Tha iMPACT! Investigation

For the second time in the past month, TNA produced the highest rated “iMPACT!” in company history.

Last week’s show was headlined by the “biggest main event in ‘iMPACT!’ history,” Jeff Jarrett and Mick Foley vs. Kurt Angle and Sting. Due to the star-studded main event, the final quarter hour scored a 1.5. By the numbers, then, TNA is more popular than it’s ever been before, and I think it’s safe to say that the former WWF and WCW stars of the 90s and early 2000s are propelling this ratings increase. Of course, this is great news for the company, but the news comes with a few considerations:

• Their 1.34 highest-ever rating is on par with ECW’s average rating. When you look at it in those terms, it doesn’t seem quite as impressive.

• TNA’s biggest revenue sources are their PPVs, so increasing television ratings doesn’t mean too much unless those new viewers (or at least more of the old ones) are buying more PPVs. And offering major main events (such as Jarrett and Foley vs. Angle and Sting, and the 20-man gauntlet match) may lead to consumers saying, Why pay 30 bucks when I can see this shit for free?

• The big stars won’t be around forever – so a gradual shift of focus toward some of the younger talent needs to take place, a shift I’m not sure those in TNA can pull off.

But for now, the Angles, Foleys and Stings are (relatively) drawing, so enjoy the success while it lasts, I suppose. Plus, TNA isn’t only providing interesting storylines at the top of the card. In particular, the Bonaduce-Showtime feud has garnered plenty of interest, based only on a short video that was released on TNAwrestling.com (and posted on Tha O Show) last week.

(I had hoped that maybe this was a step toward an even greater role in the company for Young, a role I called for in my last article. But then there was no mention of Bonaduce -- or their match at Lockdown -- on last night’s show. Moreover, Showtime was pinned after lasting about one minute in the gauntlet match. I realize this episode was taped before Showtime’s spot on Bonaduce’s radio show was filmed, but that’s what post-production is for.)

And as I’ve said before, the tag team division is red-hot, particularly Beer Money and their feud with Team 3D. The Knockouts are doing their thing; and the X-Division is providing the fast-paced action that appeals to many TNA diehards.

Overall, I’d say there’s plenty of interest in Lockdown. And ordinarily, I’d say Lockdown would garner higher-than-normal buys for the company. But April isn’t an ordinary month for wrestling PPVs. WrestleMania will likely have a negative effect on Lockdown’s numbers.

More on last night’s show . . .

- I lied. First I’m going to say a bit on The Office, which you may know is required Thursday night viewing for yours truly. Last week, Michael Scott quit his job as Regional Manager at Dunder Mifflin Scranton. This week, he realized it was a mistake – quitting in this economic climate isn’t the smartest move. So how did he respond? He got drunk, tried to start his own paper company, and snuck back into the office after being kicked out. For those who haven’t caught on to the series, I highly recommend it. At the very least, it offers continuity from week-to-week, something often missing in wrestling today.

- Speaking of which – I’m more than a little confused with how Awesome Kong has been booked lately. Last week, playing the heel (obviously), she beat down ODB (the babyface), before ODB’s boyfriend, Cody Deaner, made the save. OK, that makes sense.

But this week, Kong and Raisha Saeed faced the other major heels in the Knockout division, Velvet Sky and Angelina Love. Kong should always be a heel considering how big she is compared to pretty much any other female worker in the world. But after the tag match, Sky and Love attacked Kong, leading to the crowd chanting, “Kong! Kong! Kong!” What’s going on here?

- Giving away a Six Sides of Steel match (let alone a nearly hour-long one) is a risky choice. Sure, it may help maintain their higher ratings, but the Six Sides of Steel is the main selling point for Lockdown. Every match is fought within the steel cage!

I certainly expected Jeff Jarrett to win the gauntlet match, and to lead the team against Angle’s team in Lethal Lockdown. They’re involved in the most personal feud going in TNA, and I like how it’s developing at a nice pace – it’s pretty much been ongoing for 7 months, a rarity in wrestling today. But Samoa Joe picked up a surprise victory by pinning Angle after a Muscle Buster. Bravo, TNA. Maybe they can make the gradual shift, after all.

Having Joe pick up the victory, with Jarrett presumably being a member of Joe’s team, is a good way of using an older star while at the same time putting the focus on a younger wrestler. Of course, Joe rejected his role as captain, but that fits his new rebellious gimmick. Overall, I like Joe’s new look – I just wish that stupid plastic knife wasn’t part of the package. You can be violent without threatening to kill someone.

- Suicide is whack. His gimmicks are whack. His finisher is whack. But is it just me, or is he getting over? Once again, I ask: what’s going on here?

- I’m looking forward to seeing footage of Cody Deaner’s One Night with ODB, whenever that may take place. For those unfamiliar with his work, I think you’ll notice that Deaner’s very good at doing the little things (such as using animated facial expressions), a la Santino Marella, that help get a character over. For example, at Destination X, after ODB had picked him to win the contest, she blew a kiss to the crowd but Deaner quickly caught the kiss and spread it on his face. Gold baby. (Ya, I’m biased. Get over it.)

- It’s been said before, and I’ll say it again: the TNA Rough Cut segments are great. They offer something different, and are especially helpful in making babyfaces more relatable to the audience. Last night’s Rough Cut on Brother Ray added just another layer to the hot Team 3D-Beer Money program.

I love how serious TNA treats its tag team division. Storm said Beer Money wants to be the best tag team in the world; and in the Rough Cut, Bubba said that he and Devon don’t care about singles success, they only care about being the best tag team they can be. Of course, Brother Ray also said that he’s checked his ego at the door – but that’s a bit of a stretch.

- Foley can’t do too much in the ring anymore – but I’m convinced that his promos can sell PPVs. Of course, it didn’t hurt that he promised he has a few more “big dives” of the steel cage left in him for Lockdown.

- So – it’s supposed to be considered major news when Sting is confirmed for the Lockdown FanFest? He’s the TNA Champion, he should be there! And like Donnie has said for months, as long as Sting is the champ, he should be working house shows too.

I’m not blaming Sting – he’s got himself a great contract that calls for little time on the road, and he’s certainly one of the highest paid guys in the company. The blame goes to TNA for putting the strap on a wrestler who’s not going on the road. The champ’s name needs to be on the marquee, helping sell seats across the country.

- Don’t worry, O-sters, Big Poppa Pump is OK. Joe didn’t kill him at Destination X, after all. I guess we’re supposed to forget that ever happened.

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