5 Reasons TNA Never Became WWE's True Competitor
5. Pass The Book
Professional wrestling is sometimes this bizarro world where success and failure doesnt really apply, just that you once held the job somewhere. Its kind of like how employers want experience over a college degree, except minus the degree, and dont worry about accomplishing anything in that window of experience you may have acquired.
Thats not to say that the bookers of TNA didnt have good ideas in the past or werent successful in one avenue or another. Its more to say that professional wrestling is a form of creative entertainment which, as long as theres an understanding of how the show is portrayed and how the performers work, just about any writer could potentially develop compelling television for. This is part of the reason why WWE made the transition from bookers to writers on their creative staff.
The creative direction for TNA, however, relied on a revolving door of names that never maintained a clear direction. The issue with using a multitude of bookers is that any particular booker has their own image that a professional wrestling promotion should be molded to. Dutch Mantels image is different from Dustys, is different from Russos, and is different from Bischoffs. Actually, Russo and Bischoff were probably on the same page much of the time. Which might also be why the promotion is in the situation its in today.
As is the case with any company of any genre, a clear direction is most necessary to achieve success. When the pushed performers are constantly changed and the direction of the company continues to flop-flop from We promote wrestling to Just kidding, were all about that Crash TV! the fans are left with no one to cheer for and nothing to relate to.