TNA Wrestling has announced three new title matches for Lockdown on April 15 at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium as the World Tag Team Championship, Women’s Knockout Championship and Television Championship will be on the line. A stipulation has been added to Lethal Lockdown as the losing Bischoff family member “must leave TNA for good.”

Steel Cage Match for the World Heavyweight Championship
Bobby Roode (c) vs. “Cowboy” James Storm

Lethal Lockdown
Team Eric Bischoff vs. Team Garett Bischoff

Steel Cage Match
“The Charismatic Enigma” Jeff Hardy vs. Kurt Angle

Steel Cage Match for the World Tag Team Championship
Magnus and Samoa Joe (c) vs. Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin

Steel Cage Match for the Women’s Knockout Championship
Gail Kim (c) vs. Velvet Sky

Steel Cage Match for the Television Championship
Devon (c) vs. Robbie E

Steel Cage Match
Crimson vs. “The Blueprint” Matt Morgan

— TNA Wrestling President Dixie Carter announced during Sunday’s Victory Road pay-per-view event that Slammiversary will be held in Arlington, Texas on the campus of the University of Texas-Arlington. The ten-year anniversary show will take place on June 10.

— A video aired during Victory Road saying the Motor City Machine Guns are “coming soon.”

— TNA World Tag Team Champion Samoa Joe turned 33 years old on Saturday.

— TNA Wrestling currently has no DVD releases planned.

source: PWInsider.com

— The #1 Contender’s Knockout Battle Royal featuring Angelina Love, Brooke Tessmacher, Madison Rayne, Mickie James, ODB, Rosita, Sarita, Tara, Velvet Sky and Winter prevented Thursday’s Impact Wrestling from garnering the show’s lowest rating of the year as the match outdrew the entire show by a sizable margin.

Thursday’s show garnered a 1.06 cable rating off hours of 1.02 and 1.10, flat with last week’s year-low 1.06. The #1 Contender’s Knockout Battle Royal, which kicked off the second hour, surged the rating from a 1.04 to a 1.23—an 18.3 percent increase. The subsequent quarter hour featuring Eric Bischoff’s celebratory promo plummeted to a 1.00.

Only the final quarter hour drew near the Knockouts, a 1.11 for a heavily publicized angle involving New York Giants player Brandon Jacobs and Sting confronting World Heavyweight Champion Bobby Roode.

— Motor City Machine Guns member Alex Shelley is now on Twitter at fakekinkade.

— Mexican America member Hernandez promotes independent promotion River City Wrestling on tonight’s KABB Fox San Antonio newscast in San Antonio, Texas. The program begins at 9:00 p.m. CST.

source: Pro Wrestling Torch

The eighth annual Against All Odds pay-per-view event will take place tonight at the Impact Wrestling Zone in Orlando, Florida. The following matches have been announced for the event.

World Heavyweight Championship Match
Bobby Roode (c) vs. Jeff Hardy vs. James Storm vs. Bully Ray

Challenge Match
Gunner (with Eric Bischoff) vs. Garett Bischoff (with Hulk Hogan)

Challenge Match
“The Phenomenal” AJ Styles vs. Kazarian (with Christopher Daniels)

World Tag Team Championship Match
Matt Morgan & Crimson (c) vs. Samoa Joe and Magnus

X Division Championship Match
Austin Aries (c) vs. Alex Shelley

Women’s Knockout Championship Match
Gail Kim (c) vs. Tara

#1 Contender’s Match – X Division
Jesse Sorensen vs. Zema Ion

Don’t miss Thursday’s TNA IMPACT WRESTLING broadcast on SpikeTV at 9/8c as the road to the February “Against All Odds” continues! If you can’t watch it on Thursday, make sure to set your DVR so you don’t miss any of the Total Nonstop Action on SpikeTV!

Here is a preview of Thursday’s broadcast:

– After World Heavyweight Champion Bobby Roode and Bully Ray ruined the #1 Contender’s Match between Jeff Hardy and James Storm, who will get the title shot at Against All Odds? What will Sting have to say about the situation? Will the General Manager step in and punish the World Champion for his actions? This situation is sure to explode in this week’s HUGE Main Event when James Storm and Jeff Hardy team up to take on Bobby Roode and Bully Ray in a Tables Match!

– The broadcast will also feature a Knockouts Triple Threat match with Velvet Sky vs. Tara vs. Mickie James, with the winner earning a shot at the Knockouts Championship against Gail Kim at Against All Odds! Gail will also be in attendance on Thursday to watch the match unfold!

– One-half of the World Tag Team Champions, “The Blueprint” Matt Morgan, will face off against “The Samoan Submission Machine” Samoa Joe – a preview of the World Tag Team Title match at the PPV when Morgan and Crimson defend against Joe and Magnus

– Alex Shelley makes his return to action on IMPACT WRESTLING, battling Zema Ion on Thursday night in X Division action

All this and much more on Thursday’s IMPACT WRESTLING broadcast on SpikeTV, plus more news on the upcoming “Against All Odds” Pay-Per-View event!

source: ImpactWrestling.com

IMPACT WRESTLING Preview: Hulk Hogan’s Major Announcement

Don’t miss Thursday’s huge IMPACT WRESTLING broadcast on SpikeTV at 9/8c, as the road to Bound For Glory on October 16 continues – with Hulk Hogan, Kurt Angle, Sting, Jeff Hardy, Bobby Roode and more! Can’t watch IMPACT WRESTLING on Thursday night? Make sure to set your DVR to record it so you don’t miss any of the action.

Here is a preview of Thursday’s broadcast:

– “The Immortal” Hulk Hogan will deliver a major announcement on Thursday’s huge IMPACT WRESTLING broadcast on SpikeTV at 9/8c! What does Hogan have planned just weeks before Bound For Glory? Don’t miss it, as Hogan promises to drop a bombshell!

– Speaking of Hulk Hogan, his Bound For Glory opponent – “The Icon” Sting – has asked for time to get some things off his chest. In fact, rumor has it Sting wants to speak DIRECTLY to the members of Fortune! Don’t miss the start to the huge broadcast!

– Also, Fortune members will battle this Thursday as Bobby Roode will battle “The Phenomenal” AJ Styles in a huge bout! Roode will fight for the World Heavyweight Championship at Bound For Glory, but first he has to make it past AJ Styles! Certainly, current World Champion Kurt Angle will be watching as he attempts to drive a wedge between the members of Fortune!

– In high-flying X-Division action, there will be a Ladder Match this Thursday on SpikeTV to determine who gets the X Championship shot against Austin Aries at Bound For Glory: Jesse Sorensen vs. Kid Kash vs. Alex Shelley vs. Zema Ion vs. Brian Kendrick

– The final “Queen’s Qualifier” takes place to determine the competitors in the Knockouts Championship match at Bound For Glory! This Thursday, Madison Rayne battles Tara, with the winner advancing to the Pay-Per-View!

– Plus, Crimson makes his return to IMPACT WRESTLING following his injury at the hands of Samoa Joe, “The Charismatic Enigma” Jeff Hardy continues his quest for redemption and so much more!

All this and much more on Thursday’s IMPACT WRESTLING on Spike at 9/8c! If you can’t watch it live, make sure to set your DVR!

— Hulk Hogan stated this morning on Twitter that he will be making a ‘huge’ announcement at tonight’s Impact Wrestling taping (airdate September 29).

He wrote, “Got a huge announcement tonight at the IMPACT Tapings. HH.”

— The following matches were taped last night in Orlando, Florida for upcoming episodes of TNA Xplosion:

* Eric Young defends the TNA Television Championship against Doug Williams

* Alex Shelley vs. Gunner

— Mickie James has an autograph signing scheduled for Pro Championship Wrestling in Chicago, Illinois on Saturday, October 22. Visit www.pcwwrestling.net for more information.

source: PWInsider.com

Impact began with Sting coming to the ring for a promo. He talks about how insane he is. He calls out Bischoff and Hogan to come out. Kurt Angle comes out in his clown attire from last week and enters the ring. Angle says that he means no disrespect and says that it was him who saved Sting last week because it was the right thing to do. At Hardcore Justice their paths will cross again. Sting says he respects Angle. Angle says he wants to beat Sting since he never has. It has to be Angle because he has no other choice. Sting says they have a dilemma.

Immortal’s music plays and out comes Ken Anderson and Bully Ray. Ray says it is Sting and Angle versus Anderson and Ray tonight.

In a Bound for Glory Series Match, Rob Van Dam defeated Scott Steiner with a rollup.

Mickie James came out for a promo and called out Velvet Sky. Mickie said she has watched Velvet get blamed for other wrestler’s problems. Mickie knows how it gets and its not good. Mickie wants to give Velvet her first knockouts championship shot tonight because Velvet has earned it and says that they are going to tear the roof off the Impact Zone.

Angelina Love and Winter come out. Angelina says she and Winter are competitors and that Mickie and Velvet just need to go get a hotel room. Angelina says that no matter who wins tonight it won’t be long before the title is back around her waist. Winter insults both Mickie and Velvet for a bit before they go to the back.

Backstage Sarita and Rosita are brawling with Tara and Miss Tessmacher. Madison Rayne brawls with Tara as well until referees have to break it up.

Miss Tessmacher and Tara defeat Rosita and Sarita to become the new Knockouts Tag Champions. Tara and Tessmacher jumped Rosita and Sarita when they came out. Sarita was wrestling this match wearing a mask due to her recent facial injury. Tara had Sarita in the Widow’s Peak and Madison ran out while the ref was distracted and Madison tackled Tara. Tara and Miss Tessmacher were able to hit stereo finishers (Stratusfaction by Tessmacher and fireman’s carry into side slam by Tara) for the three count.

In a Bound for Glory Series Match, Matt Morgan defeats AJ Styles, Gunner, and Samoa Joe to earn 10 points.

They show an Eric Young video package with him going into a gas station looking for an opponent to defend his TV title against. He finds D’Lo Brown. D’Lo tells Eric this is a road Eric doesn’t want to go down. Eric rolls up D’Lo and counts the 3 himself and runs from D’Lo. Young gets away and D’Lo says “he didn’t even recognize me.”

In an X Division title match, Brian Kendrick defeated Alex Shelley Shelley hit sliced bread on Kendrick on the apron. When Shelley put Kendrick back in the ring, Aries ran out and hit Shelley with the title and threw him back in the ring for the fall.

Mexican America comes out for a promo. Anarquia comes out and calls what Tara and Tessmacher did earlier garbage. He says they are pissed off and when they are pissed off they kick ass. They call out Beer Money who enter the building and come face to face with Mexican America. James Storm tells them to do everyone a favor and leave the ring, the company, and go cut grass. Storm threatens to kick Anarquia’s teeth down his throat. Since they have been competing in the Bound for Glory Series, they came out to reintroduce themselves to everyone.

Storm says they are the best, being four time tag team champions. Storm says they aren’t going to just beat them, they’re going to kick their asses for the people here, the people watching, and all the Mexcians that came before Mexican America that they are disgracing. At Hardcore Justice, Beer Money will beat them to retain the tag titles. Storm advises them to mark the day after the pay per view on their calendars because Mexican America is going to wake up with their Green Cards stuck straight up their asses. Roode tells then Sorry About your damn luck.

The Knockouts Title Match between Velvet Sky and Mickie James never got to happen. Angelina Love and Winter attacked Mickie as she entered. Velvet tried to make the save. ODB and Jackie came out and attacked Velvet as Angelina and Winter bailed. Traci Brooks then came out for the save. Referees and security had to separate Traci, Mickie, and Velvet from Jackie and ODB. Cops came out and put handcuffs on Jackie and ODB and took them out of the Impact Zone.

TNA World Champion Sting and Kurt Angle defeated Ken Anderson and Bully Ray when Angle pinned Anderson after an Angle Slam. Ray tried to stop Anderson from doing his usual intro because Ray wants to get in the ring and take care of business. Anderson did it anyway. At one point during the match Bischoff came out and said something on commentary.

After the match, Angle and Sting shook hands and Angle pulled Sting in close before leaving the ring.

source: PWInsider.com

— Orlando Jordan, who was released from his TNA Wrestling contract on Monday, has commented on his departure from the organization.

“I want to thank my fans a/k/a HOJ for your constant support,” he wrote on Twitter. “Some of you have been with me from the start and some of you have joined me along the way.

“I want to thank (the) TNA locker room for allowing me to shake things up, and try to shine a light on some preconceived perception I deal with every day personally and professionally. I got my wings back, so let’s fly. Thanks TNA and wish nothing but the best.”

It was reported Monday that Generation Me were granted their release from TNA Wrestling. Their profile, as well as Jordan’s, have been removed from the company website. The high-flying duo is now accepting bookings via Highriskwrestlin@aol.com.

— Alex Shelley faced “The Pope” D’Angelo Dinero in the Quarterfinals of the Xplosion Championship Challenge at last night’s Xplosion taping in Orlando, Florida. The match will begin airing overseas next week.

— Gunner posted a diatribe on his Twitter account in response to wrestling fans criticizing Impact Wrestling’s “Wrestling Matters” initiative.

“If ya shoot why don’t u realize first “wrestling matter” is the whole package! Promo’s, matches and everything!! It takes stories to build to good matches,” Gunner wrote. “I know everyone has opinions but don’t be an idiot!!

“Wrestling is a whole new world than it used to be!! How about learning to cut a promo or do backstage SHIT before u shoot on a company.” He continued, “WWE and Impact both have promos and in ring segs for a reason…to BUILD to a match! Oh I got it, let’s just have random ass matches for no reason.

“And there is Gunner’s 2 cents worth!!! Fools.”

— Alex Shelley faces Okada in the first round of the TNA Xplosion Championship Challenge. To view the match, click here.

— TNA Women’s Knockout Champion Mickie James and Winter have been announced for Legends of the Ring XIII, which takes place Saturday, October 8 at the Crowne Plaza in Monroe, New Jersey.

— Angelina Pivarnick, a low end cast member of Jersey Shore during the MTV show’s first two seasons, appeared at last Thursday’s TNA iMPACT! taping in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Some wrestlers were told by management she did the appearance for exposure and was not paid. However, both the Pro Wrestling Torch and Wrestling Observer Newsletter say she was paid $7,000 for the one night appearance. It’s said that she was hoping to land a contract with the organization.

Pivarnick was given her own locker room at the event. A source states this was done to keep her out of everyone’s hair and not because she was receiving star treatment.

— The Motor City Machine Guns, Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley, were backstage at last Thursday’s TNA iMPACT! taping in Fayetteville, North Carolina. They filmed a pre-taped segment that is expected to air on next week’s episode of TNA iMPACT!.

Shelley has been sidelined since January due to a broken collarbone.

(sources: Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Pro Wrestling Torch)

— Motor City Machine Gun member Alex Shelley reportedly suffered a broken collarbone at yesterday’s TNA Wrestling live event in Hagerstown, Maryland.

— Some in the TNA Wrestling locker room instantly began snickering over Matt Hardy upon his debut last week at Genesis. One wrestler felt that Hardy looked out of shape and compared his modified appearance to Raven’s. Wrestlers were also chatting about his state of mind throughout the day.

Though it was largely believed that Matt Hardy would join TNA following his departure from WWE, some within the company were surprised he was signed. Management indicated they had a full roster and weren’t looking to acquire new talent.

sources: PWInsider.com, Pro Wrestling Torch

(sources: www.pwtorch.com, PWInsider.com)

— Samoa Joe was said to be very upset following his match with Jeff Hardy on iMPACT! last week, which ended in a time limit draw. Joe was hot following the bout because he felt the finish was given away by TNA having ring announcer Jeremy Borash say there were 30 seconds remaining when he specifically asked them not to.

— TNA World Tag Team Champion Alex Shelley was pulled from last night’s Pro Wrestling Guerrilla “Seven” event due to an injury he sustained at this week’s iMPACT! television tapings. Shelley and partner Chris Sabin were originally scheduled to compete in a match for the promotion’s Tag Team Championship.

— TNA president Dixie Carter’s theme music is titled “The Man in Me.”

source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter

— Those within TNA suggest Desmond Wolfe is currently in the doghouse. The British wrestling star has developed a reputation for being difficult to work with, which has affected his push in the organization.

Company officials are also down on Matt Morgan, who has been discussed as being part of Ric Flair’s Fortune group. Hernandez’ two botched Border toss attempts during their Steel Cage bout at Victory Road were blamed on “The Blueprint” since Hernandez is a favorite among management.

— Company officials are said to be very high on The Motor City Machine Guns and Beer Money, Inc. following their stellar tag team bout at Victory Road.

— Former ECW World Heavyweight Champion Steve Corino, who declined appearing at ECW reunion shows in the past, says he has not been contacted to appear at Hardcore Justice.

— Though the stars of TNA Wrestling are famous and appear on a national television show viewed by millions per week, it does not necessarily translate into huge pay checks for a good portion of the roster. This fact especially rings true with the company’s Knockouts as multiple sources have indicated that majority of its female performers earn between $200 and $400 per appearance. It’s been said that Daffney, SoCal Val and reigning Women’s Knockout Champion Madison Rayne garner slightly more than $200 per appearance. However, they are not the lowest paid members on the roster as that dubious distinction reportedly belongs to Generation Me — Max and Jeremy — both of whom earn $200 per appearance. (source: www.f4wonline.com)

— The official TNA website held a poll a few weeks ago asking fans to vote on which DVD they’d like to see made with Beer Money, Inc. slightly edging out The Motor City Machine Guns. Rather than solely dedicating a DVD set to The Motor City Machine Guns, it was decided that Beer Money, Inc. would be featured as well. The two disc DVD set will feature a disc of each tag team and contain twelve matches as well as an interview. It is due for release on May 25. You can view the duel cover for the release
here and here.

— TNA will be holding a house show at the Cabarrus Arena in Concord, North Carolina on August 1st, 2010.

— Dixie Carter informally announced yesterday on her Twitter account that TNA Wrestling has signed Shannon Moore to a contract.

“TNA signs one moore,” Carter wrote.

Moore returned to TNA on the live Jan. 4 show alongside Jeff Hardy, but wasn’t signed until this week.

— Episode No.3 of TNA Epics featuring the X-Division has been removed from Spike’s schedule for Mar. 18, 2010. No word yet on when the show will air. (Thanks to Devin Cutting)

— TNA Wrestling has plans to release DVD set highlighting Beer Money, Inc. and The Motor City Machine Guns’ greatest matches. The company website is running a poll asking fans to decide what matches make the cut, and which ones get left behind. You can take part in the poll at the following link.

— Bubba the Love Sponge is said to be the least popular person in the TNA locker room. Those who look past his shock jock personality say he gives off a vibe that he’s above everyone else due to his friendship with Hulk Hogan.

— Alex Shelley, who is suffering from a few herniated and bulging discs, is expected to continue working through said injuries. There was some initial concern that the Motor City Machinegun member would be out for an extended period of time.

— One former Russo defender laughed over some of the “absurd” things the TNA creative director has written in his online blogs, quipping, “He’s really showing how smart he isn’t.”

(credit to the Pro Wrestling Torch for the information used in this report)

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.

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.