company of Europe if Sold?

[KAMALARAMBO: BOOMSHAKALAKA!!!]

In the hands of the right owners of course. Now I know the idea of just moving the company has been torn apart by many for a variety of reasons. But what about a reboot that would also involve a European company that was already hot?

Say a company like Preston City Wrestling in the UK or WXW in Germany bought the rights to TNA (since expectations are they'd be dirt cheap without Spike anyway). That company could then rebrand themselves as TNA and perhaps bring over some cheaper stars/hire some bigger stars for a few appearances to ease the transition. MVP actually got injured at a Preston show so it's not like it's impossible for companies like that to get some of TNA's stars.

A dream scenario for me at the moment that would probably never work for a multitude of reasons would be if 2 or more bigger European companies pooled their resources together and bought the TNA name. They then use the TNA name and their existing momentum as top European promotions to rebrand themselves as THE wrestling company of Europe. With guys like Big Daddy Walter, the Sumerian Death Squad, Noam Dar, Bubblegum, etc. all under the same banner plus some lower tier TNA guys like Rockstar Spud, Kenny King and Tigre Uno plus some occasional appearances by guys like Austin Aries, MVP maybe even Kurt Angle...this would be a hell of a European promotion.

[Pillman's Pencil]

They would lose a heck of a lot of talent due to not wanting to move, but it would be a good chance to find some investors overseas, they have nothing to lose now if they don't get a new deal, Europe is a very different mindset (they tend to follow wrestlers instead of companies) when it comes this sort of thing.

[Johnny]

I have a feeling the talent pool in Europe would not be up to it. The best workers are in North America or Japan.

[KAMALARAMBO: BOOMSHAKALAKA!!!]

Jul 28, 2014 17:42:42 GMT -5 Johnny said:

I have a feeling the talent pool in Europe would not be up to it. The best workers are in North America or Japan.

Europe actually has some damn fine workers. Like the Sumerian Death Squad team I mentioned. They've traveled to Japan and the United States in addition to working Europe. One of the best teams in the world barr none right now IMHO. A Europe based TNA with 20-25 core workers would be fine and Europe has a hell of a lot more than 20-25 great workers.

[Deleted]

Why pay money for the TNA branding that needs to be "repaired" in the minds of consumers, when you can just market the wrestling company you have for free? The TNA name and brand isn't really worth anything.

[Johnny]

Jul 28, 2014 18:00:31 GMT -5 KAMALARAMBO: BOOMSHAKALAKA!!! said:

Jul 28, 2014 17:42:42 GMT -5 Johnny said:

I have a feeling the talent pool in Europe would not be up to it. The best workers are in North America or Japan.

Europe actually has some damn fine workers. Like the Sumerian Death Squad team I mentioned. They've traveled to Japan and the United States in addition to working Europe. One of the best teams in the world barr none right now IMHO. A Europe based TNA with 20-25 core workers would be fine and Europe has a hell of a lot more than 20-25 great workers.

Fair enough. I disagree based on the fact that no promotion has gained even the slightest bit of traction over here.

[Pillman's Pencil]

Don't think the aim is to try and crack the states, its just a places to come and work basically and build talent.

[kidglov3s]

It seems like Europe has replaced On The Road, in terms of what is proposed as the solution to TNA's problems.

[KAMALARAMBO: BOOMSHAKALAKA!!!]

Jul 28, 2014 18:22:45 GMT -5 kidglov3s said:

It seems like Europe has replaced On The Road, in terms of what is proposed as the solution to TNA's problems.

I'm not really mentioning it as a fix and certainly not as a quick fix. In the senarios I'm mentioning TNA would have to completely reboot themselves and replace their entire roster (or close to it).

In my scenarios I think perhaps the one thing that stops it more than anything is it not being worth all the trouble just to get the TNA name, tape library, etc. I'd just really like to see there be a sizable mega promotion in Europe that represents the continent. The closest thing they have that I can think of is the Union Of European Wrestling Alliances, but how many non-European people other than me on here even know what that is?

[Push R Truth]

Jul 28, 2014 18:01:56 GMT -5 @therealoblivion said:

Why pay money for the TNA branding that needs to be "repaired" in the minds of consumers, when you can just market the wrestling company you have for free? The TNA name and brand isn't really worth anything.

That's part of what I've been thinking.

Paying for the TNA brand is like paying for a kick in the nuts and the chance to start a footrace 100 meters behind the starting line.

Sure, pay for the tapes and maybe some contracts, but everything brand related has negative value.

[4TheGlory]

It was always a sight for sore eyes when TNA would actually have a big sold out arena of interested fans to preform in front of. but like it has been said many times, the novelly will ware off and they would end up killing that market if they taped shows there on a bi-weekly basis

[________ has left the building]

If TNA made the move to being a European exclusive, they would lose that novelty they currently have and be forced to compete with other regional promotions. 98% of the roster is gone so they would have to depend on local talent which they will have to share or contend with other companies for. Then will they be able to have the funds to be anything other than an indy? Will Panda still give money? Doubtful especially if they left the States. Those overseas tv contracts paid for a big production show. They don't want minor league. So the idea of TNA becoming the wrestling leader in Europe is a pipe dream.

But I do see Borash trying to start an wrestling company up in the UK. He had a hand in helping run Extreme Reunion, that short lived Australian company with the former WCW, ECW, WWF folks & Nathan Jones, and set up TNA talents for 1PW shows.

[Pillman's Pencil]

They could do a slight New Japan format, do 1 or 2 big shows or something in a big arena every year (like New Years Eve or something), keeps the novelty and in the case of New Japan, run smaller shows across the country with at smaller venues with the odd title defence to keep the word as well, and ditch the exclusive contracts so it'll be seen more as a big pay day than guaranteed money, Borash and to a lesser extent Alex Shane have pretty powerful contacts in the UK to do something like that. They have to find a way to honour that Challenge contract they recently signed so anything is possible.

[Deleted]

I hope not.

[Ryushinku]

It could possibly be done, but they'd have to fundamentally change so much (roster, production, advertising, financial structuring, organisation, dates and so on and so forth) that they wouldn't really be TNA anymore.

And by that point, you might as well just pack it all in and go back to square one as a start-up. Because you're not going to gain sufficiently enough from the TNA name to make it worthwhile.

And if they tried just moving everything across wholesale and operating the same way, Jesus, that'd be a disaster and with HUGE up-front costs to consider. They can't go over on a tour and decide to stay in the country.

[Ken: The Hero of WWE]

I think if things truly did go south with Spike TV, TNA should become a European company. They still have TV deals over there and can most-likely sell out arenas over there.

[bluemeii]

To answer a question with a question, it's just why would you do that?

With the loss of talent that would more than likely happen (Angle, Hardy, most of your marketable names) due to money or not wanting to relocate, you'd could be left with main event matches consisting of...idk, Bram vs. DJ Z?

If you were an investor looking to get into wrestling, would you be wanting to invest in what would actually come over? Now if you could convince all the budget cutter victims of the past few years to come back....yeah that might be something worth doing. The non "just for NYC tapings roster and storyline" guys? Again I ask the question, why? You'd basically be investing in an even more stripped down version of the show that they have now.

Like was said by someone in another thread, in Europe they follow more the wrestler than just where they work. Is the TNA brand enough to change that mindset without the marketable names? I really doubt it.

[KAMALARAMBO: BOOMSHAKALAKA!!!]

Jul 29, 2014 11:26:03 GMT -5 bluemeii said:

you'd could be left with main event matches consisting of...idk, Bram vs. DJ Z?

A main event anywhere in the country [/monsoon]

Hey, if it was a country representing all of Europe depending on the country this statement might even be accurate!

[The Dark Order Inferno]

It would be an interesting experiment, TNA would become something more like an old school territory or Japan. Due to the issues getting guys to resettle in Europe, it would have a roster of European TNA guys who work for the company full time, which is supplemented by outside guys on short term tours to put over guys who're there for the long haul either by working with, or feuding with them.

The big problem is that I'm not sure that audiences in other European nations will go for it the way the UK have, they'd have to find a broadcast partner in two further major markets, Germany and Spain to work as a proper European promotion.

[The Trashman]

I think they already have wrestling in Europe.