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The World According To Dutch: TNA vs WWE...Who Really Won?

Posted: Jan 7th 2010 By: CMBurnham

Some people have written me and asked me to predict how TNA would fare against WWE on January 4th. Now, how in the *** * would I know how anybody would do in the ratings against each other. What do I look like, friggin Nostradamus? But since you asked, I might as well comment briefly.

Today is a serious column because January 4th was a serious day. No bullshit stories, no humorous tales. 1.04.10 shaped up to be a pivotal day in TNA history and could have repercussions farther down the line in how pro wrestling is produced and perceived by fans and mainstream media. A week leading into Monday night, internal sources within TNA were saying that the ratings were irrelevant and that was coming from a company that places ratings at the top of the Richter scale. When I first read that statement, I didn't know what to think. But when I finally got around to using Dutch 101 Wrestling Philosophy on it and dissected the statement, it does make sense.

But, with TNA doing a 1.5 and at one point, a 1.8, how irrelevant can those ratings be? Hogan proved his point and his name brand because numbers don't lie. Hogan posted the highest number on the show so he did what he was hired to do. Create interest. Now continuing that interest is where the art of the game comes in. But taking the show as a whole, my personal opinion is that TNA produced a quality show with the emphasis being on wrestling action and in ring interviews that had SUBSTANCE.

If you, just for one moment, think of how far TNA has come in their development, from a dilapidated fairgrounds arena in Nashville, Tennessee, 7 years ago, to going head to head with WWE and on Monday night no less, TNA's rise, while riddled with starts and stops, has been almost story book. From the little kid getting his ass kicked every week to growing up to a man and finally fighting the bully on a big stage is a great rags to riches story. I was glad I could be a part of it for 6 years. I helped them fight the good fight and now the fight is paying off.

TNA trotted out almost every dog and pony available in the arsenal of pro wrestling today and if you weren't careful, you found yourself back in the late 90's with the great NWO angle. And to be honest, that was when wrestling was at its finest hour. I actually thought it was great TV. But that tells us something about the state of wrestling today. Is that a indicator of how great wrestling was 10/12 years ago or is it an indicator of just how far wrestling has receded in the 2000s? Or could it indicate that the 'lost' WCW fan, on which TNA actually formed their company, is still there for the taking?

On Monday night, TNA stood toe to toe with the giant WWE machine and they slugged it out. If they can do that on a consistent basis and CREATE STARS at the same time, then there's a bigger fight looming down the line and with a bigger PAYDAY.

Secretly, I think Vinny Mac himself wants TNA to give him a run for his money because he hasn't really been stimulated since the downfall of WCW and he's spoiling for a fight because he's an Irishman and he likes it. Hulk has stated that he wants to fight and if TNA can slug it out long enough with Vinny Mac, then wrestling fans could be in for a long and enjoyable fight.

But wrestling fans had a fight like this 10 years ago with a bad ending, remember? WCW fought long and hard but in the end, they sold out at a bargain basement price and Vince had a monopoly over the wrestling business which is the one thing that should never happen in any business. So in order for TNA to stay in the game, they have to fight with strategy and with a long term purpose in mind. WWE knows how to fight but this is all new to TNA, as a company. TNA needs to give the fans what they've been yelling for...give them wrestling but more than that, give them wrestling with a PURPOSE which means more than just two guys going out there and doing beautiful moves. Believe me, as a guy who's been around this business for years, professional wrestling done right is a beautiful thing to see.

I didn't try to make a ratings prediction but the rating TNA received was more or less in line with what I thought they would do. Before I shut this down, I remember a giant in this business telling me years ago one of the most important things I ever learned in the wrestling business. When I say giant, I'm talking about a 6'11" 340 pound former All Pro football player turned wrestler, the Big Cat, Ernie Ladd right after he had made his first appearance in Atlanta, Georgia. I remember watching the Cat as he literally destroyed his opponent on his first night in. Ernie gave him nothing. When Ernie came back from the ring and entered the dressing room, I sat there like a bright eyed kid marveling at the fact that I was sitting in the same dressing room as the great All Pro, Ernie Ladd. As he sat down next to me, he looked over and said, "boy, you don't get a second chance to make a first impression". He was so right.

In WWE's defense, I only checked back on them a couple of times but they did a great number too. So at least one thing was determined. Competition is good for everybody. From watching TNA, it was clear that the company has taken a completely new direction because the show was 20 times better than what it has been.

So who won? Did WWE win or did TNA win? Of course, that depends on who you're talking to. Ratings wise, WWE dominated as most experts thought they would. But strategically speaking, TNA got their highest rating ever and was seen by hundreds of thousands of people who, in most probabilty, had never seen TNA before.

Let's call it a draw and when an underdog gets a draw, its as good as a win.

Dutch..the new InterNet wrestling handicapper

Tags: Dutch Mantel, TNA, WWE, WCW, Ernie Ladd