– TNA founder Jeff Jarrett was in Los Angeles earlier this week taking business meetings regarding his new mystery project. Jarrett is still not ready to announce anything, but it’s believed he’s working on a new wrestling promotion with country music star Toby Keith acting as a majority investor.
The following are highlights of a recent interview with TNA star Gunner:
On having a tryout in front of Hulk Hogan: “I was aware that I was being watched. When I got that dark match, D-Lo said Dixie’s watching, & Hulk’s watching. Here is your opportunity so don’t go out there and screw it up. I’ve always worked well under pressure and I think being in The Marine Corps helps you in dealing with a lot of pressure. It was my opportunity and I was either going to go out there and shine or I was going to burn. Hulk gave me a lot of compliments, not only for my dark match, but throughout the time he was there. He seemed to enjoy a lot of my character, so that meant a lot.
On TNA being on the road versus the Impact Zone: “There are pros & cons to both. Being on the road was great because you get to see different towns and different wrestling fans. The Impact Zone has the same people there usually every week or every month, which is not bad, but then again it’s really nice to get in front of say like, a southern crowd like we will in Alabama for Genesis. It’ll obviously be a hot crowd. But it’s good to be back in the Impact Zone. We have a home base and we know the crowd will be pretty lively.
On AJ Styles leaving TNA: “Superstars leave promotions all the time. It doesn’t mean he (AJ) won’t be back. He may have some things going on that he wants to take care of first. All it is, is giving somebody like me the open door to be the new poster child for the company.
On the state of TNA: “I honestly believe that all is well. It seems that theres’ things going on in WWE that the internet doesn’t hit on. It seems that because we are a younger company, I feel like we are the ones that get hit on so much. I don’t think personally anything is wrong with the company. We’re having more live events in 2014 than we did in 2013. We’re doing the UK tour which is a very huge tour for us plus the new TV deal we just signed in the UK and we’re still with Spike TV, so I don’t think anything’s wrong with the company. I honestly don’t see Impact going anywhere.
On TNA pushing but not committing to young stars: “I understand what you’re talking about and it already happened to me because in 2011 I was in the bound for glory series and I was hot being a singles guy, then I sat home for 8 months, and it wasn’t anything I did wrong, it was just a revamping of the character. There could be things going on behind the scenes that I don’t know about perhaps like somebody not getting along. It is known and it has been said, and Dixie has had conversations with us, and the new talent relations guy said 2014 is the year for the young guys to step up.”
On Jeff Jarrett leaving TNA: “That was kind of out of left field with a lot of us. On a personal level, Jeff helped me a lot also. He was always there for me to ask questions about promos or anything and as far as that, he’s a guy I consider a friend. And on a professional level, I don’t know why he left. Jeff Jarrett is a smart man. He’s a smart business man when it comes to wrestling. He’s been around it his whole life. I wish him luck and hope I get to work with him again someday because he’s always been there for me.”
On how hands-on Dixie Carter is with TNA creative: “When it comes to writing storylines, she doesn’t have any say so in that. She kind of lets the professionals do that. I don’t get to sit in on production meetings so I don’t know what goes on with that stuff. She does keep an eye on everybody and she does watch the show live when we do it. She’s right in front of the monitor in the back. She has input and it is valuable at times because she’s the owner of the company and you definitely want to hear what she has to say.”
– TNA star Kurt Angle will be undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery on February 11th, according to a report at TNANews.com. The procedure was originally scheduled for January 21st but it was rescheduled so he could appear on the upcoming “Maximum Impact” European tour.
Recovery is expected to last 6 to 8 weeks. With Lockdown taking place less than a month after the surgery, it’s unlikely Angle will be competing on the show.
– As we’ve been reporting, TNA is bringing in some new talent soon. TNA President Dixie Carter tweeted last night that Thursday’s live Genesis edition of Impact Wrestling will feature a few new faces:
Just hung up the phone… New talents coming to #Genesis in Huntsville. Thursday 9/8c on @SpikeTV
– TNA President Dixie Carter announced on Monday night that Lockdown will take place on March 9th from the BankUnited Center in Miami, Florida. She tweeted:
BREAKING: Excited #Lockdown will be taking place on March 9th from Miami, FL. 1st time to bring cameras there. Tickets on sale 1/24
There is a lot of frustration among TNA staffers and office employees towards Dixie Carter. Apparently the feeling within the company is that the office workers aren’t appreciated for their hard work, nor has there been discussions of a raise in pay over the last several years.
Additionally, there is a feeling that TNA president Dixie Carter isn’t as approachable as she once was. It’s being said that Carter no longer goes out of her way to talk to anyone, with some noting that it seems like she’s in her own world these days, whereas she used to be a very approachable boss.
There is no question that 2014 is a make or break year for TNA. With Jeff Jarrett and AJ Styles departing, major budget issues, their Spike TV Contract renewal coming up, a lot of questions need to be answered as to how the company will survive. It’s not unrealistic that TNA will cease to exist in its current form this year. Without a doubt, TNA has some talented wrestlers that can put on consistent performances night in and night out, but a lack of talent isn’t the only problem that needs fixing.
We here at SEScoops like TNA and want them to succeed. It’s refreshing that there is an alternative wrestling company on network television aside from WWE, but unfortunately, it looks like they’re going off a cliff and they need to make drastic changes in order to survive. Here are five suggestions that may help TNA Impact Wrestling make it through 2014:
Please get off my TV. Please??
1. Get Dixie Carter off Television
Dixie Carter is no Vince McMahon circa 1999 and the heel “Authority” angle has run its course in professional wrestling. The WWE is currently guilty of bringing back a similar angle with Triple H and Stephanie McMahon wreaking havoc on the babyface superstars on the WWE roster and TNA can be different by distancing themselves from similar storylines. Just because Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff aren’t with the company anymore doesn’t mean you have to turn Dixie Carter into a heel authority figure. We’ve already seen this sort of thing multiple times in TNA and it’s just not working this time around.
Obviously, Dixie’s mic work does not compare to Vince’s and with AJ Styles actually gone from TNA for the first time in 10+ years, there is no true Stone Cold Steve Austin-esque hero to take down the big bad boss. Perhaps TNA has figured this all out already, having Jeff Hardy return from his hiatus to exact vengeance on the boss and her henchman, but will fans really pay attention, and more importantly, pay extra cash to see Hardy fight the odds? Don’t get me wrong, Hardy is one of the company’s top assets and an extremely talented superstar, but we’ve seen this too many times before.
Dixie Carter should be removed from television as soon as possible if TNA wants to start 2014 off on the right foot. Sure, she can still be showcased every once and a while in backstage segments like she used to be, but she is definitely being overexposed. A good start in resolving this situation is to stop having the boss open the show with an underwhelming/uneventful promo each and every week on Impact.
It’s been a good run. But you’re too expensive.
2. Release Sting and Kurt Angle
Due to TNA’s money/budget issues, releasing Sting and Kurt Angle would be a smart move by the company. This suggestion may be a bit of a shocker to some of you, but their big-money contracts may in fact be hurting the company as a whole.
What’s left for ‘The Icon” Sting to do in TNA Impact Wrestling? He’s 54 years old, put over the current TNA champion Magnus last year at Bound for Glory, played a key role in exterminating the Aces & Eights and can never wrestle for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship again. Much like Hulk Hogan, Sting’s contract with TNA is costing them more than it is helping them.
Kurt Angle will go down as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time, but in my opinion, Angle is inching ever so closer to the end of his career, and it seems as if he wants to eventually bring his talents back to the place that helped make him who he is today, the WWE. In a recent interview, Angle said that his TNA contract expires in eight months and that he can’t say that he’ll never return to the World’s number one wrestling promotion.
Sting and Angle are two of the most famous names on the current TNA roster, but both superstars have paid their dues, won numerous championships and have helped put over younger talent. It’s time to move on.
Kevin Steen: Ready for Prime Time
3. Sign Top Independent Stars
TNA has some impressive home-grown talent – Bobby Roode, James Storm, Samoa Joe, Austin Aries, Christopher Daniels, Fankie Kazarian, etc. Now, by “home-grown”, I mean non-WWE talent. TNA should keep up the tradition of signing Ring of Honor and other independent talent because the roster right now seems very thin. While there are plenty of independent guys that deserve a chance to have the spotlight shine on them, here are some wrestlers that I think would be a great addition to TNA:
Kevin Steen: “Mr. Wrestling” Kevin Steen is one of those athletes that loves the professional wrestling business and has never been showcased on WWE or TNA television. Steen is a decent talker and a phenomenal worker that can get under the crowds skin in an instant. Steen is a born heel and has received high praises from the Texas Rattlesnake Stone Cold Steve Austin. Bringing Steen to Impact Wrestling would be a wise choice and would bring a section of new hardcore wrestling fans to the promotion.
Chris Hero: Chris Hero is an Indy sensation and a current free agent that would bring more viewers to TNA if signed to a contract. Hero was recently released by WWE and never made it onto the main roster despite being one of the more talented superstars on the NXT roster. Hero has the look to be a major star and his in-ring skills have been finely tuned by the WWE to be a sports entertainer.
The Young Bucks: The Young Bucks, known as Generation Me in TNA, put forth entertaining and consistent performances ever since their run in TNA from 2009-2011. They had some great matches with the Motor City Machine Guns, but due to poor booking decisions and monetary issues, the brothers left the company. The duo would be realistic signings because it seems that they are on good terms with the TNA promotion. Despite being eliminated in the first round, the Bucks competed in a TNA One Night Only PPV just last year. These two are in the prime of their careers and signing them to a TNA contract would undoubtedly help TNA’s now-struggling tag team division.
Sonjay Dutt: Sonjay Dutt is an easy choice because he is a world-renown athlete and continues to be showcased on Impact Wrestling time and time again. Dutt made his debut with TNA in 2003 and wrestled for the promotion until 2009. Recently, he’s made a few special appearances, but isn’t signed to a contract with the company. As Mike Tenay has said in the past, Dutt is the most talented wrestler to never win the coveted X-Division Championship. While he may not be the next Stone Cold Steve Austin, Dutt is a reliable worker that is energetically entertaining and would most definitely help the X-Division reclaim its glory days.
Michael Elgin: I’m not an avid follower of Michael Elgin, but from what I’ve seen and read, the dude can put on top-notch performances that will make your jaw drop. Last year in ROH, Elgin had a must-watch, five star rated match with Davey Richards. If you want to help your wrestling promotion, it’d be smart to hire someone that can wrestle a five star match, right?
Of course, there are other independent stars that I didn’t list that would fit into TNA’s landscape and help them become a better promotion. Davey Richards and Eddie Edwards are two names that come to mind, but word on the street is that they are in talks with WWE at the moment, so I left them off of the list.
Which independent wrestlers would you like to see TNA sign in 2014? Why do you think they would help the promotion? Let me know your thoughts in the comments section below.
– TNA will be giving away one free ticket to children for every adult ticket purchased for their upcoming “Genesis” show in Huntsville, Alabama.
– Sports Palooza Radio recently interviewed TNA wrestler Christopher Daniels (@facdaniels). You can check out that interview online at BlogTalkRadio.com. (Thanks to reader Mark Kruskol for sending along the link.)
– TNA has added a new video to their official YouTube channel featuring Dixie Carter talking about the company’s new international television deal. You can watch the new “#IMPACT365” video below:
TNA President Dixie Carter held a company meeting this week at company headquarters in Nashville to address a wide variety of topics, including Jeff Jarrett’s departure, how future Impact Wrestling TV tapings will be handled and more.
As we reported earlier this month, Impact Wrestling is without a home base once again due to all of the sound stages at Universal Studios in Orlando being booked up for the remainder of 2014. During the meeting, Dixie Carter acknowledged that TNA still does not know where they’ll be holding Impact tapings after March. While they are still in talks with Universal Orlando about working out some sort of deal, the company is looking at other locations for future tapings.
Regarding Jeff Jarrett’s surprise departure from the company, Dixie Carter was very vague and simply called it a “business decision.” It’s believed that when Toby Keith’s negotiations to buy TNA broke down, Jarrett decided it was time to leave.
In related news, TNA is looking to hold the upcoming Lockdown pay-per-view from the Miami, Florida area.
– TNA star Sting recently posted the following tweet. Before any rumors get started, Sting is referring to the the TNA storyline regarding Jeff Hardy, not Jeff Jarrett.
Dixie you drove off Jeff… I am still here and I am getting what I want tonight. Impact 9pm Spike.
– The official TNA website is currently running a poll asking fans to vote on who they feel will have the most success in TNA in 2014. The options are Lei’D Tapa, Ethan Carter III, Samuel Shaw, Norv Fernum and Dewey Barnes. At least check, EC3 was leading the poll by a wide margin. You can vote now at ImpactWrestling.com.
– TNA president Dixie Carter hyped her company’s potential for 2014 in a recent Twitter post. Carter tweeted the following:
2014 is going to be a New Year filled w/ new ideas, new characters & a new energy. Excited to share it with the greatest fans in the world!
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!
– TNA wrestler A.J. Styles is taking independent wrestling bookings through Bill Behrens at showbis@aol.com. Styles is starting to look for regular work in the first quarter of 2014.
– In addition to the quotes we reported earlier today from TNA president Dixie Carter regarding the TNA sale rumors and Billy Corgan rumors, the Tennessean.com article also covers TNA planning 24/7 programming in challenging WWE. You can read the complete article online at Tennessean.com.
The following are highlights from a recent interview with TNA president Dixie Carter:
On rumors of TNA being up for sale: “Since we have been in business going on 12 years now, this has been an ongoing (speculation). Oh, we’re going out of business. We’re not going to make it. Ever since we started, people were taking odds on how long we would last.”
On rumors that Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins was going to buy the company: “This last time I think a lot of it was perpetuated by a story that Billy Corgan from Smashing Pumpkins was going to buy it. I texted Billy and I said, ‘Oh really, so you’re going to buy my company? Are you excited? That’s cool.’ And he said, ‘Oh, don’t you love rumors.’”
Check out the complete interview online at Tennessean.com.
In a match taped for TNA’s “Final Resolution” edition of Impact Wrestling on Tuesday night, Magnus defeated Jeff Hardy in a “Steel Cage Dixieland” match to become the new TNA World Heavyweight Champion.
The rules of the match stated that the wrestler must escape the cape and advance to the TNA stage where a ladder was set up. The wrestler must then climb the ladder to retrieve the belt. As Hardy was going to do exactly that, Rockstar Spud came out and knocked the ladder over, which allowed Magnus to pick up the win.
With the victory, Magnus is now set up for a unification match against fellow TNA Champion AJ Styles whenever TNA decides to pull the trigger.
For those interested, full TNA Impact Wrestling taping results are available on the newsboard.
– TNA wrestler James Storm recently spoke with TMZ and revealed graphic details about once popping a guy’s eye out of the socket during a bar-fight he once had. Fans interested in reading more on this story, or watching Storm tell it to TMZ cameras, can check out TMZ.com.
– TNA has added a new video to their official YouTube channel of TNA president Dixie Carter addressing the current World Title situation. The video, which can be viewed below, is accompanied by the following description: “TNA President Dixie Carter updates the AJ Styles/World Title Situation with an email from AJ’s agent – tune into Thursday’s IMPACT WRESTLING broadcast on SpikeTV at 9/8c”
– The stars of TNA Wrestling are heading back to high school.
The promotion announced four live event dates for January, and two shows are slated to emanate from high schools (in Arkansas and Tennessee). Adding to the uniqueness, tickets to the Tennessee event are being sold through a cupcake shop.
Details on these upcoming events, which includes a date at a community center in Arkansas, are as follows:
January 3: Batesville, Arkansas (Live Event)
Southside High School 7:30 p.m.
Tickets are on sale at Mark Martin Ford or online at www.ShopTNA.com/tickets
Tickets on sale Friday, December 6
January 4: Jonesboro, Arkansas (Live Event)
Earl Bell Community Center 7:30 p.m.
Tickets are on sale at Front Page Cafe or online at www.ShopTNA.com/tickets
Tickets on sale Friday, December 6
January 5: Jackson, Tennessee (Live Event)
Jackson Northside High School 6 p.m.
Tickets are on sale at HaliHannigan’s Cupcakery or online at www.ShopTNA.com/tickets
Tickets on sale Friday, December 6
January 19: Albany, Georgia (Live Event)
Albany Civic Center 5 p.m.
Tickets are on sale at www.ticketmaster.com or by phone at 800-745-3000
Tickets on sale Friday, December 6
– In this “#IMPACT365” former TNA Women’s Knockout Champion Brooke and her family celebrate “Twerksgiving.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLDsOBteloE
– Rockstar Spud, TNA Wrestling President Dixie Carter’s Chief of Staff, is looking to impress his boss. He remarked the following on Twitter today: “Have been on several Black Friday shopping errands for Madam @TNADixie today! Hope she like the cream cake I bought for her #HailToTheChief.”
TNA Wrestling was profiled by Sports Illustrated today, including an interview with TNA President Dixie Carter. Here are some highlights of what Dixie Carter said about:
The “Impact On The Road” Experiment: “We went on the road thinking if we could sell 1,500-2,000 tickets, we’d be good. We went in with a very conservative budget. We didn’t come out here thinking we’d sell out arenas. The truth is we exceeded those budget numbers. We hit our revenue numbers, but we overspent when it came to loading out of the Universal studio. There was a two-month overlap that cost us.”
“We have to try different things. Going on the road to see if this is the thing that changes the whole feel and vibe of the show, if it works, you stick with it. I think we’ve learned a lot from this. We learned that the show has to be shaken up, not the venue.”
Incorporating “Reality” Into TNA Storylines: “Fans want to see things they think they aren’t supposed to be seeing.” Specific to her heel turn, Carter said she and TNA Creative “thought it would be best to let a little more of the company’s reality bleed into the show.”
Talent That Was Released Due To Budget Cuts: “They didn’t resonate. They didn’t move the needle or the contract they wanted wasn’t something that was good for this company. Sorry, but this company has to be in business 10, 20 years from now. I have to run a company and grow it. I’m to the point right now where things have to be a certain way for us.”
Hulk Hogan: “I think Hulk has been worth it. He’s opened a lot of doors for us. When you’re about to lose a deal in an international territory and one phone call from Hulk Hogan makes a man who doesn’t even speak your language melt and you get your deal back, that carries a lot of weight. There’s not another guy out there who could do that.
“If we did anything wrong with him, we used him too much on television. If he stayed with us, you’d probably see less of him.”
Panda Energy: “Once we got on Spike, we changed a lot of things and our revenues grew. We’ve been cash flow positive for the last four or five years. After that point, Panda stopped putting money in the company. We’ve funded it with every dollar we’ve made and maybe that’s kept us from growing quite as fast.”
Surrounding Herself With People Who Know The Business: “That’s all any business is. You don’t have to know wrestling. You’ll know wrestling eventually, but business is about making good decisions, putting good people around you and managing them.”
Samoa Joe was also quoted in the article, saying this about Dixie Carter’s job running TNA:
“In some aspects, yeah, I think she might be (too nice). In other aspects, I think it’s refreshing. I don’t think she’s too nice in that she’s not aggressive and won’t do the things that need to be done. She sticks by people, maybe to a fault sometimes. I’ll give her that. What some people say is a character weakness, others will say it’s a strength. It just depends on how you perceive her.”
Also interviewed for the TNA profile were Jeff Hardy, ODB, Spike TV President Kevin Kay and others.
According to sources, one group that was rumored to be looking to buy TNA, which was a company that circulated online but never the lead candidate, has pulled out.
A different group, which met with TNA executives a few weeks ago and has been the key party still interested, is still in play. While it may seem on the surface that the TNA sale is a non-issue at this point because nobody seems to know anything, and nothing new has popped up online about it, the main company is still in the mix and are talking positively about making the deal. This group is looking for complete and total ownership and apparently the key in finalizing the deal is whether or not they feel the asking price is fair.
There has been some talk that the Carter family is wanting to raise capital by selling a percentage and retaining a majority ownership of the company, but the aforementioned group still in the running is apparently not interested in a minority ownership.
Jeff Jarrett, who has reportedly picked up a considerable amount of power in TNA lately, would be expected to gain even more power if the sale takes place, since he’s more than likely a big factor in getting the deal going.
The following are highlights from a recent WZRtv interview with former WWE Superstar Big Vito:
On the sale of TNA: “There is so much financial debt that I think they’re so consumed with that. They tried every different angle to change things. They haven’t had any success. When you change heads of the departments, you change the people who run it. It’s the same thing that happened with WCW and it’s the same thing happening all over. You change, change, change, change.”
On Dixie Carter: “From what I understand, [Hulk] Hogan and [Eric] Bischoff are out now [and] it’s Dixie Carter running it. Dixie Carter, she might be a nice lady [but] she’s not groomed in the wrestling business. She’s been talked to and talked around, ya know, manipulated in the wrestling business, but she doesn’t know the wrestling business. She’s not the Jarrett’s. She’s not Hulk Hogan. She’s not anyone who’s had that kind of pedigree. This has nothing to do with being a man or a woman. When you’re not brought up in the wrestling business from the bottom up and you don’t know, you’re going to spend a lot of money and do a lot of stupid things. I’m not saying she’s a stupid lady. I’m not saying she’s dumb. She’s probably very smart in other areas, but this is the wrestling business. If you’re not groomed in it from the bottom up and polished, how do you not know what kind of product to put out? Another knock against TNA is they’ve had the same talent for 10 and 12 years. There’s only a handful of guys that’s been with the WWE for 10 or 12 years.”
On Vince Russo: “Well from what I know, Vince Russo, me and him back in the day, I helped him start out in the wrestling business and he helped me get into WCW. When he was in TNA, I was there when he was there. When he left, you know, I left. And then really just a couple of phone calls here and there, but ya know, nothing of nothing. I mean, he mentioned me in his books, he mentioned me in a nice way. I appreciate it, but as far as friendship and all that other stuff, ya know, he’s his own man. He does things his own way. He never returns a phone call, just like a lot of guys, but you know that’s Vinnie Russo and I can’t say nothing bad about him. He gave me my chance in WCW, and people remember [this] — giving somebody a chance doesn’t mean they gave you a spot. When you get a spot you have to earn it and I carried the ball and I ran with it, just like I did in every organization. I never was on the bottom, I always rose to the occasion and came to the top. So anybody who thinks that somebody gives you something — they can put you in any spot in the business, but if you don’t carry the ball, then you ain’t doing nothing. I carried the ball in all my positions, in all my companies and I’m very happy and very proud of my time. Whether it was in ECW with Da Baldies as Vito Skull LaGrosso, or Big Vito in WCW, Big Vito in TNA or Vito “The Toughest Man To Wear A Dress” in WWE.”
On Johnny Stamboli and a WCW reunion show: “Johnny Stamboli is still wrestling. He’s doing his own thing and he’s got his private life. He’s doing very well. You know everybody still asks when are The Mamalukes coming back and you know that would probably be one of the best things to happen if they ever had a WCW reunion show.”
On the current WWE product: “I think that the gimmicks they’re putting on are interesting. The guys are doing a good job down in NXT developing these guys. They have a lot of new faces [and] they’re trying to make new stars, but at the end of the day they’re still going with the name guys. You have the big names and they’re making the angles around them and you can’t change that. People wanna see them.”
On the WWE return of Goldust: “They brought back Goldust for a reason, ya know? Not because he was Dusty Rhodes’ son, ya know, Cody Rhodes or whatever. That’s Goldust. He’s the best gimmick in all of wrestling. That’s one of my favorite gimmicks. He is a gimmick and that’s something you wanna watch.”
On John Cena: “You know everybody can say what they want about [John] Cena, but that guy is still drawing money. Whether you love him or hate him, he gets a reaction.”
On Ryback: “They brought Ryback in, you know? Ryback was up and then he was down. If I could work a program with him, you’d never hear Big Vito complain about how he ever got [hit] too hard. I would love to work with that guy because it’d be a hart-hitting thing.”
On the way wrestlers come up in WWE these days: “A lot of guys who they’re bringing up today, like the problem they had in the past, they don’t have that experience and they’re not polished. They’re pushing guys up and you can’t learn everything from wrestling school. You gotta go out there and earn it and do it and when they try to polish you up and put you out there before you’re ready, sometimes it doesn’t come off as good as it can be.”
For more information on the Big Vito Wrestling Academy, visit the official website online at BigVito.com.
TNA Wrestling President Dixie Carter’s husband Serg Salinas, who reigns as Vice President of TNA Knockout Music Publishing and TNA Merchandising, posted an image on Twitter Thursday night of himself showing off a Confederate Flag license plate that states “DON’T MESS WITH DIXIE.”
Twitter user Nicole Jensen notified Carter of the image, stating, “Do you find it acceptable that Serg, an employee of yours, is promoting storylines on the confederate flag?” The TNA Wrestling President responded shortly thereafter via direct message, stating, “No way darlin. Wouldn’t allow that.”
TNA is running an angle where Dixie Carter stormed out of the offices of Spike TV in New York due to Spike airing footage of AJ Styles video that aired last week on Impact.
“Some great partnership this is, guys” she said before walking off. “Thanks a lot.”
– The following is a new tweet from the official Twitter page of TNA wrestler Bully Ray. In the following tweet, Bully Ray talks about being the “talk of the wrestling world” following his appearance at Tommy Dreamer’s “House Of Hardcore 3” event on Saturday night in Poughkeepsie, New York:
– Speaking of TNA Twitter updates, the following is a new tweet from the official Twitter account of TNA president Dixie Carter. In the following tweet, Dixie responds to reality television star Jonny Fairplay attempting to drum up interest in a return to TNA.
– Former WWE developmental wrestler Marcus Anthony will be on hand for tonight’s Impact Wrestling taping in Cincinnati, Ohio at Cincinnati Gardens. Without indicating whether he will he wrestle on the show, Anthony wrote on Facebook this afternoon, “On my way to Cincinnati gardens #TNA #Tonight #Sga #Gammapunch.”
Meanwhile, Anthony stated on Sunday that a person pulled a gun on him.
Anthony had been teaming with Rob Terry in Ohio Valley Wrestling until TNA Wrestling ceased its affiliation with the Louisville, Kentucky-based promotion. He was under a developmental contract to WWE last year, and sparingly competed at NXT events as Lincoln Broderick. He was one of five developmental wrestlers released in November 2012.
– The official YouTube account of TNA Wrestling has released footage from Jeff Hardy’s CD release party last night at Dave & Buster’s in Cincinnati, Ohio.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ar4ahKzUAoE
– Cincinnati Bengals cornerback and former TNA World Tag Team Champion Adam “Pacman” Jones is scheduled for tonight’s Impact Wrestling taping in Cincinnati, Ohio at Cincinnati Gardens. Promoting the former World Title Holder’s appearance, TNA Wrestling President Dixie Carter wrote on Twitter, “Great having dinner with @RealPacman24 last night. See you at the @CincyGardens for #ImpactLIVE tonight. Welcome home darlin!!!”
