As I watch TNA Impact each week, I find myself complimenting them just a bit more each time.
TNA still has many more steps to make to be at the same level with the WWE. The root of the growth as always is financial resources. The ability to have each episode of Impact or a Pay Per View in a different location. If anyone though should be the captain of this ship of growth, Eric Bischoff is The Skipper and Hogan is Gilligan.
Bischoff is the perfect makeover artist. He can turn what is beer goggle material, into cheap eye candy who is one good trick away from making a name for herself. He’ll do it and still have money left over for snacks. He is efficient and can expose the best features of what he has to work with.
The easiest feature to compliment at quick glance is the look of the show. TNA no longer appears at to be in a small time setting. A bigger and brighter entrance way does wonders to give a boost to the atmosphere. If they keep away from the arial shots or anything that exposes how few people are actually in attendance, it works in their favor.
The timing of the show still needs improved, but it is a 2 hour show and will not happen in just one episode. Simple things such as backstage segments taking place and the transition to the next entrance can be rushed. The soundtrack of the show which is the narration from Mike Tenay trying to sell what we just saw happen can be poorly delivered or come off cheesy.
My personal opinion is that Mike Tenay was great on the first hour of Nitro giving us the insight and fun facts of the international wrestlers that we knew nothing of and were amazed by, after that he is at the Mike Adamle level of entertainment for me.
Having Kevin Nash tcut a promo saying that he has been sticking his neck out for Sean Waltman and Scott Hall for a long time and is sick of it, I can believe that. I can believe the conflict that is going to be connected to the promo, because what he said has some truth to it.
Having Kurt Angle talk about his military tags meaning so much and having connection with turning his life around because he had marriage and legal troubles, so he is really pissed at Mr. Anderson for disrespecting the tags, I can believe that. I can believe the conflict that is taking place between them, because what Kurt said has some truth to it.
What TNA is beginning to do the best for me is giving a story that I want to hear about. They are doing this by incorporating some real life elements. Lets face it, some decent percentage of wrestling fans who are watching either of the two promotions programming, has some exposure to online gossip and news.
One of two things happens….
1. Either the audience who knows the behind the curtain truth are getting that excited when the real life aspects are coming onto the screen
2. Or those who don’t know the real life background are still going to be entertained by the story because the story is interesting.
Matt Hardy/Edge/Lita
Bret Hart/Shawn Michaels/Vince McMahon
Batista/Booker T
All of the above are just easily remembered, well known examples of real life drama that has played out in the ring and on camera.