10 Big Changes To Make TNA Great Again
5. Stop Pre-Taping Impact
This is a tough one. Pre-taping multiple Impact shows within the space of a few days has increased TNA’s attractiveness as a potential employer. Their contracts only require wrestlers to work a handful of dates every month, after which most are free to take independent bookings, work other companies, or put their feet up and rest. It’s a far cry from WWE’s relentless road schedule, and a big reason the company are still able to attract top talent despite their numerous woes.
On the other hand, pre-taping makes it incredibly difficult for internet savvy fans to avoid spoilers. This week, for example, TNA are taping Impact all the way through December. If you wanted, you could click on a couple of hyperlinks and learn everything that’s going to happen in the company over the next few months, completely removing any incentive to watch the show, and that’s without taking unintentional spoilers into account.
Impact can’t be considered "must see" television without switching to a live format. The show already feels stale and outdated by the time it has aired (Austin Aries was still on TV two months after he’d resigned, for example), and it’ll never be considered fresh and current under the current format. Switching over to a live show won’t just create some buzz around TNA, but should help recover some of the fans who find themselves spending 15 minutes reading spoilers instead of watching the show.