Some early concern already about Spike TV deal, Bently video, and more
On Friday, July 22, 2005 at 3:58 PM EST Although it is rather early to being speculating, it is interesting to note that 24 hours after Spike TV sent out press releases to TNA and various other wrestling websites, the network has yet to issue an announcement of TNA coming this October through normal media channels. This situation mirrors what took place when ECW signed a TV deal with the network back in 1999 when it was known as TNN. Paul Heyman made it clear numerous times (and even more on The Rise & Fall of ECW DVD) that he would be upset about the network only airing promotional videos for the show during the timeslot that it would air and not any other days of the week. TNN's reason at the time to ECW for doing that was that timeslot was "where the demographic was at." Of course, the network has changed quite a bit since the TNN days as the main focus is that of a "network for men." Either way, some are already concerned about TNA's future at this point if Spike has no intention of pushing the product in some way given that this may or may not be TNA's "last stand" so to speak in the upcoming year.
Credit: Mike Johnson @ PWInsider.com
TNAwrestling.com has posted a video explaining Michael Shane's name change to Matt Bently (his real name) over copyright issues with Mike Shane of The Shane Twins who recently signed a deal with WWE.
A new "Spirit of Wrestling" column by David Sahadi has also been added on TNAwrestling.com. In this column, Sahadi focuses on the recent announcement of TNA coming to Spike TV, comments from wrestlers at the conference call yesterday and TNA's talks with other networks this year.