TNA Wrestling Issued Statement Regarding Cancellation Rumors, Billy Corgan Responds

Source: WrestlingINC.com

TNA Wrestling issued a statement regarding the rumors that Destination America is planning to cancel Impact Wrestling:

“It has come to our attention that several internet news sources have falsely attributed statements to TNA, its executives and broadcasting partner. These false statements constitute defamation and if necessary we will seek all legal remedies available to us.”

Wednesday, Wrestling Observer Newsletter reported that Destination America planned to cancel TNA Impact Wrestling, with the source being an internal e-mail among employees at the channel. On Wrestling Observer Live yesterday, Bryan Alvarez said the e-mail was dated several days prior to Destination America announcing Impact would be moving to Wednesday nights, and Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer noted that this was very much an ongoing situation.

 

Former ECW star Lou “Sign Guy Dudley” D’Angeli went on twitter to address fans celebrating the news and Billy Corgan responded to him indicating that Dave Meltzer was being worked by “a sloppy angle”:

https://twitter.com/Billy/status/601496615103426561

Destination America Cancelling TNA Impact Wrestling

Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that before it was announced last Friday that Impact Wrestling would be moving to Wednesday nights beginning June 3, 2015, Destination America officials made the decision to cancel the show and all other TNA programming.

It was noted by Meltzer that all TNA programming will cease to air on Destination America at the end of the third quarter, which is around the last week of September.

There was two major reasons for the cancellation. Destination America officials considered the ratings for Impact Wrestling to be good, but not good enough to justify the cost of the programming. The other problem was that a number of the cable network’s advertisers specifically did not want to advertise during Impact Wrestling.

The decision from Destination America to cancel TNA programming was meant to be kept secret. A public acknowledgement is expected to be made when the station reveals its 2015-16 television prime-time lineup.

Following the March 13, 2015 episode of Impact Wrestling, which saw viewership sink to a new low, Destination America officials made the decision to cancel Saturday morning programming under the belief that eliminating the replay would help the Friday numbers – the only numbers they cared about. Although there was a slight increase, all first-run programming with the exception of Impact Wrestling airing multiple times of Friday nights was axed due to the cable network’s difficulty in selling advertisement time. For the May 8, 2015 live episode of Impact Wrestling, Destination America purchased an advertisement in the USA Today newspaper to promote the show, believing that additional advertising and it being almost live would lead to an increased rating. Instead, Impact Wrestling did its second lowest number on Destination America, and the replay, which is primarily watched by viewers on the West Coast, drew a record low. Days later, Destination America executives made the decision to cancel all TNA Wrestling programming.

TNA President Dixie Carter was made aware of Destination America’s decision early last week although it doesn’t appear that most of the talent knew anything since word of this had not gotten around. Her knowledge of the cancellation may have played a role in Impact Wrestling moving to Wednesday nights, but that is uncertain. Carter didn’t respond to any questions on the subject from Meltzer.

Meltzer noted in his report that Destination America’s decision has not been finalized. Employees at the station, however, not been told anything new since a memo was issued to them, informing them of the cancellation. Meltzer noted that “this story is very much ongoing.”

Meltzer noted that because the cancellation was announced before the move to Wednesdays, the cancellation isn’t definite, although he noted that it wasn’t a good sign that people at the station haven’t been told anything new since being informed of the cancellation.

Source: WrestlingINC.com

 

 

TNA Impact Wrestling Preview: 5/15/15

10-Man Hardcore War: Team Angle VS Team Young: with each competitor bringing a weapon of choice.

TNA Tag Team Championship Best of 5 Series Match 1: The Wolves VS Dirty Heels (Austin Aries & Bobby Roode)

The Dollhouse (Jade & Marti Bell) vs Brooke & Rebel

Ethan Carter III continues his EC3 for Champ campaign

BroMans return to find out what the future has in store for Jessie, Robbie E & DJ Z

TNA Confirms Impact Wrestling Moving To Wednesday

TNA Wrestling sent out a press release confirming that Impact Wrestling will be moving to Wednesday nights on Destination America, beginning June 3rd.

The June 3rd show will feature, The Wolves VS The Dirty Heels competing in match 3 of the Best of 5 Series for the vacated TNA Tag Team Titles. The Rising VS BDC in a 6-Man Tag Match. TNA World Heavyweight Champion will compete in the main event. Plus, the Knockouts will be in action featuring the Dollhouse and Brooke.

TNA Impact Wrestling Moving To Wednesday?, Impact Pre-Empted Next Week

PWInsider reports that there was talk within TNA at the offices in Nashville last week that Impact Wrestling may be moving to Wednesday nights at 9pm ET, possible as soon as June.

There has been concern lately about how Impact viewership on Destination America will hold up on Friday nights during the summer months.

Dave Meltzer noted on Wednesday nights Wrestling Observer Radio that TNA did a fresh taping for May 22nd, but it will only air internationally. Destination America did not want to air a show for Memorial Day so the 2014 Slammiversary will air instead. TNA filmed the show knowing this, so the May 22nd show was filmed without a lot of storyline advancement. Meltzer affirms that Destination America has lost interest in the product in recent months.

More On Bully Ray’s One-Off TNA Return, Destination America Unhappy With TNA

Dave Meltzer of The Wrestling Observer appeared on last night’s Live Audio Wrestling to talk about current issues in TNA. As noted earlier Bully Ray’s return was apparently a one-off deal. Meltzer noted that any long-term return hinges on TNA being able to give Bully a good financial deal which the company may not be in position to do right now. Bully’s big surprise return was done to help with ratings.

 

Meltzer noted that Destination America is having “buyer’s remorse” with their TNA deal, with the issue being with ratings and ad sales. While TNA programming does good ratings for the network, Destination America was expecting to get far more of the Spike TV viewership and thought TNA’s loyal fan base would follow them to another channel.

Source: WrestlingINC.com

 

TNA News: 3-Hour Episode Of Impact, Return of “The Pope”, AAA Star Works TNA tapings

Destination America is advertising a three-hour episode of TNA Impact Wrestling for Friday, May 22nd. The episode is scheduled to begin at 8pm ET.

“The Pope” D’Angelo Dinero will make his return to TNA on this May 22nd episode.

AAA star Argos worked the May 22nd TNA tapings.

 

Bully Ray & Velvet Sky Returned To TNA Impact Wrestling

Bully Ray and Velvet Sky both made their return to TNA Impact Wrestling this past Friday on a live episode of Impact on Destination America.

It was good to see them back in TNA. I wasn’t able see Impact Friday because I don’t get Destination America on my cable, but I was able to view the show later over the weekend via On Demand.

Velvet made her return in a segment with her former BFF and partner Angelina Love. Angelina was in the ring running her mouth about how she is the greatest Knockout and how she is the only beautiful person in TNA. Angelina spotted Velvet in the crowd and asks why she is her because she was fired. Velvet had a new biker chick look with purple and red hair. Velvet was just staring at Angelina. Velvet entered the ring. Angelina tried to make nice and hugged her but Velvet wasn’t having any part of it. Angelina then accused Velvet of trying to upstage her and that Velvet is nothing without her. Velvet attacked Angelina choking her with her own hair. Security came in and pulled Velvet off of Angelina.

 

Billy made his return at the top of the show when Eric Young was in the ring demanding to know who the special guest referee was going to be for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship match. Bully’s music hit and he came out and delivered his classic line – “Do you know who I Am.” Bully announced that he is the special guest referee. Later during the main event, EY hit Bully with a low blow then attempted to piledrive him but Bully countered with a back drop. Bully continued to call the match fairly and eventually Kurt Angle locked in the ankle lock on EY making EY tap out. Bully raised Angle’s hand in victory.

 

I’m looking forward to seeing what plans TNA may have for Velvet going forward. I would like to see more of Bully in TNA but according to PWInsider, Bully’s appearance was a one-off deal and he hasn’t signed a new deal with the company. According to PWInsider, Velvet will be back in TNA on a regular basis.

 

TNA Impact Preview: 5/8/15

TNA Impact Wrestling is live tonight on Destination America.

Mr. Anderson VS EC3: Fans choose the stipulation – Falls Count Anywhere Match or Arm Wrestling

Gail Kim & Awesome Kong VS The Dollhouse

TNA World Heavyweight Championship: (C) Kurt Angle VS Eric Young: A Former World Champion returns to Impact as Special Guest Referee.

TNA Impact Preview ‘Hardcore Justice’ 5/1/15

Stretcher Match: Kurt Angle VS Eric Young

Pipe On A Pole Match: Low Ki VS Drew Galloway

X-Division Championship: (C) Rockstar Spud VS Kenny King VS Tigre Uno VS Mandrews

Street Fight: The Hardy’s & Davey Richards VS The Revolution

Knockouts Championship: (C) Taryn Terrell VS Brooke

EC3 campaigns to be World Champion in 2015