T.N.A. Miscellaneous News Thread

[A.J.]

According to a new report by The Pro Wrestling Torch, Dutch Mantel is still writing all TNA television shows, while Jeff Jarrett has the final approval. Vince Russo, who is often pegged by the internet wrestling community as the "booker" of TNA, simply contributes his ideas. Russo's current "pet projects" include Ron "The Truth" Killings, Voodoo Kin Mafia and Christy Hemme. Mantel's "pet projects" continue to be Abyss, Eric Young and Robert Roode.

On a related note, Abyss has been described as being highly insecure by most wrestlers in TNA. He is said to be notorious for following Dutch Mantel around before, during and after TNA events. Says one TNA wrestler quote, "Wherever Dutch goes, Abyss follows." One story that has been going around for quite some time is that the "paranoid" Eric Young character is actually based on Abyss' personality backstage as he was said to be very paranoid early on in his run with TNA and was spotted constantly asking if he was going to be fired.

 

[THe WHoLe FuCKiN SHoW]

did tna really sign owens and teddy hart?????

 

[A.J.]

( thats is a question and should be asked in the question area yo)

Partial Source: The Pro Wrestling Torch

STLToday.com has a video feature up showing Kurt Angle (and TNA's Vince Russo & Jeremy Borash in the background) at the St. Louis Cardinals spring training camp. To visit the section, go to STLToday.com and click the link to the video on the right side.

On a related Kurt Angle note, many observers in TNA are continuing to question his current health. According to reports, Angle still dresses in what is described as the "star" locker room with Jeff Jarrett, Sting, Kevin Nash and Christian Cage. When Angle does appear in front of other wrestlers, he is described as mumbling and looking incoherent. Some TNA officials attribute Angle appearing this way because he uses chewing tobacco. However, one TNA wrestler added quote, "Something is going to happen to Kurt Angle and this company is going to feel terrible that they didn’t do anything."

 

[A.J.]

The plan right now is to have the Basham Brothers become Christy Hemme's long-term tag-team. The Heart Throbs were just brought in for a one-shot deal. Both teams had been debated for some time as to who would be brought in for a one shot deal and who would stay with the company for a longer period of time. The Bashams won out in the long run and will be brought in very soon to become Christy's team. Former WWE tag team The Dicks may also get a one-shot deal to put over VKM in the storyline before they bring in the Bashams.

The price to book Kurt Angle is $10,000 per show. Wow.

David Sahadi read some of the negative feedback regarding last month's Against All Odds PPV where it was calling the show one of the worst PPV events of all time. Jim Cornette said "Why are we listening to this" and Mike Tenay said "Because the New York Times doesn't cover our PPV's". Don West apparently got really mad with the discussion and it ended with everyone agreeing that the comments were made by those on the WWE payroll trying to make TNA look bad. As for the fan chants they simply put it off as marks who are trying to get themselves over.

 

[A.J.]

Source: The Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Brother Ray has been campaigning backstage for Team 3D to win the tag titles. Jarrett and Mantel are getting irksome with Ray for his constant complaints regarding his current storyline.

On a side note, Brother Ray isn’t the most popular wrestler backstage. Devon and Brother Runt, however, are popular with other wrestlers.

As noted earlier, some wrestlers in the TNA locker room continue to question Kurt Angle’s health. Angle dresses in the “star” locker room with Jarrett, Nash, Christian and Sting. When he does appear in front of others he is known for mumbling to the point that he seems incoherent. Some officials chalk it up to the fact that Angle uses chewing tobacco.

 

[Y 2 Jake]

Source: The Pro Wrestling Torch

WrestleZone.com is reporting that TNA officials are said to be very interested in signing Rob Van Dam to a deal if he allows his current deal with WWE to expire and not renew.

Shane Douglas did not attend recent TNA TV and PPV tapings in Orlando. Many TNA wrestlers are hopeful that he is dealing with what have become some very obvious personal issues.

 

[Y 2 Jake]

TNA producer Jesse Ward (who was in Tough Enough 2) is always getting on peoples' case to get backstage interviewer Leticia Cline into more segments.

She's the person who discovered her, which was in October. There is also a poll on Maxim's official website called "2007 Hometown Hotties" and she's in it.

They were telling all the people backstage to vote for her at the iMPACT! taping.

 

[Y 2 Jake]

TNAWrestlingNews.com can report that fans were all over Brother Ray at the 3/12 iMPACT! tapings as a number of them brought "pig-face" signs and chanted "Smells like bacon" towards him.

 

[Y 2 Jake]

In a backstage segment for 3/15 iMPACT! show, Bob Backlund did the Harvard step test. When they told Backlund the idea of the segment, with the visual of Backlund doing step-ups covered in sweat in the background for a scene, Backlund, who now does three hours step-ups consecutively in every step-up workout, of course had no problem with the segment.

For the segment, they told him that they'd spray him down with a water bottle to show him sweating, but he refused to allow it. Instead, he insisted on doing two hours of step-ups so that his sweat would be authentic for the segment. He actually wanted to do three hours worth of step-ups, but because they didn't have the right kind of mat to step up and down like he has at home, his knee was starting to bother him and he stopped.

 

[Y 2 Jake]

There is talk of making Apolo and the 53-year old Hector Guerrero a babyface tag team.

TNA was trying to get a team from Mexico for Christy Hemme at Lockdown to put over VKM, but those plans have been nixed.

The Missouri State Athletic Commission requires blood tests before getting licensed (all TNA wrestlers had blood drawn at TV for the tests) and the AAA wrestlers weren't going to be able to be found and tested in time for being licensed.

The storyline is still scheduled for Christy to wind up with The Basham Brothers feuding with VKM. Although, B.G. James suggested using Serotonin for the spot because they're already on the roster and it saves the company from hiring two wrestlers.

 

[Y 2 Jake]

Sting's long-drawn program with Abyss should be coming to a conclusion soon.

He is scheduled to feud with Christopher Daniels in a few months. That's the reason Daniels wore a Sting mask, trench coat and used a baseball bat in his return because they are planting the seeds for a program between the two.

 

[Y 2 Jake]

TNA drew 1,300 in Corinth, MS Saturday night for a show headlined by Christian beating Samoa Joe to retain the NWA Title.

TNA will have a house show this Friday Springfield, Missouri, at the Shrine Mosque. They also will have the Lockdown Fanfest this Saturday in St. Louis.

TNA Turning Point 2006 on DVD will be a Best Buy Exclusive DVD, and released on April 17th.

Also on that day, TNA footage will air on the FOX hit "House."