The following is from NWATNA.com:
11.12.04 | TNA PRESS RELEASE
TNA TO ISSUE “APOLOGY” TO VINCE McMAHON AND WWE
November 12, 2004 (Nashville, TN) In response to media reports about a misunderstanding that occurred at Universal Studios in Orlando, FL this past Wednesday — TNA Entertainment issued an apology to Vince McMahon and WWE for what was apparently a mistakenly perceived “hostile” act.
In recent months, Universal Studios and TNA have become the epicenter of the wrestling world. Last Sunday at Victory Road, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall and “Macho Man” Randy Savage made their dramatic returns to professional wrestling. Even the immortal Hulk Hogan was backstage and also witnessed the electricity of that historic night. Two days later, during a TV taping for iMPACT!, Diamond Dallas Page made a surprise return to the ring.
This past Wednesday, Vince McMahon and all the top stars of WWE were at Universal Studios, just feet from TNA’s Sound Stage 21, to film a commercial.
TNA staff was elated that the WWE was coming to their home. While filming vignettes that day for TNA’s upcoming pay-per-view, “Turning Point”, TNA Superstars 3 Live Kru, Traci, Abyss and “The Franchise” Shane Douglas decided to offer some hospitality and welcome WWE to their home. Carrying cookies and balloons, they approached the WWE talent during a break in their shooting. However, the congenial welcome was met with ungracious resistance. The WWE talent immediately withdrew to their studio, where they remained sequestered behind closed doors.
WWE has filed a formal letter of complaint with Universal Studios. One senior WWE official even sent a production assistant to TNA Soundstage 21 and delivered a verbal warning that if any WWE talent was filmed by TNA, “we will sue your f—— a–.”
“I was disheartened,” said “The Franchise” Shane Douglas. “If our kind gesture was mistakenly perceived as threatening and hostile, we sincerely apologize.”
Even the monster Abyss, in a rare melancholy moment, was seen with a tear in his eye, still clutching the very same balloons that no one from WWE wanted.
“Personally, I just wanted some mahi mahi,” confessed BG James, upon seeing the elaborate WWE catering spread. “The only thing I had to eat all day was a stinking cold sandwich from my cheap free-lance producer. Now I know how the other half eats.”
Some things in life are consistent. Success breeds envy. The bully always picks on the little guy. But we all know how the story of David and Goliath ends”¦
The alternative for the true wrestling fan, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling prides itself on delivering quality, family programming that is clean, innovative, cutting edge and with the high-risk, high-flying athleticism that TNA Wrestling is known for. Total Nonstop Action Wrestling “iMPACT!” airs Fridays at 3:00 p.m. on FSN (check local listings). TNA “Xplosion” is a syndicated program (check local listings). TNA Wrestling pay-per-views are available on iN DEMAND, DISH Network, DIRECTV, TVN, Viewers Choice Canada, Bell ExpressVu and Shaw Communications.
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According to PWInsider.com, NWA Florida’s Ron Niemi, who worked briefly backstage for NWA TNA before they changed their taping schedule, sent the following statement out Friday evening in regard to TNA’s “Apology” to WWE:
Everything in life is a cycle. From birth to death, tadpole to frog, things go in a circle, always repeating forever. People have said the wrestling business runs on cycles, and they are right. The Pro Wrestling business follows patterns that it can’t escape, committing the same acts over and over again, without any rhyme or reason.
Four years ago, WCW went out of business, and the entire Wrestling World went into shock. In it’s demise, TNA was formed, with the idea that they could ‘fix’ the wrongs of WCW. Where WCW abused it’s ‘underneath’ talent and didn’t push the most athletic of it’s crop, TNA swore they would be different. However, as we have already mentioned, the wrestling business runs on cycles, and so does NWA-TNA.
It strikes me as funny that TNA could have the audacity to issue an ‘apology’ to WWE for ‘invading’ their filming, when it was WWE ‘invading’ Universal Studios in the first place. TNA, much like the younger, star-struck brother, rushed along with Balloons and cookies for the WWE “Superstars”, but had the door slammed in their face, not knowing or understanding why the “Superstars” of the WWE wanted nothing to do with TNA. Again, the cycle of wrestling continues, as what TNA experienced was a bit of Karma.
It was only a few weeks ago that NWA TNA decided it was no longer going to pay it’s ‘enhancement’ talent. Many talents quit at this notice, as they simply could not afford to take off work mid-week and travel to Orlando for no pay. NWA TNA still owes some of these wrestlers and referees checks for their final appearances. Checks which, as of 11/12/05, still have not been sent even after several requests to do so.
TNA can talk all they want about how WWE is a bully picking on the ‘smaller’ guy, but in reality, there is no ‘smaller’ guy in Pro Wrestling then the indy wrestler struggling to make a name for himself, and TNA is doing nothing but take advantage of and ‘bully’ these stars of the future. TNA might be a ‘little guy’ to WWE, but they are a big giant to the rest of the industry. as TNA said themselves in their own press release, “Some things in life are consistent. Success breeds envy. The bully always picks on the little guy. But we all know how the story of David and Goliath ends… ”
We sure do know how that story ended, NWA TNA…do you?
Ron Niemi
NWA Florida
