Jun 5th 2024 05:05pm

Sign Up / Sign In|Help

 

Not Your Usual Wrestling Smackdown

Not Your Usual Wrestling Smackdown

Posted: Apr 6th 2010 By: CMBurnham

When Total Nonstop Action Wrestling begins its three-city tour through Kentucky and West Virginia on Thursday, fans will find something a bit different than what they see weekly on Spike TV.

Because of the growing wrestling company's business model, not all of its highest-profile stars attend the non-televised live events, commonly called "house shows." But those who do put on "the most fan-friendly, interactive live event that I've ever been affiliated with," said Jeff Jarrett, who founded the company with his father, Jerry.

Jarrett is among the stars, including TNA World Heavyweight Champion "The Phenomenal" A. J. Styles and Kurt Angle, who are slated to appear at the shows this weekend in Corbin, Pikeville and Huntington, W.Va.

But absent will be stars like Sting, Hulk Hogan, "Nature Boy" Ric Flair, and Kevin Nash, who have increasingly become centerpieces of the company's weekly television show, which has moved to Monday nights to face off against the flagship Monday Night Raw telecast of wrestling megapower World Wrestling Entertainment.

It's a move that has its roots in TNA's business model. When Jarrett and his father founded the company in 2002, a year after WWE bought its rival World Championship Wrestling, TNA made money by selling weekly pay-per-views. As the company evolved and became a more familiar name, it ditched the weekly pay-per-view model in favor of weekly cable television shows building to heavily promoted monthly pay-per-views that are more expensive. And it added house shows.

Jarrett, whose family promoted events in Rupp Arena in the 1970s and '80s, said that in TNA's first five years, it put on probably 15 non-televised live events. In 2008, it ran about 20 and then increased that to 80 or so last year. This year, they're looking to do as many as 90.

House shows can be a major revenue stream ? 22.9 percent of WWE's 2009 revenue came from live events, that rises to 27.1 percent when you add in merchandise sold at the shows ? but they also have high costs. Wrestlers are brought in for the shows, and production teams bring the ring and set-up.

"Going to a building the size of Rupp Arena doesn't make financial sense for us at this point," Jarrett said.

And with TNA still growing and maturing as a touring company, "You can't load up a card with up to 20 superstars," Jarrett said.

"You've got to be smart and strategic about it and build your base and make sure the shows aren't money-losers," he said. "All of our shows are financial winners."

He declined to give the percentage of the company's revenue that comes from house shows but said merchandise sales at recent live events is up more than 130 percent year-over-year and attendance is up 27 percent.

James Caldwell, assistant editor of wrestling industry publication Pro Wrestling Torch and PWTorch.com, said TNA is smart in how it chooses locations.

"It's been successful because they've been able to reach fans that WWE doesn't go to," he said. "WWE typically goes to the larger cities and larger venues. TNA kind of fills in the smaller towns."

TNA, he said, might choose a 600-person arena and pack it by bringing in just a couple of major stars, he said. That way, the costs stay low, "but they can make up for it with the interaction."

Jarrett said TNA shows are famous for crowd interaction and autograph sessions with the wrestlers for some fans afterward, as well as customized merchandise unique to the show.

The relaxed schedule is also an attraction for many wrestlers who shun the hundreds of dates a year required by WWE.

"Even if a wrestler did a full-time TNA schedule with all the pay-per-views, TV shows and live events, it still wouldn't come close to WWE's schedule," Caldwell said.

But some of that might be changing soon.

Jarrett said TNA is considering whether to bring more top stars along to house shows.

"The issue you're talking about of the (Kevin) Nashes of the world not making it, we are graduating or progressing so that won't be the case by the end of the year," Jarrett said. "What you see on TV will match the live events."

Caldwell said that could be realistic "if the cost-benefit is in TNA's favor."

"If they're going to step up and start doing 3,000-seat arenas, they're going to have to bring the top stars or they won't draw," he said.

 

Tags: TNA, Jeff Jarrett, A. J. Styles, Sting, Ric Flair, WWE

Printable version Email to a friend

Supplemental Information

Latest News

1
The Scoop

The Scoop

NEWS PWInsider reported that The Steiner Brothers (Rick Steiner & Scott Steiner) will have their own episode of A&E’s “WWE Legends Biography... Read More

All Columns

1

Spotlight in History

  • 1975 Dick Murdoch def. Danny Miller for the TSW North American Champion
  • 1997 Generation X (Zane Morris & Ian St. James) became the OPW Oklahoma Tag Team Champion
  • 2009 El Super Colibri became the MWA MAX-Division Champion
  • 2010 Rick Russo def. 3rd Rail for the SWCW Heavyweight Champion
  • 2021 Two Man Sam (Sam Stackhouse & Samuel Savage) became the CPW Tag Team Champions
  • 2021 Tommy Dean def. Double D for the CPW Heavyweight Champion

Week of Sun 06-02 to Sat: 06-08

  • 06-02 1979 The Spoiler became the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-02 2007 Damien Morte def. Kareem Sadat for the SWCW Hardcore Champion
  • 06-02 2007 Lady Venom became the SWCW Womens Champion
  • 06-02 2007 Prophet def. Dexter Hardaway for the SWCW Sooner Xtreme Champion
  • 06-02 2010 Michael Barry def. Kevin James Sanchez for the BYEW Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-02 2010 Saints of the Damned (Draven Cross & Sage) def. New Canada (The Canadian Red Devil & The Canadian Luchadore) for the BYEW Tag Team Champion
  • 06-02 2010 Death Row [2nd] def. Rick Russo for the BYEW Caution Champion
  • 06-02 2012 Brandon Walker became the UWE Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-02 2012 The Syndicate (Scott Sanders & Shawn Sanders) def. The Franchise Players (Rick Russo & Les Mayne) for the SWCW Tag Team Champions
  • 06-02 2012 Drake Gallows def. Kareem Sadat for the SWCW Hardcore Champion
  • 06-02 2017 Cody Burns def. Brandon Groom for the BPPW Oklahoma Champion
  • 06-02 2019 Team Boner (Drake Gallows & Mascara La Parka/MLP) def. The Saints of Pro Wrestling (Scott Sanders & Shawn Sanders) for the ASP Tag Team Champions
  • 06-02 2019 Brock Landers def. Adam Patrick for the ASP Inter-County Champion
  • 06-02 2019 Erica became the ASP Women's Champion
  • 06-02 2024 Toxic Masculinity (Johnny Lightning & Johnny Dynamite) def. Mr. Nasty & Eddie LeVaughn for the WFC Tag Team Champions
  • 06-02 2024 Thrash def. Tim Rockwell for the WFC Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-03 1968 Fritz Von Erich def. Spoiler #1 for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-03 1968 Danny Hodge & Lorenzo Parente def. Jack Donovan & Ron Reed for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 06-03 1969 Baron Von Raschke became the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 06-03 1980 David Von Erich def. Gino Hernandez for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-03 2016 Brock Landers def. Terry Pantera for the MSWA Oklahoma Champion
  • 06-03 2016 C. J. Ward became the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Champion
  • 06-03 2017 The Pinnacle (Anthony Andrews & Shawn Hendrix) def. Excellence Personified (Dustin Heritage & Duke Swellington) for the ComPro Tag Team Champions
  • 06-04 1937 Ray Villmer became the TSW Missouri Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-04 1981 Kerry Von Erich def. Ernie Ladd for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-04 1981 The Spoiler became the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 06-04 1984 Gino Hernandez def. Chris Adams for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 06-04 1986 The Von Erichs (Kevin Von Erich & Lance Von Erich & Mike Von Erich) became the WCCW World 6-Man Tag Team Champion
  • 06-04 2002 Billy & Chuck def. Rikishi & Rico for the WWE RAW World Tag Team Champion
  • 06-04 2004 Justin Lee def. Brian Lakewood for the TPW Oklahoma Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-04 2010 The Foreign Legion (Boris Saarikoski & Dutch Hagen) def. The Old School Express (Jason Jones & Jake Boulder) for the MWA Tag Team Champions
  • 06-04 2021 Warren Powers def. Father Padge for the EPW Internet Television Champion
  • 06-04 2022 Tommy Dean def. Mr. Nasty for the CPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-04 2022 Phoebe def. Killista for the CPW Women’s Champion
  • 06-04 2022 Mascara Purpura def. Double D for the CPW 918 Champion
  • 06-05 1975 Dick Murdoch def. Danny Miller for the TSW North American Champion
  • 06-05 1997 Generation X (Zane Morris & Ian St. James) became the OPW Oklahoma Tag Team Champion
  • 06-05 2009 El Super Colibri became the MWA MAX-Division Champion
  • 06-05 2010 Rick Russo def. 3rd Rail for the SWCW Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-05 2021 Two Man Sam (Sam Stackhouse & Samuel Savage) became the CPW Tag Team Champions
  • 06-05 2021 Tommy Dean def. Double D for the CPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-06 1966 Fritz Von Erich def. Brute Bernard for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-06 1972 Tom Jones & Ivan Putski def. The Continental Warriors (Bobby Hart & Lorenzo Parente) for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 06-06 1981 Jake Roberts def. The Grappler for the MSW North American Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-07 1969 Jose Lothario def. Johnny Valentine for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-07 2008 Ky-ote Johammed def. Dane Griffin for the 3DW Violent Division Champion
  • 06-07 2008 Mo'Body Gillespie def. Ky-ote Johammed for the 3DW Violent Division Champion
  • 06-07 2013 Bobby Starr def. Steven Sterling for the ComPro Showtime Champion
  • 06-07 2013 Ignition def. Super Skunk Ape, Jr. for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Champion
  • 06-07 2013 The Canadian Red Devil def. Michael York for the ComPro Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-07 2014 Steven Sterling def. Sam Stackhouse for the ComPro Showtime Champion
  • 06-07 2014 Jake O'Brien def. The Canadian Red Devil for the ComPro Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-07 2014 Terry Montana def. Ignition for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Champion
  • 06-07 2014 Havoc def. Buster Cherry for the SWCW All-American Champion
  • 06-07 2014 Rick Russo def. David Kyzer for the SWCW Luchadore Champion
  • 06-07 2014 Kevin James Sanchez def. Kareem Sadat for the SWCW Hardcore Champion
  • 06-07 2014 Kareem Sadat def. Kevin James Sanchez for the SWCW Hardcore Champion
  • 06-07 2014 Terry Pantera became the BPPW Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-08 1959 Frankie Kovacs & Jerry Miller def. Pretty Boy Collins & Duke Scarbo for the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Champion
  • 06-08 2013 L. J. McDaniels became the SWCW Hardcore Champion
  • 06-08 2013 Hurricane Ross def. Billy Ray for the NAW Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-08 2019 Michael Duplanti def. Anarchy [2nd] for the NAW Lightweight Champion
  • 06-08 2019 Big Smooth def. Hurricane Ross for the NAW Heavyweight Champion
06-05
  • Danny Miller Jun 5th Today!
  • Igor Putski Jun 5th Today!
  • Shawn Shields Jun 5th Today!
  • Travis 12 Gage Jun 6th
  • Rip Hawk Jun 6th
  • Mitch Onyx Jun 6th
  • That Handsome Devil Jun 6th
  • Rick Sweetan Jun 6th
  • Larry Booker Jun 6th
  • O. D. B. Jun 6th
  • Tony Rocco Jun 6th
  • Gideon Vane Jun 7th
  • Mick Foley Jun 7th
  • Stevie Caballero Jun 7th
  • Eddie Sullivan Jun 7th
  • Morgan Levay Jun 7th
  • Steve Hartley Jun 7th
  • Mustafa Bin Akbar Jun 8th
  • Rick Vyper Jun 8th
  • Michele Leone Jun 8th
  • Jeff Wolfenbarger Jun 9th
  • Dutch Savage Jun 9th
  • Dick Listener Jun 9th
  • Mark Wilson Jun 9th
  • Jim Barnett Jun 9th
  • Jamie Jun 9th
  • Dick Dunn Jun 10th
  • Largus RagnaBrok Jun 10th
  • King Parsons Jun 11th
  • J. D. Richards Jun 11th
  • Mathmagician Jun 11th
  • Magnum T. A. Jun 11th
  • Rolling Thunder Jun 12th
  • D'Licious Jun 12th
  • Zac Royal Jun 12th
  • Lady Sensacion Jun 12th
  • Stan Pulaski Jun 12th
  • Baby Blimp Jun 12th
  • Steven Dane Jun 12th
  • Deuce Rodriguez Jun 12th
  • Neo Genesis Jun 13th
  • Dustin Heritage Jun 13th
  • Bill Ash Jun 13th
  • Mikey D Jun 13th
  • Geronimo Jun 13th
  • Chandler Hopkins Jun 13th
  • John Pfanz Jun 13th
  • Buzz Sawyer Jun 14th
  • Sean Ryan Jun 15th
  • Lilith Grimm Jun 15th
  • Paul Linam Jun 15th
  • Brad Armstrong Jun 15th
  • Trey the Bae Jun 15th
  • Jaxon Stone Jun 15th
  • Jef Tiger Jun 16th
  • Paul Jones Jun 16th
  • Chuck Hinds Jun 16th
  • Ultimate Warrior Jun 16th
  • Ted Arcidi Jun 16th
  • Shawn Matthews III Jun 16th
  • Brock Landers Jun 16th
  • Mario Galento Jun 17th
  • Ray Martinez Jun 17th
  • Talos Jun 17th
  • Rob Justice Jun 17th
  • Abe Jacobs Jun 18th
  • Johnny Angel Jun 18th
  • Bruiser Brody Jun 18th
  • Sashimi Deluxe Jun 18th
  • Andy Dalton Jun 18th
  • Cam the CODA Jun 18th
  • Bad Boy Jun 18th

More Look Back In History

Card Results

1