TNA Wrestling underwent significant internal changes today. According to PWInsider, Anthony Cicione, who became President of TNA in February 2024, has departed from his position. At this time, no successor has been announced.
Additionally, a new executive has been appointed to oversee production and other aspects of the company.
As part of these changes, Josh Mathews, Senior Producer and Senior Director of Digital Media, and Christy Hemme, head of social media, have both left TNA.
Mark Brown is the new TNA Director, according to Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful. Brown held a similar position previously for Ring of Honor.
Former WWE and Impact Wrestling star Christy Hemme has given birth to quadruplets.
The 37-year-old revealed the big news in a tweet on Saturday, saying that her surgery went well and all four babies — three boys and one girl — are safe.
Hemme has been documenting her high-risk pregnancy on YouTube and in this video below, said she expected to give birth on Saturday. She also notes that her newborns share the same birthday as her first child, a girl named Charlie Rose, who was born on January 6, 2015.
Hemme was the winner of WWE’s inaugural Diva Search in 2004, with a prize of a one-year WWE talent contract worth $250,000. She stayed with WWE until December 2005 and would join Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA, now known as Impact Wrestling) in April 2006. She worked as a wrestler through 2009 and stayed on as a ring announcer until 2016.
Hemme was the winner of WWE’s inaugural Diva Search in 2004, with a prize of a one-year WWE talent contract worth $250,000. She stayed with WWE until December 2005 and would join Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA, now known as Global Force Wrestling) in April 2006. She worked as a wrestler for a few years and stayed as a ring announcer until last year. In January 2015, she gave birth to her first child, a girl, named Charlie Rose.
Last night’s (Mon. June 26, 2017) episode of Monday Night RAW provided the WWE Universe with a lot to take in, from Samoa Joe’s ambush on Brock Lesnar to the NBA’s favorite family, The Ball’s, appearance on Miz TV. One thing fans didn’t get to see, however, was the reunion of a bunch of former WWE Divas backstage; as Torrie Wilson, Candice Michelle, Lilian Garcia, Christy Hemme and Sharmell all took pictures backstage during the show in Los Angeles.
It should also be noted that Eve Torres was backstage at the show as well watching the show with her son, Raeven Gracie, at ringside. You can check out the photos here:
During an in-studio interview with Keven Undergaro on The Tomorrow Show, Christy Hemme spoke out on a wide range of topics including her departure from WWE and why she always travels with a Trish Stratus action figure. The former WWE and TNA performer also offered her opinion on various people she’s worked with over the years.
Christy says Triple H gives to everyone while Hulk Hogan is more about himself:
Hulk is great for Hulk. Triple H is great for business. You know, as far as like, bringing people in, bringing people up…he was always giving to the people…Hulk is like an icon and he is legendary and he is building his own brand.
Christy reveals two sure fire ways to tell if a wrestler has “it” and why Sasha Banks does:
There’s two things, there’s a feeling. And that’s something you cannot explain. Like, there’s a feeling you get from her when you watch her in the ring, and that, that’s the that “it” factor, right? That’s like, Wow! Like, you know you get little butterflies like in your heart for what she does. Right? And then the second thing is, you know, I always can see the difference between somebody that’s really in it, and not in it with their in between movements. So people do a big move, they do a move, they do a move, all those in-betweens, like in between the moves, where are they? What are they doing? Are they really there? So it’s believable when you see like, like as a piece of art…she’s a feeler. She’s really there, she’s really being.
Why Gail Kim would beat Awesome Kong in a TNA Knockouts shoot fight:
Everything comes down to passion I think that that wins, and she is probably the most passionate when I picture, as far as being in the ring and physically going.
Why Jacqueline Moore would win in a WWE women shoot fight:
She is someone that will put you in your place. She is very strong. She is, she’s amazing. She is really good…You don’t want to mess with her. You don’t. You just don’t.
What it’s really like to work with Stephanie McMahon:
I really love her. She is so poised and so powerful and as a female…She had worked on a couple of my segments and I was always lost when she was talking to me in the moments because she is really one of those people that she’s a really good producer…She’s really good at connecting and pulling something out of you that she’s looking for…but she’s softer in like, she’s a warm person. She’s a strong person but she’s a warm person and she’s passionate about the females so she’s always fighting for them.
How “politics” kicked her out of WWE
They asked me to move to OVW to train and I was like YES! I get to go train! Like I want to go work hard, I was really excited. And then when I got there, I was there for maybe a week and then I got the call that I was released. And I was heartbroken. Crushed.
When asked why, she responded:
I’m a strong woman that lives by my morals, and if you ask me to do something that’s not within my morals I will say no. So once I put that you know line down, that’s when I got the axe…It was one specific incident, so I’m just gonna leave it at that, cause I don’t need to go into details…It was not a wrestling related risque thing, I did Playboy…it’s just behind the scenes, politics, politics.
Christy shares a funny story about Victoria/Tara being nude in the TNA locker room:
They had hired all of these young girls, like millennials to come in and be on the show and there was like, 8 of them, right? And in the locker room, I walk in and they’re all standing around somebody and everybody’s laughing and I’m like “what is happening” and they’re going crazy, and I see Lisa (Tara/Victoria), in the middle of them, spinning around like this, I’m like ‘what are you doing?’ she’s like ‘I just feel so young.’
Carrying a Trish Stratus action figure in her suitcase:
When I was going through the Diva Search, I had one of her action figures and I kept it in my suit case and it was like my good luck charm right…She’s done so much in this business and she definitely knows how to build a brand and she’s done very well. And so yeah, who doesn’t aspire to be powerful like that.
– TNA reportedly has a meeting planned for today where they may discuss the Destination America rumors, however as of this morning, TNA President Dixie Carter had yet to address them.
As you can imagine, many people within TNA that are unhappy that the company has not directly addressed reports that Destination America won’t be carrying TNA past September, aside from their vague statement from last week.
– Christy Hemme has reportedly given her notice to TNA and will soon be parting ways with the company. Hemme reportedly has a great non-wrestling job she will be transitioning to. There was some speculation that Hemme could continue working a limited television role, however that’s not confirmed and many believe she’s leaving the company altogether.
– Matt Hardy and Jeff Hardy — The Hardy Boys — won a four-way Ultimate-X match to become the new TNA World Tag-Team Champions in the main event of Friday’s edition of Impact Wrestling.
– TNA’s Christy Hemme announced that next week’s edition of Impact Wrestling will be called “TKO — A Night of Knockouts.”
The following matches and segments are confirmed for the show:
Jade and Marti Bell debut
Mickie James’ future revealed
Angelina Love vs. Gail Kim vs. Madison Rayne vs. Brooke [Number One Contender’s Match]
Awesome Kong vs. Taryn Terrell (c) [Knockouts Championship]
Kurt Angle vs. Eric Young [TNA World Heavyweight Championship]
The following are highlights of a new Undisputed Wrestling Show interview with legendary wrestling manager Jim Cornette:
On TNA Director of Creative Writing David Lagana: “It’s like they are on f—ing acid. I know Dave Lagana, I like Dave Lagana, would never let him close to the f—ing book. He doesn’t know how to book wrestling because the only experience he had was booking ‘sports entertainment.'”
On TNA Vice President of Television Production and Director of Talent Relations John Gaburick: “The f—ing goof they hired to be the head of their creative, the Big John character (Gaburick), was an out of work friend of Kevin Dunn’s who gave a pity job to to produce Tough Enough. He’s never booked a f—ing fart after a dinner at Taco Bell.”
On TNA Creative Writer Matt Conway: “Matt Conway is the guy who Dixie (Carter) put on the creative team when it was Jeff (Jarrett) and Dutch (Mantel) and (Vince) Russo, I’m sorry I threw up a little in my mouth, because they weren’t telling her what was going on. So she took some stooge who worked in the office, he’s a fine kid, but he don’t know shit from apple butter about how to f—ing book wrestling. She put him on the creative team so he could stooge to her about what they were talking about behind her back.”
On TNA Ring Announcer and member of creative team Christy Hemme: “I can’t say this without laughing out loud! They just put Christy Hemme on the f—ing booking team! What the f—, she couldn’t book Lassie at a pet shop! She’s a nice girl, but what the f—!”
On the state of wrestling today: “If I stop to dwell on the state of wrestling today, it was literally making me an insane person. That is why I just ignore it for the most part. If you care about the business and if you want to see the business succeed, the things that people do that are the people who are in charge will drive you insane.”
Below is a photo of the new TNA faction, “The Menagerie.”
For those who missed it, here are details on the group from a report we put up yesterday.
Rebel will apparently play the role of his sister. She is the woman we have seen in recent vignettes with Knux on the various TNA programs. She was reportedly pitched to TNA as a potential talent by Christy Hemme.
The masked muscle-man of the group will be portrayed by former TNA Global Champion Rob Terry.
Crazy Steve will be played by Canadian independent wrestler Steve “Crazzy Steve” Scott. He has appeared on a TNA Gut Check segment in the past.
As previously reported, Knux will be debuting his new “The Menagerie” faction in TNA in the near future. Rebel, who as we noted was suggested to TNA by Christy Hemme, will be portrayed by Tanea Brooks, a former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader who has worked with Hemme in the past.
Brooks has also been featured in a number of hit music videos, including Trace Adkins’ “Honkey Tonk Badonkadonk.”
You can check out a photo of Brooks below.
Additionally, you can check out a Tanea Brooks calendar video below.
As previously reported, Knux will be debuting a new stable of carny-like characters on next week’s edition of TNA Impact Wrestling. The name of the group is “The Menagerie.”
Rebel will apparently play the role of his sister. She is the woman we have seen in recent vignettes with Knux on the various TNA programs. She was reportedly pitched to TNA as a potential talent by Christy Hemme.
The masked muscle-man of the group will be portrayed by former TNA Global Champion Rob Terry.
Crazy Steve will be played by Canadian independent wrestler Steve “Crazzy Steve” Scott. He has appeared on a TNA Gut Check segment in the past.
– As noted earlier in the week, Christy Hemme was added to the TNA creative team. Apparently one of her key roles, at least early on, will be focused more on costuming than booking wrestling angles for the company. She’s supposed to work with everyone in the company to help improve the look of their ring outfits and costumes, but will also have some creative input as well.
– The TNA live event on April 4th in Augusta, Georgia drew approximately 450 fans.
TNA executive John Gaburick announced via his official Twitter account that Christy Hemme has officially joined the TNA creative team. Gaburick tweeted the following:
– Former top Ring Of Honor star Davey Richards recently posted the following message on his official Facebook page:
“With a heavy heart I can announce I announce that myself and ROH have parted ways for good and I will not be at Final Battle. Please continue to support them and the incredible talent they have. Thanks for the memories. It was an amazing ride.”
– The official TNA Twitter account posted the following tweet, which includes a link to video footage of TNA Knockouts Gail Kim and Christy Hemme doing a lower-body workout for Muscle & Fitness Hers:
Christy Hemme and Gail Kim New Lower Body Workout Video for Muscle and Fitness Hers http://t.co/PvV0pzkbTn
– Thursday’s episode of Impact Wrestling drew a 0.96 cable rating, up from 0.90 last week.
The program averaged 1.139 million viewers over the course of two hours, up 12 percent from 1.019 million viewers last week.
Thus far in 2013, Impact Wrestling has averaged 1.270 million viewers. The program, however, has not topped the yearly average since the most-recent special, No Surrender, on September 12.
– AJ Styles, who is planning to defend the TNA World Heavyweight Championship at an event presented by Wrestle-1, a promotion in Japan being run by Great Muta, is shown arriving to the country in this “#IMPACT365” video.
Styles is in possession of the belt that he took with him when he left TNA Wrestling, but has been technically stripped of the title.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IohFt0Qqa5Y
– ShopTNA.com has released its 2014 TNA Knockouts Calendar, which features Brooke, Christy Hemme, Gail Kim, Taryn Terrell and Velvet Sky on the cover. Mickie James, who has since parted ways with TNA Wrestling, is also featured in the calendar.
-The TNA Impact Wrestling Glory trading cards will be released by Tristar on November 13th. TNA photographer Lee South shot the photos that were used for the cards. TNA has launched an official Twitter page for the trading cards, which you can check out at Twitter.com/TNACards.
-The latest edition of the Impact Wrestling podcast is now online, featuring guests Kurt Angle, Mike Tenay and Taz joining regular show-hosts Jeremy Borash and Christy Hemme. You can check out the latest Impact Wrestling podcast below:
-WWE returns to the American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida, the site of Sunday’s Hell In A Cell pay-per-view, on January 31st. The pre-sale password for tickets to the show is WWELIVE.
-On this day, 18 years ago, the famous fire incident in ECW took place with Terry Funk, Raven, Tommy Dreamer and Mick Foley in the original ECW Arena.
-Former WWE Superstar MVP celebrates his 40th birthday today. Also celebrating birthdays in the world of pro wrestling today are Christy Hemme, Les Thatcher and Rocky Romero.
-WWE Hall Of Famer Tammy “Sunny” Sytch will be doing a live Q&A on November 14th in Glasgow, Scotland, as well as at Collector Mania in Milton Keynes, England on November 16th and 17th.
-TMZ posted an article today that noted Brian Wilson of the Los Angeles Dodgers dressed up as “Macho Man” Randy Savage at a Halloween party this past Saturday evening.
– In June, inactive TNA Wrestling star Zema Ion’s fundraising campaign following an emergency appendectomy was futile as it failed to raise the needed $30,000 he was hoping to raise—it only raised $6,648, which he did not receive. Ion recently appeared on The Pain Clinic (listen here) and revealed that he became depressed after being informed he may have cancer, not to mention that he owes thousands of dollars in medical bills. He dubbed the ordeal “a really dark time,” but says he’s feeling better these days.
– In the latest edition of the “Impact Wrestling Podcast” hosted by Jeremy Borash and Christy Hemme, Breaking Bad fans Bad Influence, Mike Tenay, Taz, Jeff Hardy and Gunner offer their predictions on tomorrow night’s season finale on AMC.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QO2h1D7EMeY
– According to WrestlingFigs.com, TNA Women’s Champion ODB will participate in an autograph signing at Wrestling Universe 34-29 Francis Lewis Blvd. Flushing, New York, on Sunday, October 6 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
-The latest edition of the TNA Impact Wrestling podcast is now available online. The podcast, which is hosted by Jeremy Borash and Christy Hemme, features special guest Eric Young this week. Additionally, the teaser for the podcast notes that Howard Stern responded to TNA wrestler Bobby Roode’s recent remarks. Check it out online at iTunes.com.
-As noted previously, WWE Hall Of Famer Jerry “The King” Lawler has booked himself in a match on the one-year anniversary of his heart attack on WWE RAW. Before he works that match, however, Lawler is scheduled to wrestle Mike Rapada on September 7th in Covington, Tennessee.
-The grand opening of the Jerry Lawler Museum at the new location in the Resorts Casino Tunica in Tunica, MS will take place on Saturday, August 24th at 2pm. Lawler will be appearing to sign autographs for two hours in honor of the opening.
-WWE has added TNA Impact Wrestling ring announcer Christy Hemme to their WWE Alumni page on WWE.com.
-Yahoo! has an article up covering the return of Maria Menounos to the ring at the SummerSlam Axxess event on Sunday. As noted, Menounos will team with Natalya to take on the duo of Brie Bella and Eva Marie. You can check out the story online at Yahoo.com.
-Another Dolph Ziggler interview, this time with the folks from 4th and Pain, can be heard below.
TMZ.com reports that TNA star Austin Aries has been hit was a “severe” fine as a result of his actions last week on Impact Wrestling.
After TNA announcer Christy Hemme botched her duties and announced Aries & Bobby Roode as Christopher Daniels & Kazarian, Aries got in her face, cornered her in the ring, stood on the ropes and “shoved his man bits” (TMZ’s words) into her face. The incident was unscripted and led to at least one journalist contacting Spike TV and asking what actions they would be taking against Aries.
Hemme tweeted afterwards that Aries’ conduct was “unacceptable.” Aries has since apologized to Hemme privately and a source told TMZ that she was satisfied with his apology.
TNA Wrestling President Dixie Carter addressed Austin Aries’ lewd behavior towards ring announcer Christy Hemme on last week’s episode of Impact Wrestling with a stern statement via Twitter this afternoon.
“TNA has ZERO tolerance for inappropriate behavior,” she wrote. “The incident with Austin Aries was taken very seriously and handled immediately.”
David Schwarz, Senior Vice President of Communications for Spike TV, stated this week to Mark Madden of Wrestlezone.com that action would be taken against Aries for his public form of sexual harassment towards the veteran Knockout.
“We have a zero tolerance policy for sexual harassment,” said Schwarz. “We discussed [the incident] with our partner. [Aries is] being disciplined. I’m trying to get more information on what action is being taken. Dixie Carter took this very personally. He will be disciplined. Again, we have a zero tolerance policy for sexual harassment.
“I’m not sure specifically how [the discipline] will be handled. To what extent, I don’t know. This is certainly something we don’t condone and don’t tolerate. Such behavior is not welcome.”
In response to whether Aries’ discipline should be made public since Hemme was harassed on national television, Schwarz responded, “I think that a statement of some sort will be coming. That’s being worked out. But immediate action will be taken.”
On the show, Hemme mistakenly introduced Aries and tag team partner Bobby Roode as their opponents for the evening, Christopher Daniels and Kazarian. This led Aries to corner Hemme in the ring as he intimidated her into correctly introducing him before climbing onto a mid-level turnbuckle and shoving his groin near her face.
Following the event, Hemme voiced her displeasure with Aries’ actions via Twitter, deeming it “unacceptable.” Late Saturday night, Aries appeared to address the incident though the social networking outlet, writing, “Pretty nuts, some of the junk people get the balls to say over the net, knowing they couldn’t to your face…Eh, anyway, time to sack out.”
Austin Aries will be disciplined for his public form of sexual harassment towards TNA Wrestling ring announcer Christy Hemme on last Thursday’s episode of Impact Wrestling. Mark Madden of WrestleZone.com garnered a statement from David Schwarz, Senior Vice President of Communications for Spike TV, regarding the matter Tuesday.
“We have a zero tolerance policy for sexual harassment,” said Schwarz. “We discussed [the incident] with our partner. [Aries is] being disciplined. I’m trying to get more information on what action is being taken. Dixie Carter took this very personally. He will be disciplined. Again, we have a zero tolerance policy for sexual harassment.
“I’m not sure specifically how [the discipline] will be handled. To what extent, I don’t know. This is certainly something we don’t condone and don’t tolerate. Such behavior is not welcome.”
In response to whether Aries’ discipline should be made public since Hemme was harassed on national television, Schwarz responded, “I think that a statement of some sort will be coming. That’s being worked out. But immediate action will be taken.”
On the show, Hemme mistakenly introduced Aries and tag team partner Bobby Roode as their opponents for the evening, Christopher Daniels and Kazarian. This led Aries to corner the inaugural winner of WWE’s Diva Search in the ring as he intimidated her into correctly introducing him before climbing onto a second-level turnbuckle and shoving his groin near her face.
Following the show, Hemme voiced her displeasure with Aries’ actions via Twitter, deeming it “unacceptable.” Late Saturday night, Aries appeared to address the incident though the social networking outlet, writing, “Pretty nuts, some of the junk people get the balls to say over the net, knowing they couldn’t to your face…Eh, anyway, time to sack out.”
– Thursday’s edition of Impact Wrestling drew a 1.02 cable rating, with 1,352,000 viewers. Both figures are up from last week’s show on Valentine’s Day, which drew a 1.00 cable rating and 1,300,000 viewers.
– TNA released the following ad promoting its Road To Lockdown Sale on ShopTNA.com.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pt7W0hdh_nI
– Christy Hemme is featured in the “Today’s Girl” section of Maxim.com.
