PWInsider - WWE News, Wrestling News, WWE

FUTURE OF TNA'S NEW SIDE PROJECTS, BACKSTAGE ATMOSPHERE POST-RUSSO, ANGLE TALKS OLYMPICS AND MORE

TNA sources indicate there were no major changes in how the Impact tapings were run this past week.  "The same five or six people spoke that always speak in the production meetings were the ones giving their opinions and the other 10 or so listened and took instructions, " said one source.  "There was no major difference in how backstage was run.  Eric was still being Eric.  Bruce was still being Bruce.  Lagana was putting his best foot forward to integrate himself with the boys that didn't know him, but beyond that, there were no major changes in how the backstage was run or felt.  Just another day here, however you want to take that - good or bad."

Some updates on the TNA side projects.  All Wheels Wrestling has been in negotiations on and off with the Speed Network.  Nothing new on that front.  On the Ring Ka King front, workers have not been booked for another tour of tapings yet, but that's partially because the entire season has been taped.  The Indian talents were signed to multi-year contracts while the American talents have been booked by the tour.   The feeling internally from those I have spoken to is that no movement will be made on Ka King until TNA, Endemol and Colors have time to see what the ratings trend for the season is.  If it holds up or improves, they will move forward with the project.    There is also hope that should Ka King take off, this will lead to other wrestling series that can be produced specifically for other countries that Endemol has networks broadcasting in.  But, it's one step at a time.

As we noted last night, Jesse Sorensen is out of the hospital and home in Tampa.  There is no time-frame for his return to the ring right now.

I noted yesterday that Will Russo quit the promotion on Sunday.  The word making the rounds was that he personally called TNA's Kevin Sullivan, his superior in TV production, the day of the PPV to let him know he wouldn't be returning.   Russo was actually well thought of in terms of someone who worked hard and had an eagerness to produce.

Kurt Angle was interviewed by The BBC about his Olympic aspirations.  Angle noted that he's not at his peak in regard to training yet (he's made noises privately about TNA's schedule in recent months preventing him from devoting as much time as he'd like) and that his brothers haven't taken him seriously and his mother has been worried, but this is something he wants to do and can do.  You can read the interview by clicking here.  Thanks to everyone for sending that along.

Online now in the PWInsider Elite section is a nearly 40 minute interview with new TNA Tag Team champion Magnus discussing what's been a very productive 2012 so far for him, his big promo in the UK on Impact, winning the tag belts with Samoa Joe, developing that team and forcing it into a position of prominence, who he'd like to work with, their PPV match against Crimson and Matt Morgan, adapting to different cultures, the positives of working Ring Ka King, getting a chance to do more in storylines there, what it's like being in the middle of a Scott Steiner riot there, his time on Gladiators in the UK, the craziest thing he saw during the taping, how that show helped him get to TNA, comparing his team with Joe to The British Invasion, using Twitter to gauge how the team is doing, his deep respect for Joe, how India is like another world, how much thought went into his London Impact promo, what he was told right after, whether he expected it to be this big career moment, his insane schedule in India while working Ring Ka King, the acoustics of the Impact Zone and much, much more - a great discussion.

 

If you enjoy PWInsider.com you can check out the AD-FREE PWInsider Elite section, which features exclusive audio updates, news, our critically acclaimed podcasts, interviews and more by clicking here!

• Tweet