TNA Wrestling News (Page 16)

We posted part of an interview from Dixie Carter (pictured), president of TNA Wrestling earlier week. Here are more excerpts from it:

On holding back the news of Kurt Angle signing with TNA:
"Your natural instinct is to share exciting news with everyone, but I knew that I couldn’t. That was very difficult to do, but to ensure this would remain a secret, only a handful of people would find out, and it was out of necessity for the few who did."

On Sting discovering Angle's signing with TNA:
"I didn’t tell Sting because I really wanted to see the true reaction on his face when he saw Kurt. When I walked into the restaurant, Sting greeted me, but his face was perplexed when Dave Hawk, Kurt’s agent, walked in behind me. You could tell Sting was wondering who Dave was and why he was such a big surprise.

Then in walked Kurt, and Sting was truly blown away. Sting kept shaking his head from side to side, and just kept repeating, ‘Wow.’ Sting was almost speechless."

On Vince Russo's return to TNA:
"Vince Russo is a different man today than when he first joined TNA, and I would assume even much more different than he was during his time in WWF/WCW. His faith is now in the center of his life. He’s always had an amazing heart, but his priorities over the past few years have shifted tremendously."

On Vince McMahon & WWE:
"I have never met him, but you have to respect all the success that Vince and his wife Linda have achieved with WWE. I have said it before … Vince McMahon is one of the great marketers in the entertainment business."

We never thought we'd write about TNA wrestling so much. Then, the company went out and signed Kurt Angle.

Here's what president, Dixie Carter, had to say about that and other happenings in the brand:

On reaction to negative feedback to Kurt Angle coming to TNA:
"Am I shocked by some of the negative response? I’m more saddened by it – for Kurt. I know this has hurt him very much. TNA would never sign a talent, or allow a talent to be in a situation to harm themselves more than the risk each of these guys takes every time they step into the ring.

I truly believe that every TNA wrestler, referee, broadcaster and front-office employee knows that their health and their family come first. TNA is their livelihood, and they are all very passionate about it, but it is still just a job."

On Kurt Angle's current medical condition:
"I have personally met with Kurt and his wife. All past medical and pain medication issues have been addressed in depth and to my satisfaction. We have assembled a team of doctors around Kurt to monitor past injuries and also oversee his health on an ongoing basis."

On TNA wrestling's drug policy:
"TNA Wrestling has a very strict drug and alcohol policy, and each contracted talent signs an acknowledgement of the policy set forth. Drug use and alcohol abuse are issues we take very seriously. TNA has the right to conduct random drug-tests and other tests in accordance with government requirements. Violations of the policy are spelled out and failure to comply or failure of a test can result in mandatory drug counseling and treatment, suspension from work without pay, up to and including dismissal."

If Kurt Angle's signing to TNA helped iMPACT! move to primetime on Spike TV:
"The deal to move to prime-time on SpikeTV was done prior to signing Kurt. One thing I think is so great about Kurt is that he wanted to be a part of TNA without even knowing that the company was moving to prime-time. He wanted to make that leap because he knew the potential was there and he wanted to be part of making it happen. That’s how much he wants to be a part of TNA."

On the possibility of Bill Goldberg coming to TNA:
"Bill has a lot of exciting things going on in his career right now. TNA would be the perfect place for him to continue those pursuits while stepping back in the ring to write one last chapter of a storied wrestling career. Bill is very talented and he would be another great addition to our roster."

NWA Championship (title vs. Sting's Career), featuring Kurt Angle at the ringside enforcer
- Jeff Jarrett vs. Sting

NWA Tag Team Championship
- Christopher Daniels & AJ Styles vs. LAX - Six Sides of Steel

TNA X-Division Championship
- Senshi (c) vs. Chris Sabin

8 Mile Street Fight
- Rhino vs. Christian Cage

Monster’s Ball
- Samoa Joe vs. Abyss vs. Raven vs. Brother Runt

We have more news from TNA on the contract of Kurt Angle and Team 3D:

The contract is exclusive and Angle will NOT be doing MMA. While the length of Angle's contract isn't known, it is believed that any move to MMA was just a hoax. It was planted to prevent anyone from thinking he was going to TNA.

Meanwhile, Team 3D came to terms on a new one-year deal with TNA recently. The deal has an option for a second year. According to reports, both members were overheard telling people at the TNA TV tapings on Monday that TNA is the best place for them right now, considering the state of the business.

According to F4WOnline.com, sources have been throwing a numbe around as the yearly base salary for Kurt Angle in TNA: $650,000.

If the figure is valid - and it would be in addition to money from outside bookings, endorsements and a cut of Kurt Angle merchandise sale - the wrestler is on pace to receive significantly more money than even Sting made as part of the TNA wrestling crew.

It would also amount to a far greater per-show deal than Angle received while with WWE.

Forget the rumors and innuendo about Kurt Angle moving to TNA wrestling, here's what the man himself had to say about such a decision:

I had fun in WWE at certain times, but I was never really happy. Now being a part of TNA, I know I have a purpose. I feel like I am part of history, part of a company that is not only on the rise – not only going to be the number-one watched wrestling show in the world within a short period of time – but TNA gives me an opportunity to spread my wings. This company has no limits to where it can go.

The sky is the limit and the main reason is because they brought the “real” back into wrestling and that is a perfect fit for the greatest wrestler in USA Olympic history. I have room to grow here and to help TNA grow. Working for these caring and very giving employers of TNA makes me feel like I have a purpose and that the sky is the limit. I don’t feel trapped or held back like I did the first six years in my tenure with the other company.

They held me back. Now, our wonderful audience will see the real Kurt Angle doing what I love to do – real wrestling – and that’s what puts a smile on my face each time I come to work ...

It's also been revealed - in a slight TNA spoiler - than Angle will make his debut as the special enforcer during the Sting vs. Jeff Jarrett main event at the Bound for Glory PPV on October 22.

Wow. We might have to start covering TNA wrestling for real now.

At last night's No Surrender pay-per-view, the brand actually did not disappoint with its much-hyped major annoucement. In fact, it delivered two:

1. TNA iMPACT! will move to 9:00 PM ET/PT Thursdays on Spike TV starting November 16.
2. The company really has signed Kurt Angle.

“This has been a huge week in our company’s history,” said Dixie Carter, president of TNA Entertainment, LLC. “The signing of Kurt Angle and the move of iMPACT! to 9 PM are both significant benchmarks in the growth of TNA. The history of pro wrestling is marked with events that change the landscape of the industry and I believe that this week will be viewed in that context.”

One can only imagine how Vince and the WWE brass will react to this. Might we see actual, exciting competition once again? Here's Angle with the last word for now:

“Being with TNA feels like I found my home,” he said. “TNA will be the most watched show on cable TV – it’s just a matter of time. Thank you TNA for saving my career, my life and my desire to do what I love.”

The suspense keeps building for the announcement at No Surrender on Sunday - and what kind of wrestling site would we be if we didn't report every rumor?

While the reports of Vince Russo taking a role on the TNA booking committee are accurate, PWTorch.com reports that Russo's signing will NOT be TNA's major announcement on Sunday.

We have no idea if this is related or not, but Buff Bagwell and Lex Luger are booked for Monday's iMPACT! tapings. Aging, old WCW stars to appear on TNA wrestling? That does sound pretty valid.

There's also a good chance that Spike TV and TNA are very close to reaching a deal for a new timeslot.

How huge can the surprise on the TNA pay-per-view event, No Surrender, be if it doesn't even involve a wrestler? We're about to find out.

Reports are coming in that this announcement is nothing more than the hiring of Vince Russo has head booker. Gee, that worked out very well for the WWE last time, didn't it?

Apparently, TNA has ordered that Russo not include any "sleaze" on the program, causing us to wonder what he can possibly offer in that case. One thing the move almost definitely guarantees?

No chance of Bill Goldberg showing up in a TNA wrestling ring any time soon.

We rarely post about TNA. We just don't consider it any sort of competition to the WWE at the moment.

However, rumors are running wild that the major announcment at the upcoming TNA pay-per-view involves the signing of Kurt Angle. Therefore, we had to speak up and clarify: Ain't gonna happen!

First of all, Angle is still, well, angling to get back into the WWE. He's proposed ideas for Wrestlemania and is looking at this as time off before he does return to Vince McMahon's wing. He won't go work for a competitor.

Moreover, he can't!

There's a no-compete clause in Angle's contract that means he can't wrestle for TNA until March anyhow.

The announcement, instead, may focus on Bill Goldberg signing with the company. Or - prepare yourself for this excitement, folks - the confirmation of a two-hour timeslot for TNA. That would be truly major, indeed.