TNA news from this week's Observer

[Guest Hunter's Torn Quad]

Just days before the Final Justice PPV, Dusty Rhodes was removed as booker from TNA.

 

Rhodes officially resigned on 5/10, when he showed up for a booking meeting in Nashville, saw Jeremy Borash, Bill Banks and Scott D'Amore there, and was told by Dixie Carter that they were going to book by committee from this point forward. According to sources close to Rhodes, they were told they were going to sit down and put together the PPV show on 5 A 5 and the subsequent TV tapings on 5/17. Rhodes said the decisions for both had already been done. Then they went to take about what to do about the e NWA title situation. Rhodes said there was nothing to discuss, that A. J. Styles was going over for the championship at Final Justice. Carter said that they needed to debate the pros and cons of Styles as champion and rethink the decision. Rhodes supposedly said that he didn?t have any problem with a booking committee, but felt some of the people on the committee didn?t have enough product knowledge and shouldn't be there, and wanted to be able to have a say in who was on it. Mike Tenay, who lives in Las Vegas and was not at the meeting, is also believed to be a key person on the new committee. Jeff Jarrett won?t be on the new committee, but he will have input, and Borash is closely aligned with him. It's said that all major creative decisions will also have to be approved by an executive committee, which would likely be Dixie Carter and new TNA CEO Frank Dickerson.

 

As noted here, Rhodes' days have been numbered as booker for a variety of issues and in the company's plans for a new committee, his name wasn?t part of it. The plan is for Rhodes, who is under contract, to remain as a television character doing the Director of Authority role, with the same salary, and perhaps wrestling again. With the make-up of the new committee, its doubtful that would happen, except on rare occasions.

 

Rhodes had few allies early, as Jerry Jarrett, who originally backed him, had changed sides because Rhodes at first booked with little input from anyone, and then wanted Jeff Jarrett to lose the title. That is something virtually everyone on all sides wants, aside from Jeff & Jerry Jarrett. Even though virtually everyone publicly pays lip service to Jeff as being a great champion, and many do respect his ability in the ring (although many others privately think he's overrated, and the feeling he cant draw on top is also thought by many), privately, virtually everyone agrees the fans don?t want him as champion, aren?t buying PPVs to see him get beat, and a change is necessary. The constant argument then is always that there is nobody in the company who can play the traditional champion role well, because there isn't one great worker who can carry everyone, look like a champion and do championship promos.

 

But Jeff owns a sizeable portion of the company and it's unclear what his position is this week as it pertains to the title. He has agreed to lose it, but complained about Styles, thinking he's missing certain ingredients a champion needs, because he's only 5-8 and his promos aren't there, although it's said Jarrett had grudgingly agreed to the job, and it is on the books at press time unless a decision change is made over the next few days. Jarrett did agree to lose to Monty Brown,( which, as noted a few weeks back, buys him more time because Brown first has to be turned and then would need a chase). Rhodes was not popular with most of the wrestlers, some of whom had also suggested a committee to Dixie Carter. Dutch Mantel, who was the head booker before Rhodes, was not put on the committee and is also unpopular with most of the wrestlers from his stint. Rhodes' days were clearly numbered when, even though he was against the idea and even though most in hindsight felt Lockdown was a strong show, the eight cage matches were forced on him. Also forced on him was the ruling that his closest friends in the company, Jim Tillquist (Big Tilly) & Bruno Sassi of Phi Delta Slam, could not be used any longer, as well as the company souring on Dustin Rhodes after his domestic violence arrest two weeks earlier.

 

In addition, Jerry Jarrett has been courting a new backer, believed to be the multi-millionaire who backed the disastrous Randy Savage CD. He had come up at various times over the past few years as a potential TNA backer. Jarrett was attempting to use him to buy out Bob Carter's majority interest, and the new backer would put Jerry in full control. The fact money has been tight of late, with many people being paid for two shows instead of three when they did the triple tapings, makes people question the Carters long-term. Others feel they are in it for the long haul, believing they think once they get a good television time slot, the company, which has lost $20 million since the Carters took over as the financial backing in September of 2002, they can be profitable. The longer they can stall out the title loss, the better chance they can be back in complete control and the loss wouldn't happen.

 

In addition, there has been more talk about, after the TVs in June, the company going dark for a few months and picking up on a new TV station, to get out from the deal with FSN where the company pays $30,000 per week for time. One of the items discussed is paying of talent As things stand right now, with the company not running any shows, nobody would be getting paid (there may be an exception with Chris Harris & James Storm, as they signed a contract with a weekly guarantee so they earn the same whether they are booked on television or not). The feeling is, that would lead to much of the talent, particularly the younger guys who aren?t making much to begin with, looking for an exit strategy. Of course, the majority of those in the company would have no other viable options. Exactly how to handle it and the length have not been decided, or even if it will happen, just that it is a good possibility because they may not be able to go directly from FSN to a new station. It's pretty well clear with Spike, the earliest they would be getting on is October. TNA claimed in meetings with Spike mat it could do a 2.0 rating on Monday night, simply because of people switching back-and-forth with Raw, and while that is double TNA's prime time average rating, they didn?t want to be in a situation where they are going head-to-head and losing 4.0 to 2.0, plus due to how hard it is to sell advertising on wrestling, a 2.0 isn?t going to draw any more ad revalue than a regular show that does a 1.0, which is what the average show on the station does.

 

I?d be terribly sceptical they could do a 2.0 on Monday night. WCW Nitro, with far more popularity, general public knowledge and exposure, star power and tradition and a prior history of huge ratings, and with wrestling more popular, fell as low as 2.1 on several occasions in 2001 going head-up with Raw. Nitro also aired on TNT, a station far more popular than Spike. When ECW, which was far more popular, was on Spike in prime time (1999-2000 TV season), they averaged 0.9 for the year, at a time when pro wrestling itself was also more popular. UFC had afternoon specials on FSN that averaged a 0.8, and then when moving to a late night slot on Spike with a reality show, and having the great Raw lead-in, averaged a 1.6. TNA averages an 0.2 on both Friday and Saturday.

 

It's said to be far more probable of the WGN deal and a Monday night time slot, probably at 9 pm Eastern. If that's the case, the transition would probably be in June and could be immediate. Monday night would be better than Friday night and late Saturday night, but there are major weaknesses.

 

The Monday night time slot would almost surely not air in WGN's best city, Chicago, at least in prime time. WGN is actually two different stations, there is the Chicago version of the station, which airs WB programming in prime time, and the outside of Chicago cable station, that is available in about 73% of the cable homes now and 57% of the total homes, but that nobody watches. If TNA signs a deal to go on Monday nights, head-to-head with Raw, or even in prime time, the earliest it would be able to air in Chicago is 11 p.m., if it is to air in that city at all. In addition, WGN has every limited exposure in New York, and those are the two U.S. cities with the most wrestling fans.

 

In the past, when WCW was on WGN, it was on a weekend morning and the show did air in Chicago. When WWF was on WGN, and its shows on that station drew really bad ratings compared to USA at the time, the show didn't air often in Chicago. This deal sounds similar to the WGN show "Ultimate Arena Paintball," which airs nationally at 10 p.m. on Saturday nights (and the fact you've never heard of it tells you about what being in prime time on WGN means) but doesn't air at all in Chicago.

[Loss]

Thanks for posting both this and the Cornette story. By the way, how long has Jarrett held the title now? It's odd that the wrestlers hated Dusty as well, considering he was trying to get the belt off Jarrett.

[Coffey]

Jarrett won the title at the King of the Mountain BS. So, he's had it for a real long time now.

[Guest Hunter's Torn Quad]

Jarrett has held the belt since June 2nd of last year.

 

Jarrett once defended his reign by saying there was nobody ready to take it from him. If that were true, and it isn't, and if they haven't elevated anyone to NWA Title level in over a year, then clearly something is majorly wrong.

[Loss]

Think it's finally dawning on the Carters that TNA was intended to be nothing more than a personal vehicle to make Jeff Jarrett a wrestling star?

[Guest Hunter's Torn Quad]

They wised up to that fact a few weeks ago.

 

Took them long enough.

[Guest Hunter's Torn Quad]

I'm waiting to see how certain Jarrett marks react to this news. No doubt, they'll side with Jeff, and continue to suck his metahporical dick.

[Coffey]

ARE there Jarrett marks?

 

I really don't know who they should give the title to at this point either to be perfectly honeset. Styles already had it and I actually with Jarrett when he said that Styles is missing some tools. He really can't talk. Not only that but a lot of his moves get botched.

 

If I were going to put it someone right now, I'd throw it on Abyss. He's still a monster and he doesn't have to talk. Hell, they could stick a mouthpiece with him again anyway.

 

It should be a big deal though. They can't just throw Jarrett into the ring with Abyss and have Abyss go over. Especially since Jarrett has had the belt for a year. It should be something to do with being a #1 Contender or some shit. An on-air authority figure, which I guess would be Dusty, should tell Jarrett that he has to defend the title against Abyss.

 

Then have Abyss win in a glorified squash where he gets to no-sell a guitar shot and possible the Stroke.

 

It'll be a bigger deal for Monty to win the title from Abyss than it would be from Jarrett me thinks. Even with the crappy heel turn and all that other shit that they've tried to do.

 

Abyss will get the pooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooounce! Period.

[Mad Dog]

Just that CarnializComing loser at TSM. Other than that even the biggest TNA fans are sick of Jarrett for the most part. I'm hopeful he loses on Sunday. Once the belt is off of him it should be easy for the Carters to gain complete control of the company.

 

I think Styles could give them a good summer by defending the belt against Abyss at the 3rd Ann. show and maybe a Daniels program in there. When they get to that point Matt Hardy will probably be in the company but they should milk the Hardy Boyz reunion before pushing him as a World Title contender.

[Coffey]

I'd rather watch a Matt Vs. Jeff program with Jeff being the heel because he's jealous of the success that Matt had in WWE after he was gone. Something to that nature without actually mentioning WWE.

 

Maybe Jeff can talk about having to damn near kill himself to win matches or get crowd approval where all it took Matt was a gimmick.

 

I certainly don't want to watch the Naturals/AMW against The Hardy Boyz.

[Guest Hunter's Torn Quad]

I don't think AJ's mic skills, or alleged lack of them, makes any difference as to whether he'd make a good NWA Champion. Right now, TNA have to sets of fans; the ones who come to their free tapings and PPV's, and the ones who pay for their PPV's. The freebie fans go nuts for AJ all the time, and he, along with Christopher Daniels, have been the ones who they consistently cheer and go nuts for. The people who buy their PPV's, and this has been backed up by TNA's own checking, primarily buy them for how good the matches are, as the majority of a PPV's buys come on repeat showings, once word has spread has to how good or bad the show is. These people are paying for quality matches, and AJ has delivered on just about every PPV, as I don't think he's had a bad match at all on the monthly PPV's. As for Styles missing a few moves here and there, neither set of fans really cares, as when Styles or anyone else for that matter botches a move, it's surprisingly rare for the live fans to do anything beyond maybe boo or jeer for a few seconds before getting back into the match, and the PPV buyers don't really care, as they're primarily interested in the end product, that being a good match.

 

If TNA were a normal promotion and toured and had to draw paying fans to their tapings and PPV's, I might be able to see the merits in arguing against AJ getting the belt because of his mic skills. But TNA isn't a normal promotion, and the fans they get are really into AJ Styles big time, and because of the unique nature of TNA, I see no legitimate reason that he can't get the belt this Sunday.

[Guest teke184]

Just that CarnializComing loser at TSM.  Other than that even the biggest TNA fans are sick of Jarrett for the most part.  I'm hopeful he loses on Sunday.  Once the belt is off of him it should be easy for the Carters to gain complete control of the company.

 

I think Styles could give them a good summer by defending the belt against Abyss at the 3rd Ann. show and maybe a Daniels program in there.  When they get to that point Matt Hardy will probably be in the company but they should milk the Hardy Boyz reunion before pushing him as a World Title contender.

There were quite a few times when the TNA crowds would start "Triple J" chants, so I'd say there's a sizable percentage of their fans in attendance who want to see anyone BUT Jeff Jarrett..

[Guest Some Guy]

Matt and Jeff bombed in WWE when they feuded. I'd just rather not see Jeff Hardy. He's a one-trick-pony and I've seen that trick way too many times already.

 

I enjoy Matt's gimmick and work but I don't really want to see him going for a world title. He needs to work on his appearance more IMO. The goofy hair cut and wrestling in pants makes him look like a mid carder.

 

I can't believe that JJ has held that belt for 11 months, I assume that he's been champion there for 95% of the company's existance. I don't think Killings or AJ had very long reigns. I don't watch enough TNA to really know for sure though.

 

I have seen enough of Jarrett through the years to find it incredibly laughable that he is criticizing someone for being too short and missing a main component to be champion. I assume that component is owning the company. JJ is about 5'11" or so I think, he's not exactly a giant. He doesn't have a great body, great mic skills, great ring work, or great talent in general. Vince used him properly, Russo over-pushed him dramatically, and he pushes himself way too hard and much.

 

When you have fans chanting "drop the title" it's time to drop it. That is not good heat, only a smart fan would chant that and obviously the internet fans are the only ones watching. They don't want him on top, they want AJ or Monty. Giving the fans what they want is how you make money. Monty would be a good choice IMO because he's over and could be heavily marketed towards black kids (a demographic that gets neglected badly by wrestling as a whole, there is a lot of money to be made there), in hopes of drawing them in to the product.

 

I still remember being at a house show in 2001 and watching Booker T work, there was a young black kid, who was quietly chanting "come on Booker!" Vince may have lost a paying customer by burying the guy.

[Guest Hunter's Torn Quad]

What they need to do is have AJ win the belt on Sunday, and feud with whomever wins the 20 man battle royal that night, with them possibly extending the program over two PPV's. While this is going on, have Monty break away from the Jarrett group by turning face, and feud with Jarrett in the semi-main event slot, before ultimately winning the feud, and at that point AJ and Monty can feud over the NWA Title, with both men being babyfaces, but heavily hyping up that Monty is someone else who is destined to be NWA Champion, and they can portray the feud as a strictly sportsmanlike one, with both men wanting to prove who the better man. Not only will it elevate Monty because he'll have good matches with AJ, but it will be something totally fresh, and might attract people who got tired of watching The Jeff Jarrett Show.

[Guest Some Guy]

I'm not sure a babyface feud would work out all that well. They could possibly turn AJ heelish by having his winning of the title go to his head. They wouldn't have to have him do anything outlandish like tearing a Bible or whatever, just have him act more arrogant than he already does (he comes across heelish to me in his entrance anyway, plus he looks like a dick).

 

I think with a worker like Monty he needs to work face and probably works best when his opponent gets the heat and Monty makes the comeback and Pounces him for the win.

 

I can't figure out why they turned Monty in the first place. Beyond taking him out of the title picture so JJ can hold onto his bowling trophy it made no sense.

[Guest Hunter's Torn Quad]

Then let AJ be the more heelish. As long it's something new and fresh, and doesn't involve Jarrett.

[Guest Some Guy]

Sounds like a plan. How do we go about getting on this new booking commitee?

[Guest Hunter's Torn Quad]

How do we go about getting on this new booking commitee?  

Bribe Jeremy Borash with hookers.

[Guest Some Guy]

I'm on my way to China Town right now to pick some up...

[Coffey]

I still remember being at a house show in 2001 and watching Booker T work, there was a young black kid, who was quietly chanting "come on Booker!"

That story made me sad.

 

Someone needs to get him a Bad News Brown comp. tape or something.

[Loss]

Well, Jarrett came through and dropped the title to Styles, but from the match descriptions I'm reading, it seems like he may have been upset and opted not to put him over huge. Styles won the title after Ortiz decked him, and Monty Brown's interference backfired. Nonetheless, if the goal is for the Carters to slowly take away the pull of the Jarretts and take full control of the company, now they have the opportunity to do so.

[Mad Dog]

I'd say it's a good sign that Jarrett's lost the power struggle or is losing it. Without the NWA Title he has nothing to fight with.

[sek69]

Either that or he's pulling a Hunter where he sees the writing on the wall and does the job to look like a good company man.

 

Wonder what was up with Jeff Hardy not showing.

[Guest teke184]

Either that or he's pulling a Hunter where he sees the writing on the wall and does the job to look like a good company man.

 

Wonder what was up with Jeff Hardy not showing.

Don't read anything into that... Jeff's a fucking flake, so it was probably piddily shit and not anything substantial.

[Guest Some Guy]

Meltzer said something on WOL about Jeff Hardy no showing once and claiming that he had snakes in his house as the reason. He also said that Jeff missed several flights, so presumably he just didn't want to be there.

 

Maybe after the tacks and whatnot last months he didn't feel his body could top that.