News IMPACT Wrestling Cancelled by Spike TV?

[CFCrusader]

So basically everyone's taking stories from each other and eventually move on to click bait as we've all seen the original TMZ story by now. It would be nice for more clarification on the situation from the people involved themselves but I assume we'll only know either when the deal expires/is renewed or if TNA eventually announce a ton of one-time only signings that we all know would only ever be used for one final show on TV.

 

[Testify]

So basically everyone's taking stories from each other and eventually move on to click bait as we've all seen the original TMZ story by now. It would be nice for more clarification on the situation from the people involved themselves but I assume we'll only know either when the deal expires/is renewed or if TNA eventually announce a ton of one-time only signings that we all know would only ever be used for one final show on TV.

All signs point that something actually worthy hearing about this whole situation will be revealed around August 5th, the day when NYC tapings start.

 

[CFCrusader]

All signs point that something actually worthy hearing about this whole situation will be revealed around August 5th, the day when NYC tapings start.

I assume that is when Dixie and the authorities were telling the wrestlers to expect good news?

 

[Testify]

I assume that is when Dixie and the authorities were telling the wrestlers to expect good news?

Yeah, true. I guess TNA expects to have something signed and official by that date.

 

[Red Rain]

The Wrestling Observer must not have impressive sources these days.

 

[WarMachine1]

It's definitely going to take them a while, if at all, to get another TV deal. Here's the thing. Pro wrestling is in a dead spin right now for anyone not named John Cena, Vince McMahon, Paul Levesque, Shawn Michaels, Stone Cold, The Rock, The Undertaker or Brock Lesnar. Upward mobility is virtually nonexistent in terms of who is able to or allowed to make money. WWE, well they're WWE, and TNA, they have basically resigned itself to throwing darts at the wall and hoping something will stick.

The scandals from the 90s and Chris Benoit's actions over the last 3 days of his life are still affecting the business in ways that no one wants to admit. People still think its "fake" but without the innocence, now its a fake sport with steroid using freaks who have the capacity to go on a murderous rampage at the drop of a hat. And the movement to tone down the characters and storylines they act out has only made the sport look ridiculous.

I wouldn't be surprised if, 30 years from now, wrestling is once again limited to small arenas and territorial fan bases.

 

[Snowman1]

Think it's telling. We can yell until we're blue in the face that wrestling has a hardcore fan base that'll follow it to any network, but as we saw with WWE's TV deal,it doesn't mean shit when advertisers don't pay for it. With the Network failing, wrestling as a whole seems like it's on life support right now.

 

[Red Rain]

I kind of agree with Snow. WWE is making itself a joke and people are too wussified to speak on it.
Benoit was a di**, but wrestling is violent. You can't hide it under a rug or do bullying campaigns.
I imagine it like playing basketball without a ball. You can do it, choreographically, but its like, WTF?

 

[ShaRpY HaRdY]

I feel like Bar Rescue and Hungry Investors are like the new breed of shows that Spike wants to start doing more of.

 

[DangerousDancingDan]

I hope WWE get the TNA so we can have choose what style Ring in the WWE 2K 16 game.

It'll be awesome.

 

[Red Rain]

I feel like Bar Rescue and Hungry Investors are like the new breed of shows that Spike wants to start doing more of.

Probably true, but they have a shelf life, whereas wrestling does not.

 

[Testify]

There should be a question mark in the thread title, it's disinformation as it's not confirmed by anyone and is thus misleading people.

 

[Red Rain]

Well at the time, it was confirmed. The source itself dropped the ball.

 

[Testify]

Well at the time, it was confirmed. The source itself dropped the ball.

I know, I just think it's dumb to post this as a fact when neither Viacom or Spike or TNA confirmed it. All three parties say the negotiations are ongoing, nothing is settled yet.

 

[Snowman1]

I kind of agree with Snow. WWE is making itself a joke and people are too wussified to speak on it.
Benoit was a di**, but wrestling is violent. You can't hide it under a rug or do bullying campaigns.
I imagine it like playing basketball without a ball. You can do it, choreographically, but its like, WTF?

It's not so much about the quality as much as the business side of things.

Wrestling - like any TV show - exists to get the most TV revenue they can, and they do that by attracting advertisers. The advertisers have to think that show is a good place to market their product.

WWE just signed a new TV deal in a time where advertisers should be attracted to a show like Raw, which is assignment programming for 4 million people across the world at a time where viewers often DVR programs and skip past the ads. They didn't, because wrestling fans have the stigma of being unemployed rednecks who don't have the money to spend on anything... and now the WWE Network comes out, and they realize (from the outside looking in) that 1/8th of the 4 million people watching Raw (plus streamers, DVR viewership, Hulu, etc) are willing to pay TEN DOLLARS a month to support the product they love, more less whatever sausage you're trying to sell.

Can see why Spike wouldn't be pushing wrestling any more... Then again...

I feel like Bar Rescue and Hungry Investors are like the new breed of shows that Spike wants to start doing more of.

...that's why the "Out of builders" tag is there. That sucks.