The Thread Killer Posted December 6, 2005 Report Share Posted December 6, 2005 Stolen from Inside Pulse... - The Chicago Sun-Times and USA Today today covered the AJ Pierzynski/wrestling angle taking place this Thurdsay on TNA's 10pm Thursday special on SpikeTV. As much as smarks like to look down on celeberty involvement, this one seems to be working. In fact, there is serious talk that Sports Illustrated might do a story on it, which would he HUGE for TNA. - Saturday night's iMPACT! did a 0.8 cable rating, and scored its highest total viewership in history, according to Nielsen Media Research. Best rating ever is good news for TNA, especially considering the awesome promo by Christian this past week. - TNA president Dixie Carter was a guest on this week's edition of Monday Night Mayhem, a live wrestling radio show that can be heard live and archived every week for on AudioWrestling.com. She said that there might be a major surprise at Sunday's Turning Point PPV that will "change the face of the wrestling business." She also mentioned Buffalo as a hot audience and place they'd like to tour at some point next year; said that recent former WWE superstars (or those that have contracts about to expire) such as Christy Hemme, Chris Jericho and Chris Benoit could help get the TNA roster over faster, but the most important thing is promoting current talent. When asked about a possible TNA drug policy, she said that they do a good job of keeping the locker room clean (citing Raven's recently resolved drug issues as an example) and their roster is less about the big muscular look. The big surprise is rumored to be an expanded show or new time slot. I also like how she sees that focusing on guys like Joe and AJ is just as important as signing every WWE castoff. Good news for us TNA fans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mad Dog Posted December 6, 2005 Report Share Posted December 6, 2005 The thing that always impresses me with Carter is that she stresses constantly that they want to get there with the roster they have now. It's good to know they aren't going to suck up every release from the WWF. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest savagerulz Posted December 6, 2005 Report Share Posted December 6, 2005 I love how every time the word "huge" appears in writing on the internet, it has to be spelled as "HUGE," as though it should be emphasized. I don't see how TNA being in Sports Illustrated would be "HUGE." Sure, it'd get them some free advertisement, but it wouldn't change the face of TNA forever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest WidowsPeak Posted December 6, 2005 Report Share Posted December 6, 2005 It's good to know they aren't going to suck up every release from the WWF. Yeah, they shouldn't have to copy All Japan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loss Posted December 6, 2005 Report Share Posted December 6, 2005 Actions speak louder than words. Has TNA ever turned down a WWE guy actively pursuing work with them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sek69 Posted December 7, 2005 Report Share Posted December 7, 2005 Didn't some of the hosses who ended up working in Japan make inquiries about TNA first? I know I remember reading about someone released from WWE that TNA said "no thanks" to, but I can't put a name to the story. I'm guessing that the HUGE~! announcement is something about getting more TV time, since they really don't need to sign any more talent. They need the TV time to get the guys they have now over. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Thread Killer Posted December 7, 2005 Author Report Share Posted December 7, 2005 In my opinion, getting a mention in SI would be huge for TNA. They need all the publicity they can get, and a mention or article in SI will get them plenty of it. The huge announcement is not the SI article. That is a different deal altogether. I would think that the announcement would be either a new time slot, more time for IMPACT, or the signing of a major name like Goldberg or Lesnar. What sek says is true. Almost every guy who gets cut gives some sort of interview to Get In The Ring or whoever, saying they'd love to work in TNA. I also agree that if you look at a lot of the guys in AJPW, like Albert, Chuck Palumbo, Johnny The Bull, Bull Buchanan, Rico, or even guys like Matt Morgan who went to NJPW...or guys like Test who has been sniffing for a job from what I read...TNA hasn't fallen all over themselves to sign every single person that the WWE cuts. Look at way back when Zach Gowan got cut. He was getting a bit of a Jesus push, in an angle with Hogan and McMahon was even working some house shows and doing an angle with him in the WWE. He got cut, worked a couple of matches in TNA again, kissed their asses on his blog basically begging for a job, and they didn't touch him...despite the fact that he was a "known" wrestler. Now he works a 9-5 job and goes to Big Japan. Ouch. I honestly think that TNA is content to sign the guys they need like Christian, Team 3D, Rhino or hopefully Haas...guys that can contribute to the product...but they are not going to sign every other guy just because they got some TV time on the E. The point is well made that TNA can't totally look like a fed full of WWE rejects. They will already carry that stigma with Double J as their main headliner. There has to be that mix of known guys like Raven, Team 3D, Rhino, Jeff Hardy, Christian etc...and then guys like AJ Styles, Christopher Daniels, Samoa Joe, Abyss, Monte Brown, AMW, and of course Shark Boy...people who are fresh and new to the fans. I am not a blind TNA mark who will argue that every single move they make is genius...but I think that with lots of free publicity from this deal with the White Sox, their highest rating ever, and a potential announcement at the PPV, they're doing okay for themselves. Remember, they are reportedly breaking even now, and this is the fed that had some people predicting they'd be in the toilet every other week. TNA keeps going, and in my opinion right now they are doing more right than they are wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sek69 Posted December 7, 2005 Report Share Posted December 7, 2005 I've been impressed with how they've been able to resist the temptation to immediately compete with WWE. You know they're itching to do it, but they've put more of an effort with building their own brand rather than doing the "OMG WWE SUX~!" bit for the whole show like ECW was prone to doing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mad Dog Posted December 7, 2005 Report Share Posted December 7, 2005 Actions speak louder than words. Has TNA ever turned down a WWE guy actively pursuing work with them? I think they've said no thank you to a couple of the recent releases that want too much money. There have been 40 something releases in the last year and TNA's only brough in 6 or 7 so it's had to have happened. I know they gave Bucannon a tryout in 2003 and booted him the minute he complained about something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kjh Posted December 7, 2005 Report Share Posted December 7, 2005 Didn't some of the hosses who ended up working in Japan make inquiries about TNA first? I know I remember reading about someone released from WWE that TNA said "no thanks" to, but I can't put a name to the story.I can remember Kenzo and Hiroko Suzuki turning up at a PPV and they gave them the don't call us, we'll call you, polite blow off. I think Billy Kidman, Test and Shannon Moore have done the same thing, but haven't shown up on our screens just yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mad Dog Posted December 7, 2005 Report Share Posted December 7, 2005 Shannon Moore is under contract I believe. He's been doing dark matches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Cam Chaos Posted December 7, 2005 Report Share Posted December 7, 2005 Rico, Test, Matt Morgan, Mark Jindrak, Kenzo Suzuki, Rikishi and others all sought work with TNA but nothing came about as a result of their efforts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loss Posted December 7, 2005 Report Share Posted December 7, 2005 They're foolish for not signing Shannon Moore, since he fits in nicely with the roster they have. Kidman ... I don't know, he needs to re-find himself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Thread Killer Posted December 7, 2005 Author Report Share Posted December 7, 2005 I think they actually have inked Moore, yeah. Kidman? Meh. He looked like a freaky hunchback on roids the last time I saw him in that team with Paul London...and rumor has it that he's having mental problems or something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Sass Posted December 7, 2005 Report Share Posted December 7, 2005 Rico, Test, Matt Morgan, Mark Jindrak, Kenzo Suzuki, Rikishi and others all sought work with TNA but nothing came about as a result of their efforts. Aside from Test, Suzuki and Rikishi, all of those guys you mentioned should be hired by TNA. Jindrak isn't a bad worker. However, he lacks any interesting personality. Matt Morgan's too big (and young as well) to pass up and he's a diehard fan. Give the big man another shot without a stupid stuttering gimmick. Rico can manage. I like how TNA, unlike the WWE, has given wrestlers actual managers instead of hoe candy (Lita). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loss Posted December 7, 2005 Report Share Posted December 7, 2005 Matt Morgan would get over huge, and Morgan/Brown with 12 months of build would have "dream match" appeal if they protected both guys. Maybe debuting Morgan as Jarrett's muscle to further the divide between Brown and Jarrett, but there are more possibilities there as well. Strangely, I think Jindrak could have a shockingly good feud with Rhyno. Rico is a little tougher to find a good storyline for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Jack D. Ripper Posted December 7, 2005 Report Share Posted December 7, 2005 Rico, without his WWe crap, would be good tag team material. However, he's a bit old and not much different than Glen Gilberti(Disco Inferno). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mad Dog Posted December 7, 2005 Report Share Posted December 7, 2005 That's WWF for you. Find a great talker like Morgan and then give him a gimmick where he can't use his promo skills. I think Morgan should be the highest on their list. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest WidowsPeak Posted December 8, 2005 Report Share Posted December 8, 2005 I thought Rico retired from the wrestling business after he returned from Japan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mad Dog Posted December 8, 2005 Report Share Posted December 8, 2005 Yeah, he wrote some long tirade about All Japan cheating him out of $2000 and that he was calling it a career. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest EastCoastJ Posted December 8, 2005 Report Share Posted December 8, 2005 Two rumors circulating, both from PWInsider. The first, which would be a spoiler for the PPV on Sunday, but not that big of a deal... SPOILER WARNING Chris Kanyon is scheduled to debut at Turning point to take on Raven. END SPOILER The other major story going around concerning TNA is that there have been serious talks about running house shows in 2006. As of right now it seems to be a go. Some of the markets being talked about are Pittsburgh, Philly, Chicago, Buffalo and Nashville. Charlie Haas is supposed to start with TNA soon too according to newspaper reports in Baltimore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Thread Killer Posted December 8, 2005 Author Report Share Posted December 8, 2005 Yeah Rico has gone back to being a cop again. And if they sign Haas, I will personally be very happen. And if Kanyon comes in, I will mark out, because...say it along with me now...who better than Kanyon? And NO NO NO NO. NOBODY is as bad as Glen Gilberti...NOBODY. I had to sit through his world title shot push in TNA back during the weekly PPV era...and it was AWFUL. That man SUCKS in the ring. SUCKS I tell you, and his on screen character makes me want to burn things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goodhelmet Posted December 8, 2005 Report Share Posted December 8, 2005 Any word on what what the big secret is? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Thread Killer Posted December 8, 2005 Author Report Share Posted December 8, 2005 From Meltz: "Regarding TNA's big secret, the idea that it will change the face of wrestling, if it's what I'm expecting, is way overblown. Personally, to me, signing Christian was a bigger deal in the long-run, although it's possible this would be slightly bigger short-term, but only slightly if at all." Some people (at SK's board so take that for what it's worth) are speculating that it's an announcement that Chris Benoit has reached a verbal argreement with TNA for 2006 when his WWE contract expires. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest TheShawshankRudotion Posted December 8, 2005 Report Share Posted December 8, 2005 I doubt it's Benoit. Benoit would help much more long term in making their talent look a lot better than they really are and helping them develop in-ring. But that depends on what his definition of "short term" is. Maybe it's a deal with New Japan Pro Wrestling? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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