WWE Employees Assigned To Watch TNA TV

[Shockage]

Source: LordsofPain.net


To correct a report from last week on WWE opening Raw broadcasts with a man narrating video packages after Vince McMahon was shown a tape of TNA Wrestling's Impact Wrestling show, he was actually informed of the concept by an employee and upon being intrigued, immediately concluded that his company could do it better. It was noted that if he had actually watched an Impact Wrestling opening, he probably would have been embarrassed with WWE blatantly copying an idea from TNA.

Multiple members of WWE's creative staff—more their assistants—are assigned to watch tapes of TNA, Ring of Honor and WWE's NXT, and file a report on its contents. There are other employees who work in the same capacity as consultants for the company.

Though some creative writers joined WWE with no knowledge of professional wrestling whatsoever, there are some who were prior fans.

[Mighty Boosh]

So these people are assigned to watch other companies? Is this so they know what actual wrestling is like?

I don't get this, Vince wants to make it out that his company is the only wrestling company. With that in mind why would they pay attention to other companies contents? Or even pay that much attention to NXT? If they see it as though they have no competition why are they assigned to watch what is basically their competitors.

It's not like seeing what the other companies are doing is a bad idea but goes against Vince's stance on outside companies.

[Shockage]

It's smart to keep an eye on the competition, but it's sleazy to be copying ideas weeks and months after being aired.

[The Indy Junkie]

It's smart to keep an eye on the competition, but it's sleazy to be copying ideas weeks and months after being aired.

Not to sound stupid but isn't all story line just taken from other sources and rehashed after weeks or months from that point?

[Shockage]

Yeah, but it's not done too blatantly where it's becoming a recurring theme by the WWE

[Darth Shizzel]

Vince obviously is starting to view TNA as big competition his ratings are.down there's are rising.

[metfan51]

I don't think he views TNA has competition as much as some of you think. I mean, TNA's ratings aren't rising, they're pretty much staying put. Now that they are taped again, I expect a small drop in ratings. Last month, TNA Impact had a 0.84 rating in the US, one of the worst ratings they had in years. The WWE's problem is that their ratings are dropping too. This three hour Raw isn't working and by early 2013, they probably will drop it.

As far as blatantly copying things from other companies, it happens all the time. Anyone can probably compile a list of WWE stealing from ECW, WCW stealing from the WWE, WWE stealing from TNA and yes, TNA stealing from WCW, ECW and the WWE. It happens, think of it as a form of flattery.

[Darth Shizzel]

And I'm sure that some stuff was even copied from the NWA and AWA as well.

[Shockage]

It's people like you guys that will make it really easy for Linda McMahon to get back her $100 million very quickly. Can't even grow a set to admit the obvious.

[metfan51]

Companies copy everything that's the least bit successful. You could say Laycool was a copy of the Beautiful People, LAX was a copy of the Un-Americans, especially when they wanted to burn the American Flag, Ryback is a copy of Goldberg, even though I don't see it. Like I said, there's nothing wrong with it, as long as you can make it work.

Edit: I have no idea what Shockage means by his last post, I'll let him explain it more.

[Darth Shizzel]

All I see is a TNA mark pointing out something wrestling companies have been doing for years get over it man and be flattered the top company is taking ideas from the minor leagues.

[Shockage]

It's just plain and simple, they steal, you make excuses. Take a bow morons, make the rich richer.

[metfan51]

So, TNA never stole anything? Come on, you're acting like the definition of a TNA mark, with all due respect.

[Darth Shizzel]

It's just plain and simple, they steal, you make excuses. Take a bow morons, make the rich richer.

When TNA copy something new I'll be sure to bring it up all the time like your doing right now

[Shockage]

When TNA copy something new I'll be sure to bring it up all the time like your doing right now

You'll have to watch TNA though, which you don't. That's the problem, those who don't find aything wrong with it probably don't watch TNA and aren't following the storylines to see how a big company with a wealth of resources is taking one idea after the other from another. This is why Linda McMahon will regain her money, because there are WWE viewers out there who are dumb enough to just make excuse after excuse and they'll give WWE their viewing time.

[Shockage]

So, TNA never stole anything? Come on, you're acting like the definition of a TNA mark, with all due respect.

Oh yeah, TNA took ideas, and they were called out on it every time for it. Pity people aren't doing the same thing towards the WWE.

[metfan51]

I would like to know what ideas TNA stole and were called out for? It's been the other way around if you ask me. People talk about Eve stealing Madison Rayne's entrance and Laycool stealing TBP's entrance. When and where has TNA been called out recently?

[Shockage]

They haven't stolen recently but I can assure you that in the last 10 years, TNA have been called out on hiring WWE 'left overs' among other booking ideas. I didn't watch TNA properly until '09, but over the years I've read ton of reports of TNA 'stealing' ideas from WWE.

The narrating at the beginning of Raw was one of the most obious ideas as the voice over had become a strong part of Impact since Bischoff arrived.

[metfan51]

The WWE 'left overs' excuse is, sadly, true. I mean, they made Ron Killings the World Champion in 2002. Ron Killings, who was K Kwik and got no reaction in the WWE becomes their World Champion. Maybe R Truth now could be their World Champion, but it's clear they hired him because he competed for the WWE and had some name, thus appeal. I had no problem with Shamrock as Champion and no problem with guys like Raven and AJ Styles. I didn't have a problem with Angle, until he won every title at the same time. So it's clear, they will take most any WWE wrestler, with a midcard to big name and shoot them to the moon.

I wouldn't take so much offense to this topic. We all have different feelings so no need to get so defensive. After all, it's Thanksgiving and I for one am thankful for many things, including the debates we have here on this forum.

[Shockage]

There's been a lot of consistency with TNA since Bischoff, Lagana, Pritchard and co cleaned things up a little. WWE have seen this and realised that their team of writers with no prior wrestling knowledge aren't fitting the bill. So what do they do? They look at a company that has wrestling minds to take ideas from. The less WWE viewers know, the better it is for WWE, so keep on drinking the cool aid. Linda McMahon will eventually get her $100 mill back.

[metfan51]

First, its Kool Aid, with a 'K.' Now that we have the serious business cleared, lets address the other thing that you said.


As far as wrestling minds, yeah Pritchard is good, though he apparently doesn't like women's wrestling and worked for the WWE for a long time, especially during their best years, so he was a good signing. Lagana was a good signing but I couldn't care less about Bischoff backstage and here's why. Bischoff is the essence of the argument, why you shouldn't steal ideas. Bischoff created the n.W.o. by stealing an idea of wrestlers invading a promotion in Japan. In my opinion, Bischoff doesn't have a mind for wrestling at all and has not contributed to the business past 'creating' the organization that A.) he stole the idea from and B.) helped kill WCW anyway.

If anything, Bischoff should be an on air character but he's not helping TNA at all. Don't drink his kool aid.

[Shockage]

Koolaid/Coolaid, it's the same drink.

"Apparently" Pritchard needs to say that he doesn't like women's wrestling.

Bischoff said he took the idea from Japan, that's not stealing.

Don't drink the IWC koolaid telling you this stuff about Pritchard and Bischoff.

[Mighty Boosh]

The way I see it is that the WWE aren't just revamping an old idea, they're copying, blatantly copying TNA's ideas mere weeks or at most months after TNA did it. Hell the Beautiful People and Laycool were on at the same time. I don't know why but they are and I see no reason to with their resources.

Now let me be clear, TNA have copied ideas but they're the little dog trying to get bigger, they've never blatantly copied an idea either... except for maybe ECW One Night Stand but even then it was several years after WWE/ECW One Night Stand before TNA did their own. Plus One Night Stand was WWE cashing in on ECW's work and ideas anyway.
Companies like WWE and WCW copied ideas too, like HHH offering money to whoever injures Goldberg, I believe Harley Race and Flair did that first.

But we're not talking about, rehashing and old idea, we're talking about blatant stealing. Seeing TNA do something then do it yourself weeks-months later is copying, simple as that, and it's a very low tactic considering the position the WWE is in.

[metfan51]

Well have you seen the Knockouts lately. The competition is skinnier than Madison Rayne's waistline. They're getting Diva time in the ring, if not very close. However, I did say Pritchard was a good signing. Not sure how you missed that. And it doesn't matter that Bischoff admits he took the idea, he stole it. If Vince McMahon came out and said 'I admit it, the opening we do is based on TNA's.' He would admit it, would you say he stole it, because I would? What else has Bischoff done that you can say, that really was a great idea. You'll be hard pressed to fine one.

[Shockage]

Not only have I seen the Knockouts, I see 2 to 3 of them getting a good portion of TV time. When you only have 2 hours a week, you can't put everyone on. The same can be said about the X-Division, I suppose Pritchard hates the X-Division as well.

There's a lot that Bischoff did in the 90s that was differnet from the WWF and now with Impact Wrestling. But you'll only drink from the WWE koolaid toilet as they have convinced you that Bischoff isn't creative.