TNA managment is demonstrating a lack of business sense. We are writing about how TNA’s handling Bubba the Love Sponge comments regarding aid to Haiti have led to Awesome Kong asking for her release from TNA. It would seem that Hogan bringing in his long-time friend Bubba the Love Sponge to use his controversial style to generate controversy and publicity for TNA has backfired on the company. The experiment is over and Bubba should be sent packing down the road and we are blown away that TNA’s management hasn’t grasped this yet.

“I say (expletive) Haiti,” Bubba commented on his Twitter account. “Why do we have to take care of everybody (when) our country is in shambles?”

These remarks came out as the full scale of the disastrous earthquake that struck Haiti became known. While the world scrambled to get aid to Haitians to head off a historical disaster, Bubba thought it reasonable to express in Twitter how he believed many Americans felt about Haiti.

Bubba later made an apology, to try to head off a backlash, stating, “Sometimes you say things that you can’t take back. So I’m man enough now to say I’m sorry for those I offended.”

Then Bubba’s remarks took a swerve from the controversial right into the ‘say, what?’ territory. The disc jockey then claimed his statements on radio were misconstrued. Bubba maintained that efforts to raise money for disaster relief in Haiti were misguided and that the funds might be better spent in this country. Now, ready for this?

“Maybe this is actually a good thing,” Bubba the Love Sponge said live on his show. “Here’s the thing, we would all agree that Haiti is just in shambles, it’s just a horrible country, it’s just dirt, it’s poverty stricken, they need a cleansing, maybe a half a million Haitians that will end up not being around tomorrow … It’s a cleanse.”

Then Bubba tries to play the victim in this situation. “I shoot hard from the hip and Mrs. Carter (although I have tons of respect for her) has never had a guy that is as outrageous as I am. And what does my Haiti comments have to do with TNA wrestling? I didn’t say them on Dixie’s air … Some people can’t handle the truth.”

Bubba, did you just endorse an ethnic cleansing of the Haitian people right on your friggin’ radio station? And you think this isn’t TNA’s business?

We suggest you cancel any trips planned for Canada, Bubba. Canada actually treats remarks like that as a hate crime. ‘In Section 319 the Code punishes anyone who “advocates or promotes genocide” with genocide defined to require that acts be committed “with intent to destroy in whole or in part any identifiable group”. “Identifiable group” is defined as “any section of the public distinguished by skin color, racial group, religion, ethnic origin or sexual orientation.” Civil remedies are also available in Canada for discriminatory acts (Wikipedia).’ We thought it would be nice to point out the last line there for any Canadian-Haitians who find Bubba’s opinion less than reasonable. As Bubba’s show has reach into Canada, he’s not as immune from civil action for remarks that can be construed as a hate crime as he thinks he is.

Then Kong, who’s be driving hard all last week to raise funds for Haiti emergency relief in the wrestling community goes to confront Bubba backstage for his remarks and winds up beating the hell out of the shock jock. This looked so bad professionally for Kong and that lack of control must have been humbling and devastating for someone who had worked so hard to save the lives of Haitians victimized by the earthquake.

What’s amazing is that TNA has not fired Bubba for his remarks. Sure, he got grief from the company backstage leading to his whining that TNA is no longer fun, but essentially he got away with his twitter. His explanation for what he was thinking is completely unacceptable. We cannot fathom that anyone in TNA would accept that his remarks were on his show and therefore did not reflect badly on TNA.

By not responding to Bubba’s remarks, TNA has effectively endorsed that the humanitarian disaster in Haiti might be for the best because it will lead to a good ‘cleansing’ of the black nation of Haiti. Doesn’t TNA have any friggin’ lawyers watching out for them?

TNA president Dixie Carter has stated otherwise on TNA’s Web site. “The photos and video from Haiti are tragic. We want to help. We have to help. The money raised at The Impact Zone is just a start of TNA’s plan to help the country of Haiti.” Fine, Dixie, but your shock-jock backstage interviewer thinks that Haiti needs an ethnic cleansing. And the public face of your company completely supports Bubba.

Hulk Hogan goes on Bubba’s show and backs up his good buddy Bubba. Hulk states that Awesome Kong should have been fired on the spot for attempting to knock sense into Bubba. Next thing, Hogan is blaming Bischoff for getting Kong worked up and is essentially trying to create a wrestling angle out of the incident. Even Bubba is smart enough to steer clear of a wrestling angle with Kong. Hogan, we cannot even begin to explain just how badly you botched this one.

We have to say more on Awesome Kong, who posted a comment on Twitter explaining her reasoning for the way she handled Bubba.

“Kongfucious says: Sometimes you must feed someone a fist to make them eat their own words.”

Both Bubba and Kong were sent home from the tapings following the altercation. Kong faced no discipline for attacking Bubba and returned to the tapings the next day to tape a match for iMPACT. The TNA locker room is reportedly in support of Kong.

However, the altercation backstage is apparently the final straw for Kong being in TNA. The Wrestling Globe Newsletter’s Mike Aldren reported more on Kong. Mike Aldren quotes from a source, “Kong is really disappointed in the fact that this company that once had class has turned into a paranoid backstabbing contest because people in management are too worried about keeping their jobs to really voice their opinions or represent the talent appropriately. They sold all the talent that they were a team [before Hogan/Bischoff arrived]… but then moved forward without rewarding anyone, and benched half of the original roster on top of that.” Kong cited a lack of sleep, mostly from fundraising all weekend raising funds for the victims of the earthquake and was also dealing with the loss of her mentor, wrestling promoter Ed Chuman. Kong reportedly said she meant to talk to Bubba, but delirium took over and she ended up smacking Bubba. One of Kong’s friends also noted to us that she is furious with Bubba for ripping her on Howard Stern, and for attempting to make an angle out of the situation on his own radio show. She is now back at home pondering her future. She was originally booked for the upcoming European tour but won’t be making those dates any more. (Source: the Wrestling Globe newsletter)

We’ve been in absolute shock watching this story unfold over the last week. It’s going on six days now and TNA still hasn’t woken up to the very public stance they’ve taken in regards to Bubba the Love Sponge’s very public remarks regarding Haiti. Hulk Hogan is the face of TNA and Hogan was on Bubba’s show backing up his buddy Bubba who has now gone on record twice as being in support of letting the earthquake in Haiti ‘cleanse’ the populace of Haitians. TNA hasn’t done anything public yet to distance themselves from Bubba’s remarks and that’s the same as letting the remarks stick to the company.

TNA is courting Spike TV officials to consider giving the company a permanent Monday night time slot. The argument is that that the team that gained so many ratings for Turner Broadcasting ten years ago on Monday nights is together again on TNA and this time, they can win the Monday Night war. Eric Bischoff thinks that if Turner Broadcasting hadn’t cut him off at the knees ten years ago, he would have beat Vince McMahon. Maybe, but what Eric should have realized with ten years of experience is that broadcasting companies may want ratings, but deep down inside, even television producers have scruples (Maybe Tina Fey will pick up on this observation and use it for fodder on 30 Rock). The fight got too dirty for Turner Broadcasting and they backed out. Now, two weeks into January, TNA is showing the same scruples that lost WCW its backing on public television. TNA is at a place in their growth where they have to demonstrate an ability to act professionally on the big stage at all times…or TNA is simply going to disappear. If Dixie Carter cannot keep her talent from publically associating the company as- of all crazy things- being in favor of ethnic cleansing, does she seriously think Spike TV officials are going to gamble on TNA?

We didn’t get to see Angelina return on Monday’s live TNA Impact, but we’ll finally see Angelina back in the TNA fold tonight, after her being dismissed from the company due to a work Visa issue (We thought immigration would eventually see the light and give Angelina a ‘exceptional ability’ green card).

What has Lauren Williams, aka TNA knockout and pivot of The Beautiful People been doing since her unexpected termination? Apparently, hitting the gym and working out some junk in the trunk! Angelina is buff in this picture from Tuesday’s tapings that is circulating around the internet. Angelina is buff like she’s ready for the Miss Fitness competition, or ready to kick some booty.

One of the biggest draws for TNA on Monday was the TBF playing strip poker, with one segment bringing in 500,000 viewers who immediately bailed after the segment. So, TBP are a draw for TNA and you can expect the Knockout’s heel stable to continue to be featured in ridiculous ratings drawing segments that continue to poke fun at bra and panties matches, mud wrestling, or backstage segments designed to draw in young males. For all the work TNA Knockouts have done to differentiate themselves from WWE’s Divas and present women as competitive athletes and characters in wrestling, their top draw is TBP following the ’sex sells’ marketing plan over in WWE. TBP are a pivotal part of the Knockouts marketing strategy, as TNA can both feature everying that draws in young male WWE fans, while differentiating their Knockouts division from the WWE Divas. In marketing terms, TNA’s found a way to stradle two opposing market segments. We think that’s friggin’ brilliant and so we’re all for TNA to continue to push this angle! Thank you, Kevin Nash!

Season’s greetings!

We thought it would be fun to post up a jigsaw puzzle of WWE Diva Kelly Kelly! Have fun with it and leave a comment about your best time to beat!

WWE started Summerslam on RAW with two title defences, including Mickey James defending against #1 Contender Gail Kim.

Gail Kim and Mickey James put on a great back and forth with each Diva at times mirroring each other’s moves. The end came when Gail went for a cross body on Mickey that Mickey rolled under. Gail landed hard on her jaw and was basically out of it. Mickey attempted to DDT a dazed Gail Kim only to have Gail counter the DDT on instinct. Mickey’s follow up with a lose spinning leg kick and an elbow toppled Gail backwards onto the mat. It took Mickey a moment to realise Gail wasn’t getting back up before Mickey covered Gail Kim for a three count.

After the match, Mickey helped Gail stand and when she still wasn’t responding, Mickey lifted Gail’s hand with her’s to the crowd.

It looks like Gail really was knocked senseless by the crossbody and we’re hoping she’s alright. Both Mickey and Gail were feeling each other out throughout this rushed 3:30 title defense and we think both girls could put on one hell of a program against each other.

While some people refer to Mickey’s ending elbow as the ELBOW of doom, we seriously think Mickey could have bowled Gail over with the FINGERPOKE of doom at the end. Great match, tough ending and a tough crowd still punch drunk from the return of DX and the beatdown by Legacy.

Good match, Divas, and we seriously hope Gail Kim’s allright.

We cringed when we saw Tara land on her head after taking out TBP with a crossbody dive from the top rope. Apparently so did Lisa Marie when she watched iMPACT! last night.

From Tara’s MySpace:

Long time, no blog. So I forgot about this until I saw it, which is kinda funny and kinda concerning. But I banged the holy heck out of my head on last night’s TNA Impact. There is definitely a little adjustment as I get into the more hardcore style of wrestling on TNA. Well TNA veteran ODB went to the top rope and jumped onto Kong. It pumped me up so much that I went to the top rope and tried to jump onto the Beautiful People who were outside the ring. Well they are so caked up with makeup and fake tan and herpes creme that I shot right through them, and banged my head on the concrete floor. Next thing I know, referee Earl Hebner was standing over me, asking, “Should I stop this and get the medics?”. I told him that I thought I was okay, but it hurt!!! But the important thing is that I came to my senses, got back in the ring, and pinned Kong. And the fans were chanting “That was awesome”…which was a tremendous feeling. It was an honor to be part of an amazing hardcore match where some of the best female wrestlers worked to their potential and thrilled the fans. I know they rerun Impact during the week. If you didn’t see it last Thursday night, it’s worth catching.

Saturday Night two of the best female fighters in the world will be facing off in the Stikeforce PPV on Showtime. I don’t have Showtime. I’m not home enough to watch it. But I think I may actually get Showtime just for this fight. It’s gonna be a major event in Women’s MMA. Gina Carano and Christiane Santos aka Chris Cyborg. Cheesecorn and Women’s MMA…now that’s a Saturday Night.

Later Beefsteak Tomaters, Lisa Marie aka TNA Tara

Tara is adjusting quickly and well to TNA’s wrestling style. Everytime she comes out, she gives a little more, a little better than before. Tara’s showed a lot of rust in her first appearance and her first couple of promos backstage were really rough. That being said, her performance tonight was great. First backstage with Lauren when asked about Kong derailing her momentum- to which Tara responded, “Derailed? More like hit by a 2 tonne truck.” That’s a great line. Tara then finished the interview saying she came out to be the best and that means beating the best. Tara even put Kong over as the greatest wrestler ever. Okay, we’re sure she meant greatest female wrestler ever- which is amazing accolades for Kong, considering that’s Lisa Marie talking. While Tara is ready to throw down with the Knockouts and is doing great, we hope Tara remembers to be careful in her adjustment to the Knockout Style.

Second part of Devontnt’s upload of Mickie, Kelly & Gail vs Alicia, Beth, and Rose 8/2/09 SUmmerslam TOur

Devontnt posted up Mickie James, Kelly Kelly & Gail Kim vs Beth Phoenix, Alicia Fox & Rosa Mendes (Live Event 8/2/09).

RingDivas INC.is proud to announce the return of RingDivas™ fan favorite Destiny Dumon to the custom roster along with the newest RingDivas talent Tatyana Namen Gita as she makes her company debut.MORE>>>

TNA does not have the luxury of ignoring what the fans want. While woman wrestling fans are often reduced to rubbing their eyes in disbelief at the treatment shown the WWE Divas, TNA has been building a Knockout division. We don’t think this is a sign of intelligence in the TNA management; rather an opportunity has come up for TNA that is so obvious they couldn’t miss it. There is a lot talent in the Indies for women wrestling looking to make it on TV in the USA. Women’s wrestling is still a novelty act for wrestling fans: an opportunity for women to break through what has traditionally been a man’s world and show what they can do. All TNA has had to do is assemble the hungry talent from all over and present them to the TNA fans and the ratings will follow.

And the TNA Knockouts have earned ratings for TNA and proven they deserve their corner in the company.

TNA has been working diligently to recruit some of the finest wrestlers from all over and bring them into the TNA knockout division. Vince Russo has been doing his thing to get all the knockouts on the air, in a storyline and in a feud. Creating a story for a wrestler or a feud is truly where Vince excels. If someone could just keep him from over booking the angle, or trying to trick us with endless swerves!

With Ayako Hamada set to debut anytime, the TNA Knockout roster boasts 16 women wrestlers, one reality show winner, one wife of Booker T and one backstage interviewer. Of the wrestlers, there are currently four wrestlers whose skills we could describe as…shaky. Put in perspective, the TNA Knockouts may not have enough talent to run their own show, but they do have enough talent to run their own X Cup competition. That’s four teams of four competing weekly in a multi-round tournament that could be shown on iMPACT! and two PPVs…just like the world cup. Okay, insert jokes about what to call the cup here…

Do the Knockouts have more talented wrestlers than the Divas in the WWE? Honestly, it’s impossible to tell because the Divas are simply not given time to wrestle or cut promos, they have a limited move set, the talented wrestlers have to pander to Vince’s Diva search pageant winners and the size of the venue, the atmosphere and the program for both companies are completely different. We would have to say, though, that we would guess the Knockouts have more depth than the Divas. If Maryse hurt herself again the whole Diva division on RAW would go into limbo until she recovered. Pinning a whole division on a very green talent like Maryse speaks volumes about the Diva division.

The real question is how the talent is being utilized and as we’ve said, here the Knockouts simply crush the Divas. Mistakes like Jenna Morasca wrestling Sharmell at a PPV can (and should) be forgotten because there’s a lot more good going on than bad. We know TNA insists on booking the occasional stinker because a bad review is still A review and TNA is hungry for growth. Whether TNA tries too hard to attract an audience or simply will do anything for ratings is a topic for another article.
Forget that abortion of a feud between Jenna Morasca and Sharmell and check this list of cool:

There is a feud beginning between Awesome Kong and Tara aka former Women Champion Diva Victoria. Tara has been terrorizing the Beautiful People since coming to TNA and has even managed to briefly dethrone Angelina Love. Tara must feel like a kid in the candy store with the spread of matches she can choose from at TNA. While some people grumble that TNA picks up every future endeavoured WWE talent and pushes them to the moon, we think that TNA acknowledging Lisa Mari’s time in is pure class. Victoria deserves to headline and may she have as much fun wrestling in TNA as we have watching her wrestle in TNA.

The Beautiful People hold the belt in Angelina Love’s hands. Angelina has survived her first true test as Knockout Champion and against Victoria, no less. TBP are terrific heels. They’re the prom queens we all hate and wanted to be or to date.

Alyssa Flash aka Saeed aka ‘The Future Legend’ Cheerleader Melissa has welcomed Canadian born Sarita aka Dark Angel to TNA with what is already a great feud. Alyssa will fight with Sarita because she likes to cause pain. Do you really need more back story? Sarita is beautiful, fast and so freakin’ agile she walks the ring ropes as easily as us mere mortals climb a flight of stairs.
Daffney versus Taylor Wilde. Daffney is a hardcore crazy b’tch, flexible and willing to take bumps that belong in backyard wrestling events. In short, she’s awesome. Taylor Wilde as a pure wrestler could become the (wrestling )Kurt Angle of women wrestling. But, Wilde on the mic is no Kurt Angle. Taylor has the in-ring personality of a robot. Daffney’s sheer bigger-than-life personality gels with Taylor’s sick ring skills. Their feud, filled with enough backstory for a multi-part TV drama, has had some unreal highlights including two bumps on tacks in one week by Daffney!

Christy Hemme is posting on myspace she’s ready to wrestle. We missed the energizer bunny. Christy has yet to prove she can hold her own in the ring, but we cannot doubt her passion for wrestling. Christy had to take time out to heal from neck injuries that could have crippled her. Christy’s only thought was to get into the action at TNA again ASAP. We’re thinking that when Christy is really ready, TNA will throw her in with Ayako Hamada, who is backstage and has yet to debute. Christy says she wants to be respected as a wrestler and this will prove she means it. All she has to do is survive Ayako and she’ll come out a veteran on the other side…

We were kinda hoping that for Ayako’s debute, she could come out and scare Kong. Ayoko is a second generation wrestler from Japan who has wrestled extensively in Mexico. Kong is on record saying that her time wrestling in Japan was ‘hell’. It was hell because of crazy Japanese women wrestlers like Ayako. So, at the end of a match, have Ayako come out and ruin Kong’s night. That would be a cool introduction for the TNA fans to the former Queen of Arsion.

That’s some highlights on what’s happening in the Knockouts. Throw in ODB training Cody Deaner to become a wrestler, Traci Brooks winning a spot in MEM and confirming she’ll be the first Knockout in Playboy and you get the idea. There’s a lot of things worth talking about the Knockouts.

Christy Hemme, the energizer bunny, is ready to return and kick some booty in TNA.

WWE Women’s Title Match: Michelle McCool vs. Melina

Jim Ross and Todd Grisham are on commentary and begin with a replay of the events leading to this match. Out first is the WWE Women’s Champion Michelle McCool. Melina, the challenger, is out next with her red carpet entrance. Melina does the splits and is going under the rope when McCool attacks before the bell rings.

There are a few good spots. McCool hits Melina with a running knee into the fan barrier and gets a 2 count. McCool applies a leg submission on Melina. McCool counters and DDT’s Melina off the top of the fan barrier wall. Melina wraps her legs around the neck from the apron and throws McCool around. McCool catches Melina with a belly to belly suplex for a 2 count. Melina goes for a pin from the top rope but McCool reverses it with a roll up for the pinfall and the win.

Winner: Michelle McCool

WWE Divas Title Match: Maryse vs. Mickie James

- Maryse is warming up when The Miz walks up and makes a pass at Maryse. Maryse brushes the Miz off, telling the Miz he lost his match tonight and she doesn’t date losers. The Miz gets mad and grabs Maryse’s arm and tells her he can get any girl, he wasted his time with her on RAW last week, she’s not a chamion, she’s a tease and when she loses her belt she’s come crawling back to him. The Miz says she’ll have butchered her shot with him like she butchers the English language everytime she talks.
Out first for the next match is the challenger, Mickie James to a nice pop. The WWE Divas Champion Maryse is out next. Maryse taunts Mickie before the bell rings and they almost start brawling. The bell is called for and they still taunt each other. Maryse dodges a clothesline and poses some. They lock up and go to the ropes. Mickie takes Maryse down first.

The match itself had Lots of stalling in the early part of the match. Maryse mounts her usual offense, including a camel clutch and tries to spray Mickey’s eyes. Mickie kicks Marys, knocking her down and picks up the can and the ref takes the can from her. Mickie takes control from here until Maryse tries to lock in her camel clutch again but Mickie fights out this time. Mickie hits a neckbreaker on Maryse for a 2 count. Mickie does a head scissor take down out of the corner. Maryse trips Mickie up on the ropes and for a 2 count. Maryse pulls Mickie off the top rope and brings her to the mat. Mickie counters a move and nails her signature DDT on Maryse. Mickie covers for the pinfall and the win.

Winner and New WWE Divas Champion: Mickie James

There’s a lot of rejoicing from Mickie James Fans who feel that Mickie hasn’t gotten nearly the level of respect she deserves with the company for her time in.