TNA going prime time on WGN
May 29, 2005
BY BLACKJACK BROWN Advertisement
Jeff Jarrett and a cast of hundreds launched a new wrestling promotion a few years ago with a revolutionary idea: Have a pay-per-view event every week from the same arena and try to get fans to pony up a few bucks to see fresh talent instead of trying to fill buildings across the country while chasing some sort of TV deal.
It worked for a short time, and fans started to get an idea that TNA was putting on some five-star matches. It was enough for the company to get a regional cable deal with Fox Sports Net, but now TNA is ready to step into the TV ring head-to-head with WWE. Soon TNA is expected to sign a deal to broadcast nationally on WGN -- and has been rumored to be headed for a Monday night (8 to 10) time slot. This will put the top two wrestling promotions on national TV the same night. Granted, TNA will not provide the same ratings fight that WCW ''Nitro'' gave ''Raw,'' but the fact remains that the best time in recent wrestling history was when WWE had some competition.
AROUND THE RING: In late July at a Border City Wrestling show, Jim Neidhart and Bret ''The Hitman'' Hart will re-form the ''Hart Foundation.'' ... After taking nine months to recover from serous injuries, Sabu returned to the ring last week. ... In its fall lineup, UPN has moved ''SmackDown'' to Friday night.
May 29, 2005
BY BLACKJACK BROWN Advertisement
Jeff Jarrett and a cast of hundreds launched a new wrestling promotion a few years ago with a revolutionary idea: Have a pay-per-view event every week from the same arena and try to get fans to pony up a few bucks to see fresh talent instead of trying to fill buildings across the country while chasing some sort of TV deal.
It worked for a short time, and fans started to get an idea that TNA was putting on some five-star matches. It was enough for the company to get a regional cable deal with Fox Sports Net, but now TNA is ready to step into the TV ring head-to-head with WWE. Soon TNA is expected to sign a deal to broadcast nationally on WGN -- and has been rumored to be headed for a Monday night (8 to 10) time slot. This will put the top two wrestling promotions on national TV the same night. Granted, TNA will not provide the same ratings fight that WCW ''Nitro'' gave ''Raw,'' but the fact remains that the best time in recent wrestling history was when WWE had some competition.
AROUND THE RING: In late July at a Border City Wrestling show, Jim Neidhart and Bret ''The Hitman'' Hart will re-form the ''Hart Foundation.'' ... After taking nine months to recover from serous injuries, Sabu returned to the ring last week. ... In its fall lineup, UPN has moved ''SmackDown'' to Friday night.
