TNA News & Notes

[Enigma 0]

Jeff Hardy's debut was a nail-biter, since they were afraid he wouldn't come, and he was hardly in the shape they wanted, but he got an incredible reaction. They are doing a storyline where they are pushing him as the hottest free agent on the market. Not sure if he's signed or not, or if he is, how long he'll last. The last thing they need is to start pushing a guy and have it turn out to be another Hulk Hogan tease. Hardy was telling everyone how thrilled he was because of the crowd response, and was telling other wrestlers he was coming in weekly.

 

The AAA relationship was in critical condition last week, but seems okay right now. As we noted, Jeff Jarrett wasn't happy that Antonio Pena didn't bring him in for TripleMania. In addition, Hector Garza had told Jarrett he was going to be leaving AAA and wanted to keep working here. This was going to have political implications, because Pena wouldn't be happy if TNA was using someone who quit him. Jarrett told Garza he would still use him. Then, on 6/23, they were scheduled to have the AAA Mascarita Sagrada and Mini Abismo Negro. Because Mascarita didn't have the proper paperwork, AAA had told TNA they had Octagoncito as a back-up. Well, the day before, Mascarita got flagged at the airport. Mini Abismo, for whatever reason, then didn't get on the plane. Armando Quintero, who works as the liaison with AAA, kept trying to find out if they got on the plane and who got on the plane. Pena, who TNA had invited to come in for the show and they wanted to take him to see Orlando, had disappeared, as every so often he disappears for days. AAA officials kept saying they would call back and never did. Finally at 4:30 p.m. the day before the show, Quintero told the AAA office that they needed to let him know what was going on, as by this point they did know that Mascarita was flagged and Mini Abismo didn't get on the plane. He said they were closing the office at 5 p.m. so they had to know. The AAA people said they'd call back before 5 p.m. and never did. At 5 p.m., Jeff Jarrett told Quintero to get him two minis from somewhere, so he called the original Mascarita Sagrada, who quit Pena many years ago and works independents, and he and regular opponent Pierrothito came in. The frustration from the TNA side is also because they bought non-refundable tickets for the AAA minis, that Abyss had yet to be paid for TripleMania, while TNA was up-to-date in paying Pena for his guys (although whether they've got the money is another issue). It was figured when Pena found out about using rival minis, he'd be unhappy, as he'd be if they were to use Garza after quitting him. However, when Pena got back in contact, he never said a word about the minis. Garza wasn’t booked this week as the only Mexican scheduled was Abismo Negro, booked through Pena.

 

Dennis Rodman appears for a one-time publicity stunt on the 7/1 Impact tapings. Rodman's people made it clear he wouldn't wrestle, wouldn't do anything where he could get hurt, would only appear once, and this was the only date available. There was a lot of talk about what to do with him. The idea was to do something that would get on Sports Center, similar to Brian Urlacher, but again, while Urlacher got the company pub, it didn't mean much because it didn't build to him coming back for a match. The belief was Rodman wouldn't take the guitar shot. It was talked about having Rodman hit Jarrett with the guitar, but Jarrett didn't want that because he would never get his revenge back.

 

They were also talking with Ken Shamrock about coming back.

 

Jeff Hammond of Fox Sports Net's "Totally NASCAR," will be joining TNA for the TV show as an announcer starting 7/9. He was on the PPV once in the first year and did well. Word has it he'll mainly be doing features, and sitting in on calling some matches. There have been talks of this deal for about six weeks or more.

 

Billy Gunn showed up at the 6/24 tapings in Orlando. He lives in the area, but he talked a lot to former tag partner B.G. James and expressed his frustration with WWE right now. He is not the only Smackdown wrestler with interest in trying to get in (Bob Holly is also extremely unhappy), feeling they can be big fishes in small ponds, and if they can cut a deal where they make $2,000 to $3,000 per week, work in a featured role and only work two shows a week, it all of a sudden sounds pretty good.

 

Kid Kash did an interview with wrestling radio show host Brian Stull off the air, complaining about the company, which legit got management furious. He complained about how the company is willing to pay big money for former stars like Lex Luger but not the people who carry the company, as well as the 15% booking fee on his independent dates. He said that he asked TNA for a. release, which he apparently did again this past week. Bob Ryder told him the company has too much invested in him with merchandise that has yet to be released like dolls and video games. As with Konnan, it appears company policy right now is to not give people releases. Kash, who clearly doesn't understand the lay of the land today, truly thought if he got a release, he could go to Smackdown and get a big push because of his relationship with Paul Heyman, not realizing Heyman's influence is really limited there. He also said the company favors AMW, A.J. Styles, and Raven (and he wouldn't be the first person to say that, but it's natural in a company that is largely having to create stars that people will second guess their choices) and it is hurting morale. There always has to be someone pushed and others will always feel they are just as good and not pushed, and the company does bend over backwards for the ones they push, including helping get Styles a make over and clothes because they want their stars to look like stars. The comments were taped up to the locker room door in Nashville, so everyone saw them. He thought a lot of the wrestlers were supportive of him, and those we talked with were sympathetic toward his views, knowing that he's only making $500 per show, but also felt he was very lucky they didn't fire him. Ryder asked him if he said it, and he told Ryder that he did, but thought it was off the record, and then complained about the normal subjects being paid more and pushed more. The main thing I always hear complained about is more the pushing of Jarrett, but nobody getting a paycheck in the company will say that one publicly.

 

The decision was made to give Jonny Fairplay another shot, so they are going to reintroduce him, maybe as the manger of Titus, on the 7/2 TV show. The idea they are going with is to have him wrestle other reality TV show personalities as a way to get mainstream pub. Fairplay is a heat magnet backstage. As a rib, he said he got word that WWE was interested in Monty Brown. Nobody panicked since they've signed Brown to a contract, and right now, WWE is kind of leery about even talking with TNA contracted talent so as not to fall into a tampering lawsuit. Not to be stopped from his rib, he then said WWE was interested in D-Ray 3000 to do another Eugene like gimmick, and apparently said it to Vince Russo. The company then signed D-Ray to a one-year deal, and Fairplay was bragging to friends that he made it all up, which no doubt has to have the wrestling people thrilled with him. It was noted that when they showed the vignette billing Fairplay's debut for next week in Orlando, the reaction from the live Orlando crowd was that you could have heard crickets chirp.

 

There is talk of doing a championship committee to either replace the Director of Authority position or work with him, and they'd use ex-wrestlers to fill that role, which could include Larry Zbyszko and Dusty Rhodes.

[Astro101 0]

Hah, damn Fairplay.

 

I like teh idea of a championship committee as long as it's a subdued role.

[TheBigSwigg 0]

I myself like the committee/board of directors idea. It sucks for Russo, though.

[Sideburnious 0]

Yeah it could give Shane Douglas something to do more than as a backstage mic boy as he is way above that.

 

 

They should make it like a type of council where the decisions have to be passed by them and could have about 5 past wrestlers.

[Placebo Effect 0]

Not to be stopped from his rib, he then said WWE was interested in D-Ray 3000 to do another Eugene like gimmick, and apparently said it to Vince Russo. The company then signed D-Ray to a one-year deal, and Fairplay was bragging to friends that he made it all up, which no doubt has to have the wrestling people thrilled with him.

Ohhh my God. Bowdown to Fairplay, for he is your new God!

 

That situation with Pena sounds like a huge clusterfuck.

[Fro 0]

I like the idea of the committee as well. And there's some booking possibilities (i.e., Dusty and Jerry Jarrett are face, Jimmy Hart and Larry Z are heel, 5th guy is tweener) that would be something different.

[TheBigSwigg 0]

I like the idea of the committee as well. And there's some booking possibilities (i.e., Dusty and Jerry Jarrett are face, Jimmy Hart and Larry Z are heel, 5th guy is tweener) that would be something different.

That's a very good point. I never even thought about that. I was curious earlier today how TNA could handle the Authority figure in a way which would distinguish them from WWE, and this could do it.

 

Think about it, this prevents Authority figure vs. wrestler feuds like the Russo vs. Jarrett thing, and it means that wrestlers won't be able to go to just one guy to get what they want. Very interesting.

[Guest The Last Free Voice]

Fairplay is why I have to sit through DRay? Oh HELL no. Rupert should so be brought in and shoot on his rat ass.

 

And that's coming from a Survivor FAN.

[Magus 0]

-the way they're promoting, they had better have Hardy sign on. they'll look like jackasses otherwise. hell, the hype is getting me more interested in Hardy. that may change when he actually gets on the shows every week.

 

-i say they should screw AAA. sign Garza and then start dealing with CMLL. besides Juvi (who be in TNA again sooner or later), Garza is the only AAA guy worth a damn, and if he's actually willing to SIGN with them, the solution seems clear.

 

-Jarrett should have taken the hit from Rodman. that doesn't excuse Rodman, but Jarrett is part of the problem too. it would've been better than what turned out on Impact, and JJ wouldn't have lost any heat. he's a heel, he's supposed to get his ass kicked every now and then.

 

-i'm going to be as open minded as possible: TNA could bring in Billy Gunn, put him back with BG, reform the Outlaws (under completely different names), and it could do a lot. now let's be realistic: IF Billy was to actually get out of WWE and come to TNA, he'd need to be paid a good deal, and he'd probably bring Bob Holly with him. then we'd probably have to sit through main event fueds featuring both of them jobbing to Jarrett. not sure which will happen, though.

 

-eh, Fairplay is lame. he's tolerable if he's kept down to an absolute minimum. being able to spout one-liners does not make you a good promo. see, if he manages a heel and doesn't talk too much, he's good. but if he's going to be facing people who belong on "the Surreal Life" every other week? he's gonna suck. damn, TNA is such a whore for cheap pub.

 

-oh, and the committee idea is brilliant. get about 5 of 'em and they don't always need to be there at the same time. Dusty and Larry are decent choices, but do NOT NOT NOT involve them in fueds. that's a lot of why Russo sucks so much as DOA, because he's always in a fued or cutting a promo on someone. use legends as special attractions to announce things or actually get wrestlers over.

[Mole 0]

Ha, Fairplay is a herb but that is fuckin funny.

[NoCalMike 0]

My biggest gripe with the IMPACT show so far, is that it seems to feature the same five guys every week. Why haven't we seen more of the Raven/Sabu stuff on TV?

[Magus 0]

Raven busted his ribs, not sure of how badly. but that's probably the reason

[TheBigSwigg 0]

Raven busted his ribs, not sure of how badly. but that's probably the reason

In my opinion, they should play up the fact that Raven hasn't showed like its real. Use it for fodder for his feud with Sabu. Have Sabu say something about how this isn't the REAL Raven, but a shadow of the Raven he knew. And have the crowd begging for a response from Raven, so when he does the crowd will either GO BANANA! or be completely apathetic. I would expect the latter.

[Magus 0]

that's a good idea. problem is, that means that TNA would have to push Raven like he's an honest-to-goodness strong character. imagine that.

 

right now, TNA is doing exactly their style: they haven't thought a damn thing through. if they actually gave some thought to the story that lasted more than 10 minutes, they could make it stronger even with Raven NOT THERE (like how you suggested). but that's not TNA style, baby.