Ashlee and I were JUST talking about this last night.
According to f4wonline, Gregory Helms' 90-day no-compete is up sometime this month. And, as many have suspected, he already has a verbal agreement through Jeff Hardy with TNA. Word has it he'll just go by his WCW moniker, Shane Helms, and there's apparently been talk of a stable with he, Jeff, Shannon Moore, and Jesse Neal.
You know, I don't even care that TNA's roster is already overloaded with people. Sugar Shane is my boy. I've been waiting for years to see him and Shannon team up again, and it might finally happen!
A few short news items from the wonderful, wacky world of TNA Wrestling:
As seen above, TNA President Dixie Carter posted on Twitter today about the story making the rounds that TNA Impact will move to one hour earlier, for one night only. "To maximize viewership, iMPACT! will air on Spike from 8-10pm ET on 4/5 as to not conflict w/NCAA Men's bball finals on CBS. PLS RT," she tweeted. Sound strategy, perhaps, but shouldn't they be doing this EVERY week so as not to conflict with the juggernaut known as Monday Night Raw? Foolish pride, Dixie...
"The Pope" D'Angelo Dinero did an interview with the Dothan, Alabama newspaper "The Dothan Eagle" (does that not sound like a great gimmick name itself?) today in promotion for the TNA house show there tonight. In it, he continued to play up the "family" environment of TNA vs. the "everybody's only out for themselves" environment of the WWE locker room, and proclaimed that Sting was one of his top 3 people he ever wanted to meet. He says this is undoubtedly Sting's last year wrestling, and he wants to get in the ring with him at least once before Stinger hangs it up. You can read the rest at the Dothan Eagle online.
The Motor City Machinguns and Generation Me will adorn the cover of the Destination X DVD. To the best of my knowledge, this is the first DVD cover the Guns have taken. And I, for one, say "about damn time!" See the cover here at TNA's Facebook profile.
ShopTNA.com has released a hideous new Hogan shirt emblazoned with his sunglasses and mustache on the front, and "FU POWER" on the back. Jeff Hardy also has a new shirt that looks like every other shirt he's ever had, as well as a new one for Mr. Anderson with Pro Wrestling Is Real / People Are Fake on the front and back, respectively. In regards to that Anderson shirt... I WANT!
Mick Foley posted a blog on TNA's website shortly after Impact the other night addressing the punch on Bubba the Hate Sponge, in which he claimed that it wasn't a shoot because of the Kong incident, it was all pre-planned, etc etc. It was quickly taken down, and Mick's profile removed from the site due to his "firing" on-air. Which begs the question.... how the hell do you fire a shareholder?
From the "any smart fan should know this but the dirt sheets reported it anyway" department, the injury angle they ran on Hernandez on Monday is probably a cover for his short-term departure to Mexico to work with AAA. No word yet on anyone figuring out why Matt Morgan went from face to cocky heel again so quickly with no explanation (SEE?! I can blast TNA too when they do stupid shit!).
And finally, from the "not ashamed to love Shannon Moore" department, here's Shannon behind the wheel of an original Knight Rider car. Truly, truly awesome moment. Dare I say, the greatest Knight in the history of our sport (Oh God... I've gone to the puns. Time to wrap it up)? Shannon will be wrestling tonight at the aforementioned Dothan house show.
Following last month's stellar Against All Odds pay-per-view, TNA brings us Destination X 2010 tonight, live from the fabulous Impact Zone! As Cenanuff's TNA division, I'm going to run through tonight's card and give you my take on the matches, and what I'd do if given the book.
TNA Global Championship Rob Terry (c) vs Brutus Magnus To be honest, I've been trying to care about these British Invasion guys and I just can't. It's not about being British, as I absolutely love Desmond Wolfe and Katie Lea and some of the others -- but Magnus, Terry, Doug Williams (whom we'll get to later), I just don't care. I'll guess that Magnus gets the win here, though I wish upon a faraway star that they'd either rebrand the belt again or return it to the "Legends" gimmick. "Global" just means "World," doesn't it? What makes it any different from the World Title?
TNA Women's Knockout Championship Tara (c) vs Daffney This is one of those matches that many of us old-schoolers have been wanting to see for a long time. Victoria was always WWE, Daffney was always WCW. Finally, we get a battle of the crazies! "Zombie Hot" Daffney kind of gets the edge for me here, but mostly because of the comedy that could ensue with her heading to the back and meeting up with Dr. Stevie and Raven (is this stable still together?), and showing off like she's better than both of them. Bonus points if she points at Dr. Stevie and screams "I SHOWED YOU!.... YOU SAW!"
Ladder Match for X-Division #1 Contendership Kazarian vs Daniels vs Amazing Red vs Brian Kendrick When they originally stated that Destination X would be an all-X-Division PPV, this is the kind of match we thought we'd see 8 times. In a way, I'm glad they scaled it back and decided to feature the entire roster, because while I love these X-Division spotfests, it could get really old seeing it all night long. This match has the potential to do just what Daniels said in his promo, and that's to take the X-Division to new heights. I don't think there are any losers in this matchup either -- I'd be happy for any one of the four to win. I'd like to see Daniels get the push, but I somehow see Kaz winning it. Kendrick could be a dark horse favorite.
TNA World Tag Team Championship Matt Morgan & Hernandez (c) vs Beer Money Boy... it sure sucks that those damn Nasty Boys are taking all the spotlight away from the TNA Homegrown guys, eh? I think it's a foregone conclusion that Beer Money takes the straps here, and Morgan/Hernandi continue to split. Especially if the rumors of TNA sending SuperMex back home to Mexico for some recruitment trips or whatever it was. Beer! MONEY!
TNA X-Division Championship Match Doug Williams (c) vs Shannon Moore I understand that many internet fans don't like Shannon Moore, for some odd reason. The good news is, he's not here to impress the internet. I know I'm biased when it comes to Shannon, but I think he has to win this. Eating a clean loss would immediately kill off any hint of credibility he might have, and I don't want to see that happen. I don't know if he's "deserving" of a push like that off the bang, but did Santino "deserve" to win the IC title when he came out of the Italian crowd as a "fan?" The belt could really propel the guy, and I hope upon hope that he takes it. That, and I still uncare about Doug Williams or anything he does.
Ultimate X #1 Contenders To The Tag Team Titles Motor City Machine Guns vs Generation Me All I can say is, it's about damn time the Guns got a match on a pay-per-view again. GAWD. And I'd love to see them get the win and the push, obviously, but with Beer Money almost obviously winning the titles, and this being for the #1 contendership, I could see Generation Bucks getting that push. MCMG are still heels, I guess, whenever they actually get on TV, so it'd be kinda hard to push a "heel vs heel" tag title feud when the fans want to cheer for both teams. Regardless, this ought to be another fantastic spotty match, and the two teams have been working with each other quite a bit on the house show circuit, so it almost certainly promises to tear the house down (if Sabin's feeling ok - word last night was he was puking his guts out.)
Hall & Waltman's Contracts On The Line! Kevin Nash & Eric Young vs Scott Hall & Sean Waltman No brainer -- Nash turns on EY, and the Wolfpac is reborn again. While I know Ben Nichols will jizz himself for it, I don't know if I'm really behind the idea. What I WOULD like to see is for the Wolfpac to reform, only to haul in a few new kids and push them to the moon as the sort of "next generation" of Outsiders. This is mostly because I can do without seeing Hall hobble around the ring, though Waltman seems to be in pretty decent shape. Either way, this whole thing kind of bores me this time around. I'm usually a nostalgia mark, but there's so much incredible young talent on this roster that could be using the spot.
Grudge Match Kurt Angle vs Mr. Anderson Great build, and TNA has quickly made Anderson into a much better character than he ever was in WWE. He's finally living up to his potential, and I couldn't be happier for the guy. And while I love me some Angle, and kind of tire of him always ending up putting the other guy over, I think Anderson needs to win this. Anderson can easily slip into a sort of "Triple H Reign of Terror" role, where he's the smarmy jackass that you just can't beat and that makes you hate him even more. Angle winning would be the feel-good story of the year, but I don't want to see Anderson losing his heat.
TNA World Heavyweight Championship A.J. Styles vs Abyss This one is kind of hard to read. Abyssamania is running wild, and he's finally getting a decent push again, showing shades of the old Monster, but Flair and AJ running around with no belt almost seems pointless. I'd be all for another Abyss run at this point -- especially after Anderson wins the last match, it would kind of suck to send the fans home doubly disappointed. Assuming no Flair/Hogan shenanigans, I'm just gonna say it -- Abyss walks out with the title. UNLESS... Hogan turns on him. I could do without seeing that, but I would not be a bit surprised.
All in all, I forsee a pay-per-view with buttloads of potential. And while the weekly Impacts have been hit-or-miss, I have to hold out hope that they can book another PPV as solidly as Against All Odds. I hate that I'll be at work tonight, but hopefully those of you who get to watch it won't be disappointed. And if the rest of the show is nearly as good as the opening, we're all in for one hell of a show.
Just an update on what many in the wrestling world had to say about last night's historic evening:
@IAmJericho: The beat down of RVD 20 seconds into his debut in TNA was mind boggling. I dont understand how so many talented people can be so clueless
@TheRealRVD: Harmoniously, the world came together, as one, and chanted RVD Motherf$cker!
@JeffHardyBrand: ILoveSomeTNA..trust me my fans...I'm in an amazing place..believe in me&I refuse 2 let you down! This is a movement my fans...please join me where I am & let's make history together because I...we can't do this on our own..we need your commitment...I've always been cool with you...so I ax4 you to be cool with me now. Dixie is a badassBoss..LoveHer!...I need you my fans!...I can't do this alone!...4:58am....I like to believe&I think everyone loves anUnderdog....
@TheShannonBrand: I'm back!!!!!!!!!...Welcome to GlamRock!!!!!....@TNADixe [sic] is the most amazing boss ever.TNA TNA TNA!!!!!!!
@BethBrittBrand: Just had a wonderful time hanging with the TNA crew. Especially @TNADixie. Can't wait to see what's in store for tomorrow!
@OfficialTAZ: Glad u all loved the show...had a blast!!!....420 line getting some luv from FTW Nation! Cool.
@TheRealMorrison: Black magic & the white shadow...? Rock 'n Rap...? Rush Hour 5...? Miami Twice...? We're schemin' on the way to Seattle- what do u think?
I know this is a little TNA heavy, but those seem to be the ones excited about their product. The only real twitter excitement from anyone in WWE seems to be Morrison trying to find a cutesy nickname for his slopped-together tag team with R-Truth. I'm trying to remain unbiased, but it's pretty sad that we're just 3 weeks away from "the Granddaddy of them all" and hardly anyone in the WWE seems to care... or they're just confining their opinions to their own "universe" while TNA takes advantage of the already existent popularity of Twitter and Youtube. I guess time will tell.
- WWE Diva and announcer Angela "Savannah" Fong appears topless in the comedy movie from National Lampoon titled Ratko: The Dictator's Son. She is cast as "Sorority Girl #3."
- WWE has released the new "Return to Fear" t-shirt that Triple H wore at last night's Elimination Chamber pay-per-view.
- Shawn Michaels was escorted to the ring last night surrounded by a group of referees during the replay of the WWE Title Elimination Chamber match before the World Title Chamber. The lights went out before the replay and the WWE officials walked down to the ring with Michaels hidden in the middle of them.
-Jeff Hardy and Shannon Moore were at an autograph signing in Middletown, New York this weekend and reportedly their signing outdrew both TNA live events in the Northeast this weekend. Moore said on Twitter that over 1,500 people showed up and they had to turn some away.
These tattooed karaokeing freaks might have a team name in TNA. Jeff Hardy reportedly tweeted the following within the last couple days (though it seems to have been taken down since then): "HeavensDemons...airhedge&itchweeed ready to hitTNA with some shockfactor..you dig thy name...HeavensDemons?"
Heaven's Demons. Eh, it's better than Imagi-Punks, right?
Seems Jeff's legal problems have changed a few things and sources say neither Jeff Hardy or Shannon Moore are backstage tonight. Shannon's deal with the company is pretty much a done thing, however, because of Jeff's woes the "creative team" needed a little more time to work out Shannon's direction.
All signs indicate that the Moore-Ons aren't getting Punk'd tonight.
TNA Wrestling has added all of the people that showed up to the live taping to their roster page. Ric Flair, Sean Waltman, Sean Morley, Scott Hall and others were added to TNAwrestling.com.
Hogan dropped that a BIG name would be debuting at TNA Genesis at the end of this month. Rumors had been circulating that it might be RVD, and rampant speculation that Scott Hall is trying to get Sid Vicious hired. (This isn't related, but I just found out Sid Vicious is still alive.)
All the word from TNA "insiders" seem to be pointing to the artist formerly known as Mr. Kennedy - Ken Anderson.
This is getting out of hand. With the help of Bischoff, TNA MIGHT do something right, but... I'm a Ken Anderson fan. I quiet enjoy some Jeff Hardy, Alex Shelley, Chris Sabin, Eric Young.... ummm...oh, who else? SHANNON MOORE! I can't stand watching them be misused though... Go away. I have some tough decisions to make.
The word "begged" is being used in relation to WWE asking Jeff Hardy to return. WWE was reportedly aware that Jeff Hardy was set to return to TNA - and the all powerful "sources" say that WWE Personnel were in "constant" contact with Jeff on Monday, January 4th, trying to get him to change his mind and return to WWE.
A move they made just hours after Hardy had been indicted on that ummm... *cough* minor, drug charge. WWE's apparent interest in overlooking the PR backlash of bringing Hardy back is being taken by some as an indication that the company is not totally writing TNA off as irrelevant. If the company believed Hardy working for TNA posed absolutely no threat, its willingness to subject the company and Linda McMahon's political campaign to media heat would simply not have existed.
Shannon Moore got married to Julie Youngberg recently and put up great pictures from their honeymoon on his MySpace. The pair dated for almost two years before sealing the deal. Both have been married once before, but this seems to be the real deal. I am so happy for Shannon.
