TNA is Dead

[Warner2BruceTD]

Bryan Alvarez says he talked to "people in ROH" (he's tight with Delirious, so probably him), and was told that they have plenty of guys and not a lot of spots.

Meltzer makes a great point about the Roode's, Aries, Storm's, Joe's of the world. All talented to some degree, all mid 30's,and WWE barely making a play for AJ Styles who is arguably more marketable than any of them means these guys are pretty unlikely to get any WWE attention. And unlike the younger guys who weren't making all that much money, they will have a ton of trouble making the same money anywhere but WWE. New Japan isn't taking on all (if any) of these people. ROH can't match the pay. There is no place else.

[Warner2BruceTD]

Alvarez: "Why did Dixie think Russo was so important that she would go to these lengths to hire him and then keep it from Spike?"

Meltzer: "I have no answer for that. I have no idea."

This will go down as one of the great mysteries of the Earth. Sinking your company for Vince f'n Russo.

[s@ppisgod]

Why is that even a question posed? She's a dingbat. Russo has tricked smarter people than her. Nothing she's done has been logical or a good decision. So yeah, she'd fuckin love having Russo around...

[Bigpapa42]

Feel for the talent, but good riddance beyond that. Seeing a company with so much potential to at least be good instead be consistently awful over an extended period of time, with just a few burps of solid, is infuriating. To watch the company make every mistake possible, then repeat them, refusing to learn from the past of companies like WCW and ECW or their own past.

[Guest]

SpikeTV offering to front part of the money for a Sting contract renewal really shows how bad TNA is financially I think. They wanted Sting as the mascot and a promotion piece, and the Carters couldn't provide even that. I think they were done with TNA before the Russo leak, but when that came out, Spike was done.

This really works out well for Jeff Jarrett it seems, at least right now.

[EmpireWF]

Dixie is Baghdad Bob now

[EmpireWF]

Some notes from Meltzer...

-It's possible Viacom could be negotiating to purchase a majority stake in TNA, he said there were rumors but he didn't know how accurate they were.

-Without TV, he still expects them to run Bound for Glory in Japan in October.

-Part of the stipulations when Jeff Jarrett left to start GFW, he cannot go after a Spike TV deal. So, this has nothing to do with GFW from any side.

-He said he knows that Spike has talked (I don't know the time frame) to one or two different wrestling groups, so he's under the impression they still want to be in the wrasslin business.

[s@ppisgod]

Some notes from Meltzer...

-It's possible Viacom could be negotiating to purchase a majority stake in TNA, he said there were rumors but he didn't know how accurate they were.

-Without TV, he still expects them to run Bound for Glory in Japan in October.

-Part of the stipulations when Jeff Jarrett left to start GFW, he cannot go after a Spike TV deal. So, this has nothing to do with GFW from any side.

-He said he knows that Spike has talked (I don't know the time frame) to one or two different wrestling groups, so he's under the impression they still want to be in the wrasslin business.

That's good news. A solid channel not just being open to the idea, but WANTING to carry a NON-WWE wrestling promotion is good for the business, the talent, and the fans. Spike could have easily been soured on it by how their last 2 promotions have treated them, but they're right back on the horse. Good for them.

[EmpireWF]

Meltzer doesn't paint a pretty picture if this whole deal does result in TNA going out of business...

The loss, or even the survival with great cutbacks, of TNA, would be devastating to the industry. New Japan is already having trouble keeping the foreign crew it has working steadily. ROH has no openings for talent, although we have the impression that Samoa Joe and Eddie Edwards would likely get some dates, but in the case of Joe, he’s used to making a lot more money. But those in ROH say they already have more talent than they can adequately use and for the most part, there are no openings. Few guys in TNA mean much on the independent scene. There will be a vacancy for a No. 2 group if TNA loses Spike and can’t get a paying outlet, or even if they stay on with a greatly reduced budget.

It’s clear Sinclair Broadcasting has little interest in ramping up ROH. So for the industry to not take a hit, it comes down to Global Force Wrestling getting off the ground with significant financing and a strong television deal, or the El Rey Network, with AAA scheduled to start as a weekly series in the fall, becoming a viable channel on the U.S. scene.

Essentially, he said that the best case scenario for TNA is Spike wanting to deal but only for less money...which really doesn't help TNA.

Also, as for talent, enough are under the belief that Dixie will have some kind of news by the time the NY tapings come (late next week) before those who want to BOlieve end up seeing her for the shill she is.