AJ Styles is believed to have signed a one-year deal with New Japan Pro Wrestling, according to the Wrestling Observer. An official announcement is expected soon.
– Jeff Jarrett continues to tease the launch of his new wrestling project, with an official announcement scheduled for April 7th, the day after WrestleMania XXX.
Jarrett posted the following on Instagram over the weekend:
The belief among many, and this is just locker room talk, is that Jeff Jarrett’s new promotion will start in January and CMT would be their cable television home.
The CMT rumors come from the fact that Toby Keith, who is rumored to be a big part of the financial backing of the company, has close connections with that network.
The rumors going around TNA is that Kurt Angle could likely be the lead star of Jarrett’s new promotion. While Angle and Jarrett have obviously had their issues in the past, the two are said to be on good terms right now.
Angle’s contract with TNA is set to expire in the fall. Because of what happened with other high-paying contracts in TNA, such as Hulk Hogan, Sting and AJ Styles, many feel that Angle staying without taking a dramatic pay cut is unlikely.
One of the key ideas of Jarrett’s new promotion is to introduce a lot of new faces to the U.S. national scene. Jarrett has been doing a lot of talent scouting at independent wrestling events, as well as looking at videos of guys that people are recommending to him, including a lot of international talent.
Finally, there is talk that the promotion would open with a Jeff and Karen Jarrett reality show, a vehicle designed to build to the launch of their television show and the promotion itself a few months later.
(Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)
Apparently many people within TNA are outwardly rooting for Jeff Jarrett and his new promotion to succeed. Not only is it because of the fact that it would open up more jobs for talent in the business, but as a safety net as well.
With every week that passes without an announcement from either Spike TV or TNA about a new television deal, as the current contract between the two is set to expire in the fall, concern grows.
Morale within TNA was said to be high during their recent U.K. tour, as the guys felt like they were part of a major league promotion, when the company failed to draw a decent crowd for Lockdown, their second biggest pay-per-view of the year, the mood changed.
For the most part, faith in TNA creative, as well as Dixie Carter and John Gaburick, is low right now. There’s also a belief that Vince Russo is secretly involved in the creative process, which doesn’t help morale as the feeling is Russo hasn’t led any company to legitimate success since he left WWE nearly 15 years ago.
(Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)
Jeff Jarrett continues to hype his new wrestling project on Twitter with the hashtag #ItsComing. Jarrett tweeted over the weekend about his latest round of meetings:
Can't wait for the meetings today… Love this part of the process… #Graphics #Logo #Merchandise #ItsComing
— Jeff Jarrett (@RealJeffJarrett) March 14, 2014
Jarrett revealed last week that April 7th, the day after WrestleMania XXX, is when he and Karen will finally be able to tell the world about what they’ve been working on.
While Jarrett’s announcement is expected to be the launch of a new wrestling promotion, there have also been rumors that the Jarretts have been shopping around some sort of reality TV show.
Jeff Jarrett has released a another video hyping his new wrestling project. Jarrett revealed that a major announcement will be made on April 7th, the day after WrestleMania XXX.
He reiterated that he’s been scouring the world for talent and April 7th will be the day they can finally “scream and yell and tell the entire world what we’ve been working on.”
– The latest on Jeff Jarrett’s big announcement is that we could hear something concrete by the end of April. Jarrett has been traveling extensively over the past few weeks, setting up production, merchandise, talent and international relations with other promotions.
In [somewhat] related news, Toby Keith’s ‘big news’ on Monday, which many believed was related to Jarrett’s new project, was actually the announcement of his new tour dates. Toby Keith is rumored to be one of the people from the Nashville country music scene that will be financing Jarrett’s project.
– As previously reported, former WWE/TNA star Lisa Marie Varon (Victoria/Tara) attended Monday’s RAW from her hometown of Chicago. Former TNA Knockout Sarita was also there with her, as seen below:
@REALLiSAMARiE @SSDarkAngel @PokerDan Monday Night Raw pic.twitter.com/jAWsThMJcb
— Dan Kawa (@PokerDan) March 4, 2014
On Sunday night, both Jeff and Karen Jarrett tweeted out a link to another “It’s Coming” teaser video for the new Jarrett pro wrestling promotion. Jeff tweeted the following:
Here it is…Another step! RT @karenjarrett: Another sneak peak of what’s to come! #ItsComing @eonline @kevinsullytv http://t.co/bh2Pf57Sk4
— Jeff Jarrett (@RealJeffJarrett) March 3, 2014
You can watch the clip above, or at Vimeo.com.
Apparently Toby Keith will be making a major business announcement on Monday. There is no word yet as to whether or not it is wrestling related or not.
As previously reported, Keith is expected to be one of the key financial backers of Jeff Jarrett’s new pro wrestling promotion, a project that Jarrett has been teasing for months.
A new teaser video for Jeff Jarrett’s new wrestling promotion has been released. This video features Karen Jarrett. You can check it out at Vimeo.com, or by clicking play on the video player above.
The following are highlights of a recent Dixie Carter Twitter Q&A:
Hey Dixie, when will the Slammiversary location be announced?: “Next week.”
Dixie what about all the negative press about the wrestlers not getting paid: “Interesting how that all came out when we released talent.”
Will you bring Chris Hero to TNA soon?: “No plans I am aware of.”
Any update on your long term relationship with Spike TV?: “They are great partners. Meetings happening re:several TNA programs.”
Dixie, there is talk of a new wrestling promotion by a former business partner of yours. So how are you going to compete with this new wrestling company? Finally would you see this new promotion as competition?: “I only compete with things that are real. And I take that very seriously.”
ARE YOU ON GOOD TERMS OR BAD TERMS WITH JEFF JARRETT???????: “I wish him nothing but happiness….”
For more Dixie Carter Q&A, follow Dixie on Twitter @TNADixie.
The latest regarding Jeff Jarrett’s new pro wrestling promotion is that it will be financed by a group of partners, and not just country music star Toby Keith. It should be noted that Keith is worth $500 million himself, which is a considerable amount more than what Vince McMahon was worth before the WWE stock went through the roof.
Also, regarding the promotion’s financial backing, when the group was looking at possibly buying TNA, they were always described as “Nashville music investors.”
Speaking of Jarrett, he appeared at a sports convention in Nashville on February 22nd. While he didn’t say much about the new promotion, he did confirm that it was “a go,” and also spoke about the idea of doing a weekly Tuesday night television show.
(Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)
– Jeff Jarrett has released the latest video hyping his new wrestling promotion. The video is a teaser for a longer version that will be released on Monday:
– It was confirmed on last night’s episode of Impact Wrestling that the main event for TNA’s upcoming Lockdown pay-per-view will feature TNA World Champion Magnus defending against Samoa Joe.
There will also be a Team MVP vs. Team Dixie Lethal Lockdown match for “control of wrestling operations” in TNA. MVP and Bobby Roode will be the team captains.
TNA Lockdown takes place on Sunday, March 9th from Miami, Florida.
Apparently one of the reasons that Jeff Jarrett and Toby Keith did not purchase TNA was because Bob Carter wanted Dixie Carter to be kept around as a behind-the-scenes executive, as well as an on-air performer.
As far as Bob and Janice Carter are concerned, the word going around is that Janice is more of a “dollars and cents” type-person, while Bob is considered to be more “living a dream” oriented.
(Credit: F4WOnline & PWInsider.com)
TNA founder Jeff Jarrett recently spoke on-camera about his new wrestling project for the first time since leaving the company.
“I can’t wait to make a real formal announcement,” Jarrett said, “and that day is coming.”
The video also includes footage of Jarrett and his wife Karen flying from Nashville to Houston, presumably on the way to Mexico, where Jarrett claims he will be scouting talent.
Jarrett spoke about his long-standing relationship with the AAA promotion in Mexico, noting that they are looking to expand into the United States market through their partnership with Mark Burnett.
Finally, Jarrett spoke about scouting talent in North America, Mexico, Japan, India, Australia, and Europe to be a part of the new project.
There was said to be a lot of bonding among the guys in TNA during their recent United Kingdom tour. Regarding the speech Samoa Joe gave on a bus trip, which we reported about last week, it’s being said that Joe informed the talent that they are all in a fight and everyone needs to band together to try and turn things around. Apparently nobody from creative was present, just the wrestlers.
Joe and MVP are seemingly considered the locker room leaders in TNA now that so many of the veterans are no longer with the company.
Regarding Jeff Jarrett’s new potential promotion, many are taking a wait-and-see approach, with the belief that nothing is for sure until something concrete is presented. Many in the company have loyalty to Jarrett for giving them their first big national break, however many are equally loyal to TNA feeling that while it has been rumored to go out of business many times in the past, it’s been around for 11 years and has survived each potential disaster thus far.
(Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)
– As noted, TNA founder Jeff Jarrett is the man responsible for establishing the working relationship between TNA and the Wrestle-1 promotion in Japan. Since Jarrett’s departure, word is that “Big” John Gaburick and Bob Ryder are the two that now handle the relationship.
– Former TNA star Kenny King is teasing a return on Twitter. King recently tweeted the following:
Just read a very promising email. It seems your voices have been heard. Hope you’re ready for the #ReturnOfTheKing
— Kenny King (@KennyKingPb2) February 7, 2014
The following are highlights of a new Gerweck.net interview with former TNA Knockout Mickie James:
On her future in wrestling: “I just love wrestling too much to just let it go .. I don’t feel I am done with wrestling.”
On the Piggy James angle in WWE: “It was difficult, it was difficult for all three of us sometimes. I tried to allow, in some of the those incidents, to create real emotion.”
On Jeff Jarrett’s rumored new pro wrestling promotion: “Jeff is so smart, and innovative, and has drive. Toby is a massive wrestling fan. It could be something potentially that’s pretty awesome.”
Check out the complete Mickie James interview at Gerweck.net.
TNA founder Jeff Jarrett posted a teaser video on his Instagram account teasing, “It’s Coming.”
The video caption reads, “Stay tuned! … #KingOfTheMountain #QueenOfTheMountain” – a sign that his wife Karen will be involved in some capacity.
The video is for the new new project he’s been working on since he’s left TNA, believed to be a new wrestling promotion with country music star Toby Keith on board as an investor.
Here’s the video:
While rumors continue to make the rounds on the internet that TNA founder and longtime pro wrestling star Jeff Jarrett is working on a potential new pro wrestling promotion, Jarrett continues to remain tight-lipped regarding actual specifics.
“Double J” noted via his official Twitter account a couple of weeks ago that he spent three days in Los Angeles to take a number of business-related meetings. When Jarrett returned home from the L.A. trip, he tweeted, “Back in Hendersonville, Tennessee. Great three days in Hollywood. Time to analyze, digest all the info, and make some decisions.”
We noted a week ago that Jarrett was reportedly scouting talent for the potential project, a fact Jarrett confirmed with a tweet on January 23rd that read, “Spent the morning doing one of the things I really love about this business. Watching good independent talent. There is a LOT out there.”
That same day, Jarrett’s wife Karen noted on her verified Twitter account, “First thing tomorrow looking for office space. I am so excited!”
Jarrett himself continues to post tweets on his official Twitter account regarding talent scouting, including one where he re-tweeted Smith Hart, the oldest son of wrestling legend Stu Hart, and brother to WWE Hall Of Famer Bret “The Hitman” Hart, which stated, “Jeff Jarrett will be doing a talent evaluation seminar with @3AWrestling in March. Opportunities like this are rare.”
Our friends at Newsday.com sent word that while Jarrett declined an interview request from them this week, he did note in an e-mail to them, “I can tell you I’m making good progress, so, stay tuned!”
Elaine Schock, who is the publicist of country music star Toby Keith, who is rumored to be involved with the project, noted to Newsday, “I still have not heard anything that I can confirm.”
Keith is a longtime pro wrestling fan who has appeared for TNA Wrestling in the past, and was even rumored to be meeting with TNA officials late last year in regards to possibly buying the promotion.
According to one source, Jeff Jarrett won’t be hinting at or officially launching his new pro wrestling project until the hype from WrestleMania XXX dies down.
Jarrett has reportedly been acting very coy with people who have asked him about it, but has also been involved in a number of meetings regarding the project. Additionally, Jarrett and others have been scouting potential talent.
As noted in the past, the belief remains that country music star Toby Keith is involved in some form or fashion.
(Credit: PWInsider.com)
– WWE Hall Of Famer “Stone Cold” Steve Austin will be airing part one of his two-part interview with WWE music composer Jim Johnston on his “Steve Austin Show” podcast next week. Austin is also scheduled to interview comedian Gabriel Iglesias next week.
– TNA founder Jeff Jarrett recently posted the following tweet about “The Icon” Sting:
Stinger… Timeline filled up… A true class act and an one-of-a-kind MAN… Many, many thanks to you… @Sting #Icon #grateful #class
— Jeff Jarrett (@RealJeffJarrett) January 24, 2014
TNA founder Jeff Jarrett has reportedly met with a number of different potential investors for his new wrestling project. In addition to Toby Keith, Hermie Sadler is said to be another celebrity involved with the project.
Jarrett was said to be “blown away” by how many people that are interested in joining him.
As of right now, there is no set timetable in place for an official announcement on the new wrestling project from Jarrett.
The following are highlights of a recent interview with former TNA announcer Todd Kenley:
On Hulk Hogan’s departure: “I think it was time. I think Hulk went in there and did everything he could do to help the TNA brand and he did a lot of good for them in terms of opening that door to different media channels and a lot of international business. I think he played a solid role. Hulk wasn’t just a figure head. He was in those meetings, he was in creative meetings, he was taking time, he was helping guys fine tune the little nuances in ring and on the mic. He was very active, so anyone who thinks Hulk was there just sitting there collecting a check is wrong and i can tell you that first hand.”
On Jeff Jarrett’s departure: “That one was definitely a big head turner, i mean here’s a guy that really put himself out there, founded that company, took a chance did the weekly PPVs, got on Fox Sports at one point, eventually teamed up with the Carters, got on Spike TV. You think about the roller coaster this guy went through and the sacrifices he made to keep that company around is unbelievable so to walk away from it it’s got to be for a good reason one would think. You read the rumors that he’s going to start his own thing and we’ll see. I honestly hope he does, because the more variety and more opportunity for talented people in this business to get work, be seen and make a living the better. He’s obviously got a great mind for the business, but yeah that’s one where if you followed TNA from day one then he’s the guy who started it all so you gotta look at it and say whats going on here.”
On AJ Styles’ departure: “Time will tell whats really going on there. Obviously as much as Jeff Jarrett founded TNA and is synonymous with TNA in terms of a in ring competitor he’s been labeled at times the poster boy of TNA wrestling, AJ Styles is another guy that you just saw his career, you basically him basically grow up in the business in TNA. They were the ones that really gave him a big opportunity to shine and you saw him go from X Division competitor to holding tag team gold all the way to becoming World Champion. He’s a guy you can’t help but respect, a guy that has tons of class, hard worker, great attitude in terms of working with people. So another guy just like Jarrett where you like wow if they really let him go whats the deal.”
Check out the complete interview online at MoreLikeRadio.org.
– ECW original Tommy Dreamer worked as an agent at the TNA Impact Wrestling television taping on Thursday. Dreamer filled the position left open by Jeff Jarrett when he resigned from the company.
– TNA personality Jeremy Borash appeared on the “Restaurant Impossible” show on the Food Network on Friday night. Borash appeared with Gail Kim’s husband, Chef Robert Irvine, in Santa Rosa, California.