The Rise & Fall Of TNA | Wrestling Timelines

19. October 4, 2007 | Rights Fee

Despite the Last Rites match, the Electrified Steel Cage debacle at Lockdown, the Black Reign character, Chris Sabin parodying Jerry Lynn’s age by wearing an adult diaper, the introduction of Rellik (which if you could not tell is ‘Killer’ spelt backwards, but was played by actual WCW relic Johnny The Bull), Kurt Angle Vs. Samoa Joe descending into comedy when Joe stole Kurt’s clothes, and so, so many other awful moments, TNA receives a modicum of money that isn’t supplied by a beleaguered Panda Energy when Impact goes to two hours. 

This is good, but the PPV buys have plummeted, suggesting that the 18% viewership increase touted by TNA upon announcing the deal extension was driven by the time slot change from 11 to 9PM, and not any surge in popularity. Spike finally ponies up, paying TNA $24M per year, if you believe Jeff Jarrett. This is as reasonable as one could expect. TNA is growing, marginally, but the stigma remains.