Partial Source: PWTorch.com Audio
– Virtually all TNA higher-ups were impressed with Samoa Joe’s match at the most recent PPV. Although those who have followed Joe’s work on the indy scene do not view his match with Chris Sabin as his career best, he received a great deal of backstage praise for his work and pretty much secured the chance to shine on future TNA events. While Sabin is also credited with helping make the match a success, it’s Samoa Joe whose stock truly rose.
– There is some speculation that, assuming TNA does indeed fill the Velocity timeslot on Spike TV, USA will run WWE’s sole weekend show as competition. WWE would likely be tempted to push for a Sunday timeslot to allow for a final hour of promotion before the PPVs, and to accomodate plans to run several WWE events late Saturday night on NBC, but speculation of a Saturday show still continues.
On the subject of Velocity, some are under the impression that the recent string of “stacked” Velocity shows could be designed as a way to create a final ratings surge for the Saturday program. While one would have a case in dismissing the loaded cards as coincidental, the theory is that WWE might be trying to leave a ratings mark in the timeslot. With TNA virtually confirmed to replace Velocity, it would be seen as a major embarrassment if the Impact ratings topped the numbers for Velocity (and, due to the prospect of a UFC lead-in, that’s a very real possibility). WWE also likely wants to drum up interest for its weekend programs, as its one weekend hour on USA will become far more crucial.
