Pay Per View ideas

[Andrew MacDonald]

This was inspired by a Review an Impact a couple of months ago. I wasn't even watching at the time. But I think John Pollock proposed experimenting of different things on pay per view (maybe I'm off but something like that) simply because nothing really was a good idea and they wouldn't have much to lose. Theoretically, everything is a bad idea.

I think he was talking about that Lacrosse player and saying that the feud between him and Roode seemed to be more compelling then the one with Jeff Hardy. So, why not him vs Roode on pay per view.

So, here's a post idea. What should TNA put on pay per view, some experiments that could potentially get some buys?

A TNA 10 year reunion show?

A Lethal Lottery, winning team faces each other for a title shot?

A WCW reunion?

Some good old fashioned long term booking that makes sense?

What should go on pay per view? Raise those buys.

[Dubs Leffler]

1. Only keep Genesis, Lockdown, Slammiversary, Hard Justice, and Bound for Glory for PPV.

2. Put specials(3-hour, PPV cards, gimmick shows) on about every 6 weeks for Impact.

3. Get some long term booking in place, and watch those ratings grow!(To another level, brother)

[The Pod-Father!]

Apr 15, 2012 16:15:31 GMT -5 Dubs Leffler said:

1. Only keep Genesis, Lockdown, Slammiversary, Hard Justice, and Bound for Glory for PPV.

2. Put specials(3-hour, PPV cards, gimmick shows) on about every 6 weeks for Impact.

3. Get some long term booking in place, and watch those ratings grow!(To another level, brother)

Pretty much exactly my thoughts on the first step to improving TNA's televised product. The only differences are I'd keep Destination X instead of Hard(Core) Justice, and I'd only have those "Chlash Of The Champions"/"Whole F'N Show" editions of Impact once every quarter.

I'd definitely do some special things for the tenth anniversary (as few people thought they would last this long). A WCW reunion would be cool, but only if done right and as long as the WCW guys are used to put over the current TNA workers (like having Bobby Roode go over someone like Lance Storm or even James Storm beating Goldberg).

Finally I'd start putting more importance on TNA's homegrown gimmick matches (like Ultimate X, King Of The Mountain, Lethal Lockdown, or the Bound For Glory series).

[judeskii]

i always like the idea of a 1 night tournament. i suppose similar to KOTR but for the title. not sure how it would draw though.

[Deleted]

I'd go down to four PPV's a year, it gives yourself a chance to actually build towards some kind of a payoff, make it a big deal instead of giving everything away on TV all the time, you can still have your TV specials etc...

TNA have the talent to produce a far better product IMO, they just need to filter out the "WCW style booking" and stick to a more basic formula.

They should to take someone like a Roode, Storm or Aries and build him up as a legit champion, have him go through people like RVD, Sting, Hardy, Anderson etc, maybe bring in more recognised names on short term deals to work a programme with the top guy to give him a bit more legitimacy as a "world champ" not just the "TNA champ". Try to provide some proper "main event" matches at your PPVs.

While doing this they need to slowly phase the older guys out and push younger talent in the X-division and tag division, build up a solid mid card under the main events at the PPVs, try to make it a good show all round.

Apr 15, 2012 17:39:25 GMT -5 judeskii said:

i always like the idea of a 1 night tournament. i suppose similar to KOTR but for the title. not sure how it would draw though.

Could do well if booked properly, Chikara have the young lion's cup and also King of Trios, maybe the winner of the TNA tournament gets a title shot at the next PPV?

[Andrew MacDonald]

One issue right now is, they either don't want to or can't seem to get rid of the monthly pay per views. What would one do if they have to do the 12 pay per views.

The best idea is generally the 4-6 pay per views a year and some specials, but if one has to use the 12 ppv format, they could have the off pay per views to be something different. Though it could seem really gimmicked like WWE does. WWE has their big pay per views, and on top of that, they have their gimmicks. But with some gimmicks where you can do one off things like tournaments and such, there may not be so much storyline focus on them, and they can build up to different pay per views months ahead, while having this unique special going on as well.

Same with Destination X. You have the X-Division feuds and wrestlers building to that pay per view, and the Knockouts, Tag Teams and Heavyweights building to a pay per view after that.

[The Pod-Father!]

I like the idea of using the other PPVs as "experiments". If they have to do 12 shows a year, why not think outside of the box and have some fun?

Two events that I think could be resurrected (and they'd probably actually get a decent buyrate) are the World X Cup and the New Year's Knockout Eve. Both events would appeal to a niche audience, but both audiences have proven to be fairly loyal. It would also be a great excuse to use the weeks before the show to introduce new talent. They could get a guage on who elicits a crowd response and hire 4 or 5 new workers for each division.

[stevekasan]

Clash of the Champions style TV specials. Spike will give them the time.

Destination X & the World X Cup are highly important.

A Tag Team only tournament TV night?

[carmichael]

I don't think you need to go down to 4 PPV's but they need to look at something like 7 or 8, because right now, they are just holding an expensive house show at the end of most months.
TNA must have a reason for sticking with 12 PPVs though, they might be making a profit off it or scared if they drop down to 6 or 7, they wont be able to draw 12 again if they get hot and want to run that many?

I'm not sure what you can do to draw more on PPV other than just do the simple things. have very top guys only wrestle on PPV, like Kurt Angle or Jeff Hardy, maybe Roode if they book him strong, take the initial hit of only 8 thousand seeing finishes and book for that audience instead of TV.

I actually think the only way TNA could improve ratings and PPV numbers is if they got Paul Heyman. I'm not some Heyman mark who think the guy could do no wrong either, i just think hes the only guy out there who would change brand identity in the eyes of the fans, because thats what TNA actually needs, a massive change in their identity because right now no matter who they sign they wont move the ratings because of how run down the brand is, outside of guys like cena, lesnar or punk maybe.

If i were booking TNA though, id get rid of Daniels, AJ, Kaz, Samoa Joe etc. all the guys that have been there forever and are beaten down, not worried about any of them going to WWE and they are not drawing here. Flair goes, Bischoff goes, Sting goes but id keep Hogan cos he can still get on Espn and mainstream networks when we need to promote. Id try and initially run the company on 12-13 contracted guys who do house shows and are the guys i want to focus on. Also i would rely on hiring non guarenteed guys for a set of tapings if i needed extras, wouldnt be afraid to get guys in like Low Ki or a Tag Team and involve them in a brief storyling, like a revolving door each month of the talented workers who i dont have to pay yearly. have an off season during the summer for 6 weeks, so i don't have to pay my guys in full for 12 months of the year and run 7 ppvs and they could rest and i could go into development and plan out my storylines going forward

Problem is TNA want to emulate the market leader, which is the WWE and maybe they are successful in doing that to hold their own market share, thats fine but i believe they could eat into that if they just thought a bit outside the box and it would be a better business for that.

Arguably though i think TNA are realizing that money isnt actually in trying to dominate the American market and fighting WWE will be hard to be profitable, its probably better to try and globalize the business and dominate in areas that the WWE doesnt run regularly

[Deleted]

Apr 17, 2012 10:12:45 GMT -5 The Pod-Father! said:

I like the idea of using the other PPVs as "experiments". If they have to do 12 shows a year, why not think outside of the box and have some fun?

There's only one way to decide..... PPV on a pole match! ;D

Four PPV ideas chosen at random and placed on poles in each corner of the ring, whoever climbs up to a pole first, that's the PPV idea they go with for next month.

[Mark in London]

TV 3 hour specials could be called: TNA BlockBuster: {Generic PPV name} Give it some Gravitas.