Over the past several days, I’ve posted 20 questions on WWE, TNA and the Indies, inviting readers to answer. Now, I’ll be posting some reader response and commenting on what I think the answer is to each question. Feel free to continue to post responses on any question after the one I’ve already answered (I’ll be going in order). The awesome Andy Wheeler replied to all 20 questions over on Pulse Wrestling. No one knows more about the WWE mindset than Wheeler, so be sure to give him a read. Let’s get going with the third TNA question:
3. Why would TNA run Main Event Mafia vs. World Elite heel vs. heel?
“Because it adds to the overall tension within TNA.” – Rex
Sure, there are lots of people running around with agendas, but this feud is taking over segments that could get other people over. I get that they want Eric Young to be important, but he doesn’t need this level of exposure.
“It makes the product more realistic (all heels getting along as well as all faces getting along makes it easier to follow but in reality it doesn't make sense) and the guys in World Elite can learn from the veterans in MEM.” – Kewf
You can’t have it both ways- you have Suicide, Abyss and D’Angelo Dinero and a realistic show don’t mix. There are face veterans that the World Elite can learn from.
“I'm sorry, are you that dense that you need a "good guy"? Should they wear white shirts that say "Good Guys" on them? Not every fight is about Good vs. Bad.” – JTX
Yes, someone in a feud has to be cheered for or the match falls apart. You need a protagonist to a story. They don’t need to be good, but they need to be your perspective. With two heels, you don’t get that.
“I think they're doing this to position the World Elite as the top faction in TNA and set up matches for Bound For Glory. With the Mafia looking like it's going to be gone soon they feel they need to push EY and company to make them seem credible threats in the future.” – Crash
Why can’t they be pushed over faces and not have to face other heels? It would get them more heat to beat up on faces, especially top level ones.
“The Mafia is getting ready to fall at BFG. I guarantee they will lose all their matches and The World Elite will take their place as the top faction and I think they are setting that up. That could be a big main event for Turning Point or even on Impact not long after BFG: Mafia vs. Elite with the Elite triumphing and essentially ousting The Mafia from TNA.” - G
That idea totally neuters your good guys. They united numerous times only to be wrecked by the Mafia, but the heel group can do it no problem. Sure, it makes the Elite seem dangerous, but it makes the faces who draw you money look pathetic.
“Who the hell knows? A swerve when one of the babyfaces is dumb enough to help the Mafia? Maybe they want to turn the MEM face?” – Brad Curran
There are worse ideas than a face Main Event Mafia, but not many. If that happens we’re left with New Blood vs. Millionaires with the wrong group as the heels again.
“TNA loves having everyone feud with everyone, babyface and heel lines be damned. Sometimes that works, but when it's constant it can just be confusing. I generally have no idea who I'm supposed to root for.” – Jake Ziegler
Without being able to root for someone, the emotional investment is lessened. Less emotional investment, less reason to tune in or give a financial investment in shows or merchandise.
“TNA has always thought they could just throw any two people into a match and the crowd would decide who they would cheer for. Guess what? That doesn't work when you want to show your program to a general audience.” – Rob Blatt
Yes, this is similar to Ziegler’s post on this, but this is the main point. Getting rid of faces and heels sounds like a great idea, but never seems to work in wrestling when it’s tried. You can have good guys act as bad as you want, but the second wrestling fans no longer identify with them and want to root for them, they tune out. Stone Cold worked as a good guy who did bad things to bad people. Eric Young is a bad person who no one wants to support who does bad things to other bad people, who are then sleazy back. If I don’t care for any of them, I won’t care what happens to them.
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