Black Widow
01-12-2009, 01:36 PM
-First, there were more people hanging out at the entrance gate for the TNA people then I have seen at WWE shows which was kind of surprising. It was also noted by others out there with us. Most seemed to be polite and just enjoyed the chance to say hello and maybe get autographs and such. We got there about 2 hours or so before the doors opened.
-I did see a few faces I recognized outside before the police decided to move everyone off the sidewalk area, which I guess is a bad thing now. Referee/wrester Shane Sewell did photos and stuff with people and seemed very friendly and gave a funny remark about Bashir. TNA President Dixie Carter came out, said hello, handed out trading cards to a few kids and then went back inside. Daffney walked out and promised to stop when she came back though if she did, it was after the police said to leave the area. Bashir was also spotted while I was out there but did not acknowledge anyone at all. Don West and Jim Cornette were also spotted and Cornette was asked by a guy in military uniform when he was going to reunite the Midnight Express. I heard others did say hello and so forth but the only other one I saw was Awesome Kong on a phone though I got there later in the afternoon due to family commitments. I am assuming I missed many due to my family get together because one guy had a blue shirts with a lot of signatures on it when we got there.
-I thought about how to describe the capacity crowd and I will have to break it down to explain. The side where the hard cameras were probably had a little over 100 people there but the rest of the arena was about 95% full though much of the upper area had only a few extra people (but that was a small section anyway). The side that the camera was facing all night was definitely the most lively the whole night but that's what happens when Borash promises the possibility of back stage passes to loud fans. Not sure how they sounded on TV but there were a lot of attempts to get chants going even though many just did not seem to blend well.
-I noticed in the PPV coverage it was noted about Sting being cheered and it's mostly because Charlotte fans associate Sting with his WCW days and refuse to boo him. I had several in my area who said they could never boo Sting because of all the great matches while he was there. There were also times the chants for Angle and Beer Money seemed to be louder then their opponents but it was a weird night in the crowd watching the balance of some following story lines and others just wanting to see the names they knew and admired. Though I will admit that I think the loudest one in my opinion was for Mick Foley, who after the cameras stopped rolling thanked the Charlotte crowd and got Brother Devon to do his testify thing as well. They probably spent 5-10 minutes walking around with AJ shaking hands with the fans, though afterward AJ appeared a bit out of it leaning on the ref and was asked by a couple people if he was OK (not sure if he got his bell rung a bit or just selling the hardcore nature of the match).
-People may point to the almost free ticket deal they had but I will tell you this, not only did it put a lot of butts in the seats, there were also huge lines before and after the card at the souvenir stand with $25 t-shirts and $20 very nice, fully colored programs. The people in line in front of us used the same deal we did and none of us complained and in fact, I think it was a positive message that many of us who go out and support them again if they were in town even if it was not free (though be careful of who you want people rooting for when you come back). I have not seen the show yet but I am sure the background was helped by it too, though not sure how many were fully paid seats either in that area. TNA's strongest point other then their wrestlers would have to be how well they are perceived to the fans as I heard nothing but praise for how personable many within the company, especially Dixie Carter is and how they are fan friendly to the point it makes people want to support them more.
-As you mentioned, no dark matches but there was a bit where Borash hyped the crowd with free backstage passes to loud members only to be interrupted by someone from backstage saying he was selling them for $200 a piece. Then Shark Boy came out, teased the crowd Austin style, stunned the guy and took the backstage passes into the crowd with him handing them to people ringside near the entry ramp. Jeremy said he would find more in the unconscious guys pants and don't know whether he did or not but I know I tried to be loud to the point I am hoarse to no avail but I had fun regardless.
-My favorite matches of the night will probably be on everybody's list but it was a toss up between the opening 6 man match and Sabin/Shelley and I think the live crowd helped make them even better as they were big time into it. Least favorite was easily Sting/Rhino and everyone around me seemed to agree though it was amusing seeing Rhyio, a babyface Frontline member flip off the crowd at one point when he was on the top rope but they were riding him hard and canting/bowing down to Sting so I guess it was called for in some respects and he was not the only one who gave the birdie to the crowd. The live crowd did not seem to buy into who were MEM and who were Frontline in regard to heels and faces. Obviously, the fans and I included, loved cheering for Mick Foley as well.
That's about all I can remember but on a scale of 1-10 on the overall experience, I would give it a 9 and do it again. My company announced they are laying off again in March which will include me so I could not have gone without the discount tickets and I know many in this area affected by the manufacturing plants in this area shutting down and moving elsewhere so that probably did not help sales. However seeing that discount offer on PWInsider.com was enough to convince us it was worth the drive as long as we kept the other costs low (all we got was a couple sodas and paid for parking though so we were fine, I wanted a Cross The Line tee but that was not in my budget this time). If someone asked me to recommend going to a TNA show, as a 36 year old man who has seen many live shows in his day, I would definitely say that if you can afford it, go and if you have an extra ticket, call me.
PWI
-I did see a few faces I recognized outside before the police decided to move everyone off the sidewalk area, which I guess is a bad thing now. Referee/wrester Shane Sewell did photos and stuff with people and seemed very friendly and gave a funny remark about Bashir. TNA President Dixie Carter came out, said hello, handed out trading cards to a few kids and then went back inside. Daffney walked out and promised to stop when she came back though if she did, it was after the police said to leave the area. Bashir was also spotted while I was out there but did not acknowledge anyone at all. Don West and Jim Cornette were also spotted and Cornette was asked by a guy in military uniform when he was going to reunite the Midnight Express. I heard others did say hello and so forth but the only other one I saw was Awesome Kong on a phone though I got there later in the afternoon due to family commitments. I am assuming I missed many due to my family get together because one guy had a blue shirts with a lot of signatures on it when we got there.
-I thought about how to describe the capacity crowd and I will have to break it down to explain. The side where the hard cameras were probably had a little over 100 people there but the rest of the arena was about 95% full though much of the upper area had only a few extra people (but that was a small section anyway). The side that the camera was facing all night was definitely the most lively the whole night but that's what happens when Borash promises the possibility of back stage passes to loud fans. Not sure how they sounded on TV but there were a lot of attempts to get chants going even though many just did not seem to blend well.
-I noticed in the PPV coverage it was noted about Sting being cheered and it's mostly because Charlotte fans associate Sting with his WCW days and refuse to boo him. I had several in my area who said they could never boo Sting because of all the great matches while he was there. There were also times the chants for Angle and Beer Money seemed to be louder then their opponents but it was a weird night in the crowd watching the balance of some following story lines and others just wanting to see the names they knew and admired. Though I will admit that I think the loudest one in my opinion was for Mick Foley, who after the cameras stopped rolling thanked the Charlotte crowd and got Brother Devon to do his testify thing as well. They probably spent 5-10 minutes walking around with AJ shaking hands with the fans, though afterward AJ appeared a bit out of it leaning on the ref and was asked by a couple people if he was OK (not sure if he got his bell rung a bit or just selling the hardcore nature of the match).
-People may point to the almost free ticket deal they had but I will tell you this, not only did it put a lot of butts in the seats, there were also huge lines before and after the card at the souvenir stand with $25 t-shirts and $20 very nice, fully colored programs. The people in line in front of us used the same deal we did and none of us complained and in fact, I think it was a positive message that many of us who go out and support them again if they were in town even if it was not free (though be careful of who you want people rooting for when you come back). I have not seen the show yet but I am sure the background was helped by it too, though not sure how many were fully paid seats either in that area. TNA's strongest point other then their wrestlers would have to be how well they are perceived to the fans as I heard nothing but praise for how personable many within the company, especially Dixie Carter is and how they are fan friendly to the point it makes people want to support them more.
-As you mentioned, no dark matches but there was a bit where Borash hyped the crowd with free backstage passes to loud members only to be interrupted by someone from backstage saying he was selling them for $200 a piece. Then Shark Boy came out, teased the crowd Austin style, stunned the guy and took the backstage passes into the crowd with him handing them to people ringside near the entry ramp. Jeremy said he would find more in the unconscious guys pants and don't know whether he did or not but I know I tried to be loud to the point I am hoarse to no avail but I had fun regardless.
-My favorite matches of the night will probably be on everybody's list but it was a toss up between the opening 6 man match and Sabin/Shelley and I think the live crowd helped make them even better as they were big time into it. Least favorite was easily Sting/Rhino and everyone around me seemed to agree though it was amusing seeing Rhyio, a babyface Frontline member flip off the crowd at one point when he was on the top rope but they were riding him hard and canting/bowing down to Sting so I guess it was called for in some respects and he was not the only one who gave the birdie to the crowd. The live crowd did not seem to buy into who were MEM and who were Frontline in regard to heels and faces. Obviously, the fans and I included, loved cheering for Mick Foley as well.
That's about all I can remember but on a scale of 1-10 on the overall experience, I would give it a 9 and do it again. My company announced they are laying off again in March which will include me so I could not have gone without the discount tickets and I know many in this area affected by the manufacturing plants in this area shutting down and moving elsewhere so that probably did not help sales. However seeing that discount offer on PWInsider.com was enough to convince us it was worth the drive as long as we kept the other costs low (all we got was a couple sodas and paid for parking though so we were fine, I wanted a Cross The Line tee but that was not in my budget this time). If someone asked me to recommend going to a TNA show, as a 36 year old man who has seen many live shows in his day, I would definitely say that if you can afford it, go and if you have an extra ticket, call me.
PWI