Smart Marks 7.28.14: Looking at Losing TNA

I know exactly where I was. Sunday night, I’m sitting on my couch, half-watching TV as the night gets later, preparing to turn in soon to start my new week. I’m messing around on my phone as well, and I go to one of my sports news apps, where I see the TMZ report: Spike TV cancels Impact Wrestling. I tap my screen, hoping against hope that this is some sort of joke report, that something isn’t being reported correctly. No such luck. The report says that Impact will be on Spike until October, but that after that, it’s all over.

I hop onto social media, again hoping to find someone who has the link to prove that TMZ’s story isn’t correct. Instead, I just see the same story being linked to over and over again. It starts to sink in: TNA has been cancelled. For real. To me, it’s still unreal.

That was the first clip I went out of my way to watch of TNA, all the way back in the summer of 2004. I was instantly hooked. TNA was on its way to debuting on Fox Sports, and after seeing that clip, I knew I’d be there. As I’ve always stressed, I’m a wrestling fan, and I will basically do whatever I can to watch wrestling. I had followed TNA somewhat while it was in its PPV only days, but I hadn’t been able to really watch the show. I knew some of the names, but many others were guys I had never heard of.

Sitting here now, thinking back on the run I as a fan have had with TNA, I’m definitely not happy to hear about the cancellation of TNA. Before I go any further, let me clarify a couple things:

1- I know that this is not necessarily the absolute end of TNA. I know that there are plenty of channels not named Spike TV, and that there are plenty of internet-only options out there, as well.

2- As someone who has absolutely made fun of TNA and some things they’ve done in the past, I’m also not going to try to trick anyone into believing that TNA was the perfect wrestling program now that it appears as though it may be gone soon.

The first thing that really came to my mind, once the news had really sunk in, was the disgusting reactions I’d have to come across. Some were going to be by other writers (be it here at 411 or elsewhere), while the rest were going to be from the readers. Let me make this crystal clear: If you’re happy that TNA is possibly done, then you’re not a wrestling fan. I usually like to stay away from such generalized views, but I think this one is more than fair. It’s one thing if you didn’t enjoy TNA. That’s your right. It’s one thing if you thought TNA was the dumbest wrestling programming available. Again, that’s absolutely your right. But if you take any type of joy in seeing a company fold- one that, for all of its faults, did try to entertain those of us who tuned in and ordered their pay per views- then you’re not a wrestling fan.

A wrestling fan isn’t happy when wrestlers lose a source of income. A wrestling fan isn’t happy when there’s less wrestling on TV. For all those people who complained when WCW died, or who still whine about the WWE Monopoly, I have to ask how many of you also berated TNA at every chance? How many of you kept that TNA is Dying in… countdown clock going? How many of you are now taking joy at calling it once you saw the news break?

Don’t get it twisted- TNA has always had its faults. From constantly namedropping WWE to signing nearly anyone who has worked there, to some of the most convoluted match types around and some bad production, there has always been something to gripe about with TNA. As someone who watched it week after week, I definitely had areas of disinterest with the show. However, since I’m a wrestling fan, I kept watching. I never once pretended it was the worst wrestling available.

It’s also provided, time and time again, some of the most exciting action available. It’s provided numerous markout moments for me personally, including Sting winning the title from Jarrett above. At no point did I ever get a vibe from TNA like I did from WCW in 2000, where it seemed obvious that almost everyone involved was on cruise control. And really, that’s what I found so endearing with TNA. For all of their faults, all of the stupid crap, at no point did I think that they had stopped trying. There was always some new thing going on. Some of them were horrible failures. Others were good ideas that just didn’t take off. And others still were good ideas and have been recognized as such. I still don’t think a company has built to a World Title match better in recent years better than TNA did for Joe vs. Kurt Angle. I still think that the episode of Impact that saw Bully Ray make sense of the entire Aces and Eights saga may be one of the greatest examples of revisionist history of all time, and it worked! The whole story that made no sense, suddenly made total sense.

I know that many people that read this site feel there’s a huge anti-TNA sentiment amongst us writers. I’ve always disputed that, and tried to prove it in my writings. I can’t speak for anyone else, but I liked TNA. I liked it a lot. I make sure that I sit down and watch Impact every week, more or less. I enjoy watching it. I certainly never wanted it to go away.

At the end of the day, all we can do at this point in time is hope, and wait. Hopefully they’ll figure something out. Maybe Spike will reconsider. Maybe TNA will get rid of Russo (as he is reportedly a part of Spike’s problem) and keep their slot. Or maybe they’ll go to another channel. Or Netflix. As long as they continue to exist, I’ll be happy.

And if you are honestly happy that TNA is gone, then I’d once again ask you to reconsider your status as a “wrestling fan.” Dancing on graves is fine if you were a victim, but all TNA has ever tried to do, misguided at times, was entertain its fans.

So, props to all you cool kids who called it! about TNA closing. Big ups to you “fans” that are celebrating the loss of 2 hours of non-WWE programming each week. I sure hope you don’t plan on complaining the next time WWE does something stupid. This is clearly what you wanted.

These two companies have had fans feuding for years, and it continues in any story on either company today. I’d hope that now, perhaps those WWETards and TNAssholes can make a little peace, and maybe mourn a little bit for another lost wrestling company.

I’m not a business mark (thank you forever, Jake Chambers). I don’t get my enjoyment of wrestling from the ratings of the show, or from the buyrates. I don’t get glee in seeing numbers rise or fall. I just don’t get that sector of the fans, really. And it seems that those are the fans that, for now, are the happiest. Because they were able to point out that a company that didn’t draw great numbers may be shutting down. Wow, you guys truly are geniuses. Too bad you’re not fans.

Thank you, TNA, for the years of entertainment. It wasn’t perfect, but it never is. It’s not supposed to be.