– Matt and Jeff Hardy will be reuniting on January 15th in Durham, NC for the return of their Omega Pro Wrestling promotion. The event is a benefit show for former Omega wrestler Chuck Coates, who is battling cancer. The Hardy Boyz are teaming up with James Storm & Shane Helms to face Steve Corino, C.W. Anderson, Lodi & Gunner in the main event.
– TNA has announced a format change to the TNA Gut Check segments that air on Impact Wrestling. Previously, the Gut Check contestant would wrestle a member of the TNA roster in an attempt to impress the judges. Starting this Thursday, two Gut Check contestants will wrestle each other – with both of them being evaluated by Al Snow, Taz and Bruce Prichard.
– “Suspended” TNA star Bully Ray is asking fans if he should crash tomorrow night’s Impact broadcast.
– Rosita is the latest TNA talent expected to be gone from the company after her contract was not renewed by the company this past week.
– Jeff Hardy was named TNA’s Wrestler of the Year on Thursday’s Impact Wrestling, beating out Bobby Roode, Austin Aries, James Storm and Bully Ray.
– Hulk Hogan “suspended” Bully Ray in the latest chapter of the Bully/Brooke Hogan drama.
– Sting returned at the very end of Thursday’s Impact Wrestling an unmasked one of the members of Aces & Eights – revealing him to be former WWE superstar Mike Knox. Knox was referred to as “Mike Knox from the WWE” – and last wrestled for WWE back in April 2010, nearly 3 years ago.
– The main event for next week’s Impact Wrestling will see Austin Aries & Bobby Roode vs. Jeff Hardy & a mystery partner. Hardy will defend the TNA World title against Aries & Roode in a triple threat elimination match at Genesis.
– WWE United States Champion Antonio Cesaro is currently working with several broken fingers and torn tendons in his right hand.
– Following the tragic elementary school shooting that took place last week in Newtown, CT, Vince McMahon is aware that WWE could come under fire once again for teaching violence to children and is fighting that image by continuing to push that WWE is family friendly entertainment that puts “smiles on faces.”
– Following Sunday’s Tables, Ladders & Chairs pay-per-view, TNA star Bully Ray tweeted, “Dudleys, Hardys, E&C…still the KINGS of TLC. Anybody doubt that? Of course not. #BULLYNATION.”
Ray’s tweet was a topic of conversation backstage at Monday’s RAW, with most people agreeing that he did not come off well by making that comment. He later clarified on Twitter that he was not meaning to be a d-bag, but was “just proud of what we did.”
– One of the top stories in recent weeks is that WWE is looking to bring back several former mid-card wrestlers to help fill out the roster and elevate some of the company’s up and coming young stars. There was talk backstage last night at TLC that a few familiar faces will be showing up on tonight’s WWE RAW for the Slammy Awards.
* VIDEO Of RYBACK Throwing of SETH ROLLINS Off A Ladder Through TABLES at TLC
Bully Ray appeared on Busted Open with Dave LaGreca and Doug Mortman, where he addressed the passing of Buddy Roberts. The program airs Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays on Sirius 92 and XM 208 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., visit www.Facebook.com/bustedopen for more information. Highlights from the interview are as follows:
Bully Ray on his relationship with Brooke Hogan: “I’m not even sure you can call us friends, because we have only known each other for a short period of time. When the whole Aces and Eights went down and I came to Hulk, I came to Sting, I tried to help out TNA because I thought the whole situation was wrong. Hulk just kept giving me the cold shoulder. He kept telling me he didn’t trust me. Sting had to basically beg and plead with him to let me be his tag team partner. So the guy doesn’t trust me.
“He was going through a lot of stuff in his own life where maybe he wasn’t thinking straight. All Brooke did was one day she came up to me and she didn’t apologize for her father. She was just kind of like ‘listen he is under some stress lately, don’t take it too personal.’ She just tried to ease the blow for her dad and my relationship with him. So that was it. One thing lead to another and I told her ‘listen I really appreciate it you telling me that’. Next time I saw her it was hello and how you doing. We just started talking, just friendly kind of stuff. Realized, she is just a nice girl. We just started talking and that is really it. Me and Brooke play Words with Friends on Twitter.”
Does he feel any different getting cheers from the crowd: “Listen, you guys with this heel and babyface crap. I’m not a good guy, I’m not a bad guy. I’m me. I’ve had 70,000 people cheer for me in the Houston Astrodome. I’ve had 20,000 people boo me at Madison Square Garden. When they love me, they love me. When they hate me, they hate me. I let them make the decision. I’m just me. That’s what makes me special in this business. I don’t change for anybody.”
What will his focus be after Austin Aries: “As soon as I am done with Austin, I’m re-focusing on Devon, Aces and Eights, and the World Heavyweight championship. One is personal and one is business. The number one goal should be to become the World Heavyweight champion. It’s hard to stay one hundred percent focused on that when you know that your partner, brother, and friend just stuck it up your ass, that you have no choice in going after him.”
Thoughts on cutting back pay-per-views: “Love it. I think it’s an awesome idea. I think the wrestling world is entirely saturated with pay-per-views. I remember growing up as a kid and only getting those four to six pay-per-views a year which had that big time feel. Now every time you turn around there is a pay-per-view every month. I would love to see TNA go the route of doing something like the NWA did back in the day and put on almost like a free pay-per-view on Spike TV one Sunday. I don’t make those business decisions, but I think it would be great for luring new fans to our product. I’m very, very confident that once wrestling fans who have never seen TNA, if they would just get to see it once or twice, I think they would be hooked.”
Two new matches were announced for TNA Wrestling’s Final Resolution pay-per-view event during Thursday’s Impact Wrestling broadcast.
Chavo Guerrero and Hernandez will defend the TNA World Tag Team Championship against Joey Ryan and Matt Morgan. Plus, Bully Ray will do battle with Austin Aries.
Here is the updated card for Final Resolution, which takes place December 9 in Orlando, Florida.
* TNA World Heavyweight Championship Match – Jeff Hardy (c) vs. Bobby Roode
* Bully Ray vs. Austin Aries
* AJ Styles vs. Christopher Daniels
* TNA World Tag Team Championship Match – Chavo Guerrero and Hernandez (c) vs. Joey Ryan and Matt Morgan
* TNA Women’s Knockout Championship Match – Tara (c) vs. Mickie James
– At the conclusion of last Thursday’s Impact Wrestling broadcast, Austin Aries dropping a bombshell on Hulk Hogan by accusing his daughter Brooke of conducting funny business with Bully Ray. The WWE Hall of Famer addressed the storyline via Twitter today, writing, “TNA IMPACT WRESTLING TONIGHT 8pm/7central only on SPIKE ,gonna get to the bottom of Brooke’s bs with Bully,I’d love to go off on himHH4Life.”
– On the latest edition of TNA Today, Christy Hemme speaks with Earl Hebner about his career in professional wrestling and working with TNA. She also picks his brain to see who he believes are the promotion’s rising stars.
TNA Wrestling has released the following preview for next Thursday’s episode of Impact Wrestling.
Preview Thursday’s IMPACT on SpikeTV – featuring Open Fight Night and Gut Check
Preview Thursday’s IMPACT WRESTLING broadcast LIVE at 8/7c on SpikeTV as “Championship Thursday” returns and the road to the November “Turning Point” event continues! If you can’t watch on Thursday, make sure to set your DVR to record all the action.
– Thursday’s broadcast features the return of OPEN FIGHT NIGHT! Who will get called out? Who has a score to settle? Who wants revenge? You never know who will get challenged every month during OPEN FIGHT NIGHT!
– One challenge that is already set for Thursday’s OPEN FIGHT NIGHT is Bully Ray vs. Devon from the Aces and 8s! The history between these two superstars is legendary – formerly one of the greatest tag teams in wrestling history, now bitter enemies – and their war continues on IMPACT WRESTLING!
– What will be the fallout from the Aces and 8s brutal attack on Kurt Angle? The gang picked Angle as their main target and certainly delivered on their promise. The question is, are the Aces prepared for the possible payback that is coming from the angry Olympic Gold Medalist?
– TNA Knockouts executive Brooke Hogan has informed Knockouts Champion Tara and her Hollywood boyfriend Jesse that ODB plans to call out Tara’s main man for a fight! Will Jesse “man up” and answer ODB’s challenge?
– Also on Thursday’s IMPACT WRESTLING on SpikeTV is the monthly “Gut Check” series, as Christian York will attempt to earn a spot on the TNA roster!
All this and much more on Thursday’s IMPACT WRESTLING broadcast on SpikeTV LIVE at 8/7c
– Two months before committing suicide in Daytona Beach, Florida on Oct. 18 from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the forehead, Mike Graham went to Universal Studios Florida in Orlando, Florida, while TNA Wrestling was holding a live Impact Wrestling show to request a job on their creative writing staff. He was instantly rejected by company officials.
Graham’s reaction was described as being “shocked” to be turned down, since his father, Eddie Graham, an influential Florida wrestling promoter, told him he would be hired for any job in wrestling by virtue of his rich family heritage.
– As announced on Thursday’s episode of Impact Wrestling, 35-year-old journeyman wrestler Christian York will compete on “Gut Check” on next week’s show. He competed on the promotion’s inaugural pay-per-view event in 2002, teaming with Joey Mathews against Bo Dupp and Stan Dupp, but was unable to secure a full-time position with the organization, nor WWE. Now after 16 years in wrestling, he feels this is his last chance to make it in the big time.
– TNA Wrestling is holding a live event tonight in Poplar Bluff, Missouri at Black River Coliseum. Jeff Hardy, Bully Ray, Austin Aries and Bobby Roode headline.
ImpactWrestling.com has released the official preview for next week’s “Championship Thursday” edition of Impact Wrestling and it is noted that Rob Van Dam will defend the X Division Championship against Zema Ion in a Bound For Glory re-match.
IMPACT Preview: Championship Thursday Returns – Jeff Hardy Defends The World Title
Preview Thursday’s IMPACT WRESTLING broadcast LIVE at 8/7c on SpikeTV as “Championship Thursday” returns and the road to the November “Turning Point” event continues! If you can’t watch on Thursday, make sure to set your DVR to record all the action.
– “Championship Thursday” is back, and the World Heavyweight
Championship will be on the line as new titleholder “The Charismatic Enigma” Jeff Hardy defends the gold against an opponent to be select by “The Immortal” Hulk Hogan! The contenders that Hogan will pick from are: Mr. Anderson, James Storm, Bully Ray, and Kurt Angle
– What do The Aces & 8s and Devon have planned next after their assault last week? Can Hulk Hogan, Sting, Bully Ray and the TNA roster find a way to turn the tide against the biker gang? The war continues on Thursday’s broadcast on SpikeTV!
– In a “Bound For Glory” rematch, new Knockouts Champion Tara (with her Hollywood boyfriend Jessie Godderz) will defend the gold against Miss Tessmacher on Thursday’s broadcast
– Also as part of “Championship Thursday”, new X Division Champion Rob Van Dam will put his title on the line against former champ Zema Ion!
All this and much more on Thursday’s IMPACT WRESTLING broadcast on SpikeTV LIVE at 8/7c
– Sunday at Bound for Glory, Devon returned to TNA Wrestling and attacked Bully Ray and Sting, costing them their tag team match against the villainous Aces & 8s stable. As a result, they have earned full access to TNA venues.
With Devon’s surprise attack, many fans have speculated that he is the leader of the nefarious group. According to PWInsider.com, he is not the leader of Aces & 8s and “that there is more to come with the storyline.”
– TNA Wrestling has released its promotional video for Turning Point, which takes place Sunday, November 11 from Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida. The advertisement is centered on Aces and 8s.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXwdszElibY
– To celebrate “The Icon” Sting’s induction into the TNA Hall Of Fame and 27 years in professional wrestling, every order on ShopTNA.com will get 27% off throughout the month.
– During a conference call promoting Bound For Glory, Jeff Hardy addressed the topic of tag team wrestling.
“Tag wrestling is crazy important to me, and it’s just fun y’know. Going back to the days of all the classic TLC matches, working with The Dudley Boys and Edge & Christian, those matches were so special to me. It could be the year 2060 and those matches would still be cool,” he told Fighting Spirit Magazine.
“I’m waiting on tag-team wrestling to spark again, for something else to come along and I kinda’ sensed it back when Beer Money and The Motor City Machine Guns were having an awesome feud. That was phenomenal, and totally awesome. It’d be nice if tag-teams could become as special now as they were back then, and who knows if that’ll happen or not.”
More comments from Hardy on the subject are available here.
– TNA Wrestling has released a video previewing this Sunday’s Sting and Bully Ray vs. Aces & 8s match at Bound For Glory.
After months of negotiating and venting publicly about the uncertainty of his future in pro wrestling, Bully Ray has re-signed with TNA Wrestling, according to PWInsider.com.
The contract was reportedly signed this week and is a 2-year deal. Ray will remain on the active roster and will also continue as an agent behind the scenes, assisting with the production of TNA’s live events and television shows.
Devon, however, is leaving TNA and the feeling is that the company really didn’t do the right thing by him. Devon has gotten himself into great shape and worked hard to get younger talent over, including Garrett Bischoff. He was also one of the most well-liked and respected members of the roster, which makes his departure even more surprising.
Despite not being signed to the same wrestling promotion for the first time since 1996, Ray and Devon will continue to work together as the head trainer of their Team 3D Wrestling Academy in Florida.
– In a “Bound For Glory Series” match on this week’s episode of TNA Xplosion on Challenge, Bully Ray defeated AJ Styles to earn seven points. Updated standings, according to ImpactWrestling.com, are as follows:
1. James Storm (66)
2. Samoa Joe (61)
3. Rob Van Dam (55)
4. Bully Ray (55)
5. AJ Styles (50)
6. Kurt Angle (48)
7. Mr. Anderson (47)
8. Jeff Hardy (42)
9. Christopher Daniels (33)
10. Magnus (28)
11. Robbie E (12)
12. “The Pope” D’Angelo Dinero (7) (eliminated from 2012 BFG Series due to injury)
– Former TNA Knockout Lacey Von Erich announced on Twitter Wednesday that she is in labor. She wrote, “Dilated 4cm! Walking around to get the baby out! Looks like John Grant Blindbury the third “Trip” will be born today! ;).”
– Bill Behrens is currently accepting independent bookings on behalf of former TNA Wrestling star Shannon Moore through SBIBookings.com.
Devon, whose contract with TNA Wrestling is reportedly set to expire this week, suggested on Twitter Wednesday evening that he’s parting ways with the organization effective immediately. The TNA Television Champion wrote:
i would like to thank the tna fans for making the last seven years fun . im sure we will see each other again down the road real soon.
Bully Ray, whose contract will also expire this week, suggested on Twitter that he will part ways with the organization in October at Bound For Glory, which takes place in Phoenix, Arizona.
Dont mattah where ya start..mattahs where ya finish. See ya in Phoenix!! STRONGEST THE LONGEST. #BULLYNATION
With Bully Ray & Devon’s contracts with TNA Wrestling set to expire later this month, negotiations for a new deal have been tense. Ray appeared to address his immediate future with the organization via Twitter with a survey:
Shakespear time kids. "To stay or not to stay, that is the question". Lets hear YOUR opinion. #BULLYNATION
– Angelina Love, who has remained mum on the details behind her departure from TNA Wrestling last month, will “break her silence” on August 20 in an interview with MondayNightMayhem.com.
– Dark Angel (a/k/a Sarita) will compete at Arena México in Mexico City, Mexico on Friday as she teams with Goya Kong and Luna Magica to take on Lady Apache, Princesa Blanca and Princesa Sugheit. It will be her final match in Mexico before she heads to Japan next week for a two-month tour of joshi promotion STARDOM.
– TNA Knockout Velvet Sky likely will not be returning, despite company officials wanting her back.
Sky will be reuniting with her former Beautiful People member, Angelina Love, at an upcoming indy show from Brooklyn, New York on 10/6 in a tag match against Maria Kanellis and Winter.
– Bully Ray and Devon are currently in the midst of contract negotiations with TNA and PWInsider.com reports that the duo could be on their way out of the company. Ray has been handling most of the negotiations and he reportedly feels that TNA has not treated them with the respect they deserve.
Bully Ray has been pushed as one of TNA’s top heels in recent months and has gotten himself in the best shape of his career. He has also been working behind the scenes as an agent.
Comment Below and tell us if you’d want to see the Dudley Boyz back in WWE.
– The ongoing TNA storyline with Joey Ryan is leading to an eventual match between Ryan and Gut Check judge Al Snow. Ryan initially had issues with Taz, but the neck problems that forced Taz to retire years ago is what’s preventing him from being the one to wrestle Ryah.
– TNA recently made a strong contract offer to Bully Ray, who is expected to stay on board as a result.
– TNA executive Eric Bischoff is pushing the company to sign former WWE developmental wrestler Dakota Darsow, son of Barry Darsow (Demolition Smash, Repo M
– Here are some recent TNA live event attendance numbers:
TNA Wrestling President Dixie Carter announced via Twitter Thursday that three Four-Way “Bound For Glory Series” matches will take place at Hardcore Justice. Each match will feature a different stipulation with the winner receiving 20 points.
* AJ Styles vs. Christopher Daniels vs. Kurt Angle vs. Samoa Joe
* Bully Ray vs. James Storm vs. Jeff Hardy vs. Robbie E
* Rob Van Dam vs. Magnus vs. Mr. Anderson vs. “The Pope” D’Angelo Dinero
Stipulations for all three matches will be announced during tonight’s live Impact Wrestling broadcast at 8:00 p.m. on Spike TV.
Also scheduled for Hardcore Justice is Austin Aries defending the TNA World Heavyweight Championship against Bobby Roode in a singles match. The pay-per-view event takes place August 12, 2012 at the Impact Wrestling Zone in Orlando, Florida.
– TNA Wrestling has released the promotional poster for No Surrender, which takes place September 9, 2012 at the Impact Wrestling Zone in Orlando, Florida. The twelve wrestlers participating in the “Bound For Glory” series are featured on the poster: AJ Styles, Bully Ray, Christopher Daniels, D’Angelo Dinero, James Storm, Jeff Hardy, Kurt Angle, Magnus, Mr. Anderson, Rob Van Dam, Robbie E and Samoa Joe.
– Sam Shaw has been added to TNA’s roster index on ImpactWrestling.com after being awarded a contract last week on Impact Wrestling in the “Gut Check” challenge.
– Tara has changed her Twitter handle to taralisamarie.
– Sources within TNA Wrestling have confirmed that Bully Ray and Devon’s respective contracts with the organization will expire in four to five weeks. Both wrestlers have been negotiating new contracts with management but no movement has been made towards agreements being reached.
Bully Ray underwent an incredible career resurgence after retooling his character following the split of Team 3D in late 2010. Likewise, Devon underwent a career rebirth following the split and now reigns as Television Champion. Both assist young talent, with Bully Ray working behind the scenes as an agent and Devon wrestling them at both television and house show events.
– TNA Wrestling producer Eric Bischoff, who reigned as General Manager of Raw from 2002 to 2005, congratulated his former employer on reaching 1000 episodes Monday.
“Congrats to the team at WWE on an amazing 1000 episodes. Phenomenal achievement!” he tweeted.
– Tara, who accidentally noted on Twitter that she was in St. Louis, Missouri on Monday, the site of Raw, said she didn’t go to the show. She tweeted, “I didn’t go to @WWE #RAW1000 but I haven’t ruled out #RAW2000. For now, you can see me this Thursday night on @IMPACTWRESTLING.”
— ImpactWrestling.com is no longer advertising a match between X Division Champion Austin Aries and Samoa Joe for Slammiversary on June 10. The match was announced on the website following Thursday’s live Impact Wrestling broadcast.
— AJ Styles turns 35 years old Saturday.
— Angelina Love has been announced to appear for RESISTANCE on Friday, June 15 in Chicago, Illinois. She is advertised to wrestle Resistance Pro Women’s Champion Melanie Cruise.
— Velvet Sky confirmed that Bully Ray is not on Twitter.
She wrote in response to a follower asking whether Ray is on the site, “NO! @IamBullyRay is of course a fake! The real Bully Ray doesn’t have Twitter!! F’n lame posers get off it.”
TNA Wrestling’s eighth annual Lockdown pay-per-view takes place tonight at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. The following matches have been announced for the show:
Steel Cage Match for the World Heavyweight Championship
Bobby Roode (c) vs. “Cowboy” James Storm
Lethal Lockdown
Team Eric Bischoff (Eric Bischof, Gunner, Bully Ray, Christopher Daniels and Kazarian) vs. Team Garett Bischoff (Garett Bischoff, AJ Styles, Rob Van Dam, Mr. Anderson and Austin Aries)
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
“The Blueprint” Matt Morgan vs. Crimson
