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Ok where to start......
1. Advertising
You can have the greatest product in the entire world, but if nobody knows about it, you're not going to succeed with it. I remember in late 2002, listening to the Bob & Tom Show in the morning, and they would plug NWA-TNA (and particularly mention the Flying Elvises). I was pretty surprised they were able to get a plug in on a popular national radio talk show like that. Fast-forward to 2014... I see/hear of NO advertisements what so ever. I've been an anti-WWE guy since 2005 and was recently starting to come around (until the racism that stemmed from the Del Rio situation; but that's neither here nor there) - anyways, 1 thing I have to give WWE credit for, is their advertising for Cena/Lesnar at Summerslam... When I'm watching Nick@Nite and TVLand at 1am or 2am, and I see the commercial for that match, I think "THIS is how you build up a Main Event!" - TNA couldn't even DREAM of putting together something like what the WWE has done for the Cena/Lesnar match coming up. The best way to advertise a commercial on TV, is to have it air in just random spots on various channels - because as a fan, it gives that little surprise factor of seeing the ad in the first place, then it makes you amped up for what's being advertised (part of psychological warfare)!
Oh and it doesn't hurt to put ads in magazines, create banners for websites, or to place TV commercials in local markets where they'll be holding house shows - maybe even have one of the stars make a guest appearance on a local radio show the day of the show! Or to think bigger, TNA outta market out the stars they have who CAN act and try and get them roles in hit TV shows, similar to how the WWE's been able to - that ALWAYS adds as a pinch of advertisement. Relying on social media is NOT good enough! In closing on this topic, Killer Kowalski said it best: Wrestling is a form of Advertisement, anyway you can get yourself out there and get yourself noticed, DO IT!!
2. Details
It may not seem like much nor a really big thing... but the best part of storylines, angles, or characters - are in the details! Vince McMahon has always said that what separates 'Good' from 'Great' are the Details. And over the years, TNA has fumbled over a LOT of their stuff!!!!!! If you want a good idea about what I'm referring to, list to Jim Cornette's interview on "Who's Slammin' Who" from 1/5/10, when he breaks down the IMPACT from the night before. Granted that was 4 1/2 years ago, but sadly, TNA still makes these kinds of mistakes to this day! A lot of it has to do with creative, as they're apparently not groomed on how to be consistent with their storylines, angles, and characters. It's so bad in TNA, that believe me, when they DO remember to stay consistent on something, I'll find myself cheering outloud at my TV lol.
3. Booking
Booking co-insides with Creative, but Booking has the power of matchmaking and executing pushes. That being said, why are we only seeing half the knockouts every week? We're seeing plenty of Gail, Taryn, and TBP... but don't we also have Madison, Brittney (whatever happened to their feud?!), Brooke, and ODB..
ODB was one of the most popular KO's before she was taken off TV, whoever's move was that didn't think things clearly.
My other beef with booking, is the World title situation. Bobby Roode should be a multiple time World champion by now! I get he's a lock to be a contender to take the strap from Lashley, but it seems like the last few years, the World title's been put on guys, simply for the convenient factor (that's not a knock to Bully, who's reign was excellent and made sense, as did AJ's...)... but the way AJ dropped the title and since then, it's been a disaster. EY's reign, it was give or take with me, they wanted to make him a "serious" guy, but yet he's still coming out to that goofy tron video?! (that could go under the 'Details' portion of my post as well, but it ultimately lies on the laps of those in charge: Booking!)
The ECW nostalgia stuff....... not bad, sometimes you have to take a step back in order to move forward, so I hope the bookers in charge realize this and do something that can benefit from bringing back guys like Rhino, Dreamer, Devon and such.
The X-Division has seemed to get a good boot up the a$$ and that's good!! Real good!! I would love to see the 3-man format return, I feel that would be a great booking decision. Considering their X-Division title tournament this past month involved the 3-man matches. The 3-man format of having 2 different Triple Threat matches, then having those 2 winners go on and compete against the Champion in a Triple Threat, for the title... THAT'S when the X-Division was climbing back to prominence, then they got rid of that format and the division went back to being Chocolate Shark again.
Manik..... DROP THE NAME and GO BACK TO BEING 'SUICIDE'.... He was much cooler, it was more marketable, and they could swerve the fans by saying TJ Perkins is no longer employed as Manik, thus SUICIDE has returned - leaving fans to speculate who's portraying Suicide, when all along it's TJ under the mask, but the identity is remain hidden as it should've all along (Hogan revealing Perkin's identity was horseChocolate Shark if you ask me!)
Oh, and when do we see Lashley, MVP, and Kenny go through 'their' labeled tables...?? Oh yeah, Booking wasn't consistent on that particular detail! *crotch chop*
4. PPV-themed editions of IMPACT
It's overall a good idea, but not every month! What TNA needs to do, is choose 4 annual actual PPV events (Lockdown, Slammiversary, Bound For Glory, Destination X)... Now, separate those PPVs 12 weeks apart (every 3 months).....Then, hold one of the PPV-themed editions of IMPACT around the 6th week after the last PPV/before the next PPV. If you do your math, that's only 4 PPV-themed editions of IMPACT and 4 is enough! (Against All Odds, Genesis, Turning Point, Victory Road... sorry, but 'Hardcore Justice' is too much of an ECW thing, and TNA should really distance themselves from that as time goes on).
Back to the details here... when it's a PPV-themed event, I don't want to see the usual IMPACT get-up (blue ropes, IMPACT aprons, the usual set up). I want to see some effort put into making it look more like an authentic PPV instead of it just being another broadcast. Invite a celebrity or 2 to sit ringside so you can get a camera shot of them, creating more exposure (HEY! ADVERTISING!).... ADVERTISE THAT IT'S GOING TO BE A SPECIAL EDITION OF IMPACT - just might garner some more viewers!!
5. Mismanagement
It seems like everybody TNA's brought into the fold, has not brought the product up to par. The one thing I give TNA credit for when it comes to the decision making as of late, is bringing back the ECW nostalgia, as well as Low Ki and Homicide.. for the NYC shows, because they knew those entities would get-over. But before the NYC shows... Big John, Dave Lagana, nor Mr. Conway have shown any improvement to the show. With Russo gone, that's a breathe of fresh air, but I'd like to see the 3 mentioned be asked to leave as well. I in all honesty, believe 2 men could bring TNA back to some sort of prominence: Jim Cornette and Raven! Both of them, not only the sole bookers & creative, but the active managers for talent & creations - would be an INSANE improvement!! Jim's retired, but if given the reigns, you know damn well he'd lead that horse to feed!! (IE, he'd do a spectacular job). And Raven's mind for the business and the little details (see portion #2), as a duo they could possibly turn things around and be that ever-proverbial "contender" the WWE so desperately needs right now! Dixie would have to eat-crow to get Jim on board obviously, but business is business, if she truly wanted to turn things around, that's an option I feel she could strongly consider.
There have been other points made here on the board I don't need repeating, but those are my main beefs with TNA as of right now.
The move to Wednesday nights, not a bad decision, we'll see how that goes.
From what I understand, there's been virtually no building up yet for BFG, and we're under 2 months away now . . . . time to get on the ball, TNA!
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This is off-topic, but what would be a not-so-bad idea, is if TNA TEMPORARILY shut down immediately after BFG. While Spike is still considering to continue airing IMPACT, TNA could throw together some "Best of IMPACT" shows, similar to the 'Best of PrideFC' that used to air on Fox Sports. In the meantime, TNA could begin restructuring itself, revamping the roster, working on the odds/ends of the company... and when everything came together (with or without SpikeTV), push for a MAJOR relaunch in early 2015... sorta like hitting the "Do-Over" button, creating a 2nd chance for themselves and for the fans. It's not entirely impossible, and especially at this point, they really don't have a whole lot to lose except for their legacy of 12 years. Like I said earlier, sometimes you have to take a step back, in order to move forward.