Hulk Hogan will be hosting a new weekly satellite radio show on Monday nights an hour before TNA iMPACT! goes on the air.
The first episode of “Hogan Uncensored” airs next Monday night at 7pm (EST) on Sirius XM’s Howard 101 channel.
Hogan and Bubba made the announcement on Bubba’s radio show yesterday when Hogan made an in-studio appearance to talk TNA.
Bubba the Love Sponge says Howard Stern is the one who put the show together.
— TNA may be dipping into the 90s well again as there has been much talk of starting a faction consisting of former ECW wrestlers.
ECW alumni presently on the roster include Rob Van Dam, Brother Ray, Brother Devon, Rhino, Raven, Dr. Stevie and Taz. Also, the former Spike Dudley worked an episode of iMPACT! a few weeks ago not to mention that Tommy Dreamer has been rumored to join the promotion as an on-air performer.
— Fans waiting outside of The Impact Zone this past Monday night were warned before entering the building that the evening’s show would not be family friendly.
partial source: Pro Wrestling Torch.
– TNA President Dixie Carter announced on her Twitter account that Christy Hemme and Brian Kendrick have signed new multi-year contracts with the organization. She wrote, “LOVE Christy in her new role & excited to see what Brian brings to X Div.”
– To clarify, the previously announced Leather & Lace Match between Angelina Love and Velvet Sky taking place on next week’s iMPACT! will not be for Love’s Knockouts Championship.
– For those unable to keep track of the Knockouts roster following numerous talent changes this year, here is how it currently stands.
Wrestlers (10): Angelina Love, Daffney, Hamada, Lacey Von Erich, Madison Rayne, ODB, Sarita, Tara, Taylor Wilde, Velvet Sky
Other on-air characters (5): Chelsea, Christy Hemme, Miss Tessmacher, SoCal Val & Orlando Jordan’s (unnamed) female companion.
Furthermore, the company has parted ways with five female performers so far this year in Alissa Flash, Awesome Kong, Kristal Lashley, Roxxi and Traci Brooks.
Just week’s after TNA iMPACT! moved to Monday nights, the company is already changing gears and making a move that many suggested from the beginning.
TNA President Dixie Carter announced via her twitter account that TNA iMPACT! is permanently moving to 8PM (Eastern). iMPACT! will remain 2 hours, but starting next week – the show will have a 1-hour lead-in to WWE RAW and will only go head-to-head with the first hour of RAW.
This week’s iMPACT! was a test run to see how the show would do starting an hour earlier and the ratings were enough to convince TNA that a permanent shift is a good move. Monday’s iMPACT! did a 0.85 rating, with the first unopposed hour drawing a 0.91 and the second hour, which went head-to-head with RAW, drew a 0.79.
Carter also announced on Twitter that SpikeTV will be adding a replay of iMPACT! to its weekly schedule The replay will air Thursday nights at 9PM (Eastern), iMPACT!’s old timeslot.
— WWE has plans to release a biography on Dustin “Goldust” Rhodes. The working title for the book project is Cross Rhodes and it is expected to be released by the end of the year. (source: PWInsider.com)
— Referencing last night’s episode of TNA iMPACT!, Chris Jericho wrote the following his Twitter account: “Yikes! With the amount of suits, serious looks and codebreakers going on tonight I feel like Kurt Cobain in 1993…”
For those unaware, “The Pope” D’Angelo Dinero uses the Double knee facebreaker (a/k/a Codebreaker) as his finishing maneuver in TNA.
— The Bella Twins are en route to Tokyo, Japan to do promotional work for WWE’s tour there this summer.
Karen Angle, ex-wife of TNA star Kurt Angle, has announced on her Facebook page that she and Jeff Jarrett are engaged to be married. No details yet about whether the couple has set a date.
Karen Angle made her debut with TNA back in 2007 and was with the company for about a year. Kurt and Karen were divorced in mid-2008. In July 2009, an anonymous TNA employee called into the Bubba The Love Sponge radio show to reveal that Karen and Jeff Jarrett were living together at Jarrett’s home in Nashville, TN. TNA President Dixie Carter subsequently sent Jarrett home for several months following that incident.
While this may seem like another crazy twist in the Kurt-Karen-Jeff love triangle, Kurt Angle is said to be on good terms with Karen and Jeff.
— It would not be surprising to see Scott Steiner return to TNA as he was in the process of negotiating a new contract with the organization when Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff joined the fold. Though negotiations fell through and he is no longer under contract, a company source predicts he’ll return within the next few months.
— On Twitter, a fan expressed his displeasure with Taylor Wilde’s lack of television time in recent weeks. The Knockout herself responded, “Yeah……….I’m not too thrilled about it either.”
Wilde was not flown in for this week’s television tapings. She is currently vacationing in England.
— Click here to watch the Before The Bell special previewing Lockdown.
(partial source: Pro Wrestling Torch)
It appears that former WWE Superstar and ECW original Tommy Dreamer is TNA bound and could show up on television as soon as tonight’s live broadcast.
On Monday, TNA star Jeff Hardy wrote on Twitter:
“Impact…tonight at8:00pm..on Spike…I’m aDreamer&I know I’m not the only one!”
Jeff capitalizing the word “Dreamer” led many to speculate that the ECW original, who was released from WWE earlier this year, would be appearing on this week’s iMPACT!
Tommy Dreamer responded to Jeff Hardy’s message, writing:
“Since Jeff Hardy is a Dreamer and I was part of Team Extreme, I will retweet his message that TNA Impact airs at 8:00 p.m. EST.”
Dreamer didn’t appear on this week’s iMPACT!, but it seems he’s hinting that he might be visiting the iMPACT! zone in the near future.
Last month, Taz noted that he and Paul Heyman had dinner in New York City with TNA’s Brother Ray and Taz.
UPDATE: Tommy Dreamer’s 90-day no-compete clause with WWE expires next Monday according to PWInsider.com. Next week’s show is being taped tonight, so the first live show where Dreamer would be free to appear is TNA Lockdown on April 18.
Following this week’s TNA iMPACT!, here’s the updated card for TNA Lockdown on April 18th:
Lethal Lockdown Cage Match
Team Hogan (Abyss & Jeff Hardy & Jeff Jarrett & Rob Van Dam) vs. Team Flair (Sting & Beer Money & Desmond Wolfe)
TNA World Championship Cage Match
AJ Styles (c) vs. “The Pope” D’Angelo Dinero
Cage Match
Kurt Angle vs. Ken Anderson
– Christopher Daniels’ departure from TNA was a hot topic of conversation at Monday’s iMPACT! tapings.
– Speaking of Daniels, he is accepting independent bookings via Bill Behrens at showbis@aol.com. He would be flown out of Los Angeles and is also available to appear as Curry Man.
– After receiving recent tryouts as backstage agents, neither Al Snow nor Dave Taylor were at iMPACT! this week.
– There was a rumor going around over the weekend that TNA would be moving its television tapings to the Paramount Theater in New York City. This rumor is false, especially considering that the former WWE venue houses the Hard Rock Cafe.
(Partial source: pwinsider.com)
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Solomonster Sounds Off (Episode 106)
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More on the death of Chris Kanyon, Daniels released from TNA, thoughts on WrestleMania 26 and HBK, Swagger wins the World title, Impact hemorrhaging viewers and more in what may be the SINGLE LONGEST edition of the Sound Off to date!
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– Several readers wrote in over the weekend saying that commercials for TNA iMPACT! aired during Friday’s WWE SmackDown broadcast.
– The official TNA website has removed Consequences Creed and The Nasty Boys from its roster page. Daniels still remains on the site as of this post, though he has in fact parted ways with the organization.
Meanwhile, TNA has added Chelsea to its page. She is being dubbed as “the young and beautiful assistant for TNA Wrestling Superstar Desmond Wolfe.”
– DailyBulletin.com has an article on local wrestlers Jeremy and Max Buck of Generation Me.
– TNA star Mick Foley has updated his MySpace.com blog with more thoughts on the tragic death of former WWE & WCW wrestler Chris Kanyon. With yet another young life lost, Foley once again shines a light on the less-than glamorous transition from wrestling superstar to everyday civilian.
“Unfortunately, suicide is a solution that far too many wrestlers have opted for. I really wish there was some kind of emotional crash pad for wrestlers to land on when the bright lights dim, or when injuries take their toll, or when one is finally forced to face the fact that the next big break just might not come around.”
– TNA founder Jeff Jarrett tells Kentucky’s Lexington Herald-Leader newspaper that TNA looking to change their strategy concerning live events. Many of TNA’s bigger names currently do not appear at the live events, leading many fans to notice a major difference in the product they see in person compared to the household names they see on television.
“The issue you’re talking about of the (Kevin) Nashes of the world not making it, we are graduating or progressing so that won’t be the case by the end of the year,” Jarrett said. “What you see on TV will match the live events.”
Jarrett admitted that TNA is not financially able to “load up a card with up to 20 superstars,” but that’s allowed them to keep the talent budget low and as a result, the shows have been profitable.
Don’t forget – tonight’s episode of TNA iMPACT! begins an hour early.
The following is confirmed for tonight’s live iMPACT!, starting at 8pm (Eastern):
– Kurt Angle vs. Mr. Anderson in a ladder match
– Desmond Wolfe vs. “The Pope” D’Angelo Dinero
– X Division champion Doug Williams hosts an X Division gauntlet
– #1 Contender Tag Title Match: Team 3D vs. Motor City Machine Guns
-Â 8-Woman Tag Match: Knockouts tag champions Beautiful People & Daffney vs. Knockouts champion Tara & ODB & Hamada & Angelina Love
– More wrestlers will be announced for the Team Flair vs. Team Hogan match at Lockdown.
– At one time, wrestlers let go by TNA appreciated the words of encouragement they’d receive from Dixie Carter after the company stopped using them. However, several wrestlers released from the organization compared notes and are very much convinced she gives the same speech to the majority of talent let go. Though many still appreciate the follow-up, several grumblingly feel now her correspondence was only slightly more sincere that World Wrestling Entertainment when they wish released talent ‘well in their future endeavors.’
– TNA officials reached out to Roderick Strong when his contract with Ring of Honor expired, However, they didn’t offer him a contract and he ended up re-signing with ROH. On another note, Strong is WWE wrestler Evan Bourne’s roommate.
– Al Snow worked the most recent set of television tapings as an agent. Still no word on whether he’s been offered a contract. Both he and Dave Taylor received favorable reviews for their tryouts at previous tapings.
(Partial credit to pro wrestling torch)
– HonkyTonkMan.net, which initially broke the news of The Nasty Boys’ departure from TNA Wrestling, notes that Brian Knobs and Jerry Sags weren’t initially informed they had been let go. An upset Sags reportedly found out he had been let go via news reports online. One company source confirms that Eric Bischoff was instrumental in their release from the company and that neither him nor management contacted the duo to inform them they had been let go.
-Jimmy Hart, who was brought in to manage Knobs and Sags, is still with the company.
— Orlando Jordan’s on-screen female companion is an independent women’s wrestler by the name of Santana G. currently training with the Orlando-based “I Believe in Wrestling” promotion. She is the daughter of St. Louis-based High Voltage Wrestling promoter TNT Kenny G. Santana was trained by former IWA-MS Heavyweight Champion Dingo.
— The following four matches have been announced for Monday’s live episode of iMPACT!:
* Kurt Angle vs. Mr. Anderson in a Ladder Match
* “The Pope” D’Angelo Dinero and Desmond Wolfe
* Tara, Angelina Love, ODB and Hamada vs. Daffney, Velvet Sky, Madison Rayne and Lacey Von Erich
* X Division Gauntlet Match
— The next episode of TNA Epics will air Thursday, Apr. 15th, 2010 at 11 p.m. on Spike.
— In this week’s TNA webmatch, Angelina Love takes on Madison Rayne. You can view the match here.
Last Call with Scott Hall
Extra special guest: Sean Waltman
In the latest episode of “Last Call with Scott Hall,” Hall and Sean Waltman join us once again from the Ale House in Orlando … On this show, the guys talk about their match with Jeff Hardy, Rob Van Dam, and Eric Young from Monday’s iMPACT!
As reported yesterday, reaction to Orlando Jordan’s segment on Monday’s iMPACT! was largely negative amongst the wrestlers in the locker room. Ric Flair was said to be among the most vocal detractors of the segment when it was taped on Mar. 23.
Later that night, a number of wrestlers and personnel headed out a nearby bar. Flair had a few drinks and began complaining about the manner in which Jordan’s on-air male companion was dancing on the bar’s dance floor and added there’s no place for him in the locker room. He eventually got so worked up that he angrily approached the male companion and created a scene.
One wrestler said Flair “cut a Ric Flair promo on him.” He then told him he’s “an embarrassment” and demanded that he “sit the f— down.”
The male companion was said to be shaken by the wrestling legend’s comments and left the bar shortly thereafter.
(Credit to the PWTorch Newsletter for some of the information used in this report)
– Former TNA Knockout Awesome Kong is booked for several independent dates in Australia this summer under the name “Amazing Kong.” With those bookings in place, it seems unlikely that Kong would be able to join WWE until after the summer.
– ODB told fans at a POWW Wrestling event held over the weekend that the reason she hasn’t been seen in TNA the past few weeks is due to a ruptured breast implant. According to reports, she had been working through the injury in order to hold off surgery following the Genesis pay-per-view back in January. She has since recovered as she worked the independent event, so her prolonged absence appears to now be a case of creative having nothing for her at this time.
– Angelina Love will be hosting a “Gold Party” this Friday night in Washington D.C. at the Town Danceboutique alongside Tanisha of the Bad Girls Club and DJ Seth.
– Sarita is currently in the midst of a wrestling tour of Japan as she worked Fuka’s retirement show at Korakuen Hall on Sunday and will be working a show this Saturday at Shin-Kiba 1st Ring.
— Madison Rayne is auctioning off a garter wrestling outfit worn on iMPACT! last year at the following link. Bidding ends today.
Ric Flair angrily confronted the on-air male companion of Orlando Jordan at a bar that a number of wrestlers and personnel hung out at following the Mar. 23 iMPACT! taping.
Flair reportedly got very upset watching the male companion dance at the bar and decided to confront him. Jordan’s male companion was said to be shaken by the wrestling legend’s comments and left the bar shortly thereafter.
Furthermore, Flair was said to be fuming over the young male having a role in the company as he feels he does not belong in the locker room.
source: prowrestling.net
Following up on Monday’s WWE RAW & TNA iMPACT! ratings …
WWE RAW’s rating was a 3.7, rounded up from a 3.68. The highest quarter hour of the show was a 4.1 for Shawn Michaels’ retirement ceremony at the end of the show. USA Network executive Ted Linhart noted on Twitter that RAW’s second hour did 3 million adults in the 18-49 demographic.
As previously reported, TNA iMPACT! did a 0.62. Granted, the show went up against another stacked, newsworthy RAW, but you can bet iMPACT! won’t last long on Monday nights doing 0.6’s.
TNA president Dixie Carter posted a message on Twitter regarding iMPACT!’s ratings collapse, attributing it to the Shawn Michaels farewell on RAW:
“Thank goodness he can only retire once…hopefully. Shawn, congrats on an amazing career.”
The ratings are in for the March 29, 2010 editions of WWE RAW & TNA iMPACT!.
WWE’s post-WrestleMania 26 episode of WWE RAW drew a 3.7 cable rating. This number is up from last week’s 3.2, but even WWE’s first class farewell tribute to Shawn Michaels on the night after WrestleMania was not enough to push the show into the 4’s.
TNA iMPACT featuring a 6-man six-man steel cage main event scored a 0.6 cable rating, down sharply from last week’s 0.9 and the worst rating on Monday nights yet.
We’re still waiting on more details, so stay tuned.
— The Nasty Boys — Brian Knobbs and Jerry Sags — have reportedly been released from TNA Wrestling.
According to the webmaster of the official website of The Honky Tonk Man, Knobbs was involved in an incident at a TNA function where Spike TV executives were present. They were said to be very unhappy with his behavior, which resulted in both being let go. ProWrestling.net independently confirmed with their company sources that the duo has indeed been let go.
As of this post, their profiles have yet be removed from the company website, thus deeming their respective departures official.
— As reported earlier, Consequences Creed has been released from TNA. Shortly after news broke of his reported release, Creed confirmed his departure from the organization on his Twitter account, stating: “Thanks for the support! Yea it’s true no more TNA for me. So now it’s time to do work son! The only thing that can beat a Creed is a Drago!”