I dug around today in an attempt to gather further details behind this new All Wheels Wrestling project that TNA is set to tape this Wednesday at Universal Studios.. Mainly, I wanted to develop more of an understanding of the concept as a whole and how they are planning on combining professional wrestling with motorsports and racing. I guess there have been studies done that prove a cross-over between the two demographs, but I personally don’t see it. Most wrestling fans (and wrestlers even) I talk to don’t watch Nascar, BMX, or even monster trucks. Not on any regular basis, anyway. But hey, Tony Stewart even compared the two forms of entertainment a few years ago. I’m just not sure he meant it in a good way.
I digress. Suffice to say, I have my doubts.
I called around today and found a few people willing to talk with me. Here’s what I know:
– While many involved feel like the deal between TNA and the Speed Network is pretty much solidified for this project, the tapings this Wednesday are still being used to produce a pilot, meaning it may never make it to air if Speed (or someone else even) doesn’t pick it up. The ones I talked to do not believe contracts have been given out to any of the outside talent that has come in specifically for this show (Lethal, Dutt, Daivari, Aguilera, etc). Again, everyone is pretty positive that Speed Network at least "wants" to give this a shot.
– To add to that, the final product is likely to go through many changes before it airs (if it does end up getting picked up) and while it airs due to the fact that Speed Network will have some level of "say so" in the product. One person compared the situation to when TNA was on Fox Sports Network. FSN definitely had their finger on the television show in certain ways, such as the ticker you often saw at the top of the screen with score updates and such. How and how much Speed Network will get involved is still up in the air.
– As far as the product goes and how wrestling and racing is supposed to mix, the aforementioned tidbit about Speed’s involvement makes it difficult to say exactly how it will all work. However, a comparison was made to how TNA used to do the World X Cup with points and a scoring system. As you can tell, each of the four "teams" (names and captains for each have already been announced here on WZ) have themes attached. For example, Team Dyno (captained by Aaron Aguilera) is the muscle of the four teams and in race terms, would be more like monster trucks and the likes.
One of the common themes I’m hearing is how diverse the groups will be and how much that will play into the wrestling "and" the racing aspects of the show. How would a dirtbike hold up against a monster truck? How would Sonjay Dutt fare against Aaron Aguilera? With a certain point system in place over a series of different types of matches (or races), it could level the playing field for everyone involved. I can’t say how literal those examples are, but that’s just my take on it from what I’ve heard.
– Again, how much wrestling will be included on the show as opposed to racing is still undecided. I’m sure TNA officials (and the wrestlers) are hoping for one way, but Speed Network is the ultimate decision maker in some aspects as they are the main candidate to carry the show. As of now, those that I spoke with are not under the impression that wrestlers will have to drive to the ring in nascars, monster trucks or dirt bikes. But anything is possible, I guess.
That’s what I have for now. I’m sure there will be a ton more information available once the tapings are over Wednesday, but maybe the details above will give you a little better understanding of what the goal is at this point.
Or maybe it confused you even further.
If you attend the taping for All Wheels Wrestling, please email the writers of WrestleZone a report and we’ll be sure to post it on the site.
