-TNA has added some new “#IMPACT365” videos to their official YouTube channel. In the following video, TNA wrestler Kazarian talks about flying out of LAX after the major shooting incident this week. Check out the video below:
http://youtu.be/zIY0ZRoeZuM
-Another new “#IMPACT365” video has been added as well, which features Brooke Tessmacher showing Miley Cyrus her “Twerk Out.” Check out the video below:
DIRECT LINK TO ARTICLE: Smashing Pumpkins Frontman’s Purchase Of TNA Is A “Done Deal”
According to a recent report by The Examiner, WWE Hall Of Famer Hulk Hogan and WWE have come to a “verbal agreement” that would see Hogan return to the company in 2014.
The following is an excerpt from the article:
“WWE Examiner learned exclusively on Thursday from a trusted WWE source that Hulk Hogan is officially back with World Wrestling Entertainment.
Although Hogan has reportedly refused to sign a typical “legends contract,” there is said to be a verbal agreement in place between Hogan and WWE that will result in Hogan returning to WWE programming possibly early in the new year.
There is even talk of Hogan returning as a surprise entrant in the Royal Rumble.
“We knew this would happen at some point,” the source tells Examiner. “It’s my understanding that there isn’t a contract in place, but there’s a verbal agreement that will move forward. It’s just a good fit for everybody involved, especially with the milestone WrestleMania 30 coming up. Hogan needed to finish up his stuff with TNA and just come home.”
Check out the complete article online at Examiner.com.
NOTE: It’s worth pointing out that we have been unable to confirm the above report as of right now. We should have an extensive update on this story on Monday morning, so until then, take the above information as strictly rumor.
UPDATE: Backstage News On Hulk Hogan & WWE’s “Verbal Agreement”
The following are highlights of a recent Busted Open Radio interview with former WWE Superstar Chris Jericho:
On a return at the WWE Royal Rumble pay-per-view: “I can post a picture of me and the Pope on Instagram or Twitter and the first three thousand comments will be: ‘When are you coming back to the WWE?’ People are so obsessed with that. My response is that I don’t know. I talked about this the last time I was on the show in New York for Fozzy. I don’t have any plans. Not to say that I won’t but as you can see there are a lot of really cool projects that are going on under the Chris Jericho brand umbrella and I think that just adds to me being an asset to the WWE and spreading my wings as much as I can and gaining the biggest fan base I can. I’m not retired from wrestling, I never said that. The time has to be right and soon eventually it will be right. I came back to the Royal Rumble last year and to come back at the Royal Rumble this year, it would be like: ‘We’ve been there and done that’. I have to see what’s going on and figure out another cool way to make it work when the time is right.”
On the next major star in WWE: “I think anybody can be the face of the company if the fans dictate it. I think sometimes the powers-that-be may have different opinions but the thing about Daniel Bryan is that his rise is very organic. It happened basically in spite of the way he was getting pushed. I think if I had to pin point a moment that it happened, it was during that eighteen second loss at WrestleMania last year where people were legitimately angry that the company could treat him that way and started to really get behind him as a character. I think when everybody is chanting his name and the guy goes out there as possibly the best wrestler in the world and a great character and a great performer, why not? You need something different to replace the one that’s on top as we saw when they were trying to replace Hulk Hogan for so many years until Bret Hart stepped up. I think he can be the face of the company if they so desired.”
On the rise and the falls being a test from within: “If you are a conspiracy theorist, you would think that. All I know is from my experiences and if you look how I came into the WWE in 1999, it was the biggest thing in a long, long time. You look at the timeline of that, two or three weeks later, I was losing to Stevie Richards on Sunday Night Heat. There is always a growing process and if you remember the famous title match I had with Triple H where I beat him for the title back in 2000 and then was forced to give it up a few minutes later and what people forget about that is at the end of the show, I got pinned by Hunter in a six man tag team match, clean, 1-2-3. You always wonder that sometimes they do the opposite of what you would expect to happen as far as the way you would book things.”
“I think that there is kind of a test, can this guy get over? Can he sink or swim? What’s going to happen if we pull a swerve on him? Will he have a bad attitude? Will he stop working hard? You never know. My response to that is all you can do is the best you can do with whatever situation you are given. If you get too far with it, you got to make a stand and say something. Before I won the title that time at State College, Pennsylvania against Triple H, I was on my way to Vince’s (McMahon) office; it was like the movie Slap Shot: ‘Who owns the Chiefs? Pay me or I will leave’ sort of thing. I’m done! I lost to Viscera. I lost to the Godfather and this was a waste of my time. I’m done. The writer at that time was Tommy Blacha at the time and he said: ‘Listen, before you go to Vince, I have to say something.’ I said: ‘There is nothing you can say that’s going to change my mind.’ He said: ‘You’re going to win the World Title tonight.’ And that changed my mind. You just got to hold on and Eddie Guererro’s told me that his dad used to say: ‘The cream will always rise to the top. If you can wrestle, you will always have a job and you will get to the top.’ I still believe that. Whatever kind of politics or dipsy doodles may happen, all you got to do is keep performing to the best of your ability and sooner or later you are going to get that shot.”
On the possibility of Shawn Michaels returning to the ring: “Honestly knowing Shawn (Michaels), I don’t think so. That’s my opinion. He could but you look at the way he went out, in one of the greatest matches of all time at WrestleMania in the main event with this huge reception. The performer of Shawn Michaels caliber and his ego, and I say that in a good way because we all have egos, he is not going to come back for anything for less than that. I don’t think you are going to get anything bigger than that. Undertaker versus Shawn Michaels, in my opinion, were the two greatest matches ever. What can compare to that? My gut feeling says no, of course I don’t know but if you ask me, I’d say no.”
“The reason why Taker and Shawn worked is that you have two guys that are on the same exact level, iconic performers that no one can really touch. Maybe Shawn versus Triple H is something that maybe they would do but I don’t think that’s even big enough. I think that door is closed for Shawn and I think he is happy doing what he is doing and I think that’s the same for Steve Austin. I think he very satisfied with his career, I don’t think he feels the need to comeback. Sometimes it happens. As much as the wrestling fans demand it, sometimes if you feel that you did everything that you wanted to do and you’re happy, then why mess with it.”
On whether or not Big Show is hotter now than he has ever been in the past: “I only know from what I read in the reports. I haven’t had the chance to watch a lot of the shows because I have been busy on the road and I find with the Big Show has been around for so long and has performed at the highest level in some many different angles, in so many different personas, I think he is one of the most taken for granted performers in the history of the WWE. He can do anything, he can have a great match every single night but when he is motivated, he goes to a totally different level.”
“I think all you have to say to Show is that: ‘You are going to be involved in the main event storyline (Randy) Orton and Hunter and I think that’s all that Show needs to turn it up some more. I think that Show at eighty percent is better than eighty percent of the roster. But when he is motivated, there are not a lot of performers that can touch him. I think he is very underrated. I think he is taken for granted by the fans and by the company. If I was going to start my own wrestling company, Big Show would be in the top 5 easily, easily, and easily.”
Check out the complete interview online at Facebook.com/bustedopenradio.
Backstage News On Surprise Entrants Planned For The 2014 WWE Royal Rumble
Brett Buchanan of the Alternative Nation website recently provided additional details on the possibility of Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan purchasing an ownership stake in TNA. Buchanan wrote the following this weekend:
“I have heard from a second hand source who is close to a key figure in the rumored TNA Wrestling sales discussions who has verified that Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan is far along in his talks to purchase the company. This source went as far to say that he believes it is a “done deal” that Corgan will buy TNA, though the source didn’t know what percentage Corgan will be purchasing or the specifics of the deal. The source also says that Corgan has recently made a connection to somebody very wealthy, though it is not known if this party would have anything to do with the deal.”
Speaking of Billy Corgan potentially buying TNA, former ECW original Lou D’Angeli, who is a longtime friend of Corgan’s, tweeted the following on Saturday evening:
https://twitter.com/LDAngeli/status/396771298698747906
Is @billy set on buying @IMPACTWRESTLING??? I know he is pretty serious in at least partial, if not, majority ownership. #TNA
— Lou DAngeli ? (@LDAngeli) November 3, 2013
WHAT Will Be The Future Of TNA Under NEW Ownership?! — HUGE Backstage Details HERE!
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is tapping into motivational speaking for his role in the new TNT television project, “The Wake Up Call.”
Casting for “The Wake Up Call” will be held in South Florida, according to a Miami New Times article. At the same time, The Rock will be working on a new HBO television project that will film in his hometown of Miami, Florida.
According to the aforementioned article, the casting department for “The Wake Up Call” are seeking regular people who are “challenged by life and not able to find their way out,” which could manifest itself in a number of ways, according to the casting call.
The pitch reads, “If you know someone who needs help in a major way, submit today! We are looking for every day Americans in life situations who are ready for a change of fate and a stroke of luck.”
The casting call will conclude “with 4 a.m. wake-up calls, emotional reunions, and near-impossible goals, everyone who comes in contact with The Rock’s electric sense of personal motivation will grow from it, finding inner strength and heart.”
For more information, visit MiamiNewTimes.com.
Backstage News On Whether Or Not The Rock Will Wrestle A Match At WrestleMania XXX
WWE Hall Of Famer Ric Flair gave a pep-talk to the Countryside high-school football team in Florida this past Friday. The team, which features WWE agent John Laurinaitis’ son as one of the players, would go on to lose by 36 points to the Pinellas Park high-school team.
According to a Tampa Bay Times report, Flair, who was vacationing in Florida this weekend, was asked by Laurinaitis to address the team.
You can check out the complete article with further coverage on this story at TampaBay.com.
Former AWA World Tag-Team Champion Doug Somers claimed during a recent Undisputed Wrestling Show interview that he plans to refile his lawsuit against WWE over alleged unpaid royalties he feels he is owed.
“I am refiling,” Somers said of the lawsuit. “He [Vince McMahon] is not going to get away with it. He bought my lawyer. To be that conquerer in any business or sport, you have to be a low-life son of a bitch, and he [Vince McMahon] is.”
During the interview, Somers also spoke about how he is suffering from amnesia and Parkinson’s Disease due to multiple concussions he suffered in the ring during his pro wrestling career.
You can check out the complete Doug Somers interview online at BlogTalkRadio.com.
DIRECT LINK TO GALLERY: Former WWE & TNA Star Gets Married — Wedding Photos Here!
-Former TNA Knockout So Cal Val recently attended a WWE SmackDown television taping and was shown on camera:
-During Saturday’s rolling rally for the Boston Red Sox, MLB World Series MVP David Ortiz wore a WWE Championship belt. As noted earlier this week, WWE Superstar John Cena had been tweeting Ortiz and telling him to “be on the look-out for WWE bling just in time for the World Series parade.”
-The Forbes website recently ran a featured story on WWE’s hope to secure a giant rights-fee increase for both RAW and SmackDown when the deals come up. You can check out that article online at Forbes.com.
DIRECT LINK TO GALLERY: Former WWE & TNA Star Gets Married — Wedding Photos Here!
As previously reported on SESCOOPS.COM, Former WWE Wrestler Orlando Jordan Gets Married.
For those interested, you can check out photos from Jordan’s wedding below:
– Former WWE and TNA Wrestling competitor Orlando Jordan recently got married in Australia, where he currently resides.
Jordan, who defeated John Cena in 2005 for the WWE United States Championship, currently runs a professional wrestling school in Brooklyn, Victoria, The Orlando Jordan School of Wrestling.
“The goal is to establish an Australian wrestling industry and enhance the talent to professionally mainstream standards in and outside the ring,” Jordan told Australian Iron Man magazine earlier this year. “In order to do this I have dedicated my time to personally train young and upcoming males and females in order to set that standard for the Australian market.”
– Promoting the release of WWE 2K14, this week’s edition of “30 Second Fury” highlights thirty different moves that are featured in the video game.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBYjru2kYqY[/youtube]
– The official WWE website has released a poll asking fans which of these four wins was the biggest title change in WrestleMania history: John Cena defeats The Rock for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 29 (55%), Ultimate Warrior defeats Hulk Hogan for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania VI (21%), Shawn Michaels defeats Bret Hart for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania XII (20%), Triple H defeats Chris Jericho for the Undisputed WWE Championship at WrestleMania X8 (5%).
The following are highlights from the latest online Q&A update from the official website of WWE Hall Of Famer Jim Ross:
On if Brandi Runnels will be brought in immediately to the Rhodes Family storyline: “I don’t know if any of that is even true and if it is what the motive may be. However, in my opinion, for one family to be completely dependent on the wrestling biz for their livelihood isn’t wise in today’s world.”
On AJ Lee competing in the 2014 WWE Royal Rumble match: “Women should not compete w/ men in pro wrestling in any physical manner.”
On the most agile and exciting “big men” in pro wrestling history: “Young Andre, Vader, Don Leo Jonathan, Bigelow, among others I’ve naturally overlooked.”
On how many more matches The Undertaker has left in him: “No way of knowing. I assume Taker takes it a year at a time.”
You can check out more Q&A updates from Jim Ross at his official website, JRsBarBQ.com.
Details On AJ In The Royal Rumble + Undertaker’s Possible WMXXX Opponent …
WWE Superstar and current World Heavyweight Champion John Cena recently took to Twitter to post some photos of his Halloween costume. Cena, who dressed up as Jabba the Hutt from Star Wars, posted the following pictures, including one with his real-life girlfriend and WWE Diva, Nikki Bella.
Yes Internet Rejoice! #CenaIsAJaba @WWEUniverse @WWE pic.twitter.com/17JCyF8TlD
— John Cena (@JohnCena) November 1, 2013
Oh yeah, last night THIS guy was a bit tough to barter with @nicoleandbri had so much fun! @ENews @eonline #nobarter pic.twitter.com/TZPqmwoQpf
— John Cena (@JohnCena) November 1, 2013
MORE WWE Superstars Halloween Costume Photos: Mark Henry As Rick Ross & MORE!
WWE Superstar Daniel Bryan recently took part in a lengthy panel discussion at the Wizard World Comic-Con event in Nashville, Tennessee. Among many other topics, Bryan spoke about the most disappointing moment of his career, being trained by Shawn Michaels and William Regal, the Total Divas reality show, his dream match at WrestleMania and teaming with Kane.
You can check out the complete, 50-minute Daniel Bryan panel discussion from the Nashville Wizard World event below:
http://youtu.be/sCXoECTUTOs
Who Will Daniel Bryan’s Next Feud In WWE Be With? Find Out Here!
TNA has officially announced that the Impact Wrestling television show will be returning toUniversal Studios in Orlando for tapings November 21st, with additional tapings on the following 2 days.
Talent advertised for the show include Sting, Kurt Angle, Jeff Hardy, Bully Ray, James Storm, and KO champion Gail Kim.
TNA will be moving to Soundstage 19, which is a smaller studio than the previous Impact Zone (Soundstage 21). The new studio is 16,500 square feet (the Impact Zone was 22,000).
According to the Universal website, Soundstage 19 is designed for “broadcast production” and retains “many of the design characteristics as the traditional stages at Universal.”
-Preston City Wrestling out of the United Kingdom has released a video of Davey Richard’s cutting a promo recently where he suggests that he is heading to WWE with tag-team partner Eddie Edwards. While Richard’s did not say WWE by name, noting that he can’t talk about his future “for legal reasons,” he did strongly alllude to it. You can watch the promo below:
Backstage News On WWE Signing New Talent, Including Former Top ROH Stars …
-According to a new WrestleZone.com report, Smashing Pumpkins front-man Billy Corgan is rumored to be interested in buying a stake in TNA.
-TNA has added a new “#IMPACT365” video to their official YouTube channel. The new video features TNA president Dixie Carter discussing Kurt Angle’s injury. You can watch the new video below:
http://youtu.be/0eyxYlXBOj8
-Another TNA “#IMPACT365” video is also online, which features Dixie Carter talking about Ethan Carter III’s progress and recent opponents. You can watch that below:
http://youtu.be/aLG9rsDUBZU
DIRECT LINK TO ARTICLE: Huge Backstage Update On The Potential Sale Of TNA
-As somewhat of another cost-cutting measure, TNA has ending their working relationship with Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) as of this week. The belief is all TNA contracted talent will be asked to relocate to Orlando, however that is not official at this point.
-As previously reported, TNA has confirmed that their November 21st Impact Wrestling television taping will be held at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida. Apparently, the Impact Zone will now be held at Soundstage 19, instead of Soundstage 21, as it used to be. Soundstage 19 is reported to be 16,500 square feet, with dressing rooms that contain showers, hair and make-up rooms, wardrobe and talent holding with kitchen support and the capability of fiber and satelitte transmissions.
-There will be a pro wrestling legends show on Saturday in Youngstown, Ohio at the Covelli Center featuring “Rowdy” Roddy Piper holding a “Piper’s Pit” segment with fellow WWE Hall Of Famer “The Mouth Of The South” Jimmy Hart. Also scheduled to appear at the event are Sean “X-Pac” Waltman, Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake, Marty Jannetty, Bushwhacker Luke and Tatanka.
-The following is another excerpt from the recent John Cena interview with the New Orleans Times-Picayune. This time, Cena discusses his recent matches with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson at WrestleMania:
“I really got to live a dream the past few years having some big marquee matchups with Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson. And when you rub elbows with a guy like The Rock, you truly are in the company of the greatest of all-time. It was like watching a prize fight where everyone is just throwing haymakers. For us to be interactive over a 2 1/2 year span, it was pretty impressive, especially in this day and age. It was a dream scenario for me.”
You can read the complete interview online at NOLA.com.
Details On If The Rock Will Wrestle Again Next Year At WrestleMania XXX …
-Friday’s edition of the New York Daily News had a review in the entertainment section of the new WWE 2K14 video game. They gave the game a two-star review, and recommended it only for fans who want to get the same game every year.
-WWE Hall Of Famer Mick Foley has a full schedule of comedy shows next week. On Wednesday, in Charlotte, Foley appears at The Comedy Zone at 8pm E.T. On Thursday, in Greensboro, Foley appears at The Comedy Zone at 8pm E.T. And finally, next Saturday, Foley will be appearing at the Terrace On The Park in Queens.
-WWE Superstar Glenn “Kane” Jacobs recently appeared on the Tom Woods podcast this week to talk about his libertarian background and other political topics. You can check out the complete interview below:
Latest On Mick Foley’s Next WWE TV Return, Kane’s Future Feud In WWE & WWE 2K14 Cheat Codes ..
Janice Carter, an executive at Panda Energy, the parent company of TNA, and the mother of TNA president Dixie Carter, recently issued a memo to TNA contracted talent and employees informing them that the rumors of Panda Energy attempting to sell their ownership stake in TNA are false.
Despite the memo, we can confirm that at least one group, led by a notable name, has shown a desire in purchasing a majority interest in the company, and that there have been discussions between both sides about the possibility of a sale.
DIRECT LINK TO ARTICLE: Huge Backstage Update On The Possible Sale Of TNA
[Credit: ProWrestling.net]
In a recent “Mac Attack” radio show interview, WWE Superstar John Cena was asked the question, “Is Vince McMahon as crazy as he seems?” The following is Cena’s response to that question:
Crazy smart. That guy is truly a genius. Being able to take small-town promotions that started out in Charlotte, or in Boston, or in Florida, centralize the whole thing, get the whole world to watch it – we’re talking about the World Series here, but WWE is a global company. We’ll be in Charlotte on Tuesday, but we’re taking off to the U.K. and Europe right after that. We tour India, we tour China, we tour South America, Africa – it’s a global company. Yes, he’s crazy, but crazy like a fox.”
You can check out the complete “Mac Attack” interview with John Cena online at CBSLocal.com.
DIRECT LINK TO ARTICLE: John Cena Talks About Pooping His Pants In WWE (No Joke) — Read Here!
The following are highlights from a recent Busted Open Radio interview with former WWE Superstar Chris Jericho:
On being drunk when he tweeted his response to Triple H’s promo on RAW: “The funny thing was had I not been drinking Grey Goose vodka and not been completely loaded when I heard about it, I wouldn’t had bothered twitting about it but I was like: ‘Screw him, I’m going to tweet back.”
On his thoughts about Triple H’s promo on RAW: “That’s Triple H being Triple H. It’s just the way he is and whether he believes it or not, it’s part of the show. I don’t feel that way and I never did feel that way. It’s funny throughout our careers, Triple H and I were almost at the same level. We were always the guy that worked with ‘the guy.’ Triple H is a huge star, one of the greatest of all time but also never really ‘the guy.’ Who really has been ‘the guy’ over the last ten years? I can think of three. Rock, Stone Cold, and John Cena. There you go.”
Check ou the complete interview online at Facebook.com/bustedopenradio.
DIRECT LINK TO ARTICLE: Chris Jericho Talks About When He’ll Return For Next WWE Run
-TNA is running a “One Night Only” pay-per-view tonight called, “TNA One Night Only: Tournament Of Champions.” The event will feature a “King Of The Ring” style tournament with former TNA World Heavyweight Champions Sting, Kurt Angle, Jeff Hardy, Samoa Joe, Bully Ray, Mr. Anderson, James Storm, Bobby Roode and Austin Aries. For more information, visit InDemand.com.
-Jeff Hardy is releasing his new music CD, “Plurality of Words,” through the Shop TNA website next week. TNA launched an official pre-sale on Friday. For more information, visit ShopTNA.com.
-TNA has added a live event in Long Island, New York to their schedule. The event is scheduled for December 28th, with top TNA stars such as Kurt Angle, Bully Ray and Mr. Anderson advertised to appear. For more information, visit ImpactWrestling.com.
DIRECT LINK TO ARTICLE: Huge Update On The Potential Buyer In The TNA Sale
