by Spudz Wed May 27, 2015 5:26 pm
according to Meltz.. Dixie & company couldn't or wouldn't address the Dest America contract right now at the meeting... lol
from Wade Keller
TNA President Dixie Carter assured TNA wrestlers during a conference call this afternoon that TNA is in good standing with Destination America and they are still planning for the 2016 season. However, when asked if there is an out clause for Destination America this fall, Carter said due to legal advice and confidentiality clauses, she could not comment other than to say escape clauses are common in TV deals.
Carter led the conference call with a ten minute introduction and then fielded questions from talent for another 30 minutes, roughly.
She also addressed other topics from wrestlers including late pay and what the ROH deal with Destination America means to TNA. Did the wrestlers like what she said or are they skeptical? Did it help or hurt morale? Full expanded details are available right now in a 23 minute VIP-exclusive Wade Keller Hotline. This update includes tons of details including TNA talent morale, what ROH stands to benefit, what this really means to TNA's future, and much more.
By Mike Johnson on 2015-05-27 17:24:04
Several readers have sent word that TNA talents have started sending out Tweets mentioning Ring of Honor coming to Destination America plugging they are the lead-in for TNA Impact Wrestling. From what I have been told, this is something TNA is doing on their own and not something that Destination America has requested of the company. There is no working relationship between TNA and ROH and this is not something the two companies came up with together. My belief is that it was a request that TNA management made of the wrestlers during today's conference call. It looks to be TNA's way of babyfacing an obviously embarrassing situation.
Speaking of that call, I am still getting details but I was told it ran well over 90 minutes and as you could imagine, there were some less than happy TNA contracted talents on the line.
As far as how TNA could not have had an exclusivity clause for the network for pro wrestling programming, UTA negotiated the contract, not TNA, so any blame should fall upon them. I am very curious to see if Destination America is looking to add additional wrestling programming as obviously House of Hardcore, Global Force Wrestling, hell, even New Japan Pro Wrestling, etc. are out there.
We have been asked what all this means for Samoa Joe working ROH dates. To the best of my knowledge, Joe's deal with WWE NXT allows him to work the dates. It should be interesting to see if they opt to sign him to a WWE exclusive deal in order to prevent it.
In many ways, we are in uncharted waters here, folks.
By Mike Johnson on 2015-05-27 18:51:17
According to several sources who took part in today's TNA conference call with President Dixie Carter discussing the company today with TNA staff and wrestlers, there were no real explanations given regarding the current situation with Destination America.
I was told that it was intimated that due to the nature of the contract between the two parties, neither TNA nor Destination America can publicly comment on their relationship.
Regarding Ring of Honor being added to the Network, the impression given was that TNA, due to their relationship with DA, could not speak on the show until it was announced. I've heard from a few people who didn't buy that explanation and the general belief among those I've spoken to who were on the call s that TNA didn't know about ROH until it was announced.
At times, once the call was opened up for wrestlers to voice their opinions, the call did get very contentious. I was told that at one point, Carter told the wrestlers it was up to them to show the world why they were the best in the world and that they "controlled their own destiny." This led to some of the issues of the past year, including the move from Spike and the pay issues being brought up. I was told Carter responded as if the pay issues were in the past.
I heard differing opinions from talents. One said that he felt better now that had the situation had been addressed as talents were no longer "in the dark" and they hoped everyone would get back to performing and not worrying. The talent referred to the call as a big "family blowout" in that now that everyone said their piece, there was a feeling of communication and now everyone could get back to work.
Another called it a "circus call" in that once the floodgates opened for the talent, some of the talents began bringing up personal issues that would have been better dealt with in a one on one forum.
Still another told me it was over 90 minutes of nothing of substance truly being addressed while noting the company was adamant they wanted things kept private while asking talents not to speak out and leak things.
As we hear more, we'll have additional updates.