TNA Impact goes live against RAW

[Baron Vo Mandor]

Not at all keepingthefaith I'd be suprised if he didnt talk it up, and to be honest its all together possible they will triple!

 

[KeepingTheFaith]

An increase in ratings is fair enough, but triple isn't going to happen. 2 million+ people aren't going to suddenly tune in unless they pull out something much bigger than Hogan.

Then again this is the same man who is currently suing his ex wife over a toilet seat so we'll see what happens.

I do expect things to improve with Hogan there, especially if he puts the writing crew into the background and takes it back to being genuine wrestling like he's talked about doing, but to expect something so big to happen so fast is not realistic.

Talking it up is fine, but you still have to back it up, and when those triple ratings don't come there'll be plenty of people there to remind Hogan of his comment.

 

[joel caine number 1 fan]

they must know something we dont :lol: 3.0 :lol:

 

[bender]

I think that the ratings will be spectacular. They are giving themselves a huge buildup, although i also tend to think that their storylines are pretty ordinary at the moment. I hope that they get more of an Eric Bishoff/NWO style WCW feel rather than the Vince Russo style WCW feel they are going for at the moment.

If they play this right, i think they can become instantly as strong as WCW was when they folded and they were still rating well and earning money when they folded (not quite as well as WWE but still well compared to other shows on TV). Some of the things that i think can help their ratings, provided that they do things properly would include:

Hogan vs Austin - This would get mainstream coverage and help promote a big pay per view, i think it is a must fight.

Brock Lesnar vs Bobby Lashley - Not sure if this is possible, but it would be huge. I could see a three fall match, one Wrestling match, one cage match and a deciding shoot match.

The signing of Paul Heyman. This would get a lot of the old ECW fans across and to be honest, he would probably help the booking team and storylines.

An NWO reformation. It is coming. i think people have forgotten just how good they were, especially a heel Hulk Hogan. I Expect that such a heel group, if it recruits properly (I see Mr Kennedy/Anderson as a leading player) will dominate wrestling again. If the three older guys mostly manage, it will be a sensational group.

Shane McMahon - a real long shot here, but he has resigned from the WWE (from what i recall). If he were to sign he could write his own cheque book and it would give TNA a massive publicity coop.

Bill Goldberg and the Rock - both could have very successful short guest stints against some of the better guys.

Sandman, RVD and Sabu. I think that these three might add a bit of the old ECW fans, particularly if they had Hayman managing them. They could become huge maybe even join with Tazz, Dudleys or Rhino to take on the establishment. I think this would all help provide something big.

 

[KeepingTheFaith]

I think that the ratings will be spectacular. They are giving themselves a huge buildup, although i also tend to think that their storylines are pretty ordinary at the moment. I hope that they get more of an Eric Bishoff/NWO style WCW feel rather than the Vince Russo style WCW feel they are going for at the moment.

If they play this right, i think they can become instantly as strong as WCW was when they folded and they were still rating well and earning money when they folded (not quite as well as WWE but still well compared to other shows on TV). Some of the things that i think can help their ratings, provided that they do things properly would include:

Hogan vs Austin - This would get mainstream coverage and help promote a big pay per view, i think it is a must fight.

Brock Lesnar vs Bobby Lashley - Not sure if this is possible, but it would be huge. I could see a three fall match, one Wrestling match, one cage match and a deciding shoot match.

The signing of Paul Heyman. This would get a lot of the old ECW fans across and to be honest, he would probably help the booking team and storylines.

An NWO reformation. It is coming. i think people have forgotten just how good they were, especially a heel Hulk Hogan. I Expect that such a heel group, if it recruits properly (I see Mr Kennedy/Anderson as a leading player) will dominate wrestling again. If the three older guys mostly manage, it will be a sensational group.

Shane McMahon - a real long shot here, but he has resigned from the WWE (from what i recall). If he were to sign he could write his own cheque book and it would give TNA a massive publicity coop.

Bill Goldberg and the Rock - both could have very successful short guest stints against some of the better guys.

Sandman, RVD and Sabu. I think that these three might add a bit of the old ECW fans, particularly if they had Hayman managing them. They could become huge maybe even join with Tazz, Dudleys or Rhino to take on the establishment. I think this would all help provide something big.

They can't and won't instantly become as strong as anything. That's the mistake Hogan made. He's been talking up TNA which is great, but the moment he said 4th of January 3.0 triple ratings, was a huge mistake because he gave a time a place and a standard that has to be met.

It won't happen.

Truth is if TNA holds it audience at 1.0 going against WWE and Monday Night Football then that in itself is a hell of an achievement. Adding fans would be a massive bonus. It's a nshame if they did achieve that it would now be glossed over by earlier comments about a delusional 3.0

As for your wish list.

Hogan V Austin won't happen due to Austin not signing with TNA
Lesnar V Lashley won't happen due to Lesnar not signing with TNA
Paul Heyman - This could work, and would certainly be interesting if he and Bischoff were both on screen. However it's that same reason why I don't think it will ever happen. Heyman and Bischoff = no.

nWo reformation. The group will probably get back together, but they can't call themselves the nWo, and besides the nWo was 10+ years ago. Some things just can't be recaptured, especially if you try to force them.

Shane McMahon = lol. Would be awesome if it happened, but yeah, no chance.

Goldberg = possible with Bischoff and Hogan on board.

Rock = no chance.

RVD would be a great asset.

Sandman and Sabu are a little past it imo.

 

[PJ Marshal]

as long as they keep the black machismo i dont give a f**k

 

[bender]

They can't and won't instantly become as strong as anything. That's the mistake Hogan made. He's been talking up TNA which is great, but the moment he said 4th of January 3.0 triple ratings, was a huge mistake because he gave a time a place and a standard that has to be met.

I read recently that 4th January was going agains the Rock as GM on Raw. If so, i think that TNA is in big trouble. I dont think it matters whether they do better or not, but i would be surprised, assuming they advertise enough, if they dont get an awful lot of channel flicks against WWE.

It won't happen.

Truth is if TNA holds it audience at 1.0 going against WWE and Monday Night Football then that in itself is a hell of an achievement. Adding fans would be a massive bonus. It's a nshame if they did achieve that it would now be glossed over by earlier comments about a delusional 3.0

1.0 would be a good result, i agree with this, but if they hype Jan 4 enough, they will get pretty good results. saying Triple ratings got attention. Nothing more and nothing less. Hogan seems to have been getting 10 times the mainstream media attention as before he arrived (it is admittedly difficult to tell from afar). This is what gets the ratings for TNA, not the fact that Hogan is actually wrestling. Whether or not ratings end up tripling is totally inconsequential.

As for your wish list.

Hogan V Austin won't happen due to Austin not signing with TNA

It is all about getting publicity and money. I doubt Austin is on as much money as TNA would be willing to pay him. It would be a match with mainstream interest. IN fact, one of the very few. Money does talk and if WWE doesnt use Austin for anything, i would be surpised if Austin doesnt eventually do a deal. His name would help TNA immensely.

Lesnar V Lashley won't happen due to Lesnar not signing with TNA

Probably right, and probably not on the radar, but money talks and it would get great interest. And this would only need to be a one off guest appearance with a few run in and build up moments. Certainly a lot easier than MMA fighting or whatever he does. It would not stop him from present projects.

Paul Heyman - This could work, and would certainly be interesting if he and Bischoff were both on screen. However it's that same reason why I don't think it will ever happen. Heyman and Bischoff = no.

I dont know enough about the back room politics but Heyman also seems close to McMahon to me. But, i think it would help, and as i keep saying constantly, money talks.

nWo reformation. The group will probably get back together, but they can't call themselves the nWo, and besides the nWo was 10+ years ago. Some things just can't be recaptured, especially if you try to force them.

All true. But, firstly i think it will be a Global Revolution or Global World Order. I am not sure if things cant be recaptured. Vince McMahon once thought this about Hulkamania, but then he found out it was immortal when Hogan met the Rock. The NWO may not do a repeat, particularly in TNA (i think it would be huge if done right in WWE) but then again, the NWO is for life Brother, so it might. Either way, i think it helps a bit if used right.

Shane McMahon = lol. Would be awesome if it happened, but yeah, no chance.

A january 4th run in match would be close to the ultimate mark out moment. Imagine a Dixie Carter speach welcoming Hulk Hogan and getting interupted with a Shane O Mac steel chairshot. That would be absolutely massive publicity (for WWE and TNA's benefit) but I agree with no chance. Money does talk though, i just dont think TNA has close to enough.

Goldberg = possible with Bischoff and Hogan on board.


Rock = no chance.

I think the Rock is a good chance of a guest appearance. It would be expensive and a one off, maybe not even a wrestling one off, but i would be surprised if this doesnt happen some time in the future if TNA makes headway. Probably around the debut of the Rocks next movie?

RVD would be a great asset.

Sandman and Sabu are a little past it imo.

You are right, but they both have the ability to bring a small ready made fan club and also to involve the crowd and build a following. The key to TNAs success is not overusing fighters and integrating Old, Young, and current wrestlers. I dont think they are getting the balance right but hope they do.

I really hope they move towards a big roster but with fighters not fighting regularly. It is far more exciting when fighters make surprise appearances, imo. This is what the old WCW did. I hope they are more like this than the Russo WCW that too many people remember. I fear that they wont be though.

 

[Marshall_magic]

Rumors are WWE has a huge guest host planned for that night.

Spoiler: Rumored guest host

Bret Hart

I don't know how much there is to that rumor, but I must say, if it's true, Raw would get a huge win in the ratings.