Billy Corgan Reveals Big TNA Change He Would Make, Talks Wanting To See CM Punk Wrestle Again, More

TNA's Billy Corgan spoke with ESPN this week and revealed that a full-length movie focusing on the current "Broken" Hardys saga is in the works. He did not elaborate on those plans. Corgan also revealed that if he purchases the company, his first order as owner would be to change the company name so they can truly move on into a new era. The full interview is at this link and below are highlights:

TNA using former WWE stars:

"Many times in the past, TNA has made the mistake of bringing in WWE people to sort of create a buzz that didn't sustain. But success is building a culture that is distinctly your own, with your own identifiable signature. If everything you do doesn't feed into that, you are making a big mistake that history shows does not work."

The current Hardys program:

"So maybe like super hero movies, we get the Hardys as the center of the universe and start to use them to sort of branch off in other directions. We are making it up as we go along and that is sort of the fun part. It's really exciting because we are hopefully writing a sort of new golden dawn in terms of how wrestling can be presented on television, and I think that's fantastic."

CM Punk coming to TNA to wrestle or work creative:

"I hope that someone who is so gifted comes back to professional wrestling if he wants to be there. So of course I would just love to see him in a ring. If it's our ring, even better. Even if he just wanted to be involved, I would love to have that conversation with him."

Check out the full interview with Corgan at this link.

Kurt Angle Says At One Point He Was Taking 65 Vicodins a Day, Admits to Mixing Pills and Alcohol During His Time in TNA, Why He Left WWE & More

Dan Le Batard, host of ESPN’s “Highly Questionable”, recently spoke with former WWE and TNA star Kurt Angle, and the following are some interview highlights.

On taking up to 65 Vicodin’s per day at one point in his life:

“I was on a lot — there was no way I couldn’t get out of it,” the 47 year-old-said via phone call on Friday morning’s show. “The only thing I could do was eventually go to rehab and try to fix my life again. But I actually beat it on my own. I stayed in my house for about 10 days and didn’t leave, and I was able to get through the withdrawal.”

On mixing painkillers and alcohol during his time in TNA:

“The thing is, everybody drank down there [in TNA]. So I started drinking with my meds. And then I started manipulating my meds. I would save all of them until the evening, and drink it with alcohol. And it got me in a lot of trouble — four DUIs in five years.”

On checking into rehab following his last DUI in 2013:

“I finally got the right help.” he added. “I tried to do it myself, but when you’re that deep into that stuff, you can’t do it on your own. You need somebody else’s help, and I finally reached out and I did what I had to do to get it done.

“It was the worst seven days of my life as well. I went through detox again. That time it stuck. You can’t do anything; you can’t think; you’re in constant pain; your body’s shaking. You don’t wanna eat; you don’t wanna do anything; you feel like you’re gonna die. It’s the worst pain you’ve ever had in your life. And I went through it twice.”

Angle added he left WWE back in 2006 because the company wanted him to continue working a full-time schedule. Much more is contained in the interview which you can read at this link.

Rumor Mill - WWE Bids For TNA

The New York Post posted an article on Billy Corgan trying to become the majority owner of TNA. Also mentioned in the article is WWE’s interest in buying the company. WWE and Sinclair Group have reportedly made bids for the company. Sinclair Group also owns Ring Of Honor. You can read the entire article here.

Corgan was quoted in the article as saying the following regarding the possible purchase of TNA:

“I would love nothing better than to stand up in front of everyone and give a clear picture of where this company is and where it’s going.”

Dave Meltzer commented on how much TNA is worth, seeming to contradict the New York Post’s report, and you can read his tweet below:

Nobody is paying $40 million. Take one zero off https://t.co/Y0kroSlYJJ

— Dave Meltzer (@davemeltzerWON) September 17, 2016

AJ Styles Makes Pro Wrestling History at WWE Backlash

AJ Styles proved tonight that he truly is phenomenal. The 39-year-old veteran defeated Dean Ambrose in the main event of WWE Backlash to win the WWE World Champion, becoming the first man in wrestling history to win the WWE World Championship, TNA World Championship, and IWGP Heavyweight Championship.

Brock Lesnar had previously held the WWE and IWGP titles, Shinsuke Nakamura has been IWGP Champion and NXT Champion, Finn Balor is a former IWGP Jr. Champion and WWE Champion, and there are several wrestlers who have been WWE and TNA champion, but no man until Styles has managed to obtain the top world titles of all three top professional wrestling promotions in the world.

As additional icing on the cake, Styles is also a former Ring of Honor Pure Champion, PWG Champion, and because of the early association between TNA and the NWA, he is also technically a three-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion.

What makes all these even sweeter for the self-proclaimed “face that runs the place”? Styles left TNA as world champion in October 2013, meaning that he has accomplished this feat in a little under three years. In addition, it was only 14 months ago that he lost the IWGP title to Kazuchika Okada, and he is currently only in his ninth month as a WWE Superstar, debuting at the 2016 Royal Rumble.

Billy Corgan Says That He Is 'Actively Involved' In Trying To Buy TNA, Talks TNA Creative Reports

As noted, tonight's episode of TNA Impact Wrestling will feature an "evolutionary announcement" from Billy Corgan.

Corgan hyped tonight's Impact on Facebook and said that he is now President of TNA, and that it is not just a storyline position but that it's real. He noted that their business "has been pretty complicated" over the past several years and that sorting some of it out has "definitely been a challenge."

Corgan also discussed reports that the TNA creative team is mostly run by John Gaburick with David Lagana and Matt Conway as the writers. Corgan said that he is running the creative department, and that everything that is on TNA television is his responsibility. He said that the creative team is Madison Rayne, John Gaburick, David Lagana and Matt Conway. He said that it has been the team for a while, with the only difference being that he is now in charge of it.

Corgan added that the source behind the story about the creative team also once said that he couldn't afford to buy the company. Corgan said it was funny because he is "actively engaged" in trying to buy the company. He said that it doesn't mean that he will buy the company, but he is trying to. He called it a complicated process that he hopes to pull off and that he not only wants to run the culture of the company, but the company itself.

Rumor Mill - Dixie Carter Said To Be 'Pretty Much Done' With TNA

On last night's episode of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer commented on the ownership situation in TNA following the announcement that Billy Corgan is the new President of TNA. Meltzer noted that former TNA President Dixie Carter is pretty much done with the company.

"Dixie's pretty much out of it now," Meltzer said. "She's out of power completely, she is completely out of power no matter what's said, but she may be gone."

Meltzer noted that Dixie was at the last set of television tapings and was there for some of the segments that were filmed, but that she left shortly after that and didn't stay for the whole week. He added that "there were some things said that were not so great about her."

"She's pretty much on her way out," he added.

As noted, Corgan appeared on Vince Russo's podcast last week and discussed his new role with the company. He said that he has an ownership stake with the company, and that it is a "fluctuating situation" that is moving "progressively into the right direction." He said that there are moves being made and that there were all good moves, but would not confirm if Dixie still owned a majority stake or not.

Billy Corgan named new president of TNA Wrestling

IMPACT Ventures [IMPACT], the parent company of TNA Wrestling and IMPACT WRESTLING, today announced the appointment of Billy Corgan as its new President. Current President Dixie Carter becomes Chairman and Chief Strategy Officer of IMPACT.

As President, Billy Corgan will be responsible for leading day-to-day operations for IMPACT and its affiliated brands. As Chairman, Carter will focus on long-term planning, strategic partnerships and global growth.

"Billy is a visionary, an iconic artist and savvy businessman with an incredibly gifted creative mind. He has built a decades-long successful global brand, and also has a deep passion and understanding for professional wrestling," said Carter. "In working with Billy over the last 16 months, he has impressed me to the point that I've been in discussions with him to take an elevated strategic leadership role within the company. The more we discussed our vision for the organization, the clearer it became that position needed to match his commitment."

"We are entering an exciting new era for IMPACT and will be working to continue to define our brand, develop global strategies for success, and structure for future investment and growth," added Carter. "These moves, effective immediately, signify the team's determination to work together to effectively cover more ground and capitalize on TNA's current momentum that has seen ratings rise in recent months."

Corgan, 49, is an American musician, songwriter, producer, TV writer and poet, best known as the lead singer, guitarist, and sole permanent member of The Smashing Pumpkins, who have sold more than 30 million albums worldwide and won multiple Grammy Awards. Corgan joined IMPACT in May 2015 as a senior producer.

"I believe in this company, its passionate fans, the talented roster and the dedicated staff and crew," said Corgan. "I am committed to this great opportunity and will use all of my resources and connections to drive the success of this company. This year we have made significant strides in establishing a strong foundation for our future and will be aggressive in continuing to evolve and grow the IMPACT brands."

IMPACT's flagship broadcast IMPACT WRESTLING airs Thursdays at 8/7c on Pop, and in more than 120 countries around the world.

Marti Bell’s American Dream

It’s a very unique time for the world of professional wrestling, as the women’s wrestling revolution is taking center stage, often with show stealing performances in some of the the biggest promotions in the world. One of the most unique athletes in this unique evolution of the sports entertainment genre is TNA Knockout, Marti Bell. With her trademark afro to compliment her well rounded skills, Marti has become one of the most dynamic female stars in just a few short years. Ironically, as much as she is on the forefront of a new era of the industry, Marti’s story is very much a classic example of the American dream.

Despite being born in New York, Marti moved with her family back to their original hometown in the Dominican Republic when she was just a few months old, and she spent her early years on the island.

“I am a first generation American, all of my grandparents and both of my parents were both born in the Dominican Republic, with my parents still currently residing there. I was born in NYC and moved back to the Dominican Republic until I was seven. My grandmother was the first to move to New York and she left her life behind in the Dominican to make a better future for her children, eventually bringing all five of her kids to live with her in States. I moved in 1996 to live with my grandmother, who I lived with until I was 18,” she said.

Speaking Spanish as her first language, Marti didn’t know English when she began watching pro wrestling with her family, but she had an intrinsic connection to the drama that unfolded on screen.

“I vaguely remember watching wrestling with my dad when I lived in the Dominican Republic, and then when I moved to New York, I watched wrestling with my three cousins Richard, Christian, and Massiel. The four of us formed a wrestling club and we would get together Mondays and Thursdays to watch wrestling as well as the pay-per-views. Wrestling spoke to me because even though I couldn’t speak the language, I could still understand the stories. I wanted to do that for other people who were in the same shoes as me,” she said.

As Marti wanted to connect with fans the way that the sport had connected with her, she sought to join the pro ranks to chase the dream of wrestling stardom. Living in New York City at the time, Bell chose to learn from one of the best, WWE Hall of Famer, Johnny Rodz, a grappler that is responsible for training several major stars in the industry. As she walked into the world famous Gleason’s Gym, through the same doors as legends such as Jake LaMotta, Muhammad Ali, and Mike Tyson, Marti knew that her desire to be successful in professional wrestling would be tested.

“I began as a valet in 2008 and eventually began my training August of 2009, having my first match that November. Training was rough – I was one of two girls who consistently showed up to training, so I found myself training with the boys. Some of them respected me as a wrestler and really wanted to help me succeed. They would push me and make me do the same things they were doing. Others thought I wouldn’t last, or that I wouldn’t make it and paid me no mind.”

Despite the tedious process of learning to land on the canvas and the toll it took, Bell made it through the training program and learned many valuable lessons along the way.

“The first and most important thing you learn in wrestling is respect. And this manifests itself in so many different ways. From walking into a room and shaking everyone’s hand, to listening with your mouth shut when someone is speaking to you, learning the signature moves of people you work with so you’re not doing the same thing they’re doing etc. I also learned how hard this business is. We’d start a class with 20 people and by the end, there would only be a few of us sticking it out. But I also learned what an amazing, and fun business this can be,” Marti said.

More?

This Popular Female Wrestler Is Shattering The Silence Around The Domestic Abuse She Endured

For a professional wrestler, a headlock is a common maneuver inside the ring. But for TNA Total Impact’s Jade there was one headlock that felt particularly threatening. “When he finally let go, my then-boyfriend just left me there and I’m wondering what the hell just happened. Was he legitimately trying to hurt me? Because it was a headlock, and we’re both wrestlers, I justified it as maybe it was him trying to playfully end [the argument],” said Jade.

But this wasn’t the first time he put her in a headlock.

Jade had consensually wrestled her ex on numerous occasions. In fact, she prefers to wrestle both men and women. She wants women wrestlers to be seen as equals to their male counterparts. But it’s that pressure to break glass ceilings, and be seen as unbreakable, that contributed to her silence around her own abuse.

“Women athletes, CEOs, those in power, we feel this pressure to be a role model to other women, to be strong, that we don’t want to let them know our struggle. I didn’t want to be known as a ‘victim.’ I was also trying to get on TV, so if I tell my story, would this mess up my career?”

And so she stayed quiet for a long time. But behind closed doors, Jade says the abuse was escalating. “It got more and more regular that if I said something he didn’t like he would get violent. One time I was in bed and we had a disagreement, so he left the room but came back in to head-butt me. Then he started to choke me. In fact, whenever he didn’t like something I said, he would choke me. Soon down the line, I realized that his mindset was because I’m not hitting you, it’s ok. Because I’m not leaving a mark on you, it’s ok.”

But strangulation can be a significant predictor for future, often lethal violence. If a partner has strangled you in the past, your risk of being killed by them is seven times higher...More?

source: huffingtonpost.com

Falcons Alum Signs with TNA Wrestling

During his time in the NFL, Quinn Ojinnaka earned his keep by performing the grueling (and often thankless) tasks of an offensive lineman. He was a versatile guard/tackle who was capable of filling in when needed, and typically not someone whom the media watched closely.

Ojinnaka’s journey into pro wrestling, however, has shown him what it’s like to be a star.

After two years with the wrestling company Ring of Honor, Ojinnaka, who goes by “Moose” in the ring, became the subject of widespread speculation when his last contract expired. Dubbed the biggest name in the sport’s free agency, it was unclear whether he’d re-sign with ROH or head elsewhere. Rumors swirled; Ojinnaka remained coy on social media.

The answer came last Tuesday night, as Moose made a surprise appearance on IMPACT WRESTLING’s live show, Destination X, confirming he joined the company TNA. He surprised fans by interrupting the Title vs. Title Main Event, showed off his new finishing move, The Gamebreaker, and took out both wrestlers to end the night.

“It was the first time in about two years I had nerves running through my body,” Ojinnaka, who spent four years with the Falcons, said. “I was shaking. It’s always a great experience when my music hits and I walk out there. It’s a new chapter and I can’t wait to see where it takes me. It was definitely amazing. It was a surreal experience”

Ojinnaka’s transition to a new home marks a big step in his career. At TNA, the second-biggest wrestling company out there, he’ll get to face top competition on a regular basis. He’ll receive plenty of exposure, too, thanks to TNA’s broadcast deal and production value.

“It was a bit stressful because of all the craziness that came with it, but I feel like I made the right decision,” he said. “I’m with TNA and ready to roll.”

source: atlantafalcons.com

Christy Hemme Compares Triple H To Hulk Hogan; Talks Working With Stephanie McMahon

Christy says HHH gives to everyone while Hulk Hogan is more about himself:

"Hulk is great for Hulk. Triple H is great for business. You know, as far as like, bringing people in, bringing people up...he was always giving to the people...Hulk is like an icon and he is legendary and he is building his own brand."

What it's really like to work with Stephanie McMahon:

"I really love her. She is so poised and so powerful and as a female...She had worked on a couple of my segments and I was always lost when she was talking to me in the moments because she is really one of those people that she's a really good producer...She's really good at connecting and pulling something out of you that she's looking for...but she's softer in like, she's a warm person. She's a strong person but she's a warm person and she's passionate about the females so she's always fighting for them"

TNA Announces Move To Thursday Nights, New Start Time Revealed

TNA announced that they are moving back to Thursday nights starting July 21st, two nights after WWE SmackDown moves to Tuesday nights.

It was also revealed that Impact Wrestling will now start one hour earlier at 8/7 CT.

Knockouts Title Being Defended At SHINE 35

Shine Wrestling announced two updates to their Shine 35 event in Ybor City, FL this Friday night.

Shine is now advertising a triple title match featuring the Shine Champion versus Shimmer Champion versus TNA Knockouts Champion, with the person taking the fall losing their title. It was previously advertised that TNA Knockouts Champion Jade would defend her title if she made it through this week’s TNA Impact Wrestling tapings as champion, but she did lose to new champion Sienna at TNA Slammiversary.

**With TNA taping multiple shows this week it is always possible for Jade (Mia Yim) to regain the Knockouts title, but as of now Shine 35 will feature:

SHINE Champion vs SHIMMER Champion vs TNA Knockouts Champion
– Participant who is pinned/submitted will lose their belt!

“Money In The Bank Match”
Kellie Skater versus Mia Yim versus Santana Garrett versus Nicole Matthews

2016 TNA Hall Of Fame Inductee Revealed At Tonight’s Impact Wrestling Tapings

According to live reports from tonight’s Impact Wrestling TV tapings in Orlando, TNA Knockout Gail Kim was announced as the next inductee into the TNA Hall of Fame.

After gathering the TNA roster at the top of the stage, TNA President Dixie Carter announced Gail Kim would be the 2016 inductee of the TNA Hall of Fame; the induction ceremony will take place during TNA Bound For Glory weekend in October.

Gail Kim has been a five time TNA Knockouts Champion and a TNA Knockouts Tag Team Champion, and she has competed for TNA since 2005. Her first run was from 2005 to 2008, then following a return to WWE she has been back with TNA since 2011.

TNA Narrowly Averts Major Financial Disaster This Past Weekend Before Slammiversary; Chief Financial Officer Publicly Airs Grievances

This past Saturday morning TNA’s Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer Dean Broadhead put up a post on his personal Facebook page saying he had to, “secure interim financing,” within a twelve hour window in order for, “production trucks to roll,” for this weekend’s events.

He wrote that between Thursday and Friday of last week he had logged over eighty phone calls on his personal cell phone to different attorneys, vendors, bankers and employees. He, again, noted that he only had a twelve hour timeframe in which to deal with all of these people that were spread out all over the world. He also said, “Maybe it’s time to retire. But maybe not until everything is in it’s right place.”

According to sources that PWInsider spoke with, if Broadhead were to follow through with retiring it would be a major loss for TNA. It’s being said that Broadhead’s financial management is a major reason that the company has been able to exist the way it has for the last few years.

PWInsider notes that Aroluxe had been handling the financial end of TNA’s TV production so it may have been a case of TNA having to reimburse Aroluxe in order to move forward with producing Slammiversary and TV tapings. They also note that over the weekend Billy Corgan came close to or has already come on board as a new minority owner in the company. Corgan’s investment may have helped TNA salvage the weekend.

PWInsider finishes by noting that they are told there are three potential suitors that they could strike a deal with soon.

New TNA Minority Owner Revealed

Smashing Pumpkins frontman and TNA's Senior Producer of Creative & Talent Development Billy Corgan is set to be TNA's new minority owner.

Corgan started working with TNA in April 2015 but is now moving into a new role after purchasing a minority stake in the company. PWInsider notes that some sources say the deal is done while another says it's moving in that direction but not 100% complete.

Dixie Carter will retain majority ownership, something that she did not want to budge on during negotiations.

Rumor Mill - Backstage News On TNA Being Behind On Pay Again

In regards to rumors of TNA being behind on pay to production workers, Dave Meltzer noted on Wrestling Observer Radio that the company is behind once again but not as far behind as they have been in the past. TNA's financial issues continue and they are likely low on cash again.

At the last set of Impact Wrestling tapings in late April, there were some workers paid in full but some workers not paid at all. There was an issue with paychecks as some were there and some were not. TNA blamed it on a snafu and told the workers that all checks would be mailed out the next day, Monday, April 25th. As of this weekend, the workers who were not paid at the tapings still have not received their checks.

This is not the first time TNA has fallen behind on pay to production workers. It will be interesting to see what happens as they head into the June tapings with the Slammiversary pay-per-view.

Backstage News on EC3 Shooting on WWE at EVOLVE 61

As we noted over the weekend, TNA star EC3 made a surprise appearance at EVOLVE 61 in Queens and cut a promo after the main event, during which he and TNA Champion Drew Galloway took shots at NXT and Triple H.

According to Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio, the promo was not meant to be a WWE vs. TNA angle, but was meant to have an anti-WWE feel. However, it’s being said if WWE had a problem with it, it never would’ve happened. It was speculated that EVOLVE isn’t doing anything that WWE wouldn’t sign off on right now.

Top TNA Star Makes Surprise Appearance at EVOLVE 61, Shoots on WWE and NXT, Takes Shots at Triple H, Bill DeMott and More

Top TNA star Ethan Carter III rushed the ring at tonight’s Evolve 61 IPPV event and, along with Drew Galloway, attacked Johnny Gargano ending the show’s main event. EC3 then cut a scathing promo on NXT, Triple H, independent wrestlers and more.

Featured below is a full transcript of the promo, edited for clarity.

“[Galloway] became a world champion on his own. I became a world champion on my own. So the way I look at it, you know who kinda blew it? The 203. Stamford, CT. Up north. The ‘King of Kings’, that’s who blew it.”

EC3 and Galloway then fight off multiple referees and wrestlers trying to interfere, as EC3 continues his shoot, now addressing the talent that tried to chase him off.

“No, no, I get it. I get it guys, you wanna make the next step. You want to be good soldiers. But take it from us – you know what they do to good soldiers? They put them on the front line and make them take the bullet.”

EC3 then emulates urinating on the Evolve turnbuckle and dropping an “EC2” on the canvas.

“You wanna take that next step? You wanna get to the show everybody loves? ‘Oh we have great matches, compelling characters, great storylines, NXT, NXT, yay! You know what makes a star? Surviving. Try surviving obstacle courses. Getting slimmed. Wheelbarrow races. Six-minute TV matches where you can’t do any of your cool moves. And Redemption Points! Here we stand, a true success story of independence. Independence is not [ ] to the machine; independence is succeeding despite it.”

Carter was of course referring to his time in WWE, where he actual competed in the original NXT concept when the program was a reality competition. Drew Gulak then rushes the ring and is met with the same fate as the others before him.

“Nice boots Gulak. Do you know what this is? This is a microphone. This is how you create box office. This is how you put asses in seats. No flips and false-finishes. This man (points to Galloway) was ‘chosen’ as a reason. If I can be humble for a second – I have been endorsed by the best, only to be destroyed by the worst. So I’m gonna shoot with you real fast, buddy. By endorsed I mean Hall of Famers, world champions, that kind of thing. But when it comes to being destroyed, I can only think of one obese sociopath who’s best known for being [ ]. So hey Bill, guess what – I won!”

At this point, TJ Perkins rushes the ring and is also taken out by both men, finished off with a powerbomb by Galloway. Carter continues…

“I’m not finished! We are the last bastion of the independents here. We are two men – we weren’t failed football projects. We weren’t models. We weren’t body builders pulled out of a gym. We sure as hell weren’t anyone’s kids! We are two men who love this industry, who breath this industry. To us this isn’t a game – this is our god damn lives.”

It was at this point that Ethan Page rushed the ring with a steel chair and the Evolve talent was all able to run off the invading TNA force. The two sides had a staredown and traded promos for a bit before EC3 and Galloway ended up leaving.

This entire angle was to set up a tag team match featuring Gargano and TJP taking on EC3 and Galloway at the next Evolve show on June 10th.

source: wrestlezone.com

Former TNA & CZW Champions Advance to WWE Cruiserweight Classic at Evolve 61

You can officially add TJ Perkins and Drew Gulak to the WWE Cruiserweight Classic, as both men won their qualifying round matches at tonight’s Evolve 61 IPPV event.

TJ Perkins is 31-years-old and a long-time TNA talent, wrestling under the names Suicide and Manik, and is a former X-Division Champion.

Drew Gulak is a 29-year-old long-time Combat Zone Wrestling talent, winning the promotions World Heavyweight Championship, tag team championship, and television title.