How would you make TNA competition for WWE?

[Izzy]

Double the roster? Sorry dude but that is crazy. The roster is too big already just for a 2 hour show.

Only the X division roster - if you count them up, there arent many people in it, and those they do have arent always the best

Sonjay Dutt and Petey Williams were fantastic - they have left a hole that others havent filled

[Hammy]

Double the roster? Sorry dude but that is crazy. The roster is too big already just for a 2 hour show.

Only the X division roster - if you count them up, there arent many people in it, and those they do have arent always the best

Sonjay Dutt and Petey Williams were fantastic - they have left a hole that others havent filled

He might be before your time as a TNA fan but Matt Bentley, relation of HBK was fantastic in the early days, shame he seems to of quit the business.  And forget his crap with Serotonin.  When he was Michael Shane (before copyright forced a change), with his finisher Sweet Shane Music (Great rip-off), the trio of Sabin, Shane and Petey had some classics.  Petey always worked best as a heel.

[Izzy]

The very first Impact featured an X Division title match in which i honestly couldnt understand how no one was killed

They hurtled around the ring at such a speed it seemed impossible they could walk away unharmed

That kind of action, while risky - would see TNA grew, but they have gone all WWE, slow matches, big men - strange in a show called 'TOTAL NONSTOP ACTION' we've seen the dreaded sleeper hold / catch your breath routine appear more and more often

[Hammy]

The very first Impact featured an X Division title match in which i honestly couldnt understand how no one was killed

They hurtled around the ring at such a speed it seemed impossible they could walk away unharmed

That kind of action, while risky - would see TNA grew, but they have gone all WWE, slow matches, big men - strange in a show called 'TOTAL NONSTOP ACTION' we've seen the dreaded sleeper hold / catch your breath routine appear more and more often

Well you must have seen the signs when he went from "We are wrestling" to "Cross the line", not to turn this into another WWE vs. TNA argument per say but there are many weeks when WWE programming has more wrestling, heck I think ECW in one hour has outdone Impact's 2 for the amount of wrestling some weeks.  With the stars they have I'd just want them for once to say, bollocks to it, here is a 25-30 minute television match featuring the X-Division stars.  I mean in the past few months we seem to of had about 3 or 4 "2 minute" Ladder matches.  If you are having a Ladder match, do it properly.  Take Doug Williams and Homicide, you wouldn't think it from what you have seen of them, in the ring in the past few months, but if there Ladder Match had gone 25 minutes these 2 could have teared the house down.  As they always state it could be one of those "Water cooler" moments at work, "Hey did you see that match on Impact...."

[slashsfro]

Well you must have seen the signs when he went from "We are wrestling" to "Cross the line", not to turn this into another WWE vs. TNA argument per say but there are many weeks when WWE programming has more wrestling, heck I think ECW in one hour has outdone Impact's 2 for the amount of wrestling some weeks.  With the stars they have I'd just want them for once to say, bollocks to it, here is a 25-30 minute television match featuring the X-Division stars.  I mean in the past few months we seem to of had about 3 or 4 "2 minute" Ladder matches.  If you are having a Ladder match, do it properly.  Take Doug Williams and Homicide, you wouldn't think it from what you have seen of them, in the ring in the past few months, but if there Ladder Match had gone 25 minutes these 2 could have teared the house down.  As they always state it could be one of those "Water cooler" moments at work, "Hey did you see that match on Impact...."

Exactly!  They could easily put on 2 or 3 10-15 minute matches per episode of TNA impact with some of their underused wrestlers (anyone not involved with the MEM mafia feud) yet they seem to squander this valuable TV time devoting it to some useless skit, angle.  For example, I love Stevie Richards but he really shouldn't be given as much TV time.  I think there is a way where they could intergrate both the name guys (former WCW and WWE wrestlers) and still feature some wrestling into their program.  Honestly, they just need to hire new bookers and can Russo and Jarrett.  There is a vacancy in the marketplace for an alternative to WWE.  I'm sure that someone out there knows how to book TNA properly.  It's too bad since I actually like some of the underused TNA wrestlers.  I just don't like sitting through the WWE lite moments on Impact. 

[D]

Samoa Joe and Hernandez feud

that is better than ANY WWE feud

WOW, Talk about a dream match of mine. Let's hope they dont' **** it up with the booking

[More Cowbell]

Anyone else feel this mem angle russo and company think it can be booked and played out like NWO and think it,ll be what grows tna? Ratings are up some now. Maybe a second 1 hour syndicated show or something to get everyone tv.

[Izzy]

Anyone else feel this mem angle russo and company think it can be booked and played out like NWO and think it,ll be what grows tna? Ratings are up some now. Maybe a second 1 hour syndicated show or something to get everyone tv.

Its almost impossible to tell MEM from NWO, the MEM even has the 80 members the NWO managed....

...but if WWE isnt going to do it then cant blame TNA

It TNA would just up tempo with the matches and get the X Division as the heartbeat we'd be sorted - for all TNA's failings, its not THAT far from being....er.....what we deserve

[Izzy]

One thing TNA needs to do is change the announce team

...now I like the current set up...but thats not to say I cant see a better one

Personally I'd have Angle win 'control' over TNA in some fashion - perhaps TNA management are intimidated into giving him some sway over things

I'd have Mick Foley 'fired' - but end up at commentary (perhaps TNA management wanted him in some role), i'd then have Taz appointed as the second announcer as a 'minder' to ensure the MEM perspective was put across

Gives a role for Mick (he cant wrestle) and a role for Taz (he cant wrestle either) and having a TNA vs MEM announce team could be intresting

[More Cowbell]

I think Foley thinks he is above that.  He probalby was promised so much wrestling time and titles to sign with TNA i cant see him happy with sitting behind the table and the same with Taz why leave big money WWE to do the same job for less money in TNA?

[D]

They need to bring in Joey Styles and team him with Taz

[scotta75]

I think TNA has gotten away from what made them different from WWE!

What I am saying is when TNA came out they had fresh never seen before talent and that what made them special and made people watch them, but now look at them. They are just like WCW was back in the day using old used up talent like Nash, Angle, and Foley and I hate to say it but Sting too! TNA needs to go with this simple plan build angles and storylines around the younger talent. TNA should use Samoa Joe like they use too use him a freaking unstoppable machine that no one can beat, get him away from Tazz it is killing him.

 I don't know if any of you guys remember this but back in the early part of the 90's the WWE did this when Vince got rid of Hogan, Savage and all the older talent and started pushing the younger talent. Yeah that move almost put Vince out of wrestling but Vince keep pushing the younger talent and look at the WWE now.  The next thing I would do is what WCW did for awhile and that is push the X Division like crazy because that is where the action is in TNA, don't get me wrong I like to see the TNA title around Styles but him and Daniels really shine when they where in the X-Division.

Bring in more Japanese and other countries wrestlers this work wonderfuls for WCW back in the day it give some serious spotlight to wrestlers like Rey, Juvi and others wrestlers who were not known in America but when they went to WCW they back instant stars.

Overall TNA needs to look back and see what is working, I hate their booking I don't like Angle as Champion I think Main Event Mafia has had it's time and it is time to push the younger talent like Nigel McGunnis and the those dudes in the British stable.  I would do away with Don West and put Tazz at the announcer table with Mike Tenay.  Next I would use the older talent to put over and bring up the younger talent, and just to let you guys know Ric Flair made a living off of putting over younger talent (Sting was one those younger talent that Flair help make into a star.)

However the facts are this for TNA to outshine WWE they are going to have to do something that is different from the WWE and that means don't use talent that has come from the WWE, and developed their own talent like Styles, Daniel, Joe and Eric Young! 

[D]

And that is why I invited him!

Great post agree 100 percent

[Izzy]

TNA are playing things safe - established talent, its easy, it solidifies their position

...and its easy to knock the reliance on WWE/WCW guys

...but these guys are (were?) some of the best in the world - just because they are now in their 40's and 50's doesnt change the fact these are the same guys who's mic skills and wrestling flair made them massive - they still have bucketloads of talent (well, Nash cant wrestle)

It is time to really push the TNA guys - the 'balance' is increasingly off...

[D]

TNA just have to make sure they have a long term plan. NWO was awesome for a while but WCW had no plan and it went to ****.

so knowing when to start pushing the young guys over the MEM is crucial to TNA's success. TNA must have a logical conclusion and have the young originals come out on top somehow.