TNA iMPACT!
The first hour of last night's three-hour TNA iMPACT scored a 1.69 rating with 2.5 million viewers, making it the most-watched hour of TV in TNA history.
The second hour slipped to a 1.44 rating but featured the most-watched 15 minutes in TNA history with a 1.88 quarter-hour rating for Hulk Hogan's debut at 9PM EST, head-to-head with Bret Hart's return on WWE's RAW.
The least-watched segment of the show came at the end of the second hour with a 1.16 quarter-hour rating with the Pope vs. Wolfe match and AJ Styles interview. This segment went up against the DX vs. JeriShow match on RAW.
The third hour of iMPACT dropped to a 1.22 rating. The range of quarter-hour ratings was between 1.17 and 1.30. The third hour peaked in the final 15 minutes of the show with a 1.30 rating. This was the end of Angle vs. Styles and the Foley beatdown from Hall, Nash and Sean Waltman with Hogan watching. TNA iMPACT! set a viewersip record with 2.2 million viewers.
Raw
Last night's episode of Monday Night RAW with the return of Bret Hart averaged 5.60 million viewers, making it the largest RAW viewing audience since the show on August 24th, 2009, the night after the SummerSlam pay-per-view.
This week's show drew a 3.37 rating in the key demographic, males 18-49. This was RAW's highest M18-49 rating since the commercial-free RAW on June 22nd, 2009. Raw did an average of 5.5 million viewers from 9pm to 11pm. The over-run featuring Vince and Bret drew a 4.4 rating.
source: impactwrestling.com & multichannel.com
January 5, 2010
Details on Last Nights's TNA iMPACT! Special and Monday Night Raw Ratings
JR's Monday Night Thoughts
"The chemistry and magic between Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart still exists after all these years. It's another illustration that "personal issues" are the life's blood of the wrestling business. This particular "personal issue" has been simmering for 12 years and I still felt like an emotionally invested fan watching it"...More?
Grand Jury Indicts Pro Wrestler Jeff Hardy on Drug Charges
A Moore County grand jury indicted professional wrestler Jeff Hardy this week on drug charges stemming from a search on his Cameron home last September by law enforcement agents.
Hardy’s December probable cause hearing was delayed until Jan. 27, but prosecutors moved forward with the indictments, meaning the cases will be placed on the Moore County Superior Court docket. Hardy was arrested in September after a search of his home revealed Vicodin pills, Soma prescription pills, cocaine, drug paraphernalia and 555 milliliters of anabolic steroids.
source: associated press
Interview with Triple H
The Cerebral Assassin, The King of Kings, The Game himself - Triple H - Joins Heavy Muscle Radio for their first radio show of the New Year! Dave and John find out who Triple H thinks will win the upcoming Arnold Classic and what he has in store for 2010! Click here.
Stone Cold Injured Stallone During Fight Scene
During the filming of the movie The Expendables, star Sylvester Stallone suffered a broken neck during a fight scene with "Stone Cold" Steve Austin. "Actually, my fight with Stone Cold Steve Austin was so vicious that I ended up getting a hairline fracture in my neck. I'm not joking. I haven't told anyone this, but I had to have a very serious operation afterwards. I now have a metal plate in my neck."
source: prowrestling.net
Returns and Debuts at TNA iMPACT!
The following are a full list of returns and debuts from the three-hour TNA special on Spike TV this past Monday, January 4th:
Hulk Hogan
Eric Bischoff
Ric Flair
Jeff Hardy
Shannon Moore
Scott Hall
Sean Waltman
The Nasty Boys
Val Venis
Orlando Jordan
Jeff Jarrett
Sting
Bubba The Love Sponge
This Day in Wrestling History
Shane Douglas returns to ECW at the ECW Arena in Philly and makes several harsh comments about his time in the WWF(E).
January 5, 1996
January 4, 2010
Raw Results: Hart & Heartbreaker
The conclusion of the WWE Title Match at Survivor Series 1997 between then-champion Bret “Hit Man” Hart and Shawn Michaels remains one of the most controversial episodes in WWE history. Hart was forced to relinquish his title to HBK after the referee called for a quick bell while Michaels had his opponent locked in Hart’s signature submission hold, The Sharpshooter, despite the fact that Hart never submitted.
The incident, known as the “Montreal Screwjob,” left a bitter taste in Hart’s mouth, including a palpable disdain for both Michaels and the man who orchestrated his defeat, Mr. McMahon.
While revenge has always nourished motivation, time continues to mend old wounds, which seemed to be the case when Hart addressed the audience at the top of Raw. Not only did the former five-time WWE Champion and WWE Hall of Famer thank the WWE Universe for their support, he also called out Michaels in an effort to bury the hatchet.
Michaels obliged, and the two talked openly about their feelings from that night and beyond. The men concluded their conversation with a handshake and, eventually, a heartfelt embrace. Full results.
source: wwe.com
First Nominee for the 2010 WWE Hall of Fame Announced
Vince McMahon informed Bret Hart that his father, Stu Hart would be inducted into the WWE HOF this year.
