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CORNER CUBE THURSDAY 2/21: The state of TNA - perception vs. actual numbers
Feb 21, 2008 - 4:13:35 PM |
By James Caldwell, Torch columnist
Updated throughout the day from the corner cubicle, Torch columnist James Caldwell's weekday blog focuses on hot topic current events and other items of interest from around wrestling.
Updated Thursday, February 21
Growth. Progress. Work in Process. When I see quotes from TNA personnel in interviews and when I talk to people in TNA, those three adjectives are usually used to describe TNA at this stage of its existence. Which got me thinking - exactly where is TNA on the growth chart?
In the Torch Newsletter a few issues back, I broke down TNA's ratings on Spike TV over the last three years. With each passing era - Christian, Sting, Angle, and Booker - TNA has reached a new step. However, it's been a slow crawl. 0.89 ratings to 0.95 ratings to 1.05 ratings to 1.12 ratings.
Meanwhile, PPV buys are stagnant. In actuality, the percentage of people who buy the PPVs has declined. More people are watching the TV shows, but the same amount of people are ordering the PPVs. The very gradual increase in free TV viewership should come hand-in-hand with an increase in PPV buys. Well, that's not happening.
So, the TV show isn't doing the job of selling PPVs to newer fans. We know that. Even if the show is entertaining in a shut-your-brain-off-and-have-a-laugh kind of a way, the serious storylines that could sell PPVs - such as Booker vs. Roode - are overshadowed by the cartoon characters and overall nonsense with Christian's mancrush on Tomko and the "he-loves me, he-loves-me-not" every week between Kurt and Karen.
Ok, so TV is on a slow crawl with fluctuating ratings. I'm still looking for growth in the numbers. Well, PPVs are stagnant, but actually down on percentages. PPV attendance in South Carolina was disappointing, which exposed TNA's marketing ability for big arenas. House show business is a strong point right now, with sell-outs expected in New York this weekend. TNA doesn't release merchandise figures, so we can't check on that.
But, they have one thing going for them: perception. The perception is that TNA is growing. They signed a new toy deal with Jakks that will take effect in 2010. They're reportedly negotiating with NASCAR to run shows on the weekend of big races, or have special shows on FOX or Speed channel. They have a video game coming out this spring that Kurt Angle has set a very high bar of expectations for. They claim to be working on a new interactive PPV concept.
The perception is that TNA is at least on the same playing field with WWE, even if they're simply on the sidelines watching from a distance. It's not a competition yet, but TNA is building up the perception of growth that they hope will eventually be matched by hard numbers. Right now, the spoken word on growth is 50 yards ahead of the actual numbers.
Updated Wednesday, February 20
I'm conflicted on the recent developments in the Hornswoggle program. When I saw the angle on Raw, I thought it was great. There was true raw emotion in the building as JBL put a whooping on everyone's little brother, and Finlay rightfully deserved the most votes for MVP of the show with his cries of agony. I half-expected him to finally blurt out The Secret, whatever it might be. "That's my son!" And Vince glares at him for ruining their deal.
I want to believe this storyline is an innocent pro wrestling angle that will lead to the Vince learning from the error of his ways. But, everything after the developments on Raw has put a bad taste in my mouth, especially last night on ECW when Joey Styles and Tazz were scripted to do the "We're Really Serious" reaction to a replay of Hornswoggle's beating.
The tone was eerily similar to the night after Vince's limo blew up, and the ECW announcers had to be somber and pretend like Vince was dead. Of course, the whole thing eventually blew up in their faces when Benoit inconvenienced Vince and his storyline funeral.
Now, it's payback. The real-life context of Monday's developments is that police investigators in Georgia have wrapped up their final investigation into the Benoit family murders. WWE has interpreted the final report as the company getting a pass from their contributions to Benoit's physical and mental condition.
"I think this absolutely, positively proves this was a domestic dispute," said WWE attorney John Taylor last week. "There is a clear motive for murder here. This is not the product of concussions or steroids."
After taking their lumps for eight months from the likes of Michael Benoit, Chris Nowinski, Cary Icther, and anyone who could formulate a thought that WWE allowed Benoit to continue wrestling with untreated concussions, WWE is back on the offensive to put their stamp on the Benoit story.
Looking at the articles on WWE's website about Hornswoggle's injuries, they're talking about brain damage and swelling of the brain, which could be interpreted one of two ways. One is that Hornswoggle is going to play the role of Daniel Benoit. I feel sick just thinking of that possibility, but they had the imagery of JBL choking Hornswoggle on Monday.
The other way to look at this is WWE announcing that Hornswoggle has brain damage and WWE transfers the heat onto those darn medical doctors for disallowing him from appearing on TV. This will, of course, draw boos from upset fans who want to see their little brother jumping around the ring with a smile on his face.
Setting aside any theories on the meaning behind the storyline, this could be as simple as setting up Vince's character to get his comeuppance for taking "tough love" too far. If that's the case, I still expect WWE to get their message out there on Benoit.
Stepping inside WWE's bubble for a second, if the storyline progresses how I dread, then the mindset must be that Vince's fun was spoiled by Benoit, so after waiting eight months for a final report that WWE could spin in its favor, it's time for everyone who criticized WWE to take their medicine. Just like supporters of decency when Rey and Chavo were doing the Eddie storyline. Just like the Nowinskis of the world when Umaga takes another unprotected chair shot to the head.
Now it's your turn. Sound off on the Hornswoggle storyline by sending your thoughts to my email found on the Contact page.
Updated Monday, February 18
No Way Out was a heck of a show last night. Smackdown had a great Chamber match, thanks to Undertaker and Batista. There was Mayweather rocking Big Show's face. Flair and Kennedy worked a solid undercard match. Orton and Cena had a very good WWE Title match.
And, wait, what else? Oh yeah, Triple H is going to WrestleMania in a main event title match. It's the top story WWE wants, but we all know Mayweather vs. Big Show will be the most memorable moment from last night's PPV.
Triple H winning Raw's Elimination Chamber match didn't come as a surprise. I'm sure those text voters who had Hardy ahead of Hunter were voting with their hearts instead of their minds. And, barring the creation of a three-way match at Mania, it will be Hunter challenging Orton for the WWE Title at WrestleMania.
Naturally, there is frustration with Hunter being thrust into the spotlight yet again. The perception is that he's married to the boss's daughter, so he's always going to presented as the top star of the company.
It's a tough situation for Hunter. It's about as much of a no-win situation any wrestler can find himself in. Should he remain on the mid-card, away from the title picture, for the rest of his career to appease fans and wrestlers? Every time he's in a title picture, does he have to apologize or rationalize his position on the card?
Hunter is certainly one of WWE's top stars. He has a DVD coming out a week before Mania that should do significant business. If WWE believes that he is the right guy to headline Mania, then he must be the right guy. The inevitable complaint of politics and nepotism enter the equation, but Hunter's track record indicates he is the right guy to headline WWE's signature PPV of the year.
Hunter's track record also indicates he hasn't endeared himself to the locker room over the years. But, with there being an inherent sense of insecurity in wrestling because guys are constantly competing for spots on the card, the issue has been wrestlers trying to shift the heat onto Hunter to create an excuse for why they're not headlining PPVs every month.
Last night, Wade Keller made the analogy to Triple H and Hillary Clinton. Should Hillary be overlooked as a presidential candidate simply because she's married to Bill, who laid the foundation for Hillary's bid? Should Hunter be banned from main events simply because he's in the McMahon family and there appears to be favoritism?
Hunter should be able to merit a main event title opportunity based on his performance and commitment to the company. Sure, he's protected and booked to be the star, but fans aren't rejecting his current run. People in WWE without a dog in the fight will say no one cares more about the pro wrestling business than he does; that no one takes his job more seriously than Hunter does.
There will always be a cloud hovering over Hunter no matter what he does. Wrestlers will always look for a reason to blame Hunter if there is a perception of him holding people back or stealing spots. Fans will look at WWE selecting Hunter over Jeff Hardy as the headline babyface at this year's Mania and make a valid argument that it should be Hardy this year.
And even if nepotism was a factor, Hunter has merited the main event at Mania. He has a track record. Jeff Hardy is still trying to rebuild his.
There will always be a skeptical eyebrow raised whenever Hunter is booked stronger than another up-and-comer who could take his spot - such as RVD a few years ago - but we have to get beyond the excuse of nepotism. That's too easy. More often than not, Hunter has merited his position on the card.
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