Is TNA the worst wrestling promotion in history?

[Ryan Faulconer]

On the most recent Impact Matt Hardy's goofy act got what sounded like legitimate laughs out of the audience. They weren't the usual go-along-with-the-catchphrases type of reaction either. I even laughed during the EC3/Matt exchange. I can't remember the last genuine laugh I had while watching WWE. Broken Matt Hardy is a fabulous mess of an idea. It shouldn't work but it does. Any wrestlers or characters coming within the orbit of this angle seems to get it as well. They have such a thin roster now so the rest of the show feels pretty repetitive with the exact same wrestlers on every single show I've seen during the last five weeks. They can't shuffle anyone in or out of angles while they basically play musical chairs when one feud ends and another begins.

 

Lashley actually cuts a decent promo now. I never thought that would happen. In the ring he used to remind me more of Gronda than Brock Lesnar or Mark Henry. I'd say he is at least at Big Show's level now - which I think we can all agree that is a major improvement from what he once was. Big Show is so overexposed and mishandled that any championship run for him has limited credibility while Lashley is the definition of underexposed. After leaving WWE he dropped off the wrestling map for most fans before showing up in TNA and relocating to what can at least be called discovered land but also land that nobody can see or care about.

 

The announcers really should stop trying to copy WWE's style of broadcasting. As it is they come off like an episode of Jakked/Metal/random weekend c show. They show the same uninspired enthusiasm that most WWE announcers have given us until the brand split hopefully changes that at least a little bit. Josh Matthews throws to commercials and the production gives us the same format and angles that WWE has abused over the years.

[Lee]

I can't remember the last genuine laugh I had while watching WWE.

 

 

I got one when they shut the lights off on Heath Slater when he was the last guy left in catering after nobody bothered to draft him, and that was barely a week ago.

[Alucard]

On the most recent Impact Matt Hardy's goofy act got what sounded like legitimate laughs out of the audience. They weren't the usual go-along-with-the-catchphrases type of reaction either. I even laughed during the EC3/Matt exchange. I can't remember the last genuine laugh I had while watching WWE. Broken Matt Hardy is a fabulous mess of an idea. It shouldn't work but it does. Any wrestlers or characters coming within the orbit of this angle seems to get it as well. They have such a thin roster now so the rest of the show feels pretty repetitive with the exact same wrestlers on every single show I've seen during the last five weeks. They can't shuffle anyone in or out of angles while they basically play musical chairs when one feud ends and another begins.

 

Lashley actually cuts a decent promo now. I never thought that would happen. In the ring he used to remind me more of Gronda than Brock Lesnar or Mark Henry. I'd say he is at least at Big Show's level now - which I think we can all agree that is a major improvement from what he once was. Big Show is so overexposed and mishandled that any championship run for him has limited credibility while Lashley is the definition of underexposed. After leaving WWE he dropped off the wrestling map for most fans before showing up in TNA and relocating to what can at least be called discovered land but also land that nobody can see or care about.

 

The announcers really should stop trying to copy WWE's style of broadcasting. As it is they come off like an episode of Jakked/Metal/random weekend c show. They show the same uninspired enthusiasm that most WWE announcers have given us until the brand split hopefully changes that at least a little bit. Josh Matthews throws to commercials and the production gives us the same format and angles that WWE has abused over the years.

 

I agree on Broken Matt and Lashley. Both are two of my favorites right now. Lashley is perfect in his role and has become fantastic on the mic. I actually think TNA has done a good job with the flow of feuds and story progression though. Drew/Lashley was a nicely built long title feud that has transitioned well into the Drew/EC3 rivalry while Lashley has multiple possible challengers that they can cycle in and out, like Eddie Edwards last week. Also thought the introduction of Moose has been very well done and a match between him and Lashley already feels big.

[raul]

[ButchReedMark]

How smacked off his tits was Jeff Hardy to not realise the difference between a man he worked with for 4 years and a man who looks like a baby Lou Ferrigno and threw one up his brother's ex?

 

Thank god for those WWE Part Time Test Free contracts, eh?

[NintendoLogic]

It appears that TNA's business license has been revoked as of Saturday.

 

https://tnbear.tn.gov/Ecommerce/FilingDetail.aspx?CN=129027161081156127145204026234034035153058153189

[Johnny Sorrow]

It appears that TNA's business license has been revoked as of Saturday.

 

https://tnbear.tn.gov/Ecommerce/FilingDetail.aspx?CN=129027161081156127145204026234034035153058153189

Or has it been DEEEEELEEEEATED?

[Migs]

It appears that TNA's business license has been revoked as of Saturday.

 

https://tnbear.tn.gov/Ecommerce/FilingDetail.aspx?CN=129027161081156127145204026234034035153058153189

 

Possible that they are shifting their place of business to Florida. It's a state registration, so it might just mean they are inactive in Tennessee.

[EricR]

So, in Tennessee they are effectively OBSOLETE?

[C.S.]

From Wrestling Inc.:

 

IMPACT VENTURES NAMES BILLY CORGAN AS ITS NEW PRESIDENT, CURRENT PRESIDENT DIXIE CARTER BECOMES CHAIRMAN

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- IMPACT Ventures [iMPACT], the parent company of TNA Wrestling and IMPACT WRESTLING, today announced the appointment of Billy Corgan as its new President. Current President Dixie Carter becomes Chairman and Chief Strategy Officer of IMPACT.

As President, Billy Corgan will be responsible for leading day-to-day operations for IMPACT and its affiliated brands. As Chairman, Carter will focus on long-term planning, strategic partnerships and global growth.

"Billy is a visionary, an iconic artist and savvy businessman with an incredibly gifted creative mind. He has built a decades-long successful global brand, and also has a deep passion and understanding for professional wrestling," said Carter. "In working with Billy over the last 16 months, he has impressed me to the point that I've been in discussions with him to take an elevated strategic leadership role within the company. The more we discussed our vision for the organization, the clearer it became that position needed to match his commitment."

"We are entering an exciting new era for IMPACT and will be working to continue to define our brand, develop global strategies for success, and structure for future investment and growth," added Carter. "These moves, effective immediately, signify the team's determination to work together to effectively cover more ground and capitalize on TNA's current momentum that has seen ratings rise in recent months."

Corgan, 49, is an American musician, songwriter, producer, TV writer and poet, best known as the lead singer, guitarist, and sole permanent member of The Smashing Pumpkins, who have sold more than 30 million albums worldwide and won multiple Grammy Awards. Corgan joined IMPACT in May 2015 as a senior producer.

"I believe in this company, its passionate fans, the talented roster and the dedicated staff and crew," said Corgan. "I am committed to this great opportunity and will use all of my resources and connections to drive the success of this company. This year we have made significant strides in establishing a strong foundation for our future and will be aggressive in continuing to evolve and grow the IMPACT brands."

IMPACT's flagship broadcast IMPACT WRESTLING airs Thursdays at 8/7c on Pop, and in more than 120 countries around the world.

[El-P]

No matter how Corgan is an egomaniac, how the current Pumpkins are irrelevant, I love the fact he's a true pro-wrestling fan at heart.

[Lee]

I'll take Pumpkins over Saturday night karaoke contests forever, "irrelevant" or otherwise.

[sek69]

It's like every time you think TNA finally ran out of lives, Dixie manages to put in the Konami Code.

[Grimmas]

Is anybody watching this? One of my favourites, Cherry Bomb (Allie) is now on the show and seems to be getting pushed. Is the rest of the show even watchable?

[Scarlet-Left]

I'm still watching put I skip through a lot.

[Dewar]

There's some guilty pleasure stuff (Broken Matt Hardy, Eli Drake and his "dummy, yeah!!" buzzer), and there is some actual good stuff going on.

[Tim Evans]

Is anybody watching this? One of my favourites, Cherry Bomb (Allie) is now on the show and seems to be getting pushed. Is the rest of the show even watchable?

 

The Lashley "Lance storm" angle is pretty good. He's having a hell of a year and I've liked his matches with EC3, Drew and James Storm. TNA has some good things like the X-division matches with guys like DJ z and even the tag stuff with Decay and Bromans. It's just a shame most of it has become a Mike Bennett and Maria vanity project. I like Maria but her Stephanie Mcmahon tribute act is the worst. Bennett is so bland and it's a shame they are wasting Cherry Bomb as the ditzy assistant.

[Alucard]

I'm still watching and enjoying Impact as well, I think the show is very good more often than not. Agreed with Lashley's year, he's become one of the best dudes going today.

[Gutenberger]

I just saw a Youtube clip of Broken Matt Hardy and Brother Nero being confronted by The Decay... Has TNA now fully committed to being a complete and utter freak show or WTF is going on there?

[hammerva]

I don't know but if this should be considered spoilers but apparently there are plans for a "Final Deletion II" (which seems like a contradiction in terms) involving both teams

[SomethingSavage]

Is that the Great War gimmick they're putting on Bound For Glory?

[Alucard]

Is that the Great War gimmick they're putting on Bound For Glory?

 

They have a brawl at the Hardy Compound on an upcoming Impact, leading up to The Great War at BFG.

[Lee]

I think the sequel is actually called "The Final Liquidation", which might perhaps satiate the sort of people who ask how there can be 15 Final Fantasy's or how The NeverEnding Story can only last for 93 minutes.

[Johnny Sorrow]

I think the sequel is actually called "The Final Liquidation", which might perhaps satiate the sort of people who ask how there can be 15 Final Fantasy's or how The NeverEnding Story can only last for 93 minutes.

You know, morons.

[topropepodcast]

I wasn't as sold on Delete or Decay as the Final Deletion, but it had it's moments for sure. Rosemary comes off really well in these kind of segments.

 

The search for Senor Benjamin has been a lot of fun.