By James Caldwell, PWTorch assistant editor

TNA Impact last Thursday, July 26 officially scored a 1.09 rating off a first hour 1.02 rating and second hour 1.16 rating.

Boosted by a returning DirecTV audience, Impact scored its highest first hour, second hour, and overall rating during the live summer series. It was also the first time the first hour cracked a 1.00 rating in the new timeslot. The previous high was 0.94 on June 14. Also, Impact scored its highest final hour rating since May 10.

The show followed a similar pattern of hovering around the same rating (1.0) during the first hour, then increasing one stair-step (1.1) at the top of the second hour (previous first hour). But, instead of peaking at the top of the second hour, Impact finished with a stair-step increase in Q8 (1.19 rating).

First Hour Break Down

Q1: Impact opened with a 1.02 rating for Sting announced as the interim GM, then a parade of babyfaces discussing the Aces & Eights group, followed by Bobby Roode's interruption. There was also one commercial. (First time Impact cracked a 1.00 in Q1 during summer series.)

Q2: Impact was essentially flat with a 1.01 rating for Mickie James & Tara vs. Gail Kim & Madison Rayne in Knockouts tag action, plus one commercial, and the first-half of Sam Shaw vs. Douglas Williams in a Gut Check match. (First time Impact cracked a 1.00 in Q2 during summer series.)

Q3: Impact scored a 1.05 rating for the second-half of Shaw-Williams, Austin Aries talking to the X Division wrestlers backstage, one commercial, and the first-half of Chavo Guerrero's TNA introduction. (First time Impact cracked a 1.00 in Q3 during summer series.)

Q4: Impact dipped to a show-low 1.00 rating for the second-half of Chavo's introduction with an interrupted by Kid Kash, video packages, and two full commercial breaks dragging down the quarter-hour. (Tied with June 14 for the only other Q4 during summer series to score a 1.00.)

Second Hour Break Down

Q5: Impact increased one stair-step to a 1.10 rating for A.J. Styles vs. James Storm in a 10-minute Bound for Glory Series match, plus one commercial. (This was the third-highest-rated Q5 of the summer series, topped by the June 7 and June 14 episodes.)

Q6: Impact increased to a 1.16 rating for the Gut Check segment with Sam Shaw and the judges, Austin Aries backstage, one commercial, and Aries selecting Kenny King to face Zema Ion for the X Division Title. (Highest-rated Q6 of the summer series.)

Q7: Impact increased slightly to a 1.18 rating for Ion vs. King for the X Title, a post-match angle with Bobby Roode, Bully Ray backstage, and one commercial. (Highest-rated Q7 of summer series.)

Q8: Impact increased slightly to a show-high and summer-high 1.19 rating for Kurt Angle vs. Bully Ray in the main event, one commercial, and a post-match angle with Aces & Eights to close the show.

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