The “Hardcore Justice” angle might have increased TNA’s buzz level among Internet fans and media, but as far as the average television viewer is concerned, it is not a ratings draw.
Thursday’s iMPACT, which featured the follow-up to the previous week’s “invasion” angle, delivered a mere 1.06 cable rating, according to PWTorch.com. That actually marks a slight decline from the prior week’s 1.09 and is a disappointing number regardless.
Worse news comes in data for the final segment, which scored a 1.09 rating. The figure, only slightly above the show’s average, was actually down from a 1.11 peak from 10:00-10:15, indicating virtually no special interest in the hardcore angle.
While the upcoming pay-per-view might still be on track to post a buyrate in excess of the recent TNA average, part of the motivation for running the angle with ECW alumni was to boost interest in the weekly television product. After two weeks of no progress in the ratings, there is no sign that the angle has even been remotely successful in that regard.