Just some thoughts about that two after spending quite a lot of time watching a lot of wrestling recently.
For me, the best shows in order to catch up on are Raw > Smackdown > NXT > FCW (if you can find it) > Superstars > TNA. I won't undignify the list by putting saturday morning slam in there.
Nxt and Fcw are great to watch to see the next generation of talent. Some great guys coming through at the minute and you can see them trying their heart out to get to the next level, they now they are so close. With the introduction of the NXT championship, it looks like they're taking this branch of WWE very seriously and that is certainly a good thing. Regal on commentary is always great too, with his clumsiness and charm in a very british way and not to mention his dark humour. JR makes a lot of appearances on commentary too which is great to hear, he really is still the best announcer around at the moment...
It would seem that the wwe are getting bigger on making the most of its heritage and having past shows released on dvds and bringing in old stars from different eras to wrestle. This is obviously a big thing it has over TNA and one of it's main weapons it has to keep the two apart I think.
TNA should perhaps be commended for the bound for glory series in which it constantly puts the best stars together in big matches each week, usually two big matches each week. They vary the opponents a lot too and have a lot of face v face matches.
Unfortunately, the end result of this is that things get a bit saturated pretty quickly. Guys are having to use their finishers like 3 times to pin their opponents these days in order to keep the matches long and interesting with a lack of any real gimmicks to bring to the ring. This is where it falls apart for me, the matches soon start feeling generic and forgettable, even with the big name stars that they always use to match it up
Kurt Angle, Bully Ray, Jeff Hardy, Mr Anderson, Rob Van Dam, James Storm, Bobby Roode. AJ Styles
They also vary the results a lot, which again, initially seems not a bad idea, but it feels that there are ultimately few stand-out stars since less momentum is built for individuals. Having said that, the recent Abyss and now Aces and Eight angles, whilst both very contrived, have added to the entertainment a bit, good to see them take this corny route of story telling IMO, it feels like a bit of a throwback to some of the over-the-top pantomime-like promos but with a darker edge. Hulk also seems to be a bit mental at the moment.
Anyway, just ramblings really, be interested to hear your thoughts
TNA and WWE
posted on 14/9/12
I've tried to watch TNA but I really can't get into it. It bores the pants off me.
Now, in fairness to the hardcore TNA fanboys (all 2 of them), WWE isn't much better in terms of all around entertainment but, like you said in the thread, it has many, many weapons that keep it head and shoulders above TNA.
TNA may have the occasional well rated Pay per view but, apart from those rare occasions, it really has nothing else to offer and, I feel, will always be second rate. Slightly above the independent scene but not direct competition to WWE.
posted on 14/9/12
the small crowd is killing tna .....
posted on 14/9/12
Since it's rise to simulated stardom (Kurt Angle's debut and feud with Joe), TNA just hasn't got it right. I remember during that 06-09 period TNA had converted former WWE attitude followers into marky fanboys like crazy - and it amazed me how none of them realised until it was right in front of their faces that TNA was never going to ascend even beyond Cena's personal draw, let alone WWE's collective draw.
I think WWE is fady, consistently tries papering over the cracks with constant filler angles, but they're got nothing on TNA, which is more than capable of making a star and destroying him in under a year. And when the old guard showed up, that really killed it. Once again, Vince may have fallen behind the times, but my word he has NOTHING on Hogan/Bischoff.
WWE may have been god awful in the late noughties, but they at least had redeeming factors which always made you believe they could fry TNA if the heat ever turned up. For example, Edge & Orton during that time had a level of presentation and authority which crushed any TNA heel i could think of, especially Orton who had intensity oozing out of the TV screen. You could've revolved thrillers around his fictional character back then
posted on 14/9/12
it amazed me how none of them realised until it was right in front of their faces that TNA was never going to ascend even beyond Cena's personal draw
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forget cena, it wont ascend past the funkasaurus
posted on 19/9/12
TNA will, in time become a major player.
Remember, it's still a very new federation so I'd say it will be another 10 years before we start seeing TNA rubbing shoulders with WWE.
TNA will surprise you with some huge signings over the next few years - that is of course, if the likes of EB stay on board. It's all about the money.
posted on 3/11/12
Having watched TNA over the past 2 weeks I have noticed 2 errors that even I could edit out, Their was a backstage brawl between 'A' double Austin Aries & Mr Anderson that ended with Mr Anderson walking away until you heard the word 'CUT' & saw Anderson walking back about to chat to Aries, then this last week Joey Ryan had to be told by Matt Morgan 'Down' twice so he could speak into the microphone.
Whilst I do like the TNA product (still needs improving) I feel this would never have happened in a WWE show.