83 Weeks - Impact Watchalong 03.15.10 [Show Notes[ (Patreon)

Watchalong of TNA’s second episode of the Monday format!

Fire up Impact +...hover over and select Classic Impact! (2010) select March 15th, 2010 and let’s count it down!

This is where TNA finally went for it Eric…

From the Torch 2/20/10:

17:28 WHY isn’t wrestling more episodic?

TNA officials have wanted it for years. Their goal was to grow enough and, heck, survive long enough to earn Spike TV’s approval to go head–to–head with WWE’s Monday Night Raw. They just got their wish.

Apparently after some haggling over money in recent weeks delayed the finalizing of the deal, displacing the original goal of a March 1 launch date, TNA announced this Monday afternoon the big news.
21:30 Ric Flair/AJ Styles

TNA President Dixie Carter and presumed part–owner and top executive Hulk Hogan were the lone representatives at the press conference. It had to be a bitter–sweet day for Jeff Jarrett, who hoped to be the one standing at that podium. Instead, Hogan rode in and took TNA to that final step, with the help of Dixie Carter opening up the wallet for new acquisitions.

Do you think Jeff was bitter about it?

Talk us through the decision for TNA to run 9-11 and not 8-10…why go right after Raw instead of trying to get a head start?

Do you think it was a mistake not going live every week? Do you think that mattered?

From the Torch

A video package aired on Hulk Hogan being bloodied by Sting on Impact last week, and then Rob Van Dam debuting against Sting, but also being bloodied afterward. Of course the highlights ended with Jeff Hardy’s debut. The package did show some of the weakness in TNA’s booking approach in that there was no singular focus. I know last week was a special episode of Impact that was more loaded than usual (or possible on a weekly basis), but that video package included the following major TNA headlines or storyline advancements: Sting turns heel, Hogan bloodied by Sting, RVD is Sting’s mystery opponent, RVD bloodied by Sting, Abyss pins TNA Champ A.J. Styles, Desmond Wolfe jumps Abyss afterward, The Pope makes a save attempt, and Jeff Hardy returns to TNA and makes the final save. That’s a lot to digest in a one minute video package. And that was just a slice of last week’s TNA Impact’s happenings.

Eric - there were a ton of things happening last week. Between Jeff Hardy and Rob Van Dam signing with TNA…were these two guys you & Hulk focused on bringing in?

It is reported in the Torch that RVD coming in really did rub a lot of the talent the rub way - “More than one person has noted that Rob took an unnecessary shot during a recent interview when he spoke about working with the top stars in WWE and then questioned why his fans would want to see him work with Christopher Daniels now.

In general, there is a lot of grumbling amongst the longtime TNA wrestlers due to the perception that the established stars will be paid big money, yet won’t work many house show dates. Although the terms of Van Dam’s deal have not be disclosed, he has made it clear that he’s not interested in working a full–time schedule.”

Was this an issue with some of the talent?

–A copper colored Hummer drove up. Out of it came Hogan, Abyss, Hardy, and RVD. Environmentalists they’re not.

You guys loved your Hummer’s back then didn’t you?

–The TNA Impact opening aired. Then Mike Tenay and Taz introduced the show as Impact’s pyro blasted and the camera panned the crowd.

It’s reported that Awesome Kong asked for and got her release. This is just weeks after her and Bubba the Love Sponge got into it backstage. Eric - were you there for confrontation between her & Bubba and what can you tell us about it?

Do you think this was a loss for the company?

–A.J. Styles’s music played and Styles and Ric Flair walked out to the ring. Styles called Abyss a “scary looking but stupid monster.” He asked if he thinks his magical ring is going to help him when they wrestle on Sunday. “I don’t believe in magical rings,” Styles said. “But I’ll tell you what I do believe. I believe I’m the best wrestler in the world.” He said he also believes he’s a gift from God. He said this Sunday he’ll find out first–hand. The crowd chanted, “Turn his mic off!” Styles told a “fat boy” to shut up.

Flair took the mic and said he wishes he could be as under control as Styles. He pulled off his jacket and showed off the cuts on his forehead. He pounded on his cuts and began to bleed again. He said, “This is real. This is wrestling.” He bled into his left eye as he said, “I hate Jeff Hardy! I hate him.” He said if Hardy wants to play ball in TNA, expect to get “this” every day of his life, pointing to his forehead. “Insane Clown” Hardy came out to his self–produced song. Tenay said nobody has more of a fan base today than Hardy.

Styles asked Hardy who he thinks is coming into his house. He said he’s a nobody and has done nothing. Flair yelled at Hardy, telling him to look Styles in the eye. Styles got worked up and said if he wants to be in the spotlight, the spotlight doesn’t get any bigger than himself. He said since he likes to put his hands on him, he suggested they wrestle later tonight. “You want the spotlight, I doubt you’ll know what to do with it,” Styles said, getting on his tip–toes in Hardy’s face. Hardy said, “It’ll be a breeze.” Flair yanked the mic away and told Flair to go backstage and paint a picture and sniff and get as high as he can on that paint because he’s got to be flying high in the air to come to that ring tonight. He said he’s been flying high on the backs of his Creatures of the Night. He yelled out a barbaric yell and then the lights went dark and blacklight filled the arena. That lit up the facepaint on his “Creatures of the Night.”

Overall, an okay segment saving the crazed outbursts for when it really matters. It's unbecoming of his stature to be so out of control and yelling like that constantly. Hardy was Hardy and doesn’t really need to say much. Styles was good on the mic, but I’m still not fully buying him as Flair’s protege. He’s putting in a great effort and it’s not a total flop by any means, but he just might not be the right person for that role.

Ric bleeding here - too much? Perfect way to put it over the top?

What did you think of the Ric/AJ combo? Do you think it helped or hurt AJ?

–Backstage Mick Foley approached Eric Bischoff about last week. Bischoff cut him off and ranted about his helping Styles last week. Bischoff said, “Forget about last week. I want to seize the moment.” He said he wants to try to make him a proper corporate citizen. He said they’re going to clean him up by shaving his head and beard, turning him into the corporate executive he wants and needs. Foley said his hair is his trademark. Bischoff said not anymore.

Was Mick excited to have you & Hulk in TNA do you think?

Was he excited to be working with you?

Where did the idea come from of you two being paired together?

–Tenay and Taz hyped the TNA Impact line–up: Hardy vs. Styles, which Taz called a dream match; Hogan confronts Sting; Bischoff gives Foley a haircut.

AJ vs. Jeff is a dream match - and this is all great - but we haven’t even gotten to the first match yet. Too much do you think?

–A video clip aired of The Nasty Boys and Jimmy Hart attacking Jesse Neal backstage earlier in the day and powerbombing him through a catering table.

Why the Nasty Boys Eric?

1 –– THE NASTY BOYS & JIMMY HART vs. TEAM 3D & BROTHER RUNT

Brian Knobs said they were going to have a three–on–three match, but now it’s a handicapped match. He then laughed in a cartoonish manner. Brother Ray said Knobs has it wrong. He said they’ve got a new partner. Out came Brother Runt, the former Spike Dudley. How was it an advantage for the Nastys to have Jimmy as their partner against “just” Brother Ray and Devon? That makes no sense that Knobs would gloat about that. Tenay plugged Dixie Carter’s Twitter account. With Runt down at 2:00, Jimmy tagged in and whipped him. Brother Ray interfered. Knobs KO’d Brother Ray with the bicycle helmet and then Jimmy made the cover for the win. The Nastys were going to attack Team 3D and drive them through a table, but Jesse Neal ran out with his ribs taped. Team 3D with Neal’s helping them gave Sags a 3D through the table.

WINNER: Nastys & Jimmy in 4:00.

STAR RATING: 1/2* –– Well, there went about four weeks of potential angles all shoved into six minutes of TV. But maybe, given the participants, it’s better off that way. They’re totally relying on really old memories of the Jimmy Hart character rather than reestablishing who he is. Even the Nastys, a relic team that wasn’t even on national TV in the entire previous decade, haven’t really been reintroduced. TNA continues to assume anyone watching them has seen all of the previous exposure the wrestlers once had. They rushed through Brother Runt’s return, Jesse Neal’s comeback, Jimmy Hart booked in a match he logically should have wanted no part of, a table spot that should be a blow off moment for the feud, and on and on. As Taz said, a lot of moving parts in that one. Just too many.

The Torch says you ran through four weeks of angles and TV into six minutes. Was this always an issue with TNA just having two hours of TV a week that you felt the need to rush through things? Was it all too much?

–Christy Hemme interviewed Angelina Love backstage. Christy asked Love how it felt to see her rivals, The Beautiful People, walk away with the TNA Knockouts Tag Team Titles. She said it sucks and it makes her mad, and when she’s mad she needs to do something about it. She said she’s the original Beautiful Person and it’s time for her to start cleansing TNA one Beautiful Person at a time.

The Knockouts were at one point the biggest draw and attraction with TNA. Do you think by this point it was no longer a division worth focusing on? Was it the women in the division?

–Jeremy Borash interviewed Sean “X–Pac” Waltman and Scott Hall backstage. Borash said if they don’t win Sunday, they have to leave. Waltman said they’ve been kicked out of better places than TNA. He brought up Bischoff firing him by FedEx. Hall said Kevin Nash & Eric Young are going to get theirs. He said next Monday they’ll be the two new big money players. Nash and Young walked in. Nash told Waltman that Young kicked his ass last week. Waltman said not true, which is why Young was hiding behind him. Nash challenged Hall to a one–on–one match. He said he gets 25K if he lasts five minutes.

Was Nash and Hall working together the hope that it could get Hall back into shape for one last run?

Putting all these guys together should make life easier for you from a creative standpoint should it not?

Waltman saying they’ve been kicked out of better places - why was the need to always put TNA down? Shouldn’t someone had been trying to bring up the brand?

From the Torch

“The first week results are in and it’s clear TNA has a long journey before they’ll be causing WWE to lose any sleep. In the first head–to–head match–up after Impact’s permanent move to Monday nights, Impact drew a 1.0 rating on 3/8 compared to Raw’s 3.4. Raw was down a notch from its recent average, and so was Impact.

Quarter hour ratings indicated that Impact basically retained about 90 percent of the viewers that they’ve been drawing in recent weeks on Thursdays, and in two key male demos they were up roughly 5–10 percent. DVR ratings will be telling as that could increase Impact’s overall viewership above recent averages.”

Was it a surprise to see Impact drop from the average Thursday rating or was that what everyone expected?

“Thirty percent of Impact viewers who tuned in at the beginning tuned out as the show progressed, which in broadcast television is grounds for a show being canceled.”

Is it grounds for a show being canceled?

“Ratings for Impact had dropped back to pre–Hogan/Flair/Bischoff levels, which is quite frankly humbling if not humiliating for those three. They have been difference makers in the past, but the product they put out there since Jan. 4 was turning people away faster than it was attracting them.”

Was it a rough start from what you remember?

Do you think promoting people like Jeff Hardy & Rob Van Dam’s debut might’ve helped instead of them being surprises?

Van Dam’s debut was to defeat Sting in just 30 seconds - do you remember Sting’s reaction to that? Was he a team player?

2 –– MR. ANDERSON & DESMOND WOLFE (w/Chelsea) vs. KURT ANGLE & “THE POPE” D’ANGELO DINERO

It hurts the perceived prestige of this match to not have hyped it more ahead of time. Treat a match full of main eventers as a mid–card filler match and that’s how it’ll be seen by many viewers. At 2:00 Pope hot–tagged in. Angle was virtually a non–star here the way he was treated. In the end, during a four–way brawl, Pope gave Anderson a small package as he was trying to apply a figure–four for the win.

WINNERS: Anderson & Wolfe in 3:00.

Kurt Angle is a complete afterthought here - a bit of a surprise considering his stature in the company - what was the reasoning do you know?

–Afterward, Anderson beat up Pope on the ramp. Wolfe brawled to the back with Pope. Meanwhile, Anderson attacked Angle with the Warrior Medal. He then mockingly cried as he asked him if he was bleeding. He said that’s just a small example of what he has in store for him on Sunday live on pay–per–view at Destination X. Blood dripped from Angle’s head and puddled beneath him as Anderson repeatedly punched him. Impact is gambling based on this and last week that a lot of viewers are craving blood on cable wrestling.

Was blood a focus creatively considering WWE wasn’t doing it - and still isn’t?

–Hogan told Hardy and RVD that he’s got a special surprise for Flair because he has Abyss assigned to be a special enforcer in the main event. He told RVD he looks ready for what he’s got scheduled for him. They slapped hands and left Hogan’s office. In walked Bischoff. He asked Hogan if Hardy and RVD are on the same page. Hogan said everyone is. Bischoff said he loves surprises such as bringing Hardy and RVD last week. He said it was brilliant and a stroke of genius, but he asked if he shouldn’t have been told ahead of time. Hogan said Bischoff’s been busy with Jeff Jarrett and Mick Foley. He said they’re a team, but they’ve been busy with their own things. Bischoff said it’s time certain people get reminded just exactly who’s in charge. He walked out, but looked like he was trying to keep his cool and show a strong demeanor to Hogan. Hogan said, “That was weird.” Taz said it appears Hogan and Bischoff have a communication issue.

What was the original story planned for you & Hulk? To be on opposite sides? Or was that just how the creative evolved?

3 –– ANGELINA LOVE vs. DAFFNEY (w/The Beautiful People)

Velvet Sky said before the match that Love may have challenged one of them to a match, but her surprise opponent is an honorary one–night–only Beautiful People member. Daffney snuck into the ring and attacked Love from behind. Sky, Lacey Von Erich, and Madison Rayne walked to ringside to watch. Taz said: “Daffney’s kind of beautiful if you’re into zombie hot kind of way—a pasty, sadistic tomato who screams, then she’s for you.” When the BPs yanked Love crotch–first into the ringpost, the ref called for the DQ. Taz asked, “Can that actually hurt a woman?” Tenay said, “Don’t ask me.” Daffney swung Love sideways off the ring apron into the side of the ramp. Taz said that was bad. Tara made the save through the crowd.

WINNER: Love via DQ in 2:00.

Do you watch this and go - we need to find less and less TV time for this stuff?

–Clips aired of Sting’s heel turn last week and his beatings of Hogan and RVD.

Why the fascination with wanting to turn Sting heel? Was he just not tan enough?

–Hulk Hogan made his full intro. Taz and Tenay agreed Sting had some explaining to do to wrestlers, the fans, and Dixie Carter. He told them to “cut the damn music.” He said game time is over. He said feeling like he was run over like a train isn’t new to him, but one thought he can’t get over is “Why Sting, why?” He asked why Sting would stab Dixie in the back. He asked if he was jealous or the spotlight wasn’t shining on him enough. He said he knows he’s in the rafters. He said he can smell him and he can smell the fear. He said he’s scared to death to face him. Sting took his time as he walked from the rafters to ringside. Hogan said when he gets to the ring he’s going to get the ass–whipping of his life. RVD attacked Sting from behind at ringside and then choked him with his boot. He then gave him a flying sidekick. He threw Sting into the ringpost and then kicked him in the ribs. Hogan smiled and cheered on RVD from inside the ring. RVD threw Sting in the ring. Hogan was going to hit him with a bat, but Bischoff came out and yelled for him to stop.

Why was Dixie always such a focus? Was it to make her feel good about the money?

Bischoff ordered security to get Sting out of the ring. Sting smiled as he left, showing zero signs of the beat down that RVD gave him just a minute earlier. Bischoff told Hogan that he’s losing his focus. He said they came to TNA to lead the company, not fight their own battles. Bischoff said Hogan made a promise to his daughter that he was done with it last week. “Be done with it!” he said. The crowd chanted, “Hogan! Hogan!” They showed Brooke at ringside holding her face in her hands (or it could have been another bleached blond overly tanned twentysomething). Bischoff walked away as Hogan appeared to be thinking hard about what Bischoff said. They went to Taz and Tenay at ringside as they talked about Bischoff’s comments. Hogan was shown hugging Brooke at ringside.

From the Torch

SPIKE TV’S GOALS FOR IMPACT

TNA president Dixie Carter, Hulk Hogan, and Spike TV spokesman David Schwarz were interviewed last week as part of a publicity tour to promote the TNA Impact move to Monday nights on March 8. The following quotes are from Jim Varsallone’s recap in the Miami Herald.

•Dixie Carter acknowledged TNA being in a tough spot on January 4 when they had no programming for two weeks leading into their first Monday special. She also continued to play up TNA’s underdog role by thanking the fans for showing up to give TNA its best–ever ratings on Jan. 4.

“Jan. 4 could not have been a worst time for us to pick. We were dark three weeks leading up to it, and it was coming off a two–week holiday, but we were like, ’We need to try it.’ Let’s try it. [Hulk] needs to get out there. We need to have this show, but we didn’t know what would happen," she said. “There will people who thought the sky might fall on that day, but we were really confident that the wrestling fans would come through."

Was it a mistake? Why wasn’t this thought more through?

Carter identified going live every week and touring the country with Impact as the next “dangling carrots" after they take more steps of trying to expose and market their brand to the audience. “I think that’s our ultimate goal to do that (tour on the road) and to do it successfully –– where it helps the steady, continued growth of the company," she said. “Let’s be smart about this. We’re not out here to be competitive on a Monday night overnight. That’s not realistic."

Is this her thought process - your thought process? Walk us through this…

•Hulk Hogan talked about TNA having momentum after January 4, being excited to come to work, and not wanting to wait until the end of the year to consider moving to Monday nights.

“It’s rolling out exactly the way it’s supposed to. This wasn’t meant to happen in October or at the end of the year," he said. “These are business people (Spike TV). They know momentum. They know timing. For the right business reasons, the right business decisions, it’s go time. It’s time for Mondays."

Did Hulk really buy into Mondays for Impact?

Hogan also said the right things about utilizing the Knockouts, while also playing the self–deprecation card that he was still trying to find his way running TNA the first two months. “The numbers kind of speak for themselves, when you watch week by week what happens when the women perform. On a consistent basis, they’re a huge part of this company," Hogan said. “I think it needs to be a huge part of what we do, and I think we need to focus on that, and I’m as guilty as anybody. I’ve been kind of overwhelmed here the first six weeks, but now I’m starting to settle down. ... At first I faked it. The first couple of weeks I really didn’t understand what was going on, but now I’m getting my feet on the ground."

How important was Hulk to creative and how much was Russo involved?

•Schwarz, from Spike TV, focused on the right timing with Monday Night Football being off the air and TNA having an opportunity to find sports fans who are already parked in front of the TV on Monday nights. “Monday Night Football is drawing upward 10–million, 15–million people. You know what? A lot of those people are our guys, our audience, and maybe they’re looking for somewhere to go on Monday nights, and we hope they come to TNA Impact for TNA Wrestling," Schwarz said. “We have the solid base of fans who come every week. We think we’re going to tap into a lot of those football fans, looking somewhere else to go."

How much of all this is Spike’s ideas?

Schwarz added that Spike isn’t stating a goal for Impact ratings right off the bat and they’ll give TNA some leeway to find its niche on Monday nights. “This is not broadcast TV where in the new fall season, if a show doesn’t do well [in the ratings] in three episodes, it’s off the air," he said. “We’re partners with TNA. We’re partners with Dixie. We’re partners with Hulk Hogan. We’re partners with Eric Bischoff. So we’re going to give this the opportunity that it deserves."

How important is that backing and hope from the network for it to be successful?

–Backstage Hernandez said Jeff Jarrett gave him his first shot, so he wants to help him deliver some payback. Bischoff, who was lurking in the background, told Jarrett his days making matches is over. He told Hernandez the match he has planned for him is a two–on–one against Beer Money. Jarrett said he shouldn’t take his frustration with him out on Hernandez. Bischoff said he’s going to give Jarrett his chance to be involved. He told him to put on his ref shirt, just like when he broke into the business. He told Jarrett that if he screws up even a little hit, he’s done. He said his next step down is tearing apart the ring if he screws up. “Right down the middle, Jeff, right down the middle,” Bischoff said as he walked away.

Were you aware of the Jeff dynamic in TNA after everything that happened? Did you need to hash it out with anyone - or it just was what it was?

What was Hulk & Jeff’s relationship at this point do you know?

Was Jeff an investor still at this point?

4 –– KEVIN NASH vs. SCOTT HALL

Hall wore black jeans and a gray sweatshirt and tennis shoes. Who does he think he is, Shane McMahon? He threw a toothpick at Nash and then laughed. Taz said Nash looks to be in much better wrestling shape than Hall. Nash threw some elbows to Hall’s ribcage and kidney areas. Hall punched back and sent Nash reeling. Hall worked over Nash’s arm and then slapped him a few times. That taunting set Nash off, and Nash gave Hall a short–arm clothesline. At 2:00 Syxx ran into the ring and clipped Nash’s knee.

Syxx mock–apologized afterward, then handcuffed Nash to the middle rope. Hall and Syxx stomped on Nash. Young ran to the ring and made the save. Syxx and Hall fended him off and double–teamed him. Syxx gave Young a face plant. Syxx and Hall held up the 25K in cash.

WINNER: Nash via DQ in 2:00.

I’m not sure what happened there with the challenge, and nobody treated it like it mattered, so I won’t try to figure it out. Like the rest of the show, anything that happens in the ring just feels like a means to an end, but otherwise void of any meaning.

This…doesn’t mean anything does it? I mean having Eric Young come out didn’t help either right?

–Borash interviewed Beer Money Inc. backstage. Robert Roode said, “Shut up, Seacrest. Nobody wants to hear from you,” Roode told Borash. Roode complained about how they were treated by Bischoff (the jerk) and Hogan (the hero). So in one sentence, we both sympathize with and reject what Roode is saying. He said they were treated like rookies and discarded in the back. He said that’s not the way the greatest tag team should be treated. James Storm said Bischoff gave them a chance to beat up Jarrett. He said they’re going to serve up this week’s plate of ass–kissing Hernandez. He said they’re sick and tired of being the nice guys and catering to the “stupid fans.” He said they’re all about earning cash and getting trashed from now on.

You could tell right away that Roode could be a top level guy - did you think he was someone you could get behind?

5 –– BEER MONEY INC. vs. HERNANDEZ with Jeff Jarrett as special referee

Roode and Storm jumped Hernandez instantly. A minute later Matt Morgan walked out toward the ring. Tenay said Morgan walked out just in the nick of time. Morgan, though, stopped half way and decided instead to join Tenay and Taz on commentary. Roode went for an early cover, but Hernandez kicked out at one. Morgan put on a headset and said Tenay and Taz should be elated to have him join them. Tenay said he should be helping his partner. Morgan said he put himself in a tag match instead of concentrating on his tag team title match on Sunday. He said went into business for himself and this is what happens. Taz asked Morgan how he and Hernandez can defend the tag titles as a cohesive unit. In a bit of a non–sequitur, Morgan said he’s not going to let Hernandez take too much of a beating. Taz said it’s too late for that. Hernandez, though, made a comeback and single–handedly suplexed Roode and Storm.

Taz said maybe Morgan should be at ringside motivating Hernandez. Morgan said he was doing just fine. Morgan was right. He was supposed to be a heel, but Hernandez appeared to be doing just fine at that moment. Seconds later, though, Beer Money finished Hernandez with the DWI (Drinking While Investing). The story of this match began as “would Jarrett be able to stand by and not intervene in a two–on–one beatdown,” but then was shifted to Morgan not helping his partner. And as for Jarrett, Hernandez did just fine on his own until the end, so it’s not as if Jarrett had any moral dilemmas to deal with during the match. After the match Jarrett had enough and pulled off his referee shirt and attacked Beer Money. Hernandez then helped Jarrett clear the ring.

WINNERS: Beer Money in 3:00.

Eric this recap is 300 plus words…the match itself is 3 minutes. Is..this just not too much?

Someone has to be sitting in a production meeting going - what are we doing right?

–They showed Bischoff backstage with clippers in hand.

Vince Russo has told our research team that this was your idea. Why?

Ready for this Eric…we also got Vince Russo to say this about you: “Eric knew that he was there to get the wrestlers over. There was never an ego with Eric as a talent. Never.”

How about that Eric?

–Bischoff stood in the ring with a barber chair and clipped. He first said to Jarrett, “Your ass is mine next week.” That always sounds so odd. He said he’s been trying to make something of Foley lately, but it’s been impossible. He said he wanted to clean Foley up once and for all. Foley walked out to his music.

Putting this all together with Mick - was this full circle for you considering your time together in WCW 20 years later?

Foley sat in the barber chair. Bischoff turned on the clippers and was about to shave Foley when Foley stood up and blocked the clippers, then put Bischoff in the Mandible Claw with the sock that shall not be called Mr. Socko. After knocking Bischoff out, he began to shave Bischoff’s head. It’s just astounding to see TNA burn through so many angles that historically, when milked, draw money, but get comparatively little from them because they just rush through them. Foley then woke up Bischoff and shoved him his ridiculous haircut. Bischoff threw a fit, which was good for a little laughter from the crowd. Bischoff tried to cover up. Foley waddled out of the ring gloating, holding up the mirror.

Was Loree happy with the head shaving?

–Christy Hemme interviewed Shannon Moore. He said the X Division will be spotlighted more than ever on Sunday. He said on Sunday he represents “the tattooed, the brood (brewed?), and the screwed... Welcome to Glam Rock!”

What did you & Hulk think of the X division?

–The Motor City Machine Guns stood in the ring under the Ultimate X structure. Alex Shelley said on Sunday the winners of that match become the no. 1 contender for the TNA Tag Team Titles. He said Destination X will be remembered as the beginning of the rise of the Machine Guns. He asked what Generation Me did to deserve a spot in that match. He asked what dues they ever paid or who they had ever defeated. GenMe walked out to polite applause.

With the change of focus - was there any talk of changing the concept or ideas for Destination X?

Max from GenMe told the Guns that they defeated them in their TNA debut. Shelley said sometimes luck factors in. He said they lost that night, but they are still great. “We are the X Box to your Atari,” Shelley said. “You are the station wagons to our Ferraris.” He added, “While we’re on the subject of luck, how about we talk about the night we spent with your girlfriends.” GenMe attacked the Guns, so Tenay needlessly said, “That got a reaction.”

They rolled on the mat brawling. Brian Kendrick ran out and went after GenMe. Amazing Red ran out and went after Kendrick. Next Daniels ran out and clotheslined Red. “I’m beginning to see a pattern here,” said Tenay. Kaz ran out with a ladder and threw it in Daniels’s face as Daniels was gloating and posing. The Guns went after Kaz next. GenMe made the save. GenMe climbed a truss and dove onto the Guns on the floor. The brawl continued in the ring with everyone else. Kaz and Red cleared the ring. Red dove off the top of the ladder and flipped onto Kendrick, Daniels, and Sabin on the floor. They replayed it from several angles. Good segment to show off some of the athleticism unique to the X Division, plus they built a little personal issue between the Guns and GenMe. As usual, though, it was too focused on “the division” and not focused enough on what draws money in wrestling and hooks fans emotions—the personalities and conflict.

Did you see anything in the Young Bucks at this point in time?

Did you think the X division would be able to be rebuilt around the likes of Kaz and Daniels?

–Borash interviewed Abyss backstage. He said if Flair interferes in the main event, he’ll show him what it’s like to go face–to–face with The Monster in the ring. “Whatcha gonna do when the Monster Abyss runs wild... and crazy... on you!” In the hype for Hardy’s in–ring TNA debut—against the TNA World Hvt. Champ A.J. Styles—they managed to make it feel about as important as anything else on the show. TNA has such trouble really focusing on something that will draw and then building it up throughout the show.

Is that a fair criticism?

Abyss being Hulk Hogan…you have openly talked about how much the Abyss character didn’t work…why Hulk and make Abyss like him? Was that a failure?

Other than that opening segment with Styles, Flair, and Hardy, you essentially had 90 minutes to forget about the main event. Hardy’s TNA in–ring debut (a return, actually, considering he worked for TNA before for a long stretch) should have been plugged coming in and out of every break. They should have had crawlers on the screen. Other wrestlers, such as the Guns and Beer Money, should have referenced it at the start of their promos. It should have seemed like the biggest TV main event in ages. The announcers should have talked about the incredible dream match TNA was presenting at the end of the show. They should have even taken some shots at it being more exciting than two people sitting at a desk and signing paperwork (doing live commentary during pre–taped Impacts would be worth considering, by the way, which WWE did back when Raw was taped but up against live Nitros.

This seems to be a very TNA thing…where there is no real focus…why was it always TNA? Just the format?

–Ring intros took place for the TV main event. Styles and Flair first. Then Hardy.

6 –– A.J. STYLES (w/Ric Flair) vs. JEFF HARDY

The match began immediately after the break 58 minutes into hour two. Tenay said this is a match “we have dreamed of.” Hardy battled back from an early flurry by Styles.

At 4:00 Styles, after more sustained control of the match, settled into a chinlock. Taz explained that being TNA Champion means you make more money, so Hardy’s incentive to beat the champion is to make more money. This was a long chinlock for a competitive segment at the end of a big show with in–shape (assuming Hardy is in ring shape, but maybe he needed the break) young great athletes trying to hold an audience against Steve Austin on another channel. This isn’t PPV with a captive audience. Hardy made a comeback at 5:00. He did the corner swing kick into Styles’s chest for a two count. Flair shouted at Styles, “He’s tired!” Styles came back and hit a snap brainbuster suplex at 6:00 for a two count. Hardy came right back with a moonsault press for a two count at 6:00.

How is the show structured knowing it’s taped against Raw live and how important is structuring a show like this?

Hardy countered a Twist of Fate with a Pele Kick. At 7:00 the ref got in the way of a bodypress off the top rope by Styles. Styles hit both Hardy and the ref. Styles rolled out of the ring and grabbed a chair. He admired it for a second. Abyss walked up to him and waved his finger “no no” at him. Styles set the chair down and instead went for a springboard 450 splash. Hardy moved. Hardy then hit a Twist of Fate. He showed fire as he climbed to the top rope and then launched with a swanton. Abyss counted to three.

WINNER: Hardy in 9:00.

STAR RATING: **1/4 –– Had its moments. Hardy may not have had his wrestling legs under him yet, though.

Was this too much for Hardy considering his lay off from the ring?

–Afterward, as Abyss and Hardy celebrated, Flair attacked them with a chair. Flair knocked Abyss to the ramp with repeated chair shots to his back. Tenay said Flair wants to weaken Abyss headed into Sunday’s title match. Abyss began no–selling the chair shots to the back. Abyss “Hulked up” and turned around. He let out a barbaric yell and knocked the chair out of Flair’s arms. Abyss then grabbed Flair by the throat and chokeslammed him through the stage to end the show. They showed Styles looking on in fear at what was in store for him on Sunday.

*****************

What did you think of the show Eric? Did you see any SARSA on this show?

From the Torch 3/20/10:

TNA Impact’s ratings dropped from a 1.0 debut in their “permanent” Monday timeslot to a 0.8 on week two.

More specifically, it drew a 0.84 rating off a first hour 0.88 and second hour 0.80. The show also drew an average of 1.1 million viewers.

The overall Impact rating was down 15.0 percent from the previous week’s 0.99 rating. Viewership was down 21.4 percent compared to last week’s 1.4 million viewers.

Again, Impact followed the pattern of starting high, then ending low despite TNA having a “dream match” of Jeff Hardy vs. A.J. Styles in the main event.

The show opened with a 0.84 quarter–hour for the first segment, then bottomed–out with a 0.72

quarter–hour for the final 15 minutes of the show, before increasing slightly to a 0.74 for the overrun for the main event ending.

It was the lowest rating since November 2006 when TNA was in a one–hour, late–night timeslot on Thursday nights before they moved to prime time on Spike TV.

Is this an instant disappointment and reality check going against WWE?

Impact was a taped show featuring Jeff Hardy vs. A.J. Styles. WWE Raw countered with “Stone Cold” Steve Austin and WrestleMania rematches. Raw was up 8.2 percent in ratings and drew its highest viewership across the board since the January 4 Raw vs. Impact battle.

You knew Vince was gunning for you right?

TNA’s excuses will run thin quickly, but there were some legitimate reasons to expect Impact to drop this week even if they had done things as well as could be done. For one, it’s two weeks before WrestleMania and WWE’s peak season for their biggest storylines peaking. WWE loaded the show with three marquee match–ups from past WrestleManias (Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Jericho, Triple H vs. Randy Orton, John Cena vs. The Big Show). WWE featured their top all–time draw

“Stone Cold”Steve Austin as the guest G.M. and had him oversee the contract signing of Bret Hart vs. Vince McMahon.

I mean…WWE is letting you know right?

TNA, though, had several factors working in their favor. Sting’s historic heel turn should have meant something given his history as a babyface main eventer for TNA and before that WCW for all of the 1990s. Rob Van Dam made his TNA

debut last week and left WWE far from spent. Jeff Hardy, one of the two most popular pro wrestling stars in 2009 (along with John Cena)

made his return at the end of Impact. Plus TNA is also peaking some storylines headed into Sunday’s “Destination X” PPV. They had plenty of bullets in the holster, but WWE outshot them at every turn.

The pattern of losing viewers during the show continues, perhaps the biggest indictment against the quality of the booking on the show. When fans tune into TNA, they know who the stars are and they’re interested in watching them. When they tune out, it’s the variable of the booking that sends them to another channel.

What do you say to that?

The show opened with a 0.87 rating and dropped over the next 45 minutes to a 0.85 and 0.82. Q4 featuring the Knockouts match between Angelina Love and Roxxi drew a show–high 0.96 rating. Hulk Hogan’s ring entrance closed out the first hour.

Then ratings dropped to a 0.93 at the start of hour two and crashed to a 0.82 in Q7 for the Beer Money Inc. vs Hernandez match with Jeff Harrett was special referee. The match itself was just three minutes, but included a pre–match promo and the start of Eric Bischoff standing in the ring vowing to shave Mick Foley’s hair. It dropped a notch to 0.81 for Foley turning the clippers on Bischoff and shaving his head partially along with a big schmoz with the X Division wrestlers including the Machine Guns confronting Generation Me.

How much did you put stock in these quarter hours? How about Hulk?

It dropped to a show–low 0.72 rating for a segment packed with two commercial breaks, an Abyss interview, and ring intros for the main event. Then it barely rebounded in Q8 to a 0.74 for the main event of Jeff Hardy vs. TNA World Champion A.J. Styles.

Spike TV liked the 1.1+ rating on Thursdays. They didn’t move the show and help fund new talent to see booking send fans packing. They aren’t going to sit idle for long; they’ll want a rebound soon.

When did Spike go…what are we doing here?

Although the replay of TNA Impact on March 11 did a 1.0 rating, which is equal to the Monday live airing, there are no plans to replay Impact every week in that same time slot. The company simply doesn’t want to give viewers an excuse not to watch the show on Monday nights. The replay last week was considered a one–time thing, and Impact is not scheduled for any replays this week.

With the replay rating being so high - was the show more successful on Thursday - and did anyone regret moving the show?

The last two weeks has provided a high profile microcosm of what’s wrong with TNA’s approach to presenting its version of pro wrestling to the world.

None of this—not the disappointing March 8 rating or the collapse on March 15 to the lowest rating since 2008—should be surprising if you’ve watched Impact in recent months.

The addition of the brainpower and experience of Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff in theory should have turned the momentum of what had gone wrong with an admittedly somewhat burned out Vince Russo and the seemingly lost–for–answers and loyal–to–a–fault Dixie Carter. Neither the removal of Jeff Jarrett and Dutch Mantel nor the addition of Ed Ferrara, Russo’s old Raw writing partner, helped Impact reach a new level. But how could adding Hogan, Bischoff, Flair, and Mr. Anderson in January not lead to a ratings uptick, especially with Kurt Angle as one of the top stars?

What were the issues? Was is Spike not pushing the show more? Was it lack of follow up from January 4th? Did the novelty wear off too fast?

Finally…

TNA needs an overhaul. It’s an argument I’ve made before, but never before has almost every excuse been removed from the equation. The show opened with a 0.87 and ended with a 0.74. It dropped almost every quarter hour once again.

Fans flipping channels from Raw in the first half hour were greeted by ten years removed from prime time The Nasty Boys, who had already overstayed their welcome by the late–’90s by about five years but survived via a friendship with Hogan. They were teaming with Jimmy Hart, who hasn’t been a national fixture for as long and not over in any measurable way in 20 years, against Team 3D. The scene just screamed “We have nothing new for you over here!” Or “TNA: Cross Over to Cronyism and Living in the Past.”

The time to right the ship was in the two months before March 8. Now, taking a potential step back in order to build for the future may not be a luxury TNA has, as Spike TV isn’t going to keep Impact on Mondays for long if they don’t rebound in the next month from a sub–1.0 level. It’s not inconceivable, with the hideous job TNA did promoting next week’s show, that Impact will drop even further up against WWE’s final Raw before WrestleMania. The day after WrestleMania could also cost Impact even more viewers. All they can hope is that they have a core–core base of 0.8 who won’t leave them even to watch WWE’s two most eventful shows of the year.

What could’ve saved TNA?

FOLEY REACTS TO IMPACT RATING

TNA wrestler Mick Foley wrote today that the TNA Impact rating on Monday night “wasn’t what they hoped for,” but he put a positive spin on the opportunity for growth.

“We kicked off what we all hope will be a very exciting time for the company, with what I felt was an excellent Impact,” Foley said in his Friday blog on TNA’s website. “I know the rating wasn’t quite what we are hoping for, but if we keep delivering the type of show fans saw Monday night, I have to believe that eyeballs will start turning our way and the ratings situation will take care of itself “.

How important was Mick to TNA? He was a very big flag bearer for the company wasn’t he?