TNA New Bytes
August 23, 2007
by Sassy
I do not take pleasure in constantly ranting about TNA.
In fact, I started writing about TNA on this site because I was so
excited about a venue that was not WWE owned, but TNA hasn’t been providing me
with anything positive as of late. I
go with what I know and call ‘em like I see ‘em. If the stories are true
about TNA wrestlers suffering from low morale, it’s easy to sympathize with
them.
Speak No Evil
Several websites are reporting that TNA management is
monitoring all interviews and TNA roster members are not allowed near a reporter
without a member of TNA management present.
And speaking of reporters, take a look at Bob Magee’s
recent rant:
http://www.wrestleview.com/news2006/1187602568.shtml
TNA doesn’t seem to catch on. The greatest TNA reporter is no more, thanks to TNA management. Other reporters are getting the idea that TNA isn’t interested in having them around. Does that mean TNA wants the fans to only see and hear what TNA management wants them to see and hear?
TNA Roster Watch
For more takes on how TNA is killing it’s talent, please
see an article by Daniel Wilcox here:
Which describes what TNA doing to Samoa Joe and the rest of
the talent they continually ignore.
WWE, er I Mean TNA
Mike Shalik reports that a TNA text message went out to TNA
mobile subscribers indicating TNA is in discussions with Pacman Jones to produce
Jones’ new music video. They have
got to be kidding! I have music
channels through my cable company if I
want to see music videos. This guy
can’t play football because he is suspended for illegal activities, he can’t
wrestle because he is under contract with a football league who won’t allow it
and now TNA is going to produce his music video. He can’t play football, he can’t wrestle and if he
can’t sing or rap or whatever he thinks he’s doing, will TNA be picking up
the tab for the next endeavor?
The rumor mill tells us that Vince Russo had nothing to do
with the hiring of the Tennessee Titan suspended player.
Thank you Mr. Russo!
And did everyone know that Jones’ criminal defense
attorney, Manny Arora, is none other than the attorney for Dr. Phil Astin of
painkiller and steroid fame? Mr.
Arora certainly gets around, doesn’t he?
www.mikemooneyham.com
provided us with that little tidbit and this one:
Jones has only been arrested five times, but has been questioned by the
police for ten separate incidents.
How Long is Three Months
Too long when you consider that’s how much time Pacman
Jones has left on his TNA contract. You can read about Jones’ contract here: www.gerweck.net.
I just feel any sympathy for Jones on his loss of 3 million dollars due to his
suspension from football.
And this just in from www.gerwek.net
citing the Wrestling Observer Newsletter “It is believed TNA is paying Pacman
Jones $25,000.00 per appearance”. If
this is true, he’s already made $50,000.00.
He appeared at Hard Justice and then on iMPACT.
Add another $25,000.00 to that. I
just checked www.tnawrestling.com and
Jones is scheduled to appear on this iMPACT this week.
I’m so shocked, I can’t even comment.
I don’t know why I’m shocked but am.
TNA is complaining about the money they loaned Konnan for surgery that
most likely saved his life. TNA is cutting costs. They sent five wrestlers
packing and signed the football player for $25,000.00 a performance.
TNA and Konnan
Dave Meltzer reports TNA is in talks with Konnan trying to
bring him back. Vince Russo is
brokering the deal. Konnan says TNA
owes him $12,000.00 for his Spanish announce table work and TNA says Konnan owes
them $16,000.00 for a loan to get his new kidney. Here’s a thought: Get
rid of the non-talent, erase the debts all around and get Konnan back on board
so we can all be relieved that he is well and let him work like we know he can.
Marc Mero Questions TNA
From The Wrestling Observer: Marc Mero contacted Dixie Carter about TNA’s drug testing
policy, however, TNA lawyers said it was a private matter. I don’t think
that’s how Congress is going to see it.
Rating the Roster
Larry Csonka has a TNA wrestler’s ratings page here:
http://www.411mania.com/wrestling/columns/58702/The-TNA-Top-10-Rankings:-8.22.07.htm
Although I’m not in complete agreement with him on some
of my favorites, it is a good write up.
Current TNA Events
TNA at New York State Fair, Syracuse, NY on September 3.
Information at www.nysfair.org.
Rhino and Christian Cage will be at an autograph signing at
Devon’s Smoothie Shop, 3D Smoothies, in Melbourne, FL on September 8 beginning
at 3 PM, concluding at 6 PM. Call
321-254-9057 for further information.
No Surrender Pay Per View September 9.
TNA house show at Zamora Shrine Temple, Birmingham/Rondale,
AL October 11. Tickets go on sale
September 10.
TNA Interaction Fanfest will be held October 14, no further
information available at this time.
Bound For Glory will be held in Atlanta, GA on October 14.
Tickets go on sale September 7.
Current Events Involving TNA Talent
Hector Guerrero at Manatee Civic Center, Palmetto, FL on
August 25. We read a blurb in the A1 Wrestling newsletter indicating Jim “The
Anvil” Neidhart would be wrestling on the same card.
JAPW match between Samoa Joe & Lo-Ki versus LAX for the
JAPW Tag Team title on September 3. Information
at www.JAPW.net.
Help spread the word.
If we have missed any events that should be added, please contact the
Webmaster.
TNA in the Big Apple
Mike Johnson reports TNA is hoping to bring a show to New
York City sometime in 2008.
Not Necessarily TNA News
Where’s Jerry Lynn?
www.wrestlingobserver.com
reports Jerry Lynn may be headed to WWE via the ECW show.
As a Jerry Lynn fan, I’ll be sure to keep you posted on his
whereabouts. Call me crazy, but I thought TNA should have bent over backwards to
keep Lynn on the payroll preferably in the ring.
WOOOOOOOO!
www.F4Wonline tells us
that Ric Flair may be retiring around Wrestlemania 24.
I realize that Flair has worked for WWE for quite some time, but I was
watching him before that. Love him or hate him, Rick is a wrestling legend and deserves
respect.
Bragging Rights
I recently wrote a column for another wrestling website.
I do not wish to take away from this site because I love what I do here
and believe it is one great wrestling site but I wanted to share this particular
column with our readers. Posted
with permission of Wrestling Truth & Wrestling Rumors:
The Heat From Congress
Written By: Sassy
The recent clamor about steroids, other legal/illegal drugs and drug testing
made me sit down and think about the changes in wrestling over the years. I
began to wonder when, how and why it all changed.
When I was young, local wrestlers were Pat O’Connor, Bob Geigel, Bulldog Bob
Brown, Sonny Myers, Nature Boy Roger Kirby, Danny Little Bear and Harley Race.
These were men that anyone could watch every week on local television.
Television capabilities improved and thus began the age of Ric Flair, Michael
Hayes with his Freebirds, the Funk Brothers, and the Von Erich clan. Not one of
these men was built as though they spent every day in the gym. They were
wrestlers, not bodybuilders. Some of them were baby faces and some of them were
heels but all of them were adored in the ring.
No one cared if Bulldog Bob Brown was a little on the chunky side. Everyone
hated him when he was bad and loved him when he was good. Pat O’Connor and
Sonny Myers knew more legal wrestling holds than I had ever heard of. Dick
Murdoch and Dusty Rhodes were loud and annoying but you would never want to miss
a match with either or both of them in the ring. I don’t remember worrying
about the size of their muscles. I worried about the guy facing them and what he
would look like at the end of the match.
I started a list of deceased wrestlers as a reference for myself. Even after the
articles popping up all over the Internet telling how many wrestlers had died
under the age of 65, I was not prepared for all of the names I wrote down and
how many unknown causes of death I found. And I am still adding names to that
list. Bryan “Crush” Adams was the last name entered with cause of death
unknown to date.
I have been trying to find out who decided fit bodies with normal muscles were
not appropriate for the ring. I am not sure when the rules changed and how
steroids became a normal part of wrestling life. I remember not only the scandal
a few years back but also the smirks of people who just knew super stars such as
Hulk Hogan and The Ultimate Warrior had to be on something. Large hulking
muscles were not considered “normal”.
Is Congress crossing a line investigating drug policies in the wrestling world?
I wish I had a definite answer to that question. It is obvious that someone
should be since no wrestling organization seems to be interested in following
through on its own. I do know something about drugs and drug policies in the
workplace. I worked for a Government contractor. I assisted in developing a zero
tolerance drug policy. If any employee at any job site on any military base was
caught with illegal drugs they were terminated immediately. No exceptions. They
were terminated because if a Government representative found one of the
contractor’s employees with illegal drugs, the contractor was held
responsible. When an organization is held accountable and the ultimate
punishment could be the loss of income, it is amazing how quickly preventative
policies are established.
So blame it on the Benoit tragedy, that list of younger deceased wrestlers that
keeps growing or the pro wrestling organizations who decided it was never
important, but the world of pro wrestling may never be the same. And I, with my
own list of those gone, won’t say that’s a bad thing.
Check out the entire Wrestling News &
Wrestling Rumors website here: http://www.wrestlingtruth.com
and while you are there be sure to read Keelan’s Call, Wrestling’s Not Fake,
It’s Painfully Real. It is an in
depth look at the way pro wrestling has changed and what has gone wrong with the
health and well being of pro wrestlers. I
agree that wrestling is not fake. That
does not mean that severe injuries and sometimes death don’t happen.
Anyone can make a mistake or miss a cue.
Wrestlers are athletes and I dare any non-wrestler who says they are not
to hop in the ring and last for fifteen minutes with a pro wrestler in the ring.
Where is Marcus Cor Von?
I noticed Marcus Cor Von, TNA’s Monty Brown the Alpha
Male, has been missing from ECW for quite some time.
Rumor had it that he was having problems dealing with a recent death in
his family or a family situation of some sort.
Latest rumors say that he has been taking care of his sister’s children
because she unable to do so at this time. He
may no longer be with TNA but I enjoyed watching him in the ring.
If he is taking time for his family, kudos to him and I hope he will be
back in action soon.
Follow Up to Monday’s Bytes
Konnan Update
Dave Meltzer reports that Konnan’s drug therapy worked,
he still has his new kidney and is out of the hospital again.
According to the report, Konnan has no plans to return to TNA.
Keep getting better, Konnan!
Update on the Death of John Kronus
The Citizen of Laconia reports that John Kronus, real name
George Caiazzo, was found to have an enlarged heart at the time of his death.
Once again a medical examiner is still waiting for toxicology reports
before naming the actual cause of death.
The Latest on the Evil Dr. Astin
Dr. Astin’s attorney has filed a court document stating that Chris Benoit had a hormone disorder and that is why Astin prescribed such an outrageous amount of steroids. Benoit was prescribed 10 months worth of anabolic steroids every three to four weeks for one year. I am not a medical doctor, but this looks like a legal ploy to me. It certainly took a long time for Dr. Astin to decide to let the world know the “reason” he was over prescribing steroids. How convenient to do so after the cremation of the body had already taken place. Astin’s attorney seems to think the world is gullible. I’m not so sure the District Attorney is going to buy the story.
TNA NEWS BYTES / AUGUST 20
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