Backstage TNA News on Wrestlers’ Attitudes, Notes on NY House Shows & Former Wrestler Un-Retiring?

If you were at last night’s Long Island house show or are attending tonight’s in Elmira, NY, please send me a report at matthew (at) insidepulse (dot) com. In the meantime, we’ve got lots of weekend TNA news & notes, including an update on possible live Thursday shows starting in March, a Destination X update and some backstage rumblings…

– According to a report on PWInsider.com, last night’s show was a legit sellout of 3,000 at the North Fork Theatre, which if you’ve never been there, is set up “in the round” for concerts, comedy acts, etc. The ring was set up on stage in the middle of the venue, with the only complaint being that the lighting fixtures seemed to hang a bit low. This was the largest house show gate in TNA history, and all reports thus far are positive.

– Also from the show: Simon Diamond was the road agent for last night’s show and Thursday’s show in NYC… TNA President Dixie Carter was not in attendance last night… Although New York-based Tazz wasn’t at the event, Brother Ray made some jokes about him to play to the crowd… The card was pretty much the same as the NYC show, with 3-D again playing babyface to their “home town” audience.

– PWInsider.com is also reporting that Impact’s next taping dates in Orlando are: Monday 2/25, Tuesday 2/26, Monday 3/10, Tuesday 3/11, Monday 3/24, Tuesday 3/25, Monday 4/14, Tuesday 4/15, Monday 4/28, Tuesday 4/29, Monday 5/12, Tuesday 5/13, Monday 5/26 and Tuesday 5/27. It appears that the live 3/27 pre-WrestleMania Weekend Impact is off, but PWInsider reports that there’s still a chance of it happening.

– According to PWInsider, Traci Brooks is currently filming a reality project. In a similar vain, Zap2It.com has reported that former TNA interviewer Leticia Cline’s reality project — teased recently on her MySpace — is a role on Beauty & the Geek.

– The latest line-up for Destination X — taking place from Norfolk, VA — includes The Angle Alliance (TNA World Heavyweight Champion Kurt Angle and TNA World Tag Team Champions AJ Styles and Tomko) vs. “The Samoan Submission Machine” Samoa Joe, “The Instant Classic” Christian Cage and Kevin Nash, “The War Machine” Rhino vs. “Cowboy” James Storm in an Elevation X match, X Division Champion “Black Machismo” Jay Lethal vs. “Maple Leaf Muscle” Petey Williams and Booker T vs. Robert Roode in a special stipulation to-be-determined match.

– Andrew “Test” Martin has seemingly un-retired, and is now accepting indie bookings, according to PWInsider.com.

– Jason Powell at Prowrestling.net shed some insight on the TNA lockerroom last week, based on his inside sources. Of note:

• Scott Steiner has been inspired in the ring of late, and been helping younger talent, as he currently is enjoying his feud with Petey Williams.
• The recent Angle wedding angle was put together in part to counter the ratings trend of an early peak, and decreases throughout the show. It ended with a cliffhanger (A.J. and Karen “married”) to get people to tune in the next week.
• The Motor City Machineguns (Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley) are getting some heat with management. Some reasons cited include refusing to blade during a Team 3-D attack, feeling it wasn’t necessary in the situation, and Shelley being vocal about frustrations. There is also a rumor making the rounds that they were recently fined.
• Dixie Carter is apparently really happy with the current talent roster, particularly due to the talent level, positive mood and a group of veterans – particularly Angle and Booker T – willing to work with the younger stars. Powell went on to say that while some may “resent” their help – they’ve been making suggestions to slow down the style, play more to the live crowds, etc. – the older guys don’t call them out in front of anyone to make them look bad, etc., which is appreciated. As well, even though top stars dress in their own “green room,” most mingle with the rest of the roster.
• That said, “more than one wrestler” has told Powell that since her speech where she offered anyone who was unhappy the chance to get out of their contracts, there is some hesitance to voice concerns about the creative direction. So it seems there’s an interesting line people are towing, between not rocking the boat and airing out complaints to the road agents, yet at least feeling Dixie is accessible.

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