– The two most likely oppponents for Kurt Angle’s first match in TNA are Sting or Samoa Joe. TNA feels that they could promote Angle/Sting as a genuine ‘dream match’ that could attract some casual buyers and perhaps set a new PPV record for them (it currently stands at around 50,000 buys). Angle/Joe is a lock but it is unclear whether their series will start sooner rather than later. Some people in TNA are also hoping to convince Angle’s people to book a match with Daniel Puder should he finally sign a UFC deal as well. The feeling is that having a big-name wrestler to cross-promote with UFC will stand them in good stead with Spike TV, and any outcome from an Angle/Puder fight could possibly work in their favour too.
– UFC’s Dana White was informed of Angle’s decision to sign with TNA prior to No Surrender, as Angle did not want him to feel double-crossed. Mike Tenay and Don West were also told about it on the day of the PPV, as the feeling was they could sell the big announcement better if they knew what it really was.
– ICP are not yet certain to appear at Bound For Glory. They no-showed the 9/25 tapings after they missed their flight, and they are believed to have some reservations about working with Brother Ray. TNA still want them on the PPV as they will probably draw some rowdy fans in the Detroit area.
– TNA will offer Sting the same deal for 2007 as he had this year, for the same money. They want to try and keep their star power quotient as high as possible.
– Scott Steiner has not been used recently because of a contract dispute. He balked at the new contracts where TNA books their workers on indy shows and pays them a lump sum every quarter for it.
– Jim Cornette might not be with TNA for much longer. His dispute with Vince Russo will, some feel, lead to an unworkable situation backstage. Cornette did actually quit at the last tapings only to be talked round.
– After the negative crowd reactions to the Jackass material used by Jay Lethal, Chris Sabin and Sonjay Dutt, TNA has decided to keep it out of the actual matches but continue doing backstage segments about it.
– Hardcore Holly is expected to get a big push in ECW after his recent match with Rob Van Dam showed just how tough he is. Holly got a standing ovation backstage for finishing the match despite suffering a deep gash in his back just after returning from a serious staph infection. He’ll be out a little while until the wound heals.
– Bryan Danielson has said that he would love to join the Peace Corps. He applied in 2005 but wasn’t accepted without a college degree. He said “I love wrestling and it is a great sport but I also want to help people with my life. There are a lot of people out there who need support and aren’t getting it from a lot of places. I may not change the world, but it will make me feel a little bit better.”
– USA Network passed on the pilot of Ebaum’s World, a comedy show featuring video clips and prank calls. The show would have been hosted by Chris Jericho and put on after Raw on Monday nights.
Credit: Wrestling Observer newsletter (click here for subscription information)
