What if TNA is cancelled?

[Jeritron]

This is from TPWW and various news sites...

Is TNA In Jeopardy Of Being Cancelled?, Major News

By Matt Boone

The Pro Wrestling Torch is reporting that there has been lots of talk regarding TNA's programming last week with the "This is TNA!" special airing on February 12 (which drew a 1.2 rating) and a new episode of TNA iMPACT! that aired on February 15 (which only drew a 0.6 rating going head-to-head with WWE Raw). Given the number TNA drew on Monday night going unopposed with WWE Monday Night Raw being preempted in the United States until Thursday due to the Westminster Dog Show, many were left scratching their heads as to why TNA chose to do a "Best Of" show instead of a new live show building off current storylines in the company and especially the day after the Against All Odds PPV.

According to reports, one reason why TNA didn't make this move was the company's issue with having to "learn on the fly" so to speak on how to insert commercials into a live broadcast. While that may sound like a strange reason seeing as TNA produces live three-hour PPV events every month, the company does not have live TV experience. So doing live TV with commercial feeds requires another level of production that TNA isn't currently equipped for right now. It should also be noted that TNA President Dixie Carter wanted to change the name of the special from "This is TNA!" to "This is TNA Wrestling!" a week before it aired so viewers looking through a guide would see "wrestling" in the title. However, Carter was told that it was too late to make the change.

As for the new episode of iMPACT! last Thursday, TNA officials obviously weren't thrilled about the lower rating iMPACT! garnered on Thursday, but also weren't expecting a strong number at the same time. Says one TNA source, "Last week, we knew we'd be spanked by WWE on Thursday. The real test is this week, without competition from RAW on Thursday." So while the company had a hard time drawing viewers going up against WWE Raw, if they are able to improve on the 1.2 record rating from two weeks ago (which drew a record 1.6 million viewers), it could likely be attributed to earning new viewers thanks to the Monday night special last week.

While many in the wrestling media were quick to bury TNA following its subpar numbers last week, especially going head-to-head with WWE on last Thursday night, one TV industry source claims the whole situation regarding TNA is a wash, but that the company isn't in bad shape right now. This TV source added quote, "Anyone who knows anything about the TV industry knows that you put a check mark in the success column next to TNA's name. It's one of Spike's top three programs each week in its timeslot in the male 18-34 demo. TNA is more likely to leave Spike because of a better offer from another cable station down the line than Spike is to cancel TNA."

When one TNA source was asked if TNA has any plans of presenting a live TV show on Spike TV anytime soon, the source added quote, "The internal attitude is we'll go live when we're ready. We just don't feel ready yet."


So what if TNA were suddenly cancellled? Would they sell to WWE, or would they continue to work without a TV deal until they got a new one on a crappier station?

[D Mac]

We would see more TNA stars wasting away in ECW.

[Jeritron]

I think it'd help ECW. Even if they hate the WWE, the dudleys and Rhyno and Raven would take the checks to go to ECW.

Not to mention the other guys they'd get signed to contracts.

[Splaya]

I think it'd help ECW. Even if they hate the WWE, the dudleys and Rhyno and Raven would take the checks to go to ECW.

Not to mention the other guys they'd get signed to contracts.

To what.. be jobbed worse than they are in TNA? It would be pointless

[Jeritron]

I can think of a way to book an awesome fued to save ECW, but that would only be if TNA folded and got sold to WWE.

Hypothetically speaking, it TNA was to be cancelled and sold to WWE in the near future, do you think WWE would consider it worthy of having an invasion type angle?

I'm thinking maybe not major, but what if a small stable of guys like Christian, Styles, Samoa Joe, Daniels and LAX showed up on Raw holding all their belts and got involved, Radicals style. And then they worked a stable fued with WWE wrestlers. You could unify the NWA title with one of the world titles, and the tag titles together, and maybe even exploit the Xdivision for a while on smackdown or something.

As for ECW. Imagine they had a new breed vs originals elimination match at mania, and it came down to RVD alone against all 4 new breed members and they were beating up on them cheaply. Suddenly the ECW theme hits and Heyman comes down with a mic and and says, you haven't beaten all the originals. And Raven, The Dudleys, and Rhyno came down and cleared house with RVD Sandman Mahoney Sabu and Dreamer.

The next ECW they say they're here to say, and a full out war breaks out between the originals and new breed, with a power struggle between say Heyman and...Shane, or Stephanie. The whole thing is a mess, and you have dominant champion tweener Lashley in the middle. He is unclear on what side he's on. Eventually, he sides with Heyman and appears to be on the good side. But then Lashley and Heyman turn on RVD and the originals and that whole angle starts.

I realize this is all pointless hypothesising, but it'd be interesting and I think a small invasion of a stable could be entertaining. Then they could slowly incorporate any TNA talent into their shows.

[El Fangel]

If TNA folded and some of its wrestlers were to go to WWE, it would be a blessing from above, in the form of Christopher Daniels.

Also the cruiserweight, diva and tag division would get bumped up.

[Jeritron]

WWE would likely use Daniels as a cruiserweight or soemthing tho...

I could see them putting him and styles in a fued with the hardys, or maybe a 3 way fued for the IC title in ladder matches between Styles, Daniels, Hardy.

I'd be most excited for a Christian/Edge fued. I'd also love to see them do a Samoa Joe Benoit fued for the US title.

The Xdivision would be nice to see merge with the cruiserweight division on Smackdown.

[D Mac]

Sting would finally retire.

[El Fangel]

Sting would finally retire.
Yeah, he would fight Hogan in a retirement match. And all you could hope for is a double pin.

[Jeritron]

WWE would probably manage to talk Sting into at least one appearance this time around. They'd probably offer him a hefty chunk of change to work one program with Undertaker for a match at Wrestlemania 24.

[James Steele]

Sting vs. Triple H

I don't understand why, but that is one of my markish dream matches.

[Jeritron]

I know. I always wanted that fued to take place in like 03. When HHH was no selling everyone and holding the championship for too long, I was hoping Sting would be the next guy they signed from WCW.

I was marking out at the thought of HHH and Evolution getting mind games played with them by Sting in the rafters, until he got a title shot at a PPV and took that belt.

[Corkscrewed]

Also the cruiserweight, diva and tag division would get bumped up.
What the hell are those? :?:

[St. Jimmy]

Triple H would win the NWA Heavyweight Title and publicly urinate on Jeff Jarrett.

[Gerard]

Angle would be bashing tna and talking up wwe...again. :shifty:

[Xero]

If worst came to worst, they would probably go back to the weekly PPV model. If they completely fizzled out, Vince would jump on the video library like a jumping bean on speed.

[Kane Knight]

This mostly sounds like shit, but for the sake of argument, if TNA tanked, most of these guys would go back to the indies. Some of the bigger stars would go to WWE, especially if their pride wasn't too big for a good paycheck.

[BigDaddyCool]

Question: What if TNA is cancelled?

Answer: I hasn't been yet?

[Kane Knight]

You hasn't been yet.

[D Mac]

Oh and 1 more thing.

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e353/Nolaladyhawk/TNA%20Pics/IMG_4361.jpg

[Jeritron]

woody harrelson

[Londoner]

What the hell are those? :?:

Illusions of his own mind would be the best answer.

[Mr. Nerfect]

The WWE would probably pick up a lot of the guys. Eric Young should definitely show up either wearing a "Don't Fire Eric" or a "Please Hire Eric" shirt.

Chris Sabin, Petey Williams, Jay Lethal, Christopher Daniels, AJ Styles, Alex Shelley and Austin Aries would probably end up competing in the Cruiserweight Division. Sonjay Dutt is a maybe.

James Storm and Chris Harris would be brought in as America's Most Wanted, and they'd probably be the best team the WWE would have at their disposal. Gail Kim and Jacqueline would go to the Women's Division. For some reason, I can see them keeping Jackie, even though they've cut her quite a few times. Miss Jackie would probably end up with a job, as Charlie Haas' valet, or something.

Samoa Joe would show up in the WWE. I can see him getting a major push, probably as a heel. Samoa Joe in the WWE is money.

It'd be interesting to see whether Christian kept his surname or dropped it. It'd be great to see him again, and the WWE would be stupid to not have him and Edge get into a battle here or there. Tyson Tomko would likely stick with Christian, and Steiner could be brought in. His run with the WWE in 2002/2003 wasn't too flash, but maybe the WWE realises he is meant to be a heel.

Kurt Angle returning would be worth it, alone. He's one of the last few stars wrestling has left, and if he was able to swallow his pride and return, he along with Christian and Samoa Joe would be the leaders of Team TNA when they debuted. I can see Angle going to ROH and talking about how he'd make it huge, though. He might actually be able to land them PPV and wider DVD distribution, though, which is a very good thing.

The Dudley Boyz would be back in ECW, and that is a good thing. With La Resistance and Derrick Neikirk & Ryan O'Reilly, you actually have a tag team thing going. Throw in The Basham Brothers (who are expected to sign with TNA soon), and you have yourself four pretty decent teams. Rhyno returning to ECW as its monster heel would be a great thing for the brand, as well. Some matches between Jerry Lynn and RVD could be something special, also.

I don't know if Raven would return to the WWE, but I would hope so. He's a great talker, and he never got his fair shake in his original run. Bring Frankie Kazarian and Matt Bentley with him. I can see them in ECW, but I'd also like to see Kazarian and Bentley on RAW for some reason, although they are a more natural fit on SmackDown!.

The New Age Outlaws would probably return for a bit, and get a major tag push. They were money back in the day, and the WWE loves its nostalgia. When the WWE remembers both guys are druggies, and they aren't what they used to be, Billy Gunn and Road Dogg would be released, however.

I'd love to see Ron Killings in the WWE. I think they'd actually use him this time, and with his past as a former multi-time World Champion, I can see him leading Team TNA with Kurt Angle, Samoa Joe and Christian. Abyss would probably be brought in as a monster. A feud with Kane or a spot on ECW would make the most sense.

[M-A-G]

<---would be dancing in the street.

[Skippord]

Probably go back to internet shows and then find a new deal eventually