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Post by DC:UK on Mar 3, 2016 11:46:18 GMT -5
So I've been a wrestling fan for about 17 years now. WWE has always been the main attraction, but I have always been aware of other promotions without being fully invested.
Recently I've started watching more wrestling, which is ironic as I am at a point in my life where I have less and less free time. I have started watching Smackdown again as well as Raw, but also NXT on a weekly basis.
I work right next to the SSE Arena in Wembley in London and noticed the TNA tapings happened a few weeks ago, and then I saw they were being shown on UK TV so I decided to check it out. I though the shows were definitely watchable, and better than I thought they would be. The crowd was bigger than I thought it would be, and whilst the production is pretty basic it was still enjoyable. EC3 is over as hell, Decay are very intriguing, Beer Money are great fun and even the knockouts were better than I thought they would be.
After watching a few weeks worth of the shows I came on here to find out a bit more...
...and it all seems rather negative! So I have a few questions:
When were the TNA glory days (if there was such a thing)? What are some of the best events or matches I could check out on YouTube? With Angle finishing up and Jeff Hardy on the shelf, who are the big draws and where do we see them going? Is the future of TNA really as bleak as all the comments on here suggest it is?
I'm not looking for negativity and conflict with this, this is a wrestling fan looking to expand his knowledge and watch something new, so I would be grateful for your insight.
Cheers guys
DC
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Post by Markw on Mar 3, 2016 13:34:33 GMT -5
In a word, yes. When were the TNA glory days (if there was such a thing)? 2004-2007 (Some people might extend that a bit further, I wouldn't). What are some of the best events or matches I could check out on YouTube? First and foremost AJ Styles vs. Samoa Joe vs. Christopher Daniels - Unbreakable 2005, also check out the Samoa Joe vs. Kurt Angle matches and AMW vs. Triple X at Turning Point 2004. Someone with a better memory than me will give you a more extensive list I'm sure.
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👑🇵🇭⭐️
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King Of The Ring 2007 - Team Undisputed
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Post by 👑🇵🇭⭐️ on Mar 3, 2016 14:12:44 GMT -5
In my opinion, TNA is the greatest Professional Sports Wrestling Entertainment promotion outside of the WWE Universe. Once a Professional Sports Wrestling Entertainment company sells kids sized toy Championship Title Belts, I believe “they made it to the big time”. I believe the “glory days” of TNA was from 2005 – 2015, the time they were airing on Spike TV. Some will say it started before 2005 and some will say it ended before 2015, but I say the Spike TV era was their best time period. I can’t say what the “best” events or matches were, but my favorites involved the members of the Main Event Mafia, Fourtune, and Immortal. The “big draws” today, for me, are the Champions: Matt Hardy, Eric Young, Trevor Lee, Beer Money, and Gail Kim, as well as Velvet Sky, EC3, and a few others. As long as they can continue to have a television time slot, I think TNA will be okay. Once they lose it, it’s over.
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Post by greenjack1992 on Mar 3, 2016 17:41:11 GMT -5
TNA is unwatchable now, and has been since 4th January 2010.
TNA was the absolute best wrestling on television in 2005.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 3, 2016 17:49:26 GMT -5
TNA was absolutely the best wrestling on television in 2005-2007. Once Russo came back, things took a sharp nosedive. 2006 is probably the best year in the companies history. They legitimately looked like they were on the cusp of becoming the alternative to WWE, but something just went wrong. Maybe it was Samoa Joe losing to Kurt Angle...
I think TNA has gotten quite good over the past month or so. Still not hot on Matt Hardy as Champion, but everything else is clicking nicely I think. It's not perfect, but TNA was honestly the thing I enjoyed this week the most out of all the other wrestling.
I say, give it a chance, if you don't like it try ROH, NJPW, LU, NOAH and etc
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Post by LA Times on Mar 3, 2016 19:54:19 GMT -5
I enjoyed TNA a lot from 2005-2013, but ever since 2014 when guys like AJ Styles, Sting, Christopher Daniels, Samoa Joe, Austin Aries, etc started leaving, the company has looked like they are getting ready to go out of business.
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Post by Mark Martin on Mar 3, 2016 22:28:15 GMT -5
2005 TNA is one of my favorite years in any pro wrestling company.
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Post by Epic Z on Mar 3, 2016 23:03:57 GMT -5
If you've enjoyed it why not continue watching it? I've found TNA to be great ever since their second week on POP. Despite what the internet says I find the weekly show to be the best one going right now. Like you said you have stuff like the Decay, Beer Money EC3 and the KO's. I also highly enjoy Matt's heel run, Angles farewell tour, Mike Bennett, Trevor Lee, The Wolves, Mark Andrews, Spud, etc.
Half these people that say TNA sucks and they want them to die haven't even watched in years, TNA's way different now. New network, new wrestlers, new production, etc.
To answer your questions, the glory days were 05-09.
Best recent events include (in my opinion) Destination X 11, No surrender 2010, BFG 2010, Slamm 14, and One night only old school to name a few
There aren't many big draws in terms of drawing money besides the Hardyz. Their biggest stars would be EC3, Hardys, Bennett, Galloway, and the Wolves. After basically all of the TNA originals leaving TNA the company is now in a rebuilding process but they have some great young guys like Everett, Spud, Trevor Lee, Mandrews, Tigre Uno, Bram, Crazzy steve, etc that they're building up.. hopefully in a few years they can all draw money.
Lastly, no. Despite what the marks on the internet say, the WRESTLERS and people in the COMPANY say otherwise. I'll take their word over johhny15959999 of wrestlingfigs or any other message board lol.
Hope I could help answer your questions man.
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Post by BCizzle on Mar 4, 2016 0:44:31 GMT -5
TNA is actually pretty good right now. They started out well last year, but fizzled out with too many taped shows at the end of the year and their lame duck status on Destination Amurica.
The first show on Pop was pretty dull, but since then, they have had some good matches and feuds, like Hardy vs EC3 and Beer Money back together and the Decay forming. They need some more women in the KO division and some other stuff to fix, but certainly don't listen to anybody who doesn't watch it and says it's unwatchable - it's "cool" to hate on TNA on the Internet. Hell, it's "cool" to hate on anything on the Internet, which is a pretty sad reflection of humanity.
I have been watching TNA since it was on Fox Sports like 10 years ago. I like it because it's not the WWE - it has it's own strengths and weaknesses. All the folks here talking about the good old days of TNA probably complained about it back then, too, so take that with a grain of salt.
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Mr Wrestling Jr.
Main Eventer
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Post by Mr Wrestling Jr. on Mar 4, 2016 4:03:32 GMT -5
TNA is pretty decent now. A few things I would change with production to give it a more live feeling like not showing the crowd six times a show without hearing them cheer and instead playing the theme song over them. I would arrange special episodes better, not have a World Title match every two weeks. Knockouts need serious work. Although I love how they hype up main events, show the guys walking to the ring while an extended version of their theme plays. Heel Hardy is awesome, E-LI Drake! Is awesome. Their working on the X-Division which is much needed.A few more months in this direction I could see TNA getting a better reputation.
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Post by JC Motors on Mar 4, 2016 14:27:56 GMT -5
TNA is unwatchable now, and has been since 4th January 2010. TNA was the absolute best wrestling on television in 2005. You pretty much nailed it dead on there
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Post by hbkbigdaddycool on Mar 4, 2016 14:52:48 GMT -5
I started watching TNA Wrestling a week before AJ Styles won the NWA Title in 2003. (People talk about the Summer of Punk for ROH in 2005 and WWE for 2011, but I loved the Summer of Styles for TNA in 2003 the most!)
I have to say, everything I saw in the summer of 2003 and onto till around 2009 I enjoyed. It's such a cliche thing to say, but it is a fact, that once Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff came into TNA in January 2010, the whole company took a drastic turn for the worse.
Right now, TNA is decent, but they sign on these God awful wrestlers from around the world that I just don't understand why. The only guys I still enjoy there are Beer Money, The Wolves, EC3, and Eric Young.
Hell, even a year ago TNA looked better. They had Samoa Joe, Low Ki, Homicide, MVP, Kenny King, Austin Aries, plus the guys they have now. TNA just seems to get worse year after year for talent pool wise.
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Post by DC:UK on Mar 4, 2016 15:30:17 GMT -5
Thanks for all the responses guys.
I will stick with it and see how it goes, I'm intrigued to see where it goes next.
I will definitely check out some of the older stuff, need to get hold of some 2005 events by the sound of it!
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Post by ¡Twist Of Cinnamon! on Mar 4, 2016 16:06:03 GMT -5
Was there a right time?
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Post by laythvandam on Mar 4, 2016 18:11:37 GMT -5
TNA really felt big time during 2011/2012 when they had all those major names.
However in terms of product their best years were easily 2005/2006. 2006 especially felt like they were on the cusp of being a truly competitive alternative to WWE. I certainly preferred TNA to WWE at that point.
I'm pretty much one of the biggest TNA fans ever I'd say. Attended nearly every single UK tour and got stacks and stacks of their merchandise. Shame I've now soured toward the company, that began after Lockdown 2014 when all the established names/originals left such as Sting, AJ, Daniels/Kaz etc....it's really not been the same since the damage was inflicted upon it by Hogan/Bischoff.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 5, 2016 9:54:56 GMT -5
The show has actually improved a lot lately, but it seems like they might be going outta business soon
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Post by specterkev on Mar 5, 2016 16:38:23 GMT -5
If you are enjoying it.. then watch it..don;t let others tell you when and when not you should watch something..
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Post by Nivro™ on Mar 5, 2016 23:10:20 GMT -5
If you watched TNA anytime after they came off of Fox Sports, then yes
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Post by The Natural Eddy Valintino on Mar 6, 2016 17:55:40 GMT -5
The years that TNA got the most praise were 2004-2006. Personally, I started watching in February of 2004, right before they paid to get the Fox Sports Net time slot. IMO, TNA is alright right now, but nothing I'd go out of my way to watch. I do enjoy the Decay, Beer Money and EC3, so I watch from time to time. I'm very critical of TNA, but like others said, if you enjoy TNA right now, keep watching it, and I would watch the events suggested on this thread. Turning Point 2004 is another great PPV to watch. I know people suggested Triple X vs. America's Most Wanted in the Six Sides of Steel, but there's other great matches on that PPV. If you want, I would also suggest watching the early PPVs from 2002 if you want to learn the whole history of TNA. Every week they're uploading a weekly PPV on their YouTube channel.
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The IT Factor
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If you want some, come and get some!
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Post by The IT Factor on Mar 9, 2016 12:30:07 GMT -5
No, you haven't. TNA's product has been very good as of late, and you should not let some people on the internet ruin the product for you (besides, some of them probably don't even watch the show anyways). If you like TNA, then keep on watching, and enjoy it man.
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