In what can only be described as the biggest news TNA related in some time, there is doubt that TNA’s flagship show Impact Wrestling will be picked up this Fall by Spike TV. TNA has had lower ratings for the last while, and their parent company Panda Energy has forced cutbacks, leading to many talent departures due to low contract offers. Spike TV normally gives their renewals to shows well before this point.
I knew something was going downhill, I think I had this feeling right when Dixie screwed over AJ Styles or when Hogan & Sting were still with the company, or maybe when half of the Knockouts are gone, bullshit storylines. Impact at this moment, they had started to lose some viewers. Just my opinion....don't like it, you don't have to read this blog.
Also, Bellator MMA & Vince Russo may have something to do with it. I'm pretty sure some people knows about the whole drama with Vince Russo, the creative team etc. There is also word that Spike was very upset when they found out Vince Russo was still with the company and it could have led to the decision to drop TNA programming from the network. And then you have Spike's other show (you know the one that plays right after Impact?) Yup that's right, Bellafreakingtor MMA. People tune in to watch that...ACTUALLY watch it. Not hating at all, love MMA & Wrestling, but at the same time, before Bellator there was always TNA every Thursdays. Also, the ppvs may have a small portion on this as well, some of the ppvs have been dropped (not sure if that's true or not)
which would mean that if TNA is not picked up, they will struggle to survive. What the company makes on TV alone is what helps them stay afloat.
I feel so bad for everyone that's works for TNA, this had to be a shock to them. Crazy. I'm sure alot of fans of TNA (including me) have something to say. Smh.
Another statement being said, TNA President Dixie Carter met with officials on Thursday about the TNA renewal and rumor has it that she held a meeting with people on Saturday claiming that Spike TV would not be renewing. That obviously would mean the end of the Impact Wrestling show, and there are no current prospects of major value that TNA has in mind to pick them up. Certainly, there isn’t any network or cable channel that would pick them up quickly. Their ratings have suffered and their current roster has either aging stars or those who are not well known enough to draw.
Debuting in 2002 from the ashes of WCW, TNA was a concept born from Jeff Jarrett and father Jerry, both veteran promoters out of Memphis and reasonably well-known names in the business. The idea is that fans would be enticed to purchase four cheaper shows per month instead of one pricier monthly show like WWE put on. As you might expect, this model worked for roughly six months before the Jarretts ran deep into the red and were on the verge of shutting down completely. Panda purchased TNA for an undisclosed amount of money and has seemingly kept it alive as a tax write-off ever since.
Here's where the problem sort of lies, on and off since TNA’s debut on Spike, Dixie Carter has insisted on using former WWE and WCW head writer Vince Russo as the person to craft the storylines for her wrestling promotion. To say that Russo is a polarizing figure is an understatement, but more importantly he was not well-liked by Spike’s TV executives, and his most recent firing in 2011 seemed to right the ship somewhat for TNA. Ratings were stable and a new TV deal seemed imminent to keep them going. Am I coming in clear?!?! No okay, I will continue....reasons that only Dixie knows, she secretly hired Russo back earlier in the year and then lied about it to everyone, both to employees of the company and any members of the press who asked about it. It was a terribly-kept secret because everyone knew Russo was there and writing the show.
So who is exactly to blame here? I may have confused some of you with this blog, this is what I was thinking... don't blame me for the blog, blame Spike TV for basically pulling the plug on what was their popular program for years. (and giving the people what to talk about.)
Conclusion, we will have to just wait and see what happens from now till October.