TNA News: The Real Reason Spike TV Decided To Drop Impact Wrestling Finally Revealed
The Pro-Wrestling world was taken back a bit when Spike TV decided to drop TNA’s Impact Wrestling show from their line-up. The concept seemed nuts to fans, as TNA was seemingly a proven #2 wrestling company only behind WWE. Spike TV had nothing of note to currently take the place of TNA, but it seems they felt that they could draw the same ratings with another show that TNA was bringing in for them. TNA only averaged a 1.0 cable rating. Since last year, they have had weeks with under a 1.0.
TNA did not get any better in it’s move to Wednesday, as ratings were immediately lower from the start. Spike decided to be nice to TNA and let them finish out the year with them. In 2015, however, Spike and TNA end their near decade-long relationship. Why did Spike want to drop TNA? We have heard rumors that Spike felt TNA was not growing, and that was the main reason. There was also speculation Spike was not happy about TNA continuing to lose stars.
Networks are a bit skeptical about bringing TNA on, as Spike TV was ready to drop them without issue. Basically, networks wanted to know about the catch. TNA’s ratings, although not wonderful, were basic cable ratings for most of Spike’s shows. In fact, TNA was one of their highest rated shows. So networks really wanted to know the negativity behind them. This is why we have not heard about any set TV contract for TNA yet. There have been rumors of potential networks, but nothing has been concrete yet.
The reason Spike dropped TNA was simple in the end. The Wrestling Observer claims that Spike did not trust the leadership of TNA. They do not have confidence that TNA’s current leadership can grow the company. They could be right, as TNA has yet to actually grow despite the names they’ve brought in.
Spike does not want a product on their network that cannot grow. They expect it to, and they have given the TNA product numerous opportunities. When you go nearly a decade and the show has yet to grow it’s audience, there is a problem. Panda Energy, who owns the majority stake in TNA, has plenty of money to help market the company, if nothing else. They have rarely, if ever, helped in that department. When TNA went on the road, towns were lucky to know they were there.
That is the difference between WWE and TNA. When WWE comes to town, they make sure the fans know. You hear it on the radio, local news, see it on Facebook, etc. Not knowing means you obviously went gone dark for a month or so. WWE makes sure advertisements aren’t last minute. This is why WWE is where it is, and TNA is in the position it is in. Arguably, TNA has more money to play with than WWE if Panda Energy backs them 100 percent. That being said, TNA’s current position is mainly on them, and Spike TV has all the reason in the world to drop them due to that.
Spike TV is not some scrub network; it is a popular network on several American cable packages. To have them drop you because they do not trust your leadership should be a wake up call to TNA President Dixie Carter and everyone else in TNA. Several TNA stars have already left the company, and many will be gone next year as well. Is TNA a sinking ship? Who knows. For now though, we at least know that Spike TV feels the same as many fans do.
[IMG Credits: TMZ, BetweenTheRopes.com]
