TNA Notes from the 3/8 Observer

[Enigma 0]

The return of Teddy Hart on 2/25 brought its share of news and speculation, as he got into a fight before the show, and then had a knee injury during the show, both of which, given his reputation, have been questioned. During the afternoon, Punk was eating at the White Trash (real name) Cafe, which is near the Fairgrounds in Nashville and allows the wrestlers to eat free. Hart came in and, according to one eye-witness, asked Punk if he had a problem with him, since Hart and Punk have ripped on each other on the internet since the 11/1 explosion at ROH. In fact, two weeks earlier, when the rumors got out that TNA was going to bring Hart back, Punk told people that he was going to slap him when he walked through the doors of the Asylum. Because wrestlers often talk like that and there has been old heat when a lot of wrestlers were brought in, but nothing has happened, nobody really paid that much attention to it. Those close to Punk say he hates Hart with a passion, and probably does even more now. Hart was wearing his headphones (which many think he doesn't even have on) and was smirking before Punk bumped him, and Punk made a comment and Hart either couldn't hear it because of his headphones, or others believe pretended not to hear it. When Punk repeated it, they ended up outside the cafe. The two were talking, with neither shouting at the other. Eye witnesses did see Hart take off his headphones, and then Punk slapped him very hard. Punk probably figured that would be it, but didn't realize Hart has trained in boxing, and responded with an overhand right that decked Punk. Hart got in two more shots on the ground, as Punk had a black eye and a goose egg before Sabu jumped in. Everybody stopped because Sabu, as nutty as he can be, is a vet and is respected, particularly by Hart. There were others watching who did nothing until Sabu jumped in, and then the other wrestlers helped Sabu out. As they were being separated, both started yelling at each other with the "you want some more" type diatribe. Punk, who lost a little face because he started it and got the worst of it, was saying later that he was going to get him before the day was over, until people in the company made it clear to him that if he tried, he'd be gone. Since Hart came in with the skepticism, the only reason he wasn't fired is because there were many eye witnesses who all, including those who hate Hart, said that Punk started it and the only thing Hart could possibly be faulted for was smirking, making the trouble worse, and retaliating after the slap instead of walking away. It was understood, had he done that, people would have called him a pussy so he was in a no-win situation. Both were brought in to talk with Don Harris, who told both of them they were brought in to be professionals, and if there is another incident with either of them, they'll be fired. Being that this involves Hart, who at his last MLW show did his own worked angles similar to this with both Steve Corino and Bryan Danielson, it's natural to be skeptical. In fact, Hart and Corino have done their own internet angle stemming from 11/1, took it to MLW, and now ROH is going to shoot an empty arena match video. There are even those who know Hart believe he and Punk probably worked it out and even hit each other hard to make it believable. Others in TNA have claimed that they believe it was a work, but the company had nothing to do with it, with the word going around backstage that they worked their own angle for ROH, noting Hart did a videotaped interview later in the week for RF video and they were publicizing it by talking about Hart's reaction to the incident. The fact that Hart and Corino are doing an empty arena match tape indicates ROH would love to jump on it, even though they had claimed from the start they wanted no part of this bull, and just a few months ago, that they would never use Hart again. Those very close to Punk are positive it was not a work, because Punk hates Hart with a passion. Rob Feinstein of ROH said he believed it was real because when he suggested the idea of the two doing a match off their internet diatribes before this happened, Hart was willing but Punk refused to work with Hart. I do know that both Hart and manager Dave Penzer were constantly pushing ROH booker Gabe Sapolsky to do these kind of angles, but Sapolsky kept turning them down because of how stupid WCW came across when they were trying to work their own talent all the time. Hart was telling people that it was only because there were eyewitnesses that Punk threw the first blow, that they didn't fire him.

 

Hart then wrestled in a taped match for 3/10's America's X Cup deal, against Mr. Aguila. From several sources, they stole the show (petty theft on this night), with Hart winning with a spectacular acrobatic finish. During the match, Hart supposedly injured his knee. He was scheduled to work later on the live PPV in a three-way against Jerry Lynn and Juventud Guerrera, and the booked finish was Hart pinning Guerrera. The three were in the ring working out the match before the show. After his match with Mr. Aguila, Hart said he had a knee injury and was on the live show with crutches. However, Aguila was telling friends that Hart told him before the match when they were planning spots, that he was going to do a knee injury angle. That isn't disputed by anyone, but others who believe the injury to be real noted that the spot where Hart did a tope and started greatly overselling the knee was worked out ahead of time, but it was a moonsault off the guard rail before the finish where the real injury took place, because his selling was different. Then again, if he's trying to work the promotion, his selling would be different. Both the trainer and message therapist that worked on Hart believed he was really hurt, but not seriously, as they found no knee damage. Hart did wrestle four days later for Jersey All Pro against Homicide, using the bad knee as part of his storyline, including when he did the job, his storyline excuse for it on the microphone, so I'm guessing few take it seriously nowadays. Some wrestlers claimed when Hart left the building, sans crutches, he was walking without a limp. Others said in the hotel later that night Hart didn't have crutches, which made people suspicious, but that he was limping, whether a sell or not they weren't sure. According to those familiar with him in Calgary, he has on more than one occasion, pulled out a worked knee injury, including once even working family members Bruce and Ross, because he attempts to be a martyr when mad things weren't going his way. One TNA source couldn't understand why he would pull himself out of a match which would have been his highest profile win of his career and it was that reason why many believing he was hurt, plus citing the trainer believed him.

 

The other first round of the Canada vs. Mexico X Cup bouts that air on 3/10 saw Guerrera pin Petey Williams, Johnny Devine (who looked okay) beat Abismo Negro, and Hector Garza (who was the best performer on the show according to one report) pinned Jack Evans.

 

They are in negotiations for a TV deal, and it's not with WGN. There have been reports, and there is something to them, of trying to do a late night deal with Fox Sports Net. Paul Heyman, in 2001, had a shot at getting ECW on that network, but he felt it wasn't strong enough to promote off because the local sports channels would so frequently preempt the shows.

 

The bad news is again in the poll for the 2/25 show. We had 2 thumbs up (6.9%) and 26 down (90.0%) and 1 in the middle (3.4%). A.J. Styles vs. Abyss got 11 for best match, while Simon Diamond vs. Johnny Swinger got 8 for worst match. History has shown a strong correlation between our responses and the buy rate ups and downs for both this group and WWE in the past, but it's clear that people have pretty much given up on TNA.

 

Live show, even with ICP going on their web site saying they weren't going to be there (they had to do some recording, but were scheduled to be back on 3/3 and shoot an angle, as the plan was for an ICP match to be on the 3/10 taped show with the X matches), still drew about 1,150. Pre-show lines made it appear about 70% of that were freebies, and there were very few fans in ICP juggalo gear.

 

They dumped the dancing girls in cages. Until it was pointed out on the air as a move made by Vince Russo, I hadn't even noticed.

 

Lex Luger returned in the main event of the live show. A.J. Styles was wrestling Abyss in a match where you had to twice put your foe through a table to win, with both tag titles at stake. There was a ref bump, so they missed Styles putting Abyss through a second table, which took him three tries. Luger came out, pressed Styles overhead and threw him out of the ring through a table. Abyss was given both belts, and it was implied, but not made clear he was going to pick Luger as his new partner. They never learn.

 

Raven & Sabu beat Julio Dinero & Punk when Raven pinned Punk with a DDT, and then challenged Jarrett.

 

They are having Jarrett defend the NWA title on 3/17 against Chris Harris. Russo is now in the role of babyface Director of Authority, and he's trying to toughen Harris up for his title shot. They had Harris first beat Chase Stevens, then Andy Douglas and then both of The Naturals together.

 

Russo did a long promo to try and make himself a face that backfired incredibly. Russo was near tears, which apparently turned some folks off, and then talked about how everything he had done in wrestling was wrong and he really was the Anti-Christ. People were chanting "bullshit" and "boring" until Jarrett came out, and they actually cheered Jarrett. Russo's speech saw him talk about how he did everything for ratings in wrestling, promoted violence and nudity (people cheered that, and booed when he said it was wrong), and that he had made more than $500,000 in his best year (that's a real number of what WCW paid him to jump in 1999, which will make a good subject for somebody's book). Jarrett threw him down and slapped him, but Russo wouldn't hit him back and walked away. Jarrett acted all confused the rest of the show.

 

With Hart out, Petey Williams was put into the three-way X match with Guerrera and Lynn, and pinned Guerrera after Lynn gave Guerrera a TKO. This match didn't click. Lynn was legit still mad at Guerrera for not protecting him on his 911 Juvi driver a few weeks ago and the two didn't work together well.

[Mole 0]

From this it seems that TNA is going to be a legit contendor with WWE anytime soon.

[Astro101 0]

Don Harris layin down the law!

[Guest Man Of 1,004 Modes]

I guess the "Its a work" excuse about Punk/Hart has been shot down...and than shot six more times on the way down and after the crash.

[Guest The Winter Of My Discontent]

Teddy Hart is currently my favourite wrestler - and I've never seen a match of his.

[KTID 0]

...the White Trash (real name) Cafe...

 

 

This is the funniest thing i've ever heard.

[Guest Man Of 1,004 Modes]

...the White Trash (real name) Cafe...

 

 

This is the funniest thing i've ever heard.

I can top it. Dave O'Neill, recently banned "Journalist" called Dave Bautista a GOOD wrestler.

[Kardo 0]

...the White Trash (real name) Cafe...

 

 

This is the funniest thing i've ever heard.

I can top it. Dave O'Neill, recently banned "Journalist" called Dave Bautista a GOOD wrestler.

Not that I'm defending Dave O'Neil "Journalist" but Bautista did have some very good matches down in OVW and he put in his fair share of selling and hard work. His match against Val Venis is his best.

[Guest Man Of 1,004 Modes]

...the White Trash (real name) Cafe...

 

 

This is the funniest thing i've ever heard.

I can top it. Dave O'Neill, recently banned "Journalist" called Dave Bautista a GOOD wrestler.

Not that I'm defending Dave O'Neil "Journalist" but Bautista did have some very good matches down in OVW and he put in his fair share of selling and hard work. His match against Val Venis is his best.

From what he's done on WWE T.V., he hasn't been impressive. I haven't seen anything of his from OVW, since I don't live in the area for the shows or Syndicated T.V.

[JustJoe2k5 0]

I wonder how everyone who originally were talking about how great it was that C.M. Punk punked out Teddy Hart are feeling now? I am a C.M. Punk fan and a Teddy Hart fan, and I can't wait to see what some of the crazed C.M. Punk fans will come up with in his defense.

[Guest Man Of 1,004 Modes]

I wonder how everyone who originally were talking about how great it was that C.M. Punk punked out Teddy Hart are feeling now? I am a C.M. Punk fan and a Teddy Hart fan, and I can't wait to see what some of the crazed C.M. Punk fans will come up with in his defense.

Punk said what he promised to do. Thats good enough for him. ONly big-mouths like Hart will brag about it.

[Guest Deviant]

Well, there's that, and the fact that he appeared on PPV a few hours after the altercation without a bruise or bump on him...

[Guest Man Of 1,004 Modes]

Well, there's that, and the fact that he appeared on PPV a few hours after the altercation without a bruise or bump on him...

If you mean Punk I didn't notice any bruises, or a BLACK eye (which is VERY hard to cover up). I hope I'm not wrong, unless The Gathering v. Raven/Sabu was a different week.