Hardy Vs. Hardy - Final Deletion Sets TNA Ratings Record
Fireworks, holograms, and an extraordinary xylophone = ratings.
In some of the most encouraging news TNA has received in some time, this week's Impact featuring Matt Hardy vs. Jeff Hardy in a Final Deletion match has broken their record for highest viewership on Pop TV.
Fans were likely curious what the hell the two could possibly do next in their insane feud, and 411,000 tuned in to watch one of the weirdest, craziest, and (depending on your perspective) most entertaining or awful matches in years.
Impact received a big spike in viewership with the Final Deletion hype, as last week they drew 322,000 viewers, and 302,000 the week before. Will they be able to retain their new momentum?
Perhaps the biggest question is what happens next? The stipulation of the match was that the two can't wrestle anymore, which could leave the hyper-campiness off for now. But this is wrestling, so really, this could still be just the beginning for them. And more importantly, how can this possibly be topped?
Will this be the new norm in TNA? If so, what happens to the rest of the feuds? It's kind of hard to get invested in something like Drew Galloway's quest to get his title back from Bobby Lashley, when it happens on the same show where Matt Hardy attacks his brother with an army of mini-drones.
Time will tell what this all means, but the company may be forced to head into a bold, and bizarre new direction.