The Makdafi Report #2: TNA Impact Wrestling - 5/10/12
Main Points On TNA Impact Wrestling - 5/10/12
- Selling The PPV
- Selling The Champion
- James Storm In Exile
- Side Angles: Abyss Saga/Styles Down In Dixie
1.As far as TNA selling their "Sacrifice" I would give this show a failure grade. The PPV this Sunday was pretty much put on the back-burner to set up storyline developments in the future. Which you could look at it in two ways, you could say it was stupid not to sell the ppv. Or you could concede Sacrifice is going to do a low number anyways, and try and build future business. Personally I feel the wrestling industry is a chess game, and too many critics look at it like checkers. Sometimes you have to "Sacrifice" a buyrate that is going to be low anyways, to try and build one that has more worth.
The only thing that I did find puzzling is on the go home show, having the Impact main event match(fatal4 way) set up what the PPV match would be. I don't see how you think you can promote something that is to be determined. It ultimately just leaves the audience confused, and apathetic towards your PPV.
2. One thing that TNA is doing tremendously better than WWE, is selling the champion, and selling the concept of title importance. On the stats for this show(I compiled more stats this week, than I probably will in the weeks to come), you will see that TNA did a good job of putting over the championship and Robert Roode as champion. Whereas with WWE they are more focused on selling authority figures such as Johnny Ace, and the main selling point of their brand, WWE.
3.This show highlighted the fact that James Storm is conflicted about his future, and conflicted about the outcome of his title match against Robert Roode at Lockdown. To me the James Storm piece was really effective in making the feud have a realistic tone, and building the underdog aura around Storm.
I also liked the line about the good guy losing, and the right guy lost. With wrestling, the cliche of "sending the people home happy" is a tired one. And it's good they noted that in a subtle way, in a realistic non arena setting.
4. The two main side angles was the "Where is Abyss" stuff and the "AJ Styles relationship with Dixie" revelation. You have to wait and see with this type of stuff, but honestly I don't see many people really being intrigued in these angles.
Having Abyss returning at the end of the show was weird, and definitely took the audiences mind off of the PPV TNA was supposedly trying to sell to them. Unless people decide to buy En masse to see Abyss have a discussion with his brother.
Statistics
Total Time Of Show: 1:21:59
Non Wrestling Time: 1:06:32
Wrestling Time(Bell To Bell): 15:27
% Of Wrestling Content(Bell To Bell): 18.7(18.715528863831352)
Number Of Matches: 5
Longest Match On TNA Impact Wrestling 5/10/12 (In Time Duration): Anderson V Hardy V RVD V Roode(C) - 5:44
Shortest Match Of The Night(In Time Duration): Morgan V Crimson - 0:33
18.7 % of TNA Impact Wrestling 5/10/12 was wrestling. Which is pathethic to say the least.
Number Of Times A Wrestler/Character Told You Their Name: 7 (Roode-3, RVD-4)
The Number Of Times "TNA/Impact/Impact Wrestling" Was Said During This Episode: 34
The Number Of Times "World Champion/Championship/Title(Said In Conjunction) Was Said During This Episode:41
Top Wrestler Namedrops(The Number Of Times A Wrestlers/Characters Name Was Said):
Robert Roode 64 -
RVD:
74 -
Jeff Hardy:
48 -
Mr.Anderson:
45
It should be noted with the namedrops of the 4 wrestlers I kept track of(Anderson/RVD/Roode/Hardy), all competed in a match in the main event of this program. Overall the number of "World Champion/Championship/Title" and wrestler namedrops was really good as far as promoting individuality and promoting the importance of the World Championship, and being World Champion.
With WWE Raw 5/7/12 you had more of a focus on the company name and with the beating you over the head with the John Laurinaitis namedrops. Which at 80 is the highest number of namedrops between the two shows this week(Impact Wrestling/Raw).
Impact 5/10/12 /Raw 5/7/12 - Side By Side Statistic Breakdown
Total Time Of Show:
Impact: 1:21:59
Raw: 1:31:34
-11.9
Non Wrestling Time:
Impact: 1:06:32
Raw: 1:04:57
+ 2.7
Wrestling Time(Bell To Bell):
Impact:15:27
Raw:26:37
-42
% Of Wrestling Content(Bell To Bell):
Impact:18.7(18.715528863831352)
Raw:28.9(28.870155463104886)
Number Of Times The Company Name Was Said
TNA/Impact:34
WWE:63
-46
Top 3 Namedrops From Each Respective Program(Ranked Numerically)
John Laurinatis *Did Not Wrestle*-
80
RVD *Did Wrestle*-
74
Robert Roode *Did Wrestle* 64
Basically with WWE you get an overt brand namedrop, with little emphasis on talent or championships. With TNA you get a more natural, less contrived balance. The company is being namedropped, but not to the detriment of the talent, to the importance of championships, or the ideal of being champion.
Match Of The Show
Considering the lack of an importance this episode placed on wrestling matches. It would be silly to say there was a real match of the show. If I had to pick I would pick the Ion V Aries match that went a whopping 4:17
Here's the rest of the matches with the results listed....
Velvet[L] V Brooke[W] - 3:41
Morgan[L] V Crimson[W] - 0:33 (It took the referee 33 seconds to count to 10)
Ion[L] V Aries[W] - 4:17
Robbie E[L] V D-Von[W] - 1:12
Anderson[L] V Hardy[L] V RVD[W] V Roode[L] - 5:44
Notable, Interesting Or Humorous Quotes From TNA Impact Wrestling: 5/10/12
Taz: "Big bright lights, big city right here baby, Impact Zone"