– 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
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.”
– 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.
– TNA founder Jeff Jarrett was in Los Angeles earlier this week taking business meetings regarding his new mystery project. Jarrett is still not ready to announce anything, but it’s believed he’s working on a new wrestling promotion with country music star Toby Keith acting as a majority investor.
The following are highlights of a recent interview with TNA star Gunner:
On having a tryout in front of Hulk Hogan: “I was aware that I was being watched. When I got that dark match, D-Lo said Dixie’s watching, & Hulk’s watching. Here is your opportunity so don’t go out there and screw it up. I’ve always worked well under pressure and I think being in The Marine Corps helps you in dealing with a lot of pressure. It was my opportunity and I was either going to go out there and shine or I was going to burn. Hulk gave me a lot of compliments, not only for my dark match, but throughout the time he was there. He seemed to enjoy a lot of my character, so that meant a lot.
On TNA being on the road versus the Impact Zone: “There are pros & cons to both. Being on the road was great because you get to see different towns and different wrestling fans. The Impact Zone has the same people there usually every week or every month, which is not bad, but then again it’s really nice to get in front of say like, a southern crowd like we will in Alabama for Genesis. It’ll obviously be a hot crowd. But it’s good to be back in the Impact Zone. We have a home base and we know the crowd will be pretty lively.
On AJ Styles leaving TNA: “Superstars leave promotions all the time. It doesn’t mean he (AJ) won’t be back. He may have some things going on that he wants to take care of first. All it is, is giving somebody like me the open door to be the new poster child for the company.
On the state of TNA: “I honestly believe that all is well. It seems that theres’ things going on in WWE that the internet doesn’t hit on. It seems that because we are a younger company, I feel like we are the ones that get hit on so much. I don’t think personally anything is wrong with the company. We’re having more live events in 2014 than we did in 2013. We’re doing the UK tour which is a very huge tour for us plus the new TV deal we just signed in the UK and we’re still with Spike TV, so I don’t think anything’s wrong with the company. I honestly don’t see Impact going anywhere.
On TNA pushing but not committing to young stars: “I understand what you’re talking about and it already happened to me because in 2011 I was in the bound for glory series and I was hot being a singles guy, then I sat home for 8 months, and it wasn’t anything I did wrong, it was just a revamping of the character. There could be things going on behind the scenes that I don’t know about perhaps like somebody not getting along. It is known and it has been said, and Dixie has had conversations with us, and the new talent relations guy said 2014 is the year for the young guys to step up.”
On Jeff Jarrett leaving TNA: “That was kind of out of left field with a lot of us. On a personal level, Jeff helped me a lot also. He was always there for me to ask questions about promos or anything and as far as that, he’s a guy I consider a friend. And on a professional level, I don’t know why he left. Jeff Jarrett is a smart man. He’s a smart business man when it comes to wrestling. He’s been around it his whole life. I wish him luck and hope I get to work with him again someday because he’s always been there for me.”
On how hands-on Dixie Carter is with TNA creative: “When it comes to writing storylines, she doesn’t have any say so in that. She kind of lets the professionals do that. I don’t get to sit in on production meetings so I don’t know what goes on with that stuff. She does keep an eye on everybody and she does watch the show live when we do it. She’s right in front of the monitor in the back. She has input and it is valuable at times because she’s the owner of the company and you definitely want to hear what she has to say.”
TNA President Dixie Carter held a company meeting this week at company headquarters in Nashville to address a wide variety of topics, including Jeff Jarrett’s departure, how future Impact Wrestling TV tapings will be handled and more.
As we reported earlier this month, Impact Wrestling is without a home base once again due to all of the sound stages at Universal Studios in Orlando being booked up for the remainder of 2014. During the meeting, Dixie Carter acknowledged that TNA still does not know where they’ll be holding Impact tapings after March. While they are still in talks with Universal Orlando about working out some sort of deal, the company is looking at other locations for future tapings.
Regarding Jeff Jarrett’s surprise departure from the company, Dixie Carter was very vague and simply called it a “business decision.” It’s believed that when Toby Keith’s negotiations to buy TNA broke down, Jarrett decided it was time to leave.
In related news, TNA is looking to hold the upcoming Lockdown pay-per-view from the Miami, Florida area.
WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross’ has updated his blog, which you can read in its entirety at JRsBarBQ.com:
Ross commented on rumors that he’s in talks with Jeff Jarrett and Toby Keith about starting a new wrestling promotion, saying that it’s simply not true. He said that he’s not spoken to Jeff Jarrett since the day he left WWE back in 1999, which he called “a day that doesn’t rank too high on my list of fun days at work.”
He did mention having dinner with Toby Keith when both men were attending the Sugar Bowl college football game. “We did talk the wrestling biz some but that’s not unusual for me in any conversation after a 40 year career within the genre,” he said. “We also talked country music, business investments, OU football and we spent the afternoon together with ESPN’s Brad Nessler who’s another wrestling fan. Yes, TNA came up a time or two but that was really a non issue in our conversations.”
As for whether he would be interested in returning to the wrestling business on a daily basis, he said it would take a “mighty healthy offer” for him to consider it.
“The politics and paranoia that go along with today’s rasslin business isn’t healthy for me to be around on a full time basis especially at this stage of my life. Plus, I have a specific philosophy regarding how the business should be presented that doesn’t seem to be in fashion these days. ”
– As previously reported, Jeff Jarrett is reportedly starting a new wrestling promotion with financial backing from country music star Toby Keith. According to one source, Jarrett recently contacted several people in the wrestling business and told them when he’s able to talk about this new project, everyone will be shocked.
– TNA’s “Lockdown” pay-per-view will be taking place on Sunday, March 9th. The location for the event is expected to be announced at the TNA “Genesis” special edition of Impact Wrestling.
– Brooke Tessmacher recently noted in a new tweet on her official Twitter account that she will not be taking part in TNA’s upcoming U.K. tour.
Konnan said on the latest MLW podcast that he spoke to Jeff Jarrett over the weekend and Jarrett told him he’s planning to make a big announcement this week (Monday or Tuesday) about the formation of a new wrestling promotion. Granted, it’s coming from Konnan, but it’s something to look out for.
Konnan said Jarrett hinted that country music star Toby Keith would be the majority investor in the project, but stopped short of naming Keith directly. He also said Jarrett told him that TNA is in bad shape, which is not surprising, considering TNA’s recent issues and Jarrett’s abrupt departure from the company he founded over a decade ago.
With Jim Ross’ being a free agent and tweeting that he recently met with Toby Keith, it should be interesting to see what comes of this.
Again, we’re working with a lot of speculation here, so take this one as a rumor.
– TNA star Sting recently posted the following tweet. Before any rumors get started, Sting is referring to the the TNA storyline regarding Jeff Hardy, not Jeff Jarrett.
Dixie you drove off Jeff… I am still here and I am getting what I want tonight. Impact 9pm Spike.
The following are highlights from a recent Newsday interview with TNA wrestler James Storm:
On his short run with the World Heavyweight Title: “I can always say I was the world champion, even if it was for a week. At the end of the day, I don’t want to say I don’t care about it, but my bills are still being paid without the belt . . . when I go to the bank, they don’t ask me if I’m a champion. I still have a lot of years left in me, and the opportunity will come. It’s one of those things that you have to wait your turn.”
On Jeff Jarrett: “To me, Jeff knows wrestling. They need somebody like that either in the production side or the creative side . . . because, let’s face it, he built this company. It was his hard work and his money that he put into it in the very beginning. I think TNA needs Jeff Jarrett, whether it be behind the scenes or in front of the camera or whatever, but they definitely need him—at least for his advice on the wrestling aspect of it.”
On Chris Harris not making it in WWE: “I believe Chris brought it onto himself. I talked to him while he was there. Anytime you go up there, they’re going to test you, to see if you have an attitude or whatever. And I just heard he failed miserably. He had an attitude while he was up there and you can’t do that. You just go up there and you do what they ask of you the best you can, and sooner or later, they’ll find a spot for you and do something with you. Just because he had a good run here, he expected to go up there and have a run, and that’s not so.”
Check out the complete interview online at Newsday.com.
According to one source, country music star Toby Keith was the lead man in a group that was looking to purchase TNA Wrestling recently.
Had the sale with Keith’s group gone through, TNA founder Jeff Jarrett was expected to be a key management figure in the company moving forward due to his relationship with Keith.
The reason Jeff Jarrett is keeping quiet about his TNA departure is due in part to the fact that he signed a non-disclosure.
As far as Jarrett’s future is concerned, there was some rumblings a few months ago that he was going to get involved with some sort of roller derby project. Outside of a lot of speculation, there is no official word on what Jarrett’s future holds.
Jeff Jarrett’s TNA resignation announcement apparently caught many by surprise. As we noted recently, Jarrett had been taking a bigger management role and extended agent work following the departure of Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff from the company, which makes this announcement even more interesting.
Nobody in TNA is talking as if there were any kind of issues involving Jarrett at the last set of television tapings, and it appears that things are “business as usual.”
TNA sources who are normally “in the know” were also caught off guard by the announcement, and aren’t entirely ruling out the possibility that this is a work. At the same time, that is basically speculating based off of the fact that nobody seems to know much of anything about what caused him to resign out of the blue.
WWE Hall Of Famer Jim Ross has once again updated the Q&A section of his website. The following are some new highlights:
On calling the legendary Ric Flair vs. Ricky Steamboat matches: “It was a honor to call them back when play by play was in fashion. Working w/ Bob Caudle was a privilege. Flair & Steamboat were….legendary. I was at right place at right time.”
On if he feels Tito Santana is underrated: “Tito was a great in ring talent. I don’t know who has underrated him. He was a star.”
On whether or not Triple H vs. Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania was the match of the year: “Thanks for your take. I have no dog in this hunt. There weren’t an overabundance of great matches in WWE in 2013 IMO ”
On Jeff Jarrett leaving TNA: “I’m not connected to TNA or Jarrett or to what their relationship together was or has been lately. I don’t know what his departure means to TNA. TNA has many fixable issues. I wish Jeff and his family well.”
On the overrun during WWE RAW on Monday’s: “Enhances the TV ratings minute by minute numbers.”
On a dream match at WrestleMania between Shawn Michaels and Sting: “At the right place at the right time it would have been terrific. A main event. The ship’s sailed on that one or so I think.”
On the possibility of the War Games concept being used by WWE: “Highly unlikely. I don’t see it happening. It wasn’t a WWE creation and the blood is a no-no.”
On Drew McIntyre’s future in WWE: “It’s all about the creative and the production and execution of such. Any one can be made to be relevant in the fictional world of pro wrestling.”
On the importance of Steve Austin during the Attitude Era: “In the Attitude Era, it was Stone Cold who was the straw that stirred the drink. But he was surrounded by some great talents as well.”
On the possibility of Brock Lesnar vs. Batista in 2014: “If both are around with enough TV availabilities I’d say it’s possible. It would be a nice attraction.”
On if the Hardy Boys would ever return to WWE: “I’d say never say never but I’d also guess it would likely be a long shot. Sometimes long shots come through.”
The official TNA website issued the following statement this afternoon regarding Jeff Jarrett’s tweet from earlier today that he has resigned from the company:
TNA Entertainment, LLC announced today that it has accepted Mr. Jeff Jarrett’s resignation from the company effective January 6th, 2014.
Dixie Carter, President, commented “On behalf of TNA, we would like to thank Jeff for his contributions to the Company. We wish him the very best and look forward to his continued participation as an investor in TNA Wrestling.”
The news is surprising, since Jarrett had been taking on a larger role behind the scenes in recent months as the head of TNA’s creative team. He also has a minority stake in TNA.
Jarrett hasn’t been used on-screen in TNA since 2011 when he lost a #1 Contenders Steel Cage Match to Jeff Hardy and was “fired” in storylines. He continued to work behind the scenes, overseeing TNA’s Ring Ka King promotion in India but more recently working as a backstage agent, and negotiating the deals for AJ Styles to “defend” the title in Japan and Mexico.
– Sebastian Guerra, a 21-year-old Puerto Rican-based wrestler (billed at 6’4″ and 290 pounds) who tried out with WWE in August, is expected to tryout for TNA Wrestling sometime next year after being invited due to so by Jeff Jarrett.
“I’m going to go possibly in January,” he remarked to PRWrestling.com. “They searched me and offered it to me. It’s another opportunity. I have nothing to lose.”
– Velvet Sky spoke to Jim Varsallone of The Miami Herald before a recent Impact Wrestling taping in Orlando, Florida. During the interview she addressed leaving the wrestling boots for high heels as the manager of Chris Sabin.
According to sources, one group that was rumored to be looking to buy TNA, which was a company that circulated online but never the lead candidate, has pulled out.
A different group, which met with TNA executives a few weeks ago and has been the key party still interested, is still in play. While it may seem on the surface that the TNA sale is a non-issue at this point because nobody seems to know anything, and nothing new has popped up online about it, the main company is still in the mix and are talking positively about making the deal. This group is looking for complete and total ownership and apparently the key in finalizing the deal is whether or not they feel the asking price is fair.
There has been some talk that the Carter family is wanting to raise capital by selling a percentage and retaining a majority ownership of the company, but the aforementioned group still in the running is apparently not interested in a minority ownership.
Jeff Jarrett, who has reportedly picked up a considerable amount of power in TNA lately, would be expected to gain even more power if the sale takes place, since he’s more than likely a big factor in getting the deal going.
-The Aces & 8’s group is reportedly going to be dismantled soon, as that was an Eric Bischoff project. With Bischoff being sent home by TNA recently, there is no word on how that will affect Garett Bischoff. Garett is considered a hard worker and is well liked by many in TNA.
-Jeff Jarrett is the man responsible for securing the deals to send AJ Styles to outside promotions to defend the TNA World Heavyweight Championship. Additionally, Jarrett is in charge of agent work for most of the big matches in TNA, including the recent Kurt Angle vs. Bobby Roode match.
-Seiya Sanada, the guy who will be wrestling AJ Styles when he defends the TNA title in Japan for Keiji Mutoh’s Wrestle-1 promotion, has expressed interest in coming to TNA.
-TNA World Heavyweight Champion AJ Styles is officially scheduled to work the November 16th Wrestle-1 event in Tokyo, Japan. Styles’ match, which will be against rising star Seiya Sanada, will not be for his TNA title. The reason the match will be a non-title bout is because Styles is already scheduled to defend the belt against Judas Mesias for the AAA promotion in Mexico.
According to one source, TNA executive Jeff Jarrett pushed for the Styles vs. Sanada match, and it could lead to Sanada coming to the United States as a part of the TNA partnership with The Great Muta’s (Keiji Mutoh) Wrestle-1 promotion.
-TNA added a new “#IMPACT365” video on their official YouTube channel with the title, “#IMPACT365 – Kurt Angle’s condition after his match on IMPACT.” The video is accompanied by the following description: “#IMPACT365 – TNA wrestling medical staff attend to Kurt Angle backstage during IMPACT after his match with Bobby Roode”
You can watch the “#IMPACT365: Kurt Angle’s condition after his match on IMPACT” video below:
-Apparently Kurt Angle suffered another legitimate injury at the Bound For Glory pay-per-view. According to reports, Angle tore some cartilage in his knee when he missed the moonsault off of the top-rope in his match against Bobby Roode.
-With Eric Bischoff out of the picture in TNA these days, the creative direction of the company will be handled by TNA writers Matt Conway and Dave Lagana. The guys responsible for maneuvering the creative direction of the company will be John Gaburick and Jeff Jarrett.
-TNA drew a reported 1,500 fans for their Impact Wrestling television tapings in Salt Lake City, Utah recently.