Ray's UK Rating's Report: Week Ending August 14th 2011

Courtesy of the Broadcaster's Audience Research Board (BARB) here are the UK TV ratings for wrestling programming that ranked in the top 10's for their respective channels on the week ending August 14th 2011:

1	TNA PRESENTS IMPACT WRESTLING (Tue, Challenge , 2200)	241,000
2	TNA HARDCORE JUSTICE PPV (Wed, Challenge, 2201)	214,000
3	WWE LATE NIGHT RAW – LIVE (Mon, Sky Sport 3, 2600)	129,000
4	WWE LATE NIGHT SMACKDOWN (Fri, Sky Sports 4, 2233)	101,000
5	TNA XPLOSION (Wed, Challenge, 2200)	Under 177,000
6	WWE EXPERIENCE (Sun, Sky Sports 4, 1730)	25,000

Despite a drop from last week's all time high viewership record, it's another impressive showing from IMPACT Wrestling on Challenge as it not only remains the most watched wrestling show in the UK and Ireland, but once again outdraws the competition with more viewers than WWE Raw and Smackdown COMBINED. The show garnered 241,000 viewers (down 56,000 viewers [18.9%] from last week) for the Tuesday August 9th episode headlined by an RVD/Crimson vs. Scott Steiner/Gunner main event and the contract signing for Kurt Angle vs. Sting at Hardcore Justice.

Speaking of the Pay-Per View, TNA Hardcore Justice, which featured a highly anticipated World Title bout between Sting and Kurt Angle, garnered 214,000 viewers for it's airing on Wednesday the 10th. This was a rise of 34,000 viewers [18.9%] from last months pay-per view, TNA Destination X and up 10,000 viewers from the previous most watched pay-per view - Sacrifice. This means Hardcore Justice becomes the most watched TNA pay-per view event ever broadcast on UK television.

WWE RAW drew 129,000 viewers, equalling last weeks numbers, for it's Monday August 8th episode which featured the CM Punk/John Cena contract signing for their Summerslam bout as well as an R-Truth vs. John Morrison main event.

WWE's other flagship show, Smackdown, garnered 101,000 viewers (down 25,000 viewers [19.8%] from last week and the second consecutive ratings drop for the show.) for the Friday August 12th edition which was headlined by a Randy Orton vs. Great Khali Main Event.

Here's how the total's look for the year to date since IMPACT's return to UK Television on Challenge:

Weekly Ratings Wins so far (2011)*:
IMPACT Wrestling – 23
WWE RAW – 2
WWE Smackdown – 2

*Based on first showing viewing figures, not inclusive of +1 or replay figures.

Vince Russo and Hulk Hogan involved in heated argument

Photo Courtesy IMPACTWrestling.com

According to ProWrestling.net, TNA Head Writer Vince Russo and Hulk Hogan engaged in a heated argument last Sunday at Hardcore Justice regarding the finish to the World Heavyweight Championship Match between Sting and Kurt Angle. Hogan later grumbled to colleagues that Russo doesn’t know anything because he was never a wrestler.

The two former World Heavyweight Champions made up at the following day’s iMPACT! Wrestling tapings. There was, however, noticeable tension among the organization’s high ranking officials in the days that followed. Several employees feel it did more damage to a locker room already low in morale.

There has also been internal complaints regarding Eric Bischoff as many wrestlers feel he’s arrogant and snobbish. His criticisms over in-ring performances fall on deaf ears because some wrestlers don’t respect his opinion regarding their craft. An Eight-Man X Division Gauntlet Match that was originally taped on Tuesday was re-shot the following day because Bischoff didn’t like it.

Thoughts on TNA Hardcore Justice 2011

Photo Courtesy of ImpactWrestling.com

Now that the much-anticipated Kurt Angle-Sting match at TNA's Hardcore Justice pay-per-view is history, there are more questions than answers regarding Kurt Angle, but at least one thing is certain - On Sunday night, Kurt Angle became "the man" once again in TNA Wrestling.

Here's a match by match look at the show:

Kurt Angle defeated Sting to become World Heavyweight Champion
I doubt there were many that saw this ending coming. Sure, we all figured on Hogan's potential involvement in the bout given it's importance to his position of power, but boy we didn't bank on Angle using a chair to gain the title, especially after his insistence on beating Sting cleanly.

Given the staredown at the show's close, it certainly didn't appear that Kurt Angle has joined the ranks of Immortal. Was this simply Kurt's "win at all costs" mentality? Or are there ulterior motives at play? I guess we'll have to wait until this weeks edition of IMPACT Wrestling to find out.

Thoughts on IMPACT Wrestling: August 4th 2011

Photo Courtesy of ImpactWrestling.com

Thought I'd give my quick thoughts on this weeks edition of IMPACT Wrestling as we lead in to Hardcore Justice tonight. A word of warning to my UK readers though, this episode dosen't air in the UK and Ireland until Tuesday night, at 10pm on Challenge. If you haven't watched early then I recommend you give this a miss until Tuesday Night or Wednesday morning, otherwise click "Read More" to proceed.

*Potential Spoiler* Former X-Division Star backstage at Hardcore Justice

There are reports that a former TNA X-Division star is backstage at Universal Studios where the Hardcore Justice Pay-Per View event is set to take place tonight. This wrestler is not advertised for the show and thus this is potentially a spoiler. Should you not wish to spoil any potential surprises I recommend giving this article a miss, otherwise if you want to know his identity, click the "Read More" option to proceed.

*Spoilers* Two new TNA Hardcore Justice Matches revealed

Photo Courtesy IMPACTWrestling.com

IMPACT Wrestling / TNA Entertainment have announced two new matches for August 7th's Hardcore Justice Pay-Per view. Be warned though, neither match has been announced on IMPACT Wrestling as yet so these are potential spoilers for upcoming episodes. Should you wish to avoid any spoilers DO NOT READ ON, otherwise click the "Read More" option to continue.

*Spoiler* Current creative plans for TNA Hardcore Justice and beyond

Photo Courtesy IMPACTWrestling.com

The following article contains significant spoilers for the upcoming IMPACT Wrestling Pay-Per view, I strongly recommend you avoid reading should you wish to maintain the element of surprise for the event. Otherwise, click the "Read More" option to proceed.

What happened @TNA Xplosion - July 27th 2011

The following article was originally published at 1Wrestling.com, you can view the original piece here.

Ray Mullan reporting for 1Wrestling.com. This week on TNA Xplosion, the Xplosion Championship Challenge heats up as we reach the halfway point of the Quarter Finals. One half of the British Invasion, Magnus, goes face to face with Ink Inc's "Prince of Punk" Shannon Moore for a place in the Semi final, find out what went down and much more...

Thoughts on IMPACT Wrestling: July 26th 2011

Photo Courtesy IMPACTWrestling.com

THIS WEEK ON IMPACT Wrestling:

• Opening promo saw Sting gave his first address following his World Title win, joined by Kurt Angle who promised to win at Hardcore Justice and Bully Ray and Mr. Anderson set-up a tag match between the four for tonight's main event.
• Rob Van Dam d. Scott Steiner via Schoolboy Roll-up, to gain 7 points in the Bound For Glory Series
• Mickie James called out Velvet Sky and offered her a Knockouts Title match on the show. However she reminded Velvet she intends to win it. Winter interrupted to inform that it matters not which one of them wins, they'll be losing to her at Hardcore Justice.
• Tara & Ms. Tessmacher d. Rosita & Sarita to win the Knockouts Tag-Team Titles
• Matt Morgan d. AJ Stlyes, Gunner & Samoa Joe in a Four Way Ladder Match to gain 10 points in the Bound For Glory Series.
• Brian Kendrick d. Alex Shelley via unseen interference from Austin Aries to retain the X-Division Championship.
• Beer Money confronted Mexican America ahead of their Tag-Title bout at Hardcore Justice
• Mickie James vs. Velvet Sky ended in a no contest following an attack by ODB and Jackie who were subsequently arrested and removed from the IMPACT Zone.
• Sting & Kurt Angle d. Mr. Anderson & Bully Ray
• Sting and Kurt shared a tense handshake before Kurt pulled Sting face to face. Sting asked "Did i go too far? Or not far enough?" as the show came to a close.

Kudos to IMPACT Wrestling's Simon Edwards, who put together a stunning opening video to this weeks show, great stuff. We opened this week, predictably with a promo. But it happened to be the Stinger, so I was particularly happy with that. I personally love Sting's new persona. I know there's many out there that can do nothing but cringe at Sting's Heath Ledger-esque Joker impersonation, but I guess it's a result of seeing a guy who's established himself and his character in a particular way, suddenly act very differently than were all used to. But I'm assuming that that's exactly what the creative team at IMPACT Wrestling want! Besides, the commentators and Sting's actions have dropped occasional hints that his "insanity" is nothing more than a scare tactic he's deploying to get to Hulk Hogan.

The DVD Ray-View: TNA Hardcore Justice 2010

The special double disc HardCORE Justice DVD is out now featuring the full 3hr ppv plus interviews, Q&A’s and other bonus extras. The match list is as follows:

1. The FBI (Little Guido, Tony Mamaluke, & Tracy Smothers with Sal E. Graziano) vs. Kid Kash, Simon Diamond, & Johnny Swinger
2. CW Anderson vs, 2 Cold Scorpio
3. PJ Polaco (Justin Credible) vs. Stevie Richards
4. Rhino vs. Al Snow vs. Brother Runt
5. Team 3D vs. Kahoneys (Balls Mahoney) & Axl Rotten
6. Tommy Dreamer vs. Raven with Mick Foley as the guest referee
7. Rob Van Dam vs. Sabu

Definately a dvd for the collection if ever there was one. If your looking a copy, it is available at ShopTNA, HMV and all good retailers. I would personally recommend you head on over to A-Merchandise who currently have it in stock at just £13.50, certainly the cheapest i can see it in the UK currently, also know from past experience that these guys are quick with delivery and provide great service.