POINT 5: TNA isn't WWE.
This is likely the most important thing I can say to a fan criticizing TNA without an open mind: TNA is not the WWE, will never be the WWE, and shouldn't ever try to be the WWE. If they want to go out there and aim to beat them in ratings and produce a better product, GO FOR IT! Any company should always aim to be the best, but they need to maintain their own individuality, because two of the same thing is just redundant and unnecessary…
When I'm having a conversation with an anti-TNA fan, it always leads to one of three things: (1) TNA ratings are terrible and nobody watches their product, (2) TNA will never take down the WWE, so why even bother watching, and (3) TNA booking (Vince Russo) is so god-awful, they don't deserve my attention.
(1) Impact Wrestling ratings are NOT terrible. People need to realize that the rating system is used to rank huge shows. To even get a 1.0 rating is incredible, and shows that they have a large fan-base. Do you know how many shows have been on TV every week for years and don't draw about a 0.5? For that matter, how many shows don't even get a ranking? Bottom line is, who cares about a set of ratings that aren't designed for you to interpret or judge? That data is for advertisers and marketing specialists, not Little Jimmy Hipster sitting behind his Macbook, ironically typing at a Starbucks so everyone can see him "working". Forget the ratings – watch the show!
(2) I don't understand the fascination people have with TNA beating out the WWE. Maybe it's that we all want to see another Monday Night War, or that as wrestling fans we're so attuned to one guy beating the other that we just NEED a clear victory in the end… Let them be who they are, put out their own product, and continue building their own roster.
(3) I will complain about a stupid feud or an angle that made no sense, and I'll even go as far as blaming the creative team once in awhile. But you won't catch me coming down on guys like Hogan, Bischoff, or even Vince Russo. I know how incredibly difficult it is to write, book, and produce a television show on a weekly basis with no off-season. Or more accurately, I DON'T know how difficult it is, therefor I keep my mouth SHUT! I don't get the arrogance of so many fans who think they know what goes on behind the scenes, because people like Mark Madden or David Lagana let them peak "behind the curtain" from time to time. I love both guys, and I respect their ability both as writers, talkers, and wrestling personalities. They have earned their right to complain and throw stones at whoever they see fit. Little Jimmy Hipster has not…
In short, there are too many people complaining about a world they don't fully understand. You buy the car, you drive the car, and you get to know the car to the point where you could probably review it and give some pretty insightful opinions. But you will never know how to best MAKE the car until you actually spend time behind the scenes putting it together. By all means, post your opinions no matter what they are, but TNA is a company that needs fan support. It needs hardcore wrestling fans to get behind them, offer them constructive feedback, and get invested in their characters. TNA is probably the only wrestling company in the world that will listen to the IWC…take advantage of that! I'm just asking people to give Impact Wrestling a shot, and to realize that in a lot of ways, they're taking steps in the right direction.
I'd love to hear all your feedback on TNA, WWE, and the state of the wrestling world in general! Send all your emails to MikeKillam@gmail.com, and follow me on Twitter @MikeKillam!
