Lashley Lands Movie Role, MEM Member Turns 44, iMPACT!
Bobby Lashley has landed a role for a fight scene in the upcoming movie The Way of Way, starring Cuba Gooding, Jr. of Daddy Day Camp fame. The former ECW Champion will fight Omar Gooding's brother in an underground fight scene. The movie will also feature a background scene of UFC fighters Rich Clementi and Kyle Bradley fighting.
The 2/19 episode of TNA iMPACT! based around the Sting vs. Kurt Angle empty arena match was by far the most successful show in company history. The match itself drew a record breaking 1.45 rating and 2.1 million viewers. The show's biggest success was among male teenagers, as the show did a record 1.52 rating in that demo. Overall the show did a 1.33 cable rating and 1.9 million viewers. It also drew a 1.02 in Males 18-34, a 0.98 in Males 35-49, and 0.50 in Women 18-49, all well above the usual average. TNA iMPACT! started off with a strong 1.24 quarter hour rating, well above what the usually opens with. A street fight pitting Jay Lethal & Consequences Creed against the Motor City Machine Guns, as well as a backstage Main Event Mafia interview, gained 57,000 viewers. The audience stayed even for interview segments featuring Beer Money issuing a challenge, Taylor Wilde, Roxxi & Governor Palin, and Dr. Stevie & Abyss. Mick Foley's weekly segment, as well as a match pitting LAX & Shane Sewell against Brutus Magnus, Matt Morgan & Sheik Abdul Bashir lost 43,000 viewers. The Angelina Love vs. Taylor Wilde match and Sting interview drew 29,000 viewers. The Beer Money vs. Petey Williams & Eric Young in the tag team titles vs. leaving town match gained 57,000 viewers. While viewers usually tune out during the final segment of iMPACT! on a weekly basis, even with big name matches and show long builds, the Sting vs. Kurt Angle empty arena match was a huge hit. The match gained 200,000 viewers to peak at a record breaking 1.45 rating and 2.1 million viewers.
Today is TNA headliner Booker T's birthday. The Main Event Mafia member turns 44 years old.
TNA has announced a return to Dublin, Ireland for a show in October. TNA managed to sell out two back to back shows at the O2 Arena there, including one that went head-to-head with a UFC pay-per-view.