Yesterday I read something that I had a hard time believing. From what I read it basically said Dixie may want to make changes to the creative team but didn't know who to bring in. As a matter of fact here's the direct quote from the wrestling observer.
-There most likely won't be any booking changes anytime soon as Dixie Carter doesn't know anyone to make the change to.
Now to be honest I have a hard time taking this story seriously. I mean Spike TV is happy with the ratings, TNA is making money, and they're drawing good live crowds. Why would Dixie want to make any changes.
But let's assume it's true. Maybe Dixie wants to start listening to the fans who have been complaining and want a more Wrestling based show.
Dixie has been in the business for about 5 years she should have some idea about who could benefit her company creatively. There is no reason for her not to know of at least a few people, she has to of heard of someone but let's give her the benefit of the doubt. Maybe Jeff Jarrett keeps her in some kind of bubble where useful information like people that could replace him and his friends, doesn't reach her. to help her out here's a quick list of 12 people who could fill the role. Some are even currently employed at TNA.
1. Jim Cornette: Currently the management figure on TNA television. I've read reports where Cornette isn't really interested in a booking position but I really don't think it would take all that much to convince him. Me, myself I feel Cornette is a little over rated as a booker. He's a little too old school for my taste but he does have experience booking in WCW, SMW, OVW, and WWE. So you can't take that away from him.
2. Terry Taylor: currently works in TNA at the talent relations level. Terry was apart of WWE's and WCW's creative teams when each company was doing big business. I'm not saying he was responsible for it because he wasn't but that type of experience couldn't hurt. Plus he booked the N.W.O. parody making fun of Arn Anderson in 97, which was just classic in my book.
3. Paul Heyman: Currently not active in the business but if your looking to shake up your creative situation, Paul Heyman is the first guy you call. He changed the business with ECW, was the booker of Smackdown during that shows hottest period, and drew rave reviews for his booking of OVW.
4. Raven: A former employee of TNA. Raven was a big part of the creative success of ECW helping Paul Heyman with concepts and ideas. Some of his contributions were the Raven-Dreamer feud, Raven-Sandman feud, plus along with Taz, thought up the whole Dudley gimmick.
5. Kevin Nash: currently works in TNA but was at one time one of the head bookers at WCW. Some feel Nash was a bad booker. I thought Nash had some good ideas, the problems came when Nash used his position to keep himself and his friends in the top spots and held back some of the other talent.
6. Eric Bischoff: Not really involved with wrestling currently, but he was the man that nearly put WWE out of business. Bischoff spearheaded the N.W.O. comcept, made Cruiserweights the center peice of his promotion, and made Goldberg a star. 2 out of 3 ain't bad.
7. Scott D'Amore: A former employee of TNA and his run as booker is actually remembered the fondest out of any booker in the company's history as he booked TNA in mid to late 05 till 2006, in which the wrestling was really top quality. He is also given credit for the booking of the Knockouts division until very recently, when he left the company.
8. Dave Lagana: A former writer with WWE. Was brought in by Paul Heyman and eventually took over the head writer position on Smackdown and later ECW. He was later fired, supposedly for leaking information to the internet.
9. Glenn Gilberti: currently works in TNA as an agent, has experience booking WCW in the year 2000.
10. Ed Ferrera: Currently not in the business but he was Vince Russo's writing partner in both WWE and WCW.
11. Bill Banks: Currently works in TNA in the DVD department but at one time he was apart of the WWE and WCW creative teams with Vince Russo.
12. Kevin Sullivan: uninvolved currently in the wrestling business. He does have a long history of booking credentials. To my knowledge he booked the Florida territory after Dusty Rhodes left, he was one of WCW's top bookers during the Monday Nitro run, and he took over for Vince Russo the first time Russo was dismissed from WCW's creative team in January 2000.
So those were the names I was able to come up with, so my question is if you could make some type of change to the TNA creative team who would you bring in and why?
Me, I'd hope like hell I could get Paul Heyman but if I couldn't I'd go with Raven. He does have good ideas and to me he feels like he'd be a little closer to the cutting edge and knowing what the audience wants. Some of the other guys for one reason or another might be a little out of touch.
Some good suggestions there and like you I hope to god that TNA get Heyman. He is amazing, and totally transformed the ECW concept from a mediocre under performing Wrestling show to a exciting Extreme company. He has some amazing ideas and plus he has been in the business for a hell of a long time, this could only help TNA. There are some other good suggestions there like Raven, he has been in the TNA environment and surely knows what the audience wants, he can play to that and develop some good ideas that capture the imagination of the TNA fans.
All of them would be good additions to the TNA creative team, but one more that I would like to see is Eric Bischoff, although it would take a lot for him to come back to the Wrestling Business, as in his book he said that it was a very minimal chance that he would get back into the Wrestling business like he did before. But if he did return that would be one hell of an addition to the team, he is a pure business man and knows what the fans want, he then develops concepts based on what the fans want, a quality that lacks somewhat in WWE at the moment.
Possibly not. I've read interviews with him where he says he's not interested but sometimes I read his blog where he takes shots at WWE and TNA, and I secretly hope he's working everybody, waiting for the right offer.
The right offer being, a nice some of cash and full creative control to do whatever the fuck he wants.
I mean if you were Heyman what would you rather do work on the Heyman Hustle internet show or book a national wrestling promotion and read the internet as all the Heyman fan boys cream themselves with excitement. Myself included.
I disagree with the idea of having Glen Gilbert or whatever because he actually is an idiot in my eyes. So what if he booked in WCW in 2000, 2000 was a terrible year for WCW, absolutely terrible. The title pictures were absolute cluster fucks and everything was a mess.
I totally agree with you bout Paul Heyman. I've said for a long time that TNA needs to atleast get in contact with him just to give him the offer and if he says no then that's that but it'd be really good if TNA invested some time and money into getting him. He'd really turn the company around I feel. Good post overall though man.
I think most people that post in this thread would agree Heyman would be the right guy for the job if he even wanted the job.
The whole thing with Gilberti is I was just throwing his name out there, as he does have some booking experience. I don't think The Disco Inferno would be on top of any body's list for a head booker position not even in XPW or JCW.
But I do remember reading reviews for Nitro after Russo went out with a concussion in the fall of 2000 and this new booking team took over. Nitro got some positive reviews for the first time in a long time for being in general more entertaining.
And that Creative Team consisted of Terry Taylor, Ed Ferrera, Bill Banks, and Glenn Gilberti.
I'm not saying the guy's a great booker but maybe as part of a team he could throw out a good idea or two. I mean Disco can't be a complete waste of space, can he?
For the right money and control, he'd be open to it.
__________________
Visualizing the realism of life and actuality
Fuck who's the baddest a person's status depends on salary
And my mentality is, money orientated
I'm destined to live the dream for all my peeps who never made it
The man who taught Vince Russo everything he knows
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Bangor, Wales
Posts: 1,928
Re: Is Dixie Carter Clueless?
Sorry but it seems like you're the one that's clueless. And (to me) utterly disrespectful as well, to suggest that Dixie is not aware of these people as bookers. There's a reason that they have not been hired as bookers, and to suggest that the reason is because Dixie isn't aware of them is fucking absurd. Why do you think the WWE hasn't hired these people as bookers? Do you think it's because Vince doesn't know about them? Of course not. They (likely) either just don't gel into the current booking team (and their set of ideas + ideals) or they don't want to work for them (or at least not for the money they're offering).
If you want to play "Let's imagine who could be a good booker for TNA to have" then that's fine, but don't dress it in disrespectful shit "to help [Dixie] out". I will put money on the fact that she knows most if not all of these people, and knows them far fucking better than any of us.
Focus: Playing the "let's imagine who could be a good booker for TNA" game, I'd pick Lance Storm. He's offered to help out, and I think he'd bring something that most of the bookers seem to lack: Common sense.
What's more, what the fuck are the agents doing? I couldn't get past the 2nd match (MCMG vs Lethal/someone i forgot) because of how fucking ridiculous it was. I thought the point of a wrestling match was TO WIN. Yet only about 2/10ths of their actions suggested that they wanted to win that match. Lackadaisically going for a pin after ~10 seconds? Turning your back on your opponent (BOTH when they were on their feet AND on the ground)? Playing to the crowd every other move? (Granted, that last one could be turned into an angle, where the babyface pays for playing to the crowd too much, but that never happened. It was just a big inconsistancy). What the fuck are the agents doing? How are they getting away with this shit?
Lance Storm wouldn't even have to book, he could just (like he offered to) offer advice and point out what doesn't make sense. They need it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by heyman deciple
Spike TV is happy with the ratings, TNA is making money, and they're drawing good live crowds. Why would Dixie want to make any changes.
Whoa, what makes you think they're not changes for the better? If you think TNA is even half of what it could be, you're wrong and unhealthy.
Quote:
Originally Posted by heyman deciple
But let's assume it's true. Maybe Dixie wants to start listening to the fans who have been complaining and want a more Wrestling based show.
Where the fuck are all these assumptions coming from? TNA actually has a pretty solidly wrestling based show. The only problem is it sucks. They've generally got the mix of wrestling/promos right, but they need to concentrate on making those wrestling/promo's better. More of something doesn't mean that something is better.
__________________
Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
It was not my intention to come off disrespectful, lighthearted sure but not disrespectful. I actually like Dixie Carter and appreciate the fact that if it wasn't for her and her father that TNA would have went out of business a long time ago.
My post was more of a reaction to the quote from the observer that she couldn't think of anyone for a creative position when I'm sure others could have, I mean the last person to really be added to creative was Abyss. Not the best addition in my opinion.
That and the rumors that have sometimes floated around that Dixie Carter might be a little uneducated when it comes to the wrestling business.
As for your suggestion of Lance Storm, he was on my list at one time but I felt the list was too long and needed to be trimmed. I think Lance would be a fine choice as he's obviously a fan of basic, make sense booking and I understand he worked with Heyman a little on the creative of ECW.
As for the reason for making changes. I am well aware TNA has it's faults and could stand to improve. I'm just surprised to hear an executive would acknowledge the need to make any kind of change when the bottom line is doing so well.
Lastly as TNA being a more wrestling based show. I was referencing the fans who felt last week's Impact had too many segments and not enough wrestling.
Is Dixie Carter Clueless?
Is Dixie Carter Clueless?
