Interview with Dixie Carter

On Wednesday the 30th May, I was fortunate to take part in a 2 hour press conference with TNA president, Dixie Carter.

Before I start to delve into the questions asked and the answers given, I just wanted to get out of the way my own preconceptions forged through years of listening to the IWC.

For those who have read my articles before, you will all know that I am very pro TNA. I even once compared the IWC as a collective of monkeys, blindly following the loudest chimp who berated all things TNA. I called for individual thinking on TNA and for people to assess it on its merits. And for all this cynicism on my part towards the internet know-it-alls, I found myself believing the hype surrounding Dixie, namely that everything that was wrong with TNA was through the lack of enterprise and experience of Dixie herself.

How wrong was I!

The press conference that I partook in, showed me that Dixie is in fact very savvy. Every one of the criticisms that people have labelled at TNA over the last few years, were addressed, and more importantly acknowledged, by Dixie.

During the call, that can be listened to below, Dixie covered a variety of topics including booking issues, TV broadcasts, creativity and most importantly of all, consistency.

To paraphrase one of her responses, the way that TNA is going to become a bigger challenge to WWE, was by booking logical, long term storylines, taking them to their conclusions (she used the example of finding out who kidnapped Samoa Joe) and most importantly, doing it week in week out.

What amazed me about this acknowledgment was that it was not only 100% correct but also what is wrong with wrestling in a more widespread sense. Who was the anonymous Raw GM in the end?

Dixie impressed me that she knew that by fixing these problems is essential. Without a logical storyline and regularly consistent quality show, TNA wouldn't challenge Titan Towers. And for anyone who has started to watch TNA in the last few months, it would appear to me that her plan is already in effect.

The interview was a real eye opener into the world of the people who run wrestling - she was articulate, friendly and incredibly knowledgeable on not only the industry but the business aspects.

During the interview, Dixie taleked about a variety of topics including their booking strategy, future touring, Brooke Hogan, as well as some more delicate topics such as the departure of Vince Russo. The overall feeling coming through the call was that Dixie knows what needs to be done to make TNA a success, which for me is a very good sign indeed.


So I hope you enjoy the interview - I can honestly said, that it has given me great faith that TNA is going to get better and better.

For those who are interested in the v2 questions, three were asked - you will have to listen to the interview to find out what they were!

Here is the link http://v2journal.com/interview-with-dixie-carter.html - take a listen as it is a excellent insight to the industry and TNAs views on WWE.

So did anyone actually listen to it?

Just got in and is on my list to do tonight, by the way I have listened to most of the 2 previous ones and enjoyed the Anderson one.

Cheers Bret

We have another one next week but I dont know who with yet.

I thought the Anderson one was very good. Was disappointed with Storm and Roode as I really like them as performers. I thought Morgan came over very well too.

Was there a Morgan one was there? I've missed that one then. The Roode and Storm one was odd, it was like they were in and out of character

bretmeharty wrote:Was there a Morgan one was there? I've missed that one then. The Roode and Storm one was odd, it was like they were in and out of character

http://v2journal.com/matt-morgan-interview.html

Cheers

I'll have a listen to this tomorrow night when I'm having some alone time with Mrs Smirnoff.

I might be in the minority on these boards but I'm quite liking TNA lately.

Listened to the first hour yesterday Adam, enjoyed it. Good variety of questions.

You are absolutely spot on too, I thought she was a bit of a dodo when it came to the Westlin' world, but she is refreshingly switched on, and obviously has a plan for her company to move forward.

TNA has gotten better lately, so im sticking with it for now - its no worse than the WWE at the moment.

I just WISH theyd move out of that damn Impact Zone, the crowds are DEAD.

uberkiwi wrote:
I just WISH theyd move out of that damn Impact Zone, the crowds are DEAD.

I think we all want that and the impression I got is that she wants it to. However, it was also clear it wasnt happening soon - obviously they think that they couldnt sell the tickets to break even at the moment until they get a better following.

ANother intertesting answer from her was about the PPV in the UK. She said that they consciously made the UK tapings a TV show so that the US audience could see what a great crowd looks like! Brave move but I kind of undersatnd.

One thing ive always wondered about the tapings at Orlando you may know.

Are the crowd a mixture of fans and holiday makers? Sometimes you see some faces and they just have no idea whats going on?

I think they give a lot of comp tickets to holidaymakers.

Thing I found funny the other day was the Yes chants going on. If you were a fan of a promotion you wouldn't be using catchphrases from the "competition" surely?

She mentioned that it would be foolish to ignore the competition but they want to instead embrace it.

What ever wrestling promotion you are I guess you can not get around the fact that the WWE/F are part of your heritage wether you like it or not. Still not sure serving a lawsuit is exactly embracing the competition

From what I've read last night's first live show was a real success.

Just to let you know, the 1st v2 question was at the 46 minute mark

2nd question is at 1.41 mark
3rd question is at 1.48 mark