Signings TNA can realistically make in 2016...

[Halloween]

Was just posting in another thread and did a little comparison piece in regards to TNA's roster going into DA and going into Pop. Considerable difference but upon looking at TNA's actual roster it's an incredibly sad state of affairs and the only under card guys I have any interest in are literally Andrew Everett and The Wolves. Main event roster is kind of lacking as well although I'm interested in more than three of TNA's main event talents.

Anyway, with TNA having just 29 male wrestlers (31 if you count Snow and Dreamer) on their roster one has to assume that 2016 will bring talent signings. Keeping in mind that TNA's signings this year have mostly been WWE releases from 2014 (Galloway, Drake, Micah) or very young independent guys (Andrew Everett, Trevor Lee)

So, with that in mind who do you think TNA will sign/who would you like them to sign? I personally think with Jeff Hardy and Kurt Angle both leaving TNA will be desperate to sign a big star and with Rey Mysterio appearing in promotion material for Lucha Underground and signing with the company I only see one man signing with TNA and that's Rob Van Dam. The only way it won't be Van Dam replacing these two guys is if TNA doesn't sign a big star at all or if WWE happens to release one of their big stars in 2016.

For the midcard I'm not sure who is out there. WWE, ROH, Lucha Underground, NJPW and AAA pretty much have all the great independent talent under lock and key and even for the free agent talent that isn't signed to any of those five companies TNA still has a terrible reputation so their options are limited. Regardless, I'd like to see TNA pick up Brian Meyers for their Tag Team division and pair him up with Jessie Godderz as a generic arrogant tag team. I don't know where Jigsaw is at but if he isn't signed anywhere I think he'd be a good heel for the X-Division.

So for me, Van Dam to replace the two stars TNA are losing, Brian Meyers and Jigsaw. I'm sure someone with knowledge of independent talent can probably do a much better job. Suggest away.

[Reflecto]

One of the most controversial things TNA had in 2015 was keeping Bram employed. Separate from the problem here, it brings to the bigger point:

TNA, right now, is in a woeful spot for themselves. They are the least likely place to get any top stars. WWE will have first crack at any top stars, and if they can't get them, Lucha Underground and/or AAA will snap them up, then ROH, then New Japan, then GFW...and considering how low TNA is on the totem pole at a distant sixth, a lot of the top indy stars would just rather stay on the indies and hope to be signed by a higher promotion than go full-time for TNA, to the point it was a miracle Trevor Lee and Andrew Everett signed with them this year.

To make matters worse, even genre-wise, wrestlers are getting scouted properly. Where TNA could make their name on the Knockouts division, even to get the Dollhouse in last year, that's all gone- WWE is scouting women's indy standouts properly, and in addition WWE was able to sign Asuka/Billie Kay/Peyton Royce/(allegedly) Nikki Storm, meaning WWE can also trump TNA by getting top international women's talent to boot. Meanwhile, GFW's already made scouting tag teams a priority and building up that division, having more problems there. ROH has a pipeline to New Japan and the most popular talent in the most popular Japanese promotion, Lucha Underground and AAA are virtually one and the same for top luchadors, and as a result, there's not even any good red clay types of wrestler that are a market inefficiency that TNA can capitalize on...

..or is there?

With all these problems, the Bram signing, despite how problematic it was, may be the real benefit for TNA to strike on- go the other direction and actively seek out top talents who are radioactive for reasons not involving their in-ring ability, and build around getting them into the fold. Take a flier on AR Fox and look past his porn film to get a top X-Division talent. Go all in and try to see if they can get the Briscoes away from ROH and get one of the biggest acts in ROH, at such a deep discount it's insane due to how WWE wouldn't touch them with a 100 foot pole. Similar acts to that would be the biggest idea to get top signings at a point where TNA would have a chance at them.

Is this terrible to theorize? Yes, I wholly admit it is. But unfortunately, right now it might just be the only chance TNA has.

[Welfare Willis]

The Rock's cousin twice removed uncle's son's friend.

[domrep]

Dec 14, 2015 8:25:23 GMT -5 Reflecto said:

One of the most controversial things TNA had in 2015 was keeping Bram employed. Separate from the problem here, it brings to the bigger point:

TNA, right now, is in a woeful spot for themselves. They are the least likely place to get any top stars. WWE will have first crack at any top stars, and if they can't get them, Lucha Underground and/or AAA will snap them up, then ROH, then New Japan, then GFW...and considering how low TNA is on the totem pole at a distant sixth, a lot of the top indy stars would just rather stay on the indies and hope to be signed by a higher promotion than go full-time for TNA, to the point it was a miracle Trevor Lee and Andrew Everett signed with them this year.

To make matters worse, even genre-wise, wrestlers are getting scouted properly. Where TNA could make their name on the Knockouts division, even to get the Dollhouse in last year, that's all gone- WWE is scouting women's indy standouts properly, and in addition WWE was able to sign Asuka/Billie Kay/Peyton Royce/(allegedly) Nikki Storm, meaning WWE can also trump TNA by getting top international women's talent to boot. Meanwhile, GFW's already made scouting tag teams a priority and building up that division, having more problems there. ROH has a pipeline to New Japan and the most popular talent in the most popular Japanese promotion, Lucha Underground and AAA are virtually one and the same for top luchadors, and as a result, there's not even any good red clay types of wrestler that are a market inefficiency that TNA can capitalize on...

..or is there?

With all these problems, the Bram signing, despite how problematic it was, may be the real benefit for TNA to strike on- go the other direction and actively seek out top talents who are radioactive for reasons not involving their in-ring ability, and build around getting them into the fold. Take a flier on AR Fox and look past his porn film to get a top X-Division talent. Go all in and try to see if they can get the Briscoes away from ROH and get one of the biggest acts in ROH, at such a deep discount it's insane due to how WWE wouldn't touch them with a 100 foot pole. Similar acts to that would be the biggest idea to get top signings at a point where TNA would have a chance at them.

Is this terrible to theorize? Yes, I wholly admit it is. But unfortunately, right now it might just be the only chance TNA has.

Eh, I would say TNA is at best 3rd, no worse than 4th. WWE is obviously the top dog, but honestly, with the way the product is, the low pay, you're almost better off staying on the Indies. The Bucks and Styles have shown you don't need to make good money by going to the WWE.

I would say ROH/New Japan is 2nd, moreso b/c of the NJPW relationship.

Lucha Underground has this weird thing with a locked in 7 year contract or whatever it is. I'm not going to sign the next 7 years of my life away.

GFW has no TV, so they shouldn't be in the conversation at all.

So yeah, TNA is probably 4th, you can make the argument they're 3rd depending on how much you like Lucha Underground.

[Push R Truth]

Shark Boy


There's always Shark Boy, I don't care if he's now Whale Boy. He's good enough to be Champion.

[A Platypus Rave]

Bram.

[fuzzywarble, squat cobbler]

Probably Bram

[mrbananagrabber]

I hear Grado is free.

[Sephiroth]

TNA needs to just bite the bullet and move everyone to part time deals. They could have way more accessibility for new talent if they did. Most Indy wrestlers would probably be more than happy to have the extra work dates and the extra exposure, but they are not going to sign an exclusive deal with a promotion on TNA's level. For all the negativity toward the product, I'd argue that in terms of their prominence TNA is about equal to ROH now-paled by AAA and New Japan, but definitely ahead of Lucha Underground or GFW.

[A Platypus Rave]

Dec 14, 2015 12:21:33 GMT -5 Sephiroth said:

TNA needs to just bite the bullet and move everyone to part time deals. They could have way more accessibility for new talent if they did. Most Indy wrestlers would probably be more than happy to have the extra work dates and the extra exposure, but they are not going to sign an exclusive deal with a promotion on TNA's level. For all the negativity toward the product, I'd argue that in terms of their prominence TNA is about equal to ROH now-paled by AAA and New Japan, but definitely ahead of Lucha Underground or GFW.

If NEWZ is to be believed everyone is now on Pay per appearance deals.

My question with that is... when they do these 12 year monster tapings are they only paying these people for one day of work or do they pay per match? \

Because if it's for one day stuff like Davey killing himself for one day's pay is kinda scummy.

Though kinda scummy is generally TNA's MO... so...I wouldn't be at all surprised.,

[jagilki]

Riot Control

[metylerca]

N****taker

[Push R Truth]

Dec 14, 2015 12:45:58 GMT -5 jagilki said:

Riot Control

I thought they broke up

[CeilingFan]

Jack Swagger

[Halloween]

Dec 14, 2015 12:23:22 GMT -5 A Platypus Rave said:

Dec 14, 2015 12:21:33 GMT -5 Sephiroth said:

TNA needs to just bite the bullet and move everyone to part time deals. They could have way more accessibility for new talent if they did. Most Indy wrestlers would probably be more than happy to have the extra work dates and the extra exposure, but they are not going to sign an exclusive deal with a promotion on TNA's level. For all the negativity toward the product, I'd argue that in terms of their prominence TNA is about equal to ROH now-paled by AAA and New Japan, but definitely ahead of Lucha Underground or GFW.

If NEWZ is to be believed everyone is now on Pay per appearance deals.

My question with that is... when they do these 12 year monster tapings are they only paying these people for one day of work or do they pay per match? \

Because if it's for one day stuff like Davey killing himself for one day's pay is kinda scummy.

Though kinda scummy is generally TNA's MO... so...I wouldn't be at all surprised.,

I assume one days work unless they're kind of a big deal (In TNA's eyes).

[Vern]

Dec 14, 2015 12:23:22 GMT -5 A Platypus Rave said:

Dec 14, 2015 12:21:33 GMT -5 Sephiroth said:

TNA needs to just bite the bullet and move everyone to part time deals. They could have way more accessibility for new talent if they did. Most Indy wrestlers would probably be more than happy to have the extra work dates and the extra exposure, but they are not going to sign an exclusive deal with a promotion on TNA's level. For all the negativity toward the product, I'd argue that in terms of their prominence TNA is about equal to ROH now-paled by AAA and New Japan, but definitely ahead of Lucha Underground or GFW.

If NEWZ is to be believed everyone is now on Pay per appearance deals.

My question with that is... when they do these 12 year monster tapings are they only paying these people for one day of work or do they pay per match? \

Because if it's for one day stuff like Davey killing himself for one day's pay is kinda scummy.

Though kinda scummy is generally TNA's MO... so...I wouldn't be at all surprised.,

I'd prefer the per diem method no matter which side of management I was on.

I mean a match could be 2 minutes or 20 minutes... then there's in-ring promos, run-ins, pretapes...
A day is a day. If you're getting paid you're getting used. If not, well, at least you got paid.

It's much more simple for all parties, and the best way to handle large tapings.  At least for regular roster members.

[Deleted]

Senor Culo Monty Sopp

[Can you afford to pay me, Gah]

Dec 14, 2015 7:01:32 GMT -5 Halloween said:

Was just posting in another thread and did a little comparison piece in regards to TNA's roster going into DA and going into Pop. Considerable difference but upon looking at TNA's actual roster it's an incredibly sad state of affairs and the only under card guys I have any interest in are literally Andrew Everett and The Wolves. Main event roster is kind of lacking as well although I'm interested in more than three of TNA's main event talents.

Anyway, with TNA having just 29 male wrestlers (31 if you count Snow and Dreamer) on their roster one has to assume that 2016 will bring talent signings. Keeping in mind that TNA's signings this year have mostly been WWE releases from 2014 (Galloway, Drake, Micah) or very young independent guys (Andrew Everett, Trevor Lee)

So, with that in mind who do you think TNA will sign/who would you like them to sign? I personally think with Jeff Hardy and Kurt Angle both leaving TNA will be desperate to sign a big star and with Rey Mysterio appearing in promotion material for Lucha Underground and signing with the company I only see one man signing with TNA and that's Rob Van Dam. The only way it won't be Van Dam replacing these two guys is if TNA doesn't sign a big star at all or if WWE happens to release one of their big stars in 2016.

For the midcard I'm not sure who is out there. WWE, ROH, Lucha Underground, NJPW and AAA pretty much have all the great independent talent under lock and key and even for the free agent talent that isn't signed to any of those five companies TNA still has a terrible reputation so their options are limited. Regardless, I'd like to see TNA pick up Brian Meyers for their Tag Team division and pair him up with Jessie Godderz as a generic arrogant tag team. I don't know where Jigsaw is at but if he isn't signed anywhere I think he'd be a good heel for the X-Division.

So for me, Van Dam to replace the two stars TNA are losing, Brian Meyers and Jigsaw. I'm sure someone with knowledge of independent talent can probably do a much better job. Suggest away.

Don't expect a Major name signing because they don't have the budget for it. Hints way the big names are leaving and slowly going out. The reality is they don't need a big star because history shown, IT DOESN'T make a difference because TNA doesn't know how to use them. It takes no time for them to sign a big name and make them just another name on the roster. Think about it and how those names are when they went back to the WWE. Sting in the WWE most fans acted like it was the first time anybody saw Sting since WCW and thats from a guy who was in TNA for the last 10 years before that.

Why sign RVD when the man was World champion there already and had NO impact. The fact the whole time RVD was there he phoned in everything. Why waste the money? Big names in TNA as proven to add very little only because the one thing that isn't changes and that is the booking of it. Just look at the ratings for Spike TV over the years and who was on that roster or added in. It still was 1.3 max regardless what major player debut or returned, or which one became World champion.

[kingoftheindies]

are we looking for serious or joke answers? Real answer look at the AIWs, Rockstar Pro, NYCWC, and PWX rosters and you'll get your answer as those are the feds that feed guys to CZW and EVOLVE.

Joke? Cecil Fielder and Tom Zenk

[Emmet Russell]

If Sami Callihan is still allowed to work all his indy dates, I think he's one of the biggest and best signings they could make right now as he's a hot property.