Epitaph
07-05-2004, 12:59 PM
Jeff Hardy's debut was a nail-biter, since they were afraid he wouldn't come, and he was hardly in the shape they wanted, but he got an incredible reaction. They are doing a storyline where they are pushing him as the hottest free agent on the market. Not sure if he's signed or not, or if he is, how long he'll last. The last thing they need is to start pushing a guy and have it turn out to be another Hulk Hogan tease. Hardy was telling everyone how thrilled he was because of the crowd response, and was telling other wrestlers he was coming in weekly.
The AAA relationship was in critical condition last week, but seems okay right now. As we noted, Jeff Jarrett wasn't happy that Antonio Pena didn't bring him in for TripleMania. In addition, Hector Garza had told Jarrett he was going to be leaving AAA and wanted to keep working here. This was going to have political implications, because Pena wouldn't be happy if TNA was using someone who quit him. Jarrett told Garza he would still use him. Then, on 6/23, they were scheduled to have the AAA Mascarita Sagrada and Mini Abismo Negro. Because Mascarita didn't have the proper paperwork, AAA had told TNA they had Octagoncito as a back-up. Well, the day before, Mascarita got flagged at the airport. Mini Abismo, for whatever reason, then didn't get on the plane. Armando Quintero, who works as the liaison with AAA, kept trying to find out if they got on the plane and who got on the plane. Pena, who TNA had invited to come in for the show and they wanted to take him to see Orlando, had disappeared, as every so often he disappears for days. AAA officials kept saying they would call back and never did. Finally at 4:30 p.m. the day before the show, Quintero told the AAA office that they needed to let him know what was going on, as by this point they did know that Mascarita was flagged and Mini Abismo didn't get on the plane. He said they were closing the office at 5 p.m. so they had to know. The AAA people said they'd call back before 5 p.m. and never did. At 5 p.m., Jeff Jarrett told Quintero to get him two minis from somewhere, so he called the original Mascarita Sagrada, who quit Pena many years ago and works independents, and he and regular opponent Pierrothito came in. The frustration from the TNA side is also because they bought non-refundable tickets for the AAA minis, that Abyss had yet to be paid for TripleMania, while TNA was up-to-date in paying Pena for his guys (although whether they've got the money is another issue). It was figured when Pena found out about using rival minis, he'd be unhappy, as he'd be if they were to use Garza after quitting him. However, when Pena got back in contact, he never said a word about the minis. Garza wasn’t booked this week as the only Mexican scheduled was Abismo Negro, booked through Pena.
Dennis Rodman appears for a one-time publicity stunt on the 7/1 Impact tapings. Rodman's people made it clear he wouldn't wrestle, wouldn't do anything where he could get hurt, would only appear once, and this was the only date available. There was a lot of talk about what to do with him. The idea was to do something that would get on Sports Center, similar to Brian Urlacher, but again, while Urlacher got the company pub, it didn't mean much because it didn't build to him coming back for a match. The belief was Rodman wouldn't take the guitar shot. It was talked about having Rodman hit Jarrett with the guitar, but Jarrett didn't want that because he would never get his revenge back.
They were also talking with Ken Shamrock about coming back.
Kid Kash did an interview with wrestling radio show host Brian Stull off the air, complaining about the company, which legit got management furious. He complained about how the company is willing to pay big money for former stars like Lex Luger but not the people who carry the company, as well as the 15% booking fee on his independent dates. He said that he asked TNA for a. release, which he apparently did again this past week. Bob Ryder told him the company has too much invested in him with merchandise that has yet to be released like dolls and video games. As with Konnan, it appears company policy right now is to not give people releases. Kash, who clearly doesn't understand the lay of the land today, truly thought if he got a release, he could go to Smackdown and get a big push because of his relationship with Paul Heyman, not realizing Heyman's influence is really limited there. He also said the company favors AMW, A.J. Styles, and Raven (and he wouldn't be the first person to say that, but it's natural in a company that is largely having to create stars that people will second guess their choices) and it is hurting morale. There always has to be someone pushed and others will always feel they are just as good and not pushed, and the company does bend over backwards for the ones they push, including helping get Styles a make over and clothes because they want their stars to look like stars. The comments were taped up to the locker room door in Nashville, so everyone saw them. He thought a lot of the wrestlers were supportive of him, and those we talked with were sympathetic toward his views, knowing that he's only making $500 per show, but also felt he was very lucky they didn't fire him. Ryder asked him if he said it, and he told Ryder that he did, but thought it was off the record, and then complained about the normal subjects being paid more and pushed more. The main thing I always hear complained about is more the pushing of Jarrett, but nobody getting a paycheck in the company will say that one publicly.
The decision was made to give Jonny Fairplay another shot, so they are going to reintroduce him, maybe as the manger of Titus, on the 7/2 TV show. The idea they are going with is to have him wrestle other reality TV show personalities as a way to get mainstream pub. Fairplay is a heat magnet backstage. As a rib, he said he got word that WWE was interested in Monty Brown. Nobody panicked since they've signed Brown to a contract, and right now, WWE is kind of leery about even talking with TNA contracted talent so as not to fall into a tampering lawsuit. Not to be stopped from his rib, he then said WWE was interested in D-Ray 3000 to do another Eugene like gimmick, and apparently said it to Vince Russo. The company then signed D-Ray to a one-year deal, and Fairplay was bragging to friends that he made it all up, which no doubt has to have the wrestling people thrilled with him. It was noted that when they showed the vignette billing Fairplay's debut for next week in Orlando, the reaction from the live Orlando crowd was that you could have heard crickets chirp.
There is talk of doing a championship committee to either replace the Director of Authority position or work with him, and they'd use ex-wrestlers to fill that role, which could include Larry Zbyszko and Dusty Rhodes.
For a start, I think it’s safe to say Jarrett need’s to get his head out of his ass. I wouldn’t have wanted to see him on AAA biggest show of the year, and I doubt the fans would have either. I think Jarrett need’s to stop pushing him self to the title.
Nice to see Fairplay once again return, I see him as a Andy Kaufman like figure in wrestling. I hope this run does well.
It’s going to be really interesting to see Jeff return back to TNA. In fact I’m surprised he got a decent reception as most indy fan’s hate the guy for his lack of passion for the business.
The championship Committee would be interesting, it gives Shane Douglass something to do IMO. As he is so much better than Microphone Boy.
Thoughts?
The AAA relationship was in critical condition last week, but seems okay right now. As we noted, Jeff Jarrett wasn't happy that Antonio Pena didn't bring him in for TripleMania. In addition, Hector Garza had told Jarrett he was going to be leaving AAA and wanted to keep working here. This was going to have political implications, because Pena wouldn't be happy if TNA was using someone who quit him. Jarrett told Garza he would still use him. Then, on 6/23, they were scheduled to have the AAA Mascarita Sagrada and Mini Abismo Negro. Because Mascarita didn't have the proper paperwork, AAA had told TNA they had Octagoncito as a back-up. Well, the day before, Mascarita got flagged at the airport. Mini Abismo, for whatever reason, then didn't get on the plane. Armando Quintero, who works as the liaison with AAA, kept trying to find out if they got on the plane and who got on the plane. Pena, who TNA had invited to come in for the show and they wanted to take him to see Orlando, had disappeared, as every so often he disappears for days. AAA officials kept saying they would call back and never did. Finally at 4:30 p.m. the day before the show, Quintero told the AAA office that they needed to let him know what was going on, as by this point they did know that Mascarita was flagged and Mini Abismo didn't get on the plane. He said they were closing the office at 5 p.m. so they had to know. The AAA people said they'd call back before 5 p.m. and never did. At 5 p.m., Jeff Jarrett told Quintero to get him two minis from somewhere, so he called the original Mascarita Sagrada, who quit Pena many years ago and works independents, and he and regular opponent Pierrothito came in. The frustration from the TNA side is also because they bought non-refundable tickets for the AAA minis, that Abyss had yet to be paid for TripleMania, while TNA was up-to-date in paying Pena for his guys (although whether they've got the money is another issue). It was figured when Pena found out about using rival minis, he'd be unhappy, as he'd be if they were to use Garza after quitting him. However, when Pena got back in contact, he never said a word about the minis. Garza wasn’t booked this week as the only Mexican scheduled was Abismo Negro, booked through Pena.
Dennis Rodman appears for a one-time publicity stunt on the 7/1 Impact tapings. Rodman's people made it clear he wouldn't wrestle, wouldn't do anything where he could get hurt, would only appear once, and this was the only date available. There was a lot of talk about what to do with him. The idea was to do something that would get on Sports Center, similar to Brian Urlacher, but again, while Urlacher got the company pub, it didn't mean much because it didn't build to him coming back for a match. The belief was Rodman wouldn't take the guitar shot. It was talked about having Rodman hit Jarrett with the guitar, but Jarrett didn't want that because he would never get his revenge back.
They were also talking with Ken Shamrock about coming back.
Kid Kash did an interview with wrestling radio show host Brian Stull off the air, complaining about the company, which legit got management furious. He complained about how the company is willing to pay big money for former stars like Lex Luger but not the people who carry the company, as well as the 15% booking fee on his independent dates. He said that he asked TNA for a. release, which he apparently did again this past week. Bob Ryder told him the company has too much invested in him with merchandise that has yet to be released like dolls and video games. As with Konnan, it appears company policy right now is to not give people releases. Kash, who clearly doesn't understand the lay of the land today, truly thought if he got a release, he could go to Smackdown and get a big push because of his relationship with Paul Heyman, not realizing Heyman's influence is really limited there. He also said the company favors AMW, A.J. Styles, and Raven (and he wouldn't be the first person to say that, but it's natural in a company that is largely having to create stars that people will second guess their choices) and it is hurting morale. There always has to be someone pushed and others will always feel they are just as good and not pushed, and the company does bend over backwards for the ones they push, including helping get Styles a make over and clothes because they want their stars to look like stars. The comments were taped up to the locker room door in Nashville, so everyone saw them. He thought a lot of the wrestlers were supportive of him, and those we talked with were sympathetic toward his views, knowing that he's only making $500 per show, but also felt he was very lucky they didn't fire him. Ryder asked him if he said it, and he told Ryder that he did, but thought it was off the record, and then complained about the normal subjects being paid more and pushed more. The main thing I always hear complained about is more the pushing of Jarrett, but nobody getting a paycheck in the company will say that one publicly.
The decision was made to give Jonny Fairplay another shot, so they are going to reintroduce him, maybe as the manger of Titus, on the 7/2 TV show. The idea they are going with is to have him wrestle other reality TV show personalities as a way to get mainstream pub. Fairplay is a heat magnet backstage. As a rib, he said he got word that WWE was interested in Monty Brown. Nobody panicked since they've signed Brown to a contract, and right now, WWE is kind of leery about even talking with TNA contracted talent so as not to fall into a tampering lawsuit. Not to be stopped from his rib, he then said WWE was interested in D-Ray 3000 to do another Eugene like gimmick, and apparently said it to Vince Russo. The company then signed D-Ray to a one-year deal, and Fairplay was bragging to friends that he made it all up, which no doubt has to have the wrestling people thrilled with him. It was noted that when they showed the vignette billing Fairplay's debut for next week in Orlando, the reaction from the live Orlando crowd was that you could have heard crickets chirp.
There is talk of doing a championship committee to either replace the Director of Authority position or work with him, and they'd use ex-wrestlers to fill that role, which could include Larry Zbyszko and Dusty Rhodes.
For a start, I think it’s safe to say Jarrett need’s to get his head out of his ass. I wouldn’t have wanted to see him on AAA biggest show of the year, and I doubt the fans would have either. I think Jarrett need’s to stop pushing him self to the title.
Nice to see Fairplay once again return, I see him as a Andy Kaufman like figure in wrestling. I hope this run does well.
It’s going to be really interesting to see Jeff return back to TNA. In fact I’m surprised he got a decent reception as most indy fan’s hate the guy for his lack of passion for the business.
The championship Committee would be interesting, it gives Shane Douglass something to do IMO. As he is so much better than Microphone Boy.
Thoughts?