You might remember a few months ago when I wrote that I was very close to purchasing TNA Wrestling’s Victory Road pay-per-view. Then another month went by and in April I was tempted to purchase TNA Wrestling’s Lockdown pay-per-view. Since then (and I mean no offense to the wrestlers or iMPACT Wrestling’s efforts), I just haven’t been tempted to purchase either Sacrifice or Slammiversary IX. Couldn’t tell you why – just not interested in either show.
Hey, sometimes you think the show is worth spending the money and sometimes you don’t, right?
Well, the last few week’s of iMPACT Wrestling episodes has me thinking that I’d really like to watch the Destination X pay-per-view. As I was driving to work the other day, I was wondering why I felt like spending the money on the Destination X pay-per-view. What was it about the show that piqued my interest? And, since I have a long drive to the office, I came up with the following thoughts:
The Return of the Six-Sided Ring. I make no bones about it – I’m a fan of the traditional four-sided ring when I watch professional wrestling. Yet, after heading over to TNA Wrestling’s YouTube channel and watching a few of the old X-Division matches taking place in the six-sided ring, I began to feel a bit nostalgic for the six sides. In fact, all you have to do is go watch the very well put together Before the Bell for Destination X and, if you’re a fan of X-Division action, I think you’ll have that same nostalgia for the six-sided ring, too.
X-Division Action. And speaking of this month’s excellent Before the Bell production, watching it reminded how great it was to discover TNA Wrestling for the first time back in the Summer of 2006. I’m a fan of high impact professional wrestling (X-Division) just as much as I like the well thought out, storyteller matches (think Hulk Hogan vs. Ultimate Warrior at WrestleMania VI, Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin at WrestleMania 13, or The Rock vs. Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania X8). Yet, anyone watching an episode of iMPACT Wrestling today versus an episode of iMPACT Wrestling three or four years ago would be hard-pressed to find the same level of X-Division action today as compared to back then. Understand, though, that I’m not particularly mad or upset about the change in the product. Not at all, actually. I’m a fan of this brand of professional wrestling and I’ve enjoyed the iMPACT Wrestling product – both back then as well as today.
But there is something about watching a high impact X-Division match that is just exciting. Look at the great reaction the recent triple threat matches on iMPACT Wrestling have been receiving from both the live crowd and the online community.
The Payoff. This might be a reason to buy any pay-per-view, but I have a strong interest in seeing the X-Division style matches that are being hyped for the pay-per-view and what the outcome of all of this focus on the X-Division will be. Sure, we’ll probably watch that play out via iMPACT Wrestling episodes rather than immediately on the pay-per-view, but after watching iMPACT Wrestling for the last few weeks, I feel like we’re getting ready for a good payoff. Not sure what that payoff is for the X-Division, but I do feel like it’s going to be good!
That’s pretty much it. I’m tempted to purchase this month’s pay-per-view. I wonder – are there any other folks out there who have never purchased a wrestling pay-per-view or rarely purchase a wrestling pay-per-view who are interested in this Destination X featuring the X-Division show? I’m sure I can’t be the only one!
– Joe
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Surely if more people buy the PPV, management will realise that the X-Divison style is what they need to build on! Its what gets them the $$… Then again knowing TNA they’ll fuck it up somehow. Huge fan btw
Joe,
I think fans that buy every paper view from any company do themselves and the company a disservice. I don’t know how many times I have heard people complain about a lame PPV that they knew was going to be lame before they bought it. When fans buy PPV’s that really interest them (and with the price of PPV’s why buy if it doesn’t really interest the viewer) the numbers will guide the company in that direction. When a fan buys every PPV they can keep doing the same redundant things without consequences.
I’ve heard from some people that the (supposed)dismal buys for WWE’s Capitol Punishment PPV is what finally got the greenlight for the CM Punk worked-shoot angle. When things are in the dumper companies will try something new.
Hardcore Justice was the last TNA PPV that I bought, the characters and storylines intrigued me enough to buy, and I will see TNA live anytime they come to the area, but plunking down big bucks to watch on tv is a harder sell to me.
Like you I am really interested in the Destination X PPV. I am giving it serious consideration. The buildups for the most part do not seem like the same old same old. I am looking forward to seeing this on PPV or DVD.
If only The Pope was there in well promoted match, I would have bought the PPV. Damn it makes me sick. Why don’t they elevate this guy to the main event status, i mean he was at one point back in early 2010 when he won the “8 card stud tournament” and had a number of promos that I will never forget about but now all of a sudden Hulk and Eric seems to have completely forgot about it. His promos were compared to that of the Rock’s back in his prime time.
Mark my words, Pope is the biggest asset TNA has if and only if they put him in the right place. Good luck TNA, i am a major fan and wish you all the very best.