PullMyFinger
02-24-2006, 07:10 PM
TORCH #902: TNA NEWSWIRE
NEW EXECUTIVE, NEW ATTITUDE
Kevin Day, who replaced Frank Dickerson as CEO of TNA Wrestling a few weeks ago, has instilled a new attitude within the ranks of the company. Day, who is in his early 30s, was promoted from within Panda Energy to get the financial end of TNA running efficiently. He has made it clear that there is no room for any dead weight among management, creative, or talent. "He is a bottom line kind of guy," says one TNA employee, who has been impressed with Day's energy and resolve.
The feeling is that Day will do what is necessary to make TNA as financially solvent as possible, ridding TNA of any wasted expenditure. One source notes that if WCW had Day in the late-'90s overseeing the company's expenses, they'd still be in business. It doesn't mean TNA is operating on the cheap, but it does mean nobody can expect a guaranteed job due to tenure or even sacrifices made three years ago in the early stages of the company's operation.
His predecessor, Frank Dickerson, was more laid back. In his late 50s, Dickerson was a father-figure, interested in getting to know everyone as people. He served a valuable role in getting contracts organized last year.
Day entered his job with almost zero knowledge of pro wrestling, but a strong track record within Panda as a bottom line type of guy who can cut waste, but recognize where money needs to be spent.
The structure of the company and who is responsible for what is still being worked out as the company continues to grow from a father and son operation to a significant division of a large corporation. Day is attempting to delegate roles for each member of management and make sure wrestlers are being paid in accordance with their value to the company today. He has a straight forward attitude and seems less interested in becoming friends compared to Dickerson, who was well liked and considered effective at his job.
TERRY TAYLOR PROMOTED
Terry Taylor has been promoted to talent relations director, basically the same position John Laurenaitis holds in WWE and Jim Ross and J.J. Dillon previously held in WWE. Taylor has worked underneath Ross in the talent relations department in the WWF in the late-'90s and had several management and creative positions in WCW under Eric Bischoff. Taylor previously had been working in the production truck with additional unofficial duties as a liaison between management and talent.
ULTIM ATE WARRIOR ON TNA
In a message on his website, UltimateWarrior.com, the Ultimate Warrior wrote that he'd like to wrestle Bill Goldberg in TNA. "It would be very interesting. What would be more interesting is if the TNA execs had the creativity, integrity and balls to entertain it seriously. Frankly, what they should do, if they want to be competitive (there's that nasty blood, sweat and tears word again), is sell some of those construction materials Daddy Jarrett has laying around, and put up the financing to bring in Goldberg and Ultimate Warrior and let us try to beat the intensity out of one another. Now there's an idea--an attention getting one, and a money making one.
"I mean, instead of always using "warrior" as the adjective to fallaciously describe all those who aren't -- bring a real, and Ultimate, one in. Let the hardcore, natural intensity rip. Let both of us take our mischaracterized heads halfway out of our asses, just enough for us to be businessmen capable of discussing the serious potential success yet not enough to defuse a competitive grudge, and let the serious and creative thinkers at TNA, those without an agenda or envy problem, work out a program. Put your silly ass fear and prejudice for my strong, bold character away and think SUCCESS. Hell, I'm all for great ideas. But don't expect me to keep my mouth shut when you don't come up with any.
"Of course, as I hinted at, it won't be inexpensive. Goldberg has an agent and has to give him a cut. I'm my own and I charge even more. The bigger obstacle, and definitely the one that has us both the most hated in the industry, is that we are strong individualists who don't need, or even necessarily want, to be in the business and can get along having great lives without it. But, what a way it would be for the most envied and despised to shove the final word down the throats of those Nor'Easterners, while TNA capitalizes off the incredible heat of it all."
TNA NOTEBOOK
Jeff Jarrett is not scheduled to be in the World Hvt. Title picture for the next few PPVs at least. As TNA expands, Jarrett has realized his need to step back from trying to wear so many hats. While he still has tremendous influence on the creative direction of the company and holds a V.P. title and is co-owner of the company, he is not as dead set on being the sole wrestler the company is built around at this point, perhaps because he senses Dixie Carter and Kevin Day don't think that's the best plan... Dixie Carter continues to be very active within TNA, working with business affiliates, promoting the company, and overseeing the entire operations. She is spending less time getting to know individual wrestlers since she found herself in a position common to new executives in wrestling companies over the years, where wrestlers tried to befriend her and get her to see things their way. She is still visible and friendly, but now has enough of a foundation to her wrestling knowledge that she doesn't answer every call from every wrestler anymore as she once did...
Apolo has been officially released, deemed unreliable by management. Only Dutch Mantel was particularly high on Apolo, based on his friendship with him while he was booking in Puerto Rico... Monty Brown may be held back within TNA because his in-ring skills are not progressing at the pace everyone would like. The problem for Brown is that he has a successful personal training business in which he works five days a week earning well into six-figures annually. There are some within TNA who feel Brown should be working harder to get weekend bookings that don't interfere with his other job, not because he needs the money, but because he needs the experience. Even working eight times a month might not be enough for him to get to the point he needs to be as a top level worker, but it's better than the three times per month he's currently working, some of those being shorter squash matches in which he is protected... Jeff Jarrett continues to care for his wife, Jill, who is going through cancer treatments...
Christian, The Dudleys, and Rhino have formed a bit of a clique in TNA. They tend to dress apart from the rest of the wrestlers, but when they are around the everyone else, they are friendly and fit in well... TNAWrestling.com is featuring secret video shot by Alex Shelley of Sting and his family in public. It is the launch of an angle involving Shelley stalking Sting and eventually drawing him out of retirement. Shelley is getting the coveted spot of feuding with Sting because he is seen as one of the most cooperative and hard working young wrestlers in TNA... There is some second-guessing now of the Sting retirement angle, in part because it was so convincing. The Saturday night ratings above 1.0 have dropped off back to the 0.7 mark, actually a notch below the average on Spike TV so far. The feeling is that as segments air with Sting, including footage of him with his family, in upcoming weeks, that viewers will being to realize Sting is returning, and that will help boost ratings again...
Samoa Joe just posed for a photo to be on the cover of Pro Wrestling Illustrated... Word is Joe got his pay doubled in his recent contract extension, but it's still well below the key wrestlers who have WWE TV exposure. Joe was given all kinds of advice during his renegotiations, and main theme stressed to him was how much better off he'd be in TNA than WWE because of WWE's track record of going overboard in knocking down anyone who is signed who has a big rep from the indy scene or an Internet following. There's not a single case of a wrestler in recent years with a great indy rep getting a push without being torn down and rebuilt from scratch, which is what C.M. Punk is going though...
Dutch Mantel tends to do the vast majority of the actual script writing, but the other voices on the creative team contribute beforehand to what the actual content of the TV scripts will be. Jarrett remains the most influential person when it comes to the big picture plans for major angles and PPV main events... Low Ki was considered for LAX, but he will be booked in the X Division instead. Ricky Vega isn't considered ready yet, so Hotstuff Hernandez is slated replace Apolo full time in LAX. There is also interest in Rick Banderas, but he is locked into a contract in Puerto Rico, so TNA may not be able to sign him at this time. The TNA booking team is not familiar with Homicide's work in ROH, so they're not sure how much to invest in him at this point. He is also been working with an injured shoulder, which has slowed down his in-ring work so far...
Kevin Nash is scheduled to return in time for TNA's move to prime time. One major former PPV main event wrestler called TNA to express interest in working for the company, but TNA is making it clear that they want any major name who comes in to not just be looking for a payday, but also be willing to help give a boost to TNA's lesser established wrestlers who are in it for the long haul. There are now feasible scenarios out there for the five biggest names of the Monday Night War era not working for WWE right now, other than Hulk Hogan, to be brought in to either wrestle or make appearances, but at this point most scenarios are longshots. Four of the biggest free agent names have all expressed disgust with WWE's approach to recent situations, including Guerrero and Jim Ross, and have cited it as one of the major reasons they'd be potentially interested in tilting the scale toward TNA as much as possible to create a more level playing field. At least two of those top names are watching TNA regularly and like what they see, and seem to scouting to see where they might fit in... Vince Russo was being talked about as a booking replacement for Jarrett just before the ratings spike for Sting ended that talk...
Early TNA powerbroker Bob Ryder is attending virtually all TV and PPV events as he is the main travel agent for the promotion. He remains tight with The Naturals and AMW, but doesn't have much of any office power with Dixie and Day... Lance Hoyt's push was slowed due to earning a rep for being impatient with is push and complaining too much. The feeling was the crowd pops he was getting in Orlando were going to his head...
Kanyon was backstage at the latest TNA TV tapings, but didn't wrestle. He sent a press release out stating that he was given a two page contract that said if he wrestled, he would allow them to market his likeness on merchandise "perpetually" without any payment to him. He asked them to strike that clause, and they refused, so he didn't work the taping. He printed the clause in his release: "You grant TNA during and AFTER the Term of the Agreement a non-exclusive, unrestricted, worldwide, perpetual license to use and to authorize and license others to use (on terms acceptable to TNA in its sole discretion) your name, stage name, likeness, voice, actions or movements, poses and appearances, words and slogans, props or other items associated with you and any of your biographical material in connection with the Event(s) and the Recordings, and any associated publicity and promotional materials including you (which shall include, without limitation, television commercials, print advertisements, and radio advertisements), including, without limitation, in connection with the manufacture, distribution, promotion, sale and other commercial exploitation in any manner of Event-related or non-event related merchandise (Merchandise) without any further compensation to you. Merchandise may include, without limitation, computer, video, or arcade games in any form and on any platform, video tapes and DVDs, posters, photos, books, articles, action figures or dolls, t-shirts, souvenirs or any other tangible or intangible personal or intellectual property"...
Austin Aries issued a statement similar to comments he made to the Torch earlier this week regarding his getting suspended by TNA for wrestling on an ROH show the night before the TNA PPV causing him to be late. He wrote: "I personally understand TNA's position on this matter and completely respect the fact that they're entitled to protect their interests as they see fit. And while I was also entitled and within my contractual rights to make the tough decision I did, I fully accept the consequences of my decision. My hope is that once my suspension is served this whole situation will be put behind us with no ill will. I look forward to my return to TNA as it gears up for it's huge primetime debut April 13 on Spike TV. In the meantime I will continue to stay busy with my numerous other bookings and prepare myself for my TNA return"... Konnan has a chronic hip injury that requires medical attention. Although he doesn't have medical insurance, TNA management is working with him to try to make sure he gets the medical attention he needs...
There's talk of bringing Jeff Hardy back for TNA's return to prime time. Shannon Moore is a good friend of Hardy, so TNA management may put him in charge of being sure he shows up... The line-up for TNA Destination X, which is the only major live PPV in March, includes Christian Cage defending the NWA World Hvt. Title against Monty Brown, Samoa Joe vs. A.J. Styles vs. Christopher Daniels in a rematch of the PWTorch 2005 Match of the Year, and The James Gang (B.G. & Kip) & Bob Armstrong vs. The Latin American Exchange (Homicide & Machete & Konnan)... Christopher Daniels had minor knee surgery last week, but he is expected to be ready to wrestle at the PPV...
-Torch
Shelley vs. Sting ?!?! For some reason, I'm so pumped for that. Finally, he's getting the mega push he deserves...seriously, he's like my new favorite wrestler now.
NEW EXECUTIVE, NEW ATTITUDE
Kevin Day, who replaced Frank Dickerson as CEO of TNA Wrestling a few weeks ago, has instilled a new attitude within the ranks of the company. Day, who is in his early 30s, was promoted from within Panda Energy to get the financial end of TNA running efficiently. He has made it clear that there is no room for any dead weight among management, creative, or talent. "He is a bottom line kind of guy," says one TNA employee, who has been impressed with Day's energy and resolve.
The feeling is that Day will do what is necessary to make TNA as financially solvent as possible, ridding TNA of any wasted expenditure. One source notes that if WCW had Day in the late-'90s overseeing the company's expenses, they'd still be in business. It doesn't mean TNA is operating on the cheap, but it does mean nobody can expect a guaranteed job due to tenure or even sacrifices made three years ago in the early stages of the company's operation.
His predecessor, Frank Dickerson, was more laid back. In his late 50s, Dickerson was a father-figure, interested in getting to know everyone as people. He served a valuable role in getting contracts organized last year.
Day entered his job with almost zero knowledge of pro wrestling, but a strong track record within Panda as a bottom line type of guy who can cut waste, but recognize where money needs to be spent.
The structure of the company and who is responsible for what is still being worked out as the company continues to grow from a father and son operation to a significant division of a large corporation. Day is attempting to delegate roles for each member of management and make sure wrestlers are being paid in accordance with their value to the company today. He has a straight forward attitude and seems less interested in becoming friends compared to Dickerson, who was well liked and considered effective at his job.
TERRY TAYLOR PROMOTED
Terry Taylor has been promoted to talent relations director, basically the same position John Laurenaitis holds in WWE and Jim Ross and J.J. Dillon previously held in WWE. Taylor has worked underneath Ross in the talent relations department in the WWF in the late-'90s and had several management and creative positions in WCW under Eric Bischoff. Taylor previously had been working in the production truck with additional unofficial duties as a liaison between management and talent.
ULTIM ATE WARRIOR ON TNA
In a message on his website, UltimateWarrior.com, the Ultimate Warrior wrote that he'd like to wrestle Bill Goldberg in TNA. "It would be very interesting. What would be more interesting is if the TNA execs had the creativity, integrity and balls to entertain it seriously. Frankly, what they should do, if they want to be competitive (there's that nasty blood, sweat and tears word again), is sell some of those construction materials Daddy Jarrett has laying around, and put up the financing to bring in Goldberg and Ultimate Warrior and let us try to beat the intensity out of one another. Now there's an idea--an attention getting one, and a money making one.
"I mean, instead of always using "warrior" as the adjective to fallaciously describe all those who aren't -- bring a real, and Ultimate, one in. Let the hardcore, natural intensity rip. Let both of us take our mischaracterized heads halfway out of our asses, just enough for us to be businessmen capable of discussing the serious potential success yet not enough to defuse a competitive grudge, and let the serious and creative thinkers at TNA, those without an agenda or envy problem, work out a program. Put your silly ass fear and prejudice for my strong, bold character away and think SUCCESS. Hell, I'm all for great ideas. But don't expect me to keep my mouth shut when you don't come up with any.
"Of course, as I hinted at, it won't be inexpensive. Goldberg has an agent and has to give him a cut. I'm my own and I charge even more. The bigger obstacle, and definitely the one that has us both the most hated in the industry, is that we are strong individualists who don't need, or even necessarily want, to be in the business and can get along having great lives without it. But, what a way it would be for the most envied and despised to shove the final word down the throats of those Nor'Easterners, while TNA capitalizes off the incredible heat of it all."
TNA NOTEBOOK
Jeff Jarrett is not scheduled to be in the World Hvt. Title picture for the next few PPVs at least. As TNA expands, Jarrett has realized his need to step back from trying to wear so many hats. While he still has tremendous influence on the creative direction of the company and holds a V.P. title and is co-owner of the company, he is not as dead set on being the sole wrestler the company is built around at this point, perhaps because he senses Dixie Carter and Kevin Day don't think that's the best plan... Dixie Carter continues to be very active within TNA, working with business affiliates, promoting the company, and overseeing the entire operations. She is spending less time getting to know individual wrestlers since she found herself in a position common to new executives in wrestling companies over the years, where wrestlers tried to befriend her and get her to see things their way. She is still visible and friendly, but now has enough of a foundation to her wrestling knowledge that she doesn't answer every call from every wrestler anymore as she once did...
Apolo has been officially released, deemed unreliable by management. Only Dutch Mantel was particularly high on Apolo, based on his friendship with him while he was booking in Puerto Rico... Monty Brown may be held back within TNA because his in-ring skills are not progressing at the pace everyone would like. The problem for Brown is that he has a successful personal training business in which he works five days a week earning well into six-figures annually. There are some within TNA who feel Brown should be working harder to get weekend bookings that don't interfere with his other job, not because he needs the money, but because he needs the experience. Even working eight times a month might not be enough for him to get to the point he needs to be as a top level worker, but it's better than the three times per month he's currently working, some of those being shorter squash matches in which he is protected... Jeff Jarrett continues to care for his wife, Jill, who is going through cancer treatments...
Christian, The Dudleys, and Rhino have formed a bit of a clique in TNA. They tend to dress apart from the rest of the wrestlers, but when they are around the everyone else, they are friendly and fit in well... TNAWrestling.com is featuring secret video shot by Alex Shelley of Sting and his family in public. It is the launch of an angle involving Shelley stalking Sting and eventually drawing him out of retirement. Shelley is getting the coveted spot of feuding with Sting because he is seen as one of the most cooperative and hard working young wrestlers in TNA... There is some second-guessing now of the Sting retirement angle, in part because it was so convincing. The Saturday night ratings above 1.0 have dropped off back to the 0.7 mark, actually a notch below the average on Spike TV so far. The feeling is that as segments air with Sting, including footage of him with his family, in upcoming weeks, that viewers will being to realize Sting is returning, and that will help boost ratings again...
Samoa Joe just posed for a photo to be on the cover of Pro Wrestling Illustrated... Word is Joe got his pay doubled in his recent contract extension, but it's still well below the key wrestlers who have WWE TV exposure. Joe was given all kinds of advice during his renegotiations, and main theme stressed to him was how much better off he'd be in TNA than WWE because of WWE's track record of going overboard in knocking down anyone who is signed who has a big rep from the indy scene or an Internet following. There's not a single case of a wrestler in recent years with a great indy rep getting a push without being torn down and rebuilt from scratch, which is what C.M. Punk is going though...
Dutch Mantel tends to do the vast majority of the actual script writing, but the other voices on the creative team contribute beforehand to what the actual content of the TV scripts will be. Jarrett remains the most influential person when it comes to the big picture plans for major angles and PPV main events... Low Ki was considered for LAX, but he will be booked in the X Division instead. Ricky Vega isn't considered ready yet, so Hotstuff Hernandez is slated replace Apolo full time in LAX. There is also interest in Rick Banderas, but he is locked into a contract in Puerto Rico, so TNA may not be able to sign him at this time. The TNA booking team is not familiar with Homicide's work in ROH, so they're not sure how much to invest in him at this point. He is also been working with an injured shoulder, which has slowed down his in-ring work so far...
Kevin Nash is scheduled to return in time for TNA's move to prime time. One major former PPV main event wrestler called TNA to express interest in working for the company, but TNA is making it clear that they want any major name who comes in to not just be looking for a payday, but also be willing to help give a boost to TNA's lesser established wrestlers who are in it for the long haul. There are now feasible scenarios out there for the five biggest names of the Monday Night War era not working for WWE right now, other than Hulk Hogan, to be brought in to either wrestle or make appearances, but at this point most scenarios are longshots. Four of the biggest free agent names have all expressed disgust with WWE's approach to recent situations, including Guerrero and Jim Ross, and have cited it as one of the major reasons they'd be potentially interested in tilting the scale toward TNA as much as possible to create a more level playing field. At least two of those top names are watching TNA regularly and like what they see, and seem to scouting to see where they might fit in... Vince Russo was being talked about as a booking replacement for Jarrett just before the ratings spike for Sting ended that talk...
Early TNA powerbroker Bob Ryder is attending virtually all TV and PPV events as he is the main travel agent for the promotion. He remains tight with The Naturals and AMW, but doesn't have much of any office power with Dixie and Day... Lance Hoyt's push was slowed due to earning a rep for being impatient with is push and complaining too much. The feeling was the crowd pops he was getting in Orlando were going to his head...
Kanyon was backstage at the latest TNA TV tapings, but didn't wrestle. He sent a press release out stating that he was given a two page contract that said if he wrestled, he would allow them to market his likeness on merchandise "perpetually" without any payment to him. He asked them to strike that clause, and they refused, so he didn't work the taping. He printed the clause in his release: "You grant TNA during and AFTER the Term of the Agreement a non-exclusive, unrestricted, worldwide, perpetual license to use and to authorize and license others to use (on terms acceptable to TNA in its sole discretion) your name, stage name, likeness, voice, actions or movements, poses and appearances, words and slogans, props or other items associated with you and any of your biographical material in connection with the Event(s) and the Recordings, and any associated publicity and promotional materials including you (which shall include, without limitation, television commercials, print advertisements, and radio advertisements), including, without limitation, in connection with the manufacture, distribution, promotion, sale and other commercial exploitation in any manner of Event-related or non-event related merchandise (Merchandise) without any further compensation to you. Merchandise may include, without limitation, computer, video, or arcade games in any form and on any platform, video tapes and DVDs, posters, photos, books, articles, action figures or dolls, t-shirts, souvenirs or any other tangible or intangible personal or intellectual property"...
Austin Aries issued a statement similar to comments he made to the Torch earlier this week regarding his getting suspended by TNA for wrestling on an ROH show the night before the TNA PPV causing him to be late. He wrote: "I personally understand TNA's position on this matter and completely respect the fact that they're entitled to protect their interests as they see fit. And while I was also entitled and within my contractual rights to make the tough decision I did, I fully accept the consequences of my decision. My hope is that once my suspension is served this whole situation will be put behind us with no ill will. I look forward to my return to TNA as it gears up for it's huge primetime debut April 13 on Spike TV. In the meantime I will continue to stay busy with my numerous other bookings and prepare myself for my TNA return"... Konnan has a chronic hip injury that requires medical attention. Although he doesn't have medical insurance, TNA management is working with him to try to make sure he gets the medical attention he needs...
There's talk of bringing Jeff Hardy back for TNA's return to prime time. Shannon Moore is a good friend of Hardy, so TNA management may put him in charge of being sure he shows up... The line-up for TNA Destination X, which is the only major live PPV in March, includes Christian Cage defending the NWA World Hvt. Title against Monty Brown, Samoa Joe vs. A.J. Styles vs. Christopher Daniels in a rematch of the PWTorch 2005 Match of the Year, and The James Gang (B.G. & Kip) & Bob Armstrong vs. The Latin American Exchange (Homicide & Machete & Konnan)... Christopher Daniels had minor knee surgery last week, but he is expected to be ready to wrestle at the PPV...
-Torch
Shelley vs. Sting ?!?! For some reason, I'm so pumped for that. Finally, he's getting the mega push he deserves...seriously, he's like my new favorite wrestler now.