Former TNA writer and consultant Vince Russo was recently very critical about Spike TV being a partner of TNA, and the senior vice president for the network responded to the criticisms.
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Russo, who was a former writer and booker for WWE and WCW before joining TNA, appeared on Pro Wrestling Report and spoke at length about various TNA topics, including his opinion on the company's relationship with Spike TV.
It was reported a few months ago that Spike TV would drop TNA from its schedule in October as the network looks to move away from wrestling, but it was then revealed that Spike will keep Impact Wrestling on its schedule through the rest of 2014 as the organization searches for a new home for its flagship show.
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Russo said that the partnership with Spike TV was horrible and that TNA would never grow on the network. Spike's senior vice president of communications David Schwarz responded to the comments while saying the two sides had a solid relationship and the network and TNA president Dixie Carter have been on good terms.
"I want to start by saying we enjoyed a great relationship, a very collaborative relationship with Dixie Carter and her team over the years," Schwarz told F4WOnline.com. "We took TNA from a late night spot on Saturday nights, doing 500,000 viewers, to a two-hour time slot that did two million viewers over time. Spike went out of its way, not in just adhering to its contract, but above and beyond the contract. We paid Hulk Hogan, we paid Eric Bischoff, with our money. We financed many shows. We financed U.K. shows. We helped promote. We gave TNA a prime time slot of Thursdays from 9-11 p.m."
He added: "I think his comments are way off base. Clearly, he doesn't know what he's talking about. He's somebody who thinks more of himself than really exists. Vince Russo never meant anything to Spike TV. He had nothing to do with negotiations. Nobody cares about Vince Russo at Spike TV. Nobody cares or knows who he is. We have a great relationship with TNA. We went above and beyond for them, as they did for us. Dixie helped promote our shows. What Vince Russo is saying is complete nonsense."
The response comes in light of what Russo said about Spike TV during the appearance on Pro Wrestling Report.
"I've been holding this back for years and I finally get to say this. I felt like Hannibal Lecter when he was strapped in and had his mouth wired shut. Spike TV is a horrible partner," Russo told the show. "Why TNA would ever want to partner with Spike is beyond me unless there were no other options. If Spike TV were the only option to stay on television then I would understand it. They are a horrible partner, they know nothing about the wrestling business. The way they advertised and marketed the program over the years was absolutely atrocious."
Russo went on to say that the TNA product can't grow on Spike TV.
"I can tell you this from a position where I worked with the USA network," he said. "I worked directly with Bonnie Hammer. She was the female version of Vince McMahon. She knew what she was doing. When you had Bonnie Hammer at USA and Vince McMahon, the sky was the limit. If TNA signs another deal with Spike TV great for them. It will move along for another two years and everyone will work but the product will not grow on Spike TV. My hope for TNA is that a new network comes along and embraces TNA and gives them the time and investment to help grow the product. I can't say this enough. TNA on Spike TV will never grow."
TNA will no longer have the option of growing on Spike TV as Impact Wrestling will find a new network home for 2015.
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