garynysmon

19 hours ago, Carbomb said:

Whoa - he re-debuted as EC3? Seriously, that's a "Because TNA" if there ever was one. Fucking hell, they're idiots.

Seriously, that's a "Because I should do more research" if there ever was one.

https://411mania.com/wrestling/impact-wrestling-granting-talent-rights-characters/

Impact's holding tapings in Windsor, Ontario in June. Sounds like it'll be 4 episodes rather than the usual marathon 8. A step in the right direction tbh, especially as they held a sold out event there last night.

Recently finished Jim Ross' book. I enjoyed it and learnt a lot from his early life pre and during UWF, but felt it was cut short.

JR is someone who could have filled a Bret Hart sized autobiography, especially given the high profile roles he's held backstage over the years. Like many of these books, I felt it was rather lacking in details and tended to skim over things quite a lot.

14 hours ago, IANdrewDiceClay said:

The big question is how smart is Billy Corgan to the wrestling business, considering he got carnied the fuck out of town by Dixie Carter. Anyone who was willing to shovel a few million into TNA when it was on its last legs doesnt sound like someone who will get this off to a flyer.

Fair point. But its so difficult to gain outlets these days that he felt it could only be done by trying to buy into a company which already has (admittedly weak) TV clearance.

I'd much rather have Don West calling Impact. Can't see it happening though, he seems quite happy living on the west coast and running a minor league Baseball team. Can only see him making special appearances at events like Slammiversary going forward.

18 minutes ago, Devon Malcolm said:

I don't know why so many are shocked about this. Like the WWE gives two shits about TNA, it was never even close to competing with WWE, they were never going to hold that against him, nor the stuff back in 1999.

No they should not hold it against him, but to say the WWE has never given a shit about TNA simply isn't true.

Why else would they have brought Bret Hart back the same night as the long promoted debut of Hulk Hogan and threatened arenas when TNA was looking to start touring a few years later.

Was a big part of the WWF and WCW in the 90’s, can definately see why he’s being inducted. I still don’t think he did anything wrong in his exit from the company.

Will be interesting to see if the WWE peddle their usual bollocks that he’s been sat on his arse and twiddling his thumbs since 2001.

9 hours ago, Onyx2 said:

A new Trump tax law will cut them about a 9% break. That's fucking huge. 

Banging on about the ‘evils’ of ‘socialised medicine’ yet giving huge corporations massive tax cuts. Jesus wept.

The USA is staggeringly fucked up and polarised for a state that fancies itself as the world’s police force.

With Dreamer also being back with Impact Wrestling now and the NWA recently taping in Orlando, there's the potential for a "Pro Wrestling USA" type arrangement here.

Let's hope this works out better than the last one though...

Any preferences on who could fill the commentary positions now then?

Personally, would like to see Robert Flores come back. He did a stellar job at Slammiversary last year and yet is a fresh voice.

In an ideal world he would be partnered by Don West, but he's basically Double J's boy and I can't see him returning now Jarrett is out of the picture for good.

Barring that, I could live with Kevin Kelly and Don Callis. Always liked Kevin Kelly in the WWF but never really watched ROH so not familiar with his more recent stuff.

It shouldn't make much of a difference really, but its crazy how much better a normal four sided ring looks in comparison to the six sided one. 

I won't miss Jeremy Borash's play by play, even though I definately will as a ring announcer and on-screen personality.

3 minutes ago, midlandsfirst said:

If true its like Impacts version of the Ravens leaving the Tower of London...

There's also a discussion on the minor news thread but its hard not to agree with that analogy, sadly.....

47 minutes ago, Nick Soapdish said:

Few places on Twitter saying that Jeremy Borash is going WWE. If he has left Impact they may as well close shop as he was keeping that place together 

My reaction to that rhymes with 'clucking bell'...

Bigger than the loss of any single wrestler to Impact if that's true. Wow. Not good.

5 hours ago, UK Kat Von D said:

Key difference is WWE know what they are doing, and TNA have let wrestler’s contract expire without noticing. If TNA don’t own the rights to the name EC3 that’s their own fault.

Besides, TNA have relied pretty heavily on WWE stars over the years 

TNA are cutting the wage bill, not sure they let EC3's contract expire "without noticing" though.

They did own the rights to the EC3 name. The fact that they're willingly relinquishing it with the WWE being the party that benefits, while they'd never do the same themselves, is what I'm questioning. 

In response to an earlier point, yes not everyone will be aware of EC3 and his TNA work, but its more recognisable than Derrick Bateman either way.

I think Impact are being too nice allowing wrestlers to retain their gimmicks. WWE send out cease and desists the second one of their gimmicks is being infringed upon, even gimmicks they didn’t even create. But here they are, benefitting from a TNA/Impact creation.

16 minutes ago, PunkStep said:

Whilst not addressing whether this is a bad idea or not (I really have no idea either way), I do think you are underestimating the size of WWE's fanbase at the moment. TV ratings may be low, but that isn't the same barometer for popularity as it once was. WWE are a much bigger animal than many people realise. They have 21m subscribers for their YouTube channel. That's a mental number and makes them the 21st most subscribed channel on YouTube. They have a huge social media presence and always occupy many of the top trending spots on Twitter whenever they have a show on. Are they as big as they were around 98-2000? That's bloody hard to determine, but the game has changed massively.

I'm not disagreeing with what you're saying, but WWE isn't pop culture like it was in 99-2001. I'm not too sure you can discount TV ratings though, anyone who was a fan in the 80's may subscribe to the youtube channel for some of the classic content, but not having watched an episode of Raw in 15 years. 

Remember, the cost cutting over recent years has been quite dramatic, cutting out pyro, using the same set for everything etc. This would not be the actions of a company that's in rude financial health. Ticking along certainly, but I'd find it hard to fathom that the company is of a similar size nor has anywhere near as many eyes on the product as its peak.

The whole idea of launching it now is baffling to me. The WWE is obviously being used as the launching pad, but this will fail.

The XFL was launched when the WWF was hot and arguably the coolest its ever been. God knows what they’re expecting now the fanbase has regressed to basically the most hardcore who idolise indy starlets. Mad.

The Observer says that Josh Matthews is being transitioned from being a commentator to Matt Sydal's manager.

For the love of god, however unlikely, please can this mean Don West's return?!

The Twitch channel has just started. https://www.twitch.tv/impactwrestling

At the moment its showing TNA's first ever show. It must be said, the chatroom comments keep it entertaining.

Can't imagine watching something like this on a mobile phone, but the firestick app is working pretty well for me.

Would his previous charges explain why Conrad didn't turn up to the Something to Wrestle UK Tour?

Yeah, April 22 in Toronto. Its instead of Lockdown.

Meanwhile, it seems that Irish superfan Garrett Kidney has nabbed himself a job with the company. Well done to him.

I'll leave this here.....

How can you knock a guy for that? Fair play. Conrad is loving life isn’t he?

”So, chat me up. Will you marry me?”

So that's the end of the round system at least. 

Personally I quite liked it, but I seem to be in the minority.

42 minutes ago, midlandsfirst said:

Being reported Dreamer and Steiner are backstage and scheduled to wrestle at tonight's tapings

Sorry, I know it may not be cool, but who doesn't love the big bad booty daddy?!

I take back everything I said about star power earlier.....

Possible return for Maple Leaf Muscle?!