The rebranding of TNA as IMPACT is smart. TNA was a Russo/Terry Taylor-type pun that BACKFIRED. Advertisers thought TNA meant T n’ A, breasts and posterior. TNA actually picked a company name that was counterproductive. How stupid can you get?
But erecting IMPACT billboards in Stamford, CT, the home of WWE…that’s pretty stupid, too. You tweak the opposition if you’re No. 2 and closing the gap. IMPACT isn’t closing the gap. The mosquito can’t initiate a confrontation with the elephant. The mosquito just looks silly.
Then gets crushed.
source: mark madden wrestlezone.com
May 18, 2011
An Opinion on TNA's Rebranding
This Day in Wrestling History
Happy Birthday to Superfly Jimmy Snuka
May 18, 1943
Christian eliminated Booker T in a Battle Royal at Judgment Day to capture the newly reinstated WWE Intercontinental Title.
May 18, 2003
May 17, 2011
Steve Austin to Appear on Back-To-Back WWE Raw Shows
Stone Cold Steve Austin is being advertised to appear on the June 13th edition of WWE Raw being broadcast from The Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, Long Island, NY.
PWInsider.com is reporting that Austin is also booked to appear on the previous week's edition of Raw on June 6th to announce the winner of the WWE Tough Enough competition.
Rumor Mill - Sean Waltman Returning to WWE
The Score's Arda Ocal is reporting that ex-WWE Superstar Sean Waltman, aka X-Pac, has confirmed that he will make his return to the company in some capacity "very soon". Waltman has reportedly been assisting Kevin Nash and Undertaker with talent scouting, as well as helping talent work "main event style."
source: wrestlingnewssource.com
New TNA Championship
At last night's taping, TNA started a tournament for the first-ever Xplosion championship with the idea that the champion would be able to challenge any champion on Impact.
pwinsider.com
Update on Desmond Wolfe
Desmond Wolfe returned at last night's Impact taping in a new role as the Commissioner of TNA's Xplosion series, which makes sense for the overseas markets.
source: pwinider.com
This Day in Wrestling History
Bruno Sammartino defeats Buddy Rogers for the (WWWF)WWE Championship at Madison Square Garden.
May 17, 1963
Vince McMahon Sr. died of cancer at 69.
May 17, 1984
Marty Jannetty defeated Shawn Michaels for the WWF(E) Intercontinental title.
May 17, 1993
"British Bulldog" Davey Boy Smith died of a heart attack at 39.
May 17, 2002
May 16, 2011
Kurt Angle Says Jeff Hardy's Been Clean For A Month
Busted Open satellite radio show with Kurt Angle:
Angle on the Jeff Hardy incident at the end of the Victory Road PPV: "That was an unfortunate situation where I think Jeff realizes it now. Whatever he did...this is something that’s been talked about many times. Jeff made a mistake. If he was going to take any form of, let’s say, sleep medication... he probably should’ve waited an hour before he did that. Jeff made a bad decision and he’s learned from it.
"Jeff has been clean for the last month and he wants to come back and he’s ready to come back and I believe that he won’t make that mistake it again. But it did happen. I felt really bad. I felt bad for TNA, I felt bad for Jeff, I felt bad for the company. Jeff Hardy is an amazing wrestler. I have nothing bad to say about him, actually I love the kid. I wrestled Jeff at his best and I wrestled Jeff at his worst, and it’s night and day."
Full interview
Tickets for Urban Wrestling Federation's Debut in NYC Now on Sale
The debut ppv taping for the Urban Wrestling Federation on June 3rd in New York City at the Hammerstein Ballroom officially went on sale this morning via Ticketmaster, priced at $85 down to $15. For more information, visit this link.
source: pwinsider.com
Hulk Hogan Says TNA's Problem Is Spike TV Awareness
Hulk Hogan made an appearance on "The LAW" radio show where he discussed a problem he is setting with Spike TV not being available in enough homes in his opinion, which is why TNA seems to struggle with getting its TV audience to buy PPV.
"A lot of it has to do with awareness and the fact that we can get to the people. If I go into my hotel room in Chicago there are certain cable networks that are on like USA Network - there is no Spike TV. I mean a lot of it depends on who you can get to and who you can reach there is a lot more than 'the fans aren't buying it' there is more to the equation and that's a very shallow statement and that's not a fact. The people that see it are buying it, there just aren't enough people seeing it. That's what it is - it's creating awareness, a marketing plan we have to work with Spike TV and boost them up the ladder. I don't know how many cable networks there are in the States if it's 25 or 35 but in the paper it shows you who the top ten are so if we can get Spike up to that number one position the whole equation would change on how many people are buying it and change the equation and someone wouldn't say 'no one is buying it' well the people that are seeing it are buying it so it's creating that awareness to make people more aware that the product is there and that they can get it and when they walk into a hotel in Brantford that Spike is available."
On a side note, as of January 2011, Spike TV was available in 99.5 million homes - or 85.8% of the country. In comparison, USA Network is available in 99.95 million homes - or 86.2% of the country.
source: john pollock, the law
Oderint Dum Metuant: Let Them Hate As Long As They Fear
