TNA Weekly News Bytes

October 8, 2007

by Sassy

Kurt Angle Is At It Again

It isn’t wasn't bad enough Kurt was arrested and charged with Driving Under the Influence after he failed a field sobriety test, refused a blood test and hired an attorney who says Kurt is being railroaded because of his celebrity status

Kurt is now telling everyone that he is making sure TNA becomes more like MMA.  News flash, Kurt:  Professional wrestling is NOT MMA.  And unless you are going to change the scripted endings for each match it will never be MMA.  If you want to wander off into the MMA world, please do so at your own risk.  You obviously don’t care about pro wrestling – so leave it alone.

Kurt Follows Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Rule

TNA President Dixie Carter appeared to be unaware of Kurt’s legal misfortune when she did an interview last week.  In fact, Kurt was scheduled to do his own interview on “Between the Ropes” radio show which had been hyped by TNA.  After Ms. Carter was informed of the pending disaster, Kurt was immediately pulled from the show.  Good job, Kurt.  And timing it around the two-hour TNA/Spike TV debut makes it even better.

Note to Angle –see Pacman Jones’ about PR firm referral.

Regarding the Carter Interview

Ms. Carter discussed TNA going to New York City and Canada.  She discussed hiring new wrestlers but did not mention any names. She discussed the Wellness Policy – is Drunk Driving covered under the Wellness Policy – somebody better tell Kurt? She discussed bringing back the X Division (it’s about time!) since TNA is now a two-hour show.

She also told everyone that Judas Mesias will be out four to six weeks and she is unsure of whether he will make it to Bound For Glory.  He was injured September 16, 2007 in a AAA match in Mexico. Previous news reports from other sources have said that it would be three weeks before Judas could even begin physical therapy. Bound for Glory is October 14.  You do the math.

Last Thursday’s iMPACT Rating

IMPACT did a 1.1 cable rating with 1.5 million viewers last week. Source: www.lordsofpain.net. This was the first two-hour show. I watched and was impressed that it wasn’t filled up with too many story lines.  There was a lot of good action.

Samoa Joe Interview

Samoa Joe was interviewed on Flight Network Radio.  You can read the basics here: http://www.tnawrestlingnews.com/headlines/193616357.shtml. Joe talks about marriage, Umaga’s character on WWE (Joe and Umaga are related), Kurt’s arrest, and more.

He sounds like a different guy than we reported on last week after Joe made a PCW Promoter angry.

Pacman Jones Trying to Rebuild Image

Suspended Tennessee Titans cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones purchased 1,500 tickets for Bound for Glory to donate to students.  The tickets will be given to students in Fulton County, Ga., as rewards for academic achievement and good conduct. Source: ProWrestlingFans. You can read this article regarding the image building angle http://www.pwbts.com/messages/12520.htm. Great PR work Jones.  Exactly the opposite of TNA rewarding YOU for being involved in a bar shooting.  I just hate those mixed messages we send out to today’s youth.

Note to Jones – see Kurt Angle and give him PR firm referral.

Seen Lurking at TNA

Kid Kash was recently seen at the TNA offices in Nashville. Source: www.prowrestlingfans.com.  Could this mean he’s looking to sign a deal?  Stay tuned.

Junior Fatu Working Without a Contract


It is still being reported Fatu continues to work for TNA without a contract.  Last week’s rumor mill suggests the two sides are close to closing a deal.

Looking to Sign Up

Former WWE wrestler Eugene has expressed an interest in working with TNA.  No word from TNA on how they feel about Eugene.  Eugene was released from WWE for a wellness policy violation, however, it was a prescription drug and WWE claimed they couldn’t confirm the prescription with the doctor.  If it is true that Eugene was taking drugs, even prescription drugs, improperly, then you can’t blame WWE for sticking to their guns.  However, Eugene isn’t Randy Orton – who still hasn’t faced the music for his place on the Signature Pharmacy client list.

TNA Mobile Alert, October 6, 2007

TNA sent out a mobile alert today stating that they are in negotiations with a former WWE Intercontinental and European champion. That could be many different people, and TNA did not say if the person has worked for TNA before. Some of the names that fit the description are D'Lo Brown, Sean Waltman, Jeff Hardy, Chris Jericho, Val Venis, Shawn Michaels, William Regal. Source: www.thedailysuplex.com. Obviously Regal, Hardy and Venis are still under contract with WWE, we aren’t sure if Michaels still has a contract and the latest word on Jericho is that he did sign with WWE.  That leaves Brown and Waltman.  Another wrestler who may fit the description is Rob Van Dam. If I recall my videos correctly, Waltman has been working in AAA with Judas Mesias also known as Ricky Banderas. Stay tuned.

Danny Bonaduce Takes Out Johnny Fairplay

Former TNA and Reality TV personality Johnny Fairplay mixed it up with Bonaduce at the Fox Reality Awards in Los Angeles.  Fairplay was the loser in more ways than one.  He lost three teeth in the incident after Bonaduce sent him tumbling to the stage. I don’t know about you, but I didn’t know Bonaduce was that tough.

Bad news for Fairplay – Bonaduce will not be charged with battery.  The entire incident was caught on tape, the authorities reviewed the tape and stated that Bonaduce was simply reacting to being attacked by Fairplay and no charges will be filed. Source: People Magazine.  If you are interested, you can see the incident here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1_VjxFTUmM&eurl=. I played it and didn’t see Bonaduce do anything I wouldn’t have done in the same situation.

Current TNA Events

TNA House Show at Zamora Shrine Temple, Birmingham/Rondale, AL, October 11. Tickets are on sale now.

Information on Bound for Glory Fanfest can be found at www.tnawrestling.com.

Bound for Glory, October 14, Atlanta, GA

Scheduled matches:

TNA Heavyweight Championship: Kurt Angle, current champ vs. Sting

TNA X-Division Championship: Black Machismo Jay Lethal, current champ vs. The Fallen Angel Christopher Daniels

TNA World Tag Team Championship: Team Pacman, current champs vs. The Phenomenal AJ Styles and Tyson Tomko

Ultimate X Match: Latin American Exchange, Homicide & Hernandez vs. Senshi & Primetime Elix Skipper of Triple X

The Samoan Submission Machine Samoa Joe vs. The Instant Classic Christian Cage with Special Enforcer Matt Morgan

2 Out of 3 Falls Table Match: The Steiner Brothers vs. Team 3D

Gauntlet Match for the TNA World Women’s Championship: Christy Hemme vs. Gail Kim vs. Ms. Brooks. Vs. The Pride of Tennessee Miss Jackie Moore vs. Roxxy Laveaux, vs. Angel Williams, vs. ODB vs. Asia Kong vs. Shelly Martinez

Fight for the Right Battle Royal to determine the Number One Contender for the TNA Heavyweight Championship.

Instant Classic: The Best of Christian Cage DVD will be available October 16.  See TNA’s official website for details.  You can also check out the Ring of Honor website – we hear they already have the DVD in stock, ready to ship and on sale!

The Victory Road 2007 DVD will be released later this month as a ShopTNA exclusive.  Source: ProWrestlingFans.

Genesis PPV is November 11.

Thursday, November 15 and Saturday, November 17, TNA will be in Tel Aviv, Israel at the Nokia Arena.  Get your tickets at any ticket company box office or online at www.tiket.co.il.

TNA: Year 1 DVD to be released November 20.  See TNA’s official website for details.

Turning Point PPV is December 2.

TNA will be in Monterey, Mexico on December 14th and 15th.  Sting is scheduled to be on the card.  No further information is available at this time.

TNA iMPACT is taped at Universal Studios, Orlando, FL

Information on all TNA television schedules, pay per views, house shows, merchandise, and ticket information can be found at www.tnawrestling.com.

Current TNA Talent Events

Scott Hall and Kevin Nash together again at Malice in the Palace.  That’s the Cow Palace in San Francisco, CA on October 19.

Hall and Nash will also appear at Wrestle Fanfest on October 20. You can get more information for that event here: www.wrestlefanfest.com.

Jersey All Pro Wrestling, Rahway, NJ on October 27.  Low Ki and Rhino are scheduled to appear along with Hernandez of LAX, Kaz and AJ Styles.  Visit JAPW’s website for more information: www.japw.net.

Scott D’Amore and Gail Kim will be at The Funking Conservatory !BANG! TV on October 28.  Follow this link for further information: www.dory-funk.com.

Samoa Joe is scheduled to be working with ProWrestling’s NOAH in Japan on October 25 and 27, 2007.

The 6th Annual Elite 8 Women’s Tournament, Saturday, November 10, at Mountainville Memorial Hall, Allentown, PA. Miss Brooks and Roxxy Laveaux are scheduled to appear along with Angel Williams.

If there is any news that we have missed, please email the Webmaster.

Not Necessarily TNA News

Sean “Shocker” Evans Obituary

Shocker did not die from a drug overdose.  Cancer took his life.  Although as far as I can ascertain, he never worked for TNA, he deserves to be remembered for his part in professional wrestling. The following is his published obituary.

Sean Charles Evans, a McKeesport native who spent the past decade in Georgia pursuing his dreams of professional wrestling, died Tuesday of cancer at UPMC Shadyside. He was 36.

Trim and strong from his dedication to working out, the 1989 graduate of McKeesport Area High School was known as "Shocker" Evans in the wrestling community. He was diagnosed with advanced stage lung cancer in May 2006, after years spent performing in front of hundreds of fans at regional matches and before thousands on the undercard of big arena events.

The 1996 University of Pittsburgh graduate never got rich by wrestling, and relied on other jobs, such as undercover security, for income, but he'd wanted to enter the ring since growing up watching televised matches with his grandmother, the late Catherine Evans.

In the early to mid-1990s, Mr. Evans competed locally as a crowd favorite in events such as the "Brawl at the Mall" of Pro Wrestling Express in North Versailles' former Eastland Mall.

He moved to Atlanta in 1998 to attend the WCW Power Plant, a boot camp-style professional wrestling school operated by World Championship Wrestling. Many of his peers, unlike Mr. Evans, dropped out within days. He persevered and competed for years in Georgia and elsewhere until shortly before his illness.

"He never did it for the glory," said his mother, Virginia Evans, of McKeesport. "Sometimes he only made enough at it to cover his gas money, but he did it for the love of it."

A devout Christian who remained close to his extended family in Pittsburgh, Mr. Evans hoped to use wrestling to entertain and inspire children, as had happened with him as a youngster. He was unhappy with some of the raunchier aspects of pro wrestling in recent years.

In addition to his mother, he is survived by his father, Charles, and brother Brian, both of McKeesport; two grandmothers, Ellamae Venturini, of McKeesport, and Geraldine Donnelly, of North Huntingdon; and his fiance, Mary Johnston, of Buford, Ga.

Friends and family will meet at 8:45 a.m. today at Willig Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 220 Ninth Ave., McKeesport, prior to a 10 a.m. service at Safe Harbor Baptist Church, 4901 Walnut St., Versailles.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, or the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America, P.O. Box 29119, Phoenix, AR 85038.

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