TNA Wrestling: Can TNA Survive the Recent Changes at Spike TV?

TNA Wrestling just wrapped up their biggest pay-per-view of the year—Bound for Glory—and are preparing to head into 2012.

However, the biggest match for the company in 2012 may not be in the ring.

As I have mentioned previously, Spike TV made a major move last week with the announcement that they had hired Jon Slusser to the newly created position of Senior VP/Sports & Multi-Platform Programming.

How does this affect TNA Wrestling you may ask? 

The hiring of Slusser resulted in the dismissal of Brian Diamond—Spike's former Senior VP of Sports and Special Programming—and the man considered to be TNA's biggest supporter at the network.

This plays an even bigger factor when you take into account that TNA's current contract with Spike ends in 2012.

While Impact remains one of Spike's top rated programs, representatives of the network have mentioned a change in focus. 

In a statement released in August—announcing that Spike was terminating its relationship with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (a mutual breakup as UFC had already signed a deal with FOX)—the network made this comment:

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"We are increasing our commitment to distinctive, original series that we own such as "Auction Hunters" and "Bar Rescue", which are delivering on our goal to reach a broader audience."

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This is on the heels of Spike announcing, in March, a desire to broaden their network to reach both men and women 18-49.

The question now has to asked, where does Impact Wrestling fit into this brave new world?

Impact is not a brand owned by Spike, and you have to think Spike's desire to focus on the brands they own is partially motivated by brands like WWE and UFC leaving them.

When announcing Slusser's hiring, network executives at Spike said that a big part of his role was to acquire additional sports programming for the network.

This would likely include more mixed martial arts to replace the loss of UFC (most likely the Bellator Fighting Championships that currently air on sister station MTV2 but have their preliminary fights air on Spike's website), motorcross and lifestyle sports like rugby, beach volleyball, rodeo and extreme skiing.

Spike is also interested in event sports, such as New Year's Eve specials and stunts.

This has the potential to serve as a great opportunity for TNA, or could be a sign that they're in trouble.

With an interest in things like MMA, motorcross, rugby, stunts and rodeo, it seems like Spike is going for products that feature a number of highlight reel moments as well as hard hitting physical action.

Impact has the ability to provide that as well—especially with the X Division.  With the recent move to put a weight limit on the division, the next goal should be to add a number of impressive high fliers to produce highlight reel matches that fit with the rest of the sports product Spike is looking at.

Bringing back talent like Amazing Red and Jack Evans—as well as looking at other impressive high fliers currently wrestling in the independents—would be a positive step in that direction.

You can pair these talents with the personalities of guys like Austin Aries, Kid Kash, Alex Shelley, Kazarian and Brian Kendrick.

Along with a more aerial X-Division, the hard hitting physical action could be added by pushing wrestlers who showcase a more Japanese Strong Style-esque skillset (granted they wouldn't actually wrestle strong style, since few wrestlers actually do these days outside of Japan).

Talent like Samoa Joe are already in TNA and fit that style.  Talent such as Low-Ki are currently available to add to it.

Mixing those in with the traditional name and talents TNA already has could provide a product that will have even more appeal to Slusser, Spike and their new philosophy.

2012 will be a big year for TNA.  There is no denying the importance of being a valuable property to the television network that airs your show.

Just ask World Championship Wrestling and the original Extreme Championship Wrestling.