The MeeThinks Friday FreeThinks: 01.04.08
Posted by John Meehan on 01.04.2008
Consider this one a "New Year's Resolution" for TNA, if you wheeeeeel...
Welcome back and Happy New Year, all! After a week's worth of holiday sabbatical (spanning three states, no less), I'm officially back in action as your regularly scheduled party host for 411's weekly dose of intrawebz optimism. Not a lotta' news making the rounds as we eek out of the holiday rush, mind you... but that doesn't mean there aren't at least a few stories here and there that warrant a MeeThinks or two.
This one's not an earth-shattering bit of news, but one that's making the rounds these days seeing as how there's not much else to jabber on about (just yet) nonetheless...
Real-life couple Nick Mitchell (formerly "Mitch" of the Spirit Squad) and Torrie Wilson (currently nursing a back injury) recently launched "Jaded" -- a clothing store in the pricey and pre-planned community of The Woodlands, Texas. Basically, it's a bunch of trendy-meets-edgy-meets-cool t-shirts and jean outfits designed to catch the attention of the older teens/twenty-something crowd, with designs and looks that seem pretty much in the spirit of your typical Ed Hardy and Affliction apparel.
So if you're looking for a ridiculously overpriced t-shirt with a flaming skull on it and you just so happen to reside in The Woodlands... well, there you have it.
In all seriousness, though --
Here's wishing some serious luck to both Mitch and Torrie as they try their hands in what has got to be a pretty new and unfamiliar realm. It's good to see grapplers (current and WWE-jected alike) finding work that *doesn't* necessarily demand that they put their lives and healths on the line well into their 50's and beyond, so kudos to both of 'em if they can find success in the fashion/retail industry. Fellow brawler Booker T has found a pretty fair deal of success in the clothing retail biz himself, and he was able to say "thanks but no thanks" to a guaranteed WWE paycheck simply because his other investments had paid off, and he realized that it wasn't worth the hassle and wear-and-tear that a full WWE schedule would otherwise demand of his rapidly aging forty-two-year-old frame.
Ok, so maybe it was a combination of that AND his trouble with WWE's recently beefed-up Wellness initiative... but regardless --
Point is, investing (and finding success) in a non-wrestling venture is hardly a bad idea. And if Mitch and Torrie can get the job done outside of the squared circle, good for them. Looks and muscles don't last forever, you know -- and even if many (most?) wrestling relationships tend to go the way of the WWF Light Heavyweight Title before all's said and done, it's nice to see superstars putting their proverbial eggs in more than one basket, is all (no jokes about Mitch's "eggs" and Torrie's "basket" from Mee!).
As both Larry and Small have already discussed in each of their news reports this week, respectively (and I am SURE this will be discussed at length in tomorrow's "Hamilton Avenue News" -- RIGHT HERE on 411! *cheap pop*) -- Wrestling Observer published what is widely being regarded as the "definitive" breakdown of TNA's pay-per-view buyrates for the 2007 calendar year. Sure, TNA is a privately held company, and thus these figures are little more than "educated speculation" at best. But let's just say... if the actual figures are even anywhere *near* the projections below... it ain't all rainbows and unicorns.
Take a look:
60,000 for (2006) Genesis (Joe vs. Angle)
35,000 for (2006) Turning Point (Joe vs. Angle)
34,000 for Final Resolution (Joe vs. Angle III and Christian/Sting/Abyss)
23,000 for Against All Odds (Angle vs. Cage)
36,000 for Destination X (Joe vs. Cage)
35,000 for Lockdown (Team Angle vs. Team Cage)
21,000 for Sacrifice (Angle vs. Sting vs. Cage)
22,000 for Slammiversary (King of the Mountain)
15,000 for Victory Road (Joe and Angle vs. Team 3D)
26,000 for Hard Justice (Joe vs. Angle)
17,000 for No Surrender (Angle vs. Abyss)
36,000 for Bound For Glory (Sting vs. Angle)
27,000 for Genesis (Sting and Booker T vs. Angle and Nash)
As my fellow 411 news reporter Small pointed out in his particularly well-researched write-up yesterday morning, these TNA numbers are pretty telling. In fact, barring the company's one PPV which boasted the record-setting, first-ever showdown between Joe vs. Angle at Genesis (2006) -- EVERY SINGLE PPV SINCE THEN has failed to capitalize anywhere *near* the level of intrigue and excitement that it appeared the company once had upon their initial signing of Kurt Angle just some 16 months ago.
Which leads us to TNA's biggest problem of 2007: Rinse & Repeat Booking Mistakes.
People were PUMPED when Angle made the jump to TNA. But after a botched program against the company's resident fan favorite in Samoa Joe, the fan interest quickly dipped right back to the same levels from before. Show ratings -- while consistent -- remained just barely above 1.1 (for just about 80 weeks now, which *has* to be some sort of record), and PPV buys went all over the place -- more often than not, in the general directions of "down" and "nowhere fast."
So what'd the company do?
Promised their next "big surprise" and hoped that *this* would be the catalyst for the next surge in fan interest. Then the much-anticipated second hour of TNA programming made it's big debut and... (shocker) ratings stayed in the exact same place. So then they promised the next "big surprise"... gave us Booker T... and (whaddayaknow?!) we're right back to square one.
What's just as bad -- possibly even WORSE -- it's a poorly kept secret that a good several thousand folks routinely and consistently download, upload and trade TNA pay per view broadcasts over los intrawebs... which *seems* all well and good (grass roots fanbase campaigning, no?), except for the fact that each of these people go about their downloading ILLEGALLY. Meaning "they like TNA enough to pirate the shows, but not enough to pay for 'em."
Which is great if you're just bootlegging to get the word out, and all... but is absolutely DISASTEROUS if you're trying to expand your company, turn a profit, or win any serious degree of industry credibility (which, in turn, can be bartered for better television exposure, etc.) down the line.
In the bigger picture --
PLENTY of IWC "know-it-alls" have routinely voiced their displeasure at TNA for "bringing in WWE-jects and pushing them at the expense of the homegrown talent," but the problem is much actually broader and deeper than that one. Let's face it, certain performers (Booker T, Angle, Christian, whoever) simply *are* a proven and marketable commodity... and so once they depart WWE for "free agency," TNA would have to be pretty freakin' dumb to let these acts slip away so long as they're affordable and willing to play ball. Let Mee repeat: THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH SIGNING A WWE ALUMNI, if the price is right and the guy can draw. Because once a guy the likes of an Angle or a Booker T arrives, he *obviously* shows up with a no-brainer degree of credibility that fans have proven they're more than willing to plunk down their hard-earned coin to see.
(Not necessarily the case for, say, Showtime Eric Young).
This is precisely where the problem begins --
Instead of bringing in the latest "big name" WWE-ject with a proven drawing power (a GOOD idea) and putting him in a fresh, high-profile feud with a homegrown guy -- even if the guy isn't necessarily *as* proven a draw himself (a GOOD idea) and getting two stars for the price of one, TNA insists on:
a) Bringing in not just the "big name" WWE-jects, but just about every other guy EVER fired from WWE
b) Hotshotting these guys onto TV with no real direction (contract?!) or longevity, and...
c) Rinse & repeating the cycle once the initial buzz wears off.
Whether it's main-eventers (Christian, Angle, Booker), mid-carders (Test, Fatu) or curtain-jerkers (Shannon Moore, The Bashams) -- TNA sets a disheartening precedent that their fans are supposed to receive each "new acquisition" as if they were a bigger deal than anything that they'd ever seen before in a TNA ring. Which would be all well and good if it were just a simple marketing tool (because let's face it: EVERY company in the world will pretty much tell you that the latest and greatest thing they're trying to sell you is a million times better than anything you've ever had or seen before) -- but the kicker, of course, is that TNA insists on doing this sort of thing at the expense of:
a) Their established titles (nevermind the outcome -- LOOK WHO'S HERE!)
b) Their established characters (remember when Chris Harris was actually a threat to the main event picture?), and...
c) Their established storylines (you can barely count the number of inexplicably scrapped turns/angles TNA has churned out this year)
Sadly, this sends fans a pretty loud and clear message as to where, exactly, the company's priorities lie with each new turn. Momentum is lost, fans are told that something even better is on the way "real soon, we promise!" -- and everybody dumb enough to stick around in the mean time looks like an absolute chump, as the only people getting anything resembling a sustained push are those who recently received walking papers from WWE. Ooh -- and Abyss (who's helping to write the shows), and Kazarian (this week, at least).
Look, folks --
I genuinely enjoy the TNA promotion, and if I have a chance to catch only *one* show in the week (save RAW on Mondays), odds are usually good that I'll even go as far as to TiVo-tune into TNA before I'll catch up on ECW or Smackdown! For as nonsensical and frustrating as TNA can be, I *genuinely* want to see them succeed, as I truly believe that North American professional wrestling is at its absolute BEST when there is more than one viable, NATIONAL company out there on the front lines challenging expectations and forcing promoters to raise the bar.
HOWEVER --
This "rinse & repeat" booking philosophy isn't working, and the PPV buyrates across the board show it. Bringing in new stars, twists and turns is essential to keep fans guessing (and can be vital when "freshening up" your promotion as need be) -- but repeatedly sacrificing *everything* that might otherwise remotely resemble something in the way of forward momentum simply for the sake of hanging all of your company's hopes (and your fans' interest) on the latest hotshot "concept match" (electified/barbed wire/exploding/on a pole/etc.), "free agent" signing, or "big announcement" revelation (a third hour of tv? a cure for cancer?!) is both ineffective and silly.
TNA boasts (arguably) one of THE strongest rosters in wrestling today -- yet their ratings are stuck and their regular, paying PPV audiences are even smaller than they were at this same time last year. If the company is to make any real dent in the industry in 2008 (other than earning itself something of a laughable -- though increasingly well-deserved -- reputation as being little more than "an indy fed with a TV deal"), then they have GOT to change the way they go about bidnezz in the new year.
This weekend, it's TNA Final Resolution! Last year I closed things out at a whopping yearlong average of 65.17%, so let's see if we can't top that number for 2008.
LAX, Abyss, Kaz, Lethal & The MCMGs, Booker for the win, Joe & Nash, KONG!, Angle retains.
And With That, I'm Outta' Here
That'll do it for Mee this week, folks. Enjoy the weekend, the PPV, and the PLAYOFFS (playoffs?! PLAYOFFS?!) -- by the way, since my SIXTEEN AND O PATS are resting up this week, I'm going 'Skins, Steelers, 'Bolts and G-Men -- and always stay positive!
TNA pisses me off so much. Its like they want to do everything BUT succeed... as Lex Luger would say "IM PISSED NOW~!"
PS - My Bucs will destroy the Giants.
Posted By: Brad (Guest) on January 04, 2008 at 02:47 AM
So TNA is not going that great - we know. Meehan, you're positive spin was very negative this week. While it is true in most regards, the the truth is NONE of us are back stage, NONE of us know exactly what is going on back there, and most importantly, NONE of us can fire Vince Russo - so we enjoy it for what it is till it's gone and we see Abyss getting squashed by Kane and AJ is running errands for HHH.
Posted By: JT (Guest) on January 04, 2008 at 09:05 AM
I think TNA's starting to get the point that they need to use their WWE acquisitions to give the rub to their home grown talent, eg Team 3d v X division, Booker v Roode, cage v aj styles v angle. Better late than never i guess. Time will tell whether they can book it properly
Posted By: Derek (Guest) on January 04, 2008 at 09:30 AM
It's a breath of fresh air to hear someone be critical of TNA without completely burying it, as it seems to be the case so often on this website.
Posted By: Matt (Guest) on January 04, 2008 at 09:58 AM
This is one of the more reasonable and balanced columns I've seen in a while. Fact is, WWE stars can help establish younger, less mainstream talent when booked properly. If done right, Roode will get a rub from Booker, and not a stinkface this time.
Posted By: ObamaMania (Guest) on January 04, 2008 at 11:45 AM
When the WWE is pulling in high 6 figure buys, and in some instances like WrestleMania 7 figures...it is a wonder that this company is still in business considering their AWFUL numbers. Like Rocky said...let's be generous and double the numbers he posted. It's STILL crappy.
How do they fix it? And you're not allowed to say Fire Russo...'cause I don't think AT ALL he is the problem. They weren't doing that good before him either. Perhaps running these monthly PPV's are too much. Remember when the WWF had 4 PPV's? Summerslam, Survivor Series, SummerSlam, and Wrestlemania...they were events. Perhaps TNA needs to go to that formula. Lots of free TV building to the Quarterly event that hopefully they have done a good enough job building to. The WWE can do monthly PPV's because they are building on the foundation set by the success of their past. TNA never had that success...they are just trying to compete by doing what the WWE does...and they are getting killed.
Anyway...my two pence.
Posted By: Mike Watters (Registered) on January 04, 2008 at 12:28 PM
I agree with you mike. a 4 or 5 ppv format could help TNA( please change the name) with Bound for glory being their Wrestlemania or Starrcade. they could save money by not running monthly ppv as well.
Posted By: babyboy3686 (Guest) on January 04, 2008 at 03:39 PM
Yeah, they might save money by running 4 or 5 ppv's a year, but since ppv is their main source of revenue it probably won't happen. Plus if you're going to take on contracts like Angle's, Sting's and Christian's you've gotta create more opportunities to make that money back. 5 ppv's a year could make them that money back, but only if you believe an extra month (give or take a week here and there) to build up a PPV will quadrouple or more the number of buys your typical monthly ppv does. unless TNA was going to scale way back they couldn't pull this off.
Either that or they've gotta let go of the exclusive contracts and book guys "long term" but still by appearance. That way you could say "Sting we're gonna pay you 10 grand per tv and ppv appearance, we'll need you on 4 of these. Sting makes 40 grand on ppv, add another 80-120 for the tv's and you've got Sting ina role for a year at a hundred grand. Same could be done for all other talents at a lower pay scale obviosuly and in a perfect world it'd work great.
But since you've lost exclusivity of the talent, they're on ROH ppv's too and WWE can come calling at any time,. It's a real catch 22.
Posted By: Bahb (Guest) on January 04, 2008 at 04:21 PM
here's the thing... Russo's not the problem, it's people like JJ and Dixie who refuse to reign in these ridiculous storylines that are the problem.
Last night's Impact was the example of what TNA should be all about: emphasis on wrestling, championships, and little goofiness (although there is much work to be done on Angle. AJ is ok) I think that if they just avoid all of the stupid stuff like Abyss (who you know is going to reveal that Mitchell is his father) and stick to straight up blood feuds it would be ok.
Take for example Kaz and Christian. Had they did just a little more in terms of build up, this could've been one of the best feuds in quite some time. A hungry up and comer who had been riddled in dumb gimmicks breaking away and having a match with a World Championship contender. If they are going to do rinse & repeat booking, then go about it this way.
That said, they need to do something more to build up their mid-card (and yes I'll clamor for a TNA TV Title until I get it) in a way that people will care. this way TNA won't have to worry about dumb gimmicks to get the people's attention.
Posted By: Ryder (Guest) on January 04, 2008 at 04:58 PM
TNA's biggest problem is that its the right ideas poorly executed. Adding prestige to the titles and treating them like something important as they attempted last night is a fine thing in theory, but it needs to be backed up with the titles being a key part of feuds. No feud in TNA is currently about a belt, the belts are there as props but they are always in background to something else. That they have tried to develop more characters is a fine thing, except for no one in TNA is developed as a serious character. Nearly everything is comedy. Except for the monsters division, which is again something different, but so dilluted by week after week of having more brutal moments so that nothing matters anymore. And that is the most common theme, that everything is overexposed. A guantlet match is a nice idea.... but 4 in one night is over kill. The three ring circus is the foundation of wrestling, if you don't like one thing, then something else will come along. TNA lacks that variety, even when its trying to do something different. TNA does have potential to be something special. It has the talent and a dedicated fanbase that will fight tooth and nail against any and all criticisms of it. I would hope they suceed but at the same time I almost wonder if its better that it doesn't. I think I gain more fun out of treating the show like a parody of a wrestling show than taking it seriously these days, and if it was ever to sort out its problems I think my own selfish enjoyment would vanish.
Posted By: Skintymcedger (Guest) on January 04, 2008 at 06:42 PM
According to these "numbers" which for the most part are completely made up (Seriously no one knows TNA's numbers) the trend appears that buyrates are up.
All the columnists are shouting doom and gloom, but Ratings are higher then ever and the last Buyrate was back up to where it was last year before Joe/Angle. Which means TNA is doing fine.
But hey whatever. WWE's last PPV dropped close to 60,000 buys and we KNOW that numbers correct. So maybe it's WWE we should be complaining about.
But I forgot this is 411, we love Leprechauns!
Posted By: Buyrates are up (Guest) on January 05, 2008 at 04:30 AM
Well I download the shows from the net, but I have no other choice. Here in Spain we don't have these PPV's on TV.
Anyway, the downloads on the net, are not allways bad for a promotion, Im sure that the most of the ROH fans attending their shows (spending money on tickets), download the DVDs on the net. Ergo more downloads, more attendance.
Posted By: Moliner (Guest) on January 05, 2008 at 06:45 AM
