— Thursday’s episode of Impact Wrestling saw Dixie Carter return as President of the company and place Sting in charge of the program. In his first duty, he attempted give Bobby Roode a rematch against World Heavyweight Champion Kurt Angle but a clause in the contract only allowed one match between the two–the match already held at Bound For Glory. James Storm asked and received a shot at the World Heavyweight Championship later in the show. He defeated Angle in a minute-and-a-half to win the belt for the first time.
— Gail Kim returned to TNA Wrestling as a heel aligned with Vice President of the Knockouts Division, Karen Jarrett.
Velvet Sky came to the ring to thank the fans after capturing the Women’s Knockout Championship at Bound for Glory. The Knockouts VP interrupted Velvet and vowed to strip of her newly won title. After being distracted by Madison Rayne, the new champion was attacked from behind by a returning Gail Kim.
— No matches were announced for Turning Point, which takes place Nov. 13.
Preview IMPACT WRESTLING On SpikeTV: Shocks & Surprises!
Don’t miss Thursday’s huge IMPACT WRESTLING broadcast on SpikeTV at 9/8c, featuring the aftermath from our biggest event of the year, Bound For Glory! It’s a night of shocks and surprises on the packed show! Can’t watch IMPACT WRESTLING on Thursday night? Make sure to set your DVR to record it so you don’t miss any of the action.
Here is a preview of Thursday’s broadcast:
– Kurt Angle is STILL the World Heavyweight Champion, having defeated Bobby Roode in controversial fashion at Bound For Glory! The champ will appear on Thursday’s broadcast of IMPACT WRESTLING! What’s next for Angle? How will Roode react? Who will step up to challenge him next? Don’t miss it!
– Also, after defeating “The Immortal” Hulk Hogan at Bound For Glory, Sting returned control of TNA to President Dixie Carter! Both “The Icon” Sting and Dixie Carter will appear on Thursday’s huge broadcast on SpikeTV! The question is, what’s next for Hulk Hogan after what happened at BFG? Is it a new era for Hulkamania? How will Eric Bischoff react? Tune in and find out!
– Also at Bound For Glory, a new Knockouts Champion was crowned as Velvet Sky realized her dream of capturing the gold! Velvet will be on the broadcast this Thursday, but Knockouts VP Karen Jarrett isn’t happy that Velvet came out victorious. What will happen between Velvet Sky and Karen Jarrett this Thursday? Is Jarrett about to make Sky’s championship reign a living hell?
– After he was forcefully kicked out of the Immortal alliance last week, “The Monster” Abyss will battle Immortal’s “Big Poppa Pump” Scott Steiner
– Plus, the Knockouts Tag Team Championship will be on the line as titleholders Tara and Brooke Tessmacher defend against Winter and Angelina Love
Also appearing on Thursday night – “The Phenomenal” AJ Styles, “The Charismatic Enigma” Jeff Hardy, “The King Of The Mountain” Jeff Jarrett, X Division Champion Austin Aries and many more!
— Tonight and tomorrow night’s Impact Wrestling tapings in Orlando, Florida will focus heavily on Dixie Carter regaining control of TNA Wrestling and Hulk Hogan’s babyface turn. Therefore, a number of wrestlers who are considered regulars will be left off both events.
Meanwhile, Hogan donned his trademark “Hulkamania” red and yellow colors in an in-ring segment with Sting that will air on Thursday’s show.
— Gail Kim returned to TNA Wrestling as a heel aligned with Karen Jarrett. The segment will air on Thursday’s show.
TNA issued a press release on Tuesday formally announcing that Bruce Prichard is the company’s new Senior Vice President of Programming and Talent Relations.
TNA President Dixie Carter said the following about Prichard’s new role in the company:
“TNA is gaining such a wealth of knowledge and insight as we continue to grow our business with the addition of Bruce to our senior management staff.”
“This appointment is another indication to the community that TNA’s Impact Wrestling is gaining ground across all platforms; we are thrilled that Bruce is bringing his knowledge in television production, writing and talent relations to TNA.”
As previously reported, Bruce Prichard took the role of Vince Russo, who now works under Prichard as part of the creative team.
Prichard, best known as “Brother Love” in the WWF and a former high-ranking WWE official and confidant of Vince McMahon, is also quoted in the press release:
“I am looking forward to working with the exemplary talent both in front of the camera and behind the scenes at TNA. ?There are some exciting new ventures in progress as we speak involving the tremendous roster of current TNA superstars, as well as, development for the TNA superstars of the future.”
“We are expanding our roster and looking for new and adventurous additions to our television product. I welcome the challenge and am invigorated by the endless opportunities this company provides. Our fan base for our brand continues to grow and I am proud to be a part of it.”
To read the full statement from TNA, head on over to IconVision.com.
– Former WWE NXT rookie and FCW Champion Lucky Cannon, who was released from his developmental deal back in August, tweeted the following on Wednesday, an indication that he could be TNA bound:
“@JeffJarrettTNA .. Looking forward to speaking with u”
– Following Gail Kim’s recent release from WWE, there’s talk that she could wind up back in TNA once her 90-day no-compete clause expires.
– TNA has announced another round of ‘Gut Check’ workshops, where people can try out to become TNA superstars. The following dates and locations have been announced:
* October 28th in Sacramento, CA
* November 5th in Toledo, OH
* December 10th in Orlando, FL
– TNA President Dixie Carter turns 47 years old today. Happy birthday Dixie!
– TNA is looking to produce a new TV show aimed at the Indian market. Sonjay Dutt and BG James recently flew to India to scout potential talents for the show.
– Several members of the Carter family were ringside at Saturday night’s TNA live event from Rome, Georgia. They ran an angle during the show where Dixie Carter acknowledged the ongoing power struggle with Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff, telling the live crowd that her family (which in reality owns the company) had to purchase their own tickets to the show.
– TNA knockout Miss Tessmacher will now be using her real first name “Brooke.” Her TNAWrestling.com profile has been updated with her new ring name – “Brooke Tessmacher.”
– Following his DWI arrest and TNA release on Saturday, Matt Hardy was one of the top trending subjects on Twitter. Hardy is an avid user of Twitter and has a strong social media presence, but this is probably not the type of exposure he is looking for.
-With Hulk Hogan currently training for a possible return to the ring later this year, word out of the TNA locker room is that Hogan is looking to wrestle Sting in the main event of TNA’s biggest show of the year – Bound For Glory, later this year. Yeah we know, that same match headlined WCW’s biggest show of the year (Starrcade) back in 1997.
While a Hulk Hogan vs. Sting match is still a match some fans would pay to see again – it all depends on whether Hogan is physically able to work a match after undergoing more than a half dozen back surgeries in the past year or so.
– Dixie Carter remains the president of TNA Wrestling, despite online reports the contrary. As many know, TNA is funded primarily by Panda Energy, which is owned by Dixie’s father, Bob. Dixie’s mother Janice began working behind the scenes in TNA earlier this year overseeing the company’s finances. After the tremendous amount of money TNA has spent in recent years signing household names to big contracts and the failed attempt at going live on Monday nights, major changes to TNA’s operations are expected in the coming months to save.
– Abyss’ front teeth are still missing after getting kicked in the face by Rob Van Dam several weeks ago on iMPACT!
— TNAWrestling.com has announced the following three matches for TNA Sacrifice, which takes place May 15 on pay-per-view.
TNA World Heavyweight Championship Match
Sting vs. Rob Van Dam
X Division Championship Match
Kazarian vs. Max Buck
Abyss vs. Crimson
— TNA Slammiversary will take place on June 12 at the Impact! Zone in Orlando, Florida.
— TNA Wrestling president Dixie Carter posted her first message on Twitter today in nearly two months. She wrote, “My thoughts & prayers are with all those effected by the horrible storms yesterday and today. So devastating.”
The Honky Tonk Man claimed on his weekly podcast on Monday (audio available at www.htmradio.com) that Karen Jarrett (formerly Angle) is the alleged victim of a sexual harassment lawsuit against TNA Wrestling.
The former WWE Intercontinental Champion says Karen was sexually harassed by TNA Wrestling president Dixie Carter’s husband Serge Salinas.
He says a settlement was reached and that “part of the deal” involved Karen being given her job back with TNA Wrestling. He claims Carter was removed from television earlier this year due to the lawsuit.
The Honky Tonk Man tweeted Monday: “Anyone who missed HTM’s announcement on TNA tonight. Karen Angle vs Dixie Carter’s husband is the sexual harassment lawsuit going down! That’s why Dixie is off TV and Karen is now back with the company as part of the settlement.”
— The TNA Wrestling website is teasing that the person driving “The Network” will be revealed on this Thursday’s episode of TNA iMPACT!. Many fans are speculating that person to be Dixie Carter. F4WOnline.com, however, reports that the individual in question will ultimately not be her.
— Matt Hardy claimed last night on Twitter that he believed he fractured his arm during the Lethal Lockdown Match at TNA Lockdown. People who flew on the plane to Orlando, Florida with Hardy did not believe him to be hurt. When his girlfriend, Reby Sky, was asked about the matter during her show on SIRIUS, she claimed to be unaware and laughed it off.
Hardy posted an update on the situation this evening. He wrote, “It’s extremely sore, but fortunately not broken. It will be braced & taped tomorrow.”
— Despite winning the TNA Women’s Knockout Championship last night at TNA Lockdown, Mickie James is still weeks away from being cleared to wrestle.
James separated her shoulder last month at a house show in Jacksonville, Florida during a match against Madison Rayne. It was explained on television that the injury was caused by Rayne and Tara running over her with a motorcycle.
– We’ve posted a few news items about this in the past week but this story is really being talked about behind the scenes in TNA – so it deserves a closer look. Spike TV and TNA Wretling officials have had extensive talks in recent weeks about bringing sweeping changes to TNA. When we major changes – we’re talking everything – from the company name to the talent roster to the company’s entire identity.
Some have suggested that Dixie Carter’s mother Janice has stepped in and finally put her foot down regarding TNA’s lack of growth or direction. TNA has been spending millions and millions of dollars in recent years establishing the company as a “WWE lite” sports entertainment company. They’ve signed Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, RVD, Jeff Hardy, Mr. Anderson and plenty more WWE castoffs with little-to-no return on their money.It’s been suggested that TNA drastically cut its budget, release most of the expensive top-tier talent and run a promotion that focuses on younger, smaller performers – which would finally give the company an identity that’s completely different from WWE.
TNA changing its name has been suggested for years, but Dixie Carter has always been against it because they have spent so many years and so much money getting the TNA name out there. There has been talk about a new ad campaign that would put a heavy emphasis on the word “impact” .. Impact Wrestling Federation, anyone?
– TNA company officials have been strongly urging Jeff Hardy to enter a rehab program.
(Source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Pro Wrestling Torch)
Twitter reinstated TNA Wrestling President Dixie Carter’s account today after it was suspended Tuesday due to a breach of the microblogging service’s terms of use.
A background image featuring a photoshopped “Verified Account” badge was recently uploaded to the page. However, only Twitter may indicate that an account is verified. Their terms of service reads: “Misuse of Twitter Badges: You may not use a Verified Account badge or Promoted Products badge unless it is provided by Twitter. Accounts using these badges as part of profile pictures, background images, or in a way that falsely implies affiliation with Twitter will be suspended.”
Numerous users reported the violating account to Twitter, which led to its suspension. The image has now been removed.
Carter recently stopped tweeting, after getting barraged with a multitude of negative messages concerning herself and TNA Wrestling.
Her suspension from Twitter spawned a fake account, which Hulk Hogan bought as legit. The fake account asked Hogan to retweet news concerning TNA in Australia yesterday morning, and he did.
Twitter suspended TNA Wrestling President Dixie Carter’s account today.
Her account was suspended due to a violation of the website’s terms of service. Approximately a month ago, a background image featuring a photoshopped “Verified Account” logo was uploaded to the page. However, only Twitter may indicate that an account is verified.
Their terms of service reads: “Misuse of Twitter Badges: You may not use a Verified Account badge or Promoted Products badge unless it is provided by Twitter. Accounts using these badges as part of profile pictures, background images, or in a way that falsely implies affiliation with Twitter will be suspended.”
According to reader Kemco, numerous users reported the violating account to Twitter, which led to its suspension.
Carter launched the account in late 2009, coinciding with the arrival of Hulk Hogan, and was frequently plugged on TNA iMPACT! up until a few months ago. Some people have speculated that her “I am” tweet last week was in response to users calling her out for misrepresenting the account as verified.
— TNA World Heavyweight Champion Sting is featured on the promotional poster for the TNA Sacrifice pay-per-view event, which takes place May 15, 2011 at the Impact! Zone in Orlando, Florida.
The poster features an image of Sting’s face, with the tagline reading: “Will one man’s legacy fulfill another man’s dream?” To see it, click here.
— TNAWrestling.com has released the following preview for this week’s episode of TNA iMPACT! (to be taped Monday in Orlando, Florida):
* How far will Hulk Hogan go to get Sting’s TNA World Title back under Immortal’s control?
* Plus, now that Kurt Angle has signed to wrestle Jeff Jarrett at Lockdown, will Kurt Angle seek further revenge?
— TNA Wrestling President Dixie Carter wrote “I am” on her Twitter account before deleting the message a short while later. It was her first tweet since March 2.
— Shark Boy announced on his official website that he requested his release from TNA Wrestling, which was granted.
“I have officially requested and been granted my release from TNA Wrestling,” he wrote. “I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone at TNA for giving me the opportunity to perform in front of their audience since the very early days of the company. Thanks especially to the great TNA fans who have given me their support throughout the past eight years… Now on to the next chapter!”
— Mickie James headlines !BANG! TV on March 26 in Ocala, Florida at the Funking Conservatory Wrestling Sound Stage. Visit www.Dory-Funk.com for more information.
— Dixie Carter will be appearing at the TNA Wrestling booth at this weekend’s Arnold Fitness Expo in Columbus, Ohio.
– TruTV has picked up Eric Bischoff and Jason Hervey’s Micro Championship Wrestling series, which is expected to premiere on the cable channel later this year. Production for the ‘midget’ wrestling show will begin next week, with the first taping set for March 9th in Tampa, Florida at The Blue Iguana. Hulk Hogan is scheduled to make a guest appearance on the show.
For more on Micro Championship Wrestling, visit MCWUSA.us.
– Dixie Carter wrote on Twitter this week that will be getting her own JAKKS action figure, which will be on sale this year. Insert your own joke here …
– Kurt Angle will be hosting the Kurt Angle World Teen Championships at the Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus, Ohio from 3/4-3/6.
TNA after hyping the “most shocking moment of the year” at the end of Thursday’s episode of TNA iMPACT!, fans got a video hypgin “3/3/11” – a clear ripoff of the 2/21/11 videos that aired on WWE television in recent weeks.
At Thursday’s TNA iMPACT! tapings from North Carolina, the surprise was revealed to be the return of Sting – and TNA fans are not happy about it.
Below, check out the 3/3/11 video that TNA hyped as the”most shocking moment of the year” and below that – Twitter feedback from TNA fans – who sound pissed off about how the whole thing was handled.
Tweets from TNA fans lashing out against TNA president Dixie Carter:
cherberrie: @tnadixie I caught the last five minute of your programming and it blows.. It is terrible… You will never be WWE. stop trying to be!
canadianbulldog: Dear @TNADixie – Nice “Surprise”. Maybe next time you can surprise us with a wrestling promotion that doesn’t absolutely f***ing suck.
JAVincen: @TNAwrestling @TNADixie Wow…The big surprise ending is a rip off of WWE’s Undertaker promo for Sting…. Disappointing……
trtx84: Oh lord. Really @TNADixie? We’re just gonna straight up copy WWE wholesale now? Embarrassing… #3311
TweepzMostLuvd: @TNADixie anything to keep them away from #1 huh? That’s why this cpmpany will go down. What a let down.
jakeblckmn: @TNADixie could you please be more original, 3-3-11 really? and you wonder why your company sucks and is in the gutter, get new writers
WrestleWrestle: Y’know @TNADixie , if you’re that driven to flush money down the toilet, you could just send it to me and save everyone a lot of pain.
MrGamer2558 : @TNADixie a mock video of WWE’s 2-21-11 for Sting is your big surprise? you’re kidding? this is a f***ing joke right?
thedylan2296: @tnadixie tna is officially dead… dixie… why? at victory have someone squash sting very quick… i wont care as long as sting looses
PocketVolcano: @TNADixie Seriously, just close up the company. Your talent is severely underpaid (esp the women) and you keep rehashing WCW stuff. Stop.
AreYouHie: @TNADixie when can i take over creative control of TNA? im pretty sure i’d bring in more viewers with much better “surprises”
bookerg: Only 1/2 an hour to go till @TNAwrestling & @tnadixie disappoint me with another overhyped “shocking surprise”! Who-hoo!
Lamou420: @TNADixie enough with the surprises already. We all know you can’t deliver. Every time #tna announce a “big surprise” it’s a let down.
Morris272: Sting in WWE would of been great in TNA its boring and predictable.
CdnOtakuGamer: Actually, the big surprise is that @TNADixie brought a big cake for everyone… But Matt Hardy ate it all backstage.
GrappleKingdom: Dear @TNADixie and @TNAwrestling – see how @WWE announced Sin Cara? THAT is how you make an impact in the wrestling world.
xthegunshow: @TNADixie Oh wow Sting vs Jeff Hardy…you really know how to keep those viewing figures down.
EmJayEch: The WWE is horrible & they lost me as a fan years ago, TNA is my CHOICE but TNA has opportunity and they BLOW IT BIG TIME. F-THIS @tnadixie
NotTripleH: Are we sure that TNA has the real Sting backstage, or the NWO Sting? Because I doubt @TNADixie knows the difference. #VintageDixie.
xthegunshow: @TNADixie No one gives a f*** that Sting is at tonights Impact Taping, people want him in WWE. You use him horribly.
XDustinEFLX: @TNADixie: Instead of paying your wrestlers more,you’re wasting more money on a second Jersey Shore ‘star’? Are you stupid?
gersfan22331: @TNADixie wow dixie the big suprise was sting wow the old man chose to stay with the 5TH rate trash that is tna
awesome_since88: @TNADixie OMG I wonder who 3-3-11 is??? This is going to change pro wrestling forever!! If I can only control myself for a whole week #TNA
EdgeUniversity: @TNADIxie so…your huge surprise for Impact was that you can copy a promo video that @WWE has been doing for the past month? GREAT JOB!
james_donald: YAY FOR COPYING WWE!!!! f*** you you dumbass bitch @TNADixie.
bookerg: I’M OFFICIALLY DONE WITH TNA. Don’t say “SHOCKING SURPRISE” and not deliver. @TNAwrestling and @tnadixie. You just lost a viewer. FU.
Joerrd: @TNADixie LOL. That little 3-3-11 promo? That’s the reason nobody takes your bingo hall company seriously.
The_Kliq_Army: @TNADixie so #TNA just basically stole the #WWE #Taker22111 promo lame
divalover159: @TNADixie learn to be original and never EVER copycat. if you want to be taken very seriously and not as a joke that you just made yourselfs tonight. learn to be original or your nothing more but a joke. just saying.
wmkrow: wow, @tnadixie, good job ripping off WWE and their 2-21-11 bit. Same font and everything.
Relentless_J: Lmfaoooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!! TNA really copied WWE by making a 3-3-11 video??? @TNADixie can’t use ORIGINALITY!?!?!?
JeebusOMalley: @TNADixie Seriously? Not even gonna pretend to have an original thought huh? Unbelievable. Impact is garbage.
PhantomLordNYC: @TNADixie Jesus Christ can’t you people come up with anything original at all???
DarkMatchRaslin: @TNADixie we liked the Sting promo the first time we saw it…when it was for Undertaker in WWE a month ago…seriously, even the numbers?
J712v2: A mock 2/21/11 video? Really TNA? Really? Dear Spike: Take TNA off TV, and put ROH on instead!
1ISchmo: Wow. Creative means being creative, not copying something from another show. The shits beyond. @TNADixie, enjoy the final year.
– TNA star Jeff Hardy’s pending court case was delayed once again on Wednesday morning. Hardy was not there in person. Hardy’s attorney James Van Camp represents another client in a murder trial and was not able to appear today, which led to the continuance. The next court date is scheduled for Wednesday March 16, three days after TNA Victory Road and the two nights of iMPACT! tapings that follow.
– Former WWE developmental Aloisa, best known on the indy scene as the 6-foot-9 wrestler Isis The Amazon, was recently approached by MTV about filming a reality show on her unique life. (Source: Diva Dirt)
Isis The Amazon received a TNA tryout in Orlando and it’s said there’s a good chance she’ll be offered a spot on the TNA roster.
– Dixie Carter wrote on Twitter this week that she and a number of TNA stars took part in a film shoot that involved “lots of flames” and was “lots of fun.”
– UFC star Tom Lawlor was in attendance for Monday’s TNA iMPACT tapings from Orlando.
– The pre-sale for TNA’s Lockdown pay-per-view at the US Bank Arena in Cincinnati, Ohio on April 17th begins this morning at 10am. The pre-sale password is “Lockdown.”
— TNA Wrestling President Dixie Carter did not attend last week’s iMPACT! tapings. She’s usually on hand for the entire first day of tapings and at least a portion of the second day. It’s not considered an issue as she had just returned from the company’s tour overseas.
Ric Flair also missed last week’s tapings, due to an injury he suffered to his rotator cuff while working a match against Douglas Williams in London, England. Rewrites were made as the WWE Hall of Famer was scheduled to appear at the tapings. His absence was not attributed to an altercation the previous week in Europe that resulted in him missing an event in Germany. It is said that Flair and management have made peace.
— Knockouts action is featured on this week’s episode of TNA Xplosion as Sarita squares off against Winter. The match can be accessed here.
— TNA Wrestling President Dixie Carter wrote a message on Twitter thanking fans for the ‘great rating’ TNA’s return to U.K. airwaves garnered Tuesday night: “Thanks to our UK fans for the great rating for Tuesday’s TNA return to UK TV on Challenge! TNA is back full force, and so are our UK viewers.”
TNA’s official website has started a new feature where Dixie Carter answers fan questions from TNA’s Facebook and Twitter pages. Here are some of the more newsworthy items:
Q: do you plan on moving the Impact Zone to somewhere else. I believe that keeping it in Universal is crippling the audience numbers.
Dixie: There are no plans to move the production to another single facility. However, we are excited about taking the iMPACT! taping on the road to Fayetteville, NC on February 24th, and hope to do more iMPACT! tapings from different locations in the future.
Q: What has been the biggest mistake you’ve made so far running TNA? I know the list is long but narrow it to 1 if possible.
Dixie: The move to Monday nights. We have a loyal audience on Thursdays and that move proved that. Even the ratings of the Thursday replay (which did not force viewers to watch on Monday), were as high or higher than the debut telecast.
Q: Can you tell me how you felt when you saw Booker T and Kevin Nash at the Royal Rumble and realized your original plans for “THEY” were screwed?
Dixie: Booker was not available for any MEM angle. Kevin Nash was under contract with TNA and was just recently released for reasons I will not disclose. From the beginning, if we did a MEM angle it would not have been with the original group and it would have been a short-term story to get to something else. To see “THEY” tune in TONIGHT on SPIKE. I’m pretty sure the fans will be happy. I know I am.
Q: what’s the truth about the rumors that Sting has left TNA and joined WWE?!
Dixie: I have read these reports. I would really hate to see that happen.
– As previously reported, WWE has finally signed Mexican lucha libre star after several years of on-and-off talks. According to SuperLuchas.net, the huge push that WWE is giving Alberto Del Rio was one of the major factors that led Mistico to pull the trigger on joining WWE. Mistico has said publicly that he wishes he would have signed with WWE when he first had a chance to back in 2007.
Mistico, one of the top babyface stars in Mexico, is eager to make a name for himself in WWE, which will give his character the most exposure its ever received by a long shot. WWE has been expanding its presence in Mexico in recent years and especially with Rey Mysterio’s career winding down in the next year or two, the time was right for both sides to make a deal.
– Kevin Nash has been very active on Twitter this week, answering lots of questions about why he decided to leave TNA for good and re-sign with World Wrestling Entertainment. On Wednesday night, Nash offered some advice to TNA President Dixie Carter, writing:
“My 1st priority is WWE. Whatever they need and want me to do, I will. Vince brought me back. Boston crowd showed me the love. I bleed WWE!
I’m not kissing Vince’s ass. I’m thanking him for letting me go out the way I feel I deserve to. Ever have a dream come true? I just did.
When wcw took over the WWE for the short time we did, it’s bc Ted Turner paid HUGE $ for talent. Wanna put tna on the map, Mrs. Carter? Set aside $50m. Start with Cena and work backwards. Don’t walk into a Mercedes showroom and ask what new AMG S-63 I can buy for $25K.”
— Former TNA Wrestling production manager Randy Ricci noted on his blog that a ‘reliable source’ informed him that top brass such as Dixie Carter, Vince Russo and Eric Bischoff are very hopeful that the “They” storyline “saves the company.”
Ricci adds that the storyline is being built off Karen and Jeff Jarrett’s ‘real live heat’ with Kurt Angle and that any employee against the angle is considered to be working against the company and thus may be terminated.
— Sting, who is rumored to be returning to TNA Wrestling, is not scheduled for this week’s iMPACT tapings.
— Booker T and Kevin Nash were in negotiations to return to TNA Wrestling as late as last week, but both grapplers instead opted to return to World Wrestling Entertainment. Booker T personally informed company president Dixie Carter that he had declined TNA’s offer. Nash, however, did not. He verbally agreed to return to TNA and was slated to sign a contract this week. Carter discovered Nash bolting for WWE when the news broke online.
— TNA Wrestling president Dixie Carter said on Twitter that a new face is present at tonight’s Genesis pay-per-view.
“A new face backstage tonight,” she wrote. “I hope he is here for the right reasons.”
— Former TNA star Chris Harris and former ECW ring announcer Stephen DeAngelis are backstage at tonight’s Genesis pay-per-view.
— TNA Wrestling is streaming tonight’s Genesis pay-per-view via TNAOnDemand.com for $34.95 to residents of the United States, Great Britain and Canada. It is the only legal outlet for British fans while SkyTV finalizes their plans for TNA’s new home in the market.
Dixie Carter recently filmed a segment where she threatens to take back control of TNA Wrestling through legal means. The segment is expected to air this Thursday on iMPACT!.
Carter has kept a low profile at TNA events since she lost control of the company in the ongoing storyline. She has not been sitting at ringside, nor mingling with the fans prior to shows as she did prior. She has been backstage at most television tapings, although she did not attend Tuesday’s show.
