Mystery man another Bellator crossover?:
Another name being thrown around as possibly being TNA’s mystery man is MMA legend Tito Ortiz, who recently signed with Bellator on Spike TV. The logic is that he’ll be another crossover like Rampage Jackson and King Mo.
Unlike his peers however, Ortiz has already had some basic pro wrestling training and appeared in TNA briefly in 2005 as a special ref for an AJ Styles vs Jeff Jarrett angle. He has short hair and a similar ear shape to the silhouette figure in the hype videos.
As previously mentioned other possible names include Jesse Sorenson, whose ears match the silhouette and voice fit the videos fans have tinkered with. Hardcore Holly also has similar features to the silhouette and was recently part of the One Night Only Hardcore Justice PPV, and Gut Check loser Adam Pearce Tweeted about “August 1st”, giving rise to speculation that it’s him coming back for revenge.
The promos have continually mentioned big names in the business, with the 4th video explaining how the man would knock out Goldberg’s teeth. In that respect somebody like Sorenson would be considered a massive flop.
Tune in tonight on Spike TV for the big reveal!
TNA sign Indian TV deal:
India’s SONY SIX Acquires Broadcasting Rights To TNA Wrestling’s Programming
SONY SIX – India’s Premier Sports Entertainment Channel acquires broadcasting rights to TNA Wrestling’s full catalog of programming
The channel will exclusively air more than 500 hours of wrestling content across key Asian markets
Mumbai, July 2013: Further expanding its bouquet of international sporting events, SONY SIX, India’s premier sports entertainment channel, has acquired the exclusive broadcasting rights to Total Nonstop Action (TNA) Wrestling across the Indian Sub-continent.
SONY SIX will now air all of the best TNA Wrestling programming every week including IMPACT WRESTLING, Xplosion, Greatest Matches and Unfinished Business, along with four episodic Pay Per View programs and eight One Night Only specials throughout the year.
TNA President Dixie Carter commented on the deal on on Twitter…
“Everyone at TNA is thrilled at this exciting venture with SONY SIX that will open up new horizons across all of India. The Indian Sub-continent is home to some of the most passionate and dedicated wrestling fans on the planet – and they now have more than 500 hours of the very best in professional wrestling to enjoy. SONY SIX is the perfect partner for us, thanks to their impressive and diverse range of sporting events, and we can’t wait to debut.”
Rayne not upset with TNA departure:
Madison Rayne posted up a blog about her pregnancy and also included comments about her TNA release and her thoughts on WWE…
I was not released from my contract on bad terms, with any ill feelings, or with the slightest bit of regret for giving everything I had to Impact Wrestling for 4 1/2 years!* I’ve had what seems like an endless number of tweets lately telling me that I need to go wrestle elsewhere, and people cannot believe I got fired because I was pregnant. Y’all, as much as I appreciate the support and the fact that people were affected enough by my release to generate some sort of emotion, please don’t stress over it. I’m surely not. As cliche as it may sound, if I am meant to be back in a wrestling ring on television, God will put me back there. And I have this overwhelming feeling that He will, but for right now I’m so excited and so looking forward to being a mommy and bringing the next generation of Queen Bee into the world.It seems to me though, that lately, everyone has an opinion on the state of professional wrestling, and more noticeably to me, Impact Wrestling. As wrestlers, we give absolutely everything we have to make you guys love and/or hate us. We feed off of your emotions. Whether it’s cheering so loud we can’t hear ourselves think, or boo’ing to the point that security has to walk us to our vehicles at the end of the night, we love the fans for the enthusiasm they bring to each and every show. Now, of course with the good comes the bad, and the “bad” of this raw emotion from the fans is the ability for some people to at times pass judgement or form an opinion on things that are not part of the show. There have been several changes in the faces you see on a weekly basis lately. I know that TNA is freshening up the roster, utilizing the X-Division more and even bringing back some familiar faces from the past.
If I’m not mistaken, WWE has also got some incredible new talent on their shows. As a matter of fact I know they do. Dean Ambrose for example, INCREDIBLE talent that I had the privilege of being on several independent shows with years ago. He’s been ready for tv for a long time and it’s exciting to see him there now! Making room for fresh, new talent sometimes requires cutting ties with people who haven’t been as involved in awhile. *raises hand* just ask me, I know all about that scenario LoL! But seriously, that’s the name of the game. In an effort to give the fans what they want, Vince McMahon and Dixie Carter do what they think is best for business as far as the talent representing their companies.
Now I can’t speak personally about the WWE or Vince McMahon as I’ve obviously never worked there so let me comment briefly on something that I do have a bit more experience on; TNA and Dixie Carter. This last week has been a busy one among those in the Twitter community, both fans and talent tweeting about the state of Impact Wrestling. In my opinion, Thursday nights are off the charts exciting! And that’s because of the incredible talent being allowed to shine every week. It is so unfortunate to me that when a good thing comes to an end for some people, they put a negative spin on the entire experience. I can already see the headlines on the gossip sites now: “Madison Rayne bashes (fill in the blank)”… save your fingers the extra work typing folks. This is not a direct shot at anyone in particular. It is simply one girl’s opinion on the way a chapter in life should be written.
There are hundreds of hungry young men and women dying for a shot at a wrestling contract. Maybe I’m still humble because I was young getting into TNA and fairly young upon my departure but the last thing I would consider doing at this point, is jumping on an interview opportunity and lashing out at how my contract came to an end. I’d rather do an unscripted blog and explain to everyone who was upset about my departure, that I literally had my dream job handed to me at the age of 22, and with that came opportunities many people never get to experience. I bought my first passport after signing with TNA, because prior to the winter of 2010, I had never been out of the country.That passport took me across Europe on three different occasions, to Canada countless times, and allowed me to spend 5 days in Abu Dhabi! WOW!!! For a small town girl from Ohio, that kind of stuff just doesn’t happen!
My point is this though: even though my release came as slightly unexpected, I would not trade one second of the time I spent at Impact Wrestling, one friendship I made there, and I certainly wouldn’t bite the hand that fed me for so long and say outrageous things upon my departure. Nothing lasts forever ladies and gentlemen. Be thankful for the opportunities you are given and the God-given talent that got you there. As far as Dixie goes, that passport I mentioned, all those trips around the world, the chance to frisk Earl Hebner (LOL) was all because of her. Bosses are always the easy target when something is less than perfect. That’s business. But at the end of the day she gave the green light to every face you see on the Impact roster. That’s something I think everyone should thank her for because that roster kicks ass! I still touch base with Dixie often. I send baby bump updates to her in the middle of the day and not one time have I gone without a response. And any woman who can deliver something to a worldwide audience as amazing as Gail Kim vs Taryn Terrell in a ladder match live from Las Vegas deserves a round of applause in my book.
In closing this lengthy novel I’ve unintentionally written I just want everyone to remember that professional wrestling has been around for a long, LONG time. Along the way it’s had high points and also low points. But the fact of the matter is that it’s a past time no one wants to see disappear anytime soon so before pointing a judgmental finger once the cameras are off and the lights go down, I think all the creative masterminds behind each and every televised.
Batista Tweets photo playing Drax:
Batista Tweeted a picture today his Drax get-up for the Guardians of the Galaxy movie…
