IMPACT WRESTLING HITS & MISSES 19/07/11

Sting becoming a 4 time TNA World Heavyweight Champion this week on Impact Wrestling

A little bit late this week but nonetheless, here is my weekly rundown of this weeks edition of Impact Wrestling Hits & Misses…

THIS WEEKS HITS

Evil Clowns
Since they are going down the “joker” thing with Sting, it only made sense they used the first part (minus the bus and they didnt shoot each other) of “The Dark Knight”. In a way im glad they didnt use this to introduce new wrestlers to our screens as that would have sucked, but using Fortune was great, as it kept the ongoing feud alive with Immortal alive by the clowns attacking members one by one, plus its quite funny to see Karen screaming and running in heels (should always look in the back seat of cars before getting into them). Gunner looked the strongest of Immortal by wanting to go out looking for them but didnt expect getting jumped by all 4 of them

Samoa Joe vs The Pope vs Robert Roode
Although I like the BFG Series and this week they have stated that there are 8 weeks left but they havent stated how many matches everyone will compete in? So someone like Crimson can have 10 matches but Gunner could have like 5 (in theory). However the match itself was good, playing up more to that Joe thinks he’s keeps gettng screwed by the referee. The match may have lasted 5 minutes or so but it kept all the action coming fast, which was good, the ending I thought was cleverly played out, The pope kicked off the apron and Joe constantly going for the 10 points in any match and it always backfires on him. Hopefully Joe bounces back soon and starts earning some points.

TNA WANT JEFF HARDY TO ENTER REHAB…

Jeff Hardy: Destined for Rehab?

According to the Wrestling Observer, TNA Wrestling Officials want Jeff Hardy to enter a drug rehabilitation program before any talk of a return with them. More on this as it breaks…

SPIKE TV PURCHASING A MAJORITY STAKE IN TNA / IMPACT WRESTLING?

Spike TV: Upping their stake in IMPACT Wrestling?

The following is strictly a rumour at this stage. Its been bandied about on the internet but as yet I’ve found no credible source who can confirm this, so at this stage I’d take it with a grain of salt. Still a very interesting topic for discussion – would Spike TV/Viacom owning IMPACT Wrestling be more beneficial to the company or a further hinderence?

– According to a source I spoke to exclusively within the past few days close to TNA Impact Wrestling — and news that Spike TV’s flagship franchise UFC is looking like it will be leaving the network by the end of this year — TNA’s broadcast home in the United States is looking at the possibility of purchasing a majority stake in TNA.

“THE TOP 10 OF…” SPOTLIGHTING RODDY PIPER UP NOW @ 1WRESTLING.COM

Top 10 Of... By Ray Mullan (1Wrestling.com)

The latest edition of my “Top 10 Of…” column is up over at 1Wrestling.com. I urge you to check out this weeks edition which spotlights wrestling legend “Rowdy” Roddy Piper.

The piece contains some fantastic video footage of Piper’s greatest moments and bouts throughout his WWF and WCW runs with match-ups against Hulk Hogan, Mr. T, Greg “The Hammer” Valentine and more! Click Here to Read.

Paul Heyman reveals what he would have done had he taken over at TNA Wrestling.

Here’s a recent interview that Paul Heyman did in which he revealed how he would have turned TNA around, as well as the negotiations he had with the company.

IMPACT Wrestling Report: “No Tricks, No Gimmicks” – 14/06/11

IMPACT Wrestling: “No tricks, No Gimmicks"

IMPACT Wrestling: “No Tricks, No Gimmicks”
Tuesday 14th June 2011 – 10pm on Challenge

THIS WEEK ON IMPACT WRESTLING:
The war of words continues between Sting and Mr. Anderson ahead of Slammiversary
Winter & Angelina Love d. Mickie James & Tara thanks to Interference from Madison Rayne
Footage from the Samoa Joe/Crimson bar fight
Mexican America d. James Storm and Alex Shelley w/BobbyRoode
 Jeff Jarrett had some final words for Kurt Angle before their huge bout at Slammiversary
Abyss challenges Kazarian and Brian Kendrick to a 3-Way Match at Slammiversary
Rob Van Dam d. Bully Ray
 Velvet Sky d. ODB
 Mr. Anderson & Gunner d. Sting & Eric Young

We open the show with a recap of last weeks events and ultimately the firing of Mick Foley. Am interested to see how this episode pans out as the go home show before Slammiversary. I have seen no spoilers for either so sit back and enjoy the ride.

As you can expect first out tonight is Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff. Hogan tells us that as of now the Network have 100% confidence in them. Is it me but sometimes when they want to get something over they pump crowd noise in? Bischoff also tells us that they will also now present the X Division in a fair and balanced manner.

TNA UK TV Ratings – Week Ending 5th June 2011

TNA Wrestling on Challenge

The UK TV Ratings are in for the week ending 5th June 2011 and it’s further good news for TNA Wrestling on Challenge!

According to the Broadcasters Audience Research Board – IMPACT Wrestling scored a decent 177,000 viewers, for the Tuesday 31st May “Anderson Center Stage” episode headlined by a head to head clash between Rob Van Dam and Kurt Angle.

Kurt Angle vs. Rob Van Dam: A great WRESTLING main event.

Whilst this saw a drop in viewership from last week’s episode (which was the second highest rated episode ever broadcast on UK television.) it was still the highest rated wrestling programming on UK television for the ninth consecutive week and 13th time overall this year.

The Saturday night replay of IMPACT Wrestling on Challenge+1 drew 23,000 viewers.

TNA Xplosion, featuring Desmond Wolfe’s second week as commissioner as well as a Robbie E vs. Crimson “Xplosion Championship Challenge” match, ranked outside the top 10 highest rated programs on Challenge TV and thus i’m unable to confirm the exact viewing figures for the episode.

However the lowest ranked of the top 10, Family Fortunes, drew 113,000 viewers and thus Xplosion falls somewhere below that figure.

Here is the Top 10 ranked programs on Challenge for the week:

Challenge
w/e 05 June 2011

1	TNA IMPACT (TUE 2202)	177
2	NINJA WARRIOR (SUN 1000)	165
3	AUNTIES BLOOMERS: MORE AUNTIES BLOOMERS (TUE 1901)	153
4	JOE PASQUALES PRICE IS RIGHT (SUN 2202)	144
5	BULLSEYE (WED 2302)	132
6	CRYSTAL MAZE (TUE 1801)	128
7	BULLSEYE (WED 2332)	124
8	NINJA WARRIOR (SAT 0959)	116
9	FAMILY FORTUNES (THU 2029)	114
10	FAMILY FORTUNES (TUE 2001)	113

WWE’s RAW, headlined by a John Cena versus R-Truth non-title main event posted 109,000 viewers, a drop of 17,000 viewers from last weeks episode.

WWE’s other flagship show “Smackdown”, rebounded from last week’s dismal showing drawing 115,000 viewers with a show which featured a Randy Orton vs. Sheamus World Title main event. This was a drop of 9,000 viewers from last week.

WWE’s NXT drew 26,000 viewers for its Saturday night showing on Sky Sports 4.

Here’s an overview of viewership for all wrestling programming for the week:

Weekly Ratings Summary:

1	IMPACT WRESTLING (TUE, Challenge , 2202)	177,000
2	WWE LATE NIGHT SMACKDOWN (FRI, Sky Sports 4, 2200)	115,000
3	WWE LATE NIGHT RAW – LIVE (MON, Sky Sport 3, 2600)	109,000
4	WWE NXT (SAT, Sky Sport 4, 2303)	26,000
5	TNA Xplosion (TUE, Challenge, 2400)	Under 113,000

Weekly Ratings Wins so far (2011)*:
TNA iMPACT! – 13
WWE RAW – 2
WWE Smackdown – 2

*Based on first showing viewing figures, not inclusive of +1 or replay figures.

Latest Edition of “Ray’s ‘Rasslin’ Rankings” is up now at 1Wrestling.com

Ray's 'Rasslin' Rankings: Exclusive new feature at 1Wrestling.com

Pleased to announce the latest edition of a new weekly feature i’ll be contributing to the legendary Bill Apter’s 1Wrestling.com – “RAY’S ‘RASSLIN’ RANKINGS!

Each week as 1Wrestling.com’s resident rankings expert, i will be scouting the major north american wrestling promotions in order to bring you an in-depth rankings report for the top championships in Pro Wrestling as well as statistics and analysis. An old school style feature for the modern day fan, i hope you enjoy it. You can read the Latest edition by clicking here.

New TNA Brand on the way?

All Wheels Wrestling

A new promotion, All Wheels Wrestling, which would combine motocross racing and professional wrestling, will be taping a pilot at the Impact Wrestling Zone in Orlando, Florida (aka Soundstage 21) at Universal Studios.

The official release sent out by Universal Studios, Orlando, FL  reads as follows:

All Wheels Wrestling debuts June 29th at Universal Studios
This made for television event will appeal to both wrestling fans and motorsports enthusiasts alike. Come witness the high flying moves of some of the greatest pro wrestlers in the world as they battle it out in the ring in front of a live audience.

Doors open at 6:30PM. Taping begins at 7:00PM. taping held at Universal Studios’ Soundstage 21. This is a non-ticketed event and seating is based on a first come first served basis. It is recommended to arrive one hour prior to doors open. Video cameras and audio recording equipment is not allowed. Show may cancel and schedules and/or audience requirements may alter at any time.

The All Wheels Wrestling taping on 6/29 at Universal Studios Florida will be a pilot taping, and a potential series in 2012, for the Speed Network.

Speed wanted to do a wrestling-related property for many months, but one of the hold-ups revolved around who would own the property and the show.

TNA is involved with the taping since they purchased the trademark and the domain name for the property. Hermie Sadler is also involved in some capacity, helping TNA with material needed for the taping.

Jeff Jarrett was reportedly involved with the launch of the project, but that hasn’t been officially confirmed. Some people within the TNA office were surprised when word of the taping got out, as it wasn’t something being discussed internally and it was developed “off site” as its own entity.

No word yet on what talents will be involved or how the concept of the series will merge racing and wrestling.

New Immortal DVD in the Works

TNA Immortal Forever? DVD

TNA Wrestling have confirmed the upcoming release of TNA: Immortal Forever? on July 19th in the United States. No UK release date has been confirmed as yet but HMV do have the title listed with a release date of 22nd August.

This two disc release details the rise to power of the Immortal faction in TNA Wrestling. With exclusive interviews from the people involved, this DVD covers the entire story: from the debut of the immortal Hulk Hogan in TNA, to the backroom deals, tricks, internal struggles, and the legal battle that culminated in the banishment of President Dixie Carter from her own company and Hulk Hogan taking over TNA Wrestling. Learn the truth about Immortal and so much more.

Cast: Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, Eric Bischoff, Dixie Carter, Jeff Jarrett, Abyss, Jeff Hardy, Matt Hardy, AJ Styles.