TNA gets someone new on creative...

[Kam 243]

From the Wrestling-Online Newsletter:

 

BILLY CORGAN JOINS TNA CREATIVE TEAM

 

- In quite a surprising move, TNA today announced that Billy Corgan, founder of the Smashing Pumpkins and creative icon, is joining the company as Senior Producer, Creative and Talent Development, effective immediately. In this position, Corgan will develop characters and create story lines for TNA’s Impact and other programming. “I’ve known Billy for years and have always been blown away by his musical artistry, as well as his knowledge and understanding of professional wrestling,” said TNA President Dixie Carter. “He has always impressed me with his creativity and passion for our business. Billy is truly gifted and understands the emotion tied to the psychology of connecting with an audience. The more we talked, the more I realized his perspective has the potential to make a huge impact on our brand.” Corgan will attend TNA television tapings where he will serve as a senior producer. This is not the first time that Corgan will be involved in professional wrestling as he co-founded Resistance Pro Wrestling in 2011 although he is no longer associated with the promotion. “Saying I’m humbled and honored by this opportunity to be part of TNA, a world-class wrestling organization, is an understatement and a dream come true,” said Corgan. “What’s great is the entire TNA organization stands in full support of my music life with the Smashing Pumpkins. In return, I’m fully committed to using my 30 years of entertainment experience, along with my deep-rooted passion for pro wrestling, to take on the thrilling challenge of creatively contributing to IMPACT WRESTLING, finding and developing new talent, and working eye-to-eye with the best-of-the-best. For as cultures currently evolve at great speed, so must pro wrestling meet and supersede such expectations to thrive.”

[The Icon 152]

Well he had experience with behind the scenes of wrestling so this could be a good thing.

[Guest Ciaran The King]

TNA get's more like WCW every day

[dsrchris 190]

Well not really, at least Billy Corgan has some experience of working with a wrestling company before. This ain't no David Arquette just yet.

[Guest Ciaran The King]

But really out of everyone available they pick Billy Corgan, TNA have done this for pure name value

[dsrchris 190]

Does Billy Corgan even have that much "name value" anymore?

[Guest Ciaran The King]

In TNA's minds probably yes

[Guest John Hancock]

He's also not wrestling, so the WCW comparison is particularly misplaced. It's got more in common with the WWE's habit of hiring creative advisors and writers from T.V., films and comedy, a strategy which has been, pretty much, a total failure, but a pretty separate strategy from anything like what WCW did with Jay Leno or David Arquette. I don't think it's name value, I think it's that they've picked someone who's interested in wrestling, probably applied for the position themselves, or was personally approached because he's known and liked backstage at TNA, and is someone who had a very successful run being "creative" in a way that connected with people. I also wouldn't be totally surprised if Corgan's working for free, or even has a financial stake in TNA now.

[Guest Ciaran The King]

I can see a potential financial stake with TNA, I would really like for TNA to rise again and become something but is someone who has an interest in wrestling the right person? we all like wrestling but it doesn't make us great bookers/writers/ However maybe choosing someone with little experience and an interest/knowing what the fans want may help

[Guest John Hancock]

History would disagree with you almost entirely. Jim Ross, Vince McMahon, Jim Cornett, Paul Heyman, John Laurinaitis, Michael Hayes, Dave Finely, Pat Patterson, Stu Hart, the Jarrett family, Triple H, Scott D'Amore, Dusty Rhodes, Bill Dundee, Riki Choshu, Bill Watts, Gedo, Jado, Giant Baba, Antonio Inoki, basically anyone ever any good at their job who's name wasn't Gabe Sapolsky has come from a front-of-camera wrestling background, and they've all worked out just fine. You know who came into creative without their primary background being professional wrestling? Eric Bischoff and Vince Russo.

[DC 536]

Dave Finely

That just makes me think of a Guy Incognito version of Dave Finlay; looks like "Fit", but just a bit posh. :lol

[Guest Jayfunk]

History would disagree with you almost entirely. Jim Ross, Vince McMahon, Jim Cornett, Paul Heyman, John Laurinaitis, Michael Hayes, Dave Finely, Pat Patterson, Stu Hart, the Jarrett family, Triple H, Scott D'Amore, Dusty Rhodes, Bill Dundee, Riki Choshu, Bill Watts, Gedo, Jado, Giant Baba, Antonio Inoki, basically anyone ever any good at their job who's name wasn't Gabe Sapolsky has come from a front-of-camera wrestling background, and they've all worked out just fine. You know who came into creative without their primary background being professional wrestling? Eric Bischoff and Vince Russo.

Because bischoff never did anything good creatively. Also I would say Eric had experience front of camera also

[Guest John Hancock]

Because bischoff never did anything good creatively.

 

No one said that. Two good, maybe even great, ideas, Goldberg and the NWO, both of which peaked within a year, had one pay-off, and then died on their arses and were replaced by absolutely nothing doesn't make a great creative mind. There's a difference between being a consistently great creative mind and have a short, but successful, run as one. Wigan won the FA Cup.

 

Despite his commentary, I'd still say Bischoff was a businessman, not a creative guy, because the majority of his pre-Vice President wrestling experience was related to business, not booking. He was, primarily, at least in my mind, a producer and a sales guy.