News and Notes from the Torch

[TNABaddboi 0]

Saw this on another board:

 

CORNETTE SIGNS WITH TNA

 

One of the best talkers in the history of the industry, and also one of the most volatile personalities behind the scenes, has agreed to work for TNA. Cornette was always on TNA's radar as a potential on-air talent since he is a great talker and gets along well with Jeff Jarrett as the two go back to the territory days in the 1980s. Until a year ago, Cornette was the head writer for OVW, WWE's top developmental territory. He had remained a part of OVW in helping owner Danny Davis promote his local events even after he was removed as head writer (a slot eventually filled by Paul Heyman).

 

Despite the relaunch of ECW, which is expected to take Heyman away from his OVW TV writing duties once ECW begins a full-time schedule this summer, Cornette is not considered a candidate to return to his post. For one, he considers himself still burned out after booking for so many years dating back to his days running Smoky Mountain Wrestling (and being a member of the WCW booking committee and WWF writing team at times before that). Also, he and John Laurenaitis don't get along, and Cornette isn't seen as easy to work with by WWE brass.

 

Cornette, though, didn't want to work for TNA until the OVW tape library was sold to WWE and he received whatever share he had coming. That library purchase was completed last week (subscribers to the OVW tape service were notified last week that they would no longer be distributed because WWE owns the rights, and thus refunds were offered for all presold tapes), so now he "has nothing to lose" by working for WWE's competition. He has recently been working a few shows for ROH and acting as the commissioner of the promotion. He will remain in that position despite also having an on-air role with TNA in upcoming months.

 

In a statement released on Ring of Honor's website, where Cornette is the on-air authority figure for ROH, Cornette said, "I have verbally agreed to a limited number of TNA dates. This will not interfere with my Ring of Honor commitments. I am committed to Ring of Honor dates throughout this year and beyond."

 

There is some question about when Cornette can begin working for TNA since he is scheduled to have surgery soon and won't be able to travel for up to eight weeks. Cornette isn't expected to be a candidate to be part of the booking committee (he's not good with "compromise" or "humoring" co-bookers he finds to be on a different page than him or incompetent). Also, Cornette has an aversion to flying, and isn't willing to relocate to Orlando, Fla. where TNA tapes television once or twice a month. Also, he still considers himself burned out as a booker and needs more time to recharge before he'd consider an offer.

 

Cornette may be utilized as an authority figure, similar to in ROH, or as a manager. Cornette was utilized by the WWF during Raw's low point in the Monday Night Wars, to speak out against WCW on air. He would be capable of doing the same thing for TNA, should TNA decide to take a more overly aggressive approach in defining its differences from WWE. However, such an approach would seem like a copy of what Joey Styles did last week on Raw, so that opportunity may have passed. Cornette is said to be a fan of TNA's product, as the key aspects that offend him about the WWE product aren't present in TNA's product.

 

TNA wanted Cornette's debut to be a surprise, but word got out when is name was listed on a promotional document that got out.

 

FOUR WEEKS IN: THURSDAY ANALYSIS

 

To put in perspective the ratings trend of Spike TV's Thursday block, here's a breakdown of quarter hours: UFC Unleashed (the "best of" show featuring fights) drew quarter hours of 0.90, 1.03, 1.17, and 1.39. Then The Ultimate Fighter (the reality series which concludes with a new fight each week between contestants) drew quarters of 1.54, 1.67, 1.66, and 2.08. Basically, there was a steady build throughout the night, with only one statistically insignificant drop of a hundredth of a rating point during TUF. Then TNA Impact drew quarters of 1.13, 0.85, 0.82, and 0.77.

 

There are several ways to interpret numbers, but none are positive as far as Sting's current drawing power. The conclusion of the "Deal of No Deal" segment drew the lowest quarter hour of the entire night, and a full tenth of a point drop from the previous quarter hour. The previous week, for the original "Deal or No Deal" segment (when the majority of viewers didn't know what was planned, i.e. Lex Luger and Buff Bagwell making appearances), the quarter hour rating went up from 0.79 to 0.85 and was the second-highest quarter hour of the show despite airing late at night. It's natural for the rating to drop over the course of a show that begins at 11 p.m. ET, so unlike shows in primetime, the quarter hour trends have to be judged differently.) However, on Apr. 13 when TNA concluded Impact with Sting's "first match on national basic cable in five years," it nearly topped the opening quarter hour rating (1.2 for Q1/1.1 for Q4). On Apr. 20, when the show concluded with Jeff Jarrett & AMW vs. Team 3D (including the return of Spike Dudley/Brother Runt), the final quarter was around 33 percent lower than the opening quarter (1.2 for Q1, 0.9 for Q4). Then, the first "Deal or No Deal" drew nearly the same rating as the opening match (1.0 for Q1, 0.9 for Q2). So TNA has had mixed results in keeping viewers tuned in, or at least coming back after tuning out during the middle two quarters.

 

What that translates to, keeping in mind these are slivers of ratings fractions in an imperfect system that has a pretty decent-sized margin of error, is that viewers weren't intrigued by what they saw with Luger and Bagwell the week before, and didn't care to see what Sting had in store for Jarrett for part two (which was Rick Steiner) on last week's show.

 

As for retaining the audience of The Ultimate Fighter, TNA has been pretty consistent in the ratings it has drawn for the opening quarter, regardless of what viewership levels are for the lead-in. Their opening quarter hour rating has been 1.2, 1.2, 1.0 and 1.1 the last four weeks. What has changed is the lead-in audience, which was low in week one (1.3 for the entire TUF hour), high in week two (1.9), average in week three (1.6), and above-average last week (1.7). Other than the first week, there seems to be a small correlation between a stronger lead-in ratings for TUF and what Impact draws.

 

What's not great is losing half of the TUF audience right off the bat. That can't blamed on timeslot alone, since although 11 p.m. is later than 10 p.m. and a less desirable timeslot, 10:45 isn't much later than 11 p.m., and the first week TNA aired on Thursday, it retained 85 percent of the audience for The Ultimate Fighter. So if TNA were booking its shows strategically to try to win over TUF viewers, they should be gaining viewers as the TUF ratings go up. They're not. Opening with a Team Canada tag match in week two (with the Team Canada ring intro kicking off the show) may have been the killer moment, which communicated to TUF viewers that wrestling is as hokey as ever and TNA was no different than WWE. They haven't been willing to sample TNA since then. Last week's opening match (following a poorly acted and corny brief opening segment with Jerermy Borash, Gail Kim, and Jackie Gayda) featured a tag title match with America's Most Wanted vs. A.J. Styles & Christopher Daniels. However, there was no backstory provided by bookings leading into the match in previous weeks, no compelling storyline viewers had been teased with, and no explanation for how Styles & Daniels suddenly got a tag title shot. While Daniels vs. Samoa Joe drew the strongest opening quarter hour to date, despite having by far the weakest lead-in rating, TNA has not followed up with an opening match featuring Samoa Joe since.

 

The biggest dropoff on last week's show was from Q1 to Q2 when the World X Cup tag match took place between Team Mexico and Team Canada, which is a match that's difficult to justify putting on TV when TNA has only one hour to establish new stars. It's tough to imagine anybody believes Shocker, Magno, or Team Canada is anything but a detriment to TNA's growth other than those on the booking committee who scheduled that match.

 

TNA CEO KEVIN DAY QUITS COMPANY

 

TNA CEO Kevin Day resigned as CEO of the company in April when he turned in his one-month notice. His last day with the company is Friday, May 13. One source close to the TNA office tells PWTorch, "Kevin Day quit because he got a better job." With no wrestling experience, Kevin Day was positioned as TNA CEO after being plucked from the Panda Energy office in Dallas. He began his tenure in February with the mandate to clean up the finances in TNA. However, Day became frustrated by the political nature of the TNA office, including Jeff Jarrett. Day comes from the corporate business environment with a strict focus on the financial bottom line. He found the TNA atmosphere frustrating and realized it wasn't where he wanted to spent key years of his corporate life. He is 37 years old.

 

Day replaced former CEO, Frank Dickerson, who was let go by TNA co-owner Bob Carter in 2005. Dickerson was very well liked among wrestlers and staff, as almost a father or grandfather figure. Day was seen as a corporate climber who was a company-man and all about business, but sharp and a quick learner. "It's no surprise he didn't last," says one source. "This isn't an atmosphere that welcomes strong personalities from the outside."

 

RAVEN DISCUSSES HEALTH RECOVERY

 

Raven, who recently returned to TNA to pick up his feud with Larry Zbyszko, was the guest for TNA's monthly conference call with the media on May 9. He said he took ten weeks off from the wrestling business to lie in bed watching TV to recover from his various health problems. "I really abused myself for a long, long time," he said. Raven also said he was the number one draft choice in the "wrestling death pool" for a while before he cleaned himself up. He said he feels re-energized and in love with his mistress, the wrestling business, again. He said he's committed to TNA and he's not interested in being part of WWE's revitalization of the ECW brand.

 

NWA PRO TO RUN TNA HOUSE SHOWS

 

The NWA Pro promotion will be running TNA-branded house shows in major markets this summer featuring TNA talent. The shows are being branded similar to Hermie Sadler's UWF-TNA house shows on the East Coast. NWA Pro is tentatively scheduled for the Orleans Arena on August 10 in Las Vegas, which holds up to 10,000 people. The promotion is also seeking 2,000 to 3,000-seat arenas in the Boston and Washington, D.C. area to run TNA brand shows on July 1 and 2. Other markets being sought include Detroit and New Mexico. NWA Pro is able to utilize the TNA brand, logo, and contracted talent on advertisements for the shows due to the working licensing agreement signed between the NWA and TNA.

 

TNA NOTEBOOK

 

In Week Four of Impact on Thursday nights, the May 4 show averaged 1.0 million viewers. The show averaged a 1.0 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 1.1 rating in the 18-34 demographic. Over the first four weeks of Impact on Thursday nights, Impact is averaging a 1.0 overall rating. Over that same span in the 18-49 demographic, Impact has averaged a 1.2 rating and in the 18-34 demographic, Impact has averaged a 1.4 rating... TNA has had strong advanced ticket sales for the June 9 "Hardcore War" house show at the ECW Arena in Philadelphia. Samoa Joe vs. A.J. Styles vs. Christopher Daniels is the advertised main event... Petey Williams vs. Jushin Liger has been added to the May 14 Sacrifice PPV card. As of press time, the PPV line up is: Jeff Jarrett & Scott Steiner vs. Sting & Samoa Joe, Christian Cage vs. Abyss for the NWA Title, AMW vs. A.J. Styles & Christopher Daniels for the NWA Tag Titles, Jushin Liger vs. Petey Williams, and a 16-man gauntlet match for the World X Cup trophy... Monty Brown, who has been off TNA TV for two months following knee surgery, returned to the ring on April 29 in Germany...

 

Dixie Carter is giving the impression to people that TNA is finally turning a profit and therefore, even flat Thursday ratings aren't of concern to her. She has been given no indications from Spike TV that the TV deal is in jeopardy of being cancelled or not renewed through at least the end of the year. Spike is happy with the demographic performance for the show. It's relatively cheap programming, still with a big upside, and delivers better target-demo ratings than most of their programs throughout the week. That said, sources say Spike TV keeps a close eye on the program and wants to see ratings improvement after the NBA playoffs end

 

thoughts?

[2GOLD 0]

Monty Brown, who has been off TNA TV for two months following knee surgery, returned to the ring on April 29 in Germany

 

I didn't know he had knee surgery, I thought he was just sitting at home for no reason. Glad to know there was a reason.

[RedJed 0]

It doesnt matter if they are turning a profit finally or not, this company needs some serious motivation, whatever it takes, to get their asses in gear and start putting on a top to bottom kick ass product. The workrate is there, and I think it basically lies with management overall (or a lack thereof) and the booking is too basic and it never gets characters or feuds over. Their identity is non-existant and if they don't do something now, I fear when ECW comes back into the fold, this company is going to have some serious troubles. Cornette needs to be involved in the writing intially to see what he can bring to the table. The current booking committee is spinning their wheels basically if you ask me.

 

Can you tell the product is boring me?

[Guest El Satanico]

The rating trend seems to indicate that viewers aren't into extended talking segments. Hopefully this week the reveal happens quicker.

[razazteca 0]

Can you tell the product is boring me?

The rating trend seems to indicate that viewers aren't into extended talking segments

What that translates to, keeping in mind these are slivers of ratings fractions in an imperfect system that has a pretty decent-sized margin of error, is that viewers weren't intrigued by what they saw with Luger and Bagwell the week before, and didn't care to see what Sting had in store for Jarrett for part two (which was Rick Steiner) on last week's show.

Jeff Jarrett is not a draw. Nobody wants to see JJ talk so you know that means that in the coming weeks Jim Cornette will be his manager.

[Magus 0]

Not a bad idea, actually. Cornette's a talented talker, so maybe if JJ shut up and Corny did the talking, he'd actually be... entertaining.

[luke-o 0]

Corenett is a an awesome promo man and should be great in TNA.

 

But i feel that he'll be face as Zbysko was Heel.

[Guest Chris Xtreme]

It doesnt matter if they are turning a profit finally or not, this company needs some serious motivation, whatever it takes, to get their asses in gear and start putting on a top to bottom kick ass product. The workrate is there, and I think it basically lies with management overall (or a lack thereof) and the booking is too basic and it never gets characters or feuds over. Their identity is non-existant and if they don't do something now, I fear when ECW comes back into the fold, this company is going to have some serious troubles. Cornette needs to be involved in the writing intially to see what he can bring to the table. The current booking committee is spinning their wheels basically if you ask me.

 

Can you tell the product is boring me?

 

I know things aren't perfect but I don't think they are that bad. I mean things are a lot better than they were during the FSN era. At least Macho Man, Randy Savage, Jeff Hardy, DDP, Scott Hall and Kevin Nash aren't hogging the spotlight. Now you got guys like Somoa Joe in the mix. Abyss is being giving a high profile fued. Christian Cage is a hot free agent signing that isn't damaged goods. They have a lot of talented performers in the X division. And of course their is AJ Styles, Daniels and all the rest of the mainstays. Sting is actually a decent draw and Stiener isn't too bad in his current role. Like you said the workrate is there. I think their PPV's have been pretty exciting for months. I get more excited for a TNA PPV than I do for the WWE ones these days. Sure, there are things they could do better. But I get the impression that they are improving as they go a long. Things are no where near as bad as some of WCW's missteps.

 

Turning a profit doesn't matter? Actually if they could turn a profit it would be huge. It would keep Panda Energy happy for one thing, as well as Spike TV. Not to mention that this is a business, the object is the turn a profit. Turning a profit means that TNA can be a long term operation. It could lead to bigger and better things. If things could get really good, maybe they can even offer down side guarentees similar to the WWE. I know thats a long way off, but you got to start somewhere. But my point is making a profit is very important.

[luke-o 0]

I didn't know he had knee surgery, I thought he was just sitting at home for no reason. Glad to know there was a reason.

 

i was wondering why i was enjoying TNA so much this month, i didnt have to see his useless waste of air time face.

[Astro101 0]

Sorry, but I need more Monty on my TNA telecasts. I miss the POOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUUUUUNCEEEEEEEE! Period.

[luke-o 0]

I wouldnt have a problem wityh Brown if he was consistent in the ring and his promos werent so lame.

[razazteca 0]

Actually Monty's promos are better than anything Jeff Jarrett ever did but that ain't saying much.

[Maztinho 0]

Monty is inoffensive on the mic for me. I'd rather have him than "I'm Kip James, bitch!" At the end of another DX-eque tirade from Billy Gunn. It's sad that he and Road Dogg are just playing the same old characters that the WWE didn't want anymore. Only suckier.

[Guest El Satanico]

Based on the DX rumors, WWe may want their old characters

[luke-o 0]

Id' be gutted if they left TNA. I am a mark for the James Gang.