There are a lot of things to like about TNA, but in recent years, those plus points have been continually weighted down by a proliferation of nagging, sometimes infuriating, negatives. Now, with the Destination America deal, TNA appears to be playing to its strengths at long last. As a general rule, whenever the promotion attempts to compete with the might and mass media exposure of the WWE, it simply comes off as inferior and second rate. Towards the end of the Spike TV era, TNA couldnt seem to wash away the stench of the bargain bin. For just one example, just six days after short, bearded and likeably kooky underdog Daniel Bryan hoisted the WWE belt at WrestleMania XXX, short, bearded and likeably kooky underdog Eric Young lifted the TNA belt in Orlando, Florida. At this, even E.Ys most devoted fans had to facepalm a little. For years, fans have been saying that TNA should do everything in its power to come off as different to the WWE. Their product is cheaper, their houses are smaller and their appeal is narrower. However, these things are only handicaps if you look at them as such. In the immortal words of Punk magazine co-founder Legs McNeil, you take the sh!t and celebrate it. So, instead of seeing these things as negatives, TNA executives should be angling their product as scrappier, tougher and harder-edged than the WWEs. The venues should be presented as more intimate and fan friendly rather than smaller and they should market themselves as a show for wrestling fans, NOT snot-nosed, toy hungry little kids. Finally, new TNA seems to be doing just that. With the panoptic, handheld camera angles, the return of the six-sided rings and the continued promotion of great TNA talents like Austin Aries, Gunner (who really should be the companys next major star), Magnus, Bobby Roode, Eric Young, Kenny King, James Storm, Low Ki and others still, TNA is already a brand apart from the WWE...It just needs to realise and capitalise on this fact. Even with all the departures, TNA still boasts a truly world class talent roster and, as long as they work harder to produce quality storylines and continue to keep the wrestling to the forefront, TNAs product is still a strong one overall. Having said/written all that, there are a few areas that drastically need improvement...
I am a professional author and lifelong comic books/pro wrestling fan. I also work as a journalist as well as writing comic books (I also draw), screenplays, stage plays, songs and prose fiction.
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