Posted on Sep 8, 2004                         <<BACK TO NEWSBOARD By Anthony DeBlasi                                              <<BACK TO 3e6r.net

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News Article On TNA Wrestling Leaving Nashville Fairgrounds, PPV Future, & More    Article courtesy of the Nashville City Paper: Pro wrestling thrown to the mat  Nashville-area pro-wrestling fans who have flocked to the state fairgrounds the past two years for Wednesday night matches will have their last chance tonight to cheer in front of the television cameras. Nashville-based TNA Entertainment is pulling the plug on its weekly pay-per-view (PPV) telecasts from the fairgrounds and switching to a monthly PPV event that will take the two-year-old show on the road. But the fans who often packed the 1,000-seat arena for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling won’t be left high and dry. USA Wrestling, which has run wrestling events from the fairgrounds in the past, signed a lease last Wednesday for 38 shows in the coming year, said Debbie Gregoire, fairgrounds events manager. Starting Oct. 2, the wrestling events will be staged Saturday nights, except for the fourth weekend of the month when the flea market is in session. “We’re just excited to be able to continue having wrestling at the fairgrounds, which is kind of a tradition here in the sports arena,” Gregoire said. At tonight’s major TNA event, which begins at 6 p.m., wrestling stars including Jeff Hardy, Jeff Jarrett, A.J. Styles, Raven and Monty Brown will thank fans and sign autographs at the fairgrounds’ sports arena, said TNA Entertainment President Dixie Carter. In addition to moving the PPV show, the company also plans to start filming its syndicated pre-show, Xplosion, at Universal Studios in Orlando. However, Carter stressed that the company is maintaining its administrative headquarters in Nashville. Located in Cummings Station at 209 10th Ave. South, the company employs about 15-20 full-time staff members. Carter said moving the live show actually advances the company’s goal of touring its live events throughout the United States. The three-hour Sunday night broadcasts, called TNA Wrestling Victory Road, will start Nov. 7, with locations to be announced later. “The Nashville base has been very, very good to us, and it’s really very emotional for us to not continue to be here,” she said. “There’s definitely a personal relationship with many of these fans.” TNA Entertainment – which is co-owned by Nashville-area wrestler Jeff Jarrett and his father, Jerry – broke new ground in the industry by launching the first weekly PPV wrestling event when the company began two years ago. The event has been carried on iN Demand, DISH Network, Viewers Choice Canada and other regional television carriers. Carter said the once-hot demand for PPV has waned in the cable industry. “And the consumers are conditioned really to pay for a major event once a month,” she added. However, TNA is also making inroads as it goes up against the industry leader, World Wrestling Entertainment. TNA’s new show, iIMPACT!, which began filming in June at the Orlando studios, captured a coveted spot on the Fox Sports Net cable network, where it is seen by 85 million viewers. Carter expects the new PPV event to attract 55 million cable and satellite viewers.