SEScoops

Category: TNA

  • Dixie Carter Says WWE Is Trying To Shut TNA Down

    TNA President Dixie Carter spoke to Fred Tropel of CanMag.com and explained that TNA Wrestling is going up against a corporate juggernaut that will stop at nothing to put them out of business.

    “Our competition may not have the same opinion that competition is good for an industry and take every opportunity to try to shut us down. I mean, it is the truest of David-and-Goliath situations, but we are scrappy. We will not take no for an answer, and we are going to have great success.”

    With everything that WWE has going for them, Carter believes her company has a better in ring product and knows what the fans want.

    “I think that these days you don’t have to be a bigger-than-life cartoon character. I mean, it’s much more about reality and what these guys can do in the ring. They are amazing athletes. I can have an all-pro football player, an NBA star on, and they say, ‘We could never do something like this.’ You have no off season. It’s 52 weeks a year, and then we tour in between that. These guys are incredible athletes, and we do focus on the athleticism on our show much, much more.”

    Visit CanMag.com to read the full interview.

  • PPV Poster For TNA’s Upcoming X-Division Only PPV

    Credit: Superluchas.net

    Check out the PPV poster for TNA Destination X , a  pay-per-view that will feature only X-Division wrestlers.

    While an X-Division only PPV is a great idea that’s long overdue, having it in March up against WrestleMania is just a terrible idea. WrestleMania will obviously take a chunk out of the TNA PPV buyrate in March, so why put your experimental special attraction show up against the toughest competition of the year? TNA is trying to gauge whether the X Division can draw, so they book the show in a month when the deck is already stacked against them. Genius.

  • Chris Jericho Takes Aim At Eric Bischoff & TNA Wrestling

    Apparently in response to comments Eric Bischoff made on The Bubba The Love Sponge Show yesterday, Chris Jericho fired back at Bischoff on his Twitter account this morning, writing, “Bischoffs right I can’t headline in TNA…cos I’m not in my 50s.”

    Bischoff said yesterday during his “State of TNA” address that he didn’t see Jericho as a headliner in WCW and apparently Vince McMahon doesn’t either in WWE considering that he only gave him two brief title runs in 2008.

  • iMPACT! Does Record Rating, Honky Tonk Rumor Killer

    — This week’s TNA iMPACT! did a 1.4 rating, a new record for the company for a Thursday night broadcast. The show did hours of 1.46 and 1.3 with an average of 1,867,000 viewers. The show peaked in the opening 15-minute segment with a 1.51 rating. (Source: PWTorch.com)

    — During Friday’s appearance on the Bubba the Love Sponge Show, Eric Bischoff shot down The Honky Tonk Man’s claim that he is “close to signing with TNA.”

    “I’d rather drive a rusty ice pick through my eye than work a day with him. This guy couldn’t draw flies if you rolled him in cow s—. He’s negotiating with himself. No truth to that at all.”

    On the other hand, Hulk Hogan said he would not mind bringing The Honky Tonk Man to TNA. He joked that HTM trademarked “Linda Hogan” because nobody else did and suggested he work a program with Bubba.

    “If we brought him in and we did a program with Bubba, it would mean something,” Hogan said.

  • Dixie Talks About Big Egos In TNA, Not Leading By Fear

    TNA President Dixie Carter was interviewed for the latest issue of the UK’s Fighting Spirit Magazine. Carter spoke at length about Hulk Hogan’s new role in TNA, where she sees the company going and more. Here’s what she said about:

    Dealing with Big Egos In TNA: “To me, it’s not hard at all I feel if you treat somebody with respect, that’s the only way you can win it back. If you work hard, that’s the way to expect other people to work hard. I don’t have tiered systems of how I treat different people, I treat everyone as the same.  don’t care if you’re Kurt Angle or the newest guy on the roster, you’re gonna be treated with the same level of respect, and I expect that back. To me, that’s the easiest way to keep individual egos in check, because I’m not playing a game with different people or favouritism.”

    Her Leadership Style vs. Vince McMahon‘s: “I have a philosophy and it may not be right, but I feel that if people are happy personally, they’ll work harder for you than if you motivate them through fear. I want to make TNA a place where they bring their families, where their wives are welcome, where their husbands are welcome, where their children are. It creates a different type of atmosphere backstage, but it creates a place where we are all in this for the same goal.”

    For more, visit: Fighting Spirit Magazine

  • Respect For Ric Flair In TNA, Hall & Waltman’s Status

    – There is a tremendous amount of respect for Ric Flair within the TNA locker room. At the last set of iMPACT tapings, Flair was very outgoing, getting to know some of the young wrestlers and was telling people he loved being there since he felt he was being used right by managing the World Champion AJ Styles. He was shown a ton of respect backstage with the wrestlers and agents “in awe” of him. Flair’s interviews have also received ave reviews.

    – TNA management is said to be “putting up with” Scott Hall and Sean Waltman, but are trying to make the most of them while they’re part of a big storyline. Most people figured that Hall wouldn’t work out but there’s a lot of disappointment in Waltman as some figured that he would have shown up in better shape considering it’s probably his last shot with a major US promotion.

    (Source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)

  • State Of TNA Announcement Today, Monday iMPACT! Update

    – Days after President Obama delivered his first State of the Union address, it’s time for the first-ever “State of TNA Address.” Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff will be appearing on Bubba the Love Sponge’s radio show this afternoon at 12:15PM EST to answer questions and take phone calls from fans. Visit BTLS.com for more.

    – The ring name for the valet with Desmond Wolfe now in TNA is Chelsea.

    – It appears that Spike TV and TNA jumped the gun with their announcement about TNA iMPACT airing on Monday, March 1st.

    Spike’s schedule on their website has been changed as iMPACT is no longer listed on March 1st at 9PM. That slot now says “TBD (to be determined).

    On a related note, the Universal Studios website updated their TNA schedule also, replacing March 8th and 9th with March 1st and 2nd. The schedule on TNA’s website still says March 8th and 9th.

    Not to worry, as we’re hearing TNA will in still be aring a live show on March 1st. The company does however want to make the announcement on their own terms, not have it leak out on some online TV schedule. Stay tuned for word from TNA about Monday nights.

  • RVD Knows TNA Wants Him, Talks About His Future

    Rob Van Dam
    Rob Van Dam

    Rob Van Dam knows TNA wants a piece of him and said once again the “ridiculous never-ending” WWE schedule will play a factor in which company he decides will wrestle for. Van Dam told Alex Marvez of Scrippsnews:

    “I do have some interest right now in what’s going on with the big companies. I know (Hulk) Hogan would like to have me. Eventually, (TNA) may start to wear me down and my ‘no thanks’ will become ‘well, maybe.’ I have some interest, but I don’t know what’s going to happen. I don’t see myself going back to the full-time, ridiculous never-ending WWE schedule. I couldn’t wait to get away from it before.”

    The former WWE and ECW champion says he has been wrestling across the world since leaving the national wrestling but doesn’t have any bookings past this Saturday’s PWG show in Los Angeles.

    Aside from the brutal WWE schedule, Van Dam still has sour grapes about how WWE handled the “new” ECW:

    “WWE destroyed that and made it very symbolic. They wanted everyone to know ECW was dead and this new group happened to be called ECW. That was the last cycle of frustration for me.”

    Visit Scrippsnews.com to read the full interview.

  • Could The Ultimate Warrior & Randy Savage Be Joining TNA?

    During a recent interview with UGO.com, Hulk Hogan commented on the possibility of Ultimate Warrior and Randy “Macho Man” Savage joining TNA Wrestling.

    “The Warrior is not “alive” anymore,” Hogan told UGO.com. “I did a deposition about six months ago where Vince McMahon put out a tape called The Self-Destruction of the Ultimate Warrior. And I did a deposition. I sat in a room across from him. No other wrestler would testify. He thought I was actually going to help him, but when I told the truth…I seriously doubt he and I would ever work together again. I did tell the truth at the deposition. He’s the worst. He’s horrible. There’s nobody worse than him in the ring. So hopefully I’ll never have to see him again in the ring.”

    As far as Savage is concerned, despite their past differences, Hogan would love to have him on board with TNA. He feels if Savage dyed his gray beard and got back into shape, he would be good enough to return to the ring.

    “I’d LOVE to see the Macho Man,” Hogan exclaimed. “Dye that old gray Santa Claus beard he’s got. Get back in shape. And teach these young guys how to do it because I could sure use his help. He’s got a great mind for the business.”

    Hogan also comments on the removal of the six-sided ring (calling it “a playpen”), when exactly he should have quit wrestling, back shaving tips, and more. You can read the interview in its entirety at the following link.

  • TNA Title Change Takes Place Tonight At House Show

    Rob Terry won the Global Championship from Eric Young at tonight’s TNA live event in Cardiff, Wales — his home country.

    Young had held the title, which was formerly the Legends Championship, since October 2009.

    TNA president Dixie Carter announced the title change on her Twitter account and posted a photo of Terry holding the title at the following link.

  • Sid Vicious Looking To Join TNA, “The Pope” Dealing With Illness

    — On his Facebook account (which is where the “bizarre hair” photos initially surfaced), Sid Vicious put up a link to a petition for fans to sign concerning “the hiring of Sid Eudy/Sid Vicious to add to the overall benefit of Total Nonstop Action Wrestling.”

    Regarding the petition, Vicious wrote: “Petitions don’t work…but Sign it anyway just to show them where the Power lies. Spread the Word! Somebody made this Petition as a Labor of love so I Understand how that feels..We all know how it is. you gotta get in there and get your hands dirty and do whatever you got…ta do to get your boys back on TV where they belong…it’s sad but thats the way it is now! it’s all in the fans hands now!”

    You can check out the petition at the following link.

    — D’Angelo Dinero took ill early in TNA’s European tour and was forced to stay behind in Glasgow, Scotland as result. He is also nursing a hand injury. Fortunately, his health has since gotten better as he returned to the tour last night in Bournemouth.

    “Pope is so sick Dr’s would not let him wrestle in Glasgow. He has to stay behind until better,” TNA president Dixie Carter wrote on Twitter on Saturday.

    — You can follow TNA newcomer Jeremy of Generation Me (a/k/a Nick Jackson) on Twitter at the following link.

  • Bischoff Calls WWE’s TV Product “Boring”, Joe Suffers Injury

    — During an interview with the Pro Wrestling Torch conducted this past September, Eric Bischoff commented on whether he had given thought to joining TNA Wrestling. In his response, Bischoff called WWE’s television product “boring” and predictable.

    “Not really. A, because I don’t watch it. B, because I just don’t think about it. I don’t watch WWE, either. It’s not because I don’t like it. Well, it’s kind of because I don’t like it. It’s just that it’s so boring I can almost tell you what’s going to happen 30 seconds before it happens,” Bischoff told Wade Keller.

    “I’m not just talking about the matches, I’m talking about the whole storyline arc of the show. But, I don’t want to say this the wrong way. It’s not a “been there, done that” syndrome, although that’s kind of part of it. It’s that unless it’s really creatively challenging and stimulating, I just don’t think about it. Since I’m not in it and I don’t really watch it, it’s just not something that I think about. I’ve probably thought more about wrestling in the last two interviews I’ve done with you than I have in the last two years.”

    It should be noted that Bischoff was in negotiations to work with TNA when the interview took place.

    — Samoa Joe dislocated a rib during Monday’s live event in Paris, France. He worked against AJ Styles and Daniels in a three-way bout.

    “Dislocated a rib last night. Most fun was explaining the screaming from my room as D-Lo (Brown) popped it back in,” Joe wrote on his Twitter account yesterday morning.

    He managed to work his scheduled “I Quit” match against Daniels last night in Bournemouth, England.

  • TNA iMPACT! Reportedly Moving To Mondays Permanently

    Get ready for a new war.

    Spike TV and TNA Wrestling have decided the time is right to move TNA iMPACT! permanently to Monday nights, according to the Wrestling Observer.

    As we reported earlier today, a second Monday night iMPACT! has been scheduled for March 1, head-to-head with WWE RAW for 2 hours.

    While it is unclear at this point whether TNA’s official Monday night timeslot will keep the 9-11pm ET timeslot or if that will just be on March 1st.

    The Observer reports that the likely taping schedule will be a live on Mondays one week, then tape the following week’s iMPACT! the following day (Tuesday).

    We’ll have more on this breaking story very soon, but it now looks like the success of TNA’s January 4th experiment is what gave Spike the confidence to green light a new Monday night war.

  • Another Monday Night TNA iMPACT! Scheduled For March

    After TNA Monday night special on January 4th drew a strong 1.5 cable rating, it appears Spike TV has scheduled another live TNA broadcast to go head-to-head with WWE RAW.

    According to news correspondent Devin Cutting, Spike TV has  scheduled a second Monday night TNA Impact episode on March 1 from 9-11p.m. EST head-to-head with WWE Raw.

    Comedy duo Cheech & Chong are scheduled to host WWE RAW that night.

    TNA originally had an Australian tour scheduled from late Feburary to early March and then rescheduled it due to “changes in the U.S. TV production schedule.”

    A report on PWInsider.com states that the TNA iMPACT! taping schedule at Universal Studios in Orlando now lists live events on Monday 3/1 and Tuesday 3/1, so it appears the show will be live once again.

    Our Thoughts: In the days and weeks following January 4th, executives from Spike TV and TNA Wrestling made it clear they were beyond satisfied with TNA’s ability to hang with WWE on Monday nights. We know that more live specials (and a possible permanent) move are in the works and another Monday night special is a great sign. The face of TNA has been changing by the week and it should be interesting to see what the product even looks like come March 1st.

  • Styles Possibly Getting A Makeover, Anderson’s TNA Live Debut

    — AJ Styles could be in line for a makeover as creative has discussed having the TNA World Heavyweight Champion bleach his hair blonde in order to synergize his partnership with Ric Flair. Though it should be noted that Styles has a say in this so it may not happen.

    — TNA newcomer Mr. Anderson will be making his live event debut for the company during the weekend of February 4th in Kansas and Missouri.

    — Velvet Sky and Madison Rayne of “The Beautiful People” were brought in for the remainder of the company’s ongoing tour of the UK starting with tonight’s show in Bournemouth. The duo will be working tag matches against Taylor Wilde and Sarita. The tour concludes this Saturday.

    source: f4wonline.com

  • TNA Roster Update, Homicide Defeats Former ECW Champion

    — The TNA website has added profiles on Angelina Love, Brian Kendrick, Bubba the Love Sponge and Mr. Anderson to its Superstars section. Awesome Kong’s profile remains on the page at this time.

    — Two TNA stars in Homicide and Madison Rayne were on hand for Jersey All Pro Wrestling’s 12th Year Anniversary Show last night in Rahway, New Jersey. Homicide beat former ECW World Heavyweight Champion Masato Tanaka while JAPW Women’s Champion Sara Del Ray pinned Madison Rayne.

    — Today is TNA creative director and former WCW World Heavyweight Champion Vince Russo’s birthday, who turns 49 years old.

  • Last Night’s Impact Rating, TNA Wrestlers Not Going On UK Tour

    sources: www.f4wonline.com, www.pwtorch.com

    — Last night’s episode of TNA iMPACT! drew a 1.26 cable rating, the same number as last week. The show drew 1.9 million viewers overall. The opening quarter hour with Hulk Hogan, Kurt Angle, AJ Styles & Ric Flair and final two quarter hours tied for the highest rated segment of the night with a 1.32.

    — Besides Awesome Kong, both Alex Shelley and Bobby Lashley are not going on TNA’s tour of the UK. Shelley will not be going on the tour due to ongoing disc injuries. Likewise, Lashley isn’t going because he’s fighting for the mixed martials arts promotion Strikeforce next weekend.

    — Kevin Nash is said to be unhappy with “The Band” nickname TNA bestowed upon him, Scott Hall and Sean Waltman. They used the old Blue Brothers movie joke about putting “the band back together” several years ago in World Championship Wrestling, but Nash now feels it’s ridiculously dated.

  • Kong Says “Slavery Is Not Over”, Jarrett Audio From BTLS, More

    — In a video posted today on Qik.com, Awesome Kong said she has not yet spoken to TNA management regarding her future in the company, but will do so later today. She then says it’s sad that people don’t know the true story about things and that they can only assume what they hear.

    Meanwhile, she mentions Abraham Lincoln several times during her video while standing in front of a statue of the 16th President of the United States, notably saying, “I thought slavery was over, but slavery is not over.”

    — Last night’s iMPACT! broadcast featured “controversial” audio from Jeff Jarrett’s appearance on The Bubba the Love Sponge Show on Sirius/XM radio. In case you missed this “worked-shoot” angle, you can catch it at the following link.

    — TNA has released “Pope” sunglasses at the following link.

  • Beer Money Considered “Expendable”, Return of The Nasty Boys

    — Beer Money, Inc. — James Storm and Robert Roode — have been expressing their frustration to people backstage after they received word that TNA creative director Vince Russo said he didn’t see them as top stars. Actually, Russo said that they were expendable, but the Pro Wrestling Torch notes that he may have been trying to send the outspoken Storm a message.

    Storm was said to be very upset with Beer Money, Inc.’s limited role on the live Monday Night iMPACT! on Jan. 4. In one scene, they were shown shaking hands with Ric Flair upon his arrival to the Impact! Zone. Later that night, they were shown selling a beat down from an unidentified assailant.

    It should be noted that there is no noticeable friction between the duo and Russo as observers say they get along fine backstage. (source: pwtorch.com)

    — The Nasty Boys made their much anticipated return to the squared circle last night on iMPACT!, defeating Eric Young and Kevin Nash. Before last night, The Nasties had not tagged together on national television in over thirteen years — since the December 9, 1996 episode of WCW Monday Nitro.

    — TNA’s house show on March 19th, 2010 will be held at the Civic Center in Pensacola, Florida. Tickets go on sale February 5th, 2010 at 10 a.m. (Thanks to Devin Cutting)

  • Hogan Wants TNA To Stop Live Events, Kong Discussed

    Hulk Hogan appeared on Bubba the Love Sponge’s radio show yesterday morning. Here are some of the more notable things discussed:

    * Hogan wants to kill all house shows until things come together on television. He feels that in no time, TNA will become a force which people will pay attention to.

    * He said he has no plans to solely bring in his friends to TNA. He said when he met Ken Anderson on the Australian tour, he knew that “he had what it took.”

    * Bubba the Love Sponge discussed his backstage altercation with Awesome Kong earlier this week, saying he was mad at what she did to him. He then called her “a bitch.”

    * Apparently, Hogan too poked fun at Kong, feeling her anger was “menstrual-related.”

    * Bubba said he was pushing for a bigger role in TNA but now hates the wrestling business. Hogan responded by saying, “Wow!”

    * Hogan said less is more and discussed a segment with Scott Hall and Sean Waltman that was taped this week.

    * Hogan put over Ric Flair for being on his game once became aligned with AJ Styles.

    The talk lasted roughly fifteen minutes and Hogan basically emphasized that he was going to show everyone how the wrestling business works.

    (source: PWInsider.com)

  • Backstage Update On Hogan & Bischoff In TNA

    To the surprise of many, both Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff were on hand for all four of TNA’s television tapings this week in Orlando.

    While Hogan does have his own dressing room, he made an effort to mingle with the rest of the talent backstage. Meanwhile, Bischoff was more involved in the production of each show.

    There had been some skepticism as to whether Hogan and Bischoff would be interested enough to attend four consecutive shows, but to their credit, they did.

    Jason Hervey, former child star (“The Wonder Years”) and Bischoff business partner, has also been regularly backstage since Bischoff became involved with the company.Bischoff and Hervey have been working behind the scenes to secure new relationships for TNA within the entertainment industry.

    (Source: prowrestling.net)

  • More On Kong Requesting Her TNA Release, Beefcake Backstage

    — As reported earlier, Awesome Kong has given notice to TNA with the multi-time champion herself confirming said reports during a live video stream this afternoon. It should be noted that her decision to hand in her notice may not necessarily be as a result of her heated encounter with Bubba the Love Sponge earlier this week, but rather, the company’s upcoming tour of Europe.

    “People are sending me messages about my request for my release,” she said. “I don’t know. Originally, I was supposed to go to the UK, but I’m not going there now. I told TNA I would think about it. All they had to do was wait ten minutes.”

    In case you missed her live video stream, you can check out her videos at qik.com/awesomekong.

    — Ed Leslie (a/k/a Brutus Beefcake) was backstage visiting friends at Wednesday’s Impact taping. (source: prowrestling.NET)

    — TNA has announced three new live events in Pennsylvania and West Virginia taking place from Mar. 12 to Mar. 14. The events will be taking place in Erie, PA, Pittsburgh and Wheeling, West Virginia. Click here for more information.

  • Massaro In Talks With TNA, Shelley Battling Serious Injury

    source: www.pwtorch.com

    — Former WWE Diva Ashley Massaro attended the Survivor finale red carpet event held two weeks ago and was telling people that she’s had discussions with Dixie Carter about working for TNA. Though there is a good chance she will ultimately wind up in the company, it’s not expected to be imminent.

    — TNA officials were planning a feud between The Motor City Machineguns and Generation Me, but Alex Shelley is battling serious problems with his back and neck which could cause him to miss significant ring time.

    — Kip James was hanging out backstage at this week’s television tapings. Though he was recently dropped as a talent, he is still under contract to the organization as officials are trying to find a new role for him.

  • Alissa Flash Also Leaving TNA Wrestling

    Awesome Kong is not the only TNA Knockout parting ways with the company this week. A reliable source in TNA has informed us that fellow TNA Knockout Alissa Flash is also leaving.

    Alissa (real name Melissa Anderson) reportedly requested her release from the company, she was not fired.

    There are rumors of others besides Kong and Anderson requesting their releases but nothing is confirmed.

  • Awesome Kong Gives Notice To TNA She Is Leaving

    TNA Knockout Awesome Kong, who got into a physical altercation with TNA backstage announcer Bubba the Love Sponge at Monday’s iMPACT! tapings, has given notice that she’s leaving the company.

    The news was originally reported by f4wonline and was confirmed by Kong herself on Thursday afternoon via a live video stream on Qik.com.

    Kong’s departure from the company appears to be effective immediately, and she said during the video cast that she informed TNA she won’t be attending the upcoming UK tour.

    It should be noted that many TNA wrestlers and knockouts who have told management they are leaving have been persuaded into staying, but at this point Awesome Kong’s relationship with TNA appears to be off.