According to a source within TNA, the backstage reaction to the low 1.0 rating that the 3/8 edition of Impact brought in was met with a certain amount of panic amongst the higher ups in the company.
Before the rating came in, everyone in management, including Dixie Carter, Eric Bischoff, Hulk Hogan, Vince Russo, Ed Ferrara and Mike Tenay were walking around as if this was 1997 all over again, and the wars were in full effect. But when the rating finally came in, everyone was dejected, and virtually stunned. Dixie tried her best to put on a game face, but she was clearly reeling from the news.
Additionally, I was told that Mick Foley was trying to sell it to the talent as a great effort that will get noticed, but the crew all knew there’s very little positive that could come out of this rating.
Plus, there is enormous second guessing running through the locker room on the desperate message it sends to use Jeff Hardy. Although Jeff is very popular with all the talent, a lot of people are worried that if Jeff is convicted on even one federal felony drug charge, then TNA will have some major damage control to do. Being so far behind in ratings, no measurable increase in PPV buys yet, and house shows doing ok but not in middle sized arenas yet, there is a lot of concern that Dixie talks a great game but doesn’t have what it takes to compete with Vince McMahon.
Nick was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, and lived there until the age of 18, when he decided to pack his flack jacket and move to New York City.
