TNA Wrestling: Viacom Buys Bellator. What Does It Mean for Impact?

Things continue to get interesting with Spike TV as moves are made by the network—and its parent company Viacom—that could play a major role in the future of Impact Wrestling on the network as well as TNA as a whole.

An article in USA Today on Wednesday announced that Viacom had purchased a majority share of Bellator Fighting Championships, a Mixed Martial Arts Promotion.  The story said that Bellator, who currently airs fights on Viacom network—and Spike sister station—MTV2, would move its programming to Spike in the year 2013.

This move continues a trend by Spike of ownership of the programs that air on the network—something that had to be partially influenced by two products the company did not own—World Wrestling Entertainment's RAW and the Ultimate Fighting Championship—having left the network for bigger deals elsewhere.

One Spike aired program currently stands out as one the network doesn't own—Impact Wrestling.  This is made more interesting by the fact that TNA's contract with Spike to air Impact on the network ends in 2012.

With Spike's commitment to owning the brands they air, will a majority share of TNA be something the network demands be put on the table in coming negotiations?  If so, what happens if Dixie Carter—and her parents Bob and Janice Carter, the owners of TNA—balk at this request?

Will TNA be looking for a new TV home?

Spike is unlikely to give up on pro wrestling on their network regardless of what happens in negotiations with TNA.  They are currently building a synergy with their current wrestling product and their new MMA promotion.

Bellator fighters have appeared on Impact previously and Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney was in Macon, GA. on Wednesday to appear on an upcoming episode of Impact that is being taped there.

However, a story reported at wrestlingnewsworld.com earlier this year implies that there could be an issue with certain factions in TNA and the possibility of trouble during contract re negotiations could open an opportunity for one of them.

The website has reported a rift between a camp that includes TNA founder Jeff Jarrett, Writer Vince Russo and Director of Talent Relations Bruce Pritchard and one headed by TNA Executive Producer Eric Bischoff and Hulk Hogan

While both sides have had victories—Team Jarrett/Russo pushed for Pritchard to be the one to replace former Director of Talent Relations, Terry Taylor and Hogan and Bischoff were the ones that pushed for the recent move towards a name change from TNA Wrestling to Impact Wrestling (a change that is still ongoing)—Hogan and Bischoff's victory is believed to be one step towards a bigger master plan. 

According to the article, Bischoff and Hogan have approached Spike more than once about starting a new wrestling project to replace TNA, with Spike balking at the idea of having to start from scratch.

With a new focus on ownership, could Spike's view be changing—especially with reports they are working more with Bischoff and less with Dixie Carter?  Also, Spike's rumored concern about a new product had to be partially relieved when the show's name change from TNA Impact to Impact Wrestling had no effect on the ratings.

The Jarrett/Russo camp has also made moves to fortify its relationship with Viacom and Spike by starting a new promotion to be aired in India on a Viacom-owned network.  Jarrett, Dutch Mantell and former ROH and WWE writer Dave Lagana are heading creative on the project.