TNA World Champion Kurt Angle spoke to Sports Illustrated’s Extra Mustard blog this week about his recent negotiations with WWE and expressed disbelief about the company’s lack of interest in signing him.

After becoming a free agent several months ago, Angle decided he wanted to return ‘home’ and was interested in finishing his career in WWE. He reached out to Vince McMahon, but then got the runaround.

“Paul is in charge,” said Angle. “I found that out when I contacted Vince. I’ve always had a good relationship with Paul, so I didn’t consider that a problem. But he decided they had enough talent.

“For the Vince McMahon who I knew, enough was never enough. He always wanted more. I don’t know what was going on over there, but they even canceled our meeting. I never went to see them. They didn’t even sit me down and talk to me.

Angle was shocked at how the situation unfolded, but is grateful that TNA pitched him a deal that was too good to pass up.

“It blew my mind,” he said. “It was as if I was a nobody, that I wasn’t Kurt Angle. From a wrestling standpoint, they just weren’t interested. But TNA not only stepped up, they gave me everything I wanted – the dates, the money, and it’s no secret that I’ve went to rehab in the past, and they gave me time off. You talk about a company that’s loyal to you, and you want to be loyal back. So I didn’t pursue the WWE any further. When it comes down to it, you’ve got to stick with the people who want to take care of you. And [TNA president] Dixie Carter took care of me.

Angle spoke about the value he would have added to WWE and revealed several wrestlers he was interested in working with, had he been given the opportunity.

“I’m going to be straight with you,” said Angle. “The WWE would have made more money this year if they would have signed me. That’s no secret.”

“The best match of the year would have been between myself and Daniel Bryan,” said Angle. “Rusev would have made sense, and Brock and I could have went at it again. There were just so many places to go. I don’t know if they just thought I was too old, but obviously they’re not watching our product. Triple H is the same age as me. It was hard, but at the end of the day, I’m really happy.

“Will I ever go back? I really don’t care. I’m happy to be here in TNA.”

One of the main reasons Daniel Bryan is in the WWE Intercontinental Championship ladder match at WrestleMania 31 instead of the WWE World Heavyweight Championship picture is because of concerns within WWE over his health, not the fact that the company does not view him as a “top Superstar.”

Bryan chose to undergo a unique form of rehabilitation for his recent injuries and because of that, there is a strong fear that the injuries could become a reoccurring issue. The concern is that the rehab that Bryan chose is not a permanent fix, but rather a short-term fix that could lead to additional greater issues down the road.

There are those who feel that if WWE officials weren’t worried about his injury issues coming back in the future, he would be in a more prominent position at WrestleMania 31 and in the company in general.

One source compared Bryan’s situation to that of Kurt Angle a few years ago. Angle had several non-invasive surgeries on his neck years back, and while it prevented him from taking lengthy periods of time to recover in the short-term, it actually resulted in a number of other injuries and issues in the long-term.

• PHOTOS: RONDA ROUSEY Interviews ROMAN REIGNS For WrestleMania 31!

(Credit: PWInsider.com)

– As reported earlier this week, WWE is looking at bringing some legends back for a match at next year’s WrestleMania 32 pay-per-view to help fill Cowboys Stadium and set the all-time attendance record. Today, WWE’s official website is running a poll asking fans which legend they would like to see have one more match at WrestleMania. The options are Steve Austin, Shawn Michaels, Bill Goldberg, The Rock, Hulk Hogan, Batista, Kurt Angle, Jeff Hardy, Vince McMahon, Lita, Trish Stratus or The Dudley Boyz.

With over 2,000 votes cast as of this writing, Stone Cold is leading the pack with 30 percent of the vote. Trailing Austin are Goldberg (21%), Shawn Michaels (13%) and Kurt Angle and Jeff Hardy, both of whom have eight percent of the votes. You can vote on the poll at WWE.com.

– The latest WWE Superstar workout video released by WWE features WrestleMania 31 headliner Roman Reigns preparing for his WWE World Heavyweight Championship match against Brock Lesnar this Sunday. You can check out Reigns’ WrestleMania workout video below.

• Bill Goldberg: “There’s a Distinct Possibility I’ll Be Fighting MMA This Year”

With WrestleMania only a week away, we continue our survey of the best matches in the event’s history by looking at the second decade of action. This was an important and transitional decade for the company, as they started the period relying on superstars such as Bret Hart, Diesel, and Shawn Michaels at the top of the card, while ending it with guys such as Triple H, Brock Lesnar, and of course, Steve Austin.

The content of the product also changed dramatically during this time period, with it starting as a family-friendly product during the “new generation” era, and we all know what went on during the Attitude Era after the company shifted focus due to pressure from rival WCW. With that said, here are the ten best matches from this era. Matches are judged based on workrate, in-ring psychology, pre-match build, and historical significance, and a full video of the match is included with each entry.

10. Chris Benoit vs. Kurt Angle vs. Chris Jericho (WrestleMania 2000)

Despite being billed as the greatest thing since electricity, WrestleMania 2000 was basically a bust. One of the few bright spots was the two-fall triple threat match between Benoit, Angle, and Jericho. The stipulation was unique in that both the Intercontinental and European Championships were on the line, with the first fall deciding the former and the second deciding the latter. Angle would go into the match holding both titles, but would unfortunately walk out with neither. Benoit won the first fall with a diving headbutt and pinning Jericho. Jericho would win the second by delivering a Lionsault and pinning Benoit. It featured fast-paced action with a ton of near-falls, and it told a great story by having Angle lose both of his titles without being pinned or forced to submit.

9. Triple H vs. Chris Jericho (WrestleMania X8)

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2d0qox_wwf-wrestlemania-xviii-chris-jericho-vs-hunter-hearst-helmsley_sport

This was the first time Chris Jericho had the opportunity to headline a WrestleMania, and he came into the match aligned with Stephanie McMahon as a heel. It told a great story that featured a thorough build, and eventually ended with The Game winning the Undisputed Championship after hitting the Pedigree.

8. Chris Benoit vs. Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels (WrestleMania XX)

These guys were three of the best technical wrestlers in the game at the time. The match was entertaining, there were multiple near-falls, and in the end, the title changed hands after Benoit forced Triple H to tap out to the Crippler Crossface. After the match, Benoit’s best friend Eddie Guerrero came to the ring and the two embraced while confetti rained down from the rafters. It’s of course a little bittersweet due to what happened years later, but it is still an emotional moment and a great match nonetheless.

7. The Rock vs. Hollywood Hulk Hogan (WrestleMania X8)

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2d0qps_wwf-wrestlemania-xviii-the-rock-vs-hollywood-hogan_sport

This match seems to receive a mixed reaction from a lot of fans. In my opinion, it is one of the most entertaining and unpredictable matches in WrestleMania history, largely due to the crowd reaction. Going into the match, The Rock was the fan favorite while Hogan was booked as the heel. However, the crowd turned on Rock halfway through the match and started to cheer Hogan. The two improvised from there the match ended with Hogan once again turning face and celebrating with The People’s Champion after going down in defeat.

6. Steve Austin vs. Shawn Michaels (WrestleMania XIV)

Following his match with Bret Hart at the previous WrestleMania, Austin was undoubtedly the top dog in the WWE. It wouldn’t be until this night that he would finally capture his first WWE Championship, however. This wasn’t a technical affair by any means, largely due to Michaels wrestling with a severely injured back. With that said, it was still an entertaining contest that featured great in-ring psychology and one of the best builds of any main event in WrestleMania history due to the involvement of Mike Tyson. Austin would of course go on to win the title and start his run as perhaps the most successful superstar in WWE history.

ROH TV Champion Jay Lethal recently appeared as a guest on the Chad Dukes Wrestling Show to promote his upcoming match against Alberto El Patron. Below are highlights from the interview.

On wrestling Alberto El Patron: “The coolest part of it is my dad, who watches anything and everything wrestling, is a big fan of Alberto’s, so it was actually cool getting to wrestle somebody that my dad was a fan of AND beating him so that way I could rub it in my dad’s face.

“But also, much like when I wrestled Ric Flair, Kurt Angle, I love those high-profile matches where you know there’s gonna be a lot of eyes on you because there’s a lot of press and publicity and such surrounding the match. I always love rising to those occasions because it’s kind of a lot of pressure, you know? You know the competition is going to be watching, especially since Alberto came from somewhere else, some of the people over there are going to be watching, it’s really exciting. It can be nerve wrecking, but I love those moments in wrestling.”

On the internet wrestling community: “That’s where we get to almost judge whether not what we’re doing is working. I think a lot of the internet wrestling community fans are bit smarter than the average wrestling fan, which is why they come together in this little internet community. I definitely think that it’s a positive that they are there, although they shouldn’t be taken too seriously sometimes.

“The wrestling world is becoming smarter, and what I mean by that is, I remember a time where there were so many fans who only knew what the WWF was and that was it. Now that they are finding out about independent shows and all the other things like that they’re becoming smarter, not even because they want to be but because it’s happening naturally. I do believe if we can please them, and its very easy to know if they’re being pleased, [laughs] they do not keep it to themselves.

“Every wrestler is egotistical, we all are. We all want to be praised. So no matter what it is we do, no matter who the wrestler is, don’t let them fool you, we all search for comments about what we are doing. Some of us take those comments too personally, they take it to the heart and they let it get us down if we thought we did something good but find out there was a massive amount of people or maybe a small amount of people who don’t think that it was good. That really gets some people down, I’ve seen it happen and it’s a shame. But overall I think it’s a good tool.”

Check out the complete interview at ChadDukesWrestlingShow.com.

• BACKSTAGE UPDATE: Samoa Joe Signing With WWE SOONER THAN YOU THINK!!

TNA star Ethan Carter III spoke with the Journey Of A Frontman website while at Tommy Dreamer’s “House of Hardcore VIII” event in Philadelphia last weekend. Below are highlights from the interview.

On working with top guys such as Sting and Kurt Angle: “Looking at it from the perspective as a fan growing up watching wrestling, it’s surreal to be in the ring with guys I considered heroes, guys I watched every week. From being a little kid to a teenager, I would see a thing Kurt Angle did in a match one time and pause the TV. Then I’d look to my dad and say, “Someday I’m gonna do that.” And he’s like, “Okay.” Then someday I’m doing it and I’m in the ring with a guy that inspired me. As a fan, that’s incredible. As far as a talent or performer, you only get better being in the ring with people that are better than you. The only way to improve is to be in situations you’re not accustomed to and being taught through hands-on training. Being in the ring with Sting, Bully, Angle, even all the other veterans in TNA like Eric Young, Austin Aries, Matt Hardy, Abyss, you’re always learning with all those guys. You always learn with everything you do. Guys that have been around longer have learned from some of the best too. It’s the trickle-down effect. Trickle-Down Economics, Ronald Reagan style.”

On having freedom with his character: “I think being locked into a verbatim script is hard for a wrestler because we’re not professional actors. If we were, we’d be getting paid not to get hurt. The thing about being a wrestler and a character is that it’s an extension of your personality. It’s hard for somebody to write who you are. It’s easier to be given a scenario and a situation where you can act in it. You get a script in both places, there’s a difference in that sense. In the sense of TNA, I’ve been able to take scripts and feel it out there. I’m not deviating from the important things, but I’ll put it in my own words. And I think that’s helped me greatly because I’m the best me that I can be and every talent is the best they can be. It’s also the talent’s responsibility to incorporate themselves into their character and not be apprehensive by saying that something sucks and they don’t want to do it. You have a segment on national television, take that as an opportunity to make it something special. Every time you have a chance, do something special.”

On the Bill DeMott controversy: “It’s an unfortunate situation that happened. There’s varied opinions. As far as wrestling training, it should be difficult a hundred percent. You’re in a place where you’re supposed to represent the best. During my time in developmental, I had some of the best coaches in the world. I had Dr. Tom Prichard, Steve Keirn, Norman Smiley, we had Billy Kidman for a time, Ricky Steamboat, and all these guys push you. They push you to be better constantly. I would be dead dog tired from those practices, but it was never at the expense of my humility as a human being, at the expense of being made an example of, it was to get better. I was pushed to get better. I firmly believe that fully. As far as that scenario, what’s come out are things that did happen and it isn’t a place for that. Not in 2015. Not in wrestling in general. It’s not bettering you as a wrestler.”

Check out the complete interview at JourneyOfAFrontman.com.

• WWE Planning Very Special Ring Entrances For Sting & Rusev At WrestleMania 31

Part-time WWE performer Chris Jericho revealed on social media that he has a role in the new film, “Sharknado 3.”

Jericho posted a photo on his official Instagram account, which you can view below, that features he and actress Tara Reid on the set of the film.

Sharknado has a history with pro wrestlers, as TNA star Kurt Angle was featured in the Sharknado 2 movie.

In a related note, Jericho recently listed his least favorite songs in a new feature for the AV Club website. You can check that out at AVClub.com.

• VERY Detailed Update On Reason BROCK LESNAR Walked Out On WWE On Monday!

– The new contract that Kurt Angle recently signed with TNA is a one-year deal that expires at the end of December of 2015.

– While it’s possible that Mickie James ends up working more dates for TNA, the deal she recently signed with the company only called for her to appear on the U.K. tour to be a part of an angle with Magnus.

– Below are some recent TNA attendance figures from their current U.K. tour:

January 29th in Glasgow, Scotland drew 1,500 fans
January 30th in Manchester, England drew 3,000 fans
January 31st in London, England drew 4,500 fans

• VIDEO: Young Girl KOs Older Man, Claiming To Be Ex-UFC Fighter, With Vicious Punch

(Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)

Kurt Angle defeated Bobby Lashley to win the TNA World Heavyweight title at Sunday night’s Impact Wrestling tapings from London, England. We’ll have full spoilers shortly.

Congratulations to @RealKurtAngle on becoming the new tna world heavy weight champion #IMPACTLondon pic.twitter.com/Ctkkx7L46S

— Dawgfatheruk B42 EMPIRE (@dawgfatheruk) February 1, 2015

@RealKurtAngle @fightbobby thanks for a fantastic match. Congrats NEW heavyweight world champ kurt angle! pic.twitter.com/SdY4rWCd1J

— Emma knight (@HopwoodroadEmma) February 1, 2015

– SEScoops reader Luis Figueroa sent in the following recap of what happened after Monday’s WWE RAW from New Orleans went off the air:

“The dark match on raw was bray vs dean… it was really weak bray cut a quick promo on dean… dean came out… kendo stick came out a few high spots with the stick… bray,rolls out the ring and walks off …im a huge wyatt fan… it was soo dull…”

– TNA Superstar Kurt Angle tweeted the following on Monday night in response to Paul Heyman putting over Brock Lesnar as the only man to be an NCAA Heavyweight wrestling champion, WWE Champion and UFC Heavyweight Champion. Angle argues he’s got one major professional accomplishment that Lesnar will never have.

Do Ur homework before U speak @HeymanHustle NCAA champ, check. WWE title, check. That's 2 out of 3. Oh and Olympic Gold! Brock have that?

— Kurt Angle (@RealKurtAngle) January 13, 2015

The following are highlights of a new Ring Rust Radio interview with TNA President Dixie Carter:

On the transition to Destination America: “Well I think it is critical for the company. We were in a position where in negotiations I went to every network saying, ‘Look, we are not interested in just licensing our two hour show Impact for your network. I am interested in a partner, someone who will help build our brand, give us more exposure, provide new programming for us’, and that’s exactly what we have gotten and more with the support of Discovery and Destination America. We are very, very excited about all that they are giving us across all ten Discovery networks; support, print advertising, PR, radio, digital. It is everything we had hoped it would be.”

On re-signing Kurt Angle: “Well, I think Kurt was a game changer for us when we first signed him. I think it is important at such a new beginning for us to still have him as a corner stone for our company. Kurt looks at all the positive changes that are happening. Our signing with Destination America out in Los Angeles, the new network deal, the commitment from them, he sees the big picture and he gets it. He is a joy to work with and a real leader for us. We are thrilled to have him.”

On the atmosphere in TNA: “Unfortunately, I’m not even going to see what the atmosphere is like Wednesday. I will be in Los Angeles while they are going live in New York. I am representing Discovery and Destination America at the Television and Critics Association. Again, that’s just part of what they are asking us to do. Ken Anderson, Chris Melendez and I will be there. We will be representing our show and network in front of hundreds of media representatives. Just the whole vibe from the locker room, everyone was so supportive. They realize that this is what we have all been wanting and hoping for. This is going to be a great fresh start for us.”

On rebooting storylines or sticking with past storylines: “I think it’s a little bit of both quite honestly. The momentum we had in New York for those shows this past year we want to continue that on and kick it up a notch. We got some surprises planned and we’ve got some changes planned. You won’t see it as much at the live shows but there’s only so much you can do with a live television production. The shows afterwards you are going to start to see a transformation of some new technologies that we are going to use. From new productions and some new and exciting ways in which we want to showcase the show. Things we have talked about for a long time, but quite honestly, technology wasn’t where we needed it to be to fit in to how we have to shoot a wrestling show. I am really, really excited for things to start taking shape in the coming weeks.”

On TNA pay-per-view plans: “We will still have several live ones a year, but when we have them they will mean something and be worth people’s hard earned money. I think that the creative team really wanted to start the year off with a bang and something special on the network. So we decided to take the Lockdown theme live and free on Destination America. I was supportive of that and we will have a couple of live pay-per-views a year and then we will still do some of the One Night Only specials that have been really successful for us.”

TNA star Kurt Angle, who officially re-signed with the promotion recently, spoke to Associated Press writer Dan Gelston to promote the upcoming launch of Impact Wrestling on Destination America, which is scheduled for this Wednesday night.

During the discussion, Angle talked about a possible return to the ring. “It looks like I’ll be wrestling here sooner rather than later, if that gives you a hint,” Angle said while laughing.

Angle also compared his run in TNA to his run in WWE, noting that while he had a great career in WWE, he feels his TNA run has actually been better.

“I had an incredible career at WWE,” said Angle, “but my career has actually been better in TNA.”

You can check out the complete interview at AP.org.

• DIRECT LINK: Photos From This Weekend — CM Punk & AJ Lee At Dinner, Hanging With SHAQ At UFC & More!

– TNA President Dixie Carter noted recently that Kurt Angle will be making a major announcement on Wednesday’s live edition of Impact Wrestling on Destination America.

– Speaking of Dixie, both she and TNA executive John Gaburick noted on Twitter that they spent all day Monday in meetings at TNA Headquarters in Nashville to prepare for the Wednesday premiere of Impact Wrestling on Destination America.

• DIRECT LINK: Photos From This Weekend — CM Punk & AJ Lee At Dinner, Hanging With SHAQ At UFC & More!

TNA executive John Gaburick announced via his official Twitter account the re-signing of former TNA World Heavyweight Champion Eric Young.

Young joins Kurt Angle, Abyss, Ethan Carter III, Mr. Anderson, Jessie Godderz, Davey Richards, Eddie Edwards and Madison Rayne, all of whom have officially signed back on with the promotion for their upcoming Destination America debut.

Below is the announcement from Gaburick’s Twitter page:

Proud to announce that former World Heavyweight Champion Eric Young (@ShowtimeEY) has signed a new contract with @IMPACTWRESTLING!

— John Gaburick (@JohnGaburick) January 6, 2015

• DIRECT LINK: MORE Photos — CM Punk & AJ Lee At Dinner, Hanging With SHAQ At UFC & More!

TNA announced today that they have re-signed Mr. Anderson and Madison Rayne to new deals with the company.

Anderson and Rayne join Kurt Angle, Abyss, Ethan Carter III and Jessie Godderz as recognized TNA talents that have re-signed with the company this week.

As noted earlier this week, TNA announced the re-signing of Kurt Angle, which obviously means he will not be returning to WWE as was rumored a few months back. Apparently, WWE simply wasn’t interested in bringing Angle back as an active performer.

There is, however, a feeling within WWE that once Angle is eventually done with his in-ring career, he will most likely be hired as a coach/trainer for their NXT developmental system.

TNA has announced the re-signing of former TNA Tag-Team Champion Jessie Godderz. Godderz joins Kurt Angle, Abyss and Ethan Carter III as talents that have re-signed with the promotion this week.

Speaking of TNA talents, the company has moved Bully Ray, Devon, Brittany, Quinton Jackson and Shark Boy to the alumni section of their official website.

In the case of Bully Ray, his deal with TNA expired and it remains to be seen whether or not he will be re-signing with the company for their return to cable television on Destination America later this month.

• VIDEO: Jon Jones, Daniel Cormier AND Their Camps Involved In CRAZY Backstage Altercation On Thursday

As noted earlier this week, TNA issued a press release confirming the re-signing of longtime star Kurt Angle.

It’s believed that this could be Angle’s final run as a wrestler for any company, as it was said during his negotiations with WWE and TNA that whichever company he signed with would likely be his final run as an active wrestler.

Angle has since commented on his TNA return. Below is a tweet he posted shortly after the announcement was made.

It's official. Happy to be part of the TNA wrestling roster! TNA has been loyal to me and I will do the same. http://t.co/La5nAuVrDH

— Kurt Angle (@RealKurtAngle) December 30, 2014

In addition to Kurt Angle and Abyss, who TNA revealed re-signed with the promotion earlier this week, the company has now announced the re-signing of Ethan Carter III.

EC3 joins what will become a growing list of talents whose TNA deals expired recently that will be returning to the company now that they are gearing up for their re-launch on Destination America.

Below is a tweet from Dixie Carter confirming the EC3 re-signing.

The best signing I've ever made!!! #WorldsBestNephew @EthanCarterTNA pic.twitter.com/YkNl7SZkjD

— Dixie Carter (@TNADixie) December 31, 2014

• BACKSTAGE NEWS Regarding The Idea Behind RYBACK’S Promo From Monday’s RAW

The following are highlights of the latest blog by WWE Hall Of Famer Jim Ross:

On his interview with Dixie Carter: “Had a great conversation with Dixie Carter Tuesday night for next week’s podcast that drops on Tuesday January 6 on podcastone.com. Dixie answered all my questions and there were plenty of them in the hour plus conversation. Impact Wrestling debuts the first week of January on Destination America. We addressed Vince Russo, Bobby Lashley, Bobby Roode, AJ Styles, Mike Tenay the upcoming NYC TV tapings, and she touched on how her company was going to essentially be re-branded. I hope that they succeed and I’m anxious to watch their first show which will also be the debut of Josh Mathews and Taz as the new broadcast team. This is a really good show and I hope that you will join us as always as a new show drops every Tuesday night at 9 pm ET.”

On Wrestle Kingdom 9 possibly being his last big wrestling announcing job: “I certainly don’t want to sound like an endless amount of wrestlers who retire multiple times but the simple truth of my broadcasting assignment this Sunday is that it well could well my last one. I have no wrestling broadcast gigs booked after this Sunday and unless something comes along that i can’t pass on Sunday could easily be the last major PPV for which I ever provide play by play. I’m not against doing the occasional wrestling show but it’s going to take something special to get me out of Oklahoma on a regular basis.”

On Daniel Bryan: “Big question for WWE is, can they get Daniel Bryan back to the level that he was prior to his medial issues? It’s certainly doable but will need careful strategizing. Funny how getting one specific talent back on TV makes the entire presentation have a somewhat different feel. Hopefully, the WM31 money bouts are on paper in pencil, at worst, because the key to building a successful WrestleMania or any major event is the proverbial build that creates viable anticipation for the fans. Some creative types out work themselves by doing all they can to make a major card unpredictable when that isn’t necessary whatsoever. Making a card logical is the key and then save your surprises for the endings of the matches.”

On Kurt Angle re-signing with TNA: “Smart move by TNA to re-sign Kurt Angle and if they utilize Kurt properly, he will remain a significant asset. By properly, I mean wrestling occasionally and only at significant events in main event level matches. Kurt has reached the “attraction” stage of his career and there is no reason to look at him as a “regular” talent any longer. Via creative booking, Kurt can provide the necessary “rub” that older stars should do for the younger talents who are going to be counted on as future, main eventers. That “rub” doesn’t have to be physical either.”

Check out the complete blog at JRsBarBQ.com. You can also order JR’s Bar-B-Q products online at WWEShop.com.

After announcing the re-signing of Kurt Angle on Tuesday, TNA has also confirmed that Abyss (aka Chris Parks) has also re-signed with the company. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Many of the TNA deals have expired since the promotion’s last television taping, so it’s believed that we will see a number of re-signing announcements in the coming days.

Abyss posted the following on Twitter about his TNA signing.

Thank you @IMPACTWRESTLING & @JohnGaburick! Extremely proud of being a member of TNA since the beginning and our team pic.twitter.com/mQUKVefD5z

— Abyss (@TherealAbyss) December 31, 2014

TNA issued the following press release announcing Kurt Angle has officially re-signed with the company.

Kurt Angle Re-signs With TNA Wrestling!

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (December 30, 2014) – TNA today announced Olympic Gold Medalist and TNA Hall-of-Fame member Kurt Angle has signed a new contract to remain an active TNA roster member. Kurt can be seen on IMPACT WRESTLING’s new home, Destination America, during a special LIVE event from New York City on Wednesday January 7 at 9/8c.

“Kurt Angle’s arrival nearly a decade ago put TNA on the map. Now Kurt leads a fresh, young IMPACT WRESTLING locker room into a whole new era on Destination America,” said TNA President Dixie Carter. “Once Kurt steps inside those ropes there is no greater talent in professional wrestling.”

“I’m extremely excited to remain with TNA Wrestling,” said Angle. “The driving force behind my signing is the honesty, great communication and positive changes being made by Dixie Carter and John Gaburick. Things are moving upward and forward at TNA, and 2015 will be a great one for all of us at IMPACT WRESTLING.”

For more information on Kurt Angle and other talent signings visit impactwrestling.com, and follow IMPACT WRESTLING on twitter @IMPACTWRESTLING and TNA President Dixie Carter @TNADixie.

IMPACT WRESTLING premieres in its permanent time slot on Fridays from 9-11 PM ET beginning January 16 on Destination America. And, IMPACT WRESTLING: UNLOCKED with Mike Tenay premieres in its permanent time slot on Saturdays from 10 AM-Noon ET beginning January 17, immediately followed by TNA GREATEST MATCHES from Noon-1 PM ET.

• NEW Opponent For STING At WrestleMania 31? + SETH ROLLINS To Enter WORLD Title Picture?! …

The following are highlights of a new Main Event Madness Radio interview with Global Force Wrestling (GFW) founder Jeff Jarrett:

On his greatest in-ring accomplishment: “Well inside the ring, you know, it goes without saying, anybody that’s ever laced up a pair of boots, anyone that’s wanted to be a professional wrestler that became a professional wrestler, they want to be world champion. So, when I reached that goal, I was very, very happy. Every world title I’ve ever won was a proud moment, you know? The first time I won the [WWE] Intercontinental Title back in 1995, I really enjoyed that. When I look back on my career, you have different phases of your career, and I enjoyed my time and series of matches with Shawn Michaels, and just a couple years ago, my series of matches with Kurt Angle. Those are some of the highlights.”

On if he thought TNA would last as long as it has when it started: “You know, I’ve been asked that question several different ways. When anybody starts a business, you envision it being around for a long time. Nobody starts a business and says, ‘Hey I’m gonna be around for a month or two.’ So, absolutely. I did everything in my power and [I’m] very pleased with my time in TNA.”

Check out the complete interview at Spreaker.com.

– TNA ran ads in the local New York City market during Monday’s RAW for their upcoming Impact Wrestling television tapings in January. The ads featured Taz telling fans to come see a “true wrestling experience.”

– TNA star Kurt Angle celebrates his 45th birthday today. Angle was born on December 9, 1969.

– TNA President Dixie Carter posted the following on Twitter regarding some of the TNA Knockouts being voted as Playboy’s “Hottest All-Time Women of Wrestling.”

Congrats to @hemmepowered @TheTarynTerrell & @VelVelHoller for making @Playboy’s Hottest All Time Women of Wrestling! http://t.co/AZQ8MHKsed

— Dixie Carter (@TNADixie) December 8, 2014

– As noted recently, TNA will be making changes to the look and graphics planned for Impact Wrestling when the show debuts on their new cable home at Destination America in January.

TNA President Dixie Carter tweeted the following, revealing that there will be a new official logo for the show.

Just approved a new logo for @ImpactWrestling for @DestAmerica. #Killer

— Dixie Carter (@TNADixie) December 4, 2014

– Kurt Angle sat down with Vince Russo for an exclusive video shoot interview, following their free interview on “The Swerve” podcast this week. During the candid interview, Kurt talks in-depth about his struggles with pain killers, what it took for him to stop, working injured and how it played a part in his WWE departure, and much more.

Below is a teaser preview video for the interview:

http://youtu.be/dDXB6FSwPss