TNA Wrestling: Five Reasons Why an 'Attitude' Era Won't Work

I got a lot of good feedback for my first article. Some agreed with me, but others didn’t. That’s what I expected. I hope to bring you many more articles in the future.

Many people believe that TNA Wrestling needs a new direction. There are different theories thrown around.

One that I think would be a big mistake is the idea that TNA needs an “attitude” era.

I think this would be a big mistake and as a long-time TNA fan, I don’t like that they seem to be going down that road.

Here are five reasons why I feel that Total Nonstop “Attitude” would be a failure. After reading my five reasons, I have a question for you at the end.

1. They Will Be Directly Competing with UFC

Many people believe that since PG WWE targets children, that TNA should target the adults. Mainly the 18-30 year old male. However, that crowd is mostly into UFC and MMA in general.

If TNA were to go after that demographic, they would have to directly compete with the UFC. As much as I am a TNA fan, I don’t think they can take the UFC fans away.

2. It’s All Been Done Before, So They’ll Just Be Seen As A Ripoff

The Attitude Era was great. The nWo was great, Stone Cold with the beer truck was great, Goldust was great. But they’ve all been done.

There’s nothing “attitude” left to do. It’s all been done, and they’ll just be seen as living in the past.

3. Times have changed Society has changed.

The Attitude Era was about pushing the envelope and be rebellious. The USA becomes much more libertarian with each generation.

Things that are mild to us, were shocking to our parents and appalling to our grandparents.

Half-naked women on TV isn’t shocking. We have high-speed Internet and can easily find women just as attractive as any Diva or Knockout doing lots of  “not PG” things.

A character like Goldust isn’t shocking anymore. We’ve had Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, and plenty of sitcoms with gay characters.

The things that were shocking during the Attitude Era aren’t shocking anymore.

4. You Will Enter the Realm on Disturbing and Tastelessness

The only things that haven’t been done are things that go to far.

How many people have expressed discomfort with the current Jeff Jarrett/Kurt Angle storyline. They don’t like having real life brought into wrestling.

Imagine if, instead of being a cheap Goldust rip off, TNA made Orlando Jordan an openly bisexual wrestler. No corny gay stereotyping. Just a normal look with normal gear.

Now imagine a heel, such as Bully Ray, attacking him and wanting him out of TNA because of his sexuality. It would be new and it’s definitely not PG.

However, I think that no matter how well the story was written, people would be turned off by it. People aren’t ready for an openly gay or bisexual wrestler. Everything “attitude” has either been done or goes to far.

5. The Fans Only Want “Attitude” From WWE

The wrestling community wants “attitude” but they want WWF Attitude. They don’t want attitude from anyone else. No matter how good TNA does it, the fans will crap on it.

They want TNA to be different from WWE, not the opposite. Total Nonstop Attitude will just be seen as TNA trying to be WWE instead of being themselves.

The fans want TNA to be TNA. That leaves me with one question…

What Could TNA Be?

It’s easy to say be TNA. But what is that?

What can they do that says: “This is what TNA is?”

How can they package themselves into something that isn’t copying WWE but also isn’t being Anti-WWE?

I mean something that shows that what they do isn’t dictated by what the WWE does.

If WWE has the young demographic of little kids and pre-teens and MMA has that 18-30 year old male demographic, then what is left for TNA?

What demographic is there for them to target?

Your Thoughts

Leave your comments below. Do think TNA should try to be "Attitude"? What could their identity be?