TNA News and Notes

[Jebus 0]

Got these from Vick on the DVDVR message board who in turn got these from BrianH on the TNA forums:

 

 

- A few notes from last night's show. Jeff Jarrett did not suffer a knee injury. He was just entertaining himself trying to work the audience with no storyline reason. Some people feel the need to prove they are smarter than their audience. Samoa Joe did aggravate his eye and lost vision and the match was cut several minutes short and the major spots planned never happened. He is thought to be okay and at last word was scheduled to work tomorrow night at the tapings.

 

- The next TNA PPV, Lockdown, on 4/23, will be an all cage match show. Christian Cage vs. Abyss will be the title match and there will be some sort of a team confrontation with Sting's team against a team headlined by Jeff Jarrett & Scott Steiner. TNA is working on a possible main event gimmick cage for Lockdown that may be along the lines of the old War Games in WCW.

 

- Any reports that new CEO Kevin Day was brought in to cut costs are totally incorrect.

 

- There has been no orders at the top to rid TNA of any talent. The idea that talent is not pulling out all stops on their end is a result of the booking committee not wanting the wrestling coasting right now.

 

- It's official that TV tapings in Orlando will move from Tuesday nights to Monday nights starting April 10th, which will be the big one.

 

- TNA is working on a possible main event gimmick cage for Lockdown that may be along the lines of the old War Games in WCW.

 

- BG James complained because he could not do the pelvic thrust before his pump handle slam yet Norman Smiley shows up and does the Big Wiggle. Norman is over bigtime in Orlando.

 

- The following are the currently planned World X Cup teams, but they are subject to change:

Team UK - Doug Williams, Nigel McGuiness, Jody Fleisch, Jonny Storm

Team Japan - Jushin Liger (captain), Black Tiger, Gedo, Minoru Tanaka

Team Mexico - Mistico, Ultimo Guerrero, Ultimo Dragon, Rey Bucanero

Plus Team USA and Team Canada

 

- As of right now there are no discussions of bringing in Rikishi, even though he works TNA talent heavy house shows alot.

 

- Hotstuff Hernandez is booked, TNA may start using him soon in LAX.

 

- Low Ki is considered unlikely to come in after asking for more money.

 

- Angles with the White Sox will play out all March.

 

- Homicide is pushing for Angel Media (Angel from Da Baldies in ECW) to get a tryout for the LAX spot. Cide and him are good New York buddies.

 

- TNA and NWA Cyberspace are no longer working together because Cyberspace promoter Billy Firehawk bounced a reported $1,300 check to Jeremy Borash and $1,800 check to Jeff Jarrett and pull Abyss off one of their shows but still used him to advertise it.

 

- TNA has trademarked the terms "X" as in X Division (for pro marketing

on the X Division) and "Samoan Submission Machine."

[haws bah gawd 0]

- BG James complained because he could not do the pelvic thrust before his pump handle slam yet Norman Smiley shows up and does the Big Wiggle. Norman is over bigtime in Orlando.

Because pelvic thrusts DIDN'T stop being funny in 1998.

- The following are the currently planned World X Cup teams, but they are subject to change:

Team UK - Doug Williams, Nigel McGuiness, Jody Fleisch, Jonny Storm

Team Japan - Jushin Liger (captain), Black Tiger, Gedo, Minoru Tanaka

Team Mexico - Mistico, Ultimo Guerrero, Ultimo Dragon, Rey Bucanero

Plus Team USA and Team Canada

 

HELL YES!

[razazteca 0]

Team Mexico - Mistico, Ultimo Guerrero, Ultimo Dragon, Rey Bucanero

Mexico needs to win the X Cup!

[HollywoodSpikeJenkins 0]

I hear Billy Firehawk will be going to jail soon...

[Vyce 0]

Having Los Guerreros on Team Mexico (if it remains that way) is a huge positive for them.

[World's Worst Man 0]

Black Tiger on team Japan isn't Japanese and Ultimo Dragon on team Mexico isn't Mexican Irrelevantly funny.

 

Those teams look stacked. This is gonna be an awesome tournament.

[slimm44 0]

You can trademark letters? So is it safe to say Diddy will trademark the letter P in a few months if not weeks, lol

[Stephen 0]

Speculation on Team TNA or Team Canada?.

 

One can only assume Team TNA would be Jay Lethal, Chris Sabin, AJ Styles & Christopher Daniels

 

Where would Sonjay Dutt fit in?, and i don't think jerry lynn is making a return anytime soon. Can't forget about Joe or Alex Shelley.

 

While team Canada seems like Petey Williams, Eric Young

 

Teddy Hart or Jack evans making a return?.

[Magus 0]

- The next TNA PPV, Lockdown, on 4/23, will be an all cage match show. Christian Cage vs. Abyss will be the title match and there will be some sort of a team confrontation with Sting's team against a team headlined by Jeff Jarrett & Scott Steiner. TNA is working on a possible main event gimmick cage for Lockdown that may be along the lines of the old War Games in WCW.

 

Because right after Monty gets his unexplained title shot, Abyss gets an unexplained title shot. That's exactly what happened when Raven was champ! Usually after this, though, JJ gets his rematch and wins back the strap. Is Christian actually going to get a real storyline fued out of all this? It seems like he's an afterthought since the big names take up the real spotlight. The Planet Jarrett/Sting angle is obviously priority, and some may disagree, but this shouldn't be so. Christian is the champ, and he's trying to prove he's a worthy ME'er. His angles should be given equal attention.

 

The champ should get the ME at the PPVs. If they're going to have War Games, then he should be in it with the big boys so he doesn't look like a chump. I'd rather see Christian/Abyss build up a little slow so that we get to see some development instead of throwing them at each other at a moment's notice for no reason. That's how they should've done Christian/Monty. Hell, that's how they should do ALL their World Title programs.

[Hawk 34 0]

It should be Christian/Sting/Dudleyz/Killings Vs Jarrett/Abyss/AMW/Shelley for war-games.

 

They should have 6 matches only, no sense in having non-issue involved cage matches.

[2GOLD 0]

Because right after Monty gets his unexplained title shot, Abyss gets an unexplained title shot. That's exactly what happened when Raven was champ!

 

They explained the Monty title shot. Monty told Christian he wanted a shot and Christian said bring it on. Christian's whole title gimmick is if you want the title shot, have the guts to bring it and ask him. No #1 contender matches, just say you want a shot and you get a shot.

 

It was his first title promo on IMPACT actually.

[Hawk 34 0]

Because right after Monty gets his unexplained title shot, Abyss gets an unexplained title shot. That's exactly what happened when Raven was champ!

 

They explained the Monty title shot. Monty told Christian he wanted a shot and Christian said bring it on. Christian's whole title gimmick is if you want the title shot, have the guts to bring it and ask him. No #1 contender matches, just say you want a shot and you get a shot.

 

It was his first title promo on IMPACT actually.

 

Besides, doesn't Abyss have like 3 promised title shots from 2005 still left unclaimed?

[2GOLD 0]

Because right after Monty gets his unexplained title shot, Abyss gets an unexplained title shot. That's exactly what happened when Raven was champ!

 

They explained the Monty title shot. Monty told Christian he wanted a shot and Christian said bring it on. Christian's whole title gimmick is if you want the title shot, have the guts to bring it and ask him. No #1 contender matches, just say you want a shot and you get a shot.

 

It was his first title promo on IMPACT actually.

 

Besides, doesn't Abyss have like 3 promised title shots from 2005 still left unclaimed?

 

I think most of the roster has a promised title shot at this point but yeah, Abyss has tons of them.

Didn't Monty have about three or four as well?

[RedJed 0]

Good to hear the Ultimate X wasnt a letdown intentionally at least - I think TNA should consider hotshotting an Ultimate X rematch for their first primetime Thurs Impact. Kind of ironic because the Ultimate X match at BFG fell into a similar trap as this in that it just didnt go in the way it was intended.

 

Not agreeing on Abyss/Christian in a cage title match though, Lockdown should be a place to blowoff feuds and leave it at that. Both of those guys should be in this proposed War Games idea they have.

 

Digging those names for the X Cup. Mistico in TNA is going to be a treat and with those other three? Very nice indeed. How the hell TNA got CMLL to agree to letting them in is beyond me.

[theintensifier 0]

I agree with all of the valid, and intelligent points made so far.

 

TNA is dropping the ball with Christian as Heavyweight Champion, the focus of a promotion "should" be around it's most over susperstar a.k.a the World Heavyweight Champion. But, TNA is clearly not doing that right now.

[Guest Jack Potts]

I agree with all of the valid, and intelligent points made so far.

 

TNA is dropping the ball with Christian as Heavyweight Champion, the focus of a promotion "should" be around it's most over susperstar a.k.a the World Heavyweight Champion. But, TNA is clearly not doing that right now.

 

I haven't been that excited about Christian Cage's reign so far, but I did think the "satellite" interview between him and Monty Brown from the 3/11/06 Impact episode was one of the best promos in ANY promotion that I've seen in recent years. It felt natural and real. In tone and content, the promo sounded like two boxers giving an interview before a championship bout. There were sarcastic quips, heated exchanges, threats and promises, but not the spittle-flecked, overly scripted bellowing or glares into the camera endemic of most wrestling promos. It also didn't devolve into a set-up for the opponents' respective catchphrases.

 

Christian Cage put Monty over as an athlete and wrestler, but made it clear that he would get the better of him. Great work by everyone involved.

[theintensifier 0]

And that's exactly the problem with TNA, the excitement isn't there, and it should be. They aren't using him very well as Champion. The focus of the company is Jarrett and Steiner fighting Steve "I'm no longer Sting, but I really still am" Borden. It's lame.

 

*EDIT*

 

They could be using Christian as a heel, or a face. He's muliti-talented, can wrestle pretty effectively, can talk very well, and is over right now. But, TNA drops the ball on situations like this, they have since they opened their doors way back in the summer of 2002. They wan't to be the best, and have the ability to be the best, but they cut themselves at the knees every single time.

[Guest nokia]

Based on the ending at Destination X, I thought a STRAP MATCH was in the makings ?

 

A Tag Team strap match with Sting/Christian vs Jarret/Steiner would make sense

[Magus 0]

Because right after Monty gets his unexplained title shot, Abyss gets an unexplained title shot. That's exactly what happened when Raven was champ!

 

They explained the Monty title shot. Monty told Christian he wanted a shot and Christian said bring it on. Christian's whole title gimmick is if you want the title shot, have the guts to bring it and ask him. No #1 contender matches, just say you want a shot and you get a shot.

 

It was his first title promo on IMPACT actually.

 

Well, that did happen, but it was incredibly lame. By that logic, Norman Smiley could get a PPV title shot. It shouldn't be that easy. I'm a fan of #1 contender matches and the ranking system. A challenger should do/have something that shows he deserves his title shot. When they do simplistic booking like this, it just puts less heat on the match and the workers.

 

I too think that War Games should involve the champ. I'd go for Jarrett/Steiner/Abyss/Shelley vs. Christian/Sting/Rhino/Truth. (AMW vs. Dudz should finally be done at Lockdown). During this match, a lot of stuff can happen that sets up further fueds and matches for the next PPV.

 

Christian SHOULD be the focus of the company, even if Sting, Jarrett, and Steiner (and soon Goldberg) are there. Putting a spotlight on him while those guys are around gives the fans the idea that Christian is on their level. Imagine that. I'd like to see Christian turn heel at Slammiversary, have a good heel run, then lose the belt to a top face at BFG.

[theintensifier 0]

I'm a fan of #1 contender matches and the ranking system. A challenger should do/have something that shows he deserves his title shot.

 

You see, that's the problem. You like the idea, and it's very logical. No wrestling promotion, besides maybe RoH sometimes makes sense, and does what it's general fan public likes and enjoys. If I ever ran a promotion the size of TNA, or WWE, I'd do things that my fans like or request. It makes sense. You make the fans happy, they pay money to see your product. Rocket sceince.

 

I too think that War Games should involve the champ. I'd go for Jarrett/Steiner/Abyss/Shelley vs. Christian/Sting/Rhino/Truth. (AMW vs. Dudz should finally be done at Lockdown). During this match, a lot of stuff can happen that sets up further fueds and matches for the next PPV.

 

I disagree with this. It'd bee pointless to just drop the Christian / Brown program, it just started. I'd have Brown inserted into the match, instead of the broken down Scott Steiner. Steiner should be used only as a run-in / beat down person. His wrestling days are behind him. I'm sure he can still go, but it's nothing I want to see. I do like the idea of AMW vs. Dudley Boyz though.

[Guest El Satanico]

That's assuming the fans that care about a contenders system enough to complain about it's absense, represent a large enough number to encourage change. I wouldn't take that bet.

[Guest LuckyLopez]

I disagree with this. It'd bee pointless to just drop the Christian / Brown program, it just started. I'd have Brown inserted into the match, instead of the broken down Scott Steiner. Steiner should be used only as a run-in / beat down person. His wrestling days are behind him. I'm sure he can still go, but it's nothing I want to see. I do like the idea of AMW vs. Dudley Boyz though.

Agreed on Christian/Brown. But I don't see a great need to take Steiner out of the match. The very nature of it doesn't ask a lot of him besides being big, powerful, and a monster in the cage. That, I'm relatively sure, he can do. Mobility or crispness isn't totally needed there. And while I realize a LOT of fans are down on Steiner (and I'm at least partially one of them) he's in TNA so obviouslly they desire to use him. I'd probably do Jarrett/Steiner/Abyss/Brown (vs the aforementioned Christian/Sting/Rhino/Killings). The 3 big men backing Jarrett up works as a decent enough starting point as to why JJ thinks he has it in the bag (especially since the face team is more athletic than the power group there). And Brown and Steiner can clash as they should (which should probably be the reason for Brown leaving Jarrett's Army). Shelley feels kind of out of place in these scenarios. He of course fits in due to Sting's involvement but I doubt he's going to be in the main event picture in the short term and there's not a ton of logic for Jarrett to bring him into the cage over a Brown or Steiner.

 

My only real problem with that is that Rhino/Abyss should PROBABLY be one of the feuds blown off at Lockdown. Then again I don't have much desire to see another match between the two and I'd be ok if you just wrote it off after Lockdown and move the two of them onto new opponents.

 

I think Shelley would probably be best served elsewhere on the card. Idealy I'd probably have him win some sort of match to grab the last spot on Team TNA/USA's World X Cup. He can work as the lone heel in the team with Styles, Lethal, and Sabin and then can go into a feud with Styles (or the others) afterwards.

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

Has a show like that ever been done, with all of one kind of gimmick match? That seems like it's be tough to watch after a while.

 

And fuck the World X Cup sounds sweet.

[Placebo Effect 0]

Has a show like that ever been done, with all of one kind of gimmick match? That seems like it's be tough to watch after a while.

 

And fuck the World X Cup sounds sweet.

 

It was done last year.

 

And yes, it was tough to watch.

[Astro101 0]

Yea, they did Lockdown last year. I think it went better than most people expected.

[Guest El Satanico]

It's just a ring with a fence around, so as long as everyone keeps track of the big spots and finishes to avoid repeats, an all cage match ppv should work.

 

Honestly, it should only be the major matches in a cage. There's no need to toss a random X 4-way time filler into a cage.

[The Decemberists 0]

Yea, they did Lockdown last year. I think it went better than most people expected.

 

Yeah, apart from the whole Candido thing....

 

 

 

They had a gap in at least one side of the cage to stick a camera through, so it wasn't as if you were constantly throught the cage for 4 hours, which was good.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

Meltz is reporting that they have moved the TNA Thursday show to an 11PM start time. I don't really see this as good news for TNA as I know a lot of people won't stay up that late no matter what's on.