Can TNA Beat WWE As The Number One Wrestling Company?

Unlike WWE€™s TV-PG rating, IMPACT WRESTLING is certified TV-14. At a time when nostalgic wrestling fans consistently call for a return of the Attitude Era instead of WWE€™s child friendly product, TNA try to bring an edgier form of pro-wrestling to both the long-term and new fans. I feel that TNA have a huge opportunity on the back of their television certificate and they could really capitalise on what the long-term fans really want. I€™m not asking for a return to the Attitude Era; that€™s in the past. But with more emphasis on cutting edge entertainment, TNA could claim wrestling fans that have left WWE behind since their move to PG, whilst maintaining their current audience. They don€™t need to duplicate the Attitude Era. It€™s quite simple; cutting edge entertainment would be far more entertaining and far less predictable than the current WWE product. My first impressions of TNA are not particularly awe-inspiring, though production values are not everything. The WWF managed in the late nighties to overcome Billionaire Ted Turner and WCW with a much smaller budget. However, IMPACT WRESTLING isn€™t really impressive to a first time viewer. Someone new to TNA would see their show as a Sunday League football match to WWE€™s Premier League production. IMPACT is broadcast weekly from Soundstage 21 at Universal Studios Florida, and this is part of the problem. The IMPACT Zone holds just 1400 fans and that just isn€™t a remarkable feat. TNA€™s schedule suits many members of its roster; it€™s far less hectic than WWE€™s. The obvious solution to TNA€™s production values would be a cash investment but that€™s not necessary at all. I€™m not even saying that TNA need to be at a different arena every week. The odd episode of IMPACT in a slightly more striking arena, and pay-per-views in somewhere a little more impressive than the Grand Canyon University Arena would definitely do the job. Certainly, on the odd occasion, they might not be able to sell out arenas, but neither do WWE. They need to alternate a little between the venues of their shows because as long as they remain in these small studios and university arenas, they€™ll remain small-time in comparison with the €˜E. For me, TNA€™s marketing and advertising is somewhat lacking. Despite making its UKfan base a high priority, very few people have heard of TNA in this country. From what I can see, TNA don€™t do a great deal to promote their company to the degree that WWE does. Obviously money and legacy factor again in this issue but there€™s no reason why TNA shouldn€™t be a little better known. As I€™ve said previously, they have the star power and they have the platform in the United States and elsewhere to gain a reputation and a larger following. They were able to obtain a record audience of 8,100 people at London€™s Wembley Arena in 2012 with very little exposure. Why can€™t they continue to build on such success? Imagine the heights that they could reach around the world with a little more stress on advertising and marketing.