CALDWELL'S TAKE CORNER CUBE MONDAY 5/12 - TNA's product mix generating lukewarm response May 12, 2008 - 12:15:20 PM

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By James Caldwell, Torch columnist

Updated daily 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 Monday, May 12, 2008

This time last month, we were talking about TNA having an opportunity to turn the corner after the Lockdown PPV when they presented the template of how to promote serious pro wrestling. In the weeks that followed, TNA returned to what they know - confusing gimmick matches, zany angles, and A.J. Styles as a goofball character.

That culminated at Sacrifice, which turned into one of those forgettable PPVs that wasn't particularly bad or insulting, but it wasn't good. It was what was expected, with TNA wanting to dip into the bag-of-tricks, while also trying to present a somewhat more serious product. They want to overbook because that's what they know.

As a result, Sacrifice delivered seven tag matches that were all very similar until the final match of the tournament, one giant structure monkey bars gimmick match featuring eight people, one battle royale/ladder match/head-shaving three-piece combo that featured ten people, and one three-way main event for the TNA Title with a de-pushed X Division wrestler replacing a former World champion. It added up to an overloaded show that was a blur by the end of the night.

TNA's TV ratings are reflecting a lukewarm response to a lukewarm product. The shows are fine; I'm not feeling stressed out after watching two hours of Impact. The current product mix just doesn't lend itself to a strong response one way or the other.

It starts at the top with Samoa Joe. During the pre-match introductions for the main event, the crowd response to Joe was indifference. Granted, it was the tenth match on a show that seemed to wear on the psyche with repetitive tag matches. There are only so many two-on-one beat downs and hot tags that fans can tolerate in one night. But, the response to Joe is indicative of fan response to the product right now.

It doesn't help that Joe has been presented on TV as overly-aggressive compared to calm and cool Kevin Nash. Joe yelling and screaming doesn't play well juxtaposed to the coolest man in the room. I'm tempted to call for a Joe heel turn, but that's falling into the same trap TNA falls into by writing a 10-chapter story that is missing chapters 2-9. That was the case with Awesome Kong's first match with the men, as there was no story behind the most-dominant heel on the roster mixing it up with the men.

It's obvious TNA doesn't want to give up its bag-of-tricks. The bag is like a security blanket that keeps the company aligned with the vision for let's-not-take-ourselves-too-seriously wrestling. When something unfamiliar, such as legit build-up to Joe vs. Angle at Lockdown creeps in, TNA knows exactly where they can turn for comfort.

Joe as a serious champion trying to have serious matches doesn't mix well with TNA's vision for attempted comedy and overbooking. It creates a strange mix that doesn't play well with audiences, as evidenced by the ratings trends the last four weeks.

I don't see this mix changing. TNA will continue to overbook and come up with more "concept matches". We know next month's PPV will feature yet another gimmick match with King of the Mountain. It's the reality of how TNA presents its product. Right now, it's not bad enough to be hair-pulling and worthy of tuning in for a trainwreck, but it's not good enough to be memorable and worth spending money on the product.

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