TNA is expected to have a very profitable year in 2008. A number of their executives met with Panda Energy officials in Dallas recently and learned that TNA is projected to make several million dollars worth of profit in the coming year. After years of running at a loss and Panda injecting substantial investment into it, TNA broke even in 2007 and shall soon be earning money for the first time since it was launched in 2002. The two-hour Impact show, forthcoming video game, international television deals and developed house show tours have all helped improve matters greatly.
Jeff Jarrett is keen to take TNA into a more serious creative direction. He was the driving force behind the straight build to Kurt Angle vs Samoa Joe at Lockdown and wants them to do more things along those lines, including doing more in the ring rather than backstage. Vince Russo tends to prefer doing pre-taped backstage segments and then winds up adding comedic beats to them.
Kurt Angle made similar claims about Jarrett’s preferred new direction during a recent Between the Ropes interview, agreeing that TNA used too many ref bumps, unclean finishes and run-ins as well. He said that they wanted to get more of an MMA atmosphere and that he and Joe would be wrestling MMA-style at Lockdown with no wrestling boots.
Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter, 31 March 2008 (subscribe here)
