The Nation of Domination were a force to be reckoned with during the Attitude Era and reunited this past weekend in Manchester, England. The quartet of D’Lo Brown, Mark Henry, The Godfather, and Ron Simmons were all guests at For The Love of Wrestling. On X, the convention’s organizers shared a clip of the group’s entrance.

The group didn’t just make a star-studded entrance, but also fielded questions from fans during a Q&A event. Fans were also able to get autographs and photos from the faction’s individual members, as well as as a group photo alongside the four legendary wrestlers.

As their name suggests, the Nation of Domination dominated during the late 90s, with multiple titles to their name. These include D’Lo holding the European Championship on two occasions while The Rock (who would replace Simmons as the faction’s leader in 1998) would hold the Intercontinental Championship.

The Nation were just some of the legends at For the Love of Wrestling, the largest wrestling fan convention in Europe. Attitude Era fans were also given the chance to meet legends including Sting, Mick Foley, and Lex Luger. For fans of more modern-day talents, Tyler Breeze, JDC (fka Fandango), Ash By Elegance (fka Dana Brooke), Heath Slater, and Raj Dhesi were on hand to sign autographs, take photos, and answer questions.

After a year of hardship, WWE superstar Cody Rhodes has found his way to a rematch against Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. In their first encounter, the ‘Tribal Chief’ retained his title at WWE WrestleMania 39 on April 2. After winning the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble match, Rhodes aims to avenge his loss and “Finish his story” at WrestleMania 40 on April 7.

Since the match announcement, many wrestling fans have picked ‘The American Nightmare’ to defeat Reigns. Former WWE superstar D’Lo Brown recently shared his prediction for the match and believes the company has to give Rhodes the win at the ‘Grandest Stage Of Them All.’

Brown appeared on Sirius XM Busted Open on March 27 to explain why Rhodes must become the new champion at WWE WrestleMania 40. 

“…You have to because I don’t know if his character could go another 365 days to a third WrestleMania. I don’t know if fatigue will play in,” said Brown. He continued, “It is hard to keep the interest of the fans and get them sympathetic with you. It’s even more difficult to do it for two years, damn near impossible to keep it up for a third year to finish the story, in my opinion.” 

Despite believing Rhodes should win, Brown was also hesitant to say whether he had proven himself to be the company’s true leader.

D’Lo Brown Doesn’t See Cody Rhodes As The Guy 

Brown shared that Rhodes is in his position because the company has set him up to be its most featured superstar. However, he is yet to think of ‘The American Nightmare’ on that level.

“He’s going to be the guy because that’s what the direction they are going. I look at Cody, and I don’t say this disrespectfully; I’ve never seen that top-tier echelon guy,” said Brown.  He added, “…They have made Cody since he’s come back over from AEW into that top-tier guy, so for the purposes of the story they are telling, he’s the guy.”

It’s unclear what Rhodes could do to change Brown’s position on him to see him as “The guy.” It’s possible a big win at WWE WrestleMania 40, and how he moves forward in the company may change his point of view. 

Aside from all the ongoing AEW drama the cycle of pro-wrestling continues to carry on.

Today it was revealed that the legendary D’Lo Brown is finished with Impact Wrestling after three years. The report was made by PW Insider and later confirmed by Executive VP Scott D’Amore, who had the following to say about Brown’s departure.

“We appreciate D’Lo’s contributions to Impact Wrestling over the last 3 plus years. We wish him nothing but the best moving forward.”

Brown’s Run With Impact

Brown returned to Impact in 2019 as a producer and agent, and later did some work as a color-commentator. He also competed for the company through his prestigious 28-year career, including a run with one of the promotion’s top factions, The Aces & Eights.

Brown rose to prominence during his run with WWE in the Attitude Era. There he was a one-time Intercontinental champion, and a four-time European champion, even holding both the belts at one point in his career. He started as a member of the Nation of Domination before breaking off as a singles star.

D’Lo Brown recently took part in an interview with Talk Sport in the UK. During the interview, the former 4x WWE European Champion talked about Tessa Blanchard’s world title win and his role backstage in Impact Wrestling.

D’Lo was asked about the criticisms lobbied against Blanchard by some former co-workers about her backstage behavior leading up to the Hard to Kill PPV.

“I still think it was a big moment for her and for IMPACT,” Brown said about Blanchard winning Impact World Championship on the show. “Seeing it live and being there and hearing the reaction of the crowd, seeing responses days and weeks later – it was still a big moment. As far as the rumour and innuendo that was out there before? There’s nothing to speak on. I don’t know because I wasn’t there.”

Brown would continue to say he considers Blanchard a friend and a fine person.

“All I know is how Tessa is with me as an individual and I know she is one fine person, one fine individual and someone I’m proud to call a friend and confidant. To me, it was a big moment and she has many, many more to come.”

D’Lo Brown On The Impact Wrestling Roster

Brown was also asked about his backstage role in Impact Wrestling. He talked about some of his favorite people to work with on the roster.

“Anytime I’m involved with Sami Callihan, Tessa Blanchard, Eddie Edwards, Michael Elgin, The North, people like Rich Swann and Willie Mack – it’s fun to have that collaborative process, put together ideas and see them go out there and they become really great matches,” Brown said.

“That’s really fun for me. We have such an incredible roster, a really talented roster here at IMPACT. Anytime I get to work with any of them, I enjoy it immensely,” he continued.

Impact Wrestling recently announced they would not be hosting the Rebellion PPV in New York at Terminal 5. The promotion is said to be looking at alternative ways to produce the show, however. This week’s episode on AXS TV will be followed by a special “TNA One-Night-Only” special.

• AXS TV To Air “TNA One Night Only” Special Next Week

The interview covers many other topics as well. Brown spoke about the influence Ron Simmons had on his career and his time in the Nation of Domination. The full interview with D’Lo Brown can be read here.

Former UFC contender “The New York Bad Ass” Phil Baroni is now training to become a pro wrestler.

Baroni, 38, was a popular fighter during the early Zuffa days of the UFC, known for his rivalry with fighters such as Matt Lindland and Evan Tanner.

Baroni is currently working under Michael Modest, former WWE Superstar D’Lo Brown and TNA Wrestling star Kenny King at the Future Stars of Wrestling gym in Las Vegas, Nevada, with plans of transitioning into the world of pro wrestling.

• PHOTO: BROCK LESNAR Sporting A “TRAMP STAMP” Tattoo!

(Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)

Former WWE Superstar Bull Buchanan (Barry Buchanan), who is now working as a deputy in the Carroll County, Georgia Sheriff’s office, will be having his retirement match this coming weekend.

“Dreams do come true,” Buchanan told 11alive.com. “I’ve lived one dream, now I’m starting another.”

Buchanan is working a retirement match for charity this Sunday at the Bowdon High School in Bowdon, Georgia. Buchanan will team with another former WWE Superstar, D’Lo Brown, in the main event of the show.

The following are highlights of a recent VOC Nation interview with D’Lo Brown:

On the Nation Of Domination being “short-changed” as a stable: “I totally believe The Nation was short-changed. I believe that a successful group, a successful stable … first of all you put guys there who need help getting over, and then once they get over you kind of split them up and see what they can do. Instantly we were put together, [and] our group exploded. When Rocky and Mark Henry came in, it exploded. If you look at the careers of the members afterwards … we all became better for being in that group. To me, that is the benchmark of what a stable is supposed to be. Every guy comes out of it better. And I’m sorry, [but] we’re right there with some of the great groups in the history of this business. I’d put The Nation up next to anybody, anywhere, and say “Here’s what we did. What did you do?” … The Nation [also] did tons for African Americans. [Before] we were either Birdmen or we were pimps. Finally there was a group of black men who were just normal characters. We weren’t Jamaican. We weren’t bank robbers. We weren’t Men on a Mission. We were real, bonafide characters, not charicatures.”

On TNA trying to compete with WWE: “When [Hulk] Hogan and [Eric] Bischoff came in, there was also that sense of feeling that we could do something. And it just never really materialized like I envisioned it would … There was a sense of momentum, it was an excitement, it was a euphoria that was running through the locker room. We’re going to go live, we’re moving from Thursday, we’re going to jump on Monday, and we’re going to attack the bear. And by us jumping back to Thursday about a month later that let everyone know that the bear kicked our ass. That was very, very deflating.”

On the Attitude Era: “I consider myself extremely lucky. I got there and [WWF was] right in the midst of 80 consecutive weeks of losing to WCW on the Monday Night Wars, and morale was pretty low. I was happy to be there. I was just in Puerto Rico like a week before and now I’m on Shotgun Saturday Night, and I was happy as hell [at] this place I always wanted to be. But the rest of the locker room was a little down. And then all of a sudden it started … you could just feel a difference. We used to have this thing called “The Tarp Monster.” If you’ve ever been a TV taping you know the tarp that goes over the upper level, the upper bowl, of the arena that kind of blocks that off so people can’t sit up there. We called that The Tarp Monster and it was the most amazing thing because The Tarp Monster would eat seats … every week you watched that tarp go back another section … You know when you’re getting on a roller coaster and you’re going uphill and it’s going really slow …? You kind of know the other side of that precipice something crazy is going to happen. That was the three or four months leading to the big break where we jumped over that hump.”

On wrestlers appearances and styles changing over the years: “Guys like Harley Race and Pedro Morales, compared to today’s standards, wouldn’t get jobs. But back then it was a different time in the business where all people wanted to see was the big, burly, brawling-type guy. It was the guy you wanted to see sitting at the end of the bar who would punch you in the face. And that was the definition of what a tough guy was. So it was a whole different body type that was in the late ’70s, ’80s, and early ’90s as compared to now where everyone is cut like Arnold Schwarzenegger used to be. It was a different time in the business … What passed as a great match in 1975 and 1980, some of these great five-star matches, could not compare to something that goes on today in the ring.”

Check out the complete interview at VOCNation.com.

The following are highlights of a recent Between The Ropes interview with D’Lo Brown:

On whether or not he was open to getting back in the ring while working with TNA Wrestling after not wrestling for four years: “I was open to doing it. I told them I didn’t mind doing it on short stints which was fine with me. I’m the most comfortable in the ring so there was never a nerve issue (of returning to the ring) at all. I was just more worried about could I still perform at the level that I knew I could, that I used to. That was answered pretty quickly. So, from that point on, I had no problems getting back in the ring and having fun.”

On if he realized he missed being in the ring: “Yes. I think it was that match with Kurt Angle, that night in the hotel I was like ‘you know, there’s something about that’. Wrestling’s a weird thing … once you have it in your blood, it may go to sleep for a little while but it wakes right back up. I missed it a lot.”

On being back in the ring with All Japan Pro Wrestling and not working in the United States: “I’ve always had a love affair for Japan. It was a place that gave me creativity to work the way I wanted to and not be constrained. And besides, I’m not going to hold any punches, I’m a little older so most companies in America aren’t even interested in a little older wrestler but in Japan your age is revered. It was a nice, easy place to go to, nice transition and I’m very comfortable with that style. It was easy to fit right back in.”

Check out the complete D’Lo Brown interview at BetweenTheRopes.com.

D’Lo Brown appeared on VOC Nation, where he addressed his recent departure from TNA Wrestling, whether a return is possible, WWE, continuing to wrestle, and more.

On TNA’s financial problems and roster cuts: “Looking at things at 30,000 feet, I think that they’re going through some growing pains right now. They’re restructuring and trying to fortify their product. Taking the show on the road was a big financial burden. I think it’s part of the natural growing process of the company; (the roster cuts) were like pruning a tree.”

On whether TNA went on the road too soon: “Ready or not they had to go. It was time to move on. The crowds were becoming stale; they weren’t adding to the product, they were taking away from it.”

On whether his release was a surprise: “This was completely out of the blue. We just solidified a deal that Friday, and things changed over the weekend. It caught me completely by surprise.”

On a possible comeback to TNA: “The door is always open to return; we parted amicably. I felt like I did a really good job there and I received a lot of praise from the upper echelon. I’m open to a reconciliation.”

On whether he would entertain an offer from the WWE as a trainer: “Jobs don’t grow on trees, and those jobs are based on a need basis. If that opportunity ever arises, I’ll be ready for it, but in the meantime, I’ll do the things that I can do and have control over.”

On whether he will take wrestling bookings on the independent circuit: “Absolutely. I think that the match I had with Kurt Angle and then the next week with Joseph Park got the wrestling juices flowing again in me. I thought I was going to feel like hell and I actually felt good. I’m back in the gym killing it trying to get back into wrestling shape. I’ll be taking wrestling bookings and I’ll be out there having fun.”

To listen to the interview, click here.

The following are highlights from a recent interview with former TNA employee D’Lo Brown:

On his TNA release: “I guess it was just time for a change. We had talked earlier in the week about doing a new deal. The circumstances changed that following monday and got a call that following day saying we are going to part company. I was shocked you know and it came from left field but you just have to move on.”

“You deal with what live gives you and if you dwell on the past you are going to stay there. I thanked them for my time there. Told them i had 4 great years. Maybe we can work together again in the future but for right now we are just going to part ways.”

On if he feels TNA is a sinking ship: “I wouldn’t say it’s a sinking ship. I’d rather say they are going through growing pains. The large extent of taking impact on the road, that load is probably [inaudible] the company right now. It’s kind of like prunning a tree. You trim a tree down to it’s core and hopefully it will survive, grow and bloom. Hopefully a year later it will be bigger, stronger than ever. So to me it just seems like they are going through some growing pains. The restructuring is just a way of shoring up the ship.”

On releasing low-level talent instead of higher priced talent: “That’s the million dollar question. I wasn’t in the office on the talent side. That’s a good question to put out there. I’m not sure the answer. I don’t think anyone outside of the company on that side would be privy to that. There are times when you look at it and the decisions don’t make sense.”

“They are going to do what they need to do to strengthen the company. A lot of people will scratch their head and a lot of people will wonder and shake their head, question and build their own hypothesis and try to figure whats going on. At the end of the day, nobody in that company knows what’s really going to happen except those in charge of the finances.”

On the power structure in TNA: “Dixie is very hands on. There are execs that make some decisions but Dixie is the one that has the final say on the product. Dixie is very hands on I’ll give her that. She is right there in the trenches with every body else. Every time i was in the office, I would sit in her office or walked by her office and she is always on the phone handling business. She is right there working hard with every body else.”

On comparisons between Dixie Carter and Vince McMahon: “They both have their positives and negatives. They are both alike in many ways. They are both driven, they both want their companies to succeed, they are willing to do it at any cost. If anything i believe TNA promotes a more family friendly atmosphere for the talent. It’s not uncommon to have the boys backstage with their families at the house show or on tv. That kind of wasn’t allowed with Vince.”

Check out the complete interview online at Gerweck.net.

More Shocking TNA Impact Wrestling Main Roster Cuts Revealed …

D’Lo Brown has confirmed his release from TNA with the following statement via his Twitter account:

“I guess it’s time to address the rumors surrounding me over the last few days. It is true that my employment with TNA has come to an end. I consider myself fortunate to have worked so closely with some of the best up and coming talent in the business. I also had the privilege to work closely with some of the greatest this industry has produced.”

“I can tell you this for sure I will miss sharing a locker room with some of the most genuine men and women (you know who you are) that I have ever been around.”

“I want to say thank you to the many fans that have shown support for me over the years.”

“I will keep everyone updated on what my future plans are.”

“In the meantime all booking inquires should be directed to dlobookings@aol.com or erik@vocnation.com.”

“Recognize”
“#YNWA”

Following up on our reports that TNA is making big changes behind the scenes – we can confirm that both Bruce Prichard and D’Lo Brown are gone from the company

Bruce Prichard has been the Senior Vice President of Talent Relations and Programming since October 2011. D’Lo has been working behind the scenes as an agent since 2009, as one of the top guys with TNA’s developmental and Gut Check programs.

They appeared on Impact Wrestling together as two of the judges in the Gut Check segments, until D’Lo joined forces with the Aces & Eights.

The news comes after several recent high-profile TNA talent departures (including Matt Morgan, Doc, Tara and others) and reports that TNA has been way behind on paying a lot of its people.

COMMENT BELOW and tell us who YOU think TNA should fire as a cost cutting measure.

* HOGAN & BISCHOFF Leaving TNA? Find Out How TNA Will Cut MAJOR Costs Soon

(Source: PWInsider.com)

According to reports, TNA Sr. Vice President of Programming and Talent Relations, Bruce Prichard, is likely on his way out of the company.

The restructuring within TNA lately has led to a number of talent being released from their contracts or TNA simply allows contracts to expire without renewing them.

Aces & Eights member DOC, formerly Luke Gallows in WWE, is the latest contract to lapse. He tweeted on Monday:

My contract with TNA Wrestling expired July 12th, as of this evening we have officially parted ways. #SUNTANBIKERMAN tours again!!

— “The Big LG” Doc Gallows (@The_BigLG) July 17, 2013

TNA Executive Eric Bischoff wrote this about DOC’s departure from the company:

https://twitter.com/EBischoff/status/357309625198059521

Prichard was reportedly asked to restructure his deal, and reportedly declined. As a result, it is expected that Prichard’s days with the company are numbered.

Additionally, TNA agents have been asked to restructure their deals to a per-night agreement.

Apparently D’Lo Brown agreed to the new terms, only to be fired by the company shortly after.

SHOCKING TNA Releases Expected In The VERY Near Future!

[Credit: ProWrestling.net]

– Three matches have been announced for next Thursday’s Impact Wrestling broadcast, which is the final show before Final Resolution.

* TNA World Heavyweight Champion Jeff Hardy, AJ Styles and James Storm face Bobby Roode, Christopher Daniels and Kazarian in a tag team match.

* Samoa Joe defends the TNA Television Championship against Devon.

* Kurt Angle takes on a member of Aces & Eights, D.O.C. (f/k/a Luke Gallows).

– Wes Brisco is the newest member of the TNA roster. After defeating Garett Bischoff in his “Gut Check” challenge match on Impact Wrestling last Thursday, becoming the first contestant to defeat his opponent, he received a “yes” from two of the three judges to earn a contract—Bruce Prichard and D’Lo Brown both said yes, while Taz said no.

Brisco, who is the son of WWE Hall of Famer Gerald Brisco, remarked on the accomplishment immediately afterwards via Twitter, “Greatest day of my life just made on the TNA Roster!!!!!” He was also congratulated by company president Dixie Carter (see photo).