It’s amazing how fast time can fly. Over the course of the last year we have seen live Impact broadcasts, Mick Foley joining TNA, a new championship, and two Final Resolution pay-per-views. Sounds like it’s time for the “TNA 2008 Year in Review.”
When I first looked back on 2008 as it relates to TNA, one thought came to mind: gimmick matches. Yes, 2008 was the year of the gimmick match and TNA fans endured countless number s of them. There were the regular staple gimmick matches such as the King of the Mountain, Ultimate X, and Elevation X. Added to that were new ones such a pair of Steel Asylum/TerrorDome matches, a Fish Market Street Fight, a Black Tie Brawl and Chain match, and another helping of the Feast or Fired match. That list doesn’t include the numerous versions of strap matches and pole matches that took place.
While the actual in-ring product seemed to have suffered with all of the overbooked gimmick matches and stipulations, TNA did make great strides in other areas throughout the year. Another look back brings to mind a new word: growth. For instance, TNA provided two live Impact broadcasts in 2008, which may not seem like a lot, but by my unofficial count, is two more live broadcasts than Friday Night Smackdown had over the course of the year. TNA even left the friendly confines of the Impact Zone and took the show on the road with one of those live broadcasts taking place in Las Vegas, NV.
That live episode of Impact from “Sin City” wasn’t the only time they took the show on the road either. While the Impact Zone has been home to TNA for quite some time, a vast majority of their pay-per-view offerings in 2008 took place outside of Universal Studios in Orlando, FL. Sure, there were still a few that took place in the Impact Zone, but TNA pay-per-views also took place in locations such as Greenville, South Carolina, Norfolk, Virginia, Lowell, Massachusetts, Southaven, Mississippi, Houston, Texas, Trenton, New Jersey and Hoffman Estates, Illinois. TNA even held their first pay-per-view outside of the United States in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada in September.
Canada wasn’t the only stop outside of the United States for TNA as they also headed to Japan to take part in a show with New Japan Pro Wrestling in January. In June they crossed the ocean once again to entertain fans in the United Kingdom with four consecutive house shows. Along with these shows abroad, TNA entertained thousands of fans right here in the states by putting on more house shows. I was fortunate enough to be able to attend one of those shows and I highly recommend that all fans go see one if the opportunity arises. They are almost the opposite of their television broadcasts as they put a focus on the wrestling, which was a refreshing change.
The growth that TNA sustained during the year doesn’t just apply to pay-per-views and house shows either. TNA Impact made its move into high definition in September with a much needed overhaul of the Impact Zone. A few hundred more seats were added to pack in more fans for their weekly broadcasts. Merchandising was another high point for the company as the TNA home video department also put out several decent compilation videos, we got two to pick up two sets of TNA trading cards and, of course, the TNA Impact video game was released by Midway for the Xbox 360, PS3, and Wii.
As you may be able to tell, 2008 has seen tremendous growth for TNA, a trend that I hope will continue throughout the following year. Now if they can only cut down on the gimmicks and put an emphasis back on wrestling and 2009 could truly be a great year for the company.
Have a Happy New Year.
