TNA president Dixie Carter announced on her official Twitter account on Friday afternoon that the company is looking for new talent.
Dixie posted the following tweet:
Out with the old… In with the new… I am personally looking at every potential new talent to create the #Genesis of the future of TNA.
— Dixie Carter (@TNADixie) January 10, 2014
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.
(Information from PWInsider was used in this report)
– More than one source has confirmed that AJ Styles is still negotiating with TNA, according to f4wonline.com.
– TNA President Dixie Carter announced on Wednesday that TNA has signed a new multi-year TV deal with the UK’s Challenge TV.
BREAKING: Thrilled to announce a major, new multi-year deal between TNA & @ChallengeTV to keep ALL our programming FREE in the UK & Ireland
— Dixie Carter (@TNADixie) January 8, 2014
– Below is the opening video for this Thursday’s episode of Impact Wrestling:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=gAZM6195v5s
– 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.
— Sting (@Sting) January 2, 2014
– TNA star Kurt Angle hyped tonight’s Impact Wrestling with the following tweet:
Tune Into ImpactWrestling tonight for My Big Announcement! Top of the Show. It's a Good One. 9pm est On Spike TV.
— Kurt Angle (@RealKurtAngle) January 2, 2014
– 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!
— Dixie Carter (@TNADixie) December 31, 2013
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!
— Dixie Carter (@TNADixie) December 27, 2013
Next week on @SpikeTV you will see the coronation of MY champion @MagnusOfficial.
1/2/14 on @IMPACTWRESTLING history will be made!
— Dixie Carter (@TNADixie) December 27, 2013
– 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”
http://youtu.be/B_LXzwWOgSk
– 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.
You can check out the complete interview online at Justin.tv/wzrradio123/
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.”
Salinas has since deleted the image.
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:
Once again, I'm the talk of the Wrestling World. https://t.co/k5kA3tkrdb. Tix on sale this Fri. Mid Hudson Civic Center. #OldSchool
— Bully Ray (@REALBully5150) November 10, 2013
– 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.
Hmmmm RT @JonnyFairplay: Loved the tease & VIP return of PacMan @TNADixie I think @IMPACTWRESTLING fans want the same for @JonnyFairplay RT!
— Dixie Carter (@TNADixie) November 8, 2013
– 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!!!”
As reported last week, Panda Energy’s Chairman of the Board, Janice Carter (mother of TNA President Dixie Carter) issued a memo to TNA staff refuting reports that TNA is for sale. The memo has leaked online and can be viewed here:
October 31, 2013
Dear Staff,
As we embark on our “Where Action Never Ends” 365 initiative, I wanted to take this time to thank you for your dedication and enthusiasm to your company’s renewed creative direction. I feel confident that, together, we are marching towards something great – a revolutionary way to experience professional wrestling.
With this said, I am aware of the false rumors currently circulating that The Carter Family and Panda Energy is attempting to sell their ownership stakes in TNA Wrestling. An unfortunate aspect of this business is that there are wrestling “reporters” who consistently post “news stories” without proper facts. I want to assure you that these are just rumors and I am committed to TNA and its future.
While I typically find that responding to such rumors is a waste of time, I wanted to use this as a moment to express my support and delight for the creative direction we are moving in. Our work has just begun and I look forward to a long and rewarding future with you and TNA.
Warm Regards,
Janice Carter
Chairman of the Board
A former TNA World Heavyweight Champion is scheduled for this Thursday’s episode of Impact Wrestling. TNA Wrestling President Dixie Carter revealed in this “#IMPACT365” video that she received a phone call from a former World Title holder this morning, and that individual will be on hand for Thursday’s show in Cincinnati, Ohio.
“He is one of the greatest of all time,” said Carter. “I can not wait to welcome him home. Stay tuned.”
Comment Below and tell us who you think TNA’s latest “mystery man” is.
Josh Stewart of the official Newsday website sent along a link to an article with a response from the Billy Corgan camp regarding the rumors that the Smashing Pumpkins frontman was attempting to buy an ownership stake in TNA Wrestling.
A spokesperson for the rock-and-roll star told the Newsday website the following:
There is no reason to comment on rumors. Billy is completely focused on Resistance Pro’s upcoming 2nd anniversary [show on Nov. 23].”
The Newsday article also quoted Panda Energy executive Janice Carter, who is the mother of current TNA president Dixie Carter, from the memo she sent out to TNA employees. Carter wrote the following in the memo:
“An unfortunate aspect of this business is that there are wrestling ‘reporters’ who consistently post ‘news stories’ without proper facts. I want to assure you these are just rumors and that I am committed to TNA and its future.”
-According to a new WrestleZone.com report, Smashing Pumpkins front-man Billy Corgan is rumored to be interested in buying a stake in TNA.
-TNA has added a new “#IMPACT365” video to their official YouTube channel. The new video features TNA president Dixie Carter discussing Kurt Angle’s injury. You can watch the new video below:
http://youtu.be/0eyxYlXBOj8
-Another TNA “#IMPACT365” video is also online, which features Dixie Carter talking about Ethan Carter III’s progress and recent opponents. You can watch that below:
http://youtu.be/aLG9rsDUBZU
DIRECT LINK TO ARTICLE: Huge Backstage Update On The Potential Sale Of TNA
Janice Carter, an executive at Panda Energy, the parent company of TNA, and the mother of TNA president Dixie Carter, recently issued a memo to TNA contracted talent and employees informing them that the rumors of Panda Energy attempting to sell their ownership stake in TNA are false.
Despite the memo, we can confirm that at least one group, led by a notable name, has shown a desire in purchasing a majority interest in the company, and that there have been discussions between both sides about the possibility of a sale.
DIRECT LINK TO ARTICLE: Huge Backstage Update On The Possible Sale Of TNA
[Credit: ProWrestling.net]
-TNA announced that there next pay-per-view themed edition of Impact Wrestling on Spike TV will be on November 21st. TNA will present a “Turning Point” themed edition of their weekly television show, which will emanate from the Impact Zone in Orlando, Florida.
-TNA announced the following brackets for their eight-man tournament to determine the new TNA World Heavyweight Champion:
–Jeff Hardy vs. Chris Sabin
–Bobby Roode vs. James Storm (winner faces the winner of Hardy vs. Sabin)
–Magnus vs. Samoa Joe
–Kurt Angle vs. Austin Aries (winner faces the winner of Magnus vs. Joe)
The matches will carry stipulations which will be determined by the “Wheel of Dixie.” The Hardy vs. Sabin match will be a Full Metal Mayhem match. While Styles is still technically the owner of the TNA title, the tournament will decide the new TNA World Heavyweight Champion. Basically, it looks as if TNA is setting up a future “Champion vs. Champion” match between Styles and the winner of the tournament.
Update On The Sale Of TNA, Hulk Hogan’s Future In The Company + Sting Leaving ..
-The TNA Impact Wrestling television taping on December 26th in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania has been changed to a non-televised live event that will now take place on December 27th.
-TNA has removed both Hulk Hogan and AJ Styles from their official online roster page. Meanwhile, Mr. Anderson has been re-added to the page.
-The following is a new 24/7 video of Dixie Carter and John Gaburick discuss the AJ Styles at TNA World Heavyweight Champion situation. Check it out below:
http://youtu.be/MMNEKLSEWwA