As you may have noticed, Inside Pulse has been experiencing technical difficulties and crashed several times over the past day and a half, as readers rushed to the site to get news on TNA’s big announcements. These of course included the move of its flagship TV show to an earlier, prime-time Thursday night timeslot, and the signing of former WWE Superstar Kurt Angle. We’re hoping the problem is solved, and thank you for your patience…
TNAWrestling.com has posted the following message from TNA President Dixie Carter with regards to Kurt Angle:
A MESSAGE FROM TNA PRESIDENT DIXIE CARTER TO THE FANS REGARDING THE SIGNING OF KURT ANGLE
“First, let me say to our talent and our staff, congratulations on our move to primetime. Each of you have worked so hard for this and deserve all the great things that will come with the move. To our fans, none of us would be here without you. Your belief in our product has made all of this possible, and from all of us, thank you. This is just the beginning.
I hope the hype of our announcements last night lived up to or exceeded your expectations. In this industry, it is very hard to keep anything quiet. We are thrilled to have Kurt Angle join our team. Just like with all of our wrestlers, Kurt’s family and health will always come first. I’m sure you will be hearing from him in the coming weeks.
I asked Kurt’s agent to provide me with a quote for our announcement release. Most times a publicist, manager or agent will prepare a statement for the talent. But after a long film shoot in Nashville last week that ended at midnight, Kurt sat down and hand wrote his heartfelt comments on a hotel note pad. Instead of just pulling a small part from that to use in the press release, I thought his fans would love to share in his full emotions from that night:
“Being with TNA feels like I have finally found my home. I had fun in WWE at certain times, but I was never really happy. Now being a part of TNA, I know I have a purpose. I feel like I am part of history, part of a company that is not only on the rise — not only going to be the number-one watched wrestling show in the world within a short period of time — but TNA gives me an opportunity to spread my wings. This company has no limits to where it can go. The sky is the limit and the main reason is because they brought the “real” back into wrestling and that is a perfect fit for the greatest wrestler in USA Olympic history. I have room to grow here and to help TNA grow. Working for these caring and very giving employers of TNA makes me feel like I have a purpose and that the sky is the limit. I don’t feel trapped or held back like I did the first six years in my tenure with the other company. They held me back. Now, our wonderful audience will see the real Kurt Angle doing what I love to do — real wrestling — and that’s what puts a smile on my face each time I come to work. I even smile when I think about it. TNA will be the most watched television show on cable television. It’s only a matter of time. Now, I get the opportunity and privilege of being a part of it. Thank you TNA for saving my career, my life and my desire to do what I love. I will be here in some capacity for the rest of my life. That’s real”¦that’s damn real.” — Kurt Angle
Also posted on TNA’s Web site are reactions from some members of TNA, some in kayfabe and some not. Most were legitimately surprised, and some a bit “disgruntled” that they weren’t in the loop, as TNA went to great lengths to make sure no one found out about the signing, which by all accounts took place early last week, prior to Carter’s online announcement that a surprise was on the horizon. Carter, Jeff Jarrett and maybe one or two others knew about the deal, with Angle working directly with Carter, and everyone (including those involved in taping the vignette that aired at the end of No Surrender) signed nondisclosure agreements. At the end of the day, the great majority of TNA is very happy and excited about the news, and those within WWE feel this is preferable to him doing MMA, but are still concerned about his health.
So what ABOUT Kurt’s aspirations to compete in Mixed Martial Arts? By all accounts so far, it seems that Kurt’s manager – Dave Hawk – made claims that Angle retired as a wrestler to go into MMA after the deal with TNA was already signed. These reports fooled everyone, with even the top wrestling insiders like Dave Meltzer shifting the story from Kurt’s wrestling future to Kurt’s future in shootfighting. The fact is, the moment Kurt was released, everyone in pro wrestling and MMA was interested.
Kurt Angle was not in Orlando last night, and was not expected to be at tonight’s TV tapings. He was on the phone often with Carter throughout the show, and will be at Bound For Glory, but not wrestling on the card. (Highlight the following text for a spoiler on his role at BFG and first scheduled TNA appearance: Kurt will be the “special enforcer” in the Jarrett vs. Sting match at BFG, and will be at the next TNA tapings on Monday, October 9, 2006.)
Meltzer is reporting that the TNA contract is not exclusive, theoretically allowing him to work MMA as well (which no one thinks is a good idea), but it is so far unknown whether or not this is a long-term deal.
PWInsider is reporting that TNA will play off of Kurt’s legitimate wrestling background to use the “We Are Wrestling” tagline for marketing purposes.
Credit: TNAWrestling.com, WrestlingObserver.com, PWInsider
