TNA News & Notes

[Ringside Junkie]

- TNA is considering slowing down the X-Division wrestlers and focusing more on promoting their personalities.

- There is said to be some talk within TNA about bringing Jonny Fairplay back for TV soon. Fairplay's last TNA appearance was during the Best d**n Sports Show tapings a few months ago on Fox Sports Net.

- There is talk of having Chris Candido make an appearance at the Impact! prior to the Final Resolution PPV. When he does make his official debut with the company, many expect him to get a big push.

- TNA is planning on having Dusty and Dustin Rhodes team up down the line.

-Alex Shelley is still with TNA despite not making an appearance for quite a while (I believe his last appearance was at Victory Road in the 20 Superstar Invitational X Division Gauntlet Match). The word making the rounds is that TNA officials don't really know what to do with him right now.

- Randy Savage will make his first post-TNA appearance at Harley Race's World League Wrestling on 2/4/05 in Fulton, Missouri at the Fulton High School and 2/5/05 in Eldon, Missouri at the Eldon Community Center.

- Interestingly enough, TNA advertised that Impact would not air at its regular time yesterday, but instead on Tuesday. However, the show did end up airing at its regular time in most markets.

- The Seattle Post-Intellingencer has an article up on celebrities visiting troops in Iraq and mentions DDP's visit a few months back.

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Another Big Name To Return To TNA This Week.

We're also being told that Johnny Fairplay will make his return tomorrow night as well.

- Chris Candido is currently scheduled to debut at the Impact! tapings tomorrow in Orlando, FL at Universal Studios. As they have for the past month or so, the company will be taping two weeks worth of TV for Fox Sports Net.

- TNA's own Trinity will be competing in the Radiant Pro - A Women's Strength Show in North Hollywood, California on Janary 22. It should be noted that TNA is looking to build towards a feud between Trinity and Traci Brooks.

- TNA is continuing to advertise that Impact! will be airing tomorrow at 3pm on Fox Sports Net due to holiday preemption. As noted on the site before, many FSN affiliates aired the show in its original timeslot on Friday at 3pm.

- Just a reminder that Impact! will be officially changing from 3pm to 4pm starting this Friday, January 7th with a Saturday night replay (FSN Chicago has this Saturday's replay starting at 2am).

[Ringside Junkie]

Ever since the "American Dream" Dusty Rhodes has taking over the booking in TNA, you can already see a change in stupidity on TNA TV. One good thing out of this is the return of his son DUSTIN RHODES! Although these 2 are hardly ever on the same page, it's nice to see he's back in the squared circle. Many within TNA suggest Dusty Rhodes' booking is way out of date and didn't work in the 80s so why would it work in 2K5! Though Dusty is open to all of the ideas of the smaller guys and younger talent. He has pushed all of their ideas to the side to use his own such as teaming his son up with him. I would doubt if we see a Rhodes Family/Kings of Wrestling fued here real soon.

Kid Kash has been the most vocal about the dislike of his position in the company and how the smaller guys get used such as himself. Kash, who has thrown a few temper tantrums in the past was said to be in good spirits last week though felt he wasn't being used properly.

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Everyone probably has heard about Abyss leaving TNA by now but I thought I would give a little update on the situaion. Sources within TNA say Abyss blew up at the TV tapings on Tuesday about getting a raise. "American Dream" Dusty Rhodes informed him it wasn't the time nor place to rant, so they sent him home packing. He threatened that the WWE was interested in signing him to a deal and that a raise was needed if TNA wanted to resign this monster. Honestly I don't think Abyss would get over to well in WWE. They already had this gimmic with Kane and Mankind so I guess they could call him Kanekind. He is a solid worker, though having terrible matches with the likes of The Alpha Male, it makes me wonder if he is on the WWE level. Maybe they could use him in Ohio Valley Wrestling though. I think Abyss should ride it out with TNA. At least until WWE gets more serious about signing him. So don't look for Abyss on any upcoming shows even though he offered to job on the way out on the tv tapings and upcoming ppv.

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Big TNA Star Arrested For Drug Possession; Sent To Jail

TNA star Hector Garza was arrested on Monday in Houston, Texas on charges of possession of a controlled substance. Mexican newspaper El Norte states the drugs were anabolic steroids Primobolan and Deca-Durabolin, which is used to regenerate injuries and to fortify muscle tissue.

Garza was on his way to the TNA Imapct! tapings in Orlando, Florida when he was detained by Immigration agents at the Houston International Airport. We're told he was placed under arrest and was in court yesterday in Houston. He is currently being held in a Harris County, Texas jail.

Garza’s brother Humberto told El Norte that the steroids were prescribed by a local doctor in Mexico, who overnighted the proof to the Mexican Consulate in Houston. They will turn that into court for his defense. Humberto stated that Garza was being counseled by a personal attorney, while TNA was sending one as well. Garza’s bail was set at $1,000 but he was advised not to pay it for fear of being deported, which would destroy his Stateside career.

His problems caused rewrites at the TNA taping on Tuesday evening, where the wrestlers were told he had “travel issues.”

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Sonjay Dutt & The Amazing Red who two of very few who actually have a contract with TNA will be expring next month. Dutt needs more ring time, but I think Red is ready for WWE and both of these guys could put a highlight on the Cruiserweight Division on Smackdown. TNA hasn't done anything with these guys at all which is sad because Red is such a talent that is just going to waste. Let's see what TNA has to say about that within the next few weeks with the contract signings.

Johnny Swinger has requested a release from his TNA contract, but has been declined!

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Tune into Impact tomorrow at 3pm on FSN to catch the debut of of No Gimmics Needed Chris Candido! He is said to be in great shape, completly clean, and ready to take on TNA's franchise player "The Phenominal" AJ Styles on Friday afternoon on Impact! You can catch the replays on Friday late night 2am and Saturday night at 11pm on Fox Sports Network.

Looking forward to seeing Chris Candido back in action. He is a great talent. Another underused guy from WWE that went on to great success in ECW. A Triple Threat member along with Shane Douglas and Bam Bam Bigelow. He teamed with Lance Storm on more than one occassion and even held the ECW Tag Team Championship. Had a short stint in WCW at the end of the new blood era. We wish him luck with TNA and maybe Douglas will get back in the ring to reform the Triple Threat in TNA!

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The Dream is pushing for The Fallen Angel Christopher Daniels on the mic more. He put him in the commentary booth on Impact in hopes of getting him over as a personality.

He also wants to team Daniels up with Michael Shane & Kazarian for a six man tag team match at the Final Resolution PPV.

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Just a couple weeks before the contract of Abyss ends, TNA has released the big man. They wished him luck with his future endeavors. Not sure if the welcome mat is still open for him in TNA. Abyss threatened to leave TNA for WWE if they didn't give him a raise. Well, they called his bluff and released him. Let's see if WWE actually picks this guy up. I honestly don't see any spot for him on WWE programming. I'm sure he will be sent to Ohio Valley for evaluation.