Some TNA Notes From Jason Powell's VIP Update

[BoboBrazil 0]

-WWE showed last minute interest in signing Johnny Swinger, Simon Diamond, and Trinity earlier this week. WWE quickly found out that Trinity had signed a TNA contract several months ago, so those discussions broke down quickly. The word in the TNA locker room is that the WWE official who contacted Swinger and Diamond wanted them to put off signing their TNA contracts so that they could negotiate with WWE. Swinger and Diamond told TNA wrestlers that they later received a phone call from a WWE official who informed them that the company would not be making an offer because Vince McMahon doesn't like to negotiate under deadlines.

 

-Vince McMahon doesn't like to negotiate under deadlines? What? The wrestling world has known since Aug. 27 that TNA wrestlers had until Sept. 17 to look over their TNA contracts, yet no one from WWE bothered to contact the TNA wrestlers they were interested in until the last minute. Clearly, WWE put themselves in the position to negotiate on the last minute deadline by not acting faster than they did.

 

-Speaking of the contracts, it sounds as if just about every wrestler who was offered a contract signed. There were some wrestlers who asked to be guaranteed 30-45 dates per year. Management was reluctant to give those wrestlers those many guaranteed dates, but did compromise by giving those wrestlers 26 guaranteed dates. There were also some wrestlers who negotiated for creative control over their own characters outside of TNA. Obviously, TNA retained creative control over for what happens in their own company, but gave in and allowed some wrestlers to retain control when they work for independent promotions such as Ring of Honor and Major League Wrestling. The gist of that issue was that the wrestlers didn't want to become less valuable to other promoters who would be obligated to book them according to TNA storylines. For instance, C.M. Punk works as Raven's protege in TNA, but the two actually feud with one another in ROH, MLW, and other independent promotions.

 

-There was a backstage incident between Raven and Jim "Sinister Minister" Mitchell after the Sept. 17 show relating to the rough shave Mitchell gave Raven following the hair vs. hair main event match. Before the show, Jeff Jarrett gave Raven and Mitchell instructions in front of several wrestlers in the locker room. One wrestler overheard Mitchell ask Jarrett if there was a certain way he should hold the clippers when he cut Raven's hair. Jarrett told him to simply press down until the hair started coming off. However, Mitchell held the clippers the wrong way and left Raven's scalp a bloody mess. When Raven got backstage, Mitchell approached him to apologize. Raven took a swing at Mitchell, although observers say it looked as if Raven thought better of punching Mitchell and actually pulled the punch as he would in an actual match. Raven yelled at Mitchell in front of the other wrestlers and went so far as to say that he doesn't want to work with Mitchell in the future because he makes too many mistakes. Mitchell tried to apologize later in the evening, but Raven wiped some blood from his own head and then pie-faced Mitchell with his bloody hand. Although Raven was very upset the night of the show, the latest word is that he and Mitchell have already made peace and will continue working their program in TNA.

 

-The backstage take on the Raven-Mitchell incident has been that while the wrestlers understand Raven was upset about his head being cut, he should not have lashed out at him in front of the rest of the locker room. Raven and Mitchell have been friends for a number of years dating back at least to the time both spent in WCW, so I don't expect much to come of this situation, especially since they've already kissed and made up.

 

-In addition to his on-air duties, Terry Taylor has apparently taken on the role of TNA agent. More than one wrestler has praised Taylor for the way he gives wrestlers the finishes. Although fellow agent Scott D'Amore is popular with the wrestlers, the general opinion is that Taylor does a better job than D'Amore of giving out finishes because he is more specific with what he wants out of the wrestlers.

 

-Roddy Piper spent more time in the main locker room on Wednesday night than he has been known to spend in the past. Wrestlers described him as "quiet" and "strange," but said he was at least a little more accessible this time around. However, Piper did not dress in the main locker room. Instead, he dressed in Jeff Jarrett's private locker room, which Sting, Sean Waltman, and other major names have done in the past. No word as to whether Piper is a TNA regular or not.

 

-The wrestlers seem to understand the reason for Jarrett having his own locker room, meaning there is no sign of the jealousy that existed when some top WCW wrestlers had their own locker rooms. The main reason seems to be that Jarrett is not just a wrestler, he also works in the office. Wrestlers also know that Jarrett also uses the locker room as an office to conduct private meetings with talent, and he and his father Jerry meet privately in the room prior to each show.

 

-America's Most Wanted (Chris Harris & James Storm) have the reputation for "boo boo facing" whenever they are scheduled to lose matches. Wrestlers say that was certainly the case on Wednesday night when they found out they would not be winning the three-way number one contender's match. One wrestler said the demeanor of Harris and Storm totally changed once they were told the finish of the match. There have been rumblings in the past that once Harris and Storm find out they are losing, their main interest goes from putting together the best match possible to making sure they get in all of their own spots. All of that said, there were no reports of Harris and Storm having problems when they were asked to put over Johnny Swinger and Simon Diamond for the NWA Tag Titles at the Aug. 27 show.

[The Ghost of bps21 0]

Lot's of neat stuff in there.

 

I'd be pissed if I were Raven too...but from my NON carved up head...I understand that Mitchell didn't mean it at all.

 

It's good that TNA gave in and it's good that everyone signed.

[Guest Salacious Crumb]

Well it's nice to see that the WWF made complete fools of themselves. It's also good to know that they won't be making major talent raids for awhile.

 

And I find it funny after hearing all the bitching on here and how wrestlers wouldn't stand for it that they signed contracts.

[The Ghost of bps21 0]

Well...it seems TNA gave into the more important things.

 

Allowing CM Punk (who TNA grossly misuses every week) to continue being booked as a star everywhere else is a good thing.

[Guest Salacious Crumb]

Yeah. I never thought it was going to be as much an issue as others.

 

All I know is that they have guys to long term contracts and that can't be a bad thing.

 

Now all they need to do is get Sting to more than 3 more appearances.

[The Ghost of bps21 0]

It's not a bad thing for Ring of Honor either.

 

They've lost Paul London, Spanky and Alexis Laree to the WWE since they started...

 

now they know that guys they use like Styles, Raven, Sabin and Punk won't be going anywhere for the next year.

 

That's a positive.

[Sandman9000 0]

It's not a bad thing for Ring of Honor either.

 

They've lost Paul London, Spanky and Alexis Laree to the WWE since they started...

 

now they know that guys they use like Styles, Raven, Sabin and Punk won't be going anywhere for the next year.

 

That's a positive.

Well, I'd imagine that Japan is still an option for most of those guys. I know Punk has worked Zero-One recently, in terms of people on your list, and they've mentioned that D'Lo's going to AJPW soon. So, it doesn't completly help out ROH, and it means that TNA won't have them 52 weeks a year either.