WCW vs. TNA

Yet another TNA Pay-Per-View passes by and WWE don't even bat an eye lid.  Ten years and counting for TNA and it seems their product has ground to an almighty halt.  That is to say they were even moving in the first place.

A lot of spectators see TNA going the same way that WCW eventually did back in 2001 but to compare the two companies is a big miss match and here's why...

Firstly, to try to compare TNA with WCW, one would have to assume that they were both real competition for WWE, when in fact TNA can only dream of coming close to what WCW achieved in the 90s.  For many years WCW was the equal of the then WWF, and for almost two years were ahead of them in the ratings.  The reason was simple, unlike TNA, WCW was not trying to get away from "Sports Entertainment" or trying to save traditional "wrestling".  They in fact embraced the ideas of Vince McMahon in trying to make the industry into an exciting, entertaining television programme that appealed to mainstream audiences and not just fans of the squared circle.

One thing that WCW had on their side when they first started was heritage.  Unlike TNA, WCW was really just a change of name for the last NWA stronghold, Jim Crockett Promotions (National Wrestling Alliance was the alternative to the New York based World Wrestling Federation).  Therefor when media mogul Ted Turner started WCW he already had a number of well established wrestling stars such as Ric Flair and the Four Horseman, Lex Luger, Sting etc.  Some may argue that TNA has also managed to acquire established names but the difference is that the WCW stars were in their prime and matched WWE's in-ring product if not surpassing it.  TNA started with a number of independent wrestlers, a few WWE rejects and those who didn't manage to survive the acquisition of WCW by Vince McMahon.  So while WCW managed to make a big impact from the start, TNA spent years as a shelter for strays.

TNA also need major investment in their production values.  Everything from the wrestlers' music to the lighting in the Impact Zone needs a complete overhaul.  And speaking of the Impact Zone, TNA need to get that show on the road, literally.  As it stands, the majority of the crowd at Impact tapings are nothing more than a generic studio audience, containing mostly theme park visitors.  In order to reach real wrestling fans, TNA need to tour their product around the country.  Wrestling is a live event show regardless of how much it is promoted through media.  TNA need to make each show  an experience for the fans and that is how they will build brand loyalty.

Ultimately WCW failed but it's legacy lives on.  WCW forced WWE to act and create the Attitude Era in order to combat the growing popularity of the NWO, ultimately changing the wrestling landscape forever.  Many WCW stars such as Booker T, Eddie Guerrero and Chris Jericho went on to have successful WWE careers.  Even now the legacy lives strong as the World Title which can be traced back to WCW is held by the Big Show, a man who made his name in that very company.

It is hard to see TNA leaving any sort of legacy.  WWE could probably buy them over at anytime, just as the did to WCW at the end.  Maybe TNA should be of more concern is that WWE just don't seem to care enough to see them as a threat....

AP