wrestling / News

Billy Corgan Discusses TNA’s Need For An Identity, a Possible Developmental System, The Creative Process, More

May 6, 2015 | Posted by Larry Csonka

Billy Corgan, the new Senior Producer, Creative and Talent Development for Impact Wrestling took part in a conference call today. You can listen at this link, or via the player below. Here is a recap…

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* The call starts at 3:07 PM ET.

* It is announced that Corgan will be in Orlando this week for the Impact tapings.

* Corgan is asked about what he will bring to TNA that they haven’t had so far, and he says that he has the ability to build brands, and is on the pulse of what is reality in the eye of the public. He feels wrestling is still trying to get up to speed on that, and will also focus on re-branding TNA as a wrestling first company and giving them a real identity.

* He is asked about making TNA a successful touring brand, and he feels that TNA needs a developmental system but that’s a big issue. They need to build talent and allow them to prosper in between tapings. He wants to create a TNA style that will help brand the wrestlers. He thinks he can help in the touring process and wants to help them become a prosperous touring company.

* Corgan is asked about working with Jeff Hardy, and possibly combining music with wrestling. Corgan puts over Hardy and feels it hurts TNA with him being injured. Hardy is a free spirit and feels then need to utilize him as much as possible.

* Corgan is asked about the decision to work with TNA. He says that he has a relationship with Dixie Carter, and previously pitched a project to her ala a reality project to help TNA grow. He then made the deal with AMC, which eventually never came to be. Carter has been messaging him on Twitter, and he called her and was offered the creative position. He flew to Nashville and an hour later was in a creative meeting.

* Corgan is asked about TNA’s popularity in the UK, and asked what he enjoys about the company. He enjoys Spud and Galloway’s Rising faction. He grew up in the AWA days, and wants to incorporate personal talent issues and ask then how they want to do things in order to get over.

* Next Corgan is asked about TNA getting back to the PPV model, and what TNA may do in regards to that. He says that he isn’t sure how that works financially, but wrestling seems to be moving away from traditional PPV. He wants to look towards a new model that is similar that jives with the social media age. You want bigger pay offs, like they will do at Slammiversary. He isn’t sure how they will fit into a PPV model at this time.

* Corgan discusses his life as a fan, and grew up watching wrestling and roller derby. He watched Chicago wrestling, with AWA talent, and others involved creating what were essentially supercards.

* Corgan is asked about his new position and his responsibilities. He has a say in hiring and firings, but in terms of developing talent he will be heavily involved. He’s love to run a TNA Developmental system. TNA has great talents but creating stars and an identity is very important to him.

* Corgan discusses parallels between wrestling and music, and says that it is easy for people to get overlooked. He thinks that happens a lot in wrestling because they don’t feel that they get their chances. There is good and bad, but wants to have a great relationship with the talent and address their concerns and abilities. He wants to provide opportunities.

* Corgan is asked about a TNA style he mentioned, and says he is old school. He thinks you build from size down; he likes the X-Division, but thinks you build from size down. The bigger guy should be able to win, like an Abyss. He can get people over.

* Corgan is next asked about music in wrestling and entrance music. He has experience in that and thinks music can tell a story. He praises PRIDE entrances, and says it added to the shows so much. Music can define a character, and he hopes to bring some of that to TNA.

* Corgan is asked about how wrestling presentation hasn’t changed too much and is asked about what he could do to change the overall presentation. He obviously has to talk with Dixie; they have a budget, but says that he doesn’t see people using social media to the fullest. He thinks that wrestlers on Twitter don’t use it right, and need to maybe have a gimmick account that are consistent with the character. He doesn’t think anyone has gotten it right, and you can tell stories that way. You have to get people to TV, and feels you can use the Internet to do that.

* Corgan says that there are a minority of smart mark fans, and the casual audience still dominates. You have to make a decision as far as how to showcase people on social media.

* When asked about how much time he will spend with TNA, he says he spends 60-hours a week on TNA and it drives his friends in the studio crazy. It’s a full time job for him, and wants to make the product better. He has to be around enough to be a part of things and not popping in to pick apart things. He’s used to thinking outside the box and developing things properly.

* Corgan is asked about how he has matured as a writer, and how that will resonate with TNA. He has learned for where you are now, and as for TNA, you have to find what resonates for today. He discussed Paul Heyman’s vision for TNA and how at the time that was an updated view on wrestling. You have to know who you are, and TNA has struggled with that due to the regime changes. People did not fulfill promises, and he wants to go with her business model and her vision for TNA. They need a strong identity so that you ca move forward in the market place.

* When asked about stories on race and transgender issues, you have to go about that with sophistication. Corgan discusses Archie Bunker on All in the Family and that he was a bigotted heel, and that it allowed them to tell a ton of stories. You have heels and faces, and a heel should use anything possible to get under the skin of his opponent, including personal things like race. He feels this will allow then to tell sophisticated stories. A wrestler should never threaten death, because that will never happen. But you could have a social revolution through real storytelling.

* Corgan next discusses taking the job and that he feels he will get an equal airing in the creative aspect. This has happened, and there are no obstacles, and the best ideas win. He respects his co-workers, and felt that there is a great atmosphere there and they liked a lot of his ideas and together they made them better.

* The call was disconnected at 3:46PM ET.

article topics :

Billy Corgan, TNA, Larry Csonka