Before I get started, I apologize for not getting a report in last week.  I was aiming for a Friday post last week, but my mother was put in the hospital.  Combine that and add the fact that it is the holiday season, I was unable to keep my streak going on the TNA column.  Never fear, the Pulse Wrestling news team saved me some time and posted some TNA news for me, so this week, I’ll focus on the big stories and all that good stuff.

TNA iMPACT Video Game News

It’s no secret that TNA iMPACT the video game isn’t doing very well, at least here in the United States.  I checked Gamestop.com and you can buy the PS2 version of the game for $24.99 used or $29.99 new.  This isn’t good news for Midway, as the company is in huge debt.  PWInsider.com is reporting that Midway is expecting to cut one-quarter of its workforce and shutting down the Austin, Texas studio.  All projects have been suspended except those that include Wheelman and This is Vegas.  TNA remains skeptical that iMPACT II will not be affected by this recent news.

Sumner Redstone played a huge part in selling his 87% share of the company to a private investor, Mark Thomas.  The move cost Thomas $100,000 and he agreed to absorb $70 million on a $90 million dollar loan that Redstone owed his other company.

The bigger question is that will Midway absorb the loss on TNA’s second video game or will TNA eat the costs the second time around if the game bombs again?

LAX To Remain in TNA through 2011

Despite rumors that LAX was going to disband, it seems that TNA has locked the tag team for three more years.  This was key as many thought that TNA would be unlucky to keep LAX in the fold, especially when you have competition.

Dixie Carter Buys Country Singer’s Home

CMT.com reported on their blog that LeAnn Rimes sold her Nashville home for a little more than $2 million to Dixie Carter.  The reason for the sale is that Rimes and her husband are moving away from Nashville.

Global iMPACT Returns

TNA will be heading to Tokyo, Japan on January 4th, 2009 to tape their second annual Global iMPACT special for Spike TV.  The following is a match listing of what will take place:

Kurt Angle, Kevin Nash, Riki Choshu and Masahiro Chono vs. Takashi Iizuka, Giant Bernard, Karl Anderson and Tomohiro Ishii
Team 3D vs. IWGP Tag Team Champions Togi Makabe and Toru Yano vs. Tenzan and Kojima
The Motor City Machine Guns vs. IWGP Junior Tag Team Champions “No Limit” (Naito and Yujiro)

TNA One-Liners

Lance Storm has many questions for TNA.

TNA wrestlers are on their holiday break, having filmed iMPACT episodes all the way up to the New Year’s iMPACT Special.

Brutus Magnus is coming to TNA.

Kurt Angle wants to leave TNA.

Al Snow says that TNA is on the verge of something big happening.

And that something big seems to involve Terry Funk as he has been discussed by creative for a possible return.

Consequences Creed will be Jay Lethal’s tag team partner for when they challenge for the TNA World Tag Titles.

TNA Epix will debut sometime early next year.  Epix will focus on TNA’s history and inspiring moments for the company.

Kaz suffered a biceps injury while doing a run-in as the Suicide character.  No word on how bad the injury is.

Ratings News

For the last two weeks, TNA closed in on the 2 million viewer mark.  Two weeks ago, TNA iMPACT had a record setting 1.8 million viewers that helped them achieve a 1.2 rating.  Last week, 1.6 million viewers watched the show and the rating took a miniscule drop.  When rounded up, however, TNA iMPACT kept a 1.2 rating for the second week in a row.

For this week, I’m pulling a rabbit out of my hat and predict that the ratings will rise slightly.  I’m not going to predict a 1.3, but I look for iMPACT to eclipse the 1.2 rating.  What I mean by this is that anything from 1.20 to a 1.24 rating.  I say this because the seeds have been planted and the program has gotten very interesting.

Last Week’s iMPACT Results

Eric Young d. Sheik Abdul Bashir and there was no referee violence during or after the match.
Alex Shelley d. Jay Lethal and Suicide was there to congratulate him.
James Storm d. Abyss in a Beer Bottle on a Pole Match and said object was not used in the decision.
Christy Hemme d. Sojourner Bolt in the match, but got owned during the post match catfight.
Brother Ray v. Kurt Angle went to a no contest 15 seconds after returning from a commercial break.
The Main Event Mafia eliminated Brother Ray, Mafia Style.
Curry Man was fired from TNA.

iMPACT Tonight

The Beautiful People take on Roxxi & Taylor White
Rhino takes on Lance Rock
Chris Sabin takes on Sonjay Dutt in a X-Division Tournament Round 1 Match
Booker T & Scott Steiner take on Matt Morgan & Abyss
Consequences Creed takes on Hiyoshi in a X-Division Tournament Round 1 Match
AJ Styles & Samoa Joe attempts to avenge Brother Ray as they take on Kevin Nash & Sting inside the Six Sides of Steel

Pulsating Action

Check out these articles from around the Wrestling zone.

John Wiswell discusses the changes regarding Ring of Honor and the use of the DQ in a ROH World Title Match.
Mark Allen gets paid to brag about Joey Styles pulling a Kimbo Slice on JBL.
Glazer and I break down Armageddon.
Vinny introduces us to New England Championship Wrestling.

Check out these articles from the other zones.

From Comics Nexus, Greg Manuel is on fire with I’m Just Sayin’.  Now we know where Gregory Helms got that catchphrase.
The DVD Lounge has a review of The Wrestler.
From Prime Time Pulse, Joe Corey reviews my favorite Monday night show that happens before RAW, The Big Bang Theory. Geek comedy at its finest, folks.

Until Next Time

I’ll be back this weekend for Tribute to the Troops coverage, I’ll be sitting in on a conference call with John Cena talking about Tribute to the Troops, and I’ll be back for another dose of WWE RAW.  Be safe during the messy weekend that many parts of the US is experiencing and see you next week for another dose of TNA news.