Newsworthy items from 9/5 Observer

[RedJed 0]

Just thought I would pop these on the board as I havent seen many of these items reported anywhere else yet.

 

-Confirmation that the Spike deal is 52 weeks, not the 13 weeks as has been rumored by others.

 

-Nash is coming back by the time the show starts, as he's been a main person they have been pushing to cable outlets, etc for the BFG ppv. No word on what his role will be on the ppv though.

 

-They are attempting to get Bret and Sting as well for their first show. Neither have committed and Sting might be a long shot considering how many times he's turned down TNA to be a part of their company in a substantial role. They even promised him a world title run if he would have showed up in the role Randy Savage ended up taking late last year.

 

-Waltman is only booked up until the 9/11 PPV until he signs a contract

 

-Strong push to get Liger in for the BFG ppv.

 

-Matt Bentley ended up coming to a verbal agreement on money to return to the company. He will be back in a few months, I am assuming to re-team with Kazarian, who would be released from the WWE contract about that same time.

 

-Dudleys wont likely be at BFG since they have an "interational date" booked that day. No word on what or where that is exactly.

 

-Tito Ortiz will be brought in by the Spike debut to tie in with commericals on UFC programming saying he is on TNA, etc.

 

-Johnny Devine is planned to be back in TNA in October.

 

-No interest in signing Kenzo Suzuki contradicting Japan reports he is signing with them.

[Zack Malibu 0]

I was going to post some of this stuff since I too get the Observer, but you beat me to it.

 

I'm glad to hear that Shane has verbally agreed to come back. I think he and Kazarian were a great team that played well off each other. With the Dudleys coming in, the NAO reuniting, the impending AMW heel turn, a Kazarian/Shane reunion, good old Team Canada, amongst other duos, the tag division is looking strong heading into the Spike debut and beyond.

 

Sting would be a good face to have around, but if he's going to come in and not be motivated, I'd much rather they leave him be. I'd also hope that he doesn't hold them up and have them bring Luger in, as he did in the past.

 

When 3LK dissolves, I wouldn't mind seeing some type of DX redux with Nash, The James Gang and Waltman (if Sean sticks around). I still have a bad feeling that the crowd longing for the NAO reunion is going to make Konnan and Killings heels by default, unless they did something where say, Team Canada is outnumbering 3LK and Kip James makes the save, reunites with BG, and stays on good terms with Konnan/Killings.

 

Having Ortiz around is good for the crossover promotion, and he did well with his role at Hard Justice. They could build up Ortiz/Brown, since it was teased at Hard Justice.

[Magus 0]

I'm glad that Devine will return. Same for Bentley, Kazarian, and I hope they can get Liger to show up. I'm actually okay with Nash, as he seems a totally different guy these days (maybe its the haircut). I'd love to see a Raven/Nash fued. Waltman also seems to have redeemed himself, and I hope he sticks around. Ortiz could be a huge main eventer in TNA if he can adapt. I just think he could work the bad ass gimmick very well. Sting would also be a big sign, but chances are that he's still not interested. It all depends on what they want to do with him. If TNA can come up with a great storyline for Sting, I think he'd sign on to do it.

[Guest netslob]

I'd love to see a Raven/Nash fued.

 

strangly enough, so would i. the shoot comments would be flying!

[Hunter's Torn Quad 0]

-Strong push to get Liger in for the BFG ppv.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

On The LAW last night, Meltzer said that TNA will be bringing in Liger whenever his schedule allows for it. He also said that Ultimo Dragon is also wanting in as well.

[Dangerous A 0]

I'm going to re-post my bit about Bret in TNA since it was no-sold by the video game fans in the video game thread in this folder...

 

 

One thing about the Bret Hart negotiations. From what I understand, at the Wrestling Convention he attended on Summerslam weekend, he said he would be open to appearing on TNA, perhaps for a Hart Foundation reunion. I assert if Bret were to appear on TNA TV before his WWE DVD comes out, I see WWE releasing "Screwed: The Bret Hart Story" instead of what Bret was wanting.

 

Now, I think Bret agreed to work with WWE so that the DVD would focus on his career as a whole and not primarily Montreal, which WWE can't get over.

 

What if Bret were to appear AFTER his DVD is released and publicly endorse TNA? Obviously he would infuriate Vince to no end, but I am not sure Bret cares what Vince thinks of him. He doesn't have to appear and do any angles or storylines, just come out, do the reunion thing, and then maybe cut a promo endorsing TNA as the next step in wrestling or something along those lines. Would a public endorsement by Bret Hart help at all? Could it open up TNA to the Canadian Market some?

[Hunter's Torn Quad 0]

What if Bret were to appear AFTER his DVD is released and publicly endorse TNA? Obviously he would infuriate Vince to no end, but I am not sure Bret cares what Vince thinks of him. He doesn't have to appear and do any angles or storylines, just come out, do the reunion thing, and then maybe cut a promo endorsing TNA as the next step in wrestling or something along those lines. Would a public endorsement by Bret Hart help at all? Could it open up TNA to the Canadian Market some?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I think Bret might not want to do that, if only because doing so would cause Vince to bring up Montreal every other week. Bret wants to move on from Montreal, and pissing Vince off so that he keeps rehashing it, more than he usually does, would make that impossible.

[World's Worst Man 0]

Liger in TNA = good news. I hope TNA and NJPW end up with a working agreement, as I've heard rumoured for the past 2 months. Tanaka, Tiger Mask, Kanemoto in the X-Division? Tanahashi vs. Joe? Make it god damn happen!

[Dr. Zaius 0]

Confirmation that the Spike deal is 52 weeks, not the 13 weeks as has been rumored by others.

 

Good to know.

[Michrome 0]

Liger in is interesting. If they move toward Daniels/Joe for BFG, they could also do Liger/Styles to keep AJ in an important match.

[Blade2kxx 0]

Liger in is interesting.  If they move toward Daniels/Joe for BFG, they could also do Liger/Styles to keep AJ in an important match.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

If they can sign Waltman, I think somebody's idea of AJ/Lynn vs. Waltman/Shelley should be used for Styles instead...

 

As far as Liger goes... maybe have him face Shocker or something.

[Guest *KNK*]

Liger in is interesting.  If they move toward Daniels/Joe for BFG, they could also do Liger/Styles to keep AJ in an important match.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

If they can sign Waltman, I think somebody's idea of AJ/Lynn vs. Waltman/Shelley should be used for Styles instead...

 

As far as Liger goes... maybe have him face Shocker or something.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Austin Aries/Liger?

[Michrome 0]

Let's be realistic. They aren't bringing in Liger to work someone that isn't even signed with the company as of yet, and they're not paying to bring him in to face a guy that hasn't had a big match in months for TNA. It will be Liger against either Styles, Daniels, or Joe.

[Guest *KNK*]

I think it'll be Styles, just going alone with the previously mentioned idea of AJ being in the tag match

 

Aries was the next best choice.

[Hunter's Torn Quad 0]

It will be Liger against either Styles, Daniels, or Joe.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

If it's any one of those three, it'll be Daniels. Joe seems to still have the 'taint' of Zero One, and Styles has worked for Zero One as well as the Wrestle group, so that leaves Daniels. And Daniels at least has wrestled in New Japan.

[The Ghost of bps21 0]

If they bring Liger in it's to face Daniels for the X title.

 

That's his thing.

 

The bad news is that it pushes back Joe's X division dominance.

 

The good news is that it likely means AJ/Joe II after Styles loses at Unbreakable costing Joe his title.

 

If things go well in getting Liger...and there's no guarantee there...

 

and my fantasy booking goes right...which is even less a lock...

 

BFG is Liger/Daniels, AJ/Joe II, Lynn/Waltman II and Raven/Jarrett II.

[Michrome 0]

They've already done the foreign opponent thing for Daniels, doing it again would be really lame, but I guess I can see why they'd do it. I assume Daniels could pin Styles in the 3 way, and then claim he shouldn't have to beat Joe cause he already did. Joe could face Styles for a title shot while Daniels retains against Liger. The problem is, Joe can't lose to AJ or it kills the momentum. If he beats AJ, thats 2 wins already, and it's hard to justify a title shot against Joe if AJ has already lost to him twice.

 

The taint of Z-1 thing was about their guys drawing in Japan. I doubt they give 2 shits about Liger working a guy who has worked 2 Z-1 shows and never toured regularly with the company. Logical booking would be this: Daniels pins AJ in the 3 way, faces Joe at BFG, and Styles works Liger at BFG.

[The Ghost of bps21 0]

I was looking at it more from the perspective of why Joe didn't win clean at the last show...and why AJ got the "ref KOd" pin spot in that match...

 

Even though AJ is TNA's guy...I kind of took it more as Joe WILL beat him some time but they left enough open for that rematch. If they didn't get Liger for this show...I think Joe would be winning the X title (which will happen sooner or later) and then they'd have the money Styles rematch in the bank...

 

But they seem intent on making BFG their "Big" show...and they DID get Liger...

 

Bah...I don't know...I do know that they have Styles, Daniels, Joe and Liger on this show...and if they don't run two killer singles bouts they are out of their fucking minds...regardless of the pairings.

[Twisted Intestine 0]

Johnny Devine!

 

That is all.

[Corey_Lazarus 0]

Devine = best member of Team Canada.

[Twisted Intestine 0]

Hopefully he is no longer in team canada upon his return. He would make an excellent contender for the X division title.

 

I bet he could put on a killer match with AJ Styles too.

[JJ Johnson 0]

Devine = best member of Team Canada.

 

 

Petey Williams left Team Canada?

 

 

 

But seriously, Devine is one of the better ones. I just think Williams is better. Unless you're counting off for his Sharpshooter.

 

 

 

 

In which case D'Amore is better.

[Twisted Intestine 0]

I don't believe TNA has yet show cased Devine's talent. (But I haven't watched it in a long time, so correct me if I'm wrong. If he's been out since the stabbing, no they haven't). Devine knows how to work a match. He's got some good high spots. He's got the "look".

 

I still say his last man standing match against The Highlander was the best match I've ever seen.

[Corey_Lazarus 0]

Devine = best member of Team Canada.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

But seriously, Devine is one of the better ones. I just think Williams is better. Unless you're counting off for his Sharpshooter.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I've never cared for Williams. Seriously. Read the old Lazarush TNA reviews, because whenever I did one for a Williams match, I blasted him for botching half of his spots. Yes, he's improved by far, but I still find the man to be pretty boring, and my hatred for the Canadian Destroyer is pretty well-known to the TNA folder regs. And, aside from that...I haven't seen much from him to make him stand out.

 

Devine at least has a superstar look, carries himself in the ring like a true professional, and has great timing from the little TNA work I've seen him involved in. The one thing I ever held against him during the whole X-Cup series was that he was, by no means, an X-Division wrestler, considering his one highspot was the Frog Splash/Moonsault combo, and that was his finish. Everything else was a ground game, and I'm still of the belief that the X-Division is about some sort of innovation, and that every match should feature something you either haven't seen before or won't see almost anywhere else in the States (which is why Samoa Joe is actually a good fit, because he's a big guy that gets some sky when he does his running highkicks, and the way he can link submission and high-impact moves is pretty innovative).