No mystery why TNA buy rates are low
The final episode of TNA Impact before Sunday’s Against All Odds pay-per-view aired last night, and much of the focus was on the on-again, off-again friendship between Christian Cage and Tomko.
I enjoyed the segments because I find Cage to be the most entertaining performer in TNA, and Tomko has developed into a solid worker and an interesting character. The problem is that Cage and Tomko aren’t wrestling each other or even teaming together at the pay-per-view. Cage is wrestling Kurt Angle for the TNA world title, but the TNA creative team has devoted very little time to making people want to pay to see that match.
The title of last night’s episode was “Friend … or foe?” But isn’t that the theme of most TNA shows as of late?” Is A.J. Styles with Cage or Angle? Is he with Angle or Tomko? Is Tomko with Christian or against him? These weekly relationship dramas might have something to do with slightly increasing ratings, but they sure aren’t doing anything to increase the company’s minuscule buy rates.
Vince Russo has always been a mark for ratings, but unless I’m missing something, pro wrestling companies don’t make money off ratings, they make it primarily off pay-per-view buys and ticket sales.
As he has for the past several weeks, Mike Tenay was trumpeting “TNA’s great ratings success” last night. I’m waiting for the day when he can trumpet their great pay-per-view buy rate success. Don’t get me wrong — increasing ratings are better than decreasing ratings. But TNA’s ratings have to be kept in proper perspective. Yes, TNA is setting company records for ratings, but the high mark still is only a 1.2 (last night’s show did a 1.1). ECW, WWE’s “C” show, did a 1.3 this week. WCW Nitro in its final months never went below a 2.0.
TNA has a nice mix of star power, up-and-coming wrestlers and names from the past, and it has two hours of television time every week to sell its pay-per-views. There’s absolutely no excuse for its buy rates to be the lowest they’ve been since TNA had no television at all.
Other thoughts on last night’s show:
I do think that TNA has done a good job of building interest in the Bobby Roode vs. Booker T. match at Against All Odds. Roode cut another strong promo at the top of the show, and other than Edge and Randy Orton, I don’t think there’s a better heel in the business right now. I would think that Roode has to win on Sunday to keep the angle going, and I’m looking forward to the possibility of Sharmell getting in the ring with Payton Banks when she returns. …
A.J. Styles and Tiger Mask had a really good match, and I liked Cage’s match with Judas Mesias, too. However, I’m not sure I would have had Mesias get pinned cleanly already, especially three days before his barbwire massacre match against Abyss. …
The Samoa Joe contract signings that end with him not signing the contract are getting old. Why should fans care whether he signs it or not? I think Joe is horribly miscast as a guy obsessed with his contract and backstage politics. I thought Joe was supposed to be a no-nonsense wrecking machine. At least when Bret Hart played this type of character in 1996-1997 in WWE, it was because he was turning heel, but Joe is still a babyface. And why exactly would Joe want to be associated with a guy like Granddaddy Cool? …
I’ve seen some stupid gimmick matches in my time, but the Kaz-Black Reign mousetraps-on-a-pole match might be the worst. Either that or the Shane Douglas-Billy Kidman Viagra-on-a-pole match. Or possibly the pinata-on-a-pole match between a bunch of Luchadores. I wonder if Russo has ever sought professional help for his pole fetish. …
Speaking of all-time bad gimmicks, The Rock and Rave Infection has to be right up there. Does anyone really find this entertaining? It’s too bad because Lance Hoyt is a big guy with some potential and Jimmy Rave is a good worker. As for Christy Hemme, well, she is the female equivalent of The Miz. …
Curry Man, on the other hand, is a silly gimmick that is very entertaining. It’s amazing how much more charisma Christopher Daniels has as the hot and spicy masked man. …
Kip James said he is behind B.G. James and Bob Armstrong all the way in their quest for the TNA world tag-team title. Translation: Kip is turning on them. …
Brother Devon was a second too late for his run-in spot in the Johnny Devine-Homicide match. Devon was supposed to break up Homicide’s pin attempt, but when he didn’t hit the ring after the two count, Homicide just stopped covering him. By the way, Devine took a sick bump on Hernandez’s Border Toss. I’m amazed someone hasn’t been seriously injured on that move. …
I think Scott Steiner spoke for all of us when Jim Cornette was trying to explain the logic behind the two briefcases and Steiner just kept repeating, “So, what does that mean?”
Comments
Awsome Kong's "implant buster" (per Mike Tenay) which she used on Traci Brooks should be outlawed !
Posted by: jack in hebron | February 8, 2008 8:42 PM
"As for Christy Hemme, well, she is the female equivalent of The Miz. …"
Hemme? the miz? That's unfair,sir. Have you been watching ECW lately?Miz has immproved a lot.
Thank you very much!
Posted by: Gaston | February 8, 2008 10:21 PM
Another reason why TNA buyrates are so low is because their ppvs are too expensive for a company that lets you into the shows for free and only gets to under a million homes. That and they've pretty much used up all their dream match ups.
Posted by: mr. bronson | February 9, 2008 11:51 AM
Stewy Smoot on Curry Man:
Normally wrestlers who use culinary themes (Pepper Gomez, Outback Jack) dont slake my hunger for quality wrestling entertainment but this seemingly 3rd generation wrestler (some of you older wrestling fans like Jack from Hebron may remember Bull Curry and his son Willd Bill Curry) has really added some SPICE to a SAGE sport and all I can say is...
ITS ABOUT THYME!
When this condiment hailing from "Recipes Unknown" boogied down the aisle in that crimson masque (a stunning about-face from his prior plain vanilla masque, if you wee-ill), I knew I was in for a spectacle.
And pairing him with Shark Boy?? You tyro wrestling bookers, take heed!
With the obvious language barriers I never expected the two masqued Superstars to gel ala their adversaries, The Rock and Rave Connection (an obvious hat tip to their mentor Christy Hemme, Pro Wrestling's answer to Sandra Bernhardt), but their skills complemented each other unseen since The State Patrol.
Shark Boy's attitude added just the right spice to Curry Man to not only get the win but to dominate throughout.
After the match I envisioned a bookers dream pairing (what to name them: Shark with Curry? The Man-Boy Connecton? Decisions, decisions...)
BUT! And Ive got a big but here....
I never saw Stone Cold toss a clam juice to his partner...
Let me see you analyze that, Big Kev....
Posted by: Stunning Stewy Smoot | February 9, 2008 5:03 PM
With the overall lack of big name stars, TNA has to build PPV's with strong storylines and proper build up for big matches. You are right about this Sunday, the main event is the least built up of all the matches with two of your biggest stars ( 3 if you count Joe as enforcer) participating. Why get this PPV? What is the deal with the X division and the PPV match? Are they planning on cutting the X division? Hope not....
Posted by: God of Rock | February 9, 2008 11:34 PM
Could you imagine if WWE had a John Cena vs. Undertaker PPV match with Triple H as special ref. That would be hyped beyond belief.
Instead TNA does the same thing with Angle, Cage, and Joe and there is barely even a mention of it.
Posted by: John | February 10, 2008 2:27 PM