For those curious, Brooke Tessmacher is still signed with TNA and is scheduled to return at some point. Much like Nikki Bella, Tessmacher is working on getting her real estate license.
Additionally, Taryn Terrell, who gave birth seven weeks ago, is also scheduled to make her TNA return in the near future.
(Credit: PWInsider.com)
The following are highlights of a new Between The Ropes interview with Eric Young:
On how he celebrated his TNA Title win: “To be honest, I had a couple beers at Friday’s. I actually treated myself and got Tostito nachos because I wanted to live on the wild side and then I went to sleep.”
On winning the TNA Title: “It’s cool to share that with a bunch of my buddies backstage. Being there for so long and working with so many people. A lot of people don’t get to see coming through the curtain and having everybody there standing and clapping, that huge having the admiration of your peers. The crowd doesn’t get to see that. It’s really special.”
Check out the complete interview at BetweenTheRopes.com.
Jeff Hardy recently spoke toChase McCabe and Jeremy Bennefield of ‘Through the Ropes” to promote Sunday’s TNA Sacrifice pay-per-view. You can listen to audio of the interview at 1025thegame.com. Here are some highlights of what he said about:
Lita’s WWE Hall of Fame Induction: “It was great. I was watching Raw when they first announced it and I was glad to see that. I’m very proud of her. Anytime you’re inducted into the Hall of Fame, it’s quite the honor.”
Teaming With Kurt Angle At Sacrifice: “It’s going to be very dream-like for me. I’ve been in the ring with Kurt Angle quite a bit, but this time it’s a little different because I’ll be in there under the mask as Willow and we’ll be taking on Ethan Carter and Rockstar Spud. Honestly, I’m pretty sure it’s going to be a breeze. Kurt’s the man, it should be a breeze.”
Becoming a Better Performer: “I’ve worked with so many legends and icons, it’s made me better and I’ve learned so much from all of those guys I’ve been in the ring with. It’s helped me to become my own individual and starting my own craft and forming my own identity. I’m finally comfortable to say that I am the complete ‘Charismatic Enigma’ as Jeff Hardy and Willow. Whatever I feel like doing to express myself, I can pull off.”
His Longevity in the Business: “Being with TNA is a little better because I do have a lot more time off to heal, especially with my style. When I feel like I can’t be Jeff Hardy or I can’t do Willow fully, I just don’t need to be doing it at all. So being with TNA, it’s not a really demanding schedule so I have time to be able to go all-out and have that time to heal.”
His Willow character: “Willow was my bad guy identity when Matt and I were running the OMEGA shows. I would be Jeff Hardy as the good guy and Willow would be the bad guy wrestling Matt across the indie circuit. It was an alter-ego back then, and now I had a chance to bring it back in TNA. I’m glad they gave me the chance to do it because it means the world to me to see how cool the promos have turned out and the vignettes leading up to the debut, and the entrance. The in-ring matches are still a work in progress for me, but it’s fun to be that extension of myself, especially now at 36 years old on national TV.”
The following is the final lineup for this Sunday’s TNA Sacrifice pay-per-view:
TNA World Heavyweight Title Match
Magnus vs. Eric Young
TNA X-Division Title Match
Tigre Uno vs. Sanada
TNA Knockouts Title Match
Angelina Love vs. Madison Rayne
TNA Tag-Team Title Handicap Match
Eddie Edwards & Davey Richards vs. Robbie E, Jessie Godderz & Zema Ion
Tables Match
Bully Ray vs. Bobby Roode
I-Quit Match
Gunner vs. James Storm
Committed Match
Samuel Shaw vs. Mr. Anderson
Tag-Team Match
Willow and Kurt Angle vs. Ethan Carter III and Rockstar Spud
TNA has added the latest edition of their “Spin Cycle” web series to their official YouTube channel. The latest edition of the show features a “Wet and Wild Trivia Showdown” contest.
The official preview for the show, which can be seen above, reads as follows:
Ethan Carter III, Rockstar Spud, ODB and Zema Ion all take place in the Wet and Wild Trivia Showdown. If you answer correctly you are safe… however.. if they answer incorrectly… you’ll have to watch! Jeremy Borash Hosts. For more information and to find out where you can watch Xplosion go to http://www.impactwrestling.com
TNA added the above video to their official YouTube channel previewing tonight’s TNA Sacrifice “go-home” edition of Impact Wrestling, which airs on Spike TV at 9pm EST.
Below is a list of confirmed matches for the show.
– Bobby Lashley vs. Kenny King
– Kurt Angle vs. Rockstar Spud
– Gail Kim & Madison Rayne vs. Angelina Love & Velvet Sky
– MVP vs. Austin Aries
– Bully Ray & Gunner vs. Bobby Roode & James Storm
– Abyss vs. Magnus
TNA issued the following press release today …
TNA Entertainment, the Nashville-based sports entertainment company known for the global pro wrestling program, IMPACT Wrestling, has signed with UTA, it was announced jointly today by Dixie Carter, President of TNA Entertainment, and UTA.
TNA Entertainment’s IMPACT Wrestling, one of Spike TV’s top-rated shows, averaging 1.4 million viewers each week, is broadcast in 120 countries worldwide. Additionally, TNA Entertainment produces more than 100 live Impact Wrestling events each year as well as monthly PPV events with such internationally beloved professional wrestling stars as Jeff Hardy, Bobby Roode, Kurt Angle, Eric Young, Magnus, James Storm, MVP, Gail Kim and the lovely and lethal Knockouts.
UTA will represent the 12-year-old company to extend its television broadcast reach as well as to expand its licensing programs and slate of live event programming. TNA will also leverage UTA’s expertise in digital and social media to build monetization strategies for its digital media operations. TNA launched a cross-platform programming effort, #IMPACT 365, in October 2013 to provide viewers with ongoing storyline and original content 24/7 on its website and across YouTube, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and other platforms.
“UTA’s diverse range of capabilities make them an ideal partner to help TNA add tremendous visibility and value to the global IMPACT Wrestling brand,” said Dixie Carter. “We are confident that by working with the UTA team, we will not only expand our wrestling business in exciting ways, but we will also build new entertainment ventures and properties.”
TNA Entertainment, LLC is a privately held sports entertainment company based in Nashville, Tennessee, that specializes in events, products, numerous TV properties, merchandise and music, as well as, the management and promotion of professional wrestlers. The product is the world’s most innovative experience in professional wrestling and is broadcast in more than 120 countries. For more information, please visit www.impactwrestling.com.
United Talent Agency is a premier global talent and literary agency representing many of the world’s most widely-known figures in every current and emerging area of entertainment, including motion pictures, television, digital media, video games, books, music, theatre and live entertainment. The agency is also globally recognized in the areas of film finance, film packaging, corporate consulting, branding, licensing, endorsements and the representation of production talent. The agency operates the brand strategy firm UTA Brand Studio as well as New York and Los Angeles-based United Entertainment Group, a joint venture firm focusing on branded entertainment for Fortune 500 companies. UTA also owns leading broadcast and news agency N.S. Bienstock.
The following are highlights of a recent Busted Open Radio interview with TNA star Gunner:
It has to be an exciting time for not just you, but for TNA as a whole because there has been a shift in how the talent is being used. Do you like how the talent is now being used in a different way? “Absolutely and you know that in pro wrestling, it’s built around the younger guys. Initially, we’re the ones that are gonna help take the company into the future. Kurt Angle and those guys won’t be around forever so for me to finally get the opportunity to show what I can do, them believing in me and believing in other guys as well. I mean, we are the future of company and the future of the business, so you either get to carry the ball or you drop the ball and if you drop the ball you’re obviously not going to be in that position so I’m very confident in my ability to carry that ball for TNA.”
You mentioned that you wouldn’t have re-signed if you weren’t confident in the direction things are going. Is it safe to say that TNA is not going to drop the ball going forward? “I do agree, man. We can sit here and talk about all the computer, lawyers all day. But the fact is it’s been around for 11 or 12 years now TNA. I’ve been with them since 2009 and I think since day 1 they’ve been the company that everybody talked bad about and talked about financial problems. But we’re fine. We’re continuing our ratings the way they have been and I’m confident in the company. Like I said, if I wasn’t then I wouldn’t have re-signed. I’m happy where I am. I’m happy with the company and where it stands.”
There are a lot of people that are happy that Eric Young is now the champion because of how long he had been underutilized. Is Eric the right guy to be the TNA champion? “Sure. Yeah, and Eric Young is definitely a deserving individual. Personally, I love Eric to death. He’s a great guy; he’s worked his tail off since he’s been in TNA. Not only that, but he does his own TV show now, so people know who he is and maybe they’re tuning in because of that reason. A guy that people have always stood behind; I think is a great thing. It’s good for storyline; it’s good for the fans. The fans want to see something different. Usually, TNA has always been a company to give them something different from the six sided ring, to the X division and all these other X division matches. Storyline wise it just continues to be a great company with a great opportunity with Eric Young as the champion.”
You had the feast or fired briefcase for a bit but didn’t successfully cash it in. With Eric Young becoming champion, do you feel like you should be getting your shot at the belt soon? Do you agree that you should be a future champion? “I do agree. I’m not just saying that because you asked me the question. But I do agree because I’ve been around with TNA since 09. I feel like I’ve paid my dues when it comes to this company. They gave me the opportunity in Manchester and obviously James Storm screwed me out of that opportunity. But in the future, with the Bound for Glory series kicking off after Slammiversary in June, it’s something I’m pretty sure I am going to be a part of. But in the future, I don’t know about this year but eventually, being a world champion is my goal. It’s always been my goal since I started wanting to become a wrestler when I was 5 or even started training in 2000. Whoever it is, Eric Young, or Magnus or anybody, I look forward to getting that opportunity once again.”
Since James Storm has turned heel, most of the fans that were behind him have started to gravitate towards you; so kudos to you because you have really won the hearts of the TNA fans. “Yeah, I think so, and we can feel it. Even though I’ve been there for a while, it was real touchy when we did live events, especially when we did live events in Tennessee, but yeah they really have. And as much as I hate James for bashing my dad in the head with a beer bottle and doing what he has done to me, I respect him as a performer and as an entertainer; as a man, not so much. He knows what he is doing in the ring and he definitely has the people hating him right now with me being the babyface in the whole storyline. And I think I’m a good enough babyface to make the storyline and I’m just going out there and really being myself other then I don’t go around bashing my head on turnbuckles every day. I’m taking my real life scenario. Me being in the marine core, me wanting to work with the wounded warriors and stuff like that and just carrying it over. I think people are gravitating towards that because they do respect obviously the military, but it’s something. I’ve never demanded respect, I’ve always wanted to go out and earn it and when I first came into TNA with the storyline about Garrett and Immortal, the crowd hated me. I feel like I’m finally earning their respect and I’m not the guy that will do 50 or 60 different moves during a match. I’ve been very basic. TNA crowds want to see a lot of stuff, but I feel like they are finally respecting who I am as a character, as a performer and as a man so that right there means a lot to me.”
Take us back to when you decided to have your dad get involved in the program involving you and James Storm. “Yeah, it was, and first of all to have my father involved in a program is great because he’s the one who has really supported me 100% throughout my whole career. He always told me as a kid you could do what you want to do if you never give up and he’s the one I grew up sitting on the couch watching wrestling with. So, just to have him be a part of the storyline and be a part of what I do for a living and what I love obviously means a lot. Unfortunately he got bashed in the head with a beer bottle, so that was not what we were planning to have done. I think you’re right with telling stories. It’s what the fans really want to see. Even as a kid, I was amazed by the characters like the Warrior, Macho Man and guys like that. But I was always into the storylines like the one with Jake the Snake Roberts, Macho Man and Ms. Elizabeth. It always amazes me what helped build up into a blow off match. I think TNA has really done that with me and James, which is great. We’ve been feuding with each for close to 6 or 7 months now. At Sacrifice this Sunday, we have the I quit match with me and James where I believe it’s the blow off match for us. So we are gonna get it on like we do. But the fans, I get so much feedback on Twitter, Facebook and all of my social media sites about how much they love it and how much time has been put into it. They really appreciate what we are doing as performers.”
Check out the complete interview at BustedOpenNation.com.
Christopher Daniels noted on Twitter today that he is officially a free agent. As previously reported, Daniels’ contract with TNA was set to expire, and many felt that he may not re-sign with the company as he was one of the last few guys who had a large contract and would likely be asked to take a cut in pay.
Daniels tweeted the following on Wednesday:
I became a free agent & a published comic book writer on the same day! http://t.co/X5y9tUV0pu
— Christopher Daniels (@facdaniels) April 23, 2014
TNA issued the following on Wednesday …
TNA IMPACT WRESTLING Returns To Italian Television On May 2
TNA IMPACT WRESTLING will return to TV screens in Italy this Spring, thanks to an agreement between TNA and popular Italian sports station Nuvolari TV.
Global wrestling stars including Olympic Gold Medalist Kurt Angle, TNA World Heavyweight Champion Eric Young, Jeff Hardy, Magnus, James Storm, Bobby Roode, Bully Ray, Mr. Anderson, MVP and Samoa Joe will make their debuts on Nuvolari on Friday May 2 at 8.30pm.
Episodes of TNA IMPACT WRESTLING will air every Friday at 8.30pm, with repeats on Saturdays at 4.30pm and Sundays at both 9am and 10.30pm. TNA’s PPV events will also be broadcast monthly on Nuvolari.
Fans in Italy can watch Nuvolari via digital terrestrial TV, satellite and live web streaming.
Nuvolari’s Editorial Area Vice President Corrado Azzolini said: “We are glad to announce TNA IMPACT WRESTLING’s new scheduling on Nuvolari. We are confident that it will meet our viewers’ approval, as wrestling is a very popular and followed sport in Italy.”
“In the future we would like to be able to give even more visibility to TNA, perhaps creating live events to convey all the emotions of the IMPACT WRESTLING experience.”
TNA President Dixie Carter added: “Everyone at TNA IMPACT WRESTLING is so excited about returning to TV in Italy and forming a long and fruitful partnership with Nuvolari TV.”
“I always get tweets and emails from fans in Italy asking how they can watch TNA – and I’m now pleased to say they can see IMPACT WRESTLING every Friday night, from May 2.”??
TNA IMPACT WRESTLING is the world’s most innovative experience in professional wrestling and is currently broadcast in more than 120 countries around the world.
There is a lot of concern backstage in TNA about how the company is being run and whether they will be able to secure a new television deal with Spike TV, a factor widely viewed as essential to their survival. A recent visit by Janice Carter and an attorney from Panda Energy to TNA headquarters in Nashville caught everybody surprise, adding more fuel to the speculation that the circumstances are growing dire. Here’s an overview of the current issues:
– TNA’s current television contract with Spike TV expires in October and there have been no indications that a new deal will be made. The last time TNA had a TV deal with Spike expiring in October, the company had already re-signed by this time (late April). TNA is running 3 expensive shows in New York City’s Manhattan Center as a way to impressive Spike TV officials with the rabid New York Crowd, but many are questioning whether this is a good use of their limited resources.
– TNA President Dixie Carter is getting a lot of heat about the overall direction of the company. During a recent meeting in Nashville, TNA’s lack of presence in New Orleans during WrestleMania XXX weekend was a major topic she had to defend.
– Talent is upset with TNA’s creative team, with the general feeling being that there has been a breakdown in communication. Additionally, a lot of people feel that “Big” John Gaburick is in way over his head and does not have sufficient experience to be handling creative.
– As for Eric Young’s title win, very few people knew about the decision in advance. TNA denies that it was a rip off of Daniel Bryan winning the WWE World Heavyweight championship and that they simply wanted to surprise fans on the last live episode of Impact before taping several weeks of programming.
(Credit to PWInsider.com for some of the information used in this report)
– TNA stars Kazarian and Abyss will be taking on The Great Muta and Tajiri at the May 4th Wrestle-1 event in Tokyo, according to a report at PWInsider.com.
– TNA star Bully Ray was recently interviewed by Xpose Entertainment and spoke about his desire to get into acting:
“I’m looking into films and other things right now … I am looking to branch my career out a little bit more into acting … I think I fit certain roles, I’ll use as an example a guy like James Gandolfini in ‘The Sopranos’. I think that type of role I could pull off real well, just with my natural personality.
I just did a television show for Nickelodeon. The show is called ‘See Dad Run’ and it stars Scott Baio and it’s on nick@nite. So I did an episode with him and it went really well and I had an extremely positive experience out there in Hollywood, I was there about a week working at Paramount Studios, I got to work with Scott Marshall and Garry Marshall, and I got to work on the same set as ‘Happy Days’. It was a tremendously positive experience.”
– Samoa Joe returned to in-ring action at the TNA non-televised live events this past weekend. Joe had been out of action for a while, and will remain off of television for a bit longer due to the fact that TNA has pre-taped several weeks worth of Impact Wrestling prior to his return.
– The Thursday, April 17th edition of TNA Impact Wrestling, which did not crack the top-100 shows on cable, continued its’ viewership decline, averaging only 1,010,000 viewers. The previous week the show drew 1,415,000 viewers.
– TNA wrestler Manik recently revealed via his ask.fm account what his current salary is working for TNA. Manik stated the following:
“My contract was started midway thru the year last year but altogether with salary+appearances I was on pace for roughly $75,000-$84,000 for a year period. That’s if my schedule is as busy as it was last summer/fall. Also that’s only counting TNA. I’d make a lot more if I kept up with other bookings outside but I just don’t. I’m also guaranteed a huge chunk of that regardless of if I wrestle or not. So it’s pretty ok considering I do what I love.I’m on the low end on the roster too. Most guys do way better than me.”
– TNA president Dixie Carter noted via her official Twitter account that the company is heading to the Sands Casino and Resort in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania on June 19th and 20th for live Impact Wrestling television tapings. Carter stated the following:
.@IMPACTWRESTLING is bringing a full house to @Sands_Bethlehem PA June 19 & 20 for Live TV! Stay tuned for on sale dates #TNASands
— Dixie Carter (@TNADixie) April 17, 2014
The following are highlights of a recent Baltimore Sun interview with AJ Styles:
On leaving TNA: “I honestly thought I’d be the guy that TNA could say, “This is the first guy that we signed to this company, and he’s retiring from our company.” And, man, what an awesome thing that would have been. So I never imagined I would leave that company, I assumed I’d retire from there. It sucks, but you can’t fix that now. I left the door open…”
On whether or not he thinks TNA is going out of business: “You know, I really don’t know. I know they’ve made a lot of cuts. That must mean they’re not doing so well. Sting gone, Hogan gone, myself gone, and I’m sure we’re going to see more cuts soon. From what I’ve heard and been told, it’s been horribly mismanaged as a company. I don’t know if they’re going out of business. But they’re definitely doing things that make people think they’re going out of business. And I hope they don’t. I hope TNA doesn’t go out of business because I have a lot of good friends that work there and deserve to be in the national spotlight. My hope is that they never go out of business.”
On returning to TNA in the future: “I tried to leave the door open. I haven’t buried the company. Like I said, I have friends there who do well, so I’m not going to do that. But I don’t know if I’ll ever go back, and it’s definitely not going to be any time soon. And from what one of their higher ups said, it will be ‘Only if there’s space available for AJ Styles.’ So I guess there might not be room for me, according to him.”
Check out the complete interview at BaltimoreSun.com.
Dixie Carter recently confirmed via the latest “IMPACT365” video that Rockstar Spud has signed a multi-year deal with TNA. The video can be viewed below.
http://youtu.be/0usz7kFFhwk
John Gaburick also confirmed the signing via Twitter.
Congratulations to @RockstarSpud on his multi-year contract.
See the moment he got it. http://t.co/OuRx29uByc pic.twitter.com/89ajndpPbZ
— John Gaburick (@JohnGaburick) April 17, 2014
Here’s a preview for tonight’s episode of TNA Impact Wrestling on Spike TV:
– New TNA World Heavyweight Champion Eric Young celebrates his title win last week
– Willow faces Ethan Cater III and Spud in a handicap match
– Bully Ray reacts to being slapped by Dixie Carter last week
– Bobby Roode’s Talbes Match Open Challenge
– The BroMans vs. The Wolves for the World Tag Team Championship
– Velvet Sky vs. Madison Rayne In a Knockouts Streetfight
– Match #2 in the Best Of Three Series for the X Division Championship featuring Sanada vs. Tigre Uno
– More news on the April 27 “Sacrifice” pay-per-view
TNA Executive Vice President John Gaburick has been announcing on Twitter the names of various TNA stars who have signed multi-year contract extensions.
After initially announcing James Storm as the first signee, he’s since posted similar announcements for Gunner and Robbie E.
TNA’s official website is teasing that more contract extension announcements will be made soon.
He has been in TNA since day one.
Proud to announce the signing of @Cowboy_J_Storm to a multi-year deal! pic.twitter.com/tXh1RbFZB8
— John Gaburick (@JohnGaburick) April 12, 2014
Proud to announce a multi-year deal with Gunner (@TNA_GUNNER)!
Excited to see the growth of this young talent. pic.twitter.com/WJ3hxCBIlY
— John Gaburick (@JohnGaburick) April 15, 2014
This #BRO has a new deal!
Happy to announce @RobbieEImpact has signed a multi-year contract with TNA! pic.twitter.com/slDexd9c4J
— John Gaburick (@JohnGaburick) April 15, 2014
Former TNA Champion Magnus was a recent guest on Ring Rust Radio, hosted by Donald Wood. Here’s what he said about dropping the title to Eric Young on last week’s episode of Impact Wrestling:
“It’s a different story once you’ve tasted the success of being Champion. It doesn’t make you want it any less; if anything it just makes you want it even more. I’m looking forward to locking up with EY again. I know a lot of people were surprised at the outcome but it’s nice to be able to surprise people sometimes. I think that the viewing figures all through my reign as champion can kind of point to the fact that people are just interested in what we’re doing now and that it’s fresh and exciting, and if I can be a small part in that as the Champion, then great. Honestly yeah, it’s never fun to lose a championship but, at the same time, this is a business and we’re in this to generate interest in what we’re doing. If we can do some good business then that’s what it’s all about and that’s a very exciting thing and I’m looking forward to doing more.”
“With EY, he’s a great competitor and in a lot of ways he has had to wait his turn and has gotten the crappy end of the stick many, many times over the years and through different regimes in this company. I was glad he was able to be portrayed in the right light and was able to get where he needs to be. I’m sure there has been a lot of criticism against me for many things, like there is against anyone especially when they become a top guy, but I think one thing that no one can deny is that while I’ve been on top anyone who’s been in there with me has come out looking better on the other end.”
Ethan Carter III and Christie Hemme are featured in a new music video for Sean Patrick McGraw:
LITTLE ENGINE RECORDS’ SEAN PATRICK McGRAW JOINS FORCES WITH TNA IMPACT WRESTLING SUPERSTAR EC3 AND KNOCKOUT CHRISTY HEMME FOR “I’M THAT GUY” VIDEO
SINGLE AND VIDEO APPEAR ON THE UPCOMING HARD WAY TO MAKE AN EASY LIVING RELEASE
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – (April 13, 2014) – Sean Patrick McGraw continues his streak of well-written living large songs with his current single “I’m That Guy,” from his forthcoming release Hard Way To Make An Easy Living. The song’s video premiered on the popular roughstock.com site to a great response. The video features IMPACT WRESTLING superstar EC3 and Knockout Christy Hemme. The song, co-written and performed with TNA Knockout Music’s own Serg Salinas and Dale Oliver, has been climbing the Music Row charts since its release nearly a month ago, currently sitting inside the top 30. The song is currently available on all digital outlets. Visit SEAN PATRICK McGRAW for tour dates and further information.
“I had a blast making this video to the song I wrote with my friends Dale and Serg,” says Sean Patrick McGraw. “It is a fun, raw, ‘take care of my woman’ song that we all have in our songwriting arsenal and have to release for the message,” he continues with a grin. “Having the lovely and talented Christy Hemme and the beefcake EC3 starring in the clip is icing.”
The song is produced by Dale Oliver and McGraw. The video is produced by Little Engine Records and directed by Adam Chardiss.
Little Engine Records opened in 2009 with McGraw as its flagship artist. Since then, McGraw has been on a non-stop mission to spread his music and his high octane live show to audiences across the states. McGraw has been one of Clear Channel’s “NEW: Artists to Watch” program and has been part of many country tours with such acts as Toby Keith, Dierks Bentley, Eric Church and many others.
McGraw has sponsorships/partnerships with such names as Budweiser, Jagermeister, One Condoms, Harley-Davidson Footwear, Summit Hotels and Fender Guitar. This is McGraw’s fourth video to air nationally on various outlets.
Being a prolific writer and a very poignant and insightful person, McGraw, or SPM, as fans and friends call him, is continually writing blogs about his travels, people he meets, charities that are close to him, the trials and tribulations of the road and the music business with a positive and purposeful insight. His blogs can be found at www.seanpatrickmcgraw.com or his Facebook page, www.facebook.com/seanpatrickmcgraw.
– The internal reaction to Eric Young winning the TNA World Heavyweight championship is mixed. While people are happy for him because he’s been with the company forever and is seen as a hard worker, others question if he is the person who should be “the face of TNA.”
– TNA announced that more contract renewals will be announced soon. As previously reported, former TNA World Heavyweight champion James Storm just signed a new deal with the company.
– Kurt Angle tweeted the the following over the weekend about unspecified ‘rumors’ –
Rumors. They haunt U and U can't do anything about them, except to prove them wrong. #RiseAboveIt
— Kurt Angle (@RealKurtAngle) April 12, 2014
(Partial source: PWInsider)
Apparently TNA veteran Chris Sabin is parting ways with the company. The former TNA World Heavyweight Champion’s contract with the company expired, as his last official booking was the “One Night Only” pay-per-view taping on Saturday night in Orlando, Florida.
According to one report, TNA did make Sabin an offer to re-sign, however much like the AJ Styles situation, it was reportedly a low-ball type of offer, one that Sabin turned down.
Additionally, Sabin has already started to reach out to independent pro wrestling promoters and is looking to begin taking bookings.
As noted recently, the next TNA veterans that could be on the way out of the company are Kurt Angle, Christopher Daniels and Frankie Kazarian.
(Credit: PWInsider.com)
Although initial reports stemming from PWInsider.com and The Wrestling Observer claimed that Samoa Joe has been out of action with a concussion, the TNA star is denying these rumors. Joe tweeted the following about the reports:
Not injured please don't make up news if you don't have actual facts.
— Samoa Joe (@SamoaJoe) April 11, 2014
It should be noted that according to a recent PWInsider report, Joe has been taking time off recently to deal with a personal situation.
The following are results from TNA’s “X-Travaganza” pay-per-view taping, which took place on Saturday night in Orlando, Florida.
– Low Ki def. Chris Sabin
– Rashad Cameron def. DJ Z
– Kenny King def. Rubix
– Ace Vedder (aka Trent Barreta) def. Manik
– Sonjay Dutt def. Rockstar Spud
– Tigre Uno def. Petey Williams
– The Wolves def. Bad Influence in an EC3 Invitational Ladder match for $25,000.
– Sanada def. Austin Aries in a Best Of Three Falls match by winning two straight falls.
– Low Ki won an Ultimate X match that consisted of all of the winners of the first six matches.
The following are results from TNA’s “World Cup” pay-per-view taping, which took place on Saturday night in Orlando, Florida.
The teams were selected by way of a draft. The teams were as follows:
Captain Eric Young with Bully Ray, Eddie Edwards, Gunner and ODB.
Captain Kurt Angle with Davey Richards, Mr. Anderson, Sanada and Madison Rayne.
Captain Ethan Carter III with Jessie, Robbie E., Magnus and Gail Kim.
Captain Bobby Roode with James Storm, Kenny King, Samuel Shaw and The Beautiful People.
Qualifying Matches
– Eddie Edwards def. James Storm
– The Bro Mans def. Mr. Anderson and Sanada
– Gail Kim def. Madison Rayne
– Eric Young def. Bobby Roode
– Kurt Angle def. Magnus
– Angelina Love def. ODB
– Ethan Carter III def. Davey Richards
– Bully Ray & Gunner def. Kenny King & Samuel Shaw
TNA World Cup Finals
(The remaining two teams, captained by Young and EC3, met in elimination matches.)
– ODB def. Gail Kim
– Robbie E. def. ODB
– The Bro Mans def. Eddie Edwards
– Bully Ray def. Jessie
– Robbie E. def. Bully Ray
– Gunner def. Robbie E.
– Magnus def. Gunner
– Eric Young def. Ethan Carter III via DQ.
– Eric Young def. Magnus to win the TNA World Cup for his team.