Impact wrestling thread - It's a Don West tribute thread now!

[bAzTNM#1]

Wow. Just so offensive on so many levels.

[AshC]

 

New IMPACT layout or even worse sales?

 

'K.O. Zone'... this is the new deal where you pay extra to hang out with the girls, right? Couldn't have picked a worse time to launch this, in terms of roster depth.

[ColinBollocks]

Who needs depth when you've got Tessmacher? I'd buy her a DVD off Amazon.

[AshC]

Haha, sure, but you'd have to think she'll be on the shows...

[IANdrewDiceClay]

That's TNA off the road then. The thread comes full circle:

News from TNA today regarding TV in the future

 

 

As has been widely expected, TNA announced to its talent today that the TV taping in two weeks, on 11/7 in Cincinnati, will be the final road tapings of Impact.

 

They will be starting back in Orlando on 11/21, but in a different location than in the past. They will be taping four shows, from 11/21 to 11/23. Essentially they will tape one full show and parts of another each night.

 

The 12/27 taping in Philadelphia, as expected based on the current issue of the Observer, is off. There will be monthly tapings in Orlando over three nights, carrying things through the end of January.

 

Impact will air tonight live from Salt Lake City on Spike at 9 p.m. Eastern time.

[rohpete]

Tna have put there spin on it

 

Where Action Never ends

 

Coming off the heels of one of TNA’s highest-attended “Bound For Glory” Pay-Per-View events to date, TNA Wrestling announces a 24/7 cross-platform programming initiative, “Where Action Never Ends,” beginning today. Marking an evolution in the way fans experience professional wrestling, through this initiative, cameras will be rolling on the TNA superstars at live events, on the road and in their homes, giving viewers the chance to experience IMPACT Wrestling 24 hours a day/7 days a week.

 

 

How this will work: Fans will see compelling, “cameras everywhere” content infused into IMPACT Live on Spike TV every Thursday from 9-11 p.m. ET. For the remaining 166 hours of the week until the next show, they will also have the chance to see many of the wrestlers they love and storylines they follow unfold as this exclusive content filmed during the week will be presented online at www.impactwrestling.com, on social channels including YouTube, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, as well as a variety of new distribution channels in the coming months.

A longtime valued partner, Universal Studios in Orlando, Fla, will serve as the hub for TNA’s revolutionized programming strategy with shows primarily taping at their location, along with some IMPACT shows that will be filmed on the road from different markets. The first IMPACT show scheduled from Orlando will air live on November 21.

“The way that people view television has dramatically shifted, and it is incumbent upon us to deliver a modern, revolutionized way of watching professional wrestling to our fans,” said President Dixie Carter. “Our reality is that we only have 82 minutes of programming each week and a large roster of talented professionals that deserve more exposure. With our new ‘Where Action Never Ends’ creative direction, we will deliver just that for both them and the fans.”

Carter continued, “Bringing live events to our fans across the globe will remain a vital element of TNA’s business; however, our renewed focus, as it relates to our television programming, will shift from live event touring to 24/7 show content, so that fans can really get to know our talent. And, in making Orlando’s Universal Studios our programming hub, we have the powerful combination of state-of-the art production facilities and incredible soundstages that will make it easier for us to launch this new production-intensive initiative. We will also be working with Universal to develop new and creative ways for park guests and fans from around the world to experience a unique TNA attraction.”

“Universal Studios Florida Production Group is pleased to be TNA Wrestling’s partner as it launches its 24/7 cross-platform initiative ‘Where Action Never Ends’,” said Pamela Tuscany, Vice President and General Manager, Universal Studios Florida Production Group. “We look forward to the successful launch of ‘Where Action Never Ends’ giving viewers the chance to experience IMPACT Wrestling 24 hours a day/7 days a week.”

Along with a refreshed creative approach, several new characters will be announced in the coming months. In recent weeks, fans have already seen Ethan Carter III (EC3) and Lei’D Tapa, TNA’s newest Knockout. Universal Studios will also serve as the primary training facility for TNA talent moving forward, providing the opportunity to train and develop talent on an ongoing basis.

The strength and success of TNA’s programming worldwide is at an all-time high. TNA Wrestling ratings around the world are seeing significant increases particularly in important international television markets such as the UK and Germany where the show is the number one wrestling program on television. Additionally, TNA recently inked new deals with distribution partners in Portugal and New Zealand, renewed a multi-year deal in France, and recently-launched programming in India is performing beyond expectation.

“A decade ago, TNA started as a Pay-Per-View only company only and has grown into a global success. I am more excited than ever about our ‘Where Action Never Ends’ creative direction and what will become the next evolution of professional wrestling,” said Carter.

Edited October 24, 2013 by rohpete

[pgi86]

So, to make a long press release short: we now know that they're back to taping mostly out of Orlando but also doing road tapings here and there as well. It also looks like they might be reducing the house show schedule, which until recently was 100+ shows per year. And instead they'll be doing a lot more online content. And that's about it.

 

This is the part I found to be most interesting/confusing, however: "Universal Studios will also serve as the primary training facility for TNA talent moving forward, providing the opportunity to train and develop talent on an ongoing basis." Say what? Are they turning Universal Studios into developmental or something? Because it sure reads like it.

Edited October 24, 2013 by pgi86

[Doctor Whos Next]

Translation: We're going back to the Impact Zone but don't worry, you can watch AJ styles watching Bargain Hunt, putting up shelves, and cutting prromos

[IANdrewDiceClay]

Its pretty heartbreaking in a lot of ways seeing a company scrambling to create a perception which nobody will ever buy. They are going back to a fixed location and haven't got a pot to piss in and they have to spin this as if its a good thing. Just seems a shame they have to do this. You'd think it would have been better to gradually go back to a location over time, instead of going full on back to Orlando. It goes back to what Dutch Mantell said about the Monday night experiment. Its tainted them. No TNA fan will dream of going to Monday nights ever again. No TNA fan will say "if they got on the road, characters would be more over and they can create stars". TNA will never go on the road permanently ever again. This is TNA from now on. Fixed location with a cast of characters who they can afford to bring in. But the worst thing is TNA spinning Derrick Bateman and Barbarian's niece as new star names we can expect a lot from. After losing all that talent over the last 2 years. The roster is just depressing to look at. There's nobody there anymore.

 

Years ago, TNA seemed to exist for the "what if?" lot. What if they got a second hour? What if they went to Monday nights? What if they got rid of Russo? What if they went to 4 PPVs a year? What if they went on the road? What if they got Hulk Hogan? Well they got all of that. Is there a golden carrot left?

Edited October 24, 2013 by IANdrewDiceClay

[JNLister]

Suspect the actual translation is more like: We'll be filming shitloads of backstage stuff so that we can tape a million episodes in one night without burning out the live crowd.

 

TNA's pretty much a TV show rather than a wrestling promotion at this point.

[garynysmon]

TNA's pretty much a TV show rather than a wrestling promotion at this point.

 

I think you've hit the nail on the head right there.

[IANdrewDiceClay]

Suspect the actual translation is more like: We'll be filming shitloads of backstage stuff so that we can tape a million episodes in one night without burning out the live crowd.

 

TNA's pretty much a TV show rather than a wrestling promotion at this point.

Which I believe is what you predicted months ago. Its stuck in my head ever since that this is where its headed.

 

Which makes you wonder if the contracts are going to be re-structured? I believe Meltzer or Mike Johnson said something regarding appearance fees tied into contracts. Like the likes of AJ and Roode have to be working dates to get their $100,000 a year, like the old WWF contracts from the mid-90s. Without house shows and with tapings probably going to be weeks apart, I wonder how this is going to work out. I brought this up a while ago. AJ Styles is the worrying one. He's done in 6 weeks or so. How can they justify giving him a rise (which he wants) on his pay if the company is dropping its schedule to basic TV tapings.

Edited October 24, 2013 by IANdrewDiceClay

[JNLister]

I suspect there's two possibilities. One is that they actively try to test the theory that they'll get the same rating regardless of the roster (or at least that it won't drop so much that they lose the TV money) and just take the attitude that they'll take anyone who's willing to work their schedule.

 

The other is that they try to keep most of the remaining core roster and turn themselves into a booking agency by which they pay people to work TV and the occasional PPV, then let them work indy dates and take a small percentage. It's looking possible there'll be times when they go weeks without a show, so I guess pimping people out to Japan might be a possible.

 

Either way, it really doesn't look like TNA can realistically make money while paying wrestlers enough to make a decent living without working elsewhere.

Edited October 24, 2013 by JNLister

[IANdrewDiceClay]

OK, let's stop talking about old (as in 2 hour old) news now. Here's the latest one from Mike Johnson.

We heard from a few sources that Eric Bischoff is not backstage at tonight's Impact taping. Two sources told me that he is not expected to be back with the company any time soon. It's fair to say that a number of people are happy with that development.

 

The exact reason for his absence has not been relayed at this time.

 

One of Bischoff's duties is to oversee the creative end of the company so it will be interesting to see how the shows are booked tonight without his input. Bischoff had "stepped up" his role in recent months with the creative direction of the company and many would say that the product has taken a turn for the worse from a storyline standpoint in that time.

 

It just never fucking ends!

Edited October 24, 2013 by IANdrewDiceClay

[garynysmon]

Would I be speculating too much in saying that the path is clear for Jeff Jarrett to bump up his role? It does seem a bit back to the future though, and TNA is regressing back to 2007 or thereabouts. Get Petey Williams and Black Machismo back on board while they're at it.