by Edgar Suarez Lopez

Created on: November 28, 2009   Last Updated: November 30, 2009

It's very hard to know, but I'd say TNA won't ever replace Vince McMahon's WWE in the throne of the professional wrestling business.

I used to believe that TNA would some day become a serious competitor with WWE. Why? Well they were a new company, which had some great young talent whom they could develop into being huge main eventers, It was this fresh image that would take TNA to stardom. Apart from this, TNA used the change of target audience by WWE and filled the space WWE had left, targeting its product at an adult audience, against WWE which drifted quickly towards becoming a family show, rated TV PG.

BUT! Oh, there is always a but!

TNA's next move was what, in my book, ruined its chances of becoming a serious contender for the throne. TNA started hiring ex-WWE wrestlers like Steve Nash, Booker T, lately Hulk Hogan has signed a deal with them. This came across to the general public like TNA was hiring washed up performers, and the "fresh" image that had catapulted TNA to where it was had been trashed, as TNA kept these new ex-WWE performers as champions, leaving no room to develop their other talent.

Even if TNA got to a point where it could compete with WWE, we all know what happened with WCW. In case you don't:

During the late 1990's WCW had gained an incredible amount of popularity, and it was the first time in history that WWE was not the clear leader. Then WCW made a full scale "attack" against WWE making their show air Monday nights too, this was known as The Monday Night Wars. During "The Wars" some slander techniques were used between the two shows, WCW used to reveal the results of Monday Night Raw in their Nitro show, which aired slightly earlier (note at that time most of RAW shows had been pre-recorded) WWE's ratings suffered.

The wars ended with WWE buying WCW, later on making the "Invasion" storyline, which started with Shane McMahon apparently buying WCW and continuing the wars with WWE. The storyline ended with an "Invasion" Pay-Per-View in 2001, where both show's stars faced off, this ended with WWE wining, finishing WCW forever.

If TNA got to a point where it could be hazardous for WWE, I think Vince McMahon would try and pull a similar move on TNA

Apart from this WWE has developed an incredible brand loyalty, viewers are just used to watching WWE and its top performers; The Undertaker, Shawn Michaels, HHH and else, it is a brand loyalty which has been developed since the middle 80's, when WWE (WWF at the time) changed into what it currently is.

There is one major problem with assessing the competition between both companies, and the major reason why it should not be compared. They are two different companies which focus on different segments within the "Wrestling Market". While WWE now features its shows at a younger audience, being a company which focuses on entertainment over sport-"ish" material, TNA focuses more on the the wrestling shown in its shows, more appealing to an adult audience.

Dixie Carter, president of TNA Wrestling once said "We cannot compare them both (WWE and TNA) one is a wrestling company, one is an entertainment company."

My conclusion, TNA is not on WWE's league, literally speaking.

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