The General Wrestling Thread

[Bigpapa42]

I think Hardy would be a big get for TNA as he was a WWE world champion within the past year. But he's been quite disgraced, and he comes with quite a risk if they bring him in before his legal issues are sorted out. I think they'd be better served waiting and making sure they don't spend several months pushing him only to have him disappear for a trail or even jail-time...

 

[SuperKevin]

Not to mention the fact that he might bring that awful TNA entrance music back.

 

[Derrville]

According to F4WOnline.com, you can expect Rob Van Dam on the big TNA Impact three-hour special this coming Monday night, January 4th head-to-head with WWE RAW.

 

[Epidemik]

The New 2010 Raw Intro (Not sure if it's real or not, but it's pretty cool way to kick off 2010)

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2Kz5ja_jco"]YouTube - 2010 Raw Intro[/ame]

EDIT: Flair's still in it so it's not real

 

[EmpireWF]

lmao

that's the real intro they use for every show...well, except for Booker's n-drop.

 

[Derrville]

Lol that would be epic if it was the real one.

 

[Derrville]

According to www.pwtorch.com, the rumor is that there is a 95% chance that Mr. Kennedy will appear on Impact on January 4th.

 

[EmpireWF]

Everyone associated with TNA has been talking up tons of surprises. Between Hogan and his buddies, who knows if TNA can sign Flair this weekend (I doubt it), RVD, Ken Anderson, etc., it may do more harm than good if they do it all together.

Look at it this way, TNA has one hour to show something worthwhile to the folks who tune in before RAW. Otherwise, they lose out as soon as 9pm hits and they gain next to nothing.

 

[FedEx227]

It's Hogan and Bisch running it, you know they are going to hotshot the hell out of it. That's how they ran WCW late 1997-1999. Hotshot for short term ratings boost without thinking about or considering long term viability.

 

[FedEx227]

I just don't trust those running TNA. I think they understand they can be a competition, but that shouldn't be their number one goal. Like in WCW, it became their obsession to BEAT McMahon... don't worry about driving him out of business worry about driving your own business. Two viable, competitive, well written wrestling shows is what us fans deserve after enduring a boring monopoly since 2001.

 

[Bigpapa42]

It's Hogan and Bisch running it, you know they are going to hotshot the hell out of it. That's how they ran WCW late 1997-1999. Hotshot for short term ratings boost without thinking about or considering long term viability.

Eh, hot-shotting the belt around is one of my least worries about what could possibly go wrong. The E has been doing it pretty much for the about the past two years with the main two titles.

 

[AE]

I haven't watched wrestling since the whole 'WCW Invasion' angle came to a close and I was like..."okay, wrestling really fucking sucks now". I also swore off the WWE when they completely ruined the NWO even more than Vince Russo once did. Hogan and Bischoff running a TNA Monday Night show intrigues me enough to tune in. I know TNA is on the rise, they have some really athletic wrestlers, and I am chomping at the bit to see somebody put the fear of ratings loss back into McMahon's eyes.

 

[EmpireWF]

I don't think Bischoff is in any kind of power besides being Hogan's buddy.

Supposedly Russo is still writing stuff while Hogan is the mastermind and who knows how many other cooks are in the kitchen.

 

[SuperKevin]

I really hate the whole guest host thing they do on Raw. Most of these people have no reason being within 100 yards of a wrestling ring. Then add in the fact that there is more talking and skits than matches and you lost me as a viewer

 

[EmpireWF]

A lot of the guest hosts have been epic failures, but Bob Barker was awesome...I haven't seen all of them, but Barker was awesome.


According to Alvarez, the Hart Dynasty were told to be at RAW on Monday. YAY~!

 

[Bigpapa42]

Read an interesting analysis of the guest host thing somewhere (can't recall where). Basically, it explained quite well that the whole deal was a way to try to attract casual fans or non fans to tune in. Raw is doing better than SD in the ratings, so it could be working in that regard. But how many of those fans pay for PPVs? Whereas a lot of more dedicated fans seem to be against it (or indifferent), and those are the fans that PPVs and merchandise...

I doubt its going away anytime soon. I just wish they would make the concept "more realistic". Why do they have to take the GM role, when its obvious the majority of them have no connection at all to wrestling and know nothing about it? Not that the WWE really tries to push for the appearance of legitimacy anymore, but its makes it really hard to suspend disbelief at all. So make them guest hosts the way that SNL has guest hosts. They don't all have to be getting involved in match-making and further feuds.

As for TNA, no one seems sure exactly what Hogan's role will be or how much power he will have. Some sources say he has full creative control over everything, while others say its somewhat less. The problem I have with Hogan having full control is that he has always excelled at one thing - putting Hogan over. That's always been what he worked toward and what he did so well. Sometimes that was to the benefit of the promotion he was working for and sometimes it wasn't. So while I don't doubt he knows the business, is he going to excel at getting other talent over? Or will his focus still be on Hogan first and foremost?

I've said a few times, I have very little confidence in TNA to make this a true war. I don't think they have the resources, options, or pieces to do so. But I am hopeful they can manage it. I don't think there's a lot of potential downside to the situation. Hogan and his WCW resurrection could make Impact worse, which would be disappointing as they've done some solid work in the past few months (for the most part). I doubt it affects the WWE much at all, though it could push them to actual try, which would be a very good thing.

 

[SuperKevin]

The only reason Raw does better than Smackdown in ratings is because most people have better things to do on Friday Nights from 8-10

 

[dave]

I can't deny it - I'm looking forward to Bret Hart's appearance on RAW.

I don't get TNA on my satellite system, other than the PPVs ... and I don't pay for the minor leagues.

 

[EmpireWF]

Well, the reason would be that RAW is on USA while Smackdown is on my9.

 

[EmpireWF]

I can't deny it - I'm looking forward to Bret Hart's appearance on RAW.

I don't get TNA on my satellite system, other than the PPVs ... and I don't pay for the minor leagues.

You don't get Spike?