in the uk before challenge, bravo 2 had tna (it moved to bravo 1 a year later)... (jan 2007 onwards, with just a 2 day delay from the states showing) . it was virgin media selling their tv stations to sky that triggered the closing of bravo and the move to challenge

challenge & bravo were sister channels (as was "living" aka sky living)

Absolutely Dave. Actually, I'd suggest that TNA's logic is puzzling ALL the time!!
In fact, logic and TNA only seem to be, at best, on the vaguest of nodding terms...

Having said that, I'm rather enjoying EC3 as a face now. I don't mind Matt Hardy as a heel, though the way that was accomplished was really dumb, and I think it's a stupid decision to give his wife any air time at all...

But Spud as a heel? WTF is that all about???

What absolute nonsense. Dixie has very rarely been used as an on-screen authority figure. When she has, fair play to her, she was an absolute heat magnet.

Not really it was more fans hate her in real life even when she's a face she gets booed and Anti Dixie chants.

TNA didn't have weekly Impact shows back then, they had weekly "Pay Per View" events on Wednesday nights, because they didn't have a proper TV deal even in the US.

They announced more Impact zone tapings, including one at 1pm on Thursday 17th. Quite what kind of crowd they'll get at 1pm on a Thursday will be interesting to see.

Can't get any less than normal.

But I knew this already!

I loved this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Uyr8wnHpT0

I'd imagine they've got a problem with the WWE hall of fame building being at Universal Florida, because based on past behaviour it seems likely WWE would have a "we don't want other wrestling brands taped on the site when we open" clause in their contract.

Ken Anderson has been released, reportedly due to his behaviour at the latest tapings

He turned up at an ICW show in Glasgow and did a 'F*** TNA" promo.

It is what it is, but it's kinda amazing 9 years ago everybody thought he was gonna be a huge main event star for WWE, and he ends up at the Glasgow Garage.

He'll probably try and blame Orton for his TNA release.

Seems that he failed a drugs test after a match with Eric Young that was so poor it couldn't be broadcast.

What an idiot. While he never really fulfilled his potential he was (nearly) always good fun to watch.

http://www.tnawrestlingnews.com/head...-due-to-drugs/

Company has announced the departures of both Bobby Roode and Eric Young. Young was supposedly negotiating a new deal but instead chose to request his release.

The goose is cooked.

Hope Roode goes to WWE/NXT though pretty much the only reason I was still watching TNA was Beer Money.

As for Young I wouldn't mind if he went to NXT but also wouldn't care to much if he never did.

Be a surprise if WWE were interested at this point in 39 year old Bobby Roode but I guess stranger things have happened.

AJ Styles is 38 and he is (righfully) getting a main event push on the main roster.

James Storm is 38 and they were going to sign him to NXT maybe Roode will get the deal he was going to get a few years in NXT then a job as a trainer

AJ was in a hot angle & was world champion in New Japan. I mean I suppose it's possible they'll take Roode, Trips could do it to spite James Storm, or they could be planning some kind of Indy invasion angle if Shane O Mac wins at Wrestlemania, but it still would be a little odd given they could have had Roode in 2003 but presumably didn't think he was good enough.

AJ is a bigger and better talent though he did the indy scene and was praised by everyone.

That was 13 years ago, and he probably wasn't. His star has risen dramatically since then as a singles star. WWE have also turned down Samoa Joe. AJ Styles and Austin Aries in the past.

Flushing out the last of the Spike / Panda backed deals which the company can no longer afford.

I don't really see the point of new super-slimmed down TNA, unless they start writing or presenting it in a different way to WWE.

Roode could fit into WWE, but they hardly need him. Young is exactly the kind of wrestler WWE will have no idea what to do with. Hopefully he can find work somewhere - he's an awesome talent IMO.

the roster is just too small. (it might be larger than it looks, but they are not "selling themselves" if it is)
every week just appears to be the same show.... which of course it often was when it was recorded!

pity.

wrestling shows really do need the "build to a monthly ppv" structure even if they dont have ppvs... the 90s stories where wcw or wwe could build over 8 months are long gone, it needs more frequent shorter arcs...

if tna could get its recording monthly, they would benefit from a "live show" followed by a few days of recording the next 3 weeks tv, that builds to another "shock" live show, that then records the next 3 weeks of tv... the "live show swerves" make it interesting... otherwise you get too much from social media and no need to watch.

EY had become a little "stale" - likely a creative issue generally... what to do with him.
BR also had run his course... and with it seems a small available tag team roster... beer money was nearly having to be fighting itself by the next week

the "funny segment" with grado / spud etc have been quite good... but there just hasnt been "enough" to make the main spots more than 1 v 1 feuds for 6 weeks at a time... playing to the same crowd as the week before... it just hasnt looked "different" at all.

aces & 8 was proof of the problem... good stable idea, but had 2 or 3 cool "members" and the rest poor filler... fighting a roster equally depleted of viable wrestlers to face off.

There are too many silly face to heel and heel to face turns happening lately. Lashley hasn't been there that long and he has already been face twice and heel twice.

The funny stuff with Grado tends to be the most enjoyable parts of the shows for me. I have always thought Eli Drake was quite good and he is putting in some good performances.

I thought Bram had run into some troubles but he still seems to be there. Does anybody know if the thing about him saying "2006" was planned from the start or was it that he made a mistake which they didn't cut out and later they developed it into a storyline of him being so barking mad that he doesn't even know what year it is?