Banecat
Don Corleone
Speak of the devil and he shall appear
Posts: 1,455
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Post by Banecat on Aug 5, 2013 16:05:36 GMT -5
Bring back The Beautiful People. This was the best stable in the past decade (with Lay-Cool and Fourtune in close seconds) hands down. TBP should have been the ones taking over TNA not Immortal, A&8s or whatever. No dude. This is my opinion. Thanks for judging me as a troll though.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2013 16:14:53 GMT -5
1) Make story arcs less about delay tactics and BIG ANNOUNCEMENTS (which inevitably disappoint) and make sure they don't surpass 6 months.
2) Be consistent with character motivation. Something which all of wrestling lacks really, not just TNA, but given the above point its more obvious within the TNA shows.
3) Stop bringing new guys in/releasing them soon after when there are 25 other guys who haven't been on TV in 6 months. Make the most of the staff you have before branching out.
That's it, more consistency, more focus on the writing, less shock new-guys.
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Post by wallabylikeyou on Aug 5, 2013 16:30:04 GMT -5
I wouldn't be as hugely versed in TNA as others but from what I've seen they spend too much time trying to be like others, either current WWE or what worked before with WCW. They should follow those promotions ambitions but not everything else. Emphasise the aspects of wrestling that WWE doesn't, ie a bigger focus on tag wrestling, the X-Division and the women's division. Someone mentioned more diversity earlier. Beat WWE to the punch of having an African American have their biggest championship (of the current lineage) and make it a big deal. Or the first Asian. Make it look like a unique show, in terms of production values. Spend money on promotion not on big names from the past. Just try and have ideas that haven't been done before in wrestling, I know sometimes that'll blow up in your face but a lot of cool stuff TNA has had, from the six-sided ring to the Ultimate X match to the Bound For Glory series are all things you don't see in WWE.
Also, as always, you should win things by watching.
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Post by HMARK Center on Aug 5, 2013 17:09:20 GMT -5
I keep seeing "stop trying to be WWE 2.0", but for all the issues TNA might have, I really don't think being just like WWE is one of them...mainly because I find them to be very distinct wrestling promotions. Maybe that trend was in place when it felt like TNA was bringing in anybody who had achieved even a slight modicum of fame in the WWF/WWE, but those days are really fading. Out of their roster of 40-50 performers they only have I believe 15 ex WWE performers leaving the majority to be talent they've built from the indies or "TNA guys" so yes, The stigma of them being "WWE lite" should be fading. Well, the "WWE Lite" argument can come in two forms: either hiring too many ex-WWE names (not really counting guys like, say, Knux or Trent Baretta or whomever here because those guys never reached a really sustained high level in WWE), or in booking/presenting their shows in such a manner that it feels too much like WWE. Again though, even on that second count, I don't really see the argument so much; I feel both shows and their booking styles are pretty distinct, to be honest.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2013 17:12:47 GMT -5
I had this idea while watching the rise and fall of ECW DVD the other day. Why not have ROH invade similar to ECW invading the WWF in the 90s. TNA gets its invasion angle they love. A lot of great talent would come in to set up some dream matches. And you would get a good amount of press. It would help both companies grow most likely.
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SOR
Unicron
Posts: 2,611
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Post by SOR on Aug 5, 2013 17:22:21 GMT -5
I had this idea while watching the rise and fall of ECW DVD the other day. Why not have ROH invade similar to ECW invading the WWF in the 90s. TNA gets its invasion angle they love. A lot of great talent would come in to set up some dream matches. And you would get a good amount of press. It would help both companies grow most likely. Maybe 6-7 years ago. ROH doesn't have a lot of great mainstream talent on it's roster currently though.
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Post by The Masked Heel WAS WRONG on Aug 5, 2013 18:09:36 GMT -5
Get rid of:
Hogan Sting Angle G. Bischoff Brisco Sky Hemme Taz Abyss/Park
Try to go after:
Morrison MVP Benjamin Luke Gallows Portia Perez Nicole Matthews Cheerleader Melissa Courtney Rush
1. None of the big name guys really move the needle for the company, so why keep them and their bloated contracts? Let Sting and Angle finish their HOF careers in the WWE.
2. I'd keep Hardy as special attraction. You don't need him in main event feuds. Keep him around and not demand much out of him besides doing fan fest things and the occasional house show.
3. Velvet isn't really worth keeping around, she isn't very good and thus easily replaceable. I picked 4 talented women from the indies that could make a good division along with Mickie, Gail, ODB, Tayrn, and Tess. I'd make a heel Canada stable with Gail, Matthews, and Perez and feud with ODB, Mickie, and Melissa.
4. Bring in Raven as a booker and commentator.
5. Get rid of the One Night Only PPVs
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2013 18:59:33 GMT -5
I had this idea while watching the rise and fall of ECW DVD the other day. Why not have ROH invade similar to ECW invading the WWF in the 90s. TNA gets its invasion angle they love. A lot of great talent would come in to set up some dream matches. And you would get a good amount of press. It would help both companies grow most likely. Maybe 6-7 years ago. ROH doesn't have a lot of great mainstream talent on it's roster currently though. 6-7 years ago you could say the same thing though right? Because 6-7 years ago the guys we know now were unknown. You have to find them first. Now I did not watch WWF/ECW or wrestling at the time but outside of a small fraction of fans ECW was not well known either when Vince brought them in for the invasion they did. It gave ECW a lot of exposure and brought the guys like Taz, Dreamer, Sabu, etc to the mainstream. That is the key. You could make guys like Elgin, Cole, Steen, ACH, etc before WWE has a chance to scoop them up. Its a win win. Expose ROH, and give TNA many dream matches. Cole vs Styles, Elgin vs Angle, Steen vs Roode, ACH vs Aries, and so many others. Ya they are a not mainstream guys now. But the proscess would make them. Somthing wrestling is always trying to find new ways to do. Make new stars.
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SOR
Unicron
Posts: 2,611
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Post by SOR on Aug 5, 2013 19:13:48 GMT -5
Maybe 6-7 years ago. ROH doesn't have a lot of great mainstream talent on it's roster currently though. 6-7 years ago you could say the same thing though right? Because 6-7 years ago the guys we know now were unknown. You have to find them first. Now I did not watch WWF/ECW or wrestling at the time but outside of a small fraction of fans ECW was not well known either when Vince brought them in for the invasion they did. It gave ECW a lot of exposure and brought the guys like Taz, Dreamer, Sabu, etc to the mainstream. That is the key. You could make guys like Elgin, Cole, Steen, ACH, etc before WWE has a chance to scoop them up. Its a win win. Expose ROH, and give TNA many dream matches. Cole vs Styles, Elgin vs Angle, Steen vs Roode, ACH vs Aries, and so many others. Ya they are a not mainstream guys now. But the proscess would make them. Somthing wrestling is always trying to find new ways to do. Make new stars. You at least had guys with potential back then though. There is only 3-4 guys in ROH who I could see ever getting out of ROH.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2013 19:26:43 GMT -5
I am not going to go through the ROH roster and tell you which guys I see potential but I will say its higher than 4. I guess that is just a matter of opinion.
I will say this though. if it is just 3-4 guys like you say, does that not make it more worth while? Grab the 3-4 guys (or more) that have the most potential before WWE. Do an entire ROH invasion. It would bring attention to both companies. Great matches would happen. And would probably make more wrestling fans happy then bringing in a washed up UFC fighter.
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SOR
Unicron
Posts: 2,611
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Post by SOR on Aug 5, 2013 19:32:22 GMT -5
I am not going to go through the ROH roster and tell you which guys I see potential but I will say its higher than 4. I guess that is just a matter of opinion. I will say this though. if it is just 3-4 guys like you say, does that not make it more worth while? Grab the 3-4 guys (or more) that have the most potential before WWE. Do an entire ROH invasion. It would bring attention to both companies. Great matches would happen. And would probably make more wrestling fans happy then bringing in a washed up UFC fighter. Because it's a very Internet based idea. It'd work better the other way around to be honest with guys like AJ, Aries, Daniels, Kaz going to ROH as heels. If ROH invades TNA though you're turning off the casual fans (Like ECW did to an extent) TNA also doesn't have that much to gain.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2013 19:43:11 GMT -5
I am not going to go through the ROH roster and tell you which guys I see potential but I will say its higher than 4. I guess that is just a matter of opinion. I will say this though. if it is just 3-4 guys like you say, does that not make it more worth while? Grab the 3-4 guys (or more) that have the most potential before WWE. Do an entire ROH invasion. It would bring attention to both companies. Great matches would happen. And would probably make more wrestling fans happy then bringing in a washed up UFC fighter. Because it's a very Internet based idea. It'd work better the other way around to be honest with guys like AJ, Aries, Daniels, Kaz going to ROH as heels. If ROH invades TNA though you're turning off the casual fans (Like ECW did to an extent) TNA also doesn't have that much to gain. Why would it help TNA to send guys to ROH? That would help ROH get more exposure and not help TNA much. I am trying to help both. Ya its internet. But its only a small fraction. I am talking about an invasion angle. Something TNA and wrestling to an extent love. 4 ROH guys would come from ROH as invaders. Unknowns, it would make people want to know who these guys are. Especially if they put on great matches. This would lead them to ROH and would bring more great matches on TNA television, Something that casuals would like. It might bring back fans TNA might have lost if they here of a different promotion invading. Both would gain a lot
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Post by HMARK Center on Aug 5, 2013 19:52:39 GMT -5
I had this idea while watching the rise and fall of ECW DVD the other day. Why not have ROH invade similar to ECW invading the WWF in the 90s. TNA gets its invasion angle they love. A lot of great talent would come in to set up some dream matches. And you would get a good amount of press. It would help both companies grow most likely. I remember really wanting to see that a few years ago, and throwing a few fantasy booking ideas around in my head. Just imagine the heat it'd draw if they did the same "lights out" moment from ECW when Lawler appeared...but instead the lights came back on and Jeff Jarrett appeared and hit somebody like one of the Briscoes with a guitar shot. ROH fans, particularly a few years back, would've been near riot levels. Could've meant a batch of dream matches, of some indy guys getting better exposure, and some fun "which side is he on?" drama with guys who were in both companies. Hell, especially at that time the huge drama would've been with Samoa Joe, fresh off of being ROH's greatest champion but also fresh off of dominating TNA. Plus, it could've given the world a Kurt Angle vs. Bryan Danielson match, and I don't think anybody would've minded that. Or Abyss showing up at various ROH shows as "TNA's enforcer" or whatever. I'm not sure how you'd do it today, and maybe TNA wouldn't feel they stand to gain enough from it, but it's a worthwhile thought experiment.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2013 19:58:11 GMT -5
The lack of non-TV YouTube programming is highly disappointing for a smaller company.
They should have at least three or four YouTube-only shows that feature wrestlers backstage or in their home lives.
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Reflecto
Hank Scorpio
The Sorceress' Knight
Posts: 6,847
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Post by Reflecto on Aug 5, 2013 20:22:19 GMT -5
Additional ones:
1- With the smaller arenas: Drop all the PPV pricetags to the One Night Only PPVs. Bischoff once said in his book his theory in WCW was they could be BETTER than WWE, WORSE than WWE, or DIFFERENT than WWE. Right now, TNA's not at a point where they can be much different or better than WWE. The only issue is Bischoff never noticed the fourth option: TNA can be CHEAPER than WWE. Right now, especially with WWE's weakness of high PPV prices, TNA positioning itself as the discount alternative to WWE programming would probably lead to some more success from people who would pay for Pay-Per-Views, but can't afford WWE prices.
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Toxik916
Hank Scorpio
Sacramento Proud
Posts: 6,207
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Post by Toxik916 on Aug 5, 2013 23:41:58 GMT -5
Step 1. Close down the promotion. Step 2. Start completely from scratch and name the new promotion something else. Step 3. ? Step 4. Profit.
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Futureraven: Beelzebruv
Bill S. Preston, Esq.
The Ultimate Arbiter of Right And Wrong
Spent half my life here, God help me
Posts: 15,085
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Post by Futureraven: Beelzebruv on Aug 6, 2013 1:45:54 GMT -5
I keep seeing "stop trying to be WWE 2.0", but for all the issues TNA might have, I really don't think being just like WWE is one of them...mainly because I find them to be very distinct wrestling promotions. Maybe that trend was in place when it felt like TNA was bringing in anybody who had achieved even a slight modicum of fame in the WWF/WWE, but those days are really fading. Out of their roster of 40-50 performers they only have I believe 15 ex WWE performers leaving the majority to be talent they've built from the indies or "TNA guys" so yes, The stigma of them being "WWE lite" should be fading. It should be, for instance, there's only one ex-WWE guy in this year's Bound For Glory series, and Chris Sabin's the champion. It's a matter of perception. The ones they hire are big names, so they get a lot of focus, so people see that and make the assumptio n things are like they used to be. They need a PR person to work out marketing their own stars to counteract this, so it's not 'ex-WWE stars and a bunch of scrubs' it's more 'TNA's amazing roster with some of the elite stars you know' in people's minds.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2013 4:43:41 GMT -5
Ok I'll try
Step 1: Dixie Cater. I am coming in with a 5 year plan, not a one year. Dixie needs to understand that and support me as ratings might drop a bit during the rebuild. I need to have final say on who joins the company and who leaves, also I want the last word on who has a title. So Dixie will have to sucede into the back ground and let me run things.
She wont. But lets say she did.
Step 2: Hulk Hogan. I would be on his bad side about 2 seconds in. Brooke is the first one fired you see. Also every booker, promoter and backstage staff who is a Hogan suck up is gone. Everyone follows me and me alone. Hogan is restricted to 2 apperences on Impact a year to announce big matches or new signings. He will be used as people have already said to promote TNA on TV and Radio. He will have a list of guys from me, who I want him to gush over. Once a year, I will let him rant about me or any wrestler he wants, excluding anyone with a title.
I would have zero chance. Hogans charisma would sway Dixie every time and he would bury any idea I have. But lets say he looses...for once.
Step 3: Eric Bishoff. I admit it, I want to fire him. He had great ideas in 1995, but by 1999 he was on empty. So he would loose any position on creative he has. He does have quite a few good hollywood connections that could really help getting TNA's top talent some main stream exposure. He could even set up a TNA reality show, or at least have a wrestler appear on a show, or at least have the characters go to a TNA event. Let him do a reality show with Hogan, might shut both of them up.
This might work, as it would still keep Eric in a great position. And help keep Hogan from undermining me...maybe a little.
Step 4: MMA. I would happily give them a 5 - 10 minute segment on Impact, where they can talk about who and whatever they want....as long as I get 10 minutes on their show to talk TNA. They would just be interviewed by Jeremy Borash or someone new I brought in. They would never interact with wrestlers.
This might work out really well, depending on MMA attitude..or it could just be a waste of time, as wrestling fans who want to see MMA already do and vice versa.
Step 5: The Announce team. Taz is gone. Ill bring in someone new to replace him. Tenay will be told to name holds again and emphasize the skill involved in the matches, he will also cover botches like Heenan did ("He didn't get all of that or he wriggled out in time"). They will also be telling the stories during the matches, but focusing on that match and story, not other matches.
This would help TNA a lot really, as it would make them different to the WWE.
Step 6: Development. How many wrestlers are they producing that I can actually use? Can the kids actually wrestle? Can they talk? I would sadly have to say that OVW is not the way forward. So I would look to recruit from several wrestling schools. Better if I can get a minor stake in the schools as well. The focus has to be the standard of new young wrestlers. I need some fresh talent and I will need it fast.
With that in place we can look for future stars, instead of hoping people still like Sting 10 years from now.
Step 7: Creative. I want 3 new ideas for everyone on the roster. Anyone who cant provide that or suggest a faction is gone. Di Lo Brown said once "There are no new ideas left in wrestling" I would have fired him, 3 seconds later. Clean out the dead weight and reward the better ideas. Teh focus has to be on getting people over while not hurting the others, a Bret Hart/Steve Austin situation is what I am looking for, both guys getting over. I would actually hire Vince Russo, but as a free lance writer would would give me ideas for my creative team to build on. Russo could stay home and would be paid well, so we wouldn't get his insane crap.
This fixes TNA's biggest problem. Stupid stories and gimmicks. A few years of solid wrestling and stories will gain loads of new fans, especially WWE fans who will want to watch wrestling, not stupid backstage crap and boring promos.
Step 8: The roster. It has to be performance based, who is a draw, who isn't. Who is selling merchandice, who is getting cheers. AJ Styles and Chris Daniels are not the way forward. They are not over and don't draw. But they are popular and talented, so use them to get the younger guys over.
I can actually create a few stars this way, yes I will most likely loose the best to WWE, but I will still be on the right track.
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Post by Bram wants to 'urt you on Aug 9, 2013 5:00:55 GMT -5
Right (rubs hands together) here goes (And I know I've missed a few people out already). Sabin retains in the cage. Aces and 8's gets disbanded and fired. Devon and Bully crawl to Hogan - we're 24 time tag team champs, you need us. Hogan complies. Tag team division - base it around GunStorm, BroMans, Roode Influence, LAX (bring back Homicide), team 3D and (if you must keep them around) Bischoff/Wes as the jobber team. You can build a year's worth of great feuds around that core. Main Event/WHC - Sabin, Aries, Hardy, MEM, Roode (with his Influence), AJ. You can build a year's worth of great feuds around that core. KO's - Gail, Taryn, ODB, Tess, TBP (Bring back Angelina and keep the group as a team). That's a solid, if small, enough core for the women, for now. X-division - Manik, Greg Mariwotsit, Sonjay, Petey, King. Wouldn't be a stretch to put Hardy in there. Have Daniels/Kaz taunt Roode about them both being former X champs and you could even put Roode in the mix. And sack the "all matches are 3-way" stip - a 3 way dance should be a special attraction, not a hard and fast rule. Use the TV title as it was intended - have it regularly defended ON IMPACT - this gives any random guys with nothing else to do something to focus on - Abyss, Jay Bradley, Anderson, Chavo (altho he may better serve the X division). The heart of all stories is the Champ, his #1 contender, and whoever is chomping at the heels of the #1 guy, waiting for their chance in the spotlight. Hogan's role is simply as the guy people go to in order to get matches made. Have him be the law, but fair and just. Hogan's at a position where he doesn't need to be face or heel anymore, his appearance on a show will get a pop just by being there. Thing is, TNA could make this happen VERY quickly. All of the elements are in place already, they don't need to do more than tweak things around. Keep the BFG series as a potential to shake things up (Bully could renew his interest in the WHC by going into the series - you don't have to split up any tag teams just because one or both members are in the series). Finally - Bring back Feast or Fired, simply as another way to shake things up without things appearing contrived, but use it sparingly - once a year is plenty.
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Post by HMARK Center on Aug 9, 2013 10:40:28 GMT -5
I guess I haven't really put forward a lot of ideas here, but I'll give this a shot:
First off, I'm going to work off the framework that's already in place: I have to assume that TNA will still be touring, and that they're currently altering their approach to roster building to make touring economically feasible.
I'd stick with the initial plan of what they're doing: have a clear stable of guys who are your top names, or are at least guys who fill an important role on the show: guys like AJ, Bully, Roode, Joe, Aries, etc. as your top names, with other guys like Manik around as midcard guys who could be elevated, and even guys like the "Bro Mans" around as comedy jobbers. Don't let the roster get huge, but make this your stable of faces that the crowd will connect with the most.
However, they're going to need more than that to really put on a more complete show, and this is where I think they should take advantage and do something that's clearly different from WWE: bring in outside talent regularly, rotate midcard guys in and out, and even make a big deal of it when a foreign or independent wrestler gets a crack at national TV with them for a little while (giving them a chance to stick, too). I don't see why the X-Division and KO division couldn't have regular "showcase" matches where one of the signed talents takes on either a local indy wrestler, a foreign star, or somebody who'll be around for a few months and you're allowing them a chance to get over. WWE has a pretty set roster, so exploit a chance to be different by having new faces pop up regularly, even for just a few shows here and there. Hell, even have something outside the company come in now and then and let them have a crack at a few of the top guys, if you can swing it.
This still leaves a problem, though: a streamlined roster with a rotating midcard could work, but there's still four major title belts in TNA, meaning four "divisions", and not nearly enough TV time to highlight them all properly. Since I don't think a second show for TNA is on the horizon, this is where I'd go with a suggestion somebody made earlier: more YouTube presence and online shows. Go ahead and have an online show that highlights, say, the X and KO divisions. Obviously still have X and KO wrestlers appear on Impact, but this could be the show designated just for them. Sell ad time for it, I can't believe it wouldn't at least draw a decent online following, at least enough to warrant shooting those extra matches before an Impact taping begins.
It's either that, or start eliminating some title belts, because you can't have a smaller roster and still want to have that many belts.
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