uklaw

To be fair, I enjoyed the heck out of his time in charge creatively. Certainly around or just after Bound For Glory late 2011(when he took over and I think Lagana came in)-Bound For Glory 2012. If memory serves me, that's around when Russo stopped writing the shows and they became more traditional in their booking. We had Roode/Storm that lasted almost a whole year (though I think their blowoff match should have been for the title, but that would have meant no Aries as champion). And the series of Bad Influence/Angle & Styles matches as well as the excellent Slammiversary in 2012.

 

I think people remember the missteps of Pritchard more (and his talent relations faux pas) but under him, for about a year anyway, the product was pretty solid (in my opinion). As a whole. I didn't consistently enjoy the product again, top to bottom, until the first 9 months of 2016.

 

I understand he isn't booking this time but hopefully any advice he gives is for the good of what is looking increasingly like a whole new show. Imagine the transition from WCW Nitro on 11th October 1999 (complete with hype for the new regime by Tony Schiavone every so often) to 18th October when the show was first written by Russo & Ferrara. The change was stark.

 

Even if Jarrett initially said the change wouldn't be jarring 1) his hand has been forced by the recent roster changes and 2) everyone from Dutch to Abyss say it will be a quick change.

 

EDIT: Also, there's a Snapchat photo Ryan Satin has revealed that suggests the Anthem Owl may not be long for the wrestling world.

Bruce Prichard is back.

By accounts, it's for an on-air and backstage role.

Little tidbits going forward. Notified by e-mail to the staff.

-Dutch is officially the head of creative while Jarrett officially has assumed Gaburick's old role as the overall direction setter. Chief Creative Officer is the title, I believe.

-Matt Conway has left the company. A few people over the years have referred to him as Dixie's stooge, simply being put on the creative team to report back to her.

-Bill Banks if off as well, but it's supposedly more a conincidence of timing.

-The way contracts are structured has been changed, though I've seen it suggested it's merely an update of the type of contacts introduced over the past couple of years. If I tried to explain it, I'd get it wrong. The usual people have detailed it nicely.

Ryan Satin and the PW Insider guys are reporting that the Hardys have turned down the new contracts. Apparently, they felt disrespected by the whole process. It's messier but could veer into spoiler territory.

My internet dating experience has more or less died a death. Haven't been on a date since the early part of January when I was rejected by an African lady for being 'too English' when I'm possibly discounted generally for being too black/dark. You couldn't make it up. Haha

EDIT: the above is based on past (and relatively recent experience) and only verifiable by speaking to others.

 

Anyway, I'm thankfully not bothered by how things are as this month has been hugely busy.

 

I might re-evaluate my position next month when things ease up a bit.

Am I right in thinking he also joined Jarrett at GFW?

Yeah she's a lovely girl, but the incessant DUN DUNDUN between scenes was a deal breaker, to be fair.

All flippancy aside on my part, you're right, it wasn't a great watch and their production choices only served to make it worse.

2 Broke Girls is fucking dire to be fair.

Kat Dennings eased that particular viewing pain for me, to be fair.

I know it's loosely Anthem-based news so I'll restrict it to below:

 

"Part of the talks in the UK was Anthem buying into the World of Sport promotion and showing it outside the UK.

 

Source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter"

 

Either I'm simply expecting to be spoon-fed specifics or it doesn't exactly read as Anthem wanting to run it as a whole with their own team (and we know who he used to work with over here when TNA toured years ago). Simply gaining the ability to broadcast it abroad.

 

I'd be surprised if there also wasn't talks to air Impact on one of ITV's stations.

 

With all the activity over the last couple of months (restructuring, paying off Billy Corgan, bring on Jeff Jarrett, exiting Dixie, relegating Gaburick, Conway and Rayne from creative, bringing back Dutch and D'Amore, promoting Abyss, Spud and Borash, etc) it'd be a real kick in the darkness if March comes around and the response from fans/viewers/critics is 'meh, emperor's new clothes'.

Another little item for the next set of tapings. It would seem Impact is returning to Soundstage 21.

Which is the bigger studio they used up to 2013 (I think) when gave it up. Or lost it. One of the 2.

 

Hopefully for them they have enough people to fill it.

Copy and Pasting at its finest/worst....

 

PWInsider Elite Audio/Mike Johnson reported that going forward the TNA Creative team will be Jeff Jarrett as Executive Producer/Head of Creative with Dutch Mantell and Scott D'Amore assisting him.

 

They are also looking into hiring a script writer who can write a format for the shows.

 

Abyss, Jeremy Borash, and Rockstar Spud have all been given a promotion and are now the producers.

 

He said he's not even sure if Drew Galloway has been offered a new deal by the company, Mike Johnson calling them bat-shit crazy not too. Mike Johnson has been bigging up Galloway recently, however Anthem are said

not to be happy with Galloway for leaking contract details in an interview with PWInsider which automatically signals a lack of trust.

 

However the Hardys make the company money and are legitimate draws as you will see over the next few weeks, they are still in talks with them about new deals but there is a lot going into that as far as the Broken

Universe and it not really being in the Jarrett/Mantell wheelhouse of booking. Talks are said to be going well.

Oh 2005-2006, how many have missed ye...

 

http://www.prowrestlingsheet.com/scott-damore-returning-impact-wrestling/#.WJoqXbYrJE4?platform=hootsuite

What timeframe are the next tapings? How far up did they get to in the end because they filmed a heap of stuff last month for all sorts.

At a guess (and quick glance of what's coming) I'd say they have about 3-4 weeks of episodes left. I couldn't find any details of March's scheduled tapings so don't know if March 2nd will be live or not.

Sounds like Double J will indeed be running the show pretty much. No real surprise.

 

http://www.wrestlezone.com/news/802051-backstage-news-on-the-tna-status-of-the-hardys-and-drew-galloway-dixie-carter-update-the-latest-on-jeff-jarrett-and-dutch-mantell-in-tna

No surprise at all. It really is a case of the 'new boss, same as the old one' but the old one wasn't all bad.

I've seen various interpretations of the same report placing Dutch as anything from 'a member of creative' along with Gaburick, Conway and Rayne to the Head of Creative, thus essentially being Jarrett's number 2.

 

I said it before but I'm convinced the next set of tapings will see storylines and the product take a different direction.

In news missed over the past couple of days, Dutch Mantell is officially back in the creative team. The reports say the team comprises of him, John Gaburick and Matt Conway. No mention of Madison Rayne so unsure if she is still involved. Based on an interview with Spud, it may be inferred that she's writing the Allie/Maria/Braxton Sutter/LVN storyline (at least as it currently is).

 

I have a suspicion the next batch of tapings will see a change/shift in the storylines, as some things looked like were tied up nicely with a bow in these last tapings.

 

 

 

 

I've got Zayn down as an outside chance of being the Rumble winner.

In the same bracket as me having an outside chance of shagging Sasha Banks, that one.

Doesn't she date one of the Full Sail mongs? Don't count yourself out, Raid!

She's married to WWE's costume designer.

Isn't it Noelle Foley who dates one of the Full Sail guys?

It wouldn't surprise if the first batch of tapings are non-consequential as I imagine most of any changes will occur from the March tapings.

 

I'm happy to be completely wrong.

Still landed on her feet though.

I think her survival instincts and the ability to land on her feet up to this point meant any sort of 'leave with nothing' sentiment many people had was always going to met with disappointment.

 

I suppose one way to look at it (at least those who care enough about the company) is she's gone from TNA.

 

Though I wonder what their response would be if the speculated returns of Jeff Jarrett and Dutch Mantell to (creative/production) power turn out to be true?

If Mike Johnson's report of a few days ago is accurate (or rather, his sources are) then as of today, Anthem officially own TNA Wrestling/Impact Ventures.

 

And more pertinently, Dixie is (probably) officially out of power.

According to his twitter account he thinks he's blown his knee, possibly a torn meniscus. Seems to be appealing for donations to help cover the medical bills for an MRI and surgery. Always a shame to see but credit to the guy for finishing the match.

There is a theory gaining traction that 'Mr 450' John Yunet may have gone into the match already injured.

Links to videos, pictures of matches etc appear to show him either wearing a knee brace or 'clearly' in discomfort.

 

One account states that a promoter actually cancelled a booking/match because he was in no condition to wrestle.

 

It would seem he withheld this from WWE.

So the Aussie girl decided she'd rather see someone else she's been seeing. I'm now drinking and watching lost in translation

Ah sorry man. Hopefully she didn't start getting into fibres of your being. That'd make it a bit tough. Lost In Translation is a good film, though.

 

Similar-ish situation with the blonde, short haired teacher I was dating a while back and while my situation has stuttered since then, I get the impression you'll be more than fine when you finish the drink and get to the end of the film (in a manner of speaking).

It's great to see people making progress.

 

Me? Not so much. Another date and another 'you're cool but no more, bye'

At least I'm 'gaining experience'. That's the positive side of things.

Hope it works out for you. And I know exactly what you mean about the right amount of mad.

 

I've got a date on Thursday. She's very attractive. So much so that my mate said "how the f--- did you manage that?" when he saw her picture. I did have to remind him that I'm not a wholly unattractive guy. Lol

 

I take nothing for granted. It is only date 1.

Apologies if this has already been dealt with, but is 205 Live is being treated as it's own 'brand' or merely an extension of the RAW brand for the cruiserweights? If it's the former, do we know who's been assigned as Head Writer/Booker?

 

I suspect it will be given all the attention, prominence and continuity of Superstars and Main Event.

Corgan has got his money. He's officially gone, it seems. So unless it's all a massive hoodwink (it's Dixie Carter, after all) Anthem can now go and assume majority control of TNA.