Apparently TNA gave Storm a contract in the $250,000 per year range with a slice of merch sales, so can't blame him one bit for returning to TNA since the WWE deal was worth less. Kind of insane to think the Carters are still willing to shell out that kind of dough at this stage in the game. That's more than some of the biggest names in wrestling history were making per year at the height of the Monday Night Wars, that's crazy. Exactly how well off are the Carters? Because it seems like TNA is just a vanity project to give their daughter something she likes doing more than an actual business trying to make money.
Impact Support Club House
- Thread starter It's Damn Real!
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It's Damn Real!
The undisputed, undefeated TNA &
Worth a lot less if the reports are true. NXT was offering $100K or slightly less. I'd go home too, if I were him.
$250,000 isn't a lot for a wrestler of his ilk though. Pointing to the salaries of guys a decade or more ago is apples and oranges.
$250,000 isn't a lot for a wrestler of his ilk though. Pointing to the salaries of guys a decade or more ago is apples and oranges.
Are they doing double tapings or just taping other stuff after each Impact? I've only seen spoilers for next when we should be up to 3.
It's Damn Real!
The undisputed, undefeated TNA &
According to a live correspondent, Matt Hardy defeated EC3 in a Last Man Standing Match at the TNA Impact Wrestling tapings tonight to become the new TNA World Heavyweight Champion.
Matt Hardy won the match when Tyrus turned on EC3 and sided with Hardy, who also turned heel.
This marks the first time EC3 has officially lost a TNA match.
The title change will air on a future episode of Impact Wrestling.
WZ will be posting complete spoiler results from tonight’s TNA Impact Wrestling tapings so be sure to continue check back to the site throughout the evening.
God dammit...
klunderbunker
Welcome to My (And Not Sly's) House
Yep.
Yep yep yep.
Are they really thinking about setting up Matt vs. Jeff for some big pay per view? Is that really their best idea?
It's Damn Real!
The undisputed, undefeated TNA &
Please no?
I'm thinking this is more to build EC3 as the face of the company. At least, I hope? He needed his streak ended, and I hate that it was Matt who ended it, but I do like that this might turn him face and give TNA an opportunity to make him the new face of the company.
Jeff's wrestling these tapings 'cause he's a moron and then he's going under the knife because the rod in his leg is infected. He'll be out for 6 months and his contract will be done by then. So it's gotta be babyface ECIII. It's the only thing in all this that makes any semblance of sense. ONE WEEK was all it took for them to lose their marbles. Again.
FlexAmerican Dynamite
WZCW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION
Good to know I've got nothing to be too excited for in the near future.
It's Damn Real!
The undisputed, undefeated TNA &
Well, I think EC3 turning face can be exciting. It opens a whole new world of options for him, including Tyrus, but also Bennett and others as potential feuds and match-ups. But having to suffer Matt Hardy at the top again along the way is going to be a little painful.
It's Damn Real!
The undisputed, undefeated TNA &
@TNADixie: Congrats to @WillOspreay @BigBeardDamo & @JimmyHavoc Thanks to your votes all 3 will be on the #TNAUKTour
Fresh blood!
Fresh blood!
Papa Pillman
I've got more Ho's than Jim Duggan
Ospreay and Havoc are great adds to the tour, and hopefully to the roster.
Havoc would fit perfect in the new Courtney/Steve/Abyss stable.
OK. That's awesome. I hope they stick around.
It's Damn Real!
The undisputed, undefeated TNA &
If this is accurate, TNA just got dicked, hard:
http://www.tnawrestling.com/Search-Listing/item/6977-AJ-Styles
http://www.tnawrestling.com/Search-Listing/item/6977-AJ-Styles
It's Damn Real!
The undisputed, undefeated TNA &
Styles' return plus adding an impact tag team would have done wonders.
But I'm torn somewhere between "sounds like sour grapes" and "damn, TNA got fucked here".
But I'm torn somewhere between "sounds like sour grapes" and "damn, TNA got fucked here".
klunderbunker
Welcome to My (And Not Sly's) House
Here's the thing:
If Styles had come back, how long do you think TNA would have kept him on top before he was playing third fiddle to the Hardys?
It's Damn Real!
The undisputed, undefeated TNA &
I have no idea. I'm not that pessimistic, and Jeff is probably finished with them. He's getting surgery that's expected to keep him out through the rest of his contract.
Thriller Ant
Beep Bop Boop
It sounds very much like this to me. There's no reason for them to put it out like that except to be super shitty.
klunderbunker
Welcome to My (And Not Sly's) House
So TNA has put out a tweet congratulating AJ.
You know, that guy that screwed them over and if what TNA said is true should be being sued for breach of contract.
You know, that guy that screwed them over and if what TNA said is true should be being sued for breach of contract.
It's Damn Real!
The undisputed, undefeated TNA &
My guess is they're probably a little sorry they posted that story originally.
I did see that heel Hardy made a joke about it on Twitter though, trying to push his heel persona.
On a related note, I actually watched the Rumble part of the Rumble last night. First WWE content I've watched sustained like that since CM Punk's pipe bomb. Wasn't impressed at all. I see it's still, by and large, the same group of guys they're working with and trying to force fit.
I did laugh at the crowd booing the fuck out of Roman Reigns all night though, and cheering the, presumably heel, Triple H when he won the title.
Never ceases to amaze me the level to which WWE will not let something die when they get it in their heads that "this is what we're doing". No matter how much the crowd turns on it.
I did see that heel Hardy made a joke about it on Twitter though, trying to push his heel persona.
On a related note, I actually watched the Rumble part of the Rumble last night. First WWE content I've watched sustained like that since CM Punk's pipe bomb. Wasn't impressed at all. I see it's still, by and large, the same group of guys they're working with and trying to force fit.
I did laugh at the crowd booing the fuck out of Roman Reigns all night though, and cheering the, presumably heel, Triple H when he won the title.
Never ceases to amaze me the level to which WWE will not let something die when they get it in their heads that "this is what we're doing". No matter how much the crowd turns on it.
It's Damn Real!
The undisputed, undefeated TNA &
The AJ thing? I'm actually happy for him. I just hope he has a better run as a former TNA guy in WWE than every other former TNA guy in WWE before him. I have no faith, whatsoever, they'll make right by him. But I hope for his sake they do, and I'm glad he at least got to experience that stage while he's still in his prime.
I don't think they're going to put the big belt on him at anytime, but I think they're going to try to use him right. (This is the WWE we're talking about.)
If you have access, watch how they introduced him again, because it's surprisingly subtle camerawork. The obvious thing to do would have been to pay for the rights to VAST's "Touched" again, because it fits the WWE's pattern of using a recognizable musical cue to introduce a performer. Instead (early in the match, where fans are still focusing), they had the camera do a close-up of Roman Reigns (who last night's show was built around), reacting with puzzlement to the unfamiliar music. They stayed focused on him as they must have queued AJ on the big screen, the crowd goes absolutely apeshit, and they hold on Roman Reigns' response and recognition of AJ Styles- then cut to AJ entering the arena, and a long focus on him.
This isn't the way the WWE usually operates these things. It's natural that they'd want to get a good pop for AJ if they're bringing him in, but that was all done without the camera play. The WWE was telling their Network audience, using their biggest star they currently have (.........wow, on multiple levels) that if they didn't know who AJ Styles was, we was worth recognizing.
Long term........... this is the WWE we're talking about. He could either have a great run of feuds with Kevin Owens, Brock Lesnar, Triple H (actually sounds like an easy build there), and Chris Jericho, or he could end up wasting months at a time with Dolph Ziggler. But last night they laid the groundwork with their audience to actually do something entertaining with him.
It's Damn Real!
The undisputed, undefeated TNA &
I actually watched it live last night and re-watched the clip this morning. I thought it was a great moment for AJ, but I actually thought the way they handled it was backwards regarding the camera remaining focused on Reigns that long. It reminded me of the way TNA handled RVDs debut with Sting, with that oh, come on! reaction. Except TNA got it right. WWE didnt. Go back and watch that again (RVD/Sting). Nearly identical, except Reigns completely no-sold the reaction. It was just a stare of bewilderment, even as the crowd roared to a fever pitch and the announcers are gleefully shouting his presence. If you ask me, the way to sell his debut is to actually have Reigns sell it like he knows who he is, this way your announcers chalking him up as the hottest free agent, the former IWGP champion, etc. builds him up to the viewing audience while the visual story being told reinforces it. Instead, they relied on that information to sell him to anyone who didnt already know who he was, while Reigns reaction of who? cuts the legs out from beneath him.
Then again, I dont believe for a second in the idea that WWEs audience is as stupid and ignorant as WWE seems to think they are. I dont believe that they are mostly comprised of casual fans, or that casual means what they think it does. Im a casual fan, by their metric. I only tune in for the big events, and even then, only when something really compelling is being billed. But I, like anyone else with eyes and ears, know wrestling doesnt begin and end at their entrance ramp. I, like their crowd in attendance last night, and their crowd watching the broadcast, was fully aware of who AJ Styles is and why that was such a big moment, even if Reigns was pretending not to. But lets not pretend this isnt a company who willfully ignore their audience, especially when theyve got an idea in their heads that they want to succeed. Cough*Cena*cough.
As to what they can do with Styles, considering the wealth of talent, the answer is clearly a lot. I agree. But usage matters here. Just as it did with Sting. Just as it will with Joe or Aries or anyone else theyve picked up who were main event stars with TNA. Losing more matches than they win, and the manner in which they lose is going to largely affect the reaction of the audience. Its going to say a lot of about the WWE model, whose history with these things is piss poor. From Booker T to Daniel Bryan to CM Punk its a history rife with humiliation and hazing as a means to break in outside stars, forcing them to accept that everything theyve accomplished to this point means nothing to WWE. That theyre rookies wholl need to cut their teeth, right along side Greggy Greenpants, the 20-year old bodybuilder who doesnt know a clothesline from a clothespin, regardless of age or stature outside the WWE Universe. Because to WWE, they are the only planetary body in existence. There are no gods before them. Even though we all know there are and were.
I really hope it works out well for AJ. Im a massive, massive fan of his. I actually tuned in to watch the Rumble part of the Royal Rumble last night just on the off chance (really, no chance) that Styles might actually win it. That would have been a shocking result. Instead, they went with their usual, predictable paint-by-numbers model of pretending the fans jeering and chanting is a misrepresented fringe, which is clearly not the case.
But Im hoping for nothing but success for Styles regardless. I just have no faith WWE will handle it well. Faith is, after all, the excuse people give for not having a good reason to believe something. And theres no good reason to believe theyll do right by AJ. But that wont stop me from hoping Im wrong. For AJ.
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