TNA President Dixie Carter confirmed today that the company’s flagship TV show, Impact Wrestling, will remain on Spike TV through the end of 2014.
“Impact Wrestling will remain a vital part of Spike TV’s programming on Wednesday nights, 9/8c, through the end of the year. Negotiations remain ongoing beyond this time frame,” Carter said in a statement released Wednesday.
The TNA-Spike TV deal had been set to expire at the end of September. It had seemed up until the past few weeks that the two sides were close to a deal when rumors surfaced that Spike had suddenly indicated to TNA that it was breaking off negotiations.
A recent interview with Kurt Angle on 105,9 The X in Pittsburgh with Mark Madden offered a possible reason why negotiations would have broken off.
“I don’t think it’s ever been an issue that Spike no longer wanted TNA. I think TNA is probably asking for more money and Spike wants to give them what they did before,” Angle told Madden. “I believe it has a lot to do with the agency that TNA signed with, UTA. They’re showing that TNA has value and that they are worth more. Other networks have been considered, so I think TNA would like to stay on Spike. It’s just a matter of where they can meet in the middle to make it happen.”
Angle, it has been reported, is seriously considering a return to WWE when his own contract comes up next month. Another top TNA star, Bully Ray, is reported to be done with the company now that his contract has come to a finish, though his status is uncertain.
Shoring up the TV situation would seem to be a top priority as TNA looks to rebuild for the future. A year ago at this time, the company’s roster still included Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, Sting and AJ Styles, among others who have left the company in the past 12 months.
– Column by Chris Graham
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