TNA attendance note, upcoming Impact match announced, WWE-iTunes/Netflix update, Interview with Bryan, NXT lineup, WWE sticks it to Punk again, assorted TNA-NYC notes, former TNA/FCW name retires, Impact audience, Matt Hardy update, and Questions on what NXT's for, HHH and Steph in charge, Reigns at WM31, mouthguards, and Stone Cold in '99

TNA is said to have sold out The Manhattan Center for at least one night of their recent tapings. A sellout's a sellout, but I doubt they hit 1,000 fans in such a small venue. I wonder how they'd do if/when they tape in Orlando again.

Update: The taping for Lockdown 2015 was sold out in advance, which is impressive.

TNA officially announced Jeff Hardy vs. Abyss in a Monster's Ball match ahead of a recent taping, so that will be on a future episode of Impact Wrestling. That should be quite the spectacle. I remember them going at it years back in a Full Metal Mayhem match.

WWE has removed the vast majority of its content from iTunes and Netflix, presumably to encourage people to subscribe to the Network to get that content instead. I can't say that's a bad idea! The contracts must have just expired.

Everything else from yesterday is after the break.

Daniel Bryan talked about his return to the ring and more. I definitely think he should win the Rumble and challenge for the WWE Title at Mania, or at least fight Brock if Rollins wins the gold.

The next edition of NXT (on Wednesday!) will have:
- NXT Championship: Sami Zayn vs. Adrian Neville
- Baron Corbin vs. Bull Dempsey
- Finn Balor vs. Tyson Kidd

That could be a REALLY good edition.

WWE is having C.M. Punk removed from future prints of its comic book series. They're actually having another superstar drawn in his place for something that's already been released because they don't want to pay him royalties. That's pretty heavy.

Dave Sahadi was in Nashville supervising the new equipment TNA will be using for post-production. I'm sure that's part of why there were issues at the tapings.

TNA taped at least one segment in the streets of NYC featuring MVP's new faction. They'll be called the Beat Down Clan (BDC). There are worse names. I'm actually looking forward to seeing where that angle goes.

TNA is experimenting with different lighting structures at their recent tapings. They definitely want to focus on the ring and draw attention away from the small venue.

Noelle and Dewey Foley were front row at at least one TNA-NYC taping. That's cool. I don't expect their dad to return there. Would TNA sign them to contracts? Dewey will be 23 soon, so he's a fine age to start wrestling.

Attendance was notably down at the second day of TNA tapings, in the 300-350 range. That's not good. Some people were giving TNA one last chance, and I guess the heel turns at the end of Wednesday's show threw them off.

TNA could return to NYC in March for more tapings. Hopefully attendance will be good for those shows if they do.

Set for next Friday's Impact Wrestling:
- The Wolves vs. The Hardys
- Samoa Joe vs. Kurt Angle
- Eric Young vs. Bobby Roode
- Austin Aries vs. Low Ki
- The Beautiful People vs. Taryn Terrell and Brooke Tessmacher

That's quite the lineup!

International name Alex Koslov has announced an indefinite sabbatical from wrestling. I wasn't a fan of what little I saw of him, but he definitely had a fan base and has done a lot of work around the world.

The audience for Impact Wrestling's debut on Destination America was 359,000. That's roughly a third of what they generally did on Spike. It should be noted that's very high for that channel. Hopefully things continue to be more or less successful for them in that regard. They're not in any danger of being canceled or anything, but they've definitely taken a big hit from their former audience levels.

Matt Hardy announced he will be working the TNA tapings in the UK later this month. It's unknown if Jeff will be part of those shows. It's good they have that veteran presence, though.

For my take on yesterday's PWInsider.com questions:
1. Talents aren't put on the show if they're too green. Those talents stay on live events or even in the performance center. The NXT show is generally for people who are ready to get their feet wet working TV matches or fine-tuning for when they're called up to the main roster. Only a fraction of the main audience watches NXT, so I don't think it harms them. If something's REALLY bad on one of the taped shows, they can edit it out before it airs. The live specials are for the cream of the crop or are short matches.

2. Vince has a LOT of responsibilities. Some are directly related to the product, like Creative and giving directions to announcers. Others are more along the lines of negotiating TV deals and such. I suspect HHH and Stephanie will split those responsibilities, with one being chairperson and one being CEO.

3. How do you know it's obvious for most viewers? Most viewers you've talked to, maybe. There's obviously a big deal of support for him to win the Slammy. I don't think he's great on the mic (as seen on the most recent Smackdown), but that hasn't stopped Cena and Orton from making it into big positions. I don't know if there will be as much of a backlash to Reigns as the vocal minority expects, except among other die-hard fans. All that said, Bryan should win the Rumble and/or face Lesnar at Mania. They could have Rollins win the title at the Rumble to set up Rollins vs. Ambrose vs. Reigns for the title at Mania, with Bryan still getting the rub from beating Lesnar. That triple threat opens up the possibility of Ambrose walking out with the title, too.

4. Yeah, it's probably something to add to the legitimacy of wrestling as a worked sport vs. the sports entertainment of WWE.

5. Austin was in pretty rough condition at that point.

More wrestling tomorrow.