|
Post by MKCS on Mar 1, 2016 2:38:03 GMT -8
The discussion about what people would do if they owned the NWA was interesting. I have my own views.
- First I'd like to just point blank mention that I'd never buy the NWA but lets say I'm a crazy wrestling fan with crazy money and I want the NWA. I think the most important thing right now is to have a World Heavyweight Champion that people care about. No, that does not mean a "name" but nobody seems to care about Jax Dane and who can blame them? What has he done as champion to make the NWA fanbase care? Zero.
With that in mind I think I change the belt from Dane and I probably put it on a name. Not because "lolz polejumpz loves teh namezz111" but it comes down to the NWA not really having anyone setting the world on fire right now. I made a thread a couple months ago about Trevor Murdoch and I still think he'd be the way to go. He can build some prestige in the fledgling NWA Missouri promotion and he's close enough to regularly defend elsewhere without much expense. Also as mentioned in that thread you've got the WLW promotion which Murdoch is champion of which could lead to Harley Race's promotion featuring the NWA Title. More build for that home promotion.
- After that (And the title change would be quick. Dane is ice cold currently) I'd spend my money (Hey, in this scenario I'm rich) and check out each NWA promotion live and in person. I'd meet the owner and maybe a couple of the top stars and really question myself as to what this company is offering my territory system. It's great to have the NWA in Australia and England but how is that benefiting my business at home? How is it putting more money in my pocket? Is having a little rinky dink promotion in Texas worth it or do I just want 3-4 covering the major areas?
- I'd look into making the NWA a massive name in areas where wrestling isn't hugely popular. The NWA right now is only active in Australia, England, Japan and the United States which is great but 3/4 of those markets are heavily locked onto by the WWE whilst Japan obviously has it's own companies. If the NWA could latch onto South East Asia or even the Oceania regions where wrestling is popular but hasn't got regular shows you could really make some money. With promotions in Australia and Japan to assist I don't know why Bruce hasn't tried to get a tour of Asia going.
- At this same time I'm concentrating on the United States. I've got Murdoch building up Missouri (Which I just found out has TWO NWA Promotions which makes the idea even better) but what about other areas? I remember there being a struggling NWA promotion in New Jersey (Don't know if it's still there) but in the smart mark areas that's where I'm sending the NJPW guys. NJPW guys aren't known in Texas but in a smark heavy area such as Jersey or New York they're big time. You could really build smaller promotions in smark areas because that promotion would become the place to see "X from Japan!" or "X who wrestles in Japan!". I'd have Tiger Mask IV drop the Junior Title to Owens at the New Jersey promotion and if the company was half decent within a year or two we'd get the people coming back.
- Another idea Bruce Tharpe could very easily put into action with minimal money being spent is the convention circuit. I'd have the NWA attend every wrestling convention with a NWA Legend as their "vendor guest". You have Tharpe chip in half and a local NWA promotion chip in half with the wrestler getting a lump payment to do a convention and show. You have the convention first so all day this legendary wrestler is signing autographs and meeting WRESTLING fans and then you simply say "Hey man, Barbarian is wrestling Chance Prophet for the NWA National Title tonight about 20 minutes down the street. Come along, bring some friends". If a guy like Barbarian does 50 sales that night the local independent using him on their wrestling show could probably get at least 5 customers just from the "Hey man, come see the show" stuff.
Doesn't have to just be wrestling conventions either, I'd hit up the smaller pop culture expos and just bring in a wrestler. Tharpe would love hanging out with the old legends and taking photos with them and would probably make a little bit of money while helping out another local NWA member. I'm actually shocked Tharpe hasn't done this already to promote NWA Classics and to sell merchandise especially with tables at the low end wrestling conventions being like 100 bucks.
- So basically the idea is to leave promotions who are self sufficient (Smoky Mountain, SAW, NRW, Texas etc) and build up the ones who are struggling (Missouri, Smark Heavy areas). We're going to use conventions to make a little bit of money and give a gentle nudge to the wrestling fan reminding them the NWA still exists. Overhaul the champions putting the belts on guys who can potentially make money instead of guys Tharpe marks for.
Also, when I say potentially can make money I'm not talking about names. In the perfect world the NWA World Heavyweight Champion would be a guy with some TV experience and a name but I believe the National Title is perfect for guys that the NWA aren't sure on. If the NWA National Champion is making 10 defenses a month around the country he'd probably be a suitable World Champion but if he's wrestling once a month in a rec hall he's probably not worth it.
Just some thoughts, I have more, someone should make a "What would you do if you owned the NWA" thread. I'd go in-depth in that thread and outline everything no matter how small.
|
|
|
Post by gmellos on Mar 1, 2016 9:26:59 GMT -8
Just some thoughts, I have more, someone should make a "What would you do if you owned the NWA" thread. I'd go in-depth in that thread and outline everything no matter how small. You have more thoughts on what to do if you owned the NWA!? Shit man you just wrote a fucking novel! lol But hey you did say yours was a fantasy ownership.
|
|
|
Post by MKCS on Mar 1, 2016 10:36:48 GMT -8
I've always liked the "What if" scenario of managing to turn a wrestling company around. I find the whole "What if WCW survived" situation fascinating and I find keeping the NWA afloat interesting as well.
In my opinion the NWA is at it's lowest point since maybe the early 2000's and Tharpe needs to act fast to move it along. I'd be looking at the more realistic ideas on my list and trying to implement them somehow.
|
|
|
Post by gmellos on Mar 1, 2016 11:04:40 GMT -8
I've always liked the "What if" scenario of managing to turn a wrestling company around. I find the whole "What if WCW survived" situation fascinating and I find keeping the NWA afloat interesting as well. In my opinion the NWA is at it's lowest point since maybe the early 2000's and Tharpe needs to act fast to move it along. I'd be looking at the more realistic ideas on my list and trying to implement them somehow. I agree with you on all points. Except I honestly think Tharpe thinks that his idea is working. He doesn't need to do anything accept continue to milk 500.00 bucks from each person while getting them to fly him in so he can play big shot. It is a win win for him honestly.
|
|
|
Post by tonybrooklyn on Mar 1, 2016 11:13:59 GMT -8
The discussion about what people would do if they owned the NWA was interesting. I have my own views. - First I'd like to just point blank mention that I'd never buy the NWA but lets say I'm a crazy wrestling fan with crazy money and I want the NWA. I think the most important thing right now is to have a World Heavyweight Champion that people care about. No, that does not mean a "name" but nobody seems to care about Jax Dane and who can blame them? What has he done as champion to make the NWA fanbase care? Zero. With that in mind I think I change the belt from Dane and I probably put it on a name. Not because "lolz polejumpz loves teh namezz111" but it comes down to the NWA not really having anyone setting the world on fire right now. I made a thread a couple months ago about Trevor Murdoch and I still think he'd be the way to go. He can build some prestige in the fledgling NWA Missouri promotion and he's close enough to regularly defend elsewhere without much expense. Also as mentioned in that thread you've got the WLW promotion which Murdoch is champion of which could lead to Harley Race's promotion featuring the NWA Title. More build for that home promotion. - After that (And the title change would be quick. Dane is ice cold currently) I'd spend my money (Hey, in this scenario I'm rich) and check out each NWA promotion live and in person. I'd meet the owner and maybe a couple of the top stars and really question myself as to what this company is offering my territory system. It's great to have the NWA in Australia and England but how is that benefiting my business at home? How is it putting more money in my pocket? Is having a little rinky dink promotion in Texas worth it or do I just want 3-4 covering the major areas? - I'd look into making the NWA a massive name in areas where wrestling isn't hugely popular. The NWA right now is only active in Australia, England, Japan and the United States which is great but 3/4 of those markets are heavily locked onto by the WWE whilst Japan obviously has it's own companies. If the NWA could latch onto South East Asia or even the Oceania regions where wrestling is popular but hasn't got regular shows you could really make some money. With promotions in Australia and Japan to assist I don't know why Bruce hasn't tried to get a tour of Asia going. - At this same time I'm concentrating on the United States. I've got Murdoch building up Missouri (Which I just found out has TWO NWA Promotions which makes the idea even better) but what about other areas? I remember there being a struggling NWA promotion in New Jersey (Don't know if it's still there) but in the smart mark areas that's where I'm sending the NJPW guys. NJPW guys aren't known in Texas but in a smark heavy area such as Jersey or New York they're big time. You could really build smaller promotions in smark areas because that promotion would become the place to see "X from Japan!" or "X who wrestles in Japan!". I'd have Tiger Mask IV drop the Junior Title to Owens at the New Jersey promotion and if the company was half decent within a year or two we'd get the people coming back. - Another idea Bruce Tharpe could very easily put into action with minimal money being spent is the convention circuit. I'd have the NWA attend every wrestling convention with a NWA Legend as their "vendor guest". You have Tharpe chip in half and a local NWA promotion chip in half with the wrestler getting a lump payment to do a convention and show. You have the convention first so all day this legendary wrestler is signing autographs and meeting WRESTLING fans and then you simply say "Hey man, Barbarian is wrestling Chance Prophet for the NWA National Title tonight about 20 minutes down the street. Come along, bring some friends". If a guy like Barbarian does 50 sales that night the local independent using him on their wrestling show could probably get at least 5 customers just from the "Hey man, come see the show" stuff. Doesn't have to just be wrestling conventions either, I'd hit up the smaller pop culture expos and just bring in a wrestler. Tharpe would love hanging out with the old legends and taking photos with them and would probably make a little bit of money while helping out another local NWA member. I'm actually shocked Tharpe hasn't done this already to promote NWA Classics and to sell merchandise especially with tables at the low end wrestling conventions being like 100 bucks. - So basically the idea is to leave promotions who are self sufficient (Smoky Mountain, SAW, NRW, Texas etc) and build up the ones who are struggling (Missouri, Smark Heavy areas). We're going to use conventions to make a little bit of money and give a gentle nudge to the wrestling fan reminding them the NWA still exists. Overhaul the champions putting the belts on guys who can potentially make money instead of guys Tharpe marks for. Also, when I say potentially can make money I'm not talking about names. In the perfect world the NWA World Heavyweight Champion would be a guy with some TV experience and a name but I believe the National Title is perfect for guys that the NWA aren't sure on. If the NWA National Champion is making 10 defenses a month around the country he'd probably be a suitable World Champion but if he's wrestling once a month in a rec hall he's probably not worth it. Just some thoughts, I have more, someone should make a "What would you do if you owned the NWA" thread. I'd go in-depth in that thread and outline everything no matter how small. Lots of ideas here. Some of them really good. My question to you is this. Who organizes and executes? I'm talking about the current regime. Do you think there is anyone in the current regime who could do all of this? Also, I got a chuckle out of your comment about promotions chipping in. I'm not making fun of you or anyone else here....I thought the same when I got involved. Getting promotions to cooperate is difficult....very difficult. Thats why I'm proud of what I achieved when I was there. The Texas part of the equation was solid....we were all working together. One night at one of my events I think we had 6 different TX promoters there all wanting to be "part of". Those days are gone. I'll say it again, promotions, wrestlers, promoters, etc. are not trusting in general. They are also in it for themselves. Pitching a team concept inside of one promotion is difficult....can you imagine trying to have multiple promotions buy in to the concept? Whats even more mind boggling is this....can you imagine El Presidente organizing all of this and making it happen? He's not capable....and he doesn't want to. All ideas are random, throw it at the wall and hope it sticks.... of course with the big picture on "cashing in" by flipping the brand.
|
|
|
Post by tonybrooklyn on Mar 1, 2016 11:15:27 GMT -8
Fred when can we expect this to get interesting? There is a lot of speculation right now. Seeing is believing. Until you see Fred and I together, taking care of business here in Texas, I'd say you can hold off on popping the pop corn.
|
|
|
Post by Fred Richards on Mar 1, 2016 12:41:49 GMT -8
Fred when can we expect this to get interesting? There is a lot of speculation right now. Seeing is believing. Until you see Fred and I together, taking care of business here in Texas, I'd say you can hold off on popping the pop corn. If anyone is in the vicinity of George Bush International Airport in Houston, TX tomorrow around 9:01am central time, come on over to the United Airlines arrivals area and meet flight 1942 from Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Be happy to buy you a cup of coffee. Hmm . . . why am I taking this trip??? Three people in the Lone Star State will soon know.
|
|
|
Post by MKCS on Mar 1, 2016 13:18:11 GMT -8
I've always liked the "What if" scenario of managing to turn a wrestling company around. I find the whole "What if WCW survived" situation fascinating and I find keeping the NWA afloat interesting as well. In my opinion the NWA is at it's lowest point since maybe the early 2000's and Tharpe needs to act fast to move it along. I'd be looking at the more realistic ideas on my list and trying to implement them somehow. I agree with you on all points. Except I honestly think Tharpe thinks that his idea is working. He doesn't need to do anything accept continue to milk 500.00 bucks from each person while getting them to fly him in so he can play big shot. It is a win win for him honestly. I don't think Tharpe wants to actually improve the NWA and is happy running it as a hobby thing. You're definitely right that it's an easy gig for him right now, he takes the 500 a year from each promotion (Which would be a pretty decent payday with all the promotions involved) and gets to play wrestler with all these companies who are booking him for no other reason then "Well, we have to" I know the official reason is Tharpe is allegedly scouting talent at these shows but we don't know what for. He doesn't have the stroke to get someone booked in NJPW and doesn't have any shows that get huge press anywhere else. I think in his mind he'd honestly believe that he's scouting these guys for some big NWA national TV show which is just around the corner but I don't know the guy or his thought process. The discussion about what people would do if they owned the NWA was interesting. I have my own views. - First I'd like to just point blank mention that I'd never buy the NWA but lets say I'm a crazy wrestling fan with crazy money and I want the NWA. I think the most important thing right now is to have a World Heavyweight Champion that people care about. No, that does not mean a "name" but nobody seems to care about Jax Dane and who can blame them? What has he done as champion to make the NWA fanbase care? Zero. With that in mind I think I change the belt from Dane and I probably put it on a name. Not because "lolz polejumpz loves teh namezz111" but it comes down to the NWA not really having anyone setting the world on fire right now. I made a thread a couple months ago about Trevor Murdoch and I still think he'd be the way to go. He can build some prestige in the fledgling NWA Missouri promotion and he's close enough to regularly defend elsewhere without much expense. Also as mentioned in that thread you've got the WLW promotion which Murdoch is champion of which could lead to Harley Race's promotion featuring the NWA Title. More build for that home promotion. - After that (And the title change would be quick. Dane is ice cold currently) I'd spend my money (Hey, in this scenario I'm rich) and check out each NWA promotion live and in person. I'd meet the owner and maybe a couple of the top stars and really question myself as to what this company is offering my territory system. It's great to have the NWA in Australia and England but how is that benefiting my business at home? How is it putting more money in my pocket? Is having a little rinky dink promotion in Texas worth it or do I just want 3-4 covering the major areas? - I'd look into making the NWA a massive name in areas where wrestling isn't hugely popular. The NWA right now is only active in Australia, England, Japan and the United States which is great but 3/4 of those markets are heavily locked onto by the WWE whilst Japan obviously has it's own companies. If the NWA could latch onto South East Asia or even the Oceania regions where wrestling is popular but hasn't got regular shows you could really make some money. With promotions in Australia and Japan to assist I don't know why Bruce hasn't tried to get a tour of Asia going. - At this same time I'm concentrating on the United States. I've got Murdoch building up Missouri (Which I just found out has TWO NWA Promotions which makes the idea even better) but what about other areas? I remember there being a struggling NWA promotion in New Jersey (Don't know if it's still there) but in the smart mark areas that's where I'm sending the NJPW guys. NJPW guys aren't known in Texas but in a smark heavy area such as Jersey or New York they're big time. You could really build smaller promotions in smark areas because that promotion would become the place to see "X from Japan!" or "X who wrestles in Japan!". I'd have Tiger Mask IV drop the Junior Title to Owens at the New Jersey promotion and if the company was half decent within a year or two we'd get the people coming back. - Another idea Bruce Tharpe could very easily put into action with minimal money being spent is the convention circuit. I'd have the NWA attend every wrestling convention with a NWA Legend as their "vendor guest". You have Tharpe chip in half and a local NWA promotion chip in half with the wrestler getting a lump payment to do a convention and show. You have the convention first so all day this legendary wrestler is signing autographs and meeting WRESTLING fans and then you simply say "Hey man, Barbarian is wrestling Chance Prophet for the NWA National Title tonight about 20 minutes down the street. Come along, bring some friends". If a guy like Barbarian does 50 sales that night the local independent using him on their wrestling show could probably get at least 5 customers just from the "Hey man, come see the show" stuff. Doesn't have to just be wrestling conventions either, I'd hit up the smaller pop culture expos and just bring in a wrestler. Tharpe would love hanging out with the old legends and taking photos with them and would probably make a little bit of money while helping out another local NWA member. I'm actually shocked Tharpe hasn't done this already to promote NWA Classics and to sell merchandise especially with tables at the low end wrestling conventions being like 100 bucks. - So basically the idea is to leave promotions who are self sufficient (Smoky Mountain, SAW, NRW, Texas etc) and build up the ones who are struggling (Missouri, Smark Heavy areas). We're going to use conventions to make a little bit of money and give a gentle nudge to the wrestling fan reminding them the NWA still exists. Overhaul the champions putting the belts on guys who can potentially make money instead of guys Tharpe marks for. Also, when I say potentially can make money I'm not talking about names. In the perfect world the NWA World Heavyweight Champion would be a guy with some TV experience and a name but I believe the National Title is perfect for guys that the NWA aren't sure on. If the NWA National Champion is making 10 defenses a month around the country he'd probably be a suitable World Champion but if he's wrestling once a month in a rec hall he's probably not worth it. Just some thoughts, I have more, someone should make a "What would you do if you owned the NWA" thread. I'd go in-depth in that thread and outline everything no matter how small. Lots of ideas here. Some of them really good. My question to you is this. Who organizes and executes? I'm talking about the current regime. Do you think there is anyone in the current regime who could do all of this? Also, I got a chuckle out of your comment about promotions chipping in. I'm not making fun of you or anyone else here....I thought the same when I got involved. Getting promotions to cooperate is difficult....very difficult. Thats why I'm proud of what I achieved when I was there. The Texas part of the equation was solid....we were all working together. One night at one of my events I think we had 6 different TX promoters there all wanting to be "part of". Those days are gone. I'll say it again, promotions, wrestlers, promoters, etc. are not trusting in general. They are also in it for themselves. Pitching a team concept inside of one promotion is difficult....can you imagine trying to have multiple promotions buy in to the concept? Whats even more mind boggling is this....can you imagine El Presidente organizing all of this and making it happen? He's not capable....and he doesn't want to. All ideas are random, throw it at the wall and hope it sticks.... of course with the big picture on "cashing in" by flipping the brand. 1. I honestly don't know the current set up in terms of staff. I don't think Tharpe himself could execute the bigger ideas such as international tours but I would hope that he could definitely arrange help for struggling promotions and that he could organise a vendor table at a wrestling convention or a comic show. I'm fairly confident that most people on this board could book a wrestler, book a vendor table and do some promoting of their brands. 2. I know that the promotions are reluctant to work together unless it's mutually beneficial (And even then it can be a struggle). I'm suggesting that Bruce uses some of that membership money that gets paid to him annually to use it to benefit his brand instead of himself. If all 25 promotions pay 500 a year that's 12,500 dollars a year that Bruce can just throw back into the Alliance and the guy clearly is willing to throw more into it. So instead of buying new belts every year or two why not start giving promotions out there a reason to join the NWA? With NWA Classics and how hard Bruce is trying to get that going it just makes so much sense to look at a convention schedule and start booking vendor spots to promote the NWA. There is a convention in Rome Georgia, the NWA has a territory in Atlanta Georgia so if I'm Bruce Tharpe I'm hiring someone like Ricky Morton to come in and do the convention to promote his appearances on NWA Classics, the NWA in general and I'm having my Georgia territory run about 20-30 minutes down the road after the convention and they've got Morton on the card. That way I'm selling NWA Classics, NWA as a whole AND promoting a show my local territory is putting on for minimal money. Cost of Morton could be split or potentially if Ricky is a reasonable guy maybe you could work out a deal to do both for minimal cash for Tharpe himself. None of this will happen though and the 12,500 a year in membership fees will be spent on tours of Japan for Bruce to play wrestler.
|
|
|
Post by tonybrooklyn on Mar 1, 2016 14:00:06 GMT -8
He was totally able to execute.....when I did it for him. haha.
|
|
|
Post by tonybrooklyn on Mar 1, 2016 14:00:38 GMT -8
There is a lot of speculation right now. Seeing is believing. Until you see Fred and I together, taking care of business here in Texas, I'd say you can hold off on popping the pop corn. If anyone is in the vicinity of George Bush International Airport in Houston, TX tomorrow around 9:01am central time, come on over to the United Airlines arrivals area and meet flight 1942 from Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Be happy to buy you a cup of coffee. Hmm . . . why am I taking this trip??? Three people in the Lone Star State will soon know. I happen to be in town this week....and had planned on being near the airport in the morning....hmmmm....
|
|
|
Post by NWA Fanatic on Mar 1, 2016 15:48:34 GMT -8
The thing about executing usually costs money. Does the current regime use his money or investors money to help build the brand? Does he has a plan on what the NWA is? Or did he hope that New Japan was going to purchase it?
|
|
|
Post by philvarlese on Mar 1, 2016 16:07:42 GMT -8
The thing about executing usually costs money. Does the current regime use his money or investors money to help build the brand? Does he has a plan on what the NWA is? Or did he hope that New Japan was going to purchase it? I recently took on a new job with a nationally known company in a construction related field. I spent a good part of the day today speaking with the new VP of finance, and he was kind enough to explain to me the company's 5 year growth plan. I was astonished to see how clearly things could all come together, and caused me to feel much better about my decision to change my employer. My experience in business however, has usually been that most companies don't have a 5 year business plan, or a 3, or even a 1 year business plan. I don't think it's a stretch for me to say that I don't think there's a cogent business plan for the NWA today. Victor Hugo, author of both Les Miserables and The Hunchback of Notre Dame had a quote,“He who every morning plans the transaction of the day and follows out that plan, carries a thread that will guide him through the maze of the most busy life. But where no plan is laid, where the disposal of time is surrendered merely to the chance of incidence, chaos will soon reign.” Chaos will soon reign......If it hasn't started already
|
|
|
Post by tonybrooklyn on Mar 1, 2016 17:27:39 GMT -8
The thing about executing usually costs money. Does the current regime use his money or investors money to help build the brand? Does he has a plan on what the NWA is? Or did he hope that New Japan was going to purchase it? I recently took on a new job with a nationally known company in a construction related field. I spent a good part of the day today speaking with the new VP of finance, and he was kind enough to explain to me the company's 5 year growth plan. I was astonished to see how clearly things could all come together, and caused me to feel much better about my decision to change my employer. My experience in business however, has usually been that most companies don't have a 5 year business plan, or a 3, or even a 1 year business plan. I don't think it's a stretch for me to say that I don't think there's a cogent business plan for the NWA today. Victor Hugo, author of both Les Miserables and The Hunchback of Notre Dame had a quote,“He who every morning plans the transaction of the day and follows out that plan, carries a thread that will guide him through the maze of the most busy life. But where no plan is laid, where the disposal of time is surrendered merely to the chance of incidence, chaos will soon reign.” Chaos will soon reign......If it hasn't started already Here is an example of a business plan he would present to me: "Old school hard style wrestling....as real as it gets." Then he'd start talking about booking matches and things like action figures. I on the other hand had a multi purposed plan that dealt with recruitment of promotions, weeding out bad promotions, pulling the promoters together to work in unison, a basic brand oriented merchandise plan (to start), etc. In order to get television....or investors....or a buyer....or someone to buy an action figure of a virtually unknown indie wrestler....we had to have something to offer other than a strong style concept and fantasy booking.
|
|
|
Post by MKCS on Mar 1, 2016 20:27:56 GMT -8
I will also be at the George Bush International Airport tomorrow at around 9:01 AM.
#swerve
|
|
|
Post by tonybrooklyn on Mar 1, 2016 20:43:29 GMT -8
I will also be at the George Bush International Airport tomorrow at around 9:01 AM. #swerve By all means come! Question....have you ever been to San Antonio?
|
|