The Glass is More Than Half Full

"The Glass is More Than Half Full"
By Big Dawg
Follow me at @BigDawg801



Before I begin, I would just like to say that it is such a pleasure to be here at TNAsylum.  I have spent many hours in the last year writing my thoughts and analysis of TNA, and formulating ways to contribute to this site.  I love doing it and I would like to personally thank Talon, JSO and all the other leadership at TNAsylum for all they do.  I am thankful that there is this awesome meeting place called TNAsylum for true TNA fans to talk, debate and celebrate the company and its amazing wrestlers.  This website is truly one-of-a-kind and I am more than happy to be a part of it.  I haven’t been here for all 3 years, but I plan on being here as long as you’ll have me.  

Maybe I am still just feeling euphoric about the upcoming Las Vegas Impact, or that Bully Ray is the TNA World Heavyweight Champion.  Or it could be that all indications are that The Aces and Eights are going to dominate TNA for a good, long while longer.  Perhaps it’s the fact that TNA has now successfully drawn televised crowds of 3,500 to 10,000 in different cities across the U.S. for the past 2 1/2months.  From my perspective things are still looking pretty damn good.

Even if you don’t personally have any emotional ties to those things I just mentioned, chances are that you enjoy SOMETHING that TNA has to offer.  The X-Division is picking up steam again with the returns of Chris Sabin and Suicide, along with some great matches recently.  The Monster Abyss has made a triumphant return and his family is watching closely (those in his head and those that are not).  Past Gut-Check contestants are competing for a BFG Series spot like Jay Bradley, who shows major star potential.  These are just a few of the bright spots for TNA currently.  It feels like everything TNA has done for the last year is coming together towards a climax point at Bound For Glory.

With all of that being said, a lot of people are up in arms about the low ratings/viewership of IMPACT as of late.  While I understand that concern to a certain extent, I am going to advocate that you don’t put all of your energy, time and concerns into solely “the ratings”.  In some ways, the obsession wrestling die-hard fans have about the T.V. ratings is unhealthy and unbalanced.  Let me ask you this, in regards to other T.V. shows that you watch: Do you live and die by what those shows ratings/viewership is?  Most likely the answer would be no.  But here we are every week reading the lamenting and panic about this issue like it’s the end of the world.  Those who are ultra concerned about “how horrible” the product apparently is, are calling for a complete change in approach for TNA.  While I can’t say I agree completely, a slight shift in the product is becoming an obvious need.

The main skeptics automatically are calling for the Aces and Eights angle to end.  Or another common theme is getting rid of Sting and Hogan.  Yet another quick-fix approach is getting rid of Bruce Pritchard.  These demands become off-putting and often look like unnecessary finger-pointing to me.  Yes there is always room for improvement, but believe it or not TNA is doing a lot of things right.  The question is what can they better, without rehashing these same old, tired and negative accusations?  Let me outline three small changes that can and will mean increased success on all levels:

1.    Find an Identity and Be More Consistent:  Fans that have been watching the TNA product for a long time become frustrated with the dramatic changes that happen every few years.  The TNA that we know today is not the same TNA that was around in 2002 or even 2008.  Naturally there is bound to be an evolution of things over time.  However, TNA cannot find itself being so similar to the WWE that casual fans wouldn’t know the difference between the 2 companies and just assume it is WWE they are watching.   Eventually with more brand recognition this will fade away.  Time is going to help TNA once they do a year’s worth of IMPACT tapings on the road.

The one constant that TNA has usually had over the competition is that the actual wrestling has been consistently better.  That fact is something that TNA cannot take lightly (as it seemingly has as of late) and needs to showcase going forward.  Another trend that seems to be happening since the company made the move to be on the road full-time for IMPACT: the 1^st LIVE episode of IMPACT is great and the 2^nd taped episode is average.  Somehow this trend needs to be altered.  For crying out loud, some of the early 2013 Impact Zone taped episodes have been better than some of the 2^nd taped show road IMPACTS as of late.  Not sure why that is exactly, but TNA needs to adjust their formula or it will continue to be ugly at times with the 2^nd taped shows.

You cannot get rid of the X-Division and it needs to become a consistent focus, like it has again as of late.  The storylines are also an important aspect of pro-wrestling and they need to remain and evolve, while remaining entertaining.  The wrestling in matches needs to be at the high level that is has been traditionally in TNA.  The aspect of being on the road needs to be capitalized on more, especially the LIVE shows.  The cameramen and production staff have done a good job of making the crowds look large and lively (and these road crowds have been for the most part) but the presentation is still missing something I can’t quite put my finger on.  I realize TNA is running these road IMPACTS on a smaller budget to cut costs but something needs to be tweaked post-BFG to make it seem more grandiose and unique.  Doing all those things consistently and well can only help TNA in the long run.

2.   Make Wrestling Cool Again:  So what determines is something is “cool” or not in pop culture?  That is a good frickin’ question.  It is generally agreed upon that pro-wrestling will not return the peak of popularity that it reached in the late 90’s and early 2000’s.  So the question is, how could it potentially come as close to that popularity as possible over time?  Things cycle in and out with pop culture. What is popular today and what is not tomorrow is very fast-paced in an over-stimulated society.  I mean Kim Kardashian’s ass is its own pop culture sensation one day and then it could be the next Hunger Games movie coming out the next day that people are obsessed with. 

With all the choices in sports, movies, video games, the net, sitcoms, reality shows, social media, etc, etc, etc TNA has to find ways to stand-out and draw in new fans.  At times it seems like they have found the formula to do this, at other times not as much.  One thing is for certain: the younger talents are the ones who have the reigns to make TNA and pro-wrestling cool again in the long term.  Believe it or not, someone like Rockstar Spud could be a key to catching key demographics that TNA is not currently.  Also if Crimson was allowed to play on his real life military experience (like he currently does in OVW) it could get over big-time.  These are just 2 examples of wrestlers that have tons of potential that are not currently part of the IMPACT active roster.  If properly pushed, both could help capture people’s attention in ways that nobody else could.  Unique characters that can tap into main-stream culture are missing elements that eventually TNA will hit on.  When they do, they will take the whole company to another level.  The question is: Who will it be? 

3.   Increase Promotion (Ranging from Top Level to Grass Roots):  A puzzling element that is absent from TNA’s current business model is promotion and advertising.  They have seemed to solve the promotion part of live events as evidenced by the respectable attendance figures since March.  I am more referring to getting new people to watch IMPACT and TNA to grow their fan-base.  I realize that a huge part of this equation is big money to be able to run ads on national T.V., YouTube, and other media outlets.  To my knowledge, TNA is doing little if any of this type of advertising currently.  For this to be the case makes it very, very difficult for the product to grow.  When little to no national advertising is done, you rely on word of mouth and dirt sheets to put your product over.  If that doesn’t happen you end up plateauing at a certain point.  With more money TNA will hopefully make this more of a priority in time.

So what can we, as rabid TNA fans, do in the meantime to help TNA’s popularity grow and open people’s eyes?  When is the last time you tried to get someone to watch IMPACT?  Have you ever posted fliers or posters advertising IMPACT coming to your area for an event?  Do you promote TNA on Twitter or Facebook?  Have you bought any merchandise from ShopTNA.com or encouraged others to do so for your birthday or other gift-giving holidays?  Does your loyalty to TNA go that deep?  If the answer to all of those questions was a “No” or “Never”, then what are you waiting for? 

The grassroots aspect of how TNA will grow and expand is looking like it needs to come from us fans to a certain extent.  If you believe wrestling isn’t cool and you are embarrassed to be a fan, that isn’t a good thing.  Be yourself and be proud of being a TNA fan!  Most likely not everyone is going to be receptive, but how do you know if you never try?  What if you tell someone at work or school or church or the gym or whatever and they really like it?  Then that person tells other people, and those people tell others and so on and so on.  This ripple effect could do wonders for TNA and its growth.  It’s the “Pay it Forward” version of growing a fan-base.  Call me a dork or whatever, but I challenge everyone that reads this to tell at least 3 people in the next week about TNA and why you watch it.  This movement will be deemed “TNA It Forward”. 

I raise my glass in a toast for TNA and to the next 10 years of success and growth!  I also raise my glass in celebration of TNAsylum’s 3 year Anniversary!