Initial estimates show that Genesis has set a new PPV buyrate record for TNA.
When Sting was told about the planned title switch at Genesis he asked to lose the title cleanly to Abyss, feeling it was the right way to do business, but he was told the company wanted to make the switch by DQ.
The Kurt Angle/Samoa Joe match was booked to go longer than 13 minutes. TNA had been very strict with the workers of the undercard matches, repeatedly warning them not to go long as they needed time for the main event. However, Angle was calling the match and made the call to go home early. It is unclear whether or not this was due to a physical problem or if he simply felt the match would only suffer by being prolonged, so the PPV went off the air 15 minutes before time.
Homicide was competing with a fever at Genesis. At the 11/20 tapings he was hit so hard by Angle that he lost hearing. Homicide was said to be very upset about it after the match. The negative reaction of the Orlando crowd to Jim Cornette stripping LAX of the tag team titles has reinforced the belief among the TNA booking team that they need to start putting PPVs on in other cities more regularly. They feel the Orlando fans have become too hard to please as they are so familiar with the product, and that angles like the Cornette/LAX one would have worked far better in front of a regular crowd. The decision to not strip LAX of the belts after all was in direct response to the crowd’s reaction.
The current plan for Turning Point is Kurt Angle vs. Samoa Joe, Abyss vs. Sting vs. Christian for the Heavyweight Title, A.J. Styles vs. Rhino, Christopher Daniels vs. Chris Sabin for the X Title with Jerry Lynn as referee, LAX vs. AMW for the tag team titles in a Flag/Anthem Match and, to appease the ungodly, Traci Brooks vs. Eric Young in a Bikini Contest.
Kevin Nash is interested in taking over Jim Cornette’s role should Cornette eventually quit, as seems likely given Vince Russo’s involvement with the company.
Christian Cage is listed as one of three top stars in the horror movie Dark Rising, directed by Andrew Cymek.
Despite the recent legal activity there is no conflict between TNA and Scott Levy over the rights of the Raven name. Levy owns it and TNA is not pressuring him into giving it up.
Because he hasn’t been used lately there was a backstage collection at the latest tapings to get A-1 a flight to come to the next ones and see everybody. People were asked to chip in $10 each.
Ron Killings is still unhappy and wants a release but Terry Taylor has told him they won’t release him so he can work for the competition. Lance Hoyt and Christy Hemme are both thinking about getting their hair styled like Killings. Hemme still wants more of an on-air role and her latest suggestions include either being Killings’ valet or joining LAX.
Kurt Angle reportedly told Chris Sabin that he was a great worker but looked to dirty and didn’t stand out. He later made the suggestion that Sabin start a new gimmick in which he would be like Pig Pen from Peanuts and have food and dirt all over him. The general consensus was that perhaps Angle’s contributions to the booking team should be limited.
Credit: Wrestling Observer newsletter (click here for subscription information)
