WHAT IF? Impact gets canceled
 

I know it's a bit premature, but it's not exactly out of the realm of possibility either

What if after TNA moves back to Thursday ratings remain what they are now? And by that I mean in the .4-.6 range. This week's show has probably been one of the worst, so surely it's rating will be almost as bad, but that's to be expected going against RAW.

But what if the terrible ratings continue? Spike seems to be losing patience and I'd hate to be in the TNA office when another .x rating comes in.

So:

What do you think it would take for Spike to end it?
How long do you think the show has to turn it around?
What happens to TNA if it gets canceled?
What networks would realistically be interested in having Impact?
What could TNA do while they wait for the show to re-debut?

I'm sure that goes without saying

its not getting canceled, believe it of not on a good week tna is one of spike tv's highest rated shows

And thus, "what if?" Not asking if anyone thinks they'll get canceled

weekly ppv again

or im sure another network will pick it up again

Yeah, I was thinking they could go back to the weekly PPVs, if they wanted to maintain everything as is.

However, I think a relaunch may be a better long term solution. Getting canceled would be a major eye opener and they may realize they'll have to shitcan all of anyone even related to creative.

Depending on how long they'd be off the air, it may be best to just take a hiatus. Work on your roster and your office, then do an all out promotion for your re-debut show.

Now how good an idea this would be financially, I don't know. But for the good of TNA's future I think this may be best

Agreed on the PPV part.

I'm not sure what the details about their deal with Universal using the stage down in Orlando. Rent, lease, own? I can see them getting booted from that if they can't find anything soon after Spike.

Most of the nights don't do .4-.6. I just wanted to address that before I jumped into the answers:


What do you think it would take for Spike to end it?

A lot, actually. They seem really big on TNA at this point, despite the fact that ratings aren't specifically better. They shifted the time slot, but they probably should have already popped them back considering the potential damage this does.

How long do you think the show has to turn it around?

Before or after they move back to Thursdays? Currently, I'm betting they have a good chunk of time, probably at least a year. Most Impacts have managed to hold their own with a million plus fans, comparable to their Thursday deal. Since Spike seems to want a wrestling show, it seems they'll probably stick with it. but still.

If they move to Thursdays again, I could see them having limited time. However, I'd expect them to live out the rest of their contract.

What happens to TNA if it gets canceled?

Well, they still have Panda backing them, so they probably don't die. Weekly PPVs seem possible, like before, but I'm betting they can find someone to buy a wrestling program.

What networks would realistically be interested in having Impact?

MyNetworkTV, WGN or whatever they're called, and I bet a lot of the other non-major networks. They're better off on Spike, because I can't picture TNA being wanted by another network as close to as "big" as they are.

What could TNA do while they wait for the show to re-debut?

National tour? Assuming they do have to wait.

I'm pretty sure Universal just lease it to them, and that's another thing I'd wondered. How would Universal react? With TNA unable to out on their 4-5 shows per month, why kee them around? I guess they could still use the stage as a permanent house show location type deal, but that'd just be kinda stupid

True TNA does obviously have the backing of Spike, but with both the ratings and quality of the show declining, safe to assume Spike is willing to give but so much time. I'm sure TNA's ratings will get back to relatively normal, but it's always possible they won't

I wrote the previous bit before I read the news on TNA...Ooops.

The ratings haven't really been declining. People freaked out over a couple of bad ratings that were actually understandable. I'm far from TNA's staunchest supporter, but the reaction hedges on ridiculous.

LOL. TNA is going to thrive on Thursday Nights and build up their roster. They will end up going to 3 hours, going LIVE, and end up hitting the road. Then, and only then, they will return to Monday Nights with more momentum, structure, and energy to really take on the WWE.

Let's be educated on these goals and our use of words.

TNA will thrive.. The real question should be, what if NXT gets cancelled.

NXT was canceled. It's probably being picked up by another station.

This could happen, but it'll take years.

...what?

Yes, because the state of one company's only show isn't as important as the state of another's 3rd/4th show

Not to mention, NXT is like 6 guys, plus their "pros," right?

I believe it's actually 8, but even then more than half the show is PPV hype and RAW recaps

Anyway, I'd like to think TNA will get their shit together, regroup, and come back to Raw like the sock said, but I can't help but think this was the final shot in the "Monday Night Wars" here. I'm not sure that even with Spike's backing and a serious push for excellence, they will go head to head with Raw again in any forseeable future.

I cant wait for WWE to put Smackdown on Thursday nights when it moves to ScyFy in the fall and put Superstars on like Saturday afternoon or something.

More than anything I hope they learned from this that they need to worry about TNA, not WWE. If you can't pay attention to you, no one else will either. Improve storylines, get some decent wrestling going again and focus on growing

Unfortunately, Dixie doesn't look like she knows what she's doing. I'd like to think she learned her lesson, and maybe some other key people in TNA learned their lessons, but you'd think they would have learned already.

I think part of this was out of their control, and I'd almost feel bad for them. You know, if the 80% of the result that was their fault hadn't been handled so godawful. I want WWE to have competition, but you're right. They can't take on the enemy until they've got their own shit together and put on a good program.

Let's face it. TNA will improve. I was initially PISSED about TNA moving to Thursdays, but now, I can actually watch TNA and not have to miss it by watching WWE. At this point, TNA doesn't reach WWE's standards so they need to work the kinks out, build the storylines, find a bigger arena, move dixie carter to the back, and add 1 guy to the announce table, preferrably Jim Ross or Paul Heyman.

Then, and only then, a summer of work, maybe a fall of push, then we can take a look at if TNA is ready to make the move.

I'd like to see TNA hit 3 hours a episode and be Live before that though. I don't think TNA will open up a second show for a few years so I think a 3 hour show would fit in all the roster and go for the same WCW timeslot, just on thursdays for now.

Weren't they on Thursday for like 3 years?

Oh really, I didn't know Hogan, Bischoff, RVD, Flair, and others were with them then.. My bad..

TNA is different than the TNA of the past. The question is if they are going to take advantage of the new acquisitions and make some improvements to the Impact Zone.

Besides RVD, I'm pretty sure those other guys were in TNA before the jump to Mondays

lol way to get defensive though.

TNA fans have been saying this for years.

But this time, for sure, right?

Only by a couple months or so

If those guys were going to make that big of an impact, surely it'd have had some effect on them on Mondays as well. They'll obviously help for Thursdays, but it'll be minimal.

Yeah, for like a few months if that, kind of reminds you of the amount of time they tried out Monday nights!

Bringing in Haas, Benjamin, Dreamer, Heyman, Ross, Matt Hardy, and others will definetly bring more quality wrestling, storylines, and action to our tv screens. I just hope Bischoff will do more behind the scenes to improve TNA's level of creativity and structure.

I felt like I was in a highschool gym when I went to the Live 3/8 Impact. It wasn't put together well at all.

Maybe that's how TNA is ran, but it doesn't seem like a company that could run against the WWE. Hopefully that will change in the near future. I'd almost think that the WWE with their PG rating would be better fitted in Universal Studios than TNA lol.

I dunno, I don't think talent is TNA's problem, they've always had some great talent on the roster. It's the way the talent is used and the way feuds are booked and what not. Don't see that changing any time soon.

Also, Heyman is not going to TNA. He's been saying since he left WWE that he would never go to TNA and now with Bishoff and Hogan at the helm, I think it's even less likely.

I understand the "wishful thinking" aspect of your logic, but seems kind unwise to count your chickens before they hatch.

I disagree
 

I think we are rushing to judgement.

These things don't turn around in a few weeks, or months. Especially not in this case, since TNA Impact isn't LIVE every week.

People just aren't as interested in TAPED shows, just look at Smackdown.

Doesn't matter if you sent Cena, Triple H, Orton to smackdown, people would stick to Monday because it's more convenient for them.

So I think there was a RUSH to judgement on the Monday decision, maybe the move to Monday, but also the move back to Thursday.

I think these people need time to really get settled and make the storylines work.

When the Seattle Supersonics moved to Oklahoma City, their first season was like 12 - 59. Great season huh? Now as the OKC Thunday, this season, they made the playoffs, and almost beat the Lakers in rd 1. So, although they were awful their first year, they just needed some time to establish themselves.

I think TNA needs that with the moves they are making. Hogan is obviously just a front to gain hype and media. The real workings are Bischoff and others in the back.

I'm expecting JR to come to TNA since Russo lately said he was taking time off or getting a different position in TNA.

If you read the interview transcript between Jr, Dixie Carter, and her father, Jr reportedly said he wouldnt come if Russo was still writing the storylines.

Looks like they are making room for Jr's entrance into TNA but that can be interpreted in many factors.

I'm optimistic things will move forward, you'll see old faces return.

I'm looking forward to seeing Lex Luger join the Band and maybe even see Sting join the band and make up the Old Wolf Pac. It's storylines like these that draw in old wrestling fans from WCW and WWE - if they did the Team Angle faction - or brought in the ECW Faction.

It's these type of storylines and character builds that take time but will workout to put over current and new TNA wrestlers who will go against these older favorites.

TNA is moving in the right direction, we as fans, need to have the hindsight to be patient, while they renovate their roster.

Gabe Sapolsky for head booker

TNA has talent out the ass, they don't need any more WWE cast offs than they already have. While those guys would be good, for each they sign they'd need to fire 2. They are way too overcrowded and no, 3 hours won't fix that.

Heyman will never happen.

TNA need to focus more on story and character development than anything else. The talent is there, utilize it.

Stop bringing in new people and burying what you already have.
Stop with the stupid gimmick matches.
Stop randomly throwing out PPV caliber title matches on free TV.
Let a main event title feud go on further than one month, then being an after thought after the PPV match.
Stop with the clusterfucks.
CONTINUITY.
If you're going to push someone, PUSH them. Don't give them good wins for a couple weeks, only to be buried by an already established star

Counting on dirt sheet rumors. Flawless logic

Dude, you seriously need to accept that the potential Hogan/Flair/Hardy draw has been maxed. Even after all that hype and before they even moved to Mondays, the ratings went up all of what? .2 or .3? And then went back down to normal. That shit is done.

If TNA are going to draw people in it's going to have to be through being entertaining. A name only gets you so far. A name will get people to tune in initially, but it ain't gonna keep them around if the show is boring as fuck.

Heyman will be in TNA by the end of summer.

If Impact gets canceled, Vince McMahon will do this-

http://i40.tinypic.com/anm1c.jpg

I believe The Rock is more likely

lol. Must be nice living in Never Never Land. Maybe I'll visit you when I need a break from reality.