TNA Wrestling founder and current star Jeff Jarrett was recently interviewed by THOnline. In the interview he discussed TNA’s progress as well as how they try and compete with the corporate juggernaut that is the WWE.
“When WWE bought WCW in 2001, it left a huge void in the market place. Without a No. 2, there can’t be a No. 1.”
“When they(fans) come out they’re going to get their money’s worth and then some, they will walk away seeing the best wrestling show they’ve ever seen. This is by far the most fan interactive wrestling show there’s ever been. We go the extra mile for the fans. We give everybody an opportunity to get in the ring and get their picture taken with TNA stars after the matches.”
“Quite frankly, our roster is better than their roster, they’re a publicly traded company that has 50 years of history. From a business standpoint, they’ve got such a head start. But we’re finding a niche in our own way.”
It’s not that I disagree with Jeff Jarrett, it’s that I’ve been to three TNA Wrestling shows and the only one that was absolutely worth every penny that I paid was Hard Justice back in August 2008 in Trenton.
The house show a few days before that in Asbury Park and the house show in Asbury Park this past summer were okay, but they had a very not-big-time feel to them. Whereas I’ve gone to WWE house shows and there is still that big time feel. I’m not sure what it is with TNA Wrestling. Part of me wants to argue that it’s all about them taping that show in that rinky dink sound stage down in Orlando and then getting a few hundred fans at their house shows.
Oh well. So long as TNA Wrestling keeps coming to New Jersey, I’ll keep going to their house shows!
I remember back in the day the WWF and WCW house shows also lacked the big time feel. More like an exhibition vs. a record fight. I haven’t been to any recent WWE house shows but my friends tell me they feel like they’re big time just like a TV taping. If they want to make they’re house shows successful they will have to make them feel like they matter.