6. Good News For TNA, Impact Wrestling Moves To Thursday Nights
This week’s episode of TNA Impact Wrestling, which was highlighted by the “Final Deletion” match between Matt Hardy & Jeff Hardy, drew 410,000 viewers. This is up from last week’s 322,000 viewers.
This turned out to be the best drawing episode of TNA Impact Wrestling on POP TV.
After defeating Jeff Hardy in the Final Deletion match, Matt Hardy has taken over Jeff’s Twitter account to play the “Deleted” storyline:
I now own all of the intellectual property of the artist FKA "Jeff Hardy"#BrotherNero has been DELETED. https://t.co/qx4L98NOSg
— #BROKEN Matt Hardy (@MATTHARDYBRAND) July 6, 2016
#TheFinalDeletion pic.twitter.com/NcoDlnLfpC
— #BrotherNero DELETED (@JEFFHARDYBRAND) July 6, 2016
Due to the WWE Brand Split & SmackDown airing live on Tuesdays, TNA has decided to move Impact Wrestling back to Thursdays as going head to head with live SmackDown could result in bad news for TNA’s viewership. The new start time for Impact Wrestling from July 21st is 8/7 CT.
A “Title vs. Title” match will take place on next week’s episode of Impact Wrestling, when TNA World Heavyweight Champion Bobby Lashley faces TNA X Division Champion Eddie Edwards. Drew Galloway vs. Ethan Carter III will also take place on the show.
5. Brock Lesnar’s SummerSlam 2016 Opponent Confirmed
It has now been confirmed on SmackDown that “The Beast Incarnate” Brock Lesnar will face “The Viper” Randy Orton at SummerSlam 2016. Lesnar & Orton have squared off only once before in WWE & this will be their first meeting on a PPV.
Below is what WWE posted:
“The summer of dream matches continues Sunday, Aug. 21, when Randy Orton returns to the ring to lock horns with Brock Lesnar at SummerSlam. The blockbuster encounter was made official on tonight’s SmackDown.
Despite being two perennial main eventers who trained side-by-side during their formative years at onetime WWE developmental territory Ohio Valley Wrestling, The Apex Predator and The Beast Incarnate have only competed against each other once before in a WWE ring. It happened in September 2002, when both were still WWE rookies. Lesnar, already a month into his reign as WWE Champion, took the victory that night.
Much has changed since that lone, fateful bout, of course. Lesnar has since emerged as a true world-beater and the conqueror of The Undertaker’s WrestleMania Streak, a fearless, 286-pound juggernaut who packs dynamite, and bad intentions, in his fists. One of the most dangerous men in combat-sports history, Lesnar remains the only individual to have ever captured the WWE Championship, UFC Championship and NCAA heavyweight wrestling championship.
The Viper, meanwhile, bears little resemblance to the gifted, if inexperienced, shaggy-haired Superstar who stood across the ring from Lesnar 14 years ago. Since his one and only match against The Beast, Orton has gone on to win an incredible 12 World Titles, establishing himself as one of the most decorated Superstars of his generation. Orton has also exhibited on more than one occasion a disconcerting ability to turn sinister at a moment’s notice. Such a dark, remorseless attitude may prove invaluable against a monster like Lesnar.
Adding further intrigue to the clash is that it is Orton’s first match since injuring his shoulder late last year. Having been out of action since November, Orton is assuredly interested in reasserting himself as WWE’s Apex Predator. There may be no better way to accomplish that goal than by taking down The Beast Incarnate. Yet, the question remains: Will Orton’s shoulder end up being a weakness against Lesnar?
Watch this historic showdown in its entirety when SummerSlam airs live from Brooklyn, N.Y., on the award-winning WWE Network Sunday, Aug. 21, at 7 ET/4 PT.”
