TNA is making the right moves for the live Impact show, Evan Bourne's push in ECW, new Guns-n-Roses?!?

Wednesday, October 22 – 10:37 A.M. (CT)

-I was very critical of TNA's first live Impact, which was held the Thursday before WrestleMania 24. My take at the time was that Spike TV didn't do enough to promote the show, and TNA treated it like any other edition of their weekly show. Essentially, I questioned what the point of holding a live show was if no one was going to advertise it and the company wasn't going to go above and beyond to make it feel like a special event.

Fortunately, those issues are not concerns as we head into tomorrow night's live show on Spike TV. The live special and HD premier has been advertised on billboards in at least one major market, during Hulk Hogan's celebrity wrestling show on CMT, and during Saturday night's live UFC event.

Meanwhile, TNA announced a list of matches last week and made a major fuss over the event. Both sides are promoting this show properly and I really hope it pays off in the ratings. There was no reason to expect a higher rating for the last live show and maybe this show won't pop a rating either, but at least Spike and TNA made an honest effort.

-It's great to see Evan Bourne featured so prominently on ECW television. I was worried that he'd only go so far in WWE because of his size. Granted, he may never win the WWE Title, but it's nice to see him pushed hard on the ECW brand if nothing else. I'm praying we'll get to see a Hardy vs. Bourne match at the pay-per-view on Sunday. If WWE gives them enough time, those two could deliver one hell of a match and add something special to the show.

-Here's a list of the topics that Rich Twilling (a/k/a The Twilling) and I will be discussing in today's Dot Net Weekly audio show: WWE Cyber Sunday pay-per-view, the sad state of WWE Raw, Nick Hogan's release from jail, Hulk Hogan's Celebrity Championship Wrestling, Ric Flair pondering a return to the ring, WWE's tag team division, and last night's ECW show.

Rich and I will be recording the show a few minutes from the time I write this. It's a member exclusive feature, but you can gain access to all the membership perks for only $5 per month by visiting the Dot Net Members' Signup Page.

-I know I can't be the only person excited over the news that Chinese Democracy is finally coming out. I've heard all the leaks and attended to the last two new Guns-n-Roses concerts in the Twin Cities, and I'm pumped by the news that the album is finally coming out on Nov. 23. The title track from the new album even debuted across the country on the radio this morning. As much as I dig the new music, I'm still holding out hope for an original GNR reunion, but I'll enjoy the new material in the meantime.

-Speaking of GNR, I remember hearing a story from a WWE insider who told me that the idea was thrown out to have the band open a WrestleMania event a few years ago. The asking price was over seven figures and I don't believe the idea received any serious consideration. Too bad.