Now that the reveal of the new TV deal has settled in for Impact fans, this is what we know at the moment. Destination America seemed to welcome TNA Wrestling in willingly and stated Impact “fits perfectly within our (Destination America) DNA” in their press release; positive to hear that they are eager to have this partnership. We have seen (presumably) the final episode with original content on Spike as both side amicably split from their partnership. Finally, we know that Dixie is working on a deal to make sure the Canadian viewers still have weekly access to Impact. While a lot is left unknown, we see that Impact is moving into 2015 with some major changes to what fans are used to.

                Perhaps the biggest point of interest for me came from the tweets of TNA Producer Bryan Edwards. When questioned if there would be new logos and graphics upon the move to Destination America, Edwards simply replied “new everything. Fresh start.” Many are speculating if this means aspects like set design to the storylines being reset, but I am going to look at a few things I would enjoy when debuting Impact on Destination America in 2015.

            We finally have the answer to a question we have been asking since TMZ broke the story back in July. After nearly 4 months of MAJOR speculation on the sheets of dirt, banter between Spike officials and a former writer, and the internet community debating as to where (or even if there will be a) TNA will be in 2015. Destination America and Impact have reached a multi-year agreement to take the brand to the Discovery Communications family. Some have rejoiced simply because there was a TV deal announced while others speculate that this will be that FINAL thing that will end TNA, but I am going to look at what this move could mean for Impact in the future.

It seems these days that a few terms are thrown around improperly on a regular basis. The ones I shake my head at the most are what I call “warped palavers” as they are meant to be used as a way to justify ones stance on a topic that really cannot be defined beyond opinion. Perhaps my favorite of all is the term “compelling” because many use it to define something when the word in general is opposite by meaning. Let’s take a look at how some have misused the term in relation to these current Bethlehem tapings. I’ll cherry pick a few of my favorites from forum pages across the internet.

Stories on Impact are boring and not compelling in the least.

                 

Follow along with me for a minute as I tell you this story:

Friend of the Spanish Announce Table and Kansas City-based Wrestling Artist Rob Schamberger was in attendance for RAW in the City of Fountains on Monday, October 20, 2014.

Rob was invited by WWE to showcase his talents by live-painting Sting outside the Sprint Center before the show. 

Check out Rob's amazing paintings on his website RobSchamberger.com or you can find them on Shop WWE. Rob is a great guy and a friend of the show and we highly recommend him for all of your rasslin' art needs!

 

                I follow a few things very closely. Obviously, TNA (and wrestling in general) is one of those items. I also follow television shows like Suits, Guy Ritchie films, and the Houston Texans. To spare a loyal reader, Kata, I’ll try to keep the NFL talk to a minimum, but it is essential to my point.

                I love it when a show or movie I watch somehow correlates with how I view Professional Wrestling. By now, most of you who read these understand that I take a bit more of the positive perspective approach to creative criticism. This, however, is not always the case and a movie I watched with my wife the other day – Chef - struck a clandestine nerve with me. We viewed the film expecting to be entertained by an out of the box story; which it delivered excellently as I do recommend seeing the show. Inside that 114 minute span, the main character (Jon Favreau) delivered a statement to the critic (Oliver Platte) who scrutinized his work earlier in the film:

“You robbed me of my pride, of my career, my dignity… And I know people like you, you don’t usually care about that kind of thing. But you should know it hurts people like me; because we’re really trying.”

Last year around this time, I wrote a blog about Bound for Glory 2013 going down infamously into the chronicles of TNA’s history. After 4 years of the Hogan Era, rumors about home grown talent leaving, and overwhelming negativity on social media, TNA was at a point where fans needed something to believe in. In my piece, I covered the fact that BFG needed to be that turning point in which the company moves back into what TNA Loyalist viewed to be their wrestling alternative. Personally, I feel they have done just that, but it has flown mostly under the radar of wrestling fans. Let me explain why I feel TNA earned my money, in spite of what many consider a lackluster build to this year’s BFG.

Rob Schamberger never ceases to absolutely amaze us here on the Spanish Announce Table.

Once again he makes painting wrestlers look easy as he masterfully catches the essence of The Many Faces of Ultimate Warrior!

Check out Rob on the latest episode of the Spanish Announce Table Podcast; the very first episode in our special new series ROAD STORIES!

SAT ROAD STORIES Episode 1 - There's a F'n Chicken

When Jessie Godderz debuted as Tara’s Hollywood boyfriend at Bound for Glory 2012, I heard immediate criticism. This chiseled specimen was a reality TV star who gained notoriety for being the first person to appear on Big Brother 5 years in a row. In an unfortunately ironic twist, the vocal aspect of wrestling fandom on the interwebs immediately rejected him for what I feel was his strength coming into the promotion; his charisma in front of a camera. Yet, in the face of instant critics who slammed TNA for picking up what some considered a no name in the wrestling word, “Mr. Pec-tacular” has brushed the hate off his massive shoulders as he delivers an incredibly high dropkick to their face… And then proceeds to ask his twitter followers if they saw how high that was.

Currently, the One Night Only PPVs are thought of as sporadic at best when it comes to storyline implications for the weekly TNA product. The reason I believe this is true was due to how far in advance TNA records these shows. But if Impact the TV show is in the same position, yet has a direct path then that excuse is not acceptable any longer. So the question is; how do we breathe life into this idea? I want to know if what I have envisioned is something others might see as potentially being successful.

               Here is a list of what we are currently working with as of what has aired/will air in 2014:

Jan – Hardcore Justice	May – Joker’s Wild	Sept – World Cup
Feb - #OldSchool	June – Slammiversary	Oct – Bound For Glory
March – LockDown	July – Global Impact	Nov – Knockout Knockdown
April – Sacrifice	Aug – Xtravaganza	Dec – Victory Road

Regular TNA PPV

TNA’s One Night Only presents

“TNA has a bad reputation and they will never live that down.” This was what I took away from a recent debate about if TNA deserved the hate they received. The debate included the massive span of the entire 12 year history of TNA and while there were many good points brought about, I feel that the time restraints didn’t offer a true value to the full history of TNA. We all know the handful of negatives that people point to – Sporadic booking, Hogan Era, abuse of nostalgia, pushing stars that weren’t “home grown”, ORLANDO JORDAN – in terms of what many feel has given TNA a negative reputation. I am here to convey a deeper prospective on the value I feel is often overlooked.

Another damn great painting by Rob Schamberger. Seriously, there's not a piece that Rob puts out that we don't think is amazing! Very talented dude and super cool person.

Check out the latest Canvas 2 Canvas with frequent guest on the Spanish Announce Table Podcast, Kansas City Wrestling Artist Rob Schamberger!