Hard To Kill in January was the official relaunch of the “TNA” rebrand from IMPACT Wrestling and was a major success on pay-per-view.
Dave Meltzer reported in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter the latest PPV figures: Meltzer wrote,
“TNA Hard to Kill is now at 20,900 on television alone which is remarkable because based on usual trends of television and streaming they would be well over 65,000 buys in total. That would pass the first Samoa Joe vs. Kurt Angle match as the largest PPV in company history, which is insane considering they are on AXS rather than Spike and the main event was Alex Shelley vs. Moose.
If anything, it showed the short-term value of the TNA name. It appears to be short-term because there’s no increase in TV ratings that followed such a big number. Only 6.1 percent of the homes that purchased Hard to Kill purchased AEW Revolution, so it’s a completely different audience that TNA drew and grew from than the audience that led to AEW doing well above usual for Sting’s last match.”
The TNA rebrand from IMPACT Wrestling has proven to be a major success with its recent pay-per-view event, Hard To Kill, in January. The event not only showcased the talent and excitement of the wrestling promotion but also demonstrated the short-term value of the TNA name.
According to Dave Meltzer’s report in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the television viewership for TNA Hard to Kill reached an impressive 20,900. This figure is remarkable considering the usual trends of television and streaming, which would have resulted in well over 65,000 total buys. If this were the case, it would surpass the first Samoa Joe vs. Kurt Angle match as the largest pay-per-view in the company’s history. This achievement is even more astounding when considering that TNA is now on AXS rather than Spike and that the main event featured Alex Shelley vs. Moose.
The success of TNA Hard to Kill highlights the short-term value of the TNA name. The event drew a completely different audience compared to other wrestling promotions, as indicated by the fact that only 6.1 percent of the homes that purchased Hard to Kill also purchased AEW Revolution. This suggests that TNA has managed to attract and grow its own unique fanbase, separate from other wrestling promotions.
However, despite the impressive pay-per-view numbers, there has been no significant increase in TV ratings following the event. This indicates that while TNA may have enjoyed a successful pay-per-view, it still needs to work on translating that success into sustained viewership on television.
The contrasting audiences between TNA and AEW are also worth noting. AEW experienced a boost in viewership for Sting’s last match, with many fans tuning in to witness this iconic moment. However, the audience that TNA drew and grew from was distinct from the one that contributed to AEW’s increased viewership during Sting’s final match.
Overall, the success of TNA Hard to Kill demonstrates the potential and appeal of the TNA brand. It has managed to attract a dedicated fanbase and achieve impressive pay-per-view numbers. However, the challenge lies in maintaining and growing its viewership on television. With continued efforts and strategic planning, TNA has the opportunity to solidify its position in the wrestling industry and continue to captivate fans with its unique brand of entertainment.