Confirmed: Taz Parts Ways with TNA

[It's Damn Real!]

As noted, Taz might be facing repercussions for missing the last set of Impact Wrestling tapings, and according to PWInsider.com, Taz has removed all references to TNA on his Twitter account today.

The report notes Taz did not appear for a scheduled voice over session last Thursday in Nashville, TN, to do commentary for future Impact broadcasts.

Sources are noting pay issues are what lead to Taz not boarding his flight from New York to Nashville, so it appears the same company wide pay issues which we mentioned before are at the root of Taz’s problem.

As for Taz removing references to TNA on his social media accounts, the feeling is he did it in order to send a message to TNA.

Josh Mathews reportedly handled commentary alone for the episode of Impact which will air this Friday night, but since TNA has until Thursday to hand the episode into Destination America, the show’s commentary could change.

For what it’s worth, TNA recently tried out Al Snow for a commentary role in the company.

http://www.wrestlezone.com/news/571297-update-taz-issues-with-tna-wrestling

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Honestly, much as this sucks if this is truly over the recent pay issue (lets not get into that again), it may be a silver lining type thing where the company moves past someone a lot of fans seem not to care for very much.

I'm surprised TNA didn't try to get JB or someone else in to handle the commentary voice-over work with Josh Mathews. But what's done is done.

Personally, I'd welcome the change, nasty as the break-up may be. Taz just doesn't do it for me. I don't think he even understands what it means to digress.

 

[Captain Trips]

I agree. This being over late paychecks & such sounds bad but if it gets Taz away from the commentary table then so be it. Taz is a blabbering idiot & he gets worse every year. Hopefully this leads to a fresh & intelligent commentary team.

 

[Stan Hansen]

I've never cared for Taz. Al Snow > Taz.

Taz isn't a good fit on commentary. He needs to be a behind the scenes guy and I'd think he offers a lot more value to a company in that role.

 

[Seosa]

Taz to me has just sounded like he's going through the motions whenever I've heard him on TNA television. He just sounds... bored and fake, like he's forcing himself to do it.

 

[SoulTrain4]

The podcast gig must be better for him right now. Manik and Matt Hardy deny the late paycheck rumors though

 

[stingray11214]

Taz has become more into lacrosse now that his son is a blue-chipper in that sport. Don't be surprised if he goes for a MLL or NLL broadcast gig. He is THAT knowledgeable in lacrosse. More so than wrestling these days.

 

[FromGlasgow]

I liked Taz when he was commentating on Smackdown with Michael Cole but in TNA it feels ok but not anywhere near as good as it felt in the WWE and can feel a little stale at times, I will miss the guy if he is gone though as I was a huge Taz fan back in his wrestling ECW days.

 

[MCMG]

If he isn't getting paid, you can't blame the guy for being annoyed.

Taz and TNA splitting up might be good for both parties. While I do enjoy his commentary, a fresh voice might help things. Taz has his podcast now which can be quite good at times. He also did a show every day for a week with it being streamed online and then made available as a podcast. Perhaps he is already planning for a future outside of TNA.

TNA gets an new voice to call the action and Taz can concentrate on his podcast. Both parties win and maybe the fans too if they get someone half decent to replace him.

 

[It's Damn Real!]

Taz just made it official — he's finished with TNA.

@OfficialTAZ: Like to thank TNA Wrestling for the opportunity to apply my craft for past several years. Best wishes to them in the future.

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So this now shifts to who fills in? JB? Al Snow, as was mentioned? Do they use this as an opportunity to bring Tenay back into the fold?

 

[rbv13]

A often misused and underutilized Mr. Anderson might be a tremendous fit for the color position. He is typically well spoken, entertaining and has personality. It would be a fresh move for their continually evolving product.

 

[Lowdown]

While it seems line an ugly breakup, this isn't the end of the world. Taz was OK on color commentary, but I never found myself mesmerized by his announcing, and this goes back to his WWE days. Tenay could come back, or put JB in the booth. There are options. Hell have Josh Matthews do the play by play solo like Joey Styles used to.

 

[stingray11214]

A often misused and underutilized Mr. Anderson might be a tremendous fit for the color position. He is typically well spoken, entertaining and has personality. It would be a fresh move for their continually evolving product.

Anderson may very well be a nice fit on color commentary. Anderson and Matthews could become a very good team. As for Matthews doing it solo: I don't see it. Striker he is not. Besides, you need two on the table in this day and age.

 

[Hollywood Naitch]

Anderson may very well be a nice fit on color commentary. Anderson and Matthews could become a very good team. As for Matthews doing it solo: I don't see it. Striker he is not. Besides, you need two on the table in this day and age.

I think when Anderson decides to call it a day as an active wrestler, his personality and verbal skills could make him a very good colour commentator. He's quick, witty and very confident on the mic and he could work very well in that role. I hadn't thought of it before, but it seems so obvious!

I don't think its something he'll be doing in the near future but when he retires I wouldn't be surprised to see him behind the announce desk.

 

[It's Damn Real!]

Anderson could most definitely hack it in a commentary role, but I doubt he's going to forego his wrestling career to do so just yet. He's still an active wrestler, and is still an active television personality at the moment. Until he reaches a point where he doesn't want to do that any longer, or a point where TNA doesn't want him in that role any longer, he's just not a viable option. What wrestler is going to make that kind of career shift if not forced to due to injury?

 

[TDFG]

I wouldn't want Tenay back, I think it had been easier to listen to Taz since Matthews joined TNA.

Al Snow seems like a good option as a replacement for the short term anyway.

 

[It's Damn Real!]

Here's a wild card... purely speculative on my part...

What about Colt Cabanna?

He's certainly got the voice and cadence of an announcer. Or more specifically a color commentator.

 

[FitFinlay4Life]

Considering where they are being shown and that they're concentrating on the in-ring aspect, surely there is one really obvious replacement?

Spoiler

Check out Stingray's avatar - old school in every sense of the word but you'd do well to find anyone who can speak as well or who is as knowledgeable.

 

[ABMorales787]

Considering where they are being shown and that they're concentrating on the in-ring aspect, surely there is one really obvious replacement?

Spoiler

Check out Stingray's avatar - old school in every sense of the word but you'd do well to find anyone who can speak as well or who is as knowledgeable.

Obviously you aren't familiar with the inner workings of Jim Cornette's mind. That man can burns bridges with no fire.

As for replacements, I'm gonna say no to Mr. Anderson. This man is basically Taz but still wrestling when it comes to his mic work. He's amazing at his best, but extremely cringe-worthy at his worst. Josh did what Byron Saxton failed miserably at and it's clear this man will focus if his partner focus. I'd gladly welcome Mike Tenay to the booth or JB. Or hell, lets think outside the box. Why not Christy Hemme?

Something that people aren't aware of. Willie Urbina left pro wrestling not that long ago. So I believe the spanish announcing is also a one man deal right now.

 

[FitFinlay4Life]

Obviously you aren't familiar with the inner workings of Jim Cornette's mind. That man can burns bridges with no fire.

As for replacements, I'm gonna say no to Mr. Anderson. This man is basically Taz but still wrestling when it comes to his mic work. He's amazing at his best, but extremely cringe-worthy at his worst. Josh did what Byron Saxton failed miserably at and it's clear this man will focus if his partner focus. I'd gladly welcome Mike Tenay to the booth or JB. Or hell, lets think outside the box. Why not Christy Hemme?

Something that people aren't aware of. Willie Urbina left pro wrestling not that long ago. So I believe the spanish announcing is also a one man deal right now.

Well aware of Jim's inability to keep his trap shut but he is an incredibly entertaining articulate man and he'd be an actual draw on their network. Wrestling is incredibly fickle, all you have to do is look back to Naitch badmouthing TNA... and then taking their money to work for them.

 

[whoopin' ass]

I don't see it as a huge loss. I don't know, I have not been overly impressed with Taz on commentary. Him and Cole were good but in TNA, it really seemed like he was phoning it in. Had occasional good comments but really seemed to be just going through the motions most of the time. I think it was good that they had him when Impact switched channels but this is probably a good thing for them.

 

[BringThePain834]

Nobody knows exactly what the issues that Taz and Josh Mathews are having with each other, but I'm gonna just put it this way. Josh Mathews is an unprofessional whiny bitter little bitch whose favorite pastime is to "take shots" and he spends the majority of his time bashing his former employer and those working there on Twitter and having no legitimate backup to his points, and Taz is the complete opposite, he's been very professional about how he's handled his TNA departure, didn't take any shots at TNA and then try to involve other people, and do a CM Punk and along with Colt Cabana, start slander about staff. Kudos to Taz