Busy week all around in wrestling
RIC FLAIR'S EX-WIFE TURNS HERSELF IN TO POLICE
by Dave Scherer @ 2:49 PM on 7/16/2013
Ric Flair’s ex-wife, Jacqueline Beems, turned herself in to the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office this morning, answering the warrant issued claiming she harassed Flair's current girlfriend Wendy "Fifi The Maid" Barlow Kidder last October. She was wanted on a the misdemeanor charge for allegedly making harassing phone calls to Flair's girlfriend. Flair and Beems were married at the time.
ARREST WARRANT ISSUED FOR RIC FLAIRby Dave Scherer @ 9:14 PM on 7/16/2013
The Charlotte Observer is reporting that an order for arrest has been issued for Ric Flair. Flair was ordered to pay $4,000 a month in spousal support to his fourth ex-wife Jacqueline Beems, who ironically has a misdemeanor charge of harassment against Flair's current girlfriend filed against her. Earlier this month, a contempt charge was filed against Flair, who is more than $32,000 in arrears in spousal support payments.
The order for arrest was issued on July 3 but Flair can avoid jail time if he pays the $32,352.51 that he owes
TNA RELEASES TOP KNOCKOUT
by Dave Scherer @ 6:32 PM on 7/16/2013
TNA just announced that they have released Tara. Of course, they wish her all the best.
It is not a huge surprise as earlier this year Tara had talked about not being on TV in the future, only to reappear.
In another odd circumstance, Tara actually tweeted a note about TNA's latest Podcast (you can find it at their website) less than an hour before her release was announced.
THE ACES AND EIGHT LOSE A MEMBER, ANOTHER TNA DEPARTURE
by Dave Scherer @ 9:23 PM on 7/16/2013
Drew "DOC" Hankinson just posted the following on his Twitter page: "My contract with TNA Wrestling expired July 12th, as of this evening we have officially parted ways. #SUNTANBIKERMAN tours again!!"
DOC was the odd man out recently as he didn't get the spot as the new VP of Aces and Eights.
Both DOC and Tara's names have been taken off of the TNA Wrestler page.
The company continues to restructure as they move forward. Sources in the company are saying things will keep changing.
MORE ON TODAY'S TNA DEPARTURES
by Mike Johnson @ 10:53 PM on 7/16/2013
The situations surrounding the departures of Tara and Doc were each a completely different series of circumstances, according to TNA sources.
While Tara was a release planned by TNA as a cost-cutting move, sources indicate that the company lost Doc because his contract negotiations went on too long and finally his deal expired. He had been figured into creative plans going forward with an eventual babyface turn, something that had been teased.
The blame on Doc's exit was placed on Bruce Prichard, head of Creative and Talent Relations by some. There were several different sources this evening that contacted PWInsider, claiming that this was just the latest example of contract negotiations going down to the wire or resulting in talents exiting this year under Prichard's watch.
The most noteworthy of those exits were Rob Van Dam. On his Twitter, Van Dam explained his departure from TNA as, " Contract expired. So did professionalism, courtesy and respect." One source claimed that Van Dam stopped getting his calls returned by the company.
It should be noted that is in the case of Doc, it is entirely possible the two sides could still come to terms of a new deal (as happened with Devon in the past), but as of now, he is gone and free to go anywhere he pleases.
In the case of Tara, sources claim she was far and away the highest paid female wrestler on the roster and the decision was made to shift that money elsewhere. The belief is that there could be more releases to come as well down the line.
Other recent TNA departures have been Matt Morgan (release request granted), Madison Rayne (contract expired), Doug Williams (released), Taeler Hendrix (released), Christian York (released), Crimson (released), and Joey Ryan (released).
There was a story going around that Randy Orton was injured last night but
RANDY ORTON INJURY UPDATE
by Dave Scherer @ 10:11 AM on 7/17/2013
On his Twitter account he wrote the following about WWE.com's report that he was injured last night at Smackdown:
"Hey, remember when I said don't listen to the net? I'm fine. Del Rio's kicks are hard as hell, and I caught one to the neck, part of the job".
When asked if by "the net" he meant WWE's official company website he wrote, "No I mean every other .."
