– The new name for Hulk Hogan, Eric Bischoff, Jeff Hardy, Abyss and Jeff Jarrett’s group is Immortals. On last night’s iMPACT, Hogan’s Immortals joined up with Ric Flair’s Fortune to go against Dixie Carter. The main storyline now is that Dixie Carter unknowingly signed over control of TNA to Bischoff and Hogan.
– Madison Rayne is now the TNA Knockouts Champion after Tara laid down for her on last night’s iMPACT.
– As reported on over the weekend, former long-time WWE talent and Vince McMahon associate Bruce Prichard was backstage at TNA’s live iMPACT! taping on October 7. According to a TNA source, Prichard’s new role with the company will be as a producer. Prichard helped Vince Russo produce backstage pre-tapes at TNA TV tapings this week.
– TNA star Ken Anderson wrote on Twitter.com/secondpower that despite suffering a gash on the back of his head this week, he’ll be at TNA’s live events this weekend.
Anderson posted a graphic picture of the bloody gash (below) and wrote the following about it:
“Not too bad, but trying to not get a staph infection from the filthy canvas in my brain……ummm……wait one…..”
WWE champion Randy Orton wrote on Twitter that he checked out TNA iMPACT! this week for only the “second time ever” and shared his thoughts on the TNA product.
“Samoa Joe can move. Miss working with (Kurt) Angle and Jeff. Coulda done w/o the JWoW segment tho. I enjoyed the backstage stuff for the most part anyway. Something about the realness of the conversations between some of the talent was really well done.”
When a fan seemed surprised that Orton was praising TNA, Orton responded:
“Who said that I do not like TNA? I surely didn’t. Never approved of the 8(sic) sided ring tho. Competition is a good thing.”
Orton put over TNA TV Champion AJ Styles:
“never met him. Can do some amazing things in the ring. IMO has alot to do with tna’s early success.”
He finished with some comments about Ken Anderson, who was outspoken against Orton following his WWE release:
“The only prob I ever had with Ken was him telling the Internet that I used my ‘pull’ to get him fired. Not tru, I have no pull.”
In a 2009 interview with ESPN 540’s “Pro Wrestling Report,” Anderson said he and Orton became “very good friends” in WWE before their relationship turned sour. At the time, he seemed to blame Orton for his WWE release:
“The fact that he made such a big stink about supposedly dropping him on his head. He literally blew up in front of all the talent including Vince and Stephanie and began to lecture me about how I had to be careful and his health was very important. It just doesn’t make sense to me.”
J-Woww tells RadarOnline that tonight’s appearance may not be a one-time deal:
“Never in a million years would I ever think I would be at TNA so it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity and I’m glad I did it. You know, I never thought I could be able to do it; it’s pretty intense, but after getting in the ring and, you know, going in there, the adrenaline rush I could definitely see myself doing something like this in the future.”
A TNA representative commented on working with J-Woww:
“We would definitely love to have her back. She’s a black belt, she’s very athletic and she was very good at this. TNA has worked with countless celebrities and lots of ex-professional athletes…and she got it! She was a very quick learner. She was as physical and ring-smart as you could be given the fact that she’d never done it before and she knows the entertainment side of it.”
Busted Open with Booker T
Hosts: Dave LaGreca and Doug Mortman
Mondays and Wednesdays 2-4 PM ET
Sirius 125, XM 241 (note: new channels)
Here are some highlights of what Booker T said about:
Whether He Would return To TNA or WWE: “I’m a free agent… It’s about making a phone call. I left on good terms. I’m pretty good friends with Terry Taylor. I left on good terms with Dixie Carter. But I don’t want to get back on that WWE schedule… I would be willing to do commentary. I’d be willing to work behind the scenes (with WWE).
Why He Went To TNA: “I went there to make those young guys a lot better, guys like A.J. (Styles), (Robert) Roode, Black Machismo, and the list goes on and on… The Main Event Mafia could still be going today… The wrestling business is all about the young guys coming up and taking those spots.”
TNA Rehashing Old Angles: “I feel the past should left in the past. You cannot recreate WCW. TNA was in a great position to move up to the next level.”
Rumors of Him Leaving a Live Event and Not Putting Over Matt Morgan: “It was one live event, overseas, and there was not any security. The fans were throwing full cans of beer. I felt unsafe working in that environment… I did not want to put over Matt Morgan that night because I had never had a segment with Matt Morgan.”
Visit Facebook.com/bustedopen for more information.
— TNA Wrestling’s decision to turn Jeff Hardy heel was made approximately seven weeks ago. The creative department felt that it was adamant that the group Abyss had been referring to as “they” for the past several months include the TNA World Heavyweight Champion and it was determined that Hardy and Rob Van Dam were the prime options.
— Mr. Anderson has been pulled from wrestling at this weekend’s TNA Wrestling house show loop across the Midwest due to an injury suffered at last night’s iMPACT! television taping. He will still be appearing as advertised.
While the specific injury is not confirmed, the former Mr. Kennedy reportedly suffered a gash during his match.
— Today is former TNA talent Karen Angle’s birthday as she turns 38 years old. Regarding this, she wrote on Twitter: “Thank you for the birthday wishes everyone! 38th years old today…I am the happiest I’ve ever been thank you to my amazing husband and kids for making everyday special!!!!”
She was also in attendance at Sunday’s Bound for Glory pay-per-view.
sources: Wrestling Observer Newsletter, PWInsider.com
— According to today’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Sting is “expected to be gone” from TNA Wrestling following this week’s set of television tapings, which were completed yesterday in Orlando, Florida.
The multi-time champion is limited by an injury to his shoulder and has not signed a new contract, so he’s only committed to the organization until the end of the year. There was talk this week that he would be taking time off from this point forward.
TNA Wrestling has posted the following video of Jenni “J-WOWW” Farley’s appearance at Monday’s iMPACT! tapings, set to air this Thursday night on SpikeTV:
New TNA Knockout Mickie James has responded to Internet reports that she was causing problems backstage at Sunday’s Bound For Glory PPV. According to various reports (and our own sources), Mickie James became very angry when she saw the referee shirt she was supposed to wear did not have her logo on the back. She, however, denies the reports. She wrote on Twitter Monday night:
“I usually don’t even bother to entertain ignorance. But to report blatant lies is quite humorous… Anyone who knows me… Knows I would never behave like that… And they also know I respect & appreciate everyone as we all work hard as a team to make an incredible product. Fact! The seamstress already knew she was putting the logo on the shirt Thursday. Fact. I bought a ref shirt to make but when Earl gave me one of his official TNA shirts I couldn’t resist. Fact. Post match I gave the shirt to the trading card company to be cut up and added to the new cards coming soon. =)”
SpikeTV sent out the following press release today hyping Jersey Shore star J-Woww’s appearance on Thursday’s TNA iMPACT:
“JERSEY SHORE’S” J-WOWW GETS INTO THE ACTION ON SPIKE TV’S “TNA iMPACT!”
Orlando, Florida (October 11, 2010) – Jenni Farley (aka “J-Woww”), one of the breakout stars from MTV’s hit series, “The Jersey Shore,” will be visiting Total Nonstop Action (TNA) Wrestling’s “iMPACT Zone” Monday, October 11, for the taping of this Thursday’s “TNA iMPACT” episode on Spike TV.
J-Woww, who has shown her beauty as well as her brawn on the wildly popular series, will join the biggest names in professional wrestling, including Hulk Hogan, “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair, Rob Van Dam, Mr. Anderson, Hardcore Legend Mick Foley, “The Charismatic Enigma” Jeff Hardy, Olympic Gold Medalist Kurt Angle and “The Icon” Sting.
This special episode of “TNA iMPACT” airs on Spike TV Thursday, October 14 at 9:00pm ET/PT.
Spike TV’s highly-rated, two-hour weekly series emanates from the “TNA iMPACT! Zone” at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida”
TNA star Kevin Nash posted the following on Twitter, putting over Hulk Hogan for appearing at Bond For Glory just days after another back surgery and sheds some light on his departure from TNA:
“Hogan is a beast, to see the cuts on his backa nd to see his pain tonight tells me that I was right when I saw the Hulkster as a mark and wanted to get in this crazy biz. Mad respect, Terry.
“If you were a fan of mine, please stay true to TNA. My deal went south on money, not respect for the guys I worked with or the production crew that busts their ass every week. I’m not out of wrestling, just don’t want to be owned.
“To the boys that I love, I will do everything I can to make you money outside of TNA. Please, guys, remember we’re 1099, the world is ours. Goodnight. I have my last Impact tomorrow. I can’t express how much you all mean to me. I love you all and thank you.”
Mickie James made her TNA debut just a few days ago – but we received word from two people who were backstage at Bound For Glory that she’s already making diva demands and is gettinga reputation as difficult to work with.
Mickie James was reportedly very upset before Bound For Glory because her Mickie James logo was not on the back of the referee shirt she was given to wear during the Knockouts match.
Mickie was so mad that she was given a plain referee shirt (without her personal logo on the back) that she refused to go out on camera unless the logo was added.
One of TNA’s designers reportedly rushed to get the logo on the shirt and sewed it on just in time for the match to go on as planned.
– Jeff Hardy and TNA were worldwide trending topics on Twitter last night after Bound For Glory went off the air.
– Rhino reportedly finished up with TNA at Bound For Glory.
– The fans in the crowd threw trash and drinks at the ring for around 15 minutes after the main event where Hardy turned heel. The scene was reminiscent of Bash at the Beach 1996 after Hulk Hogan joined the nWo.
– Brooke and Nick Hogan were in the crowd watching last night’s pay-per-view.
– Brian Kendrick hid for over an hour on top of the Lethal Lockdown cage at Bound For Glory last night before appearing in the match.
– TNA will tape this week’s iMPACT tonight from the iMPACT Zone in Orlando.
Jwoww (real name Jenni Farley) from MTV’s Jersey Shore will be appearing on Thursday’s episode of iMPACT!, according to TMZ.com.
Thursday’s episode is being taped tonight in Orlando, Florida and JWoww is expected to be “mixing it up” with Jersey Shore-alike TNA Wrestling characters Robbie E. and Cookie.
TMZ reports that JWoww will receive $15,000 for her one-night appearance on iMPACT!. The organization and Jersey Shore are also reportedly working out a deal for future appearances.
TNA sent out the following press release about the company’s next PPV event, Turning Point.
TURNING POINT LIVE ON PAY-PER-VIEW SUNDAY NOVEMBER 7
On Sunday, November 7, TNA Wrestling presents “Turning Point” live on Pay-Per-View from Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida, featuring Hulk Hogan, RVD, Kurt Angle, Mr. Anderson, Ric Flair, AJ Styles and more! TNA’s PPV events air on Time Warner Cable, Comcast, Charter Cable, Cablevision, AT&T U-Verse, Verizon FIOS, DIRECTV, Dish Network, Viewer’s Choice and more.
For “Turning Point” news, watch TNA Wrestling every Thursday night starting at 9/8c on Spike TV with iMPACT immediately followed by ReACTION.
PPV Theme Song: “Turning Point” by Filthee featuring Smoke DZA
Solomonster liked Raw but SNAPS on one particular segment that almost ruined it, plus thoughts on Hell in a Cell, the wretched live Impact special, a Bound for Glory preview, TNA drug testing and Steve Austin teasing one more match. Then, we have a special treat (or trick?) for you just in time for HALLOWEEN!!!
Can a Solomonster and a Zombie co-exist? We’ll find out as “The Arsonist” Tim Arson, perhaps best known as the ECW ZOMBIE, sounds off with The Solomonster in an exclusive interview. We’ll talk about the best way to kill a Zombie, a passion of his not many people may know about, WWF’s old LJN figures (oh yes), Primetime Wrestling, training with Johnny Rodz, his pact with Matt Striker, why Puerto Rico is called the last great territory, how Tommy Dreamer gave life to the Zombie, Paul Heyman and Vince McMahon’s PRICELESS reactions to the character, whether he might return to WWE, and brutally honest thoughts on the current product–including a debate regarding the new diva season of NXT! BRRRRAAAIIINNSSSS!!!!
During an interview with Brian Fritz of Fanhouse.com, TNA Women’s Knockout Champion Angelina Love was asked about the similarities between The Beautiful People and World Wrestling Entertainment’s Lay-Cool — Michelle McCool and Layla. Love, however, cut him off quickly and would not discuss the matter.
“I don’t see it. I haven’t seen it. I’ve heard about it.”
She also discussed her relationship with Velvet Sky and how long it took them to gel as a unit, as well as tonight’s Four Corners Knockouts Match for the Women’s Knockout Championship at Bound for Glory.
– Eric Bischoff posted the following update on his Facebook page last night regarding Hulk Hogan’s health:
“Just hung up with Hulk. Will take a few days to determine if the electric spinal chord stimulator will do the trick. Everyone is optimistic at this point.”
– Female independent wrestler Brittney Savage will get a tryout with TNA at one of the iMPACT! tapings in November. Savage is the former tag team partner of NXT Rookie AJ Lee (the two held tag team gold in the WSU women’s promotion) and actually had a tryout against Beth Phoenix last year before a SmackDown taping.
– Former WWE Diva Tammy “Sunny” Sytch explained during an interview with Women’s Wrestling Today that she loathes TNA Wrestling because when her longtime boyfriend died, Chris Candido, they refused to forward her his last paycheck (for the final shows he appeared, including the show he broke his ankle in, which led to the surgery in which he got an infection and ultimately died from) so she could pay off his outstanding bills. Sunny said:
“They refused, because we weren’t legally married. So bills I had of his, in both our names, ended up being my sole responsibility. It was only a $1,500 check, but still.. “F*****g scumbags. “They had Terry Taylor call me and tell me that. So he basically broke his ankle and died for free. They sent the check in his name, which I couldn’t endorse and deposit. When I asked them to cut me a new check in my name, they said no.”
In a bit of TNA trivia .. 2008, TNA Wrestling’s creative department considered bringing Sunny in back in 2008 as the new love intereset of Kurt Angle, who was still with his wife Karen at the time. An unnamed TNA wrestler with influence pleaded with the company not to hire Sunny and the idea was ultimately dropped. (Source Wrestling Observer Newsletter)
TNA star Kevin Nash says he will be done with TNA after tonight’s Bound For Glory pay-per-view. Nash, Nash wrote the following on Twitter:
“4 days left and I’m done ,hope you that enjouyed me and are left happy .I always did my best with a beaten body. thanks and goodbye. Time to be a husban and dad this part of my life is over.If I’m woprth nothing than I need to stay at home. Thanks TNA 4 letting me go.”
When asked by fans if he’d consider a final run in WWE after he became a free agent, Nash wrote “no WWE.”
Kevin Nash went on a rant on Twitter a few weeks ago, claiming he was being seriously mistreated by people in TNA and would be leaving the company. He followed up a few days later that things had been smoothed over, but it’s been clear for some time that Nash has not been happy in the company.
Nash’s longtime friend Shawn Michaels weighed in Nash’ retirement on Twitter. HBK wrote: “Looks like my buddy is gonna b joinin me. I think he will find it 2 b great. Enjoy big Kev. U deserve it.”
– TNA Knockout Mickie James wrote the following about her TNA debut:
“I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who tuned into TNA last night… And for all your amazing comments! Wow! I had no idea… I’m truly honored & I went to bed on an incredible high… Its good to be back!”
– The ratings are in for Thursday’s special live editions of TNA iMPACT! and TNA Reaction.
TNA iMPACT drew a 1.32 cable rating, up from last week’s 1.2. This week’s show did hours of 1.32 and 1.33 with 1,732,000 viewers. The highest rated segment of the night was the aftermath of the Ric Flair vs. Mick Foley match, which popped a 1.44 rating. Mickie James’ TNA debut and the TNA Knockouts match also hit a 1.4.
TNA Reaction, which aired right after iMPACT!, drew a 0.71 rating with 899,000 viewers.
– A commercial for TNA’s Turning Point pay-per-view in November is advertising Abyss vs. Sting and Kurt Angle defending the World Heavyweight Title against Rob Van Dam.
– Former WWE Diva Mickie James returned to TNA Wrestling at Thursday’s live iMPACT! James was interviewed on the live TNA Reaction special that followed iMPACT! and was interviewed backstage about her role in the TNA Knockouts title match at Bound For Glory this Sunday. During the promo, she referred to Madison Rayne as the TNA Knockouts Champion, which was a mistake – as the current title holder is Angelina Love.
Despite the fac tthat Mickie James’ name was spelled “Mickey James” on an an on-screen graphic during iMPACT!, the TNA website is referring to her as “Mickie” (not Mickey) – so the one instance of her name being spelled “Mickey” appears to be a mistake.
Mickie James was trending worldwide on Twitter last night following her live appearance.
She will serve as the special referee in the four-way Knockouts Title match at Bound For Glory.
– Dixie Carter wrote the following on Twitter last night following iMPACT:
“Hulk’s still in hospital after surgery yesterday. He’s fighting through & I’m confident this won’t keep him down. Keep him in your prayers”
