For you wrestling fans.....incase you missed the ppv tonight

[Dynasty]

The following press release was issued by TNA, Spike TV, and Kurt Angle.


Nashville, TN, September 24, 2006 – Total Nonstop Action (TNA) Wrestling announced today that Olympic gold medalist and pro wrestling megastar Kurt Angle has signed exclusively with the company. It was also announced that TNA iMPACT! will move to 9:00 PM ET/PT Thursdays on Spike TV starting November 16.

“This has been a huge week in our company's history,” said Dixie Carter, president of TNA Entertainment, LLC. “The signing of Kurt Angle and the move of iMPACT! to 9 PM are both significant benchmarks in the growth of TNA. The history of pro wrestling is marked with events that change the landscape of the industry and I believe that this week will be viewed in that context.”

Angle, a 2-time NCAA Division I champion and a 3-time NCAA Division I All-American, capped off his illustrious amateur career by winning a gold medal in freestyle wrestling at the 1996 Olympics, competing with two cracked vertebrae, two herniated disks and four pulled muscles.

On November 14, 1999, Angle made his on-screen debut with the World Wrestling Federation. Since then, this 5-time WWE World Champion has held every major championship belt in WWF/E. He is also in the USA Wrestling Hall of Fame.

“Kurt is considered the greatest wrestler in professional wrestling,” added Carter. “His in-ring ability is matched only by his leadership and attitude. We are thrilled Kurt is joining the TNA family and we look forward to a long, successful relationship.”

“Being with TNA feels like I found my home,” Kurt Angle commented. “TNA will be the most watched show on cable TV – it's just a matter of time. Thank you TNA for saving my career, my life and my desire to do what I love.”

TNA also announced it will premiere in primetime on Spike TV starting Thursday, November 16, kicking-off with a two-hour extravaganza from 9:00 – 11:00 PM, ET/PT to celebrate the move. The following Thursday, TNA can be seen in its regularly scheduled timeslot (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT), with encores continuing to telecast on Saturdays (11:00 PM – Midnight, ET/PT).

“We've been impressed by TNA's growth and the acquisition of Kurt Angle today continues to show us that wrestling fans, as well as professional wrestlers, know that TNA is the place to be and now primetime on Spike TV is the place for them to be,” says Kevin Kay, General Manager of Spike TV.

After twenty telecasts in the Thursday 11 PM ET/PT time slot, TNA iMPACT! is averaging a 1.0 HH rating, with a 1.1 in M18-49, a 1.3 in M18-34 and an average audience of 1.1 million viewers. Compared to YAGO in that timeslot, TNA is up +137% in HH, +211% in M18-49, +244% in M18-34 and +157% in average audience. Among ad-supported cable channels in the time period (11:00 PM – Midnight, ET/PT), Spike ranks #1 in M18-49, #1 in M25-34, and #2 in M18-34. (All ratings reflect Most Current viewing levels)

The new wrestling alternative, TNA delivers a distinct brand of high-risk, athletic entertainment. TNA's roster includes new, fresh talent like AJ Styles, Christopher Daniels, Samoa Joe, Monty Brown and recognizable stars such as Sting, Christian Cage, Jeff Jarrett, Team 3D, and others. TNA features the innovative six-sided ring and the high-flying “X Division,” as well as concept matches such as “Ultimate X,” “King of the Mountain,” and “Six Sides of Steel.”

TNA Entertainment, LLC is a privately held company headquartered in Nashville, TN. The names of all Total Nonstop Action Wrestling televised programming, talent names, images, likenesses, slogans and all TNA Wrestling logos and trademarks are exclusive property of TNA Entertainment, LLC. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. For more information, visit www.tnawrestling.com. Spike TV is available in 90 million homes and is a division of MTV Networks. MTV Networks, a division of Viacom International Inc.

[Five-Star]

I was going to start a thread on this subject because I just found out and didn't see this one. Glad I didn't. I'm really not too sure about how I feel on this situation. Angle was my favorite wrestler in the WWE, entertaining as hell and had great talent. I hope he had some time off to rest his body. I hate for him to ruin his life because he couldn't stay away, (HIV anyone?) Either way, good luck to him and I won't be watching.

[EMc]

For those who missed it, what happend to angle?

[NT!]

wtf he has AIDS?

[MattSuspect]

From a purely entertainment point of view, this is awesome, I mean he might be the greatest Wrestler of all time.

[ed8383]

For those of us who haven't kept up with wrestling gossip, what is Angle's problem? is he on drugs/steroids? what is it?

[edfurlong]

[ QUOTE ]
For those of us who haven't kept up with wrestling gossip, what is Angle's problem? is he on drugs/steroids? what is it?

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, I don't watch wrestling, because its for queers, but I think steroids may be used by a lot of them. I know I'm going way out on a limb here, but I think I just might be right.

[GrandmaStabone]

[ QUOTE ]
For those of us who haven't kept up with wrestling gossip, what is Angle's problem? is he on drugs/steroids? what is it?

[/ QUOTE ]

Ya someone give an Angle summary, for some reason I'm interested.

[Dynasty]

[ QUOTE ]

Ya someone give an Angle summary, for some reason I'm interested.

[/ QUOTE ]

Read the previous Kurt Angle thread.

[Dynasty]

Kurt Angle has released a longer statement and has some harsh words for WWE.



Being with TNA feels like I have finally found my home. I had fun in WWE at certain times, but I was never really happy. Now being a part of TNA, I know I have a purpose. I feel like I am part of history, part of a company that is not only on the rise - not only going to be the number-one watched wrestling show in the world within a short period of time - but TNA gives me an opportunity to spread my wings.

This company has no limits to where it can go. The sky is the limit and the main reason is because they brought the "real" back into wrestling and that is a perfect fit for the greatest wrestler in USA Olympic history. I have room to grow here and to help TNA grow.

Working for these caring and very giving employers of TNA makes me feel like I have a purpose and that the sky is the limit. I don't feel trapped or held back like I did the first six years in my tenure with the other company. They held me back. Now, our wonderful audience will see the real Kurt Angle doing what I love to do - real wrestling - and that's what puts a smile on my face each time I come to work. I even smile when I think about it.

TNA will be the most watched television show on cable television. It's only a matter of time. Now, I get the opportunity and privilege of being a part of it. Thank you TNA for saving my career, my life and my desire to do what I love. I will be here in some capacity for the rest of my life. That's real… that's damn real."

- Kurt Angle


PWTorch story with commentary