TNA and WWE Atricles for 2012 - 2013

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Weekend Schedules For WWE and TNA, Taping Schedules For WWE Next Week
by Nick Paglino
February 08, 2013

The following are weekend schedules for WWE and TNA, along with the TV taping schedule for WWE next week:

WWE:

House show in Poplar Bluff, Missouri tonight, February 8.
House show in Champaign, Illinois on Saturday, February 9.
House show in Springfield, Missouri on Saturday, February 9.
House show in Louisville, Kentucky on Sunday, February 10.
House show in Cape Girardeau, Missouri on Sunday, February 10.
RAW taping live in Nashville, Tennessee on Monday, February 11.
Smackdown taping in North Little Rock, Arkansas on Tuesday, February 12.
NXT event in Orlando, Florida on Wednesday, February 13.
NXT event in Tampa, Florida on Thursday, February 14.

TNA:

House show in Bossier City, Louisiana tonight, February 8.
House show in Vicksburg, Mississippi on Saturday, February 9.

Source:www.wrestlezone.com

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Christopher Daniels Talks TNA Vs. WWE, How TNA Has Changed, Aces & Eights
By Christian Miller | March 07, 2013 |

Source: ESPN
TNA wrestlers Christopher Daniels recently sat down with ESPN to discuss TNA, and his wrestling career in general. Here are some highlights from the interview.

The difference between TNA now and when it was started 10 years ago: "I think that with of all the hard work of guys like AJ Styles and James Storm and Bobby Roode, we've really opened up the eyes of wrestling fans to where it became conceivable that guys like Kurt Angle and Christian Cage and the Dudley Boyz and Hulk Hogan could come to TNA and make it a better product. If it wasn't for the work of the originals, guys that left WWE wouldn't have come to TNA; they would've just went on to do their own thing. But because those guys saw the spirit of the homegrown talent, they saw that they could help build and grow something that could be an alternative to what WWE is putting out."

The differences between TNA and WWE: "The TNA roster is made up of guys who are hungry and who are looking to make their break on the national scene, who may or may not have had that opportunity in WWE. What I think differentiates us is I feel like we're a little more action-packed. I feel like we have the most talented roster in professional wrestling, and we have guys like Bobby Roode, James Storm, and Kurt Angle, then we have myself and my partner Frankie Kazarian, and I feel like we're the best tag team in the business right now, and to me, TNA puts more of a priority on the in-ring action. I think you'll see a lot more great wrestling in TNA than anywhere else in the world."

Aces and Eights: "I think that the guys in the back, we've got some great guys involved in that group, and it was a great surprise to have Devon come back and be involved with that. It's rejuvenated his career and puts him in the spotlight that he definitely deserves to be in. For the rest of the locker room, I feel like we're playing the whole invasion angle that's always been a very intricate storyline played out through different promotions in the history of professional wrestling. And I feel like the fans are definitely engaged in watching this Aces & Eights group try and run roughshod over TNA. It depends where we go with this over the next couple of months on how this all plays out."

Read more: http://www.WrestlingInc.com

Jim Ross Speaks on Latest Sting-to-WWE Rumors - "Merely Internet Dribble"
by: Mike Killam July 06, 2013

WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross updated his blog, speaking on the latest round of rumors surrounding TNA Hall of Famer and professional wrestling "Icon", Sting. The latest speculation is that WWE is considering going after Sting when his TNA contract expires later this year. However, these rumors have circulated for the past several years, and while some are founded in truth - such as Sting negotiating a contract that fell through - they are generally founded in internet hype.

"My Twitter, @JRsBBQ, timeline is being hammered with the latest Sting rumors of him coming to WWE at some point in the future. Are these rumors of any significant difference than the basic, same ones that we've been hearing since WCW closed their doors or every time Sting's contract nears it's end? As best that I know, Sting is very happy where he is currently working and has no plans to launch a WWE in ring career at the age of 54. I've known Sting since day one and have immense respect for the man and do feel that he will be a WWE HOFer some day. There's some cool stuff on the Mid South DVD with Sting and his tag team partner Rock aka Ultimate Warrior in their Blade Runner incarnation.

I cannot predict the future but these daily, Sting-to-WWE rumors are merely internet dribble and are unfounded although they always seem to make for interesting fan chatter. Obviously, something as simple as Sting appearing in a WWE promo last week in the build to the WWE vs. World Title match featuring Cena vs. Del Rio likely fueled this fire, too. "

Visit JRsBarBQ.com for the complete blog update and more.

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]b]WWE Hall of Famer facing TNA Founder with legendary voice calling the action[/b]
Sep 9, 2013 - 11:26 AM

WWE Hall of Famer Jerry Lawler will face TNA Founder Jeff Jarrett on Friday in Tunica, Mississippi at Resorts Casino. Lawler announced that legendary Memphis voice Lance Russell will call the action, and Jimmy Valiant will be the special referee of the match.

Powell's POV: With all due respect to the wrestlers involved in the match, I'm most excited to hear that the 87 year-old Russell will be making a rare pro wrestling appearance. If you go to the show, you are encouraged to send a report to dotnetjason@gmail.com.

Source:Prowrestling.net

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Matt Morgan Talks Joining WWE, His Stuttering Gimmick, His WWE Release, Signing With TNA, More
By Raj Giri | September 09, 2013

I recently spoke with Matt Morgan for his first interview since leaving TNA earlier this summer. In the second part of the interview below, Morgan discussed his stuttering gimmick in WWE, working with Brock Lesnar, being released by WWE and if he saw it coming, working overseas, signing with TNA and much more.

You can check out the first part of the interview here, where Morgan discussed appearing on Tough Enough, meeting Vince McMahon at the Titan Towers gym, his time on the show and more. Make sure to check back this week for the third and final part of our interview. You can also follow him on Twitter @BPmattmorgan.

Wrestling INC: You were only in [WWE] developmental for a year before you were brought up to the main roster, right?

Morgan: If that. I recall only having about six months of experience from the first day in there to being with Team Lesnar on Smackdown. And the rib was, I only had experience as a babyface down in OVW because I was coined as this big babyface at the time. I was super limited and super green. Of course, I get brought up as a heel. So I just did the opposite of whatever the heels would have done to me had I been the one selling, things like that. I tried my best, but I was way too inexperienced.

Wrestling INC: Did you know that when you joined the main roster? Or were you like, "I'll pick this up, I can do this?"

Morgan: Everybody there knew it. From the writers, I remember [then-SmackDown writer] Dave Lagana calling and telling me when I was first pulled up, "hey, this is a huge opportunity for you. We know, we understand how green you are. You're going to get some stuff, some crap said about you because you are so new and you are so young. But, at the same time, that's why we've specifically paired you with Brock and wrestling against Kurt Angle, [Chris] Benoit, [Eddie] Guerrero, John Cena." Just guys that were a lot more seasoned, especially Brock and Kurt at the time, because John Cena himself was relatively new at that point himself, he was just starting to get really super over at that moment. I learned because I was married to those guys at house shows, I was able to pick up a hell of a lot of experience. Because of that, it made me more comfortable obviously. But yeah, of course I knew I was way too inexperienced to be called up. What am I going to say? "Excuse me, sir. I would like to stay in OVW for another year." You can't do that, because if I did say that, then I'm not ready to attack this head on. I don't have the same label as a guy that doesn't have the zeal to get out there, grow a pair and learn on the fly in that situation, which is exactly how that world works. I had no problem with it. I didn't even give it a second thought.

Wrestling INC: What was your reaction when you were put on Team Lesnar and working with all these guys on top right off the bat?

Morgan: It was me, Brock Lesnar, I was a tag team with Nathan Jones at the time, Big Show and A-Train. It was the biggest team in Survivor Series history. That in and of itself was a huge honor, because I'm a huge, huge fan for the big men that came before me. So I thought that was a cool honor. Like I said, I couldn't have been happier. I'm with the Heavyweight Champion. I'm learning from him every single night on the road. You want to talk about a quick study? As quick as Kurt Angle picked it up, Brock Lesnar picked it up easily just as fast. Good Lord, he picked this business up so fast, the psychology of it. He really worked with me and taught me how to work big. At the time, I didn't really understand it. I would say once I went to TNA I fully understood it, for the most part. The light bulb finally went on for me. We have a whole different psychology than any other wrestler does, big men do. We've got to learn the psychology just like everybody else, but then we also have to learn big men psychology. It takes big guys a little more time to get seasoned and get that experience, it just does.

Source and read more at: Wrestlinginc.com

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Jim Ross May Be TNA's Only Hope
By: Andy Soucek (Featured Columnist) on September 20, 2013

Hulk Hogan? Fire him.

Eric Bischoff? Can him.

Sting? Send him packing.

Jim Ross? Give him anything and everything that he wants to come in to TNA.

Right now, Ross could be one of the only people in the wrestling world (or in the entire world) who could save the company from its continuing, seemingly inevitable slide into oblivion.

Nearly everyone who watches TNA is in agreement. Things are not going well.

The company is strongly considering returning to a single location. Eighteen employees were let go, and they most recently failed to re-sign the Knockouts champion Mickie James.

On top of that, ratings are flat while expenses have absolutely skyrocketed. Something drastic needs to happen, and soon.

Eric Bischoff is not the answer. He has never been the answer.

Yes, he should absolutely be given credit for revitalizing the wrestling industry in 1995 with Nitro. But that was 18 years ago. His contributions to the professional wrestling industry are now a net negative.

TNA brought in Bischoff whose prior resume included helping usher WCW out of business by handing out bloated contracts and heading a terrible creative regime. Jim Ross, on the other hand, is one of the greatest announcers of all time and assembled the Attitude Era’s roster.

So really, which one has the more impressive credentials?

A look into the future? (photo via gamingring.com)

TNA’s talent future is bleak. It’s doubtful that Garett Bischoff or Wes Brisco will ever become big stars. It’s doubtful that most Gut Check winners will ever make the roster full time. They need new blood and they need it soon.

Ross has a keen eye for talent. He was helping sign guys like Chris Jericho and Brock Lesnar while his successor, John Laurinaitis, was signing Heidenreich and Kenzo Suzuki.

TNA has continually stocked up on ex-WWE and WCW wrestlers instead of creating its own stars. That pool is drying up. There is no wrestler who can save them. One by one, nearly every name from WWE that the company could get a hold of came in:

Booker T, Mick Foley, Kurt Angle, Ric Flair, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, Rob Van Dam, Mr. Anderson, Sean Waltman, Bobby Lashley, Scott Steiner, Jeff Hardy, Matt Hardy, Christian, Rikishi, Test, Mike Knox, Luke Gallows, Rhino, Tyson Tomko, Shannon Moore, Val Venis, The Nasty Boys, Orlando Jordan, Bubba Ray Dudley, D’von Dudley, Spike Dudley, Chavo Guerrero, Miss Tessmacher, Jacqueline, Victoria, Gail Kimm, Taryn Terrell, DDP and the biggest wrestling name of all time: Hulk Hogan.

None of them took the company to the next level. All that money and time gone to waste. The big concepts haven't fared well either.

The NWO knockoff The Band predictably failed. The ECW reunion EV2.0 was embarrassing. The Main Event Mafia wasn’t that good in the first place. Aces and Eights has had a year to get people interested to no avail. And Brooke Hogan? Who would have ever guessed that wouldn't take off?
ECW in 2010. Another failed Bischoff concept (photo via thewrestlingbar.mforos.com)

What the company hasn’t tried this past decade is changing its philosophy. Vince Russo continued to push Crash TV well past its expiration date, and Eric Bischoff brought forth one dated power battle after another. The company continued to maddeningly run in circles despite any tangible progress.

The constant rehashes, and blatant nepotism are not working.

So maybe, just maybe, Dixie Carter should realize that no wrestler is going to fix TNA's problems and give the company the overhaul that it desperately needs.

Being WWE lite isn't cutting it. The company has no identity. There is nothing that fans can point to and say "TNA is better at" than the WWE.

The tag division? It's nearly non-existent in TNA. The Knockouts division is now composed of three wrestlers. The X-Division has been a joke for years. Jim Ross could help give the company that much needed identity.

First of all, let him handle signing talent. This could stop all of the promising young wrestlers going with WWE instead of TNA the past few years. Secondly, let him announce Impact. Mike Tenay has been linked to a bad product for so long that he has to go. He could be kept around as a backstage interviewer or in an advisory role, but he can no longer be the voice of TNA.

Ross has a connection with fans that few in all of wrestling have. He brings a genuine excitement and appreciation to calling a match that no other announcer can touch.

Most importantly, let him take over creative. Maybe he's not interested in physically writing the shows, but he could surely put people in place that could carry out his vision.

To be a true alternative to WWE all TNA needs to do is present its wrestlers as the top talent in the company. HHH is the end-all-be-all in WWE and the TNA universe revolves around Hulk Hogan. We need something different, and Ross understands the seemingly obvious importance of wrestlers to a wrestling show that WWE and TNA just don't quite get.

Jim Ross is a man that knows wrestling. He knows more the history than Stephanie McMahon, Triple H and yes, even Vince McMahon. He gets what makes it dramatic in a way that Russo and Bischoff would never understand.

Dixie Carter takes a lot of pride in employing a lot of people. She's also shown a great reluctance to let anyone go. She may soon though have to decide between letting a few high paid, under-producing talents go or leave every single person in the company unemployed.

She failed once to bring in Jim Ross (and Paul Heyman) a few years ago. That was a mistake. A failure to do it again could be a fatal one.

Source: bleacherreport.com

Mon, 09 Dec 2013
TNA NEWS: Hulk Hogan - "I don't work there anymore"



Hulk Hogan has quietly moved away from TNA since being "fired" as on-air authority figure in October as a storyline write-off when his contract expired.

On Monday morning, Hogan addressed his TNA status in response to a fan claiming that he is still being advertised for TNA's European Tour in January.

"I'm sorry if TNA is advertising me on the UK tour but I don't work there anymore and will NOT be on their UK tour," Hogan tweeted.

Hogan followed up: "Ok cool the fan were looking at an old advertisement, I knew it must have been a mistake, all good (and) I'm sure the tour willkickbuttbrother."

On the flip side, Hogan has been pushing for a role at WWE's WrestleMania 30 PPV in New Orleans in April. WWE's top star John Cena recently promoted the "Hogan to Mania" story in a staged soundbyte interview with TMZ.

Source: PWTorch.com

For know I will post the TNA and WWE 2014 articles in here.

Here is the first article of the year.

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Fri, 10 Jan 2014
WWE NEWS: Major TV distributor considering dropping PPVs, McMahon and WWE issue response (w/Analysis)

DirecTV is the first major PPV carrier to offer a response to WWE's Network announcement. And, the response was not favorable to WWE offering their PPV events as part of the $9.99 monthly subscription starting with WrestleMania 30 in April.

The satellite company said in a statement that they will "quickly re-evaluate" their business relationship with WWE, including potentially dropping distribution of the $55-65 priced PPV events.

DirecTV also took a dig at WWE's declining PPV buyrates, saying the audience "has been steadily declining, and this new low-cost competitive offering will only accelerate this trend."

WWE CEO Vince McMahon responded: "I think it’d be foolish for them not to want to carry the pay-per-view anymore. It’s found money for them."

WWE added in a separate statement: "WWE hopes to continue to be in business with our pay-per-view distributors, ultimately giving our fans the choice between the two offerings."

Caldwell's Analysis: There's a lot going on here. As it turns out, McMahon turned down an offer from "major distributors," calling it "too restrictive." So, WWE went to a self-distributed, online model after failing to work out a carriage deal for traditional distribution. It's potentially a big loss for traditional carriers, especially knowing in-advance that WWE was going to include PPVs on the Network. Now, PPV companies are concerned about losing the monthly WWE PPV revenue.

On the other hand, WWE acknowledged the likely cannibalization of their PPV revenue in an SEC filing Thursday, so it's pretty silly of WWE to say they hope fans will continue to have two choices when the eventual goal is to move all PPV distribution to Network. WWE needs to have two distribution models, especially for less tach-savvy, traditional TV watchers who make up a good portion of WWE's audience. But, WWE would prefer a world where the Network is humming and they are the only distributor of their PPVs and do not have to split the cost 50/50 with PPV carriers.

[ LINK: Full Report Source at Latimes.com ]

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What Made the Ultimate Warrior a Wrestling Legend
ABC NewsBy RHEANA MURRAY | ABC News – 3 hours ago



 Wrestling fans are mourning the death of the Ultimate Warrior today and remembering some of the WWE superstar’s greatest moments.

From defeating Hulk Hogan to his infamous entrances into the ring, Warrior was a childhood favorite for countless fans and one of the sport’s most memorable heroes.

Pro Wrestling Icon Ultimate Warrior Dead at 54

Here’s what made him a legend:

He Stole the Torch from Hulk Hogan

WrestleMania VI in 1990 marked a milestone for the WWE: It was the first time two titleholders would face off. Warrior, then the Intercontinental Champion, was to battle Hulk Hogan, then the WWF Champion, in Toronto. The pairing was also notable because two “good guys” -– and huge fan favorites -– squared off in the ring.

Warrior won the match -- effectively putting an end to Hulkamania to become the strongest force in wrestling. His finishing moves were the Gorilla Press Drop and the Running Splash.

He Knew How to Make an Entrance

If the Warrior was in the house, fans knew it. He was famous for sprinting down the ramp and running circles around the ring, furiously shaking the ropes before stepping in.

He was “like a man possessed,” the WWE said.

He Made Bobby Heenan Wear a Weasel Suit

In one of his most famous matches, Warrior took Bobby “The Brain” Heenan down with a Sleeper Hold, and then dressed the defeated wrestler –- still passed out in the ring -– in a humiliating weasel costume.

Of course, fans knew Heenan had it coming when he entered the ring. The wrestler-turned-manager was no match for Warrior’s power.

He Actually Changed His Name to Warrior

How’s that for dedication? The Ultimate Warrior, born James Brian Hellwig, legally changed his name to Warrior in 1993. Like Madonna, Warrior only needed one name.

It’s also the last name of his wife and children.

The Most Colorful Character in Wrestling

Warrior had one of the most memorable looks in the WWE. At every match, his bright face paint was a new work of art, and rainbow-colored tassels hung from his bulging arms.

In the late 1980s, his long shaggy hair was also part of his signature style.

Hall of Fame Induction

Warrior was finally inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame this past Saturday in New Orleans. Two days later, he gave a speech at Monday Night Raw, speaking -– ironically -– about life and death.

"No WWE talent becomes a legend on their own,” he said. “Every man’s heart one day beats its final beat. His lungs breathe their final breath. And if what that man did in his life, what makes the blood pulse through the body of others and makes them bleed deeper and something larger than life, then his essence, his spirit, will be immortalized.”

Warrior died on Tuesday. The cause of his death is unclear.
Also Read

And

Source: http://gma.yahoo.com

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R.I.P. Ultimate Warrior

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Deadline.com
By MIKE FLEMING JR 9 hours ago

James Hellwig, aka The Ultimate Warrior, has died at age 54 after reportedly collapsing in Arizona. We don’t usually eulogize wrestlers, but this one makes me feel bad. I watched The Ultimate Warrior rise through what was then known as the WWF in the late 1980s and ’90s. This was before Vince McMahon was forced to clean up the “sport” a bit, and back when it was a dirty little secret that you pretty much had to be taking steroids if you wanted the fans to love you. This was because it was nearly impossible to keep that size when you were barnstorming across the country and getting in the ring with injuries several times per week, with scant time to get in the gym. From that standpoint, The Ultimate Warrior was scarily massive and ripped, the most muscular guy in the sport. That didn’t look so much like prime conditioning when he got in the ring, shook the ropes violently, and then he would get bright red and seem winded before the match began. He would fling his opponent around the ring a bit, pick them up and drop them and it would be over. I found myself worrying for his health even back then. The WWE just named him to its Hall of Fame on Monday night, and he leaves behind a wife and two daughters.

Some wrestling stars who became hulking stars during his era died earlier than Hellwig did. This was one tough business and you hope that like in sports like baseball and football (except for the difficult-to-detect human growth hormone), these sports realize how steroids can shorten the lives of their athletes who put it all out there to make a living, and worry about the consequences down the line. Here’s The Ultimate Warrior in all his glory:

Source: https://tv.yahoo.com

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Ultimate Warrior: One-Third Of WrestleMania VI Competitors Now Dead
Wednesday, April 9, 2014 10:28 pm - Written by: ThePostGame Staff

The death of the Ultimate Warrior was just the latest grim reminder that professional wrestlers continue to drop dead from something other than old age at an alarming rate.

The pinnacle of the Warrior's career was WrestleMania VI on April 1, 1990, at SkyDome in Toronto. Warrior defeated Hulk Hogan in the main event to win the championship. Warrior is the 12th wrestler who competed at WrestleMania VI to have died -- one-third of the card's working roster. The oldest was just 63.

As a point of reference, of the 44 starting players from that year's Super Bowl between the 49ers and Broncos, only one has died: Denver defensive end Ron Holmes, who was 48 when he passed away in 2011 from diabetes and coronary issues.

Reasons for wrestlers' dying early -- grueling travel schedules, painkiller abuse, steroid use -- have been well-documented. The passing of the Warrior at age 54 from what is suspected to be a heart attack just days after his induction to WWE's Hall of Fame only underscores the issue.

Source: www.thepostgame.com