Hunter's Torn Quad

Because it's not like any of them were good workers who the younger talent could learn from by working with...

And from the latest issue of F4W, regarding the 'boycott': As an aside, the hardcore TNA marks here should probably shy away from anything else about TNA from this weeks Figure Four that gets posted here.

Meltzer confirmed the big name in question is Lesnar, with Angle setting it up and Lesnar and Carter talking.

Maybe with one or two, but not all of them. TNA has always been very reluctant about letting people go.

It's one of their 'Elite' articles, so if anyone here is a member it'd be nice to have them post the aforementioned article here so we can read about the releases and the negotiations with an apparent 'big name'. Once again, TNA is WCW Mk II. And I bet Runt is wishing he hadn't torn up the WWE contract on camera.

It'll probably revolve around Jeff Jarrett and the numerous minor 'celebrities', Chris Rock not included, that TNA used to try and help gain attention. Of the few matches seen in-depth, I'd guess the early era of the X-Division and the first XXX vs. AMW cage match.

It's an easy way to distract from the real issue at hand; if you can't argue against the point someone is making, just claim they have an agenda and go after them instead.

PWI

Let's hope Rikio doesn't aggravate his injury by working through it. The next tournament matches aren't until Sunday in Japan, with Marufuji against Yone and Morishima against Shiosaki. You can assume Marufuji and Morishima win those.

TNA Impact for 8/16: - Mike Tenay brings out Pacman Jones. Mike talked about how Pacman made an eventful debut at Hard Justice, and all the media attention he received. He then mentions the confrontation with Ron Killings, and then Pacman being attacked in the locker room. Tenay asked Pacman if he knows who attacked him in the locker room. Pacman gets on the mic and says he expected it to be Ron Killings, but wondered why Killings wouldn't do it face to face, instead of jumping him from behind. Ron Killings comes out and asks Pacman why he wants to be in TNA. Killings said if "he has a beef, he eats it". Killings said he did some research on Pacman's history and that they are "birds of a feather". They get into each other's face, then Ron Killings says that Pacman came from nothing, then turned himself into "somebody" and that he did the same thing. Killings said he came from nothing and won the NWA World Title. Killings says the media has a way of painting things, and said they can make history together. Killings says he wouldn't jump someone from behind, and that he wants Pacman to team with him. Killings said he would help Pacman find out who jumped him, and that together "Team Pacman" could become TNA Tag Team Champions. As they're leaving the ring and heading up the ramp, Eric Young comes out and asks Pacman for an autograph. Killings has Young turn around so Pacman can sign the back of his shirt, and Killings attacks Young from behind before leaving. - Jim Cornette is in his office with Matt Morgan and Leticia. Triple X enters, and Christopher Daniels wants to know why he has to wrestle Jay Lethal for a shot at the X-Division Title, since Daniels already earned a title match. Cornette says that since Daniels was pinned by Lethal at Hard Justice, he will have to earn back his title shot "the old fashioned way" and beat Lethal to get the title match back. Daniels points out that Hard Justice was a tag team match, but Cornette still insists that he has to beat Lethal to get back his title shot. They leave the office, and Christian, Tomko and AJ Styles enter. Christian says that he's moving on to bigger and better things, and that he's not going to wrestle anymore First Blood matches with Abyss. Cornette says if he doesn't accept the match, he won't get any title shots in the future. Cornette also says that Abyss is willing to put his title shot at the next PPV on the line for the First Blood match, so Christian accepts. - Jay Lethal defeated Christopher Daniels to earn the X-Division Title match at No Surrender. After the match, Daniels was furious that he lost, and had to be held back by Elix Skipper and Senshi. - Kurt and Karen Angle enter for the "Angle Awards", with the ring set up with trophies. Angle gets on the mic and says it is a great honor to host the first "Angle Awards". He says it is a night to celebrate, and mocks the people who didn't realize they were going to screw Samoa Joe. Angle says he and Karen are the best husband and wife team in sports entertainment today. They show a video package of the Angles screwing over Samoa Joe. Angle then gave an award for "Best Supporting Actor" for Kevin Nash and Karen's fake boyfriend. Angle said they were the best team since Starsky & Hutch. Angle then gave Karen an award for being the "First Lady Of Total Nonstop Angle". Karen thanked the "simpletons" of the Impact Zone, and when the fans booed, Kurt covered her ears. Jim Cornette came out with Matt Morgan and wondered if this was pro wrestling or the Golden Globes. Cornette congratulates Angle on winning all three TNA titles, but he wants to know which one he is going to keep and which two he is going to vacate. Angle says he is keeping all three titles. Cornette says that at PPV events, all titles have to be defended, so at No Surrender, he will have to defend all of the titles. Cornette said that he will defend the X-Division Title against Jay Lethal, he will defend the World Title against the winner of Abyss vs. Christian and he will be defending the tag titles against Team Pacman. Angle freaks out and grabs Cornette, but Matt Morgan shoves Cornette away. Security comes in to keep Angle and Morgan apart. - Jeremy Borash interviewed Christian Cage. Cage said nobody cares about Pacman. Cage says he is going to take care of Abyss on his own, and notes that he has never submitted during his time in TNA. Samoa Joe enters and says Christian isn't a real champion, and that he will see him at ringside. When Joe leaves, Christian calls out to AJ Styles and Tomko, saying he needs their help. - Abyss defeated Christian Cage in a First Blood match to keep his World Title match at No Surrender. During the match Tomko came out and gave Christian a screwdriver to use, but the referee sent him to the back. Christian missed a one-man Conchairto on Abyss. AJ Styles came out and pulled a barbed wire bat from under the ring. Samoa Joe came out and chased AJ away, then took the bat away before Christian could use it. Joe hit Christian with a chair, then tossed it to Abyss, who hit Christian with it as well, and Christian was busted open. After the match, Kurt Angle came out and attacked Abyss, hitting him with the chair. Karen picked up the chair and was about to hit Abyss with it as well, but Jim Cornette appeared on the screen and announced that next week Kurt Angle would be wrestling in a handicap match against the Steiner Brothers, and if the Steiners win, they get five minutes with Karen Angle. Xplosion Match: - Homcide, with Hernandez, defeated Senshi, with Elix Skipper, with the Gringo Killer. TNA Impact for 8/23: - Gail Kim & Kazarian defeated Robert Roode & Traci Brooks in a mixed tag match when Gail pinned Traci. After the match, Roode and Traci argued, and Kazarian came back in and pushed Roode away from Traci. Roode and Kazarian fight, with Kazarian kicking Roode out of the ring with the bicycle kick. Kazarian got on the mic and said that there are a few things wrong with Roode. He says Roode is a prick, and he doesn't know how to treat a lady. Kazarian then kissed Traci and left the ring. Traci left the wring with Roode, who kept yelling at Traci as they left. - Ron Killings defeated Eric Young. Killings got on the mic and told the crowd to welcome the "most notorious man in sports" and brings out Pacman Jones. Pacman came out and spraypainted "Pac" on Young's back. - They announced that AJ Styles and Tomko tried to attack Samoa Joe in the back, and Joe chased Styles into the Impact Zone. Joe and Styles fight in the ring, then Tomko runs out, but before Tomko and Joe can battle, Christian comes out and hits Joe with a chair. Tomko gives Joe a chokeslam on the chair, followed by a one-man Conchairto by Christian. Xplosion Match: - Shark Boy & Petey Williams defeated Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin when Shark Boy pinned Shelley with the Dead Sea Drop and Williams hitting the Canadian Destroyer on Sabin at the same time. TNA Impact for 8/23 continued: - Kurt Angle defeated The Steiner Brothers. Rick Steiner hit a top rope bulldog on Angle, but Team 3D ran in as Karen Angle distracted the referee and gave Rick 3D so Angle could get the win. After the match, Kurt and Karen went to the back while Team 3D gave Scott 3D, then put him through a table with a powerbomb. Brother Ray got on the mic and announced that they had witnessed the end of the Steiners.

Saturday Night's Main Event: SNME opens with Vince backstage with Coach. Coach says with all the info he was given he will match up the dates and locations of Vince's trysts to the Superstars. Vince says he forgot about one with a black woman in Kansas City in the 70's. Coachman says he's adopted and from Kansas City. Vince stares at him and says it's going to be a long night. It's announced that MVP has pulled out o his boxing match. It's Matt Hardy vs. Evander Holyfield. Batista and Kane vs. Finlay and Great Khali. The announcers are JBL, Michael Cole and Jim Ross. Kane's ribs are taped Batista hits the Batista bomb on Finlay for pin. Cena vs. Carlito later, billed as the Big Apple Showdown. Backstage, MVP says the doctor won't let him box so he got the next best thing. Evander Holyfield asks him how his ticker is. MVP says he was scared for a minute but he's better than anyone else so he's already bounced back. He pals around with Holyfield. John Cena vs. Carlito. The crowd chanted "Let's go Mets/Let's go Yankees". Cena wins via submission with the STFU. Randy Orton attacked him immediately and threw him outside, then into the stairs. Crowd chanted "Randy." Orton got a chair from under the ring. He hit an RKO on the floor into the chair on Cena. Cena sold it like he was dead. Crowd chanted for Orton while women chanted "sucks" in response. Match was whatever. Angle was very good. They showed a young boy looking sad over Cena but once he realized the camera was on him, he started mugging for it. Cena took a long time leaving, holding his jaw. Michael Buffer comes out for the boxing match. Divas are the ring girls. Backstage, Todd Grisham asks Orton what he was doing. Orton said he sent a loud and clear message to Cena as to what he's going to get at Summerslam. He promises to win the title. Hardy has 2 cornermen with him. MVP comes out with an entourage. Evander has his own Titantron video. MVP makes Buffer introduce him first, right down to "straight up ballin'" The crowd did the "What" chant during the referee's instructions! Hardy is wearing a boxing helmet.. Holyield isn't. MVP keeps getting on the apron to give him instructions. Holyfield knocks Hardy down in round one. End of round MVP argues with Holyfield's trainer between rounds. Round two starts and Hardy's acting half out of it. Holyfield tells the ref to check him. MVP gets in the ring and tells him to keep beating up Hardy. Holyfield turns his back and MVP grabs him. Holyfield knocks out MVP. The ref rings the bell. Holyfield left immediately. Hardy left. MVP was left on the mat being checked on by his entourage. No announced decision. CM Punk & Boogeyman vs. John Morrison & Big Daddy V next .Tazz joined the announcers for the match. Punk got a big reaction. Good when Punk and Morrison were in. Punk surprised Morrison with a small package for another clean win. Vince McMahon comes to the ring with Jonathan Coachman. Coach gives a long monologue about Vince who cuts him off and tells him to get on with it. Coachman says he's going to help Vince with the child. He says Vince once had a tryst in Kentucky so he is certain this could be his child...and out comes Eugene. Eugene says that he became a wrestling fan because his Mom told him she met Vince. He says his Uncle Eric told him he nailed his Mom and that's why he tried to put Vince out of business. He tells Vince, "I love you Dad". Vince said he used protection and tells Eugene to get out of the ring. Coachman then tells of a story of Vince in a Port Authority bathroom so his son could be...Balls Mahoney. Vince says Balls is not his son. Mahoney tells him to think about it and to embrace it. He says Vince has balls. Vince says "I have no balls". The crowd chants "Vince has no balls". He yells at Balls to leave. Coachman tells Vince of the Wrestlemania 2 afterparty in LA and that this person could be his daughter. Out comes Melina. Vince says that Melina isn't her daughter and cannot be. Coachman asks why not and Vince whispers something. Coach says that's disgusting. Vince tells Melina that the meeting that they had on July 4th was totally harmless. She says that Vince better hope so because if she's his daughter, she will take him for everything she owns. She walks out. Vince demands to know who his child is. Long dramatic pause. Glass breaks and out comes Steve Austin. Austin says Vince could be his dad and Vince says there's no chance in hell. Austin says they missed out on so many good things in life...playing catch, water skiing, building a go-cart, the birds and the bees, drinking beer. Crowd is going "what, what, what". Austin says it would be easy to stun Vince but the big problem is Vince's "overactive grapefruits" so he wants to help him out. He kicks Vince low and low blows him. Austin stuns Coachman and has a beer bash. After they go off the air, Austin asks the crowd if they want to see him drink a beer with Vince. He says it is his first time in the Garden in years. Vince takes it and Austin hits the stunner. Austin does a long celebration. He gives Jim Ross a beer and takes his cowboy hat. Vince and Coach get up. Austin says the only way he's not going to kick their ass is if they sing. Vince asks Coach if he can sing harmony. They badly sing "I Left My Heart in San Francisco". Austin knocked their heads together. He helps Coach up then hits another stunner.

Kennedy appears to have a little less definition than normal.

The problem with this turn is that was so rushed, I think Karen Angle was on TV twice before the PPV and they immediately had her 'turn' on Angle in her first appearance, that was no time to either care about Karen or want her to leave Kurt enough to where her turning on Joe meant anything. It's an angle that should work, and can, but it didn't work here because it was so rushed and contrived that people didn't have time to get into the angle to want to see it play out, and because it was so obvious it seemed more lame that it probably is. Yes, angles like this are tried and true methods of drawing money, and yes, they often work, but this one didn't because it's execution was so rushed and convoluted that none of that mattered. Instead of being another part in an interesting and compelling storyline, it came off like a hackneyed plot device that nobody wanted to see because they were never given the time to get into the angle enough to where they would want to see it.

There are ways for a heel to outsmart a babyface without the babyface looking like a total imbecile. Everyone knew Karen was turning on Joe from the second the angle started. If the babyface walks merrily into an ambush that the whole arena can see coming a mile off, why should anyone care about him?

From PWI: Wrestlers are surrounding the ring, and Vince McMahon comes out. Vince McMahon says he was shocked last week and said he doesn't remember who this woman was or what she looked like. He says that he won't be intimidated. Crowd chants "Who's Your Daddy". He says he takes solace that all the WWE superstars are supportive of him as are his family. He asks for the fans' support and they booed. He demands they support him in his time of need. Stephanie comes out and says she's glad nothing bothers him, and she would have said what she's supposed to say in private, but last week he accused her of being duplicitous. She went to the plaintiff's lawyer today and found out the illegitimate child is standing around the ring right now. She tells him his bastard is a WWE Superstar and leaves the ring. Vince looks around the ring dumbfounded then walks out. As he leaves he stops and stares in Ken Kennedy's face. Big pop. He then stares at Mark Henry before finally exiting. They air a video feature on Lashley's surgery. Sandman vs. Ken Kennedy. Kennedy mocked the crowd and bragged about taking out their hero Lashley on the mic. Crowd chanted "Let's go Sandman". Kennedy hits a facewash then his rolling Samoan Drop for the clean pin. Backstage, Vince is upset that his child is someone on the roster. Jonathan Coachman suggests they go through the roster and all their ages. He asks what age Vince was sexually active at. It turns out to be 12. Coach says that means it could be anyone. Behind them, Ric Flair "woooos" at them. Randy Orton video feature. Later tonight...William Regal's WWE Idol. Backstage, Regal dressed as Simon from Idol. Michael Cole and JBL are dressed as Hall and Oates and sing "Private Eyes" ...badly. Maria and Ron Simmons show up. Regal says Maria will be a judge and next week she and Ron go on their date. Santino shows up and says tonight he will sing a song so romantic Maria won't go out with Simmons. He leaves and Maria follows. JBL and Cole start singing "Rich Girl" and Simmons stares at them. JBL tells him that the 80's are retro and that's back in. Simmons stares at them and says....Wham! Cryme Time come out and are over like crazy because they are from Brooklyn. They say tonight they are going to sell Lillian's Garcia's seat. They start the bidding and come up to rapper Bow Wow in the crowd. They eventually sell the seat for $1000 to a fan. Cryme Time vs. Cade and Murdoch. Cade and Murdoch by DQ. They hit the high low on Shad, then JTG nails Trevor over the back with a chair (the one they sold to a fan earlier) while making the cover. HHH return video. After a clip of Snitsky squashing one Highlander last week, it's Snitsky vs. the other Highlander. Snitsky wins in 30 seconds. Backstage, Vince is trying to go over all of his past experiences. Coachman says to give him the list of his past indiscretions and Coach can have an answer by SNME. Cody Rhodes shows up. He says not to worry because he knows who his father is. He says he has something Vince needs more than him. It's a condom. Vince tells Coach to remind him to sue Trojan. Vince wonders who it could be. Boogeyman comes up from behind singing "Cat's in the Cradle". Coach says "He does have your eyes" WWE Idol. Todd Grisham is host. Judges are Regal, Maria and Mick Foley. Big pop for Mick. Maria judged Grisham's intro of her. First contestant is Jillian Hall. She sings a screeching version of "Memory" from Cats with WWE-specific lyrics. Second is Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff with Howard Finkel. Finkel asks everyone to rise for the Russian National Anthem. He sings. The third was Lillian Garcia, who sang "New York, New York". She was stopped by Santino Marella. He says Lillian's outfit makes him think Times Square is missing a prostitute. He sings "That's Amore" to Maria. Foley says the singing is almost as painful as watching him wrestle. Marella tells Maria they are going to Little Italy now. She refuses because she's a judge and he demands she goes now. Ron Simmons comes out and Marella tells him "what are you going to do, rhyme like Sesame Street"? He calls Ron "Cookie Monster". Simmons lays out Marella. Regal says that's music to his ears and declares Ron the winner. Cody Rhodes vs. Charlie Haas. Crowd is down for this. Lots of boring chants. Haas on offense a lot early. Haas gets a 2 count reversing a flying bodypress. Cody gets the pin with a small package. Coronation segment. King Booker and Sharmell come out. Sharmell says the true King will be crowned tonight. Booker thanks all his loyal subjects and says that in the history of Kings, there has never been one so majestic and loved. He says last week he proved that King Booker is the one true King. He demands Jerome Lawler to humble himself and place the crown upon his head. Lawler picks up the crown. He doesn't want to do it and Booker demands he do it now, losing the accent in the process. Crowd chants for HHH. Lawler says Booker claims to be the only King but that's not true. He says that before he got in the ring he was given a note and Booker will have a match at Summerslam against "this man." They play HHH's music but he doesn't come out. An enraged Booker attacks Lawler and begins screaming and ranting at Jim Ross. Crowd was deflated with no HHH appearance. Crowd chants "Booker sucks". Lawler is walked out by officials. Randy Orton comes out and says Cena is one of the longest reigning champion in almost 2 decades but that will end in two weeks. Orton says he ends careers and Cena is going to get a small glimpse of what will happen to him at Summerslam. Orton says he's going to be the hero to those who hate Cena whether they like it or not. Orton says he's going to be the worst nightmare for Cena's fans and that nothing can stop him from becoming WWE champion. Main Event: John Cena & Umaga vs. Ken Kennedy & Carlito. Cena and Umaga win. Cena played Ricky Morton. Umaga got the hot tag and the place went nuts for his offense. Cena pinned Carlito with the FU. Really really strong match live. Crowd was 50/50 love-hate for Cena. Backstage, Vince McMahon says he's so glad tonight is over. Coachman asks Vince if he's given him the complete listing of all his discretions. Vince starts telling a story about being with two flight attendants when Linda McMahon shows up behind them. He tries to explain but she insults him and walks off. Raw ends.

I think that 'honor' probably goes to Scott Norton or Stevie Ray, who were getting around $800,000 per year.

PWI

The Montreal Screwjob was a big slap in the face to Bret, but I never had much sympathy for him either. When you are on your way out of a territory, you do the job. I don't care if he offered to do it somewhere else, his employer asked him to do it in Montreal and it was right for business to do it then. That match was 18 months in the making... you don't do a DQ finish and then drop the belt at a house show or Raw. I don't care what the circumstances were. Didn't Bret have a clause in his contract that he had creative control of the finishes of his matches 30 days prior to the expiration of his contract? Yes. Bret had the contractual right to turn down any match finishes during the last 30 days of his contract.

I hope they give Sheiky a live mic and say something to spark off a tirade.

PWI says Shantelle Taylor was released. She was the woman who, under a mask, wrestled Jamie Noble a few times in dark matches.

As well as Iron Sheik and Mick Foley, Evander Holyfield is also backstage at MSG.