– The official Twitter account for TNA recently posted the following tweet containing information about VIP packages for the January 16th “Genesis” show in Huntsville, Alabama:
Jan 16: Genesis LIVE From Huntsville, AL on SpikeTV – Front Row VIP Packages Now Available http://t.co/etyJOjs9gr
– TNA added the opening to this week’s Impact Wrestling broadcast to their official YouTube channel. Take a look at how the first Impact Wrestling show of 2014 will begin by watching the following video:
The following are results of the TNA “One Night Only: #OldSchool” pay-per-view, which was taped on Monday night in Poughkeepsie, New York.
TNA “One Night Only: #OldSchool” PPV Spoilers
– Austin Aries def. Chris Sabin and Sonjay Dutt in a nine minute triple-threat match, which served as the opening match of the show.
– Ethan Carter III def. Dewey Barnes in a quick squash match.
– Bully Ray def. Tommy Dreamer in a Street Fight. This had all kinds of weapons and was said to be a great match.
– Bad Influence & Velvet Sky def. The BroMans & Lei’D Tapa in an intergender six-person tag-team match. Eric Young served as the special guest referee of the match, which lasted a little over ten minutes.
– Magnus def. Samoa Joe to retain the TNA World Heavyweight Title in a match that went just under 15 minutes. Magnus picked up the win by hitting Joe with the TNA title belt. Joe had Magnus pinned, but Ethan Carter III pulled the ref out of the ring during the pin. Apparently they will need to edit the finish, as EC3 reportedly missed his cue.
– Kurt Angle def. Mr. Anderson with the Olympic Slam in a match that lasted about 12 minutes.
– Bobby Roode def. James Storm in just over 15 minutes in a Last Man Standing match. Roode nailed Storm with a suplex across two chairs while he was handcuffed. He then nailed him with a beer bottle to get the win.
The following is the updated list of dates and matches for AJ Styles’s post-TNA tour, which kicks off in early 2014:
– Jan. 4: ROH TV taping in Nashville (vs. Roderick Strong)
– Jan. 18: Magnum Pro in Cedar Falls, Iowa (vs. Jaysin Strife)
– Jan. 19: PWX in Winston-Salem, N.C. (vs. Cedric Alexander)
– Jan. 26: Smash Wrestling in Toronto (vs. Chris Hero)
– Feb. 1: Dreamwave in Chicago (vs. Christian Rose)
– Feb. 7: D.S.C.H. in Blue Ridge, Ga. (w/Cody Roberts vs. Corey Hollis & Shaun Tempers)
– Feb. 8: CZW in Voorhees, N.J.
– Feb. 15: House of Glory in Queens, N.Y. (w/Amazing Red vs. Young Bucks)
– Feb. 23: Pennsylvania Premiere in Freeland, Pa. (vs. Tommy Suede)
– Mar. 1: PCW in Preston, England (vs. Lionheart)
– Mar. 14: 2CW in Binghamton, N.Y. (vs. Eddie Edwards)
– Mar. 15: UWE in Harrisburg, Pa. (vs. A.R. Fox)
– Apr. 26: Remix Pro in Marietta, Okla. (vs. Facade)
The following are spoiler results for the TNA “Hardcore Justice” pay-per-view. The show was taped on Sunday night in Lowell, Massachusetts.
TNA Hardcore Justice 2013
– Ethan Carter III def. Tommy Dreamer in a Tables Match to open the show. This was said to be a great match.
– BroMans come out without the TNA World Tag-Team Titles. This could indicate that they are scheduled to lose them before this airs. Dewey Barnes and Robbie E. do a dance-off, and a pose-off with Jessie Godderz for the chance to be on Team Angle later on. They make Barnes do ten push-ups but end up beating him up anyways and say they will do the same to the fourth team member of Team Angle, who has yet to be revealed.
– Bobby Roode def. Samoa Joe via Disqualification. The winner of this match is scheduled to get the advantage in the Team Roode vs. Team Angle match. The DQ happened when the referee was bumped and woke up to see a trash can lid near Joe, which was put there by Roode to make it look like Joe hit him with it. With the win, Team Roode gets the advantage in their match later on.
– Lei’D Tapa def. Velvet Sky in a Knockouts Street Fight. This was said to be a pretty decent match with a lot of chair shots.
– Joseph Park & Eric Young def. Daniels & Kazarian in a Full Metal Mayhem match. This was advertised to be Abyss and Young, but Park ended up coming out instead. The finish came when Young pushed Kaz off a ladder and splashed onto him for the pin.
– Bully Ray def. Mr. Anderson in a Last Man Standing Match. This was advertised to be a Stretcher Match, but Anderson revealed in his pre-match promo that he had the office change it to a Last Man Standing match because he didn’t want Ray getting medical treatment after he kicked his ass. Ray ended up getting the win in a bloody match.
– Austin Aries def. Chris Sabin in an X-Division Xscape Match to retain the TNA X-Division Championship. This was said to be an awesome match. Aries hit a huge hurricanrana off the top of the cage wall.
– Team Angle def. Team Roode in the Lethal Lockdown main event of the show. James Storm started the match out for Team Angle, while Jessie Godderz started the match for Team Roode. Robbie E. comes out next for Team Roode. Samoa Joe enters next for Team Angle. Roode enters next for Team Roode. Angle comes out next for Team Angle. Magnus enters next for Team Roode. Abyss is the last man to come out for Team Angle. The finish comes when Abyss chokeslams Robbie E. on a barbed wire board for the win.
– Taz made a rare appearance at the TNA live event this weekend in Westbury, New York. The TNA announcer opened the show with an in-ring promo.
– Tommy Dreamer also worked the TNA live event in Westbury. Dreamer answered the open challenge issued by Ethan Carter III. EC3 ended up winning the match.
– There is a chance that Jessie Godderz may have suffered a leg injury during the TNA event in Westbury. Godderz reportedly hurt his leg while being suplexed by Joseph Park. We should have more on this on Monday.
The following are highlights from a recent Newsday interview with TNA wrestler James Storm:
On his short run with the World Heavyweight Title: “I can always say I was the world champion, even if it was for a week. At the end of the day, I don’t want to say I don’t care about it, but my bills are still being paid without the belt . . . when I go to the bank, they don’t ask me if I’m a champion. I still have a lot of years left in me, and the opportunity will come. It’s one of those things that you have to wait your turn.”
On Jeff Jarrett: “To me, Jeff knows wrestling. They need somebody like that either in the production side or the creative side . . . because, let’s face it, he built this company. It was his hard work and his money that he put into it in the very beginning. I think TNA needs Jeff Jarrett, whether it be behind the scenes or in front of the camera or whatever, but they definitely need him—at least for his advice on the wrestling aspect of it.”
On Chris Harris not making it in WWE: “I believe Chris brought it onto himself. I talked to him while he was there. Anytime you go up there, they’re going to test you, to see if you have an attitude or whatever. And I just heard he failed miserably. He had an attitude while he was up there and you can’t do that. You just go up there and you do what they ask of you the best you can, and sooner or later, they’ll find a spot for you and do something with you. Just because he had a good run here, he expected to go up there and have a run, and that’s not so.”
Check out the complete interview online at Newsday.com.
According to PWInsider.com, negotiations between AJ Styles and TNA Wrestling have reportedly “fallen apart.” The chances of Styles returning to the company any time in the near future are now “slim.”
Styles will be making his return to Ring Of Honor to face Roderick Strong at the company’s January 4th show in Nashville.
Ring Of Honor announced on Saturday that AJ Styles will be returning to the promotion for the first time in 8 years. Styles will wrestle former TNA star Rodderick Strong at the January 4th live event from Nashville, Tennessee. The show will also feature in-ring return of Chris Hero against Kevin Steen and a special meet and greet with WWE Hall of Famer “Rowdy” Roddy Piper.
It’s worth noting that this is a television taping, which will air on ROH TV during the weekend of February 1st.
Here’s the announcement:
“THE PHENOMENAL ONE” IS BACK! AJ STYLES returns to ROH 1/4/14 – Nashville, TN
“The Phenomenal One” is back! A true Ring of Honor pioneer and one of the greatest wrestlers in the sport today, AJ STYLES, has been signed to compete once again in an ROH ring on January 4th, 2014 in Nashville, Tennessee!
AJ Styles helped put ROH on the map in its early years by displaying his own unique blend of high-flying wrestling and hard hitting strikes. Styles has gone on to be recognized as one of the best wrestlers of our time and recently became the most sought-after free agent in pro wrestling.
After finalizing the deal within the last couple hours we can now officially confirm that the long awaited return of AJ Styles to ROH will kick off 2014 in only 1 week at the Nashville Fairgrounds!
AJ Styles will face “Mr. ROH” Roderick Strong in Nashville in a huge match that will air on ROH TV the weekend of February 1st! It has been 8 years since Styles competed in ROH while Strong has been one of the most consistent competitors in ROH for the last 10 years. We are excited to welcome AJ back but not too sure that Strong will feel the same way.
“I’m excited to return to ROH and the Nashville Fairgrounds. Lots of history made that I was made that I was part of in both. Expect more on January 4. Hope Nashville fans fill that asylum,” said AJ
In addition to the return of AJ Styles, January 4th marks the return to ROH action of Chris Hero who battles “Mr. Wrestling” Kevin Steen! Plus Wrestling Legend “Rowdy” Roddy Piper will be on hand for a very RARE Meet & Greet Autograph Signing!
ROH is starting 2014 off with bang and we are not slowing down! Don’t ever pass up the opportunity to experience ROH live! See why we are the best pro wrestling on the planet with the greatest fans in the world.
Tickets to the biggest television taping in ROH history are available HERE!
The following are results from the TNA live event in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The event was held on Friday, December 27, 2013.
– Austin Aries def. Chris Sabin to retain the TNA X-Division Title in the opening match of the evening. Apparently this was as good as you would expect.
– Lei’D Tapa def. Velvet Sky in Knockouts action. Tapa picked up the victory via pinfall.
– Ethan Carter III def. Tommy Dreamer. Dreamer accepted EC3’s open challenge, which led to this match.
–Intermission–
– Kurt Angle and Bobby Roode had a match with special guest referee James Storm. The live correspondant missed the finish to this one.
– The BroMans def. Eric Young & Abyss to retain the TNA World Tag-Team Titles in what was a match that the crowd was apparently not very into.
– Magnus def. Samoa Joe to retain the TNA World Heavyweight Title.
– Mr. Anderson def. Bully Ray in a steel cage match. This served as the main event of the evening. Tommy Dreamer got involved, leading to Anderson blasting Ray with a kendo stick to score the win.
– Sonjay Dutt recently revealed on Twitter that he will be part of the TNA “One Night Only: #OldSchool” pay-per-view taping in Pougkeepsie, New York. Dutt tweeted the following:
Looking fwd to returning to @IMPACTWRESTLING on Monday night in Poughkeepsie for Old School!
– Speaking of Twitter, TNA star Bully Ray posted the following about his steel cage match against Mr. Anderson on Friday and his scheduled stretcher match on Saturday in Westbury, New York:
Last night I made @mrkenanderson bleed inside a STEEL CAGE! Tonight in Westbury, NY I will finish him off in a "Stretcher Match". BE THERE!
– Thursday’s episode of Impact Wrestling, the final show of 2013, averaged 1.354 million viewers, according to tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com. This is up nine percent from the week before.
It is the program’s largest viewership since the “No Surrender” edition of Impact Wrestling on September 12, 2013. The final rating has yet to be released.
– Promoting tonight’s TNA Wrestling live event in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, one-half of the TNA World Tag Team Champions, Robbie E, spoke to Mix Philadelphia’s Brian Soscia. During the interview, E discussed his first wrestling memories, why he decided to join the professional wrestling industry, how to become successful, his hair, Jersey Shore and more. (Listen)
– Chris Sabin continues to play up his heelish character on social media. He wrote to Velvet Sky today on Twitter, “Look, you know I love you. I just need you to show me you love me by doing exactly what I tell you. #thatsreallove.”
– With AJ Styles back in negotiations with TNA, company officials are confident they’ll be able to strike a deal with the TNA original. Despite the fact that AJ did really leave the company due to a contractual dispute, both sides have remained on good terms since he became a free agent and TNA loves the idea of AJ Styles making a big return and shocking everybody, since news of his departure got so much news coverage.
TNA is booking the next several weeks of television under the impression that Styles will be back by the January 16th Impact tapings from Huntsville, Alabama or the January 30th show from Glasgow.
– Jeff Hardy was written out of the TNA storylines on Thursday’s Impact. As reported a few weeks ago, the angle was done because Hardy will not be traveling overseas with TNA for the January UK tour. Hardy will be brought when TNA starts taping Impact from Orlando again.
TNA posted this video of Hardy after Thursday night’s show:
TNA President Dixie Carter recently spoke about the Jeff Hardy storyline and the planned coronation for TNA Heavyweight Champion Magnus on next week’s Impact Wrestling:
Another example of someone not appreciating what I offer. @JEFFHARDYBRAND you are like AJ and the others.
@MagnusOfficial appreciates me!
– For the month of November in 2013, TNA’s weekly Impact Wrestling television show has averaged a 0.87 cable rating and 1.04 million viewers. By comparison, in 2012, Impact Wrestling averaged a 0.96 cable rating and 1.27 million viewers for the month of November. That would mark a 10.5 percent decline in ratings and a 18.1 percent decline in viewers.
– Speaking of Impact Wrestling, next week’s edition of the show will feature a coronation ceremony for TNA World Heavyweight Champion Magnus, plus a X-Division Title match between Austin Aries and Chris Sabin.
According to one source, country music star Toby Keith was the lead man in a group that was looking to purchase TNA Wrestling recently.
Had the sale with Keith’s group gone through, TNA founder Jeff Jarrett was expected to be a key management figure in the company moving forward due to his relationship with Keith.
– TNA Knockout Madison Rayne will be doing the ImpactWrestling.com “second screen experience” for Thursday’s edition of Impact Wrestling on Spike TV. Rayne will be holding a live Q&A with fans during the television broadcast.
– TNA has posted the latest IMPACT Podcast, which was recorded live in London and featured World Heavyweight Champion Magnus, as well as Rockstar Spud. You can check it out below:
Apparently the WWE tryout of Davey Richards and Eddie Edwards was not at first intended to lead to a deal for them with the company. The idea was that they worked the first week in NXT and if the company liked them, they would be brought to Orlando to work at the Performance Center and some NXT shows for the first few months of 2014. If everything at that point went accordingly, then that would have led to a deal for the two.
As of right now, there is still no real word on whether or not Richards and Edwards will be coming back to WWE after the first of the year, but it is apparently expected.
Additionally, there is some talk that TNA is either getting ready, or may already have, made a play themselves to get Richards and Edwards to join their company.
Following around round of negotiations, AJ Styles is expected to return to TNA in the near future. As noted previously, Styles was seeking somewhere in the neighborhood of $350,000 per year, and while at first TNA refused to match that request, they have apparently given Styles what he is requesting in order to return to the company.
Bill Behrens, the agent for Styles, recently reached out to independent pro wrestling promoters and informed them that the talks between Styles and TNA were moving along, so if they wanted to book him for a show, they needed to get their deposits in soon.
The reason Jeff Jarrett is keeping quiet about his TNA departure is due in part to the fact that he signed a non-disclosure.
As far as Jarrett’s future is concerned, there was some rumblings a few months ago that he was going to get involved with some sort of roller derby project. Outside of a lot of speculation, there is no official word on what Jarrett’s future holds.
TNA recently announced a World Heavyweight Championship match between Magnus and Samoa Joe has been added to the scheduled lineup for their “One Night Only: #OldSchool” pay-per-view, which will take place on December 30th in Poughkeepsie, New York.
With that match now added, here is the latest official lineup for the show:
World Heavyweight Title
– Samoa Joe vs. Magnus
Monster’s Ball
– Abyss vs. Jeff Hardy
Last Man Standing Match
– James Storm vs. Bobby Roode
Falls Count Anywhere Match
– Tommy Dreamer vs. Bully Ray
– Kurt Angle vs. Mr. Anderson
Also in action: Daniels & Kazarian, The BroMans, Eric Young, Chris Sabin, Lei’D Tapa and Velvet Sky.