TNA Knockouts Champion Gail Kim recently spoke with The UK Sun  about her recent jump from WWE back to TNA, turning heel and more. Here are some highlights of what Gail Kim said about:

Returning to TNA: “It was easy because I had such a great experience the first time. The way the woman’s division is portrayed here – this is what I love to do. Be in the ring, and show what I can do in that ring. The division over here is so strong, and the girls are so talented. There is a great group of women here and I just wanted to be part of it and contribute.”

Her recent heel turn: “My first half of my career I was a heel. I then stayed a babyface for a long time, five or six years, and you always want to be refreshing, to have a change. I wanted to explore that. Vince Russo talked to me about it, and I said I was on the same wavelength.”

TNA’s Knockouts vs. WWE’s Divas: “The way the woman’s division is portrayed here – this is what I love to do. Be in the ring, and show what I can do in that ring. The division over here is so strong, and the girls are so talented. There is a great group of women here and I just wanted to be part of it and contribute.”

TNA Wrestling presents Turning Point live tonight on pay-per-view and online at TNAOnDemand.com from Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida. The complete match lineup is as follows:

World Heavyweight Championship Match
Bobby Roode (c) vs. “The Phenomenal” AJ Styles

Challenge Match
“The Charismatic Enigma” Jeff Hardy vs. “King Of The Mountain” Jeff Jarrett

X Division Championship Match
Austin Aries (c) vs .Jesse Sorensen vs Kid Kash

Television Championship Match
Eric Young (c) vs. Robbie E

Tag Team Match
Mr. Anderson and Abyss vs. Bully Ray and Scott Steiner

Undefeated Streak On The Line
Crimson vs. “The Blueprint” Matt Morgan

No Disqualification Match
Rob Van Dam vs. Christopher Daniels

Women’s Knockout Championship Match
Velvet Sky vs. Gail Kim

Tag Team Championship Match
Anarquia, Hernandez and Sarita vs. Jesse Neal, Shannon Moore and Toxxin

— AJ Styles said on Twitter he injured his ankle at Friday’s TNA Wrestling live event in Battle Creek, Michigan.

He wrote Saturday morning, “Rolled out of bed to see how the ankle was after last night………. Not good, crap!” Asked how bad his ankle is, he responded, “Not sure, hope I’m ready by next Sunday.”

— Kurt Angle tweeted an update on his health Saturday.

He wrote, “I Went for Bloodwork last wk.My Blood Pressure Dropped from 140/95 to 100/65. My cholesterol 199 to 140. And I Lost 30lbs.UltraFiberDX Baby!”

— Gail Kim will appear for Absolute Intense Wrestling on Friday, November 25 at Puritas Lutheran Church 13812 Bellaire Road Cleveland, Ohio. Visit www.aiwrestling.com for more information.

Preview TNA IMPACT WRESTLING Next Thursday At 9/8c On SpikeTV

Don’t miss Thursday’s huge IMPACT WRESTLING broadcast on SpikeTV at 9/8c, as the road continues to the November 13 “Turning Point” Pay-Per-View event! Can’t watch it Thursday night? Set your DVR to record it!

Here is a preview of Thursday’s broadcast:

– NEW World Heavyweight Champion Bobby Roode will appear on the broadcast! Just one week after Roode shocked the wrestling world by stabbing James Storm in the back and taking the World Title, will Roode explain his heinous actions on Thursday’s IMPACT WRESTLING on SpikeTV? Tune in and find out!

– Plus, James Storm WILL be in attendance – and rumors are “The Cowboy” plans to unleash hell on his former tag team partner for what he did! No doubt, both Roode and Storm are prepared for war over the World Heavyweight Title!

– Ronnie from MTV’s hit “Jersey Shore” steps inside the ring for his first ever OFFICIAL Match teaming with Eric Young against Robbie E. and Rob Terry

– Also, in an attempt to end their longtime rivalry once and for all and determine who the best wrestler is, “The Phenomenal” AJ Styles will take on Christopher Daniels!

– New Knockouts Tag Team Champions Gail Kim and Madison Rayne will make their first title defense, putting the gold on the line against Knockouts Champion Velvet Sky and Mickie James

– IMMORTAL alliance members Jeff Jarrett, Bully Ray and Scott Steiner have challenged “The Charismatic Enigma” Jeff Hardy and Mr. Anderson to find a tag team partner to battle in a Six Man Match on the broadcast! Who will step up to join Hardy and Anderson in battle?

All this and more this Thursday night at 9/8c on IMPACT WRESTLING on SpikeTV, including news on the upcoming November 13 “Turning Point” Pay-Per-View event.

source: ImpactWrestling.com

Preview TNA IMPACT WRESTLING Next Thursday At 9/8c On SpikeTV

Don’t miss Thursday’s huge IMPACT WRESTLING broadcast on SpikeTV at 9/8c, as the road continues to the November 13 “Turning Point” Pay-Per-View event! Can’t watch it Thursday night? Set your DVR to record it!

Here is a preview of Thursday’s broadcast:

– In a huge main event bout, the World Heavyweight Championship will be on the line as titleholder “Cowboy” James Storm will defend the gold against his friend and tag team partner, Bobby Roode! This past week, Roode defeated Samoa Joe to become the #1 Contender, and now he gets another shot at the World Title he came so close to winning at Bound For Glory. Don’t miss the much-anticipated World Title bout between Storm and Roode on Thursday’s IMPACT WRESTLING on SpikeTV!

– In addition, Ronnie from MTV’s “Jersey Shore” is coming to TNA IMPACT WRESTLING! After Robbie E and Big Rob put the beat down on Eric Young this past week, EY has promised he is bringing Ronnie to even the odds this week! What will happen when Ronnie from Jersey Shore makes his debut in IMPACT WRESTLING? Tune in and find out!

– In a huge tag team match, it will be “The Charismatic Enigma” Jeff Hardy teaming with Mr. Anderson to take on “The King of the Mountain” Jeff Jarrett and Bully Ray

– Plus, Knockouts VP Karen Jarrett has signed a Knockouts Tag Team Title Match, as Tara and Brooke Tessmacher will defend the gold against Gail Kim and Madison Rayne

All this and much more on Thursday night starting at 9/8c on SpikeTV – with appearances by Sting, Ric Flair, X Division Champion Austin Aries, Eric Bischoff and many more!

source: ImpactWrestling.com

— Three matches were announced for Turning Point following Thursday’s episode of Impact Wrestling.

* Jeff Hardy vs. Jeff Jarrett

* Velvet Sky defends the Women’s Knockout Championship against Gail Kim

* Anarquia, Hernandez and Sarita defend the World Tag Team Championship against Jesse Neal, Shannon Moore and Toxxin

The pay-per-view event takes place November 13 in Orlando, Florida.

— CM Punk, who competed for TNA Wrestling in 2003 and 2004, responded to a comment on Twitter asking if he misses his days working for the promotion.

He wrote, “Like I miss high school.”

Punk quit the promotion in March 2004 following a dispute over his ability to simultaneously appear for Ring of Honor.

— Impact Wrestling ring announcer Christy Hemme turns 31 years old Friday.

Diva Dirt caught up with the woman of the moment, Gail Kim, Monday for an exclusive interview about her return to TNA, quitting WWE and much more.

Gail made a “kimpact”, if you will, when she returned to Impact Wrestling last Thursday on Spike TV — and was even a worldwide trending topic on Twitter!

In this 50 minute interview, Gail discusses her return to the company she calls “home”, reveals more details about her time in WWE, frustration at the way the Divas are used and more.

Gail, who is due to marry TV chef Robert Irvine (Food Network’s Restaurant Impossible) next year, also reveals an upcoming TV project: an episode of TLC’s “Say Yes to the Dress” which she filmed a month or so ago.

On her return to TNA: “During the time that Johnny [John Laurinaitis] said that he wanted to re-sign me, I already kinda knew that I didn’t want to re-sign and it was just a matter of timing because I was under contract. That was pretty much my plan the whole entire time; to go back to TNA.”

“Everybody was very positive and happy and said, ‘We’re so glad to have you back’. First off, I’m really happy that they were happy to see me back. The first thing I always said was, ‘You know, I already knew I’d be back’. I even said it in my last interview on the [Knockouts] DVD – hopefully, I’ll finish my career there. That’s always what I pictured, anyway. […] I always hoped for the best there [in WWE], obviously, and it didn’t turn out the way I had pictured completely, but I’m back where I pictured I would be. I’m just happy with the way everything turned out.”

“I’m a true believer in everything happens for a reason. I was meant to leave there [TNA] at that time. […] I think it was a refresher in some ways, too, for me to leave and try something else and then come back to where my home was.”

On the growth of the Knockouts division since her last run: “Well, there’s a lot more girls, it seems like. We had a lot of girls back then, but we have a lot of girls now. […] I love it because the girls there are all from pretty much an independent background. You get to the point where you’re happy to be in a division where you know the girls can step it up, and that you can have a challenging match, and that you guys can rock the house, basically.”

On whether she made the right decision to quit WWE: “I’m very confident in my decision making. Everything happens for a reason. I made this decision for a reason. It’s supposed to happen.”

“I don’t regret anything. I always had to accept what they gave me. It wasn’t even about how they used me because I knew going in, I had to accept whatever they gave me & how they used me. It was more about the disrespect behind the scenes, and that’s what pushed me over the edge to say, ‘I just don’t wanna be here anymore. I’m miserable. I just have to leave for my own sanity’.”

On quitting instead of waiting for her contract to run its course: “I was pretty much at my wit’s end at that point. […] For my own sanity, like I said, I had to leave. I knew seven weeks out from my contract end, ‘Okay well, you know what? I know that I can survive financially, and take a little break, and be with my fiancé’. Him and I both discussed it because it’s a decision for both of us as well, for our lives. I just couldn’t take it anymore mentally or emotionally. Physically, no problem. But on the other end, you can’t go to work and feel like you’re just dreading it. I just didn’t wanna go to work anymore. I’ll miss my friends and the people there, but that’s about it. You can’t contribute to a company when you don’t feel passion anymore. It’s a waste of time.”

Gail talks about much more in the interview including working with Karen Jarrett and Madison Rayne in TNA, which WWE Divas she’d like to see in TNA, WWE controlling its Superstars & Divas and the projects they can do, her first match back on Impact with Tara this Thursday and much, much more.

The interview is available here.

— While many in the locker room are happy for James Storm capturing the TNA World Heavyweight Championship, according to one wrestler, there is more faith in Bobby Roode as champion over “The Tennessee Cowboy.” Concern also lingers about Storm being “too Southern” to represent TNA.

— Infrequently seen TNA Knockout ODB stated on Twitter that she will be a Hooters girl for Halloween.

She wrote, “I recieved my lil orange shorts n official tank top yep im gonna b the dirtiest hooters girl u have seen #bammmmm.”

— Gail Kim has been announced for K & S Wrestlefest, which takes place Saturday, December 3 at the Ramada Philadelphia Airport 76 Industrial Hwy. Essington, Pennsylvania.

source: Pro Wrestling Torch

Melina, who has remained mum on the subject of TNA Wrestling since parting ways with WWE in August, was asked at the pre-launch party for Saints Row: The Third if she has plans to join the promotion (video available here).

She discreetly replied, “Oh, I’m still… still deciding.”

Melina was also asked if she’ll be appearing on Dancing with the Stars. She said “you never know” and explained, “I’d love to do any opportunity that presents itself, I would love to do that. I’m also interested in like Cirque du Soleil too, so I’m kind of like, you know, the sky’s the limit right now! There’s so many opportunities and it’s just (laughs) overwhelming!”

Melina stated in a 2007 interview with The Sun that she watches TNA.

“I still watch all the wrestling I can – whether it’s TNA, Japanese or Lucha Libre – because that’s my art,” she said.

The day after WWE announced they had come to terms on the release of Melina, and Gail Kim revealed on Twitter that she had quit the promotion, Mickie James was asked during an interview promoting Hardcore Justice about the possibility of her former Diva colleagues coming to TNA.

“I’d love to work with Gail,” James said. “I didn’t really get a chance to work with her. We had, like, maybe one or two matches but we were always on the side usually, so that would be really exciting. I was kinda looking forward to doing more with her and I didn’t get a chance.”

James, however, avoided mentioning Melina.

Preview IMPACT WRESTLING Thursday on Spike

Don’t miss Thursday’s huge IMPACT WRESTLING broadcast on SpikeTV at 9/8c, as the road continues to the November 13 “Turning Point” Pay-Per-View event!

Here is a preview of Thursday’s broadcast:

– NEW World Heavyweight Champion James Storm will appear on the huge broadcast! Just one week after the TNA Original captured one of the biggest prizes in pro wrestling, Storm will address the fans on his future as champion!

– In addition, the new GM “General Menace” of Impact Wrestling “The Icon” Sting will be in attendance this Thursday. Sting has promised to have a new #1 Contender for Storm’s World Title by the end of the broadcast. Who will get the next shot at the gold?

– Also on Thursday night, “The Charismatic Enigma” Jeff Hardy makes his in-ring wrestling return against Bully Ray! Can Hardy capitalize on his second chance – or will Bully Ray ruin Hardy’s return? Tune in and find out!

– Gail Kim also makes her return to action on IMPACT WRESTLING, facing Tara in a Knockouts match! The question is, will Knockouts Champion Velvet Sky be waiting to get revenge on Gail for attacking her last week? Or, will Knockouts VP Karen Jarrett continue to make Velvet’s life a living hell?

– Plus, the Television Championship will be on the line as Eric Young defends against Robbie E….in addition, Christopher Daniels battles Rob Van Dam….and more!

Also appearing on Thursday night – Jeff and Karen Jarrett, “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair, “The Phenomenal” AJ Styles, Eric Bischoff and many more!

source: ImpactWrestling

— Gail Kim, who returned to TNA Wrestling on Thursday’s episode of Impact Wrestling as a heel aligned with Knockouts VP Karen Jarrett and Madison Rayne, commented on the event.

She wrote on Twitter, “Thanks every1 4 getting me trending worldwide!@karenjarrett I think this is the start of a beautiful friendship :)))

“@MRayneTNA can’t forget the other piece of the puzzle some1 said the “A”team sounds about right.”

— The following matches were taped Tuesday and Wednesday in Orlando, Florida for upcoming episodes of TNA Xplosion: Jesse Sorensen vs. Robbie E, Brooke Tessmacher vs. Madison Rayne, Eric Young vs. Rob Terry, Gunner vs. Kazarian.

— Both James Storm and Gail Kim trended Thursday night on Twitter.

source: PWInsider.com

— 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.

Speaking to SunSport, Gail Kim described WWE’s fickle approach to what wrestling maneuvers the female performers were permitted to perform in a “PG” environment.

“I heard many times that they want the Divas to be girly,” Kim said. “They didn’t care about the heel girls getting any heat. We just didn’t understand.

“They did everything in their power, it seemed, to take everything to give us a good match, for the heels to get any heat. It was no kicking one week, or no punching the next. No this, no that. It was at the point where I was asking whether we could do anything at all. Every week the rules would change.”

Kim also stated her belief that WWE officials keep tabs on TNA Wrestling more than they let on. She said, “Everyone in the office acted like they had never seen our stuff, which makes me laugh because Johnny hired me back for a reason.

“It’s funny how people in the office act like they never watch TNA, follow TNA or know anything that’s going on with TNA. In my opinion they are all lying!

“They all knew who Kia was after what she and I did in TNA. They hired me back for a reason. If I was doing nothing during that time I don’t think I would have got hired back.”

The full interview can be accessed here.

source: thesun.co.uk

– Gail Kim, who returned to TNA Wrestling last night as a heel aligned with Karen Jarrett, competed in a match against Tara. This is their first meeting since 2004 when both wrestlers were employed by WWE.

– Robert Roode faces Samoa Joe in No. 1 Contender’s Match for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship. James Storm defeated Kurt Angle for the title at Tuesday’s taping.

– It was announced at tonight’s Impact Wrestling taping in Orlando, Florida (airdate October 27) that Jersey Shore star Ronnie Ortiz-Magro would be appearing at next Wednesday’s taping in Macon, Georgia.

– Robbie E receives a shot at Eric Young’s TNA Television Championship.

— 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.

sources: ProWrestling.net, F4WOnline.com

Gail Kim, who recently parted ways with WWE, is scheduled to return to TNA Wrestling at tonight’s Impact Wrestling taping in Orlando.

Kim claimed last week during an interview with SunSport that she expects to return to TNA, but is in no rush.

“Right now I’m on a little hiatus. I told myself I’d take a little break. They didn’t let me quit so I was forced to take a break!

“I’m not retiring from wrestling, I can say that. I always said – I said it in my last interview with TNA on a Knockout’s DVD – that I always felt like I would return there one day. I’d love to finish up my career there.”

Gail Kim has been very outspoken against WWE since deciding to leave the company back August. Gail Kim created a lot of buzz when she eliminated herself during the the divas battle royal on the 8/1 edition of WWE RAW. She later said she tried quitting WWE, but was not immediately granted a release from her contract. Since then, she’s made it clear that she’s done with WWE forever and was open to working for TNA again.

Check Out:

• Gail Kim Says She’ll Never Go Back To WWE, Comments On TNA
• Gail Kim Says She Does Not Respect Vince McMahon
  

(Source: pwinsider.com)

In her first free interview since parting ways with WWE, Gail Kim told SunSport that she has no plans on returning to the sports entertainment empire.

“I’ve experienced WWE twice now, and I know that I do not enjoy that place,” she says. “The second time I really had optimistic hopes and dreams, but I know I would never go back there.”

Kim informed WWE’s Executive Vice President of Talent Relations, John Laurinaitis that she was quitting the company ten minutes before the infamous battle royal in which she eliminated herself from the match.

“It was a very controversial thing,” she said. “A lot of people said that they lost respect for me because I was unprofessional. But unless anyone walks in your shoes they do not what you feel.

“I can admit that maybe it was a childish thing to do. But I would not take it back. I was disrespected many times by the company, and when you get disrespected that many times there is only so much you can take.

“I’m not one to just lay there and take it – at least not now – and they didn’t even notice.

“I was fed up that day.”

Now that she is free, many people believe Kim will return TNA Wrestling, where she achieved her greatest success. She feels that it is likely, but she is in no rush.

“Right now I’m on a little hiatus,” Kim said, “I told myself I’d take a little break. They didn’t let me quit so I was forced to take a break!

“I’m not retiring from wrestling, I can say that. I always said – I said it in my last interview with TNA on a Knockout’s DVD – that I always felt like I would return there one day. I’d love to finish up my career there.”

The full interview can be accessed here.

— Ultimate Warrior is advertised to appear in costume on Saturday, October 29, 2011 at Sound Check Hollywood 8872 West Sunset Boulevard, West Hollywood, California. T-Shirts, photos, figurines, posters and other merchandise will be available for purchase. Visit Soundcheckhollywood.com for more information.

— Various cable providers have Gail Kim’s name mistakenly listed as Gayle King in the information page for her appearance on today’s episode of Family BrainSurge on Nickelodeon. The names of John Morrison, Kofi Kingston, The Miz and Eve are correctly listed.

A fan wrote to Kim on Twitter, “How transparent can WWE be?” She responded, “of course it does. Pathetic. Lol. I wish I was oprah’s bff.”

– Fast Five, which features The Rock in a lead role, is currently the top selling DVD in the United States.

— The official Twitter feed of the WWE Insider issued the following statement this afternoon: CONFIRMED: The Board has approved @WWERawGM’s request to have @CMPunk and Triple H face @MiketheMiz and @RonKillings at #Vengeance.”

The match has yet to be announced by WWE.com.

— Eve, Gail Kim, John Morrison, Kofi Kingston, The Miz and kids from the Boys & Girls Club of America appear on Nickelodeon’s “Family BrainSurge” Thursday at 6 ET/5 CT. WWE.com has published photos of their appearance.

— Former WWE Diva Ashley Massaro is advertised to appear at the Boston Super Megafest at the Sheraton Framingham Hotel 1657 Worcester Rd. Framingham, Massachusetts. The event takes place November 19-20. Visit www.supermegafest.com for more information.

– 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.

(Source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)

— WWE removed Gail Kim’s bio from their company website Friday, which would indicate that she has officially parted ways with the organization.

On August 5, Gail Kim announced on Twitter that she quit the promotion following a brief appearance on the August 1 Raw. She later indicated that WWE did not grant her release, instead forcing her to stay with the promotion for the remainder of her contract.

Kim wrote the following on Twitter this afternoon regarding the website edit:

“Yeah I guess they’re slow. Cuffs shouldve been off last week.”

— Jim Ross stated the following on Twitter regarding WWE’s plans for the broadcast team this Sunday at Hell in a Cell:

“Just to clarify, I’m NOT certain the King will be in New Orleans for HIAC. I ‘hope’ that he’s there. I’m excited that I WILL be.”

— CM Punk stated on Twitter that he is scheduled for an autograph signing this Sunday in New Orleans, Louisiana:

“I’ll be at Kmart in New Orleans on 1400 S. Clearview Pkwy on Sunday at 11:00 a.m. signing autographs! HOO-RAAAAAAAAY.”

SHIMMER Champion Madison Eagles has earned the number one position in Pro Wrestling Illustrated’s fourth annual “PWI Female 50” list, which ranks the top 50 women’s wrestlers in North America from July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011. She succeeds Michelle McCool, who ranked No. 1 in last year’s list.

Pro Wrestling Illustrated attributes their decision to ranking Eagles as the top women’s wrestler in North America with the following: “This year’s list was unlike any other in the four-year history of the “Female 50.” For one thing, there was no obvious frontrunner in either WWE or TNA. Last year’s number one, Michelle McCool, retired after a few lackluster months. The WWE Divas title dropped in prominence and was held for a significant amount of time by Brie Bella who, while improved, doesn’t exactly conjure thoughts of Sensational Sherri or Trish Stratus.”

Mickie James and Madison Rayne were also considered for the top spot, but for a variety of reasons, were ultimately deemed not worthy.

“So we made a bold decision. We looked to the indies. Two possible candidates were SHIMMER champion Madison Eagles and WSU champion Mercedes Martinez. It was a difficult choice to make,” the magazine explains. “Fortunately for us, Martinez and Eagles faced off in March for Eagles’ SHIMMER title. Eagles managed to win a terrific match, which proved to be the deciding factor in our decision.”

PWI also explains how the “Female 50” was determined: “To determine this list, we evaluated each woman’s innate wrestling ability, accomplishments during the past year, physical strength and conditioning, quality of opposition, charisma, and title success.”

Some women’s wrestlers contracted to WWE and TNA, such as Nikki Bella, Rosa Mendes, Tamina and Brooke Tessmacher, were left off the “Female 50” because PWI felt they did not earn a spot over some of the independent talent listed. The magazine explains, “While being on WWE’s or TNA’s global platform helps your chances, it doesn’t mean you get a free passage onto the “Female 50.”

1. Madison Eagles
2. Mercedes Martinez
3. Mickie James
4. Natalya
5. Madison Rayne
6. Cheerleader Melissa
7. Beth Phoenix
8. Tara
9. MsChif
10. Sara Del Rey
11. Eve Torres
12. Angelina Love
13. Layla
14. Sarita
15. Kelly Kelly
16. Serena Deeb
17. Velvet Sky
18. Ayako Hamada
19. LuFisto
20. Winter
21. Brie Bella
22. Angel Orsini
23. Melina
24. Daizee Haze
25. Nikki Roxx
26. Gail Kim
27. Jazz
28. Maryse
29. Christina Von Eerie
30. Portia Perez
31. Rosita
32. ODB
33. Nicole Matthews
34. Rachel Summerlyn
35. Jessicka Havok
36. Brittany Force
37. Kellie Skater
38. Tina San Antonio
39. Melanie Cruise
40. Cherry Bomb
41. Sassy Stephie
42. Tasha Simone
43. Alicia Fox
44. Amber O’Neal
45. Allison Danger
46. Kacee Carlisle
47. Brittany Savage
48. A.J.
49. Melissa Coates
50. Jessica James

— Former WWE talent Amy Dumas (a/k/a Lita), who was romantically linked to Matt Hardy from 2001 to 2005, released a statement on Twitter regarding her ex-beau’s unfortunate twist of fate.

“Been out of the loop down here in Nicaragua,” Dumas wrote. “Just read up on Matt and I am absolutely sick. Really hoping he can find inner peace.”

Hardy was arrested Saturday in Moore County, North Carolina for driving while intoxicated, after crashing into a tree. He was also later charged with reckless driving, with a hearing scheduled to take place Oct. 11. Four days later, Hardy was rushed to an emergency room, after falling down in his house.

— Gail Kim, who remains under contract to WWE, is advertised to appear for IWC Wrestling on Saturday, Nov. 19. The event takes place at the Meadville Area Senior High School Gymnasium, located on 930 North Street Meadville, Pennsylvania.

— WWE Hall of Famer Sgt. Slaughter, who celebrates his sixty-third birthday on Saturday, has launched a Facebook page at www.facebook.com/SgtSlaughterOfficial.

The August 2011 issue of the UK based wrestling magazine Power Slam reports that there is a sizable pay discrepancy among the female performers of TNA Wrestling.

The magazine states that Christy Hemme and Mickie James are the highest-paid female talent in the organization: each earn more than $100,000 per year. Meanwhile, the rest of TNA’s female wrestlers and personalities (Angelina Love, Brooke Tessmacher, Cookie, Jackie, Madison Rayne, ODB, Rosita, Sarita, SoCal Val, Tara, Traci Brooks, Velvet Sky and Winter) earn far less: $600 per appearance at most.

Karen Jarrett’s salary is not stated, but the magazine indicates that she commands an above average appearance fee.

Hemme and James command the highest salaries because both were high-profile performers in WWE and thus are more valuable than the other women due to their name recognition. Though the magazine does not indicate which female talent earns more, it is noted that both make a similar low six-figure amount per year. Hemme, however, solely works televised events whereas James additionally appears on the company’s live event tour.

Hemme’s reported salary has drawn criticism from fans and colleagues as they feel it’s exorbitant for a non-wrestling female personality. The Honky Tonk Man claimed last year that her contract renewal with TNA last year was for three years at an annual rate of $175,000. He also said that Eric Bischoff, a huge supporter of the former WWE Diva and Playboy cover girl, helped Hemme obtain the high-end deal. Wrestling Observer editor Dave Meltzer would not confirm the veracity of the former WWE star’s claim but did say the deal made her the highest paid female performer in the company.

Reports of Hemme’s salary last year reportedly upset some of her female co-workers.

At the maximum second-tier rate, a TNA Knockout who appeared on every single television and pay-per-view event over the course of a calender year, 64 in all, would garner $38,400 at most. TNA solely covers airfare, leaving talent to cover all other expenses including lodging, wardrobe and medical. There is also no downside guarantee, thus meaning talent only get paid when they are used. And while the company holds numerous non-televised events, each tour features a rotation of two to five female performers.

Velvet Sky, who is arguably the organization’s top homegrown female star, is believed to be earning the maximum rate of the second-tier salary cap. Her contract renewal with TNA last year reportedly called for her salary to be bumped from $300 per appearance to $600. However, she is an exception to the rule on salary hikes for female talent. Gail Kim, Awesome Kong and Shelly Martinez (a/k/a Salinas) have all publicly stated that they left TNA because organization officials denied their requests for a pay raise.

— Championship Wrestling International announced Thursday that Kevin Nash has been pulled from their 2011 East Coast Invasion due to his obligations with WWE. The ten-day tour kicks off today in the eastern region of Canada.

“Wrestling fans, we regret to inform you that Kevin Nash will not be with us for the Invasion Tour of the Maritimes,” said Donnie Abrue, Head of Talent Relations.

“As most fans are aware, Kevin Nash recently returned to World Wrestling Entertainment. Nash has been under contract to WWE for several months and was free to work elsewhere as long as WWE wasn’t in need of his services at that time. Nash competed in the main event for CWI this past May without any issue.”

— Gail Kim announced today on Twitter that she had to cancel her advertised appearance at this November’s Wizard World Austin Comic Con in Austin, Texas. She did, however, reveal that she will be appearing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania next week, but did not release further details.