– Vince Russo is looking to become Executive Producer of TNA iMPACT, if he leaves the creative team. This is similar to the job that Kevin Dunn holds on WWE’s RAW brand.

– Despite returning to the ring already, Kurt Angle is still banged up from the Lockdown match with Mr. Anderson. Angle hurt his ribs again at the May 21st TNA live event.

– Speaking of busted ribs, Homicide is also nursing some soreness after working in a bad ring on the independent scene a few weeks back. Homicide aggrivated the injury even worse during a match with Japanese legend Jushin Lisger at the May 22nd for Jersey All Pro show.

– As previously reported, the reason TNA did the storyline with taking Mick Foley off TV was because he was running out of dates on his contract. Foley recently pitched an idea to TNA officials that he’d return this summer with a new stable. It’s been speculated in the past that Foley would team up with a group of ECW Originals.

Props: Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Last Wednesday, Mick Foley published a blog on his MySpace account criticizing Triple H for mocking Lilian Garcia during her appearance on Raw last month. Garcia was back on Raw to fill in as ring announcer with most of the Raw crew grounded overseas.

The event in question occurred during Hunter’s show-opening monologue on the Apr. 19 Raw in which he made a crack about Garcia “horsing around.” The comment stems from those in the WWE’s “inner circle” often joking that Lilian has a horse-shaped face.

Foley wrote: “Why does someone like Triple H, one of the most talented, well paid guys in the business, do something so shallow and mean? Why would a multi-millionaire, with millions of fans around the world, feel the need (several times over the years) to say something that is only meant to hurt? I don’t get it. I don’t get why it’s done, I don’t get why it’s condoned, I don’t get what possible satisfaction anyone involved gets from demeaning someone like Lillian Garcia. I just don’t get it.”

Breaking her silence on the matter, Garcia wrote the following message to Foley on her Twitter account today: “Mick Foley, this tweet’s for you!! I really appreciate your kind words and the compassion you showed in your blog. Your care for my feelings proves what a loving, caring and wonderful human being you are. This is why I truly miss working with you. You are one of a kind!! Thank you, love you!!”

Foley acknowledged feedback he’s received since last week for chastising Triple H for his dig towards Garcia in a follow-up blog. He acknowledged that he may have cost himself professionally down the road, not to mention that some people may see him as a hypocrite, but felt he had to stand for certain principles in this situation.

Foley explained further: “I could go into great detail about why some of the issues raised (it was innocent joking around on Triple H’s part, I’m a hypocrite because I made fun of Al Snow, Test, etc., where was I during the Mickie James angle?) but I think it would be far more productive for readers to try to figure out the differences for themselves.”

TNA star Mick Foley is calling out WWE superstar Triple H for his “shallow” and “mean” joke about Lilian Garcia’s appearance on RAW two weeks ago.

Garcia returned to WWE for one night to guest ring announce when the RAW crew was stranded in Europe. During the opening segment of the show, Triple H had a microphone and went over to her and said, “Even Lillian Garcia. If Lillian wants to come back here for night to the WWE just to horse around, she can do it.” After Triple H’s remarks, Jerry Lawler make a horse sound on commentary. Triple H’s “horsing around” comment reportedly a reference to a backstage joke about Lilian that her face resembles that of a horse.

Foley wrote on his MySpace.com blog that Triple H’s joke was the latest incident in a pattern of cruel on-air behavior from Vince McMahon’s son in law:

“Why does someone like Triple H, one of the most talented, well paid guys in the business, do something so shallow and mean? Why would a multi-millionaire, with millions of fans around the world, feel the need (several times over the years) to say something that is only meant to hurt? I don’t get it. I don’t get why it’s done, I don’t get why it’s condoned, I don’t get what possible satisfaction anyone involved gets from demeaning someone like Lillian Garcia. I just don’t get it.”

– TNA star Mick Foley has updated his MySpace.com blog with more thoughts on the tragic death of former WWE & WCW wrestler Chris Kanyon. With yet another young life lost, Foley once again shines a light on the less-than glamorous transition from wrestling superstar to everyday civilian.

“Unfortunately, suicide is a solution that far too many wrestlers have opted for. I really wish there was some kind of emotional crash pad for wrestlers to land on when the bright lights dim, or when injuries take their toll, or when one is finally forced to face the fact that the next big break just might not come around.”

– TNA founder Jeff Jarrett tells Kentucky’s Lexington Herald-Leader newspaper that TNA looking to change their strategy concerning live events. Many of TNA’s bigger names currently do not appear at the live events, leading many fans to notice a major difference in the product they see in person compared to the household names they see on television.

“The issue you’re talking about of the (Kevin) Nashes of the world not making it, we are graduating or progressing so that won’t be the case by the end of the year,” Jarrett said. “What you see on TV will match the live events.”

Jarrett admitted that TNA is not financially able to “load up a card with up to 20 superstars,” but that’s allowed them to keep the talent budget low and as a result, the shows have been profitable.

As previously reported, Spike’s TV’s Upcoming Listings list an 8pm (EST) start time for the next live airing of TNA iMPACT! (April 5), an hour earlier than normal. This will give the show an unopposed hour and then hour two would go head-to-head with the first hour of WWE RAW.

The schedule lists the following two weeks starting at the usual 9PM start time.

TNA President Dixie Carter posted a message on Twitter regarding the time shift of the April 5th iMPACT!:

“To maximize viewership, iMPACT! will air on Spike from 8-10pm ET on 4/5 as to not conflict w/NCAA Men’s bball finals on CBS. PLS RT”.

You know TNA and Spike will be watching very closely to see how the show performs an hour earlier with a full unopposed hour.

Dixie Carter later wrote:

“Had a great trip to NY with Hogan. Big Spike dinner. Lots of exciting things going on.”

The punch to the face from Mick Foley on Bubba the Love Sponge during last night’s TNA iMPACT where Foley was leaving the building left Bubba’s nose busted open.

Bubba noted on Twitter that Foley misjudged the punch and hit him too hard.

Bubba also said that while he was being treated by EMT’s, Foley came back and apologized to him.

He also posted this picture of himself after the punch .. What do you guys think – work or shoot?

– On Monday’s iMPACT!, two matches were announced for next week’s show:

• Tara vs. Daffney in a First Blood match
• Rob Van Dam, Jeff Hardy and Eric Young vs. Scott Hall, Kevin Nash and Sean Waltman in six-man action.

– Also on iMPACT!, TNA began a storyline where Mick Foley was fired from the company after he lost to Jeff Jarrett in a Loser Leaves TNA, set up by Eric Bischoff. TNA’s website has a headline that states, “Mick Foley … Fired?!” so they’re already teasing that there could be more to the story.

Check out this clip of TNA star Mick Foley’s appearance on Jon Stewart’s “The Daily Show” on Comedy Central.

The Foley skit begins around 5 minutes into the clip, with Foley and Daily Show a correspondent explaining how the health care debate in the United States is quite similar to pro wrestling.

— Earlier this week, Bobby Lashley’s superstar profile was removed from the TNA website, leading many to speculate that he was leaving the company to pursue his MMA career full time. Lashley posted a brief message on his LashleyNutrition.com site telling fans to stay tuned:

“Alot of fans are asking me about my future in wrestling. I will address everything at a later date. Thank you for the support. – Bobby”

— In an interview with Fanhouse.com, TNA star Mick Foley had some positive things to say about the often-criticized head writer of TNA, Vince Russo. “I think even Vince Russo would probably agree that him being world champion was possibly not the best idea in the world. But he’s a very creative guy,” Foley said. “He loves to write. He loves to make characters and I think people who, you know the people who chant ‘fire Russo’ really have no idea how large of a contribution he made to the wrestling product that they sometimes seem to like. I’m talking about the wrestling product overall as in this generation of wrestling. I think he was one of the key guys right up there with the top on-air talents.”

— Reigning TNA Women’s Knockout Champion Tara confirmed on her Twitter account that she did indeed have a wardrobe malfunction during Thursday’s iMPACT! broadcast.

She wrote: “Just got back from tour. I just woke up and missed game. Blurred top from Thursday show was from wardrobe malfunction. Whoops! TNA was nice enough to keep it classy and blur out my malfunction. My parents would have been upset. Torrie Wilson was the first to call me.”

She also noted suffering a chipped tooth working against ODB over the weekend.

— Mick Foley has posted a new blog on the official TNA website discussing, among other topics, his work helping to raise money for the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame at their annual dinner on Feb. 20 in New Jersey.

— Fans have the golden opportunity to meet Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as he will be hosting an exclusive VIP party at the luxurious Lexus Club inside the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California during tomorrow afternoon’s Los Angeles Kings vs. Boston Bruins game.

Tickets only start at $25,000 for a 24 Person Luxury Suite with complimentary parking; a private pre-game meet and greet with Dwayne Johnson; admission to the VIP Pre-party; and an autographed Los Angeles Kings poster for every guest.

Click here for more information.

— In late May, former WWE talent Lilian Garcia and Mick Foley will be appearing at “Tennessee’s Largest Pop Culture Collectors Show,” Adventure Con.

Adventure Con – May 26- 28th, 2010
Pigeon Forge Convention Center, Pigeon Forge, Tn.

Visit www.adventurecon.com for more information.

— Today is former WWE executive and performer Shane McMahon’s birthday, who turns 40 years old. In other birthdays, Bull Buchanan turns 42 while WWE Hall of Famer Eddie Graham would have turned 80. Also, yesterday was “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan’s birthday, who turned 56 years old.

— This Thursday following iMPACT!, Spike will debut the TNA Epics series. The show, which will be hosted by Mick Foley, will feature classic TNA footage.

The debut episode will focus on Kurt Angle.

The second episode, which will air on Thursday, February 11th, 2010, will feature Sting. Here is the preview, courtesy of Spike.com: “Presenting some of the best matches from “The Icon” Sting’s career with TNA Wrestling. Hosted by Mick Foley, this one-hour special also includes exclusive interviews with the legend and showcases the amazing moments fans will always remember.”

— TNA drew a sellout crowd of 2,500, its best house show numbers in several months, for Friday night’s live event in Westbury, New York. (source: f4wonline)

— You can follow Jesse Neal on Twitter at twitter.com/jessenealtna.

— To clear up an unfortunate rumor, Mick Foley is alive and well. Foley posted a blog today on his MySpace.com page saying a friend informed him of an Internet rumor that he had died. Foley wrote, “A friend of mine since middle school actually heard I had died on the Internet today. Just want to clear that one up. I am very much alive and well,” Foley said. “I don’t know how these things get started, but hopefully no one beside my friend took it seriously.”

— Former WWE superstar and Spirit Squad member Ken Doane (“Kenny Dykstra”) will be appearing in a new FOX Reality channel series called “Seducing Cindy” – where a group of young guys compete to win the love of model/actress Cindy Margolis. Doane wrote on Twitter, “WWE don’t want me,TNA don’t want me right now. Guess I’m gonna get ready for “Seducing Cindy” Jan 30th 2010 glassmanmedia.com see the promo!”

• Visit PWTweets.com to read more Tweets from pro wrestlers and divas.

— TNA Champion A.J. Styles and free agent Rob Van Dam are scheduled to appear on tonight’s Between The Ropes radio show, hosted by Brian Fritz and D-Lo Brown. The show airs at 6PM (ET) at BetweenTheRopes.com.

The following was sent in today:

Hollywood, CA (October 14, 2009) – The comedy circuit just got a little EXTREME as “Total Extreme Comedy” takes its show on the road as Evil Eye Entertainment present “Total Extreme Comedy starring Mick Foley” for the month of November!

If you live in the Northeast don’t miss one of these exclusive dates:

Monday Nov. 2nd – Gotham Comedy/New York City
Thursday Nov. 5th – Dick Doherty’s Comedy Escape/Worchester, MA
Friday Nov. 13th – Manhattan Comedy Club/Middletown, NY
Wednesday Nov. 25th – Comedy Connection/Providence, RI

“Total Extreme Comedy” (TXC) is unique concept that showcases pro wrestling personalities performing stand up comedy with the best of comedy world.  These one night only events will feature multi-time World Heavyweight Champion and New York Times Best Selling Author Mick Foley, International Star (and industry funny man) Colt “Boom-Boom” Cabana and top stand up acts from across the country.

Tickets are on sale now at the location box office. For more information on TXC please visit www.TotalExtremeComedy.com.

© Evil Eye Entertainment, LLC/Talent and Acts subject to change without notice

Source: prowrestling.net

Mick Foley was the target of some criticism coming out last Monday’s TNA iMPACT! tapings after he used his political clout to have the ending of that show’s main event changed.

In a match that aired on last Thursday’s iMAPCT!, the original plan was for Foley to be pinned in his tag match with Kurt Angle against Matt Morgan and Abyss. Foley argued that instead of him getting pinned, his character should call for Dr. Stevie and Daffney to replace him and Angle in mid-match. Sounds pretty convoluted, but TNA went along with Foley’s plan on Monday night and the match was a disaster. TNA officials decided the Steve & Daffney vs. Morgan & Abyss match was could not air on television, so Foley & Angle wrestled Morgan & Abyss again the next night at Tuesday’s taping, using the original finish with Foley losing. The second version of the match (with Foley losing) ended up airing on Impact.

After his suggestion bombed, Foley didn’t put up much of a fuss over doing the job the following night. Nevertheless, the feeling from multiple sources was that Foley was trying to avoid taking the pinfall. “He’s crafty,” one source stated. “He knows how to hide behind that nice guy image.”