7 replies to this topic

[Robert Tilton]

TNA Wrestler Rob Van Dam spoke with Steve Gerweck of Gerweck.net on a number of issues including the morale backstage in TNA, Creative changes in the company and more. Below is a quick recap:

Backstage TNA morale:
everybody seems to get along in such a way in absense of the nervousness that i witnesses while working for the other guys. everywhere, house shows, tv, and even international tours, oh my god, those were tense. It would go down every stage of the feeding chain, the pecking order. If they see some young guy joking around, having a good time, it will just start by some of the other guys just giving them a look. Then afterwards they have to figure out how to ride that guy hard because he shouldn't be that comfortable because he hasn't paid his dues. up there it just wreaks of that. I thought all of that was just ridiculous. like a fraternity.

Everyone is afraid of saying the wrong thing and getting heat. I don't see that in TNA. I see them all kinda wanting to see everyone do well. everyone wants to see success and its a business. You have some loyal to the company that want to see some return energy. some return love from the office for being so loyal. You have some guys that are more marketable than others and they deal with that. Most of all there's alot of love there. they seem genuinely seem to like to work there.

Creative changes in the company:
I believe that depending how much leverage you deserve, as far as being one of the talent. I think you have as much input as you want. me personally i dont, the last thing that i want is to sit in a meeting figuring out what direction. Thats not me, thats not what pro wrestling is all about. It is a job for me, its a good job. If it were up to me, i would go in 5 minutes before the bell, go wrestler and take a shower.

Brooke Hogan coming into TNA:
I think people were surprised. I thnk alot of people respect hulk enough to respect his family and his guests. i dont know what her position is with the knockouts.

On the recent departures of a number of knockouts:
Its not that im holding back on speaking. but i know very little about that. one of the names you mentioned is going to be coming back. i believe, so ive been told. It seems that the knockouts arent as big a part of the show as they used to be. it seems like when i first got there. I think they had their own ppv at one point. now maybe not so much.

Differences between Paul Heyman, Vince McMahon and if Dixie Carter is more relaxed than others:
For sure, i could sit here and point out all of the differences but i would also have to point out the different stage of my career that im in. With Dixie i have all of the freedom and leverage. I love my deal with TNA. Dixie is great and i never give anything but props.

[Wild]

Velvet. Better be at BFG, an NOT the Inpact Zone.

[Zeppelin4]

The whole first paragraph reaks of when JBL was 2nd in command (Undertaker will always be first) of the locker room back in the day. The stuff him and Bubba used to do was sickening, makes you wonder why a lot of the younger guys never really made it that far back then.

Anyways the TNA locker room always sounded like an awesome place since they're a lot of characters back there like Robbie E and Eric Young. It also helps that Sting is pretty much the locker room leader and his humbleness is definitely a plus for keeping up any locker room morale.

[Darren Grett]

WILDMVS, on 15 August 2012 - 05:14 PM, said:

Velvet. Better be at BFG, an NOT the Inpact Zone.

the knockouts part IMO merits be its own news headline.

[Jackanape]

Zeppelin4, on 15 August 2012 - 06:54 PM, said:

Anyways the TNA locker room always sounded like an awesome place since they're a lot of characters back there like Robbie E and Eric Young. It also helps that Sting is pretty much the locker room leader and his humbleness is definitely a plus for keeping up any locker room morale.

I'm sure Bubba's still a prick though.

[Zeppelin4]

Jackanape, on 15 August 2012 - 09:01 PM, said:

I'm sure Bubba's still a prick though.

Well of course but I'm pretty sure he has calmed down especially since he is a part time agent and all.

[GaTechGrad]

I don't remember the Knockouts ever having their own PPV. There were two highlight DVDs, and there was a Knockout special on Spike which I believe was on New Year's Eve.

[luckysalt]

Interesting that it doesn't show the names mentioned of the knockouts. Im sure it will be velvet.