An open letter to TNA about gimmick matches

[BigDaddyCool]

To Whom it may concern at TNA,

What the fuck, do you have any idea what gimmick matches are for? They are to add extra drama to a match. It is saying that the wrestler involed have such a rivalary, that a normal singles or tag team match just cannot hold them. That being said singles matches and tag matches (to a lesser extent) should be the bread and butter of the company. Of course, you are TNA and you are retarded so you have like 4 shows a year that are nothing but gimmick matches. And every show you do run has at least 2 gimmick matches per show. By having so many gimmick matches, they lose their luster. The go from making a match a "must see" event to a "meh they will be doing something crazier next week, I'll catch it then if at all" event.

[Chavo Classic]

Does anyone want to print this letter and address it to the source of the problem... Mr Vincent Russo C/O TNA

[BigDaddyCool]

Yeah, you should do that. I also wanted to explain what each match should be accomplishing. Like a cage match is for when with the 2 can't be held in the ring so the put up a cage around the ring to protect everyone else, or the heel keeps having people run in for him and protect him so they put up a cage to keep everyone out. No so they can just have a regular clusterfuck match where the cage has christmas lights. I didn't because it would take forever and everyone here kinda knows that stuff.

[Chavo Classic]

It didn't help the cause when they introduced the Lockdown PPV. I guess this is one of the reasons why people are convinced TNA is the new WCW. WCW sacraficed big moments in their history in the pursuit of short term victory in the ratings war, and blew so many opportunities to develop long term programs that would have drawn money over a longer period of time.

TNA is the same. I swear that sometimes they're preoccupied with attracting viewers with promises of big cage matches and ultimate x spot fests, that they forget, as you said, the purpose of gimmick matches. They should be looking at building interests in feuds, characters and angles and climaxing with a money shot when they put said wrestlers in a gimmick match situation.

As Mick Foley wrote in Have a Nice Day - break a few tables when people care about you

[Mr. Nerfect]

I'm actually not opposed to the concept of Lockdown. I am opposed to them doing things to then take cage matches further. If you can't do a show with straight cage matches, then don't attempt it. While what BDC said about the cage match is true, it's not like the programs are thrown together (well, in TNA they are), but they don't need to be that way. Lockdown has traditionally been a good PPV for TNA, I believe.

The Ultimate X does not bother me, either. It feels more like an athletic display than a grudge match "feud ender". Ladder Matches should remain reserved, though. And TNA certainly does not hold back on the gimmicks. I'd send that letter.

[BigDaddyCool]

That is something WWE does well. They have certain ppv build around a gimmick match, Royal Rumble and Surivoir Series. But a good majority of the fueds build to a big match that isn't even a gimmick match. So when they do break out a ladder match, it means something. That and it is just that a ladder match, with not a ton of extra silly stipulations like that first 3.46 people to get to the ring are actaully in the match.

Another thing TNA needs to get, is that once someone has won a # 1 contenders match, that person is the #1 contender. And the #1 contender should be focused on beating the champion and not having to worry if Scott Stiener is going to beat him up, so Jim Cornette comes out, shits a brick then puts them in a match with Stiener having to defend the #1 contdnership they just won for no reason other than a roided out freak desided to jump them.

[BigDaddyCool]

I'm actually not opposed to the concept of Lockdown. I am opposed to them doing things to then take cage matches further. If you can't do a show with straight cage matches, then don't attempt it. While what BDC said about the cage match is true, it's not like the programs are thrown together (well, in TNA they are), but they don't need to be that way. Lockdown has traditionally been a good PPV for TNA, I believe.

The Ultimate X does not bother me, either. It feels more like an athletic display than a grudge match "feud ender". Ladder Matches should remain reserved, though. And TNA certainly does not hold back on the gimmicks. I'd send that letter.

Ultimate X doesn't bother me either, that was the point of the X-Division. That is like getting pissed because every time the hardcore title was defended, it was a weapons match, that is the point.

Also, the ladder matches in TNA are more of step stool matches. When you only have to climb to rungs to put you fingers on the object, you need to raise the object a little higher. If Nash's or Matt Morgan's head is bumbing into the object, raise it up, just a bit.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I agree with you. I don't find the concept of the Reverse Battle Royal as retarded as most. I disagree with the name, however. It's more a "first in, first served Battle Royal." What TNA would be better off doing, however, is building up the Battle Royal in weeks leading up to it, and do qualifying matches, instead of just throwing everything at the wall one night.

Build is definitely important to most gimmick matches, and TNA does not get that. They also don't know when enough is enough. Feast or Fired was a decent concept. It's basically Money in the Bank, but with each Championship being represented. Awesome. I don't like the idea of someone being fired, though. Why would a winner of the match get fired? It's stupid. Replace the fired briefcase with the other half of the TNA World Tag Team Title shot, so that you can get a potential mismatched team going for the belts. There's drama in that.

What they had Jim Cornette and Matt Morgan do the following week was crappy, though. "Deal or No Deal?" What the fuck was that? The guys that won the match should win the match. Steiner swapped his briefcase, and I have to ask just what the point was? Pointless stirring of the dirt in the bottom of the water.

[Chavo Classic]

You might be right about the Ultimate X... but the cage match should be sacred.

Lockdown takes the cage match too far because by the end of the evening, the crowd has habitualised to the concept, meaning that the bookers need to introduce further stipulations such as an electrified cage, or doing insane spots from the cage such as an Elix Skipper huricana from the top.

Thankfully, what has saved TNA so far is that they haven't yet regressed and tried to use a cage as a climax to a feud, because then the crowd wouldn't give a shit because they had a whole card of cage matches a couple of months ago.

However, they are going to have to continue to raise the bar now because a cage match isn't enough. And that can only lead to one thing... Triple deck cages and Viagra on a pole matches. Sounds familiar?

[BigDaddyCool]

I think a better question is why not just fucking open the breif cases at the end of ppv, or at very least, start the next show with it. Not this trade them around, bullshit over 2 weeks.

[BigDaddyCool]

You might be right about the Ultimate X... but the cage match should be sacred.

Lockdown takes the cage match too far because by the end of the evening, the crowd has habitualised to the concept, meaning that the bookers need to introduce further stipulations such as an electrified cage, or doing insane spots from the cage such as an Elix Skipper huricana from the top.

Thankfully, what has saved TNA so far is that they haven't yet regressed and tried to use a cage as a climax to a feud, because then the crowd wouldn't give a shit because they had a whole card of cage matches a couple of months ago.

However, they are going to have to continue to raise the bar now because a cage match isn't enough. And that can only lead to one thing... Triple deck cages and Viagra on a pole matches. Sounds familiar?

Probably with some razor wire and those big q-tip things from American Gladitors on top.

[Mr. Nerfect]

You might be right about the Ultimate X... but the cage match should be sacred.

Lockdown takes the cage match too far because by the end of the evening, the crowd has habitualised to the concept, meaning that the bookers need to introduce further stipulations such as an electrified cage, or doing insane spots from the cage such as an Elix Skipper huricana.

Thankfully, what has saved TNA so far is that they haven't yet regressed and tried to use a cage as a climax to a feud, because then the crowd wouldn't give a shit because they had a whole card of cage matches a couple of months ago.

However, they are going to have to continue to raise the bar now because a cage match isn't enough. And that can only lead to one thing... Triple deck cages and Viagra on a pole matches. Sounds familiar?

To be fair, though, it's not just TNA that are at fault for this. The WWE has watered down the cage match immensely. I can't remember the last time I was excited for one. They usually come out of nowhere, when the WWE wants to cheap pop the crowd and throw a gimmick match away on TV. I mean, I that it lost to a Street Fight at Cyber Sunday should be pretty telling (I think it was a Street Fight it lost to).

The WWE is also starting to slip up with their Hell in a Cell Matches, too. They've always been somewhat spotty with that. But DX vs. Big Show, Vince McMahon and Shane McMahon? I remember when they were going to throw the match into Cyber Sunday just for the hell of it. There was hardly any build-up to Triple H vs. Randy Orton at all. And while there was for The Undertaker and Batista, that they were opponents in a regular Triple Threat Match a month later is not a great sign.

[Chavo Classic]

Those q-tip things were great. There was this 'Shadow' guy with scary-ass eyes on UK Gladiators who always pwnd the contestants in that event.

[Chavo Classic]

To be fair, though, it's not just TNA that are at fault for this. The WWE has watered down the cage match immensely. I can't remember the last time I was excited for one. They usually come out of nowhere, when the WWE wants to cheap pop the crowd and throw a gimmick match away on TV. I mean, I that it lost to a Street Fight at Cyber Sunday should be pretty telling (I think it was a Street Fight it lost to).

The WWE is also starting to slip up with their Hell in a Cell Matches, too. They've always been somewhat spotty with that. But DX vs. Big Show, Vince McMahon and Shane McMahon? I remember when they were going to throw the match into Cyber Sunday just for the hell of it. There was hardly any build-up to Triple H vs. Randy Orton at all. And while there was for The Undertaker and Batista, that they were opponents in a regular Triple Threat Match a month later is not a great sign.


The very fact that they've introduced both the Hell in the Cell and the Elimiation Chamber in the last ten years shows that the WWE is also guilty of this. I even believe that Mick Foley ruined the HIAC matches when he took that dive because every match-up afterwards would be a disappointment.

However, TNA should be criticised more because it's trying to use gimmick matches to attract a fan-base. That's what it's doing wrong, and that's why it gets me hot to see PPVs like Lockdown because they've basically blown their load in just 3 hours, and the average casual fan isn't going to give a shit about the next iMPACT.

Hell, if a girl gives you a blowjob on your first date, how pissed are you going to be when she gives you a kiss on your second date, and only ever gives handjobs on special occassions?

[Mr. Nerfect]

I think a better question is why not just fucking open the breif cases at the end of ppv, or at very least, start the next show with it. Not this trade them around, bullshit over 2 weeks.

Well yeah, that's exactly it.

[BigDaddyCool]

Hell, if a girl gives you a blowjob on your first date, how pissed are you going to be when she gives you a kiss on your second date, and only ever gives handjobs on special occassions?

Angry. :mad:

[Mr. Nerfect]

The very fact that they've introduced both the Hell in the Cell and the Elimiation Chamber in the last ten years shows that the WWE is also guilty of this. I even believe that Mick Foley ruined the HIAC matches when he took that dive because every match-up afterwards would be a disappointment.

However, TNA should be criticised more because it's trying to use gimmick matches to attract a fan-base. That's what it's doing wrong, and that's why it gets me hot to see PPVs like Lockdown because they've basically blown their load in just 3 hours, and the average casual fan isn't going to give a shit about the next iMPACT.

Hell, if a girl gives you a blowjob on your first date, how pissed are you going to be when she gives you a kiss on your second date, and only ever gives handjobs on special occassions?

Great analogy.

It partially bothers me that they're going to throw away the next Elimination Chamber at No Way Out to decide a challenger for a World Championship at WrestleMania. First of all, that match actually outshines the Royal Rumble, in my opinion. I mean, sure the Rumble is always great, but the appeal of the Rumble and Chamber is the same, in a weird sort of way. A large number of guys eliminating each other, only one is over the top rope, and another is pinfall or submission in a giant steel structure.

They're way better off just telling a story with their second World Title match, or even doing what they did with Eddie Guerrero in 2004, and do a 20-man Rumble on TV after the big Rumble, using talent from one brand exclusively.

The Elimination Chamber should be saved for after WrestleMania, where in my dream world, the WWE Title scene would involve Chris Jericho, John Cena, Randy Orton, Triple H, Finlay and Umaga. Within those six guys, you could build up a lot of stories and a lot of history. And most importantly, there is nothing past the Elimination Chamber, the winner is it.

[BigDaddyCool]

I could do with out the Chamber.

[Mr. Nerfect]

The only thing wrong with your analogy, though, Chavo, is that an electrified cage match or Hardcore Chamber of Blood Match (or whatever the fuck they called it) is nowhere near as good as a blowjob. A blowjob is more like a fine singles match with perfect psychology and finese. And tongue, I suppose.

However, it is like that enough that TNA is "asking for it" and Jeff Jarrett will be screaming "no means no!" But then Vince Russo would have to go find a way to have no "swerve us all," and no will be revealed to be a yes. Which I believe would be a face turn for it, rather than the usual "I'm with this guy!" heel turn.

[BigDaddyCool]

Noid, that was the gayest thing I've ever read ever. You sicken me. I was just about to not hate you then you say soemthing like that. :nono:

[Kane Knight]

You might be right about the Ultimate X... but the cage match should be sacred.

Lockdown takes the cage match too far because by the end of the evening, the crowd has habitualised to the concept, meaning that the bookers need to introduce further stipulations such as an electrified cage, or doing insane spots from the cage such as an Elix Skipper huricana from the top.

Thankfully, what has saved TNA so far is that they haven't yet regressed and tried to use a cage as a climax to a feud, because then the crowd wouldn't give a shit because they had a whole card of cage matches a couple of months ago.

However, they are going to have to continue to raise the bar now because a cage match isn't enough. And that can only lead to one thing... Triple deck cages and Viagra on a pole matches. Sounds familiar?

To be fair, I don't think TNA's fans have the attention span to remember that there were cage matches a couple of months ago.

Anyway, the saving grace so far is that they haven't come to the ends of the limits they can opt to push. They'll continue until they've run out of limits to push, and the fanbase will be so desensitised it won't matter what they do at that point.

And, of course, that's more or less where you're going. Eventually, they will run out of "shock" and jump to "stupid" in hopes that we won't notice the difference.

[Chavo Classic]

What bothers me about the Chamber at NWO, is that they shouldn't have to resort to the match to attract buys. Anticipation for Wrestlemania should be at fever pitch, and if creative were any good at their job, people would be buying the event regardless.

However, my favourite pre-mania PPVs were St Valentines Day Massacre and No Way Out 2000, which of course, involved Cage and HIAC matches respectively. So make of that what you want.

[Chavo Classic]

To be fair, I don't think TNA's fans have the attention span to remember that there were cage matches a couple of months ago.

Although that's a joke, it's not far off the point. TNA's main audience are casual viewers, and they continue to fail to maintain their interest. As a result, there's such a large turnover that I'd be surprised if any fans do watch for more than 3 months.

[BigDaddyCool]

What bothers me about the Chamber at NWO, is that they shouldn't have to resort to the match to attract buys. Anticipation for Wrestlemania should be at fever pitch, and if creative were any good at their job, people would be buying the event regardless.

However, my favourite pre-mania PPVs were St Valentines Day Massacre and No Way Out 2000, which of course, involved Cage and HIAC matches respectively. So make of that what you want.

No, I see why they are doing gimmick matches on pre-mania ppvs. If WWE present a card with no gimmicks, just a bunch of straight match, especially in the title matches. Maybe just have like a street fight for an undercard match, most fans are going to think (or know) nothing is going to happen, and they are doing this to have safe ppv to make some quick cash. Now if they have a gimmick match, it ups the chances for the champion to at least get hurt and add a little unpredicablity. Thus increases buy rates. In theory.

[BigDaddyCool]

Another thing, if TNA want to be a gimmick match promotion, what is the point of hiring the Kurt Angles and Booker T? You can get a bunch of indy wrestlers at a fraction of the cost to kill themselves in those matchs. Wait, they do have bunch of indy wrestler to do just that. Why are they throwing money down the drain for Angle and Booker T again?

[Corkscrewed]

I was thinking that the WWE does the same thing to a lesser extent. But good points all around. Tho I could do without 'Noid elaborating upon a blow job. Don't ever use that in an analogical sense again. kthnxbye

[Kane Knight]

Although that's a joke, it's not far off the point. TNA's main audience are casual viewers, and they continue to fail to maintain their interest. As a result, there's such a large turnover that I'd be surprised if any fans do watch for more than 3 months.

To be fair, they probably see their Cage PPV doing better numbers than most PPVs, since it's one of their best sellers both in terms of buys and on DVD.

And then totally miss any other element of why.

[Kane Knight]

I was thinking that the WWE does the same thing to a lesser extent. But good points all around. Tho I could do without 'Noid elaborating upon a blow job. Don't ever use that in an analogical sense again. kthnxbyeI think part of the reason WWE is doing so poorly now is that they kept upping the scale, and then they regressed horribly.

I understand the safety elements of it, and I understand that they couldn't go much further. But they kept upping the ante without regard to the effective "House limit" and then they stopped. No high risk moves, saving the big stuff for special occasions, it all makes sense.

It just doesn't necessarily make the fanbase happy to get to the end of a slasher movie and find the last reel is actually from "Elmo in Grouchland."

[Chavo Classic]

It just doesn't necessarily make the fanbase happy to get to the end of a slasher movie and find the last reel is actually from "Elmo in Grouchland."

Now there's an anology that Noid can't ruin

[Theo Dious]

What bothers me about the Chamber at NWO, is that they shouldn't have to resort to the match to attract buys. Anticipation for Wrestlemania should be at fever pitch, and if creative were any good at their job, people would be buying the event regardless.

To me, the Chamber at No Way Out does something to put both title matches on even terms. For the last several years one title challenger wsa the Rumble winner, and the other was basically arbitrarily decided upon. So one challenger overcame 30 men at a Big 4 PPV with two decades of history, and the other guy got his chance by some random crap that happened on a regular TV episode. Honestly, the Elimination Chamber idea also serves to place greater value on the Rumble match, because if you can't win that, then your only chance for real Wrestlemania glory is to beat five other guys in some big fucking metal construction thingy. Shit, you technically could win a Rumble almost by accident, who wants to have an Elimination Chamber as a setup for Wrestlemania?

[BigDaddyCool]

Darth raise an excellent point about maina

[Chavo Classic]

Very true! Lets hope they book a strong Chamber match now.

[Kane Knight]

Now there's an anology that Noid can't ruin

I think any analogy can be ruined, really.

[Londoner]

Very true! Lets hope they book a strong Chamber match now.

Yeah, im hyped about that now, they better do it that way.

[Russenmafia]

To me, the Chamber at No Way Out does something to put both title matches on even terms. For the last several years one title challenger wsa the Rumble winner, and the other was basically arbitrarily decided upon. So one challenger overcame 30 men at a Big 4 PPV with two decades of history, and the other guy got his chance by some random crap that happened on a regular TV episode. Honestly, the Elimination Chamber idea also serves to place greater value on the Rumble match, because if you can't win that, then your only chance for real Wrestlemania glory is to beat five other guys in some big fucking metal construction thingy. Shit, you technically could win a Rumble almost by accident, who wants to have an Elimination Chamber as a setup for Wrestlemania?

The Rumble winner has to be in the last match at Mania this year. The last two years it has went to a winner of a triple threat match and a tournament. The Rumble will lose all meaning if its winner is not on last at WM24.

[Theo Dious]

There's no Cena for the Rumble winner to backseat to this year, so...

[Theo Dious]

Very true! Lets hope they book a strong Chamber match now.

Yeah, im hyped about that now, they better do it that way.

It would be about time, there hasn't been a really strong EC since the first one. The ones since have seemed too much like "no better idea" bookings.

[Kane Knight]

There's no Cena for the Rumble winner to backseat to this year, so...

Unless....The #30 entrant in the Rumble IS Cena.

[Kane Knight]

It would be about time, there hasn't been a really strong EC since the first one. The ones since have seemed too much like "no better idea" bookings.

They don't seem AWESOME or anything, but I wouldn't call them "no better idea" bookings.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Noid, that was the gayest thing I've ever read ever. You sicken me. I was just about to not hate you then you say soemthing like that. :nono:

Haha, you could not tell that I was joking?

I guess it's true what they say, you really do need ":shifty:" next to everything you don't intend to be taken seriously.

:shifty:

[Mr. Nerfect]

Now there's an anology that Noid can't ruin

As KK said, any analogy can be ruined.

You see, TNA isn't like a slasher film at all...*watches TNA and sees Rellik*

I'll get back to you.

[Mr. Nerfect]

No, I see why they are doing gimmick matches on pre-mania ppvs. If WWE present a card with no gimmicks, just a bunch of straight match, especially in the title matches. Maybe just have like a street fight for an undercard match, most fans are going to think (or know) nothing is going to happen, and they are doing this to have safe ppv to make some quick cash. Now if they have a gimmick match, it ups the chances for the champion to at least get hurt and add a little unpredicablity. Thus increases buy rates. In theory.

I agree, I mean, that's the reason TNA does their weird-ass shit, too. There's is just a lot more frequent and less eloquently done. But, to be fair, wouldn't the most effective maneuver from a financial standpoint be to put on shows that don't use gimmicks and prove to feature developments, shocks and all that jazz, so that the next time the WWE puts on a straight show, fans might tune in.

It really all comes down to the quality of the base product, I guess, and for both TNA and the WWE it is very low (generally speaking). The writing is horrible, so in a way gimmicks need to be used (to some extent) to make things worth watching. That they are both overdoing it is a sign that neither promotion is in great shape creatively.

I agree with what KK said about the WWE suddenly putting the breaks on. I mean, guys never spill outside during Hell in a Cell Matches anymore. Guys aren't given a ladder to experiment with these days, and it's saved for the upper mid-card, and in general, things are lot more protected. Everything is watered down as fuck.

And I get what Darth is saying about the Elimination Chamber at No Way Out, and it makes sense in the same way that all gimmick matches make sense, to an extent. Except for Chris Harris and James Storm being blindfolded at Lockdown. I don't know what that was about. I just think it is an overload for this period of time. WrestleMania can carry itself, it does not need an Elimination Chamber the month before. Although, to be fair, 2000 did feature a Hell in a Cell at No Way Out.

[Dorkchop]

As KK said, any analogy can be ruined.

You see, TNA isn't like a slasher film at all...*watches TNA and sees Rellik*

I'll get back to you.

That's killer spelled backwards

[Mr. Nerfect]

That's killer spelled backwards

I thought it was Gaelic for jobber?

[Theo Dious]

I thought it was Gaelic for jobber?

No, it's Celtic for "lazy-ass booking."

[Innovator]

Nope, Latin for "Please TNA get rid of Russo, Jarrett, and Mantel as a booking team"

[Kane Knight]

It's actually hebrew for "Please Kill me, I'm trapped in a sea of shitty gimmicks."

[Mr. Nerfect]

Maybe Johnny Stamboli is actually a genius, and it means all of those relevant things?

Unfortunately he was not able to work around the fact that it is also Klingon for "grapefruit." They can't all be winners.