Is Anyone Else Really Into these Bound for Glory Matches?

[Swiss Ultimate]

I've now watched two weeks of Impact in a row and aside from the "average" quality Aces and Eights thing, I've really been loving the actual wrestling on these shows. Kurt Angle VS. Bully Ray was fantastic, AJ Styles VS. James Storm was one of the best matches I've seen in months and even the Gutcheck match was decent.

Also, last week I was really impressed with the Samoa Joe match and Mr. Anderson's match with AJ.

I don't think I'll be doing LockJaw's gimmick or anything, but yeah, seems like the show's pretty strong without Hogan on my television. Austin Aries seems like a pretty great choice for a World Champ although I don't find him nearly as charismatic as they're pushing him as.

Oh well. Thoughts?

[Sepholio]

TNARICK,,, has turned you to the dark side.

Nah, seriously though, they have put on some really good matches recently. And Hogan being out of the picture is always a huge plus these days.

[Swiss Ultimate]

I've been in and out liking TNA since the start. Remember watching them when they had their weekly PPVs and thinking they didn't sell anything, and getting annoyed that the Styles Clash was often the least powerful looking move that AJ had and it never seemed to flow. Of course, he was super-indie back then, now he's world-class.

[#1-norm-fan]

I'm glad someone's mentioned this odd insanity about Austin Aries. The guys not bad by any means but you'd swear by some of the things you hear about his mic work on here that he's the next Rock. I haven't seen it.

[Rollermacka]

I genuinely enjoyed TNA since Bound for Glory last year. I think they are the right track, the main event picture is a good combination of former stars, home grown stars, and potential stars. I like the roster expansion too, adding people with the Gut Check and from the Destination X tournament. King and Sanjay were obvious choices. I like Rashad but I don't really see why they kept Dakota (I would have taken Lars, Rubrix, Andrews or all three) The "Aces and Eights" storyline is pretty cliche, but if it brings in more talent I say go for it

[DLVH84]

I thought the matches has been really good so far, I haven't seen one bad match out of the series yet.

[Joesgonnakillyou]

I love the league system, it just appeals to me. I think it's a great long term story thing that anyone can join in at any point and know what's happening. It's less of a soap opera and more like a sport.

That being said it's all a bit all over the place atm, get everyone around the same level of matches and it'll be easier to follow, and add more drama.

[Droford]

i like that unlike last year Sama Joe actually has points..and s winning.

[Emperor Smeat]

The matches have been really good and the idea of a league full of random wrestlers gives guaranteed tv time to those who probably wouldn't have done much in the same time.

Just pessimistic a bit of TNA finding a way to screw it up like they did last year with the late randomness of removing wrestlers and killing the build up of Crimson who was a lock to win it.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I've been enjoying the crap out of TNA. The performers seem to have real motivation and such. The Bound For Glory Series has been pretty good, and even Robbie E. has points. Say what you want about him, but as a character he is an easy choice for a heel to get beaten up.

D'Angelo Dinero is so charismatic it is not funny. I've got no clue why TNA has not done much more with him.

[James Steele]

The matches are great, but I think they start it way too early. Still got 3 months of random ass matches. They are burning through great matches that should be saved for ppv feuds.

[#1-norm-fan]

Yeah, WWE does it too but with this BFG series, TNA is really suffering from the whole "Why am I paying for a PPV when these are pretty much the same matches I can see on free TV" syndrome. Especially since they're actual matches with legit endings.

Can't imagine why anyone would pay for a TNA PPV at this point in time.

[#1-norm-fan]

Well... ever. But especially right now.

[James Steele]

TNA has always seemed to build toward TV instead of PPV.

[whiteyford]

That was Russos philisophy, pretty sure he literally said as much at one point.

[K.Smoke]

Yep the match quality has improved some these past few weeks but TNA goes through that, their problem is consistency because when they look bad they look very bad and for a noticible amount of time. Hopefully they can sustain this.

And I agree AA mic skills have been looking trash as of late. A little dry maybe like he's trying to hard. Aces and 8s is being dragged out too long for me I'm ready for the mask to come off.

[#1-norm-fan]

That was Russos philisophy, pretty sure he literally said as much at one point.

Probably because Russo knew PPVs pretty much had to be match based which he hated because he thought the real money was all in angles.

My ideal strategy would be one PPV quality match on TV a week. Maybe two since it's a two hour show. Then like four upper level guys vs lower level guys matches just to establish where both guys are at, where they stand on the card, can the lower level guys "hang" with the upper level guys even in a loss, etc. Not necessarily squash matches all the time. Just some matches that let your top guys show why they're a top guy and your lower level guys show how far/close they are.

That's like 6 matches. Only 2 of which are PPV quality. Then use the rest of the show for actual well thought out, intriguing "sports entertainment" angles to build feuds as opposed to lazy formulas like "Challenger pins champion" and "Two feuds in one tag match".

At that point, I'd pay money to see a PPV full of 8 or 9 of those matches I see only one or two of weekly on TV. Especially if your top guy never wrestles major stars on free TV and is only involved in angles and maybe the occasional match against the lower level guy to show how good he is.

[James Steele]

You make most of your money off PPVs, merchandise, and tickets. TNA doesn't make much off of any of the 3. TNA can't be making that much money off ad revenue.

[Swiss Ultimate]

TNA keeps sending me porn ads via email. That must be where they're making enough money to pay all their "talent".