Sean Waltman Responds To NWA:TNA Press Release

[Guest BoboBrazil]

To the Media and Fans of "Professional Wrestling"

 

For Immediate Release

 

From: Sean Waltman

 

Date: Wednesday, November 27th, 2002

 

I would like to have the opportunity to respond to the statement released on the NWA TNA website concerning our parting of ways. I would first like to comment on the fact that many websites have headlined threads with "Waltman Released by TNA" or something similar. That is not an accurate description of what has taken place, so I will do my best here to explain the events leading up to my decision to part ways with the company.

 

Just to set a back drop to the story, I will tell you briefly how I became involved in the TNA project in the first place. Let's just say I knew about TNA well before most people. I was very excited, and I believed (and still do) that Jerry Jarrett could make this work. Moving forward, when I left the WWE, Jerry was excited about having me as a recognized star and also a major part of the creative end of things. Around that time I was also informed of the bad news concerning the financial problems the company had run into. When things were looking the worst, I was asked what I would be willing to work for, without feeling insulted. Without hesitation my response was "Whatever you can pay me." If I didn't do everything I could to try to make this thing work, for not only myself, but for the good of Wrestling then shame on me. So I discounted my price by way over half of what I was originally told I would make per shot. Scott Hall also worked for much less. All I asked for was to be part of the creative end of things, and that I would be remembered when the company became a success. I thought that was agreed.

 

I have had a great time in TNA, and I am grateful that I was able to show wrestling fans I still had something left. My matches with A.J. Styles were two of the best I have had in years, and I can only imagine what matches I could have had with Jerry Lynn, Jeff Jarrett , Ron Killings, and other great guys there. I am very sad things have come to this. But, from day one, I made it clear if Vince Russo had anything to do with anything concerning me, then there would be no deal.

 

Vince Russo has no respect for wrestling or the importance of the matches themselves to the success of the product in general. He made not only himself, but also a comedic actor WCW World Champion, when he was in charge. Wrestling was my first love, it is the only thing I have ever wanted to be, and to do what he did is blasphemous to our industry. He might as well have spit in the faces of all who step in the ring. So"F**** HIM"!

 

Everything had been going well at TNA, with the exception of a few disagreements with Russo, but I could peacefully co-exist. Jerry and I would correspond through e-mail or on the phone. I was consulted on what I would be doing, and the rest of the show as well.

 

So, when I became aware of things developing in the office which seemed to be going on behind Jerry's back, I told him immediately. I am referring to the whole Russo power play story.

 

A few days later, I talked to Jerry, and it all went down the day after the match where I dropped the X title to Styles. Jerry told me Russo had convinced the Panda people he could do a better job than Jerry. I don't need to get into this, as everyone knows the story. But I do need to tell everyone I made it clear that if Russo stayed, I was gone. The next Monday I was told by Jerry "We have all our problems worked out." I missed that week because of the hip injury, so finally I came back the following week to work the match with Brian Lawler. Still hurt, keep in mind, and I was very unhappy with my performance.

 

When I arrived that day, everyone assumed Russo was gone. I thought I would get a warm greeting from Jerry after everything that had happened, but instead I was avoided. I asked why they had a 5 way Elimination Tables Match for #1 contender spot of the X division Title. There was no issue between any of the wrestlers, and no one in TNA has a Tables gimmick (like the Dudleys), and X division is not the hardcore division. He was somewhat defensive, and it bothered me. I just started feeling awkward there. From that point, I was avoided, and no phone calls were returned, and I was getting pissed off.

 

The following week I did the most unprofessional thing I've ever done in my career, I no showed with only 30 minutes prior notice. I would not have been able to work regardless, due to injuries. But I was in Las Vegas for a few days prior to the show for someone's wedding , and also celebrating my own engagement to Joanie, and neglected to call until I woke up at 4:30 pm L.A. time. I have no excuse, so let's move on.

 

Still injured, and getting many tests, MRI, CT scans, and painful epidural injections meant I would also miss this last Wednesday as well. I was unable to watch the show, but when I found out Russo showed up last week I wanted to vomit. I feel very foolish, and honestly hurt that I was mislead in this manner by people I tried so hard to help. Not to mention they are friends.

 

So I e-mailed Jerry, and told him my feelings. Things kept bothering me, so later I left a message to both Jeff and Jerry telling them I was through, and I thought the way things went down sucked. I did however remember the unprofessional no show from the week before. My decision was that I would work one last match and then I was done. The match had to be with Jeff, because I was supposed to work with him the week before, and I thought it would be good to do the right thing for the World Champ on the way out.

 

That is what I told them. They know I am willing to do it, but only with Jeff. They decided it was more important to do a rematch, which they could do the next week, than to get the most out of me before I left. That's their choice. I think it was one of many bad choices they have made lately, and that's a shame. I wish them the best, but with Russo having anything to do with the product, they are ******* into the wind.

 

This is my side of the story. Thank You

 

 

pwtorch.com

[Guest bps "The Truth" 21]

I just found this too.

 

It sounds like a reasonable account of what was going down...

 

but I always shiver when someone from the Kliq talks about respect for the business.

[Guest EN090]

Too bad Waltman left out the part where Russo made X-Pac into a star when WCW didn't want anything to do with him.

[Paul Stanley 0]

Yeah, too bad Russo is a nut.

[Guest goodhelmet]

that was one of the best written criticisms of nwa i have ever heard. but like mentioned before, it had to be written by waltman. do you trust him or not?

[Guest eirejmcmahon]

I'm dying to see how 1bob is covering this story - could you imagine their orgasmic joy if this story was occurring within the halls of the WWE ?

 

Anyone feel like risking the dozens of pop-up ads to post their articles on this over here - assuming they make mention of it at all.

[Guest dreamer420]

Once again that is bad news for both TNA and Waltman. That statement seemed like an honest piece of work and I hope things work out for Waltman, who I believe was well on his way to kick starting his career.

[Paul Stanley 0]

For some reason at 1w..i don't get popups

 

i get the "page cannot be displayed" thing

[Guest Slapnuts00]

Darn, I feel for Syxx pac too. I hate Russo so much, I don't understand why people keep letting him book wrestling when he opnely hates it.

[Guest CoreyLazarus416]

Because people seem to think that he was a success, regardless of the fact that his only MAJOR successes (Austin 3:16, The Rock, DX) were going to occur anyway. You really think that The Rock wasn't going to be a huge star without Russo? Pfft!

 

Fuck Russo. For the first time EVER, I was bored the ENTIRE TNA show.

[Guest Banky]

This is a W-O-R-K.

[Guest dreamer420]

I don't think so dude. The hate seems legit between Waltman and Russo.

[Guest Banky]

This angle is Kliqirrific.

[B. Brian Brunzell 0]

This angle is Kliqirrific.

I tend to agree.

[Guest KeranGrudgeholder]

Didnt every wrestling web site in the world not two weeks ago have Russo fired from TNA as their lead story

[Guest cynicalprofit]

Just remember, all wrestlers are wrestling fans, well for the most part anyways, and since we're fans too, their feelings about Russo are more then likely equal to ours. I dont think this is a work. Waltman wants to work in Japan anyways, so burning bridges with Russo doesnt hurt him at all.

 

For the second time in Waltmans career, I respect the guy.