it is a gimmick they tried before with a league of a few people that like a lot of their gimmicks (the weekly gut check for example) just did not have enough "invested" in it to make it look "real" rather than "tacked on"

what makes this struggle is the simple and essential bischoff test... "does it suspend belief" or does it highlight a disconnect... and as many people will know (because they saw previous shows where the wrestlers said they were leaving that day, not because of internet sources) the wrestler is not employed by tna anymore and so can not win... and too many in the league are gone for it to not trigger a "disconnect" in wanting to support a horse (which is what people do when they root for their favourite)

having said that, it would be an extremely believable thought that tna will in fact have a league winner who is not actually working for them anymore!

Thseries is a bit naff. They got James Storm through and he works for WWE.

Couldnt they just do a elimination tournament like a tourney should be?

and how do they do that when nothing has been filmed for it ?
they are just using dark matches that were recorded as part of the audience "show" from the spring and summer... given new meaning with the recording of the links and commentary.

I do wonder about James Storm now that he works for NXT they can't even get him back to film links.


It's all very badly done even for TNA this is bad very bad

Dark matches? Thought they had extra matches left over or using the One Night Only shows.

Their Director Of Touring has left the company for the second time. He left in 2013 to work for Lucha Underground but returned in 2014.

I imagine the role was quite possibly the easiest in wrestling. Must have been a bit boring this year

I didnt even know So Cal Val had left TNA till I wiki'ed her. Shes a very polite wrestling star.

It was dark matches.

James Storm gave a interview saying he didn't even know he was in the world title tordy and the match used he filmed back in June/July

Come on TNA.

If your going to do this at least try to edit the commentary.

They just showed a KO tordy match Gail Kim vs Kong and said Kong is now the one on contender for Taryn Terrell's KO Championship

This is why should film things a lot better.

Aiden O'Shea has Jay Bradley's Boom Stick as his finishing move?
Marti Bell and Jade are both shockingly ugly. Rebel is quite nice though.
SoCal Val is an absolute sweetie. They should bring her back and get her more involved.
Grado is very good entertainment. His matches have been the best thing in the tournament so far. Funny that they have to put up subtitles for him.

That was a match they had in April, they even put the lower third mentioning it and TAZ was on commentary. It wasn't their tournament match.

Shes with Global Force and it was a pleasure to chat to her the other day.

Val is a star.

I know. Possibly one of the nicest people you could meet in the wrestling biz.

It really is sad now what is going on with TNA, they are a shadow of their former selves, I used to really enjoy watching them, but now with random matches, no storylines to speak of, I think it would just be best to do a restart, and to have a fresh start, with the contracted wrestlers that they have left, and go from there, as the current set-up is a disgrace and is just not helping them one iota, in fact they are just making themselves a laughing stock with having James Storm still featuring.

I know they ve been running since what 2002? I do feel some 13 years later they really need to either a major revamp or just close its doors.

I think the World Title Series is a genius idea personally. Makes it feel like something on Fox Sports or something.

The idea itself is fine the fact they are using 6 month old dark match footage and about half the guys have left TNA is stupid.

Could you imagine WWE pulling that shit.

I am just trying to think of something equivalent, so say they use matches from Main Event and Superstars from June and July, on Raw and Smackdown now!

It would be very strange indeed.

I have no real issue with the tournament itself, other than it being a bit too big, and involving too many groups.

It is with the way that they have gone about using months old footage, and people that are no longer with the company, that is the real major problems.

Whats the point in a knockouts group?

As others have said I don't think anybody takes issue with the idea of holding a tournament. I have zero issue with a World Title Series, my issues are three things but one isn't that big a deal.

Firstly, the reason why they are having to do it. The fact that the only reason for this tournament is down to them filming BFG and booking a World Championship match with a winner that can't be shown on television as a winner because all television after BFG was filmed before BFG so the new champion isn't a champion on those recordings really frustrates me. It's stupidity at the highest level.

My second issue is some of the people involved. Austin Aries and James Storm have been gone from TNA for months and are now being featured in a TNA World Title Series. My other issue in this category was Bram being used despite being under suspension.

The third thing is a minor thing, I don't like points based tournaments, I prefer knockout bracket tournaments but as I say, I can get over that because it's something different.

The idea of the World Title Series is a good idea, some of the people involved and the reason for having to do it is piss poor.

Lord only knows, as none other will be winning the male title.

Heads up for anyone who might be interested, there seems to be a TNA special on Challenge tonight at 10:10pm.