When TNA Impact Wrestling makes its Pop TV debut on Tuesday, Jan. 5, Matt Hardy will be an integral part of the Pop.

“I heard rumors there were a couple of networks that TNA was talking with [at the time], and I knew [Pop] was one of the networks in the running,” Hardy said. “I knew it was official whenever TNA announced it.”

Hardy knew Pop, formerly the TV Guide channel.

“I followed Paragon Pro Wrestling out of Vegas on [Pop],” Hardy said.

Paragon Pro Wrestling with Wes Brisco, Tyshaun Prince, Jessy Sorenson, Alex Chamberlain, Gangrel, Darin Corbin and more aired on Pop from July to November.

Hardy continued: “I try to be a student of the game. I try to keep up with everything -- all wrestling across the board. I want to know what the competition is doing, what the up-n-comers are doing. So I was actually familiar with [Pop].”

After ending its time with Destination America, TNA President Dixie Carter once again saved the company domestically by luring Pop, a network with a bigger audience reach.

“[The deal] means a lot to me because TNA is going to continue to have a home in America,” Hardy said. “We would have been OK, in theory, if we would have just had our overseas programming, but if you’re an American brand, you need to have American television.

“So it was a big deal, and it’s important, and I really think the Pop TV people understand and have a good grasp of what it takes to make professional wrestling successful on their network -- much better than the Destination America people did.

“I think Destination America just thought, ‘Wrestling is a very popular sport/entertainment type industry. We can put it on our network, and viewers are going to flock over and watch the program, and it’s gonna make money.’

“That’s not it. There’s a lot more to it than that. It entails much more, and I think the Pop TV people have a good grasp of what it entails, and I think they’re really gonna stand behind Impact Wrestling, the performers and management. I think we’re going to work together, and it’s going to be a great group effort to make this successful.”

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