The offical TNA thread - News, Spoilers and the rest...

geeky

waltersobchak wrote: »

Bubba The Love Sponge announced today that Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff will be holding a "State of TNA" address live on his show tomorrow at 12:15 on Howard 101 (Sirius). They will also be taking calls.

[/COLOR]

Indeed, the f***ing state of it.

Dare 2 Defy, I think it's planned as a 'state of the union' style thing.

D2D

geeky wrote: »

Indeed, the f***ing state of it.

Dare 2 Defy, I think it's planned as a 'state of the union' style thing.

Nice 1, maybe they'll preach about how good TNA is right now or something without knowing it's really all-over the place

old_aussie

EdK wrote: »

PW Insider Article

What a bonafide asshole TNA need to cut him loose before he does some serious damage

do you mean just don't go on that radio program?
How can you cut lose someone that is not tied to you or TNA
Bubba is a radio show host!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

waltersobchak

Its goona be EPIC how terrible that will be especially with the ****ing king of the shoot, Bubba..

savemejebus

old_aussie wrote: »

do you mean just don't go on that radio program?
How can you cut lose someone that is not tied to you or TNA
Bubba is a radio show host!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He is/was also a TNA backstage interviewer

waltersobchak

- Hulk Hogan and Erich Bischoff were on the Bubba The Love Sponge show today, giving their State of TNA Address, here are the highlights…

Q: Confirm or deny Honky Tonk is joining TNA

A: EB "I would rather drive an icepick through my thigh than work with the Honky Tonk Man"

Q: How do you feel about Dixie wanting to go family friendly?

A: Hulk: Not going to happen, we are going to keep pushing the envelope.

Q: Are you going live on March 1?

A: EB: Haven't heard anything, I have just been reading it on the internet.

Hulk: Nothing has been confirmed, it's not a lock. I would like to have it but it's not set yet.

Q: Ongoing talks with Savage?

A: Hulk: "I would love to have him come in and manage his illegitimate son."

Q: Can you tell me the peaking order of how the writing goes:

A: Hulk: Bottom line is that Eric has the final say.

Topic comes up with Vince Russo about the "fake wrestling" twitter post.

· Not really answered just some disparaging words thrown at Russo.

Q: What do they think of Lacey Von Erich?

A: Hogan says she can't work.

EB: "We will teach her how to work", and likes her look.

Q: Are you guys big on Desmond Wolfe?

A: EB: Very high on him, good look.

Hulk says he killed it last night, he's "real close."

Q: What is the Montreal angle really, is it a shot at Vince?

A: EB: It's a shot "kind of", but it's entertaining and as long as they (fans) love it or hate it's about whether they are talking about it. Hang with it and watch where it goes.

Q: WWE has a farm system, are you guys going to be doing something?

A: EB: There is no developmental as such. Brian Knobbs and Saggs have a school they are looking at. "Hopefully we will be able to develop our own but we aren't ready for a farm system".

Name Associations.

Black Pope: Both EB and Hulk love him and he is going to be getting a push.

Abyss: Hulk: My favorite wrestler of all "he's my next John Cena". EB likes him a lot and committed to his character.

Q: Are you interested in taking a look at FCW guys?

Hulk: He says they definitely would be interested.

EB: Says "if they are free we could".

Q: Any WWE talent interested in TNA?

Hulk: Yup.

Q: Sting no showing them.

A: Hulk: Sting's a great talent, wishes he would have come up north for the WWE. He understands why personally he wasn't there but professionally it hurts the company.

EB: "Everyone has to make a commitment. I understand where Hulk's coming from. But if you're not 110% committed then it's probably not going to work out."

Q: Any chance we will see Hogan vs. Flair on TNA PPV.

A: Hulk: Doesn't really answer the question.

Q: Will we see the Australian tour on PPV?

A: EB: Not likely for financial reasons.

Caller: Hulk is the worst wrestler since 1989 and how can you evaluate talent? Stone Cold hates you and won't work a program with you?

- Lots of banter back and forth lots of swearing. Bottom line is they don't answer the question.

Q: Has working with Vince McMahon changed your thought process?

EB: There's no denying he's a great businessman, he's arrogant but he likes him and "I wouldn't hang out with him" but he thinks he's great. On a business level he is very smart. On a creative run he thinks he takes credit for too much and he doesn't think he's that good.

Q: Was there a time when you were going against the Rock and you just thought WCW was going to fail?

A: EB: "When AOL/Time Warner took over and put more hands on our product by making it more family friendly, that's when things starting taking a turn for a worst. Now history is repeating itself and we have a chance to go after that older audience."

Q: Are you going to be signing any more books Hulk?

A: Hulk: Not in the near future.

Q: Richard Ortiz, are you interested in him.

A: EB: I don't know him.

Q: Is there one talent from WWE you both want?

A: Hulk: Orton and Cena. But he would also love the Big Show.

EB: "I have a problem with Show, never been committed, he's lazy. I would like Cena and Orton."

- EB says he never crapped on Jericho, likes him, but doesn't think he can headline.

- Hulk would love to have Chris in TNA.

Q: Why do you feel it's necessary to acknowledge Vince on TNA?

A: EB: You can't win a fight with throwing a punch, "we are going the fight".

Q: If you could wrestle one person in TNA.

A: Hulk: AJ Styles, "if he doesn't get too full of himself".

Machismo Fan

Latest Foley Files:

HE FOLEY FILES: BY MICK FOLEY (UPDATED 01/29)

Multi-time World Heavyweight Champion, TNA Wrestling Superstar and best-selling author Mick Foley presents his weekly blog column at TNAwrestling.com! Check back every Friday for a new column!

As some of you may have heard, there was, um, let me say, an incident involving Bubba the Love Sponge and Awesome Kong backstage at last week’s Impact taping. Apparently, Ms Kong took issue with recent comments Bubba had made regarding the disaster in Haiti; a cause that has become very near to Kong’s (who I will alternately refer to as “Kia”) heart. A couple of weeks ago, on “The Foley Files”, I mentioned a fundraiser that Kia had put together on very short notice, to aid the victims of the horrific earthquake - with all proceeds going directly to the Red Cross. I was so proud of Kia, the fans, and TNA wrestlers who took part (including me), and within just a few days, the Wrestlers4Haiti crew had donated over five thousand dollars.

So, given Kia’s emotional investment in the situation, it’s really not surprising that Bubba’s words were just a little on the painful side for her to read. A situation that was so important to her was seemingly being mocked, in a fairly ugly way by a TNA on-air talent (though I’m sure some TNA fans will think I’m throwing that “talent” word around a little too liberally here). She probably should have handled the situation differently, and in retrospect, I think even Kia would admit that she may have let her emotions get the best of her. I happen to like both people involved - and, no, I’m not just saying that because Bubba is Hogan’s buddy. But I do think this situation illustrates how certain situations -tragedies, natural disasters – effect different people in such extremely different ways; how different people, or types of people are moved differently (or not at all) by certain situations. For example decent people may be moved to improve a run-down park, or playground, renovate a historic theatre, spend a day baking goodies for the “Flag Day Kindergarten Bake Sale” etc., but feel no real connection to the desperate plight of hundreds of thousands, even millions just a few miles from America’s shores. Some of those good people even seem to resent the victims of these type of disasters – I’ve really had quite enough of certain religious leaders who blame just about every disaster – 9/11, Katrina, Haiti- on the people who live there. Some even seem to resent those who actually care.

I was flattered this past week, when RAINN (Rape, Abuse, Incest National Network) put a story about me on their website rainn.org, mentioning that I would be contributing 50% of my advance royalty proceeds to fight sexual abuse in this country. The decision to donate to that particular group might strike some as surprising, but certainly not foolish; I really can’t see anyone in this country thinking the fight against sexual abuse is a waste of time or money. But when I have told a few people where most of the other 50% (I am donating 100% of my advance royalties) I get curious looks – because the bulk of that money is going to aid the victims of sexual abuse in the West African country of Sierra Leone. “Really?”, a couple of people have said. “Wow, that’s really nice.” Except I can tell, deep down, they think the money could have been better spent over here.

The difference between me and those people is I have seen the faces of the victims, I’ve heard their stories. They’re not just unfortunate statistics to me; they’re human beings, every bit as deserving of compassion as our brothers and sisters here in the Unites States. It was that trip to Sierra Leone that really bonded my friendship with Awesome Kong. She loved looking at the photos of my trip, and would talk frequently with me about her desire to make a real difference in people’s lives. And that is exactly what she has done through her recent efforts to aid the people of Haiti – she has made a difference.

Like I wrote earlier, Kia may have let her emotions get the best of her. But I hope people –TNA management, Bubba himself - can understand why the situation was so emotional for her. I don’t want this situation to hurt anyone involved, Bubba included. I like Bubba. I’ve known him for over ten years, ever since the epic battle with Gerald Briscoe in Tampa that made the Briscoe-Patterson evening gown match look like Flair-Steamboat. I understand that it is sometimes Bubba’s job to shock his audience, even if, in this case, I thought the shock was in the poorest use of words imaginable. Hey, I even wrote a letter to the “O’Reilly Factor” when I’d heard that Bubba had been fired a few years ago, because one irate father happened to hear the show, and took offense to it. Granted, my letter was hand-written, and probably never made it to New York City, let alone onto Mr O’Reilly’s desk, but at least I tried - an effort that the Sponge man has never forgotten.

A day after the incident I asked Bubba if he was ok, than casually said, “for the record, I couldn’t disagree with you more about Haiti”, and walked away. Bubba later said it was so much worse than being yelled at by some irate listener; it was like your dad giving you the dreaded “I’m disappointed in you son” line. Bubba looked sad, maybe even sensitive, as he tried to explain himself to me. “You know, I don’t think I really said anything that bad, Mick.” I looked at the Love Sponge in disbelief and laughed. “Bubba, you said “f**k Haiti”.

So Bubba and I had a little conversation about the F word, and how a comment that may not have seemed so offensive to him, could be so hurtful to others. We even had a good, respectful conversation about it on his radio show the next day. Part of his point, which is shared my so many Americans, is that we should be focusing more on our own problems at home - unemployment, housing crisis, two wars - before worrying about people in other lands.

Sorry, but it’s apples and oranges. I know things are pretty tough over here, especially as we try to work our way through this economy, but the challenges facing Haiti are so much worse than what we’re facing here that an attempt to prioritize needs based on one’s national origin seems to show an incredible inability to empathize with the suffering of our fellow human beings, be they citizens of this country or not. We are talking about human beings trapped under rubble, crying out to be saved, dying slow, agonizing deaths. I really think that people can more or less be divided into two groups: those who can imagine, see or hear those cries for help… and those who can’t. Personally, I think of those girls in Sierra Leone every single day; their hardships are very real to me…the same way the suffering in Haiti is very real to Kia. She really feels their pain, and unfortunately all that pain was looking for a way to work itself out on the day of the Bubba incident.

A much wiser man than me once said that “true depression is the loss of all hope”. I think there’s much truth to that, and I think if there is a silver lining to this horrible cloud of despair that has enveloped that tiny island in the Caribbean, it is the hope that arrives with every ten dollar text, with every donation, big and small, with every grassroots fundraiser that someone like Awesome Kong finds the courage and love to organize. Can anyone who is really familiar with the facts on Haiti’s devastated ground, feel like Americans are giving too much? Can anyone even remotely familiar with the vastness of our county’s recourses, or the enormity of our nation’s economy (even with its current difficulties) think that the one hundred million dollars our government has pledged is too much? Not while human beings are suffering on such a massive level. Does it really matter that they are not citizens of our country? Does the fact that their tiny island lies just miles from our nation’s shores make those lives more or less valuable. Or that Christopher Columbus, while sailing the ocean blue, landed on their Island before “discovering” America?

I am so encouraged by the recent outpouring of concern, donations and emotions that have made their way to Haiti. As a proud American, I want the rest of the world to see that side of us. I want the world to see that we can put aside petty differences, and dispatch two former US Presidents of vastly different political persuasions to do what needs to be done for the people of Haiti. Maybe some of the problems we face as a country are too difficult to simply text our way out of, but the contributions made by so many people in the US, of every age, gender and creed, is a case of the American people at their best. And if some of our citizens feel like they’d rather do their donating at home - than by all means do. Inevitably, when a disaster of this magnitude strikes, well-meaning people are going to give whatever they can, often in lieu of contributions they would otherwise be making at home. As a result, donations at home often do go down. These groups could really use help in picking up the slack. So, at the risk of sounding preachy; if you’re one of these people complaining about too much attention being spent on the people of Haiti; do something about it. Send an extra check to the Special Olympics. Spend a couple extra hours at the food pantry, helping our hungry. Do something constructive. But don’t just sit around complaining that too many Americans care, or too much attention is being given on TV to those who don’t reside within our borders. Maybe you can’t hear those screams, like Awesome Kong can, or even care to try. But please, let’s not suggest that we just stand by and f**k Haiti. Our country, and our people (including Bubba, who has since apologized, and even encouraged his vast army of listeners to contribute to the cause) are better than that.

Jay Lethal vs. Orlando Jordan Webmatch:

Generation Me and Amazing Red vs. The Guns and Kendrick (in all it's two and a half minute glory):

Machismo Fan

http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/TNA_News_1/article_38558.shtml

Last night's TNA Impact drew the highest-ever rating on Thursday nights with a 1.38 rating (Spike TV rounding to a 1.40) off a first hour 1.46 and second hour 1.30.

TNA Impact live on Monday night, January 4 scored a 1.45 overall rating, but the final two hours head-to-head with WWE Raw scored a 1.44 and 1.22, respectively.

Coming off the show-closing Montreal Screwjob angle on last week's show, the first 15 minutes of last night's Impact scored a 1.51 quarter-hour rating.

Impact then trailed off each successive quarter for the rest of the show until the final quarter-hour of the show.

The show went from a 1.51 first quarter-hour to a 1.22 seventh quarter-hour before jumping to a 1.30 quarter-hour rating for the final 15 minutes of the show

Both encouraging and equally discouraging news for TNA.

gimmick

Sorry to be so far behind here, but this "Orlando Screwjob" is the biggest pile of crap I have ever seen in TNA. FFS, show some imagination for Christs sake.

D2D

How TNA got a 1.4 is beyond me

I think TNA will be going head-to-head if they're gonna get ratings like that.

joepenguin

Was at the show in the M.E.N arena last night.

Got there for the start of the Rhino-Pope match which was pretty good.
Crowds took to the match and for the most part were pro pope who won after nailing his finisher after a failed gore attempt. (missed out on an x division match red v sabin v suicide and a global match: terry vs young)

Next up was the 4 way ladder match which was advertised as Styles vs Angle vs Samoa Joe vs Daniels. Angle was replaced with Supermex which was the only guy not to get a good crowd reaction. I was a little dissapointed at this but hey... i was going to see a 4 way ladder match.
At least that is what I thought until AJ styles got on the mic and told some "little man" as he called him to take away the ring as he was on the phone to Ric Flair and his lawyers and there was nothing in the contract about a ladder match "go ahead...boo me all you want"...before anyone started booing which I thought was a sad fail, he repeated this thoughout, he was gonna get a reaction anyway, maybe he just has bad mic skills i dont know.
Then he says "in fact Im not defending this world heavyweight title now.. especially not in Manchester" crowd legitamittly boos and he walks off. Dixie calls him over... it seemed like she was in the front row of the walkway for and said "you dont work for flair or anyone you work for me, you will defend this title in the great city of manchester starting right away" which was a cheap pop/cover up for the complete lack of ladder. at this point i think joe started on him from behind as the bell rang.

The match was 2 in a ring at any one time and you had to tag in. for the first 2/3 of the match it was pretty flat, but the last 1/3 joe started started to up the ante and the wrestling was a joy to watch overall but his performance was defo the best in this match. AJ put on a figure 4 (cant remember who) and that was met with a WOOOOOO...as was his flair reference ealrier. AJ wins. The match overall was good, with joe been excellent. I was hoping that the ladder would be taken out at some point but gave up on that half way through.

Dixie came out and announced the intermission and that there would be 15 mins intermission followed by Angle vs Wolfe. This was my go4grub que. Oh and they were handing out some backstage passes.

15 mins, 1 dvd purchase, a ten min wait for the jacks and a chicken tikka wrap with pepsi later I went back to my seat for Angle vs Wolfe.
Wolfe said how great it was to be in England (crowd cheers)but Manchester was full of buck tooth, inbread northen...etc and that he would much rather be in London England and chelsea will win the league. Crowd boos him, lights go out, Angle music kicks in and he makes his way to the ring.
The match was very good with both wrestlers playing their part. Crowd was chanting thoughout the entire match almost everything from Lets go Angle to "You f&^%3d up" when wolfe messed up the tower of London. When he does Angle avoids and finished with an angle slam and a pin.

Knockouts: Beautiful people v Taylor Wild and Sarita. Special referee Hamada. Hot chicks in a mediocre match...Nice one!

Then the last match was a 3 way tag team between beer money, team 3d and british invasion.

Beer money handed out free backstage passes which british invasion chewed up and spat out before the fans could get them. Enter Ray and devon with a table . They go for the cheap "anyone support Manchester united" pop... apparently no one did, same with city.. then they asked if they were team 3d fans and the crowd went mad. The match itself was pretty good but the atmosphere was class. Chants of beer money, we want tables, we want ladders (i was still hoping for the ladder to make an appearance...and figured a few chairs wouldnt have went astray )but ray and devon sent brutus through the table for the win. This was match of the night for me.
The show was ended with more crowd interaction, one side shouting beer, the other money. 3d invited dixie to the ring and gave a young kid a piece of the table signed and got him to get the beer money chants going. Nice touch to the end of what was a good show and well worth the £26 ticket.
(For the MEN arena, lower tier tix offer a very good view if you are ever making the trip over)

Other info:

There was a fan interaction ticket on sale where you could meet the stars before the event for an hour or so. Unfortunaly they were sold out by time i got my ticket. At 8pm there were touts selling tickets for face value. Crowd looked pretty full. Used maybe a little less than half of the MEN. After the show the performers come out the side gate. Dixe went out in a car and waved to the fans with the window down and said "bye guys, thank you" .. no one replied, but i think it was more to do with the fact that it was while card was moving and we were like "is that... yeah... oh shes gone"
then approx 30 mins after the show ended the wrestlers bus came out but there were no signing or anything as per usual. Seen Angle who waved and Wolfe who stuck up the fingers lol. Then there were guys promoting future shock wrestling to those waiting round for the wreslters.

Ive also attatched some pics of the event:

joepenguin

MEN arena 29-01-10

joepenguin

More tna pics

joepenguin

End of show

EdK

Went to Wembley on Saturday night, My god what a house show the Ultimate x was amazing,complete with innovative spots and was definitely of PPV quality, The main event was Angle vs AJ and again was a 20 minute match of PPV quality

So glad I went the best house show I've ever been to wrestling wise, TNA in the O2 in October still wins crowd/atmosphere wise

D2D

EdK wrote: »

Went to Wembley on Saturday night, My god what a house show the Ultimate x was amazing,complete with innovative spots and was definitely of PPV quality, The main event was Angle vs AJ and again was a 20 minute match of PPV quality

So glad I went the best house show I've ever been to wrestling wise, TNA in the O2 in October still wins crowd/atmosphere wise

Glad to hear ya got on well and enjoyed it:):)

TNA house-shows, esp in Europe, are meant to be brilliant. It's a pity it can't be repeated for Impact

Machismo Fan

Big respect to Red, Williams, Daniels, Sabin and Suicide. They went way above and beyond what was required for the Ultimate X. Awesome, awesome spectacle.

geeky

Machismo Fan wrote: »

Latest Foley Files:

It sounds shallow, but I'm really glad to see that years of punishment haven't changed what Foley is: a very intelligent, sensitive and all-round great human being.

EdK

Machismo Fan

From Dixie Carter's Twitter:

Lockdown PPV is coming to St Louis! What a great wrestling city. Can't wait.

http://www.pwinsider.com/article/44821/tna-agent-gone.html?p=1

Scott D'Amore has parted ways with TNA. D'Amore, who wasn't at the most recent set of Impact tapings as he is recovering from a shoulder surgery, posted the following on his Facebook account:

"Scott D'Amore would like to wish TNA well in their future endeavors. More to follow."

I am told it was a completely amicable departure and he has a new project he'll be focusing his energies on going forward.

And the latest Hermie's Hotseat:

savemejebus

Was this really in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter? Please tell me it's a joke:mad:

the observer wrote:

- As we’ve seen in recent weeks on iMPACT!, Nature Boy Ric Flair has taken TNA Champion AJ Styles under his wing. The basis for the storyline is that Ric Flair is the consummate World Champion. AJ Styles is a master in his own right inside the ropes, but Flair will teach Styles how to be a World Champion outside the ring – the women, the limosines, etc. TNA wants AJ Styles to be the kind of guy that stands out in a crowd, which is why they’ve been suggesting for him to bleach his hair blond.

D2D

savemejebus wrote: »

Was this really in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter? Please tell me it's a joke:mad:

AJ is being pushed like a young Flair at the mo but I don't know whether the "dying his hair blonde" thing is true

savemejebus

I was really more concerned with the teaching him how to be a world champion outside the ring bit. It's as if they want to go back to the 70s and 80s and have him living the gimmmick. something that didn't work out so well for Flair.... and totally ignoring that what gets him over, gets TNA wrestlers in general over is their in-ring abilities.

D2D

- TNA will be streaming their upcoming PPV, Against All Odds on Sunday, February 14 online via their TNA Video Vault website for fans in the UK and Ireland. The company will be charging viewers $14.99.

Update: This will not be available in the United States.

For more information, click here.

Penn

Dunno if it's been mentioned yet, but Scott Steiner has been removed from the TNA Roster page on their website

http://www.tnawrestling.com/stars/superstar-roster

Machismo Fan

The first ever iMPACT! on FSN has been put up on Freeview on TNA Video Vault: http://www.tnavideovault.com/tna/console.jsp

D2D

Some updates over RVD & TNA: (from RVD's radio show)

While I was hosting the show I got a phone call from Hulk Hogan, who agreed to talk to me on the air. Hulkster stayed on the show for a long time, telling me how much he’d love to have me in TNA! Hogan coming on MY show to tell me that he wants me in TNA was a pretty good stroke for my ego. Callers got to ask him some questions and so did I. His message was full of optimism and he didn’t duck anything that was thrown at him.

Our topic was FEAR, which everyone can relate to. Well, everyone but Fonzie, apparently. It was super cool to have Hulk Hogan on my show and we’ll all know very soon, if anything comes from the conversation about RVD and TNA.

Some news in relation to Jim Ross:

Eric Bischoff is still intent on bringing Jim Ross into TNA as an announcer. After many months of speculation as to what he’d do when his WWE contract expired, Ross signed a short-term extension back in December and is expected to be with WWE through mid-2010. That said, the face of the pro wrestling industry is sure to change this year, with TNA likely going to Monday nights at some point, so who knows what the future holds.

Hogan frustrated?:

Despite the positive spin he’s putting on TNA in media interviews, Hulk Hogan has been complaining to friends that he’s frustrated with several things in TNA. Hogan feels pressure to push people he does not believe in – namely, some of the TNA originals. Word is that Dixie Carter doesn’t want the TNA originals to be buried by Hogan’s buddies, but there are some TNA originals that Hogan sees nothing in and wants to get rid of. Hogan is said to be a big fan of Abyss as well as Tomko, saying at least both men look like wrestlers.

Cena takes jab at Hogan & TNA:

Cena was asked whether he's interested in fighting Hulk Hogan, He responded with a jab at Hogan and TNA, saying, "Yes. I just don't think that's going to happen right now. He's too busy wasting his time."

JP Liz V1

According to a source within TNA, Jeff Hardy is telling people that he's still "supremely confident" that he will get out of the current legal mess he's in, and if he does, he's headed to TNA.
When Hardy debuted with TNA back on the live, January 4th Impact special, the deal was for one night only despite reports claiming that he had signed some type of extended contract with the company.
However, Hardy's agent is still negotiating with TNA, and Jeff fully expects to be a full-time member of the TNA roster if/when his legal situation clears up.

Machismo Fan

Destination X Poster:

The past, present, and future collide when the young guns of TNA take center stage in an all X-Division Pay-Per-View! TNA Wrestling presents Destination X LIVE! Sunday, March 21, 2010 on Pay-per-View.

I really hope they actually commit to a full X-Division show.

flahavaj

Machismo Fan wrote: »

Destination X Poster:



I really hope they actually commit to a full X-Division show.

They'd hardly leave the likes of Angle and all the others off the show completely though would they?