• Wrestling News & Wrestling Rumors – WWE & TNA

INTRO
I’m just back from an amazing trip to Coventry here in the UK for TNA’s tour – along with Suplah co-host Liam Dunne, which resulted in a kiss from Dixie Carter, tonnes of amazing video footage (will be posted shortly), a hilarious run in with Rhino and several exciting notes including the possibility of a UK TNA Pay Per View! So read on…

After getting drunk on the train and hotel our Taxi pulled up quite late to the Skydome Arena with a massive crowd of excited fans of all ages already waiting outside. We initially got lost in the sea of alternating lines and couldn’t work out where we were supposed to be until we found the back door and guest list. We were led through the arena where some Indy guys were training in the 6 sided ring (which looks considerably smaller than expected) and hit the meet and greet just as it was wrapping up. The stars were understandably tired but didn’t disappoint.

MEET & GREET
We asked to film and got the camera out when Rhino serious faced yelled “no filming” half scaring Liam to death, until he smiled and said “only joking” – we had been ribbed already. Laughs all round. First on the table was Jay Lethal and Earl Hebner, we said sorry for being cheapskates (we forgot to buy a program to get signed) until Machismo pointed out the paper to the right. We all agreed Hebner is a legend and gave him his praise whilst Machismo (who is massive muscularity wise up close) said Val is at home feeling pissed off at Sonjay. I left my can of energy drink on Machismo’s table woops. We moved on to Hernandez of LAX who was extremely friendly and shook our hands. (He’s the real opposite to what you’d expect), but Homicide got up and left at that point. (We were last in line so it’s fair game). Rhino again serious faced sat staring at us and when I went to shake his hand like everyone else, he closed his fist and I ended up shaking his fist like a jackass before correcting myself. He got us again! Last on the table was British star Doug Williams who was engaged in chat so we left and stupidly went out the wrong door ending up back outside and at the back of the line for the main show!

Local hotties were giving out TNA postcards, video game adverts, NOAH adverts (for next week) and selling programs for a tenner! We waited a while before going back to the guest list and being let back in where Alex Shane (of FWA fame) gave us our silver ringside tickets. White Zombie Thunderkiss 65 was blasting out of the speakers. They sure know how to hype up the fans.

They had a full entrance set with two big screens, which was great to see. There was barely any security and nobody told us we could film although out of respect we didn’t film any in-ring wrestling or push to the front row.

TNA PRESIDENT DIXIE CARTER
As we sat down I saw TNA President Dixie Carter (who is a real classy, friendly and hot lady) in the distance so we went to chat and she let us film her. Vince would never allow that. She hugged Liam and my queen of TNA compliment seemed to go down well as she kissed me on the cheek! (I wouldn’t want Vince to do that even if he was willing for obvious reasons). Some how as we walked away we mistakenly got a nice shot of her legs. A big line had built so someone from the crew ran over with the World Title and everyone got photos with the title and Dixie.

We re-found our seats and the arena was a sellout (with a couple of Sky Boxes also). Beers, red-bull and camera in hand the show was about to begin.

Jerry Borash or Borat as we now call him came out and did his usual hype, claiming that the loudest fans would get backstage passes. (This was repeated throughout the night but I never saw anyone actually get one).

MOTOR CITY MACHINE GUNNS vs JAMES STORM & ROBERT ROODE
Nothing special here but nobody cared and were in to it throughout. Good teamwork by the Gunns with a few fluid spots and a bit of heal heat on their opponents. A couldn’t get much of a Brokeback Mountain chant going unfortunately. Short but sweet match.

GAIL KIM vs AWESOME KONG
The crowd were more for Kong than Gail, which seemed to stump them and I think the match suffered a little, being very short in length. Kong won clean. Again my “Belly’s gonna to get ya” and “Who ate all the pies” chants didn’t take off. I tried my best to clap Kim up during the comeback moments.

RHINO vs ABYSS
Abyss was not advertised and he got one of the loudest pops of the night since it was a surprise. I marked out thinking we’d get a few weapon spots but it didn’t happen. (chanting for weapons didn’t help). Some good back and forth action, with Rhino even doing a plancha to the outside. The crowd didn’t really know who to cheer so lots of call and response Rhino/Abyss chants. Abyss wins with the Black Hole Slam and I’d got over my embarrassing fist shaking moment.

AJ STYLES vs BLACK MACHISMO vs DOUG WILLIAMS
This was the match of the night in terms of technical and smooth wrestling with spots in all the right places. Again the crowd was torn, often just cheering everyone. I think me and a few fans to the right of me were the only people chanting for Doug. AJ got most of his spots and won with the Styles Clash.

INTERMISSION, PPV RUMOR, TNA’S RETURN & DIXIE CARTER SPEAKS
Next we had a short intermission, on the big screens they plugged the TNA Video Game with Borash giving it some hype. More love for the PS2 version from the fans when Borash announced what consoles it’ll be on.

I can’t quite remember when this was said but during some JB hype he announced that TNA will be touring the UK again in January and he even teased a UK PPV, which would be a real wish come true for a lot of the British fans.

Dixie Carter was then introduced as the TNA President and gave a heart felt thank you message. She’s a PR god.

LAX vs SONJAY DUTT & PETEY WILLIAMS
Holly shit Williams is a midget but ripped to shreds. LAX got a humongous pop, which was up there with AJ’s and the crowd got on Sonjay with a few Gay chants again started in my section. No Canadian Destroyer or Gringo Killer but Hernandez did his dive to the outside and creamed Sonjay with the Border Toss. Sonjay also did a 420 bump from a move I can’t remember, but he flew. LAX wins.

KURT ANGLE & JEFF JARRETT
Kurt Angle was then introduced to another huge pop with thank you Angle chants, among others. He didn’t wrestle AJ as advertised (due to the neck injury) but said Vince could kiss his ass and thanked the UK fans (it’s funny how most of the audience probably watched Smackdown the day before but started Fuck WWE chants). He then to my utter disbelief introduced Jeff Jarrett, who commenced to cut a teary promo thanking us for helping his dream come true. His wife was brought up during this segment with thank you Jill chants among a host of other Jarrett chants. Main event time.

BOOKER T vs SAMOA JOE
This was by far the match with the loudest reactions and enthusiasm, although it wasn’t great by a pure wrestling standpoint. Booker T got a good face pop to begin with but soon turned heel after a “buy the merchandise” line didn’t go down too well. My section really got the “Joe is gonna kill you” and “fuck him up Joe, fuck him up” chants going and I’ll take credit for the Olay chants which seemed to take Joe by surprise and cause him to make a quick grin in our direction. To our pleasure, Joe took the chants and did an Olay kick to Booker through the barricade and after some “one more time chants” he did it again the other side. Joe won with the chokehold. I must admit the funniest chant of the night came from the guys sitting next to us and I quote “he’s got a pineapple on his head…he’s got a pineapple…” directed towards Booker T’s hair.

CONCLUSION
Although the wrestling wasn’t first class TNA, it was enough for the fans to be thoroughly entertained without the wrestlers going home hurt. It was a hell of a lot more personal than any WWE event and anyone who wasn’t a TNA fan before the show will definitely be one now. It was obvious we were in England, as the crowd were aprehensive in parts and didn’t get in to things the US audiences do, but if this is followed up with some solid marketing and another awesome tour, TNA could easily become the number one promotion in the UK. It was a shame their budget didn’t allow for more knockouts and wrestlers, but this was the most fun I’ve had in a long while!

Kudos to the guys daring enough to wear Sharkboy and Curryman masks!

The exclusive footage of the show, including meet and greet, ring entrances, meeting Dixie Carter and lots of other bits and bats will be posted on the site in the coming days.