Posts Tagged ‘Gut Check’

Spoilers: Details On TNA’s New “The Menagerie” Faction, Characters Revealed

As previously reported, Knux will be debuting a new stable of carny-like characters on next week’s edition of TNA Impact Wrestling. The name of the group is “The Menagerie.”

Rebel will apparently play the role of his sister. She is the woman we have seen in recent vignettes with Knux on the various TNA programs. She was reportedly pitched to TNA as a potential talent by Christy Hemme.

The masked muscle-man of the group will be portrayed by former TNA Global Champion Rob Terry.

Crazy Steve will be played by Canadian independent wrestler Steve “Crazzy Steve” Scott. He has appeared on a TNA Gut Check segment in the past.

  • HUGE NEWS On GOLDBERG Wanting To WRESTLE A MATCH At WrestleMania 31! [READ >>]

    (Partial Credit: Wrestling Observer Radio)

  • Lei’D Tapa Speaks On Working With Gail Kim, TNA’s Gut Check, Being A Knockout

    The following are highlights from a recent Miami Herald interview with TNA Knockout Lei’D Tapa:

    On being a TNA Knockout: “It’s an honor to work with TNA and to be a Knockout. It’s a great opportunity.”

    On participating in TNA’s Gut Check: “I’m just really grateful that I had the opportunity to participate in the [TNA] Gut Check. That put me on the radar — to get me out there and get known. It was the perfect opportunity for me and the right moment for me to be in front of the right people. For TNA to give me the opportunity to be with them and to grow as a wrestler and as an entertainer, I’m really honored and thankful.”

    On working with Gail Kim: “It’s an honor to work with Gail Kim and I’m so glad I have the opportunity to be doing what we’re doing right now. She’s a great teacher to me. She’s helping me to keep growing and giving me advice. She’s a phenomenal athlete and a great, great talent. Before I started wrestling, I would watch her on TV to see how she works. Not only is she a beautiful woman, she’s a strong woman. I always believe that being a woman stands for something, and when I look at her, that’s what I see.”

    Check out the complete interview online at MiamiHerald.com.

  • Top Former TNA Knockout Shows Up At WWE Show (PHOTO)
  • Former TNA Knockout Speaks On Lesbian Storyline, Her Weight Gain & More

    The following are highlights from a recent Ring Belles Online interview with former TNA Knockout Taeler Hendrix:

    On the TNA Gut Check segment and being mad at Joey Ryan: “It was all real – that was my real reaction, and nobody told me about Joey Ryan either [who hopped the railing and demanded another Gut Check after losing the previous one]… I was really mad at him because I didn’t know that was going to happen. He was ruining my moment – I didn’t know if I was going to be signed and this could be my last moment on television.”

    On not getting direction on how to develop for a potential call-up to television: “I was told one thing, then I was told something else and something else, and Taryn Terrell was signed and I was like, ‘well, I’m here, I could have been the ref.’ At the time it was very discouraging… I didn’t know if I had to change my look or change the way I wrestled.”

    On her weight gain: “Health is more important. I would rather be beautiful and healthy. I was 108 pounds and for someone who’s 5’7”, it probably wasn’t healthy.”

    On her lesbian storyline with Heidi Lovelace in Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW): “If it’s controversial, I want in. Bette Davis is my role model and would take the most controversial roles in Hollywood that they would not want women to play. She would play them and won Oscars for them. That’s what I want to do, so it wasn’t weird for me at all playing a same-sex love storyline. Plus, we were on the Christian Network and sponsored by Papa John’s which is a family company. It was very interesting to see how far we could play it and how much we could do.”

    On the origins of her heel character in OVW: “The character I portray now is emulating a girl who bullied me from elementary school. I take her and remember how I felt when she cut my hair, put gum on my feet and when I got jumped. When I decided to take this Taeler Hendrix character and run with her I drew a lot of inspiration from things like Pretty Little Liars.”

    Check out the complete interview online at RingBellesOnline.com.

  • Backstage News On WWE’s Major Future Plans For Roman Reigns
  • Dixie Carter Video Interview: Cutting Back On PPVs, TNA Gut Check TV Series?

    SESCOOPS.COM reader Joell Allen from Suplex Media sent along the following:

    We interviewed Dixie Carter for a video interview for WHM (Australian magazine) and Suplex Media. The video of the interviewed hasn’t been released yet.

    Here are some of the topics discussed:

    – Possible Australian Gutcheck/Bootcamp TV series
    – Why TNA went from 12 PPV’s to 4 PPV
    – Her reason and current thoughts of IMPACT WRESTLING on the road every other week
    – How British Bootcamp came to fruition
    – Where is Rockstar Spud
    – The relationship between TNA and OVW
    – Favourite homegrown stars
    – Why the UK is such a big deal to the companies calendar year
    – Talks about a second season of British Bootcamp
    AND PLENTY MORE
    RUN TIME – 17mins 01secs

    Check out the interview online at Blip.tv.

    REPORT: Sting & AJ Styles Leaving TNA For WWE In 2014 [READ MORE >>]

    Sam Shaw Talks About His Current TNA Status, Gut Check, OVW Cuts

    TNA and OVW star Sam Shaw recently spoke to Robert “The Krupy” Krupar from Art Of Wrestling about a number of topics. Below are highlights from the discussion:

    The Krupy: Recently, a lot of conflicting reports concerning your OVW/TNA status have surfaced online. So, my question is: are you still employed by TNA or not?

    Sam Shaw: Yes, still an independent contracted talent with TNA.

    The Krupy: Most wrestlers say their character is them with the volume turned up high. How much of you is in Sam Saw – the wrestler?

    Sam Shaw: It’s really me. Absolutely me. No one said “ hey try this gimmick…wear boardshorts and skater shoes and be this X-games type-guy.“ That whole concept was me being me. I’m sure there were fans that looked at me and said „look at this guy…no wrestling gear, stupid tattoos and spiky hair? He’s gonna suck!“ My whole thing is this: why be like everyone else? You’re always going to be compared to other wrestlers but I wanted to be my own person/character. Hillbilly Jim was a redneck farmer guy, so you knew it right away when he walked down the aisle with the whole presentation. No one asks why Bully Ray doesn’t wear spandex. Aces & Eights are bikers…none of them should wear trunks and wrestling boots. I wear boardshorts and skater shoes everyday. That’s the way I grew up, skating, surfing and wearing those types of clothes so it feels natural for me to wear that in the ring. Am I opposed to wearing the traditional gear? No. I have before.

    The Krupy: Can you tell us something more about the recent releases in OVW? A lot of young and talented wrestlers left.

    Sam Shaw: It’s always sad to hear that guys/girls get released, especially if you are really close with them. I was close with a few of them, but I know that they love this line of work so much that they will bounce back and seize other opportunities.

    The Krupy: What´s your opinion on the entire Gutcheck concept as a Gutcheck winner?

    Sam Shaw: For me personally, it was a great way to introduce me to a much wider audience . Instead of just debuting me they used the GutCheck concept to introduce me and in a lot of ways. I’m not sure if certain people within the company knew if I would sink or swim when the bright lights and TV cameras were focused on me. My goal was to make the most of the opportunity and show that I belong and I could do some cool things when all the attention and pressure is layed on me. It’s hard to throw a guy out there if he isn’t particularly known, even on the Indy scene where there are so many talented guys that are looking for the same opportunity that I got. I’ve been doing things with TNA since 2009, as I was training under Bully Ray and Devon at Team 3D Academy (and busting my ass) which afforded me opportunities over the years that others might not ever get. Bully always told me „it’s right place, right time“ and „maximize your opportunities“ and he was totally right!

    Check out the complete interview online at ArtOfWrestling.cz.

    24WRESTLING.COM: New Design, Features + TONS Of Backstage News & *SPOILERS*

    Adam Pearce On Exploiting #August1Warning Videos, TNA Gut Check, Colt Cabana

    The following are highlights from a recent interview with Adam Pearce:

    On rumors he was behind the #August1Warning videos: “I wasn’t surprised that a few people picked up on it. I was then crazily surprised that it seems like everybody assumed that I was going to behind those wonderful videos. … Within hours, I was obviously the guy!”

    On his decision to exploit the attention received by the #August1Warning videos: “Within the first twelve hours. It was to the point where it wasn’t just fans and it wasn’t just online. I was getting texts from people who know me, and people who should know better. … If half the boys are thinking this, then why wouldn’t I use it?”

    On what he expected from TNA Gut Check: “Reality television is scripted television. Pro Wrestling is scripted television. So why would ‘Reality Television within Pro Wrestling Television’ be anything other than scripted television.”

    On his 7 Levels Of Hate series with Colt Cabana: “It’s a wrestling story from soup to nuts, except for all of the drama that happened 75% of the way throughout the series. I think people are going to be both surprised and really interested to see how things effected real life for guys like me and guys like Colt Cabana.”

    Check out the complete interview online at BlogTalkRadio.com.

    HUGE Backstage News On How Kurt Angle’s DWI Arrest GREATLY Effects TNA’s Plans!

    Ryan Howe Discusses Gut Check Experience, Recent TNA Roster Cuts, WWE Tough Enough & More

    Former OVW TV Champion and recent TNA Impact Wrestling Gut Check competitor and WWE Tough Enough V contestant Ryan Howe addressed a number of topics in an interview with WrestlingEpicenter.com (audio available here). Highlights from the interview are as follows:

    On the TNA Gut Check Experience: “It was incredible. From the moment you get there, they treat you so well!,” said Howe. He feels he did what he could to make the best of his opportunity and thinks the door is still open there.”

    On not going through on Gut Check: “None of them said, “Hey kid, this isn’t for you.” He says that he feels he has gotten better over the past few years and will continue to work hard to make it. He credits Al Snow for helping him out a lot. Howe jokes that maybe not getting signed that night was a good thing given all the guts to guys that did go through on Gut Check.”

    On the Rockstar gimmick: “I want everyone to know it is legitimate. I don’t want to be thought of as a poser. I really play.” Howe says his look is clearly an 80’s rockstar look and playing the Star Spangled Banner with his tongue like Hendrix is something that he hopes will translate into maybe the father’s in the audience talking to their kids about the 80’s scene and their glory days chasing chicks or when they saw Hendrix play with his tongue. He says the look is legit, and that he thinks it helps him stand out. He also puts over that he’s teaming with TNA British Boot Camp winner Rockstar Spud in OVW currently.”

    On being compared to Van Hammer: “I’m 25 so while I saw Van Hammer, I had to go back and look. I can see how a wrestler with that style was someone I looked up to.” He admits his age being so young, he didn’t recall him right off the bat but remembers him now. He says he respects those guys like Van Hammer and Max Payne/Man Mountain Rock. But, he simply feels his character is different and no one else presently is doing anything like it. James mentions that Van Hammer was working security last he had heard after discussing trying to interview him with the owner of Maryland Championship Wrestling.

    On his music and time in bands: Howe opened up about his rock career talking about the albums he played on and a few tours he did as an opening act. “We opened for Puddle of Mud, Saliva, and Skid Row”, said Howe. James marks out a little being a huge fan of Skid Row. Howe says it was actually at that show that the wrestlers approached him and said he had a look for wrestling.

    Howe describes his recorded music as “Throwback Rock”. He says his musical inspiractions are clearly AC/DC based. Some of the other bands had different tastes, one was a big grunge guy, the singer had a very deep voice like Danzig, so it turned out being a very cool mix of “Throwback Rock”.

    On his story being very close to that of Hulk Hogan’s beginnings: “You know, I’d love to sit down one day and shoot the shit with him about that.” Howe shows his knowledge of Hulk’s story by quoting the name “Ruckus”, the name of Hulk’s rock band. Impressive! He says it is very cool to have that in common with a star the size of Hulk Hogan.

    As asked on Impact Wrestling by Al Snow, why wrestling over music? Howe says when he was in a band, he’d have to set up the stage himself and after the show tear down the stage as well. He said, not to knock the other band members, but there became a lot of other people to have to rely on rather than depending on himself above all else. He even said adding a singer to the band meant he had to depend on someone else for the success of the band. With wrestling, it is all down to him. “A part of me always loved the spotlight”, says Howe. “I always said I’d either do music or be a pro wrestler.”

    On how he met his wife and OVW Knockout stand-out Jessie Belle: “Tracy Smothers is to blame”, says Howe. Jessie was playing Smothers’ illegitimate legitimate daughter at the time and Howe, who had not met her before, was amazed by what a bitch she was on the microphone. One thing lead to another, and with a little help they ended up getting together and are now married. Howe says she’s the “Social Media Queen” and to friend her on facebook and follow her on Twitter.

    On being trained by Tracy Smothers: “I don’t want to say he’s underrated because he had great success. But, he’s just so good!” He talks about how Smothers didn’t just teach moves but also taught a complete package of moves and getting your character together. He does not have enough good things he can say about the experience of working with “The Wild Eyed Southern Boy”.

    On WWE Tough Enough: “It was the biggest springboard I could possibly have”. He mentions that he was one of the least experienced talents brought in for the show and he thought it was challenging. When comparing that to other reality shows, he feels that Tough Enough was more physical & mentally demanding. He also says that how it played off on TV is close to how the experience really was.

    If he had to credit just one major influence from both wrestling and music, who would it be? “Music: Angus Young (AC/DC). Wrestling: Believe it or not, The Ultimate Warrior. I remember as a kid, he was the only one who came out to heavy metal music and had the hair. As I’ve gotten older, I certainly appreciate the work of Randy Savage, Shawn Michaels, Bret Hart, and those kinds of guys.” Howe remembers for a very early Birthday having to choose between a “Macho King” Randy Savage or an Ultimate Warrior Wrestling Buddy (the stuffed wrestlers). He chose Warrior. But, he feels it was even because not long after he got a “Macho King” bop it punching bag that bounces back at you.

    On if the doors are open at WWE and TNA still: “I believe the doors are wide open for me at WWE and TNA. I am at TNA’s training facility in OVW.” He says he believes he handled himself well at Tough Enough and here would be no reason to have a closed door at WWE. He goes on to say that he works a lot of independent shows and to be sure and hit him up on Facebook and Twitter to keep up on upcoming shows.

    Tonight’s TNA Gut Check Contestants Revealed

    TNA announced earlier this week that tonight’s Gut Check segment on Impact Wrestling will feature a new format, with two contestants wrestling each other and being evaluated by the judges after their match.

    It now appears that the contestants will be independent wrestlers Brian Cage and Jay Bradley, both of whom have worked TNA dark matches in recent months. Brian Cage tweeted:

    He also re-tweeted several messages from fans talking about him appearing on Impact tonight.

    The other contestant will be Jay Bradley of Resistance Pro Wrestling. RPW tweeted the following on Wednesday:

    TNA Announces Another Upcoming Gut Check Training Camp

    TNA has announced another Gut Check training camp coming to Fayetteville, North Carolina in February:

    TNA IMPACT WRESTLING BRINGS “GUT CHECK” TO FAYETTEVILLE TO SEARCH FOR THE NEXT PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING STAR

    Prove you have what it takes for a chance to make it on SPIKE TV’s
    IMPACT WRESTLING roster

    Nashville, Tenn. (Jan. 8, 2012) – TNA IMPACT WRESTLING is bringing “Gut Check” to Fayetteville Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013. “Gut Check” is one of the highest-rated segments during SPIKE TV’s IMPACT WRESTLING. This is your chance to get critique and advice from some of the top veterans in the professional wrestling industry and a chance to be on the IMPACT WRESTLING roster. “Gut Check” will take place at the Crown Coliseum from 2-4 p.m. ET prior to the live event that night.

    “Gut Check is a great developmental seminar in which we have found a variety of new up-and-coming talent,” said TNA SVP of Programming & Talent Relations Bruce Prichard. “The future of our company could be discovered in Fayetteville.”

    “Gut Check” is a two-hour seminar that will offer aspiring wrestlers, announcers, managers, valets and referees the instruction and advice they can’t receive anywhere else in the industry. TNA Head Agent D-Lo Brown will be hands-on during the course by evaluating potential talent through promos, drills, simulated matches and in-ring work. “Gut Check” has showcased talent such as Crimson, Jesse Sorensen, Alex Silva, Sam Shaw, Christian York, Taeler Hendrix and Joey Ryan.

    “I love being able to get hands-on with the young talent and offer thoughts and advice,” said D-Lo Brown. “Gut Check is always exciting, and I’m looking forward to seeing what Fayetteville has to offer.”

    To sign up for “Gut Check,” visit TNAGutCheck.com. Space is very limited, and the deadline to apply is Monday, Jan. 28.

    * 2 More Stars Gone From TNA – Find Out Which Ones Are Going To WWE

    Three Matches Announced For Next Week’s Impact, Wes Brisco Earns TNA Contract Through “Gut Check”

    – 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).

    Christian York Says “Gut Check” Is Not Rehearsed; How He Received The Tryout

    Christian York appeared on the Shining Wizards podcast (available at ShiningWizards.com). Highlights from the interview are as follows:

    On how he got involved on Gut Check: “I was working in MCW (Maryland Championship Wrestling) and TNA was doing a house show in Bowie, Maryland, and the agents asked for a list of 10 guys, and I was one of the 10. I was eating breakfast with my wife,and they gave me call saying, we want to use you on some house shows and get a look at you. So I did that, and they called me back about doing this Gut Check.”

    On the Gut Check Experience: “They told me it’s all a shoot, it’s all real. It’s not scripted stuff or anything like that, and we did that. We went from there, they did the profile thing with me, and then the match with Zema (Ion), which was pretty wild. All day long you don’t know anything, its just like a rehearsal type thing. Just stand in the ring and we will go from there. Its all a shoot, they want raw emotion.”

    The Boy Band Gimmick: “We started that in ’99. We weren’t really on board with the boy band thing. We were like, man, that’s gay. We were trying to be edgy, like every indy wrestler, trying to be cool as hell. We wanted to be called Fourplay, but we ended up being the Badstreet Boys. It worked, we had tons of girls as fans. Kanyon had seen the gimmick and had the idea of getting Shane Helms and Shannon Moore a tryout. Myself and Joey didn’t have any idea about this. Then Shane called and said, hey, man, we just got signed, and I was like, did we get signed? And he was like, no, they are gonna give you a tryout, we are gonna do the boy band gimmick with Evan (Karagias). ”

    On WCW not being around: “I miss the hell out of it, man. I wish it was still around so guys would have a place to work.”

    First Run with WWF/ECW: “After we got released from WCW we had a no compete clause, 120 days. We waited and we just said, let’s go there and try to get on. And we got on, it was pretty cool. They let us do dives and like all kinds of stuff, stuff that unheard of. They were like, just go out there in tear it up. So we did that, and they liked us and stuff, but we looked like kids compared to the cast of characters in WWF at the time. So they said why don’t you go to ECW and go there and get over, get seasoned, and then come back here. We got in touch with Tommy Dreamer, and they were already interested in us, so we went there and off we went.”

    Preview For Thursday’s Thanksgiving Impact – Turkey Suit Challenge, Open Fight Night, Gut Check, More

    ImpactWrestling.com has released the official preview for Thursday’s Thanksgiving edition of Impact Wrestling.

    Preview Thursday’s Thanksgiving IMPACT – Open Fight Night, Gut Check and more!

    Preview Thursday’s IMPACT WRESTLING broadcast at 8/7c on SpikeTV! If you can’t watch IMPACT on Thursday night, make sure to set your DVR to record all the action.

    – It’s the special Thanksgiving Edition of IMPACT WRESTLING! After you give thanks and enjoy holiday dinner with the family, sit back and enjoy two hours of wrestling action! TNA and SpikeTV continue the tradition of wrestling on Thanksgiving night!

    – The special Thanksgiving IMPACT also features the return of OPEN FIGHT NIGHT! Who will get called out and challenged? What grudges will be settled? In addition, TNA GUT CHECK winners Alex Silva, Taeler Hendrix, Sam Shaw and Christian York make their return!

    – As part of OPEN FIGHT NIGHT, Austin Aries says he has a call-out that will shake things up in TNA! Who could Aries have him mind? He isn’t telling anyone until Thursday night!

    – The broadcast will also include the latest GUT CHECK as one newcomer attempts to earn a spot on the TNA Roster! This week, Wes Brisco will step up and try to pass the GUT CHECK on IMPACT! Can Brisco impress the judges with his match and realize his dream?

    – PLUS, the annual holiday Turkey Suit challenge continues! Eric Young is bringing back the turkey costume as he prepares for battle! Who will EY face on the broadcast – and who will end up as this year’s TNA Turkey?! Don’t miss it!

    All this and much more on the special Thanksgiving broadcast on IMPACT WRESTLING – Thursday 8/7c on SpikeTV!

    New No. 1 Contender To The TNA Women’s Knockout Title, Preview “Open Fight Night”, Styles and Storm In Knoxville

    – Thursday on Impact Wrestling, Mickie James became the #1 Contender to the TNA Women’s Knockout Championship currently held by Tara with her victory in the Knockout Battle Royal. The other participants were Gail Kim, Madison Rayne, Miss Tessmacher and ODB, with James last eliminating Kim for the victory.

    – On next Thursday’s episode of Impact Wrestling, the past winners of “Gut Check”—Alex Silva, Taeler Hendrix, Sam Shaw and Christian York—return for “Open Fight Night.” TNA Wrestling has released the following video previewing the show.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEbGCvQgbFY

    – AJ Styles and James Storm appear at Direct Auto Insurance 4883 North Broadway St. Knoxville, Tennessee, today from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Call 865-688-4800 for more information.

    “Gut Check” Winners Returning To Impact Wrestling Next Week, Kenny King Resurfaces, Knockouts, Xplosion

    – TNA Wrestling President Dixie Carter announced on Twitter that all “Gut Check” winners will appear on next week’s Thanksgiving edition of Impact Wrestling for “Open Fight Night.”

    “Interested to see who seizes the spotlight,” wrote Carter.

    Winners of the contest include Alex Silva, Taeler Hendrix, Sam Shaw and Christian York.

    – Kenny King, who has not appeared for TNA Wrestling since losing an X Division Championship Match to Zema Ion at Hardcore Justice in August, resurfaced at Wednesday’s TNA Xplosion taping in Orlando, Florida. He faced Ion and Kid Kash in a three-way match.

    A Knockouts contest was taped for TNA Xplosion Wednesday as Miss Tessmacher faced Madison Rayne.

    – This week’s featured match on TNA Xplosion on Challenge pits James Storm against Joey Ryan.

    Next TNA Gutcheck Challenger Revealed (Video), TNA In Iowa This Weekend

    – TNA will be holding two live events this weekend in Iowa, with a show tonight at the Clay County Regional Events Center in Spencer, Iowa and a show tomorrow night at the Bridge View Center in Ottumwa, Iowa.

    No matches are announced for the shows yet, but TNA World Heavyweight Champion Austin Aries, Kurt Angle, Jeff Hardy, Bobby Roode, James Storm, Miss Tessmacher and Gail Kim are scheduled to appear at both shows.

    – Al Snow revealed on his Twitter that the next Gutcheck challenger will be 31-year-old indy worker Kris Lewie, based out of Nashville, Tennessee.Check out this promo for Kris Lewie below:

    * PICTURES from Last Night’s WWE SUMMERSLAM Kickoff Party: Celebs, Divas & More!

    Magnus Lands Theater Role, Miss Tessmacher Sick, TNA Tryout Camps

    – TNA’s next Gutcheck Challenge tryout camp will take place this Saturday (August /18th) from Ottumwa, Iowa. The next one after that will be September 8th from Gainesville, Georgia.

    – Magnus has joined the cast of the Aladdin theater production, which will run for thirteen shows at the Norwich Theatre Royal in the U.K. from December 18th, 2012 to January 18th, 2013. Magnus will be playing the role of the Genie in the show, a role WWE Hall of Famer Bret Hart played several years ago in Canada.

    – TNA Knockout Miss Tessmacher noted on Twitter that she has been sick and is now taking prescription medication 4-times a day.

    Ric Flair Shoots & Causes TNA To Hire Alex Silva, Joey Ryan Video

    – Alex Silva, the first TNA Gutcheck contestant to earn a contract, is currently training at Ohio Valley Wrestling, TNA’s developmental territory. The reason he has not been back on television since earning the contract is because he was not originally scripted to win.

    Enter Ric Flair. Originally, both Bruce Prichard and Flair were supposed to vote No while Al Snow would have been the only judge to vote Yes. Flair was so impressed with Silva’s promo that he broke from the script during the segment and voted Yes.

    Prichard, who was also impressed by Silva but caught off guard by Flair’s unforeseen move, had to improvise and also changed his vote to Yes.

    TNA had the option of re-filming the segment but it would have looked bad in front of the crowd so they just decided to hire him.

    Another lesson than when you’re the Nature Boy – WOOOOOOOOOOOOO – you do whatever the hell you damn well please.

    – After getting denied a TNA contract during the Gutcheck segment of last week’s Impact Wrestling, independent worker Joey Ryan has resurfaced online with the following YouTube video:

    (Partial Source: f4wonline.com)

    TNA Commentary News, Flair’s Daughter Training, Gut Check

    – Scott Steiner’s recent claim that TNA announcers no longer call TNA action for Orlando is partially true. Mike Tenay and Tazz do commentary live from the Impact Zone on weeks when that show airs the same week. On weeks when the episode of Impact that is taped does not air until the following week, they fly to Nashville do commentary in post-production, after the show has been edited. This is done because TNA wants to keep the commentary timely and does not want it to be outdated by the time the show airs a week later.

    – Ric Flair’s daughter Ashley is now training to be a professional wrestler.

    – Al Snow is the person who hand picked Alex Silva to participate in the most recent Gutcheck Challenge on Impact. Moving forward, Gutcheck will feature talents similar to Silva, mostly from TNA’s developmental territory, Ohio Valley Wrestling. OVW has had an increase in business thanks to TNA, including a local pizza sponsorship and several former names returning, including Cliff Compton.

    TNA plans add other new concepts to Impact in the coming months.

    – TNA will run a series of shows in California this weekend, with a show at the Citizen’s Bank Arena in Ontario, CA tonight, a show at the Robobank Arena in Bakersfield, CA Saturday night and a Basebrawl event at the Visalia Rawhide Park in Visalia, CA on Sunday.

    – Jeff and Karen Jarrett worked the April 30 AAA TV taping in Mexico over the weekend. Chessman and Jeff Jarrett defeated Juventud Guerrera and La Parka Jr when Jarrett used a guitar on Guerrera.

    (Partial Source: PWInsider.com)