General TNA News

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Topic: General TNA News
Posted: 06/March/2009 at 18:04

source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter

-- Company revenue increased tremendously over the past year, largely due to running a regular schedule of live shows, more revenue from Spike as a result of Impact's first full year of two-hour programs, not to mention huge increases in merchandise sales. TNA appears to more recession proof than World Wrestling Entertainment because such a high percentage of the company's revenue is fixed revenue from Spike and less is from overseas where currency has greatly declined. However, the company is not immune from taking cost-cutting measures when necessary.

As noted earlier, the company chose not renew the contracts of veteran performers Sonjay Dutt, Petey Williams, Jimmy Rave and Lance Hoyt. Their departures from the company were partially as a result of budget cuts.

TNA has been looking to cut costs in other areas. Most notably, they've been running less pay-per-view events on the road as of late. While the company looks a whole lot more major league doing pay-per-views from arenas across the country with larger crowds as opposed to the former home of Nickelodeon GUTS and WCW WorldWide, it's simply much more cost effective to run events in Orlando in most cases.

For the most part, TNA has had trouble drawing solid crowds for pay-per-view events taken on the road. There have been countless reports of floor seats being available the weekend of a pay-per-view. Oftentimes, TNA papers the events days before the show, thus explaining why the buildings look packed come show time. For this past January's Genesis event in Charlotte, TNA ran a deal on Ticketmaster.com for fans to enter the code "STING" and receive up to four tickets for free.

In another cost cutting measure, officials stopped giving Monday off after road pay-per-view shows to save a day of costs.

Despite the cutbacks, they haven't been close to as severe as WWE.

* Doing less PPVs on the road should not be a case of cost cutting. They should be wondering why they can't make money from going on the road.

* Ratings are good and revenue as grown massively, so it looks like the future is pretty bright.

* I'd like them to charge less to watch a pay per view on the road so the venues don't look so empty.

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Posted: 06/March/2009 at 18:32

Good to see that despite the heavy criticism TNA is receiving business is apparently booming.
Im happy because despite the many flaws in TNA they do produce some enjoyable moments and its nice to have a alternative to WWE available, of course its also good for the business in general as it gives talent a promotion other than WWE to work for that has mainstream television exposure.

Far as scrapping PPV's on the road i can understand why they would do this in these tough economic times as obviously the production costs sky rocket when taking a PPV out of the Impact Zone.
TNA do need to ask themselves why the fans are not buying tickets, my opinion would be as Admin said either the tickets are over priced or in my view TNA are not making the PPV's worth the journey.
WWE always promote big matches on PPV, TNA need to do the same, i know they do on occasion but alot of the time they fill the cards up with run of the mill tag matches, they need to promote matches that are unmissable.

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Posted: 06/March/2009 at 21:09

I wouldnt let the numbers game fool you too much. There are wrestling fans out there that watch the show just for seeing their past time stars, which right now is temporary relief, since they are all set to retire in the very near future, except for Kurt Angle. Once those stars retire for good, all they will have to see from TNA is the product, which right now is a complete joke, and once they retire, watch their rating freefall if they dont get this mess straightened up. Don't forget also, Orlando has been TNA's home form the very beginning, they know what TNA can do, and what they have been given is utter garbage, and can't even sellout their home turf for shows and PPV's. That would concern me in the worse way. They are living on the lifelines of the Main Event Mafia, Samoa Joe, AJ Styles, Mick Foley, and team 3D. WCW took the same path, and if TNA isn't careful, their fate will be the same as WCW.

Edited by admin - 06/March/2009 at 23:13

If it isn't broken, Don't tinker with it...TNA!!

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Posted: 06/March/2009 at 21:59

I do think TNA are living for tommorrow somewhat, Sting, Nash and Steiner will probably not still be wrestling in twelve months time and Angle is rumoured to be heading back to WWE at the end of the year.

Without these guys with name value it will be tough times in TNA, so they do need to plan ahead by elevating current talent or start negotiating with some of the free agents out there, RVD has already been mentioned and another is Bobby Lashley, alot of people hate this guy but he has name value and i actually saw alot of potential in him, WWE just pushed him to hard way to quickly.

Edited by fletch - 07/March/2009 at 19:45

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Posted: 07/March/2009 at 04:50

To be honest, Since the contract to ROH's Nigel McGuinness, Brian Danielson, the Briscoe brothers, and Roderick Strong are all set to expire in March or April. All these guys are very good, If TNA puts out offers to these guys and get at least some of these guys on the roster, I will believe what you said 100% in that they are thinking of the tomorrow of TNA, but yet again, the Creative Production Team scares me to no end, and till they fix it, that feeling wont go away, and I'm sure before those guys do sign with TNA, they will do their homework on the TNA product and see if they will benefit from TNA.

If it isn't broken, Don't tinker with it...TNA!!

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Posted: 07/March/2009 at 19:52

I think the current TNA product will worry alot of young wrestlers, they will look at the likes of Doug Williams, Petey Williams, Sonjay Dutt and Jay Lethal and maybe think is that what i can look forward to in TNA?

I would expect any of the cream of ROH talent to strongly consider offers from WWE before they go signing up with TNA.
TNA at present is appealing to wrestlers with name value who are winding down their careers and can still get a decent payday for working a light schedule in TNA, that is why i think RVD and Lashley would consider signing.
Trouble is some of these so called big names are clearly just enjoying the reduced schedule and nice pay cheque and have little passion left as you can tell from some of the phoned in performances.

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Posted: 07/March/2009 at 20:51

True, but look at what WWE is doing with the guys they get from TNA or some of these smaller brands. They just job them. That would be my big worry with signing with WWE. One thing that the youth wrestlers would consider signing with TNA over WWE is the fact they have a better chance to make a name for themselves with TNA as serious wrestlers, and can show off their talent much more than WWE would. As you already see with Smackdown and Raw, the WWE is focusing mainly on their main eventers for about 80-85% of their TV shows, so these guys wouldnt get the push they would like in the WWE, whereas TNA, they released some of their "undercards", i quote it because to me, are X Division main eventers, and the MEM are mostly not returning once their contracts are up, this would be their chance to shine on TV. As for TNA signing Lashley, he wont sign with TNA since he is currently with MMA, and will probably follow the line of Brock Lesnar in the UFC. MMA would be downright stupid to allow Lashley to get away from them to sign back to a wrestling entertainment company, and I can't see that is what Lashley would want either.

If it isn't broken, Don't tinker with it...TNA!!

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Posted: 08/March/2009 at 19:58

MMA is Lashley's number one priority and if he puts in a good showing against Shamrock i think UFC will sign him, if this happens im sure Lashley will devote all his time to MMA and that will effectively end his wrestling career for the forseeable future.

However Lashley has said he is still open to wrestling offers and hinted at going to TNA as WWE would not offer him a schedule he would be happy with.
He also has friends in TNA in Booker and Angle.

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Posted: 08/March/2009 at 20:05

He wont have friends in TNA if Booker retires and Angle returns to the WWE :P

If it isn't broken, Don't tinker with it...TNA!!

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