Jeremy Botter, a lead MMA for the Bleacher Report, attended last night’s Bellator MMA show that aired on Spike TV and confirmed that Spike TV is “getting out of the wrestling business.”
As we’ve been reporting for months, TNA and Spike TV have issued public statements that they are still in negotiations regarding a new TV deal. However, it has been privately known for quite some time that Spike TV had no real intention of keeping TNA programming. Spike did everything they could to help TNA make a smooth transition to another network, however, Wednesday night’s taped episode of Impact Wrestling will be the last first-run episode of Impact on Spike.
Earlier this month, word came out that Impact would be pre-empted the night before Thanksgiving. Then it was reported that Impact would be pre-empted on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve as well. With the last taped episode of Impact airing on Wednesday, there was talk of TNA airing several “Best Of” shows in the Impact time slot on Spike TV until the end of the year. The latest is that “Best of Shows” will not be airing and Wednesday could very well be the end of TNA’s relationship with Spike.
That said, TNA management is still telling people in the company that a new TV deal will finally be announced within the next week. TNA has reserved the Manhattan Center in New York City for three tapings on January 6, 7, and 8 that are expected to air on TNA’s new cable home in early 2015.
