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WEEKLY OVERVIEW – IMPACT WRESTLING (thru 11/16): Viewership drops, Pop TV future, Trevor Lee departing, TV tapings, schedule, big event updates, social media, interview highlights, commentary on Impact regaining lost fan interest

By Landon Pipkin, PWTorch Contributor

November 17, 2018

SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...

•Top Stories of the Week

  • Thursday’s Impact Wrestling episode, drew 101,000 viewers which is down 22 percent from last week’s 129,000 viewers. (SOURCE)
  • Multiple sources have claimed Trevor Lee’s contract with Impact Wrestling ends on December 31, 2018. (SOURCE)
  • Despite Impact’s TV deal ending this year, it seems they will remain on Pop TV for the beginning of 2019. (Source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter 11/19/2018)
  • The Rascalz (Dezmond Xavier & Trey Miguel & Zachary Wentz) will be making their Impact debut in two weeks. (SOURCE)
  • The Dec. 20 and 27 episodes of Impact Wrestling will be “Best of” shows. These shows will consist of matches/segments chosen by fans. (SOURCE)
  • VIP Tickets for Homecoming go on sale on Monday, November 19 and individual tickets go on sale Monday, November 26. (SOURCE)

•Live Event Results

*TV Taping Spoilers*

11/11/2018 – Impact Vegas, Sam’s Town Casino, Las Vegas, Nev. – RESULTS AT PWTORCH

11/12/2018 – Impact Vegas, Sam’s Town Casino, Las Vegas, Nev. – RESULTS AT PROWRESTLING.NET

11/13/2018 – Impact Vegas, Sam’s Town Casino, Las Vegas, Nev. – RESULTS AT PROWRESTLING.NET

•Upcoming Major Show Line-up: Homecoming in Nashville

Impact Homecoming
January 6, 2019
Nashville, Tenn. at the Fairgrounds

(1) Johnny Impact (c) vs. Brian Cage – Impact World Championship match

(2) Tessa Blanchard (c) vs. Taya Valkyrie – Impact Knockouts Championship match.

(More matches haven’t been announced, but are listed HERE.)

•Upcoming Events

  • 11/30/2018 – Gold Rush, Newark Pavilion, Newark, Calif.
  • 12/1/2018 – One Night Only: Back to Cali, Salinas Pal Youth Center, Salinas, Calif.
  • 1/6/2019 – Homecoming, The Asylum, Nashville, Tenn.
  • 1/7/2019 – Impact Live, The Asylum, Nashville, Tenn.
  • 1/25/2019 – Battle of Brooklyn, St. Pats CYO Sports, Brooklyn, N.Y.
  • 1/26/2019 – One Night Only: New Beginnings, Holy Family Academy, Hazleton, Pa.
  • 2/15/2019 – Impact Live, Sam’s Town Casino, Las Vegas, Nev.
  • 2/16/2019 – Impact Live, Sam’s Town Casino, Las Vegas, Nev.
  • 2/17/2019 – Impact Live, Sam’s Town Casino, Las Vegas, Nev.
  • 3/22/2019 – Impact Tapings, St. Clair College, Windsor, Ont.
  • 3/23/2019 – Impact Tapings, St. Clair College, Windsor, Ont.
  • 4/4/2019 – Culture Clash 2019, 9112 144th Place, Queens, N.Y

•Latest TV Highlights: (11/15 Impact Wrestling)

Impact Wrestling from Nov. 15, 2018, from Sam’s Town Casino, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Aired on Pop TV at 10 p.m. EST.

Announcers: Josh Matthews and Don Callis.

(1) Tessa Blanchard (c) defeated Ray Lyn – Non-title match.

-After the match, Tessa called out Taya Valkyrie, then Taya hit the ring and announced she’s challenging for the Knockouts title at Homecoming.

-In the casino, KM told Fallah Bahh they will face LAX tonight.

(2) LAX (w/Konnan) (c) defeated KM & Fallah Bahh – Non-title match.

-Backstage, Mckenzie Mitchell interviewed Heather Monroe. Kiera Hogan approached Monroe and warned her that Su Yung is very dangerous.

-LAX were backstage celebrating their win with Konnan. Santana said they should give the Lucha Bros a title shot, but Konnan quickly shut that idea down.

-In the ring, Eli Drake cut a promo saying he is the last of a dying breed. Tommy Dreamer made his way to the ring, and took shots at Drake’s attire. Dreamer then gave Drake a history lesson on professional wrestling. Drake and Dreamer teased a fight tonight, then Drake backed-off and left.

-Backstage, Scarlett Bordeaux approached the referees, she said that she loves men with power and authority.

(3) Johnny Impact (c) defeated Matt Sydal (w/Ethan Page) – Non-title match.

-After the match, Killer Kross came out and accepted defeat from last week. Kross then offered his services to Impact, but he declined the offer.

-Backstage, Eddie Edwards jumped Moose, but he was restrained by three doctors.

(4) Su Yung defeated Heather Monroe

-After the match, Yung beat down Monroe, but Kiera Hogan made the save. Allie appeared as “Dark” Allie, then Yung attacked Hogan from behind. Allie and Yung held hands as they left.

(5) Brian Cage (c) defeated Sami Callihan (w/oVe) – X Division Championship match.

-After the match, Cage announced he is cashing in the X Division title, in January, at Homecoming.

For a more detailed report and analysis check out the full PWTorch.com TV Report HERE.

•LATEST PWTORCH LIVECAST COVERING IMPACT

PWTorch.com’s Mike McMahon and Andrew Soucek discuss Impact Wrestling! They take listener emails on Impact’s TV future and other topics. They discuss Brian Cage cashing in Option-C at Homecoming, Johnny Impact vs. Matt Sydal, and Cage vs. Sami Callihan.

-On Tune In Radio HERE
-On Apple Podcasts HERE
-Or search “PWTorch” or “Pro Wrestling Torch” on your podcast app of choice

•Impact in the Media

  • Pentagon Jr, Fenix, and Taya Valkyrie were on the Impact Wrestling press pass this week. Topics ranged from Survivor, sports, and what they like best about Lucha libre wrestling.
  • Brian Cage was interviewed by The Mirror this past week. Cage expressed that he wants to be remembered as the most unique X division champion. He also discussed future goals with Impact, dream matches, and the current state of Indy wrestling.

•Social Media Scene

https://twitter.com/MrsAIPAlisha/status/1062855636847865856

https://twitter.com/ReyFenixMx/status/1061393308877025280

•Closing Commentary

Impact Wrestling is widely considered the third largest pro wrestling company in the U.S., behind Ring of Honor and of course WWE. Impact will never overtake WWE as the top wrestling promotion, but they could overtake ROH if they were to make a few changes to their schedule.

The biggest change they need to make is simplifying their PPV schedule. Hopefully, they are going to start running quarterly PPVs, but why are “One Night Only” PPVs still a thing? The One Night Only PPVs do not follow storylines that take place on TV and they are aired on a dying platform that has numerous technical errors.

TV tapings are now bi-monthly/monthly depending on the season. If tapings stay monthly, that would help keep storylines fresh and it would be easier to make storyline changes if talent departs.

Obviously, Impact can’t afford to run live events every week, but they should get on a consistent live event schedule. Even if it’s only once or twice a month, it would be better than what they currently run. Also, air these live events on Twitch. At least then you can receive capital from tips and subscribers. Another major mistake they are making is partnering up with regional indy promotions. It’s not because I hate indy wrestling, but if you want people to take your company seriously, you can’t be seen on the level of those promotions.

In conclusion, if Impact could run monthly TV tapings, promote live events, and clean up their PPV model, some fans may change their overall perspective of the company. Impact can’t afford to ignore their fans like larger promotions can (WWE). Impact’s viewership has drastically dropped off this year and the excitement for the Scott D’Amore and Don Callis era has gone away. Things need to change and change fast before it’s too late.

NOW CHECK OUT OTHER WEEKLY OVERVIEWS HERE.

OR JUMP TO LAST WEEK’S IMPACT OVERVIEW: WEEKLY OVERVIEW – IMPACT WRESTLING (thru 11/16): Impact viewership rebounding a bit in new timeslot, Josh Matthews downplays timeslot change, schedule, big event updates, social media, interview highlights, commentary on Homecoming

Landon Pipkin has been a pro wrestling MMA fan for over a decade. e is from Raleigh, North Carolina. Find him on Twitter @pipkinbrand. Email: pipkinlandon@gmail.com

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