TNA News: Impact Wrestling Is Moving To Wednesday Nights
To think the WWE can be outdone in the news category for professional wrestling is almost a laughable. Although, Dixie Carter and the rest of TNA wrestling is in the news for all of the wrong reasons. Despite the real reason why Spike TV wanted to cancel Impact Wrestling, they are still holding up.
A week after the WWE Smackdown rumors came up in their shift to Thursday nights, that obviously threatened TNA, and Carter had to pull a swerve. Even though Smackdown doesn’t pull the ratings it used to, the “B” show of WWE would still crush TNA in the ratings department.
Breaking news erupted moments ago that Impact Wrestling will be moving to Wednesday nights.
TNA today announced its flagship program, IMPACT WRESTLING, will make a permanent move to Wednesday nights at 9/8c on SPIKE TV beginning next Wednesday, Aug. 20.
Carter said on the subject, “Moving IMPACT WRESTLING to Wednesday nights gives existing fans and new viewers an opportunity to enjoy both wrestling and live sports even more throughout the week.” A move so sudden is a sign that Carter and the rest of TNA management had no answer to Smackdown moving to Thursday.
For somebody that is criticized daily for her lack of a business mindset, Carter is doing a fine job in surviving day after day. Just like Paul Heyman did with ECW; he did whatever had to be done in order to survive. As long as he would wake up, it was a success and Heyman always emphasized, “Whatever means necessary.”
TNA, while going through turmoil, just got their highest ratings since February. Their August 7 episode landed 1.6 million viewers.
Historically, IMPACT WRESTLING ratings are highest during Q1, however in Q3 2014, IMPACT WRESTLING has experienced a steady increase in total viewership and key demos that are exceeding ratings from Q1 2014, and rivaling Q1 ratings from previous years.
If there are positive outlooks to take away from the mess TNA is in, a steady increase in ratings is certainly one of them. However, canceling several Impact Wrestling house shows didn’t help with promoting their brand. Carter is now becoming desperate for money, more than ever before. Paying the wrestlers will continue to be a nagging problem, that simply cannot be ignored.
Carter is flat-out lucky to be in the position she is in. Without talents like Kurt Angle, Jeff Hardy, Magnus, Bobby Roode, Austin Aries, and Bully Ray, there would be no TNA. It’s easy to say that she roped in all those talents, but her key additions consist of Magnus and Aries. Jeff Jarrett signed the rest of their star-studded cast. Sting was also a product of Jarrett, which is why it became popular so quickly.
TNA is on the brink of survival, while the WWE is flourishing like always. Even though the stock drop crushed their financial portfolio, their stock is growing and sits at over $13 a share. Carter doesn’t have much time left with her wrestling promotion. She might as well make the last few months’ count. What does she have to lose?
[Image via Impactwrestling.com]
