– Jeff Hardy will defend the TNA World Heavyweight Championship against Bobby Roode next month at Final Resolution.
TNA Wrestling released a Before The Bell video promoting the pay-per-view event, with the match officially announced as the main event. Final Resolution takes place Dec. 9.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmIvct53ODs
– Rain, who appeared in TNA Wrestling as Bobby Roode’s valet Ms. Payton Banks, broke her wrist in three different places at Friday’s “SHINE 5” internet pay-per-view after being subject to a powerbomb from Awesome Kong. Despite the injury, she continued the bout as planned, which concluded with her receiving an Implant Buster from Kong. She was admitted to a emergency room following the contest.
Shining Wizards Podcast with Matt Hardy Hosts: Tony Z, Eddie, and Matt Interview available at Shiningwizards.com.
On his match with Shane Douglas being a battle of former ECW Champions from different incarnations: “I think we both have something to prove. We both have mutual respect for one another, but that being said neither one of us are gonna pull any punches when it comes to getting the W and looking good. Shane is probably the most well-known, recognized World Champion of the original ECW, and when WWE recreated it, it was ECW to an extent, and I felt I was one of the better ECW Champions. Two guys from two different eras, and I know when Shane gets in the ring he’s got something to prove. Shane is probably the best champion from the original ECW, but I have something to prove.”
On his first appearances in WWE with his brother: “We met a guy who was in independent wrestler, and he wrestled primarily for the Italian Stallion. We worked every Friday and Saturday, basically for free, learning the psychology and terminology of the business. Every few months, he would take guys to WWE for TV as extras. The main goal of my brother and I was to work hard to show what we have, even if we weren’t featured. We tried to make the talent look as good as possible.”
On whether he and his brother raised the bar too high: “We definitely raised the bar too high that we made it harder for everyone else to get near it, even ourselves. We tried to make each match better. Jeff and I wrestled in ladder matches up and down the East Coast on the independents. It was our idea (in WWE), we pitched that. Then Edge and Christian were two guys that worked like us, and had the athleticism and the intestinal fortitude to compete in these matches, and they were magical. No Mercy 1999 we turned the corner and went from WWE wrestlers to WWE Superstars. We had no idea how historic that match would be. This led to matches with the Dudleys, the TLC matches, and how far we went with that.”
On the current state of tag team wrestling: “It would be nice if tag team wrestling came back. I saw Raw recently. Primo and Epico wrestled, and they’re a good tag team, and they end up getting beat. And then the Usos wrestled, who I think could be really good, and they lost as well, and the teams that beat them were two singles guys thrown together. This is when these guys get wasted, and then when they don’t get over as a tag team, they look at them like it’s their fault. The talent has to provide, but it’s the people that put them there that makes a huge difference as to whether they succeed or not. If you put them in a position to fail, and people aren’t going to believe in them, it’s your fault as well. You can’t just blame the talent if you don’t book them in good positioning.”
For the complete interview, including his views on enhancement talent, the breaking up of the Hardy Boys, working with MVP, the Cruiserweight storyline, working with Mr. Perfect and the plane ride from hell, and his current work with Pro Wrestling Syndicate, visit www.ShiningWizards.com and check out Episode 59
Jeff Hardy appeared on Busted Open with Dave Lagreca and Doug Mortman on Monday. The program airs Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays on Sirius 92 and XM 208 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., visit www.facebook.com/bustedopen for more information. Highlights from the interview are as follows:
On what he thought of the ladder match with Austin Aries at Turning Point: “Before last night, I went back to watch some of the TLC matches and myself and the Undertaker and there is a lot for me to live up to in those matches. But I haven’t seen it back because I got knocked silly numerous times. So once I see it back, I’ll have a better idea of my opinion.”
What is on the horizon with his contract expiring soon?: “In January when that rolls around, I’ll make a decision. I’ve pretty much made that decision. The music is going to be a huge part of it as far as keeping me around. We haven’t signed anything yet, but we are getting close.”
Talks about James Storm as the number one contender: “I forget where it was, but we wrestled at a live event and it wasn’t too long ago, I think it was before Bound For Glory and we had a crazy good match. It’s babyface vs babyface, but we have different styles, but its going to be great for sure. A lot more technical, probably throw some extreme touch in there, but you never know with James what’s going to happen.”
Is he excited to still be wrestling?: “Of course!! It is my evolution. I will ease out of wrestling and into my next step which is going to be music and maybe eventually balance both. But yeah it’s just fun to have them support me like they are, even with my paintings and we’re talking about this website. There is a lot of exciting things that are in the works. It’s probably going to keep me around, and I’m just taking it slow. Right now I am the world champion, so I’ve got a lot to focus on and we keep recording new songs. It’s just getting more exciting. The future has a lot to offer.”
Will he change his wrestling style: “I’m going to change it big time when I leave and I come back as Willow the Wisp one of these days. My vision of this character is just an extension of myself. It will be basically from the imagination of Jeff Hardy. Willow the Wisp instead of painting my face, he’ll just be wearing a mask. In a world that makes no sense, back in the Omega days it was so fun to be him and I never worried about making sense. I was in my own little world under that mask. At 36 years old, if I can do something like that it’s going to be a blast. It’s going to be a huge change of style for me.”
– TNA has announced their “British Bootcamp” reality show will premiere on the UK’s Challenge TV channel on January 1, 2013 at 10PM. The series following four prospective TNA wrestlers and the build to TNA’s annual January UK tour.
– Following Sunday’s Turning Point PPV, TNA released the following video hyping December’s Final Resolution show. The promo hypes the event as the “final chapter” for TNA World Heavyweight champion Jeff Hardy.
“For him, it’s been a year of conquests, success, and ultimate triumph. But, his story is far from over. On December 9, will this be Jeff Hardy’s final chapter?”
– Madison Rayne, who has not appeared on Impact Wrestling since Aug. 30, stated on Twitter that she is still affiliated with TNA Wrestling despite her absence.
“Yes everyone, I am still employed. Happily. No need to keep asking/worrying. It is ALL good. LoL. Thank u for all the concern tho,” she wrote.
The four-time TNA Women’s Knockout Champion has kept busy in the meantime by training for fitness competitions. She placed second in her class at a competition in Charleston, South Carolina on Saturday.
– Jeff Hardy, Robbie E and Robbie T appeared on Sunday’s broadcast of WrestletalkTV on Challenge in the United Kingdom. Hardy offered his take on the greatest moment in wrestling history while E and T discussed their respective careers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tf9Oo6GV3A
– AJ Styles and Christy Hemme appear at Direct Auto Insurance 14187 West Colonial Dr. Winter Garden, Florida, this Saturday from noon to 2:00 p.m. Call 407-656-2274 for more information.
Preview Thursday’s IMPACT WRESTLING on SpikeTV 8/7c – The Final Countdown to Turning Point
Preview Thursday’s IMPACT WRESTLING broadcast LIVE at 8/7c on SpikeTV, featuring the final countdown to the “Turning Point” event! If you can’t watch IMPACT on Thursday, make sure to set your DVR to record all the action.
– In a huge match on the LIVE Thursday broadcast – and a preview of the #1 Contender’s Match at “Turning Point” – “The Phenomenal” AJ Styles vs. battle Bobby Roode on IMPACT!
– Just days before their main event Ladder Match at “Turning Point”, what will happen on IMPACT between World Heavyweight Champion “The Charismatic Enigma” Jeff Hardy and his challenger Austin Aries? Don’t miss it!
– Did Christian York pass the TNA Gut Check? The judges will make their decision on York’s future on Thursday’s broadcast! Will he earn a spot on the TNA Wrestling roster?
– Plus, what will be the fallout after the latest member of The Aces & 8s was revealed? What’s next for the biker gang – and how will “The Immortal” Hulk Hogan react to the latest reveal? Tune in and find out!
All this and much more on Thursday’s IMPACT WRESTLING broadcast on SpikeTV LIVE at 8/8c – the final countdown to Turning Point!
– Two months before committing suicide in Daytona Beach, Florida on Oct. 18 from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the forehead, Mike Graham went to Universal Studios Florida in Orlando, Florida, while TNA Wrestling was holding a live Impact Wrestling show to request a job on their creative writing staff. He was instantly rejected by company officials.
Graham’s reaction was described as being “shocked” to be turned down, since his father, Eddie Graham, an influential Florida wrestling promoter, told him he would be hired for any job in wrestling by virtue of his rich family heritage.
– As announced on Thursday’s episode of Impact Wrestling, 35-year-old journeyman wrestler Christian York will compete on “Gut Check” on next week’s show. He competed on the promotion’s inaugural pay-per-view event in 2002, teaming with Joey Mathews against Bo Dupp and Stan Dupp, but was unable to secure a full-time position with the organization, nor WWE. Now after 16 years in wrestling, he feels this is his last chance to make it in the big time.
– TNA Wrestling is holding a live event tonight in Poplar Bluff, Missouri at Black River Coliseum. Jeff Hardy, Bully Ray, Austin Aries and Bobby Roode headline.
– The promotional poster for TNA Wrestling’s upcoming Final Resolution pay-per-view event has been released and it features Jeff Hardy.
Final Resolution takes place December 9, 2012 in Orlando, Florida at the Impact Wrestling Zone.
– TNA Wrestling President Dixie Carter will make an announcement concerning the promotion’s upcoming UK Maximum Impact Tour during tonight’s Impact Wrestling airing on Challenge.
– One half of the reigning TNA World Tag Team Champions, Chavo Guerrero, turned 42-years-old on Saturday.
ImpactWrestling.com has released the official preview for next week’s “Championship Thursday” edition of Impact Wrestling and it is noted that Rob Van Dam will defend the X Division Championship against Zema Ion in a Bound For Glory re-match.
IMPACT Preview: Championship Thursday Returns – Jeff Hardy Defends The World Title
Preview Thursday’s IMPACT WRESTLING broadcast LIVE at 8/7c on SpikeTV as “Championship Thursday” returns and the road to the November “Turning Point” event continues! If you can’t watch on Thursday, make sure to set your DVR to record all the action.
– “Championship Thursday” is back, and the World Heavyweight
Championship will be on the line as new titleholder “The Charismatic Enigma” Jeff Hardy defends the gold against an opponent to be select by “The Immortal” Hulk Hogan! The contenders that Hogan will pick from are: Mr. Anderson, James Storm, Bully Ray, and Kurt Angle
– What do The Aces & 8s and Devon have planned next after their assault last week? Can Hulk Hogan, Sting, Bully Ray and the TNA roster find a way to turn the tide against the biker gang? The war continues on Thursday’s broadcast on SpikeTV!
– In a “Bound For Glory” rematch, new Knockouts Champion Tara (with her Hollywood boyfriend Jessie Godderz) will defend the gold against Miss Tessmacher on Thursday’s broadcast
– Also as part of “Championship Thursday”, new X Division Champion Rob Van Dam will put his title on the line against former champ Zema Ion!
All this and much more on Thursday’s IMPACT WRESTLING broadcast on SpikeTV LIVE at 8/7c
– ImpactWrestling.com has announced that The Aces and 8s will kick off tonight’s episode of Impact Wrestling: “After winning at Bound For Glory, The Aces and 8s have a message to deliver at the start of tonight’s broadcast – and this time, no one can keep them out! Will Devon speak out for the first time since BFG about his role with the group? What do they have planned next? How will Hulk Hogan, Sting and Bully Ray react?”
Tonight’s Impact Wrestling will also feature a celebration for Jeff Hardy after he regained the World Heavyweight Championship at Bound For Glory. Hardy plans to thank all of his fans that have supported him.
Plus, the official Twitter feed of Impact Wrestling announced that Samoa Joe will be defending the Television Championship tonight after retaining it against Magnus at Bound For Glory.
– TNA has released the following video containing highlights from Bound For Glory.
– Sunday at Bound For Glory, Jeff Hardy regained the TNA World Heavyweight Championship by defeating Austin Aries in the main event. According to the official Twitter feed of Impact Wrestling, a celebration will be held in honor of his big win on tomorrow night’s live episode of Impact Wrestling.
– Doug Williams, who currently works as trainer at Ohio Valley Wrestling, TNA Wrestling’s developmental promotion, suffered an arm injury while competing at last Wednesday’s OVW television taping. After stating that he may have suffered a partially torn bicep at worst, he noted Monday, “Arm getting better. Can lock it out again now if I do so slowly…”
– TNA Wrestling has released a video highlighting Saturday’s Bound For Glory Fan Interaction event in Phoenix, Arizona, where fans had the opportunity to meet the promotion’s wrestlers.
– The longest reigning WWE Intercontinental Champion of all-time, The Honky Tonk Man, stated on Twitter this week that he would like to appear on Impact Wrestling.
After one-half of the TNA World Tag Team Champions, Kazarian, tweeted, “I wonder if @officialhtm knows how over he is with a lot of us in the @IMPACTWRESTLING locker room. He is the most quoted man by far!” he wrote in response, “Maybe #TNA needs some Shake Rattle & Roll!”
He added, “HTM in @impactwrestling LOL. 1 on 1 face off with Bitchoff. Mic to Mic shoot!”
– TNA Wrestling has released a video previewing tomorrow night’s World Heavyweight Championship Match at Bound For Glory between Austin Aries and Jeff Hardy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOnZlI7rNHA
– TNA Wrestling President Dixie Carter tweeted the following regarding today’s events in Phoenix, Arizona: “Just waking up in beautiful Phoenix. Fan Interaction today and Sting’s Hall of Fame dinner tonight. It’s going to be a very special day.”
– During a conference call promoting Bound For Glory, Jeff Hardy addressed the topic of tag team wrestling.
“Tag wrestling is crazy important to me, and it’s just fun y’know. Going back to the days of all the classic TLC matches, working with The Dudley Boys and Edge & Christian, those matches were so special to me. It could be the year 2060 and those matches would still be cool,” he told Fighting Spirit Magazine.
“I’m waiting on tag-team wrestling to spark again, for something else to come along and I kinda’ sensed it back when Beer Money and The Motor City Machine Guns were having an awesome feud. That was phenomenal, and totally awesome. It’d be nice if tag-teams could become as special now as they were back then, and who knows if that’ll happen or not.”
More comments from Hardy on the subject are available here.
– TNA Wrestling has released a video previewing this Sunday’s Sting and Bully Ray vs. Aces & 8s match at Bound For Glory.
Brian Fritz interviews Jeff Hardy for Between The Ropes:
On what he won’t do in a match any more that he used to do: “I just wrestle a lot smarter. I try to tone down my thoughts a bit. I have a very vivid imagination. I have all these ideas that I think may be possible. But I’m very careful about what I do. I almost hesitated doing the swanton at last year’s Lockdown pay-per-view, this year’s Lockdown pay-per-view because it was scary and I was terrified I was going to get injured bad. But I went for it and it turned out great. I just think overall I wrestle a lot smarter. I don’t do as much as I used to do. And I just take better care of myself.”
The craziest thing he has thought about doing in the ring but never did: “I have to say, and I still think about it a lot, it would be a reverse … like a moonsault 450. I think it’s been done before. I know I could do it. I’m just scared to even try but especially like a backflip off the top rope and missing your feet. Instead of hitting a leg drop, you know, take a complete back bump on it so it would be like a reverse moonsault 450 if you know what I’m saying.”
On what the past few years have been like for him: “Up and down, and down, down, down and then on a straight incline since last year’s Victory Road. I was in a dark place there for a while. My legal situation was horrible as far as stress and I about went crazy during all that. Luckily, it’s over now and I’ve done everything I’ve had to do. I’m on my second year of probation now and everything with that is going extremely well. Everything is great and I have nothing to complain about.”
On what was his darkest moment during his troubles: “The darkest moment was probably, I’d have to say, it may have been Victory Road, when I was unable to perform because after all the years it finally caught up with me. I was out of my mind to even perform against one of the guys I looked up to as a kid, you know, Sting. That was probably rock bottom. That allowed me to go home and take care of everything I needed to take care of and get better and pretty much start over. I have a second chance, one more shot and luckily I got that and have improved ever since and have been on a steady incline.”
When that happened at Victory Road, did you immediately know you screwed up on did it take a while to sink in? No, I knew I messed up. I totally knew I messed up. And driving home that next day, I knew I had messed up for the last time. That’s what I knew that day. It took a while, about six months, and I came back. I totally knew I messed up.”
TNA Star Jeff Hardy spoke with the Phoenix New Times to hype TNA Bound for Glory in Phoenix next Sunday night. Here are some highlights of what he said about:
Overcoming His Personal Demons: “I know how I am and what I’ve done and I wish it was as easy for [him] as it was for me I guess. Matt [Hardy] went through a dark period and I was just getting through my stuff and that was tough on me. I was like, “Oh my god, people are different.” I’ve never suffered physical withdrawals from not doing drugs, but that’s what separates me from everybody else, I guess, because I’m not like everybody else. I wish I could explain why some people don’t succeed but I don’t know. I mean all I know is how and who I am.”
His Brother Matt’s Videos Where He Appeared Intoxicated: “Yeah, I hated it. I hated everything he put up. I was embarrassed for him. But that was just stuff that he was going through. If I’m going to put something on YouTube it’s just going to be fun.”
Returning to WWE in the Future: “Man, I really can’t answer that. I’m happy where I’m at right now with TNA. But you never say never in this business, so it depends on where I’ll be at in a few months.”
TNA Wrestling has released a preview for next week’s episode of Impact Wrestling on SpikeTV.
IMPACT Preview: King Mo Debuts, Who Joins Team TNA vs Aces & 8s?
Preview Thursday’s LIVE IMPACT broadcast on SpikeTV at 8/7c as the road to “Bound For Glory” Pay-Per-View continues! Remember – if you can’t watch IMPACT on Thursday night, make sure to set your DVR to record all the action!
– The fight between Aces and 8s and Team TNA is set for Bound For Glory! “The Immortal” Hulk Hogan will not be allowed to enter the fight – so who will represent TNA in the battle? Don’t miss Thursday’s broadcast for details!
– Also on Thursday’s huge event on SpikeTV, King Mo makes his IMPACT WRESTLING debut after being announced as the special enforcer for the Bobby Roode vs. James Storm match at Bound For Glory!
– Tensions continue to rise between “The Charismatic Enigma” Jeff Hardy and World Heavyweight Champion Austin Aries as their main event match at Bound For Glory draws closer! What will happen when champion and challenger cross paths on Thursday’s IMPACT?
– Plus, IMPACT will feature Knockouts Tag Team action as Knockouts Champion Miss Tessmacher teams with ODB to battle Tara and Gail Kim
All this and much more on Thursday’s IMPACT WRESTLING on SpikeTV LIVE at 8/7!
– Tara, Mike Tenay and Daniels are featured on the TNA Impact Wrestling post-show from last night:
http://youtu.be/RLKnljpWSMY
– Jeff Hardy vs. Kazarian was taped last night to air on TNA Xplosion.
– The wrestler who competed in the Gut Check match against Douglas Williams on Impact is 18 year old wrestler Evan Markopoulos. TNA are asking fans to vote on his future on their website. He has wrestled in the Northeast as Elia Markopoulos.
– NBA Legend Shaquille O’Neal appeared in a backstage segment with Hulk Hogan to kick off last night’s Impact Wrestling. Shaq, Hogan and Dixie Carter had been teasing on Twitter that he was there to have Hogan’s back against Aces & 8s.
– As reported earlier, WWE is doing business with All Japan Pro Wrestling. During WWE’s recent live events tour of Japan, All Japan’s Kaz Hayashi and another company official had dinner with WWE’s John Laurinaitis to discuss AJPW becoming a Japanese developmental territory for WWE.
It’s believed the meeting went well and WWE will be working with the promotion to scout Japanese talent.
– Matt Hardy has responded to online reports that his brother Jeff is interested in returning to WWE for a big payday to pay off his legal fees:
Jeff doesn't need or care about money. RT @saulski90: @MATTHARDYBRAND Thoughts on rumors that Jeff wants to go to @WWE to make more money?
– Sonjay Dutt is the featured guest on the latest edition of TNA Today with Jeremy Borash. The twelve-year veteran talks about how he worked over the years to obtain a college degree while developing his career in professional wrestling, family, an injury that consistently holds him back, the X Division and more.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8LHMT9wLW0
– On Raw Monday, WWE used a pink middle rope to raise breast cancer awareness. Regarding this, Jeff Hardy tweeted,
– Retired basketball player Shaquille O’Neal is backstage at the site of tonight’s Impact Wrestling show in Orlando, Florida. TNA Wrestling President Dixie Carter tweeted a photo of Hulk Hogan playfully choking “Shaq,” and noting, “Things are crazy backstage at Impact already! Hangin’ with @HulkHogan & @Shaq.”
– Bound for Glory will be airing in 113 theaters across the United States on Sunday, October 14th. The pre-show will air live at 7:30pm (EST) prior to the PPV.
– There are a few reasons why Jeff Hardy won this year’s Bound For Glory Series and got the main event spot against Austin Aries at TNA’s biggest show of the year. Aside from the fact that Hardy’s contract is expiring in February and TNA wants to keep him happy, Hardy’s drawing power is considered the main factor.
TNA expects Hardy to drive pay-per-view and movie theater sales for the show – and many more mainstream fans are willing to throw down money for Jeff Hardy (over James Storm, who was also in the running for the main event spot). TNA is also hopeful that merchandise, live event ticket sales and television ratings will go up with the company building a major program around Jeff Hardy.
With Jeff Hardy’s TNA contract set to expire in early 2013, there are some rumblings that the Charismatic Enigma is interested in returning to the organization where he first gained international fame, WWE.
Hardy has gotten great reviews behind the scenes in TNA over the past year, having cleaned up his act and been a “model employee.” With the various legal troubles he’s had in recent years, Hardy reportedly wants to have one more big run in WWE, where he can make a lot of money for the final chapter of his storied career.
Jeff Hardy won the TNA Bound For Glory series and is scheduled to wrestle Austin Aries for the TNA World Championship in the main event of this year’s Bound For Glory. It’s believed that Hardy was given this opportunity as a way to keep him happy.
Hardy remains the top seller of merchandise in TNA and is one of the company’s top draws. TNA really wants to keep Jeff Hardy and might even give him a run with the World title as a way to keep him on board.
– Thursday’s TNA Impact Wrestling show drew a 1.15 rating, up from 1.06 the previous week. The show averaged 1.717 million viewers, the largest audience for Impact since February 23.
– Radio host Mike Jones of Washington DC’s DC101 spoke to TNA star Jeff Hardy this week to promote TNA’s upcoming BaseBrawl show from the Prince George Stadium next Saturday night, September 1st. Jeff talks about his part in the Bound for Glory Series, learning something new everyday at TNA and how he loves his lawn. Here’s audio of the interview:
– Aces and Eights are teasing on Twitter that they’ve been quiet as of late, a sign that we could see them appear on tonight’s Impact.
– TNA agent Al Snow has gained a lot of influence behind the scenes in recent months.
– Jeff Hardy has impressed everybody in TNA with his how he’s turned his life around. After a rocky few years, Jeff Hardy is said to be always clear-headed and a “model employee.” He’s also the company’s top merchandise mover, by a long shot.
Jeff’s TNA contract expires next February. There are independent promoters that are under the impression that Matt and Jeff Hardy will be available for bookings early next year, but there are no other indications that Hardy will leave TNA when his contract expires.
– Former WWE star and TNA employee Savio Vega turns 48 years old today.
– Former WWE star Rikishi announced on Twitter that several of the students at his Knox Pro wrestling school will be evaluated by WWE at the big post-SummerSlam tryout camp in Los Angeles after SummerSlam. One of Rikishi’s former students, Alexander Rusev, is currently under a developmental deal.
– After sharing a flight with TNA star Sting earlier this week on his way to Orlando, Florida for Thursday’s NXT tapings, Jim Ross noted on Twitter that he also bumped into Jeff Hardy on his way out of Orlando:
Nice seeing & visiting w/ Jeff Hardy in Orlando Airport. I'm happy he's happy. 1 of my favs.
