It’s time for a major change, folks. After monitoring our Twitter chatter during last night’s episode of iMPACT Wrestling, actually watching last night’s episode of the show as it aired on Spike TV, and getting sucked into the electric atmosphere and excitement of the United Kingdom crowd I really believe that it’s time for a major change. And after watching last night’s show and getting fully engaged in the excitement of last night’s show, I think that the major change that iMPACT Wrestling needs is clear: it’s time to bring the house shows to bigger venues in hotter markets and (here’s the big change) actually start taping the show for future airing on Spike TV or Challenge TV!
That’s the big change, folks!
No, I’m not talking about bringing the cameras to the house shows and filming certain parts of the show to air as part of a video package on iMPACT Wrestling like the company did with the Bound for Glory Series and the Basebrawl events last summer. That’s not what I’m talking about at all. I’m talking about holding major tapings – actual iMPACT Wrestling tapings – during major tours.
The change in the business model is simple: instead of going to the United Kingdom each year just to put on a show for one of the hottest markets for this product in the entire world, the company should keep on bringing the cameras and should always tape two episodes of the show during this tour. Always! In fact, without knowing the financials of the annual European tour I would suggest that it’s time for a visit to at least the United Kingdom once every six months. Some of our Twitter followers who were in attendance during the tapings suggested that the crowd was so hot that the promotion really ought to put a pay-per-view in Wembley (or perhaps a bigger arena nearby).
It’s time for this big change, iMPACT Wrestling. And it’s time to bring this big change throughout your house show tour.
I know that each year the company hosts an Independence Day weekend tour in the northeast, specifically in Asbury Park’s Convention Hall. I’ve attended this show each year that they’ve held it at Convention Hall (three of the last four years, I think) and there’s no question that the crowd is growing at each show. Imagine that – a growing crowd with nearly zero big-time promotion or local marketing for the event. That’s the power of a growing, good reputation and iMPACT Wrestling has a growing, good reputation. Now imagine how big that crowd could potentially be if there was a little bit of big-time promotion behind the show. And then imagine how many more folks would attend the show if they knew it was an iMPACT Wrestling taping. Oh, and this is all on a holiday weekend when there are literally thousands of tourists in the area who would be glad to pay to attend the show so they have somewhere to take their kids at night.
Throw Don West in there selling merchandise and you’ve got a hell of a show that can actually bring in a few bucks at the end of the day. And don’t think that I don’t remember the exciting reports about the heavily attended iMPACT Wrestling shows at MCU Park in Brooklyn, New York. Bring the cameras and tape two episodes there, too.
It’s time for this big change, iMPACT Wrestling. It’s time to bring your company to at least the United Kingdom twice a year and to record at least two episodes of the show during each visit. It’s time to bring your cameras (the good ones) and tape two more episodes of the show on the Jersey Shore each July. It’s time to bring your cameras back to Fayetteville, North Carolina; Huntsville, Alabama; Knoxville, Tennessee; and Macon, Georgia and to tape two episodes of the show at each of those locations. Promote those shows. Sell tickets. Put together special promotions where if you buy a wrestling figure, then you get a free ticket to the show. Put together free giveaways with local radio stations and other media outlets (I’m actually willing to buy tickets a slight discount and give them away on this website). It’s time to do this the right way.
Tape four episodes each year from the United Kingdom. Tape two episodes each from Asbury Park, Brooklyn, Fayetteville, Huntsville, Knoxville, and Macon. If you can get some extra bucks from the Carters or Spike TV, throw another market into that mix and tape two more episodes of the show on the road. At the end of the year, of the 52 episodes of iMPACT Wrestling that the company produces for Spike TV, some 18 will have been taped on the road in front of packed houses with hot crowd who actually give a damn.
I can be very happy with more than a third of the iMPACT Wrestling episodes that I look forward to each week being taped on the road in front of enthusiastic crowds.
And let’s get rid of one big concern right up front regarding the continuity of the look of each show. The fans know that iMPACT Wrestling isn’t WWE and doesn’t have the type of resources that they have so they can make every arena look the same on Monday nights. We get it. The fans are not looking for a show that looks the same week after week. No. The fans are looking for a show, though, that draws them in and makes them feel like they’re there, live, with thousands of other fans. That type of excitement makes those of us sitting at home look up from our desks, from the newspaper, from the internet, or from whatever we do to multitask instead of watching television. That’s the type of engaging, exciting show that we, as fans, are ready for on a weekly basis. That’s the big change that needs to happen right now.
And that’s the type of excitement and positive change that the amazing fans brought to last night’s episode of iMPACT Wrestling. Congratulations to the fans across the pond – you guys have set the standard for excellence at live tapings. Those of us on this side of the pond have a lot to live up to, but more important than living up to the challenge of being that exciting – I hope that we’re at least given the chance to compete with your enthusiasm.
Take the hint and make the change, iMPACT Wrestling. Now is the time. The spectacular fans in the United Kingdom just proved that fact to everyone.
– Joe
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Jarrett Cox says
I personally think TNA needs to consider taping their house shows. The show looked great with the raucous crowd and didn’t need the huge video wall to make it look good on TV. And they could charge a little more for the house shows since they would tape them. I don’t know if it is possible, but it is an idea they should try and look into
Joe Vincent says
I totally agree. I’ve been to house shows with more “Oooos” and “Ahhhs” than anything you ever seen at the iMPACT Wrestling Zone. It’s time to bring the cameras out (the good ones, not the cheap ones they used during last year’s Bound for Glory Series). It’s time to change it up a bit.
James says
Hopefully Dixie pulls the trigger b4 ratings drop to an .8. The only reason i watch it this week (from beginning to ending) was b/c of the crowd. It makes the show so much better. The wrestlers actually look like superstars. Its kinda hard to impress fans that you’ve been performing in front of since 04.
We shall have no better conditions in the future if we are satisfied with all those which we have at present.
THOMAS EDISON
Anonymous says
Tapings on the road are a must for TNA/IW. It just feels more professional watching it.