Who would YOU sign?

[Sephiroth]

So with the talk of TNA's impending "hard reboot" and how they are looking for more talent to sign (though noteworthy that they do not explain where the money to sign them will come from!), I figure we shoujd take this moment to consider who could possibly contribute to TNA's product and help lift them out of the hole they are in.

For my part, I have one particular name in mind: Kana. Granted, she may be out of TNA's price range and there is the ever present matter of her living and working primarily in another country. But still, she is one if the most prominent and decorated independent female talents out there right now, and if TNA were looking to revamp the KO division her name woukd definitely be one I'd have on the list.

Any other suggestions?

[OVO 40 hunched over like he 80]

Adam f***ing Cole

[Reflecto]

Rather than TNA making new signings to exclusive deals, TNA would be better served for money/more opportunities to enter working agreements with promotions as a whole to get more talent. A working agreement with promotions like WWN (between their new deal throughout China/mainland Asia and the fact that it has a few promotions local to Florida, there's two big benefits for TNA) or CHIKARA (TNA nearly got a working agreement with them, and large amounts of cheap, wanted performers) would do far more for TNA's talent and image than just signing one or two talents.

[JTG Fan]

Dario Cueto

[Crusty Ruffles]

Dec 4, 2014 20:49:05 GMT -5 Sephiroth said:

For my part, I have one particular name in mind: Kana.

I absolutely love Kana and would love to see her get more exposure in the US, but there is no way she would even entertain that. If it was possible to have negative interest, that'd be it.

There are two people I'd sign: Jimmy Jacobs and Johnny Gargano. Jimmy Jacobs would be a great hand to have. He can be a demented heel and a believable babyface. Good in the ring, a great promo, and a good teacher if you'll be turning over the roster with younger talent. Gargano is a guy I could see built up as the young, new babyface and a top guy. The ultimate good guy you want to cheer for.

[Can you afford to pay me, Gah]

I'm seconding Adam Cole or at less someone at that level. Get a young top indies guy and make him you home grown star much like AJ was. I feel TNA needs to step away from the former WWE guys and create a fresh MEer. I would love too see Cole vs. Roode myself.

[Sephiroth]

Dec 4, 2014 23:11:25 GMT -5 Crusty Ruffles said:

Dec 4, 2014 20:49:05 GMT -5 Sephiroth said:

For my part, I have one particular name in mind: Kana.

I absolutely love Kana and would love to see her get more exposure in the US, but there is no way she would even entertain that. If it was possible to have negative interest, that'd be it.

There are two people I'd sign: Jimmy Jacobs and Johnny Gargano. Jimmy Jacobs would be a great hand to have. He can be a demented heel and a believable babyface. Good in the ring, a great promo, and a good teacher if you'll be turning over the roster with younger talent. Gargano is a guy I could see built up as the young, new babyface and a top guy. The ultimate good guy you want to cheer for.

Not sure. From Kana's perspective, TNA might be a good way to increase her visibility, and hence, her asking price in the US, and since they generally tape in advance it might be easier to work out with her schedule, since she does perform for Shimmer now and then, i.e. she could arrange to go work tape for Shimmer for a couple weeks, then go tape for TNA for a couple more and then go home. And since WWE has apparently shown no interest, TNA would be the only other ride in own. But as I said, given her status, her asking price might be outside TNA's ability to do.

[CATCH_US IS the Conversation]

Roderick Strong.

[Mayonnaise]

Dec 4, 2014 22:38:38 GMT -5 OVO 40 hunched over like he 80 said:

Adam f***ing Cole

God I hope not, he has far too bright a future to end up in TNA. Yeah, I know how "bad" that sounds but he doesn't need TNA on him.

I think the guys like Jimmy Jacobs, Roddy Strong, Johnny Gargano, the Briscoes, AR Fox, Eddie Kingston, and Chris Hero (if healthy), the ones who either won't make it to WWE or didn't make it once they got there (see ECIII) and international guys that can come in the few days TNA tapes are who I'd go after. Do not try to have a WWE style product, go for something different. Make your focus on the ring stuff and not the storyline stuff. Storyline can be there for fluff but every thing you do needs to start and end in the ring. We don't need to see people going on dates, ending up at dying carnivals (though I do love me some Crazzy Steve), or sitting around in catering trying to get a date with the new guy. 

[CATCH_US IS the Conversation]

Dec 4, 2014 22:41:43 GMT -5 Reflecto said:

Rather than TNA making new signings to exclusive deals, TNA would be better served for money/more opportunities to enter working agreements with promotions as a whole to get more talent. A working agreement with promotions like WWN (between their new deal throughout China/mainland Asia and the fact that it has a few promotions local to Florida, there's two big benefits for TNA) or CHIKARA (TNA nearly got a working agreement with them, and large amounts of cheap, wanted performers) would do far more for TNA's talent and image than just signing one or two talents.

I think if they do "working agreements" it should be with smaller, less known promotions. It would be nice for TNA to work with WWN and CHIKARA, but using those talents should be a bigger deal saved for a "supercard" type of show rather than a regular occurrence.

[Reflecto]

Dec 5, 2014 1:13:13 GMT -5 CATCH_US IS the Conversation said:

Dec 4, 2014 22:41:43 GMT -5 Reflecto said:

Rather than TNA making new signings to exclusive deals, TNA would be better served for money/more opportunities to enter working agreements with promotions as a whole to get more talent. A working agreement with promotions like WWN (between their new deal throughout China/mainland Asia and the fact that it has a few promotions local to Florida, there's two big benefits for TNA) or CHIKARA (TNA nearly got a working agreement with them, and large amounts of cheap, wanted performers) would do far more for TNA's talent and image than just signing one or two talents.

I think if they do "working agreements" it should be with smaller, less known promotions. It would be nice for TNA to work with WWN and CHIKARA, but using those talents should be a bigger deal saved for a "supercard" type of show rather than a regular occurrence.

It would be better, but the problem is that we've seen from how the OVW developmental deal failed, if a TNA is going to do a working arrangement with smaller, less-known promotions, it'll inevitably fail miserably- all TNA got in the end was a place to store wrestlers they had no plans for and maybe some GutCheck fodder every now and then. Any other smaller promotion TNA works with would invariably end up as a working arrangement similar to OVW.

If TNA is going to do working agreements, what they'd need to get is things where the other company would genuinely compliment TNA and help expand their brand- and that means they'd either need a great roster of talent TNA wouldn't have a prayer of signing to an exclusive deal alone, OR, if it is a smaller promotion, a promotion that has such a handhold in its region that it would help TNA promote their house shows. There's almost no promotions who can give TNA the latter, so they have to deal with the former.

[Professor Chaos]

Alysin Kay

[CATCH_US IS the Conversation]

A mix of Indy names, some WWE alumni, a small handful of ECW guys (the ones who can legitimately still "go").

Brian Myers
Drew Galloway
Carlito
Chris Masters
Trent?
Roderick Strong
Jimmy Jacobs
Johnny Gargano
Chuck Taylor
RD Evans
Stevie Richards
Rhino
Tommy Dreamer
Tony Nese
Yours Truly Alex Reynolds
Trevor Lee
AR Fox.
Colt Cabana

[A Platypus Rave]

Personally I'd focus on using the people we already had correctly before worrying about signing new people.

[Sephiroth]

Dec 5, 2014 1:13:13 GMT -5 CATCH_US IS the Conversation said:

Dec 4, 2014 22:41:43 GMT -5 Reflecto said:

Rather than TNA making new signings to exclusive deals, TNA would be better served for money/more opportunities to enter working agreements with promotions as a whole to get more talent. A working agreement with promotions like WWN (between their new deal throughout China/mainland Asia and the fact that it has a few promotions local to Florida, there's two big benefits for TNA) or CHIKARA (TNA nearly got a working agreement with them, and large amounts of cheap, wanted performers) would do far more for TNA's talent and image than just signing one or two talents.

I think if they do "working agreements" it should be with smaller, less known promotions. It would be nice for TNA to work with WWN and CHIKARA, but using those talents should be a bigger deal saved for a "supercard" type of show rather than a regular occurrence.

Said before that I could totally picture Ophidian and Shark Boy as a tag team. I don't know why, but I just could.